Evening star. [volume], April 13, 1935, Image 1

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

Image provided by: Library of Congress, Washington, DC

                
! WEATHER. The only evening paper
aZ,,"r‘r“ri-bir in Washington with the
light frost, with temperature about 38 de- ASROClBted rfeSS NeWS
and Wirephoto Services.
noon today; lowest, 43, at 5 am. today. _
Full report on page A-2. 1 * °
-—-—- Yesterday’s Circulation, 131,586
Closing N. Y. Markets, Pages 14 and 15_ _ Borne Returns Not Yet Received.
"V OIG Entered as second class matter IV A SHTNGTON, D. C., SATURDAY, APRIL 13, 1935—TWENTY-EIGHT PAGES. ' ** <*> w..n. A..„ci.t.d Pr.„. TWO CENTS.
i\0. 00,6Js7. post office. Washington. !»■ t. 7 7 _
possibility of a general European con
ference to seal the stability of Europe,
now that Germany's willingness to
adhere to a non-aggression pact has
been expressed.
Last Meeting Tomorrow.
The discussions here, interrupted
by a luncheon given by the British
to the French and Italian delega
! tions, closes this evening, but the con
i fereea will have a last meeting to
’ morrow to draw up a final com
munique on their talks as a whole.
"A wide range of subjects,” was the
only official description of what the
premiers discussed this morning.
It was intimated that those invited
to the Danubian conference will be
Austria and the states bordering upon
her—Germany, Czechoslovakia, Hun
gary, Italy and Yugoslavia—and
France, Britain. Poland and Rumania.
It was said this conference may be
followed by other sessions to treat
with the concrete subjects and per
haps by a general European session to
consider the question of European se
curity in a broad way.
Appeal at Geneva.
At Geneva, also, where the Council
session next week will consider
France's protest against German re
armament, a movement broad in na
ture presumably will be inaugurated in
connection with the Paris govern
ment's appeal. It is expected, by an
exhaustive examination, to arrive at
the best method of assuring the sanc
tity of treaties.
Practical measures to restrain and
even punish treaty repudiators—for
example, economic and financial isola
tion—may develop from the inquiry
by the League. Present plans call for
the appointment of a League Com
mission of Study.
One question to be decided is
whether measures against treaty vio
lators would require an amendment
to the League covenant or whether
such action could be taken under the
existing covenant. If treaty repudia
tion was deemed to involve the threat
of war, then the League Council could
act. since the covenant authorizes in
such cases "any action deemed wise
and effectual to safeguard the peace
of nations.”
League's Position.
The League Assembly several years
ago adopted a report interpreting the
covenant in the sense that economic
and financial measures could be ap
plied against an offending nation and
that even naval demonstrations could
be resorted to.
Another solution would be for a
a group oi League oi nations cuun
■ tries, by special treaty, to interpret
■ the covenant as authorizing them to
■ take specific measures to assure re
■ spect for treaties.
■ Today's final deliberations began
■ at 9:30 a.m. with no light on two
■ outstanding questions. These are the
I prospects of getting Germany into the
I League of Nations and into a con
| ference for the limitation of arma
ments
The problem of German colonies
stands out as a possible impediment
to Germany’s return to Geneva.
Reichsfuehrer Hitler virtually made
this return conditional upon equality
In all things including colonies, all
of which Germany lost in the great
war.
\ An air of cheer—“light after dark
ness”—as the delegates expressed it,
prevailed as the conference among
Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald
of Britain, Premier Pierre-Etienne
’(Continued on Page 3, Column 5.)
genevabodTbacks
CONTROL OF ARMS
Disarmament Conference Commit
tee Adopts Report Proposing
Strict Supervision.
By the Associated Press.
GENEVA, April 13.—A report of the
Arms Trade Control Committee in
cluding the draft of a treaty text, with
reservations, for government control
of armaments was adopted today on
first reading by a committee of the
Disarmament Conference.
Hugh R. Wilson, United States
Minister to Switzerland, said commit
tee debates had showed unanimous
recognition of the principle of full na
tional responsibility for national con
trol of arms outputs. He said the
committee In two months’ work had
made substantial progress.
Boy, 15, Kills Eagle
With Stick as Bird
Attacks Brother, 8
By the Associated Press.
LYNCHBURG. Tenn., April 13.
-Fifteen-year-old Floyd Tipps
was a worthy foe for a massive
golden eagle with a wing spread
of 85 inches.
The big bird came out a poor
second yesterday to Floyd, who
beat it to death with a stick as
it tried to carry off his 8-year
old brother, Charles.
Attracted by screams and
shouts, Floyd said he ran to his
brother’s aid and found the eagle
dragging Charles along the
ground. Floyd grabbed a stick
and flayed the bird across the
head until it released its hold on
the little boy. Then he killed it.
FARMERS PROTEST
N.R. A. CODE PRICES
Disparities Between Farm
and Industrial Figures Seen
Hindering Recovery.
By the Associated Press.
Farmers, speaking through the Na
tional Grange, protested to the Sen
ate Finance Committee today that
recovery had been retarded by a dis
parity between agricultural and in
dustrial prices under N. R. A. They
demanded elimination of monopolistic
code provisions if the recovery law
is extended.
Fred Brenckman. Washington rep
resentative, was spokesman for the
grange. He told the Senate N. R. A.
investigators that disparities between
farm and industrial prices had been
prolonged as a result of ’’artificial
and arbitrary regulation tend regi
mentation of industry Wider the
N. R. A.” '
The committee sat in a Saturday
session in an effort to conclude next
week if possible, the inquiry into ad
minidnitinii nf the recovery law.
Code Held Poultry AW.
James E. Rice. Cornell University
professor and New York poultryman,
told the committee the poultry code
had proved of benefit to farmers and
poultry breeders. Poultrymen. he said,
were having a better season than
any for many years.
I. H. Kopf of Cincinnati protested
codes in many instances had been
harmful to small business.
Brenckman testified the "growth of
monopoly, the fostering of illegal
combinations for the artificial fixation
of prices, the many and varied re
strictions placed upon industry” had
all increased the coat of production
and “placed industrial commodities
beyond reach of our agricultural pop
ulation.”
Revision Begun.
Working behind the scenes in an
effort to meet the monopoly charges
thrown against N. R. A. by Senator
Borah, Republican, of Idaho, and
others. Senate administration leaders
have begun to revise the bill for
extending the Blue Eagle machine.
Borah, called into conference by
the administration spokesmen, in
sisted upon three major points. He
demanded full restoration of the anti
trust laws, an affirmative prohibition
against price-fixing and a clear dec
laration that the Government is not
seeking to interfere with purely intra
statp tradp.
Those in charge of the legislation
conceded privately that the adminis
tration measure introduced recently
by Chairman Harrison of the Senate
Finance Committee leaned more
heavily toward price-fixing than does
even the present law. There was
agreement that it would do little to
restore the anti-trust laws. Virtually
all agreed, too. that the measure
would have to be modified in both
respects to obtain congressional
approval.
Wagner Called In.
Harrison and Senator Wagner,
Democrat, of New York, collaborated
yesterday in redrafting the bill and
in negotiating with Borah. At the
same time. Senator McCarran, Dem
ocrat, of Nevada was working on a
measure further to curtail N. R. A.’s
powers by putting the entire code
structure on a voluntary basis.
Indications were that Borah and
the administration representatives
might get together on the elimination
of price-fixing except possibly in such
natural resource industries as coal
and oil.
There was more difficulty, however,
in reaching a comDromise on the
other two points in Borah's program.
To Finish Work Soon.
Further conferences between the
conflicting parties was planned for
next week. One of the most Impor
tant code authorities, that for most
of the retail trades, last night came
to the support of N. R. A., urging its
continuance for two years.
This code authority is constituted of
nine retail trades associations—Variety
stores, mail order houses, music, re
tail clothiers, two shoe groups, dry
goods, furniture and hardware.
All but hardware voted for the
resolution.
FIREMEN OFF DUTY
LANESBORO, Mass.. April 13 (*>).—
Members of the volunteer fire depart
ment of this Berkshire Hills town yes
terday were called to the Summer
home of Mrs. George Briggs of Chi
cago. The house was destroyed.
It seems, the Are truck was hauling
snow for a maple sugaring party when
it should have been on hand to battle
the Aames.
News of D. A. R.
Full reports of the D.
A. R. Convention. April
14 to 21, inclusive:
Mail—Postage Pre
paid U. S., Mexico
and Canada.35c
Foreign .$1.00
Leave orders with Star
representative at Consti
tution Hall or The Eve
ning Star office,
llth St. and Pa. Ave. N.W.
i
SABATH ATTACKS
Head of House Committee
Pledges Prosecution if
Possible.
ATTORNEY O’CONNELL
TELLS OF SUIT OUSTER
Five District Supreme Court
Judges Will Be Heard on Col
lusion Charge.
Declaring the "original issue of
Wardman bonds was a fraud on the
people," Chairman Sabath of the spe
j clal House committee investigating
mortgage refinancing announced today
his committee will make every effort
to have the guilty parties prosecuted.
The securities were sold through the
banking houses of Halsey Stuart &
Co. and Hambleton & Co., but several
prominent Washington men were in
volved in floating the issue.
"I know the original issue of these
bonds was a fraud on the people,"
Sabath said. “I don’t know whether
we will be able to reach them because
of the lapse of time, but if we can
find any way to have them prosecuted,
we will do so ”
Representative Fuller. Democrat, of
Arkansas, another member of the
committee, said: "The bond situation
is worse than the stock exchange
scandal.”
O'Connell on Stand.
These statements followed testimony
by William B. O'Connell, local attor
ney. who represented former Secre
I tary of the Treasury Leslie M. Shaw
' in the Wardman litigation.
O’Connell said he filed a foreclosure
; suit in District Supreme Court for
Shaw, and that while his suit was
pending, counsel for the bankers went
before another judge in the same
court and secured the appointment of
their own receivers, thereby "kicking
hie mit nut nf tVia n'inHnnr "
The second suit on its face was
filed on behalf of bondholders, and
O'Connell did not explain his state
ment that the attorneys acted for the
bankers.
Representative Dirksen of Illinois
asked O’Connell if he thought the
bankers had tried to salvage the
Wardman properties.
“I think they tried to steal the
property.” O’Connell said;
“Well," replied Dirksen. “salvaging is
a polite word for stealing."
O’Connell Sent Dare.
O’Connell was summoned after he
sent a telegram to committee counsel
daring him to call him as a witness.
Five justices of the court were
| scheduled to appear as witnesses, and
| it is expected they will be questioned
! about the collusion charges in con
nection with the Wardman foreclosure
suit, made by W. Bisaell Thomas, at
torney. who represented minority
Wardman bond Interests.
Thomas did no explain what he
meant by the use of the term “col
lusive suit.” but did say in response
to a question by Representative Cul
kin. Republican of New York, that he
considered it an "indictment of the
court.”
The justices who have been invited
to appear before the committee are
Chief Justice Alfred A. Wheat and
Associate Justices Oscar R. Luhring.
James M. Proctor and Jesse C. Adkins
of the District Supreme Court, and
Associate Justice William Hitz of the
District Court of Appeals.
Co-Receivers Disagree.
George E. Sullivan, attorney, said
he resigned as a receiver for the La
Salle Apartments because he could not
agree with his co-receivers—Edward
F. Colladay and Enoch A. Chase—in
a settlement worked out with Dulin
& Martin for compromising overdue
rent. Dulin & Martin, a tenant in
the apartment building, offered $7,500
in settlement of unpaid rent aggre
gating $36,000, provided a 20-year
lease be canceled. Sullivan said he
considered this compromise too liberal
from the receivers’ standpoint. He
added, however, that the agreement
was submitted to the court and ap
proved.
H. Clifford Bangs, real estate man.
said he had expressed the belief the
top rental value of the spree occupied
by Dulin & Martin was $26,000 a year
shortlv before it was rented to the
Government for office purposes at
$70,000 a year.
“It looks like Washington bond
holders hold losing cards until the
Government comes along and pays
twice the rental value for their prop
erty,” the committee observed.
Refinancing Described.
Details of the refinancing of the
Shoreham Hotel were described by
Walter B. GUy, who said he "had his
chest out” because he thought a good
job had been done in reorganizing the
property. He testified that new bonds,
1 paying a lower rate of interest, have
been issued to holders of the old bonds
and that Harry M. Bralove, builder,
has acquired any equitable Interest
there may be In the property.
Bralove testified that he acquired
the equitable interest in the hotel,
which is subject to some $4,000,000 in
debts, by cancelling mechanics’ liens
for $270,000. He also told the com
mittee he has purchased $100,000 of
Shoreham notes from brokers at prices
ranging from 20 to 47 cents on the
dollar. He said he regarded them as
a good investment at that price.
GRAIN PRICES SOAR
SHARPLY AT CHICAGO
Broad Speculative Buying Sweeps
All Wheat Futures Well
Above Dollar Hark.
Br the Associated Press.
CHICAGO, April 13.—Broad specu
lative buying, more pronounced than
at any time in recent weeks, swept
grain prices sharply higher today, with
aU wheat future deliveries selling well
above $1.00 per bushel.
After the first hour of trading In
wheat prices had advanced 1% to
3M cents above yesterday’s close, with
May only fractionally below $1.03.
a
f\ KNEW THESE \
heavy frosts
HAD NT KM-LEOFTy |
Old C. W. A. Plan Is Model,
and That Was “Fizzle,”
Senator Asserts.
By th« Associated Press.
Senator McCarran, Democrat, of
Nevada said today he understood the
“old C. W. A. plan" was going to be
followed in the Government's $4,000,
000,000 works drive.
“I understand they are going to go
on the old Civil Works Administration
| plan." he said. “The C. W. A. was the
greatest fizzle there ever was. They
might just as well slush out thej
money.”
McCarran was the leader of one of
the hottest fights over the works bill
In the Senate. He led the attempt to j
make it mandatory to pay relief work- i
ers the same hourly wage rate received
by employes In private industry.
His efforts were opposed by admin
istration advocates of $50-a-month
“security” wages. The result was a
compromise providing that wage rates
prevailing in private industry should
be paid workers on permanent public
buildings erected with work relief
money.
“But now,” McCarran said today. "It,
seems as if they don't want to con- |
struct Federal buildings because such
construction is too slow.”
Commenting on the wages Issue, he
said:
“They'll either have to tear down
the wage structure of the country or
else follow the spirit of the McCarran I
amendment. It looks to me as if they
i are vitiating the spirit of the amend
ment. I have always contended that
they are trying to tear down the wage
scale.”
House Leader Unperturbed.
McCarran's comment was prompted ;
particularly by the disclosure yester
day that at least one Democratic
leader in the House expects the com
promise wage requirements to give the
administration no trouble.
Representative Buchanan. Democrat,
of Texas, told the House he believed
President Roosevelt could set aside
money from the works fund for Federal
buildings if he wanted to do so. but
that he was confident this would not
be done.
Buchanan said he would Introduce
a separate bill within “a month or six
weeks” which would provide an addi
tional fund of $40,000,000 or $45,000,
000 for Federal building construction
on which prevailing wage rates will
be paid.
Meanwhile, one of the principles
laid down by the President yesterday
in announcing plans to spend between
$100,000,000 and $200,000,000 of work
relief money for grade crossing elim
ination turned attention to another
major problem of the program—that
of speedily obtaining land needed in
public works projects.
States Must Give Help.
Mr. Roosevelt, mentioning the cross
ing crash at Rockville, Md., Thursday
night in which 14 occupants of a
school bus were killed, revealed that
States or localities will be required to
provide the land needed In crossing
elimination projects.
Mr. Roosevelt indicated also that
progress had been made toward work
ing out the machinery for handling
other phases of the work to be done
with the $4,000,000,000 work appro
priation.
Highway allotments to the States,
he said, would be handled through the
same channels as previously. He add
ed that thought would be given to low
ering interest rates on public works
loans if that became feasible. It was
a safe guess, he said, that If the Gov
ernment is able to borrow money at
less than 3 per cent it probably will
make loans at less than 4 per cent.
JAPANESE OIL POLICY
PREVENTS AGREEMENT
Negotiation* With U. 8. and Brit
ish Firms Fail as Tokio
Eyes Manchoukuo.
By the Associated Press.
TOKIO. April 13.—Negotiations be
tween the Japanese government and
American and British oil companies
seeking a basis for foreign companies
to continue business in Japan proper
broke down today without an agree
ment.
Manchoukuo has already begun en
forcement of an oil monopoly which
will completely eliminate American
and British firms as distributors and
retailers. A Tokio newspaper said the
Japanese government considers the
step an experiment and its results will
be watched with a view to extending
tbs system to the empty*.
1
CAPITAL GETS $602,900
FOR RELIEF IN APRIL
Wore Than $3,000,000 Allotted
Maryland. Virginia and District
by Order of Hopkins.
More than $3,000,000 for April re
lief was allotted today to the District.
Maryland and Virginia by Federal Re
lief Administrator Harry L. Hopkins.
The District gets $602,900: Mary
land, $1,326,030, and Virginia, $1,
221,310.
The grants were part of a national
allotment of $113,661,384. including
Funds previously made available as
well as grants for the remainder of j
the month. Funds were for general
and drought relief, transient aid, j
emergency education and the student
aid program.
Hopkins Authorizes Cash
for Five States as
Wheat Hits $1.
By the Associated Press.
Release of Federal relief funds for
dust control work cheered residents
of the Midwest's drought area today
as short crop report* influenced wheat
in a rise to the dollar-a-bushel mark
at Chicago and silt clouds whipped
up by the Spring winds spread afar.
Payment for tractor fuel—at the
rate of 10 cent* an acre—and the use
of relief workers was authorized by |
Administrator Harry L. Hopkins in
the relatively small affected region.
The Federal funds and labor will
be used on projects in Kansas, Texas.
New Mexico, Colorado and Nebraska.
Strip listing already is under way in
Kansas, the project being financed by
a previous $250,000 allotment.
Damage Survey Begun.
Seeking to withdraw arid areas from
agricultural production, the Depart
ment of Agriculture projected a sur
vey of the damage. Plans under con
sideration call for withdrawal of be
tween 50,000,000 and 100,000,000
acres for grazing, forest planting, rec
reation and wild life.
F. K. Reed. Federal crop statisti
cian at Topeka, Kans., said that West
ern Kansas wheat farmers should re
ceive in round numbers $15,000,000
this year In Government payments.
More millions are counted on by
wheat farmers In the other affected
States. Additional funds were sought
to make possible a gigantic listing pro
gram, creating high furrows intended
to toss the dust-laden winds upward
and break them up.
Health Measures Taken.
Cary T. Grayson, chairman of the
American Red Cross, said nursing
service would be furnished communi
ties where illness has resulted from
the dust.
At Dodge City, Kans., physicians re
ported after a careful check-up that
harmless hay bacillus was the "worst”
germ they could And in the dust clouds
which have rolled over Western
Kansas. They added, however, that
lung irritation by dust could be seri
>us and may have been responsible
lor several measles cases that turned
into pneumonia.
Pessimism over the wheat outlook in
the dust area of Western Kansas,
(Continued on Page 2, Column- l7)—
-•-.
Bouts Bandit With Bottle.
DENVER, Colo., April 13 (&).—A
youth, his face covered with a hand
kerchief and one hand moving men
acingly inside his coat pocket, ordered
Ernest L. Simpson, 56-year-old store
keeper to turn over his money. Simp
son turned, but grabbed a milk bottle
and chased the hold-up out of the
store.
Guide for Readers
Page.
Amusements.B-12
Church News.A-9-10-11
Comics . B-7
Finance . .A-14-15
Lost and Found .: A-7
Radio . B-ll
Real Estate.B-l-2-3-4-5
Serial Story .B-ll
Service Orders . A-4
Short Story . B-12
Society .A-8
Sports.A-12-13
women’s Features.B-l
>
MOFFETT SEEKS
|
To Confer With President
Today Before Submitting
F. H. A. Resignation.
By the Associated Press.
A conference between James A.
Moffett, the housing administrator, |
and President Roosevelt was expected
today to determine whether the for
mer Standard Oil official will re-1
main at the head of the Federal Hous
ing Administration.
Moffett let it be known today that
he expects to ask to be relieved within 1
a short time, but persons close to him
and the White House said it was
doubtful whether the President would
consent to his leaving at this time.
Moffett is known to have been in
tending to resign as soon as he felt
the Housing Administration was on
its way to success. He refused, how
ever. to discuss his plans beyond
stating that he wants to confer with
the President and then may submit
his resignation.
It is known that Moffett has been
somewhat disappointed by the pace of
the F. H. A. The repair program of
the administration, he feels, has pro
ceeded as well as could be expected
and has been successful in creating a
large amount of employment. The
second phase of the housing plans,
however, has been obstructed, some
officials feel, by the fact that banks
have been hesitant about making long
term loans for new construction.
Already there is speculation as to
who may succeed him. It was said
today in some administration quar
ters that both Secretary Ickes and
Harry L. Hopkins, the relief adminis
trator, would like to gain control of
the Housing Administration. Efforts
are being made, it was learned, to ob
tain the appointment of one or the
other, or of some member of their
stas, to the housing administratorship
in addition to their other jobs.
ROBBER SUSPECT HELD
NORFOLK, Va„ April 13 <*>).—
Police here were holding a man who
said he was F. G. Blackney. Detroit,
Mich., charged with attempted rob
bery. He is accused of having walked
into a restaurant here yesterday aft
ernoon and. holding a pistol in his
hand, ordered a waitress to open the
cash register.
The waitress, Lily May Clark. 24.
said that the gunman glanced into
the cash drawer and when ne saw
only a few dollars he slipped his gun
Into a shoulder holster and walked out.
Retail Sales Up 1.8%
Retail sales of Washington
department stores, as re
ported by the Richmond Fed
eral Reserve Bank, again
show an increase for March,
as compared with the same
month of last year. This is
the only gain reported for any
city in the fifth Federal Re
serve district.
Business continues to im
prove in Washington. With
the pre-Easter week and pros
pects for delightful weather
still ahead, Washington mer
chants can expect a still fur
ther improvement in their
Spring business.
Yesterday’s Advertising
(Local Display.)
Lines.
The Evening Star. 84,574
2d Newspaper.... 41,789
3d Newspaper ... 27,002
4th Newspaper... 13,927
5th Newspaper... 12,877
Total ( newspapers ) 95,595
Yesterday’s total circulation
of 131,586 included an In
creased coverage over last
year of almost ten thousand
more reader homes in Wash
ington and the immediately
surrounding territory. Local
merchants are using this
profitable medium to increase
their Spring buatoesi.
I
TREASURY REPORT
OF FISCAL ISSUE
Inquiry Proposed to Fix
Amount of U. S. Share of
D. C. Expenses.
TAX COMPARISONS
ARE PARTIALLY MADE
Finding of Low “Adjusted'’ Rate
Here Faces Criticism for
Methods Used.
A further investigation by experts both
in and out of the Government to settle
the question of how the expenses of
the National Capital should be ap
portioned between the United States
and the local community was recom
mended today by the Treasury Depart
ment in its long-awaited report to
President Roosevelt on local taxation.
In making the report public, it was
stated at the Treasury Department
that the President today is forwarding
copies to Senator King and Represent
ative Norton, chairmen, respectively,
of the Senate and House District Com
mittees.
The Treasury report is almost en
tirely an analysis of comparative tables
of tax burdens and costs of government
in Washington and 14 other cities.
The Treasury reported that "if con
sideration of the quality and quantity
of services received by residents of the
District be excluded and attention be
focused solely on the actual money
burden of taxation, the clear an
swer is:
"The evidence indicates that Wash
ington taxpayers bear a smaller total
burden of taxation than the residents
of other cities of roughly comparable
size and character.”
Vigorous Protest Seen.
This conclusion, however, will prob
ably be met by vigorous criticism from
local citizens who have made frequent
studies of comDarative tax burdens.
The first point of attack, it was sug
gested. will be on the method used bi
the Treasury in making a comparisor
of so-called “adjusted” tax rates.
The Treasury took its tax rate fig
ures from the Detroit Bureau of Gov
ernment Research, which follows th<
method of “adjusting" tax rates b;
obtaining the estimates of local offi’
cials regarding the ratio of assessec
to actual values of property.
By this method Washington, witl
an assessment ratio of 100 per cen
of assessed to real value, is compare
with cities where the reported assess
ment ranges upward from 40 per cent
Method Is Criticised.
The Detroit Bureau method is ti
apply the reported, or guessed at, rati
of assessment to the actual tax rate
And through use of this method, whicl
has been widely criticized, Washing
ton is shown with a lower “adrusted
tax rate than any other of the 1
cities with which it is comparec
When the Treasury deducts from th
tax rate that portion which goes inti
debt service, Washington having n
bonded indebtedness, the result show
that Washington’s "adjusted” tax rat
is lower than that of any city on th
list except Cincinnati.
The Treasury inquiry reveals Wash
ington's per capita assessment a
by far the highest of any of the citie
compared. In governmental cost pay
ments per capita Washington is shov.i
as being the eighth city on the lis
when the lump sum is included an
thirteenth on the list of 15 cities whei
the lump sum is excluded.
Comparisons Crude Measure.
Throughout the report, however, th
statement is reiterated that “compara
tive general property tax rates offe
but & crude and preliminary measur
of the comparative burden of taxa
tion.” It also states that “a simila
statement must be made about pe
capita costs of Government.”
In this connection the report als
states:
“The fact is that>cities vary widel
both in the quantity and the qualit
of the services rendered their resi
dents. Hence, a direct compariso
of aggregate and per capita flnancis
outlays only, properly requires supple
mentation by an intensive analysi
of the character of the services ren
dered.”
Recommendations Listed.
After devoting 22 typewritten pages
to analyzing the several tables on taxes
and costs of government, the Treasury
report concluded with these recom
mendations:
“In order (1) to supplement the fore
going analysis of the comparative tax
rates and costs of government by ref
erence to the quantity and quality ol
services rendered, and (2) to provide
the data needed for the choice of con
tinuing criteria for the determination
of the proportions and amounts ol
revenues that may be justly raised
through District taxation and Federal
contributions, respectively, it is rec
ommended that a more extensive in
vestigation, conducted with the assist
ance of experts within and outside of
the Federal Government, be author
ised."
Inasmuch as the fiscal relations is
sue is one involving the interests of
both local residents and the Federal
Government the final suggestion in
the Treasury report that further in
quiry be made by experts "within and
outside of the Federal Government,”
is important.
ROOSEVELT ’TO ATTEND
NATIONALS’ FIRST GAME
President Roosevelt today promised
Clark Griffith, president of the Wash
ington base ball club, that he would
be on hand to toss out the ball for the
opening game here Tuesday, and that
he would be able to attend a world
series next Fall.
Griffith quickly retorted that the
President could rest assured he would
not have to travel very far to attend
the next world series. He did not say
it would be held in Washington, but
Ford Frick, the new president of the
National League, who accompanied
Griffith on his White House call, quick
ly joined in by saying to the President,
"No, you won’t have to go very far; no
farther than New York.”
\
SIGNALS IN ORDER.
B. & 0. Official Testifies All
Warning Devices Found
in Operation.
FIRST OF 14 FUNERALS
HELD AT WILLIAMSPORT
Roosevelt Prepares to Direct Ex
penditure of $100,000,000 to
Eliminate Hazards.
Baltimore & Ohio Railway official*,
opening today in Baltimore their in
quiry into the Rockville grade crossing
tragedy of Thursday night, were told
today that the crossing signals and
warning bells were in full operation
at the time of the school bus-train
crash.
Meanwhile, the stricken town of
Williamsport, Md.. began the dreary
task of burying its 14 dead school
children, and President Roosevelt
prepared to direct expenditure of from
*100,000,000 to $200,000,000 to wipe
out highway hazards. In Rockville,
there were unofficial reports that a
special grand jury might be sum
moned to inquire into the crash.
Overpass Move Spurred.
Pressing for immediate elimination
of the crossing, the Maryland State
Roads Commission today had several
surveyors examining the site of the
tragedy preparatory to planning an
' overpass.
Diagrams of such an overpass have
been in the office of the Roads Com
mission since 1923, when five boys
were killed at the same crossing. The
new measurement will establish
whether the previous survey will meet
present needs.
H. W. Routenberg. assistant divi
sion engineer of the B. & O., was tha
first to testify when Charles M.
Shriver. superintendent of the Balti
more division, opened the inquiry in
Baltimore, the Associated Press stated.
"When I arrived at the scene of tha
at nhnnt 1 a ns TTt-1 Hov ”
I tenberg said, "I immediately conducted
an investigation of the automatic
' warning devices at the crossing,
j "I found them all in good working
j order.
“I noticed that the next east-bound
train that came through, going in the
i same direction as the train which
I struck the bus, operated the signals
i perfectly.”
i Completing his testimony, giving
I statistics on the railroad's various
safety devices. Routenberg said he was
■ certain all were in good working or
der and operating in full force at the
time of the accident.
Engineer Tells of Crash.
J. A. Shoebridge. the engineer of
the express train that ripped open
the school bus. was the second wit
ness. He asserted he approached the
crossing with the engine whistle
screaming and the bell going full
blast.
Asked to describe in his own words
what happened, he said:
'When we came through Rockville
I blew my whistle just as I passed
the whistle board (1,410 feet from the
crossing). I began ringing my bell
about half way from the board to the
crossing.
"Just a few seconds later I heard
; the fireman shout. A second or two
later the crash came. The fireman
yelled 'We've hit a bus.’ ”
Shoebridge testified that his position
I in the locomotive was on the far side
| of the crossing and that the bus ap
proached from the fireman s side of
the cab. He estimated his speed at
between 55 and 60 miles an hour. The
maximum speed allowed by the rail
road, he said, is 60 miles an hour.
I. C. C. Officials at Inquiry.
Three representatives from the In
terstate Commerce Commission—G. W.
i Lovering, chief of the Accident Sec
; tion of the Bureau of Safety; T. B.
Smith, signal engineer, and Robert
Tonkin, inspector—attended the in
quiry.
Levering said at the completion of
an investigation which he intends to
make, including interviews with Percy
Line of Williamsport, driver of the
ill-fated bus; Miss A. Louise Punk,
1 teacher who was riding with the pu
| pils: police officials and others, he
! would submit a report to the Bureau
of Safety in Washington.
“In that report,” he said, "we shall
include recommendations for crimi
nal action—if any are made."
As the first Inquiry got under way,
| it was reported at Georgetown Hos
| pital here, that two of the injured
high school chemistry students were
"slightly improved this morning.’'
Tney are Margaret Kreps and Jane
Staley Murray, 17-year-old bride,
whose secret marriage to Ned Mur
ray was disclosed by her young hus
band hastening to her side after
the accident.
Carl Brindle Buried.
Carl Brindle, one of the 14 victims,
is being buried today at Williamsport.
Prom now until Wednesday tolling
bells will sound at the little Maryland
town as others of his companions are
borne to their graves. It was at first
thought a mass funeral might be held,
but this was decided against.
In the Baltimore inquiry, investiga
tors are confronted with conflicting
statements regarding warning lights
and signals at the crossing, which is
protected by a watchman in the day
time, but not late at night.
Deny Hearing Signals.
Line, driver of the bug, who is held
under $1,000 bond on a technical
charge of manslaughter, has asserted
that he neither heard nor saw warn
ing signals. Miss Funk, teacher of
(Continued on Page 3, Column 1)
-— t
Fever Spreads in China.
HAICHOW, Klangsu Province,
China. April 13 (A>).—A "great in
crease" in the number of victims of
black fever scourging this area was
reported last night by American
Southern Presbyterian missionaries
Although the missionaries are fight
ing the spread of the disease in North
ern Klangsu, they said there was little
danger for themselves and they had
refused to heed the urgings of friends
that they leave.
h
DANUBIAN PARLEY
ON AUSTRIA VOTED
FOR NEXT MONTH
BY STRESA POWERS
Guarantee of Freedom for
Vienna Back of Confer
ence—Mussolini Asks
Armed Neighbor.
GENERAL EUROPEAN
SESSION LATER TALKED
France, England anu Italy Will
Invite Germany to Confer on
Independence Issue—Plans Are
Made for Upholding Sanctity
of Existing Treaties.
<CopyriKht, 1035, by the Associated Press.)
STRESA. April 13.—Premier Mus
solini pleaded for an armed Austria at
closing sessions of the Stresa confer
ence today and the three nations rep
resented agreed upon a Danubian
conference to find a way of guar
anteeing Austria's independence, with
Germany, Italy and France present.
It was virtually decided to hold the
i conference next month, probably May
20. at Rome.
The premiers concluded their dis
cussion of the proposed European air
pact, a part of the Franco-British
agreements reached in London last
February, without reaching any de
cision.
With the Danubian parley as the
Immediate outcome of the tri-power