Evening star. [volume], May 22, 1936, Image 1

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

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No. 33,624. " WASHINGTON, D. C., FRIDAY, MAY 22, 1936-FIFTY-EIGHT PAGES. *** op> m..*. Aa.eci.t.d Pr..., TWO CENTS.
ft — — ■ ■ - . - - - —- - ■ . - - -. ------
COMPROMISE OIL
RECONSIDERED BY
SENATE GROUP DUE
TO TAX ON TAXES
Finance Committee Finds
Correction of Situation
Would Reduce Revenue
Yield by Millions.
ALTERNATE SUGGESTION
REJECTED BY MEMBERS
Turn Down Boosted Levy on Un
distributed Corporate Earnings.
Lack of Special Treatment for
Debt-Bidden Is Cited as Dis
cussion Is Beopened.
BACKGROUND—
President Roosevelt more than
two months ago handed Congress a
bitter pill in asking for new and
bigger taxes. After listening to at
tacks from business leaders on the
proposal for a levy on corporate
surpluses, the House passed a rev
enue bill which met the White
House wishes. But many Senators
disliked the corporate surplus basis
on the grounds several corporations
would escape taxation. At their in
sistence, the House bill was pulled
apart and yesterday put together
again in new style.
BULLETIN.
The Senate Finance Com
mittee, in another stormy
session, agreed today to elimi
nate from its new compro
mise corporation tax plan a
“tax on taxes.” It was esti
• mated this decision would
mean a loss of $40,000,000 in
revenue.
By tor Associated Press.
The Senate Finance Commit
tee agreed today to reconsider its
day-old compromise plan for
taxing corporations.
The sudden decision to backtrack
on the agreement voted yesterday, 18
to 1, was prompted by definite word
that the compromise plan embraced a
tax on taxes.
Some committee sources said that
to correct this situation would reduce
by millions the revenue yield, esti
, • mated at from $500,000,000 to $600,
000,000, and necessitate turning to
some other device for raising money.
One suggestion for regaining this
loss was to place a 9 instead of 7 per
cent levy on undistributed corporation
earnings, but a number of members
objected to that.
The compromise plan called for a
flat 18 per cent tax on total corpora
tion net income and a 7 per cent tax
on undistributed income, together with
retention of existing capital stock and .
excess profits taxes and application
of the normal 4 per cent income tax
to dividends.
Decide to Reopen Matter.
The decision to reopen the whole
matter came when committeemen
found they had approved a proposi
tion under which money used to pay
taxes, since it would ndt be dis
tributed, would in itself be subject to
the 7 per cent tax.
Another complaint was that it made
no provision for special treatment for
debt-ridden corporations and another
was that corporations would have to
pay a tax on tax money they turned
into the Treasury.
There were hints that the compro
mise, reached only after a prolonged
battle, might be torn wide open again
with the idea of rewriting it. Such re
writing, it was felt, might further re
duce the anticipated yield of the bill,
which already falls short of Presi- I
dent Roosevelt’s revenue goal.
The "compromise” adopted yester
day represented a sharp whittling
down of President Roosevelt's original
suggestion for stiff taxes on income
which corporations fail to distribute
in the form of dividends. Administra
tion officials had suggested that such
taxes should average 33 ^ per cent.
Some who voted for the compromise
Indicated they experienced misgivings
• *“• (See TAXES, Page A-5.)
TWO GYPSIES MULCT
WOMAN OF $1,100
Pair Hunted Here—Laurel House
^ wife Victim of “Blessed"’
Money Dodge.
Two gypsy women who worked a
flim-flam game on a Laurel woman
Monday and made off with $1,100 were
being sought by Prince Georges and
Washington police today.
D. L. Burgess of Laurel, husband of
the victim, told Prince Georges County
police today that the gypsies, attired in
brown dresses, came to the Burgess
home and offered to "bless” any money
Mrs. Burgess might have.
Prom a money belt she removed
$1,100 which she had been saving for
a year to build a new home, police
were told.
The gypsies wrapped a cloth around
the money, “blessed” it and returned
k what appeared to Mrs. Burgess to be
the same roll with instructions not to
open it for nine days nor to tell her
husband or any one else about the
"blessing,” Burgess told police.
Today, however. Mrs. Burgess be
came uneasy and decided to open the
roll. She found only a wad of paper
and some cigarette stubs. Her hus
band gave the roll to police, who
broadcast a lookout for the women and
the car in which they were riding.
Blum Sees Titulescu.
f PARIS, May 22 OP).—Foreign Min
ister Nicholas Titulescu of Rumania
arrived here today and was received
by Leon Blum in an Interview at the
home of France's prospective premier.4
* 4
IN LYDDANE TRIAL
Case Moves Toward Jury.
Defendant’s Husband
Barred as Witness.
BY W. H. SHIPPEN. JR..
Staff Correspondent of The Star.
HAGERSTOWN, Md.. May 22
Closing arguments by seven lawyers
were begun this afternoon at Mrs.
Anne M. Lyddane's second trial on
charges of conspiring to murder her
husband.
The prosecution sprung a surprise
this morning by winning the exclusion
of Francis (Slom) Lyddane as a de
fense witness. The husband, accord
ing to the State, was to have been the
victim of the alleged plot.
The judges barred Lyddane from
testifying on the ground he was "in
competent" as the husband of the
defendant.
The final witness took the stand
shortly before noon. He was Ira N.
Gullickson, identification expert and
photographer of the Washington Po
lice Department.
Four defense attorneys and three
State prosecutors were to argue the
case.
Appear for Mrs. Lyddane.
Appearing for Mrs. Lyddane are
State Senator Stedman Prescott of
Montgomery County, William Preston
Lane, Jr., former attorney general of
Maryland; Kenneth Lyddane, a cou
sin of the accused woman, and Robert
Peter, jr, of Rockville.
Opposed to these four were State’s
Attorney James H. Pugh of Mont
gomery County, Martin L. Ingram.
State’s attorney of Washington County,
and John E. Oxley, a special assistant
to Pugh.
The trial judges said the attorneys
would be allowed as much time as they
wished in the final pleas.
The case was to reach the jury to
night or tomorrow morning.
After he was barred as a witness
Lyddane went across the court room
to his wife and took a seat beside her.
The defense had banked heavily on
Lyddane's expected testimony. He was
to have corroborated his wife’s story
in many details.
Judges David A. Robb and Frank O.
Wagaman excused the jury while the
question of Lyddane's admissibility
was argued by Pugh and Defense At
torney Stedman Prescott.
At Mrs. Lyddane’s first trial in
Rockville last June, Lyddane took the
stand and did all he could to defend
her. That trial resulted in a dead
locked jury.
Mr. and Mrs. Lyddane since have
(See LYDDANE. Page 4.)
Senator Continues Lone
Hand Fight for Old
Party Favor.
Senator Borah, one of the leading
candidates for the Republican nomi
nation. will enter no combination or
alliance against the nomination of
any other candidate, nor will he enter
a combination in support of any can
didate. He is making his fight for
the nomination. On that he will
stand.
The Idaho Senator, almost single
handed, has made a remarkable cam- !
palgn in the preconvention period
against the old O. O. P. organization
in many of the States. It is his con- j
tention that, if the Republican party
permits the leaders of these organ!- |
rations to dominate longer, the Re-!
publicans who left the party in 1932
will not return In 1936.
With this as his campaign slogan,
the Idaho Senator entered the pri
maries in a number of States and
sought the preference of the Re- »
publican voters for the presidential |
nomination. The remarkable run he
made in Illinois and in Ohio, despite
the fact that he was defeated by
candidates backed by the Republican ,
State organizations, he holds is evi
dence that many of the rank and file
believe as he does.
On Radio May 28.
Senator Borah is to deliver a radio
address the night of May 28 in which
he plans to set forth his position
further. He has given no intimation
of what he plans to say. It is ex
pected, however, that he will again
sound a battle cry against the old
guard Republicans. What he will
do in the campaign, in the event he
himself is not nominated for Presi
dent, remains to be seen. It may be
that much will depend upon the can
didate nominated and the character of
the platform adopted in Cleveland.
Senator Borah entered the primaries
in Wisconsin, New York (for district
delegates), Illinois, Pennsylvania,
South Dakota. Ohio. West Virginia.
Oregon, New Jersey and Nebraska, 10
States. He won in Wisconsin, Oregon,
Nebraska, West Virginia and Pennsyl
vania. In Illinois he carried the State
outside of Cook County—Chicago. His
delegate candidates received about 40
per cent of the Republican vote, cast
in Ohio. He lost in South Dakota
and New Jersey to Gov. Landon of
Kansas. Col. Prank Knox had the
majority of the ‘ votes in the prefer
ence primary in Illinois, and Robert
A. Taft, the favorite son candidate,
(See BORAH, Page A-12.)
BYRNSSAYSCOURT
mi IS POSSIBLE
FOR DR. TOWNSEND
Speaker of House Brands
Pension Leader’s “Walk”
as “Plain Contempt.”
COMMITTEE’S WISHES
TO BE GIVEN BACKING
0. A. R. P. Founder, in Baltimore,
Says He'd “Rather Go to Jail"
Than Resume Testimony.
BACKGROUND—
When the House agreed to spend
tSO,000 of tax money to discover
what made the Townsend plan go
around, the doctor who perfected
the system for giving pensions of
$200 a month to all over 60 and his
organizer, Robert Clements, said
they welcomed the inquiry. Almost
at once Clements resigned. He and
lesser O. A. R. P. fry were interro
gated by the committee on the
money-making possibilities of the
plan. This week, up until yester
day, Townsend himself has been on
the stand.
BY JOHN C. HENRY.
A court trial for Dr. Francis E.
Townsend was projected as a possi
bility today by Speaker Byrns. who
termed the old-age pension advocate's
defiance of a House investigating com
mittee “a plain case of contempt.”
While the investigating group head-!
ed by Representative Bell, Democrat,
of Missouri planned action to have the
House seize Townsend and punish
him on a contempt charge, Byrns
told reporters:
“I expect the House to take what
ever action is recommended by the
committee.”
As Speaker Byrns spoke. Townsend,
in Baltimore, said he’d "rather go to
jail” than submit to further congres
sional investigation of his plan to pay
$200 a month to every one past 60.
Amid an uproar, the elderly re
tired doctor bolted the hearing yes
terday, protested against "this com
munistic dictatorship in Washington”
and established headquarters in a Bal
timore hotel.
u. a. Attorney ;*iay un case.
Alter a conference with the group,
headed by Bell, Byrns said he believed
that instead of arresting and bringing
Townsend before the bar of the House,
the committee possibly would offer a
resolution referring the case to the
United States attorney’s office.
This step, he said, would be with a
view to having an indictment brought
against the physician in District courts,
charging Townsend with contempt of
the House.
Byrns said he did not expect the
committee to bring the matter before
the House until some time next week
Dr. James E. Pope, leader of a rival
old-age pension movement, will appear
before the Investigating Committee at
2:30 p.m. today.
The decision to shift their attention
to the Pope plan was announced by
the committee in a two-minute ses
sion this morning. After .raking ihe
announcement the committee recessed.
Chairman Bell then told reporters
that the matter of Dr. Townsend’s
defiance had been “referred to coun
sel” for decision as to what contempt
action, if any, is to be taken.
Sullivan declined comment and Bell
refused to make definite that some
action would be brought against the
recalcitrant witness.
Two Courses Open.
It is understood that two possibili
ties are available In contempt action.
In either case the committee would
report to the House witli recommen
dation that the witness « cited. The
House then could decide whether to
try the defendant itself or refer the
case to the United Stales attorney.
Both procedures have been followed in
previous cases.
Both Sheridan Downey, Townsend’s
' (See TOWNSEND. PagerA-21
BRITISH SECRETARY
REPORTED RESIGNED
High Colonial Official Linked to
Budget Leak Probe—Son
Brokerage Employe.
Br the Associated Press.
LONDON, May 22 —Official and po
litical quarters heard rumors late to
day that J. H. Thomas, colonial secre
tary, had resigned as a result of the
British budget leak scandal.
The resignation which, it was ru
mored, had already been accepted by
King Edward, was considered a sensa
tional aftermath to the 10-day judicial
inquiry in which his name and that of
his son, Leslie, were mentioned promi
nently.
Various witnesses, appearing before
the inquiry, testified they had heard
Indirectly that friends of Thomas were
informed of certain tax increases to be
made last month in the government
budget for the 1936-37 fiscal year.
Leslie Thomas was employed by an
insurance brokerage house which was
said to have dealt in Insurance against
Increases in taxes.
The statement of the budget always
is guarded carefully previous to its an
nouncement in tbe House of Commons
by the chancellor of the exchequer.
ANDREW SERIOUSLY ILL
Condition of Representative Not
Critical, Doctor Reports.
GLOUCESTER, Mass., May 22 («.
—The condition of Representative A.
Piatt Andrew, who has been suffering
from influenza and high Mood pres
sure, was “serious, but not critical,“
his attending physician said today.
Dr. Ira B. Hull said a New York
blood specialist would some here to
day to examine the Representative,
who has been ill several weeks.
.No visitors have been permitted to
•m Andrew for the last lew weeks.
i
/ Folks, looks likeN
( IT'S ALL OVER NOW. I
\ E*C£PT the BRICK* J
\ THROW INGt_S
Improper Spacing Is Held
Root of Transportation Evils
Utilities Commission Is Opposed to
Radical Changes, Believing Serv
ice Is Improving Here,
This is the sixth of a series of
articles on Washington's transpor
tation problem.
BY JOHN H. CLINE.
Improper spacing of busses and
street cars, in the opinion of the
Public Utilities Commission, is the
root of all evils in Washington's mass
transportation system.
The commission is opposed to any
radical change in the modes of mass
transportation here, believing that the
service has been improving and will
continue to improve.
"The Capital Transit Co. has enough
equipment to carry all passengers in
reasonable comfort." Chairman Riley
E. Eigen declared. "The company,
however, must maintain an even spac
ing of vehicles—otherwise broken
schedules and crowding will result.”
Charged with the duty of requiring
the company to furnish a satisfactory
standard of service, the commission
has issued three important orders !
since the merger of the Capital Trac
tion Co. and the Washington Railway
and Electric Co. on December 1. 1933.
These orders pertained to rerouting,
maximum loads and ventilation of
busses.
The loading or ‘‘standee" order and
the ventilation order were novel ex- !
periments in utility regulation, and !
the commission believes they will !
prove of considerable help in improv
ing the service.
Rerouting, however, has been the j
biggest step toward effectuating the 1
primary purpose of the merger—es- '
tabiishment of a unified, co-ordinated,
well-planned transit system. This pro
“(See TRANSPORTATION, Page ST
%
To Visit Mother in Hyde
Park—Voices Hope Leh
man Will Run.
President Roosevelt will leave Wash
ington tonight for Hyde Park, N. Y.,
to spend the week end with his 82
year-old mother, Mrs. Sara Delano
Roosevelt, who is confined to her bed
with a broken hip, suffered in a fall
more than a week ago.
Despite Mrs. Roosevelt’s advanced
age, her physicians do not believe her
condition serious. The President,
however, is concerned and is anxious
to see his mother and talk with her.
Mr. Roosevelt will arrive at Hyde
Park tomorrow morning, after an
overnight train journey, in time to
have breakfast at his mother's home.
He probably will return to Washington
Tuesday.
While away, the President is ex
pected to give some personal attention
to the New York political situation re
sulting from the announcement sev
eral days ago by Gov. Lehman that
he would not be a candidate to suc
ceed himself. It is known that Mr.
Roosevelt is especially anxious to have
Gov. Lehman run again and the im
pression is that he will find an oppor
tunity during his stay at Hyde Park
to go over the matter with the New
York executive.
Hopes for Reconsideration.
Today at his press conference the
President said: ‘‘I can re-express my
feelings by saying I hope very much
that Gov. Lehman will reconsider his
determination to not be a candidate,
because New York State needs him.”
This comment followed a long talk
with Edward J. Flynn, secretary of
State of New York and Democratic
leader of the Bronx.
Flynn, after the conference, had
told newspaper men Gov.' Lehman
would be renominated by the Demo
cratic convention next Fall. Without
going Into detail, Flynn intimated the
popular New York Governor would be
drafted if necessary.
Mr. Roosevelt also told his press
conference today that his contem
plated trip to Arkansas and Texas and
Vincennes, Ind., In the early part of
June appears fairly definite.
Speeches Are Scheduled.
His plans, which include a speech
or two in Arkansas for his old friend.
Senator Robinson, Democratic leader,
and an address at the Texas Cen
tennial celebration at Dallas, and
one in Vincennes, were contingent
upon the time Congress would ad
journ. As the time approaches, the
President feels he will be able to get
away, If not on June 8. the date
originally set, at least a day or two
later.
The President explained today that
if Congress does not succeed in ad
journing by June 8 and decides to
take three-day recesses until it does
adjourn, he feels sure he can get away
from Washington long enough to
make this trip.
While the details have not yet been
worked out, the President said he
expects to be In Arkansas June 10,
Dallas, Tex., June 11, and Fort Worth
(Bee ROOSEVELT, ^ac* A-X),
BRITON, MU
Kristy and MacKay Die as
Mercy Plea of London
Government Fails.
BULLETIN.
SAN QUENTIN PRISON. Calif..
May 22 I*5).—Alexander MacKay. a
British subject, and Joseph Kristy
were hanged together today for
their part in a violent prison break.
The trap dropped its double bur
den at 41* minutes after 10 am.
Both were pronounced dead nine
minutes later.
By the Associated Press.
SAN QUENTIN PRISON, Calif.,
May 22.—The gallows were made ready
today for Alexander Mackay and Jos
eph Kristy amid an eleventh-hour
flurry of effort to break their date with
death.
The British government's second
mercy plea for Mackay, a subject of
King Edward VIII, awaited response
from the Department of State in
Washington, where it was cabled by
Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden.
Pictured by their attorney as re
signed and holding no fear of death,
the two prison breakers were scheduled
to drop through the trap shortly after
10 a m. (1 p.m., Eastern standard
time).
The office of Gov. Frank F. Merriam.
who may grant as many reprieves as
he wishes, but no commutation, was
watched closely and attorneys for the
doomed men looked eagerly for word
from Washington.
The Governor, before retiring early
today at his Long Beach home, issued
a statement, saying:
"I see no reason yet to grant a
third reprieve to Alexander Mackay
and Joseph Kristy, but I am leaving
it open until the last minute.”
He said he had received several com
munications about the case, including
(See HANGING, Page 4.)
Senator to Be Opposed.
CHARLESTON. S. C., May 22 (JP).—
In a blistering attack on the Roosevelt
administration, Thomas P. Stoney,
former mayor of Charleston, formally
announced today he would oppose
United States Senator James F. Byrnes
in the South Carolina Democratic(
primary of August 25.
P.W.A. POWER PLAN
Says Loans Can Be Repaid
Only by Taking Business
From Firms.
By tbc Associated Press.
Dean Acheson, attorney for four
utility firms, told the District Supreme
Court today that the Government's
investment in Public Works Adminis
tration power projects could be repaid
“only by taking business away from
private power companies.”
Terming the $200,000,000 P. W. A.
power program “a process of robbing
Peter to pay Paul.” Acheson asked the
court to forbid Government financing
of 10 municipal electric plants in
Alabama, Texas, Oklahoma and Iowa.
nc tummeu up evxucxice presexiiea
in a three-week injunction hearing by
the Alabama Power Co., the Texas
Utilities Co., the Oklahoma Utilities
Co. and the Iowa Light & Power Co.
Decision Due Soon.
Chief Justice Alfred A. Wheat an
nounced he would hand down a deci
sion “within a very few days." He was
expected by some to rule on the con
stitutionality of the entire P. W. A.
electrification program.
As Acheson opened his argument,
Wheat asked both Government and
utility attorneys to discuss three main
issues—the constitutionality of the
1935 relief act, the right of the utility
companies to bring suit and whether
P W. A. has authority to finance local
plants.
Speaking in a slow, conversational
vein. Acheson told the court his clients
would lose a total investment of
SI.187,000 If the 10 power projects were
completed.
Denies Cities Could Build.
He conceded that all the towns had
planned to build municipal electric
plants before P. W. A. was established,
but argued the plants could never be
constructed without Government aid.
“These 10 cities were beggars.'* said
Acheson. "and it took P. W. A. to make
their dreams come true.”
The case involves P. W. A. allot
ments totaling $2,444,000 to the cities
of Decatur. Guntersville. Hartselle,
Russellville, Sheffield. Florence and
Tuscumbia. all in Alabama; Plainview,
Tex.; Hominy, Okla., and Iowa City.
Iowa.
FIRE CREW FINDS
BODY OF WOMAN
Mountain Discovery Lacks Iden
tification—May Have Been
Soaked in Oil.
By the Associated Press.
CHESTERFIELD, N. H.. May 22 —
The charred and broken body of an
unidentified woman, apparently slain,
Sheriff Frank J. Bennett said, by set
ting fire to her oil-soaked body, was
found today on lonely Mount Wan
tastiquet.
A .22-caliber pistol was found a few
feet from the body. One shoe, black
ened by smoke, and possibly her
teeth, Acting Medical Examiner
Norris Robertson said, were the only
clues to the woman's identity. She
apparently was between 20 and 40
years old. If she was shot, the fire
had removed all trace of the wound.
Forest fire fighters discovered the
body, with arms and legs broken, in
a wild section about 6 or 7 miles from
this village.
Bennett said a forest fire which
started Wednesday apparently was
ignited by the flaming body.
The fire fighters came upon the
body in a slight depression on the
mountain.
ROOSEVELT FIRM
ON D. C. BUDGET:
PERSONAL ACTION
IN ROW IS HINTED
Held Certain to Reject Any
Alternative to Providing
$5,700,000 Sum as Fed
eral Share in Measure.
HOUSE CONFEREES
REJECT PROPOSALS
Blanton Refuses Flan to Let
President Serve as Arbiter.
Executive Scoffs at Talk of
Funds for Local Government
Being Taken From Relief Till.
BACKGROUND—
The Federal Government's finan
cial obligation in contributing
toward the support of the District
is an issue around which rages an
annual congressional fight. This
year the battle is so hot there is
fear the Capital will get no money
at all. for the question of the obli
gation is part of the larger matter
of the year's appropriation of money
to run the government of Washing
ton. Center of the dispute over
whether the District shall have
$2,700,000 or $5.700.000 is Repre
sentative Blanton, who comes from
Abilene, Tex.
President Roosevelt Indicated
strongly today that he is going to
maintain a firm stand in sup
port of his budget recommenda
tion that the Federal Govern
ment continue paying $5,700,000
as its share of the expense of the
District government.
Mr. Roosevelt gave this impression
at the press conference at the White
House today when questioned about
the dispute between the Senate and
House conferees over the District sup
ply bill.
The President also gave the im
pression he might take a hand per
sonally in settling the present im
passe rather than have the supply
bill fail to pass before adjournment
While this is only the impression
given by the President, he did make it
plain he would not sanction any pro
posal to have relief funds under his
command allocated to the District
Government for its support in the
event the appropriation bill does not
pass.
To Reject Alternatives.
There is no mistaking the fact the
President would reject any such pro
posal.
He said, however, that no member
of the Senate or House has yet taken
the matter up w.th him.
Mr. Roosevelt's views were exprcsstd
in answer to a direct question as to
whether there was any chance of the
administration's leaving the District
without funds as the result of the
dispute between the Senate and House
conferees.
He replied by saying the District
must have money to carry on and the
suggestion that the bill can fail an<
that he can run the city out of relief
funds sounded preposterous to him.
While the President did not use the
word preposterous, from his tone and
expression, it was evident that was
his opinion.
Attitude on Relief Funds.
To amplify his attitude toward such
a suggestion, the President stated that
the wording of the relief bill certainly
does not contemplate running a city
of nearly 600.000 people. He added he
doubted if he could get by the con
troller, even if he attempted such a
thing.
Meanwhile. House and Senate con
ferees marked time following yester
day’s session, in which the House
(See LUMP SUM, Page 5.)
HINDENBURG NEARS
COAST OF IRELAND
Averages 90 M.P.H.—Expected
to Beach German Base at
6 P.M. Today.
By tjw Associated Press.
BERLIN. May 22 —The Zeppelin
Hindenburg. hurrying heme from her
second North American visit, vi'e
iessed today she was ave'agtrg 90
miles an hour, near the c.iest «f
Northern Ireland
She was expected to reach her
Frankfort-on-Main harbor at mid
night (6 p.m. Eastern standard tune).
Her course was along *n> regular
Northern Atlantic shipping >oute and
her commander expected to reach
Northern Ireland at 5 p.m. (11 a m.
Eastern standard time).
The Hindenburg will replace Ihe
Graf Zeppelin on its South American
trip May 25. resuming the North
American service June 19. The Graf
will remain in its hangar un.il June 8.
Readers* Guide
Page.
Amusements_ B-17
Answers to Questions_A-10
Comics C-7
Death Notices ..A-12
Editorial J.A-10
Finance .. A-17
Lost and Found .. A-3
News Comment Features A-11
Radio .— C-4
Serial Story_'C-3
Short Story_B-13
Society . B-3-4
Sports_D-l-2-3-4
Washington Wayside— A-2
Women’s Features_C-5-6
k
‘I’d Rather Qo to Jail’
Dr. Townsend, in Striped Pa jamas, Gives
Views on House Probers.
DR. FRANCIS E. TOWNSEND,
As he greeted interviewers in Baltimore today, lounging in bed
in gayly-striped pajamas. —Copyright, A. P. Wirephoto.
By the Associated Press.
Baltimore, May 22. — Dr.
Francis E. Townsend asserted
today he’d “rather go to jail"
than submit to further con
gressional inquiry into his old-age
revolving pension plan.
The elderly California physician,
who walked out on the congressional
committee probing his plan to give
the aged $200-a-month pensions,
lounged in bed in gaily-striped pa
jamas and said:
“If they want to cite me for con
tempt 111 go over there and tell them
just how much contempt I do have
for the whole proceedings.
“But I won’t face further investiga
tion by the Bell committee and I
won’t face an investigation by Con
gress itself, or by any group in which
there are men of that type.
“I’d rather go to jail and spend :
the rest of my days there.”
No Merger, He Says.
He added there would be no coali
tion between his movement and the
share-our-wealth movement headed
by the Rev. Oerald L. K. Smith, for
mer chief organizer for the late Huey
Long.
Rev. Mr. Smith, former foot ball
player and a 6-footer, physically fore
stalled efforts to stop Dr. Townsend's
“walk-out” yesterday and accompan
ied him to Baltimore.
The husky minister had indicated a
desire to join the Townsend organi
zation against what he termed “this
(See DOCTORrPage-A~-2.)
4 Pupils Refuse Flag Salute,
Proving Problem in Oxon Hill
Bj * Stan Correspondent ot rbe Star
OXON HILL, Md„ May 22.—Four
Oxon Hill elementary school pupils
who have been refusing to salute the
flag have created a problem vexing to
county authorities.
The children belong to a religious
sect known as Jehovah’s Witnesses
and decline to pledge allegiance to the
flag on the ground that “it is in viola
tion of God’s specific commandment.”
As a temporary expedient school of
ficials have ordered the children to re
mains in the auditorium while their
fellow students salute the flag at ex
ercises in the individual class rooms
The children are: Fred Ludke, 12,
in the sixth grade; his sister, Anna
1
Louise. 10. in the fifth; his brother,
Walter, 8, in the second, and a young
er sister, 7, in the first.
They reside with their parents on a
farm about 2 miles from the school.
The father, A. A. Ludke, is employed
in the City Post Office in Washington.
Mrs. Ludke said today that her chil
dren “abide by every law of the land
and are in no sense "Reds.” Their
scholastic records are good.
The mother claims the older chil
dren refuse to salute the flag because
of their religious training. The
younger ones merely follow the ex
ample of their elders, she says. Mis.
Ludke asserts the children have never
Helen Hayes Wins 1936 Medal
For Role in “Victoria Resina”
By the Associated Press.
NEW YORK, May 22 —Helen Hayes,
who Is playing the role of Queen
Victoria on Broadway in the drama,
"Victoria Regina," was announced
winner today of the medal awarded
annually by the Drama League of
New York for the most distinguished
performance of the year.
The medal, called the Delia Austrian
Prize after an early member of Jhe
Drama League of America, was
awarded last year to Katharine
OornelL *
*
Miss Hayes will receive the medal at
the New York League's twentieth an
nual luncheon 12:30 E. S. T. today) In
the presence of a number of actors.
Channlng Pollock will be master of
ceremonies. Miss Hayes came to
drama from Washington, D. C.
Laurence Housman. author of “Vic
toria Regina." told Miss Hayes after
seeing her In the play several months
ago, "you were just like the Queen.
God bless her!”
The actress is the wife of Charles
MacArthur, the writer, and has a 6
yaar-oM daugl^r, Mary.