Evening star. [volume], August 17, 1930, Page A-2, Image 2

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

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A-2
HOOVER DISCUSSES
1 AVIATION NEEDS
Conferertce With Lindbergh
and Officials Shows Plane
Production Has Declined.
Xt the Associated Pres*.
ORANOB, V*.. August 16 —The pos
sibilities of injecting new life into the
commercial aviation industry were dis
cussed at great length by President j
Hoover today in formal conferences at!
his mountain lodge with four Govern
ment aviation officials and Col. Charles
A. Lindbergh.
6j*ernment policies relating to civil I
As rCnautics, prospect:; of extending
Government aid through expansion of
the Air Mail Service, arid the part com
mercial planes might play in the na
tional defense figured in the conver
sations which began last night after
the President and his party arrived
from Washington.
Figures presented to the President
showed that while the United States
was far ahead of the rest of the world
In number of miles flown, commercial
plane production had declined 50 per
cent, counting from an average of
7.000 to 3,500 planes a year.
In the face of this decline the Pres
ident was informed that American com
mercial aviation was passing from a
mail and express service stage to a point
where approximately 200:000 passen
gers are nov being carried annually.
Demands for replacement of planes |
In both the military and civil branches
were said to total 3.000 a year.
In checking the situation the Presi
dent and his Air Secretaries also dis
cussed plans for closer co-ordination of
Government departments in the avia
tion field and methods of Government
economy which would not retard prog
ress of the industry.
The Government is now spending
$120,000,000 a year for commercial
aviation and the President has already
under way investigations by the Bureau
of Efficiency to determine if there is a
duplication of efforts in the Army and
Navy air eoastal defenses.
The four Air Secretaries who went
over the situation with Mr. Hoover
were F. Trubee Davison, Assistant Sec
retary of War: David S. Ingalls. Assist
ant Secretary of the Navy; Clarence M.
Young, Assistant Secretary of Com
merce, and W. Irving Glover. Assistant
Postmaster Qeneral, in charge of air
mail.
COL GRANT PLANS
DEFINITE PROGRAM
FOR BATHING POOLS
<Continued From First Page.)
mer because of the intense beat and
the public has turned to the bathing
pools for relief. Col. Grant said he has
consistently included in his estimates
each year items for building two addi
tional pools, only to have them elimi
nated by the District Commissioners
before the budget is transmitted to the
Bureau of the Budget
In view of the annually increasing
budget of the District and the vital
need of major public improvements.
Col. Grant admitted that he did not
make strong pleas to the Commissioners i
and the Budget Bureau for restoration I
of the bathing pool items. But these '
Items have been sidetracked long
enough now. he thinks, and a determin
ed effort will be made to have the two
additional pools provided in the ap
propriation bill for the coming fiscal
year.
"I am strongly in favor of carrying
the bathnig pool cons trust ion program
to completion," said Col. Grant. "These
pools are quite necessary and desirable
I feel that the unprecedented heat this
Bummer which increased the demand
for public bathing facilities has given
a very good reason for carrying out the
program.”
Sites Nat Definite.
Definite sites have not yet been se
lected for the two additional pools ;
which Col. Grant wants to construct |
next year. The white pool, it was said. ;
most likely will be located in the thick
ly populated northwest section, at a
point where it will be more easily ac
cessible to residents in this area than
the McKinley pool near Second and T
streets northeast. It is planned to put
the colored pool in Southwest Wash
ington. where it would serve a large
portion of the colored population.
Even before the advent of the heat
apell, it was pointed out, the McKinley
pool was well patronized, the funds from
locker fees, soap, towels and bathing
suits keeping it on n self-supporting
basis. When the torrid wave came,
however the pool could not accommo
date the crowds, and many sweltering
persons had to be turned away. The j
pool will accommodate 1.600 bathers at j
one time, and this Summer it has been
used in the course of a day by as many :
as 3,000 persons.
The colored pool at the Francis Junior ■
High School, however, has not been as I
well patronized, and contests of various
kinds have been conducted under the
direction of the Welfare and Recrea
tional Association of the Office of Pub
lic Buildings and Public Parks to stimu
late increased use. The location of this
pool is held responsible for the lack of
patronage by Capt. F. W. Hoover, gen
eral manager of the association. He
said it is too far removed from the cen
ter of the colored population to be con- :
veniently accessible, and as a result its I
patronage is drawn almost entirely i
from the surrounding neighborhood. j
Three-Shift Deration.
The McKinley pool is operated on a
three-shift plan. It opens at 10 o’clock
in the morning and close* at noon, re- j
opening an hour later and running eon- |
tinuously until 6 o'clock. The dcol is
then closed for another hour, and is re- i
opened to accommodate night bathers, i
Closing at 10:30 o’clock.
The pool at the Francis Junior High
School operates on a slightly different
schedule. It opens at 10 am., and re
mains open continuously until 10 :30 p.m.
Washington might have another bath
ing beach, similar to the Tidal Basin,
if it were not for the present polluted
condition of the Potomac.
Theoretically, Col. Grant and other*
directly concerned with bathing and
health problems believe that a bathing
beach is more desirable than artificial
pools with hard concrete bottoms and
chlorinated water. But from a prac
tical viewpoint, such a basin, they con
tend. is not possible along the Potoimc
now’ in the vicinity of Washington, at j
least without jeopardizing the health j
of all who use it.
The act of Congress authorizing the I
batting pool program, as amended in ■
February. 1929, provides tinier bath-1
ing pools or bathing beaches, thus giv-!
ing Col. Grant authority to fstabiish
a bathing beach along the Potomac
similar to the one at the Tidal Basin.
Col. Grant, however, has no Intention at
Chls tiro*, h* said, of even considering
is naming beach until the river is freed
from its pollution and bathers can use
it without fear of contagion.
Island Suggested Site.
A Hal os tan Island has been suggested !
to Cbl Grant as an ideal site for the 1
. location of a public bathing beach. The ,
1 island is owned by the Washington |
Gas Light Co. and aside from the cost \
of acquiring it. Col. Grant s-id the
water there could not be brought to a
state of purity to insure healthy
bathing
The Tidal Basin, although highly
chlorinated and treated w.th powerful
violet rays to remove the Impurities, he
pointed out, was not absolutely safe
from a health standpoint while it was
used lor bathing purpose*. Far re
moved from the channel of the river,
he said, the treatment of the water in
the Tidal Basin was made comparative
ly simple, but this process would be
yitually ineffective in the vicing of
Ford’s Prosperity Views |
I Manufacturer Says Country Is Coming Into Honest
Situation Which Honest Men Can Share and
» 1
Gamblers Cannot Disturb.
In the fftllowlnt Interview Henry Ford
tlve* hi* viewpoint on business condi
tions of the moment He say* the coun
try ha* been - saved from a sreat calam
ity of false prosperity, ; that tt - has
ceased beln# sick, is now well, and
will soon be strons and active again."
BY A. M. SMITH.
,/1 "v USINESS will get better, but
•• I J we won't know it when it
f | does," was Henry Ford’s cryp
-1 J tic reply to an inquiry regard
ing his impression of the
business outlook.
"A sick man either dies or gets well.
I and usually he docs not know when the
Ke*rv I Mi.
crisis is past and
; recovery has be
gun, "said Mr. Ford.
‘ln society there
is no ‘either or';
society always gets
well again. We
have that fact aa
an anchor. Hiere
is no doubt as to
the outcome; we
are going to be
come as well aa we
were before.
“But we don’t
know In this coun
try when business
is sick or well. We
h ave a curious
method of inter
preting economic
signs the wrong way.
‘ For example, last year at this t me
1 everybody was plung ng into the stock
market with the notion that a great
wave of prosperity was flooding the;
country, and that almost anybody could
get a lot of something for nothing.
“Well, that was the time when we
were really sick and didn't know it.
Since then the country has been crying
about business depression and hard
times, but as a matter of fact hard
times are the road to recovery from
the bad condition we mistook for pros
perity.
“Recovery from any kind of sickness
is always a good thing, even if it Is ac
companied with considerable pain and
inconvenience. But everybody is mis
taking the recovery for the sickness.
Better (MI Teday Thaw Last Tear.
“The country is far better off today
than it was a year ago, when the people
were fairly crazy with stock speculation
fever. We are better today than we
have been for three or four years.
"It was a mighty good thing for the
Nation that the condition which we
misnamed 'prosperity' could not last
It was only the forerunner of adversity.
This country was terribly sick a year
ago. but nobody knew it. The flush
of stock speculation fever was mistaken
for the glow of health.
“Yet now. when we think the coun
try’s business is very sick, it is really
getting well: it is in fundamentally
healthier condition than It was a year
ago.
“The time to feel sorry for a man is
when, in the waste of his powers, he
is making himself sick, not wher nature
has laid him on his back to make him
well. That is what has happened to
society. What we call the depression
is our economte salvation. The invisible
law simply would not let the country
proceed any farther along the road to
ruin.
“You can't dodge the truth that no
body gets something for nothing. For
years past meat Americans have be
lieved they could. The belief in Santa
Claus has been erected into a philoso
phy of business. And when that fails
we fall back on sentimental sorrow for
hard times. The same writers who
were telling us how prosperous we were
a year ago are telling us how hard up
we are now. They are wrong both
waya.
Healthier Economic Condition.
“We are moving into a healthier
economic condition, but. as I said, peo
ple generally will not be able to recog
nize it. We shall not know sound, well
established prosperity when we first
see It, because most of our standards
of judgment are wrong. But there is
one thing about real prosperity—it is
not the prelude to another panic, as
false prosperity always is.
“We should get enough experience
any beach established on the banks of
the river where the water is flowing at
a decidedly greater rate.
Aside from the pollution of the river.
Col. Grant also is opposed to a public
bathing beach on the theory that It
would be inaccessible to the class of
people who would use It—people who
don't own automobiles and can’t afford
to go to the nearby Maryland and Vir
ginia resorts when they desire to swim.
A beach on Analostan Island, for In
stance, he said, would be inconvenient I
to the residents of Arraeostia, Congress,
Heights, Takoma Park and even other !
sections nearer the heart of the city.
Pools as Best Solution.
Col. Grant thinks the brst solution
of the bathing problem, therefore, is the
! series of pools which it is planned toj
construct in various sections of the Dis
trict where they will serve the residents 1
in those communities. Moreover, he
declares, it is possible to keep these
pools clean and sanitary and thus pro
tect the health of the bathers as well
as afford them additional protection
from drowning, since life guards can
i keep bathers in a small pool under
closer observation than those scattered
over a beach.
“The Potomac River Is polluted and
the pollution is increasing every year,”
l ®ld Col. Grant. “It is, therefore, un
safe for bathing, and until such time
that the river Is freed of its impurities
ii would be decidedly unhealthy to i
establish a bathing beach along its
| shore.”
I “The bathing pools to b> constructed
under the program authorized by Con
; greas will provide safe and healthy
places for people to bathe. It will keep
them out of the river which every year j
takes it toil of those who risk their
lives and their health in its waters."
Dr. Edward J. Schwartz, acting Dis- !
trict health officer, although favoring
a public bathing beach, does not believe
it would be practical from a health
standpoint to develop one along the
Potomac now because of the polluted
condition of the river.
In view of the pollution. Dr. Schwartz
said, the only solution of the public
bathing problem at this time is the
construction of bathing pools, using j
filtered water, which can b» kept clean
' and sanitary.
i Dr. Schwartz pointed out that the
Health Department keeps a close ob
i servation on all artificial bathing pools. '
I and aims to keep the water in them as I
I pure as the drinking water. It would
I be Impossible to do this, he declared, if
1 a beach Is established on the river.
• Samples of water are taken periodi- i
rally from all bathing pools and analyzed
at the Health Department, Dr Schwartz
said, and if the bacteria count Is found
to be in excess of the amount regarded
ms safe steps are taken to have the
pools cleaned and made sanitary. As a
result of this program of protection, he
declared, all bathing pools in Washing
ton are safe from a health standpoint.
' HAIRDRESSERS TO MEET. '
The National Hairdressers and Cos
mstilegists' Association will meet here
September 1-5 to determine, among
other things, next year's fa h on* in the
beautification of the feminine face and
hair.
Some 1,500 beauty experts are ex
pected H L. Franklin, director of the
organization, already has set up con
> vention headquarters at the May
flower.
The Washington branch of the asso
ciation, of which Emile Beauvais is
president, is assisting with the arrange
ments. The convention meets here for
the first time.
THIE SUNDAY STAB, WASHINGTON, T>. C.. AUGUST 17, 1930 —PART OXE.
. I
out of a stock market collapse such as '
we had last year to convince us that in
business and industry and real pros
perity there i* no Santa Claus. We
get what we honestly worg for, in the
long run—just that ana no more. So
far as employment and ready money
are concerned, we got Just what was
best for us In view or our general
I notion about earning money and en
. Jcying prosperity.
"There is a world of difference be
tween making money and creating real
wealth. Wealth is not mo:-y. Real
wealth is in use, not in p session.
Wealth is not money, but the facilities
for a secure and comfcrtabl? life.
"Real prosperity is the uninterrupted
flow of commodities from those who
make them to those wno use them.
Money has nothing primary to do with
it. If money assists to maintain a
sufficient flow, it is useful; If it stops
the flow, it is a detriment. There is
no other meaning of prosperity except
the ministry of supply to the use of
need. Money simply goes back to the
realm of statistics, or counters, or
wooden pegs—something you count
with.
Gamblers Cannot Disturb.
“Now. with this in mind, will you
say we had prosperity a year ago? I
think not. The present situation is
, vastly preferable because it is a step
j toward an honest presp-rity which
hon*st men can share and which
gamblers cannct disturb. The country
was on the wrens track and mighty
sick at the very moment when it
thought high prices and quick returns
for llttl’ or no effort were a sign of
great prosperity. That was merely the
high temperature of a bad fever. But
now there is every sign of returning
health. But the people don’t know.
"Let our people clearly perceive that
they were absolutely deceived in their
general impression that we were at the
peak of economic health when, as a
matter of fact, we were suffering severe
economic derangement, and the wailing
over this period of recovery will cease.
There is great cause for thankfulness
that we can recover from such pro
longed and violent economic bad living.
“Os course, you can't persuade mere
money-makers or speculators of the
truth of this. To their distorted minds
fever will always appear as health.
Their wrong slant can never be cor
rected until they are inoculated with
the germ of healthful, honest work.
"Well, some of them have been
inoculated during the past year. They
have been compelled to take a dose of
that fine, old-fashioned medicine, real
work. But they are still convinced that
the medicine is worse than the disease.
They still have their very unhealthy
point of view. They will go on in this
delusion until an unwise generation per
mits another fever to come along. Then
they will rejoice with the mock feeling
of false prosperity, and not know that
then they are sickest.
No Economic Santa Claus.
"This Nation will never go forward
on a gambling basis. If you can get
that into the heads of capitalists and
speculators vou will be a great doctor.
But I doubt It can be done. The only
hope for this country is that gradually
the common people will learn there is
no economic Santa Claus, and stick to
their honest jobs.
"I suggest to the people and news
paper writers and clergy to take the
view that this Nation has been saved
from a great clamity of false prosperity.
It is now the duty of citlaens to see that
this period of return toward a sane
basis of living is used to the utmost.
It Is just as foolish to follow the cry
of ‘depression’ as it was to follow the
cry of 'prosperity.'
"Some people called us pessimists
when we did not praise the prosperity
of the last three years. Now they call
us strong-hearted because we do not
join in the mock griefs of the publicists
over what they call hard times. I per
sonally am very hopeful, because I think
the country has ceased being sick, is
now well, and will soon be strong and
active again."
(Copyrlsht. 1930. by North American News
paper Alliance.)
HOODLUM LEDGER
CONTAINS NAMES
OF BIG CHICAGOANS
(Continued From First Page.)
ords. accounts which the prosecutors
j were confident would yield new sensa
tional evidence.
Perusal of another sheet from the
books today showed it to be a penciled
i version of the profit and’loss sheet in
spected yesterday—possibly the original
| copy, but revealing a discrepancy of
5 20.000 in the cash balance. In the
difference investigators saw a possibil
ity that Zuta had "doctored" his ac
; counts.
Receipts and disbursements involved
a number of Chicago s well known re
: sorts—the Dells. Villa Venice. White
House, the Lincoln Tavern, Light House
and many street addresses otherwise
unidentified —and indicated an operat
ing loss of $35,165 for the Fairview
Kennel! Club, now closed, between
June 1 and July 29, 1929. Under “re
ceipts" of the Fairview track was an
item of $33,690 labeled "Solly Vision,
advance account." Vision was Zuta's
henchman and thought to have been
his companion in Wisconsin shortly i
before h s death.
Two other items, the disbursement of
| $1,22$ to "Geo. M.." supposedly “Bugs’’
Moran, and $3,506 to "East Chicago."
; assumed by the press to be a North
I Side police district, interested the in
vestigators. They announced every
I person involved in the voluminous rec
ords would be called on for an explana
: tion.
Death Threats Revealed.
The gangster’s records also indicated
that he had been marked for death
more than once during nine years of
law-breaking.
"Among his souvenirs" was a post
card dated January 3, 1928, and bear
ing the brief message. “Your place next
unless you close.” There was also a
| letter, postmarked July 28, 1927, and
] reading, "Be careful, a copper won’t
save you next time. They are out to
get you.'' The initials of a mysterious
j "M. K.” persisted throughout the rec
j ords and led authorities to believe they
; designated a "pay-off man," who took
money from Zuta and acted as inter
mediary in payments to grafting per
sons who did not wish to have direct
! contact with the underworld.
WOMAN’S BODY FOUND
Salt Lake Death Believed Caused
by Assault With Poker.
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, August 16
(JP). —The battered and nude body of
| Della Young, about 40. was found on
' the floor of her small apartment today,
; after a neighbor had seen a man run
from the place, screaming a woman had
been murdered.
A bloody poker was found in the
room.
Arm Broken by Scooter.
Spec I*l Dispatch to The Star.
ALEXANDRIA. Va„ August 16—A
scooter, propelled by her brother, struck
Marie Bittenbender. 6 years old, and
sent her to a hospital here this after
noon with a broken arm and body
bruises. The accident occurred near the
home of the girl’s parents in Aurora
' Hills. The brother was not Injured,
ILOCAIS CONTRIBUTE
|to war memorial
|Two Gifts of SSOO Each Are
| Received by Central Labor
Union Committee.
Two contributions of SSOO each from
union organizations have been received
by the executive committee of the Cen
tral Labor Union in charge of the
campaign to complete financing of the
District of Columbia World War Memo
rial, it was announced last night by
Frank W. Lee. chairman, vice president
of the Mount Vernon Savings Bank.
Columbia Lodge, No. 174, Interna
tional Association of Machinists, at its
last regular meeting at Naval Ledge
Hall. Fourth and Pennsylvania avenue
southeast, unanimously adopted the
recommendation of its executive com
mittee to approve the memorial. The
organization appropriated SSOO from
its own treasury and pledged support
of its members. The meeting was
presided over by William Smoot, retir
ing president. Robert Jan son, new
president, who was Installed at the ses
sion for the ensuing year, is appointing
a committee to take active charge of
the distribution of pledge cards among
the membership.
Carpenters Give ssos.
The Carpenters’ District Council of
♦he Dis rict of Columbia and vicinity
has appropriated SSOO from its treas
ury and appointed a committee of five
to forward the work of the memorial
campaign. The committee consists of
Richard Burdette and John Sworthort,
business agents of the council, and
George Meyers, E. S. Campbell and
Albert Caya.
Chairman Lee of the Union Executive
Campaign Committee has assigned Mr.
Campbell and Mr. Caya to take charge
of the work in the four carpenters and
Joiner?' local unions here, Nos. 132,
1,694, 1,665 and 528.
Edward Roche of the executive com
mittee, who is in charge of the cam
paign in the Government Printing Of
fice, reported that the bookbinders in
that office had made a contribution to
date as a partial offering, of S2OO.
John Geiger, business agent, reported
that the auxiliary of Bakers’ Local 118
had assessed themselves 50 cents a
member for support of the memorial.
Mr. Geiger also reported that the Ice
Cream Makers’ local had also decided to
make an assessment of 50 cents a man
for support of the memorial.
To Solicit Department Stores.
The executive committee has moved
to solicit the co-operation of the large
department stores of the city. Miss
Selma Borchardt of the Teachers’
Union will represent the committee in
this work.
Among recent special contributions
acknowledged were SSO from the Gov
ernment Employes’ Branch. No. 26. and
a personal contribution of S2O from
Charles D. German of the National
Lithograph Co.
J. P. Simpson reported that the or
ganisation of the campaign among Gov
ernment employes was getting to the
point where regular periodic reports
now can be made to the executive com
mittee in charge of the campaign.
The meeting of the executive com
mittee, with R. A. Dickson serving as
secretary, was held in the Machinists’
Building, and was presided over bv
Chairman Lee. who recently returned
from his vacation at Atlantic City.
There was a complete attendance, and
many plans for pushing forward the
campaign were discussed. The commit
tee is raising $20,000 in order to in
crease the funds already in hand
amounting to about $135,000. to the
total goal of $155,000 needed to erect
the World War Memorial in Potomac
Park.
GALLANT FOX LOSES
AFTER 6 VICTORIES
IN TRAVERS STAKE
( Continued From First Page.)
was run was the worst it perhaps ever
has been. That was evident from the
time and manner of running of previous
races. It should have been a warning
to such masters as Earl Sande and
Sonny Workman. But each seemed
jealous oi the other and evidently
thought the victory was within his hand
to grasp or permit to escape. Jim
Dandy and Sun Falcon, the only others
of the field after W. R. Coe’s Caruso
had been scratched, they evidently
thought to be as much despised as the
odds the oralists quoted against them
At the word Whichone and Gallant
Pox drew off to the lead. Thev were
pumping at top speed. Gallant Fox.
which broke from far out—he drew
No. 4 position—crossed over in the run
to the turn until he was lapped on
Whichone as they circled the club
house bend Workman purposely car
ried wide here for the better footing and
Jim Dandy, saving ground by kegping
to the rail, dropped into the top of
the back stretch three lengths behind
the leaders
They were stepping all the way.
Whichone whirled the first quarter
through going stickv as glue in the fast
time of 0 34%. with Gallant Fox right
at his throat latch. At the end of the
half mile, Just after the back stretch
had been reached and which was run in
0:48%, Gallant Fox felt out Whichone.
In a few giant strides he was up and
away, almost drawing clear. Whichone
answered from the inside He bore
, down, caught Gallant Fox after a short
j run. but could not shake him off.
Baker Makes Charge.
And so they struck the three-quar
ters in 1:15%. Two runs Sande had
made with the Fox and twice Work
man had answered with Whichone.
But all the while Baker on Jim Dandy
was sitting still as grim death and
watching the killing struggle pictured
before his eyes. As they neared the
end of the mile, run in 1:41 flat. Baker
made his charge.
Whichone was holding his own at
the time, though it seemed that Sande
had not called fer everything the
champion possessed. But when Jim
Dandy swept up on the inside, Sande
came with all he had to the outside
of Whichone. The latter began to
j falter. Probably here it was that the
i lame hoof went back on. him. Jim
1 Dandy, reveling in the mud and saving
ground, gradually drew off from Gal
lant Fox as Which„ne dropped out of
I it. All three were tired at the end.
Jim Dandy won by 6 lengths. Gallant
Fox was 5 lengths in front of Which
one. The latter led Sun Falcon, the
constant trailer, by a half dozen lengths.
Had Gallant Fox won today to in
crease his earnings by $27,050 he would
have had $302,030 to his credit, dan
gerously close to the world record of
$313,639 held by Zev. He earned only
$4,000 and Whichone $2,000. Gallant
Fox has now won $276,980 and must
await the Saratoga Cup and Lawrence
! Realization to make real hay again.
HUGHES ON WAY HERE
Chief Justice and Family Have
Been Motoring Abroad.
NSW YORK, August 16 (TP). —Charles
Evans Hughes, Chief Justice of the
United States, returned with his wife
and daughter, Elizabeth, on the Levia
than today from a motor trip through
Northern France and Belgium.
Tile Chief Justice and his family, who
have been abroad since early June, will
go to their home in Washington.
Next week, the Chief Justice said, he
will go to Chicago to deliver the address
of welcome at the annual meeting of
the American Bar Association..
DISTRICT GATHERS
! TAX BURDEN DATA
i Rtc!>ards*Gathers Figures on
Area and Land Values for
Senator Bingham.
i i Continued From First Page.!
1 i gat ions that may be called for by the
' i House group, but has received no re
t 'quests thus far. presumably because the
. 1 committee has not yet been organized.
The members had left for their homes
; 1 in various parts of the country when
their appointments were announced.
Census Figures Available.
The bureau in 1923 compiled a
I lengthy report on fiscal relations for
, Congress, including tables on per
; capita taxes in Washington and a
group of comparable cities. New popu
[ iation figures are now available at the
: Census Bureau and it is possible the
efficiency experts may make a check
’ of the estimate# of population used at
' that time with the new 1930 census
figures to see whether the variations
would affect the results. Thomas F.
Murphy, assistant chief of the Effl
; ciency Bureau, said such a check would
be a comparatively simple matter.
Meanwhile the Committee on Munici
pal Finance oi the Washington Board
of Trade, headed by its chairman,
Joshua Evans, jr„ will keep itself ready
. to support the plea of the people of the
I District for an equitable settlement of
: District finances as it has done in the
I past . This committee two years ago
made comprehensive tax surveys of 120
cities, gathering valuable comparative
figures.
Robert J. Cottrell, secretary of the
Board gs Trade, will attend the national
tax conference to be held in Kansas
City in October as one step in keeping
abreast with developments on the sub
ject of taxation generally.
Bingham Requests Data.
The data which Senator Bingham
has asked the District Building to fur
nish him, would include the following:
The area and estimated value of
lands owned by the United States, ex
» cept streets, alleys, parks and any areas
occupied or held by the District Gov-
I ernment.
I Lands, except streets, to which title
l is in the United States and which is
occupied or held by any branch of the
District government.
i Property, except streets and alleys,
i to which the title is in the District of
Columbia and which is occupied or
held by the District.
Property, except streets and alleys,
to which the District has title, but
which is occupied or held by any
branch of the Federal Government.
Property owned by foreign govern
ments and exempt from taxation.
Land exempt from taxation, other
than that owned by the United States.
|the District and foreign governments.
The areas and value of land in the
park system, to which title is in the
United States.
Lands in the park system to which
title is in the District government.
Developed subdivided taxed land,
which has streets, water service, sewers
and lights.
Taxed parcel property and undevel
oped subdivided taxed land, which Ls
not supplied with water service, sewer*
and street lights.
Seeks Proper Division of Expenses.
In requesting this Information Sena
tor Bingham said he is endeavoring to
reach a basis for proper division of the
expenses of the District and that he
regarded this data as important in such
an effort.
During the many weeks that the cur
rent appropriation act remained in con
ference at the last session, due to the
dispute over the Fedral contribution,
Senator Bingham, along with the other
conferees, had occasion to give a great
deal of thought to the factors enter
ing into the maintenance of Washing
ton because of its position as the Na
tional Capital.
Until the House special committee
begins its inquiry. District officials will
not know definitely what proposed
changes in taxation here will be con
sidered. and at the present time, there
fore. they are merely taking the pre
liminary step of having the as essor
obtain the latest available informa
i tlon on various forms of taxation that
: might be proposed in such an inquiry.
I All that is known at this time about
I the possible scope of the tax study Is
the clau e in the resolution creating the
! committee, which reads as follows:
"Such committee ls also authorized
and empowered to investigate fully the
1 various forms of municipal taxation
and sources of revenue of the Dis;rict
of Columbia and to recommend to the
House such new forms of taxation and 1
sources of revenue and such changes
in existing forms of taxation and
sources of revenue as to them may
seem just and fair.”
This direction to make a tax survey
was in addition to the authority con
ferred on the committee in a previous
, paragraph to make recommendations
, as to the amount the Federal Govem
: ment should contribute annually toward
I District expenses.
Records Show Tax Volume.
Records in the assessor's office show
the heavy volume of taxes that have
; been paid by the people of the District
: in recent years, under the full-value
i assessment, as compared with previous
i years. These figures show that for the
nine years from 192'i, when the full-
I value basis began, to 1931, the real es
■ tale tax amounted to an aggregate of
( $140,000,000, or about the same as was
paid in 40 years previous to 1923.
The assessor's figures also show that
from 1918. when the intangible tax
began, to 1913 this tax has amounted
to a total of $60,000,000, whereas for 30
[ years previous less than $20,000,000 was
collected in personal tax.
Among the agencies which have made
studies of the District's tax system in
I recent years was the Institute for Gov-
I rmment Research of the Brookings In
' stitution. In a volume on the govern
ment and administration of the Dis
trict of Columbia the institute included
: a chapter on taxation here, prepared by
■ Dr. Thomas Walker Page of the Instl
■ tute of Economics. This treatise dis
i cussed various possible changes in the
> plan of taxation, but it is too early to
tell whnt particular proposals on taxa
i tion will be advanced in the forthcom
i ing congressional study of the subject,
i When the current appropriation act
; ] was in deadlock between the House and
• , Senate at the last session President
r . Hoover indicated an interest in the
! problem, and it is understood that dur
: ing his recent conference with the Dis
trict heads at his Summer camp on the
Rapidan some attention was given to
. the subject of District finances, as well
as to a legislative program for the Dls-
I trict at the coming session.
I COL. ABBOTT, WAR FLYER,
FATALLY HURT IN FALL
Pursuit Plane of His Own Design
Was on Test Flight With
( Veteran Chute Jumper.
I By the Assoclated’Frers.
j BERKELEY, Calif.. August 16.—C01.
i Harry Abbott, former war flyer, was
. fatally injured today, when his pursuit
> plane fell from an altitude of 400 feet
at Berkeley Airport.
i | Abbott's plane, a tiny racing craft of
I his own design, was on a test flight,
i | Abbott, who has a notable war record,
l is a veteran parachute Jumper. He once
j was an Instructor of aviation in the
> ' Army of the late Sun Yat-Sen, Chinese
i Republican leader.
! More Recently he was an instructor
a'. Mills Field, San Fr^pcisco.
*
IN SOUTH CAROLINA RACE
I
9
V'' yy '- ■' ' :,; *v T .fl
" Jm
.m gy jh
\ V|
; lb ,' M •
•;:'’ IH
J. Frank Lever (left) of Lexington and W. W. Stnoak. Walterboro newt*-
paper editor, are candidates for the Democratic nomination for Governor of
ftouth Carolina In the Aagiist 26 primary. —A. P. Photos.
WILD SCHEMES TO BRING RAIN
POUR INTO WEATHER BUREAU
Radio, Airplanes and Vengeance of Lord
for Wickedness of Nation Are Blamed
for Drought in Daily Letters.
BY THOMAS R. HENRY.
The United States Weather Bureau
is receiving scores of suggestions for
making rain.
The unprecedented drought evidently
has challenged the inventive genius of
the American people, but thus far,
Weather Bureau experts say. not a
single idea worth consideration has
been advanced.
Many of the rain-making schemes,
in fact, go back to one of the mcS?
primitive forms of human thinking—-
imitative magic. The crude natural
philosophy held by savage tribes from
time immemorial, probably even ante
dating religion, is advanced over and
over again, often cloaked in a pseudo
scientific terminology. Some of ihese
ideas are described as revelations "just
received from the Lord.”
Many Declare Lord Avenged.
Sometimes superficially ingenious
scientific suggestions are received. All
of these to date have contained fallacies
immediately obvious to trained meteorol
ogists Many of the letters are religious
in tone, declaring the conviction of the
writers that the drought is a super
natural vengence on a wicked nation,
which can be ended only by supplica
tion. Others are from obvious para
noics, who insist that ways to end the
drought have been confided to them
by the Lord. They will reveal their
knowledge for a proper reward, such
as being made dictator of the United
States. ...
Many of these letters are written di
rectly to President Hoover and sent to
tne Weather Bureau from the White
House. Some complain bitterly that
Government agents have refused to lis
ten to them, or are too ignorant and
narrow-minded to grasp the significance
of suggestions. Actually every letter
sent to the Weather Bureau is answered,
however absurd the suggestion. No
where would an idea that gave the
slightest promise of validity be wel
comed more eagerly, for the meteorolo
gists them elves know of no practical
system of artificial rain-making, and
would try anything, not obviously im
possible or disproved by experiment in
the past, which offered a reasonable
hope.
Nearly all the scientific and pseudo
scientific according to Dr.
William J. Humphreys, who receives
many of the letters, are variations of
well known ideas which do not work.
Nearly all rain-making schemes fall
into tamiliar categories, such as cool
ing the upper atmosphere, sprinkling
the atmosphere with dust particles, ef
fecting the condition of the atmosphere
with noise and shutting down radio sta
tions snd superpower plants. All these
have been investigated thoroughly in
the past.
Cooling Suggestion Partly Logical.
The idea of cooling parts of the upper
atmosphere, it was explained, has a
certain logic but is based on a miscon
ception of the rain-making process. It
l was tried in the earliest days of bal
i looning. more than a century ago. The
balloonist took up a load of cracked ice
| and shoveled it upon a cloud. This
j actually caused rain, for the ice fell
!in the form of water drops. But th.
j rain was somewhat less than the
amount of cracked ice which the bal
! lconist had taken up with him.
Now. of course, there are more ef
fective cooling substances. The most
frequent suggestion along this line is to
sprinkle the clouds from airplanes with
liquid air. the meteorologists
say, this hardly could be done on a
large enough scale to have any effect.
But if there was any result at all it
would be the opposite of that expected.
The scheme is based on the Idea that
the moisture from humid warm air is
squeezed out by the contraction of the
volume of the air by cooling, and falls
as rain. This, however, is only a super
ficial explanation of the rain-makinr.
mechanism. Artificial cooling of a
volume of air would tend to make it
fall to a lower level where it would be
warmed again and could hold more
moisture.
Dust Suggestion Frequent.
Dust-sprinkling suggestions are fre
! quent. It is true, the meteorologists
say. that dust particles in the air are
practically essential to the formation of
water droplets, but there is always an
oversupply.
It is not lack of dust, but lack of
water which Is responsible for drought.
One man wrote in the other day sug
gesting that aviators shovel powdered
cement on the clouds. The cement
would come down all right—most of it.
The result might be a miniature cement
hailstorm, if ihe suggestion was carried
out on a sufficient scale.
Then there is the idea that lots of
noise will cause rain. This, Dr. Hum
phreys explains, has the weight of prec
edence behind it. Statistically, It can
be shown that most of the great battles
previous to the World War, where there
was intensive artillery firing, have
been followed —sooner or later, at least
—by rain. But there is no physical
reason why noise should make rain, and
the meteorological statistics of the Na
poleonic and Franco-Prussian wars in
Europe and the Civil War in the United
States can be explained in a simpler
way.
Rain Followed Ancient Battles.
Dr. Humphreys points out that the
observation of rain following a battle
was made long before the days of ar
tillery. It first was mentioned by
Plutarch. Some attributed it to the
unusual noise of men shouting snd
screaming and the rattle of swords
against shields. Others thought it was
due to the greater amount of moisture
absorbed in the air from the sw'eat of
the soldiers and the blood of the
wounded. Others thought the gods
were weeping at the sight of men be
having so scandalously.
But, it is pointed out, in the days of
open warfare no general would be likely
to start an offensive in wet weather,
when streams were high, maneuvers
difficult and baggage and artillery like- j
ly to get stuck in the mud. He would j
wait for favorable weather conditions, i
which would mecgi that the air already 1
HBn
had absorbed a great deal of moisture
from the surface of the earth and was
about ready to let it go in the form of
rain. Rain usually followed battles be
cause the best time to fight was also the
time when conditions were most favor
able to produce rain.
Nobe Theory Declared Failure.
Unfortunately for the noise advocates
and contrary to the general impres
sion. it is explained, the theory failed
in the noisiest of all wars—the World
War. True, there was lots of wet
weather in Northern France, especially
from the viewpoint of American troops
unaccustomed to a wet climate. But
one year was exceptionally dry and
careful studies by both French and
British meteorologists of the relations
of artillery fire to rain showed no rela
tion at all. There was little open ma
neuvering—so battles did not have to
wait on the weather as in past wars.
The noise-rain idea is ancient in
human thought. Savage magicians,
trying to make rain, beat on a drum to
imitate thunder, with the idea that the
elements will accept the suggestion.
The survival of the concept in modem
thought seems due, meteorologists say,
to a statistical coincidence. There
simply is no reason why noise should
mske rain.
Then come the letters from those
who think radio broadcasting has
something to do with it. But, Dr.
Humphreys says, this can have no
physical effect on the atmosphere which
could in any way affect the production
of rain. Some of the letters are worded
in seemingly scientific language, but
very few of them show any basic under
standing, either of radio or of rain.
“Mysteries” Connected in Mind.
The connection of rain and radio,
| the metcrologists say, is essentially a
return to the pre-scientiflc argument
!by proximity. The mind has a tend
ency to connect unusual, mysterious
things near each other in place br
time. The drought is a mystery—to
many a manifestation of supernatural
displeasure. Radio also, to thousands of
persons, is a mystery, with its behavior
partaking of the supernatural. It is
the most astounding “new thing” in
the world, so it is natural to attribute
to it far greater potentialities than it
really has. Thus, through a funda
mental but fallacious process of think
ing, radio and dry weather are tied to
gether. A few years ago, it is ex
plained at the Weather Bureau, pro
longed dry weather used to be accom
panied by letters attributing it to mys
terious functions of high-power lines.
Now these are old enough to be fa
miliar. They have lost their super
natural attributes. But some still be
lieve that the drought is connected in
some fashion with airplanes.
There are frequent suggestions of na
tional days of prayer—the potency of
which, of course, is quite outside the
province of the Weather Bureau. It is
concerned only with the physical and
chemical complexes of cause and effect
which enter into weather phenomena
and cannot speculate on the possible
setting aside of natural laws.
Possible Scheme Overlooked.
Thus far, says Dr. Humphreys, no
body apparently has thought about the
one way of manipulating nature which
might really produce rain—by pro
ducing a tremendous conflagration such
as would destroy a great city or an enor
mous area of the countryside. Even
the largest forest fires now raging are
too feeble to produce any real effect.
But when there is a high humidity
forest fires do cause clouds and, in
conceivable circumstances, actual rain.
The idea is to get enough warm air
rising from the surface of the earth. Be
sides, the combustion of wood releases
a certain amount of moisture in the
atmosphere. Enough warm air going up
with enough moisture in it might turn
the trick.
But most people think the earth is
burning up fast enough as it is.
Besides, this method doesn’t fit into
the thought process of imitative magic
which would associate fire with dry
weather instead of wet.
Here is a sample of the letters from
persons who think radio and other
"new-fangled” inventions may have
something to do with the drought, just
received by The Star:
"Since a few months past I have
developed the fantastic theory that the
development of radio saps the strength
of the hydrogen, and the constant use
of automobiles and flying machines
throwing off carbon monoxide disturbs
the oxygen, and these two agencies,
working in conjunction, make a dis
proportion of atomical component gases,
argon, helium, neon, kripton and carbon
dioxide. These conditions cause a lack
of ether, lessening the precipitation of
water, hence dry heat.”
All this, the experts say, means about
as much to them as to the ordinary
reader—that is, nothing.
Electrical Theory Expounded.
Savs another letter writer: “All stu
dents of matters electrical know that
electricity may be produced and used,
but cannot be destroyed; that once
used it is lost by a process of emana
tion; that the radio activity of the
sun's rays is electrical. It is also a
matter of common knowledge that rain
rises from the earth as vapor and by
reason of the coolness of the upper
strata of the atmosphere is condensed
to liquid, and. becoming too weighty, of
a necesity falls back to earth. Every
sound from the numerous broadcasting
stations is sent forth by electrical vibra
tion, thus further electrifying the at
mosphere until it is now so pregnant
with electricity, which is intensified
heat, that the rising vapors cannot find
above a sufficient degree of coolness to
condense. Let the authorities order all
unnecessary broadcasting discontinued
for a period of two weeks. Before the
expiration of that period you will find
lower temperatures and plenteous rain.”
A correspondent of The Star affirms
his belief that only prayer will bring
rain, but the congregations gathering
all over the drought area for prayer
make him wonder. It is well enough,
he says, to turn to the Lord in trouble,
but who ever heard of such meetings
to thank Him for His bounty in years
when there was plenty of rain.
Another believes there is no need of
scientists trying to explain the drought
1 when already^there is a sufficient ex-
MYSTERY CLOUDS
SENATOR’S DEATH
Illinois State Official Poisoned
by Gang He Feared,
\ * Brother Charges.
By tV* Associated Press.
CHICAGO, August 16.—State Senator
John J. Joyce, who feared death be
cause toe testified in court that gunmen
invaded the forty-second ward during
the April* primary election, died under
mysterious' circumstances today and hi*
brother chavged he had been poisoned.
Qproner Herman N. Bunclesen an
nounced that .Joyce died of 'oedema ol
the brain due to toxic origin." and
ordered hi* chemist to make histological
and pathological' examination of the
tissue and fluids of the body. He found
no visible evidence' of poison in the
Joyce apartment.
Feared te Intify
Senator Joyce, a witness at a rece- *
hearing of ouster proceeding aga
the head of the election board,
asked to name some of the gunm 4BK*
said he had seen cruising about FT 7
ward on election day. J,
"You may not care for your life,*-*
I do for mine," he answered.
.Friday he was summoned before tl*;.
grand jury, and it was reported he hi*
named one of the gunners. The Dai ',
News said Tommy Abbott. North Si*? 6 -
gangster now charged with robbery :i\
Rockford, 111., was the machine gunntj
named. Joyce was to have appeared
before the grand Jury again next Mon
day.
Natural Causes View.
Edward Joyce, the Senator's brother,
said Joyce came home last night at
11:30 and retired. Early today he awoka
choking and gasping, and died suddenly
without speaking. Mrs. Mary Flannery,
a sister of the dead man, said late In
the day the family was of the opinion
that death was due to natural causes.
Joyce was 36 years old, and had been
a prominent Republican politician for
years and a State Senator since 1923.
WALTER FOWLER QUITS
GOVERNMENT SERVICE
Treasury Employe 12 Yeara, Msn,
83, Entered U. S. Work When
Lincoln Was President.
After 12 years as a guard in the
Treasury Building, Walter P. Fowler is
quitting the workaday world. At the
age of 83, Mr. Fowler, who is one of
the best known among the Treasury
guards, is retiring to his home at 622 D
street southwest.
Abraham Lincoln was President when
he first entered the Government serv
ice.
Bom in Washington February 18,
1847, and reared in Montgomery
County, Md., Mr. Fowler became a
member of the postal service in 1864
and traveled from Cumberland, Md.. to
Wheeling. W. Va. He married in 1869
and shortly thereafter left the service
to enter business in the Capital. He
remained out of the service until 1918,
and then became a Treasury Depart
ment employe.
A number of things about this era
Mr. Fowler professes not to underatand.
one of them being the divorce situation.
“Some ol these folks don’t stay mar
ried 10 days,” he remarked contemptu
ously. "Why I lived with my wife 88
years.”
Mrs. Fowler died several years ago.
FOUR SERIOUSLY HURT
IN AUTOMOBILE CRASH
Police Say Men Failed to Make
Turn on Franconia Road Near
Alexandria, Va.
Special Dispatch to The Star.
ALEXANDRIA, Va., August 16.
Four men received serious injuries to
night when the automobile in which
they were riding overturned on the
Franconia road about two miles below
this city. Police say they failed to
take a turn while traveling at high
speed. All were brought to the Alex
andria Hospital for treatment.
Those injured were Dewey P. Crea
gan, 29 years old, of 621 South Alfred
street, who sustained Injuries to his
head and lacerations on the left arm:
Hampton Hurley of Pairfax County,
I driver of the machine, who received a
| broken leg and head Injuries: Wade
Pollen. 1000 block Queen street, who
i received a broken left leg and injuries
| to his right leg, and William Maztnao.
i 600 South Fairfax street, who received
cuts and bruises.
Fairfax County police were notified
of the accident by Alexandria police,
who investigated the affair.
MACNIOER COMING HERE
FOR HIS INSTRUCTIONS
By the Associated Free*.
MASON CITY. lowa, August 16.
Col. and Mrs. Hanford MacNider will
leave tonight or tomorrow for Wash
ington. D. C., and Ottawa. Canada,
where the colonel will acquaint himself
with his duties as Minister to Canada.
They will not move to Ottawa until
later, MacNider said.
He will confer with State and Com
merce Department officials at Wash
ington. He also plans to attend the
Ohio and Pennsylvania American
Legion conventions and will speak at
the dedication of a memorial bridge at
Harrisburg, Pa.
Fire Destroys Timber.
MARENGO, Wis., August 16 (ypy
More than 35.000 acres of second-growth
timber was destroyed by a forest fire
near here today The flames at one
time advanced to within a mile and a
Quarter of the village limits, but prog
ress was checked by a shift in wind.
planation in the Bible. At least twice
a great drought is predicted for the
day when men turn away from the
Lord.
Seaweed Food Suggested.
Others are devoting their attention to
a practical side of the problem not
concerned with rain-making, but with
how to get along as comfortably as pos
sible without rain. A correspondent of
the Secretary of Agriculture suggests
that, while the pastures in the drought
area are burning up and cattle are go
ing hungry, there are almost inex
haustible supplies of seaweed growing
along the Atlantic Cost. Why not
harvest it and rush it inland by fast
freight? he asks. He continues:
“Have used seaweed as Winter food
for poultry for the past 10 years. It is
light to dark brown in color, but hot
water poured over it quickly changes Its
color to a bright green, showing that
there is plenty of chlorophyl. Gathered
In November, it lasts to the following
April in a large pile out of doors, with
very little deterioration. When frozen
it can be chopped out quickly in large
chunks with an ax and rendered ex
tremely palatable in a few minutes by
soaking It with hot water. Sheep and
cattle soon learn to like it. It is rich in’
vitamins and minerals, some carbohy
drate and a low-grade protein.
“The Chinese and Japanese have used
seaweed as food for man and beast for
centuries.”