davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1947-01-15
Two-AIarm Fire Sweeps
Old Methodist Parsonage

A vacant former parsonage ad-
Joining the old Congress Street
Methodist Church at 1886 Thirty
first street NV, was swept by a
two-alarm fire that started in the
basement shortly after last mid
night.
Twelve pieces of flre-fighting
eouipment responded to the alarms,
the first of which was sounded at
12:44 am. The fire attracted a
large crowd.
The ground floor of the three
story building, only several feet
from the church. was badly charred
Fire Marshal Raymond Roberts
estimated damages at not more
than $4,000.
The damaged property was occu-
pied until last June by the Rev
Dorsey Sturgis, now pastor of the
First Methodist Church in Bradbury
Heights, who said today that the
church, too, became vacant When
three Georgetown congregations
merged in st. Luke's Methodist
Church, 304O @ street NV.
He said the property recently was
sold to the Army Times Publishing
Co.
A spokesman for the publishing
concern said the church was in the
process of being resold to the Fifth
Church of Christ, Scientist, but the
former parsonage repeatedly was
not included in the plan.
Evening star., 1947-01-15

The District inspectors now
checking compliance with new build
ing fire safety regulations some
times don't know a violation when
they see one.
It's not that they're not expert
enced. Most of them are old hands,
such as L. .. Walker, a building
inspector, and j. G. Cruickshank,
fire inspector, who began visiting
hotels yesterday. Mr.. Walker ex-
planned it this way:
I'VE just 60 around and take
notes. Then it's up to the compu-
ters to determine violations"
Compute Several Factors.
Naturally, Inspector Cruickshank
knows something is wrong when a
fire hose falls apart in his hands.
But some matters are more COM
plicated.
For example, there's the width of
corridors and stairways. Mr.. Walker
uses his tape measure, but he
doesn't try to fit the figures to for
mulas of the regulations on the spot.
Those measurements must be re-
lated 20 total space, number of oc-
|cUpants and other factors before it
can be known definitely whether
hall or staircase of certain dimen-
sions is acceptable for particular
building.
Under the old regulations, the
inspectors who had been checking
for years were able to size up a
building fairly well. But, even then,
the computers with their tables and
slide rules evaluated the reports be-
fore violation notices were mailed
New Rules Effective July 1.
Now the inspectors must familiar
ize themselves with new, stricter
rules. They were approved by the
Commissioners last March, but en-
forcement is not due to begin until
July I.
To assist building owners in MAX
ing changes as soon as possible.
Director of Inspections Robert H.
Davis and Fire Marshal Raymond
C. Roberts have assigned groups Sof
inspectors to begin checking struc-
lures on basis of the new rules. In
the meantime, they are trying to
maintain their schedule of routine
checks under the old regulations,
which still are the law.
Where violations of the new code
are found, advisory notices are being
sent. After July /, owners will re-
ceive orders to conform If they
have not done so, and time limits
will be set.
Using new check lists prepared
for various types of buildings, the
inspectors are checking hotels,
Evening star., 1947-01-15
House Committee Assignments
Are Approved by Democrats

Wheeler of Georgia, Jones OF North
Carolina and Donohue Of Massa-
chusetts.
Education and Lab0r-Lesinskf OF
Michigan, Barden of North Caro-
lima. Kelly of Pennsylvania, Fisher
of Texas, Powell of New York, Wood
of Georgia, Madden of Indiana,
Klein of New York, Kennedy of
Massachusetts, and Lucas of Texas,
Executive observation-disclosures
of Alabama. Dawson of Illinois, De-
laney of New York, Holifield of
California, Lanham Of Georgia,
Dorm of South Carolina, Hardy of
Virginia, Karsten of Missouri,
Deane of North Carolina and Will
son of Texas.
Rules-Sabath of Illinois, Cox OF
Georgia, Smith of Virginia and
Clark Of North Carolina.
Ways and. Means-Doughton OF
North Carolina, Cooper of Tennes-
see, Dingell of Michigan, West OF
Texas, Mills of Arkansas, Gregory
of Kentucky, Camp of Georgia
Lynch of New York, Forand OF
Rhode Island and Eberharter OF
PennSy1yania II
Evening star., 1947-01-15

apartment houses and office build
ings literally from top to bottom.
Check on Doors.
Inspectors Cruickshank anC
Walker started on the top floors O.
three hotels yesterday and worked
downward. Two were of medium
size, and one was small. 1t was
full days work.
They looked carefully at stair
ways, fire escapes and corridors
They noted condition of storage
closets. They checked operation ol
doors leading to exits to make Ger.
tain they swung outward ano
opened easily.
Are there fire hampers on ali
conditioning ducts where they pas
through walls?
Are pipe shaft doors metal-cov-
cred?
Are public rooms seating more
than 500 persons equipped with ap-
proved emergency electrical sys-
tens?
Is boiler room inclosed in ma
sonry? .
The inspectors knew where tt
look for answers to questions such
as these on their check lists.
Inspector Cruickshank prepared
to test fire gong system by max
ing contact with knife behind the
glass plate to avoid breaking it. He
toyed with the small brass malle'
hung beneath the glass.
I'VE often find these missing" nj
commented. "The guests like to TAKE
them away"
Hotels Cooperating.
The inspectors said they were re-
ceiving general cooperation from
hotel men. Several already have
contracted for changes made neces'
sary by the new rules, they added.
Mr.. Walker said inadequate stair
ways and improperly located boile,
rooms were the detects he expectet
to find most often, usually in ole
buildings built when safety rule!
were much less strict than in recent
years. =
The check of hotels is expected tt
be completed by March 13, If the
inspectors can maintain a stiff
schedule. Concurrently, other team:
are visiting the apartment houses
Office buildings, theaters, restaurants
and other places of public assembly
Would a building owner who
found his boiler room is in the
wrong place have to move it after
July l?
Mr.. Walker said he certainly
would be told to do so. And Mr.
Walker or a fellow inspector would
be back later to check on it.
Evening star., 1947-01-15
Indo- Chinese Thrown Back
Over Border, French Say
By the Associated Press

PARIS, Jan. 15.-Dispatches from
Saigon reported today that Wet
Nam forces which tried to cross
the Laos-Annam border had been
thrown back into Annamese terri
tory by French troops near Quang
Tri, IS miles southwest of Hanoi.
Laos is one of the five states of
the Indo- China federation and lies
between AMMAN and Siam.
Meanwhile, new reinforcements
were dispatched to Indo-China on
the French liner Athos II, which
left Marseille last night with l,700
troops aboard.
A French press. agency dispatch
from Saigon denied Wet Namese
reports of fighting at Tourane,
where the Wet Namese said French
troops had landed in an effort to
relieve the besieged French garri-
son at Hue, so miles away.
The agency said the Wet Namese
had broadcast these rumors in the
hope of learning French military
plans. The press agency confirmed,
however, that troop movements were
proceeding in the Hue-Tourane re-
pion.
Evening star., 1947-01-15
Britain Sends Third Note
| To Poland on Elections

LONDON, Jan. Is [P.-The For
eign Office released today the text
of a third British note to Warsaw
warning that the conduct Ct the
Forthcoming Polish elections threat
ened a breach of the Potsdam agree
ment.
Disclaiming any British right to
intervene in matters Of purely
Polish domestic concern" the nots
declared:
But the essential fact is that the
manner of holding elections IN
Poland is the subject of interna-
tional agreements and is more than
purely domestic concern.
Evening star., 1947-01-15
NewNote From Poland
Auain Rebuffs u. ), on
Election Complaints
BY the Assoeiated Press

WARSAW, Jan. IS. - Poland's
Communist backed provisional gov
ernment told the United States today
it intended to run Sundays parlia-
mentary elections its own way re-
gardless of whether Britain and
America liked it.
The new note, handed to American
Ambassador Arthur Bliss Lane by
the Foreign Ministry, rejected as
"unfounded" allegations by the
Western powers that suppression
coercion and intimidation of voters
and repressive measures against
Vice Premier Stanislaw Mikolajczyk's s
Polish Peasant Party violated Pots
dam and Yalta guarantees OF free
and unfettered elections.
Further Talk Held Fruitless.
The government contended 1t was
fulfilling all obligations undertaken
at Potsdam and commented that the
election of parliamentary represen-
tatives was a matter within the ex-
elusive province of the Polish people
The note crisply concluded with the
observation that since the ballotinG
is scheduled for Sunday further dis
cussion would be fruitless.
The new note was much shorter
than the one recently submitted tt
Britain, in which the government
maintained it was Britain-not Po'
land-that was failing to live up tt
international obligations agreed tt
at Potsdam. British Ambassador
Victor avendish-Bentinck now 1!
in London for conferences concern.
ing Sundays voting.
This new diplomatic snub seemed
to crush what little doubt remained
that the Communist dominated gov
ernment bloc parties would sweep
the elections, as government lead
ers have been predicting for some
fjr7n
Evening star., 1947-01-15
Pilot Lays Shannon Crash
Ito Defective AItimefer
By the Associated Press

ENNIS, Fire Jan. 15.-A coroner
investigating the December % crash
of the Trans World airliner Star OF
Cairo near Shannon Airport, which
resulted in 13 deaths, heard the
captain and co-pilot of the ship
blame the accident on faulty
altimeter at an inquest here yes
terday.
The captain, Herbert Tansey OF
Falls Church, Va, testifying from
hospital bed where he is recover.
ing from injuries which required the
amputation of leg. said his
altimeter read 500 feet when the
plane crashed.
His testimony was corroborateo
by the co-pilot, Clifford Sparrow o;
Washington. The plane was coming
in for a landing at Shannon Airport
when the crash occurred.
Evening star., 1947-01-15
Truman Urges States
To Work Increasingly
For Highway Safety

President Truman expressed the
hope today that the safety recon-
mendations of the Presidents high
way safety conference, promulgated
after a meeting last spring, would
get early attention in State Legis-
latures, all but eight of which are
meeting this year.
In statement, the President also
bespoke efforts on the part of all
concerned "a promote highway
safety.
The text of the statement follows:
'The problem Of reducing the
death rate on the Nations highways
remains one of the most serious
problems in our daily life. 1t is an
appalling fact that $4,000 American
citizens were killed in automobile
accidents in 1916. I therefore call
upon every State and every COM
munity in the land to work, un-
ceasingly throughout 1947 to pro-
mote highway safety.
Gains Are Hailed.
"A continuing safety campaign
began in May, 1916, with the organ
ization of the Presidents Highway
Safety Conference, and the State
Safety Conferences that resulted
The gains that have been made are
indicative of what can be accom-
plished by. intensive effort.
1--WE are faced with a challenge
which every motor vehicle driver
should take as personal response
bility. Eternal vigilance, conscien-
tious care and maintenance of the
motor vehicle, respect for traffic
laws and signals-all these can play
a part in saving the lives of thou
sands.
Uniformity Emphasized.
Legislatures of all but eight o1
the States are now in session OF
soon will be. 1t is my hope that the
recommendations of the Presidents
Highway Safety Conference with re-
spect to uniform traffic regulations
especially in the licensing of drivers
and strict impartial enforcement OF
traffic codes, will have early atten-
tion. Much, of our difficulty is due
to lack of uniformity in traffic laws
and to unstandardized warning and
directional signs which often con-
fuse and miSlead. ., ,.-..
II ask that all through the year
State and local public officials who
are charged with legal responsible
tiles in matters of highway safety,
and all interested organizations, re-
double their efforts. I urge every
motorist to remember at all times
that highway safety is his personal
concern. Laws and regulations will
be of little avail unless the individ-
ual driver holds himself strictly ac-
countable to his own conscience"
Evening star., 1947-01-15
Policeman Asks SIS, 900
In Streeteur Injury Suit

A District policeman attached to
the hack inspectors office, IN a suit
filed in District Court today, asks
s25, 900 from the Capital Transit Co
for injuries he says he suffered
when he was struck by a streetcaI
while directing traffic July 6, l945
The policeman, George, E. Clarke
of 608 North Abingdon street, Ar
iington, claims he suffered painful
injuries resulting in medical ex-
penses and lost work time when ne
was struck at the intersection OF
Seventh street and Pennsylvania
avenue NV. He charged that the
streetcar was operated carelessly.
Evening star., 1947-01-15
Deputies Confronted
with Border Issues in
Starting Treaty Work
BY the Associated Press

LONDON, Jan. 15.-Deputy
Foreign Ministers of the United
States, Russia, Great Britain and
France started spadework for
treaties with Austria and Ger
many today and were confronted
unofhcially with border disputes.
a frequent cause of European
wars.
Yugoslav representatives In Lon
don Indicated Marshal Tito's coun-
try would ask for a substantial piece
Iof Southern Austria. Other neigh
bors of the defeated central, states
eXerted quiet pressure outside the
Council chamber for Austrian and
German land.
The Australian delegation was so
concerned about possible delays over
territorial questions that it proposed
that finding commission be
established to study all claims.
The deputies were preparing for
the discussions of the Foreign Min
isters themselves at the Forthcoming
Moscow conference. They were
concerned primarily today with
Germany.
Concerned for Slovenes.
A Yugoslav delegation headed by
DR.. Joza Vilfan expressed concern
about a Slovene minority in the
Austrian province of Carinthia and
asserted that the Slovenes sought
union with Yugoslavia. The Yugo-
slavs said informally that transfer
of populations was not feasible and
that annexation of the vaguely de-
fined region would be a better solu-
ton.
A Yugoslav spokesman said they
also would demand the surrender by
Austria of a considerable number Of
persons considered war criminals.
He charged that many had found
refuge in Austria and that the
Ustachi, a Croatian Fascist band
which held absolute sway in Slo-
!venia during the German occupa-
ton. still existed in Austria as an
organized formation.
Australia was understood to have
given general approval to British
and American drafts of an Aus
trian treaty of independence. The
delegation also suggested measures
for the federation of what is left
of Germany. with strong federal
states. Australia urged also that
substantial lift be given to German
economy TO prevent the country
from becoming drain on the
Allied and occupying powers.
Russian Proposal Beaten.
The deputies proceeded with
preparation of both the German
and Austrian treaties after reject
ing Russian proposal to defer the
Austrian draft until after discus
sion of German peace plans.
The United States and Britain,
hoping to complete draft of the
Austrian treaty in five weeks, joined
in opposing the Soviet representa-
tive, Feodor Gusev, when he asked
yesterday that Germany's future be
discussed in detail before turning
to Austria.
Evening star., 1947-01-15
Arlington School Boord
To Disclose Puy Ruises

The Arlington County School
Board will meet at l pm. tomor-
row to announce the amount OF a
promised teachers pay raise and
the groups stand on the proposed
school bond issue, Assistant Supt
of Schools Charles j. Walsh an
nounced today.
American cigarettes now cost 30
cents a package in the black mar
ket In Calcutta, India.
Evening star., 1947-01-15
Rev. J. G. Mccormick
Named Auxiliary Bishop

The Rev. Joseph Carroll McCor-
mick of Philadelphia has been
named Titular Bishop of Ruspae in
Africa, and auxiliary to Cardinal
Dougherty, archbishop of Philadel-
rhia. Announcement of his ap-
nointment by Pope Plus XII came
today from Archbishop Amlete
Cicognani, apostolic delegate to the
United States.
A native of Philadelphia, the 39-
year-old bishop-elect served as vice
chancellor of the archdiocese from
1884 to 1885 and as chancellor from
1886 to 1914. Since then he has been
pastor of st. Stephens Church
Philadelphia.
Evening star., 1947-01-15
Lawton Succeeds App|eby
In BUDGET Bureau

Frederick j. Lawton. executive
assistant of the Budget Bureau, to-
day was named acting assistant
director to succeed Paul H. Appleby.
The appointment, effective tomor-
row, was announced at the White
House.
Mr.. Lawtofl, 46, is a native of
Washington, and was graduated
from Georgetown in 1920. He re-
ceived his law degree there in 1884.
Mr.. Lawton has been in the Gov
ernment since 1920 and came to the
Bureau of the Budget in 1885.
Mr.. Appleby is leaving the bureau
to become dean of the Maxwell
School of Citizenship and Public
Administration at Syracuse Uni
verSity. ,
Evening star., 1947-01-15
Capper Introduces
2 Measures 10 Check
High Divorce Rate

Senator Capper, Republican, of
Kansas today introduced legislation
to check startling" increases in
divorces.
Charging the trend was "one of
the greatest dangers confronting the
American people today:s the Senator
called on Congress to do something
about it.
/ Uniform Federal regulation of
marriage and divorce laws through
constitutional amendment, he said,
is necessary to correct troubles grow
ing out of conflicting marriage and
divorce laws throughout the States.
He dropped in the Senate hopper
two measures. A joint resolution
would provide an amendment to the
constitution to give Congress the
power to legislate on the problem
A bill to be enacted after adoption
of the amendment, would establish
uniform regulation of marriage and
/ divorce. Both measures were re-
ferred to the Senate Judiciary Com
mittee. They are similar to legisla-
tion he has presented before.
Only six causes for divorce were
listed: Adultery, cruel and inhuman
/ treatment, abandonment or failure
to provide for a period of one veal
or more, habitual drunkenness, in
durable insanity and conviction ol
an infamous crime.
/ After granting of an interlocutory
decree. a period of one year is nee
essary before remarriage.
] Startling growth of divorces was
cited by the Senator. He quoted the
Federal Security Agency's provi-
sional figures showing 1898 mar
riages and 500 1000 divorces in 1945
But let us look at this year.
he added. THE Census Bureau
estimates that in 1947 there will
be nearly 40 per cent as many di-
vorces as there are marriages"
Evening star., 1947-01-15

street NV.
Born in Rich
mond, Va, DR..
Koones came to
Washington as a
boy. He was
graduated from
the old Colum-
bian University
tnoW G cor G e
w a S h i n g t o n
University | n
1887 and intern
ed at Children's,
Emergency and
Providence Hos
Evening star., 1947-01-15
3O-Day Strike Notice,
Filed by Steel Union;
Settlement Is Seen

The Labor Department announced
late yesterday that 30-day strike
notice has been filed in the steel in
dustry, but said the Government
hopes mutually, satisfactory
agreement" will be completed with
out Government help.
Edgar L. Warren, director of the
departments Cancellation Service
said the CIO- United Steelworkers
filed notices involving about 1,00C
steel, steel fabricating, aluminium
and related companies.
These notices, required under the
War Labor Disputes Act before a
strike can take place, mean that
legally the huge steel industry could
be shut down next month as it was
a year ago.
Negotiations Not Started.
However, negotiations for new
contracts have not even begun.
The union and the United States
Steel Corp. yesterday postponed ne
gotiations until next week.
Mr.. Warren said filing Of the
strike notices marks the opening
of negotiations for new collective
bargaining agreements.
THE Government has full con-
fidence," he said, that both the
union and the companies will make
every effort to conclude peacefully
a mutually satisfactory agi cement.
"It is our hope that this agree
ment can be completed by the par
ties this year without the necessity
for Government assistance.
Government Ready to Help.
He said the Cancellation Service
is standing by, however, prepared
to help if it should become apparent
that an impartial third party could
aid the negotiators.
Mr.. Warren told reporters the 30
day period ends February l3.
David j. Mcdonald, secretary
treasurer of the union at Pittsburgh,
the Labor Department that
there is a dispute" between the
and the union.
Mr.. McDonald's letter. said: "The
issues in dispute are the unions de-
mands for a wage increase, estab-
lishment of a social security fund,
travel time. annual wage, improve
ment of other conditions Of work"
Evening star., 1947-01-15
Election Dote Change Asked

The Independent Voters Council
of Arlington today announced 1t has
asked the Arlington delegation In
the Virginia Assembly to authorize
nonpartisan runof elections on the
second Tuesday in August, rather
than on the second Thursday as pro-
VlQeQ In pending legislation
Evening star., 1947-01-15
Dr.. Charles K. Koones,
Retired Physician; Dies

DR.. Charles Kneller Koones, 10, a
widely known Washington physician
for more than so years, died unex-
pectedly yesterday at his home,
. OO2 Garfield
Evening star., 1947-01-15
Strike Curb Planned

Egypt proposes to make all civil
servants who 60 on strike or incite
others to do so liable to imprison-
ment up to six months and a $40o
fine.
Evening star., 1947-01-15

Food shortages are handicapping
Japan's sumo wrestlers in gettine
back into form
Laurel outlook., 1947-06-18
The Outlook Says:

Miss Elva Hixon and Mrs. nellie
Kahle of Los Angeles were guests
of Mr.. and Mrs. C. w. Laird from
Wednesday through Friday.
Mr.. and Mrs. Oscar Larson of
Glendale, Calf, were guests of Mr..
and Mrs. C. w. Laird Thursday.
Mrs. Larson is a sister of the late
Mrs. Malinda Alden.
Mrs. Dorothy Huston of Seattle
is visiting her parents, Mr.. and
Mrs. o. M. Void.
Mr.. and Mrs. Ralph Huston, who
have been attending Montana State
College at Bozeman, are guests at
the home of Mr.. and Mrs. o. M.
Void.
Mr.. and Mrs. Paul Mylan and
daughter Mitzi of Vancouver, Wash,
former residents of Laurel, stopped
over in Laurel to visit relatives and
Laurel outlook., 1947-06-18
ITEMS FROM THE
Reporters Notebook

Mrs. w. T. Johnson returned Mon
day night from Minneapolis where
she attended the graduation exer-
cises of her son, Robert Johnson, at
the University of Minnesota. He
accompanied his mother to Laurel
for a few days visit. Robert re-
ceived a degree of bachelor of arts
with a major in journalism. Earlier
he had been honored with the award
of a merit key for work ON the
Minnesota Daily, campus newspaper.
Mr.. and Mrs. Johnson and Robert
will leave the latter part of the
week for a visit with relatives in
Seattle after which they will go to
San Francisco. From there Robert
will sail to Hawaii to accept a posi-
ton with the Honolulu Star-Bulletin.
Ralph Herriott arrived home from
Missoula last Sunday where he at
tended Montana State University.
He left for a six-week ROTC sum-
mer camp at Tacoma, Wash,
Wednesday.
P. H. Gardner, of the Gardner
Drug Co., is making an extended
visit at his sisters home in Char
lotte, Mich.
Jacob Bait, manager of the local
Safeway store, spent four days in
Butte last week attending Safeway
Stores location managers training
conference.
The next meeting of the Laurel
club will be held Mon
day, June 80.
Mr.. and Mrs. John Void returned
fro L~idgerwood, N. D., where they
had spent the week end with their
son-in-law and daughter, Mr.. and
Mrs. Charles Frost. They were ac-
OIL their return home by
their daughter and children, Franc
es and Jackie, who spent the past
10 days here. Mr.. and Mrs. Frost
are owners and publishers of the
newspaper.