davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1942-10-11
BY Jane Eads,
Wide World.

Whether the question concerns secur-
ing lend-lease for beeswax or a sugar
rationing book for pet Pekingese. Kath-
crime c. Blackburn can tell you how to
find the answer.
From her surprisingly pleasant Office
IN temporary building she is directing
the activities of the Bureau of Public
Inquiries which answers some $4,000
queries of Mr. and Mrs. America monthly.
There is only one question :. a per-
sonal one which Miss Blackburn
can't answer. Ask her what her title
will be tomorrow, and she'll shake her
head, while a slow smile crosses her
handsome face.
Il never know from day to day."
she will reply.
In September, 1899, Miss Blackburn
became assistant director of the Office
of Government Reports, which super
seded the National Emergency Council
in the Presidents reorganization plan
of July in that year.
Since July of this year-until a few
days ago-she was chief of the Bureau
of Public Inquiries of the Office of War
Information. But in a further reorgani-
zation of the latter Office, the Bureau of
Public Inquiries became division Of the
Bureau of Special Operations and Miss
Blackburn's title was changed to ssso-
ciate chief to DR.. Lyman Bryson
Confusing, isn't it," she remarked
with chuckle.
Connecticut-born fiftyish, amiable and
amply built. she looks somewhat like a
feminine version Of Edward Arnold. the
movie actor.
She's Casey" to Every One
Ever since the day the late Louis
Howe. presidential secretary sent her
his likeness autographed: ITO the one
Casey who never strikes out when she
goes to bat" she has been Casey"
to every one from F. D. r. on down.
In the barrackslike structure on
Pennsylvania avenue, Casey's ONCE is a
haven with blue carpet and match
ing blue leather seated chairs. On
her desk are all sorts of gay Objects
cork goat, a zany Ferdinand, a pot Of
African violets.
On her wall are a large autographed
sketch of the President, the priced photo
OF Louis Howe and framed typewrit-
ten note from the latter.
Dear Casey" it reads. please re-
member the best motto ever hung on an
ONCE wall is that Silence is golden"
Il got that once" she said, "for not
talking out Of turn"
For II years Casey was secretary to
the Woodrow Wilson Foundation after
q tour around the country with former
Evening star., 1942-10-11

During World War I, Casey was with
the foreign press bureau of the Com
mittee on Public Information in New
York City. The committee received
something like 10000 queries year.
The President remembered that huge
information center in the customs
house when he became inundated with
pleas from businessmen from all over
the United States who came to Wash
ington only to get "shushed around"
The idea for the bureau Of public in
quiries was his own, Casey claims, add
ing:
businessmen came here thinking
they wanted something in the War De-
Evening star., 1942-10-11
Thomas Law, Whose Fortune Helped Give Capital Its Start "A

Third Congresses and . man who had
considerable to do with the placing Of the
Capital City on its present site.
1t is probable that he came to WASH
ington in 1914, for it was in that year
that he was appointed one of three COM
missioners to superintend the re-erection
Of the public buildings destroyed by the
British on August "a, of that year, the
other members being John P. Van Ness
and Tench Ringgold, and their meetings
were held in the old Blodgett Hotel
Building on street between Seventh
and Eighth streets.
Later, in 1915, he was appointed by
President Madison commissioner to
adjudicate claims arising out Of the
loss or destruction of property during
the War Of 1812-1S15. Subsequently, in
1919. he was appointed by President
Monroe Judge Of the Orphans Court
of the District of Columbia, and served
as such until his death in Washington,
D. c., March II, 1927.
The writer is not certain If Judge Lee
died in the old Law mansion, but If he
did, additional significance attaches to
the residence because of the fact that
he was undoubtedly one OF the founders
of the National Capital. He is buried
in Congressional Cemetery, and his
grave is appropriately marked.
In more recent years, this old resi-
dence was the home of Edmund G.
Wheeler, who for a long time following
the Civil War kept junk business on
the north side of the canal at Seventh
and B streets and even after the canal
was converted into a sewer, continued
for while at that stand.
New Jersey Avenue Property.
Much importance has been attached
to Tom Laws New Jersey avenue prop
erty which soon became a boarding
house and later a hotel as we are in
formed by Mrs. Thornton, who refers
to this property in her diary under date
of Saturday, February /, 1900, saying:
Mr.. Law called-showed us q copy
of letter written by Member Of
Congress to Mr.. White, to know If he
could procure lodgings in one house for
the Vice President CMr. Jefferson) &
nine Members Of Congress-Mr. Law has
offered one (Which is not yet begun)
Evening star., 1942-10-11

country seats on the Potomac. Except
on festival occasions there was no look
Of assembly or congregation In ths
many separated chambers. It seemed
apparent that the fervent versatility Of
the proprietor had planned his house
and ruled out architectural effective
ness in pursuance Of an original plain
ness and materialism.
I'm 1880 the old man. at II, presided
at the exercises of the Columbian Uni
versity in the Capital; Edward Everett,
orator. Three years before his death
his wife's niece, Mary Custis, married
1t. Robert E. Lee at Arlington, attend
ed by her cousin, Mrs. Beverly Kennon,
still living" Uong since deceased)
BY his daughter, who married Lloyd
Nicholas Rogers Of Druid Hill, Balti-
more, Thomas Law left the only safe
Immortality, posterity. In the family
burial lot at the summit Of that wood
land park, near the Rogers residence,
which is now the park mansion, were
passed some OF the happy days Of
Job" A few months before our Civil
War the great-grandson Of Thomas
Law sold the estate for 100000 to the
city, the sum OF money he was repylted
to have fetched from India. though he
says himself that 1t was only $500 900. q
NTH more having been seized as his
surety for 4 defaulter.
Mrs. Law died in Richmond. Vs..
January /, 1882. and Is buried In this
Washington tomb at Mount Vernon.
Thomas Law died here on July 81.
1884. and his death Is recorded in this
Intelligencer Of the following day:
I'm this city at O'Clock yesterday.
after an illness Of or 10 days, Thomas
Law, esquire, aged about 7s years. {" ="
He lived to follow to the grave his
whole family, three beloved sons, ma
tives Of India, and no less beloved
daughter, native Of this District"
He is said to have been buried in
st. Johns Cemetery, which at one time
occupied the square between Twelfth
and Thirteenth, r and S streets NV,
and that when the bodies inferred here
were removed that they were taken to
Rock Greek Cemetery. It is also said
that Laws body was buried in Congress
sional Cemetery. But these cemeteries
have no record OF his burial.
Indeed. it is quite pity that his
last resting place cannot be located,
for during the period Of his long life
IN washington no man did more than
he for the city Of hts adoption.
Evening star., 1942-10-11

that will be ready-they to find a
tenant & fix the rent"
Evidently tenant was found and the
rent made agreeable, for it was in the
McMunn started their boarding house,
using the adjoining one as tavern for
the accommodation of transients.
This early firm of hotel proprietors,
like many successful people today. be-
Evening star., 1942-10-11

partment. They got there and found
that maybe what they wanted was to
be found at the War Production Board
There they were told, perhaps, to go to
the Navy or the Office of Price Admin
istration. It took days and days.
Well. anyway, that's what the
President had to listen to-
The President picked the place
right in the heart Of Washington's
downtown district. He looked at the
plans for the building, and he changed
them.
ITS the Presidents baby. all right"
says Casey.
Twelve Experts.
Nov if any one comes to Washington
with problem he or she can go straight
to our building The girls at the big
oval counter take care Of some Is 900
queries month. II they can't answer
the questions people ask, they are sent
TO one OF the II staff specialists who
SIT In glass cages around the room. By
golly, these men can solve almost any
problem or answer any question.
These II men are picked from the
various agencies around town and are
chosen for their intimate knowledge of
the Government and of where specific
problems can be solved. Sometimes they
are personally delegated to go with peo-
pie to see that they get served.
There is a telephone switchboard
where more than $4,000 calls are received
monthly. The load of correspondence
runs upward of 5000 letters day.
Once there came businessman to
Washington who thought the only way
to get an answer to his problem was to
wine and dine the "big-wigs,' Casey
related. He spent more than $4,000 TAX
ing the boys around, but he didn't get
an answer. He came back in a month
or two, saw man behind a desk in a
glass cage, and he went home happy.
Most Of the people asking questions
are patriotically trying to learn how
they can operate in relation to rationing
and priorities, Businessmen make the
most inquiries; educators and Librarians
are next.
Where's My Car?
Questions range from the sublime to
the ridiculous.
There was the Chinese citizen who
wanted to sail to Bombay; the man who
wanted to send 10 trucks to Dutch
Guiana In addition to getting informa-
ton on cosmetics; the attorney who
wanted to get client out Of Baghdad,
Iraq, and had left all his papers per-
tanning to the visa application on the
Pullman coming to town.
And the man who wanted the experts
b tell him where he had parked his car.
Evening star., 1942-10-11

Hastings grew wealthy; so did Tom
Law. Subsequently Hastings was i'm
peached for malfeasance in office, and,
according to articles prepared by Ed
mund Burke, he was charged among
other things with cruelty, extortion and
fraud. This trial was one of the most
celebrated of all time, and included
among the prosecuting counsel Burke,
Fox, Gray, Francis and Sheridan, while
Laws elder brother, Edward Law-Lord
Ellenborough, an eminent lawyer of that
period-was the principal counsel for
Warren Hastings
The case, We are told was not termi-
mated for seven years, when finally
Hastings was acquitted, with the result,
however that his fortune was swallowed
up in his long defense. In this trial
scores of witnesses from India were
summoned. among the rest Thomas Law,
who, naturally knew more about Hast
tnss than any other man in the world
He knew his character and habits from
daily observation. and he knew his
system of government and his every
thought, and so. when Law was COM
manded to appear In England to testify,
he decided America was good place to
settle, and so we find him arriving In
Washington on February q. 1875,
Or. the other hand, some say Laws
coming to the United States was due to
the great admiration he conceived for
President Washington, and that when
he knew of the efforts being made to
establish national capital, he became
anxious to identify himself with its
growth from the very beginning" Law
himself gives other reasons.
OF Mr. Laws first marriage little is
known, but when he came to Washing
ton he brought with him three sons, John
and Edmund, who became prominent
lawyers in Washington, and George, all
born in India. His second wife was
Elizabeth Parke Custis, daughter of John
Parke Custis, and granddaughter OF
Martha Washington. His second mar
riage took place on March 81. 1876, at
the home of the brides stepfather. DR.,
David Stuart, then living at Hope Park,
in Fairfax County. Va. Law was 80.
the bride 10.
First Washington Residence.
Shortly after the marriage of the dis
tinguished couple. they moved to the
residence. still standing at the northeast
corner of Sixth and N streets S.W..
which was rented by Mr. Law from the
syndicate composed of Morris, Nichol-
son d Greenleaf.
For while, at least, they lived hoppily
and enjoyed themselves travelling about
in their chariot drawn by four horses,
and they continued to reside in this Sec
ton of the new city until the summer of
1916, when they moved to their new home
on the west side of New Jersey avenue
between B and c streets, now the site
of the House Office Annex, and here they
entertained such distinguished notables
as Louis Philippe Count Volney, Niemce-
w.tz, Richard Parkinson and many 9TH
ers, and most likely had as occasional
guests Gen. and Mrs. Washington.
The Law residence at Sixth and N
streets. In addition to having Mr.. and
Mrs. Law as its first occupants, is also
said to have been occupied for some years
BY Richard Bland Lee OF "Leesylvania,"
Of Prince william County. va. who was
. Representative In the First, Second and
Evening star., 1942-09-13

Trinity designed and clean
cut with tarnish-resistant
back. Curved to fit the line
of wrist for real comfort.
Leather strap Federal tax
additional.
NE. and NV.
Evening star., 1942-09-13

Treat your bridge guests to
these d delicioNs, freshly
roasted Spanish peanuts.
At this special price for
Monday only.
NE. and NV.
Imperial Valley press., 1942-09-22
Legion Supports
1879 Draft Law

KANSAS CITY, Sept. %. tUP)-
The American Legion wants the
United States to step up its war
effort by drafting Is and 10 year
old youths Immediately and by ef-
fecting total mobilization of man
power.
Before the oath annual National
American convention adjourned yes
terday. the Legionnaires adopted a
strongly worded resolution calling
for the immediate drafting of men
in the 18 and 19-year- old groups to
spare family men and for conScrip-
ton of the nations resources.
The resolution also asked for one
years compulsory military training
for all American men before their
22nd birthday as a postwar policy.
The Legion recommended that "in
order to render complete service to
the country it is necessary that
there be enacted national service
law whereby manpower may be as
signed and utilized in war produc-
ton wherever and whenever it is
Imperial Valley press., 1942-09-22

used to like before going to South
America. I told him I didn't like
it and didn't want to know his ex-
girl friends, but he told me to be
broad d-minded, that in the United
States we had a way of living dif-
ferent from South America"
Mrs. Somermeier charged that her
husband beat her that night when
they quarreled again about his wom-
an friends.
HE beat me all over with his fists
until l screamed" she testified.
Two witnesses for Mrs. Somer-
meier, Mrs. Bessie Price and Mrs
Thelma Johnson, told the court
Somermeier had spanked his wife
one night when she refused to take
part in a poker game at Mrs. john
sons Raymond. Cal, ranch.
Mr.. Somermeier grabbed his wife
b. the arm, took her upstairs and
then we heard sounds of spank
ing and screams" Mrs. John said.
Mrs. Somermeier has asked $500
a month separate maintenance from
her husband, grandson of the late
Andrew Jergens. Somermeier has
filed a cross-complaint for divorce.
Imperial Valley press., 1942-09-22
Farm Machinery
Already Scarce

not eligible to membership.
The announcement of the order
said the action was taken Ito make
possible the distribution by Octo-
Der 81 of scarce machinery to grow
ers producing crops essential to the
war effort"
A check of El Centro farm ma
chinery dealers showed that they
have been unable to fill ordrs for
the type of machinery frozen" for
the last six months The dealers
were doubtful whether the new
committee would be able to facili-
tate delivery.
Glass B" machinery can still be
obtained by the farmers own cer-
tification that it is necessary and
no restrictions have been placed on
Glass c., hoes, rakes, forks and all
hand operated and one and two
horse drawn machinery not in the
Glass A" category.
All tractors have been frozen. ="
Before the September IT order only
crawl-type tractors had been ra-
toned.
Imperial Valley press., 1942-09-22
qb Hours 81 pent
Moving ESQ Feet

ing, report which was supported
by aresume of American sea strength
issued by Chairman Carl VinSon, D..
Ga, of the house naval affairs COM
mittee.
The London report said that it
was believed that three George v
type, 35,O00-ton battleships now are
in service.
This would mean that the entire
class has been completed.
Vinson reported that the battle
of the Atlantic has taken definite
turn toward the Allies and that
sinkings off the American coast
have almost ceased.
A possibly significant dispatch
came from Kuibyshev. reporting a
conference of Soviet vice-commissar
of foreign affairs, S. A. Lozovsky,
with the japanese Ambassador Mao
take Sato
In the Far East japanese air.
planes carried out a heavy attack
on the New Guinea coast, 80 miles
from Port Moresby. Allied planes
smashed at japanese planes dis
persed in the Solomon Islands and
again attacked japanese communi-
cations over the owen Stanley
mountains.
British troops in Madagascar we're
approaching the capital of Tansna-
rive.
Imperial Valley press., 1942-09-22
RAMBLING Reporter

Continued From Page II
"she done locked herself in the
bathroom" Mrs. Wood could hear
Missy wailing and pounding on the
bathroom door.
Mrs. Wood advised the maid to
look in the bathroom window to
find out if Ann was safe and if she
could get in through the window
and rescue the child. The maid
banged up the receiver In a few
moments Mrs. Wood called home.
The maid answered.
Did you get her out?" the mother
inquired.
NO said the Negro, you rang
me before I could find out" Mrs.
Wood told the frightened Negro to
call to Ann and have her turn the
key and let herself out, and not to
hang up the receiver while she
talked to the child.
Mrs. Wood could hear the Negro
shouting and the child shouting.
In a moment there was the noise
of an opening door and Ann
shrieked "Wheeeeeeeeew
Peace settled over the Wood
home.
Imperial Valley press., 1942-09-22
Labor Piratinq
Protest LODGED

step pirating our farm laborers,
was the gist of a resolution passed
by Imperial county supervisors
Monday after hearing about MADEIRA
county posters urging farm laborers
to leave this area and locate in
MADEIRA county.
Copies of the resolution request
ing the MADEIRA Chamber of Com
merce to desist from tacking up the
posters in Imperial county, will be
sent to the MADEIRA board of super
visorS, the MADEIRA Chamber of
Commerce, and federal officials in
terested in the stabilization of the
labor supply.
The resolution was passed at the
request of Thomas N. Finney of
the Federal Employment service,
who showed board members one
of the posters.
Imperial Valley press., 1942-09-22
Korean Says laps
Plan New Attacks

WASHINGTON, Sept. 30. fUP)-
DR.. Dakin X. Chung of the Sino-
Korean Peoples league said today
that Japan's Premier Hideki TOTO
told members of the terrorist Black
Dragon Society that an attempt
would be made within the next three
months to occupy Perth, Australia
and the Fiji and New Hebrides Is
lands.
Chung said he had received this
information in reports from Korean
agents in Japan, and that TOTO dis
closed the plans at an Aug. 6 meet
ing attended by so prominent men,
bers of the society.
The japanese, the agents report
ed, are now constructing a large
aircraft factory assembly center at
Batavia and a ship repair base at
Singapore.
Imperial Valley press., 1942-09-22
L.v. Ships 1882
Carloads toL. A.
From Local Farms

Imperial Valley shipped 4,932 car
loads of farm products valued at
S4.2l4,385 to the markets of Los
Angeles county in 1941 as compared
to the 1910 shipments which totaled
4,775 valued at s3,4l4,090
San Joaquin Valley last year
shipped 1882 carloads to Los An
geles county markets, the ship
ments being valued at S8,387 $50
Instead of showing an increase last
year over the year before, the San
Joaquin shipments in l941 were
less than in 1910. The total was
1899 and the value S8,220,095.
Shipments from Imperial Valley
to Los Angeles county last year
were as follows with the first num-
Der showing the carload total for
each product and the second num-
Der the value:
Asparagus, IL. $4,000. Faba beans,
/, $3.50. White cabbage, 48, SCI 800.
Red Cabbage, /, s675. Cantaloupes,
760, s456. 900. Bunched carrots, 80,
$22,550. Topped carrots, %, s7,700.
Cucumbers, %, $4,000, Eggplant, l6,
$l8,400. Grapefruit. $50, s323, 400.
Table grapes, 3, S2,250. Lettuce, 928,
$533,600. Honeyballs, 35, s14,857.
Honeydews, 50, s28,600. japanese
melons, 2, $500. Dry onions, 2, ST.
soc.
Green onions, 2, s2,400 Oranges,
4. 5000. Green peas. 154, s26l 300
Peppers. 5, 4,250. Spinach, u, s4,-
200 Summer squash, l29, Sl54,800.
Italian squash, Ill. s133,2 200. Tang
crimes. As, SAC, 500 Tomatoes, 1850
s2.o28, 900. Watermelons, 379, $780,
ABS.
Imperial Valley press., 1942-09-22
Wife Spanking Charged

LOS ANGELES, Sept %. tUP)-
Pretty Irma Somermeier 26 former
BuenoS Aires nightclub entertainer
charged in her separate maintenance
suit that her wealthy husband,
Thomas G. Somermeier, spanked her
numerically when she refused to
PLAY poker and objected to his "ex-
girl friends"
In the initial hearing yesterday
on her suit against Somermeier
heir to the Andrew Jergens lotion
fortune, Mrs. Somermeier said her
husband told her she must be
broad minded" about his displays
of affection toward former feminine
friends because customs in the Unit
ed States differed from those in
Argentina.
She told Superior Judge Ruben
S. Schmidt that she married the
wealthy sportsman in Argentina
Imperial Valley press., 1942-09-22

range aircraft designed to patrol
vast ocean areas. We are now pro-
ducing them in sufficient numbers
to supply our bases from Iceland to
South America and from Alaska
to the Indian ocean. We have put
multi-engined land planes into an
ti-submarine patrol in some areas,
and we shall expand further in this
category during the coming year.
The first such squadron which
we commissioned has accounted for
not less than five Axis submarines.
Plant expansion>is rapidly build
ing up TO an output of just under
1000 navy planes a month. The
U. S. Navy, in other words, is bear
ing its full share of President
RooSevelts program calling for Co.
900 planes in 1912 and 125,0OO in
l943.
In addition 10 powered planes, an
extensive glider program is under
way, some of its types for marine
corps used in amphibious opera
ticns. We have increased the au-
thorized strength of non-rigid air
ships, or "blimps,' from 4S to 200,
and during the year we have COM
missioned the first three of a SER
les of new coastal "blimp" bases.
Although their relative vulner-
ability to enemy fighter planes
limits their use TO our own skies,
the navy is making effective use
Of blimps in anti-submarine pa
trcls.
Imperial Valley press., 1942-09-22
British Approach
Islands Capital

LONDON, Sept. 90. CUP)-British
columns are approaching Tanana-
rive, capital of Madagascar from
the northwest and east despite the
blocking of roads and dynamiting
of bridges by dupes of a few mill
tary and other officials who advo-
cate destruction at the dictation of
the Vichy government, apparently
in hope of currying favor with vi
chy,' a military commentator said
today.
Imperial Valley press., 1942-09-22

now building are ahead Of schedule
by a total of al months; aircraft
carriers by 215 months; cruisers by
SO months; destroyers by 203
months: submarines by 3l8 months
and Auxiliary vessels by SO months.
AIRCRAFT PARAMOUNT
Japan's treacherous attack at
Hawaii, United States raids on
enemy bases in the Pacific with air
craft carriers as the striking units,
and the battles of the Coral sea and
Midway island have brought home
to America and TO the world at
large the fact that the carrier has
supplanted the battleship as the
backbone of a modern navy.
The combat types Of naval air.
craft which we now have in SER
vice are, we believe, unexcelled in
performance, striking power and
equipment. Our torpedo bomber, of
which the latest model saw action
at Midway only four months after
the first plane left the manufac-
turers plant, participated in sink
ing four japanese carriers, two
heavy cruisers, and three destroy
ers and in damaging three battle
ships in the Midway battle.
This new model now represents
perhaps the most lethal weapon
yet devised for action against sur
face vessels.
FLAMES IMPROVED
While developing carrier-typ
planes, we have also improved long