Evening star. [volume], April 04, 1937, Page A-2, Image 2

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

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_ , 76
Nearly 100 Follow Faint
Trail Left by Glen Burnie
Resident.
BT Associated Press.
<Cft£N BURNIE. Md., April 3.—A
feftrAftifing party of nearly 100 per
sons, including Boy Scouts, police
•A® neighbors, scoured woods and
fields for almost 5 miles today, fol
lowing the faint trail of a 76-year
old woman missing from her home
since Thursday.
The woman, Mrs. Ella Stone, moth
er of several children, disappeared
on the same day Mrs. Marie Gunther
was murdered on a Stony Creek farm
near here.
From the farm of George Crouse, a
nephew with whom Mrs. Stone lived,
■ bout 8 miles south of Glen Burnie,
the searching party followed the
aged woman's footprints along a
sandy road, through a thick woods
and onto a road leading toward the
Crain highway.
Her footprints were visible along
the edge of the road. Inquiries dis
closed Mrs. Stone had either stopped
or been seen near practically every
house along that section of high
way. At the intersection of the sec
ond road with the harder-surfaced
Crain Highway, clues vanished.
Police then scattered throughout
that section of Anne Arundel Coun
ty, seeking to find residents whom
the aged woman might have visited.
Glen Burnie Boy Scouts began a
house-to-house canvass of neighbors
and filling station operators, seeking
Information of her whereabouts.
The investigation of Mrs. Gunther’s
murder meanwhile remained at a
standstill, pending a report from the
Federal Bureau of Investigation ex
perts examining clues collected In
the case.
RED HOT ICE PICKS
USED BY BOY GANG
Members Branded and Forced to
Steal—Police Hope to Re
cover Loot.
Br the Associated Press.
TUCSON . Ariz., April 3.—Police
Chief C. A. Wollard said today a gang
■of boys here •'patterned after the
Black Legion” have been branding
their members with red hot ice picks
snd hiding stolen goods in their storm
sewer headquarters.
Wollard said the boys—9 to 14 years
Old—called themselves the black
legion.” “the red devils,” and the
‘'dynamiters.” He said 12 were ques
tioned and released. Two faced
formal burglary charges.
Tire officer said one group burned
circles on their legs while others had
circles and crosses burned on the
bottoms of their feet. Some showed
signs of recent whippings, which they
claimed were administered when they
refused to steal, he said.
Detective Chet Sherman said he ex
pected the boys to lead him to $1,000
in stolen loot.
WAR NOTES TO MOTHER
JUST REACH CHICAGO
Censor Stowed Them in Roll of
Blankets as Outfit Entered
Belleau Wood.
B'’ the Associated Press.
CHICAGO, April 3.—Late in May,
1918. Pvt. Arthur J. Murphy wrote two
letters to his mother in Chicago from
the battlefields of France.
Lawyer Arthur J. Murphy—the
same fellow—disclosed today she had
just received them.
They came from Cloquet, Minn.,
together with a note of explanation
from E. A. Kennedy, former second
lieutenant in Murphy’s Marine outfit.
It seems Kennedy was about to cen
sor the missives when the company
set off for Belleau Woods. They were
thrust into a blanket roll. Three years
later the bedding turned up in the
Brooklyn Navy Yard. Kennedy,
called away again, stowed the equip
ment in a trunk. He rummaged
through the old paraphernalia re
cently. rediscovered the letters and
dispatched them post haste.
BUS DRIVER WHITE
Wounded Man Called Colored
Through Misinformation.
By a Staff Correspondent of The Star.
FAIRFAX. Va.. April 3.—Through
misinformation. The Star in yester
day's issue referred to Harry Gray, a
county school bus driver who was
shot by Tasker Stokes, colored, last
November 5 as “also colored.” Gray
is a white man. He was shot by
Stokes during an altercation at Bail
eys Cross Roads and is still confined
to his home with the gunshot wounds.
Stokes has been sentenced to a term
of eight years in the penitentiary.
Bride Is Foiled
In Effort to Kiss
Pope Pius’ Hand
Girl Ignores Warning
Issued to Conserve
Pontiff's Strength.
»F the Associated Press.
VATICAN CITY, April 3 — A. devout
young bride was restrained by Vati
can guards today when she attempted
to kiss Pope Pius’ hand as the pontlfl
gave his first large audience since he
lecame ill December 5.
; She was one of the 500 newlyweds
rbbfti the 79-year-old Pope later
1e&*>d in the ducal chamber of the
taMcan.
The couples, lined up on each side
f-.several big corridors before the cere
rony. had been warned by the guards
men to kneel as the Pope was borne
lo the reception chamber—but they
Jiepy instructed not to kiss his papa:
PPK, as is usually the custom.
Careful efforts have been made tc
fnnserve the pontiff’s energy.
• As the pontiff was passing through
the first reception hall the youne
Italian girl jumped to her feet and
ran toward him. Guardsmen stopped
her, but she cried out her desire tc
kiss his holiness’ hand and struggled
with the guard.
The guardsmen conducted her back
to her place in line beside her em
barrassed husband.
•
Readers' Guide
and
News Summary
The Sunday Star, April 4, 1937.
PART ONE.
Main News Section.
LABOR SITUATION.
Congress action on sit-down due this
week Page A-l
Ford strike settled with promise of no
discrimination. Page A-l
Steel union recognition claimed from
46 plants. Page A-4 :
Murphy reports progress in Chrysler ,
parley. Page A-4 j
Alabama coal mines closed by U. M.
W. A. demands. Page A-4 ■
Virginia Labor Federation denounces
“special county police.” Page A-5
Wilmington truck operators agree to
end strike. PageA-16
FOREIGN.
Basques battle to stop rebel march to
Bilbao. Page A-l
Quezon retorts sharply to charge he
seeks “dictatorship.” Page A-l
NATIONAL.
Heiress bride may ask ex-husband to
help fight anulment. Page A-l
Once great P. W. A. program now in
“boondoggling" class. Page A-2
Textile conference faces long wrangle
over 40-hour week. Page A-2
Six "suspects" quizzed daily in Matt
son kidnaping. Page B-5
WASHINGTON AND VICINITY.
140 arrested in raids on four Ninth
street establishments. Page A-l
Two men are killed by hit-and-run
car. Page A-l
Maryland Senate O.K.s betting in
Prince Georges. Page A-l
Faint trail followed in search for 76
year-old woman. Page A-2
$232,856 paid to 2,058 needy here in
year, report reveals. Page B-l
Citizens meet here today to demand
relief program. Page B-l
Civic Federation opposes suggestions
for '‘excess1’ taxation. Page B-l
School Board to take up scholastic ban
Wednesday. Page B-l
Cherry blossoms are delayed until
midweek by weather. Page B-l
Senate D. C. bill hearings may begin
this week. Page B-l
Eight Montgomery and Prince Georges
bills pass House. Page B-2
Army day parade line of march for
Tuesday announced. Page B-2
Further steps awaited in Fidelity
reorganization. Page B-4
SPORTS.
Nationals absorb 5-to-4 beating at
hands of Reds. Page B-6
Guldahl shoots a 68 to lead Augusta
tourney with 209. Page B-6
Calumet Dick takes Bowie HandicaD
by good margin. Page B-8
Harris putting right fielders to test
for regular job. Page B-7
Dartmouth track team is easy victor
over Maryland. Page B 8
New English saddle has made hit with
American riders. Page B-9
Yachtsmen making great preparations
for banner season. Page B-10
Ambers, underdog, protects crown in
bout with Montanez. Page B-l 1
Entries for city duckpin tournament
to close Saturday. Page B-12
MISCELLANY.
Washington Wayside. Page A-?
Lost and found. PageA-3
Obituary. Page A-12
Vital statistics. Page A-12
Traffic convictions. Page A-12
City news in brief. Page A-12
Service orders. Page A-fi
PART TWO.
Editorial Section.
Editorial articles. Pages D-l-1
Editorials and comment. Page D-2
Civic news Page D-4
Parent-teacher activities. PageI)-5
Women’s clubs. PageD-6
Military and veterans'
news. Pages D-5-7
Cross-word puzzle. Page D-7
Resorts. Paces D-8-9
Stamps. PageD-10
Public Library. Page D-12
PART THREE.
Society Section.
Society news. Pages E-l-12
Well-known folk. Page E-6
Barbara Bell pattern. Page E-10
PART FOUR.
Feature Section.
[ News features. Pages F-l-4
j John Clagett Proctor. Page F-2
Dick Mansfield. Page F-2
Radio programs. PageF-3
Amusements. Page F-5
Automobiles. PageF-6
Aviation. Page F-6
Children's page. PageF-7
PART FIVE.
Financial, Classified.
I Roosevelt warning studied. Page G-l
I Treasury faces bear market. Page G-l
' Fifth district trade soars. Page G-l
j Stocks improve (table). Page G-2
I U. S. bonds gain (table). Page G-3
Curb list tends up (table). Page G-4
| Educational. Page G-5
j Classified advertising. Pages G-5-16
LIQUOR STORE OWNER
ROUTS ARMED BANDITS
The temper of Dennis McCar
thy, 53, proprietor of a liquor store
at 202 L street, flared again last night
at the sight of a gun and for the sec
ond time in as many years he sent
bandits fleeing from his store while
he nursed a bullet wound.
When three colored men leveled
guns at him, McCarthy swung a liq
uor bottle at them. One of the
would-be robbers fired and the bullet
glanced off McCarthy’s chest near the
heart, inflicting a minor flesh wound.
He was treated at Sibley Hospital.
Two years ago McCarthy was shot
in the leg when he attacked would-be
bandits in his store.
MILK 3 CENTS A QUART
NEW YORK, April 3 (AT—Milk sold
as low as 3 cents a quart in New York
today as dealers battled for business,
four days after expiration of the
price control authority of the State
Department of Agriculture.
Dealers said the 3-cent price pre
vailed for a time in some stores on
the lower East Side, but later rose to 5.
Otherwise throughout the city milk
was sold at from 8 to 11 cents.
The Milk Control Commission pre
dicted new low prices for Monday,
WANT WINSHIP OUSTED
SAN JUAN, P. R„ April 3 (A*).—
Students of Puerto Rico University
voted today to ask President Roose
velt to remove Gov. Blanton Winship
from office.
They also protested against Police
Chief Enrique Orbeta and activities
in connection with recent riote at
Ponce in which 18 persona were
killed.
1
ALL CLUES FAIL
IN GEDEON CASE
Police Admit Defeat in Ef
forts to Solve Easter
Morning Murders.
BACKGROUND—
Veronica Gedeon. beautiful 20
year-old model; her mother, Mary,
and a roomer, Frank Byrnes, were
found murdered Easter morning in
their modest apartment by the
father, Joseph Gedeon. who
estranged from his wife. Forii
week a maze of clues haev been
developed—fo no avail.
Bs the Associated Press
NEW YORK. April 3 —The Easter
morning murders on Beekman Hill,
after one sensational week in the head
lines, headed tonight toward a place
In New York's book of unsolved
crimes—alongside the butterfly killings
of Dot King and Louise Lawson, the
strangling of Vivian Gordon and the
shooting of the gambler, Arnold
Rothstein.
As quietly as distant relatives
claimed the body of Prank Byrnes,
"forgotten man” in the triple killing
of glamorous "Ronnie" Gedeon, her
mother, and the little English waiter
who roomed with them, so did 50
detectives sigh, tacitly admit defeat,
and start to close the book
"We’re at an absolute dead end,”
said Lieut Walter Harding.
Body Finally Claimed.
So it seemed entirely possible that
the mystery, one of the most baffling
ever to confront the police, might rest
itself in the unnamed grave that
all week was marked for Byrnes,
the third victim.
But today George Longfellow, whose
wdfe is a cousin of the waiter about
whose life police have learned noth
ing. claimed the body
Within a few hours it had been
taken to Brooklyn. There were brief
services in a funeral parlor and a quick
burial in the Longfellow family plot
in St, John's Cemetery in Queens.
There were scarcely any flowers, 1
only a dozen people went to the ceme
tery, and there was none of the crowd
ing of the streets, the massing of floral
tributes from illustrator and artist
friends of "Ronnie'’ such as marked
the funerals of the 20-year-old model
and her mother Thursday.
Meanwhile, detectives admitted, the
two men upon whom they had depend
ed for solution—Joseph Gedeon, father
of "Ronnie" and estranged from his
wife, and Georges (Frenchy) Gueret, i
46-year-old former roomer of the Ged
eons—were all but dismissed from con- :
sideration.
Gueret established an “iron-clad”
alibi and Gedeon. 54-year-old student |
of erotics, small but powerful uphol
sterer, bowler, ladies' man and well
known man about the neighborhood,
finally was released.
Police could neither "break" him nor
disprove his alibi. He wound up "wear- ■
ing out the detectives themselves, ’
they admitted, before they finally d's- .
missed him formally as a suspect and |
arrested him for a misdemeanor, pos
sessing a pistol without a permit.
Freed on $1,000 bail, Gedeon's case
comes up for a hearing Monday in
Felony Court.
Maze of Clues Developed.
Clue after clue led 50 detectives
nowhere. Police can't find a brown
suit witnesses said Gedeon was wear
ing Saturday night, nor five women,
among them "little Ruth” and "big
Ruth.” with whom he was allegedly
friendly.
Nothing came of the mysterious
"millionaire suitor” from Boston, the
man supposedly lurking on the stairs
Saturday night or the reported "new
husband” of Mrs. Gedeon, a clue in
vestigated today.
IMMIGRATION CURB
CALLED TOO HARSH
Senator Thomas for Rule of Rea
son in Dealing With In
dividual Cases.
By the Associated Press.
NEW YORK, April 3—Senator
Elbert D. Thomas. Democrat, of Utah,
last night, called for a "rule of reason
plus the general public good" in the
administration of immigration laws.
"An immigration law' may properly
be very harsh—harsh in dealing with
the mass,” he said, "but its adminis
tration as it affects the individual
should be one of greatest considera
tion . .
He told of a Japanese-American
mother who, after giving birth to
four American citizens, was forced to
leave a fifth child in Japan, because
prior to leaving for her native land
she failed to register the fact that she
was pregnant.
"To weaken in the slightest the
theory of citizenship based upon the
place of birth is a step backward,"
Senator Thomas said, but, he con
tinued :
“Related to this principle . . . when
conceived as a fundamental aspect
of democracy, the true rule of ex
patriation should follow some positive
act on the part of the individual him
self who changes his notionality, and
should not be controlled by the acts
of another.”
--•
JAPANESE PRINCE, WIFE
WELCOMED TO CANADA
Brother of Emperor, on Way to
Coronation, Is Entertained by
Lord Tweedsmuir.
Br the Associated Press.
OTTAWA, April 3.—On their way
to New York to sail for England and
the coronation, Prince and Princess
Chichibu of Japan arrived here to
night to be welcomed by Premier
W. L. Mackenzie King and other high
officials.
Prince Chichibu, brother of Em
peror Hirohito, will represent the
Japanese ruler at the enthronement
of King George VI.
United States Minister Norman Ar
mour and members of the cabinet
were In the welcoming group at the
railway station.
A program of entertainment by the
Canadian government began tonight
with a dinner in honor of the Chichi
bus and their suite, given by Lord
Tweedsmuir, the governor general, and
Lady Tweedsmuir.
-•
Police Chief, Under Fire, Quits.
JOPLIN, Mo., April 3 <A>).—Police
Chief Harry J. Mead, one of four
officials indicted by a special grand
jury this week on charges of negli
gence in office resigned today. It was
announced in Circuit Court at
Carthage that the indictment against
him is to be dismissed in June.
«
Aguinaldo Celebrates
General Emilio Aguinaldo, Filipino revolutionary chieftain
and the political foe of President Manual Quezon of the Philip
pine Islands, pictured March 22 in his home in Kuwit, Cavite,
Philippine Islands, with his birthday cake on his 68th birthday
anniversary. Seated at the left is his wife, Dona Maria Agoncillo
de Aguinaldo; at the right is his sister, Dona Felicidad Aguinaldo.
The boy is the general's grandson. —Wide World Photo.
FIVE CONVICTED
46 Now Total as Voisine
Murder Plot Trial Is
Concluded.
By Ihf Associated Press.
DETROIT. April 3 —A Recorder's
Court jury convicted two alleged Black
Legionnaires today of conspiring to
kill William W. Voisine, village pres
ident of suburban Ecorse. increasing
to 46 the number of convictions since
the terrorist society was unmasked
10 months ago
The men convicted today were
Lawrence Madden and Jesse Petti
john, Ecorse township clerk, former
Ecorse councilman and political rival
of Voisine.
Judge John J. Maher said he would
sentence the pair April 10 The max
imum penalty is five years’ imprison
ment and a $1,000 fine Nine Black
Legionnaires convicted recently of
conspiring to kill a Highland Park
newspaper publisher were sentenced
to serve from one to five years in
I L'lUU.
Case to Be Appealed.
Defense Attorney John J O'Hara,
former auditor general of Michigan,
said he would appeal the case against
Madden and Pettijohn.
State witnesses, chief of whom was
Dayton Dean, confessed Black Legion
"trigger man,'’ testified Pettijohn of
fered a reward for the death of Voi
sine. an implacable foe of the Black
Legion, and that Dean made several
trips to Ecorse in a futile search for
the village president, accompanied by
Pettijohn and Madden.
The offenses of which accused
Black Legionnaires have been con
victed include arson, perjury, false
imprisonment, conspiracy and mur
der. Twelve are serving long prison
terms for the slaying of Charles A.
Poole, which exposed the existence of
the black-hooded order. Five are
serving life terms for the murder of
Silas Coleman, a Negro who was shot,
witnesses testified, to provide a
"thrill" for a Black Legion party.
Twenty Awaiting Trial.
Still awaiting trial are 20 defend
ants named in an indictment charging
criminal syndicalism in connection ,
with an alleged fantastic plot to seize
control of the Government, and 12
defendants on a charge of inciting
to riot.
One of the defendants in the crim
inal syndicalism case is Virgil F. Ef
finger of Lima, Ohio, who has not
been arrested. Another was Isaac
(Peg Leg) White, former Detroit po
liceman, who died in Maryland as a
fugitive.
MRS. HARRIMAN HAILED
Norway Ready to Welcome Wash
ington Woman as U. 6. Envoy.
OSLO. Norway. April 3 (A3).—Nor
way's capital is ready to give Mrs. J.
Borden Harriman of Washington a
hearty welcome if she is appointed
Minister from the United States.
Newspapers here prominently displayed
reports she may be chosen.
Norway has had experience with
women diplomats before. Mme. Alex
andria Kollotay for several years was
Soviet Russia's Minister to Oslo.
AIRLINE GRANTED BASE
Portugal Signs 25-Year Agree
ment With British. U. S. Units.
LISBON. Portugal, April 3 (A5).—
Premier Antonio de Oliveira Salazar
today signed an agreement granting
Pan-American Airways and the Brit
ish Imperial Airways operating rights
for 25 years for the proposed trans
Atlantic air service.
The agreement granted the com- |
panies use of ports in Portugal, the
Madeira Islands and the Azores. I
Quezon
(Continued From First Page.)_
laid, “but when such a nation attacks
he Philippines, it will do so for profit.
JVe want to make it too costly to at
,empt to conquer us.
Says Peace Is Aim.
“Our aim is to teach our people to
ive peacefully, as Mr. Vlllard urges,
rut we are living in a world where I
jeople are thinking of killing each !
ither. That is why I want to teach !
■very citizen of my country to de
end it." said President Quezon. "We
ivant to be ready so we won't be killed
;o easily."
The Commonwealth President in
sisted that the first duty of th- Fili
pino Is to the state and that it is the
iutv of every citizen to be at the call
if his state
"It. is well for you with mor - than
100.000 000 people to oppose conscnp
,ion.” he said. "You can organize an
irmv at any moment. With inly
5.000 000 in the Philippines it is neces
sary for us to be ready, to team every
man in our country to use a rifle
"You are giving too much import
ance to the right of the individual to
io as he pleases and calling it liberty,
cith the result you are now aufT-ring
'rom the evils of that philosophy . .
‘Jational discipline and the spirit of
sacrifice are better than telling chil
iren that they are free to mane as
much money as they please.!' the
President said.
“Ready for Responsibilities’’
President Quezon said his country
vas ready to assume the responsi
bilities of independence and empha
sized their trade relations with the
United States were profitable to the
United States as well as to the Philip
pines.
Dr. Stephen P Duggan, director of
:he Institute of International Edu
'ation, had previously said that If
Ihe trade provisions of the inde
pendence act were to be enforced as
they now stand “it probably would
spell economic ruin for the Philip
pines"
President Quezon replied the ques
tion of trade with the United States
was not one-sided and that trade
between the Philippines and thq
United Slates was 10 times that of
Puerto Rico, Hawaii or Cuba.
Maj Gen. William C. Rivers. U. S
A . retired, urged neutralization of
the Philippines and liberal trade priv
ileges during the first years of in
dependence. He said the suggestion
for construction of a United States
naval base at Manila was "ill-advised.”
because the best that could be built
would be "an exposed and indefensible
salient which would be within easy
reach of Japanese air bombers from
nearbv Formosa, from the Bonin
Islands and from Japan itself."
Conspiracy Charge Derided.
President Quezon said "the emptiest
and mast laughable charge made
against our national defense plan
is that it is a covert conspiracy to
keep the United States in the Philip
pines.”
“On what ground?” he asked.
“Upon what sound logic may it be
inferred that training the Filipinos
to defend themselves is a covert con
spiracy to keep the United States
in the Philippines? Is it not, on
the contrary, the best evidence that
we are getting ready to defend our
selves for our protection and not de
pend upon the United States? In
other words, that we are preparing
the nation to assume all the re
sponsibilities of Independent state
hood.”
The commonwealth President told
the association that "we are en
titled to use our money for what we
think is best for our nation.”
Answering criticisms that the
money should be used for education,
President Quezon asked “What woulf?
be the use of education if, at any
moment, a foreign power could come
in and exploit us?"
President Quezon and his party
left for Washington immediately after
the meeting. He was to be guest
of honor tonight at a dinner given
by the Japanese Ambassador. He
came to New York this morning from
the Capital.
Housing Is Forum Topic
SENATOR WAGNER TO DISCUSS FEDERAL AID PLAN.
FEDERAL aid in better housing
will be the subject of an ad
dress by Senator Robert F.
Wagner of New York in the
National Radio Forum tomorrow at
10:30 p.m.
The National Radio Forum is ar
ranged by The Washington Star and
broadcast over the network of the
National Broadcasting Co.
Senator Wagner is author of the
housing bill, now' pending before the j
Senate Committee on Education and ;
Labor. He was the author of bills !
in this field in the last Congress and
has made a comprehensive study of
the question of housing.
The need for improvement in the
housing of the people has been stressed
frequently by President Roosevelt, who
has referred to the American people
as one-third ill-clad, ill-housed and
ill-fed.
The problem is a large one and its
solution, as proposed by Senator Wag
ner, not only looks to Improved hous
ing conditions, but should result in
producing more Jobs.
4
SENATOR WAONER.
i
Plan to Check Price Rise
Puts Activity Close to
“Boondoggle” Class.
Bf NELSON M. SHEPARD.
President Roosevelt's declaration of
a new Federal spending policy to
check the too rapid rise of prices In
the durable goods industries by shift
ing purchases to the lines of con
sumer goods has relegated the once
great P. W. A. program to something
akin to the boondogglin g class.
Engaged four years ago as the offi
cial pump primer In the drive to
bring about economic recovery for
the Nation's then half-starved heavy
Industries—such as ateel, cement, cop
per and machinery—Harold L. Iclces
did the Job so efficiently that today
he is in the position of having dug
the grave of hia own Public Work*
Administration.
P. W. A.’s job In this respect is
done. The President’s announcement
of a change in public works spending
is a recognition of this fact and is
regarded by many as an indirect com
pliment to Ickes' management of it.
It served at least to focus public
attention on the huge amount of
money poured by the Public Works
Administration over nearly four years
into the maw of the heavy industries.
To date, the P. W. A. has accounted
for expenditures totaling $3,688,869.
282 on construction projects At least
60 per cent of this, or nearly $2,000,
000.000, has been used for purchase
of materials that have produced the
threat of ’’inflationary” price rises
in the durable goods which the Pres
ident is seeking to check.
P. W. A. Extension Approved.
Extension of the P. W. A for an
other two years after its legal expira
tion on June 30 next has the approval
of the President, but instead of the
$300,000,000 and more that its sup
porters are urging for it, Mr. Roose
velt apparently is determined to limit
its future spending to $150,000,000 out
of Its present revolving fund
A new and unrecognizable P. W A.
program will be the result.
The District of Columbia, for in
stance, can now give up whatever
hope it might have entertained of ob
taining funds from Ickes for con
struction of the proposed Municipal
Center, or stadium, or new buildings
for the Lorton, (Va > Reformatory.
The new Federal spending program
affecting public works, announced
after the President had ruled that
Ickp.s may use only the service* of
relief labor on projects, has just
about terminated the P W. A a* an
industrial recovery force
The P, W. A program of the future
will have to take on the shade and
tone of Harry L. Hopkins' program
of ' made'’ work or something much
resembling it. Road construction,
small bridges, channel dredging, earth
dams, soil erosion and other such
work as will require a maximum of
labor and a minimum of materials are
in prospect.
Cause of Program Reduction.
The gradual cutting down of the
P. W. A. program, laid by many at
the door of Works Progress Adminis
trator Hopkins, who had the ear of
the White House in work relief mat
ters. has reduced present expendi
tures to an insignificant sum. as
expenditures are counted these days.
Hopkins’ contention that the P. W
A. was employing too few men on
construction sites in comparison with
labor used in producing purchases of
materials eventually turned the tide
against tlie rival recovery agency..
But it is just as passible that such
statements as put out by the Labor
Department from time to time on the
rapidly improving conditions in the
durable goods industries had just
as much weight at the White House.
As late as February 20. about the
time the President began applying
the brakes to the P. W. A. on the
matter of relief labor. Commissioner
Isador Lubin of the Bureau of La
bor Statistics announced:
“The enormity of the economic
effect of the P. W. A. program on
certain industries is evidenced by the
fact that In the calendar year 1934
approximately 25 per cent of all brick,
approximately 75 per cent of all ce
ment. approximately 45 per cent of all
structural steel and approximately
50 per cent of all steel rails produced
were for the use of P. W. A. con
struction projects.”
Powerful Economic Force,
i P W. A. has contributed only neg
j ligiblv to the 3.000.000 or more em
ployed on the works program at pres
ent. In providing employment for
skilled labor, however, and in creat
ing a wide labor market “behind the
lines" in the heavy goods industries
and in factories, it has proved per
haps the mast powerful economic
force of the New Deal: too powerful
in fact, as the President now holds.
Mr. Roasevelt's reversal of policy
which would have the effect of bring
ing about a proper balance betweer
the production of durable and eon
1 sumption goods, focuses public atten
tion on some of P. W. A.’s past ex
penditures.
The first three years of the P. W. A
program were the "fat” years for t.h«
heavy industries. A rather completi
breakdown of purchases showed thai
P. W. A. orders for materials resulted
in employment increases ranging fronr
14.2 per cent to 225.4 per cent in th«
three years.
Up to June, 1936, Ickes had spent
$3,122,622,952 for Federal and non
Federal construction.
The breakdown showed $1,288,775.
000 expended for materials alone. It
accounted for 4.261,700 man-hours oi
labor in the finishing process.
Orders for Materials..
Orders for this huge amount of ma
terials were apportioned as follows:
Iron and steel and their products
$336,814,082.
Machinery, exclusive of transporta
tion materials, $236,739,241.
Transportation equipment, $89,136,
986.
Textiles and their products, $1,565,
(15.
Forest products, $71,881,201.
Chemical and allied products, $10,
911,130.
Stone, clay and glass, $372,237,898
Non-ferrous metals and their prod
ucts, $7,175,875.
Miscellaneous materials, $162,292,
763.
The cement industry, which Presi
dent Roosevelt cited with steel as on
in which prices are soaring out o
proportion to wages, owes its con
tlnued prosperity almost entirely b
the P. W. A. program. Up to a yea
ago. the P. W. A. had ordered 78,000,
000 barrels of cement for its huge con
struction programs. The cost to th
Government was $143,000,000.
This hugi purchase of cement ex
deeded the total production of all th
I
W ashington
Wayside
Tales
Random Observations
of Interesting Events
and Things.
L’ADDICION.
OE BAIRD, who recently came
to Washington after a tour of
duty as foreign correspondent
in Russia, tells a story about a
visit made to the land of the Soviet
by William Philip Simms, who was
traveling all over Europe looking
things over.
About a month after Mr. Simms
departed, the Russian commissar in
charge of such matters called up and
asked Baird to pay a taxi bill for
Mr. Simms, still outstanding on the
books of the government (unknown
to Mr. S.i.
“If it's Mr. Simms’ bill, why should
I pay it?” said Baird.
"Well, Mr. Simms Is an American
newspaper man. You are an Amer
ican newspaper man. Yes?”
"Yes,” said Baird.
"There you are.” said the official.
Baird allowed there he was, but
not for the purpoae of paying taxi
bills. He suggested, Intending to
have a Joke for his trouble, that the
account be forwarded to Mr. Simms
in America. It was. He received it
about a year later.
Furthermore, rather than risk In
ternational complications over a taxi
bill, he paid it.
* * * *
DIALECT.
Breakfast menu in a Ninth street
restaurant:
' Fruit, cereal, eggs, bacon, cof
fee—special. sleisd prehes, 10c."
* * * *
PATIENCE.
A LL Winter long a family we know
out in Kensington has waited
resignedly for the advent of warm,
clear days in order to have pancakes
once again.
Doesn't make much sense at sight,
but the explanation is that the poppa
of the house has kept the pancake
turner in the pocket of the family
automobile since December, ready to
scrape snow or sleet from the wind
shield when and if necessary.
With the arrival of the first robins
he began to give the pancake fars
some hope, and when the wrens put
in. the turner went back to the
pantry.
* 1ir * *
SUPER-OPTIMIST
/""ANE consistent purchaser of sweep
stakes tickets around town is
without question the most foresighted
optimist it has ever been our pleas
j ure to meet. Each time he buys a
I chance he signs for "The Jolly Four,”
explaining that should he hit a big
prize, he might be able to persuade
the Government it was being divided
four ways, thereby reducing the in
come tax no end.
* * * m
DATA.
Dr H. L. Dunn, in charge of
vital statistics for the Department
of Commerce, informs us that a
blank recently returned by a
mother who was reporting a blessed
i rrenf carried in the space intended
I for office indexing this data:
"Serial No.—1."
j "Vol.—712 pounds."
* * * *
i SURREALISM.
A LADY in the dry goods section
^ of a large department store the
other day thought she had wandered
| into an exhibit of Dali paintings
when she heard such remarks as:
"Does this cloth look like a bis
cuit?”
"Nice waterish blue, that.”
"Some cows resemble that strip
Some don’t.”
"How do you like this for the bark
of an oak tree?”
She found out later the weird con
versation was inspired by a group of
costumers, selecting materials for a
local children's production of ‘The
Blue Bird.”
* A * *
APOLOGIA.
TO DATE precisely 11—count 'em,
•*- li—expert mathematicians have
come galloping forth with letters to
demonstrate to us that we were crazy
as a goon when we said the equation
736 didn't work out in that three
digit problem that has been haunting
this column for more than a week
! Seems we forgot to take stock of the
zero somewhere, as if a busy mar
. had time to run around remembering
a complete blank.
After adding up the total numbei
of algebra experts against us, how
ever, we are ready to concede any
thing. Anything you want excepl
a restatement of the whole darnet
story.
To Mr. R. H. Hayes, who providi
the thing the first time, so we hear
our abject apologies. To every bod;
else, too.
We don't know from nuttin’ aboul
mathematics, no matter who askj
henceforth. Two and two make aero
See?
Windsor Castle to Open.
LONDON, April S (£*).—For th<
first time sinoe the accession, Kins
George VI and Queen Elisabeth wil
take up their residence at Windsoi
Castle next Wednesday. The roya
household will return to Buckinghan
Palace a few days before the firs1
court on May S.
• cement mills in the United States ii
1933.
With respect to the steel and iroi
; industry, the P. W. A. purchases wer
t almost as effective. In the matter o
■ steel rails for railrdads alone, the F
> W. A. had purchased 424,744 tons ii
• 1934. when it made loans to 19 rail
- roads. This represented 18,500 ton
■ more than the total rail production o
< the steel industry the year befon
They accounted for 42 per esnt of th
■ total of 1,007,748 tons of rail rollod t
I 1914.
Japan Looms Large in Op
posing Proposals for Lev
eling Competition.
BY BLAIR BOLLES.
The World Textile Conference last
night faced a long wrangle over pro
posals for a universal 40-hour work
week for the textile industry, vigor
ously pushed by American speakers
before the international gathering.
The meeting at the departmental
auditorium will be thrown open to
general discussion tomorrow after two
j days of introductory talks by officials
of the United States and of the eon
I vention, made up of 200 represents
I tivea of government, management
and labor In 24 countries.
Japan, half of whose Industrial
employes work in textile mills and
half of whose exports are textile prod
ucts, loomed in the forefront of the
| opposition to the 40-hour plan, which
! is the most controversial Issue before
: the conference called to find the
secret of stabilization of the intensely
competitive textile Industry.
Short Work Week Opposed.
M. Kitaoka. governmental repre
sentative of Japan and one of three
vice presidents of the conference, has
brought to Washington a mass of
argument to refute supporters of a
short work week. Japan, India and
China are the three important textile
countries whose mill workers are at
their spindles, looms and knitting ma
chines more than 48 hours a week.
Arthur Shaw. British labor delegate
to the conference, is expected to be
in the forefront of support for the
short week.
i "The 40-hour week is an absolute
I necessity," said Shaw, general secre
tary of the National Union of Dyer,
Bleachers and Textile Workers r.
Great Britain, whose colleagues opi
ate on a 48-hour bast'. To escai
high production costs and to avoid
even the 48-hour week, many textile
producers in the Lancashire district
; of England have moved their mills
in recent years to India.
"It is only a question of time until
the 40-hour week will be established
i in industry throughout the nations of
| the world,” said Harold B. Butler,
, secretary general of the conference and
director of the International Labor
t Office, which arranged the meeting.
He was noncommittal, however, on
whether the movement would gather
weight at the current convention.
Five on 40-Hour Basis.
The five countries now operating on
a 40-hour basis are the United State .
which introduced it through the
1 N. R. A. cotton textile code; Franc'.
| where it became effective three months
! ago; Belgium, Italy and New Ze=lan .
In Japan. China and India the
work-day averages from 8 5 to 11.5
hours, with seven days a week tha
usual work period. The 48-hour week
: countries include Austria Brazil, Can
ada. Czechoslovakia, Estonia, Ger
i many. Great Britain. Mexico, the
i Netherlands, Poland. Rumania, Spain.
Sweden and Switzerland. The normal
week in Australia is 44 hours.
Winant, expanding on an earlier
suggestion from Secretary Perkins, rec
ommended to the delegates yesterday
that their countries follow the lead
of the United States in slicing the
number of textile working hours, aay
ing'
‘ Competition between the State? of
the United States is not unlike com
petition between the nations. In the
United States, we were able to develop
legislative controls which, even after
the legislation itself disappeared, have
had a lasting effect in raising social
! conditions in the industry.
"Is it unreasonable to believe that
what ha' been accomplished in this
country through legislation may not
likewise be accomplished throughout
| the world through the co-operative
j action of all countries?”
Mid-Europe Voices Plea.
Prom Central Europe came a plea
for international regulation of the
textile industry, presented by Jaromlr
Necas of Czechoslovakia, who pointed
out:
"The workers in the textile In
dustry do not, generally speaking, re
ceive sufficiently high wages to en
able them to save enough money to
tide them over penods of unem
ployment."
Corneille Mertens. Belgian worker
delegate, reminded the delegates that
a few of them were members of the
i Committee of Fifteen which partici
pated in a bitter fight 17 years ago
at the first session of the international
labor office over a world-wide reduc
tion of hours of work in all industry
to 48.
"Since that date." Mertens said.
; "the extensive technical progress mads
In methods of production has again
brought the problem of the reduction
of hours of work into the foreground.
Notwithstanding the earlier reduction
in hours, millions and millions of
workers are atill seeking in vain for
an opportunity of earning their daily
bread.”
H. C. Oersted of Denmark, em
ployers' representative on the govern
ing body of the I. L O . said, however,
that "the conditions of labor and in
dustrial conditions altogether arc so
different in the various countries that
it is extremely difficult to find an
average measure of social legislation
fit to be applied everywhere.”
The 14.000.000 men, women and
children in the textile industry ha\e
a wide divergence of duties. They
manufacture cotton yarn and cotton
piece goods, woolens and worsteds,
silk yarn and silk goods, rayon goods,
linens, jute textiles and a host of
secondary products.
G. A. R. POST’S SOLE
SURVIVOR, 94, DIES
David L. Llewellyn Among Fifty
Union Veterans Enrolling
in 1889.
1 By th* Associated Press.
NEW YORK. April 3—David L.
Llewellyn, who for the last 18 months
■ had constituted the sole membership
and had held all offices of Alfred M.
1 Wood P t, G. A. R . died today.
The 94-year-old Union veteran at
1 the time of his death In St. Albans
! Sanitarium, was commander, vice
f commander, adjutant, officer of the
day, treasurer and chaplain of the
i post, which numbered 50 members
■ when he enrolled in 1889.
s Llewellyn, a youth of 18 when ths
f war began, participated in the de
. fense of his home town of Pomeroy,
► Ohio, against Morgan's raiders and
» later served two and one-half years
with the Union Armies in the South
1 t