davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1945-02-04
Move Revived
For Commercial
Rent Control
New Complaints Of
Increases Received
On Capitol Hill

A proposal to place rents on CONT
mercial buildings In the District uni
der Government control was revived
yesterday on Capitol Hill when 1
flood Of new complaints about rent
increases was received.
House District Committee ofIicialt
took from the files q bill that waS
introduced January Z, 1943, by Repf
resentative Crawford, Republican, Of
Michigan. The bill is beino studied
Iby Representative Murphy, Demoft
lcrat, Of Pennsylvania, chairman Of
the National Defense Subcommittee
lof the District group.
Whether this or another com.
mercial rent control bill will be
presented to Congress apparently
depends on study of the latest
complaints. Because of the revival
|of reports of demands for heavy
boosts in rental payments, spokes4
men for the House District Com1
mittee yesterday asked tenants feel1
ing they have real grievances I'd
send their protests in writing to thd
committee, rather than to telephone
them.
After a fiareup of minor numbeJ
of complaints late last year, pland
of Chairman Randolph of the Dis
trict Committee for an investigated
of the situation were held in abey-
ance for lack of sufficient evidence
|of need.
The subject was revived recently
however, by new protests against
heavy rent increases, dealing mostly;
with the 1900 block Of Connecticut
avenue.
One of the comphinants who
called the District Committee re-
ported he was faced with a demand
for 80 per cent rent increase.
which he said he could not pay. The
complainant said the landlord had
suggested that the only alternative
was that the business concern con-
tract to buy or build new business
home.
The Crawford measure, now be-
ing studied by Mr.. Murphy, pro-
posed that the President be di-
rected to issue orders for the regu-
lation and stabilization of the rents
OF commercial properties in the
District.
As to rent control, the District
now Is operating under law sep
arate from the National Stabiliza- >
ton Act, which applies only to resi-
dental properties and control over
these is handled by the District
Rent Control Administration. rather
than a unit Of the Federal ONCE OF
Price Control.
Evening star., 1945-02-04

did the Rev. Mr.. Murphy. The las,
$4,000 of the mortgage was paic
to-St. Paul's last year.
After that he celebrated mass al
st. Paul's. That church now is dis
mantled but he seemed to have nc
regrets.
Calls Protest Mistake.
He said he was glad to 90 and
that the only reason he has moi
moved already was because the
houses in Washington Circle which
he purchased are occupied and he
can't move into one until a tenant
moves out. He thought construc-
ton of the George Washington
University Hospital on the site was
good thing. He considered the
protest of church wardens and con-
gregation a mistake.
AS II to punctuate his thoughts
a little gray cat rustled across ole
papers on top of a box of books
Another cat, mate in size and
color, rubbed against the benigr
old mans .legs and then curled ur
beside the stove.
In seeing the reporter to the door
the Rev. Mr.. Murphy pointed to the
signature Of President Roosevelt or
his notary's certificate. Mounted or
one of the many bookcases, near the
door, was a wooden block with large
letters spelling out "The wicked bor-
roweth and payeth not again."
When he reached the door, he wa.
saying that perhaps the Government,
would help him move. He always hac
been in favor of turning that block
over to hospital since the project
was originated.
Evening star., 1945-02-04
Boy, 5, Is Lost
Killing Jops in
Fairfax JunqIe

This is the story Of a 5-year-old
Ranger and his experiences stalk.
ing Japs" through the jungles Of
Fairfax County.
It may astonish some Of the older
Fairfax folk to learn that Japs
abound in the wooded sections
around Dunn Loring and Merrifield.
but 1t Is serious business to Charles
n. Cookie" Sprinkle.
Cookie started on an unan-
nounced Jap hunt" about 3 pm.
yesterday, and by his own admission
got seven and was hot after the
Ieighth" when darkness forced him
into the Dixie Tea Room on Route
|21l, between Merrifield and Fairfax.
It had been pretty long walk,
about IS miles, from his home near
Dunn Loring School to the Dixie
Tea Room, through briars and
Everything" and Cookie" was yill-
ing to rest until police were notified.
It surprised him, too. to learn that
his unexplained absence from home
had caused his parents 70 worry
land tl1Ns his father, Charles p.
Sprinkle, had called police.
Evening star., 1945-02-04
Eliot Wordsworth Elected
Horvord Club President

Eliot Wadsworth, chairman Of the
American Committee OF the Inter-
national Chamber Of Commerce, has
been elected president Of the Har-
ward Club Of Washington, the club
has announced.
Robert Lincoln O'Brien, former
Tariff Commission chairman and
one-ttrne secretary to President
Cleveland, was named honorary
president. Other officers elected for
this year were:
Undersecretary of State Joseph
C. Grew. first vice president; JUS
tice Harold M. Stephens of the Dis
trict Court of Appeals, second vice
president; Russell Johnston OF the
Agriculture Department legal divi-
sion, third vice president; Eliot G.
Lovett, president Of the National
Communications Bar, fourth vice
president; Howard S. LIE Roy, presi-
dent Of the Rotary Club, treasurer
and Bernard H. Conn. attorney, sec
retary.
Evening star., 1945-02-04
Home Accident
PerIsNowIncIude
Cough Syrup

Three deaths last week-two due
to falls and one to carbon monoxide
poisoning total home ac-
cident deaths for the year to eight.
the District Red Cross Accident
Prevention Service reported yester-
day.
A breakdown of II cases treated
at local hospitals for the week
reveals 20 involving injuries from
falls, 16 from burns, 3 cases of ac-
cidental poisoning, patients with
foreign bodies in eye, nose and
stomach, 16 suffering with cuts and
IL Of q miscellaneous nature.
Three children having tea party
decided to Ill their cups with .
nicely favored cough syrup which
contained q strong narcotic. They
became sleepy and were then taken
to the hospital for treatment.
An s-year-old girl while opening
q package with q knife, cut her eye
when the string was quickly severed.
Evening star., 1945-02-04
Fence 10 Mark Start
On New CIV Hospital

Workmen tomorrow will begin
building high wooden fence
around Square 54. at Washington
Circle, as start in the razing OF
structures in the block, and con-
struction by the Government of a
400-bed hospital for George Wash
ington University.
All remaining occupants in the
block plan to move out this weei
end with the exception of those liv-
ing in two buildings. A coloree
family of 8 persons at 908 Twenty
second street NV, headed by Mrs
Clara Stevenson, who works at 9
hospital, told The Star yesterday
they did not know where to move
A Federal attorney said no ont
will be evicted within the next few
days at least, although the Govern.
ment now has been given the power
by District Court,
Evening star., 1945-02-04
Group Chiefs Namet
|by Merchants and
Manufacturers

New officers of the various trade
groups in the Merchants and Manu-
facturers' Association, elected at
meetings in the last few days, were
announced yesterday.
The coal divisions officers are:
A. p. Brown Of the. Rinaldi Coal
Co... reelected chairman; Fred A.
Hessick of w. H. Hessick & Son
vice chairman: c. r. Dickey, treas
urer, and p. A. Deck Of Fadeley &,
Co., assistant treasurer. John Klein
was elected chairman of the whole
sale food division; Sidney Kolker
vice chairman; Charles w. Poole
secretary, and Francis I. Brooke
treasurer.
The ice cream manufacturer
elected Charles e. Krey of Southern
Diaries, chairman; w. B. Larson o1
Colonial Ice Cream Co., secretary
and Harry Brimer Of the Good HUI
NOR Ice Cream Co., treasurer.
Ofiicers of other groups include
william H. Warner Of the John
P. Agnew Co., chairman of the OF
heating division; H. A. Darhansor
Of Herzog's, Inc, chairman, anc
Oscar Dodek of D. J. kaufman, Inc.
treasurer, of the mems clothing di-
vision; Arthur J. Sundlun, president
of A. Kahn, Inc, reelected chair
man for the 18th consecutive veal
of the jewelers. division.
Dewey Zirkin of Zirkin's, re-elect.
ed chairman Of the furriers' divi.
sion: Herbert ]. Rich Of B. Richi
Sons, reelected chairman OF ths
shoe stores division; s. NJ. Barnett
Iof the Hub Furniture Co., chair.
man Of the furniture division, ar1t
Melvin c. Sharpe OF the Potomac
Electric Power Co., chairman o
the public utilities division.
Evening star., 1945-02-04
Nurses Aide Class
Members Are Sought

An urgent appeal for volunteers
to enroll in the daytime nurse s
aide class which opens at Gallinger
Hospital at l pm. tomorrow was
issued by Mrs. Patrick Hill, chair
man of the District Red Cross
Nurses Aide Corps, yesterday.
Volunteers will receive transpor-
tation to and from Gallinger, start
ing at Walsh House, 2020 Massa-
chusetts avenue NV, at 1880 pm
Mrs. Hill said. Registration will be
continued through Tuesday. Ap-
plicapts are asked to call Republic
$500, or to be at Walsh House at
1880 O'Clock.
Mrs. Hill said this class was the
only one which was not hlled dur.
ing the recent campaign for nurses
aides for District hospitals.
Evening star., 1945-02-04
Civic Groups Favor
Mccarran SIum Bill

A delegation representing the
Metropolitan Home Builders Asso-
citation 4nd organized citizens yes
Eterday told Senator McCarran,
EDemocnk, Of Nevada, his new slum
|clear1nce and rehousing bill was
'.the best yet drafted" but suggested
ia number Of changes in the interest
of private developers.
The Senator was given the I'M
preston, 1t was reported, that the
group might continue to support
the "free enterprise" redeveIopment
plan Of Senator Tydings, Democrat,
of Maryland, unless the Nevadan
saw fit to amend his measure to
exclude the Government from en-
gaging in low-rent housing con-
Struction.
Senator McCarran said he would
consider changes suggested by the
group, but made no immediate COM
mitment
The McCarran bill would abol-
ish the National Capital Housing
Authority, establish a new agency
to acquire low-cost housing project
sites and to engage in redevelop-
ment work only if private enter
prise failed to take over a project
within year after it WAS adver-
tised.
Among those attending the priv
ate conference were N. C. Hines,
executive director of the Home
Builders Association; Lewis T.
Breuninger of the Washington Real
Estate Board; Edward r. Carr of
the Home Builders Association, and
Ernest F. Henry and Joseph Deck
man, representing civic groups.
Evening star., 1945-02-04
Residential Division
Leaders Announced
In Red Cross Drive

Four leaders who will mobilize
more than 5000 District volunteer
workers in the residential division
Of the forthcoming Red Cross war
fund drive in March were announced
yesterday by Martin T Wiegand,
chairman of that section.
Meanwhile, the White House made
public q proclamation by President
Roosevelt extolling the role played
by the Red Cross in the war, desig-
mating March as Red Cross Month
and urging the public to contribute
generously to that organizations
campaign to raise 500, 900 900 In the
Nation.
The four district residential cam
paign chiefs are: Clark G. Diamond
L. s. Mccarthy, Harry w. Shaw and
Adelbert w. Lee. Each will divide
his district into from 10 to 18 areas
where solicitation will be planned
under the direction of area chair
men.
Four main meetings are obeing
scheduled currently, at which Mr..
Wiegand and his residential district
leaders are to discuss solicitation
plans for the March drive. Samuel
H. Kaufman, general chairman;
Randolph G. Bishop. campaign di-
rector, and Nat Wilson, District Red
Cross chapter chairman, were
among those who attended the first
of these meetings, which was held
Friday afternoon at the United
States Chamber of Commerce. Two
more are scheduled this week.
The President in his proclamation
pointed out that the Red Gross was
helping the people at home to
stand firmly behind our fighting
men through its collection of blood
for our wounded, its shipment OF
food parcels, medical supplies and
comfort items to our prisoners Of
war in enemy hands. its production
of surgical dressings and its re-
cruitment Of nurses Tor our Army
and Navy"
In. addition. he said. it is fulfilling
its obligations to comfort oul
wounded, to cheer and help oul
lservicemen ON every fighting front
and to provide an essential link be.
tween these men and their families
| at home" as well Is relieving The
civilian victims Of domestic dis.
aSters.
Evening star., 1945-02-04
Death Rate and Pneumonio Toll
Lowest Here in 20 Yeurs

rate was also the lowest Of the
years checked and rates for In
fiuenza. pneurnonia. meningitis,
measles and diphtheria were termed
s.useually low" tuberculosis and
heart disease were at the lowest rate
in 10 years.
TWO diseases. scarlet fever and
chicken pox, were prevalent, IL
though no deaths. resulted from
either. So far, 302 scarlet fever cases
were reported compared with 80
for the sarne period last year.
Sulfa drugs md other new treat
ments were credited with part d
the record. particularly IN pneu-
monia.
Evening star., 1945-02-04

Although January was marked by
coal and fuel shortages and low
temperatures on most Government
buildings. it was q healthy January.
When It was learned that the
death rate was 10.7 and Q per cent
lower than for January year ago,
the District Health Department
checked It's files and found 1t was
the lowest death rate for that month
In 20 years.
The next lowest January death
rate was Ia 1912, with lit and the
highest was as In 1929. Most Of the
rates were around Is per 1000 for
the 20-year period.
The months pneumonia death
Evening star., 1945-02-04

concert for members of the orches-
tre association, with Fritz Kreisler
noted violinist, as guest artist. The
concert will be reserved for friends
of the orchestra who donate $25 or
more to the fund.
Other plans call for an increase
in the number of student concerts,
from the four held this year to 10 or
II; a six-weeks summer season at
the Water Gate, with 18 sunset
symphonies. and, if financially pos
sible, an increase in the number of
concerts held for Federal employees
and in the 1890 series, sponsored
by the young peoples committee.
This year there were two Federal
employe concerts and three in the
1880" series.
j. E. Mutch, orchestra manager,
declared the list of guest artists
would be greater than this years,
which included Richard Crooks,
Percy Granger, Helen Jepson,
Lauritz Melchoir and Grace Moore.
The orchestra also will appear again
with the Ballet Theater and the
Ballet Russo de Monte Carlo.
Butler is Chairman.
Lee D. Butler has been named
chairman of the campaign, which
will last through February 81. Serv-
ing as chairmen of campaign COM
mittees are Frank r. Jelleff, busi-
ness; Mrs. Carl Andrew Spaatz and
Mrs. Georges F. Doriot, Army; Miss
Mary Apple and Mrs. Katherine
Riggs Burchard, associations; Mrs.
H. Russell Bishop, Catholic schools;
Mrs. L. Corrin Strong, colleges and
universities; Arthur S. Flemming
government.
Mrs. c. c. Glover, jr.. metropolis
tan; Mrs. Emory Scott Land, Navy,
Marine, Coast Guard; Mrs. Charles
Bittinger and Mrs. Warren w
Grimes, orchestra guild; Mrs. Slo-
cum Kingsbury, private schools;
Miss Cecilia p. Dulin, public schools;
Mrs. Edwin B. Parker and Mrs. Rob-
ert LIE Fevre, suburban; Richard
Seelye Jones, publicity. and Mrs
Ralph Bard and Mrs. Thomas Rich
ard Cowell, speakers.
Sees Enthusiastic Response.
"While we ask Washington te
support its orchestra through the
sustaining fund, We do not come
like a poor relative begging aims,
Mr.. Butler said. "The National
Symphony is a success. It has beer
strengthened each year despite the
problems Of wartime and we believe
| it win continue to become finer and
better.
The sustaining fund must b
Evening star., 1945-02-04
Coffee Raps
D. {. Officials
On Jail Break
Charges They Fail
To Put Up Fight
For Whot They Need

The Commissioners and other
District officials were criticized yes
terday by Chairman Coffee OF the
House Appropriations Subcommittee
which handles District budgets for
failing to put up real fight for
what they need"
In this instance he referred to
lack OF a gate for the yard of the
District Jail, through which three
prisoners escaped last Wednesday.
If they have been denied priori-
ties for the proper kind of a metal
gate for the Jail yard" Mr.. Coffee
said, why don't they put up a real
fight for them. And, if they can't
get them, why don't they do little
improvising."
With the working capital fund
and the manpOwer they have at
the Lorton Reformatory they at
least could have a wooden gate or
some other kind of temporary sub
stitute built-one that at least would
keep a prisoner from walking out
of the plate"
Urges Authority for Commissioners.
Mr.. Coffee took the occasion to
reiterate his views that the Dis
trict should be given the right to
both national and local suffrage
and that meanwhile the Commits
sioners be given added authority
ito do the job that they must do"
Mr.. Coffee consistently has been
regarded as friendly to the Com
missioners and to District depart
ment executives generally, although
he, on several occasions, has criti-
cized them.
What he termed their hesitation"
and occasional lack of initiative"
he blamed yesterday on psyche
logical factor" which he said he
could understand but not accept.
Perhaps" he continued, lit is
because the Commissioners are ap-
pointed by the President instead of
being elected by the people, and
feel hesitation to fight for some
thing they think he might not ap-
prove. And I guess this thought
filters down to lower executives.
Says Priority Fight Necessary.
"But, it is my impression that in
local matters the President would
not object, or even concern himself
about these things; certainly not,
unless they touched highly i'm
portant political questions Of ma
tional scope. Members of Congress
and State executives have to fight
for priorities and other things. Why
not the Commissioners"
Mr.. Coffee said the District sub
committee on appropriations were
very familiar with conditions at the
Jail and that the lack of prioritjes
for gate for the Jail yard sounded
rather familiar
He said he and other members of
the subcommittee shortly would
start series of surprise visits to
various District institutions in prepa-
ration for the forthcoming hearings
on the Districts 1916 budget, but
that these would be made without
prior notice to District agencies.
1--WE want to see what goes on
when they are not expecting ts,"
he said.
Evening star., 1945-02-04
Citizens Group
Backs Merger
Of Police Forces
Federation Rejects
Adverse Report Of
Own Committee

Overruling the report of its Police
and Fire Protection Committee, the
Federation Of Citizens Associations
last night approved In principle
legislation offered in Congress BY
Representative Herbert Of Louisiana
to merge the United States Parl
Police here with the Metropolitan
Police Force.
The committees report, made
after hearings had been held with
representatives Of both police forces
In attendance, stated that the pro-
posed merger would result in m
added yearly burden to District tax.
payers Of $47,268, the cost OF Parh
Police operations now met by Fed
eral appropriations. It urged that
the Federation state its opposition
to the bill.
In addition. the committees re-
port said that it was probable that
the merger would result in less police
coverage in the parks. It also re-
ported that at present there was
considerable cooperation between
the two police forces.
Two Ex-Presidents Opposed.
| Former Federation Presidents
Harry Wender and Harry N Stull
opposed the report, pointing out
that several years ago the organiza-
ton had gone on record as favoring
consolidation OF the two police de-
partments.
Mr.. Wender said that city police
are often reluctant to make cases
in the city's parks and Fairgrounds
located on Federal property because
they lack ofncial Jurisdiction. The
resultant confusion, he said, hamp-
ers the solution of many crimes
here. He said the merged forces
should be under the Jurisdiction Of
the Metropolitan force.
His resolution that the federation
go on record as approving Mr..
Hebert's proposed bill was adopted
by voice vote.
P. j. Albeman, the committees
chairman, said his group found that
the merger Of the two forces would
result in either the absorption OF the
Park officers in the various pre-
cincts and realignment of precinct
patrols, or establishment Of q sep
arate Park Division OF the Metro
politan force.
Fear Less Police Coverase.
The committee can see no bene-
fit in either procedure since none of
the present Park police facilities or
activities would be eliminated and It
Is quite possible that either course
would result in less police coverage
in the parks" his report asserted.
Mr.. Ableman said that most of
the country's large cities maintain
separate park police organizations
One of these cities is New Orleans,
M Hebert's home district, Mr.. Able
man said.
A resolution recently passed by
the Anacostia Citizens Association
calling for junior citizens associa-
tions to interest and educate youth
in civic affairs was referred to the
federation's education committee.
James A. Crooks, chairman of the
federation's dinner committee, urged
the delegates and members Of the
aniliated SO organizations to pur-
chase their tickets now for the or
ganization's annual dinner to be
held March 8 in the Statler Hotel.