Evening Star Newspaper, April 1, 1927, Page 1

WEATHER. (U. 8. Weather Bureau Forecast.) Rain tonight and probably tomor- row; not much change in temperature. Temperature—Highest, 62, at 3:15 p.m. yesterday; lowest, 38, at noon today. Full report on page 9. #Closing N.Y. Stocks and Bonds, Page 14 o. 30,285. post office, ORDERS CALLING OUT MORE MARINES FOR CHINA DRAFTED Spread of Anti-Foreign Feel- ing May Send 900 Ad- ditional to Orient. QUANTICO AND NORFOLK TO FURNISH CONTINGENT Owo Battalions Would Bring 5th and 6th to Full Strength. | Tension Uneased. By the Associated Press. Orders have been prepared for the Bispatch of two more battalions of Marines to San Diego, to be held in Entered as second class matter Washington, FERDINAND IS REPORTED DYING OF SUDDEN INFLUENZA ATTACK D. G. Daughter in Belgrade Is Called to Side of Stricken Rumanian King. Belgian Physician Again Summoned—Abdication Is Still in Doubt. By the Assoriated Press. BERLIN, April 1.—Reports reach- ing here from Bucharest and other Balkan points indicate that the death of King Ferdinand of Rumania is im- minent. BUCHAREST, Rumania, April 1 (®). ng Ferdinand’s condition has taken a serlous turn for the worse, BELGRADE, April 1 (®).—Queen Marie of Jugoslavia, daughter of King Ferdinand of Rumania, left last night for Bucharest. It is reported she was summoned because of a crisis in the condition of her father. LONDON, April 1 (#).—The Ru- manjan legation in Vienna is quoted Feadiness for service in China. 1f made effective, the orders would tall for the collection/of the force of between 800 and 900 men from Marine bases at Quantico, Va.; Norfolk. and other Atlantic, Coast points. They would be held at the California port until needed to reinforce American detachments already landed at Shang- pai to protect American lives. ‘Would Fill 5th and 6th. The bth regiment of Marines at Bhanghai and the 6th regiment now en route to San Diego for embarka- tion each is one battalion short of ull strength. 7 'The two additional hattalions, &l sent to China, would fill the vacancles in ese organizations. u"rha American Marine force in China comprises 1,500 men, and an- other 1,500 are en route. In addition, iAmerican ships in Chinese waters or en route there have aboard about 4,600 men, of which about one-third would be availabe for landing should e necessity arise. “’Vfllh the additional two battalions of marines: Admiral Willlams soon would be able to place a force of more than 5,000 men ashore in an emer- gency. Anti-Alien Feeling Spreads. With the rapid spread of anti-for- elgn feeling in China, it has been evi- dent - that _ consideration was being given by Navy and Marine officials to the question of placing in readiness at San Diego a force which would be available should it become evident that the number already ordered @cfoss the Pacific was inadequate to tee the safety of Americans. " It was not indicated when the orders for the additional battalions would be made effective, or when their In preparing themy, however, offi- ‘clals have had in mind the fact that & trip to China requires considerable time, and it was not believed they ‘would be withheld for any great lengt! of time. Aid Rushed to North Ports. Fear of Fresh Disorders Claims Offi- clal Attention. SHANGHAI, April ‘1 (®.—Threats of disorders and anti-foreign agitation in the northern ports of China were claiming most of the attention of the American authorities today. The United States destroyer William B. Preston has arrived at Chefoo, on the northern part of the Shantung Peninsula, while the destroyer Pills- ‘bury has left Shanghai for Isingtao, on the southern part of the peninsula, 'where large Japanese naval forces also &re concentrating. Reports from usually trustworthy sources indicate that Chang Kai-Shek has been dismissed as generalissimo of the Cantonese armies by the Jankow government. All indications are that Chang is concentrating his resources in the Shanghal district to defy the dismissal. U. 8. Consulate Closed. A move which is looked upon as eignalizing the beginning of complete American evacuation of the upper Yangtze is the official closing and seal- ing of the United States consulate at Chungking by the consul, Walter A. Adams, on March 30. Mr. Adams is gemaining aboard the gunboat Monocacy off Chungking until he hears from the handful of Americans remaining in the interior of Szechwan Province as to their intentions— hether they bave decided to heed the call and seek safety or remain at thelr posts. It 1s understood that after the con sul hears from these Americans, the TUnited States gunboats in the upper part of the river be withdrawn. Wuhu and Hankow in Peril. Threatening situations are reported 8t Wuhu and Hankow. Rear Admiral H. H. Hough, on the United States patrol vessel Isabel, left the Nanking region, proceeding further up the river to Wuhu, where parades and demonstrations were scheduled for Y. The few Americans and Britishers remaining at Wuhu were directed to remain aboard warcraft in the river throughout the day, the British and American authorities having decided upon all precautions to avoid clashes ‘with the Chinese mobs. The Japanese second fleet, in the course of its annual China cruise, has reached Amoy. It includes two ‘battle-cruisers, five light cruisers and other small_craft., Japanese Propose Inquiry. Acting on instructions from Tokio, gys a telegram from a Japanese wource in Peking, the Japanese Minis. ter called on the British Minister yes. terday and suggested sending a joint commission representing the powers concerned and competent Chinese au- thoritles to Nanking. The commission would investigate Iast week’s outrages, tuke steps to se- oure punishment of those responsible #nd demand from the Natlonalist gov- emment an apology, indemnity and guarantees for the future. CHUNGKING CONDITION WORSE, Admiral Williams Reports Situation to Navy Department. Conditions at Chungking, where the American consulate flag was de- stroyed yesterday by Chinese, are growing worse, Admiral Williams, the American commander in China. by the Exchange Telegraph as stating that King Ferdinand is suffering from an attack of influenza. Physician Is Summoned. PARIS, April 1 (®).—The Brussels correspondent of L’ Intransigeant says that Dr. Sluys, who treated King Ferdinand of Rumania with radium recently, has been recalled to Bucharest, DENIANDS ON CHINA CONSIDEREDBY 1.5. Retribution and Proposal to Exact Guarantee of Safety Loom as Possibilities. By the Associated Press, With Americans and other for- eigners still exposed to attack in large areas of China, and anti-foreign agi- tation spreading rapidly, a strict pol- icy of silence was adopted today by the State Department in pursuing the aspects of the Nanking outbreak and considering the steps to be taken to obtain reparations for American cit- izens who have been injured in the Chinese disorders. Some officials here believe the situa- tion of Americans remaining in the interior of China might become more tical if any of.the Western powers should decide to back up demands over the Nanking incident with threats of forceful action, feeling that in the present inflamed state of mind pre- vailing in that country it would be unlikely that any distinction would be made between Americans and any other foreigners in the event of a re- newed outbreak of anti-foreign riot- ing. ° All Expenses Weighed. The Washington Government i still weighing every aspect of the Nanking affair and undoubtedly pre- paring to make appropriate demands upon the Cantonese, if it has not al- ready forwarded such demands to Pe- Xing for transmission to the Nation- ‘alist foreign minister at Hankow. Tt would cause no surprise if there was close similarity, if not more or less identic, language in British and ‘American representations in that con- nection, as recommendations drawn up by the Peking diplomats probably served as the basis of decision !Or* both governments. The demands undoubtedly would cover both reparations for loss of life and property and guarantees of se- curity for American nationals in Na- tionalist territory. Indications are, however, that the Washington Government will reserve liberty of action as to what steps it would feel compelled to take in the event of a Cantonese refusal of the demands. The Washington authorities are be- lieved still to retain hope that it will be possible to adjust matters with the Nationalist leaders in a friendly way and thereby reduce the danger of a recurrence of the outrages per- petrated on Americans at Napking. Long Conference Held. While there is no indication that a decision has been made, the pro- longed conference between Secretary Kellogg and Nelson Johnson, head of the department's Far Eastern division, yesterday presumably was for the discussion of recommendations that have come from Minister Mac- Murray at Peking and Admiral Wil- liagns, American naval commander in Chinese waters. Secretary Wilbur's visit to the White House likewise indicated that steps to fix conclusively the responsi- bility for the Nanking attacks had been discussed with the President. The only intimation obtainable for his prolonged conference was that naval officers have been directed to make their investigations of the re- sponsibility so complete as to defy challenge. Dispatches from London said it was known that Great Britain was contemplating making certain de- mands on the Cantonese authoritles, but that it had not been settled whether this would be done in con- Jjunctioni with other powers or not. in view of the refusal of Washing- ton officials to discuss the subject in any way, this could not be cleared up here. Makes Certain of Facts. The statement that soldiers in Na- tionalist uniform committed the out- rages at Nanking, however, has been - emphasized in every dispatch forwarded to the Capital from Amer- joan representatives in China, and reports from Shanghai have indi- cated this has been sworn to by ‘Americans and other foreigners in the city at the time. Because of this there appears mno doubt that the Washington govern- ment is satisfied on the point, but, in order to back up-its prospective de- mands upon the Cantonese authori- ties, has desired to supplement its in- reported today to the Navy Depart ment. .Gen, Liu _has_assured the 2] formation to the fullest degree, and ah WASHINGTON, In this connection it is pointed out that the surgeons attending the King expected to renew the radium treat- ment if the results of the first appli- cation warranted it. Therefore, it is said Dr. Sluys' recall does not neces- (Continued on Page 2, Column 5 FORD SURE CRASH " WAS ACCIDENTAL May Never Be Solved, Man* ufacturer Believes—Re- moved to His Home. By the Associated Press. DETROIT, April 1.—Henry Ford, lying prostrate, strapped and braced about the chest and back, in the utter seclusion of his great estate at Dear- born, regards his injuries as received in an accident which may never be solved. He does not and never has said that he believed there was a de- liberate plot upon his life. Harry H. Bennett, head of the Ford organization’s nation-wide system of investigating, was responsible for the statement. He admitted that he at first accepted the theory of a plot to assassinate the world's richest man, but that it was tenable only until he and his investi- gators had gone thoroughly over the road and &ad analyzed the report of the Dearborn Police Department. “Our connections are such that WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION D. C., FRIDAY, oy GOAL MINES CLOSE AS NEARLY 200000 . AWAIT WAGE PACT Suspension Declared General in Central Area Despite Many Agreements. EXTENT OF SHUTDOWN TO BE KNOWN NEXT WEEK Late Efforts Toward Settlement Fail as Operators Refuse to Con- tinue Under Expired Pay Scale. By the Associated Prese. CHICAGO, April 1.—The coal mining industry in the central com- petitive field today entered a curious phase which was neither a strike nor a lockout, but which forced thousands of miners into idleness as the Jack- sonville wage agreement expired. Many temporary agreements have been made throughout the mining area to continue work, but it was ap- patent that a large percentage of the nedrly 200,000 men employed in the central field and adjacent fringes had laid aside pick and shovel pending solution of a problem that the confer- ence of miners and operators at Miami, Fla., several months ago failed to solve. Full Extent Not Known. Probably the full extent of the shut- {down will not be known until early next week, as organized fields observe April 1 as “eight-hour day,” marking the anniversary of the first eight-hour day legislation for miners. Saturday is a haif holiday and on Sunday mines are not operated, so that the actual counting of noses must go over until Monday. Operators, who maintained that they could not continue the Jackson- ville agreement and survive, estimated that approximately 150,000 coal dig- gers in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana and Illinois had suspended work. In Towa, which is outside the central field, about 9,000 miners were affected, while between 30,000 and 35,000 work- ers are employed in the southwestern area of Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas {and Oklahoma, where wage agree- ments likewise expired. Individual Agreements Signed. ‘Union men, equally determined that they cannot accept a wage cut, pointed to many individual agree. ments for temporary continuation of the Jacksonville pact, In Iowa, it was stated, 40 small signed temporary agreements; Indiana mine officlals said 15 per cent of the union miners would continue work, while in Iilinois the union an- nounced that all mines in the Danville district, including two operated by the United States Fuel Co. and employing 2,000 men, would remain open. The general public took the situa- (Continued on Page 2, Column 1.) WILKINS AND PILOT MAROONED ON CE Last Message From Explorer Says They Are Well; Plane Disabled. By cable to_The Star and North American Newepaper _Alliance. POINT BARROW, Alaska, March 31 (delayed).—Capt. George H. Wil- kins and his pilot, Ben Efelson, have not been heard from since our mes- sage of yesterday evening stating that they were alive and well but marooned on the ice with a disabled airplane 100 miles northeast of here at the edge of the Arctic explored area. Capt. Wilkins and Elelson left here Tuesday morning to search for un- discovered land. Message Relayed to World. The message sent from the seven- pound set on the ice was received here by an installation carried here by plane and transmitted again 500 miles south to Fairbanks, where it was put on the wires. This message sent by two men marooned in the Arctic darkness, 100 miles from the farthest outpost of humanity, was received in great centers of civilization north and south of the Equator, within a few hours of the time it was tapped out on the ice. The assumption here is that the Tuesday gale delayed their return flight, that they were forced to land by darkness, and that the follow- ing morning they were unable to get the oil and engine hot enough to start their motor. Safe Return Expected. Although the two men are in a posi- tion unique in the history of Arctic exploration, no considerable fears are yet entertained for their safety. We feel assured that they will return to Barrow in a few days if they walk over the ice, and it is possible that they may return at any moment if they are able to start the plane motor. Wilkins' messages, sent from the first wireless installation ever set up on the Arctic ice, repeated only the code words for “‘engine trouble,” after a short key message telling of their position and plight. The fact that the key was used in transmitting indi- cates neither man was injured, for key transmission requires one man at the key and another at the genera- tor crank. Although there is a slow ice here to the north from all of the Arctic seas in these regions and despite the difficulties of open leads of freezing brine, and heetling ridges of treacher- ous ice ground up by the currents, ‘Wilkins and Eielson should be able to reach Barrow by walking in a few days or a few weeks at the worst. They were amply provisioned for this emergency and carried besides, rifles and other equipment with which Wil this is believed to have prompted Sece- retary Wilbur's conference with the Presidents P ] | kins believed he could win his living from the fce for months or even years. forthy | (Copyright. 1827, (Continued on Page 4, Column 1.] MARYLAND GAS TAX INCREASE IN FORCE Levy Now 4 Cents to Brovide Grade-Crossing and Lat- eral Road Funds. BY WILLIAM J. WHEATLEY, Staff Correspondent of The Star. ANNAPOLIS, Md., April 1.—Pur- chasers of gasoline in Maryland today began the payment of 2 cents addi- tional tax for their gasoline, a total of 4 cents now exacted by the State for various purposes. The House of Delegates yesterday afternoon passed the bill of Senator Eugene Jones of Kensington, Montgomery County, add- ing one-half cent to the tax, the re- sultant fund to be used for eliminat- ing railroad grade crossings in the State. It was signed shortly after its passage by Gov. Albert Ritchie, The present general assembly had al- ready passed a bill providing a tax of 1% cents for construction of lateral roads in the State. The measure did not get through the lower house without a determined fight and an effort to shift the burden of the grade-crossing building to the race tracks of the State. When the bill came up for amendment Dele- gate Paul Berman, fourth Baltimore district, introduced an amendment to strike out all of the provisions of the Senate bill, and inserting in its place a provision that the grade-crossing fund be provided by a tax of 2 per cent on the gross receipts on races run in the State of Maryland. Urges Racing Tax. Mr. Berman said that he was not opposed to racing, nor was he opposed to the elimination of grade crossings. But he said that the one-half cent gasoline tax would not eliminate the grade crossings in the State of Mary- land until a period of 20 years had elapsed. But he pointed out that a 2 per cent tax on racing would pro- vide a fund of more than $1,000,000 a year. His amendment, he explained, simply meant that on every dollar bet on the races, the State would get 2 cents. The State now gets a flat tax of $6,000 a day on races, he sald, with an additional 16 per cent on the net profits. But the latter provision is an absurdity, he said, the reports show- ing that the race managers left little net profit on which to lay the tax. Delegate Joseph opposed the gasoline tax for this purpose, because he said it was putting on the people of the State a tax burden that should be borne by the railroads. He warned the delegates of the political con- sequences they faced if they placed such a tax on the people of Maryland. Mr. Joseph said he was in favor of the elimination of the grade crossings, and added that the Supreme Court of the United States had ided down compelled by legislation to eliminate the crossings and to bear. the entire expense. The State of Maryland now has this right, and its legislature can enforce this, he added. Joseph Allls Wilmer of Faulkner, APRIL an opinion that the railroads can be | J! 1, SNOW AND GALES SWEEP MIDWEST Rapid City, S. Dak., Has 18- Inch Blanket of White—Cold Rains Fall Elsewhere. By the Associated Press. CHICAGO, April 1.—Winter played a cold All Fool's day prank on Mid- dle America today, pouring snow down the back of thinly-clad Spring and roaring his glee with winds of gale force and Arctic chill. Rapid City, S. Dak., saw 18 inches of snow when it threw back the shutters this morning and the ground was unseasonably white in other parts of that State and in ‘Western Nebraska. in the thermometers crawled downward in Kansas -and. Oklahoma and in the Northern Rocky Mountain region. It rained over a wide area of the Plain States and theré were thunderstorms and high winds. Gale Drives Rain. Chicago, too, had some snow, but its chief weather complaints were biting rains driven by a gale that picked up biting chill as it swept over Lake Michigan. The Chicago temperature dropped to 35 degrees, which was 7 below the mean temperature for a March which had one day of 71 degrees. Rain or snow and more wind were predicted. Some parts of the Northwest had comparatively mild weather, con- trasting with that in South Dakota, where the blow was so strong that in at least one case the roof of a large barn was lifted off. SIX LIVES LOST IN STORMS. Cloudbursts Swell Streams in Mis- souri and Oklahoma. ’ KANSAS-CITY, April 1 (#).—Thun- derstorms of cloudburst proportions and swollen streams had taken a toll of six lives and caused heavy prop- erty damage in central Missouri, northern Oklahoma and southeastern Kansas farmers left lowlands today on reports of new flood dangers. The floods followed heavy rains throughout the Southwest Wednes- day and yesterday. Waco, Mo., re- ported 5.6 inches of rain within 48 hours, while precipitation at sgme Kansas points reached 2.56 incles. Warnings Issued to Motoris ‘While most Kansas streams ap- parently had reached the crest, warn- ings to motorists were issued in Missouri, and several Oklahoma streams threatened further rises. Ray Bunch, 22, of Fairfax, Okla., was drowned yesterday when his motor boat upset in Salt Creek. Lee Russell, 7, drowned when he fell from a bridge over the Washita River, near Mountain View. Ivan Fry, rail- road employe drowned near Baxter, Kans. Three Killed by Lightning. Three persons were killed by Lightning. Joe Burroughs, 45, su- pervisor of the Gypsy Oil Farm near Davenport, Okla. was struck as he entered his office. The building burned before his body was recov- ered. Elvis Trusty, 17, Muskogee, Okla., was killed while leading a mule from a barnyard. Leslie Jones, 17, Springfleld, Mo., was killed while playing goif. Continued unsettled weather was 1927 —FIFTY-EIGHT PAGES. forecast for today. o SHIPS CRASH; 18 MISSING. Naval Tug Seeks Spaniards After Gibraltar Collision. LONDON, April 1 (#).—Lloyds learned from Gibraltar today that the British steamer Author, from Liver- pool for Calcutta, collided eight miles off Gibraltar with the Spanish steamer Yacinto during a fog. Half the crew of the Spanish stearger were picked up, but 18 men are missing and a naval tug is searching for them. The Author, leaking at the fore- peak, is making its way to Gibraltar. Communist Denied Passport. SYDNEY, New South Wales, April 1 UP).—The Australlan government has refused to {issue passports to ames Garden, Cmmunlltltlu&er, and three colleagues to perm! em to attend the Pan-Pacific Union congress at Canton, China. The refusal has caused a great stir in labor circles, ¢ Foening Star. * APRIL FIRST. Alfonso of Spain Hunts in Vain for Slayer to Pardon By the Associated Praes, MADRID, April 1.—A time-hon- ored Holy week custom of the King is to pardon a murderer, but this year there is no one to be pardoned. The government has advised the monarch that no one is awaiting execution and that no one was executed last year. This is com- mented on by the newspapers as a good omen for Spain’s future, and it is emphasized that since Gen. Primo de Rivera came into power crime has decreased considerably. HUNDREDS SEEKING VETERANS' LOANS Ctowds Continue to Line Up at Bureau Despite Down- pour of Rain. Despite a downpour of rain vet- erans of the World War flocked to the Veterans' Bureau by the hundreds to- day to make loans on their adjusted service certificates. By noon the line showed no signs of letting up in the banking room, No. 201, of the bu- reau, with entrance at 1540 I street. Col. M. B. MacMillan, manager of the Washington regional office, in charge, estimated that by noon the number of applications received by mail had mounted to a thousand, while hundreds of men continued to call in person at the three windows in the office. Starts Throughout Country. Reports had not yet started to come in from the country at large, but as the Veterans' Bureau had made all plans to begin lending this morning at every regional office and branch office of the bureau, it was believed by officials that thousands of veterans were lined up in all parts of the Na- tion, trying to cash in on their sol- diers’ bonus for the first time direct from Uncle Sam. The efforts of veterans to obtain cash on their bonus prior to today had met with widely varying success in different cities, as in some places the banks had been lenfent in mak- ing loans, while In other places they had been very reticent. McCarl Ruling Awaited. Meantime Director Frank T. Hines was expecting shortly to receive from Controller General McCarl a final rul- ing on the question as to whether $25,000,000 more might be borrowed from the adjusted service compensa- tion fund to which Congress appro- priates each year. At the present time Gen. Hines has authorized loans to be made from. the insurance premium receipts, which run about $3,000,000 a month, But he hopes, in view of failure of the $25,- 000,000 appropriation item in the sec- ond deficiency bill for the direct pur- pose of loans, to obtain authority from the controller general to borrow it from adjusted service fund. EXPLODING STOVE KILLS 3 Mother Sees Her Small Children Burn to Death. MODESTO, Calif.,, April 1 (#).— Three small children were burned to death before their mother’s eyes in fire that razed Juan Sandoval Home at Escalon last night. The fire was caused by an explod- ing ofl stove. Another child was prob- ably fatally burned. Air “Engine” to Pull NEW PROGIBITION LAW IS IN EFFECT Large: Number of Employes Dropped, But Local Offices Have No Changes. The nation-wide machinery for e forcing prohibition today was sét up on an entirely different alignment as the new law reorganizing authority and establishing a bureau of prohibi- tion went into effect, with Roy A. Haynes, as “acting prohibition com- missioner.” A large number of per- sons, including lawyers, prohibition agents, and clerks in various cities were dropped from the rolls, but the headquarters here in Washington and the local prohibition enforcement out- fit shifted over with no resignations or dismissals. The Bureau of Customs, with Ernest W. Camp as acting commissioner, also was made effective under terms of the new law. The customs organi- zation, which had been under civil service and continued under the same personnel, with virtually no changes, attracted much less public attention, however, than the alterations in the prohibition unit. Assistant of the Treasury Andrews remained in complete charge of both new bureaus. Doubts Need of New Law? At the same time it became known that Mrs. Mabel Walker Willebrandt, Assistant Attorney General, in charge of prohibition prosecution, in outlining her views on the legal phases of the new law has expressed much doubt as to the necessity for such a law and has warned that the shifts in author- ity might in the future hold ‘‘possi- bility of harm.” Mrs. Willebrandt's opinion, it was learned, had been expressed to Sena- tors who had inquired concerning the legal phases of the bill when it was pending. Transfer of authority from the commissioner of internal revenue to the Secretary of the Treasury was part of the. bill singled out by Mrs. ‘Willebrandt for serious consideration. In her estimation that paragraph she said, “is such an unknown quan- tity in the bill that it might cause an evaslon of centralized authority which in my judgment would be inimical to proper law enforcement. I do not mean by that to say that it would be Inimical to law enforcement under the present Secretary of the Treasury. Fears for Future. “I feel quite certain he would cen- tralize his authority in°one man in his organization, but if at a future time there should be any Secretary of the Treasury whose real desire it was to evade or defeat prohibition enforce- ment without making it appear that he was trying to do so, I know of no means better suited to that end than the power H. R. 10729 gives him to chop up responsibility into many dif- ferent sections of his organization.” Mrs. Willebrandt, continuing her discussion of the problem of responsi- bility, said: “I understand the sole purpose of the bill is to centralize authority, and 1 fall to see where any legislation to do that is needed, as at the present time the law places sole responsibility in the Commissioner of Internal Re- venue. Some of the drys do not like Commissioner Blair. This legislation looks to me much like an effort to legislate about personalities. That, in my mind, is never a justifiable posi- tion for lawyers or legislators to take. I certainly see no benefit from the bill in its present form, and can see in it the possibility of harm. Would Amend Statute. ‘As I have a number of times said publicly, I do not think we need any more laws to enforce prohibition. The national prohibition act it stands should be amended to increase the possible penalties that a judge may, it he deems necessary, administer for (Continued on Page 2, Column String of Pullmans If Observer’s Visions of Train Come True By _the Associated Press. BERLIN, April 1.—Observers of proached the glider for that destina- tion will be released fi German aviation developments are |th picturing a time in the not:too-distant future when the “air train” will be an accomplished fact. The locomotive will be a powerful airplane and the “Pullmans” a row of gliders coupled to the locomotive and to each other, as the cars of a train, only with con- | siderably units. spacing between the in each glider will be jr some particular town. and oh town i | sengers. The possibility of such a_devel nwnhnbnnwarkedwtfmnht& &l pilot then cut his machine loose ided it successfully back PRAGER Yesterday's Circulation, 105,648 TWO CENTS. RADIO CENSORSHIP AUTHORITY OF NEW BOARD CHALLENGED Shutting Off Debate Qver Broadcasting Stations Also Disputed. COMMISSION CLOSES HEARINGS ON LICENSES Drastic Reduction in Number om Air Urged—Right of Free Speech Is Declared Violated. : Hearings before the new Federal' Radio Commission drew to a close to< day at the Commerce Department with the authority of tLe commission to censor broadcasting programs and any tendency by the commission itselt or by individual stations to shut off debate on both sides of a public ques- tion sharply challenged. 2 Declaring that the legislation creat: ing the commission and defining its powers is useless from the point of view of non-assignability of station licenses, Morris L. Ernst, represent- ing the American Civil Liberties | Union, predicted that the signature of a cabinet officer of the United States— | Secretary Hoover—might be bandied about and traded for cash under the law, which gives stations exclusive wave lengths and rights on the air. “In the City of New York I have personally made an investigation and I find that the signature of a cabinet officer of the United States is worth anywhere from $30,000 to $300 quite aside from the physical equip- ment necessary to operate a casting station,” Mr. Ernst said. Predicts Possible Scandal. He predicted a public scandal would come out of any nuu::rc by broadcaste to obtain exclusive wave lengths and then begin trad< ing with a view to selling the right to broadcast. f a Government-appointed com- mission had the power to do to. the newspapers of the United Si what this commission is enjoine do to broadcasting toda: we would see a revolution in country,” he said. 1 Mr. Ernst said that a New York station consistently - forbid: tants to broadcast on religious gues: tions, tbgt one in New England % forbidden a speech on the Near situation, that Hudson Maxim' for one hour before a dead mi phone and that he can produ tween 60 and 100 censorship and discrimination g stations. “The air is the great intellectual "* Mr. Ernst “By it individuals and groups of indi- viduals can control ties and temper of listeners. If the pr of limitation of stations were 2¢ to newspapers, any commission wo find it an impossible task. The ciple of a free press and free s 3 is granted us by the Constitution. | Unless you want the air bottled up you should create diversity of views by not permitting one group with one point of view to control the air while some groups are denled any aerial avenue of communication."” 1 ‘While Mr. Ernst did not question the sincerity of the commission to grant licenses to broadcasters without the idea of censorship, he said, “the exigencies of the situation nullify the provision of the law that free speech shall not be impaired.” wedge r. Ernst “Censorship is the openin for a dangerous precedent, said. ‘We should adhere closaly to the bill of rights contained in the Constitution of the United States. He said the line between education and propaganda is a fine one and sald hl:l did not -relish the job of censor- ship. Fewer Stations Urged. Drastic reduction in the number of statlons on the air is needed in the interest of the listening public, Alfred E. Waller, representing the National Electrical Manufacturers' Assoclation, told the commission. Less than 200 stations are needed, he said, and those who had rumained on their assigned wave lengths and did not violate the ‘gentleman’s agreement” by jumping to other waves while Government con- trol of the alr was lost, should be given preferred positions. This is no time to mince words or avold fssue: Mr. Waller said. “We should exercise business morals and not issue licenses to those who have jumped the Canadian wave bands. In issuing licenses the quality of the program and the excellence of| the technical presentation should be weighed. Too. large a number of broadcasters on the air will jeopardize the entire group. “The policies you now lay down should rest on the bedrock of public interest. The interests of the listeners should be your first consideration. Elimination of the unfit will work no hardship on the listener.” Asks Listeners Be Considered. The commission should handle sta- tion license issuance in a judicial man- ner, with the consideration of the listener and the entire community served by the station at heart, Elisha Hanson, representing the American Newspaper Publishers’ Association, told the commission. Mr. Hanson, who is ‘Washington lawyer, said licenses should be granted only to those stations which show public con-| venience and necessity. “I am sure you gentlemen are not going to allow a monopoly of the air, he sald. Opening the final day’s session of the four-day hearing, Commissioner| 1 the conference h reached conclusions of vast imj ral intricate technic le information, but that little light had been shed on the prob- lem of station elimination.