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Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, May 14, 1935, Image 2

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SENATE’S DEBATES
H RAinfi DRIVE
Central Bank Bill Seen
Forcing Issue Similar
to 1896.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.
Prolonged debates are ahead In the
United States Senate in which will be
made the principal issues of the 1936
campaign.
Every important piece of legislation
now pending has in it principles of
far-reaching consequence. None, how
ever, compares in historic importance
with the proposed central bank bill.
Out of it will come an issue similar
to that which brought the sound
money agitation of 1896, following the
1893 depression.
The public generally has as yet
taken little interest in the banking
bill, believing it to be merely a meas
ure to curb the "greed” of private
bankers or their alleged mismanage
ment prior to the bank holiday.
What is not generally realized Is
that the proposed bill is a measure to
Introduce "forced loans” by the Gov
ernment. something that when tried
In Germany brought the inflation
panic of 1923 and the demoralization
of prices.
Wouid Force Bonds on Banks.
The power to force the banks to
take Government bonds against their
own best judgment is contained in
the proposed legislation; indeed, ad
ministration sponsors of the bill
openly concede that they want legal
powers that will prevent banks fiom
refusing to buy Government loans.
Private bankers Insist that no such
legislative power is necessary, because
the banks already have so many Gov
ernment bonds that they would be
foolish to refuse to buy any more and
thus jeopardize the value of those
they already have.
But the fact remains that if the
new banking bill becomes law such
will be the control over all banks by
the Government that depositors no
longer will really have the opportunity
to assure themselves that the money
they place in banks at the end of a
given period will be worth as much in
purchasing power as when they placed
their funds on deposit.
On the surface the issue is whether
the Government or the bankers shall
control the banks and. because of the
prejudices engendered by the depres
sion, perhaps, many persons will ac
cept that version. But the truth is
the issue ’s whether the Government,
comprising officials who are bound to
be influenced more or less by politics,
will have authority over depositors’
money or whether the people will re
tain control over the disposition of
their money when placed In banks for
safekeeping.
Shall the people or the politicians
rule? This question doubtless will be
asked again and again by the speakers
in the forthcoming debate tn the Sen
ate. The fundamental changes being
proposed are strikingly similar to the
functions of centralized banking or
distribution of Federal deposits which
on previous occasions have caused
financial crises In American history.
There is a curious psychology grow
ing up about the banking bill. Some
members of Congress who feel that
the administration cannot possibly
avoid inflation are going to vote for
the proposed bill because they say
that if inflation comes It will be es
sential for the Government to have
complete and comprehensive power.
Critical Future reared.
To put It another way, It is feared
that such critical moments are ahead
because of the heavy borrowings and
huge deficits that only by the pos
session of sweeping powers could a
Federal administration cope with all
possible contingencies.
The amazing thing Is that so many
legislators are simply talcing for grant
ed the serious times that are ahead,
while others are going to exert them
selves to the utmost to keep the
banking bill from being adopted.
There are reports current that sev
eral bankers throughout the country
are unwilling to take the responsi
bility of permitting the banking bill
to pass without notifying ail their
depositors of the many things that
are involved in the pending legisla
tion. If the millions of persons who
have deposit* in the banks are re
sponsive to the appeals that are made
to them It is undoubtedly within their
power to prevent the bill from being
passed by the Senate, even though it
has already passed the House.
(Coprrisbt. 1936.)
PARTY PARASITES HIT
SCHENECTADY, N. Y., May 14 OP).
—Mayor Murray Season good of Cin
cinnati, Ohio, speaking last night at
Union College under the auspices of
the Charter League, said “We shall
never have good government until the
gangs of parasites who feed on the
national parties are deracinated.”
“We shall never succeed In having
good local government until we recog
nize principally that Its administra
tion Is one of the highest activities
In which one may engage in peace
time.” he added.
Seasongood is the first mayor to
serve in Cincinnati under the city
manager plan of government. Refer
ring to that system, he declared:
“Millions of dollars in savings have
been made through the city manager
plan, although we have extended all
useful activities."
BAND CONCEBT.
By the United States Army Band at
Walter Reed Hospital, at 6:30 p.m.
Thomas P. Darcy, leader.
March. “King Cotton”.Sousa
Overture, “The Year 1812”
Tschaikowsky
Fox trot, “A Little White Gar
denia ” from the picture, “All
the King's Horses” .Coalow
Saxophone solo, "Juliana”. .Gurewich
(Gene H os tetter.)
Selection, “Over There" .Lake
Dances from “Henry VIII”... German
1. Morris Dance.
2. Shepherds’ Dance.
3. Torch Dance.
Characteristic, ''Cinderella’s Bridal
Procession” . Dicker
Selection from “Bitter Sweet”.Coward
“Marche Slav” .Tschaikowsky
"The Star Spangled Banner.”
By the United Soldiers' Home Band
at the bandstand at 5:30 p.m., John
8. M. Zlmmermann, leader; Anton
Pointner. assistant leader.
March, “The Virginia Statesman,”
Waul ten
{Dedicated to the Secretary of the
Navy, Mr. Claude A. Swanson.)
Overture, "Athalia”.Mendelssohn
Entr’acte:
(a) Intermezzo from “Goyescas,”
Granados
(b) Prelude . Beghon
Selection from grand opera, “La
Treviata” .Verdi
Popular:
(a) “The Last Round Up”.., Hill
(b) “Silver Threads Among the'
Gold” .Da nits !
Concert waits, “Arc en Clel” (“The
Rainbow”) .Waidteufei
Pintle, “Arma of America”.. . Pryor
“The Star Sp&ngfd Banner.”
What’s What
Behind News
In Capital
Walker to Sift Relief Ap
plicants—Hull-Peek
Showdown Near.
BY PAUL MALLON.
SEVERAL yards of executive
orders and statements have
been issued about the new or
ganization which is going to
spend the four billion dollars
of relief money, but these cast little
light on it. Every one connected with
this greatest of all governmental ven
tures has had a rather hazy private
idra about who was to be top man
among the new doughboys.
It was originally announced that
ex-Co-ordlnator Frank Walker was
the man. This was amended later to
Indicate that the President himself
was to be the guiding genius Finally,
word has come that the newly organ
ized board, meeting with the Presi
dent, is to run the outfit. Positions
in that set-up have been publicly
awarded to Messrs. Ickes, Hopkins,
Peoples and others, but these ap
pointments have only beclouded specu
lation as to what the real influence
of each was supposed to be.
Clouds Evaporated.
These clouds have begun to evapo
rate in the private conferences which
are being held. You can begin to
see what may be expected. The fol
lowing thumb-nail outline does not
jibe with what the Government press
agents have been saying, and is a
fair summation of prospects.
I I .*n P\
Rtlitr ;
officers j
— » ™ I ■
The "big boss" title given Walker
appears to be an exaggeration. His
real task apparently is to act as a
polite buffer against all the governors,
mayors, politicians and others clam
oring for money for their home proj
ects. He is to keep these people from
annoying the President, Ickes and
Hopkins.
His office is merely a reception
room where applicants can cool their
heels. After he receives their applica
tions he refers them to various quasi
independent bureaus operated by Hop
kins, Ickes et al. The applications go
through a mill of examinations and
are finally reported to the general
board meeting, at which President
Roosevelt presides.
Apparently Walker cannot ap
prove or disapprove of anything
important. His duties, therefore,
will be largely secretarial and co
ordinative rather than executive.
The man who will do the bulk of
the spending is Hopkins. His eager
personality will operate the major
portion of the show behind the skirts
of Messrs. Roosevelt and Walker.
The President will make all the big
decisions at first, but he will do so
on recommendations. Eventually, the
major burden will undoubtedly shift
to Hopkins’ shoulders because the
President cannot spare the time re
quired. Admiral Peoples is, in a
way, to be a sort of assistant to Hop
kins.
Ickes will only do the allottng of
what is left of the P. W. A.
Will Be Administrators.
Boiled down, what the new relief
regime appears to be is this: A re
organization of old relief agencies,
with the same men (Hopkins, Ickes
and Peoples) in control of the ma
chinery, but under changed conditions,
where they will be administrators
instead of dictators.
The foreign trade conflict between
Messrs. Hull and Peek is not yet over,
but soon may be.
The Peek report, which was given
out at the White House a week ago,
seems to be bringing the issue to a
climax, if not a concluaion. The fact
that the President gave out the report
caused Insiders to feel at first that
be approved it. This conclusion seems
to have been hasty. Apparently Mr.
Roosevelt gave it out after a glance at
Mr. Peek’s summary, but has since
received advices from Mr. Hull’s
friends. And they are going around
whispering charges that Peek dis
torted Commerce Department trade
figures in order to discredit Hull’s
foreign trade policies.
As tor Mr. Hull, his close associates
have noticed that he now tightens his
lips every time the name of Peek is
mentioned.' Prom past experience,
they judge that the real fight is about
to start. They are offering odds of 3
to 1 on Hull, and some are going so
far as to predict Mr. Peek’s ultimate
resignation.
The veteran progressive Senator
Norris of Nebraska, lost a manu
script that he had marked in
preparation for a speech. A clerk
who was looking for it asked the
Senator if he was sure he had not
left it at home when changing
suits. Norris responded:
“No, I am sure about that, be
cause I’ve only got one suit."
Congressional leaders are so anxious
to get away that they have been talk
ing privately about a plan to adjourn
soon and have a special session in
November. This kind of talk gener
ally arises at this time of the year.
, The work has been heavy. The Job
ahead Is going to be tedious and
distasteful.
Mr. Roosevelt will probably veto the
idea. He has made no plans for the
Summer beyond an indefinite promise
to visit the San Diego Exposition. It
has not been announced, but he
expected to make this trip in July.
He cannot delay it.
The Senate has lately been getting
nowhere more rapidly than usual. It
has spent most of its recent weeks in
considering the anti-lynching bill, the
Bankhead farm tenant bill and the
Copeland pure food bill, without get
ting to a vote on any of them. Days
were spent debating the measures,
yet they are now right back where
they started. Only two Mg bills have
been passed In four months—the relief
Mil and the bonus. This is something
of a record, even for this moat delib
erative of all deliberative bodies.
(Co&rrislit. 1938.)
Advertising Required.
Greece has organized a tourist po
lice force to enforce its new law com
pelling all common carriers and tour
ist enterprises to display advertising
matter about the oontry’i attractions
for foreign visitors.
GIRD F0RJ6 RACE
Regional Meeting Planned
to Organize and Raise
Campaign Funds.
With the Young Democratic Clubs
of America In the van, the Democratic
tom-toms began beating in earnest
today for the coming national cam
paign.
CHS Woodward of Des Moines, na
tional president of the Young Demo
cratic Clubs; James Roosevelt, secre
tary of the national organization and
son of President Roosevelt; Hampton
Robb of New York, chairman of the
National Finance Committee, and
others prominent in the organization
revealed their plans for regional
meetings in all parts of the country.
Mr. Roosevelt is to give a great
deal of his time to the work of or
ganization of the Young Democrats,
be said. It has been repeatedly re
ported and denied that the President's
son would become a member of the
White House secretariat. It now ap
pears that what time he has to spend
away from his business and his work
at Hyde Park on the Roosevelt estate
he will give to this youth organiza
tion ot the Democratic party.
Ten Conferences Scheduled.
It was denied by President Wood
ward and Mr. Roosevelt that the re
gional meetings or conferences of the
Young Democratic Clubs where In
tended to offset the regional confer
ences which the Republicans are
staging. However, the first two meet
ings of the Young Democrats are
slated to be held in Chicago on June
7 and in Amarillo. Tex., June 8 The
much advertised ‘ grass roots” Middle
West regional Republican conference
is to take place in Springfield, 111., on
June 10.
The Young Democrats have divided
the country into 10 regions—-each to
have its own conference during the
coming months. The country is so
divided also for organization and cam
paign purposes, and for the purpose of
raising the necessary funds.
The second national convention of
the Young Democratic Clubs is set for
August 23 and 24 in Milwaukee. An
invitation has been extended to Presi
dent Roosevelt to address the conven
tion.
Novel Plan Proposed.
The President’s son said he "hoped”
the President would be able to attend
the convention, but that his acceptance
had not yet been received.
In his letter to the President invit
ing him to the Milwaukee convention.
President Woodward set forth a novel
plan to gather into the convention
representatives of Young Republican
Clubs and other youth movements—
as guests. He said:
I know you will be pleased to learn
that we are planning to invite repre
sentatives of the Young Republican
Clubs and other youth organizations
to be present as guests of our conven
tion at the time of your address. Such
an arrangement will enable you, as
President of the United States, to ad
dress representatives not only of the
Young Democratic Clubs, but of all
the youth organizations in the Nation.
Mr. Robb whose appointment to be
chairman of the finance Committee
of the organization was announced to
day. explained the regional set-up.
He had become convinced, he said,
that it was better to decentralize and
not to undertake to run the organiza
tion entirely from Washington. The
new set-up includes key men in each
of the 10 regions, each in charge of
a group of States; an executive com
mittee of 12 and two representatives
in each State. The headquarter* for
the various regions are: Providence,
R. I.; New York, N. Y.; Annapolis,
Md.: Detroit, Mich.; St. Paul, Minn.;
SL Louis, Mo.; Denver, Colo.; Mis
soula, Mont; San Francisco, Calif.,
and Atlanta. Ca.
The Annapois region will cover
Maryland, Virginia. West Virginia,
North Carolina and South Carolina.
These regional meeting*, where pos
sible. will be held in connection with
the State conventions of the Young
Democratic Clubs.
Mr. Woodward said that the com
plete itinerary and schedule of the
regional conferences would be made
public within a few weeks. He said
that these meetings would be attend
ed by Miss Ruth Lockett, national
vice president; James Roosevelt, sec
retary of the Young Democratic Clubs
of America; Ray Klrchdorfer, na
tional treasurer; Hampton Robb, and
himself.
The Finance Committee has been
created to ralae funda to finance the
activities of the Young Democratic
Clubs of America and enable the
organization to carry out a broad and
comprehenaive program of activity
along political, educational, social and
athletic lines. The organization, Mr.
Woodward said, has more than 3,000,
000 members.
Mr. Woodward stated that within
the near future the appointments of
nationally known individuals to direct
these various activities of the na
tional program of the Young Demo
cratic Clubs of America would be
■UWVUUVV *-» •
Mr. Robb, new finance director. Is
39 years old and a graduate of Har
vard University, where he was ap
pointed manager of the varsity foot
ball team in 1917. During the war he
served in France as a captain in the
Army Air Service, and upon his re
turn to the United State* became vice
president and director of Francis H.
Leggett & Co. of New York. He also
was president of the Executives’ Asso
ciation of Greater New York.
Mr. Robb is a former member of the
Industrial Advisory Board of the Na
tional Recovery Administration, and
subsequently served as deputy admin
istrator of the Transportation Division
of the N. R. A. Several months ago
he was appointed American minister
to Paraguay, which post be was un
able to assume.
The results of a poll taken of repre
sentative* of the Young Democratic
Clubs on important policies of the
Roosevelt administration and the sol
diers’ bonus were announced by Mr.
Woodward. The views of 44 State or
ganizations were obtained.
Four billion eight hundred million
dollar work-relief legislation—For, 42;
against, l; doubtful, 1.
Continuation of Public Works Ad
ministration with additional funds for
this purpose—Favorable, 44.
Industrial disputes act patterned
after the Wagner-Lewls disputes act
and providing for the continuation of
the National Labor Relations Board—
For, 25; against, 8; doubtful, 9; no
answer, 2.
Unemployment insurance and old
age pensions—For, 41; against, 3; in
definite, 1.
Soldiers' bonus—For, II; against,
21; for, with reservations, 8.
Legislation to authorise Govern
ment control of utility holding com
panies—For, 44.
Stock Exchange legislation—For, 44.
McSwain bill and other proposed
legislation to take "profits out of war"
_For 44.
Continuation of N. H- A.—For, 16;
for, with modifications and restric
tions. 17; acaiaalJ.
Scarlet Fever Drives Annapolis Trade to Sidewalks
Over the week-end the hitherto unsung sidewalks of Annapolis
achieved a fame rivaling that of the sidewalks of New York—and all because
of an outbreak of acarlet fever.
They took on an Old World atmosphere when midshipmen. In obedience
to an order prohibiting them from entering buildings outside the naval
academy grounds, persuaded merchants to serve them on the sidewalks.
The order was issued as a precaution against the disease appearing in the
academy, where officials are anxious to avoid an outbreak just before June
week and the Summer cruise.
A general view of the middies being waited on in front of cafes and
a telegraph office Is shown in the upper picture.
Midshipman E. A. Bar h an (lower left) is being fitted for a new
uniform outside a tailoring establishment which had to discard the tradi
tional privacy of such work.
In the sidewalk foursome (lower right) the couples are Midshipman
W. F. Petrovic and Miss Ruth Stow and Midshipman J. E. Gish and Miss
Marge Tyson.
—Star Staff Photos.
STRIKE IN TOLEDO
AUTO PLANT ENDS
30,000 Workers Made Idle
by Walkout to Be Able to
Return to Jobs.
By tha Associated PTess.
TOLEDO, Ohio, May 14—Tht
i three-week strike at the Chevrolet
| auto plant here ended today and
i plant officials moved quickly to return
j to full speed production.
The union workers, who voted 732
to 385 to end the strike, were divided
however. In their opinion of the set
tlement. James Roland, chairman o!
the Strike Committee, described the
result as a "dirty deal."
Meeting Is Stormy.
The vote followed a stormy meetinf
j during which Francis J. Dillon
, American Federation of Labor or
| ganizer for the automobile industry,
once declared the local United Auto
mobile Workers’ Federal Union sus
pended from the national organiza
tion.
Dillon left the meeting, but re
turned later upon request of unior
officials and was present for the voU
of peace, which Dillon had recom
mended. Later the organizer attended
a meeting of the local Executive Com
mittee and said that everything wai
"settled”
Dillon said he ordered the with
drawal of pickets from the plant
Difficulties at the Cleveland and Nor
wood. Ohio, plants will be ironed oul
as a result of the vote here, he said
Scare of Plants Can Beopen.
With the Toledo plant again supply
ing transmissions, a score of asaemblj
plants will be able to reopen In varioui
other cities. Approximately 30,00<
auto workers, made idle by the striki
here, will be able to return to theii
jobs.
The agreement accepted by thi
workers provides for an increase ii
wages of 4 cents an hour, raising tiu
minimum to 54 cents, time and a hall
for all work in excess of 48 hours t
week and for Sunday and holidaj
work, and safeguards against reduc
tion of wages during the slack season
CLEVELAND, May 14 OP).—Unior
employes of the Fisher Body Co.’i
plant here cast a unanimous vott
today to terminate their strike ant
return to work. Oliver Haydenrelch
vice president of the union local, an
nounced.
f CongressJyn Brief!
Bt the Associated Press.
TODAY.
Senate.
Debates Senator Long's demand fbi
Investigation of Postmaster Genera;
Parley,
Bonus advocates plan to send Pat
man bill to White House.
House. ’
Debates legislative appropriates
bill.
TOMORROW.
Senate.
On the floor: T. V. A. amendment
or Navy appropriation MU.
Finance Committee, executive, or
social security.
Foreign Relations Committee, ex
ecutive, routine business.
House.
Continues debate on legislative ap
propriation bill.
District Committee meet* at 10:>(
Lyddane Case and Bus Crash
Due for Grand Jury on Monday
_
,!
By a Staff Correspondent of The Star,
ROCKVILLE, Md, May 14 —The
sensational Lyddane case and the
tragic grade-crossing accident in
which 14 children were killed here on
April 11 are to be presented to the
Montgomery County grand Jury for
its consideration next Monday
morning.
Members of the jury were notified
yesterday that their services would be
required for those two cases as well
as several other important matters,
and the jurors will report in the
Circuit Court at 10 o’clock.
The notifications were merely
routine, however, for it was learned
shortly after Mrs. Anne Lyddane,
secretary In a Rockville bank, and
, three alleged confederate* were held
for the Jury' that the Juror* would be
recalled.
Mr*. Lyddane and John M. Boland.
42 - year - old Washingtonian. are
charged with con*piracy to murder
the bank employe* husband, Francis
S Lyddane, while John H. Carnell and
Edwin J. Davis, both of Washington,
are charged with Mrs. Lyddane with
conspiracy to murder Mrs. Josephine
Beall of Dames town.
Percy Clay Line. Hagerstown bus
driver Is charged with manslaughter
in connection with the accident in
which a Baltimore & Ohio express
crashed into a Williamsport High
School bus. which he was operating,
and killed 14 children.
VIRGIN ISLAND QUIZ
.DELAYED TILL FALL
Reynolds Announces Post
ponement to Crowds Gath
ered for Probe.
Br the Associated Press.
ST. THOMAS. Virgin Island, May
14.—A senatorial investigation into
the administration of the Virgin Is
lands today was suddenly postponed
until October.
Senator Reynolds, Democrat, of
North Carolina, chairman of the sen
atorial subcommittee, took the ad
journment upon the authority of
Senator Tydings, Democrat, of Mary
land of the full Senate committee.
Lack of time was given as the reason.
The North Carolina Senator prom
ised that the full Senate committee
would come here In the Fall tor an
exhaustive inquiry into charges and
counter-charge* exchanged by oppo
nents and supporters of Gov. Paul M.
Pearson.
An Imposing array of attorneys and
| investigators, native and white wlt
. nesses and documentary evidence had
i been assembled for the scheduled start
, of hearing! today.
Reynolds, however, explained that
the attorneys had been unable to
marshal all needed evidence in the
limited time since their arrival and
hence it would be unfair to proceed
piecemeal
The adjournment, he said, had the
full consent of the whole committee.
mHSittiwi of which was received
today.
Announcement of the postponement
came at the beginning of the sched
uled hearing and fell like a thunder
clap in the room Jammed with ex
cited native* of the island.
BAKER hits' STATESMEN
Says Prims Reason for War Is
That They Fail in Crisis.
MILTON, Maas- May 14 OP).—New
ton D. Baker, Secretary of War in
the Wilson cabinet, last night asserted
that the “present menace to the world
seems to be a conflict between secure
nations which mean to retain their
security and Insecure nations striving
to attain security.”
He spoke at the Milton Acedamy
Alumni War Memorial Foundation
exercises.
Analysing the motives behind war
and the means for preventing it. Baker
declared that one of the predominant
reasons fefewar is "because its teamen
bars failed
TRADE COMMITTEE
CALLS FOR WO
Canvass of Business Men
Started by Workers Un
der L. B. Wilson.
The Greater National Capital Com
mittee of the Washington Board of
Trade today began a systematic can
vass of leading business men in a
campaign to raise a minimum of
$50,000 to continue the committee's
work for another year.
Headed by Lloyd B. Wilson, presi
dent of the Chesapeake & Potomac
Telephone Co, the committee has di
vided the work among its 16 mem
bers. Under each of these, active
workers have been enlisted, and while
no public drive will be made, busi
ness and professional men directly or
indirectly affected by the Greater
National Capital Committee's work
will be called upoa
Associated with Mr. Wilson on the
committee are B. B. Bergunder. Lee
D. Butler, A. C. Case, James E. Corn
flower, John H. Davis, W. W. Everett,
Robert V. Fleming, Arthur J. Harnett,
Bert L. Olmsted. John Saul. P. P. H.
Siddons, Marcy L. Sperry, Charles H.
Tompkins, P. G. Addison, Jr, and
Robert J. Cottrell.
The Greater National Capital Com
mittee, which has functioned chiefly
in bringing conventions and tourists
to Washington, has succeeded In the
four years of its history in increasing
the number of national gatherings
each year.
The committee estimates that vis
itors last year spent in Washington ap
proximately $49,000,000.
TWO AGENCIES PROBE
BALTIMORE AIR CRASH
By the Associated Press.
BALTIMORE, May 14—An air
plane crash which injured five per
sons, none severely, went under in
vestigation from two angles yesterday.
MaJ. Charles A. Masson, secretary
of the State Aviation Commission, and
M. P. Hanacom, investigator of the
aeronautics branch of the Depart
ment of Commerce, sought to learn
the cause of the crash and the rea
son for a group of workmen burning
the wreckage before officials could
view it
MaJ. Masson pointed out that aero
nautical law requires a wrecked plane
to be left untouched until the De
partment of Commerce has ex
amined it.
The crash occurred Sunday. Those
in the plane were the pilot, Douglas
J. Ruthven; Mr. end Mrs. Prank J.
DonohaMlflu Cm me Barrett end Dr.
[Smart uancv, all of Baltimore.
Tariff Commission Also
Sees Move as Curb on
Bootleggers.
By the Assoclsted Press.
An assertion that a cut in imports
duties on liquor would tend to dis
courage bootlegging came from the
Federal Tariff Commission today as
the House Ways and Means Commit
tee went forward with its analysis of
the administration of the 1934 liquor
taxing act.
Dr. James M Doran, head of the
Distilled Spirits Institute, went to the
House Committee session to plead for
lower taxes.
In a report devoted to the relation
of •'whisky, wine, beer and other al
coholic beverages and the tariff," the
Tariff Commission presented figures
to show that the total liquor revenue
has mounted from $191,843,990 in
1900 to $299,127,127 in 1934.
Total revenue from all commodities
in 1900 was $528,493,000 and in 1934
it was $2,600,989,000.
$50,000,000 From Imports.
Speaking of the tariff problem on
distilled liquors, it said the duty in
1934 was $5 per proof gallon. When
applied to 7,178.000 gallons of im
ports, this yielded $35,783,000 tn cus
toms revenue. The $2 %xcise tax that
was superimposed on this brought in
$14,356,000.
The report continued: “It seems
probable that the current consumption
of legal liquor is being restricted by
the present high prices, resulting from
& combination of short domestic stocks
and the level of present duty in con
junction with the excise tax. A lower
rate of duty, with or without exemp
tion of imported liquor from the ex
cise tax, would result in reduced prices
at which imported liquors are sold on
the American market and might lead
also to reduced prices on domestic
liquors."
Sees Twofold Benefit.
On the question of the relation of
taxes and bootlegging, the report said:
“A rate of duty which would make
mature whisky and other liquors
available at a lower price would tend
to discourage bootlegging by diminish
ing the bootleggers’ profit margin. This
would probably produce a twofold
benefit to the Federal Government:
(1) It would increase the volume of
tax-paid liquor and (2) it would re
duce the cost of enforcing liquor tax
laws.”
Turning to protection of the Amer
ican industry, the report continued,
"Using the tariff as a means of pro
tecting the domestic Industry during
the period in which is unable to
furnish an adequate supply of mature,
aged American-type liquors may not
in the long run prove a benefit.
“The higher price and lower qual
ity which would result from a pro
tective policy might discourage the
consumption of American-type prod
ucts and result in an impairment of
future markets for these goods.”
BROWN ANNOUNCES
Fairfax Trial Justice Out for
Commonwealth's Attorney
Special Dispatch to The Star.
FAIRFAX, Vs., May 14.—Judge
Paul K. Brown, Fairfax County trial
justice, has announced himself a
candidate for the office of common
wealth's attorney. Judge Brown, who
is secretary of the County Bar As
sociation; secretary of Fairfax Rotary
Club and vice president of the As
sociation of Trial Justices of Virginia,
was appointed to his present post
Jwe 21. 1932. by Circuit Judgs Walter
•RHiockrthy.
Convention Will Be Sought
at Rome, They Inform
Balkan Entente.
Br the Associated Press.
BUCHAREST. May 13.—Turkey
served notice today on the states
constituting the Balkan pact that
she intends to demand at the forth
coming Rome conference the right to
refortify the Dardanelles.
Turkey will ask conclusion of a
new convention on rearmament of the
straits connecting Europe and Asia
to replace the Lausanne convention of
1929.
At the Balkan Pact Conference to
day, Tewfik Rushdi Bey, Turkish for
eign minuter, explained Turkey want*
to rearm the Dardanelles purely as
a peace measure and not (or offen
sive purposes.
Formidable Arms Sought.
The Turkish statesman surprised
the delegates by saying Turkey de
mands the right not only to have mo
bile police along both sides of the
Dardanelles, but also airplane bases,
undersea mines, submarine stations,
underground military defenses and a
network of modern communications.
This would make the Dardanelles
even more formidable than they were
before the World War.
Tewfik argued that the Lausann*
agreement is not a peace treaty, but
a convention susceptible to amend
ment. Therefore, he said, if Turkey
rearmed the Dardanelles she could
not be accused of breaking treaties.
Apparently Turkey intends to use
her demands for rearmament of the
Dardanelles at the Rome conference
in connection with similar demands
from Bulgaria and Hungary for re
habilitation of the national defense*
of the latter two.
Lever for Balkan Pact.
Turkey’s militarization plans will
also be used, it is understood as a
lever on behalf of the Balkan pact
countries to assure:
1 8igning of a convention lor se
curity of the states of the Little En
tente and Balkan bloc.
2. Conclusion of a proposed Medi
terranean pact
3. Creation of a Black Sea pact
4. Establishment of a pact ol non
aggression and mutual assistance,
which would exclude any possibility
of Hungary and Bulgaria attempting
to change their present frontiers.
Another development at the con
ference was an agreement between
Rumania and Yugoslavia to construct
a joint steel bridge over the Danube
near the famous iron gates.
This would have not only great
strategic importance in the event of a
war. but also enormous influence on
trade and traffic between the two
countries.
OPPOSED BY BRITAIN.
Attitude Made Clear at Recent
League Session.
LONDON. May 14 (A^.—Great
Britain will firmly oppose any move
to let Turkey refortify the Dar
danelles, authoritative sources said
today.
As one of the signatories of the
“freely negotiated” treaty with Tur
key, Britain, made her attitude on
the issue clear at the recent session
of the League of Nations Council
when Sir John Simon, foreign secre
tary, opposed any discussion of the
suggestion.
The British government s view as
summarized by qualified sources is
that the question is “incapable of
comparison" to that of Hungarian,
Austrian and Bulgarian rearmament.
No restriction was made on Tur
key’s arms strength, it was pointed
out here, but only upon the amount
of her armed forces within the de
militarized zone along the straits.
FRENCH INTEREST SLIGHT.
Leave Straits Issue to Britain and
Russia.
PARIS. May 14 m — France, while
she has not been officially notified of
Turkey's desire to refortify the Dar
danelles, considers the matter pri
marily one for Great Britain and
Russia to decide, it was said today.
While officials said they considered
the Issue another outgrowth of Ger
many's rearmament, they said France's
only concern as to the status of the
straits would be in the event that she
some day wished to transport Russian
troops from the Black Sea.
! -•
,
rRAFFIC
TIPS
lvthe NATIONAL SAFETY COUNCIL )
THE FOUR "INS."
Would you like to get “in'* on the
secret of traffic accident causes? Well,
here are four of them, and they are
mightly important, too.
1. Inattention.
2. Inexperience.
3. Incompetency.
4. Indifference.
Inattention is probably the out
standing cause of motor vehicle
deaths and Injuries today. The day
dreamer, the scenery-watcher, the
driver who talks too much, the fellow
whose mind runs around in circles—
all of these and others are an easy
prey to distractions.
Inexperience exacts heavy toll, too,
as does incompetency, but just keep in
mind that Incompetency does not
necessarily mean Inexperience. Then
are a great many "dumb" drivers to
day who have been at the wheel foi
years. They continue to be a menace
to safety because of luck and alsc
because the State in which they live
has no provision for examining drivers.
Less than half the States have stand
ard drivers’ license laws at the present
time.
Indifference, inspired by selfishness
stubbornness, is all too common^

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