Evening star. [volume], January 10, 1932, Page B-1, Image 15

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

Image provided by: Library of Congress, Washington, DC

                
1 WASHINGTON' 1 m&rn tuf
“ — Washington" h Sunday morning^ January 10, 1932. * _______ _ page b—1
. ____— -— — "__ ■ ' "■■■ r . - 1.1 1 — " 1 - ■" - — —— .
DEAD, TWO GASSED
AND ONE WITH RDM
Coroner Orders Autopsies
Tomorrow on Victims Be
fore Giving Verdict.
FUMES LEAD TO FINDING
OF MAN AND EX-SOLDIER
Third Fatality Is Believed Caused
by Alcoholism When Police
Find 24 Empty Bottles.
Two men were found dead last night
In a gas-filled room in a lodging house
at 612 G street.
The men. one of whom was tenta
tively identified as Harry J. Smith, an
ex-soldier, were discovered a short time
after another man was found dead, sup
posedly from alcoholism, in a room in
the Metropolitan Hotel, 487 Pennsyl
vania avenue.
The gas victims w’ere discovered by
Howard Heffron, son of Mrs. Mary
Heffron, owner of the rooming house.
Heffron went to the men's room after
other lodgers had gone to his home at
616 G street and complained of the
fumes.
Gas Tube Disconnected.
Kicking open the door, Heffron found
the men sprawled across the bed, one
of them only partly dressed. The gas
light in the room was lit, and Heffron
traced the fumes to a small stove. A
rubber tube usually attached to the
stove was disconnected and one of the
burners wTas partly turned on. Both
windows were closed.
Deputy Coroner Nicholas J. Murphy,
who was called to investigate the
deaths, expressed surprise that there
had not been an explosion.
Although no liquor was found in the
room, police learned the men had been
drinking Friday night. An empty bay
rum bottle was in the bathtub.
Dr. Murphy said the deaths seemed
accidental, pointing out that one of the
men may have stumbled against the
stove, turning the burner control and
disconnecting the tube, while preparing
for bed.
Army msenarge is rounu.
The deputy coroner withheld his of
ficial verdict, however, pending autop
sies. The post-mortems probably will be
performed tomorrow, he said.
An Army discharge bearing Smith’s
name was found In one of the men’s
clothing. The other man was known to
fellow' roomers only as “Mac," despite
the fact he Is said to have stayed there
several times previously.
The pair rented the room last Mon
day night, the man believed to have
been Smith paying the rent. His com
panion is thought to have been unem
ployed.
Third Autopsy Ordered.
The man found dead in the Penn
sylvania avenue hotel was identified as
William H. Smith, 60, a cook. He was
discovered by the proprietor, who went
to his room to awaken him.
The theory he may have been the
victim of alcoholism w’as adopted when
police found about two dozen empty
bay rum bottles in the room. Coroner
Joseph D. Rogers announced that an
autopsy .will be performed tomorrow.
According to police, William H. Smith
was attacked about two months ago by
a man who Is now serving a 30-day
sentence in the District Jail on an as
sault charge.
- »
FOUR MEN ARRESTED
IN RAID ON “STUDIO”
—
Police and Federal Officers Also
Seire Gin. Whisky and
Alcohol.
Raiding an establishment reputedly
known as “The Studio" on the third
floor of 1636 Connecticut avenue late
yesterday afternoon, police and Federal
officers arrested four men and reported
seizure of a small quantity of gin,
whisky and alcohol. Bottling apparatus
also was taken.
The prisoners were booked at the
third precinct as Patrick Jeremiah
Aheam, 27 years old, 2000 block of Six
teenth street; Harry William Wood, 29,
700 block of Seventeenth street, and two
colored men, Joseph Harris Hall. 27, of
the 1100 block of Q street, and John
Kelly of the first block of I street north
east. All were charged with possession
and later released on $500 bond each.
Aheam, known also as Jack O'Heam,
recently was acquitted on a liquor
charge by a Police Court jury.
The police detail was led by Sergt.
George M. Little, who reported that the
raid was staged on a United States
commissioner’s warrant.
The raiders ransacked a desk, care
fully examining papers there, and also
took pictures of the rooms.
GLASSFORD MAKES PLANS
FOR TRIP TO FLORIDA
Expects to Leave When He Re
covers From Cold Contracted
Last Week.
Still confined to his home on ac
count of a heavy cold. Brig. Gen. Pel
ham D. Glassford, superintendent of
police, it was learned yesterday, is con
templating a trip to Florida as soon
as he recovers.
Gen. Glassford caught cold after his
return last week from a brief holiday
trip and was ordered to bed when his
temperature became abnormal. In
spector E. W. Brown, commander of
the Traffic Bureau and senior assist
ant superintendent, is acting head of
the Police Department in Gen. Glass
ford's absence.
NOLLE PR0SSES CHARGES
Men Arrested for Distributing
Handbills to Jobless Freed.
Stating it can in no way be termed
a violation of law to distribute liters
• ture among a street crowd, Assistant
Corporation Counsel Raymond Sparks
yesterday nolle prossed charges against
two alleged radicals arrested for dis
tributing communistic handbills and
circulars to members of Father Cox's
Jobless army here Thursday.
The men, Walter V. McCormick,
Baltimore, and Frederick Hannover of
Michigan, were arrested on Maine ave
nue. Police said they were giving
members of the unemployed army va
rious circulars and handbills contain
ing literature strictly communistic in
nature.
$
Fights to Keep Child
MOTHER SEEKS TO PREVENT REMOVAL FROM CITY.
MRS. MARGIERITE MESN’Y HARTIG AND JOAN CLAIRE. «
—Star Staff Photo.
AFTER spectacularly recovering
her 2-year-old daughter in Am
sterdam. N. Y., Mrs. Marguerite
Mesny Hartig. 2817 Eighteenth
street, returned to Washington
and made preparations yesterday for a
legal battle to prevent removal of the
child from the city.
Mrs. Hartig alleged that the child,
Joan Claire, was takep away Thursday
without her permission by the father,
John H. Hartig, former golf profes
sional at the Army and Navy Country
Club in Arlington County, Va. The
ccuple is separated {lending action on
a suit filed by Mrs. Hartig for a limited
divorce.
The first information Mrs. Hartig
claims she received as to Joan's where
abouts was contained in a telegram
from Hartig filed in Washington an
nouncing that he had left for his home
in Amsterdam with her and asking
that her clothes be sent there.
Procures Restraining Order.
Mrs. Hartig procured a restraining
order from Justice Peyton Gordon in
the District Supreme Court prohibiting
Hartig from removing the child from
Washington and left for Amsterdam.
With the aid of Amsterdam police she
went to Hartig’s home, took possession
of the child and immediately returned
to Washington.
Hartig, it was said, visited his daugh
ter-'at the mother's home Thursday
morning, ana iook ner out 10 Duy ner
ice crcaiji at a store not far away on
Columbia road. Several hours later
Mrs. Hartig received the telegram in
forming her that the child was en route
to Amsterdam.
Hearing on the temporary restraining
order is set for January 16, at which
time Raymond Neudecker, Mrs. Har
tig's attorney, intends to ask Justice
Gordon to make it a permanent in
junction.
Violation of Order Denied.
Joan once before figured in litigation
between her mother and father during
Mrs. Hartig’s suit for divorce. The
court then left the child with her
mother, but gave the father permission
to see her at any time.
Henry Gilligan, attorney for Hartig,
said hts client had not violated the
court order in taking the child to Am
sterdam. He said Hartig had advised
him he planned to take the child to
his home for a visit and had informed
his wife of her whereabouts.
The Hartigs were married about four
years ago and separated last August at
Saranac Lake, N. Y. Hartig has a
distinguished war record, and is the
only American professional golfer to
have been awarded the Victoria cross
by the British government. The award
was made for “distinguished bravery
under fire” in 1918 near Loos.
POLICEMAN FREED,
IUDGE RIFS “LIES"
Three Witnesses Accused of
“Framing” Cullinane in
Brutality Case.
Pvt. Jeremiah J. Cullinane, suspend
ed since Christmas day following an al
leged attack on a prisoner in the first
precinct'police station, was acquitted by
Judge Isaac R. Hitt in Polic Court yes
terday in a statement in which he ac
cused three Government witnesses of
“deliberately" lying in order to “frame"
the officer.
Police officials were undecided after
the trial whether Cullinane would have
to face the Police Trial Board. Their
indecision was due to the fact the of
ficer was on probation as a result of
prior trouble. ....
The three witnesses named by the
judge were Que Johnson and Benjamin
Samuels, both colored, and Matthew
Murray, all of whom were locked up at
the precinct at the time of the alleged
assault The statements these men
made to Capt. William Holmes several
hours after Wilbur Hoffman, 24. was
found with a bleeding mouth and two
front teeth missing, led to the suspen
sion of Cullinane and his subsequent
prosecution.
Pair Due to Go rree.
Johnson and Samuels are due to be
released today from the District Jail
where they have been serving a 48
hour term given them by Judge Hitt for
disobeying his order Friday that all
witnesses were to leave the court room
before the beginning of the trial.
The two, along with Murray, had
stated they saw Policeman Cullinane
drag Hoffman from his cell and strike
him twice in the mouth, knocking out
two teeth. The officer denied this
stating Hoffman was drunk and he used
only necessary force to remove him to
another cell. . . ,
Hoffman, who had been arrested by
the night watchman of a shoe store at
Seventh street and New York avenue
on a charge of housebreaking, admitted
he was drunk at the time. Whether
he was struck in the face by a police
man or fell against the bars of the cell,
he did not remember. A score of char
acter witnesses and many officers who
were on duty at the time appeared for
Cullinane.
Many Clashes Mark Trial.
The two-day trial was marked by
frequent clashes between Assistant
United States Attorney Michael F.
Keogh and James A. O'Shea, defense
counsel. The former charged Johnson
and Samuels had actually entered the
witness room after the judge's order
and had been ‘'framed” and led back
into the court room by some one wish
ing to disqualify them. Later Johnson
stated he had not been in the witness
room and upon questioning by O'Shea,
the police officers who were in the
room said they had not seen either of
the men there. , ,
In his statement at the conclusion
of the trial, Judge Hitt said:
"There is no doubt in my mind that
three of the Government witnesses in
the case. Johnson, Samuels and Mur
ray, deliberately and wilfully lied in
order to frame the officer. This fact,
combined with the testimony given by
the score of character witnesses, com
pels me to find Cullinane not guilty."
The judge said later he contemplated
taking no action against the three men.
Two Confess Holdup.
SACRAMENTO, January 9 (A>).—
Howard Carman, 32. of Deer River,
Minn., and Morris Shandler, 23-year
old salesman of Harrisburg, Pa., were
said by police here today to have con
fessed they held up and robbed a local
restaurant last night.
4
ELECTRIC RATE CUT
EXPECTED FOR 0. C.
Officials, Awaiting Hearing
January 25, Are Confident
of Success.
District officials are confident that
the electrical-rate hearing on Janu
ary 25, announced yesterday by the
Public Utilities Commission, will re
sult in reductions to consumers during
1932, based on the order of last June
setting up a new sliding scale of rates
for the Potomac Electric Power Co.
Only court intervention prior to that
date can prevent the first rate revision
ungovemed by the consent decree of
December, 1924, which has since de
termined the charges for electricity in
Washington. Arguments will be heard
in the District Supreme Court tomor
row on the motion of the power com
pany to advance the date for the hear
ing on its application for an injunc
tion setting aside the Utilities Com
mission's order for the new rates. It
was regarded as doubtful whether the
power company attorneys would press
the motion at this time.
Brief Hearing Expected.
There is every expectation that the
public hearing on January 25 will be
a brief one. The commission was ex
pected to fix the new rates in accordance
with its order of last June, which modi
fies the old consent decree and virtually
sets it aside, as the power company
claims.
The appeal of the power company
has been pending in court since the
issuance of the order. Under the con
sent decree the old commission and the
power company agreed on a rate base
and to permit the company to earn 7'/2
per cent thereon, keeping profits each
I year in excess of that per cent of re
turn, but using half the excess sum as
a basts for determining reductions for
the coming year. Under this decree the
commtssion now contends that the
power company has harvested such
huge excess profits that a modification
of the decree is necessary in the public
interest.
The new sliding scale, promulgated
last June, fixes 7 per cent as the rate
of return and bases rate reductions on
one-half of the excess profits up to 8
per cent, three-fourths of such profits
up to 9 per cent and five-sixths of all
profits exceeding 9 per cent.
The Public Utilities Commission de
termined to hold the hearings on
January 25 to obtain a true picture of
the company's earnings through De
cember.
Underestimation Claimed.
In previous years when earnings
were determined earlier, the calcula
tions resulted in considerable losses to
consumers, in 1929 the December
earnings were underestimated by ap
proximately $150,000, according to
Raymond B Keech, people’s counsel,
rne following year there was an over
estimation of about $70,000. The es
timations for the two years resulted
in a net loss to the public of approxi
mately $80,000 reflected In the rates.
By revising the rates at this time It
was held that the new scale could be
applied in February, which would mean
the loss of only one month In reduc
tions to consumers. Thereafter, it
would be possible to obtain a true
accounting of all earnings the year
around.
District officials are not apprehensive
on. sc°re that the courts will set
aside the new rate structure and re
store the old consent decree of 1924.
The case probably will not be heard
until after the new 1932 rates have
been determined
CHEST’S SPEAKERS
WILE BE ASSIGNED
TO 635 CONCERNS
Meeting Called Tomorrow on
Group Solicitation for
Instruction.
DATES TO BE ARRANGED
BY CHIEFS OF SECTIONS
Plan for Booking Addresses Due to
Believe Bureau of Task of
Making Assignments.
Pressing needs of the Community
Chest will be outlined to the workers
of 635 business concerns soon by the
group solicitation section of the speak
ers’ unit.
W. W. Wheeler, chairman, has called
a meeting of the section for tomorrow
night at 6:30 o|clock in the Annapolis
Hotel. Among those who will appear
in an advisory capacity will be Lloyd B.
Wilson, chairman of the group soloci
tation unit; Elwood Street, Chest direc
tor; Joseph D. Kaufman, chairman of
the speakers’ unit, and Miss B. Gertrude
Taft, secretary.
Tire gathering will be in the nature
of an- Instruction meeting. Included
will be two model talks, after which
speeches for the various groups may be
patterned. A plan has been worked out
under which speeches for the group
solicitation unit will be arranged with
out imposing a special burden on the
speakers’ bureau for assignments.
“We thought this was necessary," Mr.
Wheeler said, “because we are planning
to place speakers in 635 establishments,
which means that we will handle almost
half of the entire number of speeches
made during the campaign. It would
be manifestly unfair to impose a burden
of this kind upon the small stall of the
speakers’ bureau, although we have
called upon the bureau for co-operation
in the selection of speakers, which has
been cheerfully given.
Speeches to Be Over January 24.
“There has been a chairman ap
pointed for each of the six divisions
and a speaker assigned to each section
of each division. These speakers have
already agreed to address each con
cern in their particular sections.
"Speaking dates will be arranged by |
the soliciting section chief when he
first visits the various organizations.
Under this plan each section chief has
only one speaker to book and each
speaker has only one person to whom
he looks for bookings. Furthermore,
the geographical arrangement of the
unit will make it more convenient for
the speakers because all of their talks
will be made in the same neighborhood.
“So far as possible all talks will be
booked for delivery some time during
the week beginning January 18 and it
is expected that the entire speaking
program will be completed prior to the
opening of the solicitation campaign
on January 24.
“Reserve speakers will be available
at all times and on immediate notice,
so that if for any reason a speaker is
unable to meet an engagement his
place can be filled. If the plan is
fully carried out every group of em
ployes in the Group Solicitation Unit
will be given the privilege of hearing a
Community Chest speaker, provided
that it meets with the wishes of their
employers.”
Speakers Assigned to Teams.
The speakers have been assigned to
teams in each division, with a speaker
for each section, as follow—
Division 101—Rev. Calvert E. Buck,
chairman and speaker for section 1;
section 2, Ensign Gilbert S. Decker; 3,
Frank A, Birgfeld; 4. Charles M. Fyfe;
5, Ralph Campbell; 6. Joseph L. Carter;
7, Isadore Hershfield; 8, B. E. Holmes;
9. Louis Rothschild; 10, Russell Sheik;
11, Oscar Leonard.
j Division 102—Francis F. Miller, chair
| man and speaker for section 1; section
| 2. Isaac Gans: 3, Dr. A. A. Chenay; 4.
Walter McPeek; 5, Frank DeNunzio; 6,
G. G. Coleman; 7, Dorsey Hyde, jr.:
8. J. F. Moulton; 9. Thomas Ellis Lodge;
10. A. C. Mayer.
Division 103—-Rev. Lawrence J. She
han, chairman and speaker for section
1; section 2, Dr. M. D'Arcy Magee; 3.
William Cogger; 4, Willard C. Smith;
5, Philip Biggins; 6, Vernon Lowrey; 7,
Joseph D. Sullivan; 8, A. J. Hickey; 9,
Rev. John K. Cartwright; 10, Rev. Jos
eph V. Buckley; 11-a, Harry O. Hine;
11-b, Wilbert E. Longfellow.
Mrs. El wood Street to Speak.
Division 104—Page McK. Etchison,
chairman and speaker for section 1;
section 2, Eugene Woodson; 3, Dewey
Zirkin; 4, Herbert Wood; 5, Gen. A. A.
Fries; 6. L. B. Nichols; 7, H. S. Fitz;
8, Gen. Anton Stephan; 9, Rufus Lusk,
10, Daniel S. Ring.
Division 105—E. Claude Babcock,
chairman and speaker for section 1;
section 2, Abe Shefferman; 3, A. J.
Driscoll: 4, Israel Mendelson: 5, F.
Regis Noel; 6, C. Leslie McCrae; 7,
Joseph E. Rice; 8, Rev. J. R. Duffield,
9, Joseph L. Gammell.
Division 106—Simon Hirshman, chair- |
man and speaker for section 1; section
2 John Sadler; 3, Leifur Magnusson;
4. Mrs. Elwood Street; 5, Wayne B.
Kendrick. . . _
Reserve speakers—W. W. Wheeler, J.
O. Martin, R. H. Davidson, E. R. El
brecht, E. J. Wagg and R. M. Fowler.
Special Gifts Drive »egins.
Its personnel reduced to 71, the
Special Gifts Unit, charged with solicit- ,
ing donations of $500 or more, launch
ed }ts offensive last week. Clarence A
Aspinwall, chairman, explained the unit
began its task earlier than usual this
year in order to obtain all its pledges
before the opening of the drive proper
January 24.
Mr. Aspinwall expressed particular
satisfaction over President Hoover's re
cent contribution of $7,500 after giving
$2 500 to the District Employment
Committee. The chairman said Mr.
Hoover’s increase of 275 per cent over
what he gave last year and numerous
promises of other donations from 50 to
100 per cent greater than customary
all tended to indicate the Chest’s goal
of a third more than last year would
be realized.
The unit will hold no formal report
meetings this year, announcing its re
sults at the end of the campaign.
Special Gifts Teams Listed.
Team members include:
Team 1, Coleman Jennings, captain;
Frederick H. Brooke, William V. Free
man Richard Y. Hynson, Mrs Fred
erick Hicks, Capt. Louis B. Montiort,
Miss Sallie Phillips and George M.
Whit well. ,
Team 2, Mrs. C. C. Glover, jr„ cap
tain: Mrs. William J. Flather, jr.;
James L. Karrick, Charles P. Stone and
j Spottswood White. ,
1 Team 3 Mrs. Charles A. Goldsmith,
captain; Clarence Phelps Dodge, Philip
Friedlander D. J. Kaufman, Joseph
D. Kaufman, Dr. Fred W. Perkins Mrs.
L. B. Schloss. Arthur Sundlum and Mrs.
Alexander Wolf.
Team 4, George Hewitt Myers, cap
"""(Continued" on Page 5, Column 4.)
Giassford to Halt
Officers Soliciting
Congressional Aid
ill Make Political Inter
cession Matter of
Record.
Brig. Gen. Pelham D. Giassford, su
perintendent of police, it was learned
yesterday, intends to put a stop to the
practice of policemen seeking the aid
of members of Congress or other in
fluential persons in an effort to get pro
moted or transferred.
Such a practice already is forbidden
in the police manual, but despite the
rule Gen. Giassford had his attention
called recently to several cases of mem
bers of the force who solicited congres
sional aid. Both men were warned, and
on the record of one of them the po
lice superintendent had a notation
made that he had been transferred at
the request of a member of Congress
whose aid he had sought.
Although Gen. Giassford has not of
ficially announced his policy with re
spect to policemen who seek influence,
it is understood he plans to make such
cases a matter of record. As no police
man likes to have his official record
cluttered up with suph data, the police
superintendent is said to believe his
remedy will be effective.
PROMISES SPEEDY
ML FOR SLAYING
Prosecutor Sees Early Action
Against Tilburg in Di
vorcee’s Murder.
Quick disposition of the case of War
den L. Tilburg, 52, confessed slayer of
Mrs. Jeanette Hendricks, 44-year-old
divorcee, was promised last night by
Assistant United States Attorney John
j gij-jca
The evidence in the case, including a
signed confession in which Tilburg ad
mitted beating Mrs. Hendricks to
death with a poker, will be presented
to the grand jury early this week, Si
rica declared.
“If Tilburg is indicted, the case will
go to trial within the next fe^ weeks,”
the prosecutor added. ,
Tilburg, a former cook at Walter
Reed Hospital, was held for the grand
jury on a murder charge following an
inquest yesterday. His confession, in
which he explained that he attacked
Mrs. Hendricks after she refused to
permit him to call on her again, was
read to the jury by Detective Sergt.
John Flaherty.
The confession described Tilburg's
romance with Mrs. Hendricks, which
began in Baltimore shortly after she
and her husband, Sergt. Earl W. Hen
dricks, U. S. A., were divorced about
three years ago. It told of frequent
quarrels over another man and of the
events preceding the killing.
Tilburg, according to the confession,
accompanied Mrs. Hendricks to the cel
lar of her home at 2318 Eighteenth
street to help her fire the furnace yes
terday morning. He had the poker in
his hand when she announced her de
cision not to see him again, he said,
and “something seemed to break” in his
head. He struck her over the head with
the poker, he added, and when she fell,
he stood over her, raining blows upon
her.
Hid in Cellar.
Following the inquest, which was con
ducted by Deputy Coroner A. Magruder
MacDonald, detectives revealed that
Tilburg remained in the basement until
a short time before the body was dis
covered by Wess A. Coleman, a roomer.
Tilburg, it was said, secreted himself
when Coleman went to the cellar to
hang up some clothes for Mrs. Ella
Bozdale. another roomer.
Coleman did not discover the body
until he returned to the basement later
to put some coal in the furnace. By
that time, Tilburg had left, walking to
his home in the 600 block of Massachu
setts avenue and going to bed. He was
still asleeo when Detective Sergt. Harry
K. Wilson, Floyd "ruscott and Dennis
J. Murphy found him.
Before the inquest, Tilburg became so
nervous that he had to be taken to
Emergency Hospital for treatment. He
was still in a nervous condition when
taken to the morgue, keeping his gaze
fixed on the floor and apparently pay
ing no attention to the proceedings.
He looked up only once—when De
tective Sergt. John Flaherty showed
the jury the twisted, blood-stained poker.
With a shudder, he quickly averted his
gaze.
Ex-Husband Sought.
Mrs. Hendricks’ body still lay un
claimed in the morgue last night. Her
husband, who has remarried, is named
beneficiary in several insurance policies
found among her effects, and police
are endeavoring to locate him. When
last heard of, he was stationed at Col
lege Park.
Detectives also are endeavoring to
communicate with the dead woman’s
brother, Charles Herman, who is said
to be living in Pennsylvania. She is
said to have had no other relatives.
Besides Flaherty, the only witnesses
called by Dr,. MacDonald were Cole
man and Mrs. Bozdale. The former
told of finding the body, while the lat
ter declared she was present when Til
burg begged Mrs. Hendricks to marry
him the night before the slaying. Mrs.
Hendricks ridiculed the proposal, the'
witness added.
MISSING BOY SEES
MOVIE SHOW 4 TIMES
Closing Time Reveals 9-Year-Old
Visitor for Whom Search
Covered City.
Somewhere in the city—he doesn’t Just
knew where—there is a motion picture
so enthralling that 9-year-old Sidney
Braddy sat through four showings while
bis parents, who are visiting here from
Tennessee, sought vainly to find him.
Police had sent “lookouts" all over
the city, the boy’s description had been
broadcast over one of the local stations
and the co-operation of newspapers had
oeen asked in the search. But it was
not until 11:30 o’clock, after the last
show was out, that young Sidney re
turned to 2234 Decatur place, where
his parents are visiting.
The boy had disappeared about 1
o’clock, according to his father, Rev.
T. R. Braddy, a Baptist minister.
$5 IN PENNIES TAKEN
Meld up at the point of a pistol as
lie stood in the doorway of his home,
Martin Gorman, 449 Manor place, was
robbed of $5 in pennies last night.
Gorman, a newspaper route agent,
reported to police that when he an
swered a knock at his door he found
himself facing a pistol in the hands
of a white man about 40 years old.
Gorman furnished police a descrip
tion of the robber.
EFFICIENCY BUREAU
ACTION ON IYIAPES
BILLS IS URGED
Capper Also Asks Data on
Past Studies of District
Taxation.
CREDIT UNION BILL
MAY BE CONSIDERED
Bride Promises Report on King
Measure to Increase Commis
* ' sioner's Power.
With the Mapes Committee bills re
lating to District taxation and fiscal
relations sent to the Bureau of Effi
ciency for study, the Senate District
Committee probably will take up other
pending legislation while waiting for
the bureau’s report.
In transmitting the bills to the Effi
ciency Bureau. Chairman Capper asked
that the report be made at the earliest
possible date and suggested also that
the bureau give the Senate group the
results of its past studies of District
taxation. The bureau was requested to
make a report on each of the Mapes
bills, which are: To impose an estate
tax in the District, a local income tax,
an increase of 2 cents in the gasoline
tax, a tax on automobiles by weight
and a bill which seeks to repeal the
substantive law of 1922 which estab
lished 60-40 as the ratio of expense
between the District and Federal Gov
ernments. Since 1925 the House has
Insisted on annual lump-sum Federal
contributions, but the substantive 60-40
provision has never been repealed.
Delay Action on Eigen.
If the Senate committee meets this
week it probably will take up the bill
to authorize creation of credit unions
and one or two other pending measures.
The Senate laje yesterday referred
the nomination of Riley E. Eigen, ap
pointed by President Hoover to succeed
Harleigh H. Hartman on the Public
Utilities Commission, to the District
Committee for report. Senator Capper
said he would wait about a week before
seeking committee action on the nomi
nation.
With regard to Senator King’s bill
to increase the general powers of the
District Commissioners, Corporation
Counsel Bride has promised to prepare
within 10 days a statement showing in I
detail how the authority of the city
heads would be broadened by the
measure.
Asks Boiler Inspectors.
Senator Capper yesterday introduced
at the request of the Commissioners a
bill to authorize appointment of addi
tional boiler inspectors for the District
and to establish a new sliding scale of
fees for inspection of boilers, ranging
from $3 to $15. The Commissioners
estimate the bill would give the District
revenue of $15,000 the first year of its
operation.
The Commissioners explained the
present law, passed many years ago,
provides for a steam boiler inspector,
whose compensation is derived from the
fees assessed for inspections. Because
of the growth of the city and the in
creased number of boilers, the Commis
sioners said it is impossible for one in
spector to make annual inspections.
The bill provides for appointment of
inspectors under the classification act.
Another bill introduced yesterday 1s
intended to amend the 1929 law which
empowered the Commissioners to apply
to the District Supreme Court for orders
to sell property bought in by the Dis
trict at tax sales. The amendment re
lates to the method of determining the
parties that should be made defendants
in such proceedings and how to give
notice to those having an interest in
th^ properties. .
MAGAZINE SALES
CHARGES CHANGED
New Papers Replace Quashed Ac
tions Not Believed Specific
Enough for Legal Test.
The original charges filed against six
magazine dealers in Police Court were
quashed yesterday and new papers filed.
In these, each dealer is charged with
the sale of a specific magazine which
was designated as “indecent” in United
States’ Attorney Leo A. Rover’s drive to
suppress three new humorous publi
cations.
The action was taken when Assistant
United States’ Attorney Michael F.
Keogh discovered the old papers, in
which each of the six was charged with
having for sale all of the three maga
zines, would be attacked by attorneys
representing the dealers. The change
also was made, Keogh stated, to obtain
a ruling on the propriety of each pub
lication.
The six men involved in the test
cases are to go on trial before a Police
Court jury Wednesday. Action in the
cases of 127 other persons arrested in
the drive will depend upon the out
come of these cases.
IOWA SOCIETY TO DANCE
A reception and dance will be held
jy «the Iowa State Society of Wash
ngton next Saturday evening at 8
>’clock. Mrs. Herbert D. Brown, author
)f “Grandma Brown’s Hundred Years,"
will be the speaker on the program,
which will be followed by dancing and
;ards. Music will be furnished by
Bemie Schultz’s famous orchestra, of
Iowa men.
Will Talk Taxes
SENATOR HTRAM BINGHAM.
TALK ON TAX PLAN
Will Discuss Mapes Bills and
U. S. Deficit at Trade
Board Meeting.
Senator Hiram Bingham of Con
necticut will discuss the proposal of the
House to increase taxation on Washing
ton residents, as well as national eco
nomic matters, as principal speaker and
guest of honor at the January meeting
of the Washington Board of Trade
Thursday evening at the Willard Hotel.
Senator Bingham, a member of the
Senate Committees on Appropriations,
Finance and Rules, also is chairman of
the subcommittee for the District of
Columbia on the Appropriations Com
mittee and is well versed on the proper
fiscal relations between Federal and Dis
trict governments.
Deficit to Be Discussed.
Aside from the local question of the
$4,000,000 boost in the Washington tax
burden, proposed in the bills passed by
the House on recommendation of the
Mapes Committee, Senator Bingham
will discuss the deficit in the United
States Treasury and the failure of the
Federal Government to meet its budget.
His address on both national and
District financial problems is regarded
as particular^ important and timely,
due to the highly important actions
which are to be taken on both subjects
at the current session of Congress.
Due to his position in the Senate, a
large national interest is attached to
his position regarding the present fiscal
policy of the National Government and
his suggestions concerning their dis
position, because of his standing as one
pf the leading economists in the Senate
and one of the prominent Republican
leaders of that body.
Soldier, Aviator and Author.
In addition to his service in the
Senate, the Connecticut leader has had
a distinguished career as soldier, aviator,
author and explorer.
In his statements regarding national
fiscal matters, Senator E lgham is ex
pected to discuss a number of reforms
which he feels will be necessary in the
fiscal policy of the United States in
order to accomplish a balanced budget.
Of still greater immediate importance
to Washington is the stand he will take
in regard to the fiscal relations between
the District and the Federal Govern
ments. In this connection he will refer
to the tax problems which arise from
the report of the Mapes Committee of
the House, the proposed Washington in
come tax act, increased gasoline tax, the
inheritance tax and the proposal to
eliminate from substantive law the pro
vision that 60 per cent of the costs of
the District Government should be paid
out of national funds.
Senator Bingham last year led the
fight on behalf of the residents of the
District which brought about a com
promise between the Senate and House,
resulting in appropriation of an addi
tional $500,000 on the part of the Na
tional Government. This raised the
Federal lump sum appropriation toward
the costs of the National Capital from
$9,000,000 to $9,500,000.
Several other speakers are to address
the Board of Trade on current topics
at this meeting. George W. Offutt,
president, will preside and musical en
tertainment will be furnished by
Charles Trowbridge Tittmann. Arrange
ments are being made by the board tc
accommodate more than 1,000 member;
and guests at this meeting.
-•
NEW TRAFFIC SIGNALS
ARE EASIER TO READ
“Stop” and “Go” Letters on Sema
phores Are Inlaid With Be
flecting Buttons for Test.
A new type of traffic semaphore de
signed for better visabllity at night is
being experimented with by the Traffic
Bureau, according to an announcement
yesterday by Inspector E. W. Brown.
Instead of painting the words “Stop”
md “Go” on the semaphore, the letters
ire inlaid with reflecting buttons which
illuminate when the rays of an auto
mobile headlight strike them.
The first of the new semaphores is
being used by the traffic officer at the
ntersection of Twelfth street and
Pennsylvania avenue.
The new type semaphore was made
is a result of complaints by motorists
hat they could not distinguish at night
:he “Go” from the “Stop” signal be
muse of the poor illumination pro
vided by the oil lamps.
BEGGAR ARRESTED BY GLASSFORD
FREED AFTER FOUR DAYS IN JAIL
Judge Acts After Examining Record and Fund Is Raised
for Journey Home.
Freed after a four-day stay in jail,
Harry E. Shipley, 39, arrested last week
by Brig. Gen. Pelham D. Glassford,
who said the man attempted to "pan
handle” a dime, was on his way last
night to his home in Baltimore.
Judge Gus A Schuldt upon Gen.
Glassford's testimony last Tuesday had
sentenced Shipley to 30 days in jail.
He recalled him from Occoquan yes
terday and suspended the remainder of
the sentence. The judge said he took
the action after receiving a report of
the man’s past record from Probation
Officer Robert Smith.
Following the judge’s action court at
taches raised a collection to enable
Shipley to ride home.
While Shipley, it was said, had been
arrested several times in different cities
)
for being drunk, there were no arrests
of serious consequence to mar his rec
ord. The man, saying he had come to
Washington in search of a job, assured
the judge he would not return to the
city unless it was absolutely necessary.
After Shipley’s arrest Monday it was
discovered he had a razor and a cake
of soap in his clothes. A charge of
carrying a deadly weapon, which was
placed against him with the one of
“soliciting alms,’’ was dismissed by
Judge Schuldt.
In freeing Shipley, the judge ad
monished him to be careful about car
rying a razor with him in his travels.
Shipley replied that he had to shave.
The magistrate then advised him to
patronize a barber or let his beard
grow.
GAIN IN ARRESTS
OF D. C. BOYS FOR
DRINKING CLAIMED
\
Tydings Reads Police Figures
in Senate Debate on
Beer Proposal.
HOWELL AND BROOKHART
DEFEND PROHIBITION
Nebraskan Blames Local Situation
on Repeal of Law to Keep
Liquor From Minors.
Dry law enforcement, In Washington
was injected into the Senate debate
late yesterday, with Senator Tydings,
Democrat, of Maryland, contended the
number of youths being arrested here
for intoxication has increased Under
prohibition, and Senator Howell, Re
publican, of Nebraska, replying that his
local enforcement bill is intended to
keep liquor from minors.
Senator Brookhart, Republican, of
Iowa, also replied to Senator Tydings
and defended prohibition.
Senator Tydings had been discussing
prohibition nationally and urging modi
fication to permit beer, when he turned
to Washington, declaring:
“If any of you think prohibition can
be lnforced, mark these figures, not
from Chicago, not from New York City,
nor from any of the great metropolitan
areas, but right here in Washington,
where you, the members of the Senate
and of the House and the President
have complete and absolute jurisdic
tion over everything that takes place.”
Reads Figures from Police.
He then read the following figures
he said he had just received from the
police, of the number of persons under
21 years of age who have been ar
rested for drunkenness in the District
by years: In 1926, 340 persons; 1927,
420; 1928, 396; 1929, 368; 1930, 355,
and 1931, 388.
“For 10 years preceding prohibition,”
Senator Tydings continued, “an aver
age of less than 75 persons a year were
arrested, under 21 years of age, for
drunkenness in this city, and now the
average is over 350. If Congress can
not do any better in this city, which
is under its absolute control, are we
going to be hypocrites enough to point
the finger of scorn at Chicago, New
York, Philadelphia or Boston, or any '
other place?”
Interrupting the Marylander, Senator
Howell of Nebraska, asked: “If I un
derstand the Senator aright, prior to
prohibition, there were 75 minors ar
rested in the District annually for
drunkenness and now there are some
thing like 350.”
“So the police say—72 to be exact,”
said Tydings.
Recalls Repeal of Law.
"The Senator will recall,” Senator
Howell replied, “that prior to the date
of which he speaks there was a law
here in the District which made it an
offense to give a minor liquor, and that
that law was repealed, and recently I
have been endeavoring to have a bill
passed here that would make it an of
fense to give or supply a minor with
liquor, and the distinguished Senator
from Maryland was one of those who
have prevented the passage of that bill,
and now he charges and criticizes the
condition which exists here in the Dis
trict.”
Senator Tydings also gave the fol
lowing figures as representing the num
ber of persons under 21 years of age
arrested for violations of the prohibi
tion act, such as selling and manufac
turing: 1926, 275; 1927, 243; 1928, 331;
1929, 327; 1930, 333, and 1931, 249.
Senator Howell’s District enforce
ment bill has been reintroduced at this
session, but has not yet been taken up
in committee. It was before the Senate
at the last session, but did not reach a
final vote.
Senator Bingham, author of a bill
designed to legalize 4 per cent beer,
yesterday presented to the Senate
committee holding hearings on beer
what was called a “prosperity chart,”
prepared by the Crusaders.
Adoption of the bill, he said, “would
create close to a billion-dollar indus
try, raise at least $400,000,000 in taxes,
employ thousands of men,” and in
crease grain prices.
Urges Low-Price Beer.
Representative William E. Hull, Re
publican, Illinois, told the committee
members he had been a distiller for up
ward of 20 years and pleaded for beer.
He favored 3.2 per cent alcohol by
weight, which he said was 4 per cent by
volume as proposed by Bingham. Un
less beer that satisfies the people is
permitted, he said, they "will go back
to bootleg brew.” He thought beer is
sued only in pint bottles and sold at
low prices would help do away with
speakeasies.
Frank J. Delany Chicago grain trader,
and John R. Mauff. representing barley
growers of the Northwest, supported the
position of Hull and Bingham.
Modification proponents again will be
heard tomorrow at the third session of
the subcommittee. Prohibition leaders
will be heard at sessions beginning
about January 22.
Jail Congestion Cited.
Tydings asserted the “jails are full
of men convicted of violating prohi
bition laws and we are asked for $5,
500,000 for more jails.”
He added:
“What better evidence than that do
you want to prove the law is being
flouted East and West, North and
South?”
The Maryland Democrat then at
tacked Senate colleagues who failed to
take either one side or the other of
the prohibition question.
“Most candidates are praying to God
they may get by without having to take
sides, he said.
"When the dry leaders over there say
forward march, you drys better goose
step. I venture to say that if Bishop
Cannon, jr.; Clarence True Wilson and
their satellites were to take a boat and
say they were going to the North Pole,
we’d put this beer bill through in 24
hours.”
Law Success, Says Brookhart.
Senator Brookhart challenged a state
ment by Tydings that there was a boot
legger for every corn stalk in Iowa. The
Iowan, computing while he stood on his
feet, said there were 450,000,000 stalks
af corn in his county.
“That’s a sample of the booze argu
ments,” he said. “Intellectual prosti
tution couldn't describe these argu
ments.”
Brookhart said he had seen more
irur.ks among Congressmen during one
week in Washington before prohibition
:han he had seen in the city in the last
line years.
"Prohibition has succeeded,” he said.
‘It has succeeded even in Baltimore
ind New York City. The question has
lever been fairly stated by the wets."