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

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Late New York Market7~Page A-15.__ _An Associoted Press Newspoper
96th Year. No. 261. Phone STerling 5000 *** WASHINGTON, D.' C„ FRIDAY. SEPTEMBER 17, 1948-SIXTY-FOUR PAGES. » CENTS
BERNADOTTE ASSASSINATED IN JERUSALEM
Aide Slain; Stern Gang Blamed;
American Colonel Also Wounded
Mediator Spurned
Radioed Warning
Of Attack Plan
BULLETIN
PARIS <VP).—The United Na
tions Security Council will
meet at 3 p.m. tomorrow to
consider the assassination of
Count Folke Bernadotte. U. N.
mediator in Jerusalem.
By John Roderick
Associated Press Foreign Correspondent
AMMAN, Trans-Jordan. Sept.
17 —Count Folke Bernadotte and
a French aide were assassinated
today in the Jewish-held part of
Jerusalem.
The mediator and French Col.
Serot were shot and killed by 'men
in Jewish Army uniforms,” said a
telephone message to the Associated
Press here.
(John Joseph Macdonald, the
American Consul at Jerusalem,
reported to Washington that
Count Bernadotte's party was
ambushed by four men, ‘pre
sumably the Stern Gang,” Jew
ish extremists. American Col.
Frank Begley, U. N. security
officer, was reported slightly
wounded in the face when he
grappled with one of the men.*
Count Bernadotte had arrived in
Jerusalem by air from Damascus.
Syria, at 11 am. Jerusalem time.
He flew in despite anonymous
threats on his life, declaring he re
fused to be frightened.
He was killed at about 5 p.m., a
victim of the war he tried for four
months to end.
Accompanied by AP Man.
This reporter flew with him from
Damascus to Hollandia airport, just
outside Jerusalem. Aboard the spe
cial plane he passed me a radioed
note which read:
■'Urgent.! Inform all aircraft
against landing Kollandia airport.
They will be fired upon.”
"Do you want to jump now or be
fired upon with us?" he asked me
with a wry smile. I said I’d take
a chance.
"This is an obvious attempt to
tighten me." he said. "If so. some
one is mistaken. I will not be
frightened."
Sniper Shot Out Tire.
An hour later, after he climbed
from the plane into hi- automobile
at the airport, a sniper's bullet
thudded into the left rear wheel of
his automobile. He got out to ex
amine it and found a small caliber
bullet hole
‘‘I (Jcai't mind bring shot at by
regulars,” he said "But not by
irregulars.'
When the count. Col. Srrot. Gen.
Aage Lundslloem and their aide^
climbed back into the car, I wished
Count Bernadot te luck.
‘ I'll need it." he replied.
Gen. Lundstroem, who was with
him. said:
"I'm no coward, bu> I don't wai>
to be killed by snipers. I bate a
family in Sweden, ton know "
Twice Negotiated Truces.
Count. Bcrnadotte twice succeeded
in bringing about a truce in the war
for Palestine between Jews and
Arabs, The truces have been fitful
punctuated by shelling and fighting.
Both sides appeared to expect the
present, truce now two months old.
to run out at almost any moment.
The count was head of the
Swedish Red Crass and the hus
band ot the former Estelle Man
ville of New York. He was 53.
The U. N. mediator had been shut
tling for months between the Arab
and Israeli capitals ih his efforts
to bring peace and enforce the
truces. He was scheduled to re
port to the United Nations in Paris
next week.
Visited Damascus.
Count Bernadette visited Damas
cus. Syria, yesterday.
While in that city he told news
papermen that both Arabs and
Jews in Jerusalem were “trigger
happy.” I
He explained that frequent shoot
ing broke out in the city without
either side knowing what it was
snooting at.
“It's like this.” he said. “They,
shoot into the dark at night. They!
(See BERNADOTTE. Page A-6.> I
Bomb Injuries Fatal
To Four on Maneuvers
By th« Associated Pres*
EGLIN FIELD. Fla., Sept. 17.—
Four Army infantrymen died early
today of injuries received when a
stick of live bombs fell from a B-29
during maneuvers here yesterday, j
Twenty-nine others were injured,
three critically. Eglin Field officers
in announcing the accident, said
the casualties were a white captain
and 32 Negro enlisted men.
Names of the dead were withheld.
pending notification of next of kin.
The troops were taking part in
fire power rehearsal when the mis
hap occurred. They were members
of the Third Battalion, 505th Air
Dorne Infantry Regiment, 82d Air
borne Division and "B” company,;
785th Tank Battalion.
••The troops were In the right
place afld the bombs weren’t,” a
public information officer said.
Seven bombers released 69 bombs
from an altitude of 10.000 feet, he
said. Some fell around and among
the ground troops
Shrapnel and concussion were re
aponsible for most of the injuries.
The officer said names of crew
members of the plane from which
the bombs fell would be withheld
until more information is available.]
COUNT BERNADOTTE.
Bernadotte Presumed
Slain by Stern Gang,
U. S. Consul Reports
State Department Told
That Assassins' Jeep
Escaped After Attack
The State Department this
afternoon said the assassination
of Count Folke Bernadotte and
French Col. Serot is ‘ presum
ably" the work of the Stern
Gang in Jerusalem.
The department's disclosure was
on the basis of a preliminary report
from John Joseph Macdonald.!
American Consul at Jerusalem, re
leased by Michael J. McDermott,
State Department press officer.
| Secretary of State Marshall de
scribed the killing as a "shocking
and tragic thing." and American
authorities immediately expressed
fear the slayings might gravely
jeopardise peace efforts in the Holy |
Land and lead to new violence be
tween the Jews and Arabs.
Jeep Blocked Car.
Mr. Macdonald's report said Count
Bernadotte and Col. Serot were
killed by a one of two men who
jumped from a jeep which sud
denly appeared to block the count's
car as he was riding in a convoy
through a Jewish-heid area.
The Jerusalem report Said two
other men who remained in the jeep
escaped, but did not specify wheth
er the assassin was captured.
The death weapon, the prelimin
aiy report said, was a Sten gun fired
at point-blank range. Col. Frank
Begley, an American United Na-1
tions security officer, was wounded
slightly in the face when he grap
pled with one of the assassins in the
attacking jeep.
Text of Report.
The full text of tyr. Macdonald's
preliminary report to the State De
partment follows:
"Regret to report Count Berna
dotte and Col. Serot. French officer
and senior U. N. observer. Jerusalem.1
killed this afternoon about l'ipu
hours (5 p.m.i presumably by Stern
gang.
"Convoy in which he was riding
was returning from Government
House. As they passed through
Catamon, Jewish-held area, jeep
suddenly appeared, blocking route.’
COTtaining four men, two of w'hich
proceeded to count's car.
Begley Slightly Hurt.
Col. Frank Begley. U. N. security
officer, grappled with one and was
slightly wounded.
"Second imam reached to count's
car and assassinated'two men* at
point-blank range with Sten gun.
' Jeep succeeded in escaping.
"Above is preliminary report. Fuii
report will follow."
Rail Parleys Collapse
CHICAGO Wage and
hour negotiations between the 1
railroads and 1,000,000 non
operating workers collapsed
today. Negotiations with rep
resentatives of five operating
unions with 300,000 members j
i are continuing, a representa
] tive of the railroads said.
Bomb Explodes in Havana
HAVANA. Cuba. Sept. 17 i/Pi.—
Police announced a small borpb ex
ploded today at the Ministry of
Labor Building, causing slight dam
; age. No one was injured. The ex
plosive had been placed just out
Britain Strengthens Defenses j
At Home in International Crisis !
By th« Associated Press
LONDON, Sept. 17.—Britain
took steps today to strengthen
her home defenses in the grave
international crisis.
The cabinet already has an
nounced that demobilization of the
armed forces has been slowed, re
cruiting stepped up and that war
weapons are being improved.
The War Office said it planned to
increase from 6.000 to 45.000 the size
of the auxiliary territorial services,
the equivalent of the wartime WACs
in the United States Army.
Women 18 to 40 will be recruited.
The War Office said 25.000 are
needed for anti-aircraft duty and
20.000 for general work ranging
from cooks to cipher clerks.
A call went out for 10.000 men
aged 20 to 50 to serve as special
constables in London. They will be,
» \ A
Hyderabad Ends
Resistance to
Indian Invasion
Cease-Fire Ordered
By Moslem Nizam;
Cabinet Resigns
By the Associated Press
NEW DELHI. Sept, 17.—The
Hyderabad government radio
broadcast today that the prince
ly state has yielded in its 100
hour war with the Dominion ol
\
India.
The Moslem Nizim, ruler of the
state, ordered a cease-fire effective
at 5 p.m. <7:30 a.m. EDTt and ac
cepted the resignation of his gov
ernment. He informed India he
will form a new government to
morrow. The Nizim is Gen. Sir
Mir Osman Ali Kban.
Mir Laik Ali, the Nizam's pre
mier, announced this in the Hy
derabad broadcast. The broadcast
was in the Urdu language and in
English. It was picked up by the
Indian government radio at Nag
pur. The government awaited a
full text before reaching a decision,
a spokesman said.
Troops Reported in Capital.
Unofficial reports reaching here
from Poona, Madras and Nagpur
said Indian troops already had
marched into Hyderabad City, the
capital, and Secunderabad, a mil
itary cantonment 6 miles north of
the capital, without opposition. Offi
cial confirmation was awaited here'
at general headquarters.
India declared at the outset she
was marching into Hyderabad to
put down a state of anarchy.
The Indian commander. Lt. Gen.
Maharajah Shri Rajendrasinhji,
three hours before the Hyderabad
announcement had broadcast a de
mand to the Hyderabad commander,
to "lay down you: arms, since re-'
sistance is futile.”
The Hyderabad broadcast was tn
the form of an announcement to
lhe 16,000.000 people of the state,
four out of five of them Hindus.
India has demanded that the Mos
lem Nizam turn his state over to
the dominion.
Resignation Accepted.
The entire cabinet resigned, the
premier announced, and the resig
nations were accepted by the Nizam.
Th* broadcast said the Governor
Geneia' of India. Chakravarthi Ra-1
jagopalachari, was informed of this,
and his decision was being awaited
in Hyderabad City.
i A Madras dispatch indicated
the Nizam s action was considered
a full surrender i.
India's flash war has been in
progress only a little more than
four days. Indian troops were bear
ing down on Bidar, storonghold of
the Moslem volunteers, the Raza
kars. who offered the main resist
ance to the dominion's drive. Other
columns were pressing forward from
all directions toward Hyderabad
City and nearby Secunderabad.
Text of Radio Announcement.
The text of the Hyderabad radio
announcement on the cabinet's fall:
"The history of the last five days
cannot be forgotten today, on the (
fifth day since the commencement
of the conflict. We have realized
that we have fought to the limit of
our ability.
"Early this morning, our cabinet
felt there was no point in sacrificing
human blood against heavy odds of
arms and aircraft of the Indian
Union.
"Taking all this into considera
tion. the cabinet decided to submit;
its resignation and place the re
sponsibility for Hyderabad State
into the august hands of the
Nizam."
"This humble petition though re
ceived rather late by the N’zam, was
accepted immediately and he agreed
to take full responsibility for the
state and torm a new cabinet to
take over tomorrow.
Razakars to be Banned.
"The Nizam has also sent a com
munication to the governor genera),
of the Indian Union informing him 1
~TSee-HYDERABAD~Page A-4.) j
trained in first aid and civil defense
work as well as regular police duties.
Maj. V. B. Rogers, commandant of
the London constabulary, said.
'Never was the need more urgent." i
The gravity of the international!
situation in general, and of the Ger
man in particular, was reflected in
a suddenly summoned meeting of
top British cabinet officers and de
fense chiefs with Foreign Secretary
Bevin.
Among those present were Sir
Stafford Cripps. Chancellor of the
Exchequer: Minister of War Enian
;uel Shinwell, Minister of Defense
I A. V. Alexander and Field Marshal
Viscount Montgomery, chief of the
Imperial General Staff. .
Mr. Bevin is to leave Sunday for
Paris to attend the United Nations
General Assembly. The Foreign
Office said he probably would re
turn for a foreign affair* debate in
, the House of Commons Wednesday.
a
Probers Claim
Condon Link to
Silvermaster
FBI Report Sent
To Truman Said to
Tell of Association
BULLETIN
The House Committee on
Un-American Activities an
nounced today that President
Truman has a lengthy FBI re
port on Dr. Edward U. Condon,
director of the National Bu
reau of Standards, ‘ detailing
his association with alleged
Soviet espionage agents, in
cluding Nathan Gregory Sil
vermaster,” described as leader
of a Government employe
espionage ring.
By Miriom Ottenberg '
Members of the House Com
mittee on Un-American Activi
ties will go to New York next
Wednesday to question Mrs.
Oksana Stepanovna Kasenkina.
the Russian school teacher who
leaped from the third floor of
the Soviet Consulate in New
York last month to escape the
Russians.
Chairman Thomas announced this
temporary shift from the commit
tees atomic espionage case today as
the committee made it plain that it
will continue to hunt for atomic
spies despite criticism from a num
ber of scientists.
Mrs. Kasenkina will be inter
viewed in Roosevelt Hospital, where
she is recovering from injuries suf
fered in her escape leap.
The hearing will be public In the
sense that hospital authorities have 1
given approval to the committee to
bring along three members of the
press.
Only Public Hearing for Weeif. |
Committee investigators already
have talked with the Russian school
teacher, whose case ultimately re-1
suited in the recall of Jacob Loma-'
kin, Soviet consul general in New
York, at the request of the State
Department. I
Mr. Thomas said Mrs. Kasenkina
"has some material we believe will
be of interest to the committee."
The State Department has prom
ised asylum in the United States for
Mrs. Kasenkina, who said she did
not want to return to Russia. |
The interview with Mrs. Kasen
kina will be the only public hearing
on the schedule for at least another
week. Mr. Thomas late yesterday
announced indefinite postponement
of the thrice-postponed public hear
ings on the committee's atomic es
pionage case.
Despite the postponement, how
ever, committee members have said
they will not be deterred by state
ments like the one made yesterday
by David E. Lilienthal. chairman of
the Atomic Energy Commission.
Former FBI Agent Quizzed.
Mr. Lilienthal joined President
Truman and a number of scientists
in charging that the committee's ac
tivities have discouraged atomic sci
entists from taking Government
jobs.
The committtee's atomic espionage
case centers on Arthur Adams, who,
has been described by Mr. Thomas
as a Soviet agent who has fled the
country.
Continuing its closed sessions on
this case the committee today
questioned Harold H. Velde of Pekin,
111., a former FBI agent who is
now a county judge running for
Congress on the Republican ticket.
Mr. Velde told reporters the com
mittee as'ked him to come to Wash
i See PROBE. Page A-6.*
Tribe Leads Nats, 2-0,
%
On Homer by Hegan
»y a Star Staff Correspondent
CLEVELAND. Sept. 17.—A home
run by Catcher Jim Hegan gave the
third-place Cleveland Indians an
early lead over the Nats in their;
game here today. Washington was
striving to avert its seventeenth
consecutive defeat.
The score in the third inning was
2 to 0 in favor of Cleveland.
Hegan's second inning homer was
his 13th of the season nad it drove
in Ken Keltner, who had singled,
ahead of him.
Walt Masterson took the mound
for Washington while Bob Feller
was pitching for Cleveland.
J. Edgar Hoover Confined
To His Home by Illness
J. Edgar Hoover, director of the
Federal Bureau of Investigation,
has been confined to his home here
for the past week with pneumonia,
and his associates said today they
were uncertain when he would be
able to return to his desk.
An FBI spokesman said Mr. Hoo
ver had been a "pretty sick man.'
but apparently was feeling better
now.
Mr Hoover was unable to attend
meetings of United States district;
attorneys here this week because of;
his illness. v ■
V
\V V
r..BUT WHAT ^
' ARE YOU GOING f
TO CHARGE FOR
THE HAMBURGER,
MISTER ?
I
Jesse Jones' Houston Chronicle
Announces It Will Back Dewey
U. S. Needs Change
In Administration,
Editorial Declares
FARM POLICY STATEMENT Ex
pected From Gov. Dewey Today.
Page A-4.
By the Associated Press
The Houston Chronicle, pub
lished by Jesse H. Jones, a cabi
net member in the Roosevelt
administration, today announced
its support of the Republican
presidential ticket of Thomas E.
Dewey and Earl Warren.
The Chronicle said in an editorial
that "it should be obvious to all
thinking people that we need a
change in our national aministra
tion."
The editorial was made available
to the press here by the Washington
bureau of the Chronicle.
Mr. Jones served for 12 years in
the Roosevelt administration, as
chairman of the Reconstruction
Finance Corporation, Federal Loan
Administration and Secretary of
Commerce. He was ousted from the1
Commerce position and the cabinet
in 1945 to make way for the ap-1
pointment of Henry A. Wallace,
after Mr. Wallace had failed to win
renomination for Vice President.
In Albany it was announced that
Gov. Dewey has been promised the
support of' the Pittsburgh Courier
Negro newspaper, by Mis. Robert L.
Vann, its president and treasurer.1
Mrs. Vann said in a statement
West Allies lighten
Counterblockade of
Red Zone of Reich
Border Patrols Increased
To Stop Shipment of
Goods to Soviet Area
By th* Associated Press
BERLIN, Sept. 17.—The West
ern Allies tightened their coun
terblockade of the Russian zone
today to shut off the last flow of j
goods from Western Germany to
the east
Patrols were increased at cross- j
ing points along the length of the
Bizone's frontier with the Soviet j
zone to halt any East-bound freight
on the highways.
Meanwhile. German Communist
leaders assailed the planners of a
Western German government today;
as Soviet jeeps prowled Berlin's
sector ’ borders. Several vehicles
made quick sallies into American
territory. -i
Leaders of Germany's Com
munist - controlled Socialist .Unity
Party <SED> loosed a blast at
Western Germany's constitutional
convention at Bonn and branded it
a plan to disrupt Germany.
Local Trade Restored.
The Allies imposed a counter
blockade July 26. banning all rail
traffic in and out of the Soviet zone
of- Germany and halting highway |
freight from Western to Eastern
Germany. This cut off supplies of
Ruhr coal and steel.
Since then, however. Germans on
both sides of the interzonal borders
have developed leaks aqd restored
varying amounts of local trade
Frequently subterfuge and trickery
have been employed to get cargoes
past border controls.
The Western counterblockade has
pinched sharply the economy of the
Soviet zone.
To keep the embargo lid on
tightly as long as the Russians
maintain their Berlin blockade, the
Western powers are plugging boraei
leaks.
Stopping All Shipments.
At Helmstedt. major control point
between the British and Soviet j
zones district, police were increased
by 100, and police at the highway ;
points were boosted from 8 to 24.
The amplified guard forces have
iSee BERLIN, Page A-6j 1
JESSE H. JONES. .
that President Truman and Henry
A. Wallace "have been dramatic in
espousing the cause of Negroes, but
Gov. Dewey has been more effective
in giving protection to their basic
rights and well being.’’
Stating its belief in a two-party
system, the Chronicle said:
"We Democrats can no longer
discharge our responsibilities * * *
by taking refuge in the fact that
we have always been of a particu
lar political faith; that we are
Democrats, and can vote no other
ticket. Tradition should not dictate
our decisions. * * *
"Patriotism should tell us to for
iSee JONES, Page A-6. >
French Strike Crisis
Eases, but Queuille
Regime Awaits Test
Assembly Finance Group
Due to Vote Today on
Tax Increase Plan
By the Associated Press
PARIS, Sept. 17.—About 90 per
cent of 35,000 workers at the
Renault automobile factory re
turned to their jobs today after
a two-day strike.
In the metal industries, where
300,000 to 400,000 workers staged a
demonstration yesterday, shops
were in operation again today.
However, dock workers in Brest
and Sete, near Marseille, quit work
last night and today.
As the series of CommuniSt-led
strikes was putting an additional
strain on France's disturbed eco
nomy. the fate of Premier Henri
Queuille's new cabinet rested with
42 members of the National As
sembly's Finance Committee.
The committee, representing all
(See-FRENCH, Page~A-6.)
Bullets Found in Body of Woman
First Believed Air Crash Victim
•y th* Associated Press
NEW YORK. Sept. 17 —The pos
sibility of murder in the air was
raised today with a medical exam
iner's report that a woman, believed
a victim of a plane crash last night,
had been shot and killed before the
accident.
Queens Medical Examiner Wil
liam Bennison said he found two
steel-jacketed bullets and the frag
ments of a third in the body of
Miss Hannah Laufer. 28.
She was dead, he said, before the
rented plane, piloted by Jesus
Meneau Monleon. 31, crashed into
a salt marsh about 2 miles from the
New York International Airport
shortly after dark. Monleon diea
in the crash.
Witnesses said last night they had
seen the plane make several vain
attempts to land at both La Guardia
Field and at the International Air
port. Once, they said, it came down
on a runway and then bounced
back into the air.
George Edwards, proprietor of a
Long Island flying service, said
*,
Monleon rented the plane early yes
terday for a flight to Philadelphia.
He described Monleon as an in
terpreter or translater with the
I State Department. Port of New
| York Authority police said Miss
Laufer served in a similar capacity
for the War Department
Police recovered the bodies of the
victims last night.
They reported that Monleon was
an experienced combat pilot, who
flew for the French and British air
force in World War II earlier, he
reportedly was a pilot for Loyalist
forces during the Spanish Civil War
After the fall of France, Monleon
was interned in a concentration
camp but later escaped to England
where he joined the RAF.
Miss Laufer was the daughter of
Robert Laufer, New York fur mer
chant. Mr Laufer was a passenger
abroad the flying boat Bermuda Sky
Queen when it was forced down in
the Atlantic last year. He. along
with other passengers and the
planes crew, were rescued by the
Coast Guard Cutter Bibb. ‘
I
Truman Starts Tour;
Predicts 'Victorious'
Swing in 14 States
Tells Barkley, Others
He Will Fight Hard;
Faces 100 Public Talks
By Joseph A. Fox
President Truman left Wash
ington at 11:05 a.m. today on
what he described as a “victori
ous” campaign trip.
As he set out in a 17-car special
train on a Western tour which will
carry him to the Pacific Coast, the
President declared:
"I am going to fight hard and
I'm going to give them hell.”
His description of his 16-day
swing as "a victorious trip" was
made to his running mate. Senator
Barkley of Kentucky, who was at
the station to se him off on a cam
paign which the Democrats hope
will return Mr. Truman to the
White House and help oust the Re
publican majority in Congress.
Secretary of State Marshall and
Secretary of Commerce Sawyer also
were at the station to say goodby
to the President.
Mr. Truman was accompanied by
White House aides and Jonathan
Daniels, publisher of the Raleigh
(N. C.i News and Observer.
Will Campaign in 14 States
Mr. Daniels will serve as a con
sultant in the campaign swing. He
was an administrative assistant and
press secretary to the late Presi
dent Roosevelt and also served for
a short time as press secretary to
Mr. Truman.
By ihe time the presidential special
returns to Washington October 2.
Mr. Truman will have waged a driv
ing campaign in 14 States having
164 electoral votes.
On crossing the country to the
Pacific Coast, the President will
touch 19 States having 251 electoral
votes and even in those sections
where he is not scheduled for ad
dresses. Mr. Truman may exchange
greetings at rail station gatherings.
In all, his present tour calls for
more than 100 formal and informal
talks In a bid for votes on Novem
ber 2.
Three other railroad stops and a
plane visit to Florida will round out
15,000 to 20,000 miles of campaign
traveling for Mr. Truman in prob
ably the most strenuous election
drive ever undertaken by a White
House occupant.
Speaks in Iowa Tomorrow.
Mr. Truman's first stop will be
at Dexter. Iowa, where he will speak
at 2:05 p.m. tomorrow at th* na
tional plowing match The speech
will be broadcast over the Mutual
System.
The President, who was pro
nounced In excellent physical shape
(See TRUMAN, Page A-4.>
School Budget
Cut $1,356,000;
Building Is Out
Total D. C. Estimate
Of $110,188,000 Hits
Educational Setup
By Jerry O'Leary, Jr.
A $23,756,250 austerity budget
has been submitted to the Com
missioners by the Board of Edu
cation for running the Washing
ton public school system in the
1950 fiscal year as part of the
estimated District budget of
$110,188,648. Budget Officer Wal
ter L. Fowler announced today.
It was the first time since 1934
that a city school budget estimate
has been lower than that of the pre
vious year, budget officials said. The
school estimate represents about
one-fourth of the overall budget, and
is $1,356,433 less than the 1949 ap
propriation.
Reacting to the Commissioners’
drastic economy order of July 22,
school officials eliminated all re
quests for new school construction
not already approved by Congress.
They also asked funds for additional
teachers only for newly completed
schools.
The public school estimates, as
approved by the finance committee
of the Board of Education, face cer
tain reductions along the line before
the next Congress enacts the 1950
appropriation act. As the estimates
stand, they add up to this:
Beginning of no new construc
tion of schools, no pay increases for
teachers, overcrow'ded conditions in
classrooms already jammed with
children, completion of only a few
schools already under construction
and only 16 additional teachers.
Savings effected in capital out
lay for schools are nullified to soma
extent by a $1,127,800 rise in gen
eral school operating expenses from
$20,037,000 to $21,164,800. Part of
this increase is for wit.hingrade
wage increases and the 16 new
teaching jobs.
Financial Plight of D. C.
Mr. Fowler painted a gloomy pic
ture of the District's financial plight
after studying the estimates, point
ing out that the best revenue pre
diction now on hand for fiscal 1950
indicates the city will have avail
able for general fund expenditure
only about $79,235,000.
This is more than $5,000,000 be
low the revenue availability for
fiscal 1949. The general fund esti
mate in the 1950 budget is $94,394,
831, or $15,159,831 less than Mr. ,
Fowler estimates will be available
for expenditure. The separate
highway and water funds are self
sustaining through taxes and water
rents.
Asked for comment on the con
templated budget. Commissioners
Guy Mason and Gordon R. Young
said today they planned to press
harder than ever for swift enact
ment by Congress of a 2 per cent
sales tax to help balance the bud
get.
Further complicating the fiscal pic
ture is the possibility that Con
gress may grant to District Gov
ernment employes the $330 annual,
pay raise given to other Federal
employes at the last session. Mr.
Fowler estimated blanket granting
of the pay raise to District employes
would add another $5,550,000 to
the already overloaded budget.
Conferences Planned.
The Commissioners plan to call
in their department heads beginning
September 27 for about 10 days of
closed conferences on the budget
estimates. Mr. Fowler said a pub
lic hearing, at which Washington
taxpayers can present their views
on the budget, will probably be
held sometime in the middle of
next month.
No alterations will be made by
the city heads in the budget as it
now stands, until after the public
has been heard at the public hear
ings. Mr. Fowler said.
The $110,188,643 estimate total is
broken dow'n into a $94,394,831 gen
eral fund estimate, a $9,456,817 esti
mate for the highway fund and a
$6,337,000 water fund estimate. The
department heads turned in esti
mates totaling $144,186,908 for fiscal
1949 and the appropriation author
ized by Congress totaled $99,879,483,
District officials cut $43,000,000
from the 1949 budget before they
ever sent the estimates to the White
House. Congress pared another
$1 000,000 from the bill before pass
i ing the 1949 Appropriation Act. ,
Although the Board of Education
asked for less money in 1950 than
it received for 1949 the overall esti
mate of $110,188,648 is $10,309,165
more than the 1949 appropriation.
Largest increase In this year*
estimate is in the general fund
with $10,184,548. The highway fund
increase sought is $174,617, but the
water fund shows a decrease of
$50,000.
The figures indicate District de
partment heads paid some, but not
""•Continued on Page A-6, Col. 5.)
Bulletin
Joe Louis to Fight Again
NEW YORK —Joe Louis
announced today he will de
fend his world heavyweight
championship for the Twenti
eth Century Sporting Club at
Yankee Stadium next June
against the winner of the Joe
Baksi-Ezzard Charles 15-round
bout scheduled for Madison
Square Garden November 12.
i