Evening Star Newspaper, December 27, 1928, Page 26

o W THE .EVENING STAR. WASHINGTON, D. €, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27, 1928. VALUATION METHOD DEFEADEDBY L. Brief Filed With Supreme! ! Court Holds Plan Provides “Rule of Reason.” By the Associated Prese. Defending its methods of fixing values of railroad properties, under attack in the Supreme Court by the St. Louis & O'Fallon Rallroad, the Imcerstate Com- merce Commission contended in a brief filed yesterday that valuation systems ed by railrcads would destroy pri- > ownership and operation, rief will be argued by the com- special counsel, Walter L. ormer Secretary of the Interior, when the case is heard next month. It recalls that the statutory tnree-judge St. Louis, which sustained the ex carnings of the St. Louis & ‘O'Falion Railroad, had held that it was unnecessary to determine the various contentions of the railroad concerning the proper methods of ascertaining its value. Reproduction Cost Involved. The commission, the brief points out, | fegards the ‘case as presenting for the consideration of the court the validity | of its administrative measures and its methods in the recapture of ecxcess earnings. It asserted tnat the principal ground of attack upon the valuation it had used in its recapture order was that it had used less than the hypothetical cost of reproduction of the property on the basis of current commodity prices. The commission stated that its answer to this charge was that re- production cost at present, as_com- pared with the original cost of con- struction, was only one of the many elements to be considered in determin- ing value for rate-making puyposss. It denied that its valuation was a matter of formula, as charged by the railroad. Method Held Fair. Summarizing the arguments presented in a 219-page brief, the commission as- serted that its method of valuation gave consideration to current repro- duction costs and was fair and work- able, furnishing a “rule of reason” ap- plicable to railroad regulation, adding that it does not confiscate property and deals with realities. “To substitute for the principles and administrative methods which have pro- duced the present favorable conditions,” the brief said, “principles and admin- strative methods under which rates will be confiscatory if they are not greatly increased and under which railroad rates will become the most speculative securities on the exchanges, would ‘be, in the judgment of the comnmssion, to destroy an effective regulation of rail- road rates, and to discredit and per- haps destroy the whole system of pri- vate ownership and operation.” ITALIAN SHIF; OVERDUE IN JAPAN PORT SOUGHT |“Please Stay Out,” Says Sign on Door Of Cell at Court One of the cell doors at the court- house where prisoners are confined during sessions of the criminal courts displays a large sign reading, “Please Stay Out.” It looked like the work of a wag, until closer inspection revealed the words “Fresh Paint” and the shin- ing brightness of the fron bars to which a fresh coat of paint had been applied while the courts are in re- cess for the Yuletide holiday. FAMILY'S ANXIETY FOR KNG LESSENS Marked Improvement in Con- | dition During Past Week Is Seen. By the Associated Press LONDON, December. 27.—Although | the slowness of King George's progress | was still emphasized in his doctor’s bul- letins it was understood today that his general improvement was very marked compared with a weck ago. His d were believed to have ‘aconfidence in the recuperative powers of the Kingi which had not existed previously during the course of his illness. ‘There were indications that the anx- jety of the royal family was lessening. ‘The Daily Mail 3y hat cess Mary would leave London during the| day to join her husband. Viscount | Lascelles, at Harewood ~Castle, near Leeds. The Daily Express said that the Prince of Wales was hunting in the Midlands yesterday. ! A too enthusiastic greeting by 2,000 | holiday onlookers when the prince ar- rived at the meet almost caused him to be thrown from his horse. The crowd cheered and waved their hats and handkerchiefs and the horse, becoming | frightened, reared. The prince con- trolled the horse with difficulty and smilingly acknowledged the greeting by raising his hat. The King's doctors made no public report yet on the ray treatment being | given their patient, which has not been administered for the .last day or two, but it was understood that the discon- tinuance was only temporary. The doc- tors' evening bulletin, which was the only one of the day, said: “His majesty had a quiet day. The slow progress in general and local. con- dition is maintained. Nc bulletin will be issued until tomorrow evening.” ENGINEER M;\DE COLONEL Lieut. Col. George B. Pillsbury, TU. 8. A, Is Promoted. Lieut. Col. George B. Pillsbury, Corps of Engineers, in charge of the engineer- ing district of Philadelphia and vicinity, has been promoted to the grade of colonel and will remain at his present station, according to War Department announcement. He is from Massachu- setts and was awarded the Distinguished ! i | | Vessels in North Pacific Asked to Be on Lookout for Steamer Gilda Scuderi. Service Medal for services in France during the World War. He was gradu- ated from the Military Academy in June, 1900, and reached the grade of lieutenant colonel in February, 1920. SEATTLE, December 27.—Vessels of the North Pacific were asked today to search for the Italian steamer Gilda |-~ Scuderi, long overdue at Kobe, Japan. The vessel sailed from Seattle Novem- ber 5 with a crew of 25, and since has her position. The Navy Department has asked all wessels on the Northern trade route to watch for the craft. ~The Scuderi, formerly the Emperor of Montreal and the Canadian Trader, is registered from Genoa. She was built at Port Arthur, Ontario, in 1919, and is a steel schooner of 2, FIRE- ! RO g F TORAGE PRIVATE ROOM OR OPEN STORAGE LONG DISTANCE MOVERS CRATE AND PACK BY EXPERTS 1313 YOU STREET, N.W. PHONE NORTH 3343 COAT SALE! in the Moderate Price Coat Shop--3rd floor Black Coats with Black Furs = featured in this 2, | Coat Reduction .. . treated with such exccllent fur as Jackal Wolf Beaverette Manchurian Wolf Astrakhan Arabian Lynx Opossum It has been but a short time since these coats weré - commanding much higher prices. , Every one of them is as of, Winter, 1928-1929. Collars and cuffs of fine furs after the manner of French designers. Silky cloths for dress . . . rugged tweeds for sports . . . some have fur trimmings, some have not. Individually styled coats . . in black, also correct shades. Com- 3 plete size range . . . including those for larger women. (Moderate Price Coat Shop. Third. Floor.) Included in this Sale are $38 Roadster Coats $2 9.50 ([ Let’s Skip - January! January’s a frost . ..leave him to freeze!-:- Let’s take our bonuses,our Christmas money or a flier in the market . . . and here we are for thirty days on the “France”, afloat on the Mediterranean, ashore on both sides in the sun ... Las Pal- mas, Casablanca, Gibraltar, Algiers, Tunis, Palermo, Naples, Monaco, Marscilles . . . and second glimpses of Naples, Algiers and Gibraltar... What a month to paste into our private calendar instead of that mean old wet-foot influenza-king! «esCost?. .. From 8550 up . . . or $275 one way to any port... Leave? . . . January third . . . or second trip, February seventh and again on March fourteen . . . Stop« over wherever you like or return via Havre on "Ile de France” or “Paris”. e Trench nee Information from any authorized French Line Agent or write direct o 1429 Eye Street W ashington, D. C. Smart . . Purposeful . . Comfortable Muskrat Coats Caracul Coats Pony Coats *99 An opportune offering, when one is keenly aware of a falling barometer. Coats of Southern muskrat . . . approved by Fashion for semi-sports wear. Skillfully manipulated in clever diagonal lines ., . . without any sense of bulk. " Self trimmed . . . in svelt close silhouette. Practical . . . insuring long service . . . swagger . . . delightful to wear. Lined with soft crepe de chine: (Third Floer.) Southern, Northern and Silver 'Mgskrat Coats *149 Including Southern muskrat, worked 3 diagonally and topped with huge col- - lar of silky fur. And silver muskrat in blending golden shades, collared with luxurious brown fox. And last, but not to be discounted, Northern muskrat, designed with a softness and grace that defy description. Johnny or notched collars. $265 and $235 Silky Muskrats, $199 Northern muskrat . . . the pelts worked down and an interesting shawl collar of wolf. Lined with lustrous, double-faced satin. (Third Floor.) An unexpected opportunity for those returning to college. ..for all who enjoy motoring, flying, tramping to obtain one of these famous yarn coats. Warm as the nutria or beaver, (Third Floor.) Other Fur Coats to Clear at $49 to $550 (4) $69 Grey Wombat, leather trimmed, $49 (1) $149 Sealine (dyed rabbit), Johnny col- lar $75 (1) $149 Sealine (dyed rabbit), Fox shawl collar f ..875 (1) $450 Natural Squirrel Coat .$275 (1) $400 Scotch Mole Coat with scarf, $225 (1) $495 Black American Broadtail, collar ........ceeeoin . (1) $450 Hudson Seal Johnny collar (1) $450 Grey Caracul, Fox collar. g (1) $400 Black Persian Paw, Krimmer col- $225 th- er trim $295 (1) $300 Grey Broadtail, Wolf collar and cuffs $228 (1) $325 Black Paw, Krimmer collar . (1) $325 Black Caracul, imitation Chinchilla collar_and cuffs $265 (1) $325 Panther ap Cross Fox col- lar, leather belt $265 (1) $700 Squirrel Coat, larg: X , $550 (1) $700 Jap Weasel Coat, size 42, Fox ;so!l- . 0 (Third Floor.) at Sevent! ; Imported Kid and Lambskin Gloves $1.95 Soft, pliable skins, some with novelty cuffs, others more tai- lored, all with embroidery on backs. In mode, beaver, grey, black with white. Sizes 534 to 7%4. (Matn Floor) Special Sale of Women'’s Corduroy Robes $ 3 595 Of wide-wale, velvetlike cordu- roy. Well made, nicely lined. In fuschia, cherry, copen and rose. All sizes. (Fifth Floor.) Quilted Satin Robes $6.95 }Iiéh-]llstrc satin. ' Warm but light weight . . . cleverly quilted. Lined with seco silk. In copen, powder, rose, honey and turg. (Pifth Floor.) Sale---Sport Sweaters $2.95 Novelty knitted, with rayon or zephyr stripes. Slip-over types, with crew or V necks. Wine, navy, cocoa, tan or black shades. (Pifth Floor.) Sale of Smart Lingerie 79c Gowns, chemise, bloomers and slips . . . lacy or tailored . . . of nainsook, flannelette, crepe or batiste. In white, flesh or honey. (Fifth Floor.) A special sale of Foundation Corsettes $5 Values $2.95 By Nature’s Rival and Bien Jolie Several styles in fine procade. Such as swami top combined with coutil or brocade or all cloth. Hook side; four supporters. Lightly yet firmly boned through- out. Flesh only, Sizes 34 to 46. (Pifth Floor.) T1CO . xr"»