davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1951-12-14
D. {. Workers Reminded
OF Hatch Act in Circular

District civil servants are being
reminded in a circular that there
is such a thing as the Hatch Act,
which forbids District and Federal
employees from indulging in politi-
cal activities. ....n.....-
The reminder was sent out yes
terday by Walter L. Fowler, Dis
trict budget officer and chairman
lof the personnel board, addressed
to all department heads.
Mr.. Fowler called attention TO
a recently published Civil Service
Commission pamphlet, which
spells out in understandable lam
guage the restrictions and privi-
leges of Government workers in
the political field. The pamphlet
may be obtained free of charge
from the commission.
A spokesman in Mr.. Fowler's
office said there was no particular
reason for sending out the circular
at this time. other than to bring
District employees up to date" just
before general election year.
Evening star., 1951-12-14
RemodeIed Kaufman Store
On 14th Street Reopens

The newly remodeled and en-
larged D. J. Kaufman mems wear
store, Fourteenth and I streets
NV, reopened its doors to the
public today.
The improvements, including a
modern front and interior decora-
tion. triples the floor space of the
establishment which opened in
1880.
The main kaufman store, on
Pennsylvania avenue at Tenth
street NV, was founded in 1897
by David j. kaufman. Officers
now are Joseph D. Kaufman, pres
ident. who also is chairman of the
Washington USO; Oscar I. Dodek,
general manager and Leroy King,
secretary. Manager of the re-
modelled branch store is Curtis c.
Greasy.
Evening star., 1951-12-14
Hecht Displays Ton
OF Foreign Goods

Buyers of the Hecht Co. went
on a world shopping tour today
inside the company's warehouse.
Merchandise from Europe, Japan,
Haiti and India-a ton of it in
all-was brought here by the CO.
operative foreign buying agency of
which Hecht's is a member.
There were woolens from India,
housewares from France, earthen-
ware from Italy and leather goods
from Germany among the thou
sands of items, many of which
will be sold here next spring and
fall.
| Leo Martinuzzi, vice president
lof the foreign buying group,
brought the display here on the
last stop of his tour of 20 stores
in the United States. His organi-
zation buys exclusively for the 20
stores. Hecht's joined the group
about year ago.
Mr.. Martinuzzi said most of the
Items were manufactured specifi-
cally with the American market
| in mind.
w. T. Mccormick, special as
sistant to the administrator of the
Economic Cooperation Admins
tration. visited the display. Many
of the industries producing it got
development aid from ECA.
Mr.. Martinuzzi said the buying
group, which does an estimated
81 billion business in a year, is
1.-THE largest of its kind.
Evening star., 1951-12-14

only 'Kelly's Well" is still in use
today. nearly IA years later.
The Booker well is still usable,
and has a good flow, but its situa-
ton in hollow makes it hard to
keep a pump in operation there
the dampness harms the machin-
cry.
The councils well, though locat-
ed in a likely spot; geologically
speaking. was a dry hole. No sign
of water.
After that, Dowser Booker was
out of a job in Rockville. Mayor
Kelly has never charged the town
for his services.
Served In Coast Guard.
The 48-year-old Mayor, genial
man with an inquiring mind, says
he used to feel a little foolish
when he first started wandering
around Rockville with his forked
sticks. Nowadays. though. its a
different story. Most Rockyill-
ians are used to the sight. They
must approve. since they have
elected him their Mayor three
times. Previously, they kept him
on the Town Council for 10 years.
His political career was inter-
rupted by the war. He received
commission in the Coast Guard in
Evening star., 1951-12-14

of Wilson avenue, Alexandria, po-
lice said.
j. w. Mankin, a high school
speech instructor who was in
charge of the student group at
tending complimentary per-
formance at the auditorium, said
young Robinson was walking next
to Miss Judy Bygate, a senior.
and the two were among the
large group walking along the
sidewalk.
He just crumpled down and
Slightly forward" Mr.. Mankin
said. THE girl called to him. but
he didn't answer. We all thought
he had suffered an epileptic fit.
He was stiff and his eyes were
open and his breath was coming
in short gasps. It was about a
minute and a half before we had
him in the first passing car which
we hailed"
Doctors could find no marks on
the boys body to indicate an in
jury. Mr.. Robinson said his son
always had been in good health.
The youth was a senior at Bla-
densburg.
He is survived by his parents
and a sister. Judy Ann. II.
The RobinSons moved to Prince
Georges in. l948. after Mr.. Robin
son served a year as assistant
principal of Fort Hill High School.
Cumberland, Md. Before that, Mr..
Robinson was supervising princi-
pal at South Greensburg, Pa.
Evening star., 1951-12-14
|. {. Hawkins Heads
Prince Hall Masons

Lawrence E. Hawkins was
elected grand master of the Prince
Hall Grand Lodge of Masons for
the District of Columbia at its
103rd annual communication held
last night at the Masonic Tenn
pie. Tenth and U streets NV.
Other officers elected for 1852
are David P. Highley. deputy
grand master; Barry B. Hampton,
senior grand warden: Arthur E,
Brooks. junior grand warden; DR..
Sylvester F. Blackwell, grand
treasurer for the 18th consecutive
term: Addison w. Chapman.
grand secretary for the eighth
consecutive term, and William H.
Bailey and Elvin r. Sheppard,
grand lodge trustees.
Clarence Reed was reappointed
grand director of publicity for
the 18th consecutive year and
Clyde C. Oliver was renamed as
sistant grand secretary.
The final session of the COM
munication will begin at 7 o'clock
tonight.
Evening star., 1951-12-14
Manager Watches Pair
Crack Safe; Suspects Held

A pair of one time losers was
held on another housebreaking
charge here today after a realty
company manager told police he
saw them working on the office
safe.
Police identified them as Virgil
E. Daniels, 90, and James E. Land,
25. both colored, of Philadelphia.
Walter Podrog, 35. of 5727 Six
teenth street NV, manager of
the Washington Realty Co., at
$500 Georgia avenue NV, told
police he had returned to his
Office about 10 pm. and saw the
two men working over the safe
He called police from a nearby
phone and the two men were
picked up within a few blocks.
Both men admitted, police said
to having served housebreakine
terms in Philadelphia.
Evening star., 1951-12-14
Liquor Wholesaler Barred
From Making Price Pacfs

A liquor wholesaler in Washing
ton cannot, by agreement with re-
tail stores, dictate minimum
price, the Federal Trade Commits
sion ruled today.
The ruling was made in the
case of the Atlantic Distributors,
Inc, Washington wholesaler ano
outlet for Hiram Walker products
and was aimed at notice sent
to 388 retailers in the District by
the distributor.
The notice told dealers, "You
are hereby advised that effective
February "a. 1948. we will not sell
our products to any retailer who
sells them below the prices stated
in the list attached. There is to
be no reduction to the consumer
on case purchases.
With few exceptions, the COM
mission reported. Middle Atlantic
obtained the agreement and CO.
operation" sought from its dealers
Evening star., 1951-12-14
Fawver Named Chief
OF Arlington County
Police Department

The appointment of William G
Fawver as chief of the Arlington
County Police Department was
announced today by County Man
ager A. T. Lundberg.
The new chief has been sergeant
in charge of the motorcycle squad
since March, 1850, and has been
on the force IL years.
He was selected from seven
applicants, all of whom are men,
bers of the Arlington force and
including several of higher rank.
Post Pays $500.
A State law requires that the
appointment be made by the
county manager from the mem
bership of the force.
Mr.. Lundberg said Chief Fawver
would assume his new duties at
once. at a salary of $500 a year
The new chief, the county man
ager said, was selected under a
procedure consistent with the
Icounty's new merit system" Like
all appointments under the merit
system, Mr.. Lundberg said, Chief
Fawver's is probationary for six
months.
Record Is Cited.
Mr.. Lundberg said Chief Faw-
lver repeatedly has sought oppor-
tunities for self improvement in
connection with his work. Among
the courses he has completed was
one in traffic control at North
western University.
Chief Fawver, SO, is married
and lives in the Churchill subdi-
vision on the Arlington
County line.
Arlington County has beer
without police chief since March
81 when former chief Harry l.
woodward retired. The Arlington
County Board attempted to ap-
point the chief, but the Circuit
Court upheld Mr.. Lundberg's right
to make the appointment.
Evening star., 1951-12-14
Labor Group Opposes
Joint Role in Proposal
For Reorganization

Labor leaders today protested to
Commissioner F. Joseph Donohue
against the inclusion of labor in
ia proposed department of COM
merce and labor in the proposed
District reorganization plan. They
urged separate labor depart
ment because of a fear that man
Iagement interests would dominate
la combined department.
After the meeting Commissioner
Donohue said he was inclined to
Iagree with the labor men.
The delegation included Glen
Preller. president of the Central
Labor Union: J. c. Turner, presi-
dent of the International Union of
Steam and Operating Engineers,
and Frank O'Connor, secretary of
the Building Trades Council and
"a member of the District Mini
mum wage and Industrial Safety
Board.
1t was also announced. mean
while, the Commissioners will sub
nit the Robinson reorganization
plan to the Budget Bureau Mon
day instead of tomorrow. The
report was due tomorrow, but be-
cause Government offices are
closed on Saturday, it. was de-
cided that submitting the plan
Monday would conform to the
Budget Bureau order.
The Commissioners will hold an
executive meeting this afternoon
for final discussion of the reor-
ganization plan. Commissioner
Donohue was the only Commits
sioner on duty in the District
Building today. Commissioner
John Russell Young is i'll at home
and Engineer Commissioners Ber-
nard L. Robinson is out of town
on Army duty. Col. Thomas j.
Hayes III. Assistant Engineer
Commissioner, will attend the con-
ference in Gen. Robinson's place.
Evening star., 1951-12-14

Police said the boys father,
David Kalmus, is lieutenant in
the Riverdale Volunteer Fire De-
partment. They said Mr.. Kalmus
told them the boy has never
stayed away from home before
and he knows of no reason for
the disappearance.
Police described the boy as 5
feet 8. 145 pounds. with brown
hair and hazel eyes. He was wear
ing a brown plaid jacket, vari-
colored sweater and either blue
or Army pants.
Evening star., 1951-12-14
Tail Winds Push
Chicago Plane Here
In 90 Minutes

The customers aboard Ameri-
can Airlines' Chicago-to- Wash
ington DC-6B hardly had time tc
get settled in their seats yesterday
The big liner. spanked by tail
winds ranging up to 100 miles an
hour at 10000 feet. made the two
hour and 25-minute trip in 90
minutes. landing at National Air
port at 7:09 pm.
Capt R. r. McClary, of Chicago
the pilot, said the tail winds
ranged from 80 to 100 miles an
hour. The plane was in Ma
tional's traffic pattern at 7;05
pm. The airline distance is 600
miles.
Evening star., 1951-12-14
me-SchooI Leader
Protests Method Used
In Inquiry Of Corning

The president of a high school
parent-teacher group today pro-
tested what he called the un-
democratic method" being used by
the Board of Education to evalu-
ate the work of School Supt. Ho-
bart NJ. Corning.
+, Harry L. Moffett, president of
the Home and School Association
of Woodrow Wilson High School,
wrote School Board President c.
Melvin Sharpe that "a large group
of parents" of the school oppose
the use Of a QUESTIONABLE asking
opinions on DR.. Corning which
were circulated by the board
among school officials.
Urged Unbiased Study.
The letter said IAN unbiased
and objective group of citizens
rather than "a subcommittee
which apparently utilizes methods
foreign to our usual conception of
fairness" should have undertaken
the evaluation. The School
Boards Personnel Committee,
headed by Vice President Adelbert
w. Lee, is circulating the ques-
tionnaire.
Mr.. Moffett declared the entire
school board should resign if it
.condoneS the present procedure.
Several other civic groups al
ready have sent formal protests
to the board on the matter. DR..
Corning's term expires next
March, and the board is consid-
.ering the question of reappoint-
Iment.
Corning Defends Self.
DR.. Corning himself, mean
while. has taken up his own de-
fense against a reported "whis-
Ipering campaign" apparently in
tended to discredit his standing.
The school administrator has
made public statements from
school board officers in two other
cities commencing his service
there. The cities are Omaha,
Neb., and Colorado Springs, Colo,
where DR.. Corning was superin-
tendent before coming here.
Senator Butler. Republican, of
Nebraska. brought the campaign
into the open yesterday with
denial that DR.. Corning had been
fired as Omaha superintendent in
1916. Senator Butler wrote let
ter to School Board President C.
Melvin Sharpe branding the al
legation as false.
Documents Back Corning.
DR.. Corning released two docu-
ments, one resolution passed by
the board of directors of School
District IL. Ell Paso County, Colo.
and the other a telegram from
four former board presidents and
in Omaha.
The Colorado document, a reso-
luton passed by the school board
on DR.. Corning'S resignation I'M
1910, states in part that DR.. Corn
ing 'has ably served this district"
and that his administration wasI
characterized by the utmost ef-1
ficiency and energy"
The board declared DR.. Corn
ing's services were extremely
satisfactory" and that you could |
have continued as superintend-
ent here had you desired" It'll
added that "the members of the
board accepted your resignation
with reluctance.
Evening star., 1951-12-14
Need Dowser? Rockville Mayor Does 1t for Free

bay, river, and deep-sea trips he
could squeeze into busy life.
Mayor Kelly planned his recent
round -the-world junket for 25
years. He was accompanied by
his daughter Verna Mae, a soph-
omore at the University of Mary
land, his nephew and young
friend of theirs.
The mayor ran true to form on
his trip, making a busman's holi-
day of it in some ways. One of
his most interesting talks, he says,
was with a young town council
man in Siam. He also managed to
find an article on dowsing in a
Singapore newspaper. The Straits
Times, in which an English PLAN
ter called for information on the
properties of various Malayan
woods when used for water find
ing.
When he encounters persons
Skeptical or curious about the
validity of dowsing for water, Ma
yor Kelly patiently refers them to
Novelist Kenneth Roberts exposi-
tion on the subject, Henry Gross
and His DOwsing Rod. He himself
has given up trying to explain it,
saying frankly that ne has no
theories as to why it should work,
but that. for him, it does.
Mayor Kelly points out that
Rockville's arteSian water system
is more valuable than ever today,
since area civil defense officials
have marked it to supply refugees
in case of atomic attack. Because
I it comes from underground the
supply cannot be contaminated by
radiation.
Surveyors Took Dark View
The mayor recalls that in the
early 1930s. the Maryland State
Department of Geology, Mines
and Water Resources, made a re-
/ port on Rockville's water prob
lem. The biologists took a dark
view of the situation. stating that
the town would never be able to
support population of more
than 1000 without going outside
the town for water.
Now, nearly 20 years later
Rockville, Montgomery County
seat, supplies nearly 10000 SUBJ
scribers. billing them yearly for
water equal to 5 per cent of the
total annual volume of water sup
piled by the Washington Subur-
ban Sanitary Commission to su-
burban Montgomery and Prince
Georges Counties.
Mayor Kelly, who is more proud
Of his master plumbers license
than of his engineering degree,
doesn't have to ask who is right,
the geologists or the men with
diVining rods. He knows.
Evening star., 1951-12-14
By jayne. Lynn Greene


Just returned from a five-month
round -the-world trip. Mayor G..
Lamar Kelly, jr., has arrived back
in Rockville in the nick of time
the town needs a couple of new
wells, and he is the man who finds
them.
The mayor, who holds degree
in chemical engineering from
Johns Hopkins University, is a
water witch, or dowser.
Gripping forked stick of fresh
cut willow. wild cherry, or null
berry. he roams the general area
selected for a we'll until he de-
termineS the point at which he
feels the strongest downward pull
on the stick. There he places
a marker, and the we'll is dug.
First Dowser Imported"
Having found" Is of the "a
artesian wells the town has dug
since it went into the water busi-
ness in 1898, Mayor Kelly has ex-
perienced only two failures. In
those two wells, water was found,
but flowed at an insufficient rate
for the towns purpose.
Rockville's first dowser was a
man named Booker, imported"
from York, Pa. in 1880. His fee
was insthe nature of bet. When
the town hired him. it paid a
deposit of $50, Then, if he failed
to find water the $50 was returned.
If the well was successful, he was
paid an additional $100. During
the 8 years he dowsed for the
town. Rockville never got its $50
back.
Mr.. Kelly. who was elected to
the Town Council in 1894, had
never heard of dowsing for water
until he saw Mr.. Booker's work in
the mid-l930's.
He since has said that, with all
engineering studies. he began to
wonder whether he knew of any
better way to find water than us
ing stick to point to it. Casually,
in 1888, he cut a forked stick of
willow. popularly supposed to be
"a wood with a special affinity for
water. Wandering near the site,
chosen by Mr.. Booker, he was sur
prised to find that the stick pulled
strongly downward over the mark
er Booker had set.
"Kelly's Welr' Still Going.
Mainly to quiet the jeers of his
fellow councilmen, Mr.. Kelly pro-
posed. that the town dig in three
spots. one dowsed by Mr.. Booker,
one by him, and one chosen by
the rest of the council.
OF the three wells dug then,
Evening star., 1951-12-14
Truman ProcIaims Jan. 13
As Stephen Foster Day
BY The Associated Press

President Truman yesterday
proclaimed each January 13 as
Stephen Foster. Memorial Day.
The President called on the
American people in his proclama-
ton to observe the day with ap-
propriate ceremonies, pilgrimages
to the shrines of this beloved
composer and musical programs
featuring his compositions"
Congress authorized observance
Of the day during the last session.
Evening star., 1951-12-14

NV. about l1:l5 pm. He was
returning from play at Lisner
Auditorium with a group of about
so other Bladensburg High School
students.
The youths father is an as
sistant superintendent of county
schools. Before taking that posi-
ton July /. Mr.. Robinson was
principal of Bladensburg Junior
High School for three years.
Young Robinson was pro-
nounced dead on arrival at George
Washington Hospital, where he
had been taken by a motorist
Thomas ]. Davis of the $500 block
Evening star., 1951-12-14
Volunteer Firemen Elect

The College Park Volunteer
Fire Department has elected these
officers for the coming year. Rich
ard S. Houchens. chief; Richard
-. Brelsford, assistant chief; Nor
ton E. Blanchard, captain: Lana
A. Moore, lieutenant; Alan K.
Waite, sergeant; Milton M. Tall
bott, engineer and Joseph r.
Beattie, jr., assistant engineer.
Evening star., 1951-12-14

Rlverdale (Md.l
home sine e
Tuesday morn
ing.
T he b oy,
Ralph Fra n K
K a I'm US, of
4707 Tucker
man street, dis
appeared after
leaving for his
ninth g + a d e
ella sSes a t
H y a t t sv Ill e
Junior Hi G h
School, Prince
Georges Coun-
fxr nnlioa Said
Evening star., 1951-12-14
SeIImun PTA Roises S142

The Sellman Md School Par
'ent-Teacher Association yesterday
raised $142.75 from baby popu-
larity contest to provide glasses
and other health aids to needy
coiored children in the area.
Evening star., 1951-12-14

fall dead while
walking with
h / G h sch oil
I r i e n d S in
Washington last
night.
The yout h,
George w. Rob-
.inson. son of
Mr.. a nd Mrs.
George R. Rob-
.nSOn OF 00lZ
Carlyle street,
.Cheverly. Md.
C oil a p S e d at
Twenty -firs t
and II streets
Evening star., 1951-12-14
Corning, Lee
Differ on Use
OF School Bus
Proposal Won't Solve
Poyne-Webb Issue,
Superintendent Says

School Supt. Hobart M. Corning
today took issue with suggestion
by Adelbert w. Lee. Board of Edu-
Ication vice president, that school
buses be considered to solve the
Payne Webb School controversy.
Mr.. Lee told a citizens group
last night that school buses might
help ease overcrowding in several
city schools. Today he said he
already had asked that the idea
be considered for Payne Webb. as
well as at least one other school.
DR.. Corning, however, contended
Ia bus could not solve the immedi-
ate Payne-Webb problem because
an appropriation would have to be
obtained to finance it. This. he
insisted, would be impossible be-
tween now and February /, when
transfer of many Payne Webb
pupils is@scheduled.
Opposes Idea in General.
The superintendent also ex-
pressed doubt about the bus idea
in general. Trying.it in one place
could lead to an endless chain"
of demands for school buses
something the system could hardly
undertake, he said.
Mr.. Lee spoke last night before
the Randle Highlands Citizens AS
ISOLATION at the Randle Highlands
School. He made no specific men,
ton of the Payne Webb matter in
his speech. but discussing the bus
proposal in general, he declared:
THE idea should not be passed
over lightly"
Parents Reject Plan.
School Board President C. NIL
vim Sharpe earlier had mentioned
the school bus idea in connection
with Payne Webb. but spokesmen
for the schools parents quickly
rejected it.
|. DR.. Corning confirmed today
that he will meet with Payne
Webb leaders at 4 pm. next Tues
day to discuss pupil plans
TO which the parents object. The
superintendent had refused to see
the parents during the four-day
pupil strike. which was ended last
Tuesday night.
Mrs. Catherine Jones. Payne
Webb PTA secretary, said her
group plans to ask DIR. Corning
Tuesday for "neighborhood relief"
on the school-crowding question.
Transfer Plan Explained.
The pupil l-transfer plan to
which the parents object is based
on a shift of the Madison School,
some distance from Payne and
Webb, from white to colored use.
Several other colored schools
would be affected and many
Payne Webb pupils would move
to Maury. another school in the
neighborhood. But the parents
say Maury is too far for the pupils
to go.
Mr.. Lee, at the Randle High
lands meeting. said survey of
the use to which all the city's
public schools are being put is
badly needed.
He added that it is DR.. Corn
ing's responsibility to bring such
a study to the Board of Educa-
ton, but he criticized the super
intendent for doing it on a piece
meal basis. The board vice
president charged that only when
a crisis develops in certain area
is the school need, in the area
studied. He declared that overall
planning is needed.
Evening star., 1951-12-14
Police in Area on Lookout
For Missing RiverdaIe Boy

Washington area police have
been alerted to watch for a IA
year-old boy missing from his
, 1951-08-20
(.

49,.
at the request of President
Truman. More than 26,6OO ia
miles are now expected to
register for emergency and re-
Mobilization assistance, and
nearly $500 will need help in
rebuilding or repairing their
homes. The remainder need
assistance in replacing or re-
pairing destroyed or damaged
household furnishings,
In a message to all 1873
chapters Mr.. Hartman called
for intensified community eff
forts in doubling the minimum
goal assigned to them.
This is imperative" he de-
clared, IF families in the de-
vastated flood belt are to be
restored to normal living with
a minimum of suffering"
, 1951-08-20
SHIPPING NEWS

The SIS POINTER
is scheduled to sail from New
York August 18th, and is due
at Frederiksted on or about
August oath, accepting freight
for Venezuela, Trinidad and
Georgetown
Alcoa Steamship Company. Inc
Rob't L. MerW1n & Co., Inc.