Evening star. [volume], October 06, 1938, Page A-2, Image 2

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

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$10,000 BOND SET
25 Housebreaking Charges
Lodged Against Nimble
Colored Prisoner.
A small, lithe colored girl, believed
to be the porch-climbing burglar who
has looted homes in the Northwest
section for months, was held for the
grand jury in Police Court today
under *10,000 bond in one of 25 house
breaking charges which police have
booked against her.
The suspect. Bernice Agnes Gaskins,
21, 1100 block of Fairmont street N.W.,
pleaded not guilty and waived a pre
liminary hearing. Judge Walter J.
Casey set the unusually high bond at
request of the district attorney’s
office.
The girl insisted she knew nothing
of the burglaries. Detectives said,
however, they took her belongings from
her home and asked her to identify
each article and explain how she ob
tained it. They showed her a pair of
black cotton gloves, they said, and she
declared they were hers and bore her
laundry mark.
Left on Premises.
The girl apparently had forgotten,
detectives said, that a burglar who
obtained *100 from a home in the 4300
block of Fourteenth street N.W. left
them on the premises by mistake sev
eral months ago.
Detectives said several persons who
aaw the girl on the roofs or near
robbed homes had identified her. She
was said to be able to shin nimbly up
a porch post and pull herself over the
cornice with ease.
Detectives said the girl was wearing
a stolen diamond ring worth $250
when arrested and had other jewelry
In her possession.
They said the girl specialized in
money stolen from trousers pockets.
In almost every instance the bur
glaries were committed by a person
who climbed to the second story and
entered through an unlocked window.
The detectives today were questioning
the suspect about 10 additional house
breakings of the last few months.
Victims of Robberies.
Alleged victims of the girl burglar,
and the amounts of their losses, in
clude: James J. Beasley, jr., of 1427
Varnum street N.W., in June, entrance
gained through an unlocked window
over a second-story porch, $8 and
clothing missing; William Cafritz.
1610 Varnum street, in June, en
trance gained through second-floor
bedroom window, trousers containing
$20 missing: Enrique Espino, 1733
Irving street N.W., in September, en
trance gained through window over
*econd-floor porch, miscellaneous jew
elry and $24 missing; Mike Miller,
1501 Varnum street N.W., in June,
entrance gained through second-story
window, watch and $5 missing; M.
Jeweler, 1714 Upshur street N.W., in
June, entrance gained through second
floor bedroom window, trousers with
$175 missing; Louis Bernheimer, 1200
Quincy N.W., in May, entrance gained
through second-floor window, trousers
with $125 missing; Harry Weiner, 501
Allison street N.W., in September, en
trance gained through second-floor
window, trousers and $6 missing; Gra
hem E. Felzer, 1612 Varnum street
N W., entrance through second-floor
window, billfold containing $3.50
missing.
How a colored man snatched her
purse containing $8.50 was related
to police last night by Margie S.
Hatcher of 2153 California street
N W. The robbery occurred as she
was walking in the 1800 block of
Wyoming avenue N W.
- m-- .
CHEVY CHASE MAN FINED
$100 IN FATAL ACCIDENT
Br a 8taff Correspondent of TTie Star.
BETHESDA. Md.. Oct, 6—Harry J.
Pirie. 55, Chevy Chase, Md, acquitted
in Police Court Tuesday on a charge
of manslaughter in the traffic death
of John Keegan, 56, Bethesda, was
fined $100 and costs last night on
another charge arising out of the
same accident. He noted an appeal.
Justice of the Peace F. M. Jen
nings convicted Mr. Pirie of failing
to stop after the accident and levied
the $100 fine and $1.45 costs. The
magistrate dismissed a charge of reck
less driving which also was lodged
against the motorist.
Mr, Keegan was struck on the
night of September 8 w-hile crossing
the street at Cumberland and Wis
consin avenues. He died nine days
later in the Georgetown University
Hospital.
The car which hit Mr. Keegan
failed to stop, but a witness supplied
police with the license numbers of
the machine and Mr. Pirie later was
arrested by State Police Corpl. James
Miller.
Mr. Pirie said he felt a bump while
driving along the street, but did not
know he had struck any one until the
policeman arrived.
The manslaughter charge placed
against Mr. Pirie was dismissed at
the County Police Court in Rockville
by Judge Harold C. Smith.
Canal Is Being
Rebuilt as Park
By C. C. C. Crew
By t«e Associated Press.
CABIN JOHN, Md, Oct. 6—A train
load of Civilian Conservation Corps
youths worked here today to rebuild
the canal promoted by George Wash
ington into a modern playground for
grownups.
Filled with banter and fried eggs
the 165 boys of high school age slung
their barracks bags to the ground
from their train yesterday and within
a few minutes transformed the bar
ren clearing into a tent city, com
plete with a post exchange.
They will aid another C. C. C.
company nearby which has been clear
ing debris tarn the banks of the
Chesapeake <fc Ohio Canal, purchased
for the Government by Secretary Ickes
last month for $2,000,000 about 154
years after the canal company was
cbartered with Gen. George Wash
ington as president.
Begun llo years ago, the canal has
become little more than a ditch for
mo6t of its 186 miles. The C. C. C.
enrollees, who were brought here from
Fredericksburg, Va„ will aid the other
camp of 200 men in developing a 22
mile stretch from Rock Creek to
Seneca, Md, for boating, fishing and
hiking trails.
In Washington, Robert Fechner,
director of the C. C. C, announced
20 camps will be operated in Mary
land during the twelfth enrollment
period ending March 31; 193B.
i
FEARS FOR RAILROADS—
M. W. Clement, president of
the Pennsylvania Railroad,
told the President’s emergency
fact-finding board the entire
' railroad industry faces failure
unless the employes agree to
a 15 per cent wage cut.
—A. P. Photo.
PUERTO RICO GETS
Fight for More Vessels From
Mainland to Be at
San Juan.
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, Oct. 6.—
The next round in the controversy be
tween Puerto Rico and the steamship
| lines serving the island will be fought
on the home grounds The Maritime
Commission is to hold hearings in San
Juan in October and, although a pro
posed freight rate increase is the an
nounced purpose of the hearings, in
adequacy of first-class passenger serv
i ice between the mainland and Puerto
Rico will be vehemently argued. All
previous Maritime Commission hear
ings have been on the mainland.
Puerto Ricans contend that the
i steamship lines are engaged in mon
opolistic practices. Agreements and
i arrangements entered into by members
j of the so-called Caribbean Conference,
■ they have said, enable the shipping
: interests to divide the business among
i themselves and to prevent the devel
opment of competition. The island has
been fighting for better, faster and
! more numerous first-class ships to
help the tourist trade.
The member of the conference most
frequently attacked in Puerto Rican
newspapers is the New York and
! Puerto . Rico line, which has handled
! the passenger business of the island
i ever since the occupation. The Puerto
Ricans do not consider its ships large
enough nor fast enough for the service.
The Government is spending a quar
ter ot a million dollars annually to
bring tourists to the island, but at
busy seasons the two Puerto Rican
line boats are crowded to capacity
and reservations have to be made
weeks in advance.
The problem is one that has stirred
Puerto Rico for years, but previously
no opportunity has presented itself
for the individual to step up to the
conference table and make his state
ment. This time Puerto Ricans will
not ask that the Maritime Commission
compel the New York & Puerto Rico
Steamship Line to extend and improve
its sendee, but will request additional
steamship facilities. The Government
is to put the Panama Pacific Steam
i ship Line into operation on the east
coast of South America, and Puerto
Rico wants to be assured that the
' Caribbean conference will not exert
; its power to keep those ships away
from San Juan.
Last year inducements brought the
Grace Line to Puerto Rico, and for a
few months tourist business boomed.
But it was only for a few' months be
; fore the Grace Line suspended serv
ice, and although it is understood that
a winter schedule is to be maintained
j the seasonal call of the Grace Line
i ships is said not to be a solution to
Puerto Rico's tourist problem.
-.
DEMOCRACY IS HELD
AS ‘STATE OF MIND’
Recognizes Essential Dignity of
Human Being, Says Sir
Willmott Lewis.
By the Associated Press.
CHARLOTTESVILLE. Va„ Oct. 6 —
Democracy is not a system of govern
ment so much as a state of mind, that
state of mind which "recognizes and
honors the essential dignity of the
i other human being, no matter what
his status or condition.” Sir Willmott
Lewis, Washington correspondent for
the London Times, asserted yesterday.
He spoke at a convocation opening
the 115th session of the University of
i Virginia.
"We fear power as it is shown naked
and irresponsible in the dictatorships,
but we also distrust it at home, not
! seeing that the true distinction be
tween despotism and constitutional
government does not lie in the limita
tion of power, but in the existence of
means for making power accountable
for its behavior,” Sir Willmott said.
Dictatorship would be an enemy
hardly to be feared, he said, If demo
cratic nations in the past 150 years
had established truly democratic so
cieties.
President John Lloyd Newcomb an
nounced enrollment at the university
totaled 2,812 and probably would pass
2.900, to become the largest in the in
stitution's history.
JURY SUMMONSES OUT
United States Marshal John B.
Colpoys today actively launched the
job of acquainting 550 Washingto
nians, in all walks of life, to be on
hand in District Court on October 17
as prospective grand jurors for the
additional grand jury that will in
quire into alleged violations of the
Sherman Anti-Trust Act, generally
believed to involve the American Med
ical Association and the District Med
ical Society.
— —■ • ■ ■ >—
Explorers’ Club to Dine.
Local members of the Explorers’
Club will hold a dinner meeting at
the University Club on October 20.
The dinner will be informal, with no
special program
National Charities Group
Begins Preliminary Unit
Sessions.
Br the Associated Press.
RICHMOND, Va„ Oct. 6—Meetings
preliminary to the 24th annual con
vention of the National Council of
Catholic Charities will begin tomor
row with diocesan directors and chap
lains of penal institutions convening
for group sessions at St. Joseph's villa.
Other preliminary meetings will be
held during the week and the general
convention sessions will begin Sunday
and continue through next Wednes
day.
Chaplains tomorrow will consider
dally schedules in penal institutions,
while diocesan directors studied “the
personal work of the Catholic chari
ties’ directors’ office.
The Right Rev. Msgr. Thomas J.
O’Dwyer, council president, arrived
in Richmond yesterday for the con
vention. He will deliver the presi
dential address Sunday night.
Msgr. O'Dwyer conferred last night
with convention officials. He an
nounced that while at the council's
national headquarters in Washington
i he arranged with Robert H. Jackson,
United States solicitor general, to ad
: dreas the convention Tuescfcy night.
The council president said he also
had been informed that Hawy Hop
kins, W. P. A. administrator, had
made arrangements to be in Rich
mond next Wednesday night to speak
at the closing banquet.
Expected to preside at the directors'
conference were the Rev. Raymond
P. Duggan, director of Catholic chari
ties in Dubuque. Iowa: the Right Rev.
i Msgr. O'Dwyer, the Rev. John J. But
ler of St. Louis, the Rev. Robert P.
Barry of Boston, the Rev. J. James
Bannon of Syracuse. N. Y., and the
Rev. Albert I. Murphy, assistant sec
retary of National Conference of
Catholic Charities.
The Rev. Michael J. Coghlan of
Moundsville, W. Va.. and the Rev.
John P. Farrell of Pontiac, HI., were
to preside at the chaplains' discussion
groups.
i The diocesan directors also planned
! to consider the "proposed national
; health program."
Directors and chaplains will meet
i jointly tomorrow night at 6:30 at the
Hotel John Marshall. The Rev. Fran
cis J. Huber will be the speaker.
j _______
CATHEDRAL LODGE
WINS GOLF PLAQUE
Banquet Concludes Competition
With Temple Noyes Lodge,
F. A. A. M.
Members of Cathedral Lodge. No. 40,
and Temple-Noyes Lodge, No. 32, F. A.
A. M. staged their annual golf compe
tition yesterday and concluded with
: a banquet at the Columbia Country
i blub.
The victorious Cathedral team re
gained possession of a plaque, won at
i the last tournament by Temple-Noyes
players. William Kingswell was pre
sented with the Henry Brauner. Jr.,
Cup for turning in low score among
the Cathedral golfers.
The trophies were presented by Jus
tice James M. Proctor of District
; Court. Godfrey Leon Munter, president
; of the District Bar Association, pre
sided at the banquet.
ANTI-WAR PICTURE
TO BE SHOWN TODAY
Many men and women actively in
j terested in peace have been invited to
a special showing of the French anti
war picture, "Grand Illusion,” at the
Belasco Theater this afternoon.
Among the organizations which have
been asked to send representatives to
the showing are:
Catholic Association for Intema
; tional Peace, National Council of
: Catholic Men, National Council of
Catholic Women, Friends Meeting,
Women's International Trade Union
League, Jewish Community Center,
Young Women’s Christian Association,
American Legion.
Veterans of the Foreign Wars, Amer
ican League for Peace and Democracy,
Women's International League for
Peace and Freedom, Foreign Policy
Association. American Association of
University Women, Washington Friends
of Spanish Democracy, Labor’s Non
Partisan League.
Worker’s Alliance of America, Amer
ican Youth Commission, American
Federation of Government Employes,
United Federal Workers of America,
National Federation of Federal Em
ployes, Methodist Young People, Amer
can Newspaper Guild, Beth Solomon
1 Sisterhood, B’nai B’rith, the American
; Federation of Labor, Committee for
Industrial Organization and the Rail
! way Brotherhoods.
Lawyer Reports
6Hot9 Evidence
From Spy Quiz
Bt the Associated Press.
NEW YORK, Oct. 6.—Evidence
which a defense lawyer described as
"too hot” to send through diplomatic
channels was brought back from Ger
many by a Federal commission today
for the trial of four alleged members
of an international espionage ring.
George C. Dlx, who returned with
three Federal investigators, said testi
mony taken in Berlin would "com
pletely exonerate” his client, Johanna
Hofmann, 26, former beauty salon
operator on the liner Bremen who is
awaiting trial on charges of being the
“pay off” agent for the spy ring.
The Federal men, Assistant United
States Attorneys John W. Burke and
Lester C. Dunigan, and Special Agent
John T. MacLaughlin, declined to
comment. Trial of Miss Hofmann
and the three other defendants had
been postponed until October 14, to
await their arrival.
The Federal commission went
abroad to take testimony from Dr.
Ignatz T. Griebl, former New York
physician and a lieutenant in the
United States Army Medical Reserve,
who fled to Germany after he had
been indicted on spy charges.
Dr. Griebl’a testimony was taken be
fore the United States consul in Berlin.
Mr. Dix said Dr. Griebl’s testimony
proved his contention that Miss Hof
mann was “an innocent tool” in the
spy syndicate. ^
GROUND BREAKING—More than 150 members of the Board
of Lady Managers of the Presbyterian Home for Aged, 1818 New
ton street N.W., looked on today when Mrs. Edith Galt Mish,
president of the board, turned the first spadeful of dirt for the
Laura Hartmann Lisner Memorial, new addition to the home.
Also shown, left to right, are Dr. Freeley Rohrer, chairman of
the Building Committee; Mrs. Martha Vaughan, treasurer of the
home, and Dr. John C. Palmer, president of the Board of Trustees.
—Star Staff Photo.
i Venus’ Rescued From Waves
By Middies Offers Problem
E> the Associated Press. i
ANNAPOLIS, Oct. 8.—A very mod
em version of Venus arising from the
waves, with a pert blond in scanties
in the title role and three midshipmen
in her supporting cast, stood on Police
Court records today.
Mrs. Buryll Lucas, 23. Eastport, de
murely pleaded innocent, by reason of
temporary Insanity, to disorderly con
duct charges, and thereby hangs much
conflicting testimony
It was admitted by all witnesses at
her trial before Magisrate Joseph W.
Armstrong that Mrs. Lucas was swim
ming in the Severn River at ♦ a m
Saturday off the Naval At ademy.
Her leather-lunged shouting tumbled
startled midshipmen out into the dawn
to investigate. Three of them manned
a boat and fished dripping Mrs. Lucas,
clad only in underthings, from the
water.
She testified she was taken aboard
the station ship Cumberland and given
a glass of warm milk and loaned a
pair of Navy pajamas. The naval phy
sician in whose charge she was given
by her rescuers detailed four hospital
corpsmen, enlisted men, to take her
home to Eastport, she said.
County Officer Thomas Miller then
took up the story.
Pictures of Royalty Irk
Soviet Leaders, Asserts
Ely Culbertson.
Bridge players in Russia, where pic
tures of kings and queens are as un
popular with th» government as actual
kings and queens, are using "bootleg"
cards, Ely Culbertson, Russian-born,
the father of contract bridge, told an
audience here yesterday.
Mr. Culbertson, who remarked that
this month Is the tenth anniversary
of the introduction of contract to the
United States, said that on a trip to his
homeland some time ago the head of
the card-making trust told him his
aim was to sell as few cards as pos
sible.
"Every year the output was de
creased was considered a successful
year,” Mr. Culbertson was told.
The reason for this odd point of
view was that the figures of kings and
queens on the standard cards outrage
the Soviet ideal, which condemns roy
alty. Mr. Culbertson suggested the
substitution of Soviet heroes, like
Lenin, Stalin and Mme. Kolantai, the
Russian Minister to Norway.
The director of the card trust fol
lowed this suggestion for a while, but
players preferred the kind of cards
used in other parts of the world. So,
with king and queens frowned upon
in high quarters, Russian card-players
have to use bootleg stock.
Mr. Culbertson's lecture at Wood
ward & Lothrop’s was preceded by a !
luncheon. In an informal manner
Mr. Culbertson entertained the guests
with narratives of his experiences in
promoting the pastime. He told tliem
that bridge is a game played in prac
tically all countries.
During the interim between the
luncheon and the lecture Mr. Culbert
son visited W. P. A. offices and urged
the publication of an American ency
clopedia. for which he said there was
great need. He criticised the Ency
clopedia Britannica, which he said
was inadequate for American pur
poses and abounded in errors and
shortcomings with reference to persons
and things American. It would cost
about $5,000,000, but would afford em
ployment to hundreds of scholars and
scientists and would be a standard
work of incalcuable benefit to educa
tion and enlightenment.
WIN M. I. T. HONORS
Five Washington students have won
scholastic honors at Massachusetts In
stitute of Technology, it was announced
here today.
The five, who are on the dean’s list,
are Albert H. Bowker, who attended
Western and Woodrow Wilson High
School: William E. Lamar of Central
High; Charles Stuart Godfrey, Chester
B. Watts, Jr., of Western High, and
Sears Williams of Western High and
Fishburne Military School.
»-•
Physical Director to Speak.
Allen L. Thompson, former Y. M.
C. A. physical director, will speak on
“Exercising for Rejuvenation” at 8:15
p.m. Saturday at the League for the
Larger Life, 1414 Sixteenth street
N.W. Mr. Thompson will demonstrate
the Loulf-Uoyd system of health eal
totfaenlcs.
The enlisted men, he told Judge
Armstrong, called him about 5 am.,
because Mrs. Lucas refused to go in the
house. He found her, he said, swathed
in a Navy blanket, sitting on her
front porch. When he questioned
her she threw off the blanket and
dashed toward the nearby river again,
her oversized pajamas flapping.
Largely to save her from another
marathon swim, he said, he took her
to the Annapolis police station. Mrs.
Lucas said the officer s testimony was
largely correct, but said she was tem
porarily insane. She said she was sit
ting on the Severn River Bridge when
she fell in the water. She pulled off
her dress and shoes and swam until
her shouts brought the midshipmen,
she testified.
County Officer Brooke Meade con
tradicted her testimony. He told
Magistrate Armstrong her dress and
shoes, entirely dry, were found in the
car of the man who was her escort
before she was found in the water.
Magistrate Armstrong withheld
judgment and continued the case un
til next Tuesday.
He ordered the officers to produce
the enlisted men and Mrs. Lucas' es
cort for further testimony on whether
she Jumped or fell into the Severn.
IS WED 1014
Indictment Alleges Policies
Were Taken Out on
Incurables.
B» the Associated Pres*.
ALBANY. Ga , Oct. 5—A Federal
grand jury today indicted 14 Hancock
County business and professional men
on charges of collaborating in a
scheme to defraud insurance com
panies by placing policies on incurably
diseased illiterates.
Assistant District Attorney H. Grady
Rawls said the formal accusation was
use of the mails to defraud.
The extent of the scheme, he said,
“could be determined only by investi
gation of every death in Hancock
County for the past 10 years.”
He reported those named in the in
dictments were Leslie Reams Moore,
his brother J. Percy Moore, J. Frank
Smith, J. E. Johnson. Dr. Ernest C.
Hutchings, John Dickens. John M.
Holmes. Dr. Heman L. Earl, M. E.
Waller. William W, Dougherty, Alton
P. CalifT, H. L. Wynn, Smalley Brooks
and Boysie Bradley.
Trial will be scheduled at Macon,
Ga
Evidence was gathered by postal
inspectors at Sparta, the Hancock
County seat; Culverton and the sur
rounding territory.
Mr. Rawls said the indictments ac
cused the doctors, business men and
insurance agents of arranging for col
lection of insurance by taking out
policies on more than a dozen persons,
all uneducated, who were afflicted with
incurable diseases.
The scheme required payment of
the premiums, he said, “during the
short duration of the lives of the in
sured and the collection of the face
values of the policies, with a small
remittance to the beneficiary, usually
a relative of the diseased.”
The master indictment cited 10
cases, involving insurance in the
neighborhood of $20,000.
CATHOLICS PLAN NEW
INFORMATION BUREAU
Plans for a new bureau of Infor
mation for the National Catholic
Welfare Conference were being drawn
up today at a meeting at the May
flower Hotel of 40 priests and two
bishops representing Catholic dioceses
from all parts of the United States.
According to delegates the new bu
reau is purposed to disseminate in
formation on the activities of the
Catholic Church through the Nation's
press and other non-secular means
of communication.
A central bureau will be established
in Washington and priests will be
appointed as directors for each diocese
in the country. As directors, the
priests will be in contact with the
central bureau, handling local ques
tions regarding Catholic activities and
supplying local newspapers and other
communicating agencies with any in
formation desired.
The Most Rev. John Mark Gannon,
bishop of Erie, Pa., who has been
appointed by the National Hierarchy
of Bishops to take charge of tr.%
plan, presided. Also attending the
meeting was the Most Rev. John
Noll, bishop of Port Wayne. Ind..
and editor of "Our Sunday Visitor,'*
national CaJfelie weekly.
Wage Committee Told That
Companies Must Repair
Damage.
By the Associated Press.
Even when a hurricane strikes a
whole section of the country, a rail
road president testified today, rail
roads suffer worse than their com
petitors.
The executive, Frederick E. William
son of the New York Central System,
was referring specifically to the recent
New England storm. He told a presi
dential board which is hearing the
case for and against a rail wage cut
that railroads had to pay for their
own storm damage, whereas govern
ments repaired the highways over
which trucks and buses run.
Scales Declared Too High.
Mr. Williamson made the point in
his argument that the railroads can
not afford to pay present wage scales.
The board is seeking a compromise
in the deadlock between railway labor
and management over a proposed 15
per cent wage reduction.
The New York Central deficit of
$20,500,000 in the first eight months
of this year, Mr. Williamson said,
was "the largest ever incurred in a
similar period.”
He added that if 1933 wage rates
had been paid this year, the deficit
could have been cut to $3,387,000.
Mr. Williamson expressed informally
an opinion that the proposed wage re
duction would not cause a wave of
similar cuts in other industries
Dean James M. Landis of Harvard
Law School, member of the board,
directed questions into this channel
after the rail executive said fewer
men would have railway Jobs unless
wage costs were reduced.
Questioned About «. ut.
Mr. Landis asked how a small group
of railroad presidents had decided on
asking the 15 per cent cut.
The railway executive explained that
railway workers had taken a voluntary
10 per cent cut in 1932, this had been
restored, and an increase of about 8
per cent was granted late in 1937.
"The cut would still leave us—I
refer to myself as an employe—some
what better off than in 1932,” the wit
ness said. He adaeo that railroads
were in a "more critical” condition now
than in 1932 because they “have been
living on their fat” in recent years.
Attorneys for railroad brotherhoods
quickly expanded Mr. Landis' line of
questioning
"Would not the $250,000,000 wage
cut reduce purchasing power of rail
road workers that amount?” asked
Charles M. Hay, counsel for 18
brotherhoods.
"Yes, I suppose it would," Mr. Wil
liamson said.
Mr. Hay then asked if industries
paying higher wages than railroads
would follow the pay reduction lead.
He mentioned steel, coal and auto
mobile industries as now paying more
than railroads.
Objection Overruled.
Railroad attorneys objected to this
question, but the board chairman,
Chief Justice Walter P. Stacy of the
North Carolina Supreme Court, over
ruled them.
“I don’t think the rate of pay for
: running a locomotive should deter
j mine the rate of pay in an automobile
shop.” the witness replied.
"What is your answer to my ques
j tion?" Hay persisted.
"No,” the rail leader said.
"I can't see how you expect a wage
' cut to improve business for railroads
or the Nation," Mr. Hay said.
Mr. Williamson said the saving in
wage costs could be used for pur
chasing supplies, repairing of neg
lected equipment and meeting obli
gations to investors.
He added a statement that em-'
ployment always depended on traffic
volume and might decline after the
proposed 15 per cent cut.
M. W. Clement, president of the
| Pennsylvania Railroad, told the board
i yesterday the workers who have voted
to strike against the proposed wage cut
had failed to "see the picture of the
whole.”
He warned that railroad employment
' is "lessening and will continue to
I lessen, when it should be increasing—
unless wage and other questions are
approached and disposed of from a
common-sense standpoint."
Salary Cut $50,000.
Questioned further by Dean Landis,
Mr. Clement said his salary of $100,
000 a year now was $50,000 under the
1929 level. He explained he had been
president only during the last three
years—long after the 1929 peak salary.
Mr. Hay asked Mr. Clement if he
had considered that the wage cut
might spread to numerous other in
dustries and cause a general wage re
duction and business setback.
The rail executive said this was not
his view because he regarded the rail
road industry as a "separate economy.”
C. U. TO OBSERVE
GOLDEN JUBILEE
Program Opens Wednesday With
Celebration of Pontifical
Mass.
The Most Rev. Michael J. Curley.
Archbishop of Baltimore and chan
cellor of Catholic University, will in
augurate the golden jubilee year of
the instihition with the celebration of
a pontifical mass of the Holy Ghost
Wednesday at 9 a.m. In the Shrine of
the Immaculate, Conception on the
university campus.
A formal university convocation In
the gymnasium at 4 p.m. will con
clude the opening day ceremonies.
More than 3,000 members of the
faculty, students and administrative
officers and the American heirarchy
are expected to be present at the as
sembly at which Archbishop Curley
will announce the opening of the
jubilee.
The Most Rev. Amleto Giovanni
Cicognani, apostolic delegate to the
United States, will express the greet
ings and blessings of the Pope and will
reaffirm the reigning pontiff’s deep
and continued interest In the univer
sity.
The Right Rev. Joseph M. Corrigan,
rector of the university, will outline
the program of Jubilee observance
which will Include individual and col
lective presentations of the progress
and achievements of the schools and
colleges and departments of the uni
versity.
Members of the student body, fac
ulty and alumni will give short ad*
, dresses adfths eon vocation.
MARRIED 67 YEARS—Mr.
and Mrs. J. W. Thompson of
Romney, W. Va., who recently
celebrated their 67th wedding
anniversary. Both Mr. and
Mrs. Thompson are 87 and are
enjoying fine health. Seven
of their nine children are liv
ing. Their oldest child, H. D.
Thompson, died in service dur
ing the Spanish-American
War.
No Fundamental Changes
in Social Act Seen
by Calhoun.
Py the Associated Press.
CHICAGO, Oct. 6—Leonard J
Calhoun, assistant general counsel lor |
the Social Security Board, today ex
pressed the opinion there would be
no fundamental modifications in the
Social Security Act.
Mr. Calhoun said in a prepared ad
dress to the American Municipal
Association ‘‘it appears very likely
that the principal eventual amend- !
ments will include feasible extensions
of the old-age insurance provisions.”
"No person can foretell accurately ,
what will be the future changes In
the Social Security Act,” he said,
' but I cannot believe that there will
be any fundamental modifications.”
Understanding Vital.
Mr. Calhoun said the ‘’persisting
flood of pension proposals” makes im
perative a general understanding of
vital issues involved in providing for
old age.
A pension to the aged irom general
taxation of such size as to stifle other
public welfare activities could not be
Justified, he said.
"We cannot rob the children to give
the aged $200 per month." he added.
"We cannot equitably use general
funds to give an aged individual more
than his actual need so long as public
finances are such as to make such
action take necessary funds from other
humanitarian services.”
New York System Outlined.
Franklin B. Holmes, executive direc
tor of the New York State employes’
retirement system, outlined the opera
tion and results of that system. He
said it is "as solvent as is the State."
After almost 18 years of operation
he said, the system has 78,094 net
members. He added:
"We can expect compulsory legisla
tion so that all municipal employes
not now participants in some otner
system will be compelled to become
members of the New York State em
ployes' retirement system.”
. - •
REPORTER STRESSES
NEED FOR CONTACTS
j Journalism Students Are Told
Newspaper Writer Must
Build Confidence.
The importance in newspaper work
1 of establishing and maintaining "con
tacts” among all potential news
i sources was stressed by James E.
Chinn of The Evening Star staff in
an address last night before the Jour
nalism class of Arlington Institute.
Mr. Chinn pointed out that the
successful reporter has hundreds of
| "contacts"—men and women in civil
and public life—-who unhesitatingly
give him news because of their con
fidence in him. This confidence is
built up, he explained, through hon
est and accurate news reporting.
Other Washington newspaper men
are to appear before the class period
ically.
D. C. BUSINESS TAX
Jo V. Morgan Takes Issue
With Court Decision on
1937 Tax Law.
Taking issue with the decision last
summer of Justice Bailey in District
Court, that the 1937 business privilege
tax was unconstitutional as applied
to interstate commerce, Jo V. Mor
gan, the District’s one-man Board
of Tax Appeals has rejected an ap
plication for a refund filed by an
out-of-town business firm.
However, Mr. Morgan indicated that
he would apply to the case some
formula of apportionment of the
firm's business done within the Dis
trict in applying the District flat rate
tax which prevailed at the time. He
was not prepared today to announce
what formula he would follow.
Since the 1937 act was applied,
Congress has amended the business
privilege levy, to provide for a formula
for apportionment of the business
done within the District, so that the
full force of even the 1938 sliding
scale tax would not apply to non
resident firms doing business here.
$144 Tax Is Protested.
The Morgan decision, the first to
be announced by his office, dealt with
an appeal by the Consolidated Ex
panded Metals Co. of Wheeling, W.
Va., on a tax of $144, paid under
protest on a grass receipts within the
District of $29,000. It contended that
the tax was unconstitutional and that
Congress could not legislate for the
District in matters affecting inter
state commerce. To this Mr. Morgan
replied:
“The board is of the opinion that
Congress, when legislating for the
District has the power to enact legis-,
lation affecting interstate commerce,
including a statute enforcing a tax
the effect of which is to burden inter- <
state commerce If such power is
lacking in the State Legislatures, it is
because of a positive and exclusive
delegation of that power to Congress
by the Constitution.”
In another case, Mr. Morgan ruled
that the District government was cor
rect in levying its intangible personal
property tax against the full value of
securities, bought on margin, and not
merely on the equity held by the
individual taxpayer. In this case, Mr.
Morgan upheld an opinion rendered
during the past year by Corporation
Counsel Elwood H. Seal.
$1,000,000 Loss Possible.
The decision was rendered in the
case of an appeal by Frederick G Hunt,
1853 Lamont street N. W., who paid
the intangible tax on securities ralued
at $327,410, although he was said to
have had an equity of but $33,000 in
these securities. He paid the tax un
der protest and he has since appealed
the case to the Court of Appeals.
Officials estimated that the District
stood to lose between $500,000 and
$1,000,000 a year in tax revenues, if
the appeal in the Hunt case was
finally sustained by the courts.
In a third case, the Board of Tax
Appeals ruled that liquor dealers may
not deduct from their gross receipts
from sales within the District amounts
paid to the Federal and District Gov
ernments in liquor taxes. The case
turned on an appeal by Milton S.
Kronheim & Co., wholesale liquor
dealers, which had gross receipts
amounting to $1,667,115 and which had
deducted, before paying its District
business privilege tax of 1937, sums
amounting to $733,026, representing
Federal and District liquor taxes.
U.S. FIRMS CONTRIBUTE
TO HITLER’S AID FUND
P* the Associated Press.
BERLIN. Oct. 6.—United StatPS
firms having plants in Germany today
were among the first to respond to
Reichsfuehrer Hitler's appeal for sub
stantial contributions to Germany's
winter relief fund.
The Ford Motor Co., the Woolworth
Co., the Opel Motor concern, which
has relations with General Motors,
and the German-American Petroleum
Co. were among early donors.
The largest contribution thus far
announced came from the United
Steel Works of Dusseldorf, 2,000,000
marks ($800,000).
Hitler made his appeal before a
large audience at the Sportspalast
last night.
WEATHER REPORT
District of Columbia—Cloudy and colder, preceded by light rain this
afternoon and possibly early tonight; tomorrow partly cloudy and slightly
colder; moderate north winds.
Maryland—Cloudy and colder tonight, preceded by light rain in central
and east portions; tomorrow partly cloudy and colder.
Virginia—Cloudy, preceded by light rain in northeast portion; colder in
west and north portions tonight; tomorrow partly cloudy and colder.
West Virginia—Partly cloudy and slightly colder tonight; tomorrow fair.
The disturbance that was over Nort»rnv-—
Indiana Wednesday morning nas
southeastward lo West Virginia. Elkins.
30.10 Inches whence it will move east
ward. Pressure is relatively low over the
northern Rocky Mountain region. Miles
Citv Mont.. 30.0(1 inches, and over the
middle and southern Plateau. Modena
Utah. 20.78 Inches. A high pressure area
of considerable Intensity is moving east
southeastward over Eastern Ontario White
River. 30.72 inches with one wedge ex
tending eastward to Southern Quebec
Harrington. 30.22 inches, and another
wedge extending south-southwestward to
Missouri. Pressure is also high along the
South Atlantic and Gulf Coasts. Charles
ton S. C. and Shreveport. La.. 30.22
inches. During the last 24 hours rains
have occurred in the Northern Rocky
Mountain region, the Upper Ohio Valley
the lower lake region and in portions of
the North Atlantic States. Temperatures
have risen in the Appalachian region, the
Middle Atlantic States and the south por
tion of the North Atlantic States, while
they have fallen In the lake region, the
Middle Rocky Mountain region the pla
teau and In the Upper Mississippi and
Lower Missouri Valleys.
River Report.
Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers clear
at Harper's Perry: Potomac slightly muddy
at Great Palls today.
Report for Last 21 Hours.
Temperature. Barometer.
Yesterday— Decrees. Inches.
4 p.m. _ 73 30.12
8 p.m _ 81 30 14
Mldn'-ht _ 67 30.13
TTt^. .. 55 30.12
8 am. _- 50 30.10
Noon 81 30.10
Record for Lait 24 Hours.
(Prom noon yesterday to noon today )
Highest. 75 at 4:45 p.m. yesterday.
Year ago. 82.
Lowest. 64. at 2:30 a m. today Year
ago. 85.
Record Temperatures This Year.
Highest. 88. on August 15.
Lowest. 18. on January 28
Humidity for Last 24 Hours.
(From noon yesterday to noon today )
Highest. 88 per cent, at 2 am. today.
Lowest. 31 per cent at 3 o.m. yesterday.
Tide Tables.
Today. Tomorrow.
High _ 5:32 a.m. 8:18 am.
Low-12:02 a.m. 12:50 a.m.
High _ 5:50 p.m. 8:41p.m.
Low- 12:33 p.m. 1:08 p.m.
The Sun and Moon.
Rises. Sets.
Sun. today _ 8:08 5:45
Sun. tomorrow_ 8:08 5:43
Moon, today . 4:08 p.m. 3:18 am.
Automobile lights must be turned on
one-half after sunset.
Precipitation.
Monthly precipitation In Inches In the
Capital leurrent month to date):
..m Wt.Mt
f)
February _. 2:37 3.27 6.84 ’84
March _ 2.23 3.75 8.84 '91
April _ 1.67 3.27 9.13 '8»
May _ . 3 51 3.70 10.69 89
June_ 2.26 4.13 10.94 ’00
July _ 5 06 4.71 10.63 '86
August _ 4 64 4 01 14 41 '28
September __ 4.27 3.24 17.45 34
October _ __ 2 84 8.81 '37
November _ _ 2.37 8,69 ’89
December 3.32 7.56 '01
Weather in Various Cities.
Temp. Ratn
Barom. High.Low. tall. Weather.
Abilene 30.16 PI* 66 Clear
Albany _ 30.30 66 40 _ Cloudy
Atlanta 30.18 84 58 _ dear
Atl. City 30.16 68 56 Rain
Baltimore 30.12 76 56 _ Cloudy
Blrmgham 30.18 88 64 _ Clear
Bismarck _ 30.08 58 50 _ Cloudy
Boston 30.26 72 50 Clouoy
Buffalo 30.34 54 40 0.10 Cloudy
Charleston. 30.22 7 4 60 Clear
Chicago 30.40 64 54 Cloudy
Cincinnati 30.22 78 56 0.01 doudy
Cleveland 30.24 70 52 0.14 Cloudy
Columbia 30.20 82 58 Clepr
Denver 30.02 76 50 Cloudy
Detroit 30.38 78 46 0.12 Cloudy
El Paso _ 29.96 86 62 doudy
Galveston. 30.18 82 76 dear
Helena . 30.10 52 42 0.02 Clear
Huron 30.18 64 52 _ doudy
Ind'napolis 30.26 82 54 ... Cloudy
Jacks'ville 30.18 76 58 ... Clear
Kans. City 30.22 94 60 . Clear
Los Angeles 29.90 70 60 Cloudy
Louisville 30.24 82 56 0.02 Cloudy
Miami 30.02 82 74 0.14 Cloudy
M'pls.-St.P. 30.42 60 44 . Ciouoy
N. Orleans. 30.20 82 68 ... Clear
New York 30.16 70 52 _ Cloudy
Okla. City 30.14 90 68 _ doudy
Omaha 30.22 86 54 _ Clear
Philadelphia 30.16 72 58 _ Rain
Phoenix 29.86 96 60 _ dear
Pittsburgh 30.12 66 50 - Cloudy
Portl'd Me. 30.26 64 46 Cloudy
Portl'd Or 30.16 54 52 0.14 doudy
Raleigh . 30.14 76 56 ._ Clear
St. Louis 30.30 88 56 ___ Clear
Salt Lake C. 29.80 76 52 ___ doudy
San Antonio 30.18 88 66 _ Cloudy
San Diego 29.98 68 60 _ Cloudy
San Fr isco 29.92 64 54 _ Clear
Seattle 30.18 64 48 ___ Clear
Spokane 30.16 52 48 _ Cloudy
Tampa 30.12 82 64 _ Cloudy
Washington 30.12 75 54 _ Cloudy
FOREIGN.
(7 a.m„ Greenwich time, today.)
Temperature. Weather.
London. England 4 7 Cloudy
Paris. France _ 5<* Cloudy
Vienna. Austria _ 50 Cloudy
Berlin. Oermany_ 52 Cloudy
Brest. France _ 54 Cloudy
Zurich. Switserland_ 50 Cloudy
Stockholm. 8weden_ 55 doudy
Gibraltar. Spain 67 doudy
(Noon. Oreenwich time, tod y <
Horta (Fayal) A cores 76 Cloudy
— (Current observations.)
I'.0?®™** Bermuda 74 Cloudy
|f.^a‘ncu&*n<' Rle°_ ?? STn l
Canal Zone- 78 ‘ ?io. dy i