davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1951-09-13
Western Union Asks
Higher Virginia Rate
BY the Assoeiated Press

RICHMOND, Sept. 13.-The
Western Union Telegraph Co. yes
terday asked the State Corpora
ton Commission for rate increases
averaging approximately 20 per
cent on intra-State messages. The
sec set the petition for hearing
October 4.
Increases already have been
authorized for interstate opera
tions by the Federal Communica-
tions Commission.
In its petition, the company
said wage increases of SIPS million
per year were granted the COM
pany's employees in July and an
other wage increase of 81 million
per year is pending.
The petition contended that
even with the proposed rate re-
visions the company's inter- State
operations would result in an
annual operating loss of approx
|mately $8.824. For 1850, the
petition said. the company lost
SAL .857 on it's Virginia operations.
Under the proposed changes,
basic telegraph message rates
would go up, but they would be
partly offset by allowing Is words
instead of 10 in kilograms and so
words instead of Is in night letters
for the minimum charge.
Evening star., 1951-09-13

the gunwales. Connie charters the
steamer and eventually splits the
profits with Uncle Sam.
Last New Years Eve was to
have been a dull one in Wash
ington, because it fell on a Sun
day. But Connie leased the Ma
tional Guard Armory and had
5000 persons dancing on the
floor.
His most remarkable perform
ance, one that opened the eyes
of the hillbilly industry to Wash
ington's possibilities. was his
series at Constitution Hall.
Before Pearl Harbor the hall
had housed an annual national
folk festival. The lady directors
of the Daughters of the American
Revolution, which owns the hall,
were under the impression that
Comics show would be in the
nature Of a revival.
He started his Saturday night
series at Constitution Hall in
May. 1948. Soon the directors
were getting disturbing reports.
There is something positively low
brow and historically unauthentic
about a mountain song entitled
When It's Toothpicking Time in
Falseteeth Valley"
Asked Him to Leave.
That was one of the troupe's
favoriteS. Connie was filling the
hall, which is a phenomenon in
the summer. The directors be-
gan to fear that their temple of
music would become known as
Evening star., 1951-09-13
Falls Church 10 Set Date
For Opening Of 7 Schools

An announcement will be made
tomorrow on the opening date
for two temporary school build
ings at Falls Church, Supt. Irwin
H. Schmitt said today.
The two buildings, which will
house the first, 10th and 18th
grades, failed to open last Mon
day because remodeling had not
been completed.
A committee of citizens COM
planned to the State Board of
Education that the buildings were
unsafe.
Mr.. Schmitt said he expects
that the buildings will be avail
able for use some time next week.
The present delay is a result of
the need for additional ventila-
tion fans in the atticS.
Evening star., 1951-09-13
Laurel Man Named Head
Of Beer Wholesalers
BY the Associated Press

ANNAPOLIS, Sept. 13.-Fred c.
Davis of Laurel was elected pres
ident of the newly organized
Maryland Beer Wholesalers AS
sociation yesterday.
More than 80 wholesale dealers
met here to form a Statewide
trade association. Controller j.
Millard Tawes told them such
groups are useful in relations be-
tween government and industry.
John A. Mention, executive vice
president of the Maryland State
Licenses Beverages Association,
will serve temporarily as execu-
tive secretary for the beer deal
ers.
B. E. English of Hagerstown
was elected first vice president;
Ed Borrow, Baltimore, second vice
president: Clinton L. Gray, Balti-
more. secretary, and Gloyd B.
Haines, Annapolis, treasurer.
Evening star., 1951-09-13
Star Staff Photo.

Comics Barn" They doubled
the rent. But that didn't dis
courage Connie. They finally
asked him to leave. But not be-
fore he had crowded the hall for
26 consecutive weeks-a record
for any local concert series.
His television program started
this spring. He was sponsored by
grocery chain. He was in con-
stant conflict with the sponsor be-
cause he protested they were ruin
ing the show by loading it with
commercials. At the end of the
l3-week period. the usual contract
in radio or TV, sponsor and show
parted. There is nothing unusual
about this. but Connie continued
the show, paying both for tele-
vision time and talent. 1t cost him
$500 for the half-hour spot on
Tuesday nights. The cost of his
show was $400. After two weeks
of this. he acquired sponsor. But
he sold the sponsor only one-half
the show. The commercials in the
other half are devoted to Connie
B. Gay enterprises, such as a
weekly square dance ip Charlie;
County (MdO hotel.
Connie was born on a farm neal
Lizard Lick in Wake County, N
&C., not far from Raleigh. He wa;
the 10th child, and the farm hac
81 acres.
That ought to give you an ides
how poor we were," he said.
He is a college graduate, North
Carolina State, bachelor of sci
ence in agriculture. For a time
Evening star., 1951-09-13
County Democrats
Push Council Plan

Democratic leaders from every
section of Montgomery County
last night indorSed a proposed
constitution for a new Democratic
council of voters.
Speaking at a meeting of the
.county's Democratic State Cen
trail Committee in Silver Spring
James H. Pugh and Edward
Northrop of Chevy Chase and
j. Forest Walker of Gaithersburg
united in support Of the plan.
Democratic voters throughout
the county will have an opportu-
nifty to discuss the proposal at
precinct meetings Monday night.
They will also elect precinct Off
GERS.
Warren Browning, chairman of
the State Central Committee, de-
scribed the proposal as "the first
time in the United States that
all the members of any political
party have been afforded equal
opportunity and responsibility for
the formation of party policy and
the direction and control of po-
litical management"
Formation of the council, he
stated, will complete the plans
to make the Democratic Party in
Montgomery County truly grass
roots party which were started 18
months ago by the open election
of all the Democratic precinct
officials"
Last nights meeting was called
to brief precinct leaders on the
schedule for Mondays precinct
meetings.
Evening star., 1951-09-13
Prettiest Baby Named
AT College Park

Fourteen month old Shelley
Sue Gosman, daughter of Mr.. and
Mrs. Francis Gosman, Beltsville,
is the prettiest baby in College
Park, according to judges in a
contest sponsored by the COM
munity's shopping center.
The judges also selected Mrs.
S. Chester Ward, 7409 Princeton
avenue, College Park, as the
typical Mrs. College Park"
Shelley Sue won over five other
finaliSts, each of whom received
an engraved silver cup in pre-
liminary contests. They are
Thomas Knott, Pamela Sisk,
Deborah Green, Gerald G. Gra-
della and Wharton Sanders. Sd.
Mrs. Ward. mother of two girls,
received a $100 merchandise GER
tif1cate after being named the
winner on the basis of charm
personality and service to the
community.
She is active in the Prince
Georges County Federation OF
Women's Clubs and is secretary
of the College Park Parent
Teacher Association.
Runners-up to Mrs. Ward were
Mrs. Kathleen Little, 1852
Queenstown drive, Mount Rainier
and Mrs. Mary K. Prangley, 62O2
Forty-second avanue, Hyattsville
The judges were three Fort Nc
Nair master sergeants-Woodrow
wv. Mangum, Eugene T. Cannin
and John A. Dydynsky.
Evening star., 1951-09-13
Maryland PSC Hears
Final Testimony for
Phone Rate Increase
Special oispoteh 10 The Star

BALTIMORE. Sept. 13.-Chesa-
peake & Potomac Telephone Co.
officials today were completing
their testimony in support of the
firms application for higher rates
before the Maryland Public Serv-
ice Commission.
At the conclusion of today's
hearing, the proceedings will be
recessed to allow time for prepa-
ration of cross-examination by
Joseph H. Allen. peoples counsel;
Ward D. Coe, jr., assistant State
attorney general, and Baltimore
city representatives.
The State and city have inter-
vened in the case to fight the
request. A decision by the COM
mission is not expected for sew
eral months, perhaps not until
early next year.
Minimum Need Cited.
AS the hearings opened yeSter-
day w. Griffin Morrel, vice presi-
dent and general manager of the
company, said the firm needs a
minimum" of $2,750,000 in addi-
tional net income after taxes.
This would mean a gross increase
of about SIS million in its Mary
land rates or a raise of about 10
per cent.
1T adds up to only a few cents
a day for the individual Gus
TONER" Mr.. Morrell said.
The company's rates apply
throughout the State, except a
small corner of Garrett County,
in the extreme western end of
Maryland.
The Public Service Commission
has granted three previous in
creases since the end of the war.
They were designed to raise net
income by $9.376.695 a year.
Last Increase in '49.
The last of these was in March,
1949. when the commission ap-I
proved an increase of $4,087, 900.
1t turned down an additional So.
the company asked.
Mr.. Morrel's testimony empha-
sized the impact of imitation on
the company, which other c. & P.
witnesses said had been hit hard
by rising costs and the need to
expand plant facilities to meet
the demands of increased service
and national defense.
Higher rates are the only an
swer," Mr.. Morrel declared, "if the
company is going to give the peo-
pie of Maryland the kind of serv-
ice they want when they want it,"
In a matter of months, he as
serted, the company's wage bill
has gone up SO million.
Earnings Compared.
He presented a study which
compared the earnings of % large
Maryland corporations with those
of the telephone company. Be-
fore the, war, he said, the indus
tries earned an average of 9 per
cent on their net investments, the
telephone company. Z per cent.
Since the war, he said, the
earnings of the industries have
averaged IA per cent as compared
with tthe telephone company's 5
per cent.
The prices of food, automobiles
and electrical appliances have
gone up from SO to 248 per cent
since before the war, Mr.. Morrel
continued, while telephone rates
have been raised 81 per cent.
Evening star., 1951-09-13
Board Seeks Farley
with Council for New
Alexandra School

Alexandria school board is
making a determined effort to
stay one Jump ahead of it's school
population.
Last night the board voted to
seek a conference with the city
councils schools committee to
discuss a new elementary school
site. They would also like to dis
cuSs financing of building pro-
gram estimated at between SO and
81 million.
Alexandria's schools are the
only ones in the nearby Virginia
and Maryland area which are not
seriously hampered by over
|crowding.
School Superintendent T. C..
Williams told the board last night
the building boom in the city is
threatening to end the city's
corner on the school space market.
He said a school will soon be
needed in the northwest section of
the city to take the overflow from
the George Mason, Maury and
Macarthur Elementary schools.
Mr.. Williams reported that
plans for a new 30-classroom ele-
mentary school in the south end
'of the city soon will be completed
and ready to submit for bids.
He said planning for a new
high school has been delayed be-
cause of the annexation proceed
ingS between Alexandria and Fair
fax County. The suit was won
by Alexandria but is awaiting re-
view in the State Court of Ap-
pealS.
The two elementary schools and
the high school would cost be-
tween So and 81 million and
would probably have to be financed
by a bond issue. The last bond
issue approved by the city coun-
Gil was in 1948 for SO million.
The board voted to employ IA
new teachers for the year and
agreed to ask the city council
to purchase property adjoining
the Parker-Gray Negro High
School for use as an athletic field.
Evening star., 1951-09-13
Thief Mistaken for Husband
OF Guest Gets $88 at Party

women at the party. He tipped his
Texan-type hat, she reported, but
made no other response.
The man appeared a moment
later at the bedroom door Of Mrs.
Arthur's daughter Dorothy, IT,
At first Dorothy thought she rec
ognized the man but as he tip
toed from an adjoining bedroom
she broke off a telephone call she
was making and chased him down
the stairs. The man fled out the
back door.
The money was stolen from the
pocketbook of Mrs. Arthur's sis
ter, Mrs. Wallace johnson, of Lake
Worth, Fla, who had left her
pocketboOk on a bed upstairs.
Evening star., 1951-09-13

Theft of $88 by a polite robber
who was thought to be the hus-
band of one of the women attend
ing a party at an Arlington home
is being investigated by county po-
lice.
Mrs. E. M. Arthur told police she
was entertaining 25 members of
a Clarendon Methodist church cir
Gle last Monday night, when the
thief entered her home, 632 North
Ivy street. through on unlocked
back door.
One of the guests recalled later
that as she walked upstairs she
saw a tall man about 80 years old
and spoke to him. thinking he was
a husband of one of the other
Evening star., 1951-09-13
McKeIdin Urges Siernness
In Dealing With Enemies

Gov. McKeldin of Maryland said
yesterday the United States must
be in a position Ito speak with
authority and to deal with stern
ness in our relations with our
enemies"
In a speech before a Nassau Day
banquet in Silver Spring, the Gov
ernor said, I'VE must show the
courage and the virility that are
the companions of freedom"
AS free peoples, we must wear
no mask of fear on the face that
we turn to the rest of the world, Z"
he added. "We must have the
strength for confidence and the
confidence for calmness."
The Governor addressed a
Board of Trade dinner honoring
government officials Nf the
Bahamas.
Evening star., 1951-09-13
Virginia Park Visitors
Set Attendance Record
BY the Associated Pres.

RICHMOND. Va, Sept. 49,
Virginians have taken to the parks
in greater numbers than ever be-
fore this summer.
Virginia's Division of Parks re-
ported yesterday that 1928, 124 had
visited nine State-owned parks
through September 8. The previ-
Gus record high was set in 1949
when 829. .622 made visits. The park
season lasts until October 2.
Evening star., 1951-09-13
Phone Rote Increase
Would Cost Each
Subscriber $77.75
BY the Associated Press

BALTIMORE. Sept. 13. - The
$5.5 million in gross increased
rates the Chesapeake & Potomac
Telephone Co. is asking would
average about $11.75 annually for
each of its customers.
This would amount to nearly 81
a month for the 470,00O subscrib-
ers to C. & p. service.
r. M. Fowler, company auditor
for disbursements, explained that
if the increase is allowed, the total
net operating income could rise
from the present $5,692,7O8 figure
to $8,442, ,708.
No detailed schedules of rates
have been prepared. However,
the company wants to double the
present S cent toll for calls made
at phone booths.
Evening star., 1951-09-13
Dr.. Roy to Aid Colleges
In Use of Naval Lab
BY the Associated Press

DR.. Joseph Ray yesterday was
named University of Maryland
representative on a committee de-
signed to help Southern colleges
obtain greater use of the Naval Re-
search Laboratory.
The committee will serve under
the Board of Control for Southern
regional education. DR.. Ray was
appointed by John E. Ivey, jr., the
education groups program direc-
tor.
Evening star., 1951-09-13
Woshingtons H||bi||y Impresurio Goes Far in Years

he was engaged in scientific re-
Search-Soil analysis.
Deserted to Carnival.
He had two experiences which
took him out of the routine Of
the civil servant. The first, and
most important in his estimation,
was when he quit the job because
of boredom and spent a year as
a carnival barker and a pitch
man. That was in 1887.
He sold a knife sharpener. one
of the type that gives knife an
edge when you pull it through a
slot.
Don't ever buy one of those
things" he said. They'll ruin
your knife"
The price was 25 cents in other
cities but SO cents in Washington
where the economy was relatively
sound despite the depression.
He remembers one day when
he was pitching his product at
the parking lot on Fourteenth
street across from the Commerce
Department. An exceptionally
handsome white haired man
stopped and listened. There could
be no doubt about his identity
It was Paul ". McNutt.
"He bought one of the sharp
eners," says Connie. I'm sure hi
didn't have a knife but he liked
my SPIEL"
Connie went back to work fol
the Agriculture Department anc
did some radio broadcasting II
the mid-South. Some one mus
have recommended him highly
because he became director and
voice on the Department. Farm
and Home Hour, noon program
with one of the biggest audiences
in radio.
Became Disc Jockey.
Shortly after WARL started, hi
left the department and became
"a disc jockey for the new station
He told them he did not want any
salary or guarantee, just CON-
mission on advertising revenue. He
has been working on that basis
since. playing hillbilly records
from noon to 3 pm, interspersed
with his selling.
He says the folks back home tell
him that he talks like a city man,
but no one hereabouts would think
he has lost his country accent, on
or off the air.
He hooked up with Grandpa,
whose came is Louis Marshall
Jones. several ,aars ago. They are
both the same age, 81. Grandpa is
from Henderson County, Ken
lucky. An excellent Snowman. he
just doesn't like to work too hard.
He has his own radio program in
Richmond. Each time he comes to
the Capital for a personal appear
ance. he gets $3.50.
In 1949 an item in a Virginia
country weekly that he had
crossed $250,000 caused Connie
some difficulty. He had declared
1929 900. One hundred and six
teen thousand dollars had gone Il
performers and other expenses. Hi
net was $4,000. The Interna
Revenue Bureau noted that item
and its agents came back ant
spent two weeks going over hi
books. looking for the other $21,
900. 1t wasn't there.
But that was two years ago
Connie?" asked him. Are yol
crossing $500.000 now?"
mot quite. he said.
Evening star., 1951-09-13
Rewurd Posted in Vote Fruud

CLINTWOOD, Va. Sept. 13
(P.-Bana Willis, chairman of
Dickinson County Republicans,
has offered a $100 reward for in
formation that could convict any
person of absentee vote fraud in
the county. Mr.. Willis said four
specific irregularities had occurred
in the county in recent years.
Evening star., 1951-09-13
By George Kennedy

connie =. Gay, Cne nlllDllly
impresario. must have been con-
cealing a little concern over the
situation, but he did not show it.
Billie Grammer," he said to a
guitarist, you better take over.
Grandpa Jones isn't here yet.
He's driving up from Richmond. !"
This was during the rehearsal
Tuesday night for the Connie B.
Gay show on WMAL-TV that was
to go on the air at 10 pm.
1t was already $40. Curtain
was SO minutes of. It was ap-
parent the show would have to
be reheaTsed without the star.
At 9:15. word came in the studio
that Grandpa had arrived and
was dressing. Two minutes later
he arrived in the studio.
He was carrying a five-string
banjo and wearing farm clothes.
His boots at first glance looked
like rubber, but they were leather.
knee-high pullons. The most
striking thing about him was the
1t was gray, obviously
false and fantastically wide.
Il was stopped by a policeman
in Falls Church." he explained.
"I guess I was going S."
What did he say to you, grand
pap" the cast chorused.
He said, Grandpa, your mus
tache is a little lower on one
side"
FavOrite Gag.
"And what did you say?" the
cast chorused again.
II said. 81 mustache somebody
about this"
Everybody laughed at grand
pas favorite gag and the rehear-
sal went on.
1t seemed impossible, that a
show could be fashioned within
half an hour from such ragged
material. The square dancers, an
amateur group from Takoma Park,
were having difficulty following
the shows caller. Ralph Case. The
soloists sang or played their num-
bers Enthusiastically.
At one point the producer
TV pays off with wonderful titles
-barked, Lets get on. After all,
we're trying to time this show"
Hillbilly actors have way Of
driving technicians crazy. 8,
But when the show went on, it
was as smooth as silk. The solo,
lists performed creditably. there
were no lags. Grandpa had the
technicians laughing. and the
square dancers went through their
routine without tripping.
This Connie B. Gay has become
something of an impact on WASH
ington.
Comics ambition is to bring the
Nations songs to the Nations
Capital.
Unusual Effects Achieved.
Starting as a dies Jockey less
than five years ago on WARL, a
l 1,000-watt suburban daylight sta
ton in Arlington. he has brought
about several miracles. Among
them:
Fourteen thousand persons wit
messed his personal appearance at
a garage opening in Manassas. Va.
Twenty-Five thousand paid ad-
mission for a hillbilly show at
Bailey's Cross Roads Airport.
Monthly moonlight rides on the
Potomac sponsored by Connie
have loaded the steamer down to
Evening star., 1951-09-13
Safety Council
Finds Maryland
Still Ranks Low
Efforts to Prevent
Highway Accidents
Are Called Better
BY the Assoeiatsd Press

BALTIMORE, Sept. 13.-The
National Safety Council says
Maryland did better last year al
trying to prevent highway acci.
dents but still ranks low.
The estimate was based on ar
inventory the council made of al
traffic safety activities in the
State in 1851.
It found that highway acci.
dents last year cost Maryland
people $32.305, 900, plus the 49t
lives lost and the 1895 injuries
in 74,500 accidents serious enough
to report.
This ranked the State 38th
among the 48. In 1949, it was
AID. The ratio of deaths to miles
of Maryland highway was about
the national average, however.
Vehicle Tests Advised.
Maryland should revive its We
hicle-inspection program, the
council said. but not necessarily
right away. Vehicle inspection
works best. the council pointed
out, when it is part of a well-de-
signed engineering, education and
enforcement program. Until Mary
land does better In these fields
the report recommended, there
need not be too much concern
about the lack of inspection.
1T is significant" the council
said. that States with periodic
inspection as part of an overall
program show the lowest traffic
death rates"
In its inventory. made public
yesterday, the council checked up
on how efficiently the State
keeps track Of highway accidents,
what engineers have done to put
more safety into the roads, law
enforcement, legislation, driver
licensing, vehicle inspection
teaching safe driving in the
schools and keeping the people
informed about highway safety.
In all but two Of these cate
gories, the State improved its
standing. There was no change in
the vehicle inspection item
Maryland doesn't have any and
hasn't had since the early years
OF World War II. The effective
ness Of the general education
program was graded the same.
Gains In Law Enforcement.
The best gains were made in
law enforcement and in the ex-
tension of driving courses given
youngsters in the public schools.
The Maryland Traffic Safety
Commission Immediately took up
the report for study at a meeting.
The National Council said mag
istrates ought to convict more of
those brought into courts on traf-
fic violations. Magistrates and
officers need a new set
Of attitudes toward handling Of
traffic cases. the council said.
They need a new understanding
Of their opportunities and respon-
sibilities.
Maryland ought to spend more
effort teaching pedestrians how to
walk on the streets and highways,
the council found and punish them
for violations. It also suggested
chemical tests and stronger poll
cies against drinking drivers.
The State roads commission,
the council suggested, should con-
tinue its program of marking the
center line on highways and de-
mo passing zones. And
ought to extend the posting Of
speeds on curves.
The council congratulated
Maryland for the progress it has
made in safety education in the
schools, both in operation of
school buses and driving instruc-
ton given pupils. Maryland ranks
at the bottom of the 48 States on
this count in 1949 and jumped up
to 30th place in 1850.
Evening star., 1951-09-13
Candidates Invited

The North Highlands Citizens
Association has invited all So can
didates running for the IA Arling-
ton County Offices to its next meet
ing at 8 pm. October 9, in the
home of Mr.. and Mrs. Milton E..
Wertz, 2137 North Troy street,
Arlington. N
Evening star., 1951-09-13
Optimists to Meet

The Prince Georges County
Optimists Club will hold an organi-
cation and dinner meeting at 7:30
O'Clock tonight in the Prince
Georges Golf and Country Club.
Landover. Md.