Evening Star Newspaper, December 25, 1928, Page 1

WEATHER. (U. S. Weather Fair todight and tomorrow; what warmer tomorrow; perature tonight about 24 degrees. Highest, p.m. yesterday; lowest, 25, at 7:35 a.m. Full report on page 9. ‘Temperatures: today. New York Mark Bureau Forecast.) some~ lowest tem- 47, at 2:30 ch ¢ Foeni WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION ny Star. every city block and tion is delivered to W as fast as the papers — ets Closed Today. No. 30,919, 5" Smee. Ertered as second class mutter Washington, 3 D q WASHINGTON, D. C, TUESDAY, DEC 29, EMBER 1928—THIRTY-SIX PAGES. * “From Press to Home Within the Hour” The Star’s carrier system covers the regular edi- Jashington homes are printed. Yesterday’s Circulation, 99,455 TWO CENTS. CHURCHES FILLED T0 CAPACITY FOR YULE CEREMONIES Lighting of National Tree by Coolidge Is High Point of Observance. POOR AND UNFORTUNATE RESIDENTS REMEMBERED Are Distributed—Mid- night Masses Attract Over- Bounties flow Crowds. ‘Washington today is observing a quiet | and plentiful Christmas. | Music of midnight bells, streets and | rooftops bathed in shimmering moon- | light, thousands of living firs and| spruces abloom with blossoms of light | in the open air, outdoor community carol singing, church services and fami- 1y groups in the streets on their way | to and from the midnight masses last night gave the city the atmosphere of | a storybook Yuletide. The high tide of Christmas activity | was reached last night with the public | gatherings, the lighting of the National Christmas tree in Sherman Square by President Coolidge, the distribution of | gifts by various public welfare organiza- tions, and the decoration of trees in! the homes in preparation for the joy- ous awakening of the children this| morning. The observance today is large- ly in the homes and the churches with | family gatherings around loaded din- ner tables, and eager examinations of new toys. Few in Washington are not participating, in some way or other in the Yuletide plenty. | Coolidge Lights Tree. The principal event last night was | the lighting of the national Christmas | tree by President Coolidge at 8 o'clock. ‘This also served as the community tree for downtown Washington. There were other community tree gatherings in Wesley Heights, Bethesda, Wood- ridge, Foxhall Village and Georgetown, in addition to the numerous church trees. In keeping with the ancient Christ- mas custom the midnight masses were attended to the capacity of the churches, particularly the picturesque ceremony at the Franciscan Monestery and the even more sublime observance at the Dominican House of Studies in Brook- land. The downtown churches were crowded. Some of the Episcopal churches held the picturesque old serv- { ice of lights and there were midnight services in some of the other Protestant churches. tor e pone and unibromale, with BugY | an rograms being carried out by such geltm organizations as the Salvation Army and the Central Union Mission. Strangely enough, however, the largest of all charitable undertakings in this season of human brotherhood is faring badly. The 14 opportunities fund of the Associated Charities, which seeks to provide the bare necessities of life for 14 unfortunate families for a year, is barely ‘half raised and approximately $7,000 still is needed. The appeal wflll . Pe continued throughout the holiday feason. Baskets Distributed. jal Christmas dinners are being Merved today in the jails and asylums of he city. Police of the fifth precinct tn holding & Christmas party for the en of the southwest section. The vation Army and the Gospel Mission distributing Christmas dinner bas- ;:'u at hundreds of poor homes and are gerving plentiful dinners to the home- ‘Yesterday both these organiza- $lons distributed gifts to children, both aided in the distribution by Mrs. Spec! Today former service men in the four Government hospitals here—Walter Reed, Naval, Mount Alto and St. Eliza- beth’s—were remembered by the Dis- trict of Columbia Department of Dis- abled American Veterans. Clothing and food were distributed from the D. A. V. ‘headquarters in the Earle Building. WARD LEADER’S HOME BOMBED IN CHICAGO Occupants of Neighboring Build- ings Hurled From Beds by Force by Blast. By the Associated Press. CHICAGO, December 25.—A bomb | exploded at the home of Joseph Por- caro, Republican committeeman of the {hirty-second ward, early today, four hours after he had distributed 200 Christmas baskets to the poor of his district. The explosion hurled Porcaro’s aged | parents, Mr. and Mrs. Louis Porcaro, | from their beds on the first floor and; shattered windows in_virtually every house in the block. His mother, af- flicted with heart disease, became hys- terical and a physician was summoned. | Property damage was estimated at| 1,500. 1 The Frank Denotto, Anthony Grecco | and Michael Sacco families, living near- by, were thrown from their beds by the explosion. The rear door of the Por- caro home was blown over two adjacent houses, smashing a window in the home of Pasquale Firorita. Porcaro is aligned with the Repub- lican faction led by United States Sen- ator Deneen. Police attribute the bomb- ing o political rivals. MINISTER ROUTS BANDITS Joseph Shapiro, who conducts a groc- ery store at 1820 First stret, was robbed of $4 last night by two colored men, Who held him up at the point of & yevolver and took the money from the cash register, but overlooked the rest of the receipts for the day, which he had just transferred from the money container to his pockets. Eighth precinct police, to whom the affair was reported, say that the ban- dits were frightened away by the entry of a customer, a colored minister. Windy City Blows $200,000,000. CHICAGO, December 25 (#).—Stubs tn Santa’s checkbook added up to $200.- 000,000 after he had finished his Christ- as shopping for young and old in the vindy City. Everything from penny “@olia to gaohta was on the list, | Christmas ~ dinner,” COOLIDGE RECEIVES | Mrs. TRAGIC DEAT A happy Christmas reunion between a widowed mother and her only son was turned into tragedy this morning when | Richard S. Kenney, 18, of 1241 E street southeast was electrocuted as he picked | up an electric heater while standing in a bathtub of water. Members of the Fire Department | rescue squad and physicians from Cas- ualty Hospital worked over the boy for hours, but unsuccessfully. The young man had been working in | Boston, Mass. It was with considerable | difficulty that he managed the trip to Washington to be with his mother on Christmas. “I was in the kitchen preparing our the mother, Mrs. | Adela Kenney, said. “Richard was in the bathroom. I heard him scream | ‘Mother!" three times, and I ran up- | stairs, afraid that he had scalded him- self. i “I knocked on the door, but he didn't | answer. It was locked, so I went out on the roof and tried to get in through a window, but 1t was too small. I could see him lying in the tub with the heater | clutched in his hand. | “As soon as I saw him I knew what | had happened because I received a| shock from the heater just a day or H OF SON SHATTERS WIDOW’S JOY [Christmas Reunion Turned to Sorrow as Only Child, Home for Holiday Electrocuted in Bathtub. Is s0 ago. He came home to me and now I have lost him.” Mrs. Kenney returned to the house and called her brother-in-law. Together they broke down the door and carried the boy out. Members of the rescue squad worked with a pulmotor and oxygen but they were unable to restore heart action. A doctor from the hospital tried strych- nine and adrenalin. When everything had failed they told all but the mother that there was no hope. In the front room of the house stood a gaily decorated Christmas tree sur- rounded by a little pile of presents. Those exchanged between the mother and the boy had not been opened. Mrs. Kenney said she had been waiting for him to come downstairs so they could open them together. Near the door lay a child’s teaset and a doll, where the small daughter of the brother-in-law, Vernon J. Shel- ton, had dropped them as she was hurriedly taken to a neighbor's house. The brightly burning lights on the tree and the Christmos decorations hangs ing in the windows s:rved only to ac- centuate the tragic silence in the l:ome. ‘The boy was an only child. His father died several years ago. Police who examined the reater said they could find no defect, but expressed | the belief that a short circuit was re- sponsible for the accident. The young man had used the same heater vithout mishap last night. LARGE YULE WAL Hundreds of Holiday Cards| and Presents Express Best Wishes. BY J. RUSSELL YOUNG. President and Mrs. Coolidge today are spending their last, and according to impressions of some of those about them, their happiest Christmas in the ‘White House. Both appeared glad that the Coolidge term is rapidly approaching its end and that within a few months they may retire to private life and the freedom that has been denied them as Chief Executive and First Lady. Instead of feeling depressed over the t of moving from the White House and giving up all that that means, they are looking forward to the Fourth of March. This feeling of gladness has added to the cheer and humor about the White House this Christmas. Of course there was a certain loneliness associated with their observance today. When they first entered the White House, they had the company of two sons. Soon afterward one died, and John, the other son, who has started out in the world to seek his own for- tune, could not come home for Christ- mas from New Haven, where he is em- ployed by a railroad company. Have Only Two Guests. ‘The only guests at the White House are Mr. and Mrs. Frapk W. Stearns of Boston, old friends of the Coolidges, who spend considerable time at the White House. Mrs. Stearns is recuper- ating from an illness which confined her to bed for several weeks. ‘The happiness of the President and Mrs. Coolidge was made all the greater by the manifestations of love and good wishes expressed in the many hundreds of greeting cards and numerous other Christmas remembrances received by them. They accepted these with a high sense of appreciation and appeared grateful that so many people through- out the country, rhany of them un- known to them personally, had been kind' enough to think of them at this season and to extend season greetings, especially as they are so soon to retire from the White House. Not all of these remembrances were merely greetings and expressions of good will. The President and Mrs. Coolidge fared well in the matter of material remembrances. Then there | were many floral tributes. Packages Opened. Still clinging to the old fashioned idea of Christmas, the President and Coolidge, after presenting gifts they had bought for each other, to- gether opened the packages in the library on the second floor and in Mrs. Coolidge’s sitting room. Nearly an hour was spent in this fashion, when nearly all of the presents had been opened and inspected. ‘With this over, Mr. Coolidge hurried to the executive office, where he ob- tained a fresh supply of packages and greeting cards, delivered overnight, and with some of these in his arms, he went | back to the White House and rejoined Mrs. Coolidge. Shortly afterward the President seated himself in an easy chair near the windows of the library | and pored over newspapers as he puffed a cigar. It was immediately following break- fast that the President and Mrs. Cool- | (Continued on Page 2, Column 1.) Mail Plane for Use y Coolidge Flies To Vacation Island A twin-motored Sikorsky am- phibian ajrplane which will be used to carry mail between the Georgia mainland and Sapelo Island, off the coast, where Presi- dent Coolidge will spend the Christmas holidays, took off from Bolling Field shortly after dawn today on its way South. The plane, piloted by Arthur Caperton of the Curtiss flying service, landed here yesterday afternoon from Curtiss Field, Long Island. Calvin J. Conklin is making the trip as mechanic. The plane was made available at the request of Howard E. Cof- fin, who will be hest to. the President_and Mrs. Coolidge at Sapelo. While no arrangements have been made at the White House for utilizing airmail as has been done on the President’s pre- vious vacation trips, the plane HOOVER CBSERVES HOLIAY QUETLY Party Enjoys Christmas Tree as Ship Speeds Toward Equator En Route Home. By the Associated Press. ABOARD U. S. S. UTAH, December 25—In June-like weather Herbert Hoover and Mrs. Hoover spent a quiet, happy Christmas day. The Utah was only about 19 degrees south of the Equator and 100 .niles off | the Brazilian coast. There was a touch of exoticism in the purple shade of the sea. Summer was in the wandering | breezes, but as the President-elect and his wife and members of the official party gathered in the admiral's suite a little evergreen tree, bright with tin- sel, brought to them memories of Christmas in their own country. The tree was selected by Mrs. Hoover before she left Rio de Janeiro. Mr. and Mrs. Hoover attended Christ- mas services, at which the chaplain, H. E. Roundtree of Norfolk, Va., read the old story of the babe born in the man- ger in Bethlehem. The chaplain prayed for success of the mission the President- elect had undertaken. Then Mr. and Mrs. Hoover went back to their quarters to compare gifts and read radio mes- sages that came from friends, rela- tives and officials of many govern- ments. Mrs. Hoover Remembers Party. The receptions, travel and atmos- phere of the tropics had not kept Mrs. Hoover from thinking of Christmas sev- eral days ago. She managed to do some shopping at almost every port visited: Lima, Santiago, Buenos Aires, Monte- video, Rio de Janiero, and the result was seen today in many gifts to mem- bers of the party. The tables of the officers’ messrooms also were adorned with gifts from the President-elect and his wife, flowers that were sent aboard when the Utah left Rio Janeiro inj such profusion that they filled all avail- able space in the Hoover quarters. Knowing Mrs. Hoover's fandness for flowers, the Utah's officers arranged to take aboard rain water at Rio“de Janeiro, since they do not keep well in the distilled water on the ship. Every man on the battleship today had Christmas cards autographed by Mr. and Mrs. Hoover. The ship's paper, the. Evening Bulle- tin, in its issue today printed wishes for a merry Christmas to “our ship- mates” over the President-elect's sig- nature and Capt. Train, the ship’s commander, also took occasion to con- gratulate the men for their exemplary conduct during the shore leave at Rio de_Janeiro. Mr. and Mrs. Hoover were guests Christmas eve at a party given by Capt. Train and the ship's officers on the upper deck. Evergreens from Brazil substituted for holly as table decora- tions and overhead was a full moon and the bright stars of the tropics. Turkey was served and with it went cranberry sauce and mince meat pies. Ship’s Crew Sings Carols. After the party, Mr. and Mrs. Hoover went to the quarter deck where the crew had assembled and from the throats of about 1,150 sailors came yuletide _carols: “Hark, the Herald (Continued on Page 4, Column 1.) e s WEST VIRGINIA YUL Dispute Over Dog and Brawl Re- cult in Slayings—Pair Held in Deaths. By the Associated Press. CHARLESTON, W. Va., December 25.—Two murders marred the observ- ance of Christmas in Southern West Virginia toda Rubin Whipple, residing near here, was slain in an argument over the own- ership of a dog. Hiram Walker was in jail, charged with the shooting. Everett. Stonley, stable boss for the Ritter Lumber Camp at Barrett. was shot to death in a brawl. Walker Suth- erland was arrested in connection with the crime. DIVIDENDS ARE VOTED. Wall Street Directors Pass Out $250,000,000 to Stockholders. NEW YORK, December 25 (#).—A directors’ meeting may be a prosaic proceeding unless the directors meet to fill stockholders’ stockings with divi- will be kept at the disposal of the Chief Executive for any service which may be required. dends. This year the Wall Strect Santa Claus passed out $250,000,000 in Christ- mas dividends Unable to get through the window. | MARRED BY 2 MURDERS| IEARLE THEATER ROBBERY SUSPET HELD N CHACD iCapital and Tampa Police | | Co-operate in Running Down Hold-Up Clues. {PRATT REVEALS MAN KNOWN SINCE OCT. 29 Prisoner Known Here as Elmo Williams, Warren Grisson and M. F. Grisson. A trail picked up by the police the day following the spectacular daylight | hold-up of the Earle Theater on Oc- | tober 29 cnded in the arrest of a man in Chicago early this morning whom the police say they will charge with | the robbery. The man, who gave his name as Elmo Williams, is known to the police also as Warren and M. F. Grisson. Although details of the arrest and search for the bandit were not divulged this morning, Inspector Harry G. Pratt, in charge of the detective bureau, said | that he had been sure of the man's identity since the day after the hold-up. | Traced to Pittsburgh. Detectives H. K. Wilson and Oscar Mansfield, who were assigned to the case, traced Willlams to Pittsburgh, where it was learned that his home was in Tampa, Fla. Policeman James E. Kenny of No. 10 precinct obtained | the first information which led to the search. Tampa police were at once asked to) be on the lookout for him, and last night M. D. Sinclair, chief of detectives of Tampa, telegraphed the local police headquarters here that Willlams had | been located in an apartment on North La Salle street in Chicago. ! The Washington authorities tele-i graphed the Chicago police and the | man was taken into custody last mght.} Inspector Pratt announced that Headquarters Detective Thomas F. Sweeney would go to Chicago this after- | noon and bring back Williams if he is willing to return without extradition. A warrant charging him with robbery previously had been sent to Tampn’ Whether the police will seek to return him on a fugitive warrant if he de- clined to waive extradition or wait un- tll the January grand jury acts on the case was not made clear. The police received several tips from persons interested in finding the bandit. One of these was that two men had suddenly disappeared from Washington on the cay of the robbery and that they had Florida and Pennsylvania tags on a large car which they had been driving while living temporarily in this city. They indicated that they might 0 to some place in Pennsylvania and fllcl‘ to Chicago. Whether it was this tip or another which led to the arrest of Williams is not known. Forced to Open Safe. The robbery of the Earle Theater was a bold stroke, About 10:30 o'clock on Monday morning, October 29, just as_the theater was about to open, & well dressed man strode calmly into the office of the manager, Harry E. Lohmeyer. At the point of a pistol the bandit forced him to attempt to open the safe. which contained the receipts from Sunday's business at the theater. As Lohmeyer was nervously trying to open the safe, Wayne Birdsell, assistant manager, walked into the office. No- ticing the man standing behind Loh- meyer, Birdsell was at first unaware of what was happening. Then Loh- meyer called to him to come nearer. “I am being held up,” said Lohmeyer. “Make no false move.” The bandit, who had both hands in the side pockets of his coat, backed Birdsell face to the wall beside the safe. Birdsell explajned afterward that when Lohmeyer seemed unable to get the safe open, the bandit made Birdsell open it. The bandit took the money and stuck it under his topcoat. He then walked calmly out of the room, as if nothing out of the ordinary had hap- pened, first telling the two men to give him five minutes’ start before calling the police. Fainted After Robbery. Three young men who were in the lobby of ‘the theater saw the bandit enter and leave, and although they thought nothing ‘about it at the time, they were able to give the police a good description of the man. which tallied with the description given by Birdsell. g ‘When the police came. Lohmeyer was unable to tell of the robbery. He had collapsed while_telephoning ‘to John J. Payette, general manager of the Stan- ley-Cranddll_Theater Co., falling and injuring his-head against a desk. When the police arrived they found Birdsdell giving first aid to Lohmeyer, who was lying on the office floor. The bandit loitered about the lobby lof the theater for a few minutes be- ’lore entering the office and also stopped calmly to look at the posters on his way out. At no time, said witnesses, | did he seem excited. | Axle Company Official Dies. DETROIT, December 25 (#).—Charles G. Rowlett, 52, vice president and treasurer of the Timkin-Detroit Axle Co., died yesterday of heart disease. Mr. Rowlett was born in Richmond, Ind., and formerly lived in Cleveland, Ohio, and Chester, W, Va, RO DAY, 1928 RECUE STEANER REACYES 2 SHS Effort to Save Crew of Tug Driftng Toward Reef Hampered by Storm. By the Associated Press. SEATTLE, Wash, December 25.— Radio advices received here today said | the coastwise steamer Northwestern had arrived alongside two helpless ships, the Starr and the Roosevelt, off Middletown Island, Alaska, and was preparing to rescue the crew of the Roosevelt, which was drifting toward a dangerous reef. ‘The Roosevelt is a sea tug and car- ries a crew of 12 to 15 men. The Starr, with 23 aboard, was disabled in a .| storm about 10 days ago and the two ships have been fighting rough weather for several days, with the Roosevelt in the role of rescuer. The Starr’s anchor was reported holding in 60 fathoms of water. Radio reports said that the Roosevelt was but 18 miles from the reef, The Northwestern was pumping ofl over- board in an effort to calm the seas sufficiently to get a lifeboat to the Roosevelt. It was deemed useless to at- tempt running a tow line to the sea tug. When the Starr first encountered trouble she was towed by the steamer Alameda to Seward. The Roosevelt then took the tow line and was trying to pull the Starr to the lee of Kayak Island ahead of a storm when the line broke. line to the Starr it became entangled in the Roosevelt's propeller yesterday, rendering the tug helpless THREE ARE CONVICTED OF KILLING MARSHAL One Gets Life and Others 35 and 14 Years Each—Caught Rob- bing Clothing Store. By the Associated Press. PARIS, 111, December 25.—Three men were found guilty today of the murder of Sylvester Lentz, town marshal ‘of Chrisman, IIl. The three, Wallace Phillips, 28; John Virostko, 25, and John Clarkson, 23, all of Universal, Ind, a few mil north of Terre Haute, were surprised by the marshal as they were robbing a clothing store. Phillips, whose leg was shattered by a charge from Lentz's shotgun, was sentenced to life imprisonment, Virstko received a 35-year prison sentence and Clarkson 14 years. ARCHBISHOP IMPROVES. Canterbury Prelate Rests Well and Pains Lessen. LONDON, December 25 (/).—The Most Rev. Cosmo Gordon Lang, Arch- bishop of Canterbury, who is il with an attack of internal inflammation, passed a good night and the’ inflam- | mation continues to grow less, a medi- cal bulletin issued by his physicians | said, The doctors said there was now little pain. PEABODY IS IMPROVED. Philanthropist’s Condition Held “Excellent” After Operation. BALTIMORE, Md., December 25 (#). —George Foster Peabody, retired bank- | er and philanthropist of New York, who underwent an operation at Johns Hop- kins Hospital yesterday, was reported by a member of his family to have passed a good night. His condition this morning was said to be “excellent.” Because he claimed he was born on Christmas day, Samuel Thomas, col- | ored, today was given a combination Christmas and birthday present in the form of freedom from a jail sentence by Police Court Judge Gus A. Schuldt. When Thomas was brought before the bar this morning to answer charges preferred by Policeman R. D. Chenault of the second precinct, he amplified the plea for lenience advanced by other prisoners because of Christmas by as- serting it was his birthday. “Is that so? What year were you born in?” inquired the court, “1 don't known exactly.”” “Well, how old are lwu - Colored Man, Born on Christmas Day. Wins Freedom From D. C. Jail Sentence “I was 46 years old this morning at half past two,” Thomas replied. ‘The man was sent back to a cell while probation officers checked his story. When it was verified, the judge reprimanded Thomas for Lis mode of celebration but took his personal bond and wished him a merry Christmas. Taking into consideration the holiday, Judge Schuldt accepted the personal bonds of 15 other, defendants. Thirty- six persons, however, were committed to jail for intoxication and serious traf- fic offenses. Radio Programs—Page 31 In attempting to get a new | James Eads How Heads West to Seek Visit With Wife | Millionaire Hobo Wants Reconciliation on Chris- mas After Divorce. By the Associated Press. TUCSON, Ariz who was divorced by his wife in Los Angeles last Saturday, was en route to his Los Angeles home today on his announced mission of attempting a | Christmas day reconciliation with Mrs. How. The grandson of the builder of the great Eads Bridge across the Missis- sippi at St. Louis, leftf here yesterday “riding the cushion” which was against | his principles, he said, but done in an | effort to be with Mrs. How and an | adopted 11-year-old son over the holi- ay. “She doesn't understand me,” How sald, as he a -table here. “She told the judge I deserted her. That is wrong. I had to go to the hobo convention in Fort Worth this Sum- mer. And then the work of the Inter- national Brotherhood (known as the Brotherhood of Hobos) takes me | places.” How had been in Tuscon several days, “studying the employment situation there,” he explained. “If you write anything about me be careful what you say about the wife. I don't want to | make her angry. She just doesn't under- | stand. | “T've sent Christmas gifts on ahead and I'm trying to get there in time to make it a merry Christmas.” In recelving the divorce decree Mrs. How, who said her husband preferred the society of *hoboes to her company, testified that How’s income was at least $10,000 A year. 'HOUSE IS DYNAMITED DURING YULE FETE 17 Persons Gathered Around Christmas Tree Escape Injury. Man Is Helfl. v the Associated Press. SIBLEY, Mich, December 25.—A esidence in which 17 persons, 8 of them | children, were gathered around ' a | Christmas tree for a Yuletide party was | dynamited here Jast night. None was | Injured, but a side wall of the house was caved in. The home was that of William Cris- tiana, and the Christthas party was being attended by relatives and neigh- bors. Police are holding Angelo An- gelucci, 31, another neighbor, for ques- tioning. He was arrested by Sibley po- lice two blocks from the Cristiana home soon after the blast. Officers said there had been ill-feeling between the Cristiana and Angelucci families. The explosion occurred in a cellar nder the house. Officers believe a stick f dynamite was thrown through a | window. Windows in the home of Mayor Rob- | ert Barker of Sibley, who resides next ! door, were shattered and his parked in a driveway between the two houses, was wrecked. The mayor had | | B | u i the explosion occurred. POLICEMAN CENSURED FOR CHANGING CHARGE | Hesse Plans to Investigate Cases of Two Men Released by | Judge Schuldt. ! Arrest of two men brought into court i yesterday on a charge of expectorating on the sidewalk is being investigated by Maj. Edwin B. Hesse, superintendent 1 of police, following their testimony be- | fore Judge Gus Schuldt of Police Court that they were first arrested for va- grancy and that the charge was changed when the arresting officers found it could not be sustained. Policeman W. E. Lawson of the sev- enth precinct arrested Paul N. Powell and Robert W. Davis. Both testified | vesterday that Lawson had first told jthem he intended to charge them with vagrancy when they came out of an establishment on Wisconsin avenue, which had been picketed by police in their recent drive against gambling. ‘The men showed they were both 1eg- ularly employed and, subsequently. they said, were charged with spitting on the sidewalk. Judge Schuldt dismissed the case and criticized the officer for chang- ing the charges. Maj. Hesse said he was in accord with the judge’s view in general u%wuld investigate. | | to Mrs. How and the boy, of course, | car, | left his car only a few minutes hsfori‘\ BRODKHART WORKS DN SAARY BIL | |Will Introduce Plan Next! Week to Correct Welch Law Inequalities. When Congress reconvenes next | week, Senator Brookhart, Republican, of ilowz‘ will be ready to introduce in the | Senate his plan for correcting inequali- | tles in Government salaries resulting | from the interpretations placed on the Welch law. ‘The Senator made this known today |in announcing that he would devote | most of the Christmas recess to working |over the details of the amendment | which he proposes to put forward. He said he would seek prompt considera- | tion for his measure. “I am preparing an amendment to do Texactly what I sought to accomplish at | the last session when the Welch bill was being written—that is, to provide two | salary step-ups for everybody,” Senator | Brookhart. explained. “Of course, that is not so easy to work out in the form of an amendment now, because we have both the original classification law and | the Welch law to consider in framing an amendment. I expect, however, to have an amendment in shape when the ses- sion is resumed.” Purpose of Bill. Senator Brookhart's plan, which was accepted by the Senate Civil Service committee at the last session, but modified when the Welch law was sent to conference, provides that where the two lowest salary steps of a grade were eliminated two new steps should be added at the top of the grade. As finally enacted the Welch law cut off the two bottom steps, but in some of the grades only one new step was added at the top. One of the important provisions in the Welch law was the stipulation that employes should be given the same “relative positions” under the new salary schedules that they occupied under the old law. The application of this principle became difficult in grades where seven salary steps were co1- | solidated into six. = Senator Brookhaxt believes the application of the relative position clause would be simplified by | having the same number of steps in the | | new law that existed under the old. Plans for Senate. Senator Brookhart said that if the | House should act on some corrective | measure it could be considered by the. Scnate committee along with his amendment, but he indicated that he | would seek Senate action on his plan, | if possible. Senator Dale, Republican of Ver- mont, chairman of the Senate civil service committee, has expressed him- | self strongly in favor of amending the | Welch law, taking the view that it has | not. worked out satisfactorily under-¢he ‘Inlrrprollllcm applied to its adminis- | tration. i i NEW TRAFFIC SIGNALS ARE TURNED ON TODAY ;Lights Put in Use Along Thir-| i teenth Street as Officials Attend Ceremony. | ‘The first of the downtown traffic sig- nal lights to be installed under the gen- cral traffic light program, located along ‘Thirteenth strect from E street to Mas- sachusetts avenue, were turned on to- day by J. W. McGarry, president of the Thirteenth Street Business Men's | Association. i Inspector E. W. Brown, in charge of | the Traffic Bureau: Assistant Traffic Di- irecwr M. O. Eldridge, Maj. Edwin B. | Hesse, superintendent of police, and Capt. Thaddeus Bean of the first pre- cinct, in whose territory the lights are located, were present at a brief official ceremony as the switch was turned on | ‘m start the lights. CHRISTMAS TREE BURNS. A Christmas tree and a few presents, including a motion picture projector, escaped damage this morning when | fire, starting in the kitchen at 77 Myr- tle street northeast, swept through the rear of the home. Herbert Johnson, colored, and family were all out of the house at the time. Neighbors saw the fire and turned in the alarm. The blaze started from a stove. J. B. Watt, battalion chief, estimated ;lllen mt;nmnge to the building at least PARAGUAY BLAMES TREATY VIOLATION FORBOUNDARY ROW President Guggiara Claims Neighbors’ Greed for Land Caused Prolonged Dispute. TERRITORY AWARDED BY PRESIDENT HAYES Ownership of Vast Area, Well De- veloped, Is Sought Decades After U. 8. Ruling. The Star and the North American News- paper Alliance asked Jose P. Guggiara, President of Paraguay. to present Para- guay's side in its controversy with Bo- livia, which he has done in the follow- ing ‘article. sent by cable. An article from Bolivia's President will tomorrow. appear BY JOSE P. GUGGIARI, President of Par Written Exclusively for The Star and the North American Newspaper Alliance. ASUNCION, Paraguay, December 15. —On the western side of the Paraguay River extends a vast territory, several thousand square miles. Since colonial days this territory, Gran Chaco, has been a part of the jurisdiction of the government of Asuncion. This can be easily explained. Asun- cion, as capital of the Province of Para- guay, was the most important coloniza- tion nucleus of all districts adjoining the river of the same name. It was in Asuncion, therefore, that the Spaniards concentrated their efforts to dominate the neighboring regions, including Gran Chaco. When independence was attained, the territory of Gran Chaco naturally be- came a part of the territorial estate of the new Republic of Paraguay, which in- herited the Spanish Province of Para- %:‘ay. Nobody ever seriously disputed s. It is true that after Paraguay's war against the triple alliance, from 1865 to 1870, a difference arose with Argentina, which considered herself as having cer- | tain rights to the part of Gran Chaco extending to the north of Asuncion. Hayes Ruled for Paraguay. But when this litigation was sub- mitted to the arbitrational decision of Rutherford Hayes, President of the United States, the American Executive, in view of the titles demonstrated to him, decided in favor of Paraguay, and stated that my country was the legiti- mate owner of this territory. These, generally, are the historical antecedents 1elating to the Chaco, cause of the conflict between my coun- try and Bolivia. Thus the following question comes to my mind: If Paraguay is the exclu- sive owner of Gran Chaco, even having an arbitrational decision in its favee, how can it be explained that Bolivia appears now as a rival of Paraguay for the ownership of Chaco? To answer this question I shall give a little more background: Bolivia inherited the Spanish province of High Peru adjoining the border of Paraguay, precisely at the northern edge of Gran Chaco. The boundaries between the provinces had not been properly outlined. The territorial boundaries of the colonial era were somewhat vague, and remained so after independence was gained. ‘To eliminate this impression of un- certainty Paraguay and Bolivia signed three boundary treaties, from 1879 to 1894, which were not ratified later for reasons too long to specify here. Suffice it to say, though, that in all three treaties Paraguay and Bolivia re- ferred to the question as a “demarcation of boundaries.” It was never, in any sense, considered a matter affecting the domination of Gran Chaco, whose Para- guayan ownership was never doubted. However, following political perturba- tions in Paraguay in 1904, Bolivia began to change its tactics and to expand its ambitions. It clandestinely established various forts, and it evidently had the intention of erecting more, toward the east, with the aim of occupying as large a part of the territory as possible, in order to enjoy the protection of a de facto occupation for backing its preten- sions in future parleys. “Dead Line” Established. As Paraguay had to oppose some 3ort of wall to this, an agreement was reached in January, 1907, by which zone” was marked in which neither Bolivians nor Paraguayans could ad- | vance until the boundary dispute was settled through the arbitrational de- cision of the President of Argentina. Unfortunately, the President of Ar- gentina resigned as arbiter because of a brutal aggression against the Argen- tine legation in the capital of Bolivia. As the danger of clashes between troops of the two countries which went too near each other was ever there, it was agreed to prolong the status quy arranged in the treaty of 1907 through four successive protocols, signed in 1913, 1915, 1917 and 1918. This meant that neither Bolivia nor Paraguay could ad- vance toward the east from the lines of the meridians 62 degrees 6 minutes and 61 degrees 30 minutes Greenwich. While Bolivia appeared to respect these agreements, and even in 1925, through President Saavedra, stated that it was strictly observing the status quo, its advances continued, clandestinely and systematically, not only within the zone declared neutral, but also within the region expressly granted to Para- | guay. While accumulating-all sorts of war elements, in which it was investing up to 50 per cent of its national income, Bolivia no longer cloaked its intention to face the problem as a dispute on the domination of Gran Chaco, and en- deavored to represent Paraguay as a mere pretender to that vast territory. Incidentally, I must remark that all efforts in behalf of civilization notice~ able in Gran Chaco are exclusively due to Paraguay. Gran Chaco, because of Paraguayan work, is now an enormous industrial and cattle center, maintained by the arms and intelligence of my countrymen. If Balivians have entered this region their entrance has been of a military nature. In front of a dozen Bolivian forts Paraguay has created hundreds of cattle establishments. Paraguay Credited With Progress. The great tanning factories and sugar centrals which fill with the smoke of their chimneys what formerly wes wilderness in Gran Chaco, the railroads crossing the beautiful plains, the ships which navigate the rivers, the thou- No 5:30 Today ere_will be no 5:30 edition e Star today. " (Continued on Page 4, Column 29 sands of agricultural, forest and indus- trial workers who sprinkle woods and meadows with the .sweat of their brows, the evangelizing missions which redcem_the native population, the set- 2