davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1943-05-25
KeYser|ing, MIA Counsel, ,
Given 6-Month Deferment

Leon Keyserling, 35-year-old gen.
eral counsel of the National Housing
Agency, has been granted a six
month occupational deferment at
the request of the agency, a spokes-
man for the agencys Draft Com
mittee said today.
Mr.. Keyserling had been classified
in 3-B and was due to be reclassified
because that class had been abol-
ished. The MIA Draft Committee,
according to George Hulverson,
chairman, requested Mr.. Keyser-
ling's deferment last week and was
notified yesterday by District Draft
Board No. l that the request had
been granted.
Mr.. Hulverson said the deferment
request had been made because Mr..
keyserllng had a highly special
lied knowledge through assisting
in the merger of the six or more
agencies which now compose MIA.
Evening star., 1943-05-25
James J. Bowe Heads
Engineers Society

James j. Bowe was elected presi-
dent of the District Society of Pro-
fessional Engineers at a meeting at
American Legion Headquarters last
night. Mr.. BoWe, former head of the
mechanical engineering department
of Catholic University, is now with
the Office Of the Chief Engineers Of
the Army.
Other officers elected are: Herman
F. Lame, first vice president; Fred
erick w. Hill, second vice president;
Herbert Manuccia, secretary-treas-
urer; c. Eugene Edwards, national
director; Charles w. Began. William
A. Ruth and William R. Ackor, local
board of directors.
The society voted to support a bill
calling for the registration of all
engineers in the District.
Archie w. Johnston. assistant to
the director of relief for prisoners of
war of the American Red Cross,
spoke on work in foreign countries.
Evening star., 1943-05-25

swung around with a smile and
outstretched hand and said, Con-
gratulations.
with that, Cramm went to pieces
He burst into tears and erupted all
over the place"
Saw Start at Pearl Harbor.
Maj Smith saw the start of the
whole business. One Sunday morn
ing he heard an airplane noise that
sounded different and looked out
the big living room window of his
home at Pearl City Point, Hawaii.
He saw an airplane launching a
bomb at the Utah, moored in the
bay right in front of his house.
He backed his car out of the
driveway and made his station at
the navy yard while there was still
some firing to be done. Guadalca-
nal was more satisfactory. mo
plane on straflng mission (fying
low ever got through our defenses,' -
he said, with some pride.
Yesterday he was officially COM
mended by the Navy for setting up
those defenses. The commendation
read, His courage, skill and devo-
ton to duty were In keeping with
the highest tradition of the United
States naval service"
Evening star., 1943-05-25

Still lacking the services OF a pic
colo player, the budding Metropolitan
Police Department Band assembled
within hearing distance Of Maj. Ed
ward j. Kelley's Office today, looked
bashful for a quiet three minutes
and without further warning sud-
denly burst into the washington
and Lee Swing"
Almost without pausing for breath
the band then whipped into "An-
chors Aweigh" in honor Of 1t.
Charles Benter, retired former di-
rector of the Navy Band, who has
been named leader of the bluecoat
squad.
Their duty done, the band then
turned to planning where a piccolo
player could be picked up-cheap.
A quick compromise was reached
when 1t was decided to convert a
Anticipating policeman into a pic
colo player.
Evening star., 1943-05-25
Largest Shipment Sails
For Captive Allied Men
By the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
The largest shipment Of supplies
for prisoners of war ever to clear
from the United States was aboard
the International Red Cross Com
mittee ship Caritas I when it sailed
yesterday from Philadelphia.
The American Red Cross an
nounced that the 3,0O0-ton vessel
contained 100000 standard food
parcels packed by women volunteers
in centers in New York, Chicago and
Philadelphia; 22.5O0 invalid food
parcels. 5000 medicine kits, a guam
tity of clothing, toilet articles and
other supplies.
The food parcels. invalid food
packages and medicine kits are for
American and United Nations pris-
oners.
This is the second voyage of the
Caritas and she will dock again
at Marseille, France Her cargo
will be transshipped by rail to Ge-
neva, thence for distribution to
prison camps on the continent.
Evening star., 1943-05-25
Fort Davis Asks Study
OF Traffic Hazards

The Fort Davis Citizens Asso-
citation last night urged a Traffic
Department study of traffic hazards
IN the Fort Davis area.
The association also indorsed a
resolution favoring a bill in Con-
gress which would provide a dele
gate in the House for the District
Mrs. F. M. Walters of the Voteless
District League of Women Voters
guest, read the bill and lead the
discussion.
The associations constitution was
amended to permit each meeting to
set the date for the next session.
The Membership Committee re-
ported 20 new members. The meet
ing, the last of the season, was held
at the home of Chief Petty Officer
William T. Cameron, 1900 Thirty
fifth street Sc.
Evening star., 1943-05-25
u. S. Food Shortage
| Bothers Man Back
From GuodoIconoI

Food shortages changed his
diet after he got back to Chevy
Chase, Nd, from Guadalcanal,
Maj. Harry o. Smith, jr., said
yesterday in telling of his ex-
periences in the Solomons.
I'VE had potatoes on Quad
alcanal," he said, "and ice
cream-right in the jungle.
I'VE even had q black mar
ket. Prices on souvenirs be-
came something scandalous.
1T got so bad that fellows of
duty found hunting souvenirs
behind the lines were told they
would have to stick around and
do some fighting. That put a
crimp In It,"
Evening star., 1943-05-25
Beef SHORTAGE
Faces Buyers
In D. {. Area
Lamb Also Lacking,
While Veal Supply
Is Uncertain

With five sets of red coupons for
meats valid this week. housewives
probably will run into difficulties
again buying the cuts for which
they thriftily have been saving
points, it appeared today.
AS has occurred before when four
or five rows of red coupons are good
at the same time. there is shortage
of beef and lamb. The veal supply
is spotty. Pork cuts and hams are
more plentiful.
Dealers said there appeared to
be no way to account for the recur-
rent shortage of beef and lamb
products except that "it is just one
of those things"
"A couple of months ago." one
wholesaler said, there was plenty
of beef around, but we couldn't lay
our hands on pork or ham. Now
the situation is reversed"
In any event, merchants believed,
there would be enough meat in town
to 60 around this week end-pro-
viding they can find enough gaso-
line to distribute it. The house
wife may have to settle for a pork
roast or ham instead of sirloin
steak. but her family will eat.
What's more, there Is much bet
ter chance this week than there was
a week ago that she will be able to
put some potatoes on the table again.
This staple food product, which has
been almost unobtainable except
through black market sources for
many weeks, was coming into the
Washington area more abundantly
as shipments were reported from
Florida. Texas, Louisiana and the
Carolinas.
A long line of eager patrons lined
up outside the store of Harry Sherbv
at 401 Seventh street NV. yesterday
to get their share of the $500 pounds
of potatoes which were on sale. Mr..
Sherry sadi another 10000 pounds
will arrive today. Sales were limited
yesterday to five pounds to a Gus
toner.
The principal worry of produce
merchants who were able to get
some potatoes today remained the
matter of delivering them. Most
commission men were out or nearly
out Of gasoline, with no assurance
they would be able to get more
within the next few days.
Meanwhile, most other produce
was reported to be coming in more
plentifully, although there was still
a scarcity of onions.
Evening star., 1943-05-25
DC. Meat S|aughtere|
Pleads Not Guilty 10
Ceiling Violations
Counse|mon's Attorney
Says OPA Is Violating
Price-ControI Law

Ralph P. Counselman AZ, operator
OF slaughter house in the 400 block
OF Eleventh street S.W., today
pleaded not guilty before Justice
Bolitha j. Laws of District Court to
a total of 48 counts contained in two
indictments charging violations of
Price Administration regulations in
connection with sale to local dealers
OF various amounts of meat.
The two indictments were re-
turned early last month. One of
them, containing 43 counts, charges
price ceiling violations amounting to
nearly $500 In the sale of approxi-
mately $4,000 pounds of veal. In
addition, the indictment charges
failure to grade certain deliveries of
veal.
In the other indictment, contain
ing five counts, Mr.. Counselman is
charged with false grading of veal
After the pleas had been made,
Mr.. Counselman's attorney, Michael
F. Keogh, asked Justice Laws for 10
days time in which to withdraw the
pleas and file whatever motion Or
motions may be necessary. This re-
quest was granted. Also at the re-
quest of Mr.. Keogh, Mr.. Counselman
was permitted to remain free under
personal bond The defendants ap-
pearance in court was voluntary, it
was explained.
Mr.. Keogh charged that the OPA
is guilty of grossly violating the
Emergency Control Statute He
added that the alleged offenses with
which Mr. Counselman is charged
come under the heading of "misde-
meanors." He said also that the al
legged offenses do not come under
the term black market
Evening star., 1943-05-25
Two D. c. Men Elected
Optimist Club Officials
By the Associated press

By the Associated Press.
RICHMOND. May 25.-The 10th
district, Optimist International
elected Robert H. Stultz of Rich
mond as governor at the annual
business meeting yesterday.
Others elected were George S
Via. Roanoke: James Evans, Wash
ington, and Ernest Bradford, Balti-
more. lieutenant governors; Harris
Mitchell, Richmond. secretary
treasurer: Thomas Boyle. Roanoke
international denominator, and
Frank Steinko, Washington. inter-
national nominator alternate.
Evening star., 1943-05-25
Centralized PI an
Urged TO Handle
Ambu|anceCa||s
Committee Fuvors
Fire Alarm Office
As Clearing House

A new centralized ambulance con-
troll system, to provide swift service
to the injured anywhere in WASH
lngton, probably will be setup, with
control headquarters at fire alarm
headquarters.
This was indicated today when
preliminary plans for such system
we're developed by special commit
tee appointed for the purpose, and
predictions we're made by Commits
sioner Guy Mason that it would be
put into effect
The plan would provide for CO.
ordinated operation of at least the
d ambulances of the Fire and Po-
lice Departments, Emergency and
Casualty Hospitals.
Proposals were presented along
these lines at meeting of the Com
mittee for Study of Central Ambu-
lance Control at the District Build
ing. DR.. John A. Reed, chairman of
the group and chief medical officer
for civilian defense, also represents
George Washington University Hos
pital on the committee.
Mason Sits With Committee.
The committee, Dr. Reed an
nounced, was in entire agreement
on the control plan. 1t will meet
again soon and present an official
recommendation to the District
Commissioners.
Commissioner Mason, who ap-
~,
most Of its first session and antici-
pated early adoption of the plan. 1t
Is understood to have the support of
the other Commissioners.
Commissioner Mason launched a
study of the need for such a CO.
ordinated plan following complaints
that injured persons were lying too
long on Washington streets waiting
Tor ambulances.
At fire alarm headquarters the
plan proposes that map will be set
up and an operator posted there at
all times to receive all calls for am
balances, list the cases and keep
track of the services rendered. The
map will be graphic part of the
control system.
Each Ambulance Numbered.
Numbers will be given to all par
ticipating ambulances and the police
scout car ambulances. to facilitate
the dispatching of such cars to
scenes of accidents.
Any person needing an ambulance,
1t was explained, may call either a
hospital, the police or fire depart
ment as he sees fit. But once such
a call is received anywhere, it will
be routed to fire alarm headquarters,
where the centralized control will
coordinate the entire system Head
quarters will follow through each
call to see that some ambulance
does respond.
special emergency ambulance
telephone call number will be Sc
lected and widely advertised. so the
public will become familiar with it.
This is to facilitate the transmission
Of such calls for help
DR.. Reed said the city had enough
ambulance equipment but the prob
lem was to get the information from
the scene, set up control and the
system for receipt of call, and dis
patch of equipment, under co-ordi-
nation. This plan, he thinks, will
work efficientlv
Evening star., 1943-05-25
Tons Of Vegetables
Reach Garbage Pile in
Market G|ut Here
Officials, Dealers Blame
SpoiIoge on Heavy
Increase in Shipments

Thousands of pounds of vege-
tables, particularly beans and
squash, have been condemned here
in the past few days by the Health
Department as unfit for human
consumption"
Principal reason for the spoilage,
according to both officials of the
District of Columbia Bureau of Food
Inspection and local commission
merchants, is the glut in the mar
ket, which now is receiving heavily
increased shipments of vegetables
from the South.
w. w. Burdette, assistant director
Of the bureau. reported today that
1,185 bushels of green beans. weigh
ing $4,000 pounds, which had come
from Florida, were carted from the
N. j. Ward & Co. commission mer-
chant headquarters at 1906 Fifth
street NE. and shipped by rail to
the District garbage disposal plant
at Cherry Hill. Va. One of the
original carloads from Florida had
been marked questionable on ar
rival. Mr.. Burdette said.
Another 500 bushels of beans were
condemned today and also shipped
to the disposal plant, it was re-
ported.
Lee Lawrence, Ward Co. execu-
tive, said such spoilage took place
every spring when new shipments
of greenstuhs began to increase in
volume. One trouble, too, he point
ed out. Is that shippers will risk
sending some of the latest pickings
from the crop. These often spoil
en- route. he said.
His company. Mr.. Lawrence said.
owned outright some of the stock,
but in other cases acts as repre-
sentative for shippers and growers.
r. j. Clements. District food in
spector. who condemned the beans,
reported 1t had been found neces-
sary to condemn 500 bushels of
squash last week.
Evening star., 1943-05-25

and money donated by fellow en-
ployes. He also expressed appreci-
alton for certain improvements Mr..
Harmon had made In ordnance
material.
William c. Thorn, principal engi-
neer, presented flowers for Mrs.
Harmon. Mr.. and Mrs. Harmon
live at 2840 Twenty seventh street
NV. He is a prominent member of
the Association Of Oldest Inhabit-
ants Of the District.
Evening star., 1943-05-25
Miss Dyer Elected Editor

Miss Georgia Dyer of Chevy
Chase, member of the sophomore
class at Hood College, Frederick,
Md, has been elected Photographic
editor of the Touchstone. college
annual, Miss Dyer is a daughter
of Capt and Mrs. G. c. Dyer of
Chevy Chase
Evening star., 1943-05-25
Man Injured in PLUNGE

Aubrey Hef1lin, q, of Fredericks-
burg, Va, suffered serious head in
juries last night when he plunged
q feet to the sidewalk from a second
floor window at 900 Madison street
NV. He was treated at Emergency
Hospital and later transferred to
Alexandria (Va) Hospital.
Evening star., 1943-05-25
X X
WAo1Ho~R~1%A
WAR BONDS
Powder Monkey

On board ship and in the artillery
their buddies call them powder
monkeys" Not disrespectful. Just a
personal, intimate term between
friends. Civilians call them gun
crews. During battle the crews of
powder monkeys" must work like
trojans bringing the ammunition to
the guns.
Evening star., 1943-05-25
Club Meeting Cancelled

The Montgomery County Fedora
ton of Women's Clubs has Cancelled
the annual meeting of the county,
wide group planned for Thursday at
the Chevy Chase Women's Club,
Mrs. Vestus J. Wilcox, president,
said
Evening star., 1943-05-25

The gun may fire an anti aircraft
.50-caliber shell or broadside from
the 16-inch guns of a great battle
ship. but in either event the pow
der monkey" must pass millions of
dollars worth of ammunition to
make the gun effective and your
savings in War bonds are necessary
to supply the financial ammunition
that provides the shells.
-Vnitsd States Treasury Department
Evening star., 1943-05-25

U l l II E N a V Y
Yard.
Mr.. Harmon's
career of nearly
4o years at the
gun factory was
reviewed W / t h
C o m m e n d a
ton by Capt. R.
E. Robinson. His
retirement was
effective April /.
Rear Admiral
F. L. Reichmuth,
commandant of
the Navy Yard,
presented to Mr..
III
Evening star., 1943-05-25
Lutin American Lecture

DR.. Robert Smith of the Hispanic
division of the Library of Congress
Will give an illustrated lecture on
Latin America at $3.50 pm. Thurs
day at the Plus XII Guild, 1921
Rhode Island avenue NV.
Evening star., 1943-05-25
Harmon, Naval Ordnance
Engineer, Is Honored

Artemas c. Harmon ordnance
engineer, was honored Friday on his
retirement as an ordnance engi-
neer at the Naval Gun Factory
Evening star., 1943-05-25
Hampshire Heights to Elect

The Hampshire Heights Citizens
Association will hold its annual elec-
ton OF officers at its meeting, at 8
o'clock tonight, In the Barnard
School, Fourth and Decatur streets
NV
Evening star., 1943-07-15
Ickes Heard of Elk Hills Deal
3 Months After Its Execution

This is the fifth OF a series
OF articles tracing the back
ground OF historic Elk Hills oil
field in California and steps
leading up to the notD-canceled
contract bet,1een the Many and
the Standard Oil Co. OF Cdlitor-
mia Which is being Investigated
in CongreSs)
BY CARTER BROOKE JONES.
On November IT, 1912, Secretary
of the Navy Knox asked President
Roosevelt to approve an agreement
between the Navy and the Standard
Oil Co. of California under which
the interests of the two would be
merged and they would share the
petroleum products taken out by
the company in limited develop
ment program.
Since the Navy owned something
over two-thirds of the rich reserve
and Standard nearly all the rest,
the Navy was to get 64 per cent
Of what Standard produced and
the company the rest, but they were
to divide the cost of development.
Secretary Knox wrote the Presi-
dent that he believed the agreement
will afford a large measure of
protection to Naval Petroleum Re-
serve No. l at minimum risk Of
having the oil diSSipated by drain
age by private parties" He added:
"At the same time, some relief is
afforded to the tight situation with
reference to fuel oil in California
at the present time and during the
war emergency. This relief is ef-
fected by permitting some produc-
ton to continue during the emer-
gency period, but it is believed that
such action is necessary in order
to obtain general security for the
reserve over long period of time
in the future"
President Approved Agreement.
The next day the President ap-
proved the agreement, and it went
into effect.
BY June "a, l943, Standard had
drilled II new wells, and production
of oil on the companys portion of
the reserve was increased steadily
with a view of reaching the $4,000
barrel daily maximum allowed
under the contract for the first five
years.
Rear Admiral H A. Stuart direc-
tor of naval petroleum reserves, re-
ported that during the first month
of operation under the agreement
the Navy's net share of production
was worth s188,75782-a sum equal
to 50 per cent of the value of all
production, as compared to s45,-
806.43 or 367 per cent received from
naval leases during November, 1912,
Evening star., 1943-07-15

or to approximately 1913 per cent
of the total production of the field
for November, 1912.
But there was Subdued unrest in
some quarters over the agreement,
and these mlsgivings evidently
reached Secretary Knox. for one
day late in February, 1943, he called
Secretary of the Interior Ickes.
Mr. Ickes later said of the con-
tract: I'VE weren't consulted"
Questioned for publication, he said
Mr.. Knox phoneo that day and
asked if he had seen the agreement
II said, no, haven't heard any
thing about it," Mr.. Ickes explained
"'Oh,' he said, I thought that had
been submitted to you for your
opinion" presumably because the
Secretary of the interior retains
general control over public lands de-
spite the specific Congressional
authority granted the Secretary of
the Navy to administer naval Pc
troleum reserves)
Mr.. Ickes continued: ''1 said no
all news to me-"
Not Submitted to Davies.
"Weil then think it must have
been submitted to Mr.. Davies he
(Mr. Knox said" (Mr Ickes is pc
troleum administrator for war, and
Ralph K. Davies is deputy admins
tratoro Mr.. Ickes added: "'No,
said. if it had been, Mr.. Davies
would have come direct to me, be-
cause it involves Standard of Cali
fornia.' After that I checked with
Mr.. Davies, and he didn't know any
more about it than I did"
Mr.. Davies is a vice president of
the Standard Oil Co. of California,
on leave of absence for the dura-
ton. Elsewhere at the Interior
Department it was recalled that
when he accented the emergency
Evening star., 1943-07-15

partment replied to Mr.. Fortas, In
sisting the pact was In the public
interest. Both communications went
to the White House. Mr.. Roosevelt
sent them to the Department OF
Justice, asking an opinion on the
legality and public policy OF the
instrument.
Attorney General Biddle referred
the matter to Assistant Attorney
General Norman M. Littell, head OF
the public lands division. Mr.. Lit
tell and his staff made an exhaust
i've study of the contract, OF cir
cumstances surrounding 1t and the
legal background involved.
Evening star., 1943-07-15

Recently MIR. Lttell submitted a
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS placed in the
record of the House Public Lands
Committee and made public-de-
nouncing the contract as illegal
and void" and recommending that
appropriate action should be taken
Immediately to cause Standard to
cease all activities under the con-
tract"
The Assistant Attorney General
recommended that Standards in
terest in Elk Hills be acquired by
purchase or condemnation" prob
ably by condemnation, as past ex-
perience has shown that direct pur-
Evening star., 1943-07-15

chase is not feasible in view OF
Standards excessive claims OF
value"
He also urged that Standard be
required to account for crude oil
extracted under the presumed au-
thority of the contract and for
damages, If any, to the Govern
ment's property and equipment.
Should the company refuse, he rec
ommended appropriate court action.
While Mr.. Littell did not charge
fraud or improper conduct, he did
say: "In degree this agreement goes
beyond the contracts involved in
(See ELK HILLS, Page A-140
Evening star., 1943-07-15

post, 1t was with the understanding
that he would have nothing to do
with any matter affecting private oil
interests in California.
Secretary Ickes further quoted
Secretary Knox: "'Well, it has been
executed, but I would like to send
it to you to take look at it," Mr..
Ickes added ut came over here,
and we did not think it was a good
contract from the point of view of
the Government We have never
seen or been made aware of any
fact or circumstance that would war;
Evening star., 1943-07-15

rant the statement that there was
any collusion or fraud about 1t.
We objected to II purely on the
ground of public policy"
Mr.. Ickes said he referred the
contract to Undersecretary Abe
Fortas, since "he was not connected
with the oil administration, and I
didn't want to embarrass that ad-
miniStration."
Mr.. Fortas wrote memorandum
questioning whether the agreement
was good public policy, and this
went to Secretary Knox with the
suggestion he might want to show
1t to the President. The Navy De-
Evening star., 1943-07-15
For Your lo43 Vocotion Try

For Your lo43 Vocation Try
THE GABLES, ElKTON, VA.
Beautifully situated on the Shenandoah
River in the valley between the famous
Masssnutten Mountain and the Blue Ridge,
Boating. fishing, swimming, horseback rid
ins, crouuet, tennis, shooting In season.
spring water. Cuisine under supervision
of internationally trained culinarian. Good
informa tion please write to N. c. Vlasveld,
manager, The Gables. Elkton, Va.