Evening star. [volume], April 01, 1948, Image 1

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

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96th Year. No. 92. Phone NA, 5000._**★ 4 WASHINGTON, D. C., THURSDAY, APRIL 1, 1948-SIXTY PAGES._5 CENTS
U. S. Keeping Berlin Link by Plane
After Red Inspection Halts Trains;
Truman Asks 3 Billion for Defense
Squeeze on Allies
To Leave City Is
Strongly Protested
By the Associated Press
BERLIN, April 1.—The United
States turned to the airplane to
day in a political battle for Ber
lin launched by the Russians
with a drive to control ground
entry into this capital from the
west.
The Soviet move resulted in shut
ting off military train traffic of
British and American forces from
their zones to the capital. Authori- '
tative sources saw it as a Soviet step
to try to squeeze the Western Allies
out of the city.
The Americans, British and
French protested. A report on the
crisis was rushed to British For
eign Secretary Bevin in London.
The Russian order, announced
only yesterday and effective last
midnight, requires all motor or rail
passengers and freight to undergo
Russian inspection at border con
trol points. The Russians halted
two British and two American trains
this morning.
Blast From Moscow.
Simultaneous with the Russian
action came a blast from Moscow
at four-power government in Ger
many. Pravda said it w7as at a^n end.
The Communist Party newspaper
said “the partition of Germany has
become an accomplished fact.”
From their sectors of Berlin the
western Allies have attacked com
munism. won the city election
against the Soviet-sponsored Social-!
1st Unity Party, and in general
proved stumbling blocks to Russian
attempts to communize the capital.
The Soviet-licensed press thundered
against the Americans, British and
French.
Last night the Russians installed
a cordon across the only interna
tional rail and road routes leading
from the city. Soviet check points
insisted on passing on each Allied |
national going in or out of the city,
soldier or civilian.
Soviet officers tried to board Brit- j
ish and American military trains j
and were rejected. The Russians j
then refused to let the trains j
proceed. I
manes to Supply Americans.
Blocked on the ground, the Amer-!
leans took to the air. Gen. Lucius i
D. Clay, the American military gov
ernor, ordered the Air Force to sup
ply the American community of
about 10.000 persons in Berlin with
food and passenger service.
By international agreement, Brit
ain and the United States have air
corridors over the Soviet zone to
airfields in Berlin, and can fly as
many flights a day as they please.
Tire Russians cannot interfere with
the planes except by force. Trying
to shoot them dow n would be certain
to result In a most serious clash.
Adding to Berlin's already great
system of controls, the Russians
have thrown up checkpoints in their
sector inside the city, halting Ger
man vehicles passing into western
sectors and searching them. Soviet
licensed papers said this was to halt i
withdrawals of machinery from the
Russian sector of the city.
In the international picture, the
Russians would gain prestige in
some sections of Europe by forcing j
the western powers out of Berlin.1
The issue arises at a crucial mo
ment, in viewr of the coming elec
tions in Italy and the struggle
against Communism elsewhere in
Europe.
Train Travel Canceled.
Allied authorities said, the Rus
sian action, in effect, was a demand
that the three western powers sur
render sovereignty on their trains
and submit to a squeeze on their
position in Berlin.
Gen. Clay said lor the time being
all American military train travel;
to and from Berlin is canceled. He
said special flights from Frankfurt.
American zone headquarters, to the
American-controlled Tempelhof Air
iSee BERLIN. Page A-5.) j
Hardeeville, S. C., Is Hit
By Tornado; Few Hurt
By th« Associated Press
HARDEEVILLE. S. C . April 1 —
A tornado struck Hardeeville today,
causing damage estimated at $40,
000 j
Several persons were cut by flying
glass. None was injured seriously.;
Hardest hit was the Argent Lum
ber Co. and a new tourist camp
nearby. One resident also reported
ronsiderable damage to Negro dwell-;
ings in the lumber mill section.
Bulletins
Spaatz to Retire July J;
Vandenberg to Get Post
Gen. Carl Spaatz will retire
soon as chief of staff of the
Air Force and will be suc
ceeded by Gen. Hoyt S. Van
denberg. the White House an
nounced this afternoon. Gen.
Spaatz will retire officially on
July 1. but will go on leave
May 15. ^
Clerk Robbed of $2,000
A Clerk at the Safeway
Store. 717 Eleventh street N.W.,
was reported robbed at 1:30
p.m. today of an envelope con
taining $2,000 which he was
taking to McLachlen Banking
Corp., Tenth and G streets
N.W. The clerk, Charles De
Bord, 22, of 1508 Quarles street
N.W., was shoved into an alley
by the robber, a white man,
^•olice said.
Red Action Brings
Calls in House for
Draft, Air Force
Diplomats See Test
Of Extent of Soviet
Truculence in Making
By the Assootattd Press
Calls in Congress for immediate
passage of the draft and building
the world's greatest air force fol
lowed Russian seizure of traffic con-1
i trol in Berlin.
Representative Boggs. Democrat, j
of Louisiana told the House today
the Russian action is “a challenge to
Congress to pass selective service i
immediately and bring our military
force to its full authorized strength.”!
“I cannot imagine a greater threat
to peace,” he said.
Representative Rankin, Democrat,
of Mississippi followed with de
mands that America “build the
greatest air force in the world.” He
added that w as more important than
universal military training.
Diplomatic authorities suggested
; the clash between Russia and the
western powers over Berlin traffic
control may test the extent to which
the Soviets are willing to get tough
with the western allies now.
State and Defense Department of
ficials are watching developments
closely. The issue involved are
viewed as much broader than the
question of whether the Russian
military can inspect American. Brit
ish and French trains operating be
tween Berlin and the west.
O'Neil Blasts Wallace
As 'Russia-Firsler,'
Asks UMT at Hearing
Bishop Also Backs Plan;
Green, Other Labor
Leaders Due to Testify
ly the Associated Press
Henry A. Wallace was called
a ‘ Russia firster” today by James
F. O'Neil, national commander,
of the American legion.
Mr. O'Neil criticized the former
Vice President while urging suppoit
of universal military training. He
appeared before the Senate Armed
Services Committee studying need
for a limited draft and UMT laws
to strengthen the military forces.
William Green, president of the
American Federation of Labor, and
spokesmen for the CIO and other
labor groups were to be heard later
today.
Mr. O’Neil said some opponents
of UMT “may be entirely sincere"
in their stand. He said the strong
est opposition came from those
prompted by selfish interests or who
“either knowingly or innocently, are
prompted and inspired by the great
est enemy of cur country and the
peace of the world today—commu
nism.”
Must Halt Red Expansion.
“The best example of this latter
group,” he said, "was the testimony
* * * by the so-called presidential
candidate, Henry A. Wallace, a
Russia-firster.’ who flouted every
good American citizen when he said
* * * he would welcome the sup
port of Communists in his cam
paign. * * *”
Mr. O’Neil, who is from Man
chester. N H.. said UMT is essential
to halt Russian expansion. He
added:
“It is my Aim opinion that we
require a balanced program for
strong regular and reserve compo
nents, with a powerful striking
force developed around our air ■
power, but the base to make certain
of the proper development of our
security program in all branches is.
universal military training.”
The Right Rev. Henry Hobson of
Cincinnati, wrho said ne spoke as a
"private citizen and not for the
(See DRAFT, Page A-5.1
Margarine Bill Petition
Needs 34 Signatures
Thirty-four more signatures are
needed to bring an oleo margarine
tax repeal bill to the House floor,
margarine backers reported today j
When the House quit yesterday, 184
of the necessary 218 signatures had,
been obtained.
Meanwhile, a House Armed Serv*:
ices Subcommittee prepared to be
gin hearings tomorrow morning on
two bills to permit serving of mar-j
garine to the armed forces. Under
present law margarine may not be
served soldiers, sailors or airmen.
Spain Stricken
From ERP After
Truman Protest
Inclusion Is Up to
West Europe Nations,
Vandenberg Asserts
U. S. TO SEND Cargo of Planes to
Turkey Today. Page A-2..
By th* Associated Press
Senators and House members
working out a compromise for
eign aid bill agreed today to
strike Spain from the list of
nations eligible to share In the
aid.
They acted less than an hour
after the White House announced
that President Truman is “utterly
opposed'' to this provision.
The House put this "Welcome
Franco’’ provision into its $6,205.
000.00C omnibus bill for a global
American aid progiam.
Chairman Vandenberg of the Sen
ate Foreign Relations Committee
announced the conferees' decision
to drop Spain. The committee is
made up of five Senators and five
House members.
Decisions of the committee are
subject to ratification by the Sen
ate and House.
Ross Discloses View.
Presidential Press Secretary
Charles G. Ross had announced Mr.
Truman's views while the congres
sional group was meeting.
Senator Vandenberg explained
that the committee members felt it
is up to other Western European1
nations, rather than the United
States, to say whether Spain should
be welcomed to the plan. Both
Senate and House have voted for
the .United States to put $5,300.
000.000 into helping Western Europe
Senator Vandenberg said:
"Tiie bill as originally drawn
leaves membership in the organiza
tion of participating nations open to
any ether additional nations which
may be invited by the presently
participating nations.
“Therefore the conferees feel that
a decision respecting Spain is the;
Taylor in Madrid,
Will Consult With
Gen. Franco Tonight
By the Associated Press
MADRID, April 1. — Myron
Taylor, special American envoy
to the Vatican, arrived here by
plane from Lisbon today.
He is to confer with General
issimo Francisco Franco to
night.
American attaches an
nounced Mr. Taylor refused to
see American correspondents.
No indication was given
whether his trip was connected
with the European Recovery
Program.
The envoy also is to see For
eign Minister Alberto Martin
Artajo and Enrique Cardinal
Pla y Deniel, the primate of
Spain.
function and the prerogative of the
16 participating nations which have
already organized themselves into
a co-operating unit uflder the re
covery organization.*’
Meet Again This Afternoon.
Senator Vandenberg was aske<J
whether the decision to exclude
Spain was unanimous. First, he said
that it was. Then he withdrew his
statement and pointed.out that the
action had to be approved by both
the Senate and House members of
the committee, each 6ide voting as
a unit.
Senator Vandenberg said the con
ferees would meet again this after
noon. but refused to make any pre
diction as to w’hen an agreement
w’ould be reached on the whole
foreign aid bill.
"This is all there is up to the
~SeeFOREIGN AID, Page A-4.P
Medals Asked for 2 GIs j
Who Saved 50 Soldiers
By the Associated Press
SEOUL. April 1.—The Soldier’s
Medal was recommended today fo*
two sergeants who braved a blaz
ing barracks near Fusan in South
ern Korea yesterday to arouse 50
American enlisted men.
Four soldiers perished in the.fire
Their names were withheld.
Cited for bravery were M Sergt.
John E. Guy, Kingston. Tenn.. and
S Sergt. Roy J. Knight, Fleming
ton, W.Va.
Two U. S., Two British Trains
Halted by Soviet Restrictions
•y th» Associated Press
HELMSTEDT, Germany, April 1.
—Soviet authorities kept four Amer
ican and British trains from pass
ing through the Russian occupation
/one today.
They refused permission for the
movement when the western train
commanders refused to let Soviet
officers inspect the trains. Russian
authorities in Berlin ordered such
inspections yesterday, effective at
midnight.
Two American trains returned to
, Helmstedt. in the British zone, after
I the Russians refused to let them
| pass Marienborn without Inspection.
Marienborn Is a Russian check point
i about 5 miles inside the Soviet zone.
Two British trains held by the
Russians at Marienborn for several
hours likewise were understood to
be returning to Berlin and Helm
stedt, respectively.
One of the American trains was a
combined milk and passenger train
from Bremerhaven. The milk was
for American dependents and chil
dren in Berlin.
One American train going from
Berlin to Bremerhaven was allowed
to pass early in the morning when
the American train commander ap
parently misunderstood his orders
and allowed a Russian officer aboard
to inspect passports and Army iden
tification cards.
i Capt. Raymond Bates of St.
Petersburg, Fla., was commander of |
the American Bremerhaven-Berlm
r, (See TRAINS, Page A-P^ i
Congress to Get
Message on Tax
Cut Tomorrow
By Joseph A. Fox
President Truman told Con
gress today he would ask for
$3,000,000,000 for new defense
funds and a $375,000,000 con
tract authorization for stock
piling of strategic materials "to
round out and balance our Na
tions security program.”
Additional funds may be asked
later, the President said.
Just 24 hours in advance of a
message to Congress, in which he
is expected to veto the $4,800,000,000
tax cut sponsored by the Republi
cans, Mr, Truman sent a letter to
House Speaker Martin outlining the
new- demands that are to be made on
the Nation’s finances, and explain
ing:
"It is my earnest hope that on the
solid foundation of our foreign aid
programs and a limited increase in
our present military strength we
can achieve a substantial lessening
of the present international tension
and move forward toward our goal
of securing a just and lasting peace,”
Detailed Requests Not Ready.
The President s letter covered the
over-all picture. He explained,
however, that detailed appropria
tion requests will come along later.
Earlier, Press Secretary Ross told
reporters it would be 10 days to two
weeks before these are ready.
The Piesident’s action, at this
time, in Serving notice on Congress
of the scope of the contemplated
defense expenditures, was looked on
as an implied warning against the
threatened overriding of the ex
pected tax bill veto.
The $3,000,000,000 figure was bro
ken into five categories—$775,000,000
for the requirements for additional
military personnel, the same for
aircraft; $860,000,000 for mainte
nance and operation facilities and
equipment; $500,000,000 for procure
ment and production programs and
$90,000,000 for research.
The President said that out of this j
sum the 1949 fiscal year expenditures
are estimated at $1,700,000,000.
The regular military budget for!
1949 already calls for $11,000,000,000.
Taft Promises Early Action.
The letter was sent to Speaker
Martin a short time after Mr. Ross
announced that the President's mes-,
sage bn the tax-cutting bill would
go to Congress tomorrow.
It is believed certain that the
President will veto the measure, and
Senator Taft, Republican, of Ohio
said at the Capitol that GOP leaders
have agreed to consider the expected
veto immediately.
The estimates sent up today were
in line with those discussed by
Secretary of Defense Forrestal at
a congressional hearing a week
ago.
The text of the letter to Speaker:
Martin follows:
"In my address to the Congress
on March 17, 1948, I stated that
we need an adequate and balanced
military strength to carry out our
purpose of achieving peace in the
world. To accomplish this objec-i
tive a limited increase in our na-1
tional security program is re
quired.
Would Increase Stockpile.
“As one element in building up
our strength to the necessary level.'
I am transmitting herewith for the
consideration of the Congress, a
draft of a proposed provision for a
contract authorization of $375,000,-!
000 for the Treasury Department,!
in the form of an amendment to
the budget for the fiscal year 1949.
This contract authorization is re
quired to permit the Bureau of
Federal Supply to enter into long
term contracts for strategic and
critical materials so as to increase
the supply available for stockpil
ing other essential needs.
"The details of this proposed pro
vision, the necessity therefor and
the reason for its submission at
this time are set'forth in the letter
of the director of the Bureau of
the Budget, transmitted herewith,
in wrhose comments and observations
thereon I concur.
“In addition. I have authorized
the Secretary of Defense to prepare
detailed estimates for additional
appropriations totaling $3,000,000,000
for the military establishment for
the fiscal year 1949. While almost
every part of our military program
will be affected by the proposed in
crease, the additions may be grouped
in five categories:
"First, $775,000,000 for the require- I
ments for added military personnel,
such as pay and allowances, sub
sistence. clothing and medical care.
Aircraft Procurement.
"Second, $775,000,000 for the pro
curement of aircraft, aircraft com
ponents. and aviation research and
i See DEFENSE, Page A-4.1
White House Rooms
Pictured in Color
Full-color photographs of
rooms in the state suite of the
White House will be repro
duced in The Star Pictorial
Magazine Sunday, not only on
the cover but on two inside
pages.
The green room will be
pictured on the cover and the
red room, east room, state din
ing room and President's din
ing room on the inside pages.
These are the first interior
views made at the White
House since 1940 and the first
in color ever published by a
Washington newspaper. Look
for them in the Pictorial Mag
azine of
^ ' I’ONLY BY DEVELOPING OUfT%
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FOR DECADES m DECADES IDEMOMSTKATING THROUGH EVERY 1
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I LLUSION-^JPMSP^ WHICH WE SO EARNESTLY
Which of the Two Faces Is Right, Henry?
$650 Average U. S. Pay Boost
Is Voted by Senate Committee
Separate Bill Gives $800 to Postal Workers;
Both Likely to Face Hard Fight on Floor
By Joseph Young
The Senate Civil Service Com
mittee today approved legisla
i tion to grant Federal employes
an average $650-a-year pay
raise.
The committee also reported out
a separate postal pay bill, granting
a flat $800 a year pay increase to
postal employes.
It was learned that the commit
tee was sharply split on the amount
of the pay raise in both measures,
and several committee members
predicted that the bills would face
a tough fight on the S/nate floor in
their present forms.
The vote on both bills was 7 to 2.
but several members who voted tor
the measures did so despite their
belief that the amounts were too
high.
The House Civil Service Commit-1
tee met. in executive session today
to consider its subcommittee’s $468
pay raise measure, but no agree
ment was reached. It was reported
that several members of the full
committee advocated a more liberal
increase, while others urged that
pay increases be combined with a
revision of the Federal Classification
Act. as was done in the Senate bill.
Tile committee plans to meet to
morrow to continue its discussion.
The Senate committee voted to
break the present $10,000 Federal
pay ceiling to provide substantial
increases for top-level Federal offi
cials. Cabinet officers’ salaries
would be raised to $20,000; under
secretaries and major agency heads
to $18,000 a year, other agency heads
and assistant secretaries to $15,000
and $16,500 annually, and top ad
ministrative and scientific person
(See PAY rAiSETPage A-4.)
Chinese Reds Release
4 American Marines
Seized Christmas Day
Efforts Being Made to
Recover Body of Fifth,
Killed in Skirmish
By the Associated Press
SHANGHAI, April 1.—Four
United States Marines, captured
by the Chinese Communists
while on a Christmas Day hunt
ing trip in North China, were
released today.
American Navy authorities re
ported the Leathernecks were re
leased at Haiyang. a coastal city 60
miles northeast of United States
Western Pacific Fleet headquarters
at Tsingtao.
There ■were no immediate details,
but officials said they presumed the
four are in good condition.
Body of Fifth Sought.
Efforts are being made to recover
the body of a fifth, Pfc. Charles J.
Brayton; jr.. Fort Jay, Governors
Island, N. Y„ who died of wounds
received in the incident.
The four are Corpl. William L.
Pollard, Fort Worth, Tex.: Pfc. Car
rol W. Dickerson, Olathe, Kans.;
Pvt. Robert Hart, Pittsburgh, Pa.,
and Pfc. Thomas Kapodistria, Buf
falo, N. Y.
There has been no clear account of
jwhat happened Christmas morning
j near the village of Wangtan Yuen,
where the five were captured. Ma
rine authorities reported the five
entered Communist territory over
the protest of Chinese national
guards at Lingchan.
The Communists reported Febru
ary 1—in one of their daily propa
ganda broadcasts—that the marines
were particioating in China’s civil
war on the national side. They said
Brayton was wounded latally in a
skirmish.
Ransom. Demand Reported.
The Communists later were re
oorted demanding S120.C00 ransom
for the four, but the United States
Embassy in Nanking said it had no
information on that.
Marine Capt. John Bristow con
ferred with Communist representa
tives in Haiyang early in February.
That rendezvous developed from
leaflets dropped by Marine planes in
Communist territory. But he came
away empty handed. The Reds in
sisted on a neutral go-between.
Meanwhile, American vessels lay
off Haiyang awaiting developments.
Four of the marines were on leave
for the hunting trip. The fifth was
AWOL. Their burned and wrecked
jeep was found by Chinese govern
ment, troops shortly after the ma
rines disappeared.
Mother Is Overjoyed
At Release of Marine
BUFFALO, N. Y., April 1 JA’I.—
Mrs. Aglaia Kapodistria was over
joyed today at the news of her son's
release after three months' captiv
ity by the Chinese Communists.
She said she and her daughter
Katherine were awake In bed at 7
a.m. when they heard on the radio
that her 19-year-old son, Pfc.
Thomas Kapodistria, and three
other Marines captured Christmas
Day had been released a* Haiyang,,
60 miles northeast of Tsingtab.
a
Dewey Says Truman
And Wallace Cannot
Cope With Russia
Their Plans 'Bankrupt/
He Declares in Opening
Wisconsin Campaign
By the Associated Press
RACINE, Wis., April 1.—Gov.
Thomas E. Dewey today charac-|
terized President Truman arid
Henry A. Wallace as sponsors of s
"bankrupt” programs for deal-!
ing with Russia and said a'
“courageous, informed leader-j
ship” could keep the United
States out of war.
“The time has come to begin to
wage peace with all the rigor, the
imagination, the skill and energy
with which we waged war,” Gov.
Dewey asserted in an address pre
ared for a luncheon meeting here.
“It is a tough job and a long
job,” he added, “but we can be
sure of the outcome.”
In Milwaukee Tonight.
The New York Governor s' Ra
cine appearance launched him on a
whirlwind two-day Wisconsin cam
paign for delegate support of his
candidacy for the Republican presi
dential nomination.
, He is contesting next Tuesday's
crucial primary election with Gen.
Douglas MacArthur and Harold E.
Stassen for the State’s 27 delegates
| to the national convention.
Gov. Dewey's advisers say the
Governor expects Gen. MacArthur,
a “favorite son.” to lead the field.
They predict Gov. Dewey will ob
tain more delegates than Mr.
Stassen, which is his avowed ob
jective.
In Milwaukee tonight, over a Na
tion-wide radio hookup. Gov. Dewey
will continue his attack on Mr. Tru
man and give his own detailed pro
! gram for what he calls “a successful
American foreign policy" to cope
with the “growing danger" of “the
i See" DEWEY, Page X^7)
Krug Asks Governors
Of 8 States to Seek
Greater Oil Output
Plea Made as Leaders
Of Industry Consider
Voluntary Rationing
ly th« Associated Press
The Government appealed to
day for greater petroleum pro-1
duction.
Secretary of the Interior Krug
asked the co-operation of Governors
of major producing States to bring
about maximum output. He stressed,
however, that sound conservation
practices should not be ignored.
Needs for the armed forces, motor
end tractor fuel this summer, and
neating and industrial fuel oil next
winter require additional production,
Mr. Krug said.
His appeal went to the Governors
of Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana.
Michigan, Mississippi, New Mexico,
Oklahoma and Texas.
Oil Officials Meet.
It was made public as oil industry
leaders met to decide whether to set
up a voluntary gasoline rationing
system to cope with an expected
shortage this summer.
A 33-member Petroleum Industry
Advisory Committee, holding its
first meeting with Secretary Krug,
was expected to offer plans to keep
vital services fueled with gasoline
and oil during the next 12 months.
The session was arranged under
trims of the Republican Anti-infla
tion Act passed late last year.
Essential Uses Cited.
An Interior Department spokes
man said the group would consider
voluntary "regulations" to guaran
tee fuel fbr these and other essen
tial uses:
Gasoline this summer—Farm ve
hicles. planting and harvesting
equipment: doctors’ cars, ambu-j
lances, police and fire vehicles.
Fuel oil next winter—factories
producing essential goods: hospitals
and schools; homes wllere there are
small children or aged or ailing per
sons.
Government officials have said the
gasoline shortage is expected to be
f#it most keenly during the late
summer harvests. A fuel oil short
age next winter may be even more
: critical than the one last winter,
j they contend.
But James Brown, secretary of
the National Petroleum Council,
minimized the shortage possibili
ties. Gasoline stocks on March 20
were the largest on record, he told a
: reporter.
j "Unless the military comes up with
greatly increased demands, there
should be no need to ration fuels,"
Mr. Brown said.
“There could be local difficulties
for a few days at a time, particu
larly in the planting and harvest
seasons. But these will be caused
mainly by transportation problems
; rather than production.”
Mr. Brown said civilian usage this
(See GASOLINE, Page A-4.)
Chile Plans Anti-Red Action
SANTIAGO, Chile, April 1
President Gabriel Gonzalez Videla
today called an extraordinary ses
sion of Congress for April 15 to dis
; cuss outlawing the Communist Party
in Chile.
West Refuses to Let Ruhland Use
Police to Move Indigent Patients
Health Officer George C. Ruhland
today proposed sending .police to
Freedmen's Hospital to move 10
indigent tubercular patients to
Glenn Dale Sanatorium, but Cor
poration Counsel Vernon West re
fused to permit it.
Dr. Ruhland. fuming at the re
fusal of the 10 woman patients to
leave Freedmen’s, disclosed the cor
poration counsel's refusal and said
he had written Mr. West asking him
what to do.
The question involved, said Mr.
West, is whether the District would
be liable to suits for false arrest
and false imprisonment if the pa
tients were ‘'bodily removed” from
the hospital.
The patients, whose removal *was
ordered for lack of sufficient District
funds to cdqtinue payments, yester
day refused to get into the two am
bulances sent to the hospital to get
them.
"I can’t understand why paupers
won’t go where they're told to go,”
said the irritated health officer.
Dr. Ruhland said he £as cut off
payments to the hospitals for the
10 patients as of last midnight..
"I don’t know how long Freed
men’s is going to keep them with
out pay,” he added. “Were not
going to pay Freedmen’s $10.20 a
day for these patients when we
have a place for them at Glenn Dale
where they can be treated just as
welt and it won’t cost the District
as much money.”
The health officer also complained
he wasn't getting co-operation from
Freedmens.
Dr. Paul B. Comely, medical di
rector of Freedmen s. said the hos
pital had been notified early in
March that 10 patients would be
moved to Glenn Dale. The hospital
selected the 10 to be transferred
When the ambulance attendants
went to the ward yesterday, he said,
the patients all refused to leave.
Charles Buibridge, the hospital
superintendent, then went to the
ward and talked to each of them,
but they insisted they wouldn't go
until they got a reply to their ap
peal to the Commisrionc .
a
!
Truman Calls In
His Top Advisers
On Coal Strike
Clark, Schwellenbach,
Krug and Ching to
Discuss Next Move
Top advisers were summoned
to a conference with President
Truman on the coal strike today
amid indications that officials
fear the Government lacks au
thority to deal with John L.
Lewis and the 18-day Nation
wide work stoppage.
Mr. Truman summoned lor a 3
p.m. meeting Attorney General
Clark. Secretary of Labor Schwel
lenbach. Secretary of the Interior
Krug and Cyrus Ching. chief of th*
Federal Mediation and Conciliation
Service.
The conference was called after
some of his advisers advised th*
President to step up action on th*
strike.
The new Federal Court showdown
with Mr. Lewis was delayed, mean
while, and new efforts were started
to settle through negotiation the
long-standing pension dispute be
tween the United Mine Workers and
the mine operators.
Work Resumption Paramount.
ft was indicated that top-level
parleys were going on aimed at get
ting the mine workers back to work.
John R. Steelman, assistant to the
President, reportedly was contacting
high industry and union officials in
an effort to bring the two sides to
gether.
President Truman earlier had
postponed a request to District
Court for an injunction against Mr.
Lewis and the strike until he re
turns from his trip to Williams
burg. Va., Saturday.
Federal officials frankly admitted,
however, that their case for an
injunction was weak and were even
more fearful that such a court order
would be ignored by the mine work
ers if they W’ere able to obtain it.
The Justice Department was
bending every effort to build up the
case before Mr. Truman returned
from his trip. FBI agents were
busily seeking evidence, both here
and in the coal fields, designed to
show that Mr. Lewis and his union
are responsible for the walkout of
the 400.000 miner*.
Despite doubts of it* efficacy It
was clear that the injunction method
of ending the strike would be tried
if Mr. Steelman is unsuccessful in
negotiating a settlement
May Go to
Officials said they were ipreperefl"'
to appeal to Congress for additional
authority if the Injunction failed
to end the strike.
Under discussion was a possible
request for the re-enactment of
Government authority to seize and
operate the struck coal mines.
Mr. Truman also postponed, at
least until he returns to Washington
from his Williamsburg trip, the re
lease of a report on the coal industry
pension dispute, which was sub
mitted to him yesterday by a board
of inquiry. The board was appointed
to investigate the difficulties as part
of the Taft-Hartley Act procedure
for dealing with "national emerg
encies.'1
It was understood that the report
assessed Mr. Lewis and the union
with most of the responsibility for
the mine walkout.
The fact-finders found that this
industry dispute does not pertain to
the current union-operator contract,
but is one among the trustees of
the-UMW Welfare and Retirement
Fund.
They said the strike took place
before virtually any negotiations to
settle the dispute had been held be
tween Mr. Lewis and the operators.
Mine Owners Criticized.
The mine owners also were criti
cized in the board s report for fail
ing to do all they could to resolve
i the controversy over Mr. Lewis’ de
mand for a $100 monthly pension
for his men.
The board, headed by Federal
Judge Sherman Minton, concluded
that the present strike was entirely
unnecessary, and that it could be
I resolved if a third trustee for the
welfare fund were selected and ne
gotiations held between Mr. Lewis
and Ezra Van Horn, operators' trus
tee.
In the matter of cracking down
on Mr. Lewis and the union through
court Injunction, officials were con
fronted with the problem of whom
to enjoin.
Lewis Disclaims Blame.
Mr. Lewis has steadfastly main
tained that, the miners walked out.
merely asserting their right as in
dividuals to quit work as well as
using a clause of their contract
which states they will work only
when "able and willing.''
He has said that he and th#
union have nothing to do with the
work stoppage.
If there is a crackdown on Mr,
Lewis and the union, the Govern
ment fears the miners would dis
obey any back-to-work order issued
by the court. In such a ease, the
situation could become grave, lead
ing to what would amount to an .
; insurrection against the Govern
ment and Its authorities.
j
Attention,
Baseball Fans
Pennant prospects of the 16
major league baseball clubs
will be reviewed in a series of
articles starting in today *
sports section. Francis Stann,
following a tour of spring
training camps, discusses
strong and weak points of the
clubs and will venture to tell
how each will finish.
In addition to the [owdown
on the American and National
League entrants, complete up
sf?tisfica! data on all
l be| presented.