davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-12-28
Two Westinghouse
And Arlington Officer
Die in Plane Crash
Maj. H. J. Vim Victim;
Fourth Soldier Killed
In Gainesville PLUNGE

A Virginian and two Washing
tonians were among four men killed
last night in the crash of an Army
plane near Gainesville, Va. Capt.
Walter R. Bottcher, public relations
officer at Boiling Field, reported
today.
The Virginian was listed as Mai.
H.. j. VIM, 81. of 4764 North
Twenty fourth street, Arlington.
The two crew members from
Washington were listed as Staff
Sergt. Walter R. Best, %, of 400
Brandywine street Sc, and Pvt.
George E. Blanc, %, former en-
ploye of the Washington Post.
The fourth member of the crew
was Pvt. Vernon M. Kragnes, "a, of
Glyndon, MINI.
Was Native Of Arizona,
Maj. VIM, who was chief of the
manning section in the ONCE of the
Director of Personnel, Headquarters
of the Army Air Forces, was a ma
tive of Phoenix, Ariz. and had been
licensed as civilian pilot before the
war.
An officer in the Infantry Reserve.
Maj. Vim was called to active
duty in 1885 when he was assigned
as adjutant of the Arizona district,
Civilian Conservation Corps.
In December, 1910, he was trans
ferred to Shreveport, La, and in
April, 1912, was sent to Washington
He was promoted to the rank of
major last February
Maj VIM is survived by his
widow, who lives in Arlington, and
his mother, Mrs Gail Vim OF Phoe-
nix
Sergt. Best, an aerial engineer,
was serving as crew chief of the
plane, Boiling Field officials said.
He was the son of Mr.. and Mrs.
Budd Best of Huey, Pa, and en-
listed in the Army Air Forces in
June, 1910, at Boiling Field. He had
been recently married.
Attended Night Schools.
Pvt Blanc, who served as a copy
boy at the Washington Post for
several months in 194l, was a native
of Denver, Col He enlisted in the
Air Forces at Boiling Field last July
and had been working in the SAL
wage section Of the quartermaster
department.
Pvt. Blanc, who formerly resided
at 1875 Brentwood road NE, had
been employed as a clerk in the
Resettlement Administration, the
Treasury Department and in the
Office for Emergency Management,
and attended various night classes
at George Washington University,
Georgetown and at the Temple
Business School.
Pvt. Kragnes was the son of Mr..
and Mrs. Alvin Kragnes of Glyndon,
Miss. He enlisted in the Air Forces
last July at Fort Smelling, Mimi,
and was transferred to Boiling Field
on December is.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-12-28
DC. Heads End
Committee on
Tax Exemption
SIS, 900, 900 Holdings
To Revert to Free
List by New Law

Bowling to the dictates of Con-
gress on tax exemption for religious,
educational and charitable institu-
tons, some of which they had
ordered taxed under their interpre-
tation of the old District law. the
Commissioners today discharged
their Real Estate Tax Exemption
Committee and took steps to restore
hundreds of such properties to the
exempt lists.
Walter L. Fowler. District budget
officer. who has served for the past
two years as chairman of the special
committee, said the Commissioners
had placed properties assessed at
about S25 900 900 on the tax rolls, in
keeping with the findings of the
committee. He estimated almost all
Of these holdings now would be re-
stored to tax exempt status, under
the bill signed Saturday by the
President. Annual tax receipts of
$437 500 thus will be lost.
The Commissioners today directed
Corporation Counsel Keech to pre-
pare regulations necessary to the
administration of the new law and
instructed Assessor Edward A. Dent
to bring up to date assessments and
exemptions as to privately owned
charitable, religious and educational
properties.
In ordering the committee abol-
ished, the Commissioners said:
The Real Estate Tax Exemption
Committee, having completed its as
signed task, is hereby discharged"
1T it further ordered that the
minutes show that the Commission
ers commend the members of the
committee for their efforts in inves-
tigating tax exempt properties in the
District.
Their devotion to duty and
impartial opinions is a splendid
commentary on the high type of
municipal government existing in
the Nations capital"
In addition to Mr.. Fowler, mem
bers of the committee are B. F.
Adams, assistant assessor, and F. F.
Healy, District surveyor.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-12-28
Servicemen Given
transportation 10
Week End Lodgings
Army Operates Trucks
To Recreation Center
Near Arlington Bridge

"All aboard for the recreation
center!"
This call on Saturday nights has
become popular one at service
clubs in Washington and at the
Union Station. for it means free
lodging and transportation for the
hundreds of servicemen who visit
the city over the week ends.
Initiated just recently the trans
portation provided by the Army to
its recreation center across the Ar
lington Memorial Bridge is called a
blessing" by Ian Forbes, director
of Service Club No. !, 306 Ninth
street NV.
Used to Sleep on Floor.
Until this transportation service
was provided. he explained, his club
and other centers here were jammed
late Saturday nights with service
men who had no place to sleep
Often, he said, the men did not have
money or the inclination, if it was
cold, to make the trip over the
Arlington Memorial Bridge.
Mr.. Forbes said that on many
Saturday nights he was faced with
the problem of servicemen sleeping
on the floor and on the stairway of
Service Club No l. There was no
way of sending them to the sleeping
place provided by the Army.
Through the efforts of 1t. Col
w. H. Long, head of the Washing
ton Recreation Area, and 1t. John
Simpson, special service officer of
the Washington military district
and Recreation Services. Inc, the
Saturday night transportation serv-
ice was instituted.
From II pm. Saturday night to
S am. Sunday morning Army trucks
stop every 20 minutes to pick up
soldiers. sailors, Marines and Coast
Guardsmen at the Union Station,
Service Club No. l, John B. Bennett
Memorial Club. 613 c street NV,
and the Soldiers, Sailors and Ma
rines' Club, 1915 L street NV.
Showers Are Provided.
Sleeping accommodations for 600
to 700 servicemen are provided at
the recreation center. There are
also shower baths and warm sleeping
quarters.
The Arlington Red Cross Chapter
serves the men Sunday breakfast.
Trucks used to transport the men
are supplied from Fort Myer.
A driver of one Of the Army
trucks estimated that 275 to $50
servicemen have been sleeping at
the recreation center since the
new transportation service was
begun. y
The men who seem to get the big
gest kick out of chance to sleep
at the recreation center, according
to Mr.. Forbes, are the sailors, who
welcome the opportunity to see how
their brothers in the service live.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-12-28
Union Head Saws
Low Pay Keeps
Oil Trucks Idle
Charge Is Denied
By Official of
Fuel Dealers

A charge that competent drivers
to man fuel oil trucks were available,
but were unwilling to work at wages
of from $40 to $22 a week was made
today by Robert Lester, president
of the Transfers Joint Council,
after it was learned that dozens of
trucks were idle because dealers
complained they were unable to hire
men.
Mr.. Lester said that Local 639 of
of the Transfers union had a men,
bership of about $500 and that
there were always between so and
go men milling around the Office
looking for work. He said, in sd-
dition, drivers were available from
other sources.
"As far as we are concerned" the
union leader said, there is no
shortage of drivers, but rather a
shortage of available drivers at the
wages the dealers pay You can't
expect man to drive an oil truck
for from $40 to $22 week and work
all sorts of hours when he can get
another job at $40 to $45 a week
and work regular hours
Denies Wage Charge.
The union leaders charge was
denied by Lester Scott, director of
the oil heating division of the Mer-
chants and Manufacturers Associa-
ton, who said regular wages gen.
orally were at least $50 a week for
drivers, with time-and- half for
overtime. Mr.. Scott said he believed
the manpoWer shortage was nat
ural" and that it was brought about
by the draft OF men into military
service. These men, he said, cannot
be easily replaced.
He said he had just checked with
six dealers. representative of those
In the District, and had been told
that the general rate of pay was
between IS and 80 cents an hour,
with me-and-a- half for hours
worked in excess of 40 a week.
Tank truck drivers are making
pretty good wages and have all sea-
son." Mr.. Scott said. They are paid
more now than ever and get over
time pay besides. In past years, you
couldn't get competent truck drivers
for less than $50 a week. I doubt
very much that pay has anything
to do with the shortage"
May Cali on Army.
Meanwhile. Renah F.. Camalier.
newly appointed consultant to the
District OPA director, was confer
ring with Price Administrator Leon
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-12-28

3343 Twelfth road north, Arlington
Va, was cut on the chin and lin
when his bus crashed into the center
pole of the railroad viaduct at
Seventh street and Rhode Island
avenue NE. early today. There were
no passengers in the bus. Mr.. john
son was treated at Casualty Hos
pital.
Annie Carter, 81, of 26O5 Mozart
place NV, suffered a broken hil
when struck by an automobile as
she crossed Connecticut avenue NV
near M street. According to police
Milton Kessler, 80, of 1923 Bladens-
burg road NE. the driver of the car
was to appear at an investigation
today.
Marine Tucker, 4. colored, 4931 u
Cullinane court S.W., suffered a
shoulder fracture and possible con-
cussion when struck by q truck
which, according to police, was op-
Grated by George E. Boswell, IS, of
62l Maryland avenue Sc. The acct
dent occurred at Sixth and H streets
S.W. and the injured girl was taken
to Casualty Hospital.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-12-28
D. T.. Tenants Accept
Heating Cuts With
Little Grumb|ing
Complaints Few, Says
Rent Control Counsel;
Oil Conversion Urged

Tenants occupying houses heated
by fuel oil are accepting reductions
of heat much more graciously than
was anticipated, a representative of
the District Rent Control Admins
traitor said today.
Complaints in connection with
lowered temperatures. is was re-
ported. have been relatively few and
the legitimate ones are rare. Ernest
Henry, general counsel for the ad-
miniStrator, said this is tribute
not only to the tenants but to the
landlords.
Most tenants" he said, have &C
cepted the OPA's edict that IS de-
grees is high enough. They are sat-
isfied if their homes are kept up to
that temperature"
Rules on Rent Cuts.
The Rent Control Administrator
has taken the position that de-
creases in rent will not be allowed
when it can be shown that the land
lord is providing all the services
he was granting on January l. 1941,
within the limit of bis ability to
provide them; and when it is also
demonstrated that any reductions
he has been compelled to make in
services due to Government orders
are not resulting in any material
saving in his operating costs.
Landlords should make an effort.
Mr.. Henry said, to provide heat and
hot water at times when tenants
want them and to provide as much
as possible within rationing restric-
lions. In most instances. the attor-
ney said, 1t has been found that the
landlord has not saved much be-
cause his oil purchases are less.
Usually. Mr.. Henry pointed out, the
landlord has already borne an in
creased operating cost, including a
rise in the price of fuel oil per GAL
Ion, and in only few instances has
he Appealed for higher rent ceilings
to offset these added expenses.
In cases where it is feasible to
convert from the use of fuel oil to
coal, Mr.. Henry explained, landlords
are being made to change over
whenever complaints come in from
their tenants. In such instances, he
said, the landlord cannot be excused
from providing the same quality of
service he furnished on January /,
1941.
Points Out Discrepancy.
On the question of coal conserva-
ton. Mr. Henry admitted, there is
some discrepancy between the
policies of the local administrator
and Federal officials. Landlords still
are being required to furnish heat
at the same level as on January /,
l941, if they heat with coal, despite
Government appeals to conserve all
fuels, Mr.. Henry explained.
You can't conserve something
you are obligated to provide" Mr..
Henry said. when It is still possible
to provide 1t without restriction"
He added. however, that landlords
were being advised to do everything
possible to save coal without cutting
down the temperature by better i'm
sulation, avoiding CARELESS heating
methods and saving on heat during
the night.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-12-28

The Federal Government. in a
small way, today became its own
victim of fuel oil rationing.
About 200 employees of the Civil
Aeronautics Administra tons War
Training Section quartered in a
rented building at 1900 I street NV,
were sent home or to the CAA Offices
when they reported for work this
morning because their own Offices
were cold.
The Twelfth and I street building,
owned by the Capitol Wallpaper Co.,
had simply run out of fuel oil-an
experience shared from time to time
by hundreds of the Government
humber taxpayers.
Arrangements were being made.
according to Daniel Wagner, build
ing superintendent. to get an emer-
gency order of oil into the tank so
that CAA employees could go back
to their regular jobs after lunch at
pm. But, Mr.. Wagner said, there
was no guarantee that the relief
would be permanent. He said the
building had also run out of oil for
short time on December 10 and he
expected 1t to happen again.
Heated Longer Now.
The Government itself, it devel-
oped, was a good deal to blame. In
the first place, the fuel oil ration of
the building is based on last years
consumption, when the building was
heated from a. M to p. m. daily.
Several weeks ago, though. the CAA
put on second shift and it is now
necessary to keep the place heated
from a. m. to midnight-nearly
twice as long as before.
How warm do you keep the place
when you have oil?" Mr.. Wagner
was asked.
He laughed sheepishly.
AT 70 degrees" he said. He ex-
planned that he was ordered to main
tain that temperature, but he didn't
know where the order came from.
Although the 70 average is a good
deal higher than the IS maximum
prescribed by the Office of Price
Administration, it is still somewhat
lower than the average of 76 degrees
found in recent survey of Federal
buildings here.
Mr.. Wagner said that an emer-
gency order for oil was put through
a week ago last Saturday-the same
day that the building ran out. The
dealer, he said, was out of oil local
ly but made arrangements for 1850
gallons to be brought in directly
from Baltimore.
According to the building super
intendent the oil company was told
this would do for about week and
another order was placed for an
additional 1000 gallons to be de-
livered sometime during last week.
The shipment never turned up. Mr..
Wagner said he was told the dealer
was still without oil of the type
needed-N9. l heavy industrial oil.
Still Owes Coupons.
AS a matter of fact, if the OPA
hadn't made No. 3 coupons valid
beginning today. it might have been
necessary for CAA workers to stay
out of the building or work with
their mittens until next Monday,
when the third heating period be-
gins.
Mr.. Wagner said he was all out
of No. coupons and that he still
owed the dealer about 1000 gallons
worth of No. l coupons, He said his
supply Of No. 3 coupons would be
adequate to keep the place supplied
for another few weeks, and after
that he wasn't sure what would hap
pen:
According to a spokesman for the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-12-28
CAA Offices at 18th and ! SITS.
Closed as Fuel Oil Runs Out
200 Employees Either Sent Home
Or to Other Quarters for Day

Public Building Authority, this is
the second case of its kind that has
occurred since oil rationing began
A week ago today. he said, employees
in the Materials Division of the War
Production Board, housed at 470 In
diana avenue N. w., were sent home
for the day because oil was not avail
able
This same spokesman denied that
his agency has issued any order to
keep the Twelfth and I street build
ing at u degrees. All Government
Offices, he said, have been ordered
kept at basic temperature of SO
degrees-which is only three degrees
higher than that allowed in oil ra =
toned residences.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-12-28

Henderson and other Government
officials in an effort to iron out
some OF the more vexing fuel oil
problems here, including the Short
age of manpower.
Mr.. Camalier said he would first
ask Manpower Commissioner Paul
V. McNutt to supply enough drivers
for fuel oil trucks in this area and
that II this step failed to relieve
the shortage, he would appeal to
the Army to assign soldiers to drive
the tank trucks.
The War Department announced
today it would make no comment
on Mr.. Camalier's suggestion for
soldier drivers until a formal re-
quest of this kind had been sub
mitted to the department.
Mr.. Camalier's principal task in
his new post, which is non-paying
and in the nature of a liaison job
between dealers and Government
agencies, will be to coordinate the
two and to eliminate certain evil
dences of friction which have delayed
OIL QeuVer1eS.
Asks Public Co. operation.
He issued request Saturday for
the public to cooperate as much as
possible, especially by writing the
numbers of their ration sheets on
the oil coupons and sending them to
the dealers from whom they buy.
His conference TODAY will be with
representatives of the Office of
Price Administration Office of De-
Tense Transportation, Office of
petroleum Co-ordinator and Petro-
leum Administrator for War. Later
this week he will confer with a
group for the oil industry selected
by the dealers themselves and will
compile list of dealer complaints
on which to base his efforts.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-12-28
District Hotels Plan
CurtaiIed Reve|ries
For New Year Eve
Some Eliminating All
Special Features; early
Breakup Of Parties Seen

At least TWO large hotels here said
they were making no special plans
for New Year eve parties and others
reported curtailment of festivities as
Washington made preparations for
welcoming the arrival of 1943 on
Thursday night.
Most of those jewellers who join in
the traditional jollification probably
will turn in earlier than in past
years. All Federal employees must
work New Year Day. Government
heads gave them Christmas off with
the understanding that they put in
full day Friday.
The stress this year promises to
be on the religious significance of
another years advent with numer-
GUS churches of many faiths plan
ming watch night services. Friday
will be a holy day of obligation for
Catholics.
Must Buy Bonds to Enter,
Two hotels have agreed to dis
pense with cover charge New Year
eve. Instead, patrons will purchase
at least one S25 War bond a couple
to gain admittance They are the
Carlton and Wardman Park Hotels
Their managers reported TODAY
that reservations were coming in
steadily and that people seemed to
like the bond idea. One hotel
official said some wanted to pur-
chase the bond Immediately. How
ever, bonds will be on sale in the
lobby of the two hotels on that
night
Nearly all hotels said they were
cutting out the early morning
breakfast usually served jewellers
The Shoreham and Mayflower
Hotels said nothing special was be-
ing planned and that it would be
Just like any Saturday night"
A Shoreham official pointed out
that in past years additional space
was opened up in rooms adjacent
to the Blue Room for New Year
eve celebrants. But this time. he
commented, they would be lucky
to have enough help to take care of
patrons.
Some Will Provide Favors
Other hotels and night clubs made
plans for providing customers with
no!semakers. costume hats and IA
Vors expected on such a night.
Unless the District Commissioners
rule against it crowds will gather
along F. street in the theater district
to see the old year out.
officials were to work out plans for
police details today.
Many theaters have planned mid
night shows,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-12-28
Civilian Merit Medal
Awards Board Named

President Roosevelt has set up
board headed by Secretary of
State Hull to pass on awards of the
Medal for Merit" authorized for
civilians of this and the Allied coun-
tries by the last Congress.
The medal will be given to Ameri-
cans for outstanding services in con-
nection with the war. For citizens
Of friendly nations, it also may be
awarded for bravery.
Serving on the Awards Board with
the Secretary of State are the Sec
retaries of War and Navy and the
heads Of the War Production Board
and Once of Civilian Defense.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-12-28
Boy, 10, Gives Sermon as Feast
Is Marked by Catholic Group
Our Lady Of Victory
Ceremony Honors
Holy Innocents

] A sermon of hope in a war-torn
world was given by a 10-year-old
boy yesterday afternoon at the
Church of Our Lady of Victory
1885 Macarthur boulevard, where
about 100 children and nearly as
many adults attended special
service to mark the Feast of the
Holy Innocents.
Dressed in the robes of cardinal,
James Konouck. student Of ST.
Stephens School. stood inside the
altar rail and delivered the sermon
following a procession of children
dressed as priests, nuns and angels
Tableaux Presented.
The celebration opened in the
parish hall, where number of chill
dren presented six tableaux based
on gospel stories from st. Matthew.
The group then formed a process
sion to the church, where services
opened with the boys sermon.
The text of the sermon follows:
My dear friends, we have seen
this afternoon the age-old story of
the Holy Innocents, of the wicked
king who tried in vain to destroy
the innocent Babe of Bethlehem.
Instead he sent to Heaven the first
martyrs to sing forever the praises
of that sweet Babe, and the kings
and rulers who sought to crush the
Child and destroy His work are for
gotten or are despised.
Triumph of Truth Predicted.
To-day history repeats itself. and
we see the suffering and bloodshed
caused by the wicked who are trying
to erase the very name of the divine
Child from the earth. Let us always
remember that truth will triumph
as of old. The enemies of Jesus and
His cause will perish. and the tiny
Babe, the divine Prince of Peace,
shall triumph gloriously and eter-
nally.
May He from His manper bless lis
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-12-28

o.
Hennigan, E. j.
O'Connor. Joseph A
Turner. Thomas N.
Fine. Arnold J.
Wahl. Andrew N.
Clarken, Thomas J,
UmfreSS. j. c., jr.
Evans, Joseph
Aderhold. James l..
Balm, Robert K.
Fields, Thomas A.
Ciskey, Raymond J.
Woods, William z.
Downes, John P.
Hettenhouser. E. w.
BlCmenthal. NJ.
Overriding. Alfred
Genger. Edwa I'd P.
Cardwell, James B.
Luton, Jack
King, Norman e.
Giles, Thomas ].
Nuremberg, Myles M
Montaya. lie Roy F.
Conan. Lester J.
OMalley, J. A., jr.
Bladen, Ira Z.
Tucci, George L.
Douglas. william H.
Vito. Frank A.
Franklin. Herbert 3
Kreimeyer, Robert r
Carreira. Alvarb
Vega, Miguel A.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-12-28
Correction

A fuel oil story in yester-
days Star quoted Renah F.
Camalier, consultant to the
District OPA director, as re-
questing consumers to write
the numbers of their ration
sheets on the back of each cou-
pom. This was an error. Num-
bers should be written on the
front of oil coupons and on
the back of gasoline coupons.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-12-28
Man, 81, Boqs Wild Turkey

WINCHESTER, Va. Dec. % (Spe-
cian.--C. G. Baker, 81, retired Fred
erick County mountain farmer, re-
Gently bagged 10-pound wild tur-
key. He told the family he had to
walk only or 10 miles" before
drawing bead on the turkey. One
shot felled it.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-12-28
Dorden Goes Huntino

RICHMOND, Va, Dec. % R.-
Gov. Darden left early this morning
for day Of hunting in Buckingham
County. Seeking to conserve gaso-
line, the Governor took a bus to his
destination.