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WEATHER. 1 --- <U 8. Weather Bureau Forecast.) H . A ^ 17 11 A . , Occasional rain today, followed by gen- -T Uil ASSOCiatcd PfGSS ■ I TI News and Wirephotos peratures—Highest, 51. at 6:15 p.m. yes- / ■ ■ ■ Sunday Morning and terday; lowest, 46, at 6:45 a.m. yesterday. r J o «aiiu Full report on page B-3. ▼ r^w'^W EVGTy AftcmOOIl. - V, __ (A3) Means Associated Press. , 1 ' —- ■■.. . .... . , , , '..I.. _ No. 1,675—No. 33,962. post office, W&shinrton, mDUcr FIVE CENTS 7tEN CENTS I ■——-----,----- - — ^ WASHI^OTQK_ AFP SUBURBS fi.kftwhftrf’ 1 COMMITTEE MAY REJECT ROOSEVELT ■I PROPOSAL Outcome Seen Hinging on Final Attitude of Sev eral Members. VAN NUYS TO OFFER MOTION FOR SEPARATION Chairman Ashurst Has Doubts for Approval, Believing Body Is Split, 9-9. BACKGROUND— Buffeted by a storm of opposition, President Roosevelt's Supreme Court bill had rough sailing through nearly seven weeks of hearings by Senate Judiciary Com mittee. which ended Friday. Those who opposed the plan when it was announced February 5 apparently lost none of their de termination to defeat it during the lengthy hearings and are now lay ing plans for the battle in executive sessions of the committee and the still-pending fight on the Senate floor. BY G. GOULD LINCOLN. Disapproval of President Roosevelt’s court bill by the Senate Judiciary Committee, so far as it relates to the Supreme Court, hung in the air as a possibility last night. The outcome depended upon the final attitude taken by three or four members of the committee still uncom mitted and who have proposed or are backing compromise amendments to the bill. Meanwhile, it was learned that an effort to divide the President's court bill into two separate measures—one devoted to the Supreme Court alone— will be made when the Senate Ju diciary Committee meets Tuesday at 10:30 am. in executive session. Sen ator Van Nu.vs of Indiana, an op ponent of the President's Supreme Court program, said: ”1 have a motion so to separate the bill now pending and I intend to ask a vote on it in committee. It will be one of the first motions brought up.” Hopes Motion Will Prevail. The Indiana Senator said he hoped his motion would prevail. Doubt was expressed in other quarters, however, that it would succeed. Van Nuys raid there was little, if any, opposition to those features of the court bill outside of the proposal to give the President authority to appoint a maximum of six additional new justices of the Su preme Court, one for each justice now over 70’2 years of age. As the bill now goes into its second phase of consideration by the com mittee— with the hearings “ndea—the impression prevailed that it would be reported to the Senate without amend ment so fas as it relates to the Su preme Court. However, a number of amendments to that part of the bill will be offered in committee and voted upon. Opponents of the Supreme Court plan of the President believe that it will be In its weakest and most vul nerable condition if it is reported unamended. For that reason the irrec oncilables in the committee like Burke of Nebraska. Van Nuys of Indi ana, King of Utah. Borah of Idaho and others will resist the McCarran amendment to substitute a proposal for the addition of two new justices, and amendments offered by Senators Hatch of New j^fexico and McGill of Kansas, which would permit the ap pointment of one or two additional justices each year only, up to a maxi mum of 15. The supporters of the President's plan will resist such amendments also. Committee Is Divided. The committee was divided last night, it was said, approximately as follows, on the President's Supreme Court program: For: Chairman Ash urst of Arizona. Senators Neely of West Virginia, Logan of Kentucky, Dieterich of Illinois, McGill of Kansas, Pittman of Nevada and Norris of Nebraska—7. Against: Senators King of Utah, Van Nuys of Indiana, Burke t>f Nebraska, Connally of Texas, Borah of Idaho, Austin of Vermont and Bteiwer of Oregon—7. Uncommitted: Senators McCarran of Nevada, Hatch of New Mpxico, O’Mahoney of Wy oming and Hughes of Delaware. .O'Mahoney, it is expected, will vote • gainst the bill in its present form when the final showdown comes in committee. What the other three Senators, McCarran, Hatch snd Hughes, will do has not been finaly disclosed. If one of them sides with the opposition, the committee would divide 9 to 9. defeating a motion to report the measure favorably, end some other steps would have to be taken to bring the bill before the Senate—perhaps a motion to report without recommendation. If two of the Senators join the opposition, the bill might be reported unfavorably to the Senate, or an effort made to table the measure in committee. If the latter motion prevailed it would take a vote of the Senate to discharge the committee from further consideration of the bill to get it to the floor of the Senate. Chairman Ashurst frankly admitted that there was grave doubt as to what (See JUDICIARY, Page-ifT) The Coronation. Some of the interesting symbolism of the ritual, the historic background of the paraphernalia, the anecdotes and rich traditions associ ated with Britain’s crowning of a King form the back ground of a series of articles By Thomas R. Henry. The first of which appears on Page A-2 of today's Star. A M 100 Invited to Mystery Party Find Actress-Hostess Suicide Chain Letters Bid Guests to “Most Unusual” Cocktail Fete. By the Associated Press. NEW YORK, April 24.—A Park avenue hostess who planned "the most unusual and amusing" cocktail party ever held in New York, died of illuminating gas tonight in the kitch en of her swanky apartment as her guests—invited by chain letters—ar rived in the lobby below. The hostess, Mrs. Helen Mont, 25 year-old actress and bride of a month, failed to answer the bell when the first of her 100 guests arrived, and the apartment superintendent un locked the door. Guided by the odor of gas, he walked past tables, already set for the cocktail party, to the kitchen. There he found Mrs. Mont, un conscious, a gas tube from the stove in her mouth. She was clad only in a slip, silk stockings and shoes. As an emergency squad worked to re vive her, and finally pronounced her dead, the party guests waited in the apartment lobby. Police Detective Frank McDonald, who said he was told Mrs. Mont had a spat over plans for her party with her husband, James Mont, promi nent interior decorator, listed her death as suicide. Mont was in his West Fifty-seventh street studio, just off Fifth avenue, when his wife's body was found. Mrs. Mont had called her cocktail party “a mystery cocktail party,” and warned her guests “not to talk about sending or receiving this let ter." Here is an invitation she sent to one friend: "Dear Grace: "You are cordially invited to a 'mystery cocktail party- in honor of some one you know. It will be a most unusual and amusing one ever held in New Yorg. Make two copies of MRS. HELEN MONT. —Copyright, A. P. Wirephoto. this letter immediately and mail them to two friends. “Be sure that your friends will not recognize your handwriting and that they are the type that will pass the letter on and thus keep the chain going. Please do not mail any letters after April 22. Sign your initials below those of others and above all, do not talk about sending or receiving this letter. "This invitation is good only for you and a single friend. Have it with you and present it for admission on Saturday, April 24, 1937, 5 p.m., at 480 Park avenue. "P. S.—In case you should be un able to attend please do not end the chain." Known on the stage as Helen Kim, Mrs. Mont appeared in “Roar China" (See SUICIDE, Page A-2.) Brussels Government Freed of Obligations Under Locarno Pacts. BACKGROUND— Locarno treaty of 1925, guaran teeing Franco-German and Belgo German frontiers, denounced by Germany in March, 1936, with re occupation of Rhineland, following which France. Belgium and Britain entered into stop-gap arrangements at London March 19. 1936. King Leopold later denounced military alliance with France and expressed intention to return to system of neutrality existing be fore 1914. Efforts of Britain, France and Germany to arrive at new peace guarantees futile in face of German rearmament. By Radio to Tne Star. LONDON, April 24.—Belgium will serve as "listening post" to help ward off aerial invasion of Great Britain in time of war. it was disclosed tonight as the foreign office published the text of the Anglo-French note to Brussels releasing the Belgium gov-, eminent from its Locarno obligations, but binding it to defend its frontiers against aggression by air, land or sea. Perhaps even more significant than the note itself is the news that Pierre Cot, the French Air Minister, is fly ing to London Wednesday. He is coming to address a peace demonstra tion in Albert Hall, but is expected to pass much of his time at the British air ministry, perfecting plans for joint action bv the British and French flying forces in case Germany moves westward, as in 1914. In addition to conferring with gov ernment officials, Cot w’ill meet Winston Churchill, who has repeat edly warned against the menace of the rapidly-growing German air force. Cot's visit, coming on the heels of that of France's Defense Minister, Eduord Daladier, is another sign that the staff talks between Britain and France are about to be renewed and intensified. Belgium originally par ticipated in these staff talks which began after Hitler remilitarized the Rhineland. Now that Belgium is withdrawing from its defensive al liance with Britain and France, there is all the more reason for these two countries to co-ordinate their defense strategy. Another straw pointing to the new (See*BELGIUM7 PageA-7.) Order Frees Miaja to Pursue Rebels More Vigorously. BACKGROUND— The Fascist insurgent armies of Spain reached Madrid's suburbs last November. The government fled to Valencia and Gen. Jose Miaja and an all-powerful military junta took over what looked, then, like a hopeless defense of the city. The insurgents are still in Ma drid's suburbs, but Miaja has grad ually trained an army of workers to the offensive and Madrid believes now it never can he taken: that it soon will dispel all threat to the city and disperse the insurgent be siegers for good and all. Fighting lessened during the Winter months, but has been renewed vigorously in the last few weeks. Br the Associated Press. MADRID, April 24.—A Socialist baker and 32 other civilian anti Fascists took over workaday Madrid today from the military hands of heavy-jowled Gen. Jose Miaja and restored civil rule to a city still un der the guns of insurgent siege. The new man of the hour, so far as Madrid's civil problems go, is 45 year-old Rafael Henche de la l*lata, once head of the Baker's Union and for 20 years an important Socialist politician in Madrid. He was quickly elected head of the new Municipal Council of 33 members following a sudden order from Premier Francisco Largo Ca ballero at Valencia, which, in effect, directed Miaja to spend all his time fighting the insurgents. That suited the bluff general, who has had to fight off insurgent armies in Madrid's suburbs and elsewhere for nearly six months- -and at the same time direct the Madrid military junta (See SPAIN, Page A-4.) TREE BRINGS $160 Single “Curly” Poplar Scales Net of 5.370 Feet. ATLANTA, April 24 (4s).—United States Regional Forester Joseph C. Kircher said today Ranger R. C. Nich olson "reached a new high” of $160 for the sale of a single “curly” poplar tree measing 58 inches through and scaling a net 5,370 feet. It was among mature timber cut In the Chattahoochee National Forest. Count Weds Self to Princess At Gold Lotus Altar in Japan By the Associated Press. KYOTO, Japan, April 24.—Bowing before a glittering gold lotus altar and a huge gilt Buddha, Count Kocho Otani, aristocratic hereditary chief abbot of one of Japan's foremost sects of Buddhism, married himself shortly after dawn today to a beautiful 19 year-old princess. The count. 27 years old and spiritual leader of 13.000,000 Japanese Bud dhists, celebrated ancient, strikingly colorful rituals that made Princess Yoshiko Tokudaiji his bride. The ruler of the Nishi-Honganji sect per formed the service himself because no lesser dignitary was deemed eligible for such an honor. Hundreds of Buddhist dignitaries, court officials, members of nobility and 20,000 followers in the faith crowded into a vast temple courtyard to catch a glimpse of the wedding procession. High on the still morning air rose the queer-pitched song of two cho ruses of 700 priests, chanting an antiphonal liturgy older than Chris tianity. The priests led the man whom they believe to be Buddha’s earthly representative from his simple monastic dwelling. The procession passed into the M courtyard, joined there by a bend of more than 100 acolytes, who swung their bronze censers in a rhythm to match the beat of the big skin drums in the temple. In the inner temple, before the great lotus altar, high dignitaries of the church knelt in devout prayer. In a cloud of incense, and with a mighty clash of cymbals, the tall but demure princess was led from a nearby gold-screened anteroom, garbed in the impressive and glamorous bro cade robes of a court lady of nine centuries ago. She wore 11 vari-colored kimonos, laid one over the other. So volumin ous were the ancient skirts that she had difficulty walking to the altar where her tall and handsome fiance awaited her. The ceremony over, the young hereditary abbot of the Buddhist sect distributed 1,500,000 yen ($420,000) as gifts among the poor. His bride gave away 1,500,000 classical fans to the wedding guests and other friends. A newly-built palace, with an ex quisite garden landscaped in the old Japanese style, was presented to the abbot and his bride by his followers. It has 46 nous. GOTHAM HAD STRIKEBARSOOGHT IN WEEK END TALK 25,000 of Brotherhood Are Scheduled to Walk Out • Tomorrow Noon. ACTION WOULD TIE UP ALL NEW YORK FREIGHT _ | Lewiston, Me., Shoe Manufac turers Reiterate Determination to Spurn C. I. 0. ‘ BACKGROUND— Rising tide of business activity, bringing a new prosperity, has in spired widening movement of labor unrest and strikes for higher pay and shorter hours. Normal labor controversy complicated by rise of John L. Lewis' Committee for In dustrial Organization and its cam paign to organize many industries. Violence has marked use of sit down technique, borrowed from Europe, which has closed plants for long period. Favorable decision of Supreme Court on Wagner labor relations act also stimulated or ganization of workers arid demands for improved conditions. By the Associated Press. Week-end conferences, begun last night in New York, held the hopes of railroad and union officials for averting a strike that would cripple freight movement in Gotham's met ropolitan area. About 25,000 members of the Brotherhood of Railway and Steam ship Clerks, Freight Handlers and Station Employes were scheduled to walk out at noon yesterday, but post poned action for 48 hours. A Federal labor mediator arranged a peace [jar ley soon afterward. A conference between officials of eight railroads and representatives of the brotherhood adjourned late last night without an agreement having ; been reached. The conferees said they would meet j separately tomorrow morning and re sume the conference tomorrow after I noon. Eight railroads were involved. One official attributed the trouble to a dispute between the Brotherhood and j the International Longshoremen's As sociation. A wage increase of 20 cents an hour was among the demands. New Peace Prospect Seen. If the conferences fail to bring accord, another peace prospect was seen in the possible application of a j section of the ralway labor act which would offer a «0-day postponement of strike action pending mediation by a Doard to be named by the President. Most of the Nation's labor contro versies were concentrated at geograph ical extremes. Many were quiet or moving toward settlement. In Lewiston. Me., however, shoe manufacturers reiterated their deter (See STRIKES, Page A-3.) CREW OF 7 SAVED Taken From Sinking British Schooner, Coast Guard Informed. NORFOLK. Va„ April 24 (/P).—The crew of seven men of the British schooner Charles and Vernon were taken off their sinking craft 6 miles off Winter Quarter Light this after noon by the Ford Motor Co.’s steamer Lake Ormoc, a message received here : by the Coast Guard said. The Lake Ormoc is bound to Norfolk and will land the men here. The Charles and Vernon was re ported en route from Philadelphia to Lahavre, Nova Scotia, with a cargo of coal. f THE FLOOD LASTED ONLY "V J FORTY DAYS AND FORTY NIGHTS W* V AND THIS IS JUST The BeGiNNiNGy^ -ri.-- III I SENATE ! JUDICIARY COMMITTEE chairman ASMT. k THE COURT BILL HEARINGS ADJOURN AFTER FORTY-FOUR DAYS! President Reported Favor able to Linking It With Population Count. BACKGROUND— Lack of reasonably exact figures on unemployment has been com mented on frequently of late and various estimates offered. Senator Vandcnberg has said existing fig ures exaggerate conditions by 5.000.000. Labor Secretary Perkins also beliei'es current estimates er roneous, u'hile W. P. A. Adminis trator Hopkins thinks much un employment is permanent and due to technological causes. An elaborately detailed plan for the enumeration of the unemployed in connection with the next decennial census has been submitted to Presi dent Roosevelt by the Commerce and Labor Departments. Ordinarily the next census would be taken in 1940, but the Commerce De partment. which has charge of the Census Bureau, has recommended that the regular enumeration be taken in 1938 or 1939. The President, it was learned, looks with favor on the idea of linking the unemployment count with the regu lar census, but as yet he has given the census officials no hint as to how he feels about moving up the regu lar population enumerations. Favor Early Census. The Commerce and Labor Depart ments and the Central Statistical Board, the principal statistics-gather ing agencies of the Government, all favor taking the census sooner than it ordinarily would be taken, as early as 1938, if possible. As the Govern ment statisticians see it. the whole social and economic pattern of the Nation has been so greatly altered in the last few years that the basic figures of 1930 census are no longer to be relied on. Moreover, they be lieve that the new census should be more comprehensive than any hitherto made. Not only is the Government in the dark as to employment and unem ployment, but no one knows what ^ (See”CEN8US', Page” A~C) New Rider Threatens Schools in Confusion Over Teachers’ Pay Proviso in Pending Bill Forbids Clerical Work Other Than Necessary or Incidental to Class Room. BACKGROUND— Trying to find much-needed teachers for the school system without appropriating for addition al salaries, the House Subcommittee on Appropriations thoroughly in vestigated persons rated as teachers not actually doing class room in struction with a view to making regular teachers of them. Commit tee felt many teachers were doing work that could be done more cheaply by clerks. Already “red rider” ridden, the en tire school system from the Board of Education down is bussing with alarm as to what may happen if an other rider—contained in the pending bill—is not eliminated. This rider, it was freely admitted, could throw a "monkey wrench” into nearly every activity of the public schools. The rider is contained in the pro viso that no salary shall be paid any teacher performing any clerical work other than that "necessary or inci dental to the regular class room teach ing assignment.” If broadly inter preted, that prohibition may not only confuse every activity in the schools requiring any clerical work at all but may result in a repetition of the monthly pay roll statement now de manded by the cordially hated red rider. If the clause becomes law, for ex ample, a ruling by the corporation counsel will be necessary to define what clerical work is or is not "nec essary and incidental” to the regular “class room teaching assignment.” Since the proviso, like the red rider, is worded so that no money shall be paid in salary to teachers doing that which is prohibited, the General Ac count ng OfBce nay easily require an ■4 “Oh promise me.” like the red rider blank, that the teacher has not per formed any extra clerical work. This, it was pointed out, would further overburden an already overburdened clerical staff in the school and Dis trict service in addition to added ex pense for printed forms. Originally aimed at the school re search department which handles the psychological and achievement tests to determine student capabilities, the generally worded rider may go far be yond its goal and school officials are aghast at its possibilities. Under it teachers may not be per mitted to hold home rooms for check ing marks and absences. They might not be allowed to keep records of the cadet corps on which promotion of the boys is based. The school cafe terias might be forced to close if teachers are not allowed to handle the accounts or audit them at the end of the year. Distributing and collecting text books with its attendant necessary rec ords may be banned from the scope of the teacher under a broad interpre tation of the rider. Athletic schedules, dramatics box office accounts or ad vertising accounts on the school pub lications now directly supervised or handled by teachers or groups of teachers who, even though they want to help out, won't dare risk their salary to do so, can be affected. Teacher committees like those that pass on magazines for the approved lists or for teacher rating lists may be forbidden. And who, the teachers ask, will conduct the inventories in school laboratories, make up the programs for teacher and pupil alike and per form many other clerical choree that many teachers do during and after (See RTDtTff. R»ge A-2.) Bryan Political Dynasty to End As C. W. Retires Nebraska Brothers Began Public Ca reer in lB90's. By th* Associated Press. LINCOLN, Nebr. April 24 —The "Bryan dynasty” will bow its way out of American politics three weeks from tomorrow for the first, time in half a century. On that day Mayor Charles W. Bryan will leave office. His brother, the late William Jen nings Bryan, began the "dynasty” in the 1890s. Since then at least one Bryan has held office or has been a candidate in almost every important national or Nebraska State election. "I’m just a young man of 70 now,” Mayor Bryan confides. "I've been a salesman, manufacturer and a broker as well as a public servant, but this time I think I'll go in for farming.” He may be back, however, for a cur tain call. "I don't say I'm calling it quits for good.” he warns. "I still have one good fight left in case any thing comes up.” The mayor owns several farms near Lincoln. He said he has been thinking about assuming active management of them for severaLyears, but also wants to spend some rime sorting out thou sands of newspaper clippings and let ters concemutg himself and his brother. Percentage Reduction of Ap propriations Becomes an Issue of Session. BACKGROUND— Fight over expenditures was pre cipitated during past fortnight, when tax returns showed disap pointing revenue, and. pressure in creased for high relief appropria tion. One solution offered by those fa voring economy is flat 10 per cent reduction in appropriation bills. One group of opponents claims this is unscientific; another flays any attempts to curtail expendi tures, particularly for relief, as shirking Government's responsi bilities. BY J. A. O LEARY. The flat 10 per cent method of re ducing annual appropriation bills as an economy move, proposed during the last week at both ends of the Capitol, is showing signs of adding another controversial issue to the program of the present session. Commenting yesterday on these proposals for a horizontal percentage trimming of supply items, Senator Borah, Republican, of Idaho said: “I have never found this horizontal method of dealing with appropria tions or tariffs to be very practicable.” Senator Johnson, Republican, of California called attention to the difficulty of applying such a rule gen erally. “Economy, yes, but with some dis cretion,” said the Californian. “If the flat 10 per cent were to be ap plied to everything and there was nothing which would not be subject to it, it would be all right. The dif (See APPROPRIATIONS, Page A-3.) NEUTRALITY BILL IS NEAR DEADLOCK Enactment Before Present Law Expires May 1 Rests on Conferees. By the Associated Press. A near-deadlock between House and Senate conferees threatens to prevent enactment of permanent neutrality legislation before the present law ex pires May 1. The permanent measure has passed both chambers, but in different form, and legislators have been trying to set tle their differences in conference. In formed persons said the conferees have ■ agreed on all of the important issues, but are at odds on the form of their report. A deep conflict has developed be tween Chairman Pittman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and Chairman McReynolds of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, colleagues said. None of the conferees would discuss the matter beyond saying the dispute between the authors of the House and Senate bills does not involve differences on fundamental policy. Recess Over Week End. The row became serious, however, when the conferees recessed over the week end without reaching an agree ment. President Roosevelt, whose sig nature is necessary to enact legisla- ! tion, leaves for a Southern vacation Tuesday night. Chairman Pittman was discussing the idea of extending the temporary law if an agreement could not be reached on the permanent law in time to obtain the Chief Execu tive’s signature before he leaves. Early last week, conferees said, an agreement was reached on the impor tant controversies between the two houses. But they added that the conflict between Pittman and McRey nolds became so serious that attempts to work out a final accord were almost abandoned. me agreement, cans ior aoanaon ment of the Senate's mandatory “cash and carry” system, in favor of the House provision to give the President discretionary- authority to invoke the drastic isolation policy. Purchase in America. Under the “cash and carry” system foreign belligerents could obtain American goods only by taking title to them before they left American shores. The House yielded to the Senate to make the prohibition against Ameri can travel on belligerent ships man datory, and agreed to include the Senate's provision against arming American merchant vessels engaged in trading with belligerents. Legislation of this kind would launch America on a “keep out of trouble" policy in sharp contrast with the old “freedom of the seas” theory. But many legislators agreed such a conference agreement would be almost certain to run into trouble in the Senate. The old Munitions Commit tee bloc there has consistently fought for a mandatory “cash and carry” plan. African Ex-Queen Sentenced. SEROWE, Bechuanaland, South Af rica, April 24 (/P).—Former Queen Bagakametsi was sentenced today to pay a $250 fine or serve one year in jail for witchcraft. She pleaded guilty to charges of trying to harm the Queen Mother by mystic potions and incantations. Two skin-clad witch doctors, who had made the same con fession at the bizarre trial held under a cluster of thorn trees, received the same sentence. King Arthur Used to Publicize Early Church, Scientist Finds By the Associated Press. PHILADELPHIA, April 24 —A lit erary sleuth reported today that King Arthur of the Round Table was once employed in a publicity campaign for an early English church. The great knight was “borrowed” by some twelfth century English during the reign of Henry II to establish the priority of Glastonbury Abbey, Dr. William A. Nitse of the University if Chicago asserted at tht annual meet ing of the American Philosophical So ciety. The Incident occurred 800 years be fore propagandists were introduced Into modern industry and politics. The way it happened. Dr. Nitze said, was this: The legend of King Arthur began with the Celts centuries ago. The Celts for generations were taught that Arthur was not dead, but was being treated for wounds and would some day miraculously return to lead his people to victory in battle. Henry II, like English kings before him, held his throne only with the aid of powerful neighbors. The Celts had been friendly, but now they were not. And the legend of Arthur, the war hero, held them on that course. One way for King Henry to get around the difficulty was to prove that (See ARTHUR, Page A^2l DISTRICT’S HEADS EXPECTED TD ASK TOBACCOSAIE TAX Will Submit Own Revenue Program to House Body Tuesday. GAS LEVY INCREASE 'ALSO REPORTED AIM Weight as Well as Personal Prop erty Assessment on Cars Held Sought BACKGROUND— Need of an increase of 18,100.000 in the District's revenues during the 1938 fiscal year uas created by passage by the House of the city’s appropriation bill for the next year, carrying a Federal payment of but $5,000,000. House District Committee named subcommittee to study nine new tax measures of fered by Chairman Collins of House Appropriations Subcommittee for District. Commissioners then be gan drafting revised tax program intended to raise only enough to meet expected deficit. BY JAMES E. CHINN. A sales tax on all forms of tobacco is expected to be recommended by the Commissioners when they go before the Special Tax Subcommittee of the House District Committee Tuesday to submit their own program for raising additional revenue to offset an antici pated $6,000,000 deficit in the coming fiscal year. The Commissioners, it Is reported, also will propose an increase of 1 cent a gallon in the gasoline tax, a tax on insurance companies and a weight tax on motor vehicles. A sales tax on tobacco is understood to have been suggested to the Commis sioners by a special committee of Dis trict officials appointed some months ago to study plans for raising addi tional revenue. It has been estimated such a tax might yield about $800,000 a year of which a 2-cent tax on cig arettes would produce about $600,000. States which have a 2-cent sales tax on cigarettes, it was said, receive a re turn of about $1 a year per capita from this source. Gas Tax Increase. An increase in the gasoline tax. a weight tax on motor vehicles and a tax on insurance companies is provided in the series of nine Collins tax bills now before the tax subcommittee. The Commissioners, however, plan to urge certain modifications in these meas ures. For instance, a lower scale than the one set up in the Collins motor vehicle weight tax bill is to be suggested, but, coupled with this, the Commissioners are planning to urge continuation of the present personal property tax on automobiles. The Collins weight tax measure would remove the per sonal property tax, but the Commis sioners are said to favor retention of this tax primarily to prevent the owner of a used car from paying the same tax as the owner of a new car of the same type. An increase of two cents a gallon in the gasoline tax is provided in another one of the Collins bills, but the Com missioners are said to take the position one cent will be sufficient if the tax load is spread to new sources of po tential revenue. However, they are re ported to favor diversion of the gaso line tax fund to the extent of support ing certain activities of the Depart ment of Vehicles and Traffic as well as the Trees and Parkings Depart ment. Insurance Company Levy. Whether any changes will be recom mended in the Collins bill to license and tax insurance companies has not been disclosed. The Collins measure provides a tax of 2 per cent on policy and membership fees and net premium receipts on all insurance companies. The present rate for all but marine in surance is 1.5 per cent. The Commissioners are working on their own tax program at the sug gestion of Chairman Kennedy of the OSeeREVEN UE~TPagiTA-^) " SOUTHERN GALES KILL 3, HURT 50 Widely Separated Sections of Four States Are Struck by Storms. By the Associated Press. BENTON. Ark., April 24 —Wind, hail and electrical storms over the Midsouth last night and early today killed three persons and injured more thun 50. Damage from wind and hail was re ported in widely separated sections of Arkansas, Missouri, Mississippi and AVabama. At Benton, Mayor L. B. White esti mated property loss at $40,000. Her man Zinn. 50-year-old farmer, was killed when a tornado splintered his home. His son. Maxie Zinn, 12, died several hours later of Injuries. A score of homes were destroyed or badly damaged. Near New Madrid, Mo„ five persons were injured, three seriously, as sev eral farm homes were wrecked. At Cepe Girardeau, Mo., the wind struck the industrial section near the Mississippi River, leveled one large building and several smaller units of the Riverside Ice & Fuel Co. Damage there was estimated at $40,000. Lightning accompanying a hail storm near Cullman, Ala., killed J. H. Howard, 46, a farmer. Heavy hall was reported elsewhere in that State. At Newport, Ark., hail described by residents as larger than hens' eggs dealt major damage, causing head in juries to three children. Radio Programs, Page F-3. C-'T'ete Index, Page A-2. V