Evening star. [volume], May 20, 1932, Image 1

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

Image provided by: Library of Congress, Washington, DC

                
■ H Jla|
■ “From Pres* to Home
WEATHER. .. „
CO. I. Weather Bureau Forecast 1 sf ithin (III Hour
m^oVc^d^P^b^show^^n & The Star’s carrier system covers
afternoon. Temperatures—Highest 70, e7*Ty. e'*7. ^lock *n<|. ,^le. reKuI*r ec*'"
2:30 p.m. yesterday; lowest, 47, at 5 am. tton is delivered to Washington homes
tMhf.. as fast as the papers are printed.
Puli report on page 9. --
CWr M.^,,P.„.U.,dl5 Yeritrdiy’, CircaUtioq,^125,552 ..
n V QO Ifil Bntered as second class matter ^ Means Associated Prese. TWO CENTS.
£<iO. Oiiy-lvJA. post office, .Washington, D. C. _._ ■ - --- - ■■ ■■
FINANCIAL GIANTS'
MOVE TO POT IDLE
MONEY TO WORN
Owen D. Young Heads Group
Composed of Industrialists
and Bankers.
RECOVERY OF PRICES
IS ONE OF OBJECTIVES
Committee Formed to Make Fed
eral Reserve’s Credit Expansion
Policy Effective.
8y the Associated Press.
NEW YORK, May 20.—A new move
to put hundreds of millions of idle dol
lars to work was started today by a
powerful committee of bankers and in
dustrialists under the chairmanship of
Owen D. Yeung. The group was called
together by George L. Harrison, gover
nor of the New York Federal Reserve
Bank, to make the Federal Reserve's
policy of credit expansion effective and
In answer to a demand in many quar
ters for more drastic means of stimulat
ing a recovery in prices.
It was pointed out that in spite of
the fact that the Federal Reserve system
has purchased $725,000,000 of United
States Government securities, releasing
funds capable of supporting $7,250,000
000 of bank credit, the deflation of bank
loans and Investments has been un
checked Fear and uncertainty on the
wart of banks and the investing public
alike have prevented the reserve's
policy from taking its full effect.
Hope to Put Money to Work.
By the formation of the new com
mittee, financial authorities hope to find
the means for bringing together the vast
surplus of idle funds in the banks ana
the many worthy projects in need of
credit that exist throughout the country.
Members of the group said after their
organization meeting yesterday that
nothing sufficiently definite had been
arranged for them to be able to com
ment upon their program. Financial
leaders suggested, however, that one
possible avenue of credit expansion lay
In loans to building and loan societies
bv the large commercial banks, answer
ing a demand for credit for financing of
small homes. .
Another possibility suggested was the
extension of credit to farm loan banks
in order that these institutions might
more freely grant accommodation to the
agricultural districts.
Committee Announced.
The membership of the committee,
as announced by Mr. Harrison, follows:
Owen D. Young, chairman. General
Electric Co., chairman; Mortimer N.
Buckner, chairman, New York Trust
Co Floyd L. Carlisle, chairman. Con
solidated Gas Co.; Walter S. Gifford,
president, American Telephone & Tele
graph Co.; Charles S. Mitchell, chair
man. National City Bank; WUllam C.
Potter, president, Guaranty Trust Co.;
Jackson E. Reynolds, president. First i
National Bank; Alfred P. Sloan, jr„
president. General Motors Corporation;
Walter C. Teagle, president, Standard
Oil Co. of New Jersey; A. A. TUney,
chairman, Bankers’ Trust Co.; Albert
H. Wiggin. chairman of governing
board, Chase National Bank; Clarence
M Woolley, chairman. American Radia
tor & Standard Sanitary Corporation
Banking authorities say one of the
chief difficulties in the way of rapid
and successful operation of the Fed
eral Reserve's credit expansion has been
the concentration of funds hi New
York, principally because bankers in
other parts of the country are either
unwilling or unable to make use of
their funds.
Concentrated In New York.
As the Federal Reserve has purchased
“Governments,” the funds put into the
market have tended to concentrate in
New York, even though much of the
securities purchased by the board have
been sold by banks in other parts of
the country. Many interior banks
wishing to dispose of .some of their
“Governments” will sell them through
New' York, it w'as said, and then leave
the funds on deposit rather than recall
thIrT the face of this piling up of idle
monev here. New York bankers have
had great difficulty in finding employ
ment for money.
It was suggested that the new Finan
cial Committee, providing leadership of
the strongest character, will be able to
devise some means tew make this huge
surplus available where it is most
needed by recommending to banks
worthy outlets for the money, by sup
plying the leadership needed to oppose
(Continued on Page 13, Column 3 )
SENATOR’S MOTHER DIES
Mrs Elizabeth E. Byrnes, mother of
Senator James F Byrnes of South
Carolina, died early today at her apart
ment in the Shoreham Hotel. She w'as
73 years old.
In addition to her son, Senator
Byrnes, she is survived by one daugh
ter, Mrs. Lencre B. Fuller, whose home
also is at the She,reham Hotel. Funeral
services and burial will take place here
tomorrow afternoon.
Summer Styles
Styles for men’s clothing this
Summer are designed to make
every Summer day a comfortable
one. Heat-resisting fabrics are
used in the smartest suits, while
complete mesh accessories are the
latest vogue.
The best offerings of Washing
ton merchants are in the adver
tising columns of The Star.
Yesterday's Advertising
iLocal Display)
Lines.
The Evening Star 53,843
2d Newspaper N . . . . 15,696
3d Newspaper . 8,425
4th Newspaper ... 5,216
5th Newspaper 3,839
Total ... 33,176
The Star carries this great vol
ume of advertising because the
merchants appreciate that their
announcements in The Star reach
practically the entire community
—in both the city and suburbs.
COMMON SENSE OF U. S.
SEEN BRINGING RECOVERY
Social Readjustment Declared Meeting
Present Problems Through American
Ability to Meet Any Emergency.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.
America is undergoing a social read- j
justment, with changes as profound
and fundamental as in any period in
the history of the Republic.
The average American, waiting fever
ishly hitherto for a climax, has just
begun to realize that the process of
change in the United States has been
under way for some time and that
American adaptation to change will be
gradual rather than sudden.
Reflections such as these impressed
themselves on this correspondent dur
ing a two-week journey through several
States, visiting agricultural, as well as
Industrial, localities. Talks with busi
ness men. professional men. leaders of
civic thought, industrial executives,
left these common denominators:
First, the theory that “prosperity"
is “just around the comer" has been
dissipated, and there is a readiness to
accept the readjustment as something
likely to consume three to five years,
with the acute stages probably passing
in 1932.
Second, a deep conviction that Amen
can common sense and versatility will
prevent any catastrophic climax and
will permit’ a mobilization of credits
and resources to meet any emergency
that may threaten.
Third, there is little sympathy with
currency tinkering or gold standard
abandonment, though everywhere
thoughful men congregate they look
askance at the economic paradox pre
sented by a huge class of debtors who
cannot repay 1929 debts in 1932 dollars.
Fourth, whereas a few months ago
everybody had his pet remedy to end
the depression, the overwhelming na
ture of the upheaval has begun to sink
in. and while there is a tendency in
some quarters to look for an early
equilibrium between buyer and seller,
the majority of business men who have
cut overhead and other costs are merely
marking time, waiting for the basic in
dustries to discover a solution and then
pass on to the processors and distrib
utors the business that is expected to j
flow from the lightest revival.
Fifth, discussions of the five-day \
week, fewer hours of labor and produc- i
) tion problems generally are accepted as
largely academic at present, when in so
(Continued on Page 2, Column-^.)
r OF LOBBY
Proposal Stirs Debate on
Import Levies in Billion
Revenue Bill.
By the Associated Press.
A demand for a congressional Inves
tigation of lobbyists was laid before the
Senate today by Senator Wheeler. ,
Democrat, of Montana, in the midst of
debate on the tax bill. Wheeler coupled
with his demand a resolution to au
thorize the inquiry.
Opponents of some of the import ;
levies in the revenue bill have charge*
lobbyists’ influence put them there.
Meanwhile, as the wordy tariff dis
pute held the tax bill motionless in the
Senate, President Hoover emphasized
to congressional leaders that he ex
pected Congress to consider no adjourn
ment plans until the revenue bill is
passed.
New Tariff Threat.
Opponents of the import taxes had
renewed their assault at today’s ses
sion, with a new threat for general (
tariff revision, involving months of'
work, if the oil, coal, copper and lum- j
her import taxes are kept in the bill.
Tariff proponents. Democrats and
Republicans, accepted the defi and
waited for a chance to vote, confident,
of a margin of one or two in their
favor.
Wheeler, in a brief statement ex- ’
plaining the resolution he was intro
ducing, referred to “the recent charge
of the President that lobbyists are
haunting the halls of Congress."
This assertion, he said, and state
ments by Senator Reed. Republican,
of Pennsylvania and others, that lob
byists were throwing all their pressure
on members of Congress, warranted
looking into.
“I therefore offer this resolution to
investigate these charges of lobbyists,"
he concluded.
An extensive investigation of lobbyists
was made by a Senate committee in
1929-30 which continued about ten
months.
Probe Would Be Extensive.
The Wheeler resolution requested that
the Judiciary Committee "investigate
the activities of lobbying associations
and lobbyists and into the charges
made by the President of the United
States and by various members of Con
gress to the effect that a swarm of
lobbyists are haunting the halls of Con
gress._causing delays and seeking selfish
(Continued on Page 2. Column 1.)
YANKEES LEADING
NATS, 5-2, IN THIRD
Find Weaver to Overcome Lead
Gained by Griffs in First
Half of Frame,
• |
BY JOHN B. KELLER.
NEW YORK, May 20—The New
York Yankees were leading the Na- i
tionals here today in the third game of
a five-game series in the third inning.
The score was 5 to 2.
FIRST INNING.
WASHINGTON — Myer popped to
Lary. Manush was hit by a pitched
ball. West sacrificed. Crosetti to
Gehrig Cronin grounded to Lary No
runs.
NEW YORK—Combs walkeed. Cro
nin let Lary's grounder get by for an
error, Combs taking third. Ruth flied
desp to West and Combs scored.while
Lary took second after catch. Weaver
tossed out Gehrig, Lary going to third.
Cronin threw out Chapman. One run.
SECOND INNING.
WASHINGTON—Lazzeri threw out
Reynolds. Judge lined to Crosetti.
Bluege walked Berg sent a long fly to
Chapman No runs.
NEW YORK—Myer threw out Dickey.
Lazzeri tripled to right center. Cros
setti walked. Gomez rolled into a dou
ble play, Cronin to Myer to Judge. No
runs.
THIRD INNING.
WASHINGTON—Weaver bounced a
single off Gomez's glove. Myer forced
Weaver, Gehrig to Lary. Manush dou
bled to left, scoring Myer with the tying
run. West singled to right, scoring
Manush. West took second on the throw
to the plate. Cronin took a third strike.
Reynolds flied to Ruth. Two runs.
NEW YORK—Combs singled to cen
ter. Lary walked. Ruth singled to
right, scoring Combs and sending Lary
to third. Myer went into short right
for Gehrig’s high one. Chapman sin
gled to right, scoring Lary. and sending
Ruth to third. Dickey forced Chapman,
Myer to Cronin. Ruth scoring. Dickey
took second on a balk. Lazzeri smgled
to right, scoring Dickey. Lazzeri was
caught stealing, Berg to Cronin. Pour
runs.
Ik
GARNER STRIKES
AT FINANCE GODY
_
Speaker Says R. F. C. Aids
Railroads, but Fails to Help
Middle Class.
By the Associated Press.
Restrictions on the Reconstruction j
Finance Corporation that prevent the J
board from helping what he termed the ]
"great middle class of producers in the I
country" were criticized today by j
Speaker Gamer in discussing his relief ;
program with newspaper men.
The Texas Democrat said the board j
had helped the big railroads and other 1
interests to meet current bills and to j
pay off debts, but that it had done noth- i
ing to increase employment.
It also, he said, advanced money to |
tenant farmers, whom he described as
the "poorest producers,” but “it has
done nothing to help the great middle
class of producers, which are the most j
substantial and who constitute the 1
backbone of American enterprise." . i
Takes Active Charge.
“What my program is designed to do
is to furnish employment and to aid
the middle class producer."
The Texas Democrat took active
charge of formulating the legislation to
carry out the program he announced
yesterday. He said the legislative draft
ing service was at work on the details,
but declined to say whether it would
be in one or three blils. Indications are
that it will be incorporated into one
measure and handled by the House
Ways and Means Committee.
"The reaction from both Democrats
and Republicans to the program has
been gratifying.” Garner said. “More
than 25 Republicans have come to my
office to express their approval. Of
course, there are some differences of
opinion as to details, but I have not
heard an actual criticism against the
policy."
Colleagues of the Speaker believe he
plans to expedite House action and lay
the bill before the Senate in less than
two weeks.
Discuss Bond Issue.
Before a House Ways and Means Sub- 1
committee, a $500,000,000 bond issue for
financing rivers and harbors and flood
control projects was advocated today.
Chairman Mansfield of the Rivers
and Harbors Committee, sponsor of
the legislation, said his bill was Identi
cal with a measure by Senator Ship
stead. Farmer-Labor. Minnesota.
Inclusion of flood control in the
legislation was suggested by Chairman
Wilson of the Flood-control Commit
tee and accepted by Mansfield.
Wins House Support.
Buried under dissenting Ideas as to
how far the Government should go, the
relief proposition had been more or
less stalled until Speaker Garner yes
terday advanced a plan which won
wide support in the House.
A recommendation also was expected
from the group of Senate Democrats |
under Wagner of New York, who have ;
been busy for a week trying to bridge j
the gap between the Hoover-Robinson
compromise plan and more extensive j
unemployment aid ideas involving j
bond issues which have been advo
cated in the Senate.
Favor* Hoover Plan.
Representative Snell of New York,
the Republican leader, said today that
after a thorough study of the Garner
relief plan he was convinced the sug
gestions of President Hoover for aiding
the States, counties and cities through
the Reconstruction Finance Corpora
tion was preferable to the proposed
billion-dollar bond issue for a public
building program.
"Under the President’s plan," the i
New Yorker said, "it will not be nec- |
essary to increase the burden of taxa
tion on the people at this time when
• the budget is about to be balanced.
Mr. Garner's billion-dollar bond issue
would necessitate levying of additional
taxes for the construction of non-reve
| nue-producing buildings.”
The President and the Democratic
leader got together on a $1,300,000,000
I expansion of the Reconstruction Corpo
: ration capital, with the billion for use
in public and private construction of a
self-supporting character and the re
mainder available for loans to States.
President’s Task Heavy.
Garner called for $2,000,000,000 in
crease in reconstruction funds and
$100,000,000. appropriated without
strings, for the use of the President in
relieving sharp distress wherever it
might exist.
Besides this being a gift proposal,
; opposed by Mr. Hoover in principle, it
appeared unlikely he would care to take
on the task of apportioning the sum
among clamoring States and cities.
However. Representative Snell. Repub
I lican leader, was favorable to the Gar
i ner plan as a basis of getting some
thing "worked out.”
Bomb Brings Arrest.
AUCKLAND, New Zealand, May 20
OP).-—A Russian seaman named George
Sagrlf was arrested near Government
House yesterday with a powerful bomb
in his possession. Police said the mis
sile could have blown up a large build
ing. They found another in the sailor’s
rooming house.
HIGH TAX BURDEN
HERE CITED IN PLEA
FOR FISCAL EQUITY
Citizens’ Committee Submits
Petition for Fair Apportion
ment of D. C. Costs.
RETURN TO 60-40 BASIS
URGED ON SENATE GROUP
Memorial Parkway Law Is Dis
cussed After Testimony of
Col. Grant.
Fortified with statistics showing that
Washington, Instead of being under
taxed, bears a relatively high tax bur
den. the Citizens' Joint Committee on
Fiscal Relations last night laid before
the Senate subcommittee handling the
District appropriation bill a plea for a
fair apportionment between Uncle Sam
and the jocal residents of the costs of
running the National Capital.
With its chairman, Edward F. Colla
day, as spokesman, the Citizens' Joint
Committee refuted the claims of the
Mapes Committee of the House that
Washington is lightly taxed. On the
recommendation of the Mapes Commit
tee, the House is seeking to slash the
Federal share of the pending appropria
tion bill from $9,500,000 to $6,500,000.
Urges 60-40 Basis.
The Citizens' Joint Committee, rep
resenting virtually all organized groups
of Washingtonians, presented to the
Senate subcommittee its petition urging
a return to the 60-40 basis of fiscal re
lations called for by substantive law
and appealing for a substantial increase
in the Federal lump sum as long as the
lump-sum policy is substituted for the
fixed-proportion rule.
Earlier in the day the testimony of
Lieut. Col. U. S. Grant. 3d. director of
public buildings and public parks, ask
ing for elimination of a House provision
which would prevent the Park and
Planning Commission from going ahead
with land purchases under the George
Washington Memorial Parkway law
until further oraers from Congress, led
to a spirited discussion of the memorial
parkway law.
Chairman Bingham of the Senate
subcommittee, referring to that part of
the parkway law which requires the
District to pay back all of the $16,000,- ,
000 authorized to be advanced by the
Federal Government for acquisitions
within the District, declared that the
House "showed no mercy toward the
District taxpayer” in that legislation.
Senator Bingham expressed the belief
that this was done "to get even with
the District on the specious plea that it
was to give the Capital a great park
system.”
Sign Formal Petition.
Mr. Colladay, who was given several
hours for presentation of Washington’s
plea for fiscal equity a* the night ses
sion, was accompanied fcy members of
the Joint Committee representing large
groups of citizens. The formal petition
of the Citizens’ Joint Committee was
signed by the following, representing
their respective organizations.
Mr. Colladay. as chairman; Theodore
W. Noyes, chairman of the Execu
tive Committee; George W Offutt.
president of the Board of Trade;
Harry King, Chamber of Commerce;
C. H. Pope, District of Colum
bia Bankers’ Association; J. F.
M. Bowie, Washington Real Estate
Board; Percy Thompson. Rotary Club;
Robert V. Fleming. Finance Committee
of the Bankers' Association; Joshua
Evans, jr.. Committee on District Fi
nance of the Board of Trade; R. A.
Dickson, Central Labor Union; Dr.
George C. Havenner, president of Fed
eration of Citizens' Associations; Mark
Lansburgh, president of Merchants and
Manufacturers’ Association; George P.
Hoover, Bar Association; Evan H.
Tucker Northeast Washington Citizens’
Association; Eugene R. Woodson, presi
dent of the Kiwanis Club; L. A. Car
ruthers, chairman of Fiscal Relations
Committee of the Citizens' Federation;
E. G. Bliss. Finance Committee of the
Chamber of Commerce, and Mrs. Ruth
S McKelway, president of Voteless D.
C League of Women Voters.
In explaining how the Mapes bill for
the repeal of the 60-40 law and for in
creased local taxes now pending before
Senator Capper’s District Committee,
could properly be discussed before the
Senate Appropriations Subcommittee, i
Mr. Colladay pointed to the House ac
tion, through the D. C. appropriation
bill, of reducing the lump sum from
$9,500,000 to $6,500,000. and of the at
tempt to justify the cut through slash
ing local projects.
Mr. Colladay told the Senators
that in view of the demonstration by
the Citizens' Joint Committey that1
Washington is not undertaxed, as com
pared with other cities, there should be
no increase in taxation in order to re
duce the lump sum.
Before launching into a detailed
analysis of the statistical tables on tax
rates here and elsewhere, Mr, Colladay
stressed the fact that from 1929 to 1931
there was withdrawn from the taxable
area of Washington property purchased
by the Federal and District governments
(Continued (Hi Page 2, Column 3.)
MYSTERIOUS ELEMENT EVADES
PURSUIT BY SCIENTISTS HERE
Substance Sent Here by Finn, Blinded During Experi
ments, Discloses No Trace of "Virginium.”
BY THOMAS R. HENRY.
The mysterious element "virginium"
continues to elude its hunters.
The conclusion of the saddest chap
ter in the long quest for this supposedly
radio-active elementary substance is
I written in cryptic lines on a strip of
photographic plate at the Bureau of
1 Standards.
Dr. William F Meggers of the bureau
staff announced yesterday that, using a
method which would reveal one part in
ten million of the elusive element, which
may be closely akin to and even more
remarkable than radium, he had been
unable to find any trace of the material
in the sample sent here for analysis by
Prof. Gustave A Aartovaara of the
University of Helsingfors. This sample
was the most promising yet offered for
detection of the element.
The sad part of the story is that the
Finnish scholar, who has spent prac
tically a lifetime in the quest, lost his
Vaint g
f)J)EMOCRACK
'WONDERFUL*
/ i
THAT DEMOCRATIC “UNIT” RULE.
HUGE FOODS DEAL
REVEALED IN PRODE
Senators Told $23,500,000
Was Paid for $1,750,000
Investment.
By the Associated Press.
Walter E. Sachs, president of the
Goldman Sachs Trading Corporation,
detailed to the Senate Banking Com
mittee today the payment of >23,500,000
in purchase of the General Foods Co.,
which had an investment of >1,750,000.
Testifying in the stock market in
quiry, he said that in 1929 his firm paid
more than >12,000,000 and the Poatum
Co. more than >10,000,00 because the
General Poods Co. owned valuable
patents for freezing perishable foods.
Previously Goldman Sacha had paid
>1,750,000 for 150.000 shares in the
Postum Co.. Sachs said under ques
tioning by William A. Oray, counsel for
the inquiry.
Details Deal.
Gray went through a complicated de
scription of the deal under which the
Postum company, though it paid less,
got 51 per cent of the stock in the ac
quired company and Goldman-Sachs
got 49 per cent.
Sachs agreed that dividend prefer
ences also were given to Postum and
the 150,000 shares bought by Goldman
Sachs were excluded from the pref- j
erences. i
The Postum stock was sold by Gold
man-Sachs at a loss of $230,000, Gray
said, and the remainder of this stock I
was written off at $1 in 1930.
Sachs said it was written off in the
interests of conservatism, though it had
potential value.
At the outset of today's hearing on
the inquiry, which already has unfolded
a tale of stupendous profits by pool
operations, it_was announced an order
(Continued on Page 2, Column 7.)
MORE TROOPS CALLED
IN INDIA RIOTING
15 Additional Casualties in Hindu
Moslem Disorders. Bringing Total
to Over 100 Killed.
By the Associated Press.
BOMBAY. India. May 20 —Gov. Sykes
today called out the 5th Bombay Field
Brigade, the Royal Artillery Auxiliary
Force and the Bombay Light Horse,
which are made up of non-offlcial Eu- ■
ropeans. to supplement his majesty's j
regular forces in dealing with the
Hindu-Moslem riots.
Although there was less rioting today
and a measurable return of confidence,
the governor thought it necessary to i
call out the additional units as a pre
cautionary measure.
Fifteen deaths were added to the
total of more than 100 killed thus far
I in the rioting. Most of today's cas
ualties were the result of stabbing
affrays.
The Hindus attempted to burn a
Moslem mosque in the mill area early j
in the day, but police prevented it and :
arrested 40 Hindus.
eyesight in a laboratory explosion while
preparing a similar sample shortly after
sending the material to Dr. Meggers.
Because of this tragedy the Bureau of
Standards physicists and spectroscop
ists went to even more extreme lengths
than might have been justified in an
effort to find even the faintest sus
picion of element 87 in the sample. It
simply wasn't there. Dr. Meggers said.
Before losing his eyesight Dr. Aarto
vaara had the satisfaction of hearing
from Dr. Fred Allison of the University
of Alabama that, using the magneto
optical method of analysis on a sample
of the same material, he had been able
to find the missing element. But Dr.
Allison’s method was severely attacked
at a meeting of the American Physical
Society here last month, and a decided
skepticism prevails over the authen
ticity of his results.
If "virginium” in anything like the
minute quantities reported by Dr. Alli
son had been present in the sample.
Dr. Meggers holds, it certainly would
(Continued on Page 2, Column I.)
Dies Suddenly
J .
ADMIRAL W. S. BENSON.
Chief of Naval Operations
During World War Succumbs
at Tracy Place Home.
Admiral William S. Benson, chief of
naval operations during the World War,
died suddenly today at his home, 2420
Tracy place.
Death was due to cerebral hemorrhage.
Admiral Benson was 76 years old. He
retired from active service on reaching
the age of 64 on September 25, 1919.
and in March. 1920. was made chair
man of the Shipping Board. He neld
this position until June 8. 1921, serving
at the same time as president of the
Emergency Fleet Corporation.
Upon his retirement from both those
positions he served as a Shipping Board
commissioner until June 8. 1928.
By an act of Congress, June 21, 1930.
he held the rank of a full admiral on
the Navy's retired list.
He is survived by his widow and three
children. Comdr. Howard H. J. Benson,
now on duty at the Naval Academy;
Lieut. Comdr. Francis W. Benson, gun
nery officer aboard the U. S. S. Trenton,
and Mrs. Mary A. Krafft, wife of a
librarian at Annapolis.
Was Georgia Native.
Admiral Benson was born in Macon.
Ga„ September 25, 1855. At 18 he was
appointed to the Naval Academy, from
which he was graduated in 1877. Ben
son served as cadet midshipman until
1879. when he was made a full mid
shipman, receiving his commission as
ensign in 1881 after two years’ service
on the U. S. S. Constitution.
In 1907 and 1908 he was commandant
of midshipmen at Annapolis; in 1913 he
was appointed commandant of the
Philadelphia Navy Yard and supervisor
of the 3d. 4th and 5th naval districts,
serving until his appointment as chief
of operations in 1915.
Admiral Benson went abroad In 1917
after America entered the war to co
ordinate naval operations between our
Navy and those of the allies, and co
operated with them in the Joint naval
policies which more than justified their
adoption. Most of this duty was in
London. He later was sent to Paris on
similar duty, and became the American
naval representative in the drawing up
of the armistice terms.
Chosen Naval Advisor.
Then, when the American Peace Mis
sion assembled in Paris, the admiral
wa' chosen naval advisor and served
his country in that quasi-diplomatlc
post with the devotion and sound dis
cretion which attended his whole career.
He returned to this country late in
1919, to be retired in September when
he reached the age of 64.
Admiral Benson became the fourth
chairman of the Shipping Board in
March, 1920. Upon the expiration of
his term. In June, 1921, he retired as
chairman, but retained membership on
the board as a commissioner.
After his war service Congress con
ferred upon him the Distinguished
Service Medal, France decorated him
with the Grand Cross of the Legion of
Honor and England honored him with
the Grand Cross of the Order of St.
Michael and St. George.
Radio Programs on Page D-4
AVIATRIX POISED '
FOR ATLANTIC HOP
Mrs. Putnam Hopes to Get
Away This Afternoon.
Do-X at Holyrood.
By the Associated Press.
HARBOR GRACE. Newfoundland,
May 20.—Hopeful of being the first
woman to fly the Atlantic alone, Mrs.
Amelia Earhart Putnam alighted here
today, eager to be away on her trans
ocean adventure.
The woman flyer said she hoped to
hop off this afternoon if the weather
continued favorable.
•‘I am confident of reaching my des
tination and hope to get away before
dark,” she said.
Mrs. Putnam declined to reveal her
destination, but she would not deny
she hoped to get her red-and-gold
monoplane down in Rome.
Bernt Balchen, noted aviator-explor
er. and Edd.e Gorski. a mechanic, ac
companied Mrs. Putnam to this point.
They took fne responsibility of giving
the woman flyer's plane its final tun
ing up.
Mrs. Putnam and her companions ar
rived here at 11:31 am. (E. S. T.),
having flown from St. John, New
Brunswick, in the record time of 4 hours
and 10 minutes.
Mrs. Putnam already has one trans
Atlantic aerial crossing to her credit,
having accompanied the late Wilmer
Stultz and Louis Gordon several years
ago.
She arrived at St. John last night
after a flight of three and a half hours
from Teterboro Airport, at Hasbrouck
Heights, N. J.. and left there for Harbor
Grace at 7:02 am. (Eastern standard
time) today, with Balchen at the con
trols.
Mrs. Putnam is the wife of George
Palmer Putnam, publisher, who spon
sored her flight four years ago, when
she and her companions landed in
Wales.
DO-X LANDS AT HOLYROOD.
Daylight Tomorrow Tentatively Chosen
for Start of Ocean Flight.
HOLYROOD, Newfoundland. May 20
(fP).—The giant airplane DO-X, en
route to Europe, landed at Holyrood at
9:20 a.m. (Eastern standard time)
after flying from Dildo, where it was
forced to land yesterday.
The huge German flying boat found
the weather conditions perfect today on
its 25-mile flight from Dildo.
The progress of the great 12-motored
craft over Newfoundland has created
tremendous interest among the popu
lation and crowds greeted its arrival as
it alighted on the wa^er off this little
port.
Take* on Fuel and Supplies.
The task of loading fuel and supplies
was begun at once, in preparation for
the next leg of the flight, the hop to
Harbor Grace. Harbor Grace has been
chosen as the point of departure for the
DO-X on its long voyage over the ocean
to the Azores. The take-off from Har
bor Grace was tentatively set for day
I light tomorrow.
Before the DO-X could leave Dildo
this morning, it was necesary to send
650 gallons of fuel from Holyrood to
Dildo. where gasoline at first taken
aboard proved unsuitable for the mo
tors An attempted take-off with the
fuel at first obtainable at Dildo ended
in failure.
The DO-X circled above the city be
fore descending and then alighted
gracefully in the harbor, taxiing, with
only 1 of its 12 motors in action, to its
supply base.
Visitor* Dash for Liner.
Members of the crew assigned to the
task of preparing the flying boat for
I its ocean trip immediately set to work
! amidst a swarm of visitors, who made
a mad rush to the big airplane in motor
launches.
Capt. Frederick Christiansen told the
(Continued on Page 2, Column 2.)
| REVOLUTION THREATENS
AS CUBANS CELEBRATE
—
Island Marks 30th Birthday of
Freedom With Restraint—Consti
tutional Rights Still Suspended.
By the Associated Press.
HAVANA. May 20—Threat of new
revolution was in the air today as the
Cuban Republic began a quiet celebra
tion of its 30th birthday anniversary.
Exactly three decades ago—May 20.
1902—the first American occupation,
which followed the successful termina
tion of the Island's long fight for
freedom from Spain, ended, and Cuba
embarked on her career as an inde
pendent nation.
Uttle festivity was planned to mark
this Independence day. however.
Constitutional guarantees are still in
suspension.
Martial law still prevails throughout
the island.
FURTHER MYSTERY
ENTERS BABY CASE
AS PEACOCK BALKS
‘Known Gangster’ and ‘King
Kidnaping’ Become Involved
in Lindbergh Probe.
PREACHER TURNS DOWN
OFFER OF HIS EXPENSES
Dr. Condon Signs Waiver of Im
munity as He Testifies Before
Bronx Jury.
By the Associated Press.
HOPEWELL. N. J., May 20.—Balked
in renewed efforts to Induce Rev. H.
Dobson-Peacock to come here for ques
tioning. police hunting the kidnaper
murderers of the Lindbergh baby sought
help today from two mysterious sources.
One of these was a “known gang
ster” who was understood to have said
in Maryland before the body was found
that the baby was dead.
The other mysterious matter under
investigation to determine if there was
any connection with the Lindbergh case
was “the recent attempted King kid
naping," not more specifically described
by police for fear of hindering the in
vestigation.
Condon Before Jury.
While these investigations were go
ing forward, Dr. John P. Condon, who
as “Jafsie” paid a futile $50,000 ran
som to supposed kidnapers of the Lind
bergh baby, told Bronx County, New
York, grand jury how he handed the
money through a cemetery hedge in a
suit case.
John Hughes Curtis, confessed Nor
folk hoaxer, remained in jail at Flem
ington, N. J.. as relatives in Virginia
prepared to obtain his release by rais
ing the $10,000 bail in which he is
held for grand jury action.
Warden George Anderson of the
Hunterdon County Jail at Plemington
said today he is taking extra precau
tions to see that Curtis may have no
opportunity to try to commit suicide.
Curtis' food is served in tin bowls and
cups with rolled edges. He is given
only a spoon—no knife or fork.
“The prisoner is quiet and doesn’t
seem to be much worried about his
fate,” the warden said, “but because of
the reports that he once tried to com
mit suicide, we don't intend to give him
that opportunity now.”
Expects No Lawyer.
Curtis is served the same fare as the
other prisoners, and it is cooked by the
warden’s wife. For lunch today there
was chopped beef, with beans, potatoes,
bread and coffee.
Curtis told the warden today he would
be very much surprised if any lawyer
arrived to take charge of his defense.
”1 haven’t sent for any,” he said.
Police let it be known that they were
still very anxious to confront Curtis
with Dean Dobson-Peacock, who was
associated with him in negotiations for
return of the baby, which Curtis admits
were all faked.
In his morning bulletin Col. H. Nor
man Schwarzkopf said he would gladly
pay the minister's traveling expenses,
but the dean replied in Norfolk that
he had been advised by counsel not to
come here.
Walker Enters Case.
Dr Condon spent two hours and a
quarter with the Bronx grand jury, tell
ing in detail of his ransom payment.
Before testifying he signed a waiver
of immunity.
New Jersey detectives assigned to
stay with him nad expected to visit
more rogues galleries in Jersey this
afternoon but when he came out of
the grand jury room the aged educator
told them he had to go to New
Rochelle. N. Y., to conduct an examina
tion of teachers.
The name of Mayor James J. Walker
was injected into the case today in a
story in the Evening Post The paper
quoted an advertisement in a morning
paper reading “Citizen—guaranteed ab
solute confidence. Jimmy.” It said it
had learned on high authority that
Mayor Walker had received a letter
promising information about the Lind
bergh case if safety for the writer
could be assured.
Col. Schwarzkopf also said in his
bulletin that Dr. Condon had completed
1 his inspection of the rogues galleries
in New York City and Westchester
County, N. Y. He will be taken next
to the large rogues galleries of “New
Jersey, including those in Newark, Jer
sey City and the State Identification
Bureau and also to the gallery in Phila
delphia.
When Dr. Condon is taken to the New
Jersey rogues’ galleries he will be ac
companied by a taxi driver who brought
him a note from the supposed kid
napers giving him instructions as to
payment of the ransom.
Checking Other Clues.
“Investigators from this point," Col.
Schwarzkopf’s bulletin continued, "are
getting all data possible on the recent
attempted King kidnaping in an en
deavor to determine whether the per
petrators could be linked with the kid
napers in this case.
“A known gangster while passing
through Maryland stated that he had
information on the Lindbergh kidnap
ing and just prior to the finding of the
body, stated the child was dead. In
vestigators from this point are now
endeavoring to locate this gangster.”
Asked about the attempted King kld
(Contlnued on Page 4, Column 1.)
PERUVIAN CABINET QUITS
AFTER ASSEMBLY ACTION
Lack of Confidence Vote Adopted
Following Debate on Arrest
of Deputy.
By the Associated Press.
LIMA, Peru, May 20.—The cabinet
headed by Luis Flores, premier and
secretary of the interior, resigned to
day as a result of the lack of con
fidence voted adopted by the Assembly,
48 to 31. last night.
The vote came after debate on the
arrest of Deputy Ernesto Merino. He
was detained after an encounter with
persons whose names have not been
made public, in the course of which
one man was shot and wounded. The
Deputy asserted he had been attacked.
The incident occurred Wednesday
night as he was leaving the Congress
Buildir.g.
Expectations are that the new
cabinet will be headed by Ricardo
Rivadeneira.