The Washington times. [volume], February 06, 1932, Image 12

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CAN BIC BUSINESS
RECOVER OLD
PRESTIGE?
By gilbert seldes
THE most pitiable victim of our present discontents
is the ancient bogey of Big Business; whatever else
happens we shall never be quite so afraid of it, or quite
bo willing to trust in its far-sighted intelligence. It has
lost almost as much prestige as the muckrakers of an
fc .
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GILBERT SELVES
wheat, and wheat with wool, and wool with banking,
to complete a circle which we then called “vicious.”
The next thing was that Big Business planned two or
there or five years ahead; it pushed politicians around,
but it was superior to politics; it was scientific. After
the muckrakers, the apologists came in with their bar
rage and we learned that the bigger Big Business was,
the more it cared for the common prosperity of the na
tion; not unselfishly, of course, but because general
prosperity was the surest way to arrive at individual
wealth. Always at the back of our minds there atood
the 50 or 60 or 85 men who were on so many direc
torates and controlled so much money and disposed of
bo much power that they ruled the world.
“Where Are You Now?”
I confess to a profound disappointment. The 85 men
aren’t there; they are scuttling away in 85 separate di
rections looking out "for their own hides. Most of them
are still willing to be benevolent despots, working for
the common good, because that is the best way to send
the stock market soaring. , But there are few signs that
five or ten of them have gathered together to think and
to plan. They seem to have scattered like mice. Unless
they have chosen to make a melodrama out of the na
tional tragedy, and are doing big things in secret. If
they are, the prompter should tell them that we are all
ready for them to tell us about it.
Dear Dead Days
It seems so long ago—those days right after the Wall
Street smash—when representatives of American busi
ness were called to Washington. What they did there
was singularly ineffective; they seem to have been
called by Mr. Hoover as another of his strange com
missions which discover facts, announce decisions, and
find themselves reversed by events. That hardly mat
ters, for the important thing was the coming together
of effective leaders for the single purpose of thinking
about their country. Since then the gatherings have
been few and small; bankers have met business men
to protect banking and business. I have no doubt that
banks and businesses have been saved.
In Cleveland’s Time
But this is a particularly good time for the emergence
of a central directing intelligence in finance and indus
try—and the opportunity is being missed. Perhaps a
few generations ago the head of the House of Morgan
would have dared to come before the country and say,
“I am suspected of every crime; whatever I propose
to you, you will think is for my own profit. But having
consulted every intelligence in America, I am authorized
to make these proposals.” Perhaps leadership has
passed from the Morgans to the Federal Reserve and it
is an industrialist who can do for the country what
J. P. Morgan did in 1895 when he crunched a cigar
to powder (according to Denis Tilden Lynch’s new
biography of Cleveland), and sat tight and preserved
America’s gold. No one now seems to have that much
will or that much sense.
I am, of course, guilty of believing in Santa Claus
when ! assume that all the business intelligence of the
United States, acting together, might do us gt>od. But
it would, at least, be a novelty. It would create that
semi-mythical commodity called confidence. And it could
hardly do much harm.
RHEEIWPATRnNS
SEE REFUND
Losses to investors caused by
the crash of Swartzell, Rheem
and Hensey Company will be re
duced by a refund of approxi
mately $40,000 in income taxes
which is to be returned by the
Government, trustees of the bank
rupt firm announced today.
The money is understood to
have been paid to the Internal
Revenue Department in 1929.
Since the former mortgage bank
ing house failed a year ago
trustees handling the liquidation
have been endeavoring to con
serve the assets for the benefit
of hundreds of customers whose
combined losses are estimated at
several million dollars.
WASHINGTON - LOSES ‘BIKE’
George Washington, colored.
1532 Fifteenth St. N. W„ today
reported that his bicycle had been
Stolen from his home.
SSO for News Tips—Ten Cash Prizes Each Week—Phone News Tip Editor, Washington Times, District 5260
Eyes Open 'for Unusual Events—Don’t Write —£Aone Between 6:30 L 4. As. and 6 Afj
elder day who discovered the Octopus
and proceeded to destroy it—in the
magazines. 1 do not know to this
day whether Big Business existed; I
am only sure that it wasn’t as power
ful and as wise as its enemies said
it was. There are moments when,
surveying the chaos of business all
over the world, people must wish that
the Monster would return, with all its
hideous injustices, if’ only it were
strong and could act.
Vicious, If True
The one thing we learned about Big
Business was that it was a closely
knit combine; the banks dominated
and protected; steel was involved with
motor cars, and motor cars with
Holy Name Society-
Plans Card Party
The Holy Name Society of St.
Jerome’s Church, will hold a card
party in the old church hall on
Spencer Street, Hyattsville, next
Monday night. Five hundred and
pitch will be played. St. Jerome’s
team is now leading in the Holy
Name Society Bowling League.
SKIPPY By Percy Crosby
\ I never did see such luck as, ? /-only Vester day he l/as UishiiY’ 1 I -an now its )li wish that euery sund ay 1
freddy has \ Ihe Didn't have to Go To School, / Saturday. ) nioht,an* only once J
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WASHINGIOHTIMES
Telephone District 5260
POLICE HUNT IN VAIN FOR STREET SNIPERS
☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
Chest Workers Confident of Achieving Goal Tuesday
5214,829 STILL
NEEDED FOB
OUOTA
Chairman Colladay Believes
Many Prospects Have
Been Overlooked
Expressing confidence that
the full quota of $2,601,000 for
the Community Chest will be
raised by the time the drive
ends Tuesday, Edward F. Col
laday, chairman of the fund
campaign, today said the short
age of $214,829 exists princi
pally because many prospective
givers have not yet been
reached rather than because of
unusual reluctance to finance
the chest.
Solicitors are renewing their ef
forts to see all possible contribu
tors in person, because of the
natural desire of many to make
their pledges and gifts to a person
rather than through the mail, it
was stated.
Pledges continued to come in to
day, further reducing the short
age. No more luncheons or re
port meetings will be held until
the closing report meeting Tues
day, at which time the campaign
officials confidently believe last
minute contributions and delayed
reports of workers will swell the
total to the full quota.
Following a radio address last
night by Elwood Street, director
of the Chest, over Station WOL,
it was emphasized today that the
Associated Charities had to spend
90 per cent more during January
on relief than during January,
1931, although an increase of only
40 per cent for the 1931 Chest
total is being asked.
OWNLH LOSES
SEIZED CAR
The owner of an automobile
who lends his car to a person
whom he knows to be a bootleg
ger does so at his own risk, Po
lice Court Judge Isaac R. Hitt
ruled today in denying a peti
tion of Henri Cheri, 20. of 7101
Georgia Ave. N. W., for the re
turn of his machine.
Cheri’s car was seized last Oc
tober when Kirby D. Tucker, 901
M St. N. W„ is alleged to have
used the machine to deliver liquor
to police informers. Tucker was
convicted of possession of liquor
and the automobile was confis
cated.
Cheri said he knew Tucker was
a bootlegger, but that he loaned
him the car on the condition that
he would not haul liquor in it.
Students Invited
In Poster Contest
The music department of the
Takoma-Silver Spring High School
is staging a poster contest in con
nection with the presentation of
the musical comedy, “The Gypsy
Rover.” by the glee clubs of the
school on March 4 and 5.
Chi Sigma to Hold
Minstrel Tonight
A combination minstrel show,
card party and dance will be
held by the Chi Sigma Sorority
tonight at 8:30 p. m., at the
Mayflower Hotel.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1932
Radio Tuners
May Hear
War Guns
American radio listeners will
hear the roar of aritllery and
machine gun fighting between
the Japanese and Chinese at
Shanghai if negotiations ini
tiated by the National Broad
casting Company are successful.
The company is seeking a
means of placing a microphone
near engaging troops so the
noise of battle will be picked
up and transmitted across the
Pacific.
It would be the first time a
field battle ever has “gene on
the air.”
BANKROLL BACK
DE SHOOTING
An attempt by Harry Abrams,
30, bodyguard to William Moses,
local boxing promoter, to protect
a large “bankroll” he carried for
his employer is reported in gamb
ling circles today to have resulted
in the shooting of Abrams Wednes
day night.
Although badly wounded.
Abrams is resting easily at Emer
gency Hospital.
According to the reports,
Abrams was carrying the “bank
roll’ in order to save it from
holdup men who, it was be
lieved, would search Moses and
leave Abrams alone. On Wednes
day night, it was said, the
hold-up men searched Moses and
then turned to Abrams. Abrams
resisted and was shot. Moses
returned the fire of the bandits.
Police declare that William
Henry Coates, colored, held in
connection with the shooting, is
also known as William Harry
Colts and was linked with Harry
Yudelevit recently in a liquor
case. Yudelevit is being sought.
550.00 0 SOUGHT
FOR SCHOOL
An appropriation of $50,000 for
plans for a high school in the
Reno section of the city will be
urged by school officials before
Congressional hearing as one of
the most pressing itejns in the
District school estimates, it was
revealed today by Stephen E.
Kramer, first assistant superin
tendent of schools.
This item must be pressed, Mr.
Kramer declared, to expedite con
struction on the school which,
when completed in February.
1935, will relieve an unprecedented
congestion in the Western High
School.
Western will be forced to go on
a part-time schedule of classes
next year, he said, but the sooner
the new building, is completed
the sooner Western will be re
lieved of the part-time classes.
17 Groups Slated
For Play Tourney
Seventeen groups will take part
in the 1932 one-act play tourna
ment sponsored by the Community
Center department of the District
Public Schools, co-operating with
the Drama Guild of Washington.
The tournament will take place
the first two weeks in March at
Wilson Teachers College, Eleventh
and Harvard Streets Northwest.
The finals will be held in the Mc-
Kinley auditorium, Second and T
Streets Northwest, Tuesday night,
March 15.
Office Address, 1317-21 H St. N. Wj
GUI'S BUDGET
WILL ESCAPE
PRUNING
No Severe Reductions Seen
Since Necessary Items in
Line-up Equal Total
The congressional pruning
knife that has been consistently
applied to departmental sup
ply hills in the present ses
sion will not be used to slash
the District budget of $47,000,-
000 for 1933 in any general
degree, Representative Clar
ence Cannon (D.) of Missouri,
member of the House Appro
priations Committee said to
day.
Cannon is chairman of the
subcommittee that will review
the proposed items in the District
budget estimates and report an
appropriations bill to the Appro
priations Committee.
No Drastic Changes
Although Cannon said that
some items of a minor nature
might be eliminated and the total
estimate slightly reduced, it was
highly improbable that drastic
reductions will be made.
The bill, however, will include
the provisions that prohibit pay
increases or the filling of va
cancies except in essential in
stances. Cannon said:
“We will not permit salary
increases or vacancies to he
filled but we expect to make
little change in the Budget
estimates.
NECESSARY ITEMS
“There are certain necessary
expenditures to be made here
and the essential items prac
tically total the complete esti
mate. It would therefore be
impossible to make severe re
ductions.
“We will be economical, how
ever.”
Cannon announced that the
first active business meeting of
the subcommittee will be Tuesday.
Monument to Have
Guard for Feb. 22
A guard will be stationed at
Washington Monument on Febru
ary 22 this year, although the
shaft will be closed to visitors,
to receive wreaths expected in
connection with the Bicentennial
observances. Flags of the 48
States will also be placed around
the base of the monument, as
usual.
Employes who usually receive
the day off are entitled to it
this year as well as any other
and museums and memorials will
be closed on the holiday.
Highway Police Post
Planned at Ft. Hunt
A Park police substation to
serve as headquarters for motor
cycle off! ce r s patrolling the
Mount Vernon Memorial High
way will be established some
where between Alexandria and
Mount Vernon soon. It will be
located at Fort Hunt if War De
partment officials approve the
project.
Northeast Citizens
Will Discuss Bills
The regular monthly meeting
of the Northeast Washington
Citizens Association will be held
Monday evening at the Ludlow
School, Sixth and G Streets
Northeast. —
Legislation affecting the
District will be discussed.
D. C. RESIDENTS IN SHANGHAI
BEVERLY MERTON, JR., MRS. BATCHELDER BETTY
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THIS WASHINGTON
family is in war torn
Shanghai. They are Capt.
Merton J. Batchelder,
Fourth Regiment, U. S.
Marines, his wife, Mrs.
Katherine J. Batchelder
and their three children,
Beverly, 6; Merton, jr., 2,
and Betty, 8.
STLOGIE DILLS
APPROVED
The Senate District Committee
acted favorably on five local meas
ures yesterday, and referred sev
eral others back to subcommittees
for amendments. The five bills
will go on the Senate calendar
Monday. The bills and resolu
tions approved were:
Senator Capper’s bill to es
tablish “credit unions” here to
combat the “loan shark” evil;
authorization for the closing of
upper Water Street and to trans
fer the land to the control of the
director of public buildings and
parks; a resolution authorizing
the naming of “Montgomery Blair
Portal” at the Sixteenth Street-
Maryland boundary entrance to
the Capital: authorization for the
closing of certain streets at the
Occoquan reservation, and a bill
increasing the power of police and
fire department trial boards.
Woman Poisoned
By Opened Gas Jet
Mrs. Martha Haden, 32, of 3814
Thirteenth St. I . W., is recover
ing today from the effects of
gas poisoning received in her
home yesterday. Police said a gas
jet accidentally became opened.
After first aid treatment at Cas
ualty Hospital, Mrs. Haden re
turned home.
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’ ' GLEE CLUB RECITAL
- The men’s anjl women’s glee
1 clubs of American University will
1 give a concert in the auditorium
of the Woodside Methodist
Church, north of Silver Spring,
Tuesday. February 9, at 8 p. m.
l Harlan Randall is director of
these clubs.
! CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR DAY
■ Tomorrow will be annual Chris-
■ tian Endeavor Day at the Takoma
5 Park Christian Church. The ex-
• ercises will begin at 7 p. m., when
- Miss Louise Scott will lead a dis-
• cussion upon “How Our Society
Meets Young People’s Needs.”
SNIPERS ELUDE
DRAGNET SET
81 POLICE
Manhunt Continues as Victim
Fights for Life; Wounded
Girls Improved
Police today continued a
man-hunt for the snipers who
shot, three persons Thursday
night, in Washington streets.
Meanwhile. Gorton T. Backus,
inspector for the United States
Forest Service, who was shot
down in front of his home, is
fighting for his life at Emergency
Hospital with a bullet wound in
his back.
Two Girls Recovering
Two girls, shot down by the
mad gunmen, are recovering. The
girls, Helen Andrews. 18, and
Doris Beall, 16, were only slightly
wounded.
Heavily armed cruising cars
scouted through the streets of
Washington last night. In addi
tion, headquarters detectives and
police were out on individual
hunts, in an effort to locate the
perpetrators of the crimes.
Three young men, questioned
in connection with the case last
night, were released when it was
Jiscoven.d they had no connec
tion with the shootings.
Fourth Shooting Reported
Meanwhile, a fourth shooting
was reported to police’ and they
are checking it in an effort to
team if it is connected with the
other crimes.
Henrietta Lloyd, colored, of
4477 C St N. E„ was shot in the
le't arm early yesterday on Ben
ning Road. Police said they
believed she had been fired upon
by a colored man.
LOW GAS RATE
PARLEyOUE
Notices of a public hearing
February 17 on the application
of the Washington Gas Light
Company for a reduction in rates
and charges were sent out today
by the Public Utilities commission.
Schedules of reductions in both
commercial and domestic rates
were submitted by the company
earlier in the week, and set aside
$211,000 to met this alteration.
The domestic schedule of reduc
tions submitted by the company,
it is estimated, will bring about
a saving of only 5 cents a month
to the average consumer. It is
believed this scheduled will be
changed at the hearing.
The company’s plan sets aside
SIOO,OOO for domestic rate reduc
tions and $lll,OOO for commercial
rate reductions.
District Chemists
To Hear Dr. Balls
“Some Recent Advances in
Enzyme Chemistry” will be the
subject of Dr. A. K. Balls’ address
before the Chemical Society of
Washington at a meeting at the
Cosmos Club on Thursday at
8 p. m.
Dr. Balls is in charge of
enzyme investigation, Food
Division, Bureau of Chemistry
and Soils, U. S. Department of
Agriculture.
Patent Office Man
Auto Show Winner,
Sidney James, 1724 Taylor St.
N. W„ last night received the
automobile given away at tl.e
Automobile Show in Washington
Auditorium. He is an associate
examiner in the Patent Office.
More than 8,500 persons visited
the show last night, a record at
tendance. The exhibit ends to
night.
PHILOSOPHY IS TOPIC
“An Attempt to Find the Abso
lute by a Philosophic Method*
will be the talk given by Kepler
Hoyt before the next meeting of
th Society for Philosophical In
quiry, in the New National Mu
seum, at 4:45 p. m„ Tuesday.
STUDENTS - HONOR 4 AR KS
Arthur D. Marks, jr„ son of Mr.
and Mrs. Arthur D. Marks, jr„ of
Wardman Park Hotel, was voted
the “man most likely to succeed”
by Syracuse University students.
He is a graduate of Central High
School.