SOCIETY AND GENERAL NEWS

WASHINGTON, D. C.

: WASHINGTON NEWS

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1946

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B kirk

Veterans' Home Plan Still Lacks Finance Details

Association Seeks To Develop 500-Acre Tract Near District

A glowing picture of homes for veterans springing up all over a 600-acre tract half a mile over the District line was painted for re- porters yesterday by a District fire captain.

Today, several Government agencies had searched their files without finding any of the com- mitments the fire captain, Leo B. Wilson, said had been made, and Capt. Wilson was ready to admit the financing arrangements weren’t exactly settled yet.

Capt. Wilson told reporters at a press conference yesterday that the Veterans Mutual Housing Associa- tion, which he heads, plans to build $12,000 homes just off South Capitol street in nearby Maryland at an average cost of $8,000, by sav-

ing developers’, builders’ and sales- men’s profits.

Capt. Wilson said his association wanted to start with 225 share holders to develop the first 40 acres

of a 500-acre tract, which ultimately would house 2,000 veterans and their families. The share holders, he said, would be veterans who would put In $500 for a choice of a home site and a share in any profits from commercial decelopment of the land. The share would not constitute a

down payment on a home. $1,000,000 for Site.

With the fire captain at the press conference was Fulton R. Gordon, who owns the 500-acre tract, for which the association has agreed to pay more than $1,000,000. The press conference was held in the office of Leo M. Bernstein, the real estate man whose office was agent for the sale.

Capt. Wilson said $100,000 would be given to Mr. Gordon on the day of settlement, January 26. The vet- erans’ “shares,” Mr. Wilson ex-

plained, will"pay the $100,000. Capt. Wilson said at the press

conference that the Reconstruction Finance Corp. would finance a de- velopment loan on the basis of Fed- eral Housing Administration ap- praisal of the lots and would take a chattel mortage on a loan for bulldozers, trucks and similar equip- ment.

(A spokesman for the RFC told The Star that neither Capt. Wilson nor his association had filed an application for a loan and that no commitment had been made. The RFC official said the only record of Capt. Wilson at the RFC was in the examining division, where Capt. Wilson was told the association appeared to be non-profit and therefore would not be eligible for a business loan.

(When The Star called Capt. Wilson back, he said the only “commitment” he has from RFC is what RFC would require in the way of information before mak- ing a loan. As for the question of profits, Capt. Wilson said the by-laws of the association had been changed to provide for dis- posal of profits.)

§500 Leeway for Interest The fire captain also told the press

conference that the FHA has given an appraisal of $1,350 on each of the proposed lots. Since the lots, com-

plete with streets, sewers and water, would cost $850, Capt. Wilson addedt the FHA appraisal gives a leeway of $500 which could be used to pay interest on the construction loan.

(A spokesman for the District Office, Federal Housing Adminis- tration, said FHA had made no

promises or commitments in con-

nection with the project. The construction branch of the Na- tional Housing Agency said its representatives had visited the site in connection with giving general advice to builders on methods of getting into opera- tion, but had made no commit- ments and no mortgage insurance application had been received.

(On a call back, Capt. Wilson said he had gotten an appraisal of $1,350 from a man in the na-

tional office whose name he wasn’t sure of but he didn’t have anything in writing. He said he had an “oral contract.”)

Commitment Reported. Capt. Wilson also reported at

the press conference that he had gotten a commitment from the Perpetual Building Association for construction loans.

(Edward C. Baltz of Perpetual told The Star that so far nothing concrete had been presented to

Perpetual, that his organization was interested in all projects, but had made no commitments since it had not yet seen the plans and specifications.

(Called back, Capt. Wilson said he had gotten assurance from Mr. Baltz that Perpetual would finance construction if the Vet- erans’ Administration approves.

(The Veterans' Administration told The Star it had not yet been approached by Capt. Wilson or his association.) At the press conference, Capt.

Wilson told reporters: ‘‘The starting date is February 1.

We’ll get the sawmill and woodmen on the land. We’ll start digging by February 15. We will reach peak production of a home a day eight months after we start.”

(Called back after The Star had checked with all the agencies he mentioned, Capt. Wilson said the terms of the contract with Mr. Gordon are based on procur- ing an RFC loan. If no develop- ment loan from RFC is forth- coming, he said, the deal is void, the $100,000 will be returned and the association will try to get a

private financing.)

Bureau Will Honor Retiring Mrs. Carroll

Mrs. Mary E. Carroll, 54, of 525 Great Falls street. Falls Church, Va., retired today after 25 years with the Bureau of Engraving and Print- ing.

Mrs. Carroll was in the wet printed securities branch of the bureau.

A luncheon in honor of her re- tirement was given in the bureau’s cafeteria today by her fellow workers.

Post Office Holding Hundreds Of Carelessly Sent Yule Gifts

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Claims Clerk Philip Roache shown with some of the Post Office’s Christmas leftovers. —Star Staff Photo.

By Caspar Nannes The tag on the bright-colored sled

read “From Uncle John to Tommy.” But the sled stood upright on its runners in the inquiry room of the Post Office at G and North Capitol streets, and the little boy for whom it was meant was probably wonder- ing what became of the present his uncle had promised him a long time ago.

Tommy was not the only boy who failed to receive the sled meant to

brighten Christmas Day and to set a lad looking at the sky in the hope snow would fall. There are 26 sleds standing in the Post Office today, all because the senders were too careless to attach the return ad- dresses or the proper street numbers of the boys to whom they were

being sent. Hundreds of Packages.

Every Christmas it is the same old story, C. M. Mace, assistant superintendent of the mails in charge of inquiry, said. Thousands of letters and postcards and hun- dreds of packages cannot be de- livered because there is no way of tracing either the sender or the sendee. He estimated about 250,000 Christmas cards and letters are

undeliverable. In the lost package room today

the Christmas packages fill large mail crates and overflow onto the floor. There are sweaters, bookends, toilet articles, food, stockings and blankets. There are also coal buck-

ets, large tin pails, egg crates, wash-

tubs, farming and garden imple- ments and suitcases. Some one even

sent a saddle. Undeliverable mail, H. C. Dykes,

foreman of the inquiry section, ex-

plained, is usually kept about 15 days before it is sent to the Dead Letter Office. Parcel post packages are held about a month and insured parcel post packages slightly longer. Notice is sent to the sender of in- sured packages when all efforts to deliver the package have been un-

successful. With amazing frequency, Mr. Dykes said, people who insured their packages refuse to do any-

thing about the notices and just leave them at the post office. After a time these packages go to the Dead Letter Office, where the con-

tents are eventually put up for sale.

Recorded in “Lost Book.”

Unclaimed articles which carry no clues to the identity of the sender or addressee are neatly recorded in what is called the Christmas Lost Book. Small gifts are placed in large brown envelopes; the contents are notea on the outside, the pack- age is sealed and a number placed on it. The number and package contents are noted in the Lost Book. If no one calls at the end of three months for a lost package which contains articles corresponding to the ones in the package, it is then :

sent to the Dead Letter Office for j eventual sale. j

Sixth Victim Describes Hair Thief as Fiftyish, Complicating Search

Washington’s phantom hair ban dit may be bringing up his reserves, it appeared today, as the sixth gir,X to report herself to be a victim of surreptitious hair-cutting gave police a new and different descrip- tion of the elusive marauder.

Miss Mary L. Sanders, 17, of 1439 Parkwood place N.W., a freshman at Lynchurg College, Lynchburg, Va., was the latest reported victim. She said a man of about 50 with graying hair was the last person to talk to her yesterday before she noticed the loss of five inches of curls from the right side of her head.

This description, police pointed out, differs from the description given earlier by two other girls who claim to be victims of the mys- terious hair-cutter. On the strength of the earlier accounts, plainclothes policemen have been searching for a tall, nice-looking young man.

She Gets a Phone Call. Miss Sanders’ story also indicates

that a second phantom has arisen— or that Phantom Number One is adopting a new technique. She said the fiftyish man approached her at 3:30 p.m. yesterday at the corner of Fourteenth street and Parkwood place N.W. and asked di- rections to a nearby address.

“He must have cut my hair when he tapped me on the shoulder,” said Miss Sanders, “but I didn't notice it until I got home.”

A new twist was added last night, members of the Sanders family told The Star, when a man called Miss Sanders on the telephone and said, gloatingly:

“I’m the one who cut your hair off!”

He hung up without identifying himself. The Sanders said they were sorry they had reported the cutting and added that they would answer no more phone calls. Miss Sanders will be kept in the house, the girl’s mother said, to protect her from further annoyance.

Police thought the caller might; have been a crank.

Snoods increase.

The hair bandit’s doings since reports began coming in last Thurs- day are doubling the number of babushkas, snoods, fascinators and updos on street cars—the phantom’s favorite hunting ground—and city streets.

One woman told her seat partner on a street car yesterday!

“I’m dying to tuck the hair of that girl ahead of me under her collar, but I’m afraid to touch her. She might think I’m cutting it!”

In additfpn to Miss Sanders, the victims are: Diane Sklarsky, ^12; Janice Rome, 19; Jeanne Thompson, 19; Joan Reid, 21 and Laura Coe, 21.

200 Employes of Pepco Institute f25-Year Club'

Two hundred employes of the Potomac Electric Power Co. who have served the firm for 25 to 48 years launched a "25-Year Club” at the Mayflower Hotel last night. A. G. Neal, president of the company and a member of the club, present- ed certificates of appreciation and service awards at the banquet.

J. H. Ferry, vice president and general manager, also a member, reminisced on "the good old days.” The oldest employe in point of serv-

ice, W. A. Helm, was specially hon- ored as were those who retired dur- ing the last year.

Inauguration of the club was in

charge of E. A. Foy, chairman.

Additional Evidence Sought Against Davis In Hammer Slaying

Montgomery County authorities today were seeking additional evi- dence to support their murder charge against Bruce Davis, 31-year- old suspect in the hammer slaying of Mrs. Florence McAllister, 29.

Trail Magistrate Donald A. De Lashmutt, yesterday continued a

preliminary hearing in the case in Rockville Police Court after State’s Attorney Joseph B. Simpson, jr., re-

quested time to collect additional prosecution evidence.

The action was taken after Judge De Lashmutt agreed with Defense Attorney Paul B. Mules of Bal- ttimore, that “nothing has been brought out here to connect Davis with the crime.”

Mr. Simpson said Mr. Mules has promised to call him Thursday to arrange for a date for the resump- tion of the hearing. The State’s attorney added that the hearing probably will be resumed Monday. Davis did not testify yesterday.

*We have a lot of evidence which was not presented yesterday but which will be prepared for presenta- tion when the hearing is resumed,” Mr. Simpson declared.

Capt. D. Leroy Snyder, com- mander of the Silver Spring police sub station, testified that Mrs. Mc- Allister’s body was found Decem- ber 10, in a second-floor bedroom in the family home in Burtonsville, Md.

A bloody carpenter’s claw hammer ] was found under the bed and its broken handle lay nearby, the po- liceman testified.

Dr. F. J. Broschart, deputy county medical examiner, told the court that an autopsy showed death had occurred at least 24 hours be- fore the body was found, and was

caused by a skull fracture.

Detqptive Corpl. John P. Leahy, at- tached to the Bethesda substation, said Davis has denied the slaying. He said Davis attributed blood stains on his suit to a fight.

The detective said Davis told him he had known Mrs. McAllister for about eight months, but had not seen her since November 28/ when they parted after an argument.

Chief Murphy Will Take Over Alarm System

Directed to Assume Control Tomorrow By Commissioners

The District Commissioners today authorized Fire Chief Clement Mur- phy to take over operation of the city fire alarm system at 8 a.m.

tomorrow. They issued an order transferring

all but two of the Are alarm opera- tors from the payroll of the elec- trical department to that of the Are department. Control of the dispatch of Are apparatus has been in the electrical department since its creation in 1898.

Decision to give Chief Murphy control over this section of com-

munication was announced by the Commissioners about two weeks ago ending a six-month behind-the- scenes struggle between Chief Mur- phy and Supt. of Fire Alarms Herbert Friede over the issue. Mr. Friede will remain in charge of the main- tenance of the communication system.

Together with the dispatch of his own apparatus, Chief Murphy will also assume operation of the emer-

gency ambulance service which is dispatched through Are alarm head- quarters, the Commissioners said.

New supervisor of the Fire Board will be Battalion Chief R. E. 8. Bass, assisted by Capt. William H. Ronan. Chief Murphy said the alarm system would continue to operate on three shifts with civilian operators but ihat as vacancies occur they will be Ailed by Aremen trained for the job.

Of the operators not included in the transfer to the Fire Department payroll one is under suspension pending a grand jury investigation of charges he shot and wounded his landlady last month. The other is pensioned from the Fire Depart- ment for physical disability and Chief Murphy indicated he objected to paying a full salary and a pen- sion to the same man.

Aged Virginia Couple Aids Penny Campaign

A Virginia couple who registered their joint age as 154 have joined the ranks of the Penny Birthday Campaginers for the Children’s Mu- seum ot Washington, it was an- nounced today.

Me. and Mrs. Frank E. Kalb, 78 and 76, respectively, of Oakton, Va., are the latest and eldest additions to the campaigners. R. Worthing- ton Keith, 4, of 1427 Thirty-fourth street N.W., recently “joined up’’ to become the youngest.

Campaign headquarters said Mrs. Robert Patterson, wife of the Sec- retary of War, chose the “magic” age of 110 long ago when her chil- dren asked her age. She has regis- tered unde rthat age with the cam-

paigners. Contributors are asked to give a

penny, a nickel, a dime or a dollar for each year of life registered.

Objective of the campaign is $70,- 000 to meet the first large payment due on the Children’s Museum’s new home on January 20. The down payment on the property, located at 2700 Tilden street N.W., has been made through contributions from parents and children. The museum

was formerly situated in the Villa Rosa, which has been sold.

Among child campaigners an-

nounced as having started toy banks to save for the museum building fund are William and Frank Allen, Junia Bratter, Peter Mack Brown, William Eccleston, jr.; Jane Firey, Julie Gordon, Albert Hinton, Joyce Kent, Daniel and Jeanne Knowles, Peter McLaughlin, John Maloney, Eleanor Newman, David Rogers. Peter Shoenfeld, Betsy Thompson, Marian, Helen, Alice and Ronny Webb and Judy Shields.

Capt. Ronan to Supervise Fire Alarm Headquarters

Appointment of Capt. W. H. Ronan as temporary supervisor of District Fire Alarm Headquarters was an-

nounced yesterday by Fire Chief Clement Murphy.

The announcement followed a visit to alarm headquarters at Second and Douglas streets N.W. by Chief Murphy, Capt. Ronan and Battalion Chief R. E. S. Boss, along with Com- missioner John Russell Young. Capt. Ronan will be directly responsible to Chief Boss under the new setup.

The quartet went through the Mc- Millan Park headquarters to deter- mine space requirements of the Fire Department in taking over control of the alarm system. Transfer of control of the system from the Elec- trical Department to the Fire De- partment was ordered by the Com- missioners December 17. (

The city heads were expected to announce a date for the move at their regular weekly board meeting today. ;

Leaving Congress Poses Problem of What to Do With All the Accumulation of Years

TIME TO MOVE OUT—Senator Wheeler, Democrat, of Montana

leaving the Senate after 25 years, is shown with a heap of his law books as his offices are dismantled, —Star Staff Photo,

V

By Carter Brooke Jones It’s like moving out of the old

homestead for some members of Congress who are leaving this week after many years of service on the Hill.

There are files dating back 30 years which some retiring Repre- sentatives and Senators must dis- pose of. A search brings out letters from forgotten persons on subjects long pushed into oblivion by the events of new eras. Executive or-

ders bearing famous signatures, scrolls of commendation, bitter re-

proaches from disappointed con-

stituents—all were live papers one

day but haVe lost their meaning with the passing years.

What to do with them all? With these and the autographed pic- tures, the framed scenes of the beauties of the home State, the yel- lowing documents, the volumes of hearings which once made head- lines, but are hardly remembered today? These are troubling ques- tions for those vacating their of- fices after so many years.

Wheeler to Open Office Here.

Burton K. Wheeler, a Senator from Morgana since 1922, glanced over some law books. He knew he could use these. He's opening a law office in Washington with his son.

But what of the hundreds of pic- tures, letters, papers of every de- scription, mementoes of many a

senatorial battle and many a cam-

paign, souvenirs of trips and con-

ferences? "I just don't know,” said the Sen-

ator. "I’ve had my staff going over

a lot of papers, trying to weed out those I might want. We’ll have to destroy a lot—I know that.”

While he’s making a permanent decision regarding what to do with all the quarter-century accumula- tion that looks worth saving, hell have it stored at his home in Wash- ington or at his new office in the Southern Building.

Senator Wheeler, who was de- feated in the Democratic primary last summer and is being succeeded by Zales N. Eckton, a Republican, didn’t seem to feel too forlorn about breaking up.

Won’t Be Annoyed Now. “It feels pretty good,” he con-

fessed, "to realize I won’t have to be annoyed by what people think

about what I’ve done or haven’t done. Nobody will say, ‘If you don’t do this or that, something will happen to you.’

And the veteran Senator, whom no one eyer charged with pulling his punches, laughed as he recalled that he’d never hesitated to tell a

constituent he was wrong if Mr. Wheeler thought he was.

Senator La Follette of Wisconsin, who relinquishes his seat after 21 years to Joseph R. McCarthy, a

Republican, has some papers of j historical importance and at least a portion of these will go to the Library of Congress.

Senator La Follette, In 1925, suc-

ceeded his father, the late Senator R. M. La Follette, sr„ and the son

has papers the father accumulated since 1880. The senior Senator La Follette, who ran for President in 1924 on the Progressive ticket, with Senator Wheeler as vice presiden- tial candidate, had personal letters; from several Presidents and from other men famous in their day. The son, likewise, during his long public service, had accumulated many documents future historians may want to look over.

Library to Hold Papers. All papers of potential historical

interest are being shipped this week to the Library of Congress to be kept until they can be sorted more

thoroughly. Some Senator La Fol- j lette probably will want to keep. Others he will give to the library.

The Wisconsin department of his- <.

tory has put in a counterclaim for, some of the letters and other papers | gathered during 66 years by La j Follette pere and fils. Mr. La Fol- j lette will have to decide which archives will get which papers.

Meanwhile, the La Follette files have been carefully crated and have been given temporary storage space at the Library of Congress. The j more personal effects are headed \ for the retiring Senator’s home in- Wisconsin. Other heaps of letters and documents undoubtedly will end up blazing in a furnace, be- cause you can't keep everything.

There is a certain historical angle also to the end ol Peter Goelet Gerry's long tunure as a Senator from Rhode Island. Senator Gerry, who has served 23 years, declined to be a candidate for another term.

His successor, also a Democrat, is the youthful J. Howard McGrath, former Governor and more recently so-

licitor general of the United States.

Papers on Genealogy. Some of the material Mr. Gerry

considered of at least genealogical interest was turned over to the Gerry estate, which has an office in New York. At least a part of those papers, perhaps most of them, eventually will be sent to the Gerry room at the Library of Congress.

The Gerry family is of more than passing interest to historians. Sena- tor Gerry’s great-grandfather, El- bridge Gerry, was Vice President! under President Madison in 1813-4.

Elbridge Gerry was born in 1774. He signed the Declaration of Inde- pendence and was a member of the Continental Congress. He served as

a Representative in the First and Second Congresses. He was Gover- nor of Massachusetts. He died as

Vice President in 1814. His grandson, also named El-

bridge Gerry, 1813-1886, was a Rep- resentative from Maine, 1849-51.

The present Senator, meanwhile, has shipped away all but a few of his "immediate” files, papers and books, and gone back to his home in Providence. A secretary is wind- ing up necessary correspondence and preparing to move out by Thursday night.

In Senate Since 1916. Mr. Gerry has been in the Senate

since 1916, except for one term of six years. Before 1916, he served a term in the House. While he has announced his retirement from public life, his associates doubt he will be content to lounge around his home. He had a large amount of property to manage, including ex-

tensive farms, and he may resume

his law practice. Many another veteran Senate and

House member, who lost in the election or retired voluntarily, has had in recent days the task of dis- mantling his office.

But the furniture stays. The Government owns that. It furnishes suites in the Senate and House office buildings with desks, tables, cha*rs and file cases. Some mem-

bers have supplemented their fur- nishing with extra files and added bookcases. Many of these are being carted away, and the offices slicked up for new occupants.

What Makes Teachers Good? 0. C. Pupils Have Own Ideas

District grammar and high school students think their teachers are

fine people—but certain improve- ments in their teaching habits and handling of students would make life easier for thousands here.

Dr. Paul A. Witty, professor of education and director of the psy- cho-educational clinic at North- western University, has completed a

study of what 12,000 pupils warn

in the way of teachers and found American children wouldn’t play hookey so much if teachers would

try to look pretty and stop playing favorites.

District youngsters apparently agree with Dr. Witty and even added some refinements when broached on

the subject yesterday out at the Chevy Chase Ice Palace.

After a loud and Involved dis- cussion, a large group decided that:

1. As a whole, teachers were swell people.

2. Students prefer a teacher who keeps her class under control with- out being severe, who does most of

VIRTUES AND VICES OF SCHOOL TEACHERS DEBATED—Students from Woodrow Wilson and

Montgomery-Blair High Schools take time out to discuss their ideas of an ideal teacher. Left to

right, are Edward Harris, 17; Peggy SmaUwood, 15; Dorothy Littleford, 16, and Fred Becfcner,

17. The boys are students at Woodrow Wilson High School. —Star Staff Photo.

i

the work during school hours and takes it easy on homework, who shows an interest in students indi- vidually, who is fair with the stu- dents and plays no favorites.

Preference for men or women teachers was divided evenly. And not all of the girls wanted men

teachers, either. Edward Harris. 17, and Fred Beck-

ner, 17, both of Woodrow Wilson High School, drinking cokes at the counter with Peggy Smallwood, 15, and Dorothy Littleford, 16, both of Montgomery Blair High School, joined in the argument.

Edward said if a student Jakes an interest in the teacher, the in- terest is returned for mutual bene- fit. Dorothy and Peggy maintained they liked older women teachers best, while the two boys stood up for the male teacher.

“Men are too easy on girls and don’t give us enough to do,” Dorothy said.

Nancy Drake, 12, of Gordon Junior High said she preferred “informal classes with lots of discussion.” She and her sister Lois, 10, a student at Hardy Elementary School, agreed their teachers were excellent with the possible expectation of a little too much homework on occasion.

Bill Diedrich, 14, of Montgomery Hills Junior High School, said he liked an older woman teacher who

kept order But was not too severe.

John Viedt, 15, a schoolmate, liked “well-dressed teachers” because he

got tired of seeing the same old dress every day. Both said most teachers they knew had the respect of the pupils—something they con-

sidered important. Four school chums from the

Hyattsville High School, Pat Brin- kley, 14; Barbara Houle, 13; Carolyn Stelzer, 13, and Ann Hawkins, 13, chimed in with their complaints— and praises.

“Teachers don’t pay attention to

pupils,” Pat said. “We need younger teachers,” Bar-

bra declared. This quartet was vigorous in sup-

porting an unmarried man in his 30s as the ideal teacher. Good looks also help.

Among the other thing a teacher should have, the group named a sense of humor, patience, good dis- position and an interesting class- room technique.

A

Secret Service Head Bids Farewell to

Treasury Operators Secret Service said good-bys to its

chief today. Frank J. Wilson was

retiring on this last day of the year and his operators crowded a large room in the Treasury to line up to

shake his hand and wish him well. Secretary of the Treasury Snyder

presented the farewell gifts that Treasury associates had bought for Mr. Wilson’s: A large pigskin travel- ing case, a mahogany desk for his home, a desk set to go on it; a ma-

rine painting by Frank Schneider, and an early American print of the

pony express. But the gift they knew Mr. Wilson

would value most, a solid gold badge of the Secret Service was absent. It had not been finished by the gold- smitn, Mr. Snyder apologized.

Elmer Irey, whom Mr. Wilson helped in getting the evidence that convicted AI Capone of income tax; violation, was there. Mr. Irey re-

signed this summer as co-ordinator of Treasury enforcement. .Both of them worked on the income tax investigation that sent Tom Pen- dergast, the Kansas City political boss, to prison.

Mr. Wilson, who is all Irish, was

quite overcome by the ceremony. There were tears on his cheeks as, with a handshake, he tinned Secret Service over to his successor, James J. Maloney.

The retiring chief is 60. He has been in the Treasury service for 26 years snd for the last 10 headed Secret Service, the orgnization which pursues counterfeiters and guards the President.

Mrs. Wilson and her mother, Mrs. Clara Douglas, who live with him at 2910 Tennyson avenue N.W., stood with him in a receiving line as he shook hands with his colleagues.

Dickson Home Honors Its Trustees at Tea

About 175 persons attended the tea at the John Dickson Home yes- terday given in honor of its Board of Trustees. Harry G. Meem, presi- dent of the board; Mrs. Meem and Mrs. Mary Heaton, former su-

perintendent of the home, were

among those present. Also attend- ing were business and civic leaders of the city.

•v

Army to Transfer A-Bomb Agency To Commission

Lillienthal Board Due to Take Over Project Tomorrow

The Army’s Manhattan District, atomic bomb development agency, will be transferred tomorrow to the civilian control and administration of the five-member Atomic Energy Commission headed by David E. Lillienthal.

Terms of the transfer, authorized by recent executive order, will be announced by the War Department today, according to Carroll Louis Wilson, 36-year-old engineer whom President Truman appointed general manager of the commission yester- day. The terms will cover the per- sonnel, funds and factory properties of the Manhattan District, which the Atomic Energy Commission an-

nounced December 11 it was pre- paring to take over by the end of the year.

Mr. Wilson, whose new job makes him the chief executive officer under Chairman Lillienthal, told a press conference the present setup of the Manhattan District would be con-

tinued temporarily until a schedule is worked out with Secretary of War Patterson for the replacement of Army personnel by civilians.

Groves Available as Consultant. Maj. Gen. Leslie Groves, who has

headed the Manhattan District since its inception, under the new terms, will remain only temporarily, but his services will be made available to the commission in a consulting capacity. He is also assistant chief of Army Engineers. The district engineer also will remain.

The policy of the Manhattan Dis- trict, for the permanent and aggres- sive development of the peacetime use of atomic energy, as well as for national security, Mr. Wilson de- clared, will be carried on without drastic change. He predicted it would take some time to work out & program elaborating the commis- sion’s relationships with contractors for research purposes but that this was a matter of prime consideration.

Headquarters Here. The commission’s headquarters

offices will be established in Wash- ington, but there will be no great concentration here. There is no

intention of transferring all the Manhattan District offices here, and civilian employment at the plants will be the major concern of con- tractors under security supervision.

All military officers engaged in the work of the Manhattan District are on temporhry assignment from the War Department and will be replaced gradually when suitable civilians are engaged. That is, Mr. Wilson said, all except the military officers on duty with the Division of Military Application, where no changes are contemplated.

Brearley to Retire From Patent Office

Ceremonies were scheduled In the Commerce Department auditorium this afternoon honoring James A. Brearley, 70, chief clerk of the Patent Office, on his retirement after 54 years of Government serv-

ice, including 40 years in the Patent Office. He has been chief clerk for 21 years.

Patents Commissioner Casper W. Ooms was to join in the tributes and in presenting remembrances to Mr. and Mrs. Brearley, who reside at 325 Second street SJE.

■Bom in Philadelphia June 14, 1876, Mr. Brearley came to Wash- ington in 1882 and started his em-

ployment with the Government as

a Navy Yard apprentice mechanic 10 years later. He transferred to the Patent Office as an assistant examiner in 1906, and won succes-

sive promotions until he was made chief clerk on October 21, 1925.

One of his first duties in that position was the distribution of a

large number of models submitted by applicants for patents to heirs of inventors, the National Museum and technical schools. In 1934 he put into effect a plan for the ex- amination and registration of at- torneys practicing before the office. He served under eight patent com-

missioners. He graduated from the Corcoran

Scientific School as a bachelor of science in 1903 and obtained the degree of mechanical engineer in 1905. He studied law without at- tending school and was admitted to

practice before the District Court of Appeals, the Court of Customs and Patent Appeals and the United States Supreme Court.

Mr. and Mrs. Brearley have a

son, J. Meigs Brearley, 1810 Shep- herd street N.W., formerly of the Patent Office technical staff.

Commissioner Ooms announced that duties of the chief clerk will be handled in future by C. E. Hag- lund, executive officer.

G. H. Vaneman to Retire From'Bureau of Standards

George H. Vaneman. purchasing officer of the Bureau of Standards, will retire today after 37 years of Government service.

Mr. Vaneman entered the Govern- ment in November, 1909. as an em-

ploye of the Bureau of Chemistry in the Department of Agriculture. Eight years later he transferred to the Bureau of Standards, where he first was in charge of property and stores. He became the purchasing officer for the bureau in 1923.

A native of Paulsboro, N. J., he is a graduate of Drexel Institute and of Strayer’s Business College in Philadelphia. He and his wife, Mrs. Cora Vaneman, live at 5436 Nebraska avenue N.W.

As a token of esteem, bureau friends plan to present him with a

combination radio and record player, together with a collection of record albums, at a farewell luncheon at Tilden Gardens, 3000 Tilden street N.W., this afternoon._ B. & 0. Promotes Goebel

BALTIMORE, Dec. 31 (IP).—Roy B. White, president of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, announced yes-

terday that Frank J. Goebel, director of personnel, has been elected vice

president in charge of personnel, effective tomorrow.

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