davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1961-09-12
Probe of Soviet
Embassy Fire
Is Nearing End

Washington police and fire
investigators today were COM
pleting their reports for the
State Department on that
mysterious weed-end fire in
Russian Ambassador Mikhail
Menshikov's bedroom.
Fire Marshall Lawrence r. C.
O'Connor said he expects to
forward his report of the
investigation to Secretary of
State Rusk tomorrow. He said
he will not release it to the
press unless Mr.. Rusk does.
Inspector John L. Sullivan,
head of the police special in
vestigations squad, said he ex-
poets to complete his phase
of the investigation tomorrow
and forward it to the State De-
partment through Police Chief
Robert v. Murray.
The State Department had
nothing to say today about the
strange blaze which broke out
in five places in the third-floor-
front room at the Embassy, 1925
Sixteenth street. NV, Satur-
day afternoon. A spokesman
said State is waiting for the re-
ports on the investigation.
Although there are many in
Washington who think the fire
was an inside job because of
the impregnable nature of the
Embassy and the care with
which the Soviets guard it. the
Russians have filed a strong
protest against what they
called IAN unprecedented crimi-
nal act"
Evening star., 1961-09-12
Falls Church Votes
New Term for Lewis

Falls Church School Board
Chairman Thomas H. Lewis
was unanimously reappointed
to a thre-year board term by
the Falls Church City Council
last night. He new term begins
october l.
Louis T. Olom and James S.
Lay, jr., were selected as new
School Board members on a
second ballot. Mr.. Olom,
with five votes, and Mr.. Lay,
with four votes, will replace
members H. P. Strople and
Joseph R. LeMoine. The names
of the two retiring members
were not among the Is nomi-
nees considered for the three
vacant board seats.
Mr.. Lewis, a contractor, of
208 Buxton road, was named to
his second term as board chair
man in July. He had been ap-
pointed to the board last year
Evening star., 1961-09-12
DIVERS RECOVER STOLEN JEWELRY
Civil War Centennial Unit Meets
To Replace Dismissed Director

It appeared that Gen. Grant
had definitely closed the coor
on assuming the chairman
ship again. Mr.. Schwengel said
a letter he received this week
from Gen. Grant promised con-
tinued interest but added def
initely that he could not serve
ais chairman.
When Gen. Grant resigned,
he said he was doing so be-
cause of the illness Of his wife.
However, at the same time,
Admiral Ingersoll said Gen.
Grant had quit because the
commission ignored his advice
on complaints about Mr.. Belts.
Admiral Ingersol said he him.
self resigned because he disap-
proved OF treatment accorded
Gen. Grant by the commission.
Other members attending to-
days meeting included w. Nor
man FitzGerald of Milwaukee,
an insurance executive; DR..
Avery Craven of the University
of South Carolina, and Rep
resentative Goodling, Repub-
lican of Pennsylvania.
Evening star., 1961-09-12
Accidental Shot
DESTROYS Plune

"Inadvertent firing" Of one
round from an Air National
Guard F-1O0 fighter-interceptor
destroyed another Of the 81
million-plus planes, and a re-
port fixing blame is en- route
to Guard officials.
The incident occurred at
Andrews Air Force Base on Au-
gust 25.
A board of inquiry, named by
District Air Guard officials on
direction of the 18th Air Force,
has completed its investigation,
and the report is being sent to
Col. William Mccall, Air Guard
chief of staff for air.
The single round of cannon
fire reduced the jet plane to a
burned-out hulk while both
were on the ground. No one
was injured.
Evening star., 1961-09-12

the meaning and value of
commemorating this great
tragedy"
The executive director post,
in contrast to other commission
positions. is a paid iob-about
SIT 500 a year, Mr.. Smith said
I'VE think the commission
has lent too much encourage
ment to the circus aspects of
some of these groups (local
groups celebrating the Civil
War CentenniaD !" he said. :.
There has not been enough
encouragement of the scholarly
aspect of the field or the CO.
ordination of research efforts.
There hasn't been enough
emphasis on those aspects
which help bring about the
unity we have been achieving.
There has been too much
emphasis on some of the di-
visive aspects of the war"
Mr.. Smith was asked if he
thought the South's position in
the Civil War was not being
properly presented, whether old
wounds were being reopened.
That's one reason for our
change of directors" he said.
The group today repeatedly
discussed a half-dozen names,
most of them believed to be
historians or persons recognized
in the field of American his
tory.
The objective, it was appar-
ent, was to attempt to fan en-
thusiasm and develop a better
understanding of the Civil War
and its meaning in the high
schools, one source said.
The special committee ex-
poets to hold its next meeting
early in October, when it hopes
to recommend a selection to
the full commission.
Evening star., 1961-09-12

to fill the unexpired term of
Lytton H. Gibson who resigned
Mr.. Olom, 702 Poplar drive
executive secretary of the Ad-
visory Commission to the Unit
ed States Information Agency,
is chairman of the Citizens for
a Better City, nonpartiSan poll
tical group. The CBC won nom
inal control of the city council
two years ago and a full seven
vote control last June. Mr..
Olom plans to resign his CBC
post in November.
Lay Served on First Board
A Federal employe, Mr.. Lay,
202 Forest drive, had served on
the first school board to be
formed after Falls Church be-
came a city in 1948.
Other appointments made by
the council last night include
John T. Blowers and Grant
Hilliker to serve on the Plan
ming Commission until Decen-
Der 81, 1862. The two will
replace former Chairman
Thomas R. Jones, who is now
a councilman, and Carl H.
Hink, who has moved from the
city.
Mr.. Jones unanimously was
named the council representa-
tive to the planning commits
sion.
Col. Perry L. Baldwin and
Mrs. Anne Porter were named
to three-year terms on the
Board of Zoning Appeals. Mrs.
Jack zlotnik and Lawrence r..
Tucker were appointed to the
Citizens Advisory Committee on
Recreation and Parks.
Other Actions Taken
In other actions, the council
gave tentative approval and
sent to the planning commits
sion amendments to the zoning
ordinance which would:
l. Permit commercial uses
only in the three business dis
tricts of the city, a provision
known as exclusive coming"
2. Raise the height limitation
on buildings in the central
business zone.
3. Ease restrictions on ware
house lot requirements.
A public hearing on the ordi-
nance is scheduled for Oc-
tober %.
Evening star., 1961-09-12
BY ROBERT GRUENBERG
Star staff Writer

Five members Of a special
committee of the Civil War
Centennial Commission met
today behind closed doors to
decide on a new executive di-
rector to replace Karl Belts.
Mr.. Belts was dismissed by
the commission recently be-
cause most of the members
thought he was directing the
centennial program in a man
ner inconsistent with the OBJ
jectives of the commission, "
according to Representative
Schwengel, Iowa Republican,
vice chairman of the body.
Mr.. Belts dismissal was fol-
lowed by the resignation of
Maj. Gen. U. S. Grant III,
commission chairman, and Ad-
miral Stuart w. Ingersoll,
chairman of the commissions
Executive Committee.
Today, Representative Frank
E. Smith, Democrat of Missis-
Sippi, chairman of the special
committee, was more blunt
than Mr.. Schwengel about Mr..
Belts dismissal.
1--WE had a dozen different
complaints about him." Mr..
Smith said.
These included, he said,
failure to keep the commits
sion members informed and
failure to promote some of the
activities of the commission. /"
Asked to detail the charges
of failure to promote activities,
Mr.. Smith said:
1--WE want someone who will
command the respect of his
torianS, patriotic groups and
others, someone who has an
understanding of the Civil
War and a broad understand
ing of public relations.
1--WE want someone to carry
out the commissions idea of
Evening star., 1961-09-12
Trade Body Meets

Metropolitan w shing ton
Board of Trade members will
hear a report on the Bogata
economic conference at noon
tomorrow in the Executive
House, 1915 Rhode Island ave-
nue. NV. Rollin S. Atwood, of
the Inter-American Develop
ment Bank, will address the
boards World Trade Commit
tee.
Evening star., 1961-09-12

composed of members recon-
mended by the three major
religious groups, by the Demo-
cratic Central Committee, by
the Washington Urban League
and the Chamber of Com
merce. Mr.. Bowen, who was
nominated by the Chamber of
Commerce. said the commits
sion was designed to represent
only the minority groups.
Mrs. Ann Brown. a member
of the Democratic Central
Committee, has been chairman
of the commission during its
first year of existence. The Re-
publican Central Committee
declined to participate by nomi-
mating a member of the COM
mission.
In supporting its recommen-
dation for a public accommo-
dation law, the commission
majority said "the force of law
was needed to nourish the drive
to end segregation.
About So per cent of the pub
lie accommodations in the
county are available to we'll
behaved persons of every race
the report said. The majority
added. "as long as any dis
elimination exists in public
places, it is a blight on oul
county and every means should
be used to eliminate it."
Businessmen Fearful
/ The report said the primary
reason why discrimination ex-
lists in public places is that
businessmen fear they will lose
customers if they integrate
their facilities. The report in
dicated that an accommoda-
tions law would end this feal
because discrimination would
be illegal in all public places
and would not be a factor ir
competition.
In his minority report, Mr.
Bowen urged the council tc
| oppose any attempt to make
non-diScrimination in the pri-
vate economy a matter of law
The report reviewed the activ-
! tiles of the commission since
| it was organized as an out
growth of last years picketing
of Glen Echo Amusement Park
by anti-segregation demonstra-
tors.
The commission said it had
been successful in establishing
an integrated county recreation
swimming program, and in sur
veying the extent of discrimina-
/ tion in the county.
Evening star., 1961-09-12

commissions first annual re-
port. The other recommenda-
tions:
Urged county lawmakers to
extend their anti-discrimina-
ton policy to other public agen-
cies in the county and to pri-
vate contractors doing business
with the county: urged continu-
alton of the commission and
the appointment of three addi-
tional members tosrepresent the
public at large.
One of the six members of
the commission, James E.
Bowen, a Bethesda attorney,
filed a minority report with
the council today. Mr.. Bowen
and J. Fendall Coughlan have
resigned from the commission.
The commissions request for
an anti-discrimination law was
made despite a ruling by the
county attorney that the
County Council has no author
ity to enact such a law. The
commission in its report said,
because of the gravity of this
problem we urged passage of
such legislation by the council
and suggest that the courts be
allowed to decide the legality
of that action"
Law or Persuasion
The public accommodations
law-certain to arouse contro-
versy-struck at the heart of a
problem with which the COM
mission has grappled since it
was organized. 1t highlights
the issue of whether diScrimi-
nation should be abolished by
/ law or by public education and
| persuasion. ...
Mr.. Bowen said that the ac-
commodations law would deny
businessmen the right to select
their own clientele. Mr.. Bower
said he was not opposed to in
/ ttegration on a voluntary
basis"
He added, however, that in
his opinion, the commission did
not represent the people OF
Montgomery County. He urged
that the commission be abol-
iShed or that it be reconStitut-
ed "a. as to be representative
of all the people of Montgom-
cry County to guarantee protec-
ton to all residents to what can
only be described as built-in
prejudice and distrust by GER
tain minority groups toward Of
ficials and residents of the
county"
The siX-man commission il
Evening star., 1961-09-12
MORE DETOURS

The Washington Circle detour area-where
underpass construction is under way-will
be enlarged at noon tomorrow to include the
area from Twenty first to Twenty street.
and to L street WestbOund Pennsylvania
avenue and X street traffic will detOur north
to L street at Twenty-first street. while east
bound street and Pennsylvania avenue traf-
fic will proceed south at Twenty-fifth street
to l street.
Evening star., 1961-09-12

BUT ABOVE ALL the New
York Central is the line on
which Engineer Hogan ad-
vanced the throttle to the
limit on Engine 999 between
Batavia and Depew in 1901,
Just before the Pan American
Exposition in Buffalo, and
made the run of 40 miles at
a rate of 100 miles an hour.
In the noon intermission
the Rambler met the new
president of the BIO, Jervis
Langdon, a tall, handsome
man in his mid d-fifties.
Mr.. Langdon tried to give
the Rambler his idea of the
economic problems of the
Eastern railroads. He said he
was optlmlStlc.
Then he mentioned that
he came from Elmira, N. Y.
The Rambler felt stupid. He
hadn't recognized the name.
Was Mr.. Langdon kin to the
JerviS Langdon who gave his
daughter in marriage to
Samuel Clemens, whose pen
name was Mark Twain? Yes,
he said, that was his great
grandfather.
His grandfather was the
young Charles Jervis Land
gon who took a trip to the
Holy Land in 1866 ON the
side-wheeler steamer Quaker
City. His roommate, Samuel
Clemens, fell in love with a
miniature of his sister Olivia.
Two things came of this,
"Innocents Abroad" Mark
Twain's first book, and his
marriage.
Evening star., 1961-09-12
Montgomery Is Urged
To Ban Discrimination
RuciuI Group Seeks County Low;
Bowen Submits Minority Report
By WILLIAM DUKE
Star Staff Writer

The Montgomery County Commission Human Rela-
tons today urged the County Council to make racial dis
elimination Illegal in privately owned restaurants hotels and
other public accommodations in the county.
The recommendation of three contained in the
Evening star., 1961-09-12
The
Rambler
Goes Off
On q Toneent
BY GEORGE KENNEDY

This was to have been an
economic column of some
import.
Yesterday the Rambler at
tended the hearings in the
Interstate Commerce Com
mission on the application of
the Chesapeake & Ohio Rail-
road for permission to
acquire control of the Balti-
more g. Ohio.
A B&O information man
tried to explain it. The B&O
is hurting. The C&O, he said,
has the largest cash reserve
of any railroad in the world.
The B&O needs new. plant
and equipment. But the New
York Central wants to join in
the control of the ailing
trunk line. All these applica-
tions are preliminary to
merger.
What the Rambler wanted
to write about was the i'm
portance of our administra-
tive hearings as compared
with our courts. The Federal
Communications Commission
is often asked to assign, in
the public interest, a TV wave
length in a prosperous
community that is worth
more than $40 million. The
Civil Aeronautics Board is
asked to determine. in the
public interest, whether to
allow an applicant airline to
compete on a remunerative
route.
Here three trunk railroads,
all with a book value over
a billion, are trying to per-
suade the regulatory agency
in an administrative court
what should be done.
Evening star., 1961-09-12

TESTIMONY WAS being
taken in Hearing Room B of
the ICC.
Very fine room. Broad, not
deep. Paneled in light oak.
Twelve or more seats on the
dais. Enough for all the
commissioners to sit en- bdnc.
A painted map Of the conti-
mental United States behind.
Two American flags with the
gilded eagles on the top of
the staffs on either side.
But the hearing was not
before the full commission.
The presiding officer sat
alone. He was Hearing Ex-
aminer John A. Bradford, a
balding white-haired man,
whose natural dignity does
not need the black robes OF
a Judge. He is inviolable.
There were a dozen law
vers at the conference table.
The initial statement OF each
witness had been mimeo-
graphed and copies were
passed to the lawyers pres
ent as the witnesses were
introduced.
The first was Gov. Nelson
Rockefeller of New York. In
a brisk manner he read a
well-prepared statement on
the economic distress Of
Eastern railroads. 81
In the first seven months
of this year, BIO lost $23
million. The New York Gen.
tral, which had earned a
little in 1860, lost $28 million
in the same period.
Born and brought up In
Buffalo, the Rambler found
it hard to believe that the
New York Central is in
trouble. The Central was as
much a New York institution
as Wall Street. He is aware
that he is citing speed rec
ords for passenger trains
that never were important
economically but the New
York Central was the line of
the Empire State Express
left New York at 8 am. and
arrived at Buffalo at 5 pm.
1t was the line of the Goth
Century Express - 20 hours
from New York to Chicago.
Evening star., 1961-09-12
FundsDebated
FOrPromotion
0fFiVePoIice
Wolf and Others
Being Considered
By Subcommittee
BY J. THEODORE CROWN
Star Staff Writer

committee repeatedly was con-
sidering recommending addi-
tional funds today to provide
for the promotion of five Met
ropolitan police officers.
The promotions under con-
sideration include one for 1t.
Jacob Wolf which Police Chief
Robert v. Murray has report
edly resisted previously despite
political pressure. 1t. Wolf,
who is now police pawn office
inspector, would be boosted to
captain if the subcommittee
takes action.
Others Considered
Others who may be promoted
if the subcommittee provides
the funds are:
Capt. John w. Nally, director
of police communications, who
would be boosted to inspector.
1t. Murray Kutner of the
Robbery Squad, who would be
boosted to captain and would
succeed Capt. Nunzio Bonac-
corsy as head of the Robbery
Squad. Capt Bonaccorsy would
be transferred to the Detective
Bureau to supervise the work
of precinct detectives.
1t Joseph v. OSterman. an
acting captain in charge of the
hack inspectors office. who
would be made a permanent
captain.
1t. Samuel Kreech, liaison
officer attached to Municipal
Court, who would be promoted
to captain.
Murray Won't Talk
Police Chief Robert v. Mur-
ray said he had no comment
when asked whether he had
recommended these officers for
promotion.
Former Commissioner Robert
E. Mclaughlin raised consider
able speculation last February
when he told a group gathered
to honor Police Chief Murray
that the chief had resisted
great pressure to promote a
certain police officer.
1t was learned later that
the Commissioner was referring
to 1t. Wolf.
Chief Murray, when asked
then why 1t. Wolf had not
been promoted, said if the pro-
motion were made at that time
it would adversely affect de-
partment morale.
In 1852. 1t. Wolf admitted,
to the Senate District Crime
Investigating Committee that
he had traded extensively in
the automobile market during
the postwar years.
Cleared by Trail Board
However. a special Civilian
Trial Board later cleared him
of engaging in gray market
automobile transactions.
The proposed promotions for
Its. Kreech, Wolf, Kutner and
OSterman were disclosed by
sources at police headquarters.
However, the promotion for
Capt. Nally was being urged by
a Senator, Capitol Hill sources
said.
Capt. Nally. who is a graduate
of Catholic University, holds a
degree in electrical engineering.
He has helped to design and
build some of the radio and
other communications equip
ment used by police here.
Evening star., 1961-01-17
New Inaugural Ball Added
The Inaugural Ball l

The Inaugural Ball has
burst its bounds again.
Still another site-the
Statler-Hilton Hotel - has
been added to the list OF To-
cations where balls will be
held, Inaugural Chairman
Edward H. Foley announced
today.
President-elect Kennedy
will attend the new ball.
as we'll as all the other balls,
at the National Guard Ar
mory, Mayflower and Sher-
aton-Park Hotels, it was an
nounced.
The new site (the entire
hotel mezzanine) will accom-
modate 1000 more ballgoers.
but the committe implored
people not to get the idea
that this meant they now
could rush down and buy
tickets.
The Statler-Hilton space is
needed to take care of those
who already have received in
vitations to the ball, and sent
in their money, Mr.. Foley
stressed.
Addition of the Statler-
Evening star., 1961-01-17

appeared. Mr.. Foley an
nounced late last week that
the first three locations would
accomodate Is, 900 dancers.
Republicans staged events
at the same four locations in
1857 to celebrate Inaugural
ton Of President Eisenhower's
second term.
The Democrats originally
planned to confine their ball
to one location. the Armory.
Why they thought Democratic
merrymakers could be con-
fined to one location when
Republicans needed four last
time isn't clear, except that
the Armory capacity has been
somewhat extended over last
time. h
Evening star., 1961-01-17
Speaker Royburn Honored
At Party Given by the Boyds

He's done it before and plans
to do 1t again.
Vice President-elect and
Mrs. johnson came into the
party late and stayed late
chatting with old friends.
Mrs. johnson. who had never
looked prettier. wore a black
satin close fitting dress topped
with a white fox fur piece
clasped with q tailored white
ribbon bow. She explained
that it was a present from
the Vice President-elect on
their 25th wedding anniver-
sary.
Menu . Secret
Incidentally, Mrs. Spark
man said that she is busy
planning the luncheon that
the Joint Congressional In
augural Committee will have
Inauguration Day in honor
Of President and Mrs. Ken
nedy and Vice President and
Mrs. johnson following the
ceremonies. It seems that
the menu and floral decor
for this historic event is a
complete secret. but Mrs.
Sparkman did allow I'VE will
have something special for
both-New England lobster
and roast prime ribs of beef
from Texas"
There Is little question that
one Of the most attractive
couples coming with the new
administration is Secretary
Of the Navy designate John
Connally and his wife Nellie.
In attendance at the party
last evening. they were in the
cameramen's eye as much
as the guest Of honor and
the Lyndon Johnsons. The
new Secretary is handsome
and his wife is not only pretty
but gay and vivacious as well.
Mrs. Connally was wearing
Evening star., 1961-01-17

ical heart Of q super hotel
and all the conveniences Of
the home Of the future"
The needs of the First
Family are but a fraction of
the requirements the White
House is set up to meet. The
East and West wings are in
fact office buildings. and
among services provided the
many staff employees is q
basement cafeteria.
To be considered, too, are
the day-by-day tourists, for
whom the public room must
be kept in apple pie order,
and the many VIP guests at
big receptions and dinners.
Turning out a dinner "fit
= for q king" Is an easier op-
Grafton since the restora-
ton.
There Is now q big. mod
ern, white-tiled kitchen on
the ground floor, with fluo-
resent lighting and q thea
ter-sized electric control
board. It Is equipped for the
cooking Of Q dinner for as
many as 100 guests,
Evening star., 1961-01-17

"They tried to conceal 1t
(the wash) behind some
shrubbery but you could see
it."
A present White House aide
expressed amazement and
some doubt that laundry
ever was hung where 1t could
be seen from the Cabinet
room. A clerk who has been
there since 1880 said he could
not remember such q thing"
Mr.. Winslow, rechecked on
the issue. said emphatically.
well, I remember it." He
pointed out that the laundry
shop and some adjacent
shops were torn down very
soon after Mr.. Roosevelt took
office and the White House
swimming pool was built
where they had been.
Mr.. Winslow indicated he
hopes Mr.. Kennedy viii use
the so-called Truman ball
cony. which kicked up q
story Of controversy when 1t
was built during the renoya-
ton 10 years ago.
"The balcony" Mr.. Winslow
said, "is one place where q
President can walk In the
fresh air without being sur
rounded by Secret Service
men. He can sit there or he