The Daily Alaska empire Newspaper, February 15, 1933, Page 1

“ALL THE NEWS ALL THE TIME” THE DAILY ALASKA EMPIRE e jUNEAU ALASKA, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1933. MFMBER OF ASSOCIATED PRESS PRICE TEN-CENTY EVA LAWRENCE VICTIM OF FOUL PLAY, SAYS JURY REP@R’T ON RAILROADS MADE PUBLIC BLAME SYSTEMS FOR CONDITIONS; REFORMS URGED National Transportation Committee Makes Suggestions CONSOLIDATIONS ARE RECOMMENDED Slight Increase in Traffic Would Create Earn- ing Basis NEW YORK, Feb. 15.— The National Transportation Committee, headed by former Gov. Alfred E. Smith, with the late Calvin Coolidge as Chairman, made public a re- port on the nation’s railroads ioday. The report places squarely on the doorsteps of the rail- roads much of the responsi- _bility fer the financial plight of America’s twenty billion dollar system and urged re- forms. For Consolidation The committee urged drastic measures tcward consolidation and elimination of wasteful competition, estimating that several hundred million dollars, or enough to pay the interest on a large part of the outstanding bonds, would be saved The committee also found some Jjustice in the railroads’ complaint they had been ham-strung by in- ept regulations but reported the tendency was to over-emphasize the argument, The committee estimated that less than a 20 per cent increase in traffic would put most of the rail- roads on an earning basis. - SITUATION IN MICHIGANIS MUCH BETTER Millions of Dollars Pouring Into State to Aid Banks DETROIT, Mich., Feb. 15.—The second day of the bank holiday in the State of Michigan found 900,000 depositors encouraged by rromises that part of their bal- ances will become available to- morrow. The Detroit Clearing House has arranged to ‘make $25,000,000 avail- able. The Federal Reserve Bank is re- ceiving millions of dollars and this institution remained open with $40- 000,000 on hand. The Clearing House Association will permit customers to withdraw not in excess of five per cent of their balances for emergency pur- poses before the end of the holi- day which was yesterday proclaim- ed by Gov. William A. Comstock, effective February 14 to February 21, Nelson Baby, After Dash from Nome, Dies of Pneumonia e SEATTLE, Feb. 15—A cold ccntracted by the 9-months- cld Donald Nelson, after a fast dash by airplane and steamer from Nome to Seattle, for treatment for a thymus gland disorder, turned to pneu- menia and caused the baby's death. The glandular trouble im- ‘proved since the baby arrived with his mother last Sunday but pneumonia developed. Mre. Nelson is the wife of R. M. Nelson, of Nome, with the Alaska Road Commission. LOS ANGELES, Cal. her third husband, Aksel C. P. Danish Legation Califernia. BRIGHT SPOTS BOOST STOCK PRICES TODAY Improvement in Steel In- dustry, Other Factors Cause Gains NEW YORK, Feb. nancial markets generally 15—The fi- bright- ened a little today although scat- | tered selling developed in stocks after an early firm inclination. The closing was irregular. Improved action on bonds and principal commodities helped the shares out but some selling ap- peared for utilities. Tobaccos were about steady as were rails on publication of the report of the National Transpor- tation Committee. Declare Dividends Improvement in the steel indus- try and a regular dividend by American Telephone and Telegraph and indications of progress in the Michigan banking situation were favorable factors. Gains of fractions to one point occurred for General Motors, Chrysler, United States Steel, Case, Johns-Manville and Inter- national Harvester. CLOSING PRICES TODAY NEW YORK, Feb. 15.—Closing quotations of Alaska Juneau mine stock today is 12'¢, American Can 562, American Power and Light 5%, Anaconda 67%, Bethlehem Steel 13%, Calumet and Hecla 2%, Curtiss-Wright 1%, North Ameri- can 23, Fox Films 1%, General Motors 1212, International Har- vester 17%, Kennecott 8':, Pack- ard Motors 2%, Safeway Stores 33%, Standard Brands 15%, Unit- ed States Steel 267, Westinghouse Electric 25%. Helen Meany Balfe Is Granted Divorce BRIDGEPORT, Conn. Feb. 15— Helen Meany Balfe, former Olym- pic diving champion, was granted an uncontested divorce after she and her maid had testified to numerous incidents of alleged in- tolerable cruelty on the part of her husband, Harry R. Balfe, prod- uce broker of New York and Greenwich. Mrs. Al Smith Is Taken to Hospital NEW YORK, Feb. 15.—Mrs. Al Smith was taken to a hospital this afternoon for a digestive dis- order. Her condition i$ said to be not serious, in Washington, They were wed in Reno the same day he won a divorce. ~—“Fifi” Widener, Philadelphia heiress, and Wichfeld, formel attache of the are honeymooning in Southern ALASKA BISHOP MAY LOSE LEGS, RESULT WRECK Tallapoosa Standlng by to Rush Antonin to Hos- pital if Necessary | DUTCH HARBOR, Alaska, Feb. 15—The Bureau of Fisheries ship Penguin reached Umnak Island yesterday and took aboard Bishop Antonin and proceeded to Unal- aska. Message indicated it was not certain whether it would be neces- sary to amputate the Bishop's legs, on account of being frozen, but the Coast Guard cutter Tallapoosa is standing by ready to rush him to Seward for treatment if neces- sary. Sudden Storm The Bishop said the sudden storm of January 24 broke the mor- rings of the Umnak Native, a small motorship, the engines became dis- abled and she could not be driven to shelter. Mrs. Stankus, wife of Capt. Stankus, and her infant child, and Rev. Michael Tutiakoos, Russian Priest, of Umnak, perished in the waves but 13 others of the 16 aboard, reached shore almost naked and without food and water. Nine Perish Three men started for Umnak Village to report the wreck. Others wandered along the beach salvag- ing food and clothing as it drifted ashore until nine of them suc- cumbed with the cold, including Capt. Stankus. Bishop Antonin said he was the last person to leave the ship with only a sweater and some other clothes salvaged. Some of the survivors, before they succumbed, picked up oranges that washed ashore. The Bishop finally found natives but they could do little for him. Now Here’s Thought That’ll Prove Popular KANSAS CITY, Feb. 15—Rid- delle L. Gregory, 36-year-old Presi- dent of a life insurance company whose business has shown steady gains during the depression, gives much of the credit to golf and chess during business hours. “A man who devotes all his time to petty detail that can be handled by a $20-a-week stenographer,’ Gregory declared, “cannot be an executive. “A highly paid business man should spend a good deal of his time playing golf, where he is in 'me best position possible to gen- Jcerate new ideas,” PERU ATTACKS COLOMBIA; AIR PLANES BATTLE Peace Ended Between. Two Countries iFRANTIC APPLAUSE Bombs Are Dropped: Ac- cording to Reports, ‘in Brazilian Waters Colombia, ETAO ET ET ETAOI BULLETIN—BOGOTA, Col- ombia, Feb. 15—The Foreign Office has handed passports to the personnel of the Peruv- ian Legation here which ac- cording to diplomatic usage means breaking off diplomatic relations. BOGOTA, Colombia, Feb. Ending a century of peace, hos- tilities between Colombian and Peruvian forces have broken out on the frontier in the region of Leticia. A Peruvian air force, the aftacking party, is said to have been repulsed. Crowds on the streets received no- tices of the break with frantic applause. The air force encounter occurred. late yesterday over Cordoba, the first bombs landing in Brazilian waters, 15—~ TOLD TO COME HOME BOGOTA, Colombia, Feb. 15— The Government has ordered Fe- bio Lozaro, Jr., Colombian Min- ister to Lima, Peru, to demand his passports for his departure from the country. MEDIATION PROPOSED WASHINGTON, Fen. 15.—Accord- ing to unofficial advices received here, Peru announced it had re- ceived official notice the Colom- bian Government considered Braz- ilian mediation in the border dis- pute finished. Colombia claims the Peruvian air force was the aggressor in yester- day’s battle on the Putumayo Riv- er. Peru insists the Colombia flotilla began the fight by attacking the Peruvian garrison at Tarapaca. Tarapaca Captured Unofficial reports said Tarapaca was captured by the Colomblann, but the Peruvien report said the| engagement was inconsequenlmli but fighting continued last night and prospects were that this would be continued today. Both governments insist fighting started on Brazilian territory and| it is said Brazil is watching and| amy close the Amazon River if her territory is violated. The Colombian flotilla went up | the river to reach the area Co-| lombia lost to the Peruvians last i September, | CONDITIONS IN EAST IMPROVED, SAYS RAIL MAN Several Factors Contribute to Better Qutlook in That Section 1 Conditions in the East seem to| be improving slowly, and confid-| ence is more general in the out- look for greater improvement, ac- |cording to B. H. Barndollar, legal adviser of the Alaska Railroad, who is a passenger on the steam Alaska enroute to his headquar in Anchorage after a three-month absence, spent largely in Washing- ton, D. C. He conferred with Gov George A. Parks and other officers | during his stay here last night and today. | Not much legislation can be ex-| pected to pass Congress during ' remainder of the current term, Mr Barndollar said. Efforts are lar/e- ly being centered around the | nual appropriation bills, which, It PRI v 2 2 e | | | | {One Hundr_ed Years ‘of|] GREETS WAR MOVE| (Continued on Page Two) MINNEAPOLIS JOBLESS HAVE ORGANIZED BARTER It's Just one trade after anot goods without benefit of money. Ar Hundreds have joined this Minneapolis cooperative movement. her in this Minneapolis store where jobless persons trade goods for nold Fields (right) Is shown trading a big saw for a supply of onions. (Associated Press Photo) REPEAL COMES UP IN SENATE: DEBATE IS DUE Bbuster Indicated Which May Kill Vote on Measure WASHINGTON, Feb. 15. — The Senate is facing the question of taking up Prohibition repeal and risk a filibuster. A filibuster is almost certain to accompany the repeal. Leaders predicted the motion to bring up the Blaine repealer would carry but they also know that Prohibition supporters will immed- iately launch another filibuster which will probably block a final vote on repeal at this session. For eight hours yesterday, Sen- ator Sheppard, of Texas, ponents in a determined time-kill- ing debate which kept the Senate in session until 10 o'clock, 'success- fully delaying a ballot on the question of taking up the repealer. || He said he would continue efforts to block a final vote even if the Senate decides to take the repealer up for debate. BULLETIN—WASHINGTON, Feb. 15—By a vote of 58 to 23, _the Senate this afternoon took up Prohibition repeal for con- sideration at once and it met the Democratic onslaught for outright repudiation of the Eighteenth Amendment. Demo- crats Robinson and Wagner de- nounced the Blaine repealer and shouted for “outright re- peal.” Another Democrat, Sena~ tor Sheppard, is waiting, ready to undertake obstructive tactics to block a vote. Father Judges Son In Alimony Defaqlt' CHICAGO, Feb. 15. Charles Gestner, who caused the arrest of his son Burton, because the latter was in arrears in dlimony pay- ments to his ex-wife, was given opportunity to pass judgment on the son. Judge Joseph Sabath, before whom the son was brought, asked | the father to pronounce sentence. “Give him sixty days to raise| the money. I want him to realize his responsibilities,” the father sug- gested. The court’s decision was in ac-| cordance. Japan Ceases Negotiations |With League TOKYO, Feb. 15.—Japan has served notice it has ceased ne- gotiations with the League of Nations in the Manchurian dis- pute. Japan's withdrawal from the League is not expected, how- ever, to be for at least another moenth, led op- | Sir Ronald Lindsay, British ambassador, whose eonhrencn wnh Prendent-elect Roosevelt on the British debt problem marked a new! ldepamu'e in international relations, is shown with Mrs, Roosevelt in Atlanta just before they left for Warm Springs, Ga. (Associated [Press Photo) Statecraft Versus Popular Opinion Will Soon Receive Gre(it Test, War Debt Parley THEATRE BADLY DAMAGED, BOMB One of the oldest questions of [statecraft—how far a responsible Police Believe Labor Rack- eteers Responsible for Explosion government can afford to go |against the prevailing winds of popular opinion—is destined to present itself with singular acute- ress in the impending negotiation over war debts. No one should suppose it merely i will be a matter of statesmen sit- ting down together and making an jagreement which to them, as rea- SEATTLE, Feb. 15—An explos-|$onable men, seems just. In- ion partially wrecked the Winter stead, they must forever ask them- Garden, movie theatre on Third | ®lves, with respect to every prop- Avenue between Pike and Pine, op- |0sition that is presented, “Will the ’erated by John Danz, last night. People at home stand for this?” {The police said apparently the; Even under normal conditions, theatre was bombed by labor rack- |his situation would be a difficult eteers, one for negotiators who were striv- No one was injured as there were [ig for a solution both sides could only two men in the theatre at accept. It is rendered even more the time. They were two tech- Gifficult in the present instance nicians testing the sound projec- b¥ the world unrest, when many tors. They groped their way to millions are disposed on general the street thinking there was an grounds to distrust and repudiate | learthquake. lpubhc men and all their works. Kentucky Means “Level”’ | WINCHESTER, ‘Ky., Feb. 15— | Some public men, on both sides AN OMINOUS NOTE PAUL JOHNSON, AND MATTHEWS ARE SUSPECTS Violence, lecohol Poi- son, Killed Woman' in City Cafe Room AUTOPSY DISCLOSES EVIDENCE OF CHOKING Coroner’s Jury Says Injur- ies Inflicted by One or Both of Men Eva Lawrence, whose death yesterday in a room at the City Cafe was attributed to heart failure from alcoholic poison, was viclently killed, according to a verdiet reached this after-" noon by a coroner’s jury sitting before Judge Charles Sey in the United States Commissioner’s Court. The verdict named “either Paul Johnson or Albert Mat- thews or, both” as responsible for the injury which is alleged to have caused death. Both of the men named are in custody and a charge of murder in the first degree will be filed against them, Judge Say announced after the verdict was returned. WAS PROBABLY CHOKED Mrs. Lawrence, according to Drs. W. W. Council and W. J. Pigg, who performed an autopsy yesterday afternoon, was probably choked to death. Bruises on both sides of the throat were revealed, showing, said the medical men, that sufficient pressure had been used to cause bleeding in the soft tissues, as shown by blood clots underneath, and with force enough ‘to have compressed the windpipe. Dr. Pigg corroborated Dr. Coun- cil's opinion, adding that while it was impossible to say absolutely that she choked to death, he thought it was strongly probable that such was the case. He de- clared that there had been pressure enough used to have choked her. ‘The jury reached its verdict with- in a few minutes after the inquiry was closed this afternoon. It was composed of R. H. Williams, J. C. Stapleton, B. B. Green, Roy No- land, S. P. Raymond and Hans Berg. Two Other Witnesses Albert (Doc) Matthews, one of the men named by the jury as probably implicated in the sup- posed killing, and R. S. Hough were the witnesses to apear before the Jjury when reconvened at 2 p.m, after adjournment at noon Tues- day. Hough testified to picking up the woman near the sawmill. She was intoxicated and falling in the roadway. He picked her up and offered to take her home. She said she wanted to go to a restaurant, Hough declared, so he went with her to the City Cafe. He contradicted the story John- son told about the meeting with the latter and Matthews. He de- clared that Johnson and Matthews were in the cafe when he arrived there with the woman, while John- son yesterday said Hough and Mrs. Lawrence were seatedsin a booth having coffee when he and Mat- thews came in. Mafthews Bays Coffee Matthews bought the woman a cup of coffee, it was declared. Hough also told the jury that Johnson had a bottle of whiskey with him and gave him a drink. Johnson, yesterday, and Matthews, today, denied there was any liquor present. Matthews Contradicts Johnson Matthews's story today also con- tradicted in many details that told by Johnson yesterday. He said he knew the woman was dead before he left the room, and that Johnson knew it too. He testified that Johnson had lifted her eyelids and ; (Confmued on Page Eight) Lucien Beckner, geologist and his.|®! the Atlantic have even found | tory student, has come forward .° advisable to preface the nego- | with an explanation that the pop- tiations by a reaffirmation of lhl’r | ular conception that “Kentucky”| most extreme viewpoint. meant “dark and bloody ground'f Speaking at Leeds, the British| in Indian languages is not true. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Ne-| “Kenta” is an Iroquois roof word, lle Chamberlain, inferred that so| be says, which means “level”, Iro.|1AF as the |Bn1»[|mh (;:‘n ’rn:mnlr.} quols gave the name to Indlan old “°° concerned, the starting poin | cussions would be a re-| fields, a village the celled Eskippakithiki, Shawnees | of the 4d | (Continued on Page Seven) \Interior Dept, Appropriation Bill [Sent to Hoover WASHINGTON, Feb. 15.—The House has approved and sent