Evening star., 1940-09-27
Roosevelt Predicts
Deeds Building Will
Pay for Itself Soon
Recorders Work Luuded
At Ground Breaking;
Envoy to Liberio CdIopses

AT STouho Dreokln9s
Envoy to Liberio CoiIopses
The prediction that the Districts S
new Recorder Of Deeds Building at
Sixth and d streets NV. will soon
pay for itself out Of profits of the
Office was made by President Roose-
welt yesterday in an address to 5000
persons assembled on the site Of
the old Police Court Building for
nd-breaking ceremonies.
The President congratulated DR..
William j. Thompkins, colored, re-
corder of deeds, on the efficiency
of his administration in turning a
$4,000 annual deficit into $4,000
profit during his term of Office. The
Chief Executive described this rec
ord as amazing"
Mr.. Roosevelt arrived at the exer-
cises a few minutes after Lester A.
Walton, United States Minister to
the West African Republic Of Lii
IBERIA, collapsed while addressing
the crowd and was carried uncon-
scious from the speakers platform.
The Minister was admitted to Cas-
ualty Hospital He later was dis
charged and returned to New York
last night.
House Member Urges ID. c. Vote.
The Presidents brief, extem-
poraneouS address came after sew
eral speakers. including one Rep
resentative, took advantage of the
occasion to appeal for votes for the
District. The President confined
his remarks to the work of record
ing real estate records and his
torical papers, although others on
the program made political appeals
The President said he was glad
OF the opportunity TO participate
personally in the ground breaking.
particularly in view Of the fact the
building was to house old records.
He explained that he himself was
historical minded and saved all the
interesting papers he could get his
hands on
The Chief Executive declared
that current documents ought TO
be kept in good order, because it
is difficult to determine now their
worth to generations a hundred
years hence. Too many papers of
probable future value are lost, he
said.
DIR. Thompkins Congratulated.
The President expressed the opin-
ion that the new building should be
pay as we CO. proposition. He
congratulated DR.. Thompkins for
having put the Districts real estate
records. many of which 60 back to
the pioneer days of the Capital, in
such excellent shape. This is a
real convenience, he said, TO per-
sons who must go 10 the records to
check land titles. In the old days
it took weeks and sometimes months
to trace certain records, the PreSi-
dent said, adding that in the new
efficiency this administration has
done something TO help the business
men and property owners of the
District"
Mr. Roosevelt said the fees COL
lected for recording of papers are
about as low as anywhere else in
the United States" He told the
audience that the profits will pay
for the building in a very short
time thus saving large rentals
paid in the past.
The President closed by wishing
that DR.. Thompkins will be in the
post for many years to come for
the good of the community and the
Nation"
Randolph Voices Plea.
A plea for votes for the District
was voiced by Chairman Randolph
Of the House District Committee
who deplored the fact that the
men and women of the District are
denied that which is not only a
right but responsibility - the
vote
The speaker declared that the
fight for suffrage still goes on" and
expressed the conviction that citi-
zens of the future will enjoy the
privilege of knowing they are true
participants in the affairs of a Ma
ton of which they are part
Representative Nichols of Okla
homa told the audience that the
occasion is one of importance not
only to the colored people of Wash
ington but to those of the Nation"
He said President Roosevelt helped
to bring about the new building
and added: Il hope you show in
material way your appreciation for
his aid and his willingness to come
here this afternoon"
The ceremony was opened with
concert by the United States Army
Band. Other musical selections
were rendered by the Howard Uni
versity Glee Club. The colored
Elks of Washington staged parade
to the exercises and lined up in
uniform while they were in progress.
Other Speakers.
Other speakers were the Rev. A.
F. ElmeS, pastor of Peoples Con-
gregational Church. who delivered
the invocation; Representative Ken
nedy Of Maryland; Lawrence w.
Robert, jr.; secretary of the Demo-
cratic National Committee; J. Fin
ley Wilson, grand ~uler of the
Washington Lodge Of colored Elks,
and Elder Solomon Lightfoot Mi
chaux. pastor of the Church of God,
who delivered the benediction
The Presidents car arrived along
side the speakers platform while
Mr.. Wilson was addressing the
crowd. The speaker said he and
President Roosevelt had partici-
pated in a previous ground break
ing ceremony The other occasion.
he said, was several years ago in
Saratoga at the dedication of
Baptist Church.
Il want the President to know"
the speaker said. that every COL
ored man in America Is standing