davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1949-01-04
District Ready 10 Raze
II Old Buildings

The Commissioners today de-
cided to let contracts within 60 days
to raze a group of II old buildings,
owned by the District, in the west
ern part of the area occupied by
the Municipal Center Building.
Only two of 13 old buildings there
will remain standing when the prof.
ect is completed. according to As
sistant Engineer Commissioner L.
E. Cox.
1t. Col. Cox said the District
was anxious to tear down the old
buildings, not only because of the
hazard they represent, but to pro-
vide more parking space when COLI
struction of the new Federal Court
house begins on the present parking
lot at John Marshall place and
Constitution avenue NV.
Eventually, the remaining two
old buildings presently occupied by
units of the Police, Health and
Welfare Departments will be de-
molished to make room for the new
administration building.
1t. Col. Cox said razlng contracts
will be let 80 days after notices to
vacate have been sent 10 present
occupants of the condemned struc-
tIlreS
Evening star., 1949-01-04

The earnings of the Inaugural
Committee in 1889 will help to sup
plement skimpy relief grants in l94S
Acting Welfare Director Raymond
F. Clapp SAID today that $1,000
worth of interest on the Benjamin
Harrison inaugural fund investments
has been turned over to the Welfare
Department by the Commissioners
This, with more than $4,000
scraped up from other sources, he
said, will make it possible for the
Welfare Department to abandon its
recently announced policy not to
take any new cases except as re-
placements for dropped cases.
District Auditor A. R. Pilkerton
said, however, that the inaugural
fund could be used only to buy fuel
and clothing and had to be consid-
cred separate fund.
Mr.. Clapp said $4,000 had be-
come available January l from vari-
Gus sources.
The Commissioners, he said, had
given him permission to use $4,000
from the fund appropriated by Con-
gress last year to buy clothing for
Evening star., 1949-01-04
$4,000 Fund Drive
Planned for Symphony

The National Symphony Orches-
ira Association and Washington
Board of Trade today announced
plans for cooperation in a Febru-
ary symphony fund drive which will
seek $4,000 for both summer and
winter concert seasons this year.
A joint announcement said the
Board of Trade will work with the
business unit in the February drive
and also will assist in planning pub
licity. Representatives will be ap-
pointed to serve on an advisory
campaign committee. it was said.
The symphony association earlier
announced appointment of Hugh K
Duff1eld, general manager of Wash
ington stores of Sears, Roebuck &
Co., as business unit chairman. Mr.
Dufheld, who also is a Board of
Trade member, came here a year
ago from Indianapolis, where he
was chairman of the board of the
Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra.
Also named as unit leaders were
DR.. Edwin N. c. Barnes, president
of the washington Music Teachers
Association, for the Associations
Committee, and DR.. Isadore Al
pher, Washington physician, for a
new Professional Committee.
Evening star., 1949-01-04

Plans for financing multimillion-
dollar expansion program at Amer
lean University will be formulated
at meeting of a special commits
sion OF the General Conference OF
the Methodist Church here the week
of March 20, it was announced to-
day.
DR.. Paul F. Douglass, president OF
the university, said a special COM
mission of the church was appoint
ed several months ago and had
been discussing ways to finance the
expansion Of the school.
The expansion program proposes
construction of at least Is new
functional type buildings on the
campus at Nebraska and Massa-
chusetts avenues NV. Also planned
is an eight-story modern steel and
glass structure at the downtown
campus on F street between Nine
teenth and Twentieth streets NV
Modern Architecture Featured.
The result of the construction
program will be to make American
University one OF the worlds larg-
est and most modern centers of ed
ucation. The overall plan, which
features strictly modern architec-
ture, was developed by Charles NJ
Goodman Associates, local architec-
tural firm.
Among the buildings proposed In
the plan are:
A $2,00O,000 library. $200.00C
chapel. a 100000 administration
building, a s2.5OO,O00 group of build
ings for the social sciences, a $4,000
600 group of buildings for the
sciences, a 81 100000 radio and tele-
vision school, a S3OOO.OOO school of
Evening star., 1949-01-04
Meeting Is Called on Financing
Huqe American u. Expansion

fine arts. a 100000 professional
institute house for short term
courses, and international student
house and a citizen center to house
the many youth groups which come
to Washington.
The plans call for so apartments
of the garden walkup type for
faculty members and % semi
detached homes. The southwest
corner of the campus will contain
new dormitories.
Natural Amphitheater Planned.
A rayine running through the
campus will besused to create nat
ural amphitheater, park facilities
and picnic, grounds. A garden fol-
lowing the authentic plan of for
NAL garden of Elizabethan times is
planned on site near the presi-
dents home.
The eight-f1oor building on the
downtown campus will contain Of
fees, an auditorium, classrooms and
library. The eighth floor will
have recreation facilities and the
penthouse will be a student lounge
with roof terrace The entire south
wall of this building will be glass.
ClassroomS will have mobile walls
so they may be rearranged as to
size with the sliding of the walls.
The Fine Arts Center, to be built
just off Wesley Circle. will contain
a main gallery. In addition it will
house an auditorium. art library,
lecture hall, workshops and studios.
DR.. Douglass said he hoped to
have at least part Of the construc-
tion under way soon" Just how
soon depended on the Embarrassing
campaign which is devised by the
Methodist Church, he added.
Evening star., 1949-01-04
1889 Inaugural Units Earnings
Added to 1949 Relief Funds

children in foster homes. Welfare
officials have had trouble finding
foster homes and the clothing money
has accumulated.
Another $4,000 to $4,000, Mr.
Clapp said. is coming from the
Federal Security Agency as reim-
bursement for outlays made by the
District which FSA has now been
convinced should have been made
by the Federal Government.
The Welfare Department has been
putting into effect one economy
after another because of the slim
budget it was allowed by Congress
A per cent cut In individual grants
was ordered several months ago.
Later, Mr.. Clapp announced nc
new cases could be accepted unless
old ones were dropped. This policy
he said, will not have to be followed
now.
The Commissioners could spend
the interest as it accrues semi
annually on the inaugural invest
ments, Mr. Pilkerton explained, but
the interest hasn't been touched
since the end of 1912. The principal
amounts to $45,450.
Evening star., 1949-01-04
Car Dealer, Found Shot,
Reported in Fair Condition

Louis Bonbrest, 46, a used-car
dealer, who was found shot yester-
day in his trailer Office at 1854
Nichols avenue Sc, was reported to
be in fair condition at Gallinger
Hospital today.
Mr.. Bonbrest was said to have
called a friend, Frank ]. Hospidor,
636 Alabama avenue Sc, and told
him he had shot himself twice in
the chest with a 25-caliber auto
matte. When police arrived, he was
found sitting in the Office, with the
weapon on the desk in front of him.
Three notes on the desk indicated
Mr.. Bonbrest had attempted suicide
because of financial difficulties
police said.
The wounded man lives at 254
Portland street Sc.
Evening star., 1949-01-04
Musons' Circle Club
InstuIIs New Officers

Grover Burrows, retired employe
of the District Repair Shop, was
installed as president of the Circle
Club of Master Masons at a meet
ing last night at the Fort Dupont
Post Hall, Fourth street NE.
Others who took Office at the
meeting we're Police Pvt. Sam Har-
tung, first vice president; Julius B.
Gay, commission merchant, second
vice president; Tom Jones of the
communications division of the Dis
trict government, secretary; Police
Corpl. Sam Stickley, treasurer, and
Roy Greenwald, employe of the Dis
trict superintendent of buildings,
sergeant at arms.
Milton D. Smith, assistant super
intendent of police and past
president of the club, acted as in
stalling officer. The club is COM
posed of Master Masons employed
in the District government, and
other Masons not employed in any
government department.
Evening star., 1949-01-04
Engineers to Study
Capitol Hill HEATING

The heating and air conditioning
distribution system of buildings on
Capitol Hill will undergo a scien-
tific study by two engineering firms
under contract let by David Lynn,
architect of the Capitol.
The contract. authorizing pay
ment not to exceed $4,000, was
signed with Burns g. Roe of New
York and George A. Weschler,
engineer of this city.
The study is being made with a
view to recommendations to take
care of expansion of the heating
and air conditioning systems needed
when new buildings are erected in
1.-THE future.
Evening star., 1949-01-04
J. J. Donne||y, Jr., Begins
Justice Department Duties

John J. Donnelly, jr., an assistant
corporation counsel for the District
for four years, today began his duties
with the Justice Department as spe-
cial assistant to the Attorney
General.
Mr.. Donnelly, who is assigned to
the Antitrust Division, was sworn
in yesterday. He served for two
years with the departments Immi-
grafton and Naturalization Service
before joining the corporation coun-
sells Office here.
A native of Newark, N. j.. he is a
graduate of George Washington
University and Columbus Univer-
sity Law School and a member of
the District and American Bar As
sociations. He is an instructor in
trial practice at National Univer-
sity Law School.
He lives at 1921 Fulton street NV.
Evening star., 1949-01-04
Woman Claiming House
Seat Sent 10 Ga|Iinqer

A woman who tried to force her
way onto the floor of the House yes
terday claiming she was a newly
elected member of Congress was
under mental observation at CALM
ger Hospital today.
She was takensin custody by 1t
Michael Dowd of the Metropolitan
Police, on permanent detail at the
Capitol, insisting that wonderful
people" had elected her.
A spokesman at the Woman's Bu-
reau said the woman was trans
ferred to Gallinger to be kept under
observation until arrangements coulo
be made to have her transferred tc
her home in Flushing, N. Y. She
was identified by police as Miss
Lydia M. Lewis.
Evening star., 1949-01-04
Mrs. Ke|eher Tells
OF Husbands Calls
From Other Woman

Eighteen telephone calls from an
other woman to her husband, John
'B. blackjack Keleher, admitted
ex-gambler, were Mrs. Anna T. Kele-
hers tipoff that her husband was
about to leave her, Mrs. Keleher
testified in District Court today.
Mrs. Keleher. who is suing her
husband for limited divorce on the
grounds. of cruelty. explained to
Judge Edward A. Tamm that she
kept careful. track of calls to Mr..
Keleher's Office in December, 1945,
and the next month. She was work.
ing in the Office at the time she
said.
Mrs. Keleher gave no details Of
the telephone calls except to say that
they were from Mrs. Dorothy Blake
and that the charges were reversed
on them.
Mrs. Keleher has pending a
S25O,000 alienation of affections suit
against Mrs. Blake, who lives at
2480 Sixteenth street NV.
Took Florida Vacation.
Just before Christmas, l945, Mr..
Keleher was very, very nervous"
and became i'll, Mrs. Keleher said.
He left for a Florida vacation in
January of that winter and regis
tered at a Miami hotel, she added.
Mrs. Blake, she added in her
testimony. registered at the same
hotel under the name of Mrs. K. B.
Johns.
Mrs. Keleher told Of marrying Mr.
Keleher in Baltimore in 1926. She
said his occupation was gambling
Asked by her attorney, James j.
Laughlin, how much she was accus-
toned to receiving from her hus-
band, Mrs. Keleher replied:
Many times he had reverses ="
but in good times I received $500
to $4,000 a month"
At the outset Of the divorce pro-
ceedings, which opened this morning,
Mr.. Laughlin told the court that Mr.
hClCIlCI ulOll CbCil give lIC1 CIlOuSll
money for Christmas dinner" last
month. The lawyer added that he
would prove that Mrs. Keleher is
now destitute.
Contentious Denied.
Alvin Newmyer. Mr. Keleher's
lawyer, told Judge Tamm he would
prove that Mrs. Keleher was far
from destitute. Mr.. Newmyer said
that within the last three years Mrs.
Keleher had drawn $4,000 from a
joint safe deposit account in a
Washington bank and that Mr.
Keleher had given her $4,000 for a
New York shopping tour.
An Official of a local real estate
firm testified that Mrs. Keleher was
now three months in arrears in her
rent at Woodley Park Towers, where
she lives. Mrs. Kelehers apartment
costs $161 a month. The official
added that five suits for nonpay-
ment of rent for the apartment have
been filed in the last year.
Mr.. Keleher lives at the Hotel
24OO.
Evening star., 1949-01-04
National Guard Invited
To Andrews Dance

The District National Guard has
been invited to a dance at 8 o'clock
tonight sponsored by the Noncom-
missioned Officers Club at Andrews
Air Base
The guard also has been invited
to two dances tomorrow One, at
7:30 pm, is sponsored by the Serv-
ice Club at Andrews Air Force Base,
while the other, at pm, is spon-
sored by the Navy Barracks, Quar-
ters ]. in the gymnasium.
Evening star., 1949-01-04
Bill Offered to Provide
Home for Vice President

The Vice President would be pro-
vided an official residence here
under a bill introduced yesterday
by Representative O'Toole, Demo-
crat, of New York
The measure. which went to the
House Committee on Public Works,
would authorize that the problem
be studied by a special committee
of the House. The bill includes no
recommendation on cost.
The idea of home for the use
of the Vice President has been ad-
vanced for many years, but Con-
oress has never voted it.
Evening star., 1949-01-04
Mrs. Hedges, so, Ends
Federal Service Career

Mrs. Margaret L. Hedges, so,
who has served in the Government
service since 1918, has retired from
the Division of Money Orders at the
Post Office, it was learned today
A native of Galveston, Tex, Mrs.
Hedges first worked in the War
Risk Administration and the
Bureau of Internal Revenue be-
fore transferring to the Post Of
flee Department in 1927 Her home
is at 1435 N street NV.
Evening star., 1949-01-04
BIue-T Tongued Skink
At Zoo Gives Birth
To Litter of Five

An unexpected dividend from
the purchase last month of a
collection of Australian lizards
was announced today by DR..
William M. Mann, Zoo director,
who said a blue-tongued skink
in the group had given birth
to a litter of five.
The blue-tongued skink, DR..
Mann said, is one of a compar-
atively small class of lizards
which are born alive. The rest
lay eggs.
The new skinks, which were
born yesterday, were the first
lizards of that kind to be born
here. The birth was the second
this year. Gumdrop v, pigmy
hippo, was born New Years
Day.
Evening star., 1949-01-04
Group to Ask Curb
On Speed Near School

The Minnesota Center Citizens
Association last night voted to ask
Supt. of Police Robert j. Barrett
to assign policemen to patrol the
area south of Benning road and
Minnesota avenue NE.
The group also declared that the
speed limit in front of the Benning
School is not being enforced, and
will ask that police action be taken
on this as we'll as the parking limit
on Minnesota avenue south of Ben
ming road.
G. Walter Johnson, president,
conducted the meeting, which was
held in the Benning School, Min
nesota avenue and Benning road
NE.
Evening star., 1949-01-04
"a Broadmoor Tenants
Win Delay in Eviction
Suit by New Owners

Eviction proceedings filed by "a
members of the Broadmoor Co.
operative Apartments, Inc, to oust
"a present tenants were suspended
today by Judge Thomas D. Quinn
in Municipal Court.
In the order, Judge Quinn con-
sented to the tenants request that
action on the eviction suits be held
up until the United States Court of
Appeals acts on their plea that the
coop owners of the Broadmoor
units are not landlords within the
meaning of the District Emergency
Rent Control Act.
The appeal was from a District
Court ruling last month in which
Judge Edward A. Tamm held that
the coop members are legally land
lords. Attorney James Crooks filed
the appeal on December %.
Buyers Opposed Delay.
Judge Quinn heard arguments on
the stay motion yesterday when
Attorney Herman Miller, represent
ing the Broadmoor purchasers, op-
posed any delay "prejudicial' to the
interests of his clients. Mr.. Miller
argued that should Judge Tamm s
order ultimately be upheld by the
appeals court, the coop members
will have suffered a serious loss of
time" in pressing their eviction suits.
Senator Sparkman, Democrat, of
Alabama. and former Representative
Robert Ramspeck of Georgia, named
among q tenants involved in the
eviction suits originally filed, have
consented to vacate their apartments
rather than contest the custer move.
Change Contested.
The cooperative firm took title to
the l97-unit building at Connecticut
avenue and Porter street NV. last
November l. Many of the tenants
did not want to buy their apart
ments under the cooperative plan.
A number Of these made plans to
move out voluntarily, but the group
fighting the eviction action decided
to contest the legality of the change
in operation of the building.
They contended in the District
Court case that the participants in
the cooperative who were seeking
to evict them were not landlords
within the meaning of the District
Rent Control Act. Judge Edward A.
Tamm decided, however. that they
were, and the tenants appealed.
Evening star., 1949-01-04
D. {. 10 Levy 81 Fee
On Vending Devices
For Food and Drink

Vending machines which dispense
food and drink in the District will
be licensed at 50 year, c. T. Not
tingham, superintendent of licenses,
announced today.
The fee will be collected under
the Licensing Act of July l, 1882,
which has not been invoked hereto
fore. The decision was reached
yesterday at conference attended
by Mr Nottingham, w. D. Burdette,
director of food inspection of the
Health Department. and Chester H
Gray, principal assistant corpora
ton counsel.
Wants to Install Up to 300.
Application for permission to
install coffee vending machines in
the District brought up the question
of Health Department inspections
of all food and drink vending ma
chimes and led to the decision to
levy the fee. Mr.. Nottingham said.
He described the coffee machine
as a complicated mechanism which
dispenses hot coffee for a dime and
permits the buyer to gauge the
amount of sugar and cream to be
added by pushing appropriate but
tons.
The applicant wanted permission
to install 10 machines before the
Inauguration, and ultimately to put
in between 200 and 300. Mr.. Noting
ham said the application was held
up for study.
Cigarette Machines Exempt.
1t was pointed out at the confer
ence. he said, that food inspectors
should supervise these machines and
also machines dispensing soft
drinks, candy bars, chewing gum
and cakes For this reason, he said,
it was decided to collect a fee
under the 1882 act which had not
been invoked before because of the
simplicity of operation and the
character of the merchandise dis
pensed.
Mr.. Nottingham said he did not
know just how many of the ma
ClllIleS tlleI6 are III tle DlSCrlCC,
but that police would make a can
vass next week. They will notify
stores, theaters and other places
where the machines are that they
will have to pay the license fee.
Cigarette vending machines and
those dispensing soft drinks in bot
ties would not be taxed, it was said,
because no health department in
Spection would be involved.
Evening star., 1949-01-04
Little Effect Seen
In Holding G|
Loan Rateto4%
Fund Tiehtness Held
Due to Factors Other
Than Interest CeiIina

The Veterans Administrations
decision not to guarantee CT home
loans with interest rates above per
cent probably will have little influ-
ence on the availability of money
or the lack of, it-for future loans.
This is the opinion of lending off,
cials in several fields, checked by
The Star after Veterans Admins
traitor Gray announced yesterday
that he has turned thumbs down
on a proposed authorization from
Congress to raise the interest rates
to Az per cent if he felt the loan
market required it.
The interest rate increase pro-
vision was put into the housing bill
of the Both Congress last year after
home loans to veterans at the 4 per
cent interest level fell sharply.
Within about year, officials said,
the number of loans submitted to
the agency for guarantee dropped
from more than $4,000 to below 25,-
900 a month.
~ Announcement Seen Timed,
Mr. Gray said he had turned
down the increase proposal because
he felt the scarcity of loan money
was due to other factors than the
low interest rate.
Officials pointed out that his an
nouncement came at a strategic
time-the opening day of the slst
Congress, which is expected to give
housing a high priority in its new
program.
Herbert U. Nelson, executive Sec
retary of the National Association
of Real Estate Boards, said his
group will propose formation of
national mortgage discount bank
Government supervised and busi-
ness managed-Which could buy up
mortgages from small lenders and
make money available to them for
further loans
This scarcity of money to lend
on by heavy loans during
the last few years-was cited bv
Mr.. Nelson and other officials as
the primary reason for the drop in
home loans to veterans.
Reports Buyer Resistance.
Edward L. McAleer, president of
the District Building and Loan
League, said he didn't think the
y per cent interest question was a
major factor. He said the building !
associations still are making selected
GI loans, but that the q member
associations in the league have had
to borrow $22,148,0O0 through No
vember 30.
At the same time, Mr.. McAleer re-
ported "a definite buyers resistance,
even within the last month" He
cited one group of $4,000 homes un-
der construction which, for the first
time, has no applicants.
Robert L. Lacey, president of the
District Bankers Association, said
ne thought some loans would con-
,inuef 10 be made although Mr..
decision to deny the rate in
crease Enthusiastically will not be
100 attractive"
Morgan Callahan, VA loan guar |
antee officer for this area, said loan
last month totaled only
300 here-compared with a high of
371 during June. 1947. Mr.. Callahan
said many of the loans now up for
approval have been committed for
several months by lenders and pre-
dicted that unless something is
done by next July there just won
be any such thing" as a GI home
loan.
Evening star., 1949-01-04
'MosIen Completes Work
In Housing Association

Sydney Maslen, executive vice
president of the Washington Hous-
ing Association, has completed his
work with the organization, pre-
paratory to assuming new duties as
budget director of the Community
Chest of Greater Toronto, Canada,
it was announced yesterday.
Mr.. Maslen's resignation was ef-
fective last Saturday. He joined
the housing association staff Octo-
ber /, 1916, after serving in housing
posts in New York The Washing
ton Housing Association is member
of United Community Services.
Evening star., 1949-01-04
Williams Estate $54,30O

RICHMOND, Va, Jan. 4 (R.-
Mrs. Carrie Powell Williams, widow
of w. Reid Williams, former As
sistant Secretary of War, left an
estate valued at 300, probate of
her will in Chancery Court showed
yesterday. Mrs. Williams, 10, died
Thursday.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-07-25
TELEvIsION HIGH LIGHTS.

1880, WMAL-On Trial: Should
Congress Enact the Celler Displaced
Persons Bill?" is debated by Rich
ard H. Wells, former counsel to
House Naval Affairs Committee:
Representatives Emanuel Celler OF
New York; Boyd Jacket OF Arkan-
sas adm Joseph r. Bryson OF South
Carolina.
7:45, WOIC-Senator Edwin c..
johnson discusses United States
Fisheries.
500, WNBW-Academy Theater:
Premiere of a series of dramatic
programs. The Stolen Prince" a
romantic fantasy, is the first play.
900, WOIC-Tex and Jinx Pre-
view: Cartoonist Al Capp appears.
$50, WOIC-People's Platform:
Should Humans Prosperity Pro-
gram Be Adopted " is debated.