Evening star. [volume], December 16, 1930, Image 1

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

Image provided by: Library of Congress, Washington, DC

                
WEATHER.
IV. 8. Weather Bureau Forecast.)
Fair tonight—minimum temperature
about 16 degrees; tomorrow increasing
cloudiness, slowly rising temperature.
Temperatures—Highest 37 at 12:30 yes
terday ; lowest 15 at 8:15 today.
Full report on page 5.
dating N.Y. Markets, P*f«sl3,l4 &15
No. 31,640.
STIES THREATEN
FAMINE IN SPAIN;
BIG ARMY MASSED
75,000 Reported Mobilized.
Martial Law Enforced.
Situation Uncertain.
LEADERS OF REBELLION
INTERNED IN PORTUGAL
Four Dead, 20 Wounded Counted
as Result of Riots and Armed
Clash Yesterday.
HENDAYE, France. December 16
(/P). —Reports received here today
through Republican sources said
Valencia was in the hands of rebels
and three loyal generals had been
executed. Travelers from Madrid
said more trouble was expected in
the vicinity of Saragossa, where
Communists appeared to have taken
advantage of the revolutionary move
ment.
By the Associtted Press.
MADRID. December 16.—Through
the heavy-handed censorship which
clutched all Spain there seeped today
reports which indicated that the revo
lutionary movement of the past week
had developed into a general strike,
threatening food shortage in many of
the kingdom's principal cities.
Martial law was in force from one
end of the country to the other. Seven
ty-five thousand troops were reported to .
have been mobilized, and the leaders of *
yesterday’s revolt of the aviators were j
interned at Lisbon, but civilian Repub- 1
licans were rebelling in a series of
simultaneous strikes which indicated
that this “peaceful’’ revolt had been
well synchronized.
From Barcelona came reports that j
the police had been reinforced by 6,000 j
civil guards. At San Sebastian the walls j
were plastered with proclamations ab
rogating all constitutional rights and
the civil authorities had surrendered
their powers to the military. .
Bilbao’s Broad Exhausted.
Strikes were in progress at Santan
der. at Bilbao, where Alcala Zamora
was proclaimed “President of the re
public” yesterday, and at Saragassa,
Lerrida, Jaen. Valencia, Cadiz, Seville,
Huelva and Gijon.
Bilbao reported its bread supply was
exhausted, no bakers were working and
all provision stores closed. The frontier
town of Irun. whose communications
were cut off by insurgents yesterday,
reported by a circuitous route that a
bread famine had begun. Supplies were
being brought across the frontier from
the French town of Hendaye. Similar
famines were feared in other parts of
Spain as the strike movement grew.
The ci'.il governor at San Sebastian
issued a brief proclamation announcing
that the army was in control. Fernando
Rich, the military governor, posted a
long manifesto asserting the enforce
ment of martial law and the suspension
of all constitutional rights. Newspapers
were prohibited and street gatherings
forbidden. Mounted police trotted
through the .street* with guns under
their arms and guards were posted at
all pubiiq buildings
«o Reports of Open Riots.
Throughout the kingdom these condi
tions maintained. Outwardly the popu
lace was quiet, but actually it appeared
to be living in the shadow of uncer
tainty. There were no reports of open
rioting, but the authorities were on the
alert for any emergency.
In an exclusive statement to the
Associated Press today Gen. Damaso
Berenguer, premier of Spain, reiterated
his assertion that yesterday’s revolu
tionary movement had been suppressed,
that the army of Spain was everywhere
loyal and that public opinion was unani
mously behind the government.
"Order is being rapidly restored in all
parts of the country,” he said, “follow
ing yesterday's disturbances in San
Sebastian, Santander, Seville and the
seditious acts at Cuatro Vientos Air
field in consequence of the abortive at
tempt at Jaca.
The revolutionary movement failed
absolutely because it received no sup
port from the people, who have given
unmistakable evidence of loyalty to
and confidence in the government. The
current ministry is strengthened bv this
unanimous support of public opinion
(Continued on Page 7, Column 1.)
narcotics Valued
AT MILLION SEIZED
Customs Men Make Record Haul i
in New York, but Importers
Escape Capture.
Br the Associated Press.
Huge quantities of narcotics, termed!
at the Treasury the largest seizure ever ‘
made in this country, have been taken I
on the steamer Alesia in New York!
harbor.
Customs agents reported today it to- j
taled 1,000 pounds, and said the market i
value ran above $1,000,000.
Importers of the contraband were
not captured.
The narcotics were shipped from Tur
key, inclosed in cases of furs that orlg-
Inated in Constantinople.
The Alesia, en route from Turkey, first
touched at Providence, R. 1., where cus
toms agents kept it under surveillance.!
Nothing was landed there. When the
vessel proceeded to New York, customs
boats and agents followed, keeping close
watch.
In New York the cargo was permit
tod to go to the customs house in hope
tt would be claimed. The 25 cases
Wiled as furs were not called for.
The narcotics were packed in small
tin boxes.
A legitimate shipment of narcotics
made to druggists in this country under
permit and carried in safe deposit
Faults of the Alesia was cited by cus
toms officials as a possible cause of the
smugglers being tipped off. One box
of the legitimate shipment was missing
when the Alesia reached New York.
Officers started an intensive search to
it is believed, frightened
Entered as second class matter
post office, Washington. I). C.
49 Pounds of Files
And Fifteen Judges
Needed for Divorce
By the Associated Press.
CHICAGO, December 16.—The
services of 15 judges were needed
by Mrs. Marian Hanelin before
she was granted a divorce from
1 Dr. William B. Hanelin by Su
perior Judge Rudolph Desort.
The fifteenth judge finally
granted the decree yesterday
, after hear ng the case intermit
tently for two weeks, during
which he tried vainly to bring
about an agreement. She was
awarded the separation on
grounds of desertion after waiv
ing charges of cruelty.
The Hanelins were married July
31, 1907. She filed her action in
August, 1928. Since then the
files in the case grew to a weight
of 49 pounds.
TWO BANDITS SLAIN
AFTER BANK HOLDUP
Third Shot in Illinois—Pitts
burgh Institution Robbed
of $50,000 in Cash.
By the Associated Press.
SIDELL, 111., December 16.—A spec
tacular chase that started immediately
after the robbery of the Citizens’ Bank
of Clinton, Ind., ended in a cornfield
near Sidell today with two of the rob
bers shot and killed by a posse and a
third man wounded.
A posse, organized as the robbers
j left Clinton with loot valued at between
$5,000 and SIO,OOO, finally overtook
, them on a country road near here.
Two of the men ran into the corn
field, while the third man was shot and
j wounded as he attempted to drag a
, machine gun from the automobile to
| the cornfield. The posse then went into
i the cornfield and shot the other rob
bers. killing them instantly.
The posse, In its wild pursuit, heard
reports that a deputy sheriff was shot
by the robbers at Dana. Ind., and that
; the loot had been recovered near Ja
i maica. 111.
I
PITTSBURGH BANK ROBBED.
Band of Six Gets $50,000 After Slag
ging Man Who Sought Aid.
PITTSBURGH, Pa.. December 16 (JP).
—Flourising revolvers and sawed-off
shotguns, six bandits held up the Man
chester Savings Bank dc Trust Co. here
today and escaped with loot estimated
at $50,000. The robbery was the third
bank hold-up In the Pittsburgh district
within 10 days.
The bandits covered about 30 em
ployes of the bank and of the Superior
Fire Insurance Co., which has offices
adjoining the bank, with their weapons
and compelled the paying teller to go
to the vault and open it. Several cus
tomers were in the bank.
Manager Is Slagged.
The robbery occurred half an hour
after the institution opened for business.
G. C. Gerwig. president of the bank,
said the bandits had obtained about
$50,000 in currency.
An attempt was made by Adam Hoff
man. manager cf the real estate depart
ment, to go to the second floor and tell
the telephone operators to call the
police. One of the bandits struck him
on the head with a revolver and inflict
ed slight injuries. Hoffman made a sec
ond attempt to spread the aiarm, how
ever, and went to the second floor, but
the bandits had gone by the time the
police arrived.
The bank is located in the Manches
ter district, which adjoins the main
business section of the city.
Described as “Kids.”
The robbers used a powerful auto
mobile that had been stolen. They park
ed it near the bank and after the rob
bery three of them fled in it.
The method of escape of the other
three bandits was not known. Seme of
them were described by witneseas as
"mere kids.”
Gerwig and other officers, the em
ployes and customers were ordered to
keep quiet and were forced toward the
directors’ room. The paying teller,
Dravo Grumpton, was taken to the j
vault and forced to open it. Many ]
packages of currency and loose bills
were seized and the robbers fled.
SMOKE CHARGES FILED
Department of Justice Charged
With Violating Ordinance.
An application for a warrant charg
ing the violation of the smoke ordinance
at the Department of Justice Building,
1101 Vermont avenue, as well as an j
apartment house on upper Fourteenth j
street, and a building in the 1300 block i
j of H street northeast, was filed in Police |
Court today by Inspectors of the Dls- i
trict Health Department.
The complaint against the Justice
Department requested the arrest of 1
Ferdinand E. Phillips, chief engineer
at the State, War and Navy Building. !
The violation is said to have taken
place December 8 Inspector Donald
1 C. Malcolm requested the warrant.
! JOFFRE REPORTED ILL
j Son-in-Law Claims He Is in Usual
Good Health, However.
PARIS. December 16 (A > ).—Reports
a ere current today in the Chamber of
Deputies that Marshal Joffre, victor of :
the Marne, was seriously ill. Last night!
his son-in-law, referring to reports of i
his illness, said the marshal was “in his i
customary good health.”
ARRAIGNED FOR SHORT-CHANGING,
MAN GIVES #195 FOR #2OO BOND
Evanston Police Declare Their Suspicion Justified That 1
Prisoner Had Been Cheating Cashiers.
By the Associated Press.
EVANSTON. 111., December 16.
There wu a growing suspicion. Evans
ton police said, that they were Justified
to suspecting Walter A. Butler as one
of those persons who call on various
cashiers, ask them for a $lO toll to ex
change for 10 ones and then leave but
bine.
‘Til put up the cash,” they Quoted
Butler as saying when a S2OO hood was
•• ■■ v -' • ... - - ■■ »- ■ sr" ■ ■ - ... - ■ w®? 5 * ” "w;
ffoenitm ifef.
V X J V WITH ***BAY MORNING IDITION
WASHINGTON, D. C., TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1930-FORTY-EIGHT PAGES. ***
Pins QUESTIONED
BY PROSECUTOR ON
EARNINGS SINCE 17
Government Contends In
come Insufficient to Pur
chase Stock He Held.
TAX RETURNS OFFERED
AS EVIDENCE IN CASE
Principal Defendant Denies Bor
rowing Money to Make
First Investment.
Efforts to show that G. Bryan Pitts,
principal figure in the F. H. Smith Co.
conspiracy trial, had not earned enougn
money to purchase stock he admitted
holding were made today by the Gov
ernment in its cross-examination of the
witness. Pitts, who is on trial with C.
Elbert Anadale and John H. Edwards,
Jr., for an alleged conspiracy to em
bezzle funds and destroy records of the
Smith Co., completed his direct testi
mony this morning.
His defense was along two general
lines. In some cases he denied ever re
ceiving money which the Government
claimed had been embezzled. In other
instances he admitted receiving the
money, approximately $900,000, but en
deavored to show that he was entitled
to It.
Under cross-examination, Nugent
Dodds, special assistant to the Attor
ney General, attempted to break down
Pitts' testimony by showing that his
expenditures were greater than his
legitimate income from 1917 to 1927.
Battle of Wits.
He first obtained admissions from
the witness that in 1927 he owned ap
proximately $750,000 of Smith company
preferred stock. Pitts said all but
SIOO,OOO of this amount was paid in
cash. He also testified that a year
later he bought and furnished a home
in Florida for approximately $350,000.
Dodds then introduced Income tax
returns filed by Pitts from 1917 through
1926, showing a total income for that •
period of approximately $556,000. It
was pointed out by the Government
attorney that this was about one-ha If
of the sum Pitts said he had paid for
his stock and his home.
The cross-examination developed into
a battle of wits between the two men
when the Government attorney at
tempted to probe Pitts’ business affairs
over the past 12 years. Pitts frequently
replied that he “could not remember”
when questions were put to him.
Denies Borrowing Money.
He denied emphatically, however,
that he had borrowed money from
Samuel J. Henry, former president of
the Smith Co., to buy his first block tff
preferred stock.
Pitts also denied he had ever seen
the cash disbursements journal or the
general journal of the Smith Co. These
were among the records which the Gov
ernment has charged the defendants
with concealing.
Pitts said that at one time his in
come as chairman of the board of di
rectors of the Smith company was
$90,000 a year. In 1917, when he be
came affiliated with the Smith company,
his Income was $6,500 a year, according
to his income tax return. In 1918 it
was $8,277; in 1919, $13,561; in 1920,
$18,933; in 1921, $28,869; in 1922,
P 1923 - $®6,644; in 1924,
S°. 3 i73,4 n s».‘“ 5 - * 14 ” 75 ’ * n ' l
Pitts had accounted for $900,000 of
the $1 190,000 allegedly embezzled when
he finished his testimony. The balance
of the money had already been ac
counted for by a defense accountant.
Pitts admitted that money had been
deposited in various banks to his credit
as charged by the Government, but con
tended that he received it legally from
three subsidiary corporations of the
. . £ £ 0- He sald be was principal
stockholder in the subsidiaries, the
Beverly Building Corporation, the Mont
clair Corporation and the Forty-Third
and Locust Street Corporation.
He testified that the money was due
nun from surpluses in the treasuries
(Continued on Page~2, ColurniTX)
DRUGGIST ARREST
WARRANTS ASKED
Adult 'ration of Drugs and Unclean
Sterilisers Included in
Complaints.
The District Health Department, con
i tinuing its drive against unclean and
: unhealthy conditions, applied in Police
i Court today for warrants for the arrest
! ° r managers and proprietors of 18 drug
[Stores, charging violations of the act
relating to the adulteration of food and
drugs.
The complaints against the drug
j stores were mostly for adulteration of
drugs, a Health Department inspector
and chemist claiming that certain
drugs were being sold which differed
from the standard strength recognized
in the United States pharmacopoeia
One application charged unclean ster
ilizers.
The drug stores included some of the
most prominent and largest in the city,
most of which are situated in down
town business sections.
Court official said the warrants would
be issued today and sent to police pre
; cincts stations to be served. Court
! actlon in many of the cases is not ex
! pected this week.
J Inspector Philip S. Cake and J. B.
j Reed of the Health D partment, filed
I the complaints.
demanded. He began counting from his
roll of bills. ,
“Twenty and ten,” he Mid, "is thirty
and five is $35 and another twenty is
$55 and two more fifties is $155 and
four tens is $195 and five is two hun
dred.”
Butler then went away, and Ivan
Rubin, the court clerk, began to count
’*“ l ‘ •
P
RIGHT TO REGULATE
D. C. SIGNS DESIRED
Planners and Engineers to
Confer on Pending
Legislation.
With a view to obtaining from Con
gress more authority for the District |
Commissioners to regulate and control;
outdoor advertising sighs, officials of the
National Capital Park and Planning
Commission and the District Engineer
Department are expected to confer this
week with the city heads on the general
signboard situation in Washington.
The signboard situation, according to
Roland M. Brennan, chief clerk of the
local Engineer Department, is beyond
the complete control of the Commis
sioners, especially with respect to signs
of the ‘‘tack and hammer” type. It is
proposed to present to the Commission
ers recommendations that immediate
steps be taken to bring the matter to ;
the attention of the House District Com
mittee with a view to .getting the bill
passed by the Senate on Apfll IT, last, 1
enacted into law at the present session.
The Senate bill, however, does not meet
with the full approval of all concerned,
it was said, and certain amendments
will be recommended to the Commis
sioners.
In a statement to The Star Mr. Bren
nan said:
Declares City Heads Powerless.
"The Commissioners are now power
less to prevent the painting or erection
of a sign requiring no building permit,
if that sign advertises a business con
ducted or a commodity or commodities
sold in the premises. As a result, the
National Capital is being plastered
with miscellaneous gaudy signs ad
vertising every conceivable commodity
or product.
"For example, in some cases, the
comer grocery has as many as 20 or
30 signs advertising different com
modities fastened, painted or tacked on
the walls of the building. While there
should be no interference with legiti
mate outdoor advertising in the city,
there is a need for a more effective
control, especially in the National
Capital, over Indiscriminate advertis
ing.”
Meanwhile, public sentiment, both in
Washington and Maryland and Virginia
suburban districts, continues to mani
fest vigorous support of the campaign
to remove commercialized ugliness from
the roadsides leading into the Capital
City. Action was taken by two repre
sentative groups last night.
Billboards Declared Dangerous.
A resolution was adopted by the in
terfederation conference held in the
United States Chamber of. Commerce
Building denouncing billboards as "not
only a serious nuisance but a very real
danger.” This interfederation is made
up of delegates from the District of
Columbia Federation of Citizens’ Asso
(Continued on Page 2, Column 6.)
DECAPITATION OF CHILD
BY VOODOOS PROBED
Havana Police Learn Act Was
Committed for Purpose of Mak
ing Offering to God of Cult.
By the Associated Press.
HAVANA, December 16.—The secret
police are investigating reports that
Voodoo worshipers near Havana re
cently decapitated a small child for the
purpose of making a sacrificial offering
to Chango, the mythical god of the |
cult.
Cuban Voodoo worshipers are de
scendants of former African slaves, who
practice human sacrifice as a part of
their religious ceremonies.
Voodooism in any form is sternly
frowned upon, but occasionally crops up
in spite of the vigilance of authorities.
Whenever one of the secret meeting
places is discovered it is immediately
broken up and the paraphernalia used
in their incantations, which consists of
bones of animals, human hair, roots,
herbs, frogs and the like, is seized and
destroyed.
I t .
! REDS CAPTURE KUNGAN
Military Forces at Hankow Sent to
Oppose Communists.
SHANGHAI, December 16 (JP).—
Chinese press dispatches today reported
7,000 Communists had captured Kun
gan, midway between Tsingshih and
Shasl, near the Hunan-Hupeh border.
Military forces at Hankow were re
ported to have been sent to oppose the
Reds.
Ktd* PngruM a Pag* C-5
ACTOR TO RETURN GIRL
Court Order Legalizes Barthelmess
Settlement With Ex-Wife.
NEW YORK, December 16 OP).—'The
New York Daily News says Richard
Barthelmess, the motion picture actor,
has been served with a writ of habeas
corpus ordering him to return to Mary
Hay, his divorced wife, their 8-year-old
daughter, Mary.
The order legalizes a settlement re
cently effected by Dr, 8. Parkes Cad
man.
AUTOIST WOUNDED
BY STRIKE TROOPS
Driver Refusing to Halt Is
Shot Near Danville Mills.
Two Homes Bombed.
Special Dispatch to The Star.
; DANVILLE, Va„ December 18.—The
serious wounding of Lockwood Pickett.
1 who refused to obey a command to halt
i by troops patrolling an area for possible
dynamiters at Bchoolfield, and word of
two more dynamitings yesterday in the
Mayfield section, about 10 miles from
Schoolfleld, were the major develop
ments in the textile strike situation
today.
Lower Body Paralyzed.
Pickett’s condition at the hospital
here today was reported unchanged.
He is suffering from a bullet wound in
the back, which paralyzed the lower part
of his body. He was fired upon when
he attempted to drive an automobile,
in which he was riding with a young
woman companion, Miss Virginia Hobby,
20, of Durham, N. C., past a military
patrol after he had ignored an order to
halt.
MaJ. E. W. Opie, second in command
of the 116th Regiment, in a statement
later said 60 gallons of whisky was
found in the car. He asserted the car
was fired on in pursuance of orders in
an area which was being scoured for
possible dynamiters following a series
of bomb explosions over the week end.
Pickett’s condition this morning was
reported serious. The bullet had not
been removed at an early hour.
Pickett is from Foresthills, N. C.
Young Woman Is Released.
Miss Hobby was released after ques
tioning, no charge being filed.
Col. H. L. Ople. In command, today
appointed a board composed of Majs.
R. T. Grubert, H. F. White and G. D.
Reynolds, to Investigate the shooting
of Pickett. He said a report will be
completed In a day or two and for
warded to Gov. Pollard.
Word of additional dynamitings,
making the total for 24 hours five, was
received from North Carolina authori
ties at Ruffin who are investigating two
explosions which occurred at Mayfield.
The home of S. S. Davis, a non
union man who works in the mill, was
damaged. No one was injured. Davis,
according to the authorities, reported
hearing a car stop in front of the house
shortly before the blast and drive off
after It occurred. The porch was
(Continued on Page 2, Column 1.)
Shop Early
“Things not .worth ad
vertising are not worth
selling.”
The merchants are ad
vertising in The Star the
things the people want at
this time.
The Star is the shopping
guide in more than 100,000
homes in Washington and
suburbs.
Shop in the morning for
your own comfort and con
venience and - mail your
presents early.
Yesterday’s Advertising
(Local Display)
Agate Lines
The Evening Star . .56,176
2d Newspaper. .... .25,813
3d Newspaper 11,208
4th Newspaper..... 7,598
sth Newspaper 3,196
Total ZSZXZZ 47,815 ,
WOOD FIRM IN EIGHT
ON SALARY RAISES
New Department Bills
Changed So That Stay of In
creases Will Be Automatic.
Chairman Wood of the House Ap
propriations Committee was supported i
today by his committee in continuing
his fight against increases in salary for
Government employes during the com
ing fiscal year and to carry out the ad
ministration’s pledge of bringing all un
der-average salaries up to the average
through a three-year program.
The House Appropriations Committee
in reporting out the agricultural appro
priation bill eliminated the increases
recommended by the Budget Bureau
under the three-year program. This
action is consistent with the policy
which the committee adopted on the
two other big appropriation bills, Post
Office and Treasury, In which the com
mittee action was approved by the
House, and the Interior Department ap
propriation bill, in which the House
struck out the so-called Wood amend
ment prohibiting the payment of salary
Increases.
It is confidently expected that the
House also will take similar action when
the agricultural appropriation bill comes
up for consideration.
Deficiencies Are Noted.
In explaining this situation, Repre
sentative Dickinson, chairman of the
subcommittee which drafted the agri
culture appropriation bill, said;
“In accordance with the requirements
of the act of July 3, 1930 (the Brook
hart act), amounts aggregating $268,-
287 are carried for salary adjustments.
While this sum shows throughout nu
merous items as Increases or parts of
increases over appropriations for 1931,
the new rates are being paid during
the current fiscal year and deficiency
apropriations will be necessary to sup
plement present funds on that account.
“The committee, in accordance with
the plan pursued in connection with
previous appropriation bills passed at
this session, has eliminated the amounts
submitted as the first installment of the
budget program of three years of ap
propriation for increases in pay for
employes in the so-called under-average
grades under the classification act. The
amount involved for the department
(of Agriculture) for the fiscal year and
deducted from the estimates for the
accompanying bill is $223,820.’*
Stay to Be Automatic.
The agricultural appropriation bill as
reported today does not carry the so
called Wood amendment which is car
ried in the Treasury-Post Office bill and
which was stricken out of the Interior
Department bill on a record vote in the
House.
With this Wood amendment omitted,
(Continued on Page 2, Column 7.)
LA PLATA MILL
RAZED BY BLAZE
Flames Menace Lumber Yards and
Oil Tanks—District Aid
Is Asked.
Special Dispatch to The Star.
LA PLATA, Md., December 16.
Fanned by a brisk wind, a fire this after
noon razed the Matthews-Howard Co.’s
flour grain mill and was menacing the
firm's lumber yards as well as the oil
tanks of the Sinclair, Southern Mary
land and Standard companies.
Calls for help was sent to the fire
companies of all surrounding towns and
to Washington. D. C.
WINTER STRONGHOLD CONQUERED
BY JOURNALIST ON WORLD TOUR
Czechoslovakian Adventurer Makes First Trip Through
Kaibab Forest in 15 Snow Seasons.
Br the Associated Press.
PHOENIX, Art*., December 18.—
Kaibab Forest, one of Winter’s strongest
forts In the Southwest, was conquered
for the first time In 15 snow seasons
yesterday by Charles Tulka, Checho
slovakian journalist, seeking adventure
on a world tour.
Tulka arrived here with documentary
proof he made his way from Fredonla
to the Bright Angel Trail of the Grand
Canyon on skils. He had a booklet
inscribed along the route by forest
rangers and caretakers who spend
their Winters isolated from other parts
of the world.
H>« only •reninf paper
in Washington with tho
Associated Press news
sendee.
Yesterday's Grcslatioo, 115,192
Meant Associated Prsss.
U. S. SHOULD BEAR
EXCESS D. C..COST,
GOTWALS THINKS
TeHs House Hearing Citizens
Ought to Pay Ordinary
Expenses Only.
CITES ADDITIONAL BURDEN
FROM MUNICIPAL CENTER
Seat of Government Coetlier Than
Comparable Cities, Engineer Com
missioner Declares.
The United States should make a
contribution to the District suflicient
to meet expenses above the normal op
erating cost of the Municipal Govern
ment. Maj. John C. Gotwals. Engineer
Commissioner of the District, today told
the special committee of the House
studying the fiscal relationship between
the Federal and District Governments.
Maj. Gotwals made his statement In
response to a direct question by Chair
man Mapes as to what he believed
should constitute a practical formula
for determining the relative contribu
tion of the United States toward the
operation and maintenance of the
District.
j Maj. Gotwals pointed out that the
I expenses of the District are greater than
j those of other comparable municipall
-1 ties due to the fact that Washington
Is the Nation’s Capital and he believed
the United States should share In those
expenses of the excess cost. He cited as
one glaring illustration the additional
burden placed upon the District because
it Is the seat of the National Govern
ment, the cost of erecting the munici
pal center, where the buildings are to be
made monumental in character to har
monize with those of the Federal build
ings to be erected on the Pennsylvania
avenue—Mall triangle.
Suggests Fair Solution.
"I think a fair and equitable solu
tion of the problem,” Maj. Gotwals said,
"would be to separate the operating
costs and capital expenditures of the
District and let the District bear the
ordinary expenses and the Federal Gov
ernment the others. This is in reality
an unconscious appliance of the same
principle embodied in the 50-50, 60-40
and lump-sum plan of Federal contri
bution.”
Chairman Mapes questioned Maj.
Gotwals for his reason for thinking the
United States should contribute toward
the Capital expenditures of the Dis
trict. He replied that if the United
States made no contribution then the
District would have to get along with
out the improvements it is now carrying
out and be forced to operate on its cur
rent revenues entirely.
Maj. Gotwals brough out at the
outset of his testimony that the Dis
trict's budget for the 1932 fiscal year is
predicated on a Federal contribution
of $9,500,000, and pointed out that even
with this amount the District would be
forced to dip into the surplus revenues
to its credit in the Federal Treasury to
the extent of $260,000 to provide the
improvements contemplated. This
$9,500,000 contribution, he said, will be
applied entirely to Capital expenditures,
while all other operating costs will be
met out of revenues collected by the
District.
Prospective Expenses Reviewed.
“Our present expenditures are ex
traordinary.” said Maj. Gotwals. “The
Commissioners asked the department
heads to give them an outline of pros
pective Capital expenditures for the next
15 years. These have not been care
fully reviewed, however, but I know
they are not complete. For instance,
there is no provision for a sewage dis
posal plant. That is something we may
be forced to provide in the next 15
years."
Chairman Mapes asked Commissioner
Gotwals if he was familiar with taxes
and the tax burden outside of Wash
intgon. In reply, he said his family
was paying taxes on property outside
of St. Louis and that he owned a house
in Norristown, Fa., and one in Wash
ington, and that he had no impression
that the tax burden is ‘Abnormally high
or abnormally low” in Washington in
comparison with those two places.
Mr. Mapes then asked him if he knew
(Continued on Paige 2, ColumrT2!)
YOUNG STUDENT SHOOTS
SELF AND COMPANION
Washington Boy Accidentally Dis
charges Pistol in Theater
at Staunton.
Special Dispatch to The Btar. /
BTAUNTON, Va., December 16.—The
hero of a Western thriller being shown
on the screen of a local theater here
had unexpected reinforcements, when
Philip A. Dieterich, aged 15. of Wash
ington, D. C., a cadet at Staunton Mil
itary Academy, accidentally discharged
a .25-caliber automatic revolver, wound
ing himself and a schoolmate, Cadet
Glenn A. Irvin of Buffalo, N. Y.
The bullet struck Dieterich in the
thigh and Irvin in the calf of the leg.
The wounds are not regarded as serious
by attending physicians. It is under
stood that Dieterich. who had been out
for a hike, on entering the darkened
theater attempted to unload the gun
as a precautionary measure, when it
was discharged. Possession of pistols I
is in violation of the school regulations,
it was said today.
Tulka Mid he made the trip in
three days, with a watch, which also
served as a compass, a camera, a
cigarette lighter, a knife and a can
opener as baggage. Be had no use for
the can opener, as he carried no cans.
The first night he spent in the open,
nearly freezing in the subaero weath
er. The second night he spent at the
V. T. where Woodruff Rust,
the cartgticer, attniad, to the fact he
was higffrst visitor in tft kaat 15 Win
ters. The third night als«Mvaa spent
Tfc# adventurer said he wakjd reach
horn* in July, 1933. after anOfaMnee
of four years,
TWO CENTS.
SENATE PRESENTED
CONFEREES’ REPORT
I ON JOBLESS RELIEF
5 $116,000,000 Appropriation
Approved in Form Attacked
by Democrats.
I FAVORS EMERGENCY
I PRESIDENTIAL POWERS
i Drought Relief Measure Downed by
Minority Party Aided by
G. 0. P. Votes.
I By the Associated Press.
t Th* conference report on the $116,-
. 000,000 emergency public works bill waa
. presented to the Senate today and Ben
r ator Jones, Republican, Washington,
j said he would ask consideration to
s morrow.
Conferees of the Senate and House
agreed earlier today to the $116,000,000
i. emergency employment appropriation
i ln the form in which it drew opposition
yesterday in the Senate.
I * T he £® v ‘ srd bill contairfs the provision
1 giving President Hoover authority to use
\ as he sees fit if emergencies
- wf, s *: T £is had been stricken from the
bill by the Senate.
e This decision of the conferees, reach
e tentatively last Saturday, was assail
ed in the Senate yesterday by Demo
crats. Senator Robinson, party leader.
1 agreed to the restoration of this pro
, vision n the interest of hastening the
. legislation, however.
i Several Amendments Dropped.
I Chairman Jones of the Senate Appro
; priations Committee, will report the
s formall agreement to the Senate. He ex
l pressed doubt that a vote will be reach
; ed today.
' I The conference report also eliminated
* the amendment of Senator Couzens.
** Republican, Michigan, requiring that
■ contractors spending the $116,000,000
' {und employ local labor and pay the /
1 highest wage scale prevailing in the ■'
localities.
Amendments of Senators Black
. Democrat, Alabama, and George, Demo-’
crat, Georgia, making available the un
: expended balance of appropriations for
, road construction work ln their States
, without the necessity of the States
. matching the funds, also were stricken
f out.
! Meanwhile, the House Agriculture
i Committee adopted a motion by Rep
. resentative Purnell, Republican, In- f
diana, to invite Secretary Hyde to tes
. tify on the Senate’s $80,000,000 drought
» relief bill. A motion by Representative
1 Jones, Democrat, Tex., to proceed with
. Immediate consideration of the Senate
1 bill was rejected on a strictly party
i vote.
Representative As well, Louisiana,
j ranking Democrat, charged that “the
5 Chairman Haugen said tne eommlt
’ wI H whenever Secretary Hyde
i finds it convenient to testify.
\
i Democrats Gain Seventeen Vetes.
« The House Democrats gained 16 Re
i publican votes and that of the one
) Farmer-Labor member to defeat the
> majority’s attempts to rush through the
s drought bill without amendments, jstrlp
■ ped of authorization for food loans and
, cut from the Senate’s $60,000,000 to half
! that sum.
> The Senate measure was being con
sidered again by the House Agriculture
Committee, which studied the possi
bility of offering It to the membership
- intact as to money, but free of the
: food loan provision. Sometime this
t week or next a vote will be sought.
. To no avail Senator Borah, Repub
; “can. Idaho, had thrown Into the
’ 2f * plea for action, reminding
r colleagues that while they talked
, people were hungry. But at least
. President Hoover had received stanch
, defense from Senator Watson of In-
I diana. the Republican leader. Sena
tor Jones, Republican, Washington,
. last night had taken to the radio to
i j£ v « Jhp public directly a defense of
, the Chief Executive.
President Hoover Defended.
; “He is an innocent of deceit, of what
is called ‘bunk’ and of deception as a
' new-born babe," - said Jones. “He may
make some mistakes—who does not?
That he is denounced as a deceiver of
the people and a ’bunk peddler’ should
meet with the condemnation of every
good citizen, regardless of politics.”
Debate in the House was limited un
der the procedure by which the meas
ure was brought up, but the brevity
appeared to add zest to the vigor with
which Republican and Democrat match
ed words for and against the proposal.
In the end, the roll call showed:
For suspending the rules and passing
the bill: 205.
Republicans: 2(K.
Ackerman, Adkins, Aldrich. Allen. An
derson, Arentz, Bachmann. Bacon, Baird,
Barbour, Beck, Beedy. Beers, Blackburn,
Bohn, Bolton, Bowman. Brand of Ohio,
Britten, Brumm. Buckbee. Burdick,
Burtness, Cable, Campbell of Pennsyl
n.iaiwFarter of California. Chalmers,
Chlndblom, Christopherson, Clagus,
Clancy, Clark of Maryland, Clarke of
New York, Cochran of Pennsylvania,
Cole, Colton, Cooke. Cooper of Ohio.
Coyle, Cramton, Crowther, Culkin, Dal-
Hnger, Darrow, Dempsey, Denison,
Dickinson, Dowell, Dunbar, Dyer of Mis
of New Jersey. Elliott, Ellis,
Englebright, Estep. Esterly, Evans of
California, Finn, Fish, Fitzgerald, Fbrt,
(Continued on Page 2rColumn TIT
ALABAMA BANKS MERGE
[Birmingham Combination’s Assets
Are Over $1,000,000,
Ala., December 16
OP).—The merger of the Bank of Ala
bama with the Ensley National Bank,
combined assets over
$1,000,000, was announced yesterday.
R. A. Terrell, 63, for many years
president of the Bank of Alabama, died
Sunday of wounds which Coroner J.
D. Russum said were self-inflicted.
State Supt. of Banks Dent F. Green
said that a recent report of the
of Alabama showed its affairs to be ln
excellent shape.
ONTARIO HEAD RESIGNS
Ferguson to Represent Canada as
London Commissioner.
„ TORONTO, December 1$ (JP). — o.
Howard Ferguson, 10 years premier of
OnUrK h »nded his resignation to
Lieut. Gov. W. D. Ross yesterday.
Retirement as head of the Ontario
government follows upon his recent
acceptance of the post of high ooin
missioner for Canada in London. He •
will be succeeded by Hon. George S.
Henry, present minister of highways.