Evening star. [volume], October 25, 1931, Page B-5, Image 17

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

Image provided by: Library of Congress, Washington, DC

                
RAIL COMMISSION
FACES BIG ISSUES
Spirited Fight Expected on
Merger Plan and Bus
Control.
With the next move in the freight
rate cue now up to the railroad*, the
tmssportatlon world ix awaiting action
by the* Interatate Commerce CcmmLs
aion on two more Important issues,
consolidation and bus-truck regulation,
both of which are due to be productive
of fireworks in the next few months.
On consolidation the commission
must act on the petition of the East
,l. cm carrier* to align themselves into
four great systems, with present indi
cations being that Congress will seek
to have a say on the matter, although
under existing legislation the matter is
one entirely within the province of the
commission itself.
’’ On the bus-truck problem Congress
1* certain to have a say. for here the
commission can act onfy in an ad
visory capacity.
Those familiar with commission pro
cedure believe it will be after the first
of* the year before the consolidation
plan will be taken up.
Hearing la Required.
Under the law a hearing must be held
on the application of the carriers, who
have asked the commission to amend
their own plan calling for a five-system
set-up nnd accept instead the four-sys
tem principle.
Because of the work that necessarily
| will be required in lining up witnesses
for this hearing, it is held certain that
at least 30 days and maybe more will
be allowed from the time the notifica
tion goes out until the case gets un
der way.
The Commission itself must notify
the governors of the States traversed
by the lines affected, and it is up to
the executives to see that other Inter
ested parties are advised.
When the hearing finally gets under
way. a vigorous tug of war is in pros
pct.
Railroad labor, already badly hit by
slackening of business, and fear.
(ul tint mergers would enlill further
t unemployment, ha* served notice that
‘ It Intends to be heard and is expected
to wiel<i tk potent influence.
Coalmens Serve* Notice.
Again, convening of Congress is sure
d to see an effort to enact legislation
to give that body a final say on con
solidation. Notice to this effect has
been served by Senator Cousens, chair
, man of the Senate Interstate Com
merce Committee, where like legisla
tion was sought at the last session of
Congress, concurrently with a move of
the same nature the House.
Other discordant elements are ex
pected to arise in a proposal of such
wide scope, and there also is the fact
that the proposition, while defended
by the carriers as best for public in
terAt, runs counter to commission
views in several important respects.
In this latter connection, however, it
was noted that in the rate decision
this last week the commission had a
good word to say for consolidation na
tionally, though warning that “co-op
eration, which is essential to railroad
salvation,” should Hot be “subordinated
to the consolidation program.”
The commission has been grappling
with the bus-truck problem since a
\ year ago when it launched an Inquiry
under the direction of Chairman Ezra
Brainerd, jr„ and Attorney Examiner
Leo J. Flynn to effect a scheme of
motor-rail co-ordination. The findings
are to be made public soon. Chairman
Brainerd last week told the National
Association of Railroad and Utilities
Commissioners In session in Richmond.
Program Is Prepared.
Chairman Brailierd said the commis
sion would nitrite such “recommenda
tions for additional legislation as it
may seem desirable in public welfare,”
stirring Interest as to the possible sug
gestion that would be made for regulat
ing trucks, a highly controversial issue.
Previously the commission has held
there was no call to regulate trucks
and opponents of regulation contend
that it is not feasible now. Inasmuch
. as the only class that could be reached
| are common carriers, operating be
tween fixed termini, which constitute
only a small percentage of the ve
hicles in service.
Most of the trucking is by contract
haulers, operating wherever they can j
find a load. Opponents say there is I
no way that Federal law can reach 1
these, even though they are engaged in
Interstate commerce, and that to im
pose regulation on the common car
riers subjecting them to a "frozen-rate”
structure and other restrictions would
simply drive them out of business or
cause them to enter the contract field.
They also declare operating costs
would be raised by regulation, depriv- I
ing the public of cheap transportation.
Their contention is that State regula
tion is sufficient.
On the contrary, there is general
agreement that interstate busses, which
universally operate on fixed schedules,
might well be put under Federal law
in the interest of the public. A move
in this direction failed in the last Con
gress.
Rail-Motor Tariffs Loom.
A recommendation that would not
occasion surprise would be for a rate
set-up providing joint rail-motor tariffs,
to give railroads the benefit of truck
ing for short hauls. leading roads
have argued for such a plan. Whatever
is recommended, however, will come
In for a thorough airing tn Congress. I
Meanwhile, the commission will be
forced to take up the rate question
again when the railroads act on the
proposal to set up a pool on some sur
charges offered as a substitute for the
15 per cent horizontal increase which
was denied.
Under procedure decided upon by the
Association of Railway Executives, a
committee will meet with the commis
sion to thresh out this matter and de
cide a course of action which must be
taken by December 1. It was no
known yesterday at the headquarters of
the association here just when this con
ference would be sought.
TORCH SLAYER LOVER
SENTENCED FOR ALIBI
Tried to Aid Defense of One of
Three Killer* in Deaths
of Four.
By the Associated Press
ANN ARBOR, Mich. October 34
Catherine Keller, sweetheart of Fred
Smith, one of three torch slayers serv
ing lfe sentences for killing and burn
ing four young people near here last
August, today was sentenced to four to
live years in the Detroit House of Cor
rection as an accessory after the fact.
A The court recommended that she
Servo the minimum term.
Miss Keller was convicted several
days ago but Judge George W. Sample
deferred sentencing pending the report
of an examination of the body of for
mer Judge Darwin Z. Curtiss of Ypsi
lanti, an uncle by marriage of the
woman. The body was exhumed fol
lowing intimations that his death may
have occurred through poisons. The
report of the examining physician was
that there were no traces of poison in
the body.
The prosecution brought out testi
meny at the trial that Mias Keller at
-9 tempted to build up an alibi for Smith.
“Arsenal” Taken From Trio
ALLEGED ST. LOUIS RACKETEERS ARRESTED IN DRIVE HERE.
' /'•
Above is pictured part of the collection of sawed-off shotguns, revolvers,
etc., confiscated by police yesterday after the arrest of three alleged racketeers
from St. Louis.
THE Detective Bureau's recent
drive against visiting “racketeers”
resulted in the arrest late yes
terday of three alleged gunmen
and the confiscation of a sawed
off shotgun, four revolvers, considerable
ammunition and what was described as
a burglary outfit.
The arrests were made on informa
tion furnished bv Washington “racke
teers,” it was said at polioe headquar
ters last night. The drive was begun
several weeks ago by Inspector S. F. W.
Burke, chief of detectives, after receiv
ing “tips” that some “big shot racke
teers” were establishing headquarters
here.
William Tierney. 31; Percy M. Fitz
gerald. 38. and Albert J. Curley, 33. all
of St. Louis, were the men arrested.
They arc being held for investigation.
According to Edward J. Kelly, as
sistant detective chief, Tierney has
served 10 years at Nashville on a hold-
LONG-TIME BUSINESS
PLANNINGNEED SEEN
Lafollette Is Convinced Council
to Tight Slumps Is
Necessary.
By the Associated Press.
Enough has been sßid before the Sen
ate Manufactures Committee to con
vince its chairman, Senator Lafollette
of Wisconsin, that long-time planning
is needed to prevent business slumps.
The committee is studying proposals
for a national economic council. The
Wisconsin Senator said yesterday the
next witnesses before It would be those
who favor measures to head off busi
ness declines.
H. L. Harriman of Boston, chairman
of a United States Chamber of Com
merce committee, which recommended
that industry set up a national plan
ning board, and Prof. J. M. Clark of
Columbia University, are to be heard
tomorrow.
“I think we have accomplished the
task we set out to do, mainly to get a
picture of the economic trends that pre
vailed prior to the depression and trends
during the depression and in my Judg
ment It is a complete justification for
a serious effort at long-time economic
planning to avoid future business de
pressions," Lafollette sai«.
Harrlman’s committee took the view
industry should do its own economic
planning. Others have said it can only
be done effectively by Government su
pervision and authority.
■' ■ ■ •
Air Honeymooners Delayed.
TEXARKANA, Tex., October 24 t>P».
—The honeymoon flight of Dr. Joseph
Eller and his bride, formerly Miss Arte
mise Elias Calles, from Mexico City to
New York, was halted at Simms, Tex.,
today, when the passenger plane in
which they were ‘traveling was forced
down. Dr. Eller and his bride, the
daughter of ex-Presldent Plutarco Calles
of Mexico, came to Texarkana by bus
and boarded a train for the East
tonight.
I ,11
Music
will always be
a source of
p1 ea sure. It
may be a
source of in
come.
Let your rhildr n learn
music while they are
learning their ABC's.
Sta. them during the
w-hei. impres
sions and r. ent a 1
habits are being
formed. Lessons cost
so little and you can
buy a piano from us
so easily.
Haines
Apartment
Grand
Only *4tts
Homer L.
KITT CO.
Thirteen-Thirty G St.
THE SUNDAY STAR. WASHINGTON, D. OCTOBER 25. 1931 —PART OUE.
up charge; Fitzgerald served a five
year sentence on a burglary charge and
Curley has been arrested nine times in
St. Louis. The three were questioned
last night in connection with a bank
hold-up at Hiawatha, Kans., on Octo
j ber 9, 1931, when *9,000 in travelers’
checks were stolen, according to Pat
! rick Lynch, special investigator for the
1 American Railway Express. Inc.
Tierney was arrested In a downtown
I hotel, where a suit oase containing
burglar's tools and guns was found. The :
two others were arrested within a block 1
of each other in the 1500 block of j
Pennsylvania avenue.
The three men had been here only
about an hour when their whereabouts
was made known to police. Twelve
hours later found them under arrest.
! One of the guns seized was a 45-
caliber revolver, the handle of which
bore several distinct notches, police said.
PLANS RETURN FLIGHT
MEXICO CITY. October 34 WU
Maj. James H. Doolittle, who flew from
| from Ottawa to Mexico City last Tues
! day in 12 hours and 36 minutes, will j
j start at 5:30 a.m. Monday for St. Louts j
t.n his return trip to the United States,
he said tonight.
He expects to stop at Brownsville and
Corpus Christi, Tex., and Shreveport, i
La., and to arrive at St. Louis Mon
day afternoon. 1
I
38 1
ts. ■
%
The economy
of quality
is the greatest
economy of all
There are less expensive ways to build motor cars than the
methods Dodge approves. Less expensive bodies than Dodge
Mono-Piece Steel Bodies. Less expensive brakes than
Dodge weatherproof Hydraulic Brakes. Less expensive
frames than Dodge Double-Drop Box-Center frames. Less
expensive gear shifts than Dodge Easy Gear Shift. Less
expensive Free Wheeling than Dodge Dependable Free
Wheeling. 1 But Dodge stands for quality. Dodge stands
for economy. And now that quality and economy are being
investigated more carefully than ever before, more and more
people are turning to the Dodge Six and Eight. The minute
you get behind the wheel, you will know the reason why.
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factory-wired fer Philco • Traasitane.
PODGE TRUCKS...H TO 5 TONS...S*7S AND UP
■
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•
U. S. WILL RENEW |
GLOBE RESEARCHES!
Abandoned Cornfield to Be
Site of Earth Wobble
Study.
In an abandoned cornfield 28 ipHes
from Washington, near Gaithersburg.
Md., The United States Government
will resume within the next 90 days
a study of how much the earth wobbles.
The last tests were made 17 years ago
by scientists of the Commerce Depart
ments Coast and Geodetic Survey, but
the World War intervened and the
Gaithersburg station was discontinued.
Capt. R. S. Patton, director of the
Coast and Geodetic Survey, said yes- j
terday the work at the GalUvrsburg
plant, which has wide scientific and
geological importance, will be supple
mented by the exchange through gov
ernmental channels of findings made at
similar stations throughout the world,
all necessarily located on the same lati
tude. or parallel on the earth's surface,
at 39 degrees. 8 minutes.
These stations have been located at
Cincinnati, Ukiah, Calif.: Charoloforte,
Sardinia and Mizuaawa, Japan. Obser
vations will soon be started at Kltab,
| Turkestan, Soviet Republic.
i
Plant Is Completed.
Reconditioning of the physical plant'
of the Gaithersburg station has now
been practically completed and the
celestial telescope of 100-magnifying
power, together with other astronomi
cal instruments, will be placed in posi
tion shortly on the grounds cf the sta
tion located on a 500-foot elevation on
the outskirts of the little city.
The Coast Survey has erected a one
story modern dwelling on the premises.
1 with all living conveniences possible; a
one-story office building, two-car ga
rage, an observatory with a sliding
roof, and a small roofed building in
line with the telescope observatory',
which will house two Neon tubes to be
used at night in aligning the astrono
mer's instruments. While other build
ings are heated, there is no heating
plant in the observatory. Work there
must be done without the interference
| of possible heat waves, and observations
j w'ill be carried on in all kinds of
weather.
Survey scientists yesterday e*pl»Hltl
the forthcoming study as follows:
"A phase of ‘pure science' which may
have untold practical value in studies
of climatic changes and other earth
studies, astronomical investigations of
1 the kind will be resumed at the Gaith
ersburg station to determine just how
much the axis of the earth shifts,
i thereby causing the earth to 'wobble'
tn any given amount of time.
I “Many guesses have been made as to
1 Celebrate Golden Wed ling
VIRGINIA COUPLE MARRIED 5« YEARS AGO IN FREDERICKSBURG.
j . Mr. and Mrs. W. C. Oswald will bo the guests of honor at a party today,
when they observe the fiftieth anniversary of their marriage. The couple live
in Washington at 807 Taylor street, the home of Mr. Oswald's sister, Mrs. A
' Morrison, and their daughter, Mrs. George W. Turner. They were married
in Fredericksburg, Va., and lived in Richmond for many years before com mg here.
—-Harris-Ewing Photo.
i |
the cause of this variation in latitude.
Undoubtedly, as the earth spins on its [
axis, it is affected by the great load
J of ice and snow that gathers at the
two Poles. And, too, the Northern
Hemisphere has an irregular distribu
tion of land as compared with the
North Pole. Therefore, one would ex
pect the side of the earth on which the
land is most nearly centered to have
an extra load during the northern
Winter.
“The effect on the earth as it whirls
through the great solar spaces would
be somewhat similar to the effect of
dropping a small amount of sealing wax
on a spinning top. This would cause
the axis of the top to wobble, which
apparently Is Just what is happening
to the earth’s axis during the Winter
because of the accumulation of Ice and
snow In the northern countries.
•‘lnsofar as the Southern Hemisphere
is concerned the South Pole is more or
less symmetrical with respect to the
land masses, so that the extra amount
of ice and snow formed there during
the aouthern Winter would have little
or no effect on the variation of l»titude.
Stars Can Be Checked.
“By placing observing stations all
around the world on the same latitude.
and by functioning through internation
al governmental channels, the same
; stars can be used from night to night,
and the effect of errors in star position
does not enter in the exact work of j
| testing the variations of latitude, or
j ‘wobble,’ of the earth's axis.
“For instance, the latitude may be
increasing In Ukiah. while at a point
| on the opposite side of the earth It
! may be decreasing. This condition
I
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I SCHfIINUCKS :
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> Open Sat. . A SmmU do- ) •
> Until Take Elevators —Upstairs mu wt > -
| »»«• I Oeer—k**- \*
i v L
j clearly indicates to the scientists that
: there is a shifting or a wobbling' of
; the earth's axis within the body of the
earth itself. If it were merely a dis
| regarded shifting of the axis in space
; the sole effect would be the same as
an error computed in the position of
the stars being measured, and all points
on the same parallel using the same
j list of stars would have the latitude in
j creased or decreased by the same
| amount.
I “Because the earth is not a true
| sphere, but a spheroid, bulging at the
equator and flattened at the Poles, a
certain 'wobbling' of the earth in space
| is caused by the attractions of the sun
and moon. Effects of the sun and
! moon on the earth are called ‘mutation
and precession’ by the astronomers, and
are included by observers in star posl- I
tions There is, however, a further un
. explained 'wobbling.', and it is that
| which the world's scientists have been
studying for more than a quarter of a
century.
Held “Pure Research.”
“There is apparently no immediate s
practical value for this variation of lat
itude work. It is a piece of “pure re- i
search," but its results are so Impor
tant to the astronomical world that it
is certain that if the Federal Govern
ment ceased its support of the stations
at Gaithersburg and Ukiah funds would
be sought elsewhere to keep these two
i stations in operation. There are hun
dreds of millions of dollars Invested in
astronomical observatories. buildings
and instruments in this country. There
are .hundreds of observers working
every night with these great and expen
sive instruments. Their results would,
be of little or no value in many cases
unless they could apply certain minute
corrections which result from the ob
servations for variation of latitude at
Gaithersburg and Ukiah in this coun
try, at Charoloforte in Sardinia, Mizu
sawa in Japan and elsewhere. The re
sults are, therefore, of great value in
the field of astronomy.
“There may be. eventually, some re
sults which have a practical value. By
means of the variation of latitude ob
, serrations one can make a very ac
curate test of the rigidity of the earth
as a whole, or what is called its elas
ticity. Astronomers and geophysicists
who have worked on this problem say
that these variations of latitude ob
servations indicate that the earth has
B-5
■ about twice the rigidity of steel. This
1 1 is a matter of geological importance
and every one knows that the science*
of geology is of the utmost value be-*
cause the geological sciences enable ”»
to extract minerals and otr *roir. the
earth more efficiently than otherwise
would be the case. It may be that.,
some day it will be realized that the i
small amount of money, only $5,000 a J
year, spent on Oaithersburg and Ukiah. »
may have a practical value that would *
make this small sum seem entirely in- ,
significant.
Observations Long Kept.
“At the Ukiah station continuous ob- •
servations have been made since its es
tablishment In 1g99. it having suffered
no Interruption of funds because of the .
war. as was the case of the Gaithers- -*
burg station, also established in the
same year. Prior to t.he war these two
stations were financed by the Interna
tional Oeodetic Association. During
the war only Ukiah station was kept
in operation by the Government.
' Some work on variation of latitude
research has already been accomplished
in the Southern Hemisphere and re- _
cently a fresh start has been made on f
this project. Many astronomers are;
anxious to have a row of stations e»- *
tablished in the Southern Hemisphere *
similar to those in the Northern Hem
isphere. Whether this will be done is p
not known as yet. In any event the,',
subject Is likely to come up $t the
meeting of the International Oeodetic *
Association at Lisbon in 1933."
TWO FLYERS KILLED
Three Student Aviators Injured in •
<V.
Ontario Crash.
PETERBORO, Ontario. October 34 «
(VP). —A pilot and a student flier were *:
injured fatally and three other student “
aviators were hurt when a cabin plane
crashed at the airport today. „
The dead were Plight Lieut. Mason «•
Apps. official pilot of the plane, and
Sergt. John Hand of Hamilton, the ,*
student.
The Injured are: Sergt. Humphrey .
Madden, Trail, B. C ; Sergt. G. Keat
ing. Moncton. N. B. and Sergt. G. Gil
lespie, Newcastle, N. B.
The plane cracked up as Lieut. Appa ~
attempted to hurdle a row of trees.
t