Evening star. [volume], February 19, 1940, Image 1

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

Image provided by: Library of Congress, Washington, DC

                
f Weather Forecast ( ~ ~~
' Cloudy, Intermittent light rain today, , iae>
probably ending tomorrow morning: not ♦ CSTODIISnCO 111 I09£
much change in temperature, lowest '> __ _' . . _ *
about 36. Temperatures today—High- Most people in Washington have The
est, 49, at X pm.; lowest, 39, at midnight. * Star delivered to their homes every
Prom the united./SJJJVn “sST *-3”"“ r*p°rt' evening and Sunday morning. \
-- * •
Closing Now York Markets, Page 14. . •
88th YEAR. No. 34,992.__WASHINGTON, D. C., MONDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1940—THIRTY-TWO PAGES. *** THREE CENTS.
Destroyer Sunk
By Nazis With
loss of 157
[ The Daring Is 25th
English Warship
Sent to Bottom
Ml the Associated Press.
LONDON. Feb. 19.—Great Brit
ain and Germany traded blow for
blow today in furious naval warfare.
While the British pridefully count
ed two captured German merchant
ships as prizes of their sea blockade,
the admiralty disclosed the British
destroyer Daring had been torpedoed
and sunk with a loss of 157 lives.
The Daring was the sixth de
stroyer lost by Britain since the out
break of the war. In all, the British
fleet has lost 25 vessels, of which 14
were capital ships, destroyers or
Submarines.
Where or when the 1,375-ton Dar
ing was sunk was not disclosed.
Sistership of Duchess.
She was a sistership of the de
stroyer Duchess, lost earlier in the
War, and carried four 4.7-inch guns,
seven smaller guns and eight 21
Inch torpedo tubes. She was com
pleted November 24. 1932, at a cost
of about $1,125,000 and could at
tain the exceptional speed of 382
knots.
Among those lost were her mas
ter, Comdr. S. A. Cooper.
The German high command com
munique in Berlin reported the
sinking of a destroyer and an un
disclosed number of convoyed mer
chant Steamers and tankers “in vari
ous sea areas" yesterday.
It said the merchantmen were
!n three convoys, and the destroyer
was part of naval forces guarding
S fourth*
Convoy Attacks Denied.
The German statement that four
allied convoys had been successfully
attacked by submarines was au
thoritatively said to be “as fantas
tic as German claims usually are.”
Two of six German ships reported
to have gambled against the British
naval'cordon in a dash from Vigo,
Spain, .were brought into a British
west coast port—the 3,000-ton
Morea. loaded with Manganese ore,
and the 2.542-ton Rostock, the
British announced.
The Morea’s crew of 23 men and
seven officers were British prisoners.
The French admiralty announced
that the Rostock was captured at
aea and brought to port after being
Intercepted by a French warship
while trying to reach Germany with
a cargo of 2,000 tons of bauxite and
turpentine. The capture was first
announced February 14 without giv
ing the name of the vessel or details.
Six Ships War Casualties.
Six merchant snips—two British
and four neutral—were week end
casualties of the war at sea or
regular wartime hazards.
The British ships were:
The Baron Ailsa, 3,656 tons, sunk
in North Sea after an explosion.
Captain and firemen died in open
boat after rescue.
The Cheldale, 4218 tons, sunk off
South African coast after collision
with another British vessel. Cap
tain and 15 crewmen missing.
The neutral ships were:
The Liana, 1,646 tons, and the
Osmed. 1,526 tons, both Swedish,
sunk In North Sea. No further de
tails
The Ameland, 4,537 tons, Nether
lands, stink by mine in North Sea.
Several crewmen injured.
The Banderas, 2,140 tons, Spanish,
sunk off Spain. Cause unexplained.
Twenty-two believed lost.
Convoy's Successfully
Attacked, Say Nazis
BERLIN, Feb. 19 (JP).—'The Ger
man high command reported today
the sinking of a British destroyer
and an undisclosed number of mer
chant steamers and tankers in at
tacks yesterday on four convoys.
The German communique said:
“In the west, minor local artillery
activity.
“In various sea areas, once again
four enemy convoys were success
fully attacked by U-boats.
“Out of three convoys, steamers
and tankers, out of the fourth a
destroyer which belonged to forces
for safeguarding this convoy, were
sunk."
The communique yesterday re
ported that between February 11
and February 17 German sea forces
had sunk 32 French, neutral and
British ships aggregating 128,174
tons. It said also a British war
plane had been brought down by a
German Messerschmitt over the
North Sea Saturday.
Britannic in New York
With 375 Refugees
Br the Associated Press.
NEW YORK, Feb. 19.—The armed
Cunard-White Star liner Britannic,
carrying 471 passengers, 375 of them
refugees from Germany and Central
Europe, arrived today from Liver
pool.
Among the passengers was Frank
Courtney, British flyer and aircraft
designer, who attempted unsuccess
fully to make a west-bound trans
Atlantic flight in 1928. Now 45. Mr.
Courtney said he was too old for
army service. His wife and 16
year-old daughter Olive accom
panied him.
Sheriff, Called to Church,
Finds Audience in Brawl
BJ the Associated Press.
INDIANAPOLIS, Feb. 19.—Deputy
Sheriff Anthony Maio, called to the
Somerset Methodist Church, said he
found the congregation engaged in
a free-for-all fist fight.
The Rev. D. W. Noble, pastor, told
the deputy an argument over his
policies had broken up his Sunday
service.
The deputy stepped to the pulpit
and preached a short service on
charity. When he left, the church
members were shaking hands and
agreeing to settle their differences
peacefully.
Altmark's Release by Norway
Depends on Arms Questil i
Oslo Caught Between British Dem kd for
Internment and Nazi Request for f^eturn
By the Associated Press.
GJESSINGFJORD. Norway, Feb.
19.—Whether the German prison
ship Altmark may become a prisoner
herself apparently depends on Nor
way’s answer to one question: Was
she armed?
Great Britain has demanded in
ternment of the ship from which a
British destroyer freed some 300
British merchant seamen Friday in
Norwegian waters. Germany has
protested and is expected to ask the
Altmark's return. And Norway, un
willing center of the diplomatic tug
of-war over a maze of legal tech
nicalities which imperils her neu
trality, must decide. ’*■
So far, she has not confirmed the'
German contention that the Alt
mark was unarmed, or Britain’s
that she mounted tWo pompoms
(multi-barreled anti-aircraft guns)
and four machine guns.
In Oslo, the Norwegian Parliament
was called in session today to hear an
official statement on the Altmark
incident. Announcement that a
statement would be read to the
legislators was made after a meet
ing of the Foreign Affairs Committee
of Parliament with Foreign Minister
Dr. Halvdan Koht, other members
of the cabinet and experts on in
ternational law.
The Altmark, meanwhile, lay
aground here# so close to shore
that sightseers could see blood
staining the ice of the fjord, me
mento of the brief battle when the
British destroyer Cossack maneu
vered the Altmark into shallow water
and sent a raiding party aboard to
rescue the prisoners.
The Nazi swastika flew at half
mast for the seven or more members
of the German crew who died in
(See ALTMARK, Page A-3.)
Another Red Division
Annihilated Near
/
Ladoga, Finns Claim
Victory Is Reported 15
Miles From Border
Northeast of Lake
By the Associated Press.
HELSINKI, Feb. 19.—The Red,
Army's 18th division, swollen to
18,000 men by reinforcements, was
reported by the Finnish high com
mand today to have been surround
ed and "annihilated” near Sysky
jarvi, 15 miles from the Russian
frontier northeast of Lake Ladoga
The Finns said about all of 18,
000 were killed or taken prisoner.
No mention was made by the Fin
nish communique of Russia's an
nouncement of further penetration
of the Mannerheim defense line
along the Karelian Isthmus, and
isolation of an important pivotal
fwrt At Kovisto, western terminus
f IgP line.
*^^Previous Reports Denied.
The Finns said “piece by piece”
I fighting reduced the Red Army divi
sion—the same one which unofficial
reports February 6 said had been
! wiped out.
A Finnish army headquarters rep
resentative at that time denied that
the Russian division had been de
stroyed and said the report arose
because the 18th was cut off from its
supplies and the Russian advance
stalled northeast of Ladoga.
The battle zone is north of Lake
Ladoga and about 55 miles from the
Mannerheim Line fighting south of
the lake.
Danish and British reports on
February 6 had said the division
had been wiped out. It was said
then to be one of five Red Army
divisions fighting to thrust around
the lake and outflank Finland's
strong defense fortifications strung
across the isthmus.
Two other Russian divisions—the
163d and 44th—have been wiped
out during the Russian-Finnish war,
the Finns declare. Both of them
were reported from fronts farther
north.
/
Planes Reported Downed.
Today’s communique, reporting
that 20 Russian planes had been
shot down, said Soviet attacks along
the bitterly-contested isthmus front
had been thrown back from the
Finns’ “new positions."
This apparently referred to fresh
positions taken up after Russian
penetrations into the band of for
tifications which form the Manner
heim Line.
Russia’s losses there were equal
to “about the strength of a bat
talion—approximately 1,000 men—
the Finns declared, adding that six
tanks had been captured in the bit
ter fighting.
Large quantities of war materials
were reported taken northeast of
Lake Ladoga. Twenty tanks, 36 guns
(See FINLAND, Page A^2T)
Downtown Stores Open
Half Day Thursday
Downtown rgtail stores will close
at 1 p.m. on Washington's Birthday,
Edward D. Shaw, secretary of the
Merchants and Manufacturers' As
sociation, announced today.
Coal dealers who are members of
the association also will keep their
offices open in the morning to make
deliveries, but will close at noon.
'As Long as They Are
Still Fighting'
Sees Lending Stopped
Entirely If Measure Is
Cut to $50,000,000, *.
BACKGROUND—
Aid for Finland since the Rus
sian invasion has been forthcom
ing from the United States in
form of a 110.000.000 loan through
Export-Import Bank for purchase
of non-military goods and a pres
idential order under which the
little nation’s December 15 debt
payment was placed in Treasury
for congressional action. House
now has before it Senate-ap
proved measure to increase Ex
port-Imvort Bdnk's lending au
thority by 5100.000.00a. with dis
cretion to advance $20,000,000 to
Finland.
Ry J. A. O’LEARY.
Federal l oan Admin’strator Jesse ,
Jones told the House Banking Com- !
mittee today- tafo would be willing
to extend furth# Credit to the Finns
"As long as they are still fighting,
with a chance to win.”
He made the statement as he
neared the close of his testimony on
the bill already nassed by the Sen
ate to add $100,000,000 to the capital
of the Export-Import Bank, with
discretion to lend Finland $20,000,
000 of that amount.
When committee members sought
to pin him down, however, as to
how much he would advance the
Finns if the total of the bill were
cut to $50 000.000, he declared:
‘‘If we onlv got $50,000,000 I think j
we would have to auit lending en
entirely. because we are already
overcommitted to that extent. If
you don’t want to pass this bill for
general purposes. I don’t think it
ought to be passed at all.”
t7UW»U iMUt lUHH * * V,WU’
Representative Gifford, Repub
lican, of Massachusetts suggested
that, while the genesis of the bill
is aid to Finland, "somebody is try
ing to take advantage of us by rais
ing the new loan authorization
$100,000,000.”
This prompted Mr. Jones to read
a prepared statement in which he
said that if it is deemed desirable
to foster trade relations with South
America, credit will have to be ad
vanced to facilitate some of their
purchases in this country.
He called attention to opportunity
which the European war situation
~ (See FINNISH LOAN, Page A-2.) ~
20 in French Patrol
Killed in Nazi Ambush
By the Associated Press.
PARIS, Feb. 19.—A French patrol
fell into a German ambush before
dawn today in a central sector of
the Western Front and about 20
men were killed.
The casualties were the heaviest
suffered by the French so far in
any single skirmish of patrol war
fare. Usually only two or three
soldiers have been killed In brief
exchanges of fire.
The French high command com
munique this morning:
"East of the Nied (River), one of
our detachments fell into an ambush
n the couise of the night and suf
fered some losses. There was firing
from the casemates on both sides of
the Rhine.”
---i
Summary of Today's Star
Page.
Amusements,
B-16
Comics . B-14-15
Editorials — A-8
Finance - . A-13
Lost, Found B-12
Page.
Obituary . A-6
Radio .B-10
Sports ..A-10-12
Society _B-3
Woman’s Page,
B-ll
Foreign
Another Red division annihilated,
Finns report. Page A-l
Altmark release up to Norway; arms
possession question. Page A-l
Russian troops hammering at Vii
puri defenses. Page A-l
Nazis sink British destroyer Daring;
157 lost. Page A-l
Estigarribia makes self Paraguayan
dictator. Page A-*
Japanese bomb Chinese lifeline rail
way twice more. Page A-2
Britain orders 60 U. S. securities
surrendered. Page A-15
Fascist "gold shirts” thwarted in re
volt, Mexico reports. Page B-16
National
Republican leaders hail Frank re
port as constructive. Page A-l
Jones would aid Finland "as long as
they’re still fighting.” Page A-l
Washington and Vicinity
Three death* caused by Lord Fair
fax Clubhouse fire. Page B-l
Rain causes several traffic accidents;
one man killed. Page B-l
President approves promotion of
Navy medical officers. Page B-l
Wine cup owner believed found
through Star story. Page B-l
Editorial and Comment
This and That. PageA-8
Answers to Questions. PageA-8
Letters to The Star. PageA-8
David Lawrence. PageA-9
Frederic William Wile. PageA-9
Jay Franklin. Page A-9
Charles O. Ross. PageA-9
Alsop and Kintner. PageA-9
Sports '
Griff, Harris, Bengough agree Early
is coming star. PageA-19
Tilts this week may settle several
varsity basket titles. PageA-19
Basketers hold stage here while box
ers, trackmen roam. Page A-ll
Improved Eastern quint fights for
title playoff spot., Page A-12
Miscellany
Of Hearts and Song. Page B-<
Nature’s Children. Page B-12
Bedtime story. Page B-14
Crossword Puzzle. Page B-14
Letter-Out. Page B-14
Winning Contract. Page B-15
Uncle Ray’s Corftar. Page B-14
Woman Killed,
13 Hurt as Blast
Destroys Home
11 of Victims Injured
As They Go to House '
After Asphyxiation
(Pictures on Page A-2.)
One woman was killed and 13
other persons were injured
when gas seeped through a
defect in the meter line and then
exploded with a terrific blast which
demolished a two-story frame home
at Savage, Md., near Laurel, early
today.
Eleven of the injured included
friends and relatives who had gone
to the house on learning of the as
phyxiation.
The dead woman is Mrs. Thomas
Ridgeway, a 69-year-old widow.
Her daughters, Miss Catherine
Ridgeway, 26, and Mrs. Helen Linder,
33, were overcome by the leaking
gas and “were taken to St. Agnes’
Hospital, Baltimore. Their con
dition was reported this afternoon
as favorable.^
Women Asleep at Time.
The three women were asleep in
Mrs. Ridgeway's home when gas be
gan to leak in the basement. Mrs.
Ridgeway died without awakening.
Most of the 11 injured persons were
hurled from their feet when the
gas exploded in the basement, while
M ss Ridgeway and Mrs. Linder were
being treated by a neighboring phy
sician on the first floor.
Several were thrown through
doors of the structure by the blast,
which was followed by a fire which
almost destroyed the small frame
building.
None of the 11 was believed seri
ously injured. They were:
Dr. Prank Shipley of Savage, who
was attending Mrs. Linder and Miss
Ridgeway. He was cut and bruised.
Richard E. Linder, 44, husband of
Mrs. Linder. Cuts.
Charles Lecallett, 25, of Baltimore,
an employe of the Consolidated Gas
& Electric Co., who had gone into
the cellar to effect repairs when the
blast occurred. He suffered first and
second degree burns of the hands
and face.
Arthur Sweeney, 47, of Baltimore,
also an employe of the gas company.
He also was in the cellar and re
ceived first and second degree burns
of the head and face.
State Policeman W. M. Bohler.
Minor leg injury.
Mr. and Mrs. Monroe Collisen of
Savage, the former 40 years old,
the latter 38, son-in-law and daugh
ter of Mrs. Ridgeway. They suf
fered shock.
Mrs. Effie Hackley, 42, of Savage,
Mrs. Ridgeway's daughter. Shock
and minor leg injury.
Lohis Hackley, 22, her son. Shock.
Herbert Ridgeway, 38, a son of
the dead woman. Shock.
Mrs. Emory Swann, sister of Dr.
Shipley. Shock.
Believed Ignited by Furnace.
Savage firemen, who helped treat
the injured, believe a furnace may
have ignited the leaking gas. The
explosion occurred shortly before
,3 o’clock.
Mr. Linder said the leak was dis
covered at the point where the gas
line and meter connect.
Mrs. Linder was awakened by the
odor of escaping gas about 2 o’clock
and telephoned for Dr. Shipley after
trying unsuccessfully to arouse Jier
mother and sister.
She then put in a call for her hus
band, proprietor of the Stockholm,
a tavern on the Washington-Balti
more boulevard, but, overcome by
the gas, fell to the floor in a coma
before completing it.
Dr. Shipley hurried io the house,
broke in the door and found Mrs.
Ridgeway dead and Mrs. Linder
and Miss Ridgeway overcome.
They were all in rooms on the first
floor.
The Savage and Glen Bumie
rescue squads were called for pul
motors to be used in reviving Mrs.
Linder and Miss Ridgeway and the
Consolidated Gas & Electric Co. in
Baltimore was asked to send re
pairmen to fix the leaking gas line.
Repairmen Arrive.
Dr. Shipley and firemen Were en
deavoring to revive the two un
conscious women when the repair
men arrived from Baltimore.
The repairmen went Immediately
to the basement, Mr. Linder said,
and opened a door leading into the
room where the gas meter was lo
cated*
As soon as they opened the door,
Mr. Linder said, the gas exploded
with a terrific blast which split the
house in half. Several of those on
the first floor were hurled through
the doors of the building, others
were thrown from their feet, and
one of tl\p repairmen was blown
through a trapdoor leading onto the
side* lawn.
The wreckage of the house left
standing burst into flames tmd fire
men poured water onto the blaze
for several Hours before extinguish
ing it.
Blown Through Glass Door.
Mr. Linder was blown through a
glass door and a screen at the
front of the house. He was badly
cut. Dr. Shipley was hurled through
the aperture behind Mr. Linder.
He returned to the house to direct
first-aid work.
Mr. Ridgeway and Mrs. Swann
were blown through a back door
and the Collisens and Mrs. Hackley
were thrown to the floor and her
son hurled against the wall.
Mr. Collisen and Mr. Hackley took
Mrs. Linder and Miss Ridgeway
from the burning building after the
explosion. Rescue workers took them
to St. Agnes’ Hospital in Baltimore.
Mr. Lecallett and Mr. Sweeney,
the repairmen, were removed to
University Hospital, Baltimore.
Others who were injured were given
first aid on the scene.
Dr. U. S. Hanna Dies
BLOOMINGTON, IncL, Feb. 19 UP).
—Dr. Ulysses Sherman Hanna, 75,
profeasor emeritus of mathematics
at Indiana University, died yester
day after a two-year illness. He was
a faculty member from 1894 to 1936.
/f LAN SAXES! A
/ WiSH IKHEW WHETHER THAT
SILENTICU3 TOEITICUM
13 TO K A PRlttWNNER/
, VoRJUST LEAKS! /
a
Dame Democracy's Dilemma!
Dr. Frank's Report
Gets High Praise
From G. 0. P. Chiefs
Program Asking 20%
Budget Cut, Defense and
Peace Held Constructive
Republican congressional comment
on the Glenn Prank report—out
lining a “program for a dynamic
America”—was extremely favorable
today.
It was generally held that the
Committee of Two Hundred, under
the leadership of Dr. Prank, former
president of the University of Wis
consin, had completed a constructive
job—a job that would be of great
assistance to the writers of the Re
publican platform when the party's
national convention meets.
"The report, representing the
opinion of rank and file Republicans
on the problems of the day. calls for
international peace, increased pro
duction, encouragement to private
enterprise, economy, and a lessening
of Government control of business
and the private affairs of the people.
Demand for a 20 per cent cut In
Federal expenditures with th« aim
of balancing the budget in 1M3 is
coupled with a proposal for remod
eling Federal, State and municipal
tax laws, but opposing an Increase
in taxation at this time.
McNary Praises It
Senator McNary of Oregon, Sen
ate minority leader, commented:
“The report is comprehensive and
commendable.”
Senator Austin of, Vermont, as
sistant minority leader, said:
“The report of the Program Com
mittee is excellent. I think the
committee did a magnificent job.
The report will stimulate thought
throughout the country, and I am
sure lead to a constructive party
platform.”
Senator Capper of Kansas declared
that the report had been “generally
good.'
T was particularly pleased with
the program committee's recom
mendations regarding trade agree
ments,” said the Kansan. “It calls
for the negotiation of realistic agree
ments, subject to approval by both
houses of Congress. Usually agree
ments with foreign nations are rat
ified alone by the Senate, but I have
no objection to the House taking
part.
Trade Pacts Hit.
‘The kind of trade agreements we
have now are autocratic, one-man
affairs, and I believe, unconstitu
tional.
"The report recognizes the need of
the American farmers for continued
support from the Government at
this time, and with that I agree.
Parity payments and soil conserva
tion benefits. I favor.
“The idea back of the report is
good. Heretofore Republicans have
gone to national conventions of the
party without any preliminary work
looking to the drafting of a na
tional platform The committee
has performed a very constructive
service which should be of great as
sistance to the platform committee
of the national convention."
Senator Townsend of Delaware,
chairman of the Republican Sena
torial Campaign Committee, said he
considered the report “constructive”
(Continued on PagelA-4, Col. lT
Boland Will Speak
In Forum Tonight
On Trade Pacts
Representative Patrick J.
Boland, Pannsylvania Democrat
and hit party’s whip in the House,
will he the guest speaker tonight
during the National Radio Forum,
broadcast by WMAL at 10:30
o’clock.
“Trade Treaties” it to be Mr.
Boland’s subject. He ia ex
pected to reveal results ol an
informal poll of the lower cham
ber on the question of continuing
the administration’s reciprocal
trade treaty program.
The National Radio Forum is
arranged by The Star and broad*
cast each week over a . ooast-to
coast network of National Broad
casting Co. stations.
Donahey Spurns Ohio Race
As Roosevelt'Stalking Horse'
Would Be Subterfuge,
He Says; Sawyer
May Be Substitute
By G. GOULD LINCOLN.
Roosevelt third-term boosters in
Ohio got a setback today when Sen
ator Donahey issued a statement de
claring he would not run as a favor
ite-son candidate in the presidential
preferential primary. To do this, he
said, ‘would be a subterfuge.”
His statement was directed at the
resolution adopted Saturday by the
Democratic State Central Commit
tee and Executive Committee of
Ohio. The resolution read:
“It is the sense of this meeting
that if Franklin D. Roosevelt is a
candidate for President the dele
gates from the State of Ohio' shall
cast their votes for him; that if
he is not a candidate for President
their votes shall be cast first for
the first choice favorite son candi
date and second for the second
choice favorite son candidate until
and unless a majority of the dele
gates present and voting decide
otherwise.”
In Cincinnati, National Commit
SENATOR DONAHEY.
teeman Charles Sawyer said a sub
stitute “favorite son” candidate will
be selected shortly. A four-metfiber
1 <8ee DOWAHEY. Page A^3.)
House Passes Bill
Delaying Budget in
Inauguration Years
Permits New Presidents
’ To Submit Their Own
Fiscal Programs
By the Associated Presa.
The House passed and sent to
the Senate today a bill permitting
new Presidents to pass on the fiscal
budget for the first year of their
terms.
The measure specifies that in
inauguration years, when Presidents
do not succeed themselves, the
budget shall not be submitted until
January 21—the day after inaugura
tion—or not later than February 20.
Under present law budgets must be
submitted January 3 in all years.
Representative Burdick, Republic
an, of South Dakota at first objected
to consideration of the measure, but
withdrew his objection after Rep
resentative Fish, Republican, of
New York offered this interpreta
tion:
11113 um assures me new in
coming Republican President the
right to prepare his own budget.”
With a small band of Democrats
Joining the Republicans in opposi
tion, House members were lined up
for one of the biggest battles of the
session—renewal of the administra
tion’s reciprocal trade program.
Both Sides Claim Victory, f
Both sides claimed victory. They
agreed, however, that whatever the
outcome, the trade pacts will be an
issue in the election campaign, for
President Roosevelt and Secretary
of State Hull have made the pro
gram a keystone of their foreign
policy.
Leaders decided to start debate
late in the afteraooA and to let it
continue throughout the week on a
resolution extending the program
fbr three years after its June 12
expiration date.
Representative Coffee, Democrat,
of Nebraska asserted 40 Democrats
would vote with the Republicans on
an amendment to require Senate
ratification of each trade pact. The
present law lets the President and
the State Department conclude the
agreements.
Representative Boland of Penn
(See Congress, Page a-2.) '
SchuHe fo Offer Bill
To Set Up Separate
Traffic Court Here
Sepl Says One Judge
Couldn't Handle All
Cases, as Is Proposed
Representative Schulte. Democrat,
of Indiana announced at a meeting
of the House District Committee
today he proposed to introduce a
bill to establish a separate traffic
court.
The plan, he said, was suggested
by Washington I. Cleveland of the
District Motor Club of the Ameri
can Automobile Association and will
require one judge to devote his
entire time to traffic cases.
“I think it's a good idea,” declared
Mr. Schulte, who is chairman of
the Streets and Traffic Subcommit
tee of the District Committee. “It
will stop the rotating of Police Court
Judges on the Traffic Court bench
and do away, I hope, with the
leniency shown by some of the
judges.”
t^orporauon i/ounsmt auwooa n
Seal, sittliraln the committee room
when Mr. IBehulte made the an
nouncementfieaped to his feet and
expressed ttte opinion that one
judge would bb unable to handle all
traffic cases. He pointed out that
many of these cases are tried by
juries.
The committee, with Mr. Schulte
acting as chairman in the absence of
Representative Randolph of West
Virginia, favorably reported a bill to
exempt from provisions of the Un
employment Compensation Act
newspaper delivery boys under 18
years of Age.
A bill introduced last week by
Representative Nichols of Okla
homa. inaking it possible fat liquor
dealers to appeal to the Commis
sioners for a review when the Alco
holic Beverage Control Board re
fuses to renew their Ucehses was re
ferred to a special subcommittee in
vestigating the liquor situation. This
proposed legislation is an outgrowth
of the case of Leo J. Rosslter, Geor
gia avenue restaurant proprietor,
whose license was recently renewed
after it had first been denied by the
A. B. C. Board.
Gasoline Probers Hear of Sale
Of Motor Oil From Empty Cans
Instances of double dealing by
service station operators selling low
grade gasoline as high test and, in
two cases, selling oil from empty
cans were cited today before a House
District subcommittee.
George M. Roberts, superintendent
of weights, measures and markets,
told Chairman Nichols' subcommit
tee investigating gasoline marketing
methods in the District that his in
vestigators. twice had made pur
chases of oil from jane chain station
and although the can was tipped
into the oil receptacle of the auto
mobile, none was delivered. ‘The
cans were empty,” Mr. Roberts testi
fied.
He said seven shortages in oil
sales were found in the same chain
last year. The corporation was pros
ecuted and fined a total of 1175, he
added.
"We bought oil from other com
panies, but discovered no short
measures, except in this company,”
Mr. Roberts told Chairman Nichols,
(Bee OABOUNK, *age A-2.)—
Reorganization
Plan, Revised,
Given Congress
D. C. Heads Refuse
To Yield to Some
Federal Officials
BACKGROUND—
Bill to revamp District govern•
merit under city manager was in
troduced at last session of Con
gress by Representative Kennedy
> of Maryland after study by Grif
fenhagen experts. Citizens at
hearings last fall urged that suf
frage for Washingtonians in form
of elective city council be includ
ed in measure. Commissioners
formulated plan to substitute for
Mr. Kennedy’s, advocating paid
advisory council to be appointed
by Commissioners despite sug
gestions for an elective one.
By JAMES E. CHINN.
The Commissioners today re
turned to Congress their revised
plan for reorganizing the municipal
government, refusing to yield to
proposals of Federal officials for
changes in provisions affecting cer
tain Federal agencies.
"The comments and suggestions
by Federal agencies, as recorded by
their replies, have been given most
careful consideration by the Com
missioners.” said the letter of trans
mittal. "They represent in most
instances, the Commissioners be
lieve, merely differences of opinion.
Consequently, the proponents of the
proposed bill adhere to the views as
expressed by them in the proposed
bill, as amended, and submit the
same to the Congress, together with
the attached comments, for what
ever action the Congress desires to
take.”
In the letter transmitting the re
vised edition of the reorganization
program to Speaker Bankhead, the
Commissioners called special atten
tion to a paragraph in a letter ad
dressed to them by Harold D. Smith,
director of the Budget Bureau. It
read:
"In view of the intimate relation
ship between the Federal Govern
ment through progress and certain
of the executive departments and
agencies, and the Government of the
District of Columbia, it may be un
wise to remove some of the existing
ties between the two governments as
contemplated in the proposed bill
and in this connection the attention
of Congress should be specially in
vited to title 3 of the draft which
proposes to exempt the District of
Columbia from the budget and ac
counting act ”
Advisory Council Proposed.
Correspondence of other Federal
officials who reviewed the reorgan
ization program which was attached
to the letter of transmittal, also dis
closed that objection was registered
chiefly to proposals of the Commis
sioners to create a paid citizens’ ad
visory council to be appointed by
them and to place disbursements of
appropriations for certain Federal
I activities in the District under offi
cers of the municipal government.
The suggestion was made that the
advisory council be appointed by the
President and that its members not
receive anv compensation.
The correspondence shows that
Secretary of War Woodring objected
to a provision in the proposed legis
lation that disbursements of appro
priations for the District militia.
National Capital parks. National
Capital Park and Planning Com
mission. National Zoological Park,
the Washington Aqueduct and other
appropriations expended under di
rection of the chief of engineers of
the Army should be made only by
accounting offices of the municipal
government.
j Enactment of such a provision.
Secretary Woodring said, would
affect the operations now committed
to the chief of engineers principally
in connection with the Washington
Aqueduct, Anacostia Park and the
Washington Channel water front.
Complications Feared.
“The placing of disbursement of
funds for these projects in the hands
of the accounting officers of the Dis
trict of Columbia would complicate
the administration of these oper
ations,” he declared. "Furthermore,
considerable delays might be exper
ienced by contractors, material men,
and laborers in receiving payment
for their services. In connection
with the Washington Channel water
front improvement, the District of
Columbia, as a prescribed measure
of local eo-operation, is required to
provide a portion of the funds for
this improvement. To prescribe that
the disbursing of these funds shall
be made only by the disbursing of
ficer of the District of Columbia
would be contrary to the intent of
the congressional authorization for
this project, and would place the
District of Columbia in an entirely
different category from other local
communities where local co-oper
ation is required.
“The disbursing of funds as pres
ently administered by the district
engineer of the Washington district
has functioned smoothly and ef
ficiently and no useful purpose
would be served by transferring the
administration of such funds to the
District of Columbia.”
Acting Secretary of Interior Bur
lew also objected strongly to the
proposal to give District officials
authority to make disbursement,
purchases and receive collection for
(8ee REORGANIZATION. Page A-3)
Baltimore Bank Held Up,
Bandit Hees With $1,500
By the AtncItM yrut.
BALTIMORE. Feb. 19.-A tone
bandit, armed with a 32-caliber tar
get revolver, held up the Westport
branch of the Union Trust Co. at
2219 Annapolis road shortly before
noon and escaped with about $1,000
In cash.
Police said the man wore a dark
blue overcoat and appeared to be.
about 25 yean old, 5 feet 11 inches
tall weight 145 pounds, daifc eyes,
and dark complexion.