davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1954-04-21

A two-alarm fire poured dense
smoke through the Chastleton
Hotel, Sixteenth and r streets
NV. early today. i1juring three
firemen and an occupant.
Scores fled the 8-story, 304-
apartment building after the
second alarm at 2:04 am.
Firemer said q cigarette
caused the blaze and George T.
Benton, 43. occupant Of the
eighth-floor apartment where it
originated. forfeited $100 COLA
teral on the, charge.
There was extensive IRE dam
age in the Benton apartment.
The injured:
Roy Hotchkiss. 81. who lives
Evening star., 1954-04-21
D. {. Area Job Total
Reported Increasing
Slightly but Steadily

Employment in the Washing
ton area showed a slight but
steady upswing during the first
three months of this year, the
United States Employment
Service for the District reported
today.
Statistics released by the serv-
ice for last month showed an
increase of 1900 jobholders over
the February total of $4,000
employed.
The picture, according to a
USES spokesman. has steadily
been improving since January
when employment figures stood
at 59O.400 compared to 593 200
at the end of March.
The gradual increase was at
trlbuted to seasonal rises in the
construction and retail trades.
1t was predicted the favorable
situation will continue with a
steady but slight increase until
ABOUT June when large numbers
OF high school and college grad
yates will converge on the labor
market.
However, the peak employ
ment figures of 1853 will not be
attained in the foreseeable fu-
ture. There were $4,000 fewer
persons working here in March
OF this year than during the
same period last year.
The Federal Government loss
OF 700 workers last month is con-
siderably less than the normal
turnover. 1t indicates, USES
said. that some job replacements
are being made.
Evening star., 1954-04-21
Shimon Named Captain
As Civil Service Approve,

1t. Joseph w. Shimon, veteran
officer heading the Police De-
partment's general assignment
squad, today was promoted to
captain by the District Commits
SionerS.
The promotion. recommended
by Police Chief Robert v. Murray
last month, was held up until
the Commissioners could get a
Civil Service Commission ruling,
1t was jump promotion. The
csc said the city heads could
do it if they desired and the
action followed today.
Capt. Shimon succeeds Inspec-
tor Aubrey Tolson, who was pro-
NOTED to assistant chief of detec-
tives. Inspector Tolson succeeds
Inspector Jerimiah A. FIaherty
whoxwill retire the end of this
month.
Evening star., 1954-04-21
Six Hurt in Auto Crash
North Of Gaithersburq

Six persons were injured. one
critically, in a two-car collision
on Route 240, about 4 miles
north Of Gaithersburg last
night.
In critical condition at Sub
urban Hospital today was Mrs.
Myrtle Ward. AZ, of Comus, Md.
In fair condition at the hos
pital were three other Montgom-
cry County women who were in
the auto with Mrs. Ward. They
are Mrs. Minnie Nicholson, SO,
of Dickerson; Mrs. Lucille Willis,
36, of Hyattstown, and Mrs. Ada
Burch, So, of Dickerson.
The driver of the other car,
identified as John Ferchak, 40.
of the $500 block of Perry street,
Brentwood. Md. was charged by
Montgomery County police with
driving under the influence of
alcohol and reckless driving.
! He was treated at Suburban
Hospital for head injuries. His
brother, Carl Ferchak, 80, OF
Masontown, Pa. was admitted
to the hospital with similar in
jurieS.
Evening star., 1954-04-21
Station
Parking Center
Plan Revealed
Basement Garage
For BIS Cars Slated
To Open in Moy

Plans for a 375-car parking
garage under Union Station
have just been revealed.
Edward D. Talbert, prominent
Washington business man, filed
a certificate of occupancy with
the District Government yeSter-
day. He said he expects to have
the parking center in operation
in about month. It will cost
about $4,000 to prepare the
basement area.
Mr.. Talbert has concluded ar
rangements with Union Station
officials, according to Sidney
Kerl, manager of the station,
and Robert A. Westergren. ter
minal engineer.
The garage, which will be
called the Union Station Park
ing Center, runs all the way un-
der the front end of the waiting
room. The main entrance will
be on First street NE, just
across the street from the City
Postoffice.
One Of the features of the new
parking center will be what is
called valet service. Under this
plan, motorists can drive their
cars into the presidential drive
way on the east side of the sta
ton, where attendants will pick
them UP and park them under
the station.
The fees for the valet service
will be so cents an hour, but the
other parts of the garage will
have the same rates as the ga
RACES and parking lots in the
downtown section. Special rates
will be given to employees of the
City Post Office. the Govern
ment Printing Office and nearby
hotels.
In addition to the parking
service the garage will contain
car-waShing unit.
AS soon as the center gets into
full operation, an escalator will
be installed between the garage
and the main waiting room.
Evening star., 1954-04-21

phones in use here at the end
of 1852, and that by December
81. 1853. this figure slunped to
532.054, D decrease of. 90. per
cent.
Mr.. Langum, an economics
consultant retained by the
utility. was on the witness
stand all day yesterday. Mr..
Langum's view was that the
company is.entitled to "substan-
TALLY in excess" of a 712 per
cent rate of return on its in
vestment.
At one point Commission
Counsel Lloyd B. Harrison asked
the conSultant about the effect
of reducing the present SO divi-
dend paid to telephone stock
holders. This. said Mr.. Langum,
would be a serious detriment"
to raising further capital.
Evening star., 1954-04-21
Navy Department 10 Add
Two Assistant Secretaries

The Navy Department would
get two additional assistant
secretaries under a reorganiza-
ton plan approved today by
Secretary of Defense Wilson.
Mr.. Wilson told a news con-
ference that this and other
organizational changes are con-
tanned in a report to be published
early next week and put into
effect as rapidly as possible. The
report was prepared by a special
committee on organization of the
Navy Department The depart
ment now has two assistant
secretaries.
Mr.. Wilson said the organiza-
tion plan would provide for
assistant secretaries in charge
of department finances, person.
mel and reserves, materiel and
for air. He said further details
of the plan would not be dis
closed until the report comes out
next week.
Evening star., 1954-04-21

Highway, $5,461 900. The lat
ter concluded that more of the
immediate approaches to the
bridge on the Virginia side
would have to be built on struc-
lures (rather than on land fill
in Reaches RUM than the Com
mission contemplated.
Four Mile Run connection
Commission, $3,960,0O0; High
way. $6,258,000. The higher
figure is largely due to the Dis
trict's view that more structure
instead of land fill would be re7
quired, and to the fact that the
Commission, but not the High
way Department, would charge
the cost of a viaduct over Po-
tomac Yards to Federal funds
instead of Reaches Run Bridge
appropriations.
Approach road right of Iway-
The commission estimated $2.3
million; Highway Department es-
timated nothing because, ac-
cording to Gen. Prentiss, it is
impossible at this time to ascer-
tain which property will be avail
able and at what cost.
Four Mile Run drive between
JEFF Davis highway and Ar
lington Commission
/ estimate, nothing: Highway,
/ $5.918.000. The Highway Depart
ment insists on this inclusion
since the construction, which is
not guaranteed by Virginia State
is necessary to make the bridge
workable" The Commission
argues that this project should
not be chargeable to the bridge
construction cost any more than
the improvements to Arlington
boulevard should be chargeable
as approaches to the proposed e
Street Bridge.
Evening star., 1954-04-21
200 Owners Foresee
CIosedown Under
City Tenement Rules

About 200 members of the Dis
trict Property Owners Associa-
tion last night unanimously
agreed that, since they cannot
meet the new District tenement
house regulations. they probably
will have to close down.
This may leave as many as
$4,000 persons homeless, it was
stressed at a meeting of the
group in the Raleigh Hotel,
called by Joseph L. Meek, presi-
dent.
The only thing that will pre-.
vent the mass closing will be fol
the District to let up on the
regulations. it was said. These
went into effect on March /, anc
immediate prosecution of vio-
lators has been ordered by the
Commissioners. Court crack
downs have been delayed, how
ever. to give owners a chance tc
comply
Another Meeting Scheduled.
The District Property Owners
Association has scheduled an
other meeting in about 80 days
but it was conceded thai by this
time it will be too late to dc
anything to ameliorate the situa-
ton.
The group was told that, OF
the approximate 400 tenements
inspected so far, only about Sc
have met requirements. Some
600 owners already have oeer
declared in violation for failure
to reply to queries or correct
listed defects Many of them
were among last nights audience
It would take $4,000 or more
to correct deficiencies contained
in 80 per cent of the 1,4O0 places
inspected, the group was in
| formed.
Cites Alternatives.
Mr.. Meek pointed out, in no
tice to the members:
ITO rebuild your building in
order to comply with these regu-
lations will most likely cost sew
eral hundred or thousands of
dollars, if possible to do so at all;
and then our Government Of
f1cials may change the regulation
within. a year or two and force
you to rebuild. your place again,
or you can close up your place
or change the occupancy to some
other type of business"
About $3.50 million worth of
real estate is affected. according
to c. E. Simmons, chairman of
the groups board Of directors.
eff closed up or virtually con-
demned. what is it going to be
worth them" he asked.
Evening star., 1954-04-21
SIum Officials Get
Preliminary Draft Of
New Housing Code

A preliminary draft of. one
part of a new housing code be-
ing prepared for adoption in the
District was being circulated
among slum rehabilitation au-
thorities today for comment.
The tentative code is designed
to halt deterioration of dwellings
here before they become slums.
1t would tighten requirements
concerning maintenance stand
ards. occupancy limits, light and
air and room dimensions.
Deals With Dimension Data.
The draft now being sent to
members of the District Slum
Prevention and Rehabilitation
Committee deals with dimension
specifications, according to Col.
Giles L. Evans, Assistant En-
gineer Commissioner, who is
committee chairman.
Col. Evans presided yesterday
over a meeting of the housing
code subcommittee of the slum
prevention group. at which fin
ishing touches were put on the
initial draft. He said it will be
another month before the entire
code will be ready to be placed
before the District Commission
erS for action. The committee
has been on the job for about six
months.
Col. Evans emphasized that
one of the chief concerns in pre-
pairing the new regulations is to
avoid changes that would re-
cuire congressional sanction. He
said he feels legislative action
can be kept to a minimum.
More Inspectors Needed.
William H. Cary. jr., chairman
of the housing code subcommit-
tee. warned. however, that what
ever the shape of the require
ments now under preparation,
the city will need from 40 to IS
additional inspectors to enforce
the code.
Mr.. Cary, who is director of
public health engineering for the
District. said the present force
of % inspectors is "only about
one-third enough"
If tine available force could
devote full time to inspecting
housing, perhaps a total of 40
men would be sufficient, Mr..
Cary said. But, since this would
be an impossibility, he estimated
about IS inspectors would be
needed to enforce an up-to-date
housing code and take care of
other types of inspections.
With an adequate inspection
force and a housing code, Mr..
Cary said he believes Washing
tons defective housing Gould be
cleared up in 10 years, at the
rate of 5000 dwellings per year.
Health Director Daniel L.
Seckinger reported today that,
in the last 10 years house to-
house checks on ir1sanitary con-
ditionS have been conducted
through $50 city blocks.
Evening star., 1954-04-21
PhiIodeIphion to Tulk
At UCS Unit Meeting

Miss Marjorie Penny. director
of the Fellowship House of Phil
adelphia. will speak at the an
nual meeting of the United Com
munity Services Recreation and
Group Work Section at 1915
pm. tomorrow at the Burlington
Hotel.
The program also will include
the presentation of a citation to
Miss Lydia Burklin, retiring ex-
ecutive director of the Friend-
ship House. for her As years OF
service. ..,,s
Evening star., 1954-04-21
Former Polio Aide
To Head Palsy Unit

DR.. Curtis F. Culp. former di-
rector of the medical service
division of the Polio Foundation,
has been appointed director of
the medical field services of the
United Cerebral Palsy of Wash
ington.
DIR. Culp. 80, Of Forest Hills,
N. Y. is a graduate Of Hahne-
mann Medical College and Col
lege Of Science, Philadelphia. He
holds q masters degree from
Columbia School Of Public
Health.
Evening star., 1954-04-21
WiIIiston Alumni Dinner

Metropolitan Area alumni of
Williston Academy, Easthamp-
ton, Mass, will hold a dinner at
6 pm. tomorrow in the Wash
ington Hotel. Phillips Stevens,
headmaster, and Howard Board
man. alumni secretary, will
speak.
, 1954-02-25
THURsDAY, FEBRUARY Is. 1854
DR.. G. Jones Fleming Prdises. Archie
A1exunder. Governor de Custro in Letter
Dear Sit:

As a native Of the Virgin Islands and a recent visitor "a
ter an absence Of 80 years. feel that the Islands. will be TO
tunate having Archie l. Alexander as its next Governor.
, 1954-02-25

# he does not snlghtensa cooperation Or il he, too, be
comes victim ofgderflagwarfare He will not succeed if
Congress a6elopsEa an unfavorable attitude against the is
Hands He Will not succeed if pivotal handful Of people snipe
at him because they connot bring themselves to see q colored man
in the highest places (such as Nehru or Gandhi Of India. But
as Governor Archie AlexanderwiH be honest, earnest, hard
working and dedicated and he will show himself smart deal
ing with the leaders in Congress once he becomes acquainted
with the Islands problems a 81
But, as much as / hope for in Mr. Alexander, cannot
help saying, also, that when the record Of these times are
clear and recorded they will also show that Morris +. de
Castro has served the islands well, dedicatedly, and diligent>
ly. From all have gathered, personally and otherwise, his
heart was always in the right place; he stood steadfast for
what would be best for all the people; he never hedged in the
important places; he did not whine when Congress would
not 60 his way; he even took the kicks from his ~fellow-Vir-
gin Islanders with less grooming than a human being should
be allowed. This does not mean that he did not make mis-
takes but, the years are bound to show that his contributions
and his leadership far outweigh everything else. For him it
will probably also be that he is honored more long after he
longer governor (someone has said that a man must be
dead at least % years before he becomes either saint or states
mani.
Above everything else, Governor de Castro has shown
that a community can develop as a tourist center without be-
coming unhuman to its own people or ! following the practices
Of the past which have led to iH-Will against the Anglo-Saxon
World on the part of the very people we need as friends IN
world struggle to save democracy
am sure the lot of ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Alexander
easier because. Of de Castro and Alexander's selection should
bring a message to certain elements in the Islands as to how
President Eisenhower is thinking. / think the President made
an excellent selection.
G.
Editors note: Dr.. Fleming was born in ST. CrOix 50 years ago. He
visited the islands last August. In the VISA he IS knewn as newspa--
editor and public speaker For four years he was in the Federal
IS regional director Of the Presidents COMMITTEES on.
Fair Employment Practice. He is a student of government. hold the
degree Of Doctor Of Philosophy in Political Science from the Uni
verstY of Pennsylvania.
AT present he is director Of News and Special Events Of radio
station VILE. New York City
u IL~A
, 1954-02-25

have known Mr.. Alexander for some II years, both as
an outstanding engineer and as a person. Few people have
entered public service with superior background. He is well
trained, both academicaHy and as an engineer; he is no mere
man of theory because all his adult life he has done things
working as an engineer; he is a good administrator as anyone
must be who has conducted a large contracting engineering
business, building bridges, sewerage systems, viaducts, col
lege buildings, etc, and employing hundreds Of people.
Mr.. Alexander IS also one-world-minded due to the ac-
cident Of his birth and his education. When he organized his
engineering business in 1914, he invited a white classmate to
be his partner and they remained associated for over a quar-
ter Of a century; his friends in Iowa include all backgrounds
Of people he sits on boards with the leaders of the nation;
he enters bids against, and with other leading engineering
firms. He has never allowed his own racial background to
hinder him, nor has he succumbed to other mems racial back
grounds impeding him or making him hateful
a few weeks ago I visited Washington and learned from
several people what an impression Mr. Alexander made both
on President Eisenhower and other leaders Of the nation
when he was a dinner guest at the White House a few months
ago He made the same kind Of impression every time he
made an inspection trip for the Navy, either on land or sea
But the Governor-designate of the Virgin Islands is not.
only a technician, as most engineers are. He is also a human
being. He has used his own money to finance model housing
communities; he studies and enjoys all the cultural heritage
Of his time; his tastes are all Of quality and broad
Mr. Alexander did not fight for the governorship and he
will lose money at it He could earn much more as a contract
ing engineer, building more gigantic bridges & handling con-
tracts that sometimes reach into the millions. He was per-
suaded to accept the overnorshp because he is a Republic
can of conviction, because he was challenged, and because
he has always answered calls for service. He is no hungry
politician, but he knows his way on politics, having supported
his party financially and substantially for many years.
All this will not mean that Archie A. Alexander will sue
coed as governor Of the Virgin Islands. He will not succeed
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-04-08
Three More File
In Montgomery for
June q Primaries

Three more persons, two Dem
ocrats and Republican, have
filed their candidates. for the
upcoming June % primaries in
Montgomery County.
Phillip j. Austensen filed for
the Democratic nod for register
of wills. A former Washington
newspaperman for 80 years and
more recently editor of the
Montgomery County Sentinel, he
lives at 9318 Worth avenue,
Silver Spring. Mr.. Austensen
Monday announced his inten-
tions to seek the post.
Ralph w. Offutt, 40, a Gath
ersburg children's clothing store
operator, filed for sheriff in the
Democratic primary. Mr.. Offutt
for II years was a member of
the Montgomery County police
force.
Mr.. Offutt has been Endorsed
by the upper county precinct
chairman. The veteran of World
War II is a member of a num-
Der of veterans organizations,
the Lions Club and the board of
directors of the Gaithersburg
Businessmen's Association. A ma
tive of the county, he is married
and has three children.
Constantine Eisinger, so, of
1880 Aberdeen road. Bethesda,
filed for the Republican nominal
ton for member at-large of the
county council.
Mr.. Eisinger is a big landowner
in the county and is in the lum-
Der and building supply business
in Wheaton. An eight-year resi-
dent of the county, he is mar
ried and has one son.
Mr.. Eisinger said he was filing
for the Office because "taxes are
getting out of hand and I want
to do something about the waste
that is going on.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-04-08
Psychiotrists Watch
Parents React to
Polio Vaccine Talk

Parents who attended
three meetings in Fairfax
County last night to hear
about the Salk polio vaccine
tests in which their children
are to participate also served
as part Of the experiment.
PsychiatristS and other
specialists from the National
Institutes of Health were
present to see how the par
ents reacted to the idea of
having their children in
noculated. At two of the
meetings, the psychiatrists
sat unidentified among the
audience, and they actually
conducted the third meeting
which was held at Centre
vile.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-04-08
Housing Chief Denies
Plan 10 Condemn
Alexandra Homes

The Alexandria Redevelop-
ment and Housing Authority
said today it has no intention
of condemning any land in it's
proposed "slum clearance" prof.
ect if it can possibly be avoid
ed by fair and reasonable APP
praisals by outstanding AleXan-
dria real estate men,"
In response to criticism of the
project, which would include
the area lying between Peyton
and West streets and between
Duke street and the rear of prop
critics on King street, the au-
thority said:
"Only in cases where ADAM
ant stands are taken against
sales on any basis. notwithstand-
ing fair and just appraisals, and
where the property is required
for consummation of the pro-
gram, would the aid of the courts
be sought"
Residents Protest.
More than a dozen residents
of the area have protested
against the program and dis
puted the description of their
homes as "slums." They re-
tanned Attorney Richard s..
Luckett, jr., to fight the rede-
velopment program. The pro-
gram must be approved by the
City Council before work can
begin.
A statement by v. Ward Bos-
well, authority chairman, said
that the proposal was not initi-
ated by the housing agency alone.
THE City Council, which created
the authority, instructed it to
make a study and bring in for
consideration and action such
programs as this"
The statement reiterated the
authority's pledge to find "a
suitable dwelling" for families
that would be required to move.
Eighty-two families and II other
persons would be forced to
vacate if the plan is approved
Undermined by Neglect.
Mr.. Boswell said that private
enterprise alone could not under
take the job of rebuilding such
a large area because the finan-
cial loss would be too great. His
statement added:
How long can our city go on
letting great chunks of its
assets be undermined by neglect?
How long can we afford it? We
are not only dealing with GER
tain worn out. wasteful. and I'M
wholesome pockets of bad hous-
ing, but we are dealing with the
process Of continuing decay
which will certainly impair the
competitive position of Alex
andria in the Northern Virginia
area"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-04-08
By WiIliom J. EIvin

A revolt is brewing in the
Falls Church City Council
against the practice of holding
closed Sunday night sessions
before each council meeting.
Councilman Charles E. Kellogg,
former mayor. said today he has
warned other members the time
is coming when he will refuse to
attend the secret sessions.
Called Improper.
This is not a proper proce-
dure." MIR. Kellogg said. 1T
keeps from the public certain
matters they should know about.
There ought not to be q pre-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-04-08
Visiting Nurse Service
To Enlarge in Alexandra

The board of directors of the
Alexandria Visiting Nurse Serv-
ice. Inc, has voted to enlarge its
nursing staff and facilities to
permit an accelerated program
for Alexandria residents.
Through it's executive director,
Mrs. Viola Japhet. the agency
announced it has approved an
intensive home care plan which
would be of special benefit to
patients with lone-term ILL
neSSes and the aged.
The group said the plan will
be developed with present COM
munity facilities and adds that
qualified workers may be sought
on a volunteer basis to minimize
the costs.
During the past year, the
agency operated on a budget
totalling $18,555. of which $10.-
SIS came from the Community
Chest. $3.50 from patient fees
and the rest from donations. It's
nursing staff made a total Of
1904 visits during the year.