Evening star. [volume], February 19, 1930, Page A-2, Image 2

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

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A-2
MUSCLE SHOALS
DEBATE DUE NEXT
Business Improvement Bills
Slated for Early Con
sideration.
St the Associated Press.
'.coking ahead to the break in the
legislative jam in the Senate when the
tariff is finally disposed of. Senator
Watson of Indiana, the Republican
leader, give* the first call to Muscle
Shoals legislation.
However, as a result of the White
House conference of yesterday. Republi
can congressional leaders are also pick
ing out all bills relating to the business
improvement program for early con
sideration.
Behind the tariff jam in the Senate
are the bills to expand the public build
ings program, all of the annual supply
measures carrying funds for naxt year's
expenses of the Government, the
measure Increasing funds for Federal
road aid and the prohibition proposals.
Hoover Wants Tariff Action.
But Mr. Hoover has told the Senate
leaden his tint concern is the tariff,
and to the tariff they are reapplying
themselves. The Republican leaders
have passed the responsibility for the
tariff over to the coalition of Demo
crat* and Western Republican inde
pendents, which has undertaken to re
write the bill. All agreed today that
the bill should be out of the Senate
by March 10.
The storm which broke on Capitol
Hill following the general conference
of Republican party leaders at the
White House yesterday has done much
to clarify the general situation, at least
in the opinion of party leaders.
The Senate chieftains believe there
is a renewed spirit of determination to
wind up the long tariff debate which
has been before the Senate since last
June and under discussion on the floor
since early last September.
A sharp contest is in prospect over
proposals for disposition of Muscle
Shoals, but those interested in this issue
believe it can be settled without pro
longed debate. Ever since the war
Congress has been quarreling over ways
and means of disposing of this gigantic
war-time power plant in Alabama.
Norris Plan Is Basis.
The resolution of Senator Norris.
Republican. Nebraska, proposing Gov
ernment ownership of the plant, has
been reported by the Senate agricul
ture committee and will form the basis
of the Senate discussion.
FARM DUTY RAISES HELD UNFAIR.
Massachusetts and New York Senators
Protest Consumer Burden.
A plea that "sane research" be ap
plied to agriculture tariff increase
proposals, in order to prevent unfair
burdens on consumers, was made in the
Senate today by Senator Walsh, Demo
crat, Massachusetts, as debate con
tinued on farm rates.
Pretesting an increased tariff on
packed rates, the Massachusetts Sen
ator said he realised that whatever
duty was proposed on a food product it
would be carried, but he asked that as
full a study as was given industrial
rates be given the farm increases.
"We ought tp st least inquire who
would benefit by these increases and
who are to be penalized," he asserted,
adding that there were several New
England industries, including shoes,
stUl on a free-trade basis.
Senator Copeland. Democrat, New
York, who joined Walsh yesterday In
opposing Increased tariffs on cattle,
characterized the first attempt today |
to raise a farm rate as an unfair tax |
upon consumers.
STAND ON SECURITY
ASSUMED BY AMERICA
• SEEN VITAL TO PARLEY
(Continued Prom First Page.)
edited into the joint statement Issued
st Washington at the end of the con
versations with MacDonald. The Impasse
at the pret>ent conference was clearly
foreseen in Washington long before the
conference convened.
Stimson came here with instructions
to yield ground in many directions so
long as it Involved no sacrifice of
American defensive needs. But his or
ders also were to go the limit in at
tempting to reconcile divergent view
points which don't include any conces
sions which would carry political im
plications like security guarantees. No
rnnerican. not even the hardest-boiled
irreconcilable on Capitol Hill, need lose
any sleep on that score. But no mat
ter how much cold water rolls against
an Atlantic security pact from our side
of the ocean, London Is going to rever
berate more or less continuously with
this query:
You Americans demand parity with
British sea power. All right. You can
have it. but how about parity of re
sponsibility for maintenance of world
peace?
Regarded as Gold Brick.
Unless and until that question is an
swered. Great Britain will feel that
Uncle Sam is selling John Bull a gold
brick. Britons tell American friends
with unrestrained frankness that the
United States gave the world a baby
called the League of Nations to be
nursed, reared and maintained. Al
ready signs are multiplying that an
Anglo - American naval parity pact
which leaves the United States as
heart-whole and fancy-free as the
League covenant leaves her is going also
to leave behind a Great Britain con
vinced that America is 100 per cent for
world peace provided she is obligated to
do nothing to preserve it.
These things aren’t being cried from
the London housetops, but they’re-being
said In numerous quarters that count.
Settlement Seen Possible.
When the full text of Senator Robin
son's address today at noon before the
American Correspondents’ Association
comes to the attention of the confer
ence, it is bound to revive hopes of at
least limited American adherence to a
guarantee pact.
Senator Robinson conspicuously re
frained from saying the United States
would not associate itself in a purely
consultative pact.
As the address was punctiliously pre
pared and worded, observers now are
Inclined to believe that as a possible
way out of the French impasses, the
delegation might assent to an arrange
ment strictly confining America’s par
ticipation to a readiness to consult the
cosignatories in the event their peace
is threatened.
Senator Robinson is privately quoted
a* believing the Senate would reject
even a consultative pact. Senator
Reed, on the contrary. Is understood to
hold it would be able to command the
requisite two-thirds vote for ratifica
tion.
Imperial Parley Date Is Set.
MELBOURNE. Australia, February 19
(JP). —Official announcement was made
here today that the Imperial confer
ence will open September 30 in London.
The conference, usually held every
three years, was postponed a year ago
in view of the then unsettled state of
British politics and the British Labor
government’s endeavors to arrange the
# present Naval Conference.
» '
Speaks in Forum
p ' rt n uTir-rr
FERRY HEATH.
BUILDING PROGRAM
TO BE FORUM TOPIC
>
Heath to Explain to U. S.
How Government Is v
Pushing Projects.
How the Federal Government is push
ing forward it* great Nation-wide public
building program will be explained to
the American people direct by Assistant
Secretary of the Treasury Ferry K.
Heath, in charge of this huge program,
when he speaks tomorrow night in the
National Radio Forum arranged by The
Evening Star and sponsored by the Co
lumbia Broadcasting System. The speech
will be heard locally through WMAL.
The Federal Government is spending
scores of millions of dollars in erect
ing public buildings, mostly poet offices
and court houses In every State of the
Union, at a time when President Hoover
has called upon both public and private
enterprise to throw every shoulder be
hind the wheel of industrial progress to
counteract the effects of the recent Wall
Street crash.
Plans of the Government for using its
own construction program to help in
this matter will be discussed by Mr.
Heath, who will speak from Intimate
personal knowledge of the building
plans.
Mr. Heath is expecting to discuss not
only the ideals which the administra
tion has for meeting needs for more
facilities in the field, but also the plans
for providing long delayed public build
ings to house the departments of gov
ernment, where many of which have
been struggling along for years in rented
quarters.
Not only future plans, but present and
past actual accomplishment, can be dis
closed to the American taxpayers, who
are paying the bill, because the Treas
ury Department, charged with the enor
mous responsibility of carrying out the
building plans, is now well underway in
the stupendous task of providing long
delayed housing. Congress not only .has
authorized the spending of million* of
dollars, but has pending before it Bow
legislation for further expansion of the
public building program. In order to
further satisfy the great demand in this
country, where population and business
has far outstripped the Federal housing
facilities for carrying on the rapidly ex
panding Federal activities.
WITNESS CHARGES
WICKERSHAM WITH
BIAS ON DRY LAWS
(Continued From First Page.)
by the States was asked by William
H. Stayton, chairman of the board of
directors of the Association Against the
Prohibition Amendment. Stayton ar
gued that the people had lost respect
for the Government because of the
dry laws and that the Government
had employed thugs and defended
murderers in enforcing them.
At the outset today Michener put in
the record statement* from Oov. Green
of Michigan and four circuit judges
of Michigan, issued Saturday, chal
lenging Llggett’s testimony that they
had attended a "wild party" at a road
house outside of Detroit on the night
of November S, 1929.
Stayton recommended return to the
States of the powers of local option and
expressed a belief that each State could
deal with its own local liquor situation
If the eighteenth amendment were re
pealed.
Stayton said he testified as a repre
sentative of the directors of the asso
ciation, explaining the board was com
posed of 232 members engaged in nearly
every kind of business. He asserted it
had conducted nn exhaustive investiga
tion into conditions resulting from pro
hibition and had reached a conclusion
"that all was not well under national
prohibition laws.”
Michener asked if the association fa
vored the return of the legalized saloon.
Stayton answered in the negative. Con
tinuing, Michener then asked if the
eighteenth amendment had not done
away with saloons, and Stayton said:
"No. There are three now where one
blade grew before.”
As the witness concluded there was
applause. Chairman Grgham rapped
smartly for order and reprimanded the
audience.
NEWSPAPER TO SUSPEND.
MANILA, February 19 MPJ. —An-
nouncement was made today by the
Manila Times, the oldest American
dally in the Philippines, that it would
suspend publication March 15.
One of the reasons given by stock
holders for the action was the unfavor
able outlook for the future in view of
the uncertain political situation. With
the Times gone, only one American
daily, the Manila Daily Bulletin, will be
left in the islands. The Times was
founded March 13, 1898.
i _ . , ■, - ,
■
HUSBAND LEARNS WIFE’S DIVORCE
• PLAN BY LOAFING IN COURT ROOM
; Casual Visit to Kill Time Gives Mate Surprise, Then
i Continuance of Case.
t .
1 By the Associated Press.
CHICAGO, February 19—A court
room is an interesting place, choking
with drama and O. Henry finishes.
There was Thomas England Stinson,
( with an hour to kill. The Circuit
, Court room of Judge Lynch was handy.
Stinson went in, slipped into a quiet
. seat among other spectators.
t Divorce actions were being heard.
> Day after day Judge Lynch sits there,
t hearing the stories of husbands and
r wives who can't get along—can’t get
s along.
A woman jjpok the witness stand.
THE EVENING STAR. WASHINGTON. D. C., WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1930.
DOUMERGUE HALTS
CABINET SELECTION
Tardieu Remains Dominant
Figure in Attempts to
Form Government.
By the Associated Press.
PARIS, February 19. —President
Doumergue has decided to wait until
9:30 a.m, tomorrow before calling upon
a statesman to form a ministry which
will succeed the cabinet of
Andre Tardieu. Camille Chautemps.
Aristide Briand and Tardieu are most
prominently mentioned for the job.
Tardieu, France’* energetic former
premier, was still the dominant figure
in President Doumergue's search to
day, but there was a likelihood that
even if asked to succeed himself he
would refuse until some of the opposi
tion had tried and failed.
The President went on with his po
litical consultations and this afternoon
talked things over with the active party
leaders of the Chamber of Deputies and
the Senate.
Leon Blum, the Socialist chief, and
other leaders of the Left parties were
summoned to the Elysee Palace this
morning and all afternoon representa
tives of the various groups had appoint
ments to see the President.
Chautemps, leader of the Radical So
cialists. the most important party of
the Left and despite its name less ex
treme than the Socialists, was frequent
ly mentioned as most likely to be asked
to form a cabinet.
“Come Back” I* Talked Os.
‘ I Many political observers, however,
’ i thought that President Doumergue first
■ might ask Tardieu as a matter of form
, to reorganize his ministry and quite
I probably to ask him again should the
’ Left leader fail. Tardieu in any case
'■ j was talked of as “coming back,” wheth
! er in a few days or a few months.
The former premier, who was ill
from an attack of grip when his min
istry fell, was improved today.
Precedent for Reappointment.
’ There is a recent precedent for M.
Tardieu's reappointment, going back
1 only to March, 1924, when M. Lasteyrie,
i minister of finance in the Poincare
■ cabinet of that year, was defeated in
, the absence of the premier. President
Doumergue held that M. Poincare had
not been overthrown personally. He
asked M. Poincare to reform the min
istry.
Once the budget is disposed of M.
Tardieu might return to London.
It appeared doubtful that Chautemps
would be able to command a majority
in the Chamber and there were indica
tions that France would be without a
government several days.
CROSBY FOES AWAIT
WHITE HOUSE MOVE
UPON APPOINTMENT
(Continued From First Page.)
Georgia Avenue and Columbia Heights
Business Men’s Associations.
Opinion among several of those lead
ing the opposition against Gen. Crosby
is that any action which would tend to
antagonize the President should be
avoided, so confident are they that Me
will not send his nomination to tie
Senate in the face of existing condition*.
Three of the Organizations that hate
representatives in the conference group,
it was pointed out, already have taken
the first step to show their sentiment
by opposing the appointment, thus plac
ing Mr. Hoover in a position to make
the next move.
Two courses of setion are open, it
was said, if the President appolrts
Gen. Crosby. One is to wage a vigor
ous campaign to preclude confirmation
by the Senate. The other is to test
in the courts the legality of the ap
pointment should It be made. Neither
of these moves, however, is contem
plated at this time.
The Army and Navy Register, for
the second time in the last two weeks,
gives editorial support, in the current
issue, to the contention of President
Darr of the Chamber of Commerce
that Gen. Crosby is ineligible to become
a civilian Commissioner. Six decisions
of Controller General McCarl are cited
to uphold the contention that Gen.
Crosby will not be a civilian upon his
retirement March 21.
“The Secretary of War on Monday is
sued a statement defending the pro
posed appointment of Maj. Gen. Her
bert B. Crosby, U. S. A., as o‘ne of the
two civilian Commissioners of the Dis
trict of Columbia,” said the editorial.
“Mr. Hurley based his comments on
the ‘ability’ of Gen. Crosby, gs a result
of his long military training, to dis
charge the duties f the office. It did
not require this memorandum from the
Secretary of War in defense of the ap
pointment of Army officers to civil of
fice to justify the selection of Gen.
Crosby as one of the two Commission
ers ‘from civil live’ of the District of
Columbia.
"In the first place, that officer Is not
eligible for any civil office that the
:aw requires shall be occupied by a
‘civilian.’ An officer on the retired list
of the Army is not a civilian, and that
is a block to the appointment, regard
less of whatever view may have been
furnished by the President and at
' trlbuted in press statements as coming
from the Attorney General.
. “Gen. Crosby has a fine Army record
' and is qualified in every way and to
, an unusual degree to undertake any
important civil position. However, the
s revised statutes set forth the laws with
I regard to the qualifications of the Com
, missioners of the District of Columbia
and specifically state that the position
to which it is proposed to appoint Gen.
Crosby must be filled by a ‘civilian.’
The Vincent B. Costello Post of the
American Legion came to the defense
of Gen. Crosby last night by adopting
a resolution describing the criticism of
' "such an able officer” as unjust.
The resolution, introduced by Maj.
I Gen. William Nicholson, declared that
"Presidents of the United States,
• through their appointive powers, have
■ always selected able men to serve as
’ Commissioner* of the District of Co
i lumbia" and that "we resent the unjust
l criticism against such an able officer
s and distinguished American as Maj.
i Gen. Herbert B. Crosby, he being a
military man.”
“My name is Harriet Catherine Stin
son,” she said, “and I was married
October .31, 1928. A month later he
started going on sprees. He kicked
me—beat me—beat me once so that
police came to my rescue.”
Back among the spectators Thomas
England Stinson stood up. He came
forward and stood before Judge Lynch.
"I did not know.” he said, "that my
wife was contemplating divorce. We
. have had differences, but I believed
, them sgttled. This action has come
I as a ear prise and I would ask a con
; tinuance.”
Next Tuesday Stinson 4b going to
court again. ™
GOV. TRUMBULL’S LANDING IN GLIDER CRASH
—-- 1 ■ 1 111 ■— l V' mmJ
•«*( r..' - .*• ■ - *'"?*! SB lfc-^3 ,
' . .''- •' .' '‘\ ~.v -. -’■:'.'7.,r£S! BT JM[
Gov. John H. Trumbull, Connecticut's flying governor, was badly shaken up at the Newark, N. J., Airport when he
cracked up on his first flight In a glider. The above pictures show him before the take-off and the glider crashing to
earth after It had obtained an elevation of 25 feet. —Associated Press Photo.
PULSE RATE DECLARED CAUSE
OF DISTRESS ON WARM DAYS
Life Insurance Tests Reveal Possibility of
Combating Heat Prostration and Re
ducing Personal Discomfort.
By the Associated Press.
NEW YORK, February 19. —Discovery
that the real index of distress on a
sweltering day is neither the heat nor
the humidity, but-the pulse rate, was
reported to the American Institute of
Mining and Metallurgical Engineers
today.
The discovery can be used to reduce
danger of heat prostration. It may
even help relieve personal discomfort.
At any rate the temperamental can
learn exactly how close they are to
‘‘stifling,” and why some folks remain
so cool.
Human Beings Tested.
The report was made by Dr. W. J. ,
McConnell r' *’v> Metropolitan Life
Insurant' f He told how human
beln" ; larily were tried out in a
special, cork-lined heat chamber built
by the United States Bureau of Mines
and operated jointly with the American
Society of Heating and Ventilating
Engineers.
“The observations indicate.” he said,
“that when the pulse rate exceeded 135
pulsations per minute, the subjects
complained of discomfort. They became
restless and Irritable and acquired a
headache and palpitation of the heart. I
NOBLE FILES SUIT
FOR ACCOUNTING IN
MEMORIAL PROJECT
(Continued From First Page.) _
said was the result of an attempt !
to collect a claim for compensation for
15 months’ work and expenses.
Is 71 Years Old.
“I am 71 years of age,” Noble said,
“and this is the first time I have ever
been charged with criminal offense.
It seem* I-am starting out rather late
in life to become a notorious character.
I feel that all my friends know that I
am Innocent and I fully appreciate
their confidence. I have no fear of a
trial upon any charge that may be
brought against me. because I have
done no criminal act.”
The statement opens with a brief
outline of Noble's career, and leads up
to the history of his work on a design
for a memorial to the motherhood of
America, which led to his meeting Mrs.
Calhoun, and subsequent selection as
the designer and sculptor for the
Woman's Universal Alliance.
“Mrs. Calhoun insisted that I drop
all my other work and devote my en
tire time to the building of a scale
model of my memorial, which I did,”
said Noble's statement. “I devoted 15
months of continuous work to the prep
aration of the model and the other
necessary preliminary work preparatory
to the actual construction of the
memorial or larger work. It was under
stood that a formal contract should be
entered into between the Woman’s
Universal Alliance and myself, defining
the duties of myself and providing for
the payment to me of my expenses,
and remuneration of my time, as I was
working on a written acceptance of my
design from Mrs. Calhoun.
“Mrs. Calhoun had caused me to
change my original model, which was
to have cost $5,000,000, to a model cost
ing $10,000,000. making it more of an
office building than a true memorial,
which has never met with my approval.
I am now going back to my original
design.
“Mrs. Calhoun had many receptions
and was herself at my studio constantly
for a year and a half. Many of her
friends and acquaintances called and
my studio was the common meeting
place of many persons Interested in the
erection of the memorial. Popular sub
scriptions were solicited and received by
the alliance upon the assurance that
the money was to be used for the con-,
struction of my memorial. Our pro
posed contract provided for the pay
ment to me of certain amounts as the
work progressed and as funds were
raised by subscriptions. Through dis
agreements and misunderstandings, no
formal contract was ever entered into
between myself and the Woman’s Uni
versal Alliance, or myself and Mrs.
Calhoun, but it was upon the strength
of Mrs. Calhoun’s representations and
her promises to pay for my time and
expenses that I devoted 15 months to
the work in question. I have always
felt, and I feel now, that for those
expenses and that time I had a just and
legal claim for a reasonable compensa
tion and reimbursement for expenses
against the Woman’s Universal Alliance
and Mrs. Calhoun, and particularly
against the funds raised and received
by the alliance and by Mrs. Calhoun
upon the design and model created
by me.
“I have always felt, and now feel, that
I had a legal right to assert my claim
against the alliance and Mrs. Calhoun
as its principal officer, but I took no
active steps to enforce my claim, and
never sent any one to Mrs. Calhoun or
to the Woman’s Universal Alliance to
jyess collection thereof or to represent
me in the matter. I have been indicted
and charged with conspiracy to black
mail in attempting to collect my claim
for compensation for 15 months’ work
and expenses. This is the whole story.”
*_
SUPERVISORS CALLED.
The House today adopted a resolu
tion calling for the appearance before
a House elections committee of mem
bers of the Maryland board of election
supervisors in the contested election
case of John Philip Hill, Republican,
against Vincent Palmissng, Democrat,
tor the seat from the third Maryland
district.
They became very thirsty. They noticed
a metallic taste and spoke only with
effort.”
At 160 beats a "floating on air” feel
ing came on with discomfort so unbear
able that tests stopped for fear of heat
stroke.
“The experimental evidence acquired
in these studies.” Dr. McConnell said,
“has many practical applications. It Is
possible to predict just how human
beings will respond to certain tempera
ture conditions, and to suggest the most
efficient system of combating certain
exigencies of environment.”
Body Resists Temperature Rise.
The pulse rate is connected with
, physical changes and with disturbances
in the circulation that begin at certain
heats because of the body's effort to
resist rise in its own temperature. These
top temperatures, beyond which the
bodily changes begin, vary with humid
ity. breeses and physical work.
Ninety degrees is the upper limit for
a person at rest in still air and high
humidity. A breeze of only two or
three miles an hour raises this limit
to 95. But if muscular work is at
-1 tempted, the temperature limit is 80
degrees. Above that the body may w'ork
; at a handicap.
lEN DEAD. 51 HURT
IN NAPHTHA BLAST
Score of Injured in Critical
Condition—Many Doomed
to Blindness.
By the Associated Press.
ELIZABETH, N. J.. February 19
Long rows of hospital cots occupied by
bandage-swathed workmen today attest
ed to the horror of flame which took
10 lives and injured 51 in a naptha
explosion at the Bayway refinery of the
Standard Oil Co. of New Jersey.
Nearly a score of the injured were in
critical condition with little hope for
their recovery, while surgeons said many
of those who survive their burns were
doomed to blindness.
Broken Gas Line Blamed.
The dead are: Dominick Bioni. Wil
liam F. Casey, Joseph Lukasiewicz.
Arthur Lukaslswicz, John Lugas and
John Sullivan, all of Elizabeth: Wil
liam 8. Duffy, Howard A. Holliday and
Clarence Croft of Bayonne: Arthur
Croft of Union and George Robertson
of Roselle.
The explosion yesterday afternoon in
the alcohol plant of the refinery, accord
ing to J. Raymond Carrlnger, general
manager of the plant, was caused by the
breaking of a naphtha gas line, fumes
from which were ignited by portable
forges used by workmen constructing a
new building near the one-story struc
ture housing the alcohol plant.
The night shift of 1,100 men em
ployed on the 100-acre reservation occu
pied by the plant in Linden, a suburb,
had been on duty 55 minutes when there
was a terrific explosion followed imme
diately by two lesser blasts.
Long tongues of blue flame from alco
hol fumes shot from the windows and
doors of the building and from gap
ing holes tom in the roof and walls.
Workers Hurled to Ground.
About 20 feet from the alcohol plant
a force of masons, carpenters and labor
ers was working on the new building.
The force of the explosion threw them
from scaffolds while flames set their
clothing afire.
Workmen employed in the alcohol
plant rushed out, their clothing aflame
and many groping their way. blinded by
the Are. They left four of their fel
low workmen dead in the plant.
Prosecutor Abe J. David said today
he learned that naphtha gas fumes
were detected escaping from the distil
lery * half hour before the explosion.
Workers telephoned the supply house
half a mile away, he said, but the blast
occurred before the supply was cut off.
■ ■ ■ • ■ ■ ■
Colored Prisoner Dies.
Stricken by a heart attack while in
nw cell At the second precinct yesterd&y,
William Wormsley, 53 years old, colored,
of the 100 block of W street, died in
the patrol wagon while being rushed
to Freedmen’s Hospital He had been
arrested on a charge ot drunkenness.
BAND CONCERT.
T '” the United States Marine Band
O , heatra this evening at the audito-!
rlum. Marine Barracks. Taylor Bran-1
son, leader; Arthur S. Witcomb, sec
ond leader.
Program:
“Ride of the Valkyries” Wagner
Overture, “Leonore,” No. 3... Beethoven
"Virginia,” a Southern rhapsody
. „ Haydn Wood
"Barcarole” (June), from “The Sea
sons” Tschaikowsky
Excerpts from "Sari” (Zigeuner
prunas) Kalman
Cornet solo, “Willow Echoes” Simon
Second Leader Arthur S. Witcomb.
Trombone solo, “On the Wings of
Song” Mendelssohn
Principal Musician Robert E. Clark.
Sextet from “Lucia” Donizetti
Marines’ hymn, “The Halls of Monte
auma.” a
“The Star flpangled Banner.”
SAYS HOOVER TRIED
, SHOALS SOLUTION
Witness Tells Lobby Commit
tee of Attempt to Get In
terests Together.
By the Associated Press.
Testimony that President Hoover,
while Secretary of Commerce, had at
tempted to aid in solving the long
standing problem of Muscle Shoals by
an effort to reconcile the divergent
views of the power and chemical groups,
was heard today before the Senate
lobby committee.
The information was received in the
form of a letter written to Claudius H.
Huston, now chairman of the Republi
can national committee by J. W. Worth
ington, chairman of the executive com
mittee of the Tennessee River Improve
, ment Association, on July 25, 1927.
The letter said Huston and Worth
ington in the Fall of 1925 “did our
utmost to bring the power and chem
ical group together, and we made a
dismal failure.”
Tells of Hoover Effort.
It added that Huston, a former pres
ident of the Tennessee River Improve
i ment Association, “along with Mr.
Hoover, attempted to do so later and
that Mr. Hoover even undertook to
bring these Interests together through
Owen D. Young and failed.”
Young is a former chairman of the
Radio Corporation of America.
W. G. Waldo, consulting engineer of
the improvement association, was on
the stand today. He testified that the
• I Nashville Railway A Light Co. had
| contributed S2OO to the association in
! 1916 or 1917 and that the Knoxville
! Railway & Light Co. might have made
i a contribution.
A clash took place between Waldo
. nnd Chairman Caraway of the com-
I mittee after a reference was made to
Worthington.
‘‘He's the man who is ill, isn’t he?”
Caraway inquired.
~ Waldo Makes Retort.
Springing to his feet, Waldo re
torted angrily:
“As an American citizen I want to
say that I don’t like the way you gen
tlemen-talk about sick people.”
“If you had been candid In your
, testimony there would be no question of
being fair.” Caraway replied.
Caraway had charged that Worthing
. ton, who is at Tate Springs. Tenn., was
feigning illness in an effort to “dodge”
the lobby committee.
bonnerlscalled
AS KING ASSAILS
POWER COMPANIES
(Continued From First Page.)
if it tried, until it was able to enforce
rules of valuation and accounting, rules
in order to arrive at "net costs of in
vestments,” and until it could investi
gate the companies’ securities.
Chairman Couzens asked King to
elaborate Russell’s contention that
. power companies in reports to the eom
; mission on valuation had included large
. sums actually spent for lobbying.
King responded with a list of com
panies and sums he said were paid for
lobbying and Included in valuation.
He listed them as a subsidiary of
the Alabama Power Co.. $7,000; Niagara
Falls Power Co., $7,500; Washington
; Irrigation & Development Co., $24,300,
all paid, the witness said, to H. J. Pierce,
who was in Washington for several
years before 1920 in connection with
power legislation. All those items, King
; said, were charged in reports, to “fixed
capital accounts.”
The White-haired accountant corrobo
rated testimony by Russell that there
was dissension in the commission.
May Call Russell Again.
Russell, who has sided with King
throughout the controversv with F. E.
Bonner, executive secretary, sat be
hind King waiting to be called to testify
again.
Chairman Couzens and other Sena
tors conducting the investigation allow
ed King to complete what he called “a
general picture" of the controversy
without interruption.
Then the committee members went
into questioning to develop more com
pletely charges that the commission's
personnel was Inadequate.
“But Bonner has said that no addi
tional personnel is needed,” interposed
Senator Wheeler, Democrat, of Montana.
The witness said this was true. He
; said Bonner had testified no help was
needed in a hearing before a House
committee.
“Two weeks earlier,” said King, “an
original letter and recommendation had
been sent to that committee giving in
stances of need of additional funds.”
This memorandum, King asserted,
was withdrawn a few hours after "the
power companies” learned of it.
The memorandum. King said, was
prepared by O. C. Merrill, predecessor
Jof Bonner as executive secretary. King
j added it contained examples of "irreg
ularities.”
Couzens then ordered an original
copy of the memorandum placed in the
record.
“Do you know why it was with
drawn?” asked Senator Hastings, Re
publican, Delaware.
King repeated it was at the instance
of the power companies.
Senator Couzens objected that “power
companies covers a wide field."
~
British Ship Runs Aground.
SAN PEDRO, Calif.. February 19 (*>).
—The British motor ship City of Lille
went aground early today at Newport
Beach, but was not in immediate
danger, a radle message -received by
harbor officials here said.
LEHLBACH CLAIMS :
HOOVER APPROVAL
Sponsor Intimates President i
Prefers His Proposal to
Dale’s Measure.
(Continued From First Page.)
on when Congress had plenty of time
to consider It, rather than running a
risk of no legislation at this time, due
to possible objections to the substitute
Lehlbaeh bill or prolonged discussion
of the new measure in the Senate.
Mr. Steward fell back again upon the
statement that it would be better “to
sound out the authority where the most
serious opposition to retirement legisla
tion had hitherto been met.”
Questioned more closely, he said that
he meant that President Coolidge had
brought more liberal retirement legis
lation during the last Congress, ana he
did not think President Hoover would
oppose the new Lehlbaeh bill.
Mr. Jeffers and several other mem
bers of the committee Intimated that
the Senate would have to be reckoned
with, and that in “another body where
there is unlimited debate” the Lehlbaeh
bill, an entirely new and unfamiliar
plan, might fall by the wayside.
Mr. Steward’s testimony was given
before a large crowd of active and re
tired Government employes. Waiting
to be heard were representatives of the
joint conference on retirement and
'he League of the American Civil Serv
ice, two organisations which have been
opposing vigorously the new Lehlbaeh
bill and asking for the passage by the
House of the Dale bill, which already
has passed the Senate.
Before Mr. Steward took the stand, j
several other witnesses had given gen- j
eral approval to the new Lehlbaeh bill,
all of them having been called at Mr.
Steward's suggestion. One or two of
them, however, made various sugges
tions for changes in the bill.
Rams peck Questions Robbins.
At one point Representative Rams
peck asked L. O. Robbins, representing
employes of the Department of Agri
culture, a series of questions about de
tails of the new bill, over which there
is considerable controversy.
"This discussion may delay action be
yond this Congress," remarked Mr.
Ramspeck. "Would not you rather
have the Dale bill now than wait until
the next Congress?”
“Yes,” replied Mr. Robbins.
When the hearing was resumed this
morning, U. J. Billler of the Pension
Bureau, chairman of the subcommittee
on retirement of the National Federa
tion of Federal Employes, continued the
testimony which he began yesterday
afternoon.
He referred to several tables prepared
by himself, Indicating that certain
classes of employes in the lower-salaried
grade would receive larger annuities
under the new Lehlbaeh bill than under
the Dale bill. Previously he had testi
fied that the two bills would benefit
employes receiving in the neighborhood
of $1,200 about equally.
Dallinger Wants Number.
Representative Dallinger of Massa
chusetts asked how many of the 400,-
000 Government employes were receiv
ing salaries less than $1,200. Mr. Biller
replied that he was not Informed on
that subject, but he felt sure that the
low salaries In the Government service
“were going to disappear.”
There was considerable discussion ol
the tontine plan, which has been In
corporated In the new Lehlbaeh bill, to
which many objections have been
raised.
“Isn’t the tontine plan only a small
part of the bill, since the Government
proposes to give an annuity of S9OO a
year regardless of any annuity which
the employes may be able to purchase
under the other plan?" asked Represent
ative Mac Cormack of Massachusetts.
Mr. Biller said that he would rather
have an actuary answer that question.
Mr. Mac Cormack wanted to know
what Mr. Biller thought about the at
titude of an employe who knew or ex
pected he would not remain in the
Government service toward the propos ’
in the bill for a deduction of $1 a
month from his salary, which would
be forfeited upon his leaving the serv
ice.
Biller Hesitates to Reply.
“Such an employe would know that
i was a part of his position," replied Mr.
Biller. “Personally, Z would not mind
it.”
“Let’s be frank,” declared Mr. Mac-
Cormack. “As a matter of fact, this
part of the bill is intended to help the
high-salaried people, Isn't tt? If we
want to help the low-salaried people,
we only have to grant them a pension."
When Mr. Biller hesitated to reply
Mr. Mac Cormack remarked that he
merely wanted the committee to un
derstand what appeared to be the pur
pose of this part of the bill.
Frank G. Ashburn, biologist of the
Bureau of Biological Survey, Depart
ment of Agriculture, representing a
committee of .professional employes of
that department and also a general
committee of 50 representing employes
of the Department of Agriculture, was
the next witness. He said that the
group for which he spoke was favor
able to the new Lehlback bill.
Mr. Ashburn said his present salary
is $5,600 a year. He appeared to be a
young man. but did not give his age.
He said the group of employes to which
he belonged would not be eligible for
retirement until they reached 68 years
of age.
Wants Discrimination Removed.
“My group feels that the discrimina
tion should be removed that has rested
against the higher-salaried employes.”
He went on to explain that the
higher-salaried employes, at the rate of
3 i.j per cent reduction from their sal
aries under the present law and as pro
posed in both new bills, were contribut
ing a much larger sum to the retirement
fund than the lower-salaried employes,
and yet, on account of the maximum
retirement pay fixed in the law aad
proposed in the Dale bill, they couid
never receiveyafter retirement pay in
proportion to the amount of money they
had contributed.
“We feel that the new Lehlbaeh bill
removes this discrimination to a great
extent,” said Mr. Ashburn.
Mr. Ramspeck suggested that the con
tributions made by the higher-salaried
employes to the retirement fund might
be helpful to the lower-salaried em
ploye, but Mr. Ashburn said be did not
think so.
The next witness was Mr. Robbins of
the Department of Agriculture, who said
that he was nearly 60 years of age and
had been about 31 years in the Govern
ment service and now was receiving a
salary of $3,500. He said he hoped to
retire at 68.
. Has Comparative Figures.
Mr. Robbins said that he had worked
out the retired pay he would get each
year under the Lehlbaeh and the Dale
Dills. If he retired at 60 years, he
figured he would get $1,207 under the
Lehlbaeh bill and $1,200 under the Dale
bill.
If he retired at 70. he figured, he
would get $1,285.84, under the Lehlbaeh
bill, which would be just $85.84 greater
than under the Dale bill.
Mr. Robbing then said that the group
represented by him considered It highly
desirable that there be Incorporated in
any bill that Is passed a new provision
providing for voluntary retirement at
60 years of age after 30 years of service.
He thought this could be done at little
extra expense to the Government and
little extra expense to the employes.
He did not think, he said, that many
employes would take advantage of such
a provision, but he thought it would
help those who are not physically dis
abled. in the opinion of an examining
doctor, have down, lost
SOVIET RELIGIOUS
BAR IS ASSAILED
Christian and Jewish Organi
zations Unite in Protest
Against ‘Persecutions.’
By the Associated Press.
NEW YORK. February 19.—The
religious policy of the Russian Soviet
government was the subject of protest
today by Christian and Jewish organiza
tions and defended by friends of the
i Boviet.
Developments in the movement of
protest included:
An appeal to President Hoover by the
American committee on religious rights
and minorities to ‘withhold recognition
of the Soviet government until the re
ligious persecutions cease.
Designation of March 2 by the
Lutheran World Convention as a day
of prayer in the interest of the Chris
tian churches of Russia. This was in
line with similar action by Pope Pius
XI, the Archbishops of Canterbury and
York In England, the chief rabbi in
London and Bishop William T. Man
ning of the Protestant Episcopal Church
in New York.
A statement by the American Jewish
Congress denouncing "the unspeakable
repressions” of religion in Soviet Russia
and pledging co-operation with all other
faiths to put an end to it.
■ Adoption of a resolution by the Na
tional Council of the Episcopal Church
directing its acting president, Bishop
James de Wolf Perry of Rhode Island,
to perpare and issue for use in the
church a prayer for the sufferers in
Russia.
Communista Deny Stories.
Adoption of a resolution of sympathy
for the Christians in Russia by the
New York State Assembly.
Meanwhile the Communist party
issued a statement denying the accu
racy of reports of religious persecutions
emanating from Russia and declaring
the stories were propaganda inspired
by the fear of the capitalistic world of
the rapid strides Soviet Russia is mak
ing in Communistic production.
Preparations also were being made by
l the Communists, members of radical
unions and friends of the Soviet Union
| t 0 hold a mass meeting on March 18.
■ the day designated by Bishop Manning
for united prayer for Russian Chris
tians.
Friends of the Soviet Union said their
proposed meeting was backed by the
Needle Trades Industrial Union, the
. National Textile Workers' Union, the
. Independent Shoe Workers' Union, the
t Hotel. Restaurant and Cafeteria Work
i ? rs ’ Union. s he Building Maintenance
Workers' Union, the Trade Union Unity
League, the Communist party, the Inter
national Labor Defense, the Workers'
. International Relief and the Labor
- ®P° r A ,s Union. All of these organisa
tions are left wing groups.
[ PERSECUTION IS DENIED.
J ” ———————
t Head es Synod Attacks Recent Papal
Encyclical.
1 MOSCOW, February 19 YAP).—The
answer of the Russian Orthodox Church
j to * movement rapidly spreading over
most of Christendom protesting “perse
, cutlon" of religion in the Soviet Union
t voiced by the Holy Synod'*
v head. Metropolitan Sergius.
i That answer is an attack on Pope
. Pl “ s recent encyclical against “perse
. cutlons of Christians in Russia” and a
denial that such "persecution” exists.
r The metropolitan oensured the Pope’s
encyclical in uncompromising term*.
v He also assailed Bishop Harry Sherman
- ~? ngIPV °I lowa, of the Epsicopal
. Church, declaring that Bishop Longley
not only had identified himself with
, the vlews'of the Pope, but also had
n urged “crusaders against the Soviets”
. not to stop even at “sanguinary con*
i filets” in attempting to- rrscue the
Russian Church.
, SECOND MAN TAKEN
i ON CAPITOL HILL AS
BOOTLEGGING SUSPECT
I
- (Continued From First Page.)
; and C streets northeast. Just outside
the Senate Office Building, also was
[ charged with transportation and pos>
* session. No action was taken in hn
' tod *y because of the absence of
' Chief Prosecutor David A. Hart. He is
at liberty under $2,000 bond.
' _ A* l * l * drawing a statement from
■ Senator Wheeler, author of a resolution
Pending in the Senate judiciary com
mlttee seeking a comprehensive Inquiry
by the Senate Into the whole subject of
dry law enforcement, the arrest of
Cassidy aroused the curiosity of Senator
Jones, Washington dry leader.
Senator Jones suggested that an In
vestigation be made to determine where
Cassidy was going at the time of his
‘ arrest. “I think we ought to know
■ more about Cassidy,” he said, “and
1 certainly we ought to know where he
was going in the office building. How
-1 ever, we are not detectives and I do
not know how to And out.”
I their grip, burned out and find it hard
■ to go on.”
“Every such retirement would be an
absolute financial benefit to the Gov
ernment,” said Mr. Robbins.
He then read the text of an amend
ment he had drafted to cover this point.
Steward Is Next oa Stand.
Mr. Steward was the next witness.
After announcing that the federation
had given “its unqualified support to
the principle” of the new Lehlbaeh bill,
he proceeded to give the reasons.
First, he said he liked the new bill
because it Included in the retirement
system certain employes hitherto ex
cluded. for Instance, employes of the
Soldiers' Home here, State Department
employes at foreign embassies, legations
and consulates, employes of the Indian
Service, etc.
The next reason cited by Mr. Steward
for favoring the bill was that it “com
mitted the Government for the first
time definitely to the payment of Its
share of the retirement system.” He
said the Government now was paying
a sum of money each year Into the re
tirement fund but there was nothing
in the present law or the Dale bill
which obligated the Government to p*v
any specific amount, while the Lehl
bach bill provided definitely that the
Government would pay a basic annuity
to every retired employe equal to S3O
for every year of service up to 30 years,
or a total of S9OO, which meant that
every retired employe after 30 years
service would receive S9OO a year from
the Government, regardless of how
much extra annuity he might be able
to purchase with the money deducted
from his salary.
Biller Gives Testimony.
When Biller took the stand yesterdav
he first presented a series of interest
ing tables showing the way the present
retirement law has been working.
“Nothing that we expected to hap
pen has happened—or very little,” said
Mr. Biller. “But everything that has
happened has been to the advantage of
the Government.”
Cross-examined by several members
of the committee. Mr. Biller said that
neither the new Lehlbaeh bill nor Hi*
Dale bill would give a perfect retire-*
ment system.