Evening star. [volume], February 07, 1938, Image 1

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

Image provided by: Library of Congress, Washington, DC

                
WEATHER.
<D. 8. Weather Bureau Forecast.)
Fair and colder tonight with minimum
temperature about 34 degrees: tomorrow
fair; moderate northwest winds. Temper
• atures today—Highest, 59, at 1 a.m.; low
est. 45. at 10:30 a.m.; 49. at 3 pm.
Full report on page A-2.
Closing New York Markets, Page 14
The only evening paper
in Washington with the
Associated Press News
and Wirephoto Services.
Means Associated Press.
86th YEAR. No. 34,250.
WASHINGTON, D. 0., MONDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1938—THIRTY PAGES. ***
Entered as eecond class matter 'T'TJ'DTV'Tr' rrX"rr1 o
post offlce, Washington. D. C. -L.tixvxiiXj lo.
BUCKS CONVICTION
. OF DRJOWNSEND
Verdict of Contempt for
Quitting House Body’s
Hearing Is Upheld.
• 30-DAY TERM AND FINE
' FACE PENSION HEAD
Sentence to Be Carried Out Unless
High Bench Reviews Case.
Justice Stephens Dissents.
BACKGROUND—
Special House committee began
investigation of Dr. Francis E.
Townsend's old-age pension plan
after there had been indications of
. serious dissension within his organ
ization. His proposal to pay elderly
persons $200 a month attracted
wide following in early stages, but
his adherents decreased in number
after internal difficulties in the or
ganization. and the organization
now is virtually defunct.
By WILLIAM S. TARVER.
The contempt conviction March 12,
1937. of Dr. Francis E. Townsend, eld
erly head and founder of Old Age Re
volving Pensions, Ltd., who defiantly
walked out of a House Committee hear
ing May 21. 1936, was affirmed today
by the United States Court of Appeals.
, Elisha Hanson: who. with Joseph
Contrell, defended Dr. Townsend, said
the ruling would be taken to the
Supreme Court. Mr. Hanson said he
understood Dr. Townsend is now in
Portland, Oreg.
Unless the Supreme Court consents
to review the case. Dr. Townsend must
serve 30 days in jail and pay a $100
line as a result of his alleged con
tumacy.
Justice Stephens Dissents.
Dr. Townsend was convicted after a
. three-dav trial In District Court in
which he challenged the legality of
the hearing at which he was a witness
8nd contended that lii.s unauthorized
departure from the hearing was not
•■willful."
In a 13-paae opinion, w ritten by As
sociate Justice Justin Miller, the ap
pellate court sided against him on
these and other points.
In a dissenting opinion, however.
Associate Justice Harold M. Stephens
said he thought the conviction should
be reversed because Dr. Townsend was
. not allowed to put in evidence excerpts
from the transcript at the congres
sional hearing.
Entitled to Give Evidence.
"The trial court permitted the Gov
ernment to introduce evidence not
merely that the defendant absented
himself from the committee hearings
voluntarily, but also that he did so in
bad faith and with evil intent. Cer
tainly, therefore, the defendant was
entitled to introduce evidence, if any
* there was available todiini, tending to
prove that his default was not
‘prompted by bad faith or evil in
tent.' but was on the contrary. -in
good faith based upon his actual be
lief that he need no longer attend
the hearings." Justice Stephens stated.
Dr. Townsend's alleged contempt
occurred after he had been subjected
for a day to intensive grilling by a
special House committee investigating
old-age pension organizations.
In advance of Dr. Townsend's ap- ;
k pearance on the stand May 21 he had i
prepared a brief written statement,!
which the committee chairman re
fused to allow him to read. When he
was told, however, that he might
make an oral statement, he said:
Inquiry Held Valid.
"In view of the apparent unfriendly
attitude of this committee and the
unfair attitude it has shown to me
and the members of my organization,
I deem it my duty to say that I shall
no longer attend these committee
meetings. I am retiring from this sort
of an inquisition and I do not propose
to come back again except under ar
rest. And I do refuse absolutely to
make any further statement pertain
ing to this movement to this commit
tee; Thank you, and good-by, gentle
men."
With that, the pension chief clapped
on his hat and strode from the com
mittee room.
Justice Miller, in the majority
opinion of the court, stated that the
. committee'* inquiry, the validity of
which Dr. Townsend challenged, was
Clearly constitutional.
"A legislative inquiry may be as
broad, as searching and as exhaustive
as is necessary to make effective con
stitutional powers of Congress," Jus
tice Miller stated.
Action Held Deliberate.
"A judicial inquiry relates to a case
and the evidence *to be admissible
must be measured by the narrow
limits of the pleadings. A legislative
inquiry anticipates all possible cases
which may arise thereunder and the
evidence admissible must be respon
sive to the scope of the inquiry, which,
generally, is very broad. • * *
Within the realm of legislative dis
cussion, the exercise of gooddaste and
good judgment in the examination of
Witnesses must be entrusted to those
who have been vested with authority
to conduct such investigations.” '
The majority opinion held that Dr.
Townsend acted “deliberately and de
fiantly” and that his attempt to
, justify his actions by the gruelling he
had undergone was not sufficient
excuse for his actions.
The court discarded perfunctorily
Dr. Townsend’s contention that the
contempt statute applies only when a
witness fails to appear and not when
he appears and then leaves without
permission.
Dr. Townsend was prosecuted by
former United States Attorney Leslie
C. Garnett and his assistant, Henry
L. Underwood.
, Record Bond Sales.
By the Associated Press.
Tha Treasury sold a record amount
of “baby” bonds—$138,000,000 worth
in January, Secretary Morgenthau an
nounced yesterday.
* i
First D. C. Jobless Insurance
% _•
Is Paid to Idle Paving Worker
William Moses Adams, 43, Colored
Laborer, Receives $14.50; Out of Job
Since October; Another Gets Check.
(Pictures on page A-3.)
By JOHN H. CASSADY. Jr.
To William Moses Adams, colored. 43-year-old unemployed asphalt ma
chine operator, the term “unemployment insurance” took on a definite and
tangible meaning today.
. Adams, who has had a pretty tough time providing food and shelter for
his wife and child since he lost his job last October, received a check for
S14.50—the first benefit payment made under the District's Unemployment
Compensation Act. 4
"No. sir. boss." said Adams, "I don'i
know how that money come to get
there, but I sure know what I'm going
to do with it.”
More than 200 other persons were
on hand at the temporary office of
the United States Employment Service
at 928 Fifth street N.W. when the first
jobless insurance checks were dis
tributed today. Only about half of
these were eligible to receive checks
today, however. Most of the others
in line were other unemployed work
ers calling to file application for bene
fits.
During the last two years, Adams'
record shows, he had worked about 88
weeks for a street paving firm, but
lost his job last October. He will re
ceive a check for $14.50 each week
for a maximum period cf 18 weeks—or
until he obtains a new job.
"I'd rather be running an asphalt
machine than just sitting around
waiting for these ehegks.” he said, i
STEEL CONTRACT
STUDIED BY C. 1.0.
Terms of New Proposal Are
Closely Guarded Pending
Parley Later Today.
BACKGROUND—
Steel Workers Organizing Com
mittee of the C. I. O.. headed by
Philip Murray, gained collective
bargaining contract with United
States Steel and its subsidiaries
last year, but failed in its effort
to organize the independents. Tom
M. G rdlcr. chairman of Republic,
balked efforts of John L. Lewis’
legions in their strike which was i
marked by violence and loss of
Hf'.
B> the Associated Press
NEW YORK, Feb. 7—A new con
tract between “big steel" and John L.
Lewis' C. I. O.-affiliated Steel Workers’
Organising Committee, understood to
have been offered to the union by the
United States Steel Corp., was under
‘ discussion today at a closed meeting
of 25 high-ranking C. I. O. leaders.
The terms of the new contract, re- I
newing last year's agreement, which :
expires February 28. were closely
guarded pending negotiations later
in the day with United States Steel
official'
The present contract provides for a 1
basic $5 8-hour day and a 40-hour
week.
Unconfirmed reports indicated that
1 the union leaders, delegated with full
powers to negotiate “the best contract
possible” in the absence of Lewis, who
remained at C. I. O. headquarters in
Washington, expected only to ask
“big steel" for a renewal of the pres
ent contract without change for
another year.
Before the union men gathered to
examine the contract a high C. I. O.
official predicted a “quick clean-up”
at the parley with steel representa
tives.
Five union lieutenants, headed by
Philip Murray, S. W. O. C. chairman,
were delegated to negotiate with the I
steel officials.
The outcome was expected to set
an example for action on the renewal
of other union contracts with 463
steel companies of the so-called “Big
Steel” group.
The contracts expire on Febru
ary 28.
The union spokesman's comment
indicated that the groundwork for
agreement in the impending negotia
tions was laid at a closed conference
on January 12, when Lewis met here
with Thomas L. Moses, president of
the United States Coal & Coke Co.,
a subsidiary of United States Steel.
- ■ •
Berry to Run.
BELVIDERE. S. Dak., Feb. 7 CP).—
Former Gov. Tom Berry, who .served
four years as South Dakota's Chief Ex
ecutive, today announced his candi
dacy for the Democratic nomination
for United States Senator.
The 59-year-old rancher thus seeks
the office to which he appointed Her
bert Hitchcock after the death of Peter
Norbeck in 1936.
‘‘But they'll sure come in right handy.” !
Adams lives at 1329 Ninth street
N.W.
No. 2 check went to Junior L. Bal
lard. 52, of 624 H street N.E., a car
penter w ho has been out of work since
December 23. He is married, and his
wife has been ill for 14 years.
"We didn't have very much money
saved up,” he said. "So it’s been
hard to keep going. I haven’t been
very well, either."
Ballard only worked about 15 com
plete weeks during the last two years,
so his compensation will continue for
only five weeks, tfis checks will be
for the maximum amount payable,
however—$15 The amount of each
check is based on the worker's earn
ings during the 104 weeks prior to
January 1, 1938.
A number of other eligible claim
ants lost their jobs late last year, but
~< See”UNEMPL0YMENT7 Page A-3.)'
HARVEY FIRESTONE
Rubber Manufacturer’s
Death Came as Surprise
to Household.
E» the Associated Press.
MIAMI BEACH. Fla . Feb 7.—Har
vey S. Firestone, head of the world
wide rubber interests bearing his name,
died early today at his mansion on the
ocean shore here.
The grav-haired industrialist, who
was 69 years old. had suffered inter
mittently from poor health in recent
years, but his death was unexpected.
The cause of death, it was learned
authoritatively, was coronary artery
thrombosis—formation of a clot in
the coronary artery, which is one of
the two mam vessels carrying blood
front the heart.
Shocked atendams at his huge estate
closed the iron gates and the family
retired to strict privacy. A son, Rus
sell A. Firestone, made known his
father's death in the following state
ment on which no. amplification was
forthcoming:
"Harvey S. Firestone passed away
in his sleep early this morning at his
home here. The funeral will be held in
Akron later this week .”
Mr. Firestone had taken an automo
bile ride yesterday afternoon with Mrs.
M. E Ak\ a niece, and apparently ■
was in good health at that time.
After dinner, however, he complained
of ind’west ion and a doctor was called.
Dr. Andrew S. Robinson of Akron
came here last month to treat Mr.
Firestone for a severe cold, but the ;
patient had improved to such an 1
extent that the physician returned to j
Ohio a few days ago.
Born on Ohio Farm.
Mr. Firestone was born on a farm
near Columbiana. Ohio, in 1868. Even
as a boy his business ability was pro
nounced and his parents encouraged
his desire for a commercial career.
After graduating from high school
and business college he was given a
position as bookkeeper in Columbus
in the coal business of John W. Taft.
Succesively he was bookkeeper,
salesman and sales manager, and it
was while demonstrating a rubber
tired buggy in Detroit that young
Firestone foresaw the vast possibilities
in rubber tires.
He entered the business for him
self in Chicago. With an investment
of less than $15,000 he developed the
business and in a few years sold out
for $1,254,000.
He then moyed to Akron, which he
envisioned as the rubber manufac
turing center of the country, and
(See FIRESTONE^-Page~A^3~)
-W
QUAKE SHAKES T0KI0
Many Frightened by Shocka Flee
Their Homes.
TOKIO. Feb 7 OF).—Tokio and the
surrounding district were shaken by a
comparatively severe earthquake at
11:45 p.m. tonight (9:45 a m.. E. S. T ).
Many frightened citizens ran from
their houses. Clocks were stopped by
the shock. Early reports did not men
tion casualties or serious damage.
" ' ■ 1 1 1
Colder Weather Djie Tonight;
“Heat Wave” Ties 1884 Record
A 54-year-old “heat” record for this
time of year was tied yesterday as the
mercury rocketed to 69 degrees—fool
ing a lot of people into shedding heavy
garments and'promising good busi
ness for the family physician.
The high temperature, recorded at
3 p.m., when the warm sun lured
thousands of motorists and pedestrians
out to admire Nature’s peculiarities,
was the syne registered here February
6, 1884. It was only the second time
since the Weather Bureau started
keeping “tabs” on the temperature in
1871 that it has been so warm on Feb
ruary 6.
As far as an all-time February mark
is concerned, however, it was a pretty
cool day. For on February 25, 1930,
the reading was 84.
One event attributed to the strange
behavior of the weather was reported
at the Zoo, where one of a pair of
mated penguins, who arc so alike in
their pride, happiness and eagerness
to share their domestic duties that
keepers are a bit confused about their
sex, laid an egg—their second in less
than a week.
Today was to be a different story,
however—a sad story for robins who
might have flown north to witness
with wonder what was happening at
the Zoo.
Strong northwest winds sent the
velocity recorder up to 40 m.p.h. during
the night.
A freak occurrence resulting from
the wind was the sounding of a
burglar alarm in a shoe store In the
1100 block of Connecticut avenue N.W.
The alarm was set off by the pressure
of the wind against a window on
which the device is fixed.
As a result of the high winds, the
temperature started to fall rapidly.
At B o'clock this morning It had
reached 4? and, according to the fore
caster. will continue to drop during
the afternoon and night until it
reaches a low of about 34 before to
morrow morning. The aides will be
generally dear today and tomorrow.
i
President Would Become
Virtual Dictator Under
Legislation.
SPECIAL TAX PROVISIONS
INCLUDED IN MEASURES
House Proposal Would Authorize
Absorption of All Surplus Profits
Above Normal Return.
ll the Associated Press.
Congress has completed much of
the preliminary work on one of Presi
dent Roosevelt's national defense
recommendations—action to prevent
profiteering in time of war.
One bill to accomplish that purpose
has been approved by the House Mili
tary Committee, and proponents fore
cast today that the House would de
bate it soon.
A Senate finance subcommittee
has agreed on terms of another meas
ure. Supporters said it woijld be
oflered as an amendment to the first
tax bill passed by the House.
The bill awaiting House action con
tains no specific tax provisions. The
measure by senator Connally, Demo
crat, of Texas, which the Senate
finance subcommittee approved would
impo.se a graduated scale of individual
income and undivided corporation
profit taxes in event of war.
Would Be Virtual Dictator.
Under both proposals, sponsors said,
the President would become a virtual
dictator of commerce and industry In
time of war.
He could fix maximum and mini
mum prices for all commodities. He
could establish quotas for the sale of
commodities and could draft into the
civilian Government service anyone
managing an industrial establish
ment.
The Chief Executive also could re
quire any class of industry or com
merce to operate under a Federal
license, conditions of which he could
impose. He would have complete
control of security and commodity
exchanges and could requisition nec
essary materials.
The House bill would authorize a
system of taxation which would absorb
all surplus profits above a fair nor
mal return to labor, management and
invested capital." A "fair return"
would be defined by Congress.
Exemptions Would Be Cut.
The Connally bill would reduce per
sonal exemptions on • individual in
come taxes to $800 for single persons
and 81,600 for married persons. The
tax rate would be 10 per cent, with
a surtax beginning with 6 per cent
on the first $1,000 of income In ex
cess of the exemption and reaching
a maximum of 80 tier cent on income
in excess of $50,000.
A tax on undistributed profits of
corporations would range from 30 per
cent to 77 per cent, according to the
amount of profits retained.
A bill similar In most respects to
the House bill was introduced by Sen
ator Sheppard. Democrat, of Texas.
It bore the indorsement of the Amer
ican Legion and was approved by the
Senate Military Committee. It was
referred to the Finance Committee
because of its tax provisions.
The Sheppard bill would impose a
tax of 95 per cent on all income in
excess of the three-year average prior
to the outbreak of war. It also con
tains provision for a draft for military
service.
DIVER TO SEEK BODY
To Descend Into Hudson Off West
Point for Missing Flyei*.
WEST POINT, N. Y.. Feb. 7 (JP).—
Jeopardized by ice floes and swift
running currents, a diver prepared to
descend into the Hudson River off
West Point today to search for the
body of the pilot of a plane that
plunged into the river Saturday night.
The victim was believed to be John
("Bud") FTsser, manager of an air
port at Jervis, N. Y.
''DAN. YovThaven't\
SEEN NOTHIN'YLT.
WAIT TILL I BRING
A CONVENTION I
\0F FARMERS To J
kS^YOU!
Order Outlawing U. S. Regu
lation Here Is Ruled
Invalid.
BACKGROUSD—
Three weeks after the A. A. A.
! issued o milk marketing agreement
j for the Washington market. Justice
; Oscar Luhring of District Court en
j- joined its enforcement, in October,
1936. The first effect of the agree
ment would hare been to raise the
i price paid bu Washington diaries
I to farmers for milk. This was done
anyway, with a corollary increase
to 14 cents a quart of the retail
price of milk here. Justtce Luhring
ruled the whole A. A. A was un
constitutional. including its mar
keting agreement provisions.
An injunction granted in District
| Court a year ago outlawing Federal
i regulation of milk distribution in the
Washington area was nullified today
by a United States Court of Appeals
decision.
The appellate court held that the
12 independent Maryland and Vir
ginia milk producers who attacked the
milk market agreement, which in
volved price fixing, lacked sufficient
interest to maintain the suit.
The court said the dairies were the
parties actually concerned and that '
the milk producers "occupy no posi
tion in relation to the dairy com
panies which warrants an appearance
here in the latter's behalf."
The producers, the court, said.
1 failed to allege in their suits facts in
dicating they would suffer as a result
of operation of the agreement.
The Court of Appeals, therefore,
remanded the cases to District Court
with instructions that they be dis
missed.
Terms of Agreement.
By terms or the milk-marketing
agreement, all milk received by han- j
dlers or distributors was classified and I
the minimum prices were fixed to be!
paid to producers. A tax on distrib-1
utors also was imposed to finance ad
ministration of the agreement.
The trial court enjoined operation
of the agreement on the ground it was
authorized by the Agricultural Adjust
ment Act. which had been held uncon
stitutional by the Supreme Court.
The injunction rendered void an
A. A. A. ruling increasing milk prices
about 1 cent a quart to producers,
'which was expected to bring a similar!
increase in retail price.
The milk producers who sought to
invalidate the agreement contended it i
(See MILK, Page A-3.)
Summary of Today's Star
Page. Page.
Amusements B-14 Radio.. B-9
Comics ..B-12-13 Serial Story..B-9
Editorials .. Society_B-3
Finance_A-13 Sports —A-ll-12
Lost * Fbund B-9 I Woman's Pg. B-8
Obituary ...A-10 j
FOREIGN.
Niemoeller assails closing of treason
trial at opening. Page A-4
Insurgents claim 35 towns taken in
march to sea. Page A-4
Hitler purge of army believed in
completed. Page A-4
Guerrillas slow Japanese conquest of
China. Page A-4
“Miss X” describes trapping four in
spy plot. Page A-4
"Sink subs” order revealed by Eden to
Commons. Page A-4
Japan denies planning 43.000-top bat
tleships. Page A-4
NATIONAL.
Leahy says U. S. Navy has no foreign
commitments. Page A-l
Appeals Court upholds Townsend con
tempt conviction. Page A-l
C. I. O. chieftains secretly study U. S.
Steel contract. Page A-l
Harvey S. Firestone, rubber manufac
turer. dies in Florida. Page A-l
Legislation to ban war profiteering is
advanced. Page A-l
Floods cover vast areas in two States
and Ontario. Page A-2
Senate group hears foes of equal rights
amendment. Page A-2
WASHINGTON AND VICINITY.
Temperature equals 54-year-old high
mark here. Page A-l
Payment of unemployment insurance
begins here. Page A-l
Federal regulation ef milk distribution
held valid. Page A-l
Capital man dins In leap from dis
abled plan#. Page A-l
i
Meeting planned today on Montgom
ery Building Association. Page B-l
Speeders draw heavy fines from Judge
Newman. Page B-l
D. C. revenue bill introduced in
House. Page B-l
EDITORIAL AND COMMENT.
Editorials. Page A-8
This and That. Page A-8
Answers to Questions. Page A-8
Washington Observations. Page A-8
David Lawrence. Page A-9
The Capital Parade. Page A-9
Dorothy Thompson. Page A-9
Constantine Brown. Page A-9
Lemuel Parton. Page A-9
SPORTS.
Johnson acclaimed ace of Millrose
games. Page A-ll
Dog ‘ has his day" in mammoth West
minster show. Page A-ll
Balking Medwick looks to leaner
days. Page A-ll
Lad of 11 stars in goU on coast.
Page A-ll
Dempsey’s cousin enters ring.
Page A-ll
Hoyas, still hoping for title, play West
Virginia. Page A-12
FINANCIAL.
Corporate bonds mixed (table).
Page A-1S
Stocks dull, narrow (table). Page A-14
Curb list eases (table). Page A-15
Steel rate gains. Page A-15
Kresge profits down. Page A-15
MISCELLANY.
Shipping News. Page B-5
City News in Brief. Page A-7
Bedtime Story. Page B-7
Dorothy Dix. Page B-8
Nature's Children. Page B-9
Cross-word Pusale. Page B-12
Letter-Out. Page B-12
Winning Contract. Page B-ll
4
A. F. L. OUSTS 1
MINERS’ UNION
IN MIAMI VOTE
Green Withdraws
His 48-Year Mem
bership.
B» tbe Associated Press.
MIAMI. Fla . Feb. 9 —The Amer
ican Federation of Labor Executive
Council announced today it had re
voked the charter of the United Mine
Workers of America.
At the same time the council re
voked charters of the International
Union of Mine, Mill and Smelter
Workers and the Federation of Flat
Glass Workers of America.
A resolution adopted last Friday,
but not announced until today, said
the A. F. L. regarded the union's
activities in the Committee for In
dustrial Organization as "an actual*
and complete withdrawal” from the
Federation.
William Green. A. F. L. president,
said he was withdrawing from his
48-year membership in the mine union
headed by John L. Lewis to follow "a
consistent course as president of the
A. F. L.” He had been threatened
with ouster from the union.
The resolution ousting the C. I. O.
unions said that all efforts of the
A. F. L. "to effect unity and peace in
the ranks of organized labor have been
frustrated by the arbitrary and dicta
torial action of the officers of the
United Mine Workers, who. by reason
of the financial support given to the
C. I O.. have had from the very be
ginning the complete veto power over
all its policies and decisions and have
been in actual and absolute control
of its leadership."
It cited the miners’ substitution of
C; I. O. for A. F. L. in their constitu
tion at their convention ir. Washing
ton last week, holding the action sev
ered the union's relationship with the
Federation.
in me case oi me f lat uiass work
ers and the Mill and Smelter Workers
a separate resolution declared that
these unions had refused to quit the
C. I. O. and that there was nothing
to indicate they intended to abide by
A. F. L. rules.
JAMES ROOSEVELT
INDORSES PEPPER
Issues Statement in Florida Ex
pressing Hope Senator Will
Be Returned.
By the Associated Press.
PALM BEACH. Fla., Feb. 7 — Sena
tor Claude Pepper, faced with four
opponents in his bid for renomination
in the May primaries, today had a
friendly pat on the back and a wish
for success from James Roosevelt, son
of the President.
Young Roosevelt, here for a vaca
tion, issued a statement yesterday in
which he said Senator Pepper had
been loyal to the administration and
had worked hard for his State, "and
it is our sincere hope he will be re
turned to the Senate.”
The formal statement was issued in
the district of Representative J. Mark
Wilcox of West Palm Beach, who voted
against President Roosevelt's court re
form bill. Representative Wilcox has
announced for Pepper's office.
Former Gov. Dave Sholtx also has
announced he would make the race.
Other candidates are the Rev. W. A.
Hixon of Daytona and Finley Moore
of Lake City.
Mr. Roosevelt did not say he was
speaking for his father's administra
tion, but he used the inclusive term
“we” in his statement.
Warns Other Sections Than
South May Face Race
Troubles.
Senator Bilbo. Democrat, of Mis
sissippi warned the Senate in an at
tack on the anti-lvnching trig today '
that the South might not be the only
section to face race troubles in the
future.
He said he “hoped to be in the
Senate” when members from other1
sections brought their problems to that
body
Bilbo announced as he took up ihe !
Southern filibuster against the bill
that he was ready to give the balance
of his “thirty-day” speech which was
halted last week
However, Senator Connallv. Demo- !
crat, of Texas, leader of the South- ]
ern group, predicted that the argu- j
ment against the bill would be con-1
tinued until Wednesday when the
conference report on the farm bill is
expected to come up. The South
erners said they were confident that,
once the bill Is laid aside for the farm
measure, it will be sidetracked for
this session.
House Keeps Busy.
While the Senate dawdled away
with the anti-lynching filibuster the '
House considered minor legislation.
Before the House Naval Committee
Admiral William D. Leahy, chief of ,
naval operations, said the Navy had
not talked with any other nation
about giving, or receiving, assistance
and had no foreign commitments.
He volunteered this statement, he
said, because of possible misunder
standing of some of his previous tes
timony on the proposed 20 per cent
naval expansion program.
Some Congressmen had speculated
that there was an understanding with
Great Britain because of recent con
ferences of a Navy official wiih the
British admiralty.
Twenty-two Representatives who
favor enactment of a wage-hour bill
arranged for an afternoon conference
with President Roosevelt, presumably
to discuss ways of getting a bill before
the House and the type of legislation
Mr. Roosevelt approved.
Oppose Equal Rights.
Representatives of two women's or
anizations told the Senate Judiciary
Committee they opposed a proposal to
amend the Constitution to guarantee
w-omen equal rights with men.
They are Miss Dorothy Straus of i
New York, appearing for the National
League of Women Voters, and Mrs.
Carrie Chapman Catt. president of the
National American Woman Suffrage
Association. The latter sent the com
mittee a statement.
The committee is to vote next week
on the proposal.
Plans of House leaders for considera
tion of the new crop control bill to
morrow ran into Republican opposition
to "hasty consideration."
Minority Leader Snell of New York
objected when Chairman Jones, Demo
crat, of Texas of the Agriculture
Committee and Majority Leader Ray
burn of Texas declined to wait until
Thursday to bring the new bill before
the House. Snell contended the mem
bers should have more time to consider
this "practically new bill.”
Chairman O'Connor immediately
announced the Rules Committee would
meet during the afternoon to dis
cuss methods of obtaining legislative
right of way for the bill.
Baltimore Cathedral a Basilica.
VATICAN CITY, Peb. 7 (£»).—Ele
vation of the Baltimore Cathedral to
the grade of & minor basilica became
effective today.
Ickes Washed Back Into News
As Federal Bathins Authority
Br the Associated Press.
Secretary Ickes got washed back
into the bathing news today—this
time as the ablutions arbiter of Gov
ernment bathhouses.
“Bathhouses or hotels.” read new
regulations for Federal washeries,
“will be allowed such number of tubs
as the Secretary may. in his discre
tion, deem proper and necessary for
the public service, and the amount
of hot water will justify.”
Don’t get alarmed. Don’t hide the
soap. Don’t lock up the towels. The
Government is not going to move
into the private bath field.
Secretary Iekas’ realm Includes only
times which
get their water from Hot Springs Na
tional Park, Ark.
The regulations—which are seven
and one-half pages long—cover the
subject pretty thoroughly. For in
stance :
No free bath tickets without writ
ten permission from the superintend
ent.
If a single-bath-ticket buyer wants
to get rubbed with a bath mitt, he'll
have to bring his own. The bath
house, however, must furnish each
bather with a freshly laundered sheet.
Attendants mustn't borrow money
from bathers. (The rules don't say
anything about bathers borrowing
from attendants.)
i
LEMIY SAYS NAVY
IS INDEPENDENT QF
foreign™
Admiral Tells House Com
mittee U. S. Forces Have
No “Commitments.”
SEEKS LARGER FLEET
FOR DEFENSE ONLY
Hull s Offer to Take Part in Arms
Reduction Plan Arouses
Interest.
Pf the Associated Pres«.
Admiral William D Leahy, chief of
naval operations, told the House Naval
Committee today that the Navy ex
pects to solve its defense problems
“without alliances" and has no "for
eign commitments.”
Asserting he wished to clear up anv
misunderstanding that may have
arisen from his previous assertions, the
Navy's highest ranking officer said
"The Navy has no thought of ob
taining assistance from an’ other na
tion. It has no thought of giving as
sistance in the solution of the prob
lems of any other nation.
"It has no foreign commitments.
"There are no understandings re
garding assistance to be given or re
ceived.
“There has been no talk of giving,
or receiving, assistance ”
Admiral Leahy's refusal last week to
disclose publicly the nature of discus
sions Capt. Robert Ingersoll. head of
the Navy War Plans Divisions, had
recently with the British Admiralty
had brought speculation in congres
sional circles as to a possible under
standing with Britain.
Admiral Leahy’s categorical denial
of any commitment to any foreign na
tion was given in testimony on legisla
tion to authorize * S800.000.000 navai
expansion program.
riane* Declared Urgent.
Admiral Leahy told the commute*
the "most urgent improvement'' needed
in the Nation's air defease was in in
crease in naval patrol planes and then
tenders. He also urged authorization
for more minesweepers, minelayers,
fleet tugs, oil tankers and a eurvev
ship.
None of these types of auxiliaries
are covered bv the bill in its present
form and Admiral Leahy suggested
that, if necessary, they be provided
by cutting down the number of
destroyer tenders, repair ships and
submarine tenders proposed by one
each.
"If authority is not obtained now
for these vessels.” he said, "it will be
necessary for the Navy- to request of
Congress in the near future, and be
fore all the vessels authorized by the
bill are commenced, that authority ty
granted to acquire or construct these
vessels in addition to those authorized
in the present bill.”
Peacetime Program.
Although he said the Navy would
need large numbers of auxiliary vessels
in wartime. Admiral Leahy said the
proposed .program would provide onlv
those essential to service the fleet in
time of peace.
"The Maritime Commission has been
most co-operative," he said, “in
building ships that will be of use to
the Navy in the event of war. Re
cently contracts have been let for
14 cargo ships and 12 tankers, and 29
additional ships of various types are
planned.”
Emphasizing the need for efficient
auxiliaries. Admiral Leahy said thev
should have a speed of 15 knots or
more, or else they and the warships,
which have to slow their pace to ac
commodate the speed of the auxil
iaries, would be "easy prey for sub
marines.”
42 Auxiliary Vessels Asked.
To meet the projected 20 per cent
increase In combatant ship tonnage.
Admiral Leahy said the Navy should
have 42 additional auxiliary vessels.
He segregated them as follows: De
stroyer tenders. 5: submarine tenders.
3; seaplane tenders (large). 4
(small), 7; repair ships. 3; mine
layers, 2; minesweepers, 5: fleet tug*.
5; survey ship. 1; oil tankers, 4,
hospital ship. 1. and store ships, 2.
In denying any loreign alliances.
Admiral Leahy said the Navy intends
"to stand on its own feet in providing
protection to the United States, and it
expects to succeed.”
He said it had been his endeavor
throughout the hearing to convey the
Navy's understanding that the pro
posed legislation "is simply to author
ize a sufficient Navy to provide pro
tection to the United States and its
island possessions against attack by
any single foreign naval power, an
Increase having been made necessary
because of the increased naval pro
prams nf nthpr nations.”
No Particular Possible Enemy.
He said the Navy did not have in
mind any particular possible enemy,
but does consider all foreign navies
in its study of necessary defenses.
Replying to a question from Repre
sentative Maas, Republican, of Min
nesota, the admiral sail a large part
(See'NAVALTPage A-4~)
MRS. RUBENS INTERVIEW
POSTPONED IN MOSCOW
By the Associated Press.
MOSCOW, Feb. 7 —A scheduled In
terview with Mrs. Ruth Marie Rubens
of New York by Loy W. Henderson,
Charge d'Aflaires of the United States
Embassy, was postponed today while
Soviet authorities completed arrange
ments as to the time and place.
The United States gained permission
last week for the talk in the hope of
solving the mystery of the womans
trip to Russia on a fraudulently ob
tained passport and her arrest Decem
ber 9 on suspicion of espionage.
The meeting had been set for to
day but under the circumstances was
expected tomorrow at the earliest, per
haps at the foreign office, where Mr*.
Rubens would be taken from a thus
far secret place of detention.
>