davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-01-17
The
Rambler
Revered by All,
Owned by None
By JACK JONAS
Door Richard. indeed.

OOA 4SAOAA0A0s AAdCCA.
It might be more fitting to
say Poor Ben," standing
down there all by himself at
Tenth and D streets NV, and
nobody knowing who owns
him.
The statue of Benjamin
Franklin on that corner was
all spruced up for today's
commemoration of the 250th
anniversary of the patriots
birthday, and it was easy
enough to establish who did
that.
Kindly old National Capital
Parks comes around every so
often with scrub bucket and
broom and cleans the monu-
ment, figuring for years
they've been doing it as a
favor to the rightful owners,
the District.
But finding out exactly who
owns him is another matter.
II think it belongs to the
District" a man in the Ma
tional Capital Parks Office
said. ;sWe had a call the other
day about the statue, and /
think we referred it to Mr..
Xanten."
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-01-17
ST Million School Aid
Seen Open to State

Maryland could qualify for
about 81 million a year in school
construction funds under Presi-
dent Eisenhower's new fiye-year
Federal aid proposal presented to
Congress last week. according to
Representative Hyde. Republican
of Maryland.
Mr.. Hyde said the 81 million
figure includes the matching
funds Maryland would have to
put up If it shares in the pro-
gram. Maryland school officials
so far have made no public COM
meat on the program.
Mr.. Hyde told the Allied Civic
Group last night that although
he thinks Congress will enact the
Presidents program. he still is
opposed to Federal aid to educa-
ton in principle.
The only excuse for such aid,
he said. is in the case of a State
that cannot take care of its own
educational responsibilities. 1T
has not been proved to me that
any State is so poor that 1t can't
do it, he added.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-01-17
LeeDoubts Race Tax
Balance Budget
MoryIonders to Confer
On DC. Transit Setup

Representative Hyde. Republic
can of Maryland. planned to
confer with the Maryland Public
Service Commission in Balti-
more today to determine what
State legislation might be neces-
sary for a public-owned transit
system in the Washington area.
There is no doubt in my
mind that Washington. will end
up with a public transit system. /"
Mr.. Hyde told the Allied Civic
Group Of Silver Spring last
night.
He said he believes that such
"a system can operate in the
Maryland suburbs just as-Capi-
tai Transit Co. is now doing,
but this may require authorize
ton OF the Maryland Legisla-
ture."
In order to cleanup any ques-
ton about what form the au-
thorization should take, If 1t is
required. the 9th district rep
resentative said he made an ap-
.pointment to confer with PSC
officials today. Mr.. Hyde invited
four Montgomery County mem
bers of the State legislature on
the speakers platform with him
last night to Join him in the
Baltimore conference. Delegate
Blair Lee III, Democrat and
chairman Of the county's House
delegation, agreed to attend.
Mr.. Lee told the civic group
that such authorization def
nitely is necessary and will re-
quire detailed amendment to
Maryland's public utility laws
For a puhlic-owned transit sys-
tenn to operate legally in d. c..
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-01-17

that could not be pinpointed.
The money representing the diff
ference between actual collection
and the total they gave was
money The took" Mrs. Biggs said.
She declared Nolan in 1852
gave her money to buy a mink
coat and that they purchased
a Cadillac IL Philadelphia. She
said that they spent several
nights a week partying at the
Silver Fox restaurant in North
west Washington and added
that Nolan's monthly bill at
the Silver Fox around August,
September and october, 1852,
was over $500.
Kept Surplus Cash
Surplus cash, she declared,
was kept in a drawer at her
apartment, where over $50, 600
was kept at one time. she testi-
fed.
Besides MIS-. Biggs, the prose-
cution yesterday presented testi-
mony from former ofilcials of
the loan col poration. account
ants and bank employees. Nolan,
who lives In the 5000 block OF
North Glebe road. Arlington. is
defended by Attorney James H.
Pugh.
In an opening statement to
the jury, Mr.. Pugh said the de-
Tense will argue that the case
against Nolsn Is a "frameup on
the part of a girl who admits
her guilt and who is trying to
pin it on him"
Mrs. Biggs yesterday said that
while keeping company with
Nolan, she understood he was
separated from his wife. Later,
she testified, she received in
formation that Nolan was living
with his wife again.
However. she declared under
questioning: I'm not mad
at him,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-01-17

cnllo would De required 10 aLtenQ
an integrated school. The board
proposes that If parents object
to assignment Of a child to an
integrated school near his home,
he be assigned to a segregated
school. but the parents would
have to provide transportation.
One school official commented,
after hearing of the Richmond
protests. why, ! thought We
were doing exactly what Charlie
IFenwick proposed
Senator Fenwick, a member Of
the Gray Commission, urged a
vote in last weeks referendum
in favor of the tuition grant plan
Iof the commission. "A vote for
the convention" he said. will
preserve the public school system
land prevent your children being
subjected to compulsory inter-
grafton. He stressed the word
compulsory"
Mr.. Fenwick also had said that
the Gray plan provides an OPP
Iportunity for voluntary separa-
ton of tn eraces with integra-
ton possible where members of
both races desire it."
Magruder Sees Inconsistency
SOME supporters of the Gray
plan have made it clear that in
tegration in any manner or de-
gree viii never have their sup
port.
Another member of the COM
mission. former Delegate j. May
nard Magruder, says the Airing
ton plan is inconsistent with the
Gray plan.
The Gray plan, he said, con-
templates that all children in
school this year will attend the
same school next year.
Also, the Arlington program
imposes a penalty on those who
request transfer by denying
them transportation" MIR. Ma
gruder said.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-01-17
Woman Testifies Nolan
Devised Fraud Scheme

Mrs. Mary v. Biggs. 81. charged
with aiding a former loan COM
Ipany manager in the embezzle-
Iment Of the firms funds. testi-
fed yesterday in Montgomery
County Circuit Court that she
reluctantly agreed to the fraud
scheme.
The slender brunette said she
was offered immunity to testify
against John S. Nolan. 80. for
mer manager of the loan Office
in Silver Spring. who is on trial
for embezzlement and larceny
after trust.
The slim. dark-haired woman
testified the scheme was born in
1851 when Nolan saw an expen-
sive wrist watch in a Statler
Hotel window display.
In 1852, when the fraud al
legedly took place, Nolan was
the firms Office manager and
she was his clerk and book
keeper.
Worked Out Scheme
Mrs. Briggs testified the So
year-old manager wanted the
handsome watch and began
thinking of ways to get it. When
he hit upon the scheme they
used, she said. II was reluctant
in the first place. it wasn't
right and in the second place,
lit wasn't foolproof."
Nolan is being tried on one
of four county indictments
charging embezzlement and lar
ceny after trust involving short
ages allegedly totaling $4.476,
The county charges that the
money disappeared in Septem-
Der and October of 1852 from the
Federal Discount Corp. Office at
96l Bonifant street.
The small loan firm, now de-
Ifunct, moved from the District
to Silver Spring in August. 1852
The firms president. Ben w
Abrams. testified yesterday an
audit made in November. 1852
revealed a $4,000 shortage in
the Washington and Silver
Spring locations. Nolan and Mrs
Biggs also were with the COM
Ipany in the District.
Charges against the pair in
Washington we're dropped in
1854. Mrs. Biggs was acquitted
after three-day trial and Mo-
Ian won directed verdict of dis
missal.
Charges Threats
Mrs. Biggs told reporters she
was afraid to reveal her address.
On the stand earlier. she said
Nolan threatened me II / ever
testified and reminded me I had
a small daughter"
She told the jury Of eight men
and four women how the alleged
fraud scheme worked. She said
she typed record Of payments
made to the loan firm. After the
total take was computed. she said
that Nolan directed her to SUBJ
tract an odd number, q figure
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-01-17
Asked
By zeckendorf

William Zeckendorf issued a
plea last night for public sup
port at all levels of the COM
for Washington's ambi-
tious Southwest redevelopment
program.
Mr.. Zeekendorf, addressing a
Washington Board of Trade
in the Hotel Statler,
listed community support. along
with vision. a plan and the
courage to see 1t through" as
the essential ingredients for the
programs success.
He also praised the relation
ship between private enterprise
and Government in the project.
Cites Type Of Aid
Il don't believe in tax exemp-
ton or a free ride" he said.
But he added that Government
powers Of eminent domain, rigid
coming and planning must aid
private capital II rundown ur-
ban areas all over the Nation are
to be saved.
The New York real estate de-
veloper. who hopes to handle
much Of the Southwest rebuild
ing. cited the program as a prime
example of how ''low grade" real
estate can be reclaimed to save
cities.
He said that, in all cities. he Is
"bullish" on low grade land and
"bearish" on high priced land
which already had reached the
peak of its use.
Favors Vast Gases
He commended decentralization
often is falsely blamed for down.
town City areas dilemmas and
urged businessmen to investigate
the potentials Of rebuilding run
down sections to higher uses. He
warned, however. that the re-
building must be done on a large
scale, adding:
you can't build an oasis In
the middle Of a morass."
He said he is extremely opti-
mistic about progress In the
Southwest project and singled
out for special praise members Of
the National Capital Planning
Commission, George A. Garrett.
who served as President Eisen-
hower's trouble shooter on the
project. and John A. Remon.
chairman Of the Redevelopment
Land Agency.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-01-17
Mrs. Stone Seeks to Calm
Assembly on Indignation

Arlington Delegate Kathryn
Stone sought to reassure the
General Assembly in Richmond
yesterday that her county's
school board. in making the first
move toward indignation. intends
to comply with State law.
The school board. in adopting
q resolution stating its intention
to begin indignation next fall
said such action would depend
on passage of the Gray plan by
the General Assembly. The
board also said it would not act
without approval of the State
Board Of Education.
Some legislators. however. said
they felt the Arlington action
was premature.
School officials said they re-
leased the plan at this time In
order to avoid future misunder-
standing, and to help with pas
sage Of a proposed $9.4 million
school construction bond issue.
Seeks to Calm legislators
Mrs. Stone told the legisla-
tors, many of them resentful
over the Arlington announce
ment;
Il hope you will not allow
anger. fear or resentment to
build up because of this. This
would be sure way to block
accomplishment. ! ask that you
have patience with Arlington.
You can't evacuate Northern
Virginia"
A number Of critics OF the
area have suggested. facetious-
ly. giving the 10th District back
to the Indians or the District Of
Columbia"
The surprise in Richmond at
the Arlington announcement
was surprise itself to some
Arlington officials. They said
they had considered that the
Gray plan as proposed would
prevent enforced integration''
but would not be bar to volun-
tary indignation.
Discretion Allowed Boards
The Gray report said that,
The local School Boards must
be given wide discretion to meet
their peculiar local problem. 7"
The report insisted that mo child
be required to attend an inte-
grated school,"
Under the Arlington plan. no
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-01-17

WILLIAM A. XANTEN, who
runs the Districts Sanitation
Division said the statue was
not quite a street cleaning
problem, and that he thought
it might come under Trees and
Parking.
mo, ! think Archie Hutson
would be the one to handle
that, Jimmie Latham, who
works in Trees and Parkings,
said.
Mr.. lHutSon is in charge of
Buildings and Grounds.
We handle a lot of things, "
he said. but that's not one of
them. We have charge of
buildings and the grounds ad-
jacent to buildings, and /
don't know OF any building
adjacent to that statue"
The only thing to do, OBJ
viously, was to go higher.
G. NJ. Thornett, secretary to
the District Commissioners,
was pretty sure the statue
belonged to National Capital
Parks.
But I'd better check" he
said.
He checked.
TT seems we do own it," he
said. LIT. Col. Thomas B.
Hunter, in the Engineer Com
missioner S Office knows a lot
about that statue, if you need
some more information"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-01-17
Andrews Bose Plan
To Be Discussed

The proposed partial conversion
of Andrews Air Force base to
commercial use will be discussed
at 8 o'clock tonight at a meeting
of the Intercommunity Council
of Southern Maryland at Bells
Methodist Church. Camp Springs,
Representatives Of the Com
merce Department, the Air Force.
and county and State officials
win attend the meeting. accord
ing to council president Fred
Spinks.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-01-17
ToIk on Groy Plan

Joseph Freehill, chairman Of
the Fairfax County Board Of SUI
|pervisors, will speak at a meeting
of the South Woodley Civic AS
ISOLATION at 8 O'Clock tonight al
the Westlawn School. Mr.. Free
hill will discuss the Gray Com
mission referendum and other
school problems.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-01-17
Schools Issue
Delays Bonds
In Alexandra
Foirfox Going Ahead
After Getting Word
Bids Will Be Made

Alexandria officials are delay
ing sale of school bonds on adj
vice of bond attorneys because
of the unstable school situation
in Virginia. it was learned today.
Fairfax County. however, had
assurance today from New York
banks and the county's bond
counsel that bids would be sub
mitted February Is on sale Of
81 million in school bonds.
Fairfax officials checked with
their New York counsel after
hearing reports that at least one
big bank would not bid on Vir-
GINA localities school bonds un-
til the Legislature acted on
school legislation.
Alexandria Program
Alexandria plans to receive
bids on $2.3 million worth of gen.
eral improvement bonds Janu-
airy Is. This will not include any
school bonds although a school
bond issue of SIS million was
approved last fall.
officials originally intended to
sell $706. 900 in school bonds this
year This amount would be used
to pay off short-term loans made
last year in anticipation of the
bond sale for additions to three
schools, completion of the new
Hammond high school and pur-
chase of new school site.
1t was reported that the city's
New York bond counsel advised
Alexandria officials not to offer
the school bonds at this time.
1t was stated that the Gray plan
and "other possible legal obsta-
Giles" were responsible for the
advice given the city.
Bidders Cautious
1t was reliably reported that
when representatives of five
prospective bidders picked UP
the Alexandria bond sale infor-
nation last week in New York
they asked ii any school bonds
were included in the sale. The
bond counsel said none were in
|cluded, but asked if they would
bid on the issue If any school
bonds were included. 1t was re-
ported that three of the repre-
|sentatiyes said they would not
bid on school bonds and that two
others had no comment.
Alexandria officials said they
were not certain when the school
bonds would De offered. but
hoped that the market for such
bonds win be in a more stable
condition by the time it is nee
essary to raise the funds. The
short-term loans do not have to
be paid off until June. 1857, 1t
was stated.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-01-17

TODAY

The National Association
Of Real Estate Boards con-
tinues its board meeting at
the Mayfiower and Statler
Hotels.
The Highway Research
Board meets at the Sher-
atom Park Hotel.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-01-17

COL. HUNTER knew about
the statue, and had just
picked up some additional in
formation.
Il had a telephone call just
after l talked to Mr.. Thorn
ett," he said. But it's not too
clear just who does own the
statue.
Franklin Square - that
triangular piece of property
where the statue isis owned
by National Capital Parks.
But it's one OF those freaks.
We (the District) own that
part Of the land directly be-.
meath the statue.
Nov you'd think from that
that we owned the statue it
self. But there doesn't seem
to be a record of the owner
ship anywhere. I doubt if we
can find a clear title to it
anywhere
Well Poor Ben's clean, any,
way, bright and shiny for his
birthday celebration.
The statue was presented to
"the people of Washington"
in 1889, and features the Dip
lomatic dress Franklin wore
at Versailles.
There's another big statue
Of Franklin not far away, in
the Post ONCE Department
Building, just inside the door
on Pennsylvania avenue,
which the Post Office is proud
to call Its own.
That one got its due less
than a year ago, when 1t was
moved down out Of the attic,
so to speak, to a place of
prominence in the main lobby
OF the Benjamin Franklin
Station. Before that, it had
been In a darks corner near
the Postmaster Generals
office.
And there's Hiram Powers
heroic statue of Franklin in
the east corridor of the SEN
ate at the Capitol, belonging
to the Capitol, of course.
But nobody's claiming Poor
Ben, standing down there at
Tenth and D streets.
National Capital Parks Just
goes on taking care Of him,
year after year.
Rambling -.
A parakeet got loose a few
days ago in Murphy's F street
store, fitted over to the art
counter, and peered longingly
at the outdoor scenes on dis
play.
At the sixth police precinct
station there's a door labeled
18th Police Precinct, Detec-
tives." Beneath the label
some wag has pasted a clip
ping reading, IN give you a
solid metal casket with a
Comnlete funeral for e2nnD
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-01-17

Virginia and Maryland, Mr.. Lee
said he believes it will be neces-
sary for the Maryland and Vir-
ginia Legislatures to adopt
virtually identical public transit
laws concurred in by Congress.
The Virginia Legislature now
is in session. The Maryland
Legislature is scheduled to meet
late this month or early next
month
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-10-10
10000 Tax Bills
AS Yet UnmuiIed
In Montgomery

If you haven't received your
real estate tax bills in Montgom-
cry County, don't worry. You
are not alone.
More than 10000 of the tax
bills haven't been mailed though
the deadline for paying them
was October /.
Alex K. Hancock, the county's
director of finance. blamed the
Washington Suburban Sanitary
Commission for failing to sub
nit the amount Of front-foot
benefit charges which the COM
mission levies annually. The
charges are listed on the county
tax bill.
A sanitary commission spokes-
man said it has been slow getting
all its charges figured because OF
an increase in work. He said
however. that certification Of the
remaining amounts should be
completed in a week or 10 days
Mr.. Hancock said those who
have not yet received the 1856
tax bills will have 30 days from
the time they receive their bills
to pay them.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-10-10
HOW YOUR DOLLARS HELP
Potty's Future Bright
With Word Troinino

Five-year-old Patty Lane, a
vibrant red headed little girl, has
future as bright as any child's
now, thanks to the Washington
Hearing Society and her parents
understanding that constant
training over a long period of
time is the answer to a hearing
loss from birth.
Patty's parents realized when
she was about l year old that
she did not hear properly. She
responded to sounds, but she
could not understand speech.
When Patty was 90. her parents
brought her to the society at 1884
Calvert street NV.
First, a hearing aid made it
possible for her to hear the words
she had missed. But she had to
be taught what the words meant.
Children who hear properly
are like sponges in absorbing
language from infancy. They
talk because they have heard
other people talk. Patty had to
be taught to listen, to understand
what sound is. to relate the
words she at last could hear to
the things they represented.
Persistence Pays OFF
Patty's mother saw to it that
she never missed her hourly
daily session with Miss Rosa
mond Wright. the hearing and
speech teacher at the Society
Her mother worked with her at
home, too. And she talked to
her a great deal, giving names to
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-10-10
Washington Presbytery
Picks Arlington Minister

The Rev. George Hileman
Yount. minister of the First
Presbyterian Church in Airing
ton. yesterday was elected Mod
orator Of the Washington City
Presbytery for 1857.
Mr.. Yount will take Office in
January succeeding the Rev. Dr..
Ralph K Merker, stated clerk
OF the Presbytery.
The new moderator has been
m Minister Of the Arlington
church since 1914 and served
in 1853 as president Of the Ar
lington Ministerial Association.
He is a native OF New Ken
sington. Pa. and was educated
in Pennsylvania schools. Wash
inton and jefferson College and
Princeton Theological Seminary.
He served the Covenant First
Presbyterian Church NOV Ma
tional Presbyterian as assistant
minister from 1912 TO 1914.
Mr.. Younts election took place
at a meeting Of the Presbytery
IN the Riyerdale Md. Presby-
terrain Church during which the
group also set a minimum salary
OF $4,000 IN addition TO provision
OF manse for ministers in the
Presbytery. This was raise
from the previous figure Of
$4,000.
The Presbytery also voted to
dissolve the pastoral relationship
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-10-10
COUNCILS CLOSED
SESSION PRODUCES
JUMPY RESULTS

Closed City Council ses-
sions are wearing on the
nerves. it was reported at an
open session last night, OF
the Alexandria Council.
Councilman John Ewald
factiously remarked to his
fellow members that "nery-
GUS councilmen at a closed
session on Monday night
made him so iumpy he could
not sleep very well that
night.
II appears that several
councilmen kept jumping up
and opening doors to see II
any newspaper reporters
were around. The closed
session 10 discuss appointing
a permanent city manager
followed two other closed
sessions last week. which
were reported in detail in
The star
we we're really iumpy
last night said Councilman
John Tyser.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-10-10

that Mr., Monroe left to be
escorted to Capitol Hill by citi-
gems on horseback for inaugura
ton as President. He con-
tinued to live there for about six
months while the Executive
Mansion, destroyed by British
troops in the War of 1912, was
being restored. The house thus
served as a temporary White
House.
Monroe Park Named
Earlier this year, the little
park across from the house was
officially named the James
Monroe Park"
The owner of the house before
the Arts Club acquired it was
Prof. Cleveland Able, considered
to be the founder Of the United
States Weather Bureau. The
Arts Club leased the home for
three years. then purchased it
Later the club bought one Of the
three Greek Revival buildings ID
the east.
The clubs handsome garden
is used for exhibitions and out.
door dramatics. as we'll as fol
dining
There are now 400 members
In addition TO lay members
there are those in the various
categories Of the arts. includint
some Of Washingtons best knoWr
names in art and music
I Louis Lamy Ray is the presi.
dent OF the club.