Evening star. [volume], March 14, 1940, Image 1

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

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Weather Forecast
Rain this afternoon and tonight, ending " 11* i —i • iqpm
tomorrow morning; colder tomorrow; CSTaDHSnea 111 IOj£
lowest tonight about 35. Temperatures
today—Highest, 38, at 2 p.m.; lowest, Most people In Washington have The
32, at 5:45 a.m. Star delivered to their homes every
From th* United States Weather Bureau report. evening and 8unday morninz
Full details on Page A-2.
C'o»ing N.» York Mortet., fog. 20._ _w M..„, Pr.„.
88th YEAB. No. 35,016._ THREE CENTS.
Scandinavians Rally to Finland
For Northern Defense Alliance;
Will Spare Rumania, Reds Pledge
Ready to Discuss *
Pact, Say Sweden
And Norway
' 58 GERMAN PLANES shot down
since September 3, say French; sub
captain who sank Courageous
credited with 24,600 more tons.
Page A-7
VIIPURI OCCUPATION final tri
umph, Reds announce; city cap
tured five hours before end of
fighting, says Russian communi
que. Page A-4
BATTLESHIP BUILDING by Nazis
serious threat to allies; Reich may
have six in 1940 with completion
of four more. Page A-8
Bv the Associated Press.
STOCKHOLM, March 14.—The
Swedish foreign office announced
today that the Swedish govern
ment, in reply to a question from
the Finnish government had de
clared itself ready and willing to
“discuss the possibility of a de
fensive alliance.”
Norway's foreign minister, Halvdan
Koht, made a virtually identical an
nouncement soon after President
Kyosti Kallio of Finland in a broad
cast from Helsinki said the need for
such an alliance was apparent.
The three Northern nations, mov
ing for joint defense discussions, ap
parently were spurred by Russia’s
terms exacting vital territorial con
cessions from Finland as the price
for ending the Finnish-Russian War.
Sweden and Norway found cause
for concern in the rail and air right
of way Russia won across Finnish
territory to the Swedish and Nor
wegian frontiers.
Strategic Changes Studied.
Sweden, taking stock of changes in
Scandinavia’s strategic position as a
result of Soviet Russia’s Inroads on
Finland, now is prepared for an “un
biased examination” of the situation
lest Finland become another Czecho
slovakia.
Apparently she favors some sort of
defensive alliance of the north coun
tries to insure that the Russians will
not fo)low up the Moscow settlement
with g march to Helsinki as the Ger
mans followed Munich with a march
to Prague.
There remained, of course, the pos
sibility that Germany herself might
stand in the way of any such Rus
sian move.
a swecusn stana tor closer conaDo
ration of the north countries was
hinted last night when Swedish For
eign Minister Christian Gunther told
a special gathering of Parliament
that the “danger is not over” and
that “as a result of Finland's altered
frontiers our own position has be
come worse, viewed generally, than
It was before the Russian-Finnish
conflict.”
Gunther pointed to provisions in
the peace of Moscow advancing the
Russian frontier toward Sweden in
the Salla area and providing for
construction of a railway through
that zone to link the Russian Mur
mansk railway with a Finnish line
connecting with Swedish Haparanda
at the head of the Gulf of Bothnia.
These, he said, are “conditions
that are of evident interest to us.”
Pressure on Finns Denied.
Gunther said Sweden’s role in
Initiating Finnish-Russian peace
talks was that of an intermediary,
that Sweden put no pressure on Fin
land to accept Moscow's terms and
that Germany had not tried to in
fluence the Stockholm government.
Now that peace has been achieved,
he said, “the Northern countries
should be prepared to direct their
policy more purposefully than be
fore” and added that the question
of strengthening their co-operation
should be submitted to “an un
biased examination.”
At Helsinki, Finnish Foreign Min
ister Vaino Tanner said that Fin
land had taken thd initiative in
asking for conversations looking to
a defensive pact with Sweden and
Norway to insure her altered bor
ders against further violation.
The Norwegian newspaper Dag
bladet of Oslo declared that the rail
way provision of the Moscow treaty
would permit the Soviet Army at
any time to “cut Finland in two and
get to the Swedish border.”
New Peace Distrusted.
The Swedish newspaper Social
demokraten asserted that only “a
defense alliance in life and death”
of the northern countries could in
sure future safety, and appended the
warning:
"We do not believe in the dura
bility of the new peace and we do
not believe in peace guarantees
from a power which has dismem
bered and violated a free people.”
This anxiety—that Finland might
Within a few months go the way ot
Czecho-Slovakia—is widely shared
in Scandinavia. The people won
dered whether Finland had accepted
a harsh peace in the gamble that
Germany would bar further in
croachments in the style of her
“(See STOCKHOLM, Page A-27)~
■ ■ ■■ ' —
Philippine Socialists
Clash With Troops
By the Associated Press.
MANILA, March 14.—Two Social
ists were killed and 11 were fekred
drowned in a clash between 200
Socialists and a constabulary patrol
in Bataan Province today. Two
other Socialists were reported dying
of wounds.
Constabulary headquarters re
ported 17 Socialists were arrested
and that police seized 2 guns, 13
bolos and a red flag.
Socialists attempted to raid a pri
vately own fishing place, the con
stabulary said. The scene was near
Pampanga Province, where Social
ist sugar workers struck early this
mrt&T.
Finns' Decision to Seek Peace
Forced by Crippled Transport
Havoc Wrought by Red Bombers Worse Than
Censors Permitted to Be Known Earlier
Wade Werner, chief of the Associated Press Bureau in Copen
hagen, was in Finland for most of the Finnish-Russian conflict and
here exposes features of the war held secret under the censorship
while the fighting lasted.
By WADE WERNER,
Associated Press Foreign Correspondent.
COPENHAGEN, March 14.—Now that the Russian-Finnish
War is over, some of the most obvious reasons influencing the
Finns in their decision to sign peace can be disclosed.
While the hostilities continued, the censorship policy naturally
dictated suppression or minimizing of the damage done by the
Soviet air raids to industries and transport vital to continuance
of armed resistance.
-*
Defensive Alliance
Inescapable, Says
Finns' President
Kallio Thanks All Who
Lent Aid; Summons
Nation to Continue Unity
B> the Associated Presa.
HELSINKI, March 14.—President
Kyosti Kallio told Finland today her
losing fight with Soviet Russia, end
ed by a crushing peace after 105
days, had made a Finnish-Swedish -
Norwegian defensive alliance mes
cs bly necessary.
e necessity of such an alliance,
he said, has "become evident during
this war" and he added:
“I dare to hope that the essen
tiality of a northern defensive al
liance has become evident also to
our neighbors during this war.”
Finland counted on new fortifica
tions and a possible alliance, if need
be to save her from Czecho-Slo
v a Ida's fate. Shorn of heavily forti
fied frontiers by the pact of Munich,
September 29, 1938, Czecho-Slovakia
just a year ago tomorrow passed
under the rule of Adolf Hitler's
Reich.
Still Independent.
President Kallio spoke in a broad
cast address and he said to his peo
ple they should not forget that Fin
land still is independent and still
possesses a powerful army.
He expressed appreciation for
American relief activities and said
that “in this respect the work done
by former President Hoover has
been of extreme value.’’ He also
thanked the Scandinavian countries
and Western powers for their aid.
“Finnish honor is unstained and
oui army is still prepared to defend
our new frontiers with weapons in
hand." Kallio asserted.
"Fellow citizens, you can be con
vinced that the government, in con
cluding this peace, has only been
led by one wish—that our people
and our country should not be en
tirely destroyed.
“We have the consolation that we
have at any rate won a moral vic
tory.”
Removal Work Begun.
As he spoke, all available trucks
were on the road to begin the work
of removing thousands of Finns
from areas to be ceded to Soviet
Russia.
Premier Risto Ryti and the dele
gation which accepted the Russian
(Continued on Page A-3, Column 5.)
Representative Taylor
Quits Hospital Tomorrow
By the Associated Press.
Representative Taylor, Democrat,
of Colorado, 81-year-old chairman
of the House Appropriations Com
mittee, will leave Walter Reed Hos
pital tomorrow to return to his hotel
apartment, his aides said today.
Mr. Taylor went to the Army
hospital on January 13, threatened
with pneumonia. For weeks he
was in bed with a severe cold and
bronchitis. Lately he has been re
ceiving violet ray treatments.
Summary of Today's Star
Page.
Amusements,
C-2-3
Comics . ---C-6-7
Editorials ..A-12
Finance ...A-19
Lost, Found -D-4
Page.
Obituary ...A-14
Radio_C-G
Society .B-3
Sports _D-l-4
Woman’s Page,
C-4
Foreign
Finnish peace decision forced by
crippled transport Page A-l
Russian pledge to spare Rumania re
ported given. Page A-l
Sweden and Norway willing to talk
defense pact. Page A-l
Northern alliance necessary, says
Finn President. Page A-l
Daladier to explain war conduct to
Senate today. Page A-2
Viipuri occupation last triumph,
Reds announce. Page A-3
Welles delivers Roosevelt message
to Daladier. Page A-4
58 Nazi planes felled since September
3, say French. Page A-7
German naval building serious threat
to allies. Page A-*
Slew Briton in protest, says Indian
engineer. Page A->
National
Dies says "Government circles” in
volved in Red probe. Page A-l
Moral embargo against Soviet not
ended, Hull says. Page A-l
The havoc wrought by the bomb
ers was tremendous. Not a single
sizable town in all Finland escaped
punishment from the air.
This was bad enough for the
civilians, hundreds of whom were
killed, while countless others saw
their homes demolished, burned or
badly damaged.
Transport Vitally Damaged.
But damage to the factories and
railway transport as well as harbor
facilities was more a vital factor
ir. crippling Finnish defense.
Hanko and a number of other
towns practically ceased to exist.
Some railway junctions had lit
tle left but tracks, and the move
ment of troops through such points
to the front was a most difficult and
dangerous task.
In late February when I passed
through the juntion of Elisenvaara,
near the western shore of Lake
Ladoga, trains were crowded with
reinforcements, some southbound
toward the Karelian Isthmus, some
traveling to the northeast of Lake
Ladoga.
The troops with whom I traveled
moved through with the utmost dif
ficulty, for Elisenvaara had been
bombed five times during the night
before our arrival, and bombers
raided us four times during the
day.
My censored dispatch did not
mention soldiers, but it was the
movement of reinforcements to the
front that the Russian raiders were
crippling.
Elisenvaara already was in ruins
when we left, but it was bombed
again repeatedly in succeeding days.
Viipuri Useless as Base.
Viipurl, seaport at the western
end of the Karelian front, was so
systematically bombed it was use
less as a supply base even before the
Soviet troops advanced to within
easy artillery range.
Turku, vital western seaport and
industrial center, was raided almost
daily and bomb damage to harbor
facilities and vital factories was dis
astrous.
Tampere—munitions center—was
scourged systematically by large
fleets of bombers.
Civilian morale everywhere was
magnificent—but when factory after
factory is destroyed and even for
eign supplies and munitions cannot
be moved to the front over railroads
without the greatest of handicaps
and despite heroic work of railway
men, how can soldiers continue
fighting?
In the midst of increasing trans
port difficulties the Russian drive
against the Mannerheim Line was
intensified.
The Finns had strong steel and
concrete forts on the Summa front—
the weakest point in naturally strong
defense lines on the isthmus—but
such a tremendous volume of Rus
sian shells rained down on them
they finally were undermined.
They tipped upward like boxes—
throwing their guns out of align
ment.
Volunteers Broke.
The tragic misfortune for the de
fenders here was that Swedish
volunteers who just had relieved
seasoned but fatigued Finnish troops
broke under a surprise attack of
Soviet tanks. Before the rout could
be halted the Russians had penetrat
ed several miles and the whole
Finnish line had to be reorganized.
Despite the setback on the isthmus,
however, despite the increasing dif
ficulty of moving men and muni
tions to the front, despite the lack
(See TRANSPORTTPage' A-2.)
Conferees agree on continuing Na
tional Resources Board. Page A-2
County officers accused of part in
flogging. Page A-6
Washington and Vicinity
$5,000 limit on political contributions
voted by Senate. Page A-l
Thomas Circle underpass opened to
vehicular traffic. Page A-l
Continued TJ. S. aid to Finland is
promised. Page A-2
Editorial and Comment
This and That. Page A-12
Answers to Questions. Page A-12
Letters to The Star. Page A-12
David Lawrence. Page A-13
Alsop and Kintner. Page A-13
G. Gould Lincoln. Page A-13
Jay Franklin. Page A-13
Constantine Brown. Page A-13
Miscellany
Vital Statistics. . Page D-4
Service Orders. Page D-4
City News in Brief. Page D-4
After Dark. PageA-14
Nature’s Children. Page D-4
Bedtime Story. Page C-6
Cross-Word Puzzle. Page C-7
Letter-Out. Page C-4
Winning Contract Page C-l
Uncle Ray’s Corner. Page C-7
VD<
Negotiations for
Security Pact
Believed Begun
By LOUIS P. LOCHNER,
Associated Press Foreltn Correspondent.
BERLIN, March 14.—Germany,
an unimpeachable although non
official source disclosed today,
has obtained a definite pledge
from Soviet Russia that Ru
mania will be spared, come what
may in Southeast Europe.
This assurance, which probably
will be publicly documented soon,
apparently has enabled German
diplomacy in turn to make Rumania
incline toward a Russian-Rumanian
non-aggression pact.
Negotiations are being conducted
in the greatest secrecy but circum
stantial evidence points to Berlin
as one center where, to say the least,
the subject is being aired. German,
Russian and Rumanian sources,
however, say this capital is not the
scene of actual negotiations.
Rumanian General in Berlin.
One interesting factor is the
recent arrival in Berlin of a Ru
manian general. Technically, he is
here to negotiate extension on the
German-Rumanian trade treaty to
Germany's Bohemia-Moravia pro
tectorate.
Just why a military expert should
visit Berlin at this time is a
mystery.
Another interesting factor is a
special delivery letter which reached
foreign diplomats and other dis
tinguished foreigners today asking
them to stay away from a luncheon
of the German Academy to which
they had accepted invitations Dr.
Helmuth Wohlthat of the ministry
of economics was scheduled to speak
on Rumania.
On orders from Foreign Min
ister Joachim von Ribbentrop, the
academy directors had to send let
ters rescinding the invitation and
stipulating that “Herr State Coun
cillor Wohlthat’s address may be
delivered only before German na
tionals.”
While official Germany and the
Rumanian Legation are tight-lipped,
unofficial inquiries invariably elicit
expressions like “something is do
ing between Russia and Rumania;
the whole complexion of the inter
national situation may change be
fore the week is over.”
Decisive Week.
One well-informed person went so
far as to say this week was one of
the most decisive of the war and
would "furnish political foundations
for Germany's military victory.”
The Rumanian question, he said,
was a factor in the situation.
Still another interesting factor is
the assurance with which authorized
spokesmen have mentioned recently
the certainty of Rumania’s remain
ing aloof from the conflict. They
have consistently pooh-poohed all
rumors from abroad of Rumania’s
siding with the western powers.
German sources point to this week
as decisive for three reasons—the
settlement of the Russian-Finnish
conflict on terms which from the
German viewpoint are tantamount
to a heavy defeat for Britain and
France, arrangements between Rib
bentrop and Premier Mussolini the
nature whereof these sources decline
to reveal and “surprises” in the
offing with Rumania, the pivot of
Southeastern Europe.
Berlin Is Declared
Scene of Negotiations
BUCHAREST, March 14 (/P).—Re
ports that Soviet Russia is negotiat
ing a non-aggression pact with Ru
mania and a trade agreement with
Italy were linked today with Ger
man diplomacy.
Observers here pictured Germany
as eager, now that peace has been
restored between Finland and Rus
sia, to prevent any possible future
armed “adventures” so that Russian
suppUes can be available for Ger
many’s war machine.
Berlin was said even to be the
scene of the Russian-Rumanian ne
gotiations. Although official circles
would not comment, authoritative
sources said last night that a com
mission of high Rumanian army
officers was in the German capital.
• The commission was reported re
liably to have left here secretly
during the last week, in which gov
ernment officials had denied re
ports that a Russian delegation was
coming to Bucharest to discuss a
non-aggression agreement.
These reports, coinciding with
the end of the Russian-Finnish
war, occur while Balkan attention
is facing anxiously toward the east,
and Rumania particularly is won
dering whether the Soviet may at
tempt to get back Bessarabia, gained
by Rumania in post-World War
settlements.
Bucharest sources believe .Ger
many would discourage Russia from
(See BERLIN, Page A-6.)
Eliot Junior High
On WMAL Today
Students from Eliot Junior
High School will present a pro-1
gtam on fine arts in junior high
schools over Station WMAL at
4 o’clock this afternoon, with
members of the school orches
tra, glee club, art and English
classes participating.
This is another in a series
of educational features spon
sored by The Star with the
co-operation of the National
Broadcasting Co. and the Board
of Education.
---1
Phoenix—
Moral Embargo Against Soviet
Not Ended by Peace, Hull Says
Finnish Minister Procope Insists Pact
With Russia Won't Be 'New Munich'
Secretary of State Hull tersely de
clared today that this country's
moral embargo against the ship
ment of airplanes to Russia had not
expired automatically with the end
of the Russo-Finnish fighting.
His comment followed an impas
sioned statement by Finnish Min
ister Hjalmar J. Procope that the
settlement with Russia "will not be
a new Munich.”
‘‘We have saved our independence
and still continue as a free and
liberal country," Mr. Procope told
reporters at a press conference at
the Finnish legation.
"Thanks to our resistance,” he
added, “what happened to some
states south of Finland has not hap
pened to us.”
His reference obviously was to the
disappearance of Poland, Czecho
slovakia and Austria.
To Be Continued Indefinitely.
Secretary Hull said at his press
conference shortly after noon that
this Government had not yet had
time to look into the question of
recognition of the new frontier be
tween Russia and Finland.
Mr. Hull declined to elaborate on
his cryptic statement that the moral
embargo, which President Roosevelt
applied to the export of airplanes,
parts and materials essential to their
25 Killed and 17 Hurt
As Train Strikes
Truck in Texas
Fruit Pickers Victims
In State's Worst
Crossing Crash
By the Associated Press.
McALLEN, Tex., March 14 —
Twenty-five fruit pickers, mostly
of Mexican extraction, were killed
today in their orchard-bound truck
wnich was struck squarely in the
center at a grade crossing by a
Missouri-Pacific passenger train.
Seventeen other pickers were in
jured.
It was the most disastrous cross
ing crash in Texas history.
The train crashed into the truck
at 8:06 am. at a crossing six miles
east of this lower Rio Grande Val
ley town. It carried the vehicle on
its cowcatcher for about 600 yards.
Bodies- were scattered along the
tracks.
Identification Slow.
Identification of the victims, all
passengers in the truck, was slow.
Most of them were laborers living in
the farm areas around Alamo, Tex.
The truck burst into flames after
the crash. One victim was found
charred when the train had stopped.
Homer Garrison, State police di
rector, said “the McAllen crossing
wreck apparently is the worst of its
kind in Texas history. Our records
go back only to 1935, when the Public
Safety Department was created, but
no one here can recall a crossing ac
cident in which more lives were
lost.”
One of the worst previous crashes
occurred January 22, 1927, in which
10 Baylor University students were
killed and 12 injured in a crossing
accident at Round Rock, Tex.
The-train figuring in the McAllen
crash runs between Harlingen and
Rio Grande City. The track paral
lels the main Lower Rio Grande
Valley highway.
Tells of Finding Bodies.
John Boeye of McAllen, who was
driving with a companion on a
highway paralleling the track, said:
"I saw a big cloud of dust when
the train reached the crossing. When
wev arrived at the scene we saw
there had been a wreck. We rushed
up to find bodies rolling around
on the ground. The train was still
moving.
“The dust was so thick for a
moment We couldn’t tell what had
happened. We ran to a telephone
to call the sheriff’s office and am
bulances and then looked around
to see if we could help any of those
people. It looked to me like most
of them were beyond help. A few
minutes later Deputy Sheriff George
Ingram of the sheriff’s office care
fully tried to count the bodies. We
found at least 23. I have never
seen anything worse in My life.”
manufacture early in December,
does not expire automatically.
It was understood that the moral
embargo would be continued in ef
fect indefinitely in view of uncer
tainty over future Russian policy.
Fight Not in Vain.
Mr. Procope’s voice trembled with
emotion as he discussed the end of
his country’s conflict with Russia.
“ ‘What was the use of all this
fighting?’ you may ask. ‘What was
the use of the tens of thousands be
ing killed, of the best of Finnfeh
blood being spilled?’
“I say it was not in vain, because
a country that fights for her inde
pendence and integrity has a greater
moral right to live despite a reverse.
“I think our fight has shown that
Finland was and is very tough to
attack.
“However hard the peace forced
on us, this treaty will not be a new
Munich. We are not going to dis
arm and dissolve.”
The Finnish Minister added that
the implications and value of his
country’s fight against Russia “could
not have been better expressed” than
in President Roosevelt’s statement
of yesterday.
Mr. Roosevelt had declared that
the people of Finland "have won the
(See FINNISH ^AID, Page A-3.)
'Government Circles'
Linked to Red Probe,
Dies Charges
Committee Will Question
'Head of Soviet Police
In U. S./ He Says
By the Associated Press.
Chairman Dies of the House com
mittee investigating un-American
activities announced today that "the
head of the Soviet military police
in the United States” would be
called before the committee soon
in an expose he said would involve
"people in Government circles.”
Representative Dies, just returned
from a vacation visit to Miami, de
clined to name the prospective wit
ness or those who might be involved.
The chairman said a definite date
for the hearing had not been set
and that the committee had not
determined whether the hearing
would be open or closed.
"The purpose of this,” Mr. Dies
asserted, “is to expose the manner
in which the OGPU (Russian secret
police) operate in the United
States.”
He added that he had returned to
Washington earlier than he had
planned because of the importance
of the case. It was indicated the
Federal Bureau of Investigation had
arrested the alleged Soviet agent.
Thomas Circle Traffic Tunnel
Is Opened With Ceremonies
Officials Hint Dupont Circle Will Be Next
In Series of Other Similar Improvements
The new Thomas Circle underpass
was opened to vehicular traffic this
morning in a cold drizzling rain,
with ceremonies which forecast
other similar developments in
Washington’s congested traffic
circles.
Several District officials, led by
Commissioner Melvin C. Hazen,
touched on prospects of other grade
separations, and predicted that
“skeptics” would be convinced by
the efficiency of this improvement.
These opinions were voiced in
formally in a series of interviews
broadcast through Station WMAL
by the party of officials as they
paused in the underpass during
ceremonies. The District Commis
sioners and a small group of others
were the first to drive from west
to east through the subway carry
ing Massachusetts avenue beneath
Fourteenth street.
Traffic lights Turned On.
The public was held back, how
ever, by barricades across entrances
to the underpass until Commit
District Tax Plan
Accord Is Sought
By House Group
Subcommittee Meets
Behind Closed Doors;
Studies Seal Proposal
BACKGROUND—
Corporation Counsel Seal ruled
“residence" was ‘domicile’’ here
lor purposes of paying District in
come tax, thus making general
Federal employes subject to levy
despite maintenance of voting
residence elsewhere. Court of Ap
peals held Monday in Sweeney
case old intangible tax was in
valid against man with legal resi
dence elsewhere. Since this inter
pretation could cover the present
income levy it has thrown District
tax setup into muddle.
Behind closed doors, the Fiscal Af
fairs Subcommittee of the House
District Committee sought today to
frame a new revenue bill to supplant
the tax on personal incomes in view
of the recent decision of the District
Court of Appeals which threatened
to outlaw the tax on persons who
have a voting residence in the
States.
The subcommittee had under con
sideration a proposed bill drafted by
Corporation Counsel Elwood H. Seal,
which provides for a combination 2
per cent sales tax and a tax on in
comes in excess of $10,000.
Chairman Nichols of the subcom
mittee said the group would sit all
day, if necessary, in an attempt to
agree on some new form of taxation.
The Seal plan, which is modeled
after the recommendation of Dr.
Chester B. Pond, New York tax
expert, is being used as the basis
of the discussions, he explained.
“If we can’t agree on the Seal
plan I hope we will agree on some
thing else,” Mr. Nichols said. “We
will stay here until we can reach an
agreement if it takes us until
nightfall.”
No Hearings Planned.
Representative Nichols made the
statement to newspaper men at
12:30 o’clock after the subcommit
tee had been struggling with a new
tax program for more than two
hours. .
Mr. Nichols said the subcommittee
did not propose to hold public hear
ings on any new tax program agreed
on.
“We have had tax hearings for
five years,” he declared. “More
hearings are not necessary.”
Sittting with the subcommittee
are Maj. Daniel J. Donovan, au
ditor and budget officer, Corpora
tion Counsel Seal and Glenn Sim
mon, assistant corporation coun
sel.
All members of the subcommittee
with the exception of Representa
tive Dirksen, Republican, of Illi
nois were present during- the first
two hours of the executive ses
sion. Mr. Dirksen, who fathered
the original income tax plan for
(See D. C. TAXES, Page A-3.)
sioner Hazen officially opened the
project by turning on the traffic
lights.
As he threw a switch in a small
traffic light control stand on the
northeast part of the circle at 10:05
am., police removed the 'barricade
and the public began whizzing
through the subway from both ends.
Two taxi drivers who had been
waiting but a short time were ap
parently the most eager to negotiate
the trip first. They swirled down the
entrance to the underpass almost
neek and neck, in the two-lane
artery leading westward, and dis
appeared into the tunnel. Other cars
came from the other direction, and
soon the underpass was linetf with
cars, moving more slowly.
The first rush, however, lasted for
only a short while. A temporary line
formed on the eastern exit as many
waited for a left turn going north
into Thirteenth street. But this ap
parently included a curiosity crowd,
as it lasted only a few minutes. The
•.mmyaiwM)
Senate Votes
$5,000 Limit on
Political Gifts
Motion Wins, 40-38,
As Several Members
Change Positions
By J. A. O’LEARY.
The Senate today voted to place
a $5,000 limit on the amount any
individual may contribute to a polit
ical campaign fund.
Offered as an amendment to the
Hatch bill, to bar from political
activity all State employes paid with
Federal funds, the motion carried
by the narrow margin of 40 to 38.
It represented the first vlcto’y of
opponents of the Hatch measure to
broaden its scope.
Senator Bankhead, Democrat, of
Alabama, who failed yesterday in a
similar effort to establish a $1,000
ceiling on contributions, came back
with the higher figure today, and
won over several Senators from the
majority that has stood firmly for
more than a week against virtually
all amendments, because of a fear
the measure may never become a
law if it covers too wide a scope.
Reconsideration Tabled.
A change of one vote would have
resulted in a tie, and the Hatch
opposition group moved quickly to
seal its victory by offering a mo
tion to reconsider and then having
th-it motion tabled. On a second roll
roll call the reconsideration was ta
bled. 41 to 38. which “nails" the
$5,000 limit into the bill.
The amendment makes it a viola
tion of law for any one to contrib
ute more than $5,000. under pen
alty of a $5,000 fine or imprisonment
for five years.
Only a few minutes earlier the
Hatch supporters had beaten, by the
decisive vote of 50 to 28, another
effort to strike out the provision
banning State employes from ac
tive participation in politics, and it
appeared their lines would hold
against all amendments until final
passage.
The Bankhead campaign contri
bution limit expresses one of the
main arguments of the opponents
of the bill—namely, that it seeks
to keep “the little fellow" on a
State pay roll out of politics with
out curtailing the activity of large
private contributors to campaigns.
Two Change Votes.
The Bankhead motion at first ap
peared to be going down to defeat
as the clerk called the roll, but
Senators Shipstead, Farmer-La bor
ite, of Minnesota and O’Mahoney,
Democrat, of Wyoming, after first
voting against it, announced be
fore the call was completed that
they wished to be recorded for the
amendment.
Senator Hatch, Democrat, of New
Mexico told newspapermen later
that, ‘‘without imputing improper
motives to anybody, the purpose of
the amendment was to antagonize
the Republicans.’’ who have been
voting solidly for the bill.
The New Mexico Senator added
he did not believe it would have that .
result. On the contrary, he sug
gested it may pick up votes for
final passage of the measure. Sena
tor Hatch said Jie voted against the
limitation on contributions because
of the purpose for which he believed
it was offered. He declared he was
willing to go even further in curbing
contributions.
Senator Pepper, Democrat, of
Florida offered the motion to leave
State employes free to take active
part in political campaigns. The roll
call showed that supporters of the
new Hatch bill have gained ground
since a similar effort to delete a
major feature of the measure was
beaten last week.
Meanwhile, a move to write into
the Hatch bill a more specific defini
tion of forbidden political activity
was developing today.
Brown Considers Move.
Senator Brown, Democrat, of
Michigan made known he may offer
an amendment that would place in
the bill the complete set of rules
followed by the Civil Service Com
mission in keeping Federal workers
out of politics.
One of the arguments of the op
position has been that the bill as
it stands is too vague in merely
prohibiting State employes paid in
part with Federal funds from tak
ing “any active part in political
management or in political cam
paigns.” They have contended this
placed too much discretion in the
hands of the Civil Service Com
mission, which would administer the
new bill. Commenting on the sug
gested Brown amendment, Senator
Hatch .said:
i never nave naa any objection
to any amendment which would
strengthen or clarify the bill, but
I have objected strenuously, and
will continue to oppose, all amend
ments offered for the purpose of
killing the bill.”
Later today Senator Minton,
Democrat, of Indiana, a leader of
the opposition, may call up his
amendment to cover Into the civil
service immediately all non-clvll
service workers in the Federal Gov
ernment affected by the original
Hatch Act.
The Indiana Senator, who aired
his reasons for opposing the bill
while lunching with President
Roosevelt yesterday, declared that
if these Federal employes are to be
denied participation in political
campaigns, they should have the
protection and privileges of civil
service status. There are approxi
mately 271,000 non-clvll service em
ployes.
Minten Plans Amendment.
Senator Minton will follow this up
with an amendment to prohibit pri
vate employers, or those who lend
money at interest, to influence em
ployes politically or engage in polit
ical activity.
Near the clflSe of yesterday’s de
bate, Senator Minton again stressed
the solid support the Hatch bill is
receiving from the Republicans, and
predicted anything Republicans sup
port solidly will do the Democrats
no good. la