Evening star. [volume], April 11, 1936, Page A-2, Image 2

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I
OF A. A. A. STUDIED
4»" t'
^Unjust Enrichment’ Phrase
May React Against
Roosevelt.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.
"Unjust enrichment”—ft phrase
sponsored by President Roosevelt In
his message to Congress asking for
a return of processing taxes—may
prove an embarrassment to the New
Deal because it begins to appear that
"unjust enrichment” might also ap
ply to those persons and institutions
who received in excess of $10,000 by
authority of Mr. Roosevelt himself
through the A.A.A.
It turns out. for instance, that a
prominent wheat grower in the West
rented many acres of land from the
Indians at prices ranging from 50
cents to $1.50 per acre and then re
ceived upwards of $7.50 per acre from
the New Deal for not raising wheat
on a part of that land.
Payments to the sugar companies
aome of which had their stock market
value increased materially as a result
of the A.A.A.'s bounties have already
been made and doubtless disbursed,
but the idea of a ‘‘windfall” tax to
recover some of this money that went
for "unjust enrichment” of a few
large producers or non-producers is
beginning to be studied.
Tax on Farmers Unlikely.
Politically, nobody here is going to
ask that a tax be imposed on the
farmers, who received money for not
doing things, though to be sure it is
difficult to see how this money can
be lawfully retained by the farmers
any more than the processing tax
money can now be legally taxed since
the whole A.A.A. was declared un
constitutional and invalid.
Surely if the "windfall” tax is ap
plied to the processors, who were ac
cused of ‘‘unjust enrichment,” so can
the principle be applied to any other
company, which benefited by the
whole "unjust enrichment” idea. Can
Federal funds be paid out for not
doing things, for failing to perform
O Ov. 1 V 1V/V, tii » »»*V vw> V*M»WVU>
itself gets “value received?” And
since the Supreme Court declared the
A.A.A. invalid, can the funds be re
garded as anything but a “windfall”
to the farmers? For, strictly speak
ing, the Federal Government, though
entitled to recover money spent, is
for political reasons not going to seek
to recover the money paid the farmers.
Farmers Got Billion.
The American farmers received
about $1,000,000,000, which was col
lected by the Government in processing
taxes from the American consumers.
The money was disbursed irrespective
of the financial condition of the re
cipients. Rich companies got the
benefits along with poor individuals.
The whole scheme was theoretically
aimed at a control of the price so that
it would go upward. Now nobody
knows how much more the drought
*ent the prices up than did the A. A. A.
control, and likewise, nobody knows
how much more money there might
. have been available had the American
; farmer been able to supply the natural
demand by unrestricted production.
But the fact remains that the
American consumer paid the bill of
$1,000,000,000 in addition to the in
creased prices that the drought and
the control program forced upon him.
The so-called “windfall” in processing
taxes is supposed to amount to $300,
000,000, but there is no proof that all
the processors got this money because
many of them were forced by con
sumers to reduce prices and hence
the processing tax money paid into the
courts was borrowed money which
some of the producers were lucky to
recover in order to prevent bank
ruptcy.
Proposed Law Not Revealed.
The proposed statute, which is to
recover the processing tax money that
went to "unjust enrichment,” only has
not been made public. It will be soon.
And it may not meet the test of con
stitutionality when it goes into the
courts. For how can Congress levy a
tax on something which the Supreme
Court said was not a true tax? The
assessment will be levied, however,
and the matter taken to the courts
In due time.
Meanwhile, the farmers and the
big producers who received several
thousands of dollars in A. A. A. bene
fits will find the Treasury making no
demands on them. For it would be
difficult if not impossible to write a
statute that recovers money paid to
Droducers who received, say $10,000
or more from the A. A. A. without es
tablishing a precedent for the re
covery to all sums paid to farmers.
But under the banner of “unjust en
richment” a new legislative standard
may possibly be invented. Unfortu
nately there is no effective remedy
being suggested either inside or out
side Congress to prevent the "unjust
taxation” of the consumers, so many
of whom nowadays feel that they are
living in an era of unjust impoverish
ments.
VOTE MYSTERY SOLVED
Sewer Ballots Found in 1834 and
Thrown Away Again.
PITTSBURGH, April 11 (JP).—The
mystery of the “sewer ballots” ended
yesterday.
Jack F. Tosney. Democratic in
spector of elections, said they had
been returned a year after the 1933
election and thrown in a storm sewer
because there wasn’t a furnace readily
available to burn them.
The bundle of ballots was found by
a W. P. A. worker clearing flood debris
Xrom the sewer Thursday.
(Congress in Brief
TODAY.
Senate:
Federal Judge Halsted L. Ritter of
Florida takes stand in self-defense
against impeachment charges.
Labor Subcommittee gets evidence
on industrial arms stores.
House:
In recess:
Ways and Means Subcommittee
meets on tax legislation.
Military Committee continues in
vestigation of disposition of surplus
War Department goods.
MONDAY.
Senate:
Will continue with impeachment
trial of Judge Halsted L. Ritter, if it
is not completed today.
Judiciary Committee, regular weekly
meeting.
Subcommittee on District Appro
priations, executive, at 3 p.m., to
hear Budget Bureau officials.
House:
Considers District legislation.
Appropriations Subcommittee con
tinues hearings on deficiency bill,
10 so,
I
What’s What
Behind News
in Capital
Peculiar Situation Gave
Borah Victory in
Wisconsin.
BY PAUL MALLON.
THE Wisconsin rahs of the Borah
cheering section came from the
larynx and not the esophagus.
The real reason Mr. Borah
won Wisconsin was because he was the
beneficiary of a peculiar political situ
ation which does not prevail else
where.
The dominant La Follette groups
o/ ex-Republicans had no presiden
tial candidate. There was no place
for them to go except into the Re
publican primary for Borah or into
the Democratic primary for Pres
ident Roosevelt. They did both.
Stranger yet, a large group of the
anti-La Follette Republicans were for
Borah, not entirely unmindful of the
embarrassment it would cause the La
Follettes if they had to choose between
Borah and Roosevelt In November.
Thus It was that Borah drew from
the progressive and conservative
groups as well as the orthodox ones
in between. That feat has rarely
been accomplished.
The real answer to the Borah
candidacy will be written In Illinois
Tuesday and in Ohio a month later.
The Ritter impeachment case has
been a great bore to the Senate. Dur
ing the last few days the leaders have
had difficulty in keeping a quorum
present. Senators, who are judges
and jurors combined, have been com
plaining to Floor Leader Robinson
that the case has blocked their pet
legislation. Most exasperated has
been Senator Overton, whose flood
control bill was the unfinished busi
ness when the Senate dropped its
legislative mantle and became a court
for the duration of the trial.
Sets Example.
The only other senatorial com
ment which you hear in the jury room
is an occasional remark dropped by
a liberal to the effect that it is a
good thing to try a Federal judge
every once In a while. They seem
to think it keeps the judiciary alert.
What is behind these latest yarns
about a Hoover-Landon split is evi
dence picked up by Landon workers
indicating that some of Mr. Hoover’s
good friends have begun quietly build
ing up Senator Dickinson.
There is, for instance, an out
standing Midwestern banker who
entertained Mr. Hoover on a visit
several months ago. This banker is
a leader of a small group of busi
ness men. All displayed interest in
the Landon candidacy until re
cently. Then they started talking
up Dickinson. At the same time,
a Washington associate of Mr.
Hoover has been expressing bitter
ness to pals about the way Landon
went into California. He usually
reflects the Hoover mind. But.
when Mr. Hoover was in New York
recently, he told a political com
rade that he was not against Gov.
Landon, that he thought, the way
. things are going now, the Kansan
would be nominated on the first
ballot.
An open break is not likely.
The Senate has become very noisy
since loud-speakers were installed for
the impeachment trial.
Stopples Useless.
Some Senators have been trying to
borrow Senator Glass’ anti-noise ear
stopples. They were sent to him by
a local official after Glass complained
about the street noises in front cf
his hotel.
Only one thing holds them back.
Ear stopples would be useless when
ever certain loud-voiced Senators get
the floor. There are two or three
who could drown three auto horns,
a clanging trolley and a policeman's
whistle, without taking a deep breath.
THE BEST x
A Pacific Coast friend of Mr. Hoover
walked up to him after his Fort Wayne
speech and congratulated him, say
ing it was the best balanced and finest
toned political speech he had ever
delivered.
The congratulator naively suggested
that Ben Allen (the Hoover adviser
who has been getting all the pub
licity about writing Hoover’s speeches)
must have been a great help.
A spokesman at Hoover’s right shot
back: "If Ben could write a political
speech like that he would at least
have got himself elected mayor some
where.”
Generalissimo Farley is supposed
to have been upset because Agri
culture Secretary Wallace declined
at first to give out any information
concerning A. A. A. payments. The
political master mind had much to
do on the inside with Wallace's
change of mind subsequently.
It did not require a master mind to
see that WaUace’s recalcitrance
doubled interest in the material.
Even so, Mr. Wallace may have
been correct in the first place. The
disclosure of large A. A. A. payments
has stimulated considerable kicking
against the new farm plan. For
example, it was announced that in
the North Central States farmers will
be paid $1.50 an acre for soybeans to
be ploughed under, whereas the Bu
reau of Agricultural Economics shows
that the cost of planting soybeans Is
about $20 an acre.
(Copyright. 1930. by the North Americas
Newspaper Alliance, Inc.)
DEATH WINS RACE
Child Dies aa Serum Arrives by
Plane for Treatment.
KEMMERER. Wyo., April 11 UP).—
Alidee Ropelatto, 6, stricken with food
poisoning at her snowbound ranch
home near here, died yesterday as a
Colorado National Guard plane ar
rived from Denver with serum that
might have saved her.
She was the second member of her
family to die after eating home-canned
mushrooms.
There is no landing field here and
I the serum was dropped by parachute.
fc
AGREEMENT NEAR
ON TAR PROGRAM
House Committee Hopes
to Settle Details of
Draft Today.
By the Associated Press.
Bent on reaching a decision today
on all points still unsettled. Democrats
on a House tax subcommittee gath
ered this morning to continue the task
of drafting the new $799,000,000 tax
program.
The drafters, who later will submit
their work to the full House Ways
and Means Committee, already had
rounded the main provision of the
plan Into shape.
This provides for a tax on cor
poration net income, graduated ac
cording to the percentage of profits
withheld from stockholders.
Debt Definition Vital,
Full details were not disclosed, but
some corporations will receive special
treatment. Chairman Samuel B. Hill.
Democrat, of Washington announced
that subcommittee Democrats had
agreed on definitions of corporation
debt, vital to a proposed provision to
give relief to corporations burdened
by debt.
He also said it had been decided
to put foreign banks and trust com
panies and foreign corporations which
are in receivership in domestic courts
on a flat 15 per cent tax basis, Instead
of the graduated tax. Previously it
had been decided to apply this same
flat rate to American corporations in
similar classes.
Hill hoped the subcommitteemen
would reach agreement today on all
points still unsettled. These include
aspects of a proposed levy to recap
ture part of the old processing taxes
which processors succeeded in keeping
from the Government.
First Revenue May Be Low.
Hill and Chairman Doughton of the
Ways and Means Committee said the
L Ui pui a 11UI1 IttA, uccrxgxxcu I.V xuxtc
profits into the hands of stockholders
where the money would be subject to
individual income taxes and surtaxes,
might not produce so much the first
year as later.
Tax reform and revenue are the
two aims of the program, Doughton
said, "’and in getting reform, we shall
have to be a little patient about
getting revenue.”
Representative Pettengill, Democrat,
of Indiana, in a letter meanwhile
asked Herman Oliphant, the Treasury's
general counsel, to estimate the num
ber of persons who would benefit and
the number who would be injured
under the corporate tax features.
MAN DYING IN NOOSE
SAVED, BUT IS SORRY
ay tbe Associated Press.
SAN FRANCISCO, April 11.—A
newspaper interview saved n man's life
here yesterday—but the man objected,
Charles Mulcahy, reporter /or a San
Francisco newspaper, went to the cell
of William H. Colburn, 27, Los Angeles
Government engineer serving 90 days
for disturbing the peace afier failing
to reconcile his estranged wife.
Colburn was hanging from the bars,
his leather belt forming a hangman’s
noose. He was still alive but blue
faced and gasping.
Mulcahy’s shout brought jailors who
released the prisoner. "I’ll oo it again
if I get a chance.” Colburn gasped.
"I haven't anything to live for.”
mill
(Continued From First Page 1
<•
false impression that we will not
fight, and we do not wish to run the
risk of being Imposed upon by rea
son of any such impression."
Hull told the committee in a letter
dated March 3 that in view of its de
cision to make the hearings public he
was deleting "rather extensive por
tions” of the testimony "where it
would be inadvisable to make such
references public without explanations
which would avoid any misunderstand
ing or occasion for exception.”
Declaring the international situ
ation was “very brittle” in the early
part of the year, Hull said:
"The last thing that I want to do,
or that anybody in the executive
branch of the Government wants to
do. is to say anything or do any
thing, not necessary to be said and
done in the proper course of our offi
cial duties that would tend to indicate
that there Is not sufficient capacity
to function on the part of this Gov
ernment in dealing with some of the
more delicate and vitally important
ui uui luxtigu auauo.
“It is a very serious period that we
are going through. I do not anticipate
any general war. The chances are 9
out of 10 that there will not be any
such war; but it is a very serious
period, when teamwork here to the
extent that it is consistent is of the
utmost importance.
“You understand that I invite any
kind of criticism in good faith and I
generally find that it is in good faith
when it comes from most parts of the
country, and especially from the Capi
tol; but, of course, all of us in such
a rush cannot realize the importance
of this Nation having a real moral
standing in the world at this time.”
President Defended.
“We occasionally hear somebody
outside—I am frank to say I have not
heard it from anybody In Congress—
indicate that the whole bent of mind
of the Executive, unless he Is closely
observed, or unless the State Depart
ment is closely observed, is to get the
country into trouble.
“Now, as a matter of fact, the last
thing some of us are disposed to do is
to take any steps that would In any
way jeopardize the situation.”
The neutrality bill finally enacted
did not Include many provisions on
which testimony was given. It did
make permanent the embargo on ship
ments of arms and munitions to bel
ligerents and banned long-term loans
and credits to warring factions.
Hull made his statement, about
urging other nations to join America
in re-examining neutral rights, after
Senator Johnson, Republican of Cali
fornia, fervent Nationalist, referred
to a provision in the Pittman bill
under which the United States re
served all of its neutral rights as they
existed prior to the World War.
Hull said the purpose of that was
“not only to keep our record straight
while we are dealing with these—as
you indicate—‘changing conditions’ in
many Important respects. We intend
to stand before the world from month
to month for all the fundamentals of
international law.”
The secretary's testimony showed
the State Department was clinging
to Its stand for a flexible neutrality
policy to take advantage of changing
0
“Easter Gifts” Spread Terror in Wilkes-Barre
The bomb-wrecked kitchen of the Wilkes-Barre, Pa., home of Thomas J. Maloney, former
labor leader, who was critically injured and possibly blinded by the explosion. The bomb was
sent through the mail and thought to be an Easter gift. Maloney's two children also were injured
by the blast.
- A —
Blast
(Continued From First Page.)
victims of the “Easter gifts" was
Thomas Maloney, fiery former presi
dent of a disbanded miners' union,
whose home was dynamited once
before.
The bombs, too, were similar to
others recently found in these regions.
All were made the aame—sticks of
dynamite and loose dynamite in cigar
boxes. All the boxes were wrapped
in white paper and bound with white
string. The addresses were printed
with lead pencil. Each was marked
“sample" and obviously made to ap
pear AS & gift.
It was such a box little Don Lehman
carried from the postman to his
grandfather, Michael Gallagher, the
sexton, yesterday. Don's father, Clin
ton Lehman, 35. took it to Gallagher.
As they untied the bundle, it exploded.
Gallagher, instantly killed by the
dynamite, was hurled across the room.
Lehman staggered blindly, and fell
gravely Injured.
Earlier in the day Maloney, his
daughter Margaret. 13, and his small
son received a similar package. They
called to Mrs. Maloney, ill upstairs.
As they untied the gift, it burst in
their faces. All three were seriously
hurt. It w*s the second time Maloney’s
place had been dynamited.
After hasty investigation, postal in
spectors said six bombs had been sent.
Meanwhile, former Sheriff Luther
Kniffen opened what he thought was
a box of his favorite cigars. It was a
bomb that did not explode. Police
stopped a mall man about to deliver
a bomb to the home of Judge Ben
jamin R. Jones of the Luzerne County
courts.
The bungling crank maned a similar
bomb to "James S. Gorman" at Hazle
ton. evidently intending it for James
A. Gorman, umpire of the Anthracite
Conciliation Board. It was received
at the home of Mrs. James P. Gor
man, widow of an attorney. It did
not explode. The other bomb was
sent to Harry Gouldstone, superin
tendent of a Wyoming Valley colliery.
Police said they were certain the
bomb which killed Gallagher was
meant for another Gallagher, who re
cently was Involved in a mine dis
pute. Some expressed the belief the
terrorism was caused by dlssention
among some of Maloney's former fol
I lowers, disgruntled because their union
was disbanded.
OFFICIALS ARE GUARDED.
NEW YORK. April 11 </{>).—New
York public officials were guarded last
night following upon a bomb scare
that originated in Pennsylvania where
blasts killed one man and Injured four
others.
The alarm followed word from the
Pennsylvania State police at Wyom
ing, Pa., that the death-dealing
bombs mailed at Wilkes-Barre prob
ably were the work of New York ex
perts and might have been addressed
to persons here connected in some
way with dissension in the Pennsyl
vania coal fields.
Police here immediately sent radio
cars to warn all post offices of the
danger. Others hurried to the homes
of public officials.
Post Office Inspector James J.
Doran directed that all parcels re
ceived in New York from Wilkes
Barre be taken to the main office
here for examination. Hotels through
out the city were asked to safeguard
their guests, and police broadcast
warnings by radio.
1931 TRAGEDY RECALLED.
PHILADELPHIA, April 11 VP).—
Postal Inspectors, investigating the
"Easter gift” bombs In Wilkes-Barre,
said last night they had discovered
certain factors which may connect
today's outrages with a bomb which
killed two postal employes in the
Easton, Pa., post office in December,
1931.
They pointed out that the word
“sample,” which marked the 6ix
bombs taken from the mails in the
Wilkes-Barre area, also appeared on
the explosive in the Easton blast,
which led them to believe the same
person or persons may have con
structed all the bombs.
At the Philadelphia headquarters of
the inspector, John W. Johnston, chief
inspector, indicated the Investigators
in Wilkes-Barre have developed im
portant clues.
WARNED AT MIAMI.
MIAMI, Fla., April 11 <£>).—James
A. Gorman, umpire of the Anthracite
Conciliation Board, said yesterday
Hazleton, Pa., police had warned him
this afternoon that he might receive
a bomb through the mail as an Easter
gift.
Gorman said he Immediately noti
fied postal authorities here asking
them to watch for such a package. He
had not been notified, he said, that
a package believed intended for him
had been confiscated at Hazleton.
Asked for an explanation of why a
bomb might be sent through the mails
to him, Gorman said “it’s a long
story.” He promised to make a state
ment later, _
A.
THOMAS J. MALONEY.
—Copyright, A. P. Wirephotos.
MICHAEL GALLAGHER,
Killed by one of the bombs.
TOWNSEND PRESS
SAYS PEOT FOILED
Alleged Political Scheme to
Wreck Movement Linked
to “Pell” Wire.
By the Associated Press.
LOS ANGELES, April 11—The
Townsend Weekly—official organ of
Dr. Francis E. Townsend’s old-age
pension movement—declared today a
political plot to gain control of the
national organization had failed.
An unsigned article asserted that a
former associate of Dr. Townsend and
others had recourse to trickery to
force the resignation of the doctor's
brother, Walter, Hollywood Hotel em
ploye and director of the Townsend
California Corp.
A part of the plan, it was charged,
involved the sending of a fictitiously
signed telegram from Washington In
which “prosecution” of Walter Town
send was threatened unless he re
signed, thus destroying his brother’s
two-thirds majority in the corporation
and making illegal a proposed re
organization of his board of directors.
This telegram, it is asserted, was
signed “Pell, chairman.” The Bell
Congressional Committee, now investi
gating the Townsend organization, has
denied all knowledge of Its origin.
Spokesmen for Dr. Townsend said
the original message has been obtained
from the private detective to whom
it was addressed and that the Bell
Committee may consider it officially.
It was explained by organization
spokesmen that Walter Townsend once
had suggested his desire to resign in
a letter, but never had turned in a
legal form of resignation. He now
did this as requested, but his resigna
tion fell into Dr. Townsend’s hands
when it was forwarded to Washington.
The article shared interest among
Townsend followers with the expected
arrival of Representative Joseph A.
Gavagan of New York, a member of
the Bell Committee, and James R.
Sullivan, counsel for the committee.
At Townsend headquarters, Hal
Slemons, acting regional director, said
employes had been instructed to treat
the representative and his stall
courteously, but not to volunteer in
formation.
Red Beer a Pest.
New Zealand has a red deer pest.
f —— '
Other Alleged Kidnapers
Sought as Prisoner
Picks Photos.
By the Associated Press.
BROOKLYN, N. Y„ April 11 —
With two men “positively" identified
as participants in the abduction of
Paul H. Wendel, New Jersey disbarred
lawyer who "confessed" kidnaping the
Lindbergh baby while held captive,
police of the five boroughs pressed
their search today for the suspects.
Wendel, now held in the county
jail at Trenton. N. J.. as a result of
his repudiated confession, viewed
photographs of the suspects yester
day, one a rogues’ gallery picture, the
other obtained from a chauffeur's
license.
Named Members of Quartet.
He said the men were members of
the quartet he claims held him in a
Brooklyn house for 10 days while
forcing a confession of the Lind
bergh kidnaping from him.
District Attorney William P. X.
Geoghan, who sent the pictures to
Trenton by special messenger, also
sent along photographs of the suspect
ed kidnap house in the Sheepshead
Bay section. These Wendel failed to
identify, but he did not definitely
eliminate the house.
The men sought are known to police
and their usual haunts are under con
stant surveilance, but neither has ap
peared at his home since the investiga
tion narrowed down to the Voorhies
avenue house Geoghan believes to have
been the kidnap rendezvous.
Arrest Expected Soon.
Geoghan, who has promised an arrest
for the past three days, still believes
at least one of the men will be taken
into custody before Monday.
Attorney General David A. Wilentz
of New Jersey is working along with
Geoghan and thrice daily telephone
communications between the two is
maintained.
Horticulturist Dies.
PHILADELPHIA, April 11
Robert Kift, well-known horticulturist
and author of books and articles on
flowers and plants, died Thursday. He
was 85.
— ——..
The National Scene
»
BY ALICE ROOSEVELT LONGWORTH
THERE is much difference of opinion on economic matters
among college professors as there Is among ordinary people.
The Roosevelt administration made a great impression on the
Nation by employing what for three years has
been characterized as a “brain trust.’* Imitation
is the sincerest flattery, and the Republican Na
tional Committee has now announced the estab
lishment of a brain trust of its own. “Monkey
see, monkey do.”
The intention is lor the Republican Board of
Consultants to nullify In the public mind the
pronouncements of the New Deal.
The conflicting views that are bound to result
may possibly make the public lose confidence in
sweeping professorial utterances on anything and
I everything to do with government.
The voters were Just beginning to do some
thinking on their own account. Now they are
going to be presented with a new set of opinions, each sponsored by
professors bolding degrees Just as Impressive as those distinguishing
the other group.
It seems as though the key to the political situation might turn
out to be a Phi Beta Kappa key.
' • _ (Copyright. 1B38.)
' • 7 '
ASKED BY TURKEY
Rearming of Dardanelles
Sought in Official Notes
to Powers.
BACKGROUND—
After conclusion of Greco-Turk
ish war, in 1923, treaty of Lausanne
was signed. Participants were
Britain, France, Italy, Japan,
Turkey, Greece, Bulgaria and.
Yugoslavia. Turkey promised to
demilitarise Dardanelles, strait be
tween Aegean and Marmora Seas.
Chiefly involved in that provis’^n
were Turkey and Russia. Now on
friendliest terms, neither power
anticipates crisis in rearming of
area. Other powers also are be
lieved agreeable.
Hy the Associated Press.
ANKARA. Turkey, April 11.—Turkey
formally sought permission today to
rearm the Dardanelles, despite the
post-war treaty of Lausanne maintain
ing demilitarized zones on either side.
The Turkish government asked the
other signatories to the Lausanne
treaty to amend clauses of the strait
convention to permit the rearmament.
The foreign minister sent notes last
night to diplomatic representatives in
Ankara of the signatory powers an
nouncing the decision of his govern
ment, which long had been considering
the question.
Turkish sources emphasized that
the rearmament action would be car
ried out only after negotiations.
Paris official circles expected the
French attitude toward the Turkish
request generally to be favorable.
France, officials said, was likely to
seize this opportunity to show she
was “perfectly reasonable when ap
proached in a friendly spirit for treaty
revision'’ to strengthen her position
in the controversy over Germany's
denunciation of the Locarno pact.
NOTABLES DEFEND
U. S. CONSTITUTION
Newton D. Baker and Judge
Parker Principal Speakers
at Bar Session.
By tuc Associated Press.
RICHMOND. April 11.—The Con
stitution of the United States was
explained, defended and likened to
such Immutable forces as gravity in
speeches before the First Regional
Bar Conference ever held in
Richmond.
The meeting yesterday, climaxed by
a dinner last night, was addressed by
Newton D. Baker, one-time Secretary
of War, Judge John J. Parker, senior
Judge of the United States Circuit
Court of Appeals for the fourth dis
trict, and other legal notables.
Baker voiced a plea to young people
who clamor for change in the Consti
tution to study the lives and careers
ql the men who framed it. Speaking
on James Madison, fourth President
of the United States and “father of
the Constitution,'’ Baker said that
thorough study was necessary to de
termine whether "present agitation
reflects a momentary national head
ache or a genuine need for revision.”
Judge Parker, in the other principal
speech of the meeting, warned against
applying emergency judgments to
long-enduring facts like the Con
stitution.
"The law of gravitation does not
change with emergencies." he said.
"The principles embodied in the Ten
Commandments do not get out of
date, and the fundamental principles
of man’s relationship to the State
do not change because of his economic
situation.”
Other speakers at the session, at
tended by judges and lawyers of
neighboring States, Included former
Judge William L. Ransom of New
York, president of the American Bar
Association, and Alexander Armstrong,
j former attorney general of Maryland.
> ■ - - --
DISTRICT BIRTHDAY
BALLS NET $18,279
Children’s Hospital Here to Re
ceive $12,795 of Sum,
AIIatc Punnrtc
A net profit of $18,279.02 was
earned in Washington from the an
nual President's birthday balls and
will be spent for the aid of crippled
children, a final report by Commis
sioner George E. Allen, chairman,
showed yesterday.
Allen made the report on his return
to Washington after a trip to Miami
to greet President Roosevelt and a
subsequent visit to Warm Springs.
Ga., as a member of the Presidential
party.
Total returns from the series ol
dances held at Washington hotels
was $22,999.05 and total expenses
amounted to $4,720.03, the report
showed.
Seventy per cent of the net returns
_$12,795.30—will be turned over to
Children’s Hospital and the remain
ing 30 per cent—$5,483.70—will go
to the Georgia Warm Springs Foun
dation.
The funds this year more than
doubled the earnings of 1935, when
the net profits were $8,009.
MRS. J. N. SUTLIFF DIES;
RESIDENT OF SOMERSET
Employe of Panama Canal Office
Was Long Active in
Woman's Club.
Special Dispatch to The Star.
SOMERSET, Md., April 11.—Mrs.
Julia Nlland Sutliff, widow of Dr. Milo
Sutliff, died here yesterday.
Mrs. Sutliff was born in Western
Maryland, but came to Washington
when she was a young girl. During
her 20 years’ residence in Somerset
she was active in civic and social af
fairs in the community. She was a
charter member of the Woman's Clut
of Somerset and for several years
served as its secretary. For more than
30 years she was employed by th<
Washington office of the Panama
Canal.
Surviving Mrs. SutlifT are two sisters
Mrs. B. F. Fishburne of Somerset ant
Miss Viola E. Sutliff of Cleveland
Ohio; two sons, Milo and Gerald F.
both of New York City, and om
daughter. Mrs. Marie Gundrum o
Grand Rapids, Mich.
Services will be held at 9 a.m. Mon
day in the Church of the Blessed Sac
rament, Chevy Chase. Interment wil
be in Mount Olivet Cemetery _
a
FLOODS THREATEN Ij
ALONG MISSISSIPPI^
Levee Patrols Increased as
Refugees Escape Low
lands.
By the Associated Press.
CAIRO. 111., April 11.—With the
Ohio and Mississippi Rivers contin
uing their gradual rise here, due to
widespread rains, the flood situation
in territory below took on a slightly
more serious aspect today.
United States engineers ordered a
sharp watch over levees all along the
river and levee patrols were increased.
Peak stages were not predicted, but
the engineers said It would be at least
10 days before the Mississippi’s full
flood crest would reach Memphis. It
was predicted the crest would pass
here four days earlier.
At least 5,000 residents of bottom
land territory in six States had sought
refuge on higher ground today as the
overflow waters inundated more than
a million acres of territory.
Many refugees continued to flee
from lowlands south of here as the
engineers predicted a flood stage of
53.3 feet today for Cairo. The city
Itself, meeting place of the Mississippi
and Ohio Rivers, is protected by a
60-foot seawall.
Two roads to ferrys were closed
near Caruthersville, Mo., and parts of
three Missouri counties—New Madrid,
Pemiscot and Mississippi—were under
water.
A Coast Guard cutter remained at
Hickman, Ky., as a precaution, despite
the report from Col. Eugene Reybold,
United States Engineer at Memphis,
that there was nothing in sight to
cause alarm.
FOUR DEAD IN SOUTH.
Five Thousand Families Driven From
Homes by High Waters.
MEMPHIS, Tenn., April 11 UP).—
Flooded Southern rivers fanned out
ominously today after claiming four
lives and ousting 5,000 families from
their lowland homes.
Most of the homeless were residents
of the 2,000.000 flooded acres In the
lower valley of the Mississippi.
Most of the land now under water
along the Mississippi is subject to
inundation every year, it was pointed
out.
A 13-year-old boy. Vernon Harris,
drowned near Montgomery, Ala., yes
terday in backwaters of the Alabama
; River, which has forced several fam
ilies from homes in North Montgomery.
Three Negro boys drowned in back
water of the flooded Ocmulgee at
Macon. Ga„ where a number of homes
were under water.
Georgia towns with water in low
lying areas included Milledgeville, West
Point. Rome and Bainbridge.
The worst flood conditions of seven
years prevailed throughout Eastern
C&rolinas.
CAROLINA ROADS DAMAGED.
Sections of Seven Routes Closed by
State Officials.
RALEIGH. N. C.. April 11 UP).—
Flood waters and heavy rains con
trived yesterday to cause additional
damage to North Carolina's roads, but
three of the four major streams that
went out of their banks this week
I in Eastern counties were subsiding
] rapidly in their upper reaches.
The State Highway and Public Works
Commission reported high waters had
closed sections of seven routes in
| eastern counties and prospects were
j that at least two other roads might
| be affected.
Route 581 from Halifax to Lumber
! ton was opened late yesterday, while
| official reports from South Carolina
I showed U. S. highway No. 1 at Cheraw
i again was passable and U. S. No. 15
at Society Hill, S. C„ was open. For
traffic down the coastal areas of the
two States, U. S. 301, 15 miles east
of Florence, S. C., on the Pee Dee, still
was closed.
Meanwhile swollen South Carolina
rivers rolled on toward the coast, carry
ing with them the biggest floods in
the low country in 20 years.
The United States Weather Bureau
at Columbia, S. C.. predicted the San
tee River would rise to 34.5 feet late
today at Rimini, which, with one ex
ception. will be the highest mark ever
| recorded for the river at that point.
COLLINS WILUOIN
GAVAGAN IN PROBE
Sent to California Because of
Knowledge of Townsend
Situation.
A second member of the House com
mittee investigating the Townsend
old-age pension movement left today 1
for the West Coast.
Chairman Bell said Representative
Collins. Republican, of California
would go to California to assist Rep
resentative Gavagan, Democrat, of
New York in taking depositions and
making some private investigations for
the committee.
"We thought by sending Collins we
would be able to clean up the work in
the West more quickly,” Bell ex
plained. “Collins was sent because
of his familiarity with the Townsend
situation in California.”
It was understood some Information
had been uncovered in California
which the committee decided war
ranted the personal attention of com
mittee members.
It was considered unlikely that pub
lic hearings would be resumed until
the subcommittee had completed its
work and reported back. Committee
members were awaiting developments
of the decision of the Townsend high
command to take court action to halt
the inquiry.
W. P. A. OFFICIAL SLAIN;
FIRED WORKER HELD
Man Laid Off in Texas Reported
Bitter Over Failure to Let
Single Men Go.
Bj the Associated Press.
BURK BURNETT, Tex., April 11.—
Robert H. McFarlane, works progress
administration superintendent, was
beaten to death yesterday, and police
arrested Ade Allison, a discharged
worker.
District Attorney Mike Anglin
quoted Allison as charging McFarlane
“fired me and not the boys without
, families."
J. P. Barron, timekeeper on the
i project, said Allison was discharged <
: by McFarlane cn lay-off orders from |
the district office March 24 and re- '
. turned yesterday to get his final check.
Barron told police an argument
I started and the workman struck th*
superintendent several times,
I *