Evening Star Newspaper, April 11, 1926, Page 1

WEATHER. §. Weather Bureau Forecast.) today; tomorrow fair and Temperatures: Highest, 66, at 4 p.m. yesterday; lowest, 41, at 6 a.m. today. colder, Full report on Page 1,099 29,930. Enutered as second class matter post_office, Washington, D. C. WONEN'S LEADERS WL BT BACK M ~ WETS TOMORROW Nine. Representing Millions, to Fight Against Dry Act Change. FOES OF PROHIBITION TO CONTINUE TUESDAY 11 Hours Still Remain for Pre- senting Their Case—Polish Priest to Tell of What He Has Seen. The atmosphere of room 22 suilding, which dur h: wringing uments before the judiciary inquiring into modifica will be 1a tomorrow when rep national wom sanizations march up to the table and take an unaiterable t the return of intoxicat- | been wet mitte the Volstead act, as Ariz tives of tion « arid recent nine en's or , witn | ‘eremony Takes Place With Consent of Her Parents. Case Had Won Attention of Child Agencies and Police. By the Associated Press. COLD SPRING, N. IJdward W. Browning, wealthy b1 vear-old real estate operator, was married today to Frances (“Peaches”) Heenan, 15, his second “Cinderella girl.” Browning. Miss Heenan and her parents, Willlam B. and Mrs. Caro- line Heenan, accompanied by three men and ‘two women, appeared this ifternoon at the plumbing shop of Gilbert Forman, town clerk of the township of Philipstown, Putnam County. At their request he issued ze license for Browning and after Mr. and Mrs. Heenan had signed the papers necessary for the marriage of their daughter, who Was too youns to be married without parental consent. Browning gave his age residence as New Yor lie had been married once before. Miss Heenan gave her age as 15 and Y., April 10— ¢ in any form. at the outset of vester- were that the second subcommittee’s meetin more proponents of Vol- | reit made before it previously cation to ntentions that the prohibition law is a failure | and light win must be en to the people. Senator Walsh, nocrat, Montana, acting chairman, however, upset the plan by announc ing the promite made ‘p the drys that they would be giveh tomorrow €0 present part of their kept Julian Codman, the one and beer attorney 1y and he was informed the wet urguments could be resumed Tuesday and continue for the 11 hours stlil due them. Wayno B. Wheeler, general counsel of the Anti-Saloon League and field marshal of the dry army, announced after vesterday's on that the day d heen turned ove nizations, who are in the city for the law enforcement meeting. At the headquarters of the convention last night it was stated Mrs. Henry W. i v, national chairman of the 1'Woman's Committee for Law Enforcement, and representing 12,00 000 women through the United States would be one of the principal nesses. Represent Large Groups. The names of the others could not be furnished, owing to the fact that those tentativ selected to testify | had not yet arrived in the city for the convention, which opens today. Those who do appear, however, it was ex:| plained, will represent the attitude of | such organizations as the General | Federation of Women's Clubs, the N: tional Congress of Mothers and Pa ent-Teacher Associations and the| Noung Women's Christian Association. | Mr. Codman's program, which he intended to produce tomorrow, will be given the committee Tuesday. I includes testimony by Father Fran- cis Kasazel Polish priest of Haga | Noteh, . who, Mr. Codn . will take the stand t as a clergyman, but as an eye- witness of conditions in the anthra- coal fields. Following the qiest’s appearance, Stanley Shirk of "he Moderation League of New York will ] how he gathered statistics of the recent Nation-wide poll taken by the league on the liquor question Lincoln C. Andrews, Assistant Sec-| v of the Treasury in charge of | ibition enforcement, also will be and Mr. Codman, “as attor- 30,000,000 people in this| will sum up his case with a; sument of 10 minutes’ du- | , | danse vlosing m ets, agreed to suspend for the; to the women's | her residence as Cold Spring. After obtaining the license the party went to the home of Justice of the Peace Roy W. Christian of Cold Spring, who married them. Lenses Large House. According to Forman, Mis had been living here for the past three or four da It was learned that Browning has taken = year's lease on one of the largest homes in town, a 15.room building on a two- icre estate owned by a woman now living in California. The clerk said that Browning had Heenan | expressed the intention of living in the hous with his wife. Forman in his caj acity as plumber received the ¢ h WASHINGTON, D. C, MILLIONAIRE BROWNING, 51, WEDS HIS LATEST CINDERELLA GIRL, 15 Upper: Fra Heenan, 15 years old, who last night became the bride of 51- year-old Edward W. Browning (lower), millionaire real estate operator with a penchant for seeking Cinderellas. contract to repair the plumbing in the leased home, but said he did not know until he issued the marriage license that the place was to be occu (Continued on Page $33,000.000 RUSHED T0 BANKS IN CUBA Cruiser to Carry U. S. Funds to Stop Island-Wide Run by Depositors. By the Associated Pres HAVANA, Cuba, April 10.—A run on the braich of the Royal Bank of Canada, which began late yesterday afternoon, has spread to other banks in Havana. DPresident Machado per- sonally deposited $100,000 in the Royal Bank and, addressing several hundred small depositors, assured them that the bank was solvent and that the Cuban treasury had forty millions in cash available for a loan should any bank run short of cash. Officials of the Royal Bank an- nounced that they had sufficient funds to meet all demands, and would keep | the doors open as long as depositors desired to withdraw their money. arly this evening the crowds of de- positors had disappeared and the doors were closed. Investigation Started. A judicial investigation is being car- ried on to trace the sources of alarm- ing financial reports which have been current. President Machada informed all the newspapers that no bank in 3(3ubn was in_financial difficulties. Late tonight it was announced that the Cuban cruiser Cuba would sail for Key West early tomorrow to meet a | special train on which $35,000,000 in 1e testimony of two prominent Jeaders in the wet movement in Mani- | toha and Queb esterday, wound up | a week of eloguent, forceful and | sometimes humorous arguments | <t the Volstead law and for modi- fication ‘et” C two repre- | am Stavert, fo r Quebec govern | mental liquor on.and | ¥Francis William Russell, president of | the Moderation League of Winnepeg, | Manitoba, drew the undivided atten- tion of the committee members and | produced more inferest among them | on the subjects testitied to, than per- | haps other persons who have | v taken the stand l Sought Data on Canada. i The committee was exceedingly | anxious to learn all the details of | the two 1 overning liquor in moael and beer in tavern restaurants whereas Manitoba | Hloes not. Copies of the laws, statis- | ties showing its effect and reports of | the league, were filed with the record. | Both witnesses declared the ‘“best people” in Quebec "and Manitoba are | atisfied with the present that | t has resulted in reducing crime; it} has increased the revenue for public | mprovement., i above all, has driven the into the d fprovinces. now are $n the dry column, id, with one of this number ahe o turn wet. Prohibihtion in Maniiobi was voted gor in 1916 by the peoy Russ 1, and in 19 h to regret the! e filled with th hibition was affecting th and economie conditidn of th yountry. Blames Crime on Prohibition. thes | e e “The province was covered w petwork of stills, After two he law there were 40 conv: wtills, and in 1 there we: #tills were debuuching the towns Jages and hamlets. The psychopathic ¥ wards were filled with wrecks i manity who had drunk liquer from | ..fancy hottles and the young peoplc| went wild. “Crime? We were told that pro. hibition would remove fi. We never had so much crime as after we g prohibition. Bandits descended o Villages and we had the same crime waves vou are having now. Thank God, e haven't got it now. It was ]n.e ;m“.n of the rum-unners and hoot e, . - William told the commntittee the | on of his people was that “it | 1o remove the traffic m the hands and put it in the 1 of the gov- | ernment. . Dry cannot hring > of Manitoba | hey | (Continued on Page 4, Column 2.) currency had been shipped to aid Cuban banks to meet the demands of their depositors. On the cruiser will be Messrs. La- mar, Morrow and Willlam C. Richt of the Havana branch of the United ates Federal Reserve system, who will receive the money in Key West nd convoy it to Havana, arriving there Sunday afternoon or night. Run Started Friday. The bank run started yesterday afternoon in Mariano, about 10 miles from Havana, and early this morning long lines of depositors were waiting the several branches of the Royal ank of Canada. The number of per- ns_in line increased until at 9 (Continued on Page 26, Column 4.) MAN BURNED.TO DEATH AS INTERURBANS CRASH Both Catch Fire, One Goes Down 25-Foot Bank in Head-on Collision. By the Associated Press. FARY, Ind., April 10.—An unidenti- fied man was burned to death and five persons were seriously injured today when two cars of the Chicago, South hore and South Bend Electric Rail- ay crashed on a viaduct*near here and caught fire. A westhound car coming up the grade to an overhead crossing over the Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railway tracks two miles west of here was struck on the single track by the eastbound car coming down from the crossing. The impact knocked one car down a 25-foot embankment and the other across the tracks. Both caught fire immediately, probably from heaters in the cars. Motor cycle policemen who arrived shortly after the accident, rescued all but one of the score of occupants of the two cars. The other passenger was burned beyond identification. Motormen on the trains blamed the signal lights at the approaches to the viaduct. The company began an investigation tonight. THREAT FATAL TO FATHER Daughter of 17 Kills Employe of North Carolina Mill. SALISBURY, N. C,, April 10 (#).— J. W. Hayes, carpenter in the Cannon Mills, was shot and instantly killed this afternoon by his 17-year-old daughter, Iva, after threatening to | take her life, according to a telegraph message Teceive. here late this after- noon. 1,000 SCHOOLBOYS 10 WEAR UNIFORMS Cadet Training System Ex- tended to Eight Junior High Institutions. Official uniforms for all the 1,000 boys attending Washington junior high schools, have been authorized by school officials. They are expected to be isstied before May 19 in time for a special junior high school competi- tive drill to be held in the Central High Stadium it was announced last night by Assistant Supt. of Schools Stephen E. Kramer. The uniforms are to be worn by all boy students during school hours whether or not they belong to the cadet corps. Decision to form what amounts to a separate junior high school cadet corps, although it will be called the Physical and Military Education Corps, was reached after a conference between Mr. Kramer, Col. W. M. Carigie, professor of military science and tactics of the school system, and Dr. G. H. White, in charge of physical culture work. Uniforms to Cost $2.50. The official uniform to be worn by all junior high school boys and which school officials estimate will cost in the neighborhood of $2.50, follows: Blue chambray shirt with collar attached; long white duck trousers, saflor’s duck hat, military belt and a narrow, black four-in-hand tie. Creation of the individual junior high school milltary training has been decided upon after three years' prac- tice has found impracticable the training of junior high cadet com- panies under senior high cadet offi- cers and their participation in the big competitive drill on an equal basis with the senfor high cadets. Will Not Carry Arms. The junior high boys who elect to becore senfor high school cadets will be placed under the charge of three of Col. Craigie’s assistants and given squad and platoon movements to pre- pare them for the manual of arms, while those who are in the non-cadet group will be given setting-up exer- cises and calesthenics and mass ath. letic work. It has been decided by the prin- cipals of the six white and two col- ored junior high schools involved that the members of the junior high physi- cal and military education corps will not ']:8!('71'}’ lal;fn;. Col. Craigle declared last nigh he is enthusiastic over the mes. ';;'nst tem of tpaining junior high school (Continued on Page 4, Column 1.) i gt Do BURBANK’S CONDITION BELIEVED HOPELESS Condition of Noted Scientist, Who Is Sinking, Described as “Very Grave.” By the Associated Press. SANTA ROSA, Calif., April 10.— All hope for the. recovery. of L Burbank, noted scientist, ill two’v‘::,e‘lf; from complications which set in fol- lowing a heart attack, virtually was abandoned here tonight by the at- tending . physician, Dr, ' Joseph H. Shaw, The. distinguished patient’s pulse continued 1o grow increasingly weaker during the day and there was further evidence of greater exhaustion. Dr. Shaw also. faced the ever-pres- ent inability of Mr. Burbank to assim- ilate ' but' very limited amounts of nourishment. ~The patient's age,” 77 years, proved a handicap from a med- ical viewpoint. : The last official message from Mr, Burbank's bedside described his con- dition as being ‘‘very grave” and dis- closed that ‘“‘despite the most expert medical attention Mr. Burbank grad- ually is sinking,” Sundiay it WITH DAILY EVENING EDITION SUNDAY KINLEY'S DEFEAT COURT'S BACKERS 'Would Put Democrat and Re- publican Senators for Ad- herence in Tight Hole. BITTER ILLINOIS RACE CLIMAX DUE TUESDAY Police Prepared for Emergency Work—State Control Involved in Turn of Ballots. BY G. GOULD LINCO! Staff Correspondent of The Star. CHICAGO, IIL, April 10.—One of the bitterest mud-slinging primary campaigns in Tllinois and particularly Cook County reached its final stage. The election Tuesday will de- cide: 1. Whether the Republican voters of Illinois stand with President Cool- idge and Senators Willam B. Me- Kinley and Charles S. Deneen in thelr advocacy of American adherence to the World Court with safeguarding reservations or whether they stand with the Senate irreconcilables and Col. Frank L. Smith, candidate for the Republican senatorial nomination against McKinley, in their opposition to the World Court. 2 lied at present with the Lunden fac- tion, shall control in Cook County Re- publican affairs or whether the control shall be in the hands of the Crowe- Barett faction, allied with the Thomp- son and Bundage groups, so far as Republican politics are concerned. Brennan's Fate Involved. 3. Whether George E. Democratic Natlonal committeeman and candidate for the Senate shall continue to control Democratic poli- | “new democracy of Illinols” with former Gov. Edward F. Dunne, former County Treasurer William L. O’Connell, former Mayor Carter H. Harrison, and former Senator James Hamilton Lewis, as leaders shall gain that control in part. A victory for Col. Smith in the senatorial race will be hailed in Ili- nois and throughout the country as a bitter blow for the World Court. It will give a great impetus to campaigns against the court and the men who supported American adherence to it in other States. It may result in de- feating for renomination both Repub- licans and Democrats who voted in the Senate for the court. It will give heart to the Ku Klux Klan, which strongly opposed_the court. If Senator McKinley, on the other hand, is nominated, the anti-court faction is out of it. Here in the Mid- dle West, the anti-League of Nations and anti-World Court sentiments has been stronger than in any other part of the country. If the antiwcourt group loses in Illinois, much of the “pep” and vinegar will fade out of the anti-court campaign. Senator Deneen is the outstanding figure in Republican politics in this State at present. A victory for the pro-court group will aid him, and if he is successful in nominating a fair share of the Cook County officials Tuesday, his prestige will have been given another big boost. Eleventh-hour predictions by all the candidates and factions are for their own success. The manager of Col. on Page 4, Column 6.) SENATE APPROVES NEW DEEDS OFFICE Passes Bill Already 0. K.d by House With But Single Change. Legislation authorizing a new fire- proof building for the office of re- corder of deeds, which has custody of valuable land records, was virtually completed at the Capitol yesterday when the ‘Senate passed a bill pre- viously approved by the House. The Senate made one minor change in phraseology which will have to be concurred in by the House, but it is not expected .to delay final approval. The bill does not fix the cost of the building, which will have to be esti- mated for and included in an appro- priation bill later. The bill also abolishes the fee sys- tem of paying the expenses in the offices of the recorder of deeds and register of wills by requiring them to deposit all of their receipts with the District Colector of taxes and have the appropriations for the main- tenance of both offices estimated for by the Commissioners, the same as [all other local activities. This fea- ture of the bill would not take effect until July 1, 1927. Urged for Years. At present the fees levied by the recorder of deeds and the register of wills in connection with the filing of legal documents are used directly to pay the salaries and routine expenses of the two departments, any unex- pended balance being turned into the Treasury. Under the proposed law both offi- cials would deposit.the. fees with the collector of taxes weekly and they would go into the Treasury to the credit of the District government. The necesdary expenses for the two offices would then be carried in the annual appropriation act. The definite authorization of a new building for the deeds office has been advocated by the Commissioners and local organizations for a number of years because of the danger of ex- posing ‘these land records to possible fire hazard. Additional Space Needed. There also is need for additional space for the flling of deeds. The report made to the Senate by Chair- man Capper of the District committee set forth .that some of the work of WOULDBEBLOWTO Whether the Deneen faction, al- | Brennan, | ties in Cook County, or whether the | MORNING, APRIL 11, l | i PARAMOUNT FEATURES OF THE ANNUAL SPRING DIN OFFICIALS CHIDED ATCRDRONDIVNER Shades of Colonial Fathers Return to Thrust Barbs at 1926 Americans. George Washington, Thomas Jeffer- son, John Marshall and Alexander Hamilton stepped last night from their golden frames in history to chide present-day Americans. Portraits of the four outstanding figures of the ‘“‘cradle days” of the republic became animated ‘at the an nual Spring dinner of the Gridiron Club. They selected popular airs of 1926 as the medium for their critical counsel to the America of this, ' sesquicentennial year, when all eyes are turned anew to Philadelphia. The gist of their tuneful shafts was that the Nation had sacrificed much of what they had gained for it and that to them the colonial days appeared to be truly the “good old 5y8.” Club Accepts Challenge. The Gridiron Club accepted the challenge of the founders. It under. took to demonstrate that it was able, through its good-natured raillery of melody and satire, to smile as broadly as they at the foibles of the states- men of 1926 and to hold up the mirror to the shortcomings of cotemporary America. . It Washington, Jefferson, Marshall and Hamllton were present in the spirit last night among the large group of distinguished guests, includ- ing the Vice President, the cabinet, diplomats, Senators, jurists, artists, financial and professional leaders, and journalists of Pan-America, they heard the Gridiron's scorching satire of the prohibition debate, the bi- partisan coalition in the Senate, the Democratic search for campaign issues, the White House spokesman, the “Bill” Borah—“Jim” Reed anti- world court crusade, a reading of the “diary and memoirs” of Frank W. Stearns and numerous jibes at the Vice President. The Gridiron March. The musical lilt of the dinner was heightened by the presence of Juhn Philip Sousa, a limited member of the club, who had composed for the occasion the “Gridiron March,” which he expects to rank high among his famous airs. The March King of the world conducted the Marine Band in introducing his new production, its premiere presentation. Lieut. Sousa had worked for months on the “Grid- jron March.” He canceled concert engagements to dedicate it personally to the club. The march will be a feature of all subsequent dinners. In honor of the inauguration of Clifford K. Berryman, cartoonist of The Star, as president of the club, the first non-writing member ever to at. tain to that office, 10 of the leading artists of the country were present as guests of the president to give display, of another art. Their per- sonal conceptions of President Cool- idge and Vice President Dawes were thrown on a screen while the artists were made to stand in the glare of the !potll]ght. Many Artists Present. The artists present included Her- bert Johnson of the Saturday Evening Post, Rollin Kirby of the New York World, C.. H. Sykes, Philadelphia Public Ledger; Edwin Marcus, New York Times; W. A. Rogers, Washing. ton Post; “Billy” Ireland, Columbus Despatch; J. H. Donahey, Cleveland Plain Dealer; D. R. Fitzpatrick, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, and John L. De Mar, Philadelphia Record. - The inauguration of President Ber- Fyman was engaged further for some sharp sallles at the “White House spokesman.” A group of reporters demanded an interview with the pres. ident ‘of the club, and Mr. Berryman averred he was the president’s gpokes- man. The “spokesman” revealed self as adept at evasive reply as Sta 1926.—118 PAGES. REPUBLICAN-~ 4 Dznom(m: LT COALLTS “From Press to Home Within the Hour” The Star is delivered every evening and Sunday morning to Washineton homes at 60 cents per month. Telephone Main 5000 * and service will start immediately. (#) Means Associated Press. WANTAD SKIT ER OF THE GRIDIRON CLUB TODAY’S STAR | | PART ONE—18 PAG! | General News—Local, National and i Foreign. Bay Scouts—Page 24. Schools and Colleges—Page 26. | Girl Scout News—Page 28. | D. A R. Activities—Page 30 | News: of the Clubs—Pages 32 and 37. erial, “The Adopted Wife"—Page 33. ivillan 3 ound the City—Page 3’ Radio News and Programs—Pages 38 | and 39, District National Guard— Parent-Teacher Activitie: Financial New: Y. C. A. New: YW PART TWO0—16 PAGES. Editorials and Editorial Features. Washington and Other Society. Notes of Art and Artists—Page 4. Reviews of Spring Books—Page 4. Tales of Well Known Folk—Page 14. PART THREE—14 PAGES. Amusements—Theaters and the Photo- play. Music in Washington—Page 5. Motors and Motoring—Pages 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10. Fraternal News—Pages 11, 12 and 13. PART FOUR—4 PAGES. Pink Sports Section. PART FIVE—8 PAGES. Magazine Section—Fiction and Fea- tures. The Rambler—Page PART SIX—12 PAGES. Classified Advertising. Army and N News—Page 11. GRAPHIC SECTION—12 Pages. ‘World Events in Pictures. COMIC SECTION—4 PAGES. Betty: Reg’lar Fellers; Mr. and Mrs.; Mutt and Jeff. age 41. —Page 47. ENDS LIFE THINKING HE KILLED WOMAN Suitor Wounds Sweetheart, Shoots Self as Police Break Down Door. After wounding Della Tudge, 36 years old, of Seat Pleasant, Md., at Nineteenth street and . Pennsylvania avenue yesterdgy afternoon, Robert F. Etheridge, 25 vears old, an employe ; of Armour & Co., raced down Nine- | teenth street at the head of a pur- suing. crowd of policemen and ci- vilians, gained his apartment at 1713 Nineteenth street and behind a locked door sent a bullet through his head. ‘The kitchen door of the apartment was " just giving way under the shoulders of five policemen when the shot ‘was heard. Etheridge died at Emergency . Hospital an hour and a half afterward. In the ‘same hospital the woman heshot is recovering from the effects of one bullet which struck her right arm. She gave her name as Fmma Bowens of Seat Pleasant, Md., but her sister, Mrs. Rosa Rudolph, with whom she resided, visited her at the hospital and her brother-in-law last night stated that she was known as Della Tudge. She has a child 16 years old, from a marriage which took place around 1909. For 14 years, it was stated, she had been separated from her husband. Called Her to Street. According to information collected fi witnesses and friends of the principals, the shooting took place immediately affer FEtheridge called ‘the woman to the street, from her place of employment behind the soda D.C. WARMEMORIAL DRIVE OPENS TODAY $200,000 to Be Sought in Campaign for Shrine to Service Men. Washington today launches a the - valor of her sons—both living and dead—who fought in the World War. National tribute to America's vic- in lavish measure at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. It will find further noble expression in the great Arlington Memorial Bridge, to span the Potomac River. Now the District of Columbia en- ters upon something peculiarly its own. in planning to raise a fund of 0.000 to build in Potomac Park a autiful temple as a local tribute | to those who represented the homes of Washington in the armed forces of the United States Throughout the ¢ groups which have been formulating during sev- eral weeks of careful preparation are swingi nto ction, will gain in momentum, and as the movement grows, it is anticipated will reach every Government office, every busi- ness and every home with a direct appeal to the patriotism, the civic pride, the family pride and the gratitude of each Washingtonian. Formal Call Ts Issued. The District of Columbia Memorial Commission, created by Congress to erect a local memorial, having com- pleted all preliminary plans, last night issued its formal call upon the ecit- izens of the National Capital for sub- scriptions to the temple in Potomac Park. Pointing out that the memorial is to be located between the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool and the Tidal Basin, the commission, of which Frank B. Noyes is chairman, explains that “as both a memorial and a place where military concerts may be held, the classic structure will serve a dual purpose.” The temple. of marble, described as “of exquisite beauty, dignity and Greek simplicity,” posterity, the commission says, the names of all those who served from the District of Columbia. “We appeal to every Washing- tonian,” says the commission, “to contribute to this memorial; to those for whom some one near and dear Your contribution to the $200,000 cost | of the memorial, whether it be for $1, 1§10, $100 or. $1,000, or any inter. mediate sum, should not be a burden, but a personal tribute to the one, out of all the 26,000 names to be en- shrined, who means the most to you.” Appeal on Movie Screen. On the screens of the' principal motion picture houses of the city will be projected, beginning today, a brief presentation of the movement, in- “(Continued on Page 2, Column 3.) PROBES 1910 DEATH. Mexican Secretary Seeks Data on Slaying of American. CULIACAN, Sinaloa, Mexico, April 10 (®).—The secretary of foreign re- lations at Mexico City has directed a note to Gov. Alejandro Vega, asking definite information regarding the death of Joseph C. Ellick, an Ameri- can, who is alleged to have been murdered by _bandfts in 1910, it be- came known here today. ‘The secretary asks prompt action, stating that the United States has requested $50,000 indemnity for El- lick's death. The matter will come fountain of the Smith Brothers’ cigar (Continued on Page 2, Column 8.) § & ‘ontinued on Page 6, Column 2) (Continued on Page. 26, Column 5. before the claims commission at its next session. movement to memorialize in stone | tors already has been poured forth | will preserve to| served and to those not so favored. | HINES AS CUARDI FORVARSINSHNE PROPOSED N BIL Johnson Qutlines Remedy fer Alleged Abuses in Care of Estates. HEARINGS ON MEASURE TO START THIS WEEK | Leaders Say Conditions Elsewhere Worse Than Those Charged to Fenning. BY WILL P. KENNEDY. Legiclation has been drafted by Representative Johnson, Republican |of South Dakota, chairman of «the |House committee on World War | Veterans legislation, to make the director of the Veterans' Bureau guardian for all mentally unsound beneficiaries of the bureau, thus doing away with the services of private parties as guardians in such cases throughout all the States, which has | come into grave abuse, in many places much more so than in Washington. The committee has been called to meet on Tuesday to determine its procedure on this measure. Chairman { Johnson expects to start hearings on {it not later than Thursday, which will | continue not more than three day | He expects this measure, prepared |after conference with Frank T. Hines, director of the Veterans' Bureau, wili be adopted as a committee amend ment to the veterans bill which is now on the calendar, and which Mr. John son feels sure will be passed by this session of Congress. In this way erans’ committee and Gen. lieve, they will get to the root of the guardianship scandal, which has dis | turbed both houses of Congress dur ling the last few weeks, because both | Senators and House members knew | that conditions have been far worse in | their home States even than in the | National Capital, where the attack {upon District Commissioner Fenning has been widely discussed. Mr. Johnson makes it plain that neither he nor his committee are act- ing because of the Fenning charges Lhm to clear up the “very bad situa | tion” all over the country, although | he admits that the measure he has | prepared would put Commissioner | Fenning out of business as far as | guardianship of the beneficlaries of | the Veterans' Bureau are concerned | The veterans' bill has becn reported | out six weeks ago and is on the House | calendar. Also a special rule is pend | ing before the House rules committee, of which Mr. Johnson was formerly a member, seeking privileged status for this measure on the lezislative pro- gram’ of the Republican leadership. It is to this bill that the reform | measure, on which hearings are to be | held this week, will be offered as a committee amendment. Have Worled Three Years. Chairman Johnson and Gen. Hine have been working such provisions ft The worst thing al ship business is not the e charged, although the order of local courts in other ju tions have been much larg those sald to have been paid to Com | missioner Fenning here. In man: | cases the money intended for the men | tally unsound former service men has | been dissipated. { 1t is pointed out in this connecti that there hasx been no loss of mc in District of Columb guardian cases charged, but Chairman Johnson s that literally millions b lost all over the country by re insufficient bonds for guarc pointed by local courts—a mat which the Federal Government 1 had any control. Supported by Bureau Officials. The bill which Mr. Johnson will present to his committee on Tuesday has the hearty support of Gen. Hines and the Veterans' Bureau. It is very similar to a provision they sought to have included in the law in 1924, only it goes further and gives the director power and makes it his duty to serve these estates of the mentally incompetent beneficiaries. It really makes the director guardian and re sponsible and eliminates all cases of private guardianship under the bu reau except in such unusual cases where the director believes the inter ests of the beneficiary could be bet ter served, and even there the di rector is held responsible. The majority of the committee feel that this duty should be taken over entirely by the director, but they have not yet reached unanimity as to whether it should be compulsory or optional with the director for him to have the duty and authority to con- serve these estates. The hearings to be held this week are solely on the question of guardian ships, covering the whole United States, and all extraneous matter will be barred. In preparation for this several members of the committee are making a study of the guardian ship laws, of all the States, and are amazed at the wide differences in these laws. California Politicians Involved. One of the particularly bad spots that has been reported to the commit tee is in California, involving prou nent politicans. The :;sl‘hx:un\ o waiting the committee that two di ferent secretaries of the Boa¥d of that State having these estates in charge have been appointed guardians in a very large number of cases, and have charged in many cases even more than Commisisoner Fenning is said to have charged here. In other words, | the testimony submitted is to the ef fect that these Stale officials have set lhams@]\'eg u.p in the professional ship business. ‘gufid S eral | States money , for mentally incompetent beneficiaries of the Veterans' Bureau has been put in banks and loaned out on practically worthless securities and generally bad p‘lp_;l;. Veterans’ Bureau has 40,327 of these incompetent cases, and in all 32,467 guardians have been appointed, s0 that it is readily seen that the practice all over the country has been decidedly different from the alleged ‘wholesale ardianship business in District of Columbia and in California. Chairman Johnson and the other members of the veterans’ committee feel that the-Guardianship Bureau in (Continued on Page 22, Column 3)