Newspaper Page Text
Weather Report kll^llT PI II I I Occasional light rains this afternoon; con- 1 ■MlBapA I V I ||| JR I « ttnued rather cold; fresh winds. Temperatures' I I I I llBL ] today—Highest, 57, at 3:45 p.m.; lowest, 54, at ■ ^ ». ^ latest news AND SPORTS 1 Full details on Fate A-14. CLOSING MARKETS __Closing N. Y. Markets—Soles, Poge 15- ^ _<#> Means AssocUtsd Press.__ 90th YEAE. No. 35,959. WASHINGTON, D. C.,. TUESDAY, OCTOBEE 13, 1942-FOETY-TWO PAGES. X SSsS& THEEE CENTS. Scents ^ ---:-—---:-------—------ 1 1 1 ! 1 1 Late News Bulletins Rios Delays Visit to Argentina BUENOS AIRES (JP).—President Juan Antonio Rios of Ohile has postponed the visit he had planned to mafce to Argentina in connection with his now-deferred trip to the United States, it was announced today. He has so informed Argentina’s President, Ramon S. Castillo. Abd El Krim Proclaims Loyalty to Vichy VICHY (fl*).—The French announced today that the exiled Riff warrior chieftain, Abd El Krim, has proclaimed himself a Vichy loyalist. Abd El Krim is in banishment on the Indian Ocean island of Reunion, near Madagascar, a prisoner of the French since a revolt of his Moroccan Arab tribe collapsed in 1926. Roosevelt Awaits Willkie's Arrival Tonight President Roosevelt said late today that he expected Wendell Willkie to arrive in Washington some time this eve ning from his world tour of fighting fronts, and that he had sent Mr. Willkie word he would be delighted to see him soon after he gets here. The President said he did not know yet whether the meeting would be tonight or tomorrow morning. The Associated Press reported that Mr. Willkie arrived at Minneapolis this afternoon. (Earlier Story on Page A-3.) Manpower Plan Failing, President Says Present volunteer efforts to solve the Nation’s manpower problem are not working satisfactorily, President Roosevelt said late today. He added, however, ihat he is not going to ask for compulsory manpower control legislation unless the volunteer system fails after further trial. (Earlier Story on Page A-l.) Hurley to Return to New Zealand Brig. Gen. Patrick J. Hurley, American Minister to New Zealand, now on leave in this country, will return to his post in New Zealand, President Roosevelt said late today when asked about reports that Gen. Hurley was being given a new job. Daring Dutch Officer Makes Second Escape From Axis Camp Thrilling Story of Flight From Java Related by Young Infantry Leader i By GEORGE WELLER, W»r Correspondent of The Star and Chieaio Dally News. SOMEWHERE IN AUSTRALIA. Oct. 13.—Between 800 and 900 American soldiers, chiefly mem bers of the Texas National Guard, were taken prisoners in Java, together with some Army j flyers. «Furthermore, a certain number of Navy men, survivors of a cruiser sinking in Sunda Straits, are known to have been held in Java, but an escaped Dutch prisoner reaching here said he-had seen none. (Whether the cruiser sinking survivors were from the U. S. S. Houston, which went down in the battle of the Java Sea, was not indicated by the dispatch.) A handsome young Dutchman in his late 20s provided your corre spondent with the first authentic account of what has happened to prisoners in the Netherlands Indies since the triple Japanese landings under an umbrella of bombers and fighters backed by a heavy cruiser and destroyer force, overwhelmed Java. This boyish-faced infantry leader, who cannot be named for reasons of security, is one of the mo$t remark able officers who has yet emerged from the war scene. His modest, gentle manner and his dark, sensi tive, lean and rather un-Dutch face belie his astonishing adventures. His escape from Java was his sec ond successful flight from an Axis prison camp. He was captured by the Germans in the invasion of Holland and was first placed in a (See DUTCHMAN, Page 2-X.) News Truth to Be Prime Need When Peace Comes, Editor Says By the Associated Press. LONDON, Oct. 13 — In the years after Hitler the peoples of the world will need truth in the news as they have never needed it before "if they are to survive and to build well, if they are to be guided by reason.” said W. J. Haley, one of England's leading editors, in a broadcast to night. Mr. Haley, who is joint managing director of the Manchester Guardian and the Manchester Evening News and director of the Press Association and Reuters, plans to visit the United States next month. "Among the biggest factors in keeping truth in the news are news agencies,” he said. "Between them Stimson Criticizes Army Navy Fight In Silencing Knerr My the Associated Press. Secretary of War Stimson said today he had ordered Col. Hugh J. Knerr to refrain from public com ment on the conduct of the war because the Government “does not pay the officers of its Army and Navy to fight with each other.” The Government, Secretary Stim son added, "pays them to fight with the common enemy in full and har monious co-operation with each other.” “Col. Knerr, although retired, is •»in tr> the ru»v of the United States and as a retired officer is subject to caU of duty in time of war.” Col. Knerr, former chief of staff of the General Headquarters Air Force. In a statement last Friday in New York criticized Admiral Thomas C. Hart for an article Ad miral Hart wrote in the Saturday Evening Post arguing against a sep arate air force. Yesterday mtol Knerr notified the Milwaukee Town Hall he would be unable to appear there for a sched uled speech because Secretary Stim eon had ordered him "to refrain from all public, written and oral comments on the conduct of the war.” Secretary Stimson. asked if he had any comment on Admiral Hart’s article, replied "No. it would be quite as inappropriate for me to com ment on Admiral Hart as it was for . Col. Knerr.” "Admiral Hart is not in my Juris diction," Secretary Stimson added. “He Is in the Jurisdiction of my friend and colleague, the Secretary of the Nary, who can be counted on : to take any action if it is neces [ gary* thev cover pretty well every portion of the globe. They, too, have the same responsibility to give the pa pers they serve, and between nation and nation, an impartial and ob jective news service, and to see that, in the words of the recently-formed Reuters trust, ‘their integrity, in dependence and freedom from bias shall at all times be fully preserved.’ "My friend. Kent Cooper, head of the Associated Press of America, believes that a world-wide system of such free agencies, independent, impartial, reporting the news of their countries and of the world with no other motive than to sup ply the truth, can do much to in sure the permanence of peace. “It isn’t such a far-fetched idea. Remember that Hitler early decided that the surest way to retain con trol of the German people was to quarantine them from the worlds news * * Advising readers what they could do to help the cause of truth in news, Mr. Haley said "for one thing you can judge the news, you can get into the habit of following those sources which experience proves to be not necessarily the most exciting or most pleasant, but the most re liable.’*, “You know," he said, “if every reader would only exercise the sim plest critical faculty, he could help powerfully." Commander at Midway Awarded Medal by Knox l Capt. Spencer S. Lewis, 44. Car vert, Tex., today was presented with the Distinguished Service Medal by Secretary of the Navy Prank Knox, who acted for President Roosevelt, Capt. Lewis, who also holds the Navy Cross for World War escort duty on the U. S. S. Patterson, was commander of a task force during the Battle of Midway, June 4 to 6, 1942. His citation said that “through judicious planning and skillful exe cution, Capt. Lewis contributed im measurably to the engagements with the enemy.” Nazis Move All Males From Norwegian Parish By the Associated Preu. LONDON, Oct. 13.—The Germans have removed virtually the entire male population from the parish of Grane, in Northern Norway, exe cuting or arresting at least 75. Reu ters said today in a Stockholm dispatch which quoted the Swedish newspaper Aftontidningen. » Two Arrested For Robbing 35 D. C. Homes $10,000 Loot Found; Victims Selected From Society Pages (Picture on Page 2-X.) The arrest of two 27-year-old Washington men, who police say have confessed to breaking into more than 35 homes in the Northwest section of the city and in Chevy Chase, Md., and the re covery of property valued at more than $10,000 were disclosed this afternoon by Capt. Arthur C. Belt, eighth precinct com mander. The men were arrested at their home last night, where police found steamer trunks and 13 handbags filled with loot. Two of the bags, containing valuable jewelry, were buried under a coal pile in the base ment. Capt. Belt said the men read the society columns of local papers tell ing of people leaving for vacations and then robbed the homes. Precinct Detective Charles T. Wil liams and Pvt. Roland M. Kirby, who have been working on the case for three months, found complete rec ords in the rooms of the two men. nlMV,nUnti/inl1ll tVl a nniMAC A f victims and the amount of loot taken, Capt. Belt said. Sale of Cuff Links Gives Clue. The loot is being held at the eighth precinct station for identification by persons reporting their homes en tered. Capt. Bell said a large quan tity of articles stolen had not been recovered. “We believe there are many more than 35 housebreakings against these men,” he said. Detective Williams got on the trail of the two men in July, when a downtown Jeweler reported to police he had purchased a quantity of gold cuff links from a man who gave an address in the 1400 block of W street N.W. The detective, failing to find any one flitting the description at the address listed, systematically covered the corresponding street in every section of the city, with the assistance of Pvt. Kirby. Through his tedious elimination process, Capt. Belt said, the men were finally tracked down last night. $4,000 Necklace in Loot. One four-strand pearl necklace with a diamond clasp found in the house is believed to be worth $4,000, Capt. Belt said. A painting believed to be the property of Scott Appleby, local real estate man who lives at 2501 Thirtieth street N.W., was found and has been valued at $500. The loot also included nine pistols, hundreds of pieces of jewelry, bot tles of champagne and furs. Police also found a Bronx County (N. Y.) deputy sheriff's badge and an honorary police badge issued here in the men's possession. Capt. Belt said one man has admitted serving time for robbery in another city. Among the homes said to have been entered by the pair was that of Harry G. Meem, president of the Washington Loan & Trust Co., who lives at 2730 Thirty-fourth place N.W. Brazilian Navy Placed Under U. S. Command By the Associated Press. Secretary of the Navy Knox, just back from a trip to Brazil and American bases along the way, said today the Brazilians had placed their naval forces under the Ameri can area commander, Admiral Jonas H. Ingram. The Army has planes operating under Admiral Ingram and directly commanded by Brig. Gen. Robert Le Grand Walsh, commanding gen eral of the Air Transport Command in the South Atlantic, Secretary Knox said. The Secretary told his press con ference that Admiral Ingram was enlarging his activities considerablj in the area qj submarine activity with Brazilians putting in all avail able craft and having many ships almost ready to join the anti-sub marine war. Late Races Earlier Results and Entries for Tomorrow on Page 2-X. Laurel SIXTH RACE—Purse. $1,500; claim ing: 3-year-olds and up; 1,‘. miles. Westnesia iDeCamlllis) 18.50 6.6(> 6.00 Get OB (Mora' 3.90 3.70 Rodin (Your-> 4.50 Time. 1:40%. Also ran—Navy. The Finest. A One. Jamaica SIXTH RACE—Purse. $1,500: claim ing: 3-year-olds: 1,’. miles Dress Boot (Atkinson) 60.50 17.20 9.20 Recognize (Cllncman) 5.70 3.30 Sissie Smith (Wall) 0.10 Time. 1:47%. Also ran—Portable Rise Above It. Blue Nose. At Which, Refulgent. Puego. a Land slide. a Riposte. a Frances D. Scully entry. Rockingham Park SIXTH RACE—Purse. $800; claiming: 4-year-olds and upward; 6 furlongs. Becomly (McMuleen) 4.40 3.20 2.80 Hi Kid tDe Lara) 9.00 6.40 Red Meadow (Turnbull) 4.20 Time. 1:12%. » Also ran—Gentle Savage. Ariel Trip. Cease Fire. Compton. Argos, Savitar and Tiberius. Hawthorne FOURTH RACE—Purse, S1.200; Claim ing: 3-year-olds: 6% furlongs. Diavolo Man (Ouerln) 5220 2.80 2.60 Chicago Dr. (Reeves) 2.80 2.60 Kokomo (Jemas) 3.20 Time. 1:19. _Also ran—Sam Houston. Orphan Toy, That-A-Boy. Keeneland Park THIRD RACE—Purse, $800: claiming: 3-year-olds and upward: 6 furlongs. Wlnamac (Scurlock) 11.00 6.20 4.80 Royal Martha (McCombs) 23.20 13.00 Ru^ty^Oold ^Basham) ^ 6.00 Olri and Anna OoveU. NUMBERS IN “POTTER’S FIELD’’—Marked only by rude boards bearing numerals of identification, six graves on the District government reservation at Blue Plains have become the final resting place of the six Nazi saboteurs executed at the District Jail on August 8. The bodies, unclaimed by relatives or friends, were buried about a week after the German agents had paid for their crime. (Story on Page A-l.) —Star Staff Photo. Senate Asks Report On Steps to Relieve Hospital Crowding McCarran Resolution Passed; Officials Given 15 Days to Report The Senate today passed the McCarran resolution, calling on Federal and local agencies to re port to the Senate within 15 days what steps they have taken to relieve crowded hospital con ditions in wartime Washington. Action came after Senator La Follette, Progressive, of Wisconsin, took those in charge to task for de lay. and predicted that unless added facilities are provided soon a situa tion "shocking to the Nation” will develop here. Not a voice was raised in opposi tion to the resolution, but Senator La Follette voted against the amend ment giving the various agencies 15 instead of 10 days in which to re port. McCarran Agrees to Extension. ' Chairman McCarran of the Dis trict Committee, introduced the reo lution Saturday with the 10-day time-limit, but agreed to 15 days at the request of Majority Leader Bark ley of Kentucky, who said he feared the agenceis would need more time. Declaring Congress made funds available months ago for hospital and other public facilities needed here. Senator La Follette said he would like to see any of the agencies come back in 10 days and say they have not had sufficient time. "If they haven’t got a program ready now five more days will do the mno good,” he declared. The resolution is directed to the Federal Works Agency, the Public Health Service, the District Com imaoiuuuio auu uwici vuvcuimcm agencies and officials charged with the responsibility of providing the people of Washington and its en virons with adequate hospital fa cilities * • $17,500,000 Appropriated. After hearings which began early in the year. Congress in July ap propriated $17,500,000 for various public facilities to meet wartime conditions here, in addition to money for housing projects. Early in September the FWA an nounced the allotment of 'approxi mately $3,000,000 to construct space for 550 new hospital beds. Of this number 150 were allocated to Gal linger Hospital in Washington, and the remaining 400 to nearby coun ties of Maryland and Virginia. Senator McCarrad did not regard this as an adequate solution, and for several weeks has been hold ing hearings and conferences with avrious officials. The Senator be lieves existing private hospitals in Washington should be enlarged. 2 More War Plant Men Held in Bribery Case (Earlier Story on Page A-l.) The arrest of two additional men on charges of bribery in connection with war contracts of Triumph Ex plosives. Inc., whose plants were taken over by the Navy this morn ing, was announced at the White House late today. A. B. Fabriai. until recently a civil ian Army inspector at the Triumph plant, and Frank Poughkeepsie, for merly an Army employe at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds and presently employed at Triumph, were taken into custody. The arrest of a Triumph executive vice president and two other inspectors was an nounced this morning. 300 Ship Workers Strike LONDON, Oct. 13 HP).—Between 330 and 300 shipyard workers went on strike today at Middlesbrough, Yorkshire, protesting that a transfer from piecework to an hourly wage scale had out their earnings. Japs'Bum Shooters/ Alaskan Veteran of 3 Sinkings Says Only One of Three Torpedoes Hit Ship Standing Still (Another Picture on Page A-3.) By the Associated Press. A PACIFIC COAST PORT, Oct. 6 (Delayed).—Boatswain Nathan A. Astashkin, a Sitkd (Alaska) merchant mariner speaking: “Those little, yellow Japanese sons of somebodies are bum shooters.’’ Bo's'n Astashkin and 47 other survivors of a medium-sized United States coastal tanker were brought here today by a foreign vessel, flying a neutral flag. It picked them up two hours after their craft was tor pedoed and set afire off the Oregon coast the morning of October 4. The tanker later was lost. (This torpedoing was separate from the one the Navy announced Saturday in which six men were killed.) Sitting in a naval office’here, sur rounded by shipmates—bearded old sters and beardless boys—the Alas kan native explained why he con siders himself a qualified judge of i submarine marksmanship, German i or Jap. “It was my third torpedoing,” he said. “Both the others were in the AFL Urges Economic Stabilization Chief to Control Rationing Li_I_ AU..L.J ■ ivuuvi jwii nuuvnvu For His Views on Wage Regulation (Earlier Story on Page B-9.) By the Associated Press. TORONTO, Oct. 13. —The American Federation of Labor urged today that all rationing in the United States be placed un der the director of economic sta bilization. Underlining the Executive Coun cil's criticism of Price Administrator Leon Henderson, the Resolutions Committee brought in a report call ing attention to “a difference be tween price control and rationing.” “One,'’ the report said . “deals only with commodities, while the other extends to human living and regulates daily habits. One is a | technical field and the other is con cerned with human values.” Henderson Criticized. The report said there were only 1,600 labor representatives on 5,000 rationing boards and recommended that “administration of all rationing should be placed under the director of economic stabilization and that representative local boards be set up for this purpose.” Rationing, like price control, al ready is a part of the over-all job supervised by the director of eco nomic stabilization, but is directly administered by Mr. Henderson. The same report, adopted unani mously by the convention, criticized (See AFL, Pjjge 2-X.) Ultimatum From Hitler Reported Given Laval By the Associated Press. MOSCOW, Oct. 13.—A Tass dis patch from Geneva quoted “diplo matic sources”’ as reporting today that during Pierre Laval’s recent trip to Paris he wan handed an ulti matum from Adolf Hitler demand ing that he completely suppress the anti-German movement in France by the end of 1942 or yield all Prance, including now occupied ter ritory, to control of a German com missioner. NATHAN A. ASTASHKIN. “ —A. P. Wirephoto. North Atlantic, aboard ships of Panamanian registry. "The first time, we were 17 days in an open boat before we were picked up—two survivors out of 50. “The second time, we were five (See ASTASHKIN, Page 2-X.) Hearings on Drafting 18-Year-Olds Will Start Tomorrow House Will Get Bill By Saturday Under Rayburn's Plans BULLETIN. President Roosevelt told a press conference late today that he had conferred by tele phone with Secretary of War Stimson and Gen. George C. Marshall, Army Chief of Staff, and that both would appear I before the House Military Af fairs Committee at 9 a.m. to morrow for opening of hear ings on legislation to lower the draft age to 18. (Earlier Story on Page A-l.) Hearings on the bill to induct 18 and 19 year olds into the armed forces will be started at 9 o’clock tomorrow morning by the House Military Affairs Commit tee. This announcement by Chairman May represented the flrit definite action taken by congressional lead ers since the President’s declaration last night that the draft age would have to be lowered. It also fol lowed a request from Secretary Of War Stimson that action on the change be speeded. Chairman May conferred during the day with Speaker Rayburn and House Majority Leader McCormack and then announced the hearings, remarking that his committee would “sit all night if necessary” to get the bill to the floor by Saturday at the latest. “The House of Representatives,” said Speaker Rayburn, “does not intend to be put in the position of doing anything to delay the war effort or the effective prosecution of it." Hearings Through Thursday. The plan, as outlined by the Speaker, calls for hearings on the legislation tomorrow and Thurs day. On Friday, the Rules Com mittee will meet and determine the length of debate on the House . (See DRAFT, Page 3-X.) Hatch Makes Appeal For Opponents of Norris to Withdraw Other Senators Join In Tribute to Veteran Nebraska Independent By J. A. O’LEARY. A plea to both the Republican j and Democratic candidates for the Senate in Nebraska to with draw in favor of the re-election of the veteran independent, Senator Norris, was made in the Senate today by Senator Hatch, Democrat, of New Mexico. Senator Norris, who only re cently announced his decision to run again as an independent, is re garded by political observers who have visited the State to be facing one of the hardest fights of his long career as a member of first the House and then the Senate. Senator Hatch's unusual appeal today was regarded as an indication of the desire of administration sup porters to see Senator Norris win. The veteran Nebraskan has been a staunch supporter of President Roosevelt and most of his New Deal program since 1932, and six years ago the President threw his support behind Senator Norris. Praised by Pepper. Senator Pepper, Democrat, of Florida, also took the floor today to pay tribute to Senator Norris’ rec ord as a lawmaker for nearly 40 years. One Republican, Senator Reed of Kansas, joined in the praise of the Nebraskan. He said he hoped Sena tor Norris would be retained in the Senate as long as he lived. In the present race Senator Nor ns is opposed Dy is-ennem o. Wherry, one of the leading Repub licans in the State, and Foster May, a 37-year-old radio commentator, who won the Democratic nomina tion. There have been no indica tions that Mr. May intends to with draw. “What a wonderful thing it would be,” Senator Hatch suggested, “if both the Democratic and Republican nominees in the State of Nebraska would withdraw from this race and let Senator Norris be returned to this body without opposition. What a fine and fitting tribute that would be for a great State to pay to a great and distinguished citizen.” Opportunity to Serve Nation. Senator Hatch said Nebraska has an opportunity to “serve itself and | the Nation, as well as to reward a faithful servant who has given his life to the welfare of the people of i his State and to his country.” Despite the fact he is past 80, Senator Hatch said Senator Norris “remains strong, active and a pow erful influence in this body.” “Americans everywhere, regard less of party affiliation, will #atch with deep interest the results of the November election in Nebraska,” Senator Hatch concluded. “I know thousands of them are hoping—and many of them are praying—that in this hour of greatest need for un selfish patriotic statesmanship. America and the world will not lose the services of one whose eritire public career has been devoted to the welfare of man and to liberty and freedom for all the peoples of the world.” Markets at a Glance NEW YORK, Oct. 13 (/P).— Stocks mixed; profittaking stems rally. Bonds irregular; some rails point higher. Cotton quiet; hedge-selling offset by price fix ing. CHICAGO. — Wheat higher, mill buying and short covering. Com higher, light receipts and strong cash demand. Hogs off 15-25 cents; top, $15.10. Cattle fed steers and yearlings strong to 15 cents higher; top $17.00. War Department ] Civilian Payroll ' Exceeds Army's - Employes Now Total 1,100,000, House Committee Told , By WILL P. KENNEDY. The House Rules Committee ^ was told today that the War De partment has 1,100,000 civilian employes and that its payroll exceeds that of the entire Army. The statement was made by Rep- y resentative Colmer, Democrat, of < Mississippi, a committee mem ber, during a hearing on the re- ** quest of Chairman Ramspeck of the Civil Service Committee for ^ an investigation of civilian em ployment'In the Government. Representative Ramspeck con firmed that statement and said it was especially true that the payroll for civilian employes far exceeded ' that of the entire enlisted personnel. The Ramspeck resolution provides , for thorough investigation of the policies and practices relating to ci vilian employment in all agencies in a the Government and their effect on the conduct of the war. It also seeks to learn whether the agencies are ’ efficient and economical, to deter mine the number of and necessity for employes in each and whether ^ the workers’ skills are used to the best advantages. Representative Fish of New York, ' ranking minority member, said it was irrmerativp to “pet. out of Wash ington thousands of young men who * are here in uniform on desk jobs. Congress should do something to get rid of some 5,000 Army officers now doing civilian employe work in the District.” « Mr. Ramspeck pointed out. that when the allotment authority for payments to soldiers’ dependents was « installed there was an immediate call for 10.000 additional employes. Representative Michener, Repub- ' lican, of Michigan, emphasized that when that bill was passed Congress was told that only 2,000 employes would be required. Representative Ramspeck told the < committee that he is "quite sure they have many good stenographers in the War Department who are not ' doing stenographic work.” Mr. Ramspeck asked that his com- , mittee be given the same investiga tive authority as has been given the Military Affairs, Naval Affairs and i Merchant Marine Committees. Chairman Sabath of the Rules Committee asked if the Miliary and " Naval Affairs Committees would not be covering the same ground regard ing Army and Navy employes. Mr. ' Ramspeck assured him that neither of those committees was making any study regarding the civilian person- ' nel as proposed in his resolution. Increased Personnel. i Representative Ramspeck cited that at the end of the fiscal year, in July, the number of civilian em- " ployes in the Government had in creased to 2.327,932, or 5.48 per cent, with a payroll of $382,373,859 over ' the preceding year. He emphasized that the War Department alone during the past fiscal year increased its civilian employes from 328.219 to 912,378, or 200 per cent, in one year. "Congress ought to investigate many facts regarding the civilian employes,” he said, and pointed out that stenographers to whom the War Department is paying $105 a month are being taught at the ex pense of the Government, while a woman in charge of one branch in the War Department said there are many there who can type 130 words a minute and are doing nothing. "The civilian personnel of the Government has mushroomed so fast that none of us knows how much truth there is in various stories that are brought us, but there are many at least who are not doine what the yare best qualified to do,” said Representative Ramspeck. “I beiieve that some authority should determine the facts and that our Civil Service Committee is the proper agency.” Representative Michener said the Nation should know the truth about this civilian army and emphasized that Chairman Ramspeck has the confidence of civil service employes. Much Criticism Reported. He asked if it would not be helpful for Mr. Ramspeck to “take the floor and show the condition rather than wait for a long investigation. I be lieve that this is constructive criti cism and that Mr. Ramspeck would make a good sounding board.” Representative Smith, Democrat, of Virginia, pointed out that he and probably every member of Congress had heard criticism of overcrowding in Government offices and that many were not doing any worth-while work: Several members of the commit tee said a study should be made of the reports that many were get ting jobs in the War and Navy Departments to dodge the draft. Chairman Sabath said, “There are undoubtedly thousands on the pay roll who are not needed and should not be kept there.” The hearing will be continued tomorrow, but Chairman Sabath said he would delay action on Mr. Ramspeck's request until he had conferred with the chairmen of the Military and Naval Affairs and Merchant Marine Committees on possible duplication. Lloyd George Better LONDON, Oct. 13 David Lloyd George. Britain’s Prime Min ister In World. War 1, who has been suffering from a heavy cold, was reported much better today. 4