Evening star. [volume], February 09, 1937, Image 1

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

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WEATHER. ~I '
(O. 8. Weather Bureau Forecast.) mi, ,, _„i .
Fair, much colder tonight; tomorrow, 0*»iy evening paper
fair and colder; minimum temperature in Washington with the
tonight about 27 degrees; moderate to A ° t> wt
fresh west winds. Temperatures—High- ASSOCiated PreSS NeWS
est. 63, at e am. today; lowest, 42, at and Wirenhoto Services
1:15 a m. today. Full report, page A-ll. ^
Closing New York Markets, Page 16 Yesterday’s Circulation, 143,919
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85th YEAR. No. 33,887. WASHINGTON, D. C., TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1937—THIRTY-SIX PAGES. **** on Mean. Aa.oci.twt Pr.,.. TWO CENTS.
~~ • i —. . - -■ ■ ■ 1 ... -- 1 .....
ROOSEVELT GIVES
STRIKE VIEWS TO
PEACE CONFEREES
Talks by Telephone to Gov.
Murphy, Lewis and
Knudsen.
NEW TALK REVIVES
HOPE OF SETTLEMENT
General Motors Officials Consent
to Resume Parley at 8
O'Clock Tonight.
BACKGROUND—
Sit-down strike of United Auto
mobile Workers of America against
General Motors company began
New Year eve and has been marked
by riots, bloodshed and presence
of Michigan National Guard troops
in Flint, Mich., center of walkout
activities.
Negotiations have been inter
rupted on several occasions, but all
points have been reported settled
now except the U. A. IV. demand
far exclusive recognition as bar
gaining agent for all General Mo
tors employes, regardless of wheth
er they are members of the C. 1. O.
affiliate or not. John L. Lewis,
chairman of Committee for Indus
trial Organization, has takerfrlead
ership in negotiations for settle
ment.
By the Associated Press.
White House officials said today
President Roosevelt had made known
his position in the General Motors :
strike to both sides involved and to i
Gov. Prank Murphy.
While refusing to say what that
attitude was, officials told newspaper ;
men the President talked by tele- |
phone Sunday night to Murphy, John
L. Lewis, chairman of the committee;
for Industrial Organization, which |
embraces the United Automobile
Workers, and William S. Knudsen.
executive vice president of General
Motors.
Other high administration officials
meanwhile expressed some optimism
for a strike settlement in view of
the decision to resume negotiations
tonight in Detroit. They were not so
hopeful yesterday.
G. M. C. CONSENTS TO PARLEY.
|
Officials Agree to Renew Conference
at 8 O’Clock Tonight.
DETROIT, February 9 (A5).—General
Motors Corp. consented today to con
tinue discussions to end the widespread
automotive strike after Indicating it
law no use in further conferences.
The almost complete silence that
has marked six days of conversations
between representatives of the corpo
ration and striking union members was
, broken last night with the issuance of
' a formal statement by the automobile i
company of its position.
Until then, Gov. Frank Murphy,
who called the parties together at the
behest of President Roosevelt, had
made the only public comments upon
the proceedings. General Motors’ first
statement was followed a few hours •
later by one from John L. Lewis, di
rector-general of the strike.
The corporation assured Gov. Mur
phy "of our readiness to respond to
an early call by him to resume confer
ences, if in his judgment any good
could result therefrom.”
Lewis revealed for the first time that
a proposal had been under considera
tion to resume operations in General
Motors plants immediately if the cor
poration would accept the union’s de
mand for recognition as the bargain
ing agency for employes in 20 plants.
Governor Is Optimistic.
Notwithstanding the divergencies of
opinions expressed in the statements |
of the opposing sides, Gov. Murphy t
declared that “I feel the parties are !
closer together now than at any time.” j
The Governor announced they would i
reconvene at 8:30 p.m. (Eastern
standard time).
Last night’s “crucial” meeting—
Which the Governor had said w ould be
(See STRIKE, Page A-4.)
WINDSTORM DAMAGE
PLACED AT $100,000
Flood-Battered Buildings in
Evansville Hard Hit by
Freak Blow.
>r the Associated Press.
EVANSVILLE, Ind., February 9.—
Conservative estimates placed today at
more than $100,000 the damage caused
by a 45-mile-an-hour windstorm that
struck a 30-block section of this flood
harassed city late yesterday.
Numerous buildings were dam
aged. One house was demolished.
Firemen were forced to pull down sev
eral homes that tottered on founda
tions after the storm.
Ironically,, the widdstorm’s full vio
lence struck that part of the city
which had escaped the wont flood on
record here. In some Inundated sec
tions the high wind stirred up waves
which threatened to weaken build
ings.
The storm lasted only a few min
utes, but tore down electric signs and
smokestacks and shattered windows.
The Weather Bureau reported a half
inch of rain fell.
SEEKS CITIZENSHIP
Sonja Henie to Make Home in
America.
PITTSBURGH, February 9 UP).—
Sonja Henie, queen of the ice, will
become an American citizen.
Miss Henie, Norway’s latest con
tribution to Hollywood’s stardom, said:
“I am going to take out my first
citizenship papers. I like America
and I am going to live here.”
PINKERTON MEN TRAILED
McGRADY, INQUIRY TOLD
Followed During Conciliation Efforts
in 1935 Chevrolet Strike, Former
Agent Says.
BY JOHN C. HENRY.
Pinkerton operatives shadowed As
sistant Secretary of Labor Edward P.
McGrady in Toledo, Ohio, during the
latter’s conciliation efforts in the
Chevrolet strike of 1935, according
to testimony given the La Follette
Civil Liberties Committee today by
William H. Martin, former Pinkerton
agent.
In addition, Martin testified, a
room was engaged next to McGrady’s
in a Toledo Hotel for the purpose of
eavesdropping on his conferences with
union leaders.
Martin said he was among those
assigned to both tasks, but that he
failed to do a very good job in either
case.
“I got hell for it, too," he said.
Martin said he was assigned to
“tail" McGrady by Ray L. Burnside,
Pinkerton official, then using the
alias of Brunswick.
---
Burnside, called to the stand, said:
"I’d forgotten the McGrady angle,
but I presume I did order him shad
owed.”
“Did you ever shadow any other
Government men?” asked Senator
Thomas, Democrat, of Utah.
"Not to my knowledge,” Burnside
replied.
“Who was your client?”
“Well, it was all in connection with
the Chevrolet strike. General Motors
or Chevrolet was the client, I suppose."
"Could It have been that you were
anxious to prevent settlement of the
strike in order to keep your business
alive.”
“No, sir.”
“Why didn't you call up McGrady
and ask him how the strike settlement
was progressing?”
“I guess he would have told me it
was none of my business.”
“Would you take a job to shadow
(See LA FOLLETTE, Page A-3.)
VICTORIOUSTROOPS
Armed “Clean-up” Squads
Bring Order After Three
Weeks of Terror.
BACKGROUND—
Repulsed at the very gateways of
Madrid, insurgent Fascist troops of
Gen. Francisco Franco shifted their
offensive temporarily to the seaport
of Malaga, which, surrounded by
land and sea, fell to the invaders
yesterday.
German and Italian troops were
reported numbered among the vic
torious army of 20,000.
New activity on the Madrid front
also is reported, indicating Gen.
Franco’s desire to push to a con
clusion Spanish civil war, now in
its seventh month.
By the Associated Press.
MALAGA, February 9.—Laughing
Malagan girls and victorious Fascist
soldiers danced in gay abandon today
through the sacked and burned dis
tricts of this Mediterranean city while
armed “clean-up" squads of military
police brought order after three weeks
of terror.
The city’s 400.000 inhabitants quick
ly recovered from their weeks of ten
sion during the insurgent southern
army's victorious advance and the
ravages of anarchist bands which the
Fascist officers said left the city “in
a horrible state.”
Insurgent officers announced today
that thousands of men In the armed
defenes forces had surrendered of their
own wil\ Six hundred Socialist mili
tiamen were taken prisoner by a sin
gle Fascist column. One entire com
pany of civil guards handed over their
arms. They were sent behind the lines.
The entry of the insurgent columns
yesterday seemed the signal for a joy
ous fete day.
Stage Huge Demonstration.
Malaga’s population staged huge
demonstrations in the streets of the
city and the suburbs to greet the army
which occupied the last important
government seaport on the southern
coast virtually without resistance from
its Socialist defenders.
The insurgent soldiery lay on the
grass of the tropical parks shaded by
palm trees from the brilliant sunshine.
Young girls’ dresses made a colorful
spectacle as they draped themselves
with the insurgent banners of red and
gold and whirled before the smiling
men at arms.
Doors opened and Fascist sympa
thizers emerged into the sunlight for
the first time in the months of So
cialist rule.
Many of them rushed to find hus
bands, sons and sweethearts in the
insurgent army; others lined the side
walks and saluted the parading
Fascists with their cry, “Arriba Es
pana!”—Up Spain!
Even the vanquished Socialists
joined in the celebration, seeking to
merge their identity with the celebrat
ing populace to avoid capture.
American Views Scene.
The only citizen of the United States
to see the triumphal entry, was a man
named Norton who had been in Malaga
since the city was taken over by the
Socialists at the beginning of the con
flict seven months ago.
The new city authorities wasted no
time in clearing the city of its surplus
population, driven into Malaga from
(See SPAIN, Page A-2.)
Naval Plane Crashes.
MANILA. P. I., February 9 OP).—
A United States naval plane fell into
Manila Bay today, slightly injuring
Lieut. J. P. Lockhart. His companion,
Lieut. R. P. Walker, was unhurt. A
pontoon of their plane caught on the
roof of a Pan-American Airways float.
4-Story Plunge,
Third Suicide
Attempt, Fatal
*■
Transient First Took
100 Tablets Then
Slashed Wrist.
By the Associated Press.
LOS ANOELES, February 9.—Frank
Caston, 25-year-old transient from
Bovill, Idaho, was discouraged because
he could not find work.
He swallowed 100 tablets in a sui
cide attempt. They only made him
sick.
Next he slashed his wrists with a
razor blade. But still he wasn’t satis
fied, so he leaped f-om the fourth
floor window of his rooming house,
landing on his head Li the street.
His skull fractured and weak from
loss of blood, Caston was taken to a
hospital. He died last night.
SUPREME COURT
HEARS LABOR CASE
First Direct Attack on Va
lidity of Wagner Act
Presented.
BACKGROUND—
Instituted long before current
move to revise Supreme Court per
sonnel. five attacks on Wagner labor
relations act are note up for argu
ment and decision by high court.
Ruling on this vitally important
New Deal measure, although matter
of law rather than politics, may ex
ercise profound influence on po
litical storm now brewing over
court. Invalidation of this act, last
administration guarantee of un
trammeled collective bargaining,
would surely lend impetus to drive
to seat new justices on Supreme
bench.
BY JOHN H. CLINE.
Outwardly oblivious to trie bitter
struggle brewing across the way on
Capitol Hill, the Supreme Court jus
tices were ready today to hear argu
ments in the first direct attack on the
Wagner labor relations law.
As the members or the court filed
into the tribunal for the opening of
the noon session, congressional op- [
ponents of President Roosevelt's re
quest for authority to appoint six ad
ditional justices to the high court un
less those over 70 resign, rallied behind
the leadership of Senator Johnson of
California and other influential Sen
ators determined to "fight to the end”
to preserve the independence of the
judiciary.
Masking their reactions to this
struggle behind an air of judicial
aloofness, the justices were prepared to
take up the attack by the Associated
Press on the validity of the Wagner
act after hearing final arguments as
sailing constitutionality of the 1934
amendments to the railway labor act.
The court will hear 2>; hours of
argument attacking and defending the
railway legislation, turning then to
the suit by the Associated Press and
those of four other concerns question
ing the validity of the Wagner bill.
Importance to New Deal.
The rulings in these cases, which
may be announced within the next
month, will be of vital importance to
the New Deal and may well prove a
decisive factor in determining the
outcome of the struggle to overhaul
the personnel of the court.
James Piper of Baltimore, attorney
for the Virginian Railroad, which is
attaching the railway legislation, con
tended yesterday that a forced con
ference between employers and em
ployes on labor disputes “will not pro
duce industrial peace.”
The railroad company objects par
ticularly to sections of the bill re-1
quiring collective bargaining with |
“back shop” employes, or those em
ployed in roundhouses.
Frank L. Mulholland of Toledo, at
torney for a group of employes of the
railroad, asserted the act was intended
to promote industrial peace by provid
ing a method for adjustment of dis
putes.
Circuit Court Ruling.
Previously, the Fourth Circuit Court
of Appeals had directed the railroad
to bargain with designated represent
atives of that system’s Federation No.
40 of the Railway Employes’ Depart
ment of the American Federation of
Labor.
Solicitor General Stanley Reed, ap
pearing for the Government as a
“friend of the court,” will argue this
afternoon that the act is constitu
tional. Another argument against the
law will be made by H. T. Hall. Roa
noke, Va., representing the railroad.
During the argument yesterday
Chief Justice Hughes and Justices
McReynolds, Sutherland and Van De
van ter asked technical questions to
clear up various points, but the ques
tions gave no indication as to their
attitude.
Questioned by McReynolds and
Sutherland, Piper said that if certain
“backshop” employes were eliminated
from its effect the act would be a
regulation of interstate commerce.
But he added that it “abridged the
constitutional right to freedom of
contract.”
“Congress can go farther In regu
lating Interstate carriers than in regu
lating private industry,” he acknowl
edged. “But that does not commit
all of a railroad's business to con
gressional control.”
In response to questions by the
Chief Justice and Justice Van De
vanter, he said the -railroad could be
"restrained from coercion,” but that
there was "no basis” for the decree of
the lower court.
10 Killed in Bus Crash.
MANILA, P. I, February 9 OP).—
Ten Filipinos were killed today when
a bus crashed down a 300-foot preci
pice near Baguio. Bontoc Province.
ROOSEVELT NAMES
FIVE FOR STUDY OF
I S. SPACE NEEDS
Proposes Five and Ten Year
Building Programs
in D. C.
ADEQUATE STRUCTURES
FOR GOVERNMENT AIM
. -%
Ickes, Thomas, Collines, Peoples
and Delano Are Designated
to Make Inquiry.
BY J. RUSSELL YOUNG.
In line with his previously announced
ideas regarding establishment of a
5 and 10 year building program in the
District of Columbia, President Roose
velt today named a committee of five
to study the space needs of Govern
ment departments and agencies.
With departments and agencies of
the Federal Government constantly
growing, the President is aiming to
formulate a program which will do
away with the hit-and-miss way of
housing Federal activities in rented
quarters throughout the city. He is
anxious to reduce rented office space
and house the activities in adequate,
permanent structures.
Committee Appointments.
Those appointed to the committee
to make the space study are Secretary
Ickes. Senator Thomas of Oklahoma,
Representative Collins of Mississippi,
Rear Admiral C. J. Peoples, director
of procurement, and Frederic A. Del
ano. chairman of the Park and Plan
ning Commission.
Those who have discussed the mat
ter with the President believe hit idea
is not to place merely marble mon
uments in the form of public build
ings, but to construct buildings to
house the Government properly.
What the President has in mind is
clearly shown in his indorsement of
the idea of building a handsome
large auditorium in the Capital as a
memorial to Thomas Jefferson, rather
than a more pretentious structure, as
originally proposed.
The personal interest Mr. Roosevelt
has taken in selection of a site for
the new War and Navy buildings
north of Constitution avenue and
east of Twenty-third street also indi
cates he has been giving more than
ordinary study to Federal buildings
and housing of Government activi
ties.
It is understood also that the Park
and Planning Commission has been
studying the subject for some time
and will have a fairly good foundation
for the newly-appointed committee to
work on.
Letter Sent to Five.
Because of his familiarity with and
long study of the building subject,
Mr. Delano is expected to be the most
active member of the committee.
The President’s decision to make
this study was made known today in
a copy of a letter he had sent to the
five men he has selected for this
committee work, and in which he
announced his plan. In this letter
the President said:
"I am appointing an informal com
mittee to make a study of the space
and needs of the various Government
departments and agencies in Wash
ington and to report to me at as early
a date as possible on a 5 and 10 year
building program to provide for these
needs."
After naming the members of the
committee the President continued by
way of explanation: ‘‘It is hoped that
the expert and detailed services to be
rendered can be supplied without extra
cost to the Government by the Depart
ment of Interior, the Administration
of Public Works, the Procurement
Division of the Treasury Department
and the National Resources Com
mittee and the Parks and Planning
Commission."
Alaska Session Urged.
JUNEAU, Alaska, February 9 (tf*).—
The Alaskan Senate and House of
Representatives asked Territorial Gov.
John W. Troy today to call a special
Legislature immediately after the cur
rent session to consider social security
legislation.
Summary oi Today’s Star
Page. Page.
Amusements B-18 Obituary _A-10
Comics _B-13 Radio _A-14
Editorial _A-8 Short 3tory_B-14
Financial_A-15 Sports ..A-12-14
Lost & Found A-3 ! Woman’.-. Pg. B-12
FOREIGN.
Outbreak feared as foes assail Trotzky
on eve of talk. Page A-l
NATIONAL.
House committee considers judiciary
reorganization plan. Page A-l
Dr. Townsend pleads not guilty of
contempt charges. Page A-l
Relief-deficiency bill is signed by
Roosevelt. Page A-2
Parker described as brains of plot as
trial opens. Page A-4
Pinkertons’ General Motors activities
under scrutiny. Page A-4
Senator Clark bits flood-control policy
in Forum address.* Page B-14
WASHINGTON AND VICINITY.
Wheeler illness may delay resumption
of fight on red rider. Page A-l
Boy, 10, critically injured in auto ac
cident. Page A-2
Defense attorneys assail indictment in
Silverman case. Page A-5
D. C. highway program estimated to
cost over (10,000,000. Page B-l
Capper pledges support to fight on
D. C. racing bill Page B-l
Hearing on move to extend east front
of Capitol near end. Page B-l
Staggered hour system to be used for
Traffic Court cases. Page B-l
ANYHOW
they CANT LAY
THAT on ME’.
° A
I
NOT GUILTY PLEA
Will Continue Fight for Pen
sions, He Says, Even
If in Cell.
After formally denying in District
Court this morning that he is guilty
of contempt of the House, Dr. Francis
E. Townsend avowed his determina
tion to continue his fight for pensions
for the aged, even if it is necessary to
direct his organization from a cell in
the jail.
He will be tried February 23 before
Justice Peyton Gordon on an Indict
ment arising out of his defiance last
May of the special House committee
investigating old-age pension organi
zations. The elderly head of Old-Age
Revolving Pensions, Ltd., appeared in
court at 10 a m. today, accompanied
by his attorney, Joseph A. Cantrel.
Resumption of a colored robbery trial
was deferred to permit him to plead,
i Informed by United States Attorney
Le$Ue C. Garnett that Dr. Townsend
! had posted $1,000 bail with the United
States commissioner in Lo6 Angeles,
I Justice Gordon said he might transfer
| that bond here . nd continue at lib
' erty. After the arraignment news
paper men gathered about hli In the
court house corridor as his attorneys
arranged for the bail transfer.
His Work to Go On.
In response to a question whether
the criminal prosecution mig>t affect
his fight for a $200 monthly pension
for the aged. Dr. Townsend replied
with a smile:
“Well, I may have to transfer my
work to a cell in the District Jail. I
don't know but that w-ould be an im
provement. because I certainly would
have fewer interruptions."
The pension chief was neatly clad
in a brown suit and appealed unwor
ried by his prosecution.
The court room was crowded with
spectators interested to see the old
age pension advocate.
Misunderstood Yesterday.
Cantrel said Townsend failed to re
spond yesterday when his name was
called because of a misunderstanding
concerning the necessity for his pres
ence.
At that time his two former aides.
Dr. Clinton Wunder of New York
and John B. Kiefer of Chicago, were
placed on probation after they re
nounced their former chief and
pleaded guilty to contempt charges.
The Townsend delay was asked by
his attorneys, who are engaged at pres- ,
ent in other matters. Cantrel is a !
member of the Maryland Legislature,
now in session, and Elisha Hanson, co
counsel. is working on a case before
the Supreme Court.
EDITORIAL AND COMMENT.
Editorials. Page A-8
This and That. Page A-8 ,
Answers to Questions. Page A-8
Political Mill. Page A-8
Stars, Men and Atoms. Page A-8
David Lawrence. Page A-9
Paul Mallon. Page A-3
Mark Sullivan. Page A-9
Delia Pynchon. Page A-9
Lemuel Parton. Page A-9
SPORTS.
Red Sox outlook is rosy, says Eddie
Collins. Page A-12
Vines' play while ill branded as a
mistake. Page A-12
Terps due to beat W. and M. despite
ihjuries. Page A-12
Nation, Winter sports-minded, taking
to skiis. Page A-13
Owens' track equal is due, says noted
coach. Page A-13
Braddock, Louis may sign Saturday
for bout. Page A-13
Importing fighters proving unsatisfac
tory here. Page A-13
Little shows golf greatness in match
play. Page A-14
MISCELLANY.
Washington Wayside. Page A-2
Service Orders. Page B-5
Vital Statistics. Page B-5
Traffic Convictions. Page B-5
Betsy Caswell. Page B-12
Dorothy Dix. Page B-12
Crossword Puzzle. Page B-13
City News in Brief. Page B-14
Young Washington. Page B-14
Nature's Children. Page B-14
Bedtime Story. Page B-14
Letter-Out. Page B-14
Bridegroom Gets
“Life” Term for
Traffic Violation
“Sentenced” by Justice
as Arresting Officers
Look on W ith Doubt.
Es the Associated Press.
SYRACUSE. N. Y„ February 9 —
Justice of the Peace Myron Fellows
imposed a “life sentence” on Mason
J. Halstead today for driving a coupe
carrying four persons past a "stop''
sign.
He married the defendant and Miss
Ruth W. Alexander while skeptical
deputy sheriffs looked on. The depu
ties had arrested Halstead in front
of a minister's home, in spite of his
plea:
“Aw. don't stop us now. We’re on
our way to get married. The minister
isn't home.”
The justice listened to Halstead and
his accusers, then pronounced judg
ment.
“For running past a stop sign and
having an overloaded car, I hereby
sentence you to life.”
He read the marriage ceremony
while the deputies stood by, they said,
“just to make sure they weren't kid
ding us.”
ON TROTZKY TALK
Communist Foes and Uni
versity Friends in Dispute
as Address Nears.
BACKGROUND—
Leon Trotsky's historic break
with Stalin at the time of Lenin's
death caused exile of former. Dur
ing years of development of V. S.
S. R. Stalin regime frequently
claimed Trotsky was plotting with
capitalistic foes of country for over
throw of government. Accusations
reached climax last month when
13 were put to death as plotters and
Trotsky was named as master mind
in plot. Meanwhile Trotsky, who
had been harbored by Norway, was
forced to leave that country, and
was offered refuge in Mexico. He
arrived there early this Winter and
went to live in the villa of Diego
Rivera, noted radical artist.
F-* the Associated Press.
MEXICO CITY. February 9 —Fight
ing threatened today between Leon
Trotzky's Communist enemies and his
university friends as the Russian exile
nervously prepared to tell a New York
audience his version of the recent anti
Soviet conspiracy trial in Moscow.
Mexican students defied Communist
organizations striving to keep Trotzky
a prisoner in the suburban villa of
Diego Rivera, his host and benefactor
in Mexico.
They intimated they would answer
force with force if Communists at
tempted to prevent the one-time Hus
sion war commissar from appearing
publicly or lecturing at the university.
"Organized Force" Talked.
To the local Communist party’s
warning it would use "organized force”
if necessary to keep Trotzky from
speaking in Mexico, the students an
swered :
"We have not yet invited Trotzky to
lecture, although we are considering it.
If we do, the Communists will not be
permitted to interfere.”
Trotzky, a political refugee here over
the protests of many Communists,
who charged he was a foe of Soviet
Russia, went into seclusion awaiting
the hour for his two telephone-and
loudspeaker addresses—one a 40-min
ute talk in English, the other a 15
minute Russian speech—tonight at 10
o’clock (E. S. T.).
Guard Reinforced.
There were no indications the Com
munists planned to keep Trotsky from
delivering his long-distance addresses,
but it was understood police guards
posted about the Rivera’s blue-walled
villa in suburban Coyoacan would be
reinforced as a precaution.
The contents of his two speeches
were nominal secrets, but it was gen
erally known the bitter enemy of Jos
eph Stalin would lash out again at
what he has called the ‘‘Moscow
frame-up.” Members of his household
said he considers the speech his great
est effort to combat the recent trial
and confessions of 17 plotters who
named him the arch-conspirator.
He has denied repeatedly any con
nivance with the conspiracy.
RED RIDER REPEAL
EIGHT FACES DELAY
Senator Wheeler’s Illness
May Keep Him From
Work Tomorrow.
The next move in the battle of the
"red rider." with the Senate advocat
ing outright repeal and the House only
modification, may be delayed for sev
eral days.
The action of the House yesterday
will be reported to the Senate when
it reconvenes tomorrow, but Senator
Wheeler. Democrat, of Montana, lead
ing the fight for repeal, is ill and may
not be able to return to the Senate
tomorrow. In that event, further de
velopments probably will await his re
turn. While his condition is not se
rious, it is not certain he will be back
at the Capitol tomorrow.
In view of the fact the House passed
its own bill instead of amending the
repeal measure already acted on by
the Senate, the measure cannot go
directly to conference without further
action on the floor of the Senate. Un
der parliamentary procedure, both
branches must act on the bill bear
ing the same number. The Senate can
get the issue to conference by strik
ing out the language in the House bill
and substituting the flat repeal pro
vision of the Senate bill.
Wheeler Is Undecided.
Senator Wheeler, who favors out
right repeal, probably will not decide
on his exact course of procedure until
he returns to his office in a day or two.
Meanwhile, Chairman Norton of
the House District Committee confi
dently predicted that the fight for
repeal of the rider "ir far from ended.”
The House's compromise amend
ment of the repeal bill of Representa
tive Kennedy, Democrat, of Maryland,
is far from satisfactory to Mrs. Nor
ton and many other members, who
feel it will not correct existing con
ditions in the public schools.
Instead of a "red rider,” Represen
tative Keller. Democrat, of Illinois,
branded the new House version as a
"pink rider.”
McCormack Amendment.
The House amendment, proposed
by Representative McCormack. Demo
crat, of Massachusetts, was approved
by a roll call vote. 233 to 116. It reads:
"Provided, that hereafter no part of
any appropriation for the public
schools shall be available for the pay
ment of the salary of any person ad
vocating communism or treating any
such doctrine with favor or support:
but no official or teacher shall be re
quired to make any special declara
<See~RED RIDER, Page A-3.)
Mrs. Johnson
To Carry on
Explorations
Planning to Invade
Belgian Congo
With Camera.
By the Associated Press.
LOS ANGELES, February 9— Mrs.
Martin Johnson, a pretty brunette
with a broken leg. tigered in a hos
pital here today, planning a camera
invasion of the Belgian Congo—alone.
Widowed and injured by an air
liner crash near Los Angeles a month
ago, she has not given up the work
her husband shared with her tor 27
years.
"I am quite capable of managing
an expedition by myself.” she said.
"Any woman who likes it could be
a successful explorer.
“Before, I always hired the boys.
And I made all the plans for food.
This left my husband free to do his
photography. As a matter of fact, on
our last trip I did some color work.”
She smiled, almost in girlish tri
umph, and continued:
“A prominent photograph company
said it was the best color film ever
brought In to them.”
A pilot in her own right, Mrs.
Johnson said she had decided not to
continue the flights which took her
and her husband over 60,000 miles of
jungles. But she added:
“I do not believe that 1 will ex
perience any fear In the air.”
Her hair' was waved, her nails were
tinted to match her shell-pink negli
gee and she wore a gardenia for her
first interview since the fatal plane
crash. She asked not to be reminded
of “the accident” by quections. It's
the future that Mrs. Johnson is
thinking about.
BILL 10 PERMIT
I). S. TO INTERVENE
IN SUITS REPORTED
DV HOUSEGROUP
Judiciary Adds Amendment
to Speed Constitutionality
Appeals to Supreme Court.
Action Tomorrow Seen.
RETIREMENT MEASURE
ALSO PENDING IN HOUSE
Roosevelt Judiciary Program
Might Be Attached to Bill as
Amendment, Causing Immedi
ate Action, but Leaders Doubt
Course Will Be Followed.
BACKGROUND—
Revised by President’s request for
reorganization of judiciary, the cen
tury-old fight between Supreme
Court and executive branch has
broken party lines in Congress and
promises to become major issue of
session. Although urging general
overhauling of Federal courts, Mr.
Roosevelt’s attack on Supreme
Court is real bone of contention.
Following adverse decisions on
major New Deal bills, he demanded
resignation of justices over 70 or
authority to appoint additional
judges equivalent in number to
those beyond age limit.
BY G. GOl'LD LINCOLV.
Tackling President Roosevelt's Ju
diciary reorganization plan in piece
meal style, the House Judiciary Com
mittee today ordered reported a bill
permitting the Attorney General to
intervene in cases between private
parties, where constitutional questions
are involved
Before ordering the bill reported,
the committee added an amendment
designed to expedite such a case to
the Supreme Court if the law be held
unconstitutional in the lower courts.
This measure covers two of the Presi
dent's recommendations, embodied in
his general reorganization bUl, al
though the bill reported today was
prepared before the President an
nounced his program.
The committee already has re
ported favorably a bill for the retire
ment of justices of the Supreme Court
on terms -similar to those now applied
in the case of other Federal judges.
Action Tomorrow Seen.
This bill is on the House calendar
and Chairman Sumners of the House
Judiciary Committee said he believed
the measure would be called up for
action in the House tomorrow.
A final decision whether to call up
the bill would be reached this after
noon. he said.
Tomorow is calendar day in the
House, and the Judiciary Committee
has the call.
The retirement bill on the House
calendar permits the voluntary retire
ment of justices of the Supreme Court
at 70 years of age on full pay. after 10
years of service. *
If the bill comes up in the House
tomorrow, there is the possibility that
some one might offer as an amend
ment the President's plan to'authorize
the appointment of additional justice?
of the Supreme Court when a justice
who has reached the age of 70 years
and six months has failed to retire.
If that course were taken the whole
question of increasing the member
ship of the Supreme Court would be
dumped into the House without delay.
Course Is Doubted.
It is not believed, however, that the
House Judiciary Committee is anxious
to bring that about without ample
consideration of the President's pro
1 posal in committee.
The President's message transmitting
his judiciary organization plan to
Congress was read in the House com
mittee meeting this morning. No ac
tion was taken on the President's bill,
however, and Chairman Sumners said
there was np discussion of proceedure
regarding the bill. Presumably tliac
will come up at the Thursday meeting.
No decision has been made in regard
to hearings on the President's bill,
either on members of the Supreme
Court or others.
While the House Committee was at
work. Senator Robinson of Arkansas,
the Democratic leader, advocated ex
tending the retirement age for Su
preme Court justices under the Presi
dent's plan from 70 years and 6
months to 75 years.
The Arkansas Senator said he was
speaking for himself alone and must
not be considered as speaking for the
President. Robinson’s suggested
amendment to the plan is the first to
come from Democratic leaders on Cap
| (See JUDICIARY, Page A-2.)
_._
D. C. BANKS TO CUT
j RATE OF INTEREST
Return on Savings Accounts Will
Be Reduced to 2 Per
Cent.
Interest rates on savings accounts
in Washington banks will be cut to 2
per cent from 2% per cent on March
1. H. H. McKee, chairman of the
Washington Clearing House Associa
tion and president of the National
Capital Bank, announced today.
The maximum rate on savings ac
counts allowed by the Government is
2 Vi per cent, but bankers here say
they cannot find sufficient sound, high
grade investments for savings funds
to continue the payment of that rate.
Chairman McKee stated that the 2 per
cent rate on savings has now been
adopted most everywhere in the
| United States.
The Clearing House Association has
adopted a special rule governing the
future Interest rate to be paid by the
members and associate members on
these so-called “thrift accounts."
(Details in Financial Section.)