Evening star. [volume], December 24, 1929, Image 1

About Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972

Image provided by: Library of Congress, Washington, DC

WEATHER.
(TJ S Weather Bureau Forecast.)
Fair and continued cold tonight—
minimum temperature 24 degrees—to
morrow increasing cloudiness and
warmer. Temperatures—Highest 32 at
1 p.m. yesterday: lowest 23 at 7:30 a.m.
today. Full report on Page 9.
Closing N. Y. Markets, Pages 10 and 11
No. 31,283.
PLOT TO KILL HEAD
. OF ARGENTINA FAILS
AS SHOTS GO WILD
Chauffeur and Police Com
missioner of Buenos Aires
Are Wounded.
. 'ASSASSIN IS EXECUTED
IMMEDIATELY AFTER ACT
Three Bullets Fired at Yrigoyen,
» but He Escapes Without
Injury.
the Associated Press.
BUENOS AIRES. Argentina. Decem
ber 24. —An attempt tc. assassinate
.President Hipolito Yrigoyen today was
frustrated by the quickness of his
guards, and the attacker was promptly
shot down, seven bullets being found in
his body.
The assailant, who was described by
police as an Italian anarchist named
Oualberlo Marinelli, 44. fired at least
three shots at the presidential automo
bile as the President was en route to
the palace from his home.
Two Are Injured.
President Yrigoyen was unhurt, but
•n employe of the investigations office
svas wounded in the stomach and was
taken to a hospital critically injured.
Another attendant also was injured.
It was reliably reported that the
President's chauffeur was killed and the
police commissioner injured, but be
cause of the great excitement at the
■cene and the reticence of the police it
was impossible to obtain official
confirmation.
The attack took place on the Inter
national road. Marinelli concealing him
self beside it and then springing out to
lire as the President’s automobile
passed.
, Escort Returns Fire.
The assailant's shots had barely rung
but when the President’s escort re
turned the fire, pouring a stream of
bullets at the man and felling him
Where he stood.
President Yrigoyen has long been one
of the most powerful figures in
Argentina. He was first elected to the
chief executive’s post in 1916 and was
in office until 1922. He was re-elected
In 1928.
POPE DECRIES “ABUSE
OF CATHOLIC PRESS”
Pontiff Denies Political Activities
of Organization of Laymen
and Clerics.
Sr the Associated Press.
VATICAN CITY, December 24.—!
Pope Pius, responding to the Christmas
greetings of the College of Cardinals to
day, declared that "Catholic Action,-”
an organization of clerics and laymen
in Italy, was not being treated as it
should be under the terms of the Lat
*ran accords.
The pontiff vigorously denied that
“Catholic Action" was engaging in poli
tics.
The Pontiff continued that if any
Isolated member of Catholic Action had
been found dabbling in politics he would
be the first to denounce him and act in
consequence.
The Pontiff then declared that he was
obliged to realize with sadness that the
Catholic press was badly and unjustly
treated. “It is a situation that has
been prolonged for a long time.”
■ •
,GHOST-WALKING TACTICS
USED BY RUM RUNNERS
Customs Officers Made Discovery
in Seizing Liquor-Laden Sled
on Detroit River.
DETROIT, December 24.—Ghosts
fcre walking once more on the Detroit
River.
Customs officers reported today that;
Iftown river rum runners are resorting
to "ghost walking” tactics. This dis- j
covery was made yesterday on Beaubien
Bay, off Ecorse. when a sled ioaded
with 10 cases of liquor was seized.
"Ghost walking" consists of covering
ene's self and one's sledload of liquor
with a sheet and then setting out for
the American shore. Against the ice
' and snow the white-robed cargo is prac
tically invisible. Yesterday customs of
ficers heard some one walking on the
ice off Ecorse. They investigated and
found the sled. Footprints and other
. markings in the snow told officers that
1 the rum runner had fled, trailing his
sheets behind him.
— —.
Japanese Ban Gifts.
TOKIO, December 24 OP). —As an ex
ample in a thrift campaign Emperor
Hirohito has asked the princes of the
imperial family not to exchange New
Year gifts.
THOUSANDS SHIVER AND SHOP
IN LAST-MINUTE PURCHASING
Cheerful Crowds Brave Freezing Weather to Complete
Christmas Buying.
Braving freezing weather, countless
thosuands of shivering last-minute
shoppers crowded downtown stores to
day. buying gifts galore.
The eleventh-hour gift seekers began
storming the shops at 9 o’clock in the
morning, and still were going strong I
this afternoon. Many stores were ex- (
pected to remain open until midnight in
order to accommodate the tardy pur
chasers.
** Like all holiday crowds, the throngs
which packed F street and other shop
ping centers today were cheerful to the
nth degree. One was reminded of Mardi
Gras day in New Orleans and Derby
day in Louisville. Everybody was in a
goed humor.
Kntered as second class matter
post office. Washington. D. C.
| ORPHANS TO SEE SANTA CLAUS
DROP TO EARTH WITH CHUTE
) Red Cross and Naval Air Sta-
Ition Arrange Festival for
Children.
. W. F. Scott, Veteran Jumper,
to take Role of Old Kris
Kringle.
Santa Claus will come sailing down
out of the sky in a parachute at Naval
. 1 Air Station tomorrow, bringing a big
bagful of presents for a group of orphan
children, in the Capital's most spectacu- ;
lar Christmas festival of the day.
> With a bag of presents slung over his
shoulder old Kris Kringle will be en
acted by W. F. Scott, famous Navy
parachute jumper, better known as
“Scotty.”
The modern Santa will sail through
. the air on the wings of the wind,
. dropping from a big Ford transport
; plane. He will sail down to the Naval
. Air Station, where a wondering group j
. of little orphans will be gathered to- I
gether at the post through the kindly
offices of the American Red Cross.
"Scotty” Santa Claus will be well
loaded down with presents for the
1 little folks and believes he can drop
down through 2.000 feet of thin air
» easier than old Santa could climb down
a sooty chimney—and as safely, perhaps
safer.
Parachute jumping, even in a red suit
BELGIAN ROYALTY
ESCAPE ASSASSIN
Italian Suspect Admits Part
in Plans to Frustrate Hum
bert’s Wedding.
By the Associated Press.
BRUSSELS, December 24.—The news
paper Independance Beige today re
vealed details of an alleged plot to
assassinate members of the Belgian
royal family, thus to prevent the mar
riage of Princess Marie Jose to Hum
bert, Crown Prince of Italy. The mar
riage is scheduled for January 8.
A young Communist named Biemi,
recently from Italy, was arrested re
cently, the paper said, and revealed
plans to hurl bombs at the train carry
ing the Belgian royal family from
another train which would pass it on a
siding at Milan.
Confesses Own Mission
Biemi himself confessed he came to
Bedgium to murder the Italian minister
of justice, Prof. Rocco. Police be
lieve him to be connected in some way
with Fernando di Rosa, the young
Italian anti-Fascist, who made an at
tempt against Prince Humbert's life on
the occasion of his visit here to an
nounce his bethrothal recently.
The newspaper said Italian and Bel
gian ministers were to have been killed
in the event plans for the marriage
were carried out. Premier Henri Jaspar,
Minister of Justice Janson and Defense
Minister Broqueville all received letters
threatening death unless they prevented
the royal wedding.
The Independance Beige is the organ
of the Liberal party and gives special
attention to diplomatic and foreign
news. The Liberal party Is one of the
government coalition.
Much Opposition Shown.
There have been several manifesta
tions in Belgium of opposition to the
wedding. Principal among these was
the attempt of the Italian Fernando di
Rosa against the life of Prince Humbert
as he was laying a wreath on the un
known soldier's tomb. A member of the
royal party staff knocked the assassin's
arm down and the bullet went wild.
Prior to this attack, anti-Fascists held
a demonstration in front of the Italian
embassy here and broke windows and
shoved in doors.
■- • -
MUTINEERS CAPITULATE.
Rebel Portuguese Troops Wither
Before Artillery in Half Hour.
MACAO, Portuguese China, December
24 LP). —Loyal Portuguese troops bom
barded the fort here with artillery and
machine guns at dawn today and
within a half hour forced capitulation
of mutineers who held the works.
Previous announcement yesterday that
the mutineers, who numbered about 70
and were headed by a sergeant stationed
at Port Monte, had all surrendered
proved premature, since only a part
of the group gave themselves up. The
remainder were told that if they did not
capitulate by 7 a.m. today they would
be attacked. The bombardment fol
lowed.
The city is quiet and business is
normal. There was no damage in the
bombardment. Macao is an island, a
Portuguese possession, at the mouth of
the Canton River near Hongkong.
Likewise, everybody seemed to be in
a hurry. Perhaps the weather was re
sponsible. Or it might have been be
cause many people had delayed buying
presents until the day before Christmas,
j Stores of every description did a land
: office business. There was an espe
cially big demand for toys.
. Street cars were rerouted because
many cars which customarily run di
rect to various Government depart
ments were made available as the Fed
eral employes enjoyed a day of leisure.
More than 30 extra policemen were de
tailed to direct traffic in the shopping
! district.
I Post Office employes handled tremen
dous quantities of mall, though their
task was made easier by the "Shop
early, mail early” campaign.
Mtomim §kf.
V y £ V WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION
WASHINGTON, D, C., TUESDAY, DECEMBER 24, 1929-TWENTY-TWO PAGES. ***
W. F. SCOTT.
and white whiskers, carrying a big bag
of presents, has no terrors for this new
Santa of the modern day. It will be
! his 276th jump.
I Modern Santa probably knows more
! about the wings of the wind than old
Santa of the reindeers, so he will know
just where to leap from his argosy of
the air.
It is all expected to be a great party,
arranged by the personnel of the Naval
Air Station, assisted by the Red Cross,
which finds the orphans. The plane
probably will be piloted by either Lieut.
M. B. Gardner, operations officer, or
Lieut. A. P. Storrs, assistant operations
officer. The hour will be somewhere
about 11 o’clock.
ALABAMA UPHOLDS
TABOO ON HEFLIN
Attorney General Rules State
Democratic Committee
Acts Within Rights. '
By the Associated Press.
MONTGOMERY, Ala., December 24.
An opinion by Attorney General Charlie
C. McCall has upheld the legality of
the decision of the State Democratic
executive committee to bar as candi
dates from the 1930 party primary those
who failed to support the Democratic
presidential ticket, but to permit them
to participate as voters.
The qualifications determined upon
by the committee excluded as candi
dates Senator J, Thomas Heflin, who
seeks re-election, and Hugh A. Locke,
entrant in the race for governor. Heflin
and Locke, both of whom stumped the
State for President Hoover in 1928, have
announced independent campaigns.
McCall, himself a candidate for gov
ernor, said in his opinion the Alabama
primary law was not intended to take
away from the governing body of any
political party the right to fix more
liberal political qualifications for voters
than for candidates.
Referring to a section of the State
law, which some had contended made
mandatory the same qualifications for
voth voters and candidates of one party,
McCall declared:
“In my Judgment the purpose and
intent of the first sentence of section
612 of the code is to prevent any gov
erning body of a political party from
prescribing greater political qualifica
tions for the electors than it prescribes
for the candidates for party nomination.
The Legislature did not say that the
governing body of a political party could
not make the political qualifications of
the masses of electors desiring to par
ticipate in the party primary lesser than
those of the candidate.”
He said it was his belief that if spe
cific qualifications had not been pre
scribed for the voters, those demanded
of the candidates would be applicable,
but that in this case, as he understood
it, the qualifications for each had been
defined.
The opinion was asked of the State
officials by his father, c. E. McCall,
chief State examiner of accounts, sev
eral days ago and was made public last
night.
■ •
BLOCK COASTING STREETS
Police Instructed to Set Aside Area
for Children.
A general order was broadcast to all
precincts this morning from police
headquarters cautioning the members
of the department to take measures, to
set aside certain streets throughout the
city for coasting, beginning at 11 o’clock
this morning.
The order, signed by Lieut. L. I. H.
Edwards, personnel officer, refers cap
tains of all precincts to general orders
on the subject and directs that these
orders be strictly enforced. They pro
vide for the blocking of a number of
designated streets to traffic, so that the
children can enjoy the icy streets with
out danger.
- .
RACKETEERS SUSPECTED.
NEW YORK, December 24 OF).—An
almost completed four-story brick !
apartment house in the Bronx was •
virtually destroyed this morning by a !
fire which police believed the work of
building racketeers.
Eleven uncompleted houses in the
Bronx were fired within the last year 1
A grand jury investigation is under way (
into charges that racketeers set the j
places afire to force tribute from build- ‘
ers for “protection.” The 21-family!
building was being erected at a cost of.
$70,000 by Louis Torrlgoni. He said
there had been no labor trouble in its
erection.
LINDY MONUMENT URGED.
St. Louis Mayor Would Honor
Flyer Who Piloted Spirit to Paris.
ST. LOUIS, December 24 OF).—Mayor
Victor J. Miller, proposes erection of a
statue here to Col. Charles A. Lind
bergh.
It is the mayor’s idea that as many
citizens as possible should contribute to
; a fund for purchase of a suitable monu
ment and he therefore would restrict
• individual donations to $5. He also pro
• poses that school children of the city
) share in the fund by contributing their
i nickels and dimes.
i *
CAPPER DESCRIBES
CAPITAL PLANS IN
VOTE PLEA TO U.S.
Air Audience Is Told How City
Will Be Made Most Beau
tiful in World.
CITIZENS ARE URGED
TO TAKE PRIDE IN WORK
Reminds Them Seven States Smaller
Than District Have 14 Senators
and 23 Representatives.
While describing to the country in a
speech from Station WMAL this morn
ing how the National Capital is being
rebuilt and beautified. Senator Capper,
Republican, of Kansas, also took oc
casion to deliver a forceful argument in
support of national representation for
the half-million residents of Wash
ington.
Senator Capper, who is chairman of
the District's legislative committee, re
minded his radio audience that seven
States of the Union with smaller popu
lations than Washington have a total
of 14 Senators and 23 Representatives
in the House, while the people of the
District have no representation in Con
gress.
The Kansas Senator gave to his lis
teners in the States a vivid word pic
ture of how the National Capital will
look when projects under way or plan
ned are complete.
"There was a time,” said Senator
Capper in conclusion, "when cultured
visitors secretly laughed at the lack of
culture in this new Nation. But they
are not laughing now. In Washington
we have made, and are still making,
a city which will be as famous for its
beauty in centuries to come as Athens
and Rome were in the golden age.
Support of Plans Asked.
"Therefore, I say, keep alive your in
terest and your pride in your National
Capital. It is my fervent hope and
wish that every American will at some
time in his life visit this wonderful
city. Let its problems be yours, and let
its glory be yours. Never forget that
it is your city. Support this great
work of rebuilding the city that was
nearest to the hearts of our country’s
fathers. Let it express the soul of
America.”
Pointing out that the Government!
has outgrown its present establishment
in Washington, the Senator began by
describing how Uncle Sam is spreading
his plans for a newer and greater city
over large areas of land.
"Similarly,” he said, “the people of
Washington are fast outgrowing the
area of the District of Columbia and
are overflowing into Maryland and Vir
ginia. Washington's population is well
over the half-million mark today and
is increasing at some 10.000 persons a
year. Washington houses nearly one
third as many persons today as live in j
all the 80,000 square miles of my home
State of Kansas. Its population ex
ceeds that of seven States—Nevada,
Wyoming. Delaware, Arizona, Vermont,
New Mexico, Idaho. Entirely aside from
my subject today—“ Rebuilding the Na
tion’s Capital”—it might be mentioned
that these seven States have 14 United
States Senators and 23 United States
Representatives in the popular legis
lative branch of our Government; the
half million citizens in the District
have no representation in either branch
of Congress.
Undertaken Carefully.
“This enlargement is being under
taken carefully, with ample funds and
with the best brains in the country at
work upon the plans. Artistic success is
assured. Efficiency has not been forgot
ten. Many old landmarks in the city are
doomed to destruction in order that in
their place may rise great monumental
structures symbolizing the greatness and
strength of the Nation.
"As an American, you must, I am
sure, take pride in the city which is
your National Capital. As an American
you are no doubt eager to know its his
tory, its progress, its romantic begin
nings, its vastly more romantic present
and its glorious future.
“When a visitor from abroad boasts
of Paris, Vienna, Berlin and other
world capitals he has seen, tell him that
your Capital, Washington, has beauties,
natural and architectural, which lose
nothing by comparison with the crum
bling glories of the Old World. Tell him
that you have, in Washington, your
city, a magnificent expression of a young
(Continued on Page 2, Column I.)
■ ■ ■-
BALTIMORE DRY OFFICIAL
IS DEMOTED TO AGENT
Quinn, Suspended for Unpublished
Reason, Is to Be Transferred
by Doran.
John J. Quinn, former deputy prohi
bition administrator at Baltimore, who
was suspended on charges after com
nlaints against him had been filed with
the White House, has been demoted to
the rank of prohibition agent.
Prohibition Commissioner Doran, who
announced Quinn’s demotion today,
said the former administrator would be
transferred to another district, but de
clined to say where. The charges
i against Quinn have never been made
j public and Doran would not discuss
them.
NEW YORK EDITOR DIES.
- ■
iT. J. Preston of Sun Was Once
Director of Paris Herald.
NEW YORK, December 24 UP).—
; Thomas J. Preston, 75, member of the
| editorial staff of the New York Sun,
died yesterday. At one time he was
I editor of the Paris Herald and worked
on the old New York Herald.
Christmas Way
I There Will Be i
| No 5:30 Edition
' ' °f
| The Evening Star |
L. ■
l , *' £ '
END OF A PERFECT SHOPPING DAY.
CAROLS SUNG HERE
BROADCAST TO U. S.
President and Government
Join in City’s Christmas
Gladness.
The glad spirit which comes each
year on the eve of Christmas will be
heralded throughout the country by
means of a coast-to-coast network of
radio stations this evening as thousands
of carol singers in the National Capital
assemble around the 1929 national com
munity Christmas tree south of the
Treasury Building, in Sherman Square,
for Washington’s official observance.
As President Hoover touches the but
ton at 6:08 o'clock, a flare will illu
minate the sky and Boy Scout buglers
stationed in various parts of the city
will sound blasts to announce to the
people that the living Christmas tree is
lighted.
With prospects that Washington, in
deed, will enjoy a white and icy Christ
mas, the populace went about its usual
holiday way today, many communities
and organizations arranging for special
carol services during the afternoon and
evening. The vast machinery of the
Government was at rest and Washing
ton, officially and unofficially, entered
heartily into the observance of Christ
mas.
With a son, Allan, home for the holi
days, President Hoover canceled prac
tically all engagements, including the
regular cabinet meeting and press con
ference, in order that he mgiht be free
to spend as much of the day as possible
with Mrs. Hoover and their son.
Government Departments Closed.
At his order the Federal and Dis
trict government departments were
closed today to give the thousands of
employes unrestricted freedom to com
plete their shopping and otherwise
make ready for Christmas day. Mer
chants were prepared for the season’s
largest throngs of shoppers this after
noon and the Police Department, re
membering a traffic jam that tied up
the downtown section for more than
an hour last Christmas eve, assumed
the almost impossible task of keeping
hundreds of automobiles moving in the
congested shopping district.
Mrs Hoover at 2 o'clock this after
noon performed another act of gra
ciousness and kindliness in attending
the ceremonies at the Salvation Army’s
Temple Corps, 606 E street, where she
Eassed out the first of several hundred
askets of food to poor families of the
city. Tonight the Salvation Army will
have its own lighted Christmas tree for
upward of 1,000 underprivileged chil
dren of the city.
The White House is aglow with the
Christmas spirit, for Mrs. Hoover has
superintended the placing of wreaths
at the windows and holly greens in all
the rooms. There were two big Christ
mas trees, one in the eftst room and
another in the President’s apartment
upstairs. Little trees were provided for
all the guest rooms. Tomorrow after
noon the Hoovers will -ntertain for
the children of several of their very
close friends who will je their guests
during the day.
Ceremonies Start at 5:30.
The ceremonies around the national
community Christmas tree, symbolizing
all the living Christmas trees of the
Nation, will commence at 5:30 o’clock
with a concert by the United States
Marine Band, under the direction of
Capt. Taylor Branson, Including a
Christmas cantata by the cornetist,
Arthur S. Witcomb. At 5:55 o’clock
President and Mrs. Hoover, accompan- i
led by White House aides, will arrive ,
to take part in the ceremonies.
Secretary of the Interior Ray Lyman !
Wilbur is master of ceremonies and
national chairman for the 1929 tree
and will introduce the President.
Other members of the cabinet who will
attend the ceremonies are Secretary
of State Stimson, Secretary of War
Hurley, Secretary of the Navy Adams
and Secretary of Agriculture Hyde.
Members of the board of District Com
(Continued on Page 2, Column 2.)
AIDS STORM VICTIMS.
LONDON, December 24 (JP).—' The
colonial office last night announced
that expenditure of about $25,000 of
government funds had been authorized
to relieve the immediate distress In the
Fiji Islands, where 16 persons were
killed by a hurricane on December 12.
A number of buildings were leveled on
the Island of Macuata and cocoanut and
cane crops were severely damaged.
Three schooners and four cutters were
wrecked and island rivers were flooded.
Relief committees have been appointed
to take charge of areas where food is
scarce.
Radio Programs—Page 17
RECORD CHRISTMAS MAIL HERE
IS HANDLED BETTER THAN EVER
• Public Heeds Advice to “Mail Early“ and
j Stretches Postmen s Task Over
Longer Period.
When the postman closes up shop
at midnight tonight to go home and
! fill to overflowing the stockings of his
, own wee ones, he will do so with peace
, in his mind and joy in his heart, for
> he will know that he has brought to
j the people of the Capital the grandest
[ Christmas in the whole history of the
. city.
, He has brought more presents and
more greeting cards to more people in
■ the Capital this year than ever before,
and—best of all—every last present
. that will have arrived at the postofflee
here in time for the regular deliveries
will have been carried to its destina
i tion safe and sound,
r The closing of the postofflee for the
. 24-hour holiday tonight will find that
| institution In the best position It has
SIMMONS DENIES
LIGHTING BLAME
Says Congress Has Appro
priated $150,000 Over
School Estimate.
Declaring that Congress in the last
five years has appropriated $150,000 in
excess of budget estimates for lighting
of portable schools, Chairman Simmons
of the House subcommittee on District
appropriations today directed a letter
to Superinendent of Schools Ballou
denying the charge that the work had
been held up by failure of Congress to
appropriate sufficient funds.
Mr. Simmons in his letter says that
during the past five years, while the
Health Department has been protesting
that the portables should be better
lighted, funds have been allowed to lapse
which would have been sufficient to elec
trify 26 of the buildings. He also de
clared that Dr. Ballou three years ago
testified at a hearing of his committee
that the work of electrifying all school
buildings would be completed under the
appropriations then allowed.
Excerpts from the letter to Dr. Ballou
follow:
“Under date of December 7 I wrote
you concerning the lighting of the port
able school buildings and asked why
they were not furnished with electric
light. You acknowledged that letter
December 14 and under date of Decem
ber 20 you sent me a reply consisting
largely of a copy of your recommenda
tion to the Board of Education on De
cember 8, which they approved. You
recommend that "the Board of Educa
tion authorize the expenditure of funds
for the electrifying of portable as rap
idly as funds will permit.”
“The press statements which followed
this action indicated that the Board of
Education desired, and had desired all
along, to install these lights, but that
no funds had been provided for that
purpose; that the school officials pro
posed to ‘borrow* money for this pur
pose from the repair funds, and that
(Continued on Page 2, Column 7.)
CASH MADE AVAILABLE
j FOR CHICAGO TEACHERS
Transfer of $3,100,000 Brings
Christmas Cheer Through
Financial Fogs.
By the Associated Press.
CHICAGO, December 24.—Dimmed
for several days by financial fogs, sunny
Christmas cheer broke through today
for the 13,000 or so teachers in Chicago
public schools.
Once yesterday hope was nearly
abandoned that the checks already
made out could be paid. Later, how
ever, the needed $3,100,000 was ar
ranged for in a hasty conference of
school board members. By the arrange
ment money due the building fund will
be transferred to the depleted educa
tional fund.
Assurance was given that the checks
would reach the teachers by noon to
day.
Ex-Senator Percy Dies.
MEMPHIS, Tenn., December 24 (#).—
Leroy Percy, former United States Sena
tor from Mississippi, died in a hospital
here shortly before 9 am. today. He
had been a patient there several weeks.
W
The only evening paper
in Washington with the
Associated Press news
service.
Yesterday’s Circulation, 107,478
(fP) Mean* Associated Press.
ever been on Christmas, despite the
fact that the weather has been violent
ly opposed to the postman’s work, and
on the last two days of Christmas de
liveries, has slowed down the work at
least one-third.
Never has the post office been so clear
and this despite the fact that never
has It had so much to do.
Dally Burden Lightened.
The public this year, more than ever
before, has taken to heart the advice
of the Post Office Department to mail
its gifts early, and, although It has
mailed more gifts. It has mailed them
so much earlier that it has spread the
postman’s gigantic task over more days
and lightened his daily burden consid
erably.
Twenty per cept more gifts are going
to Capital people through the mails this
(Continued on Page 2, Column 4.)
MRS. HOOVER GIVES
: BASKETS TO POOR
Aids Salvation Army and At
tends Veterans’ Sale at
Walter Reed.
BY BESS FURMAN.
Associated Press Staff Writer.
If “Christmas cheer to all mankind”
; b® criterion for Christmas spirit, Mrs.
1 Herbert Hoover will be joyous indeed
tonight—her first Christmas eve in the
White House.
Little children, aged women and crip
pled veterans have felt the special spon
taniety of her smile. To the traditional
good-will round of a President's wife,
revolving always about enterprises of
community cheer, she has brought a
manner all her own. Two such festivi
ties today, the Salvation Army Christ
mas basket party and the community
Christmas tree, finished the list of her
“public appearances,” leaving her free
for the warmth of her own friends and
fireside.
The last event, the presidential light
ing of the community Christmas tree in
Sherman Square, close to the White
House grounds, was scheduled to usher
in Christmas eve, itself, in the place
the President’s wife loves f>est, the out
of-doors. For her there has been gath
ered a basket of woodsy Christmas dec
orations from the four corners of the
United States—Florida, Maine, Wash
ington State, and her own California—
to be presented by one of her Girl
Scout friends, Alice Leake. A Boy
Scout, Joseph Wheeler, was drafted to
give her the greetings of Washington
city.
The Salvation Army Temple, with
worn old columns wreathed in red and
green, with Christmas bells bobbing
(Continued on Page 2, Column 3.)
WASHINGTON WILL NOT HAVE
WHITE CHRISTMAS AFTER ALL
Weather Bureau Says No More Snow Will Fall Here
Within Next 30 Hours.
Washington got all the "white Christ
mas" yesterday that it’s going to get,
so far as the Weather Bureau prophets
were able to see late this morning.
No more snow will fall here tonight
or tomorrow, because the Maryland and
Virginia mountains west of the Capital
will exhaust all of the snow clouds
which may head this way in the next
30 hours or so.
The official forecast given out by the
bureau today is for a “fair and cold
Christmas," with a minimum tempera
ture of 24 degrees tomorrow morning,
rising to a probable high point of 40
degrees during the midafternoon.
Translated in the terms of most
Washington folks, that means that the
ice and snow which has much of the
city crusted in glittering, slippery
splendor today, will prevail tomorrow,
and that means that Bobby and Billy
and Betty can bring out those new sleds
of theirs for a day and evening of
speedy trial coasting. The Christmas
CENTS.
CHANCE WILL DEFY
ORDER 10 TESTIFY
IN POLICE HEARING
Foreman of Jury Criticizing
Shelby and Kelly Denies
Disrespect for Court.
SAYS STAND TO BE AIRED
BEFORE JUDGE SCHULDT
Action Is Taken Because Witness
Is Called “Mental Misfit’'
by Attorney.
Merritt O. Chance, foreman of the
grand Jury which accused Inspector
Shelby and Lieut. Kelly of official care
lessness in Investigating the death of
Virginia McPherson, will defy the order
of Police Judge Bchuldt that he con
tinue his testimony before the board
trying the police officers on charges of
inefficiency.
"Without intending In any way to
show disrespect for the court,” Chance
said today, “I shall'most certainly re
fuse to testify any further before the
trial board. I have already refused to
go on, and I am refusing today, tomor
row and every other day, Including
January 3.”
Chance was directed yesterday to ap
pear before the trial board January
3 at the sixth precinct police station
and continue his testimony, Interrupted
last Saturday by his refusal to answer
further questions in protest to the
board's action In permitting Assistant
United States Attorney Walter Shea to
criticize him on the stand.
CaUed “Mental Misfit.”
Shea, appearing out of turn as a
defense witness, described Chance In his
role of foreman as “a mental misfit,
drunk with authority.”
“I have no criticism to make of Judge
Schuldt and I deny any intention of
disrespect," Chance said. “In refusing
to testify I feel that I will only be
co-operating with the court In Its
efforts to get a legal basis for Judicial
I determination of the laws in the case,
i "As I understand the situation, the
court has not attempted yet to Judge
the merits of the legalities Involved,
but has laid the groundwork for such
a determination. If I refuse to testi
fy on January 3—and that’s exactly
what I’m going to do—the court then
will be in a position to hear arguments
of counsel and reach a decision in the
light of these arguments and the law."
Attorneys Offer Service.
Chance said he had not had an oppor
tunity as yet to communicate with his
attorney, Carter B. Keene, who is vaca
tioning at Atlantic City over the holi
days. He said that if Keene is unable
to return in time for the test before
the Trial Board, he has had offers from
numerous other lawyers to advise him
in the matter.
"If it is another refusal by me to
testify that the court wants, I’ll see
that it gets It,” the ex-foreman ex
plained. “There seems to be some
question as to whether I really meant
it when I told the board I was through
Saturday. lam willing to make it clear
by a legal refusal, If that will help.
“I’ll appear before the board, as di
rected by the court, but I won’t answer
any questions.”
Ruling Confusing.
There appeared to be some confusion
In legal circles today as to whether
Judge Schuldt, In Instructing Chance
to testify, was making a final determina
tion of the technicalities involved, or,
as Chance contends, was merely paving
the way for a legal weighing of the
issues after hearing arguments of
counsel.
Judge Schuldt himself dispelled any
doubt by Informing newspapermen that
his order was not to be construed as a
Judgment of the issues Involved under
the act of Congress of 1896 creating
the police trial board. He Is deferring
Judgment as to the scope of that act
and the powers of the board to com
pel witnesses to testify until the prob
lem legally comes before him through
some such action as a further refus
al of Chance to go on with his testi
mony.
The court indicated yesterday It was
not fully familiar with the provisions
of the trial board act and that it de
sired time In which to become acquaint
ed with them. The action of The cor
poration counsel's office In citing
Chance to the court was without pre
cedent.
BAND TO PLAY FORHOOVER
20-Minute Serenade Planned for
Tomorrow at White House.
The Army Band will serenade Presi
dent and Mrs. Hoover for 20 minutes
Christmas morning, appearing at the
White House at 9:45 o'clock. The pro
gram will Include Christmas carols and
several snappy marches. The band will
appear In full-dress uniform.
day minimum temperature will be one
, degree above the 23 which was recorded
i this morning, and the 40 maximum
which the forecasters see for tomor
, row will prevail for a very short time
in the afternoon. It is possible, the
I bureau experts said today, that clouds
i will obscure the sun during the late
; afternoon, but these, they are con
vinced, will bring no falling weather.
! So far as today Is concerned, th'
i highest temperature to be recorded wll
• be slightly above the 32-degree freezlm
. point, but this will not prevail lon
1 enough to cause any sort of generr
thawing process. The only “damag
• which will be done to the Ice and snov
s In the Capital and vicinity today will
! be done by traffic, the Weather Bureau
’ prophets say, and add that it would
, require three or four days of consider
' ably higher temperatures than are In
i sight at the present to release this part
■ of the country entirely from the
s Wintry grip.