Evening star., 1939-04-16

OiSPIoy OF RIGGS
During Red Cross
Convention Asked
Marking the ofncial opening Of
the Greater National Capital Com
mittee drive for funds with which
to continue It's operations during the
coming year the group will hold
luncheon meeting at 1880 pm.
Tuesday at the Raleigh Hotel, 1t
was announced yesterday by Thom-
as j. Groom, executive vice presi.
dent Of the Bank Of Commerce G
Savings and chairman Of the Cam
paign Committee.
John J. Hasley, vice chairman Of
the Campaign Committee, as well as
all subcommittee chairmen, men,
bers Of their committees and all
members Of the Executive Commit
tee Of the Greater National Capital
Committee are expected to attend.
Francis G.. Addison, president Of
the Washington Board Of Trade,
will extend greetings at the lunch-
con, while short talks will be made
by Edgar Morris, chairman Of the
Executive Committee Of the Great
er National Capital Committee; Cur
tbs Hodges, director of publicity and
promotion, and Russell Schneider.
manager Of the Convention Bureau.
The goal Of the committee has
been set at $4,000, q 20 per cent
increase over last years amount.
According to Mr.. Groom the addi-
tional money will enable the COM
mittee staff to bring more visitors to
Washington through additional pub
licity. He estimated that more than
$50, 100000 was spent in the city
by approximately 100000 tourists
last year, adding that due to the
New York Worlds Fair he expected
even more money and people to
come here"
The money expended annually In
Washington by visitors Of all kinds,
including tourists, convention dele
gates and those here on Govern
ment business goes into the trade
channels OF the District and Is spent
over and over again. the commit
tee chairman emphasized.
Established eight years ago as
the promotion and convention divi-
sion Of the Washington Board Of
Trade. the Greater National Cap
ital Committees efforts are devoted
to bringing more visitors to the
District, looking to the expenditure
OF more outside money here and
to the increase in the permanent
population Of the city.
THE work of this committee" ;"
said Mr.. Groom, lis Of vital i'm
portance to the business interests Of
the city-in fact, Of vital Importance
to the entire population of the city,
because the prosperity and happi-
ness OF any community depends on
the amount Of money in circula.
ton and the rapidity with which
1t Is circulated"
In asking for the cooperation Of
businessmen and residents of the
District In making the campaign
q success. Mr.. Groom pointed out
that "any subscription to the fund
Of this committee is not a gift or
a donation. 1t is sound business
investment and we hope that our
prospective subscribers will bear that
fact In mind when they are ap-
preached for a subscription"
Flag Display Asked.
Members OF the Merchants and
Manufacturers Association and
other local business houses are
urged to decorate their places of
business with American and Red
Cross flags during the organizations
convention to be held here the week
Of April "a In bulletin sent to
its membership today by Edwin D.
Shaw. secretary of the association.
Calling attention to the forth
coming visits of the President Of
Nicaragua. the Crown Prince and
Princess Of Denmark. the Prime
Minister Of Ireland, the King and
Queen Of Great Britain and the
Crown Prince and Princess Of Nor
way to Washington this summer, all
places of business in the city were
urged to decorate their establish
ments on these occasions also.
The association, following its usual
custom each spring, is polling its
members to ascertain their summer
store hours. 1t has been customary
for many years for most Of the larger
stores to close on Saturdays during
July and August, after July 4. The
names Of stores planning to do like
wise this summer will be announced
when the association has completed
its survey.
Department store sales in the
Capital showed the largest increase
in March of any month this year
with an SO per cent rise in dollar
volume over the same month last
year. according to a Federal Re-
serve Board report released In the
weekly bulletin Of the Merchant
and Manufacturers Association.
This compares with 8 per cent
gain for the entire country.
Sales in local stores for the first
three months Of this year were 80
per cent higher than in the cor
responding period last year, the re-
port stated.
District automobile sales in Feb
ruary showed an increase of lO1
per cent over February, 1898. WASH
ington car dealers sold 2,138 vehicles
in February Of this year, against
tain municipal regulatory pow
ers as it would be If q complete