davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1949-12-30

the next few weeks. This is ex-
pected to save about $392. 900.
Albert L. Deem, executive secre-
tary of the Maryland commission
declined to speculate on what the
commission may do about the re-
quested fare increase.
Four Courses Open.
With its request for an i'm
mediate emergency fare increase
the transit company yesterday
filed a new tariff, embodying the
Rcent zone rates. effective in sc
days, or on Sunday. January 20
Four courses are open to the
commission:
It may permit an immediate
fare increase.
+ 1t may permit the fares to &c
up before the end Of the 3o-day
period but not Immediately.
1t may take no action but per-
NIT the new fare schedule to &c
into effect on January 30.
It may suspend that new sched-
ule and direct that q rate hear
ing be held.
The company. in its request tc
increase its Maryland fares, told
the Maryland commission that the
2-cent a zone increase would add
about 1886 900 to its annual rev.
enues. The revenues from the
Maryland operations. under re-
cently-granted wage increases
will fail to cover costs by more
than $4,000 annually. the COM
pany said. Even with the in
creased fare the company would
continue to operate its Maryland
lines at an annual deficit of about
1927 900, according to the COM
pany.
The Maryland lines carry about
100000 revenue passengers a
year. The zones are about q mile
and a half long.
Evening star., 1949-12-30
| Dead, 81 Hurt in Collision
OF 7 Trains in Canada
By the Assoeiotsd Press

CALGARY, Alberta. Dec. 30
One man Was killed and 81 per-
sons injured in the collision in
subzero weather of two Canadian
Pacific Railway trains 95 miles
southeast of here yesterday.
A survivor said the injured.
some with an arm or a leg torn
right off, we're lying in the wreck
age, exposed to the raw winds"
Heavy SHOWS hampered rescue
efforts. A wrecking train was
rushed to the scene and bulldozers
cleared the way for other rescue
groups. Six of the injured were
reported in serious condition.
The dead man was Reid B. Hef.
fren. 23-year-old railway employe.
travelling as a passenger.
The wreck occurred on the Ca
madam Pacific's main line. A
late-running eastbound train side
swiped two day coaches of the
westbound passenger train from
Toronto as the latter was being
pulled into a siding to make way
for another train.
Evening star., 1949-12-30
By fhe Associoted Press

CUMBERLAND, Md, Dec. 30
The Army can't be as tough as
some people think if you consider
Richard Riggleman's story.
Richard came home yesterday
talking of four years, three OF
them in Germany. in the Army.
And he still isn't 18 years old.
He said he enlisted here No
vember 81. 1945. He was 13 years
old then. But nobody questioned
him when he said he was II and
he was sent to Fort Meade for
procS ssing.
Assigned to the second cavalry
regiment. he said he spent the
next three years in Germany. He
even, signed up for another year
while there. saying i kinda got
to like the Army"
He was promoted to corporal
Evening star., 1949-12-30
MRS. Woeers Appointed
Virginia Film Censor
Nv the Assoeiotsd Press

RICHMOND, Va, Dec. 30.-At-
torney General J. Lindsay Almond.
jr., yesterday announced the ap-
pointment Of Mrs. Russell Fergu-
son Wagers of Appomattox as .
censor in the State Division Of
Motion Picture Censorship.
She was named to the three
member board to fill the vacancy
left by the death last week of Mrs.
Judith K, Roberts of Henrico.
Evening star., 1949-12-30
Diplomatic Immunity
|For Gubitchev Held
Unprecedented Issue
By the Associated Press

NEW YORK, Dec. 30.-Federal
Judge Sylvester Ryan is con-
fronted with what he believes may
be an unprecedented legal question
in the Coplon Gubitchev espionage
conspiracy case.
The question is whether Russian
engineer Valentin A. Gubitchev,
suspended United Nations en-
ploye. is entitled to the freedom
from prosecution traditionally &C
corded foreign diplomats.
The Russians attorney, Abraham
l.. Pomerantz, told the court at
a pretrial hearing yesterday:
Il believe the Gubitchev case Is
the first time in history that a
man who has the traditional en-
bodiment of diplomatic immunity
could be arrested. The Govern
ment has seen f1t to make a start
ling innovation.
Can't Recall Similar Case.
Judge Ryan asked Fred E.
Strine. special assistant to the
United States Attorney General.
If he knew of any case where
there was a prosecution of a per-
son who held diplomatic pass
port and diplomatic visa"
Il can't think of any," Mr..
Strine replied.
Later, Judge Ryan told newsmen
that in a search for a precedent,
he had been unable to find any
(such case) in international law"
He reserved decision on the
question: after the prosecution
presented a note from the Gate
Department holding that Gubit-
chev did not have diplomatic i'm
munity. The judge said he was not
satisfied with the note, as it was
not certif1cation of fact, but a
conclusion in law.
The question is one of several
raised by the defense in an at
tempt to quaSh the indictment
against Gubitchev and Miss Judith
Coplon. former Justice Depart
ment employe, before trial be-
gins. Miss Coplon's attorney is
seeking to have the conspiracy
case here thrown out on grounds
that it is based on overlapping
evidence.
Accused of Plotting.
The pair is accused of plotting
to transmit Government secrets
to Russia.
Mr.. Strine argued that a diplo-
matte visa was affixed to Gubit-
chev's passport to this country
only as "a courtesy" and did not
give the engineer diplomatic i'm
munity.
Mr.. Pomerantz said that If this
were the case "our Embassies give
diplomatic visas to foreign diplo-
mats without intending them to
have any meaning"
Evening star., 1949-12-30
Youth Who E Enlisted at 13
Ends 4-Yeur Army Service

when he was Is, and at that rank
he was bossing around a squad
at Fort Benning. Ca. to which he
recently returned. He was dis
charged at Benning and nov that
I'm out I hope to stay out" he
said.
Richard is the fourth oldest of
IL children of Mr.. and Mrs. John
Riggleman. He went as far as the
seventh grade in Fort Hill school
here.
When he enlisted Richard was
five feet, five inches tall and
weighed 1877 pounds. Now he's
four inches bigger and weighs 1862
pounds.
Despite his youth and size,
Richard said he never had any
trouble with the Army training
about which many war veterans
still grippe.
Evening star., 1949-12-30

increase.
MOST UNUSUAL The most
unusual civil service incident dur
ing 1949 was the postal groups
successful drive in dislodging the
postal pay measure out of both
the House Civil Service Commit
tee and the Rules Committee
through discharge petitions.
Achieving the necessary 21s
House signatures { a majority OF
the 1876 House members) is one of
the most difficult legislative ac-
complishments Of all. It is some
thing rarely achieved in Congress.
Yet. the politically powerful
postal groups succeeded, not only
once. but twice, in dislodging their
pay bill from committee. Veteran
Capitol Hill observers say they
cannot recall a similar achieve
ment.
The legislator handling the dis
charge petition drives was Repre-
sentative Walsh. Democrat, of In
diana. However, the discharge
petition campaign was the BRAIN
child of William c. Doherty. the
president of the AFL National AS
sociation of Letter Carriers. And
Mr.. Doherty was the behind-the-
scenes operator in the drive. Once
the plan was unveiled. most Of the
other postal groups and regular
employe organizations participate
ed, too.
If the postal pay bill had not
been discharged from the House
Civil Service and Rules Com
mittees, there probably would have
been no Federal pay legislation
this year. Both committees had
shown no inclination to act on
either the postal or classified pay
bills.
But once the postal bill was
discharged and approved by Cong
ress. it opened the way for con-
sideration Of the Federal pay
reclassiflcation measure.
\ &k
FRIENDS - Federal employees
had a lot of friends both inside
and outside of Congress to help
them achieve greater benefits dur
ing the year.
In the House, there were such
men as Chairman Murray of the
House Civil Service Committee
(who, once the postal pay measure
had been discharged from his
group. did an about-face and
really did a fine Job In handling
the fortunes of the Federal pay
Redistribution bilD; Representa-
tive Miller. Democrat. Of Califor-
mia; Representative Rees. Repub-
lican. of Kansas. and Rhodes,
Democrat, of Pennsylvania; all of
whom helped q lot to get the pay
measure enacted; Representative
Evening star., 1949-12-30
Nine VA Employees
With Service Ranging
|Up 10 50 Years Retires

Nine employees Of the Veterans
Administration, with Government
service ranging from "a years to
more than so years. are retiring
today, the VA announced.
The employe with more than so
years is Richard D. Engel. 10, Of
806 Farragut street NV, an ad-
Indicator in the dependents and
benef1ciaries claims service. A ma
tive of Washington, Mr.. Engel was
graduated from George Washing
ton University and began his Gov
ernment career in the War De-
partment.
Other retiring employees are:
Joe A. Flewellyn. now a resi-
dent of Atlanta, Ga, who was a
supply officer in the supply serv-
ice. He has 80 years in the Gov
ernment.
Mrs. Sarah B. laval. 391l Mill j.,
itary road NV. an insurance ex-
aminer in the underwriting serv-
ice, Is years service.
Mrs. Florence T. Matteossian,
S715 Burdette road. Bethesda, a
translator in the administration
service, "a years.
James H. McCuen, of the Max
well Hotel, a clerk in the insur-
ance accounts service, A years.
Elmer j. Mcintosh, 1908 Argyle
drive. Alexandria, chief of the COL
lections division. insurance ac-
counts service, 40 years.
Mrs. Gertrude Meldrum, 1901
Sixteenth street NV, admins
trative clerk in the administrative
service. 81 years.
Miss Dolly M. Stone. 1901 Euc-
lid street NV. legal examiner in
the disability insurance claims
service. 81 years.
Miss Ellen Wright. 1913 X street
NV, a clerk in the administra-
tive service. 81 wears.
Evening star., 1949-12-30
New Record Expected
In December Sales
BY the Assoeiuted Press

December sales may hang up a
record for the 18th year in a row
depending on the response to
this weeks offerings Of after
Christmas bargains"
A roaring climax to Christmas
shopping in its final week sent
department store sales soaring IA
per cent above the same week of
record setting 1948. Federal Re-
serve Board records showed today.
This upsurge. in turn, pushed
dollar volume figures for the four
weeks ending December "a even
with the comparable period Of
1948-and still higher in volume
of goods. since prices have gone
down slightly.
The upswing, although it spread
across the Nation. wasn't due en-
tirely to a last-minute easing OF
consumer purse strings.
The Reserve Board said it re-
fiected in part an extra day OF
Christmas shopping this year. This
Christmas fell on Sunday; last
year it came on Saturday.
The single weeks splurge lifted
national department store sales
for 1949 to date within 5 per cen,
of the comparable period of last
year, trimming down a lag that
previously had stood at 6 per cent
The boom in department store
turnover was sure to be reflected
In overall retail sales data, which
are slower in compilation.
Retail sales in general have bet.
tered the department store recorc
by far this year, holding withir
IN per cent Of last years recore
level through the period up tt
December.
Evening star., 1949-12-30
Weather Report

District of Columbia-Sunny
and rather cold with highest tenn
perature around 40 degrees this
afternoon. Fair and cold tonight
with lowest about 26 degrees in
the city and 20 degrees in the
suburbs. Tomorrow fair with
slowly rising temperature.
Maryland-Fair and cold with
lowest temperature from 18 to "a
degrees tonight. Tomorrow fair
with slowly rising temperature.
Virginia-Fair and cold with
lowest temperature from 20 to 25
degrees tonight except from 80 to
IS degrees near the coast. To-
morrow fair with slowly rising
temperature.
Wind velocity, 10 miles per
hour: direction, north.
Five-Day Forecast for Washington
and Vicinity, Dec 30-Jan. 4.
Some rain likely tomorrow night
or Sunday and again Tuesday or
Wednesday, totaling about one
fourth inch. The temperature will
average about 4 degrees above
normal. The normal maximum for
Washington area is AZ degrees
normal minimum 81 degrees.
Warmer tomorrow night and Sun
day and colder again Monday or
Tuesday. .,-.. ,.,.u,
tFrom United States Ensineers.)
Potomac River muddy. at Herpers Ferry
ahd ut Great Fails shenandoah muddy
d Harpers Ferry.
Evening star., 1949-12-30
Miss CopIon Appeals
District Court Sentence

The Judith Coplon case here
In Washington today was re-
kindled with the filing of a new
trial motion in the United States
Court Of Appeals on grounds OF
newly discovered evidence.
The Government girl, who was
sentenced here last June to serve
from 40 months to 10 years in
prison for removing secrets from
FBI files. made this move late
yesterday. One of her lawyers
made dash by plane from New
York to get the papers into the
Court of Appeals barely before
closing time.
Rushed to Washington.
The lawyer, Lloyd G. Wein-
berger. said he was sent by Archi-
bald Palmer. now contesting es-
pionage conspiracy charges against
Miss Coplon in New York pre-
trial proceedings.
Mr.. Weinberger was asked why
Mr.. Palmer rushed him to Wash
ington at this time.
He just wanted it done" the
lawyer said. THAT may not be
a reason, but it's an answer"
The motion asks the appellate
court to suspend its review Of Miss
Coplon's conviction here and to
remand the case to District Court,
where the new trial plea may be
heard. Miss Coplon is free under
bond pending appeal.
Centers on Wire Tapping.
Principal points in Mr.. Palm
er's claim center on overlapping
evidence brought out earlier this
month in the New York pre-trial
hearing. The motion contends
Miss Coplon's telephone wires
were tapped during the first three
months of 1949. covering dates
named In the indictments against
her, as we'll as after the ndict-
ments were returned and after
her conviction. Miss Coplon did
not learn this until December 10
during the trial testimony Of
FBI agents, the papers said.
The Government has over
stepped its bounds" the lawyer
asserted. 1T is welding its inf1u-
ence in a manner which can only
lead to the downfall Of our Judi
cial system"
The Appeals Court will decide
later on hearing date.
Evening star., 1949-12-30

Karsten, Democrat, of Missouri
who was instrumental in getting
the increased travel allowance bill
into law; Chairman Lesinski OF
the House Labor Committee. who
handled the injury compensation
bill, and Representative Lyle
Democrat. of Texas. who was often
instrumental in getting his Rules
Committee colleagues to approve
employe legislation for House
action.
In the Senate. Government en-
ployes had such staunch friends
as Chairman Johnston of the Sem
ate Civil Service Committee, and
Senators Long. Democrat, Of
Louisiana: Humphrey, Democrat
Of Minnesota; LANCER, Republican
Of North Dakota, and Flanders
Republican, of Vermont.
Regarding the pay legislation, a
great deal of credit also belongs to
William Brawley OF the Senate
Civil Service Committee staff
George M. Moore of the House
Civil Service Committee staff
Ismar Baruch of the Civil Service
Commission and Joseph Winslow
Of the Budget Bureau, for thei,
able work in preparing the legis-
lation and acting as technical
consultants.
MOST BURNING ISSUE - The
hottest issue affecting Govern
ment employees in 1949 was the
Hoover Commission recommen-
dations for overhauling the Gov
ernment's civil service system.
The issue has by no means
been settled and will be one of
the most important ones affect
ing Government employees in 1850.
Most controversial of the Hoover
proposals is the one to decen-
traliZe personnel activities away
from the Civil Service Commits
sion to the individual departments
and agencies. The commission
opposes this strongly. while Budg-
ct Bureau and other administra-
tion officials favor it.
~ X
COMMISSION - During the
past year. the Civil Service Com
~ ;ce;or rpJar>rant a ro;nor Va
organization, authorized by the
President and Congress. Com
mission officials declare they are
succeeding in their program to
speed up and modernize civil
service procedures.
Opponents of the commission
dispute this. charging it with a
"do nothing" policy. and are urg-
ing a major shakeup in the COM
mission. **
CAPITAL ROUNDUP John
w. Smith of the Army Depart
ment's Signal Corps is retiring
after 80 years Of service. during
which time lie commuted daily be-
tween here and Baltimore where
he lives Civil Service Com
mission employees contributed g.
200 different items, including
125 cases of canned goods. to Jim
Gibbons Country Store collection
over Station WMAL for needy
families here. The commissions
participation in this and other
holiday programs during the past
week was under the supervision
Of J. Douglas Hoff. William
Wright, Rose Ryan and James A.
Hamill, all members Of. the Civil
Service Commission Club.
THE Federal Spotlight radio
program featuring additional
news and pieus OF the Govern
nlent is heard each Saturday at
GAS pm. ouer WMAL, The Star
stntion.)
Evening star., 1949-12-30
Warriors Sign Free Agent

PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 80 R.-
The Philadelphia Warriors Of the
National Basketball Association
announced today they have signed
Fred Lewis. 6-foot-2-inch sharp
shooter declared free agent by
the Baltimore Bullets.
Evening star., 1949-12-30

t h e ir credit
On the credit
side of the led
ger, F. e d e r a !
employees we're
given a modest
p ay increase
substan t i a lily
more liberal re-
tirement bene-
fits, improved
survi vors h i p
annuity fea
t ur IS, m or e
travel allowance
money, and top
Government Of
Evening star., 1949-12-30

Miners Resent Welfare Fund squonderins
on Free Riders. poge BIZ
cause of dwindling supplies of
soft coal.
But the Interstate Commerce
; Commission said it may act next
week to eliminate some coal
burning trains if stocks of fuel
dip to a lower level. If the re-
duction comes it is probable that
Is per cent of the trains pow
cred by coal will be ordered to
remain in the yards.
The ICC said a special COM
mittee reported a 30-day supply
Of coal available for railroad use.
j. Monroe Johnson. commits
sion member, said another sur
vey will be made Tuesday to de-
termine whether conservation
measures are necessary.
The decision against an i'm
mediate reduction in service was
made after the ICC conferred
with representatives of the Ma
tional Coal Association and the
American Association Of Rail-
roads.
John L. Lewis put his 480. .000
soft coal and anthracite miners
on a three e-day work week Decem-
ber /. The above ground supply
of coal has dwindled steadily since
that time.
The move was made presumably
to strengthen the United Mine
Workers hand in bargaining with
the coal operators for new con-
tracts. However. there was no
sign that the operators plan to
resume negotiations with the
miners any time soon.
Meanwhile. the Baltimore re-
gional Office of the National La
Dor Relations Board received the
charges of unfair labor practices
filed against Mr.. Lewis and the
UNIV by Southern coal producers.
The operators asked the NLRB toI
seek court injunction to end the
three-day week.
Northern and Western coal pro-
ducers have said they would file
similar charges against the miners
Evening star., 1949-12-30
institution Fires

Or the average there are six
church fires, six school fires and
two hospital fires in the United
States each day.
Evening star., 1949-12-30
The Federal Spotlight
'49 Called One of Best Years
Ever Enjoyed by u. S. E Employees
The Federal Spotlight
By Joseph Young

close backward glance the past II
be of the best enjoyed by Fede
raj employees.
there discordan note during the This
employees with Of
Evening star., 1949-12-30

High and Low for Yesteroays
High, SO, at 2:54 pm.
Low, SO, at $40 am.
Record Temperatures This Year.
Highest, 81. on August II.
Lowest, 21, on January 30.
Tide Tables.
Furnished by United States Coast
and Geodetic Survey
Evening star., 1949-12-30
Coal Crisis Won't Cut
Railroad Passenger
Service Immediately
BY jones Y. Newton

The Government has decided
against an immediate reduction
in railroad passenger service be-
Miners Resent Welfare Fund Squonderine
on Free Riders. Page BIZ
Evening star., 1949-12-30

ment's reduction in = force pro-
grams. Many Of these employees
had between 20 and 80 years to
Evening star., 1949-12-30

River Report.
(From United States Engineers.)
Potomac River muddy at Harpers Ferry
at,d ct Great Fails. shenandoah muddy
q Harpers Ferry.
Evening star., 1949-09-19
U.S. and Trade Experts Differ
On Why Eggs Cost So Much

Government and trade experts
disagreed today as to why eggs
are costing more than 80 cents a
dozen. One outstanding fact re-
manned. however: the Govern
ment is buying a lot Of eggs.
The experts agreed the price
was due, in the main, to season.
al low production with high de-
mand, but there the, agreement
ended. Trade experts maintained
the Governments 32-month-old
egg-buying program for price
support was also a factor. Gov
ernment officials denied this.
The Agriculture Department
this year. alone has purchased in
dried form the equivalent of
S, 900 900 cases of eggs at a cost
of about $75,000, 900. =
The department estimates its
purchases for the year amount
to 4.6 per cent of total United
States egg production thus far in
1949. The bulk Of the buying
was done prior to May, with the
peak month in April when pro-
duction is at its highest.
Monthly Purchases Shown.
The following table gives
monthly Government purchases
and production in cases and COM
parative retail prices. the latter
supplied by the Bureau of Labor
Statistics, which does not yet
have figures for August and Sep
tember:
Evening star., 1949-09-19
Mother Killed,
Husband Hurt
In AutoCrash
Woman Dies InstontIy
As Car She Is Driving
Rums Into Tree

The mother of three children
was killed instantly and her hus-
band was critically injured early
yesterday when the car she was
driving rammed into a tree.
Killed in the smash-up was Mrs.
Ruth B. Phillips, 35,- of 3100 Con-
necticut avenue NV. Her husband,
Vearl F. Phillips, 81, was still
semiconscious at Emergency Hos
pital today and had not been told
of his wife's death.
Another passenger in the car,
Miss Eva G. Herbert, 20. of 1881
S street NV. and Lothian, Md,
was less seriously injured. She was
taken to Georgetown Hospital
with knee injuries.
Police said Mrs. Phillips was
driving east in the 5000 block of
Cathedral avenue about $3.50 am.
when she apparently lost control
OF the car on curve. The car
shot across the Westchester apart
ments driveway for about 10 feet
and smashed head-on into a tree
Heart Is Ruptured.
Or. Christopher j. Murphy,
deputy coroner, said after an au-
topsy that Mrs. Phillips suffered
q ruptured heart, apparently from
Evening star., 1949-09-19
$4,000 See Elder Michaux
Bapfize IS at Stadium

Approximately $4,000 persons
last night saw Elder Michaux
baptize rs candidates at Griffith
Stadium in a red, white and blue
draped tank. The tank was placed
on the baseball diamond home
plate while Elder Michaux spoke
from pulpit set on the pitchers
box. He said "the place becomes
sacred because of the purpose for
which it is used"
The service included a choral
sequence in which the burial and
resurrection of Christ were de-
picted.
Sergt. James P. Hendrix Of
Lepanto, Ark, a veteran para
trooper who won the Congress
sional Medal of Hohor in action in
Europe and who recently survived
a 1,000-foot plunge after his
parachutes failed to open COM
pletely was guest at the service.
His survival was by Elder Michaux
as illustrating the efficacy of
prayer"