Evening star. [volume], May 17, 1948, Image 1

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

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Weather Forecast;
Cloudy, highest about 78 today; possible
shower. Clear, cool tonight, lowest near 54.
Tomorrow, sunny with high near 70. (Pull
report on Page A-2.)
Midnight--64 6 a m-62 Noon ...73
2 a.m_60 8 am_64 1 p.m.72
4 a.m.63 10 a.m_68 2 p.m.....73
_Lote New York Morkcts, Pogc A-19.__
96th Year. No. 138. Phone NA. 5000.
WASHINGTON, D. C., MONDAY, MAY 17. 1948-FORTY PAGES.
t
Guide for Readers
Page.
Amusements - B-26
Comics _B-18-19
Crossword _B-18
Editorial -_A-l#
Editorial Articles. A-U
Finance ..A-19
Page
Lost and Pound, A-S
Obituary -A-l*
Radio..B-19
Society, Clubs.. B-3
Sports _A-15-17
Woman's Page..B-12
An Associated Press Newspaper
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Test of Improved Atom Weapons
At Eniwetok 'Highly Successful';
House Unit Favors Super-Carrier
Lilienthal Terms
Secret Trials on
Atoll a 'Milestone'
The White House said today
that tests involving three atomic
weapons of improved design
proved successful in all respects
recently at Eniwetok atoll in the
Pacific.
The statement was made after the
Atomic Energy Commission gave j
President Truman an official report
saying the results "indicate very
substantial progress.”
Chairman David E. Lilienthal and
the four other commissioners re-,
ported orally to Mr. Truman that
the “'present stage of the commis
sion's tests of atomic weapons is
now concluded.”
Mr. Lilienthal called the tests "a
milestone in atomic development."
Test Series Completed.
The White House statement about
the report follows:
“The President today received
from the United States Atomic
Energy Commission a report on
tests of atomic weapons conducted
at the commissions proving ground
at Eniwetok atoll in the Marshall
Islands. The tests were held pur
suant to approval of the President,
given in June, 1947. The first series
of the tests are now completed.
“The commission reported that
the tests involving three atomic
weapons, each of improved design,!
was successful in all respects, and
that the results indicate very sub
stantial progress. The President
gave general approval of commis
sion plans for steps it proposed to
initiate at once for further nuclear
development, based upon informa
tion gained from the tests.
“As previously announced by the
commission, the tests were conducted
under the security provisions of
the Atomic Energy Act. and infor
mation as to the scientific results
and technical details of the tests
cannot be made public at this time.
The area of the proving ground, as
previously defined, remains closed
to unauthorized persons.
10,000 Mm Involved.
“The Secretary of National De
fense and the Atomic Energy Com
mission have authorized statements
of acknowledgement of services of
the personnel engaged in the tests.!
for release by the military scientific
leaders of the project upon their
return to Honolulu tomorrow.”
There may be statements from
Honolulu then, from Lt. Gen. John
E. Hull, commander of the task
force, and from Capt. James S.
Russell, test director who is in the
commission's military application
division. Mr. Lilienthal said.
He said about 10,000 men were in
volved in the test, including military
personnel, engineers, scientists and
others.
Mr. Lilienthal gave no details of
his conversation with Mr. Truman.
Term Limit Approved.
Meanwhile. the Senate-House
Atomic Energy Committee approved
a bill which would limit to 23
months the new terms for Mr. Lil
ienthal and the four other commis
sioners. The vote was 11 to 5.
The bill would extend terms of the
commission members until June 30.
1950. In effect, it would give the
next President the privilege of mak
ing full-term appointments. The
present terms expire August 1.
One Democrat, Senator Johnson,
of Colorado joined 10 Republicans
in support of the compromise. All
five of the negative votes were
Democratic.
Roll Call on Bill.
The roll call follows:
For the two-year extension—
Senators Vandenbarg, of Michigan.
Millikin, of Colorado: Knowland, of
California: Bricker. of Ohio, and,
Hickenlooper. of Iowa, all Repub
licans, and Senator Johnson: Rep
resentatives Elston of Ohio. Hin
(See ATOMICTPage~A-4> j
I
Late News
Bulletins
Fight Is Postponed
The 10-round bout scheduled
at Griffith Stadium for tonight
between Tony Janiro and Beau
Jack was postponed this after
noon until next Monday night
because of threatening weath
er. Both principals will he
required to weigh in again,
boxing commission officials an
nounced. The entire support
ing card will be held over.
(Earlier Story on Sports Page.)
Governor Cancels Parley
ST. PAUL, Minn. UP.—Gov.
Luther Youngdahl today called
off a proposed meeting with
packers and union representa
tives in connection with the
strike of CIO United Packing
house Workers. He said he was
flying to Chicago to offer his
services to try to settle the
National dispute. He had
called the meeting for 3 p.m.
today.
(Earlier Story on Page A-4.)
Pay Case Retrial Ordered
The Supreme Court in an
S-to-1 decision today ordered
a new trial to determine
whether contractors who op
erated Government-owned war
plants on a cost-plus-fixed-fee
basis are required to pay over
time wages. The Justice De
partment estimates several
hundred million dollars are
Involved.
U.N. Group Drops
Efforts to Agree
On Atom Control
Vote Is 9 to 2 as
Gromyko Insists
Accord Is Possible
By the Associated Press
LAKE SUCCESS, May 17.—The
United Nations Atomic Energy
Commission decided today to end
its two-year effort to agree on
world atomic control. The vote
was 9 to 2.
Russia and the Soviet Ukraine
voted against the suspension, which
was proposed originally by the
United States, Britain and France.
The move came after the western
powers concluded it was useless to
continue the talks any longer in view
of the deadlock between Russia and
the commission majority.
Soviet Deputy Foreign Minister
Andrei A. Gromyko told the com
mission he does not agree that fur
ther efforts are useless.
"The Soviet Union government
stood, stands and will continue to
stand for an effective international
system of Inspection and an effective
international system of control,"
Mr. Gromyko said.
"Agreement is possible. ’ Mr.
Gromyko said, 'but not under the
United States plan. * * * The United
States Government does not want
control of atomic energy."
Nations in ERP Fund
May Be Required to
Devaluate Currency
Action Will Come When
Inflation Curbs Country's
Sales to Other States
By Associated Press
The United States will "re
quire” European Recovery Pro
gram countries to consider de
valuing their currencies when
the United States thinks they
should, the administration's top
group on foreign finance said
today.
The National Advisory Council, in
a report sent to Congress by Presi
dent Truman, said the United States
will ''require” countries getting ERP
aid to work out devaluation with the
46-nation world monetary fund.
The requirement will be asserted
whenever the council "believes that
a country's exchange rate is im
posing an unjustifiable burden on
its balance of payments”—in other
words, when inflated currency is
drying up the country's sales to
other nations.
Apparently, the United States
could "require" countries getting aid
under the $5,300,000,000 ERP pro
gram to at least work on devalua
tion with the monetary fund by
threatening to shut off ERP money
if they refused.
Adjustments May Be Forced.
"Some adjustments in exchange
rates (currency devaluation! may
have to be made in the near fu
ture.” the council said in its first
progress leport on operations of the
monetary fund and its twin institu
tion. the 46-nation World Bank.
The British pound, now valued at
—(See CURRENCY. Page A-4. i
Gen. Moore Transferred
From Trieste fo Washington
By the Associated Press
The Army today announced the
transfer of Maj. Gen. Bryant E
Moore from command of United
States troops in Trieste to Wash
ington. He will succeed Maj. Gen.
Floyd L. Parks as chief of the Army
Public Information Division.
Maj. Gen. William M. Hoge. com
manding the engineer school at
Fort Belvoir. Va., will succeed Gen.
Moore at Trieste. The changes will
take place in June.
Gen. Parks will be given an over
seas assignment. He has been in
the information division 28 months.
Gen. Bradley, Army chief of stafl,
sent Gen Moore a message of ap
preciation for his “outstanding
service" in a position of "great re
snonsibilitv” in Trieste.
65,000-Ton Vessel
Would Be Largest
Ever Constructed
A House Armed Services sub
committee approved unanimous
ly today a bill clearing the way
for the Navy to get started on a
65,000-ton giant aircraft carrier.
Navy authorities say the super
carrier, capable of cruising in Arctic
waters, would be the largest ship of
any type ever built. It would be about
half again larger than the Navy s
present biggest carriers. Up to four
years would be required for its con
struction.
Presumably, multiple-engine bomb
ers capable of carrying an atomic
bomb thousands of miles could take
off from its flight deck.
Would Divert 229 Million.
To clear the way for its construc
tion, the subcommittee recom
mended to the full committee that
the Navy be allowed to stop work
on 13 unfinished ships. This would
divert approximately $229,000,000 to
build the proposed carrier and ves
sels designed to launch guided mis
siles.
The action was taken after Rep
resentative Hess. Republican, of
Ohio read a letter from Secretary of
Defense Forrestal assuring that'
the nation's top military leaders all
approve the super-carrier project.!
Mr. Forrestal said President Tru
man and the Budget Bureau mili
tary planners also favor the project.
Mr. Hess said the full committee
may act on the bill tomorrow.
Four Carriers Planned.
Secretary Forrestal and Admiral
Denfeld, Chief of Naval Operations,
reported to the subcommittee this
morning their plans for construction
of four of the huge carriers.
The Navy asked, however, only
for authorization to start work on
one during the coming fiscal ygar.
Admiral Denfeld estimated that
48 months would be necessary to
build one carrier but that in event
of emergency and with priority, the
time could be shortened to about
30 months.
The Navy's biggest carrier now
has a displacement of 45,000 tons,
a length of 910 feet and width of
143 feet. The proposed super car
rier would measure about 1,030 feet
long on the water line and 236 feet
as a maximum width. Admiral Den
feld said it would be the largest
naval craft ever built but could be
constructed on several existing dry
docks. •
Secretary Forrestal had been
scheduled as a witness before the
subcommitee, headed by Represent
ative Hess, but sent word he was un
able to testify today. He provided a
long letter, however, explaining that
the President’s budget for the com
ing fiscal year did not provide suffi
cient funds to complete the 13 war
ships now under construction and at
the same time permit a start on the
super carrier. He added that “no
man can accurately predict the na
ture of any future war and urged
that the $230,000,000 originally set
for the shipbuilding work be shifted
to the carrier construction project.
Program Approved.
Admiral Denfeld told the sub
committee that the Joint Chiefs of
Staff had approved the super
carrier program, as well as the
70-group air force expansion and
a 14.500-plane Navy strength. This
approval, he explained, was given
before the recent issue came up in
Congress concerning desirability of
a 70-group, as compared with a 66
group air force.
The super carrier. Admiral Den
feld testified, would have the fol
(See DEFENSE?-Page~A-4.’i
Henry Grady Nominated
To Asia Economic Unit
By th« Associated Press
President Truman today nomi
nated Ambassador to India Henry
F. Grady as United Slates repre
sentative on the Economic Commis
sion for Asia and the Far East.
Mr. Grady will hold the post along
with his job as Ambassador and as
Minister to Nepal.
The Economic Commission was es
tablished by the Economic and So
cial Council of the United Nations
on March 28. 1947.
The President also nominated
Ralph H. Ackerman to be Ambas
sador to the Dominican Republic.
Mr. Ackerman, a Californian, is a
Foreign Service career man.
Michigan Police
Called to Quell
Auto Pickets
i
CIO Union Threatens
To Call Out 225,000
At GM in Two Weeks
By the Associated Press
DETROIT, May 17.—Special
squads of State police were
rushed into suburban Highland
Park today to cope with an out
break of picket line violence
around one of 16 strikebound
Chrysler Corp. plants.
They were dispatched into the
Detroit area by Gov. Kim Sigler at
the request of Mayor Norman Pat
terson of Highland Park.
Mayor Patterson said local police
were unable to quell a disturbance
started by CIO united Auto Work
ers “goon squads." Two policemen
were reported sent to the hospital J
by the outbreak of fist fighting and;
rock throwing.
Gov. Sigler also disclosed he was
preparing to alert the National;
Guard if necessary.
First Violencf in Strike
This first major violence in the
6-day-old Chrysler strike came as
the auto-union threatened to call
a strike of 225.000 General Motors
workers and replied tartly to an
unexpected plea from the Ford
Motor Co. to cut wages.
T. A. Johnstone, acting director
of the UAW's General Motors de
partment, said there is "a very good
possibility" of a walkout in 90 GM
plants May 28 if no settlement is
reached by then.
"Our people probably aren’t going
to work if there’s no contract,” he
added.
The current UAW-GM contract,
extended 30 days, expires May 28.
Nearly half of the General Motors
union locals already have approved
a strike, according to Mr. Johnstone.
A walkout at General Motors
would boost the auto Industry's
strike total to 300,000.
Ford's wage cut proposal met a
crisp CIO rejection.
Chrysler, meanwhile. accused
pickets of forcibly preventing white
collar workers from entering some
of its 16 strikebound plants.
Developments In Picture.
Here are some of the develop
ments on the many-sided auto labor
front, affecting up to a half a mil
lion workers at least indirectly:
1. The Ford Motor Co., pleading
a cause of “public security,” pro
posed that its wage “differentials"
with competitors be eliminated,
meanwhile rejecting the UAW's
demand for a 30-cent hourly in
crease.
The bulk of Ford's 107.000 produc
tion workers probabl” would be af
fected in any pay reduction. Ford's
pay is said to be roughly about 10
cents higher than the pay of rival
firms.
The union, in a tart rejoinder,
said “no.” though offering to drop
its wage demand if Ford would
i See~AUTO^WORKERS, _Page A~4.1
Philadelphia Radio Station
Says 'Saboteurs' Cut Cable
By the Associated Press
PHILADELPHIA. May 17—Offi
cials of Radio Station WFIL said
today the main cable linking its
downtown studios with a suburban
transmitter was cut last night in
what they described as “a deliberate
case of sabotage.”
Both WFIL and Station KYW
were cut off the air at 8 p.m. <EST>.
KYW was able to resume normal
operations in less than 2 minutes
by means of a spare cable.
WFIL, however, was off the air
for 11 minutes and was forced to
transmit musical transcriptions for
an additional 2 hours and 7 minutes
before resuming scheduled broad
casts over the American Broadcast
ing Co. system.
WFIL has been operated by super
visory employes since May 1 when
43 engineers, members of the Amer
ican Communications Association,
CIO. left their jobs. Station offi
cials described the strike as a juris
dictional dispute, while union offi
cials said it was a wage dispute.
Democrats Pin Hopes on Five-Man Outfield
Democrats were reported going
radical today as a scheme for
using five outfielders against the
Republicans Friday night at Grif
fith Stadium came to light.
‘ It's a logical move." explained
Manager Dick Richards of South
Carolina. "Republicans pop up
when they don't blow up com
pletely. They're always up in the
air. Last year a puny pop fly hit
the fence and went for a home
run that won the game and we
intend to see that it doesn't hap
pen again. Besides, we've got
more outfielders than we know
what to do w’ith."
Republicans gleefully declared
their rivals probably couldn't
muster four inflelders able to
bend over for a ground ball.
"And it isn't the first time
they've tried packing positions.”
grunted Republican Manager
Runt Bishop. "But let 'em put
five men in the outfield. Let 'em
put the whole team out there—
maybe they'll get lost—and I
couldnt think of anything more
beneficial for the country."
Both managers issued instruc
tions to bear down in practice
this week as the homestretch
RepreerntstiTe
Gossett.
lepreirnUtirt
W®rley.
hove into view. Richards said the
Democrats might even practice
todav but positively would have
a batting drill before Thursday.
Republicans were reported to
have worn a groove between
Capitol Hill and Eastern High
School stadium where they have
been alternafely drilling and
ducking showers.
The Democrats, meanwhile
added a bevy of talent to their
roster that figured to make them i
, a serious threat in the big game. '
Tom Pickett of Texas loomed as
a key figure in the teams plans.
The lanky Lone Star stater
catches, pitches and plays the
outfield. He is an ambidextrous
thrower and a switch hitter.
"And he can run backward
about as fast as he can go for
ward,” added Richards.
With two additional Texans on
TSee BALL GAME, Page jfTT
Tickets for Ball Game
On Sale in Star Lobby
Tickets for the Congressional
baseball game at Griffith Sta
dium at 8 p.m. Friday can be
purchased m the lobby of The
Evening Star Building and at
the stadium.
The scale of prices is *1 for
general admission, $1.25 for re
served seats and $2 for box
seats, tax included.
Those desiring to make res
ervations by mail should send
checks made out to The Eve
ning Star and address them to
Congressional Ball Game, Room
724, The Evening Star Building.
O-BOY! for
ONCE I'M
NOT IN THE
MIDDLE!r
Arabs Shell Heart of Jerusalem,
Virtually All in Jewish Hands
Army of Israel Takes Area in 51 Hours
Of Street Fighting, Delayed Dispatch Says
/This is a combined American
press dispatch, filed through
United States Navy facilities and
distributed by the Associated
Press.)
JERUSALEM. May 16 (De
layed*.—Arab Artillery shells fell
today in the heart of Jerusalem,:
now virtually all in the hands of
the army of Israel after 51 hours
of furious street fighting.
Lashing out with machine guns
and mortors within seconds after
the British government and the
British Tommies evacuated the city.
Friday morning, the Jewish forces
swiftly overran British-evacuated
positions and started knifing toward j
Arab territory.
The first efforts of Israel’s fighters!
had two objectives:
To blockade the city against pos
sible invasion from Arab nations
and to isolate the old walled city,
the most hallowed square mile in
all Christendom, which is the head
quarters for Arab guerrillas.
Jewish "freedom fighters" (mem
bers of the Stern group! scaled
the walls of the old city and occu
pied two Arab houses. The Stern
ists made a lightning thrust Sat
urday morning to reach the wall1
and raised ladders to scale the
ancient parapet. They stayed in
aide for 10 hours and th$n with
irew.
Neutral powers, members of the |
United Nations Truce Commission,
(See JERUSALEM7Page 1^-3.> j
Pepco Asks Rate Boost
July 1 to Add 3 Million
Per Year to Revenue
$2,220,000 to Be Levied
On Commercial Patrons,
$780,000 on Residential
The Potomac Electric Power
Co. today asked the Public Utili
ties Commission for a general
increase in its rate schedules for
electric service which would add
approximately $3,000,000 annu
ally to the company's operating
revenues.
A. G. Neal. Pepco president, said the
company was asking that the new
rates be made effective July 1. He
estimated the average Washington
family will pay about 10 cents a
week, or *5 a year, more for electric
service under tlpe proposed rates.
Mr. Neal said that about $2,220,000
of the proposed rate increase would
be passed on to commercial custom
ers and the remaining $780,000
would be added to residential bills.
Rising Fuel Cost Cited.
The spiraling cost of fuel used in
the generation of electricity was
given as the main reason for the re
quest. Mr. Neal said the cost of
fuel today represents 50 per cent of
the total operating expenses and
consumes about 33 cents of each
revenue dollar compared with 19.4
cents in 1942.
Mr. Neal said the delivered cost
per ton of coal has increased from
$5.25 in 1942 to $9.42 cents today—
an increase of $4.17 a ton or 79 per
cent.
He said that fuel costs to the
company in 1947 were approximate
ly $2,500,000 more than in 1942.
Request Predicted
The request for higher rates came
as no surprise. On March 26. Mr.
Neal informed the utilities commis
sion that the rising costs of coal and
increases in other operating ex
penses were going to force the pow
er company to ask for a rate in
crease.
Pepco this year will earn about
$1.500.000 less than the 5’2 per cent
return allowed them under the slid
ing scale agreement, according to
Mr. Neale. He said the company's
present rates were based on 1942
costs and are producing revenues
"wholly insufficient" to offset the
continuous increases in its oper
ating expenses.
Mr. Neal said the company's op
erating revenues for 1947 increased
29.5 per cent over 1942. On the
other hand, he explained, during
this same period operating expenses
in creased 77 per cent and. if cur
rent cost levels were used, these op
erating expenses would be 97 per
cent over 1942.
First Asked in 28 Years.
Mr. Neal pointed out that this is
ithe first increase in billing rates re
quested by Pepco in 28 years. He
isaid that the company had "a con
i tinuing record of rate reductions."
The aggregate rate reductions put
into effect from 1926 through 1943
i totalled approximately $8,400,000,
:Mr. Neal said. In addition, refunds
i totaling $3,213,601 were made to
, customers last year by order of the
;PUC. The company unsuccessfully
contested the refunds in court.
Mr. Neal also pointed out that
the PPC required th« company to
(See PEPCO, Page A-4.)
Treasury Aide Urges
End of Oleo Tax, Calls
It Excessive Burden
Wiggins Tells Hearing
That Levy Hits Hardest
At Low-Income Group
By Chalmers M. Roberts
Federal taxes on oleomargarine
‘'unnecessarily burden consum
ers far in excess of the amount
paid in taxes” and should be re
pealed, the Senate Finance Com
mittee was told today by Under
secretary of the Trfasury Wig
gins.
The Treasury official was among
more than 20 pro-margarine wit
nesses at the opening of a two-day
hearing on the House-approved
Rivers Bill, now on what may be
its next to last lap in the long route
through Congress.
Cimmittee approval is considered
certain, so final passage seems as
sured if the bill reaches the Senate
floor for a vote before Congress
quits for the National Political Con
ventions.
Mr. Wiggins said the burden of
the margarine taxes “fall with par
ticular weight upon low-income
groups” and that revenue raising is
not their real objective.
Would Simplify Tax Structure.
The Federal Government will re
ceive about $7,000,000 this year in
margarine taxes, he estimated. The
tax has the effect, he said, of pre
venting many consumers from buy
ing the less expensive margarine.
He also advocated repeal of the
taxes on the grounds the move
would simplify the overlapping
Federal-State tax structure.
Mr. Wiggins pointed out that In
addition to Federal taxes, 22 States
have laws prohibiting the sale of
colored margarine. Three othet
States impose a ten cent a pound
(See OLEO, Page A-4.i
Major League Games
AMERICAN LEAGUE
(None Scheduled)
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Boston at Brooklyn—Night.
New York at Philadelphia—Night.
(Only Games Scheduled)
CIO Public Workers
Threaten March on
D. C. to Fight Rider
Mass Movement of 500
To Capital Planned
When Debate Opens
By Joseph Young
Star Staff Correspondent
ATLANTIC CITY. N. J.. May
17.—The CIO United Public
Workers of America today opened
its second biennial convention
with the announcement by its
leadership that it would move
the entire assemblage of 500 del
egates to Washington if the Sen
ate opens debate this week on
the so-called Red-rider aimed at
the union.
This was an indication that
UPWA's left-wing leadership will do
everything it can to prevent the!
split-up of its Federal employe
membership into another union.
The House-approved amendment,
which has been tacked on to various
appropriation measures, would cause
the dismissal of all Government
employes belonging to unions whose
officers fail to sign non-Communist
affidavits.
Will Work Out Program.
In his opening address Abram
Flaxer, union president, told the
convention: “We will fight this
rider with every resource at our j
command. We have to work out a j
program of licking this rider and
licking it this week ”
Mr. Flaxer bitterly attacked Con
gress and the “White House” for
creating a "police state in this
country.'’
“It's a police state when some of
these gentlemen In Congress try to j
force a worker from resigning
from a union of his own choice,” Mr.
Flaxer declared.
President Truman's loyalty pro-*
gram was also attacked as a "police
state" measure by Mr. Flaxer.
He declared the union would not be
••intimidated."
The UPWA chief attacked what
he termed was "flagrant discrimina
tion" against Negroes in the Federal
service. "The only thing that was
(See”PUBLIC WORKERS, Pg. A-4.)
Alert Ordered in Guam
As Typhoon Approaches
•y th# Associated Press
GUAM. May 17.—Guam was
alerted for a typhoon today.
The storm, with 80-knot winds
at its center, was reported approxi
mately 375 miles to the southwest
moving toward Guam.
Apra Harbor was closed to in
coming traffic. Ships were leaving
two and three at a time. The Navy
shut down its Agana Air Field.
Meanwhile, a search was ordered
for 18 Yap natives blown to sea
yesterday in canoes and rafts. Yap,
in the Carolines, is about 400 miles
southwest of Guam.
In Manila the Weather Bureau
said the season's first typhoon was
heading for the Philippines. It re
ported the typhoon—given the code
name of Lana—was moving north
west at 7 miles an hour, and was
expected to be 650 miles east of
Samar tomorrow morning.
The Weather Bureau broadcast a
! warning to Yap. Palau and Ulithi
Islands to prepare for at least a
60-knot blow. It did not mention
Guam.
Flooded Home Traps Woman;
Lightning Strikes Two Houses
A 1.13-inch downpour between
midnight and 6 a.m. today, accom
panied by lightning that struck two
houses on Ridge place S.E., trapped
a woman in flooded living quarters
behind a store at 5600 Grant street
firemen from No. 27 engine com
pany carried Mrs. Pearl Oliver to
safety after water ro6e four feet at
the Grant street building. She was
uninjured.
As the result of a head injury
when she fell into a curb washout
Saturday night near her home, Miss
Myrtle Haines, 46, of 3317 E street
S.E.. was taken to Providence Hos
pital last night. Her condition is
reported not serious.
Occasional showers and possibly
brief thunder storms before clearing
and cooler weather tonight were pre
dicted. A maximum temperature in
the high 70s. with considerable hu
midity. was expected today.
Rainfall yesterday, until midnight,
was .18 of an inch. The 1.13 inches
that came down mostly bet wen 1
and 3 a m., set no record but was
unusually heavy the forecaster said
Lightning struck a chimney on the
home of Paul A. Jones at 1511 Ridge
place S.E. during the storm. A
short time later the home of Paul
Bruinicki also was hit and an elec
tric meter put out of commission.
Firemen reported little damage was
done.
Potomac Electric Power Co of
ficials said the storm caused no in
terruption in aervice in any section
of the city.
Names Selected
For Grand Jury
In Gaming Probe
23 Tentatively Picked
As 16 Are Excused
By Judge Pine
By Chris Mothisen
Selection of a special grand
jury to investigate gambling in
Washington was expected to be
completed this afternoon by Jus
tice David A. Pine of District
Court.
A total of 16 prospective jurors
had been excused for various rea
sons. and others were due to be
eliminated before a final selection
of 23 veniremen to form the special
investigative body.
Meanwhile, the regular grand Jury
returned indictments against two
persons on gambling charges.
After 14 members of the special
grand jury panel had been excused,
a tentative group of 23 was selected
by noon. Justice Pine later excused
one other, however, and the remain
ing 22, together with the '•spares'*
among the 59 prospective jurors
originally brought before him. were
sent to lunch. At the same time,
Justice Pine excused one of the
-spares", and it was learned one of
the group of 22 also hoped to be
released when the selection process
resumed.
Three Women Excused
Three women were excused by
reason of their sex alone. Women
may serve on a grand jury here but
are not required to do so. Th«
others were excused as follows:
School teacher, two; student, two;
illness, two: poor hearing, two;
nurse at St. Elizabeth's HospitaJ,
one; needed to care for convalescing
husband, one; ordered to active
military duty, one: serious financial
hardship, one; indispensable to
business, one.
Justice Pine denied or deferred
action on 11 requests to be excused.
Pressure of work in Government or
private employment was the reason
advanced most among these. To
one prospective juror, he said:
“All of us enjoy the privileges of
citizenship; we occasionally have
to assume its burdens."
Those indicted by the regular
grand jury today on charges of
operating a lottery and possession
of numbers slips were Mattie
Thomas. 36. first block of N street
S.E.. and Burnie O. Love. 37, 1200
block of Eastern avenue N.E. Both
are colored.
14 Indicted Last Week.
The same regular grand jury
indicted 14 persons on gambling
charges last week.
The special grand jury, the first
ever ordered here to make a gam
bling inquivf, was requested by
United States Attorney George Mor
ris Fay with the approval of At
torney General Clark.
Mr. Fay said miormauon reacn
tng his office over an extended pe
riod indicated organized gambling
—horse betting, the numbers game
and other pursuits of chance—wa*
grossing in excess of $100,000,000 a
year in Washington.
When impaneling is completed,
the investigative body will begin it*
work by hearing an exposition of the
pre.sent gambling situation from Mr.
Fay and Assistant United States
Attorneys John W. Fihelly and
Charles' B Murray.
Meeting in Courtroom.
The special grand jury will meet
in secret in a courtroom of the Mu
nicipal Court Criminal Division
Building.
There will be no announcement
of witnesses, and those heard will
become known only through being
recognized in entering the grand
jury room. Police Supt. Robert J.
Barrett and other officials of hi*
department are among those ex
pected to testify.
The special grand Jury will be able
to conduct its investigation on an
interstate basis through a Federal
subpoena power crossing State lines.
During the last week, gambling
operators have been reported clceing
down temporarily or conducting
business with increased caution. A
number of them, including at least
lone major figure, have left the city
on “vacation."
Stock Market Quiets Down
At Slightly Lower Levels
Bv the Associotod Press
NEW YORK, May 17—Stock
prices turned down today and the
pace of recent trading days lost
much of its frenzy.
Prices steadied as trading slowed
down near noon, but were mostly
below Saturday’s close.
Traders, eager to turn the paper
profits of last week into cash, sent
in a flood of over-night orders that
put the ticker tape behind in a fast
first hour, wTiich saw some 690,000
shares change hands. This could not
hold a candle to Saturday's opening
hour of 1.220,000 shares.
Under the profit-taking mas*
most leading stocks turned down
ward. The later rally was led by the
rails, which were the first to firm
-and regain part of the early losses.
:Many of the less active issues held
ito the upward course started last
iweek.
Among those losing ground were
Union Pacific, Santa Fe, and Penn
sylvania in the rails, United State*
Steel and Bethlehem, General
Motors and Chrysler, Kennecott
Copper, DuPont, Westinghouse,
Johns Manville, Douglas Aircraft and
Sears Roebuck. Goodyear and Good
rich w’ere lower, but United State*
Rubber advanced.
Vatican Reports Arrest
Of Bishop by Yugoslavs
By the Associated Press
VATICAN CITY. May 17.—Vati
can sources said it was learned to
dav that Yugoslav authorities ar
rested Msgr. Pietro Cule, Bishop of
Mostar. April 20. They said it i*
not known why the bishop wa* ar
rested nor where he is held.