Evening star. [volume], March 23, 1940, Image 1

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

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Weather Forecast
Fair tonight and tomorrow; slightly Fcf nhlictinrl in
colder, with lowest tonight about 18; tsiuuiisnea in iOJ£
continued cold tomorrow and Mon- „
day. Temperatures today-Highest, Most people in Washington have The
32, at 1 p.m.; lowest, 22, at 6 a.m. 8tar silvered to their homes every
From the United States Weather Bureau report evening and Sunday morning.
Full details on Page A-2. ^
Closing N, Y. Morkets-Soles, Page B-10._ _(*> M„n. Aa.oci.ud Pr...,
88th YEAR. No. 35,025.WASHINGTON, D. C., SATURDAY, MARCH 23, 1940—THIRTY-FOUR PAGES. ** THREE CENTS.
Reynaud Calls
War Leaders
To Lay Plans
Government Gains
Strength; Press
Backs Premier
•t the Associated ">ress.
, PARIS, March 23—Paul Rey
naud, France's new' Premier, put his
“fight and win” government into
motion today by conferring w'ith the
heads of Fiance's army and navy
as well as cabinet members most
concerned with the conduct of the
war against Germany.
Generalissimo Maurice Gustave
Gamelin and Admiral Jean Darlan
were called into conference as the
Premier drove ahead with war plans
despite the bare one-man vote mar
gin he received in yesterday's confi
dence test in the Chamber of
Deputies.
Eight Attend Session.
The eight ministers who attended
the "inner group” meeting, which
lasted an hour and three-quarters,
were Camille Chautemps, Vice
Premier; Edouard Daladier, Minister
of Defense; Cesar Campinchi, Navy;
Laurent Eynac, Air; Georges Mon
net, Blockade; Lucien Lamourex,
Finance; Georges Mandei, Colonies,
and Raoul Dautry, Armament.
No communique was issued at the
conclusion of the meeting
The conference was the first gov
ernment move since the cabinet de
cided last night not to resign but to
marshal "French energies to fight
and win” the war agateist Germany.
After a crisis that saw former
Premier Daladier fall Wednesday,
M. Reynaud succeeded him Thurs
day and barely survive his first test
in Parliament yesterday, the new
government began to gain strength.
Press Backs Reynaud.
Most of the press rallied behind
him with praise for sticking to his j
post against strong opposition rather |
than plunge the country into the
confusion of another crisis and
criticized the hostile deputies for
playing politics in time of war.
The cabinet’s lease on life appar- !
ently ran at least to April 2. with
the Chamber of Deputies or: Easter
vacation until then. Its chances of
survival, meanwhile, were strength
ened by the decision of seven Radi
cal Socialist ministers to remain.
M. Reynaud's statement to the
Chamber yesterday plotted a course
closely paralleling that of M. Dala
dier’s—vigorous prosecution of the
war. but “sparing in lives,” and a re
lentless effort to “crush” the Com
munist party, which he called "an
organization of treason.”
Ill Refused to Yrote.
After hearing his message with
little evidence of enthusiasm, 268 I
Deputies voted approval for the for
mer Finance Minister's coalition
government, 156 voted against it and
111 others refused to vote and had
to be considered hostile.
Five Deputies listed among those
Who abstained in yesterday's Cham
ber vote announced today they are
favorable to the government and
one announced himself against.
These changes applied on the
basis of yesterday’s vote give the
government a majority now of 11,
or 273 for, 157 against and 105 still
listed as abstainers.
Besides Rightist objections to in
clusion of Socialists, excluded from
the Daladier cabinet, opposition was
heard also on grounds that this
merely was “Reynaud-Daladier” in
stead of a “Daladier-Reynaud” ad
ministration.
M. Reynaud was regarded gen
erally as the second guiding light in
the government headed by M. Da
ladier, who retains his portfolio as
war minister in the new cabinet.
. Welles'Ship Is Held
13 Hours by British
By the Associated Press.
LONDON, March 23.—Search of
the New York-bound Italian liner
Conte di Savoia. which was held for
13 hours at Gibraltar yesterday, was
to determine “if any one were travel
ing with a false passport,” the semi
official British Press Association said
it learned today in diplomatic circles.
It said reports had been received
that “certain people” might be so
traveling.
It added that “in official circles
it is considered, under the circum
stances, that a delay of 13 hours
was not excessive,” and that it could
not be learned in London whether
any one wuth improper papers had
been found.
Sumner Welles, United States Un
dersecretary of State, is aboard the
ship, returning from an investigative
mission in Europe.
Grade-Crossing Crashes
Kill 2 Brothers, 2 Sisters
By the Associated Press.
DETROIT, March 23.—Two broth
ers and two sisters were killed in
grade-crossing crashes in Michigan
yesterday.
A Michigan Central streamliner
hit a bread truck near Trenton,
southwest of here. Frederick Wood,
20, Melvindale, the driver, and his
brother Allen, 15, were killed in
stantly.
At Muskegon, an automobile
bearing several young people was
struck by a Pere Marquette train.
Betty Jane Dixon, 19, Muskegon,
died instantly. A sister, Beverly, 16,
succumbed to injuries a few hours
later.
Parents of the girls, Mr. and Mrs.
Walter A. Dixon, were in Spring
field, HI., where Mr. Dixon’s father
is seriously ill. A third sister, Shir
ley, 15, suffered critical injuries in
the crash.
Pope Receives U. S. Envoy
VATICAN CITY, March 23 (/P).—
Pope Pius 3£II today received David
Gray of Florida, new American
Minister to Eire (Ireland), in private
audience.
4 i
White House Hotly Denies
President Saw Cromwell Text
Reporting and Publication of Story
Castigated in Statement
By JOHN C. HENRY.
In an unusual and bitterly-worded
formal statement, the White House
today denied reports that the much
debated Toronto speech of James H.
R. Cromwell, Minister to Canada,
had ever been submitted to Presi
dent Roosevelt prior to its delivery
Tuesday.
Prompted by publication of stories
in certain newspapers that “an un
impeachable authority” had dis
closed that Mr. Roosevelt had a
preview of the speech, today’s state
ment from the White House con
cerned itself even more with a casti
gation of the reporting and publish
ing policies involved than with the
actual repudiation of the story. (The
report was not printed in The Star.)
The statement, released to the
press by Stephen T. Early, secre
tary to the President, follows, in
full:
“The public is hereby warned, this
time through a formal White House
statement, against believing certain
types of so-called news stories car
ried by certain types of so-called
newspapers.
Branded as Invention.
"This particular occasion relates
to articles stating or suggesting that
‘it was learned from an unimpeach
able authority’ that Minister Crom
well's speech in Canada was re
ceived by the President prior to its
delivery by Mr. Cromwell.
“The point that the reading pub
lic should remember is not the
obvious fact that the statement was
wholly untrue, but that the story
was not received by any reporter
or newspaper from any ’unimpeach
able authority.’ In other words,
‘the unimpeachable authority’ was
deliberately invented.
“This has been conclusively proved
to the satisfaction of the White
House.
“The motive tn continuing this
reprehensible policy is obvious to
Feverish Activity
In Berlin Hints
Visit by Molotoff
Historic Events Next
Week Indicated by
Russian Embassy
By LOUIS P. LOCHNER,
Associated Press Foreign Correspondent.
BERLIN, March 23—There were
many indications in Berlin today
that the German Foreign Office and
the Russian Embassy are preparing
for a visit by Soviet Russian Premier
Foreign Commissar Vyacheslaff Mol
otoff.
Although yesterday, Good Friday,
was a legal holiday, the personal
staff of Foreign Minister Joachim
von Ribbentrop worked feverishly
and it was a matter of common gos
sip in political circles that they were
arranging all details for reception of
the Russian premier.
Historic Events Hinted.
At the Russian Embassy cautious
replies to the effect that "the exact
date for events in the offing is not
set yet" seemed to confirm belief
that next week might be another
historic one in Europe's history.
Authorized sources assured foreign
correspondents, however, that they
could “enjoy a quiet Easter.” This
was taken to mean that Molotoff
will not come to Berlin until next
week at earliest.
It was understood that the Ger
man, Italian and Russian govern
ments were taking their time for
the effects of the French cabinet
change and British arguments over
the rival Scapa Flow and Sylt air
raids to become fully evident before
the next public step is taken in re
lations of the three states.
Rumor of Ultimatum Countered.
Meanwhile, authorized sources
classed all rumors of any German
ultimatum to Rumania, of a visit by
Von Ribbentrop to the Balkans, of a
planned Reichstag session and of an
impending visit by Molotoff to Ber
lin as "attempts by the other side to
make us reveal our plans or issue
provocative denials.”
The sources declared, “We decline,
however, to be provoked.”
Rome Radio Reports
Molotoff Trip Today
ROME. March 23 (/P).—The Rome
radio early today broadcast Berlin
reports that Soviet Premier-Foreign
Minister Molotoff would arrive in
the German capital during the day
for a talk with Adolf Hitler on a
probable rapprochement between
Italy and Russia.
Reports published throughout the
Italian press said Molotoff was ex
pected to stay in Berlin two days
discussing the situation in the
Balkans and the Brenner Pass meet
ing last Monday between Hitler and
Premier Mussolini.
20-Inch Snowfall
Clogs Maine Highways
By the Associated Press.
PORTLAND, Me., March 23.—
Maine, which escaped the brunt of
storms that plagued the rest of
the Atlantic seaboard last winter,
groaned today under a thick snow
burden laid down by an early spring
sou'easter.
Whistling in from the Great Lakes
and driven by winds of near-gale
force, the storm’s sticky flakes—
guaranteeing the State a white
Easter—piled to a height of 20
inches in the western portion, clog
ging highways in Rumford, Farm
ington and Bethel.
In the central portion the snow
fall ranged from 9 to 14 inches.
The capital city of Augusta recorded
9 inches.
»
A
the overwhelming majority of the
reading public.”
Denies Making Statement.
Prior to preparation of this state
ment, Mr. Early told reporters he
had talked with Mr. Cromwell by
telephone at his New Jersey home.
Specifically, he said, he asked the
millionaire Minister to Canada if
he or any one responsible to him
had made any statement to the
effect that his Toronto speech had
been submitted to the White House
before delivery.
Mr. Cromwell denied such a re
port without qualification, Mr. Early
said.
The President’s secretary said he
did not discuss with Mr. Cromwell
any Washington visit by the diplo
mat and that no appointment for
him to see President Roosevelt has
been made.
The storm over Mr. Cromwell’s
oratory arose after he had told a
Toronto audience that the French
and British are fighting for the life
and liberty of all the world’s neutral
nations, making no secret that he
felt they should be given every en
couragement by those countries not
already in the war.
Reprimanded by Hull.
Copies of his address immediately
were requested by Secretary of State
Hull and were followed by a repri
mand to the Minister. Secretary
Hull indicated yesterday that his
scolding of Mr. Cromwell and his
warning that such speeches should
not be repeated marked an end to
the incident as far as the State
Department is concerned.
Mr. Early said yesterday, as had
the State Department previously,
that no copies of the address had
bqpn received in Washington prior
to its delivery. The stories that "an
unimpeachable authority’’ was say
ing a copy had been in President
Roosevelt's hands apparently came
out of New York late yesterday.
Primary Seen Topic
As President Confers
With La Follette Today
Roosevelt, Recovering
From Cold, Also Is Due
To See Edison
Reported recovering from his lin
gering cold. President Roosevelt in
vited Senator La Follette, Pro
gressive, of Wisconsin to lunch at
the White House today.
With the Wisconsin primary
voting scheduled for April 2 and
the La Follette Progressive group
expected to wield considerable power
in both Republican and Democratic
tests, it was expected that the
political situation in that State
might be the major subject of the
luncheon conversation.
President Roosevelt and Vice
President Garner head opposing
Democratic tickets in Wisconsin,
with Senator Vandenberg of Mich
igan and Thomas E. Dewey topping
Republican slates.
By Wisconsin law, primary voting
is not restricted to registered party
members.
Also to See Edison.
For his only other appointment
of the day, the President was to see
Secretary of the Navy Edison this
afternoon. It was emphasized at
the White House that the Edison
conference was to concern itself
with some Navy Department matters
which the Secretary wished to take
up with the President.
Mr. Edison’s candidacy for the
New Jersey governorship was an
nounced a few days ago, however,
and quite probably may be discussed
today.
Although the President had no
fever today for the first time since
the cold settled on him about two
weeks ago, it was said that he prob
ably will not make an Easter church
appearance, but will plan to return
to his office on Monday.
Senator Van Nuys, Democrat, of
Indiana has called on Postmaster
General Farley to quit as national
Democratic chairman in fairness to
other candidates for the party’s
presidential nomination.
“Fond” of Farley.
Referring to Mr. Farley’s unqual
ified announcement that his name
would be placed before the Demo
cratic National Convention, Senator
Van Nuys, who is supporting Secu
rity Administrator Paul V. McNutt
for President, said yesterday:
“If nominated and elected, he
(Farley) would make a very accept
able President, carrying into the
White House a lot of good common
sense and stability.
“I am very fond of Jim Farley,
and I could support him as a nom
inee very gladly. But I do not think
it is fair to other candidates that he
retain his position as national chair
man, capitalizing on the prestige
which that office entails.”
Senator Van Nuys said he thought
retention of the party chairmanship
by Mr. Farley would not be in keep
ing with the spirit of the Hatch Act,
which curbs political activities of
Federal employes other than policy
making officials. He added that he
thought this position would be
adopted by the Postmaster General
himself. Friends of Mr. Farley have
expressed belief recently, however,
that he had no intention of resign
ing as chairman at this time.
Swiss Correspondent
Ordered Out of Reich .
By the Associated Press.
BERLIN, March 23.—Dr. J. C.
Meyer, financial correspondent for
the newspaper Zurcher Zeitung of
Zurich, Switzerland, and treasurer
of the Foreign Press Association in
Berlin, has been given three days
in which to leave Germany.
I
British Battle
Subs for Danes'
Food Exports
Denmark's Shipping
Losses Raised to
28 by Sinkings
By the Associated Press.
LONDON, March 23.—New Ger
man submarine onslaughts against
vital shipping lanes brought in
creased British efforts today to coax
neutral vessels into convoys and keep
them at the job of furnishing the
food that means more than muni
tions in the rival campaigns of star
vation.
Typical of British reaction to the
announcement that seven neutral
ships have been sunk by submarines
in two days was the News Chronicle
editorial that “Neutrals know where
safety lies ... (in British convoys)
. . . but they are slow to apply their
knowledge.”
The fact that six of the latest vic
tims were Danish was seen by some
circles as an indication that Ger
many was frying to “persuade” Den
mark to divert her famous dairy
products to German markets. Dan
ish butter, bacon and eggs help sup
ply the breakfast table of British
soldier and civilian alike.
In 1938, British imports of Danish
foods included 128.000 tons of butter
and 86,776,000 dozen eggs, about one
fourth and one-third, respectively,
of total British consumption.
(The Danish government today
instructed its ministers to both
Berlin and London to ask for an
opportunity to discuss how to
diminish the consequences to
Denmark of the present sea
warfare, a dispatch from Copen
hagen said. Denmark in addition
to losing merchant ships at sea
has been the victim of bomb ex
plosions on her soil and of viola
tions of her territory by airplanes
ot the warring nations.)
Losses Raised to 28 Ships.
The latest Danish sinkings raised
that country’s losses to 28 ships,
totaling 59,309 tons, about 4 per
cent of her merchant fleet.
Impressing the British with the
probability of stormier days ahead
were reports of a large concentra
tion of German submarines just
outside Norwegian waters and the
statement of a German commander
to a Norwegian fishing captain that
submarines soon would be “as com
mon as fishing boats.”
British warships today discovered
rafts from the Danish steamer
Charkow. reported sunk, probably
by torpedo, yesterday. The body of
a seaman was on one raft, but there
was no other trace of the 15 reported
missing.
On the British credit side was the
sinking of the German steamer
Heddernheim near the entrance to
the Baltic Sea, reported yesterday as
the first such action by a British
submarine.
Deny German Ships Bombed.
Some quarters regarded the loca
tion as a tip that Britain was start
ing a campaign to block Scandi
navian ore shipments to Germany
in a spot at which the allied block
ade long has been leaking.
On the aerial side of the blockade
j battle, the Air Ministry denied that
j British planes had bombed German
; and other merchant ships off the
1 German coasts, as reported by DNB,
the official German news agency.
One of the German bombers
which participated in a raid on a
British convoy in the North Sea
Wednesday was reported to have
reached home with only one engine
operating after being hit by British
pursuit plane fire.
The crew of this plane was quoted
by DNB as saying it had sunk a
“tenth ship, of about 6.000 tons, in
the convoy raid. The British have
denied that any ships were sunk by
the planes.
Skeptical of Newsmen's Tour.
British newspapers meanwhile.ex
pressed skepticism over the extent of
a tour which three American news
papermen were allowed to take on
the island of Sylt following the
British air raid on that German base
Tuesday night.
The reporters had said they saw
no evidence of extensive damage.
“Nazis Bluff U. S. Reporters,” ran
the Telegraph headline, and others
printed extracts from the Americans’
stories. The Mail said Germany was
“using her favorite method of giving
the world 1 per cent truth in the
hope that they would swallow 99 per
cent falsehood.”
The Air Ministry insisted that
British flyers had confirmed success
of the operation again Sylt “by ob
servation,” although saying that
weather conditions and German
ground defenses has made it impos
sible to obtain good photographs of
the damage.
Nazi Bomber, Given Up
For Lost, Returns Home
BERLIN, March 23 </P>.—A Ger
man bomber, which the high com
mand gave up for lost in Wednes
day’s raid on a British convoy off
Scapa Flow, managed to return to
its home port after a precarious
flight over the North Sea with only
one motor functioning efficiently,
DNB, official news agency, reported
last night.
The agency said the exhausted
crew reported sinking the ’’tenth”
ship, a vessel of about 6,000 tons, in
the convoy assault. The high com
mand previously reported other
planes of the scouting group sank
nine naval and merchant vessels of
the convoy.
The crew told of a fight with three
British pursuit planes. The radio
operator was seriously injured by a
bullet in his head. Other bullets
damaged the motors.
Hughes Gives Ambulance
NEW YORK, March 23 (#).—
Howard Hughes, sportsman pilot
and ’round-the-world record holder,
today presented the Canadian Red
Cross with an ambulance for the
Royal Air Force hospital on the
Cliveden estate of Lord and Lady
As tor near London.
A
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SOME MOREyi
Coldest Easter in Years
Predicted for Tomorrow
Weather to Be Fair, With Mercury
Probably Below Freezing All Day
Washington faces one of the cold- ,
est Easter Sundays in years—with
the mercury expected to slide down
to 18 degrees tonight and to stay
below or around freezing all day
tomorrow.
"Continued cold tomorrow and
Monday,” said the Weather Bureau.
The prediction, however, is for a
fair Easter, so that finery will be in
order, even if it is covered with furs.
The minimum this morning was
22 degrees. The average tempera
ture yesterday was 9 degrees below
the normal mean for the date over
a long period of years and indica
tions were Easter would bring a
still lower mean.
Yet, despite the return—or con
tinuance—of winter, Washington
was all set today for a traditional
Easter celebration.
The observance of the day will
begin early tomorrow with masses
in CatholiOcrfilMKcbiM * > i
ceremony h^P8ng?en wMofial
Cemetery and a 7:30 holy com
munion service in Washington
Cathedral.
Many leading Protestant churches
have planned extra morning serv
ices before the regular 11 am.
service to accommodate overflow
crowds. At Catholic University the
regular Sunday masses will be
celebrated.
Business Brisk.
Merchants reported that buying
in anticipation of Easter was 10
to 20 per cent higher this year, al
though this will be the earliest
Easter since 1913. A wholesale
florist reported a 20 per cent rise
in this year's demand for Easter
blossoms. For the first time in his
experience, he said, the supply of
Easter lilies was exhausted three
days before the holiday.
All the flowers sold this year are
hot-house products, since the sea
‘ Se<* EASTER. >age~ A^13/)
Rockville Police Hold
2 in Kidnaping of
D. C. Cab Driver
Victim Left Trussed Up
After Robbery Attempt
On Maryland Road
(Picture on Page A-13.)
Two Washington men were being
held by Rockville police today on
complaint of a District taxicab
driver, who charged that the pair
kidnaped him, attempted to rob
him and then left him tied hand
and foot by the side of a Maryland
road.
Victim of the abduction was Victor
Smith, 33 Fourth street, Edmonston,
Md. Those held are Lawrence W.
Van Arsdall, 24, of 605 I street N.W.,
and Robert J. Reed, 26, of 515 H
street N.W.
Mr. Smith said the men hailed his
cab in Washirtgton about 10 o’clock
last> night and ordered him to drive
to Silver Spring. When he reached
the address they had given, the two
pulled guns and ordered him to
drive to Baltimore, he said.
Tire Blows Out.
One of the men took the wheel
from him, but got lost and finally
got on the road to Frederick, Md.,
Mr. Smith continued. A tire blew
out and the two found they could
not go on because there was no
spare tire and no tools in the cab,
he said.
Mr. Smith said the men went
through his pockets, after pulling
up on a lonely side road, but found
no money. Then they tied him up
and started toward Washington on
foot, he said.
He cut himself free, using a pen
knife which he carried in his pocket,
and made his way to a telephone.
Police Arrest Pair.
Montgomery County Policemen
Marion Dayhoff and Clayton Rick
etts picked Mr. Smith up and a
short time later they came upon
the two men, walking along the
road near Gaithersburg. Mr. Smith
identified the two and they were
jailed.
Supt. of Police Ernest W. Brown
said the Police Department had re
ceived a report from Card & Os-/
borne, Inc., jewelers located at 1309
Connecticut avenue, stating that
$10,000 worth of gems was stolen
from the store between March 8
and 10.
The missing jewelry consisted of
two large rings, the police head
stated. Maj. Brown said police are
not investigating the case, as re
quested in the report. Store officials
declined to discuss the case.
Two holdup men obtained $75 in
the robbery of a liquor store at
647 H street ND. last night. Victim
of the robbers was Meyer H. Lan
day, proprietor.
Mrs. Isabel Lyons, 51, of 1549
Thirty-fifth street N.W. was thrown
to the ground by two white boys
who made an unsuccessful attempt
to steal her purse last night. She
was returning from church and was
near her home at the time. At
Georgetown Hospital she received
treatment lor cut* and bruises,
A
F. C. C. Suspends Rule
Allowing Television
Broadcasting
R. C. A. Marketing Drive
Disregards Agreement,
Commission Says
By WILLIAM J. WHEATLEY.
Contending the Radio Corp. of
America has disregarded its recom
mendations for further improvement
in the quality of television trans
mission before receiving sets are
offered for general sale to the public,
the Federal Communications Com
mission yesterday dealt the corpora
tion’s television plans a major set
back by ordering a further hearing
April 8 on the question of commer
cial television programming.
The F. C. C. action suspended
until further order rules approved
unanimously February 29 which
would permit limited commercial op
eration of television stations begin
ning September 1.
In a statement announcing its de
cision, the commission said it was
prompted by the “current marketing
campaign of the Radio Corp. of
America,” which, it held, was at
vyiance with the intent of the prin
ciples agreed upon,.
Direct cause of the order for a
further hearing, it was learned, was
the appearance of R. C. A. adver
tisements in New York newspapers
and trade journals indicating the
commission had given a sort of “am
ber light” to large-scale television
development.
The decision, announced a few
hours after the National Broadcast
<See TELEVISION, Page A-3.f~
Mysterious Blast
Injures Worker on
Picketed Project
Explosive 'Planted' in
Victim's Pocket,
Police Believe
Thomas L. Pearson, 59-year-old
workman on a building renovation
project at 703 H street N.E., was
wounded today by a mysterious
explosion in one of his overcoat
pockets.
The victim was a loss to explain
the origin of the blast, which tore
away two fingers of his left hand
and wounded his left thigh. Al
though records at Casualty Hospital. |
where Mr. Pearson was admitted, i
described his wounds as of "gun
shot" origin, the victim said he had
no gun and knew of nothing in his
pocket which could have exploded.
Doctors said the wounds showed 1
on the theory' some one might have
“planted” an explosive object in
Mr. Pearson s pocket.
Project Picketed for Weeks.
Police found powder burns on a
cigarette package removed from the ;
pocket where the explosion occurred.
The building project, where Mr. I
Pearson was waiting for his pay
envelope when he was wounded,
has been picketed for several weeks
by representatives of construction
unions in the American Federation
of Labor. The work on the project
is being done by Congress of Indus- j
trial Organizations workmen. The
C. I. O., meanwhile, has been
picketing a dress shop a few doors
away, where the A. F. of L. recently
engaged in building activity.
Mr. Pearson said he had had no
arguments with any one near his
job and could not explain any rea
son why any one “would be after
me.” Mr. Pearson lives at 105
Eighth street N£.
Chatting With Friends.
George Youngerman, a plasterer,
who was standing near Mr. Pearson
when the explosion occurred, said
the victim had been standing in
the center of the unfinished room
“chatting with two of the boys and
holding his hands in his pockets
for half an hour.”
“They were just having a friendly
conversation,” Mr. Youngerman
said, “when all of a sudden I heard
a report that sounded like a fire
cracker and Mr. Pearson jerked his
hand out of his pocket. It was
bleeding.”
Opulent Volunteers
Leave to Aid Allies
By the Associated Press.
NEW YORK, March 23.—The first
contingent of American Field Serv
ice Volunteer Ambulance Drivers—
18 young men opulent enough to
buy their uniforms and pay their
expenses—sail on the United States
liner Manhattan today to help the
allied cause in France.
Summary of Today's Star
Programs of Easter music in
Washington churches on pages
AS and A-9.
Page.
Amusements,
B-18
Church News,
A-10-13
Comics B-16-17
Editorials ._.A-6
Finance_B-10
Page.
Garden Pg.__B-8
Lost, Found.B-ll
Obituary ___A-13
Radio.B-16
Real Estate B-l-9
Society _A-4
Sports ..A-14-15
Foreign
British see Nazi effort to cut off
Danish food. Page A-l
Hungarian Premier in Rome to see
II Duce. Page A-l
Reynaud marshals Prance for vic
tory over Reich. Page A-l
Feverish Berlin activity hints Molo
toff visit. Page A-l
National
White House denies President saw
Cromwell speech. Page A-l
Primary seen topic as Roosevelt con
fers with La Follette. Page A-l
Whelchel charges persecution in in
dictment. Page A-3
Washington and Vicinity
Coldest Easter In years predicted
lor tomorrow!. Page A-l
A
Planners approve bill to fix D. C.
Virginia boundary. Page A-16
Editorial and Comment
This and That. Page A-6
Answers to Questions. Page A-6
Letters to The Star. Page A-6
David Lawrence. Page A-7
Alsop and Kintner. Page A-7
G. Gould Lincoln. Page A-7
Constantine Brown. Page A-7
Jay Franklin. Page A-7
Sports
Dodger, Card bosses turn tables on
holdout stars. Page A-14
Vaulting record endangered in meet,
at Chicago. Page A-14
Crawley ’stakes, three special
matches Occupy bowlers. Page A-15
Bakers threaten to clean up in D. C.
badminton tourney. Page A-15
Miscellany
Dorothy Dix. Page A-4
Barbara Bell Pattern. Page A-4
Needlework. Page A-4
Vital Statistics. Page A-5
Nature’s Children. Page A-7
Service Orders. Page B-6
Reputation. Page B-ll
Bedtime Story. Page B-16
Letter-Out. Page B-16
Winning Contract. Page B-16
Uncle Ray’s Comer. Page B-17
Crow-Word Puzzle. Page B-17
Benefits Added,
Farm Bill Goes
Back to House
Economy Leader
Dubious of Slicing
Off Parity Funds
By J. A. O’LEARY.
The congressional economy drive
was back today almost to the level
at which It started three month*
ago, as the $923,000,000 farm bill
awaited House action on Senate
amendments that added $212,000,
000 for parity payments, $85,000,000
for disposal of surplus commodities
and many smaller changes.
Following passage of the big agri
cultural measure late yesterday, the
Senate gave right of way to the
resolution to extend the administra
tion's reciprocal trade agreement
program for three more years, and
then recessed until Monday, when
extended debate on that major issue
will start.
Allowing for reductions in some
items the Senate made a net in
crease of about $209,000,000 over the
House total of direct appropriations
for the farm program. Before the
farm bill came along, approximately
$300,000,000 had been whittled from
prior supply bills in an effort to
avoid levying the $460,000,000 of
new taxes the President's budget
would have required.
Authorizes Loan to R. E. A.
In addition to the $209,000,000 of
direct appropriations, the Senate
wrote into the farm bill authority
for the R F. C. to lend $40,000,000
for the program of the Rural Elec
trification Administration, and $50,
OOo.OOO for the farm-tenancy pro
gram under the Bankhead-Jones
Act. If the loan authorizations are
included, the total for all agricul
tural purposes in the bill passes the
bil'ion-dollar mark.
The House probably will send the
measure to conference Monday or
Tilesday and, while it may not
agree to the full amounts added
by the Senate, the bulk of the Sen
ate increase is likely to be sustained.
The main item, parity payments,
was not in the President's budget
and was not provided for in the
original House bill.
Economy Leader Dubious.
Representative Woodrum, Demo
crat. of Virginia, a leader of the
House economy bloc, observed econ
omy advocates would "make the best
fight we can but the economy spirit
probably will not be as strong the
surplus commodities provision would
swing many urban Representatives
behind the expanded bill because
of the popularity of the stamp plan
in many cities. Under that plan
persons on relief and in low income
groups are given 50 cents worth of
food designated as surplus commod
ities for each dollar spent for other
foods.
The plan is operating in 50 cities
now, will be expanded to 100 urban
areas by July, and. officials sav, is
sought by 700 cities. The budget
recommended $72,000,000 for surplus
removal but the item was stricken
out in the House originally under &
technicality.
Senator Russell of Georgia, who
steered the farm appropriation
through the Senate, estimated that
30.000. 000 persons would benefit from
the outlays it provides—5,500.000
farmers and their families. Another
13.000. 000 persons were eligible, he
estimated, to receive food under the
surplus removal programs.
Serving with Senator Russell as
Senate members of the Conference
Committee on the bill will be Sen
ators Hayden of Arizona, Tydings
of Maryland, Bankhead of Alabama,
Smith of South Carolina, Demo
crats, and Nye of North Dakota, and
McNary of Oregon, Republicans.
Chances of Saving Slim.
There appeared to be little hope
today of saving enough on remain
ing appropriation bills to offset the
farm increases and the new tax
revenue contemplated by the budget
as submitted in January. The
biggest bills remaining to be acted
on by the Senate are Navy, Army,
work relief, Interior and civil func
tions of the War Department.
Ex-Cajinet Ministers
Convicted in Rumania
By the Associated Press.
BUCHAREST, March 23. — Two
former cabinet ministers, one ac
cused of leading pro-Jewish agita
tion and the other of inciting anti
Jewish activities, were convicted
yesterday by a military tribunal.
Dr. Virgil Madgearu. Minister of
Finance In the cabinet of Premier
Juliu Maniu in 1932, was sentenced
to forced residence at Frasinet Mon
astery for directing propaganda of
the outlawed Nazi-inclined, anti
Jewish Iron Guard.
Dr. Nicolae Lupu, Minister of Labor
in 1928 and also a follower of Maniu,
will be sentenced later on a charge
of inciting Jews to riot against the
Iron Guard.
Burns to Death
After Voicing
Fear of Crash
By the Associated Press.
BUTLER, Pa., March 23.—Trans
porting an automobile convoy from
Detroit to Oil City, Pa., Frank
Snodgrass, 29, of East Butler,
stopped at a service station yester
day and was quoted by an attend
ant as saying his brakes were not
working properly and “if you hear
of an accident, you'll know it was
me.”
Shortly afterward, the convoy
plunged over a 50-foot embankment
30 miles north of here and caught
fire Mr. Snodgrass burned to
death. Three of the four new cars
he was transporting were damaged
badly. The tractor, property of the
S. J. Boutelle Driveway Co., Detroit,
was reduced to junk.
■