Evening Star Newspaper, January 10, 1929, Page 1

WEATHER. (U. 8. Weather Bureau Forecast.) Fair and colder with lowest temper- ature about 34 degrees tonight; tomor- row increasing cloudiness and colder; probably light snow or rain tomorrow night. noon today; lowest, Full report on page 9. Closing N. Y. Markets, Pages 14 and 15 ‘Temperatures—Highest, 52, at , 37, at 7 a.m. today. @h WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION ¢ Foening Star. “From Press to Home Within the Hour” The Star’s carrier system covers every city block and the regular edi- as fast as the papers tion is delivered to Washington homes are printed. Yesterday’s Circulation, 108,195 30,935. t office, Wa ered as second class matter shington, D. C. WASHINGTON, D. C., THURSDAY, JANUARY 10, 1929 —FORTY-EIGHT PAGES. ¥ ed Press. TWO CENTS. BYRD HONORS DEAD ARMEN N NANING, NEW DISCVERES Polar Harbor Is Designated | Floyd Bennett, and Cape John Rodgers. GOOD LANDING FIELD FOUND BY EXPLORERS | Expedition Uses 11 Dog Teams to Speed Hauling of Sup- plies to Base. By Wireless {0 The Star and New York Times. BAY OF WHALES, Antarctica, Janu- | ary 10.—Comdr. Byrd has named the harbor which he recently and expiored Floyd Bennett Harbor and the cape which marks the northern entrance of the harbor Cape Jonn Rodgers, after Comdr. Rodgers, Byrd's | friend and one of the Navy's first| fiyers, who gave his life to aviation. The harbor lies on the western side of the Bay of Whales about a mile and a half south of Cape West. 1t is nearly 2 miles wide and 7 miles deep. The center forms a perfect landing field, but it will be used by the planes onlg in caw: of emergency, as its dis- tance from the main base, Little Amer- ica, is about 6 miles. When naming the harbor yesterday in memory of his shipmate, Floyd Ben- nett, Comdr. Byrd intimated that if he got into the unknown regions at a later date he would probably give to another of the new discoveries the name of the man who was to have been his co- leader on the Antarctic Expedition. The expedition now has 11 dog teams on the ice and, together with the men hauling, is getting material to the base at the rate of 5 tons a day. Bennett's Name Linked With Byrd's. Floyd Bennett first met Comdr. Byrd when they were both chosen for the Naval flying unit which accompanied the MacMillan Expedition to Greenland in 1925 and thereafter the two were almost inseparable. He piloted Comdr. Byrd on the first airplane flight over the North Pole in May, 1926, for which both received the Congressional Medal ©of Honor. Bennett was to have been a member of the crew of the America, in which Comdr. Byrd flew from Roosevelt Field to France in August, 1927, but that Spring was severely injured while pilot- ing the huge Fokker on a test h 2nd did not recover in time for the venu‘;re. He died April 25, 1928, of pneumonia contractéd ! was puo&m a relief plane to the Brem- en fiyers, stranded on Greenely Island. Comdr. John Rodgers came of per- haps the most famous Navy family in this country, with a record by its mem- bers of continuous service since 1776. He was & graduate of the Naval Acad- emy and had already distinguished him- self in aeronautics when he was chosen to lead & flight from California to Ha- waii in the Summer of 1925. He took off in the plane PN-9 No. 1, August 31. Rodgers reported by radio ‘when 1,700 miles out that the gasoline supply was rapidly failing. Nothing more was heard and he and his crew | had been given up for lost when the submarine R-4 found them 10 days later 15 miles east of the Island of Kauai, in the Hawaiian group. ¥ Comar. Rodgers was.Kkilled in an air- plane crash at Philadelphia, August 21, 1926. discovered | (Copyright, 1929.) s RADICALS TO BACK POINCARE MINISTRY Paris Deputies Open Debate on Policies, With Conditions Favoring Premier. By the Associated Press. | PARIS, January 10.—Debate in the Chamber of Deputies on the general policies of the Poincare cabinet began this afternoon under conditions gener- ally considered quite favorable for (hci government, | A group called the “radical left”| which admittedly holds the key to the| situation, met earlier in the day and | decided to support the cabinet. This development, is felt to assure the pre- | mier a majority of at least 50. Premier Poincare has made known to friends that however small his ma- jority, he intends to keep hold of the helm. MEXICAN OFFICIAL D!ES Undersecretary of Agriculture Is Slain With Two Followers and One Attacker. By the Associated Press. MEXICO CITY, January 10.—Jose G. Parres, undersecretary of agriculture and candidate for governor of the State | of Hidalgo, has been kiiled in a political | clash at the town of Atotonilco Elalto, in that state. Two followers also were | slain i Advices to the department of interior today indicated that Dodolfo Valdespino, a candidate for the Siate Legislature, at the head of 10 armed men, opened fire on an automobile in which Parres and his followers were riding through the town. Occupants of the car re- turned the fire. One of the attackers was killed. An investigation was ordered. Troops | were pursuing Valdespino today. i CHILDREN BURN TO DEATH| Three Die, Mother and Five Others Escape in Home Blaze. BLUEFIELD, W. Va., January 10 (®). —Three children were burned to death and a mother and five other children narrowly escaped a similar fate when fire destroyed the residence of W. C. Breckenridge, Tazewell County traffic officer, on the outskirts of Bluefield, early today. | ‘The dead: Daniel Breckenridge, 10; Margaret Breckenridge, 8. and Dorothy Asks Standard 0il of Indiana| Stockholders for Votes. Action Follows Fight Over| Request for Resig- nation. By the Assoclated Press. NEW YORK, January 10—John D. Rockefeller, jr, has sent letters to stockholders of the Standard Oil Co. of Indiana seeking their proxies for the annual meeting of the company in March to oppose the re-election of Col. Robert W. Stewart as chairman of the company, it was learned today. | Mr. Rockefeller requested the resigna- tion of Mr. Stewart after he was charged with perjury in connection with his statements to the Senate Tea- pot Dome committee. Mr. Stewart declined to resign, and was acquitted of the charge on November 20. In his ‘letter, to stockholders Mr. Rockefeller, who is a large stockholder in the Standard of Indiana, outlines his letter to Col. Stewart which sought his resignation last year, and adds, “Definite assurances have already been given me by stockholders representing a substantial amount of stock of the company that they are opposed to Col. Stewart's re-election.” Seubert Leadership Praised. “If this is your position,” the letter continues, “please send the enclosed proxy to John D. Rockefeller, jr., Winthrop W. Aldrich or Willilam Roberts.” Mr. Rockefeller indicated that he did not seek other changes in the management of the company. “Under the loyal and devoted leader- ship of the president of the company, Mr. E. G. Seubert,” he stated, “who has been with the company over 30 years, backed by the whole-hearted support of other members of the board, most of whom have also been connected with the company for many years, the in- terests of the company will be fully protected and its business well handled without Col. Stewart.” Seen as Test of Strength. Rockefeller first asked Stewart's resignation on May 9 of last year. On February 9 Rockefeller had sent a tele- gram to United States Senator Thomas J. Walsh reporting that in a personal conversation Stewart had told him that nothing could change his position in regard to the Teapot Dome inquiry and that any time the stockholders wanted his resignation they could have it. ‘When Rockefeller asked for Stewart’s resignation it was said that Wall Street viewed (he action as the first test of hefthe strength of the Rockefeller inter- ests since the dissolution of the Rocke- feller Trust in 1911. On June 24 of last year a statement from the Rockefeller office reported that the Rockefeller interests been disposing of their holdings in Standard Oil of Indiana and that John D. Rocke- feller, jr., had not changed his posi- tion in regard to his request thhat Stew- art resign as chairman of the board. On July 25 the New York World said that Stewart had checkmated Rocke- feller's efforts to force him out and, according to unimpeachable informants, (Continued on Page 4, Column 5.) LOS ANGELES WINS OVER FLORIDA WIND ICircles Over Appalachicola and Heads for Port St. Joe to Moor. PORT ST. JOE, Fla, January 10 (#)—Completing a voyage from Lakehurst, N. J., during which she was delayed nearly 12 hours by ad- verse winds and fog over Western Florida, the Los Angeles, giant Navy dirigible, was moored to the tender Patoka in St. Joseph's Bay at 12:45 p.m. today. By the Assoclated Press. APALACHICOLA, Fla.,, January 10.— The dirigible Los Angeles circled over this city at 11 a.m. today, and headed off in the direction of the tender Pa- toka, anchored in St. Joseph’s Bay, near Port St. Joe, where it expects to moor. She was reported to be making about 25 miles an hour against the stiff winds. A heavy fog hung over the bay and the captain of the Patoka said it was unlikely that the Los Angeles would attempt a mooring immediately after its arrival, but probably would cruise about the bay until the fog lifted. A message to the Patoka stated that all was well aboard, but did not give any of the dirigible’s plans. The giant ship had been prevented from mooring last night after her ar- rival over Florida by head winds, which she bucked on the latter part of her | journey down the South Atlantic coast. The first report of her movements this morning came from the naval radio station at Key West, which said it had been advised that the ship was east of Apalachicola at 8:10 am. Shortly after- ward it was reported by the Navy De- partment, in Washington, that she was sighted in the vicinity of Apalachicola 10 minutes earlier. St. Joseph Bay is about 20 miles from Apalachicola. . Swedish Woman Pioneer Dies. KEWANEE, Ill, January 10 (@).— Mrs. Jonas K. Olson, Swedish pioneer of the historic Bishop Hill colony, died today at the age of 90. During her life- ROCKEFELLER SEEKS PROXIES TO OUST ROBERT W. STEWART Above: JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER, Jr. Col. ROBERT W. STEWART. BOOTH RETIREMENT ASKED BY BOARD Salvation Army Council Re- fuses General’s Request for Executive Commission. By the Associated Press. SUNBURY-ON-THAMES, England, | January 10.—The high council of the Salvation Army today adopted a resolu- tion asking Gen. Bramwell Booth, leader of the army for the past 16 years, to retire from that post because. of condition of his health. At the same time it was made clear that in retirement he would retain his title of general and continue to enjoy the honor and dignities attached to it. The resolution was made public in a communique issued from Sunbury Court this morning. It was adopted after the council had considered a letter dated January 6, which had been re- ceived from the head of the army. The text of this letter was not given out, but it is understood that in it, the gen- eral asked the high council to appoint a commission to act for him until his recovery. Proposal Is Rejected. The council's reply was a rejection of this proposal, saying that it was im- probable that at his age he would re- cover sufficiently to resume the labors under which he had broken down. A deputation was named by the council to visit the general at his seaside re- treat to put the retirement suggestion before him. The official statement issued from Sunbury Court on today's development was as follows: “The council resumed its sitting this morning, and after the usual opening services proceeded at once to consider business in connection with a letter of January 6 received from the general. As a result of the deliberations follow- ing reception of this letter, the council resolved to communicate with the gen- eral and submit to him the following resolution, which was passed by the council without a dissenting vote: “‘The council desires to place on record its high appreciation of the life and labors of the general and joins with him in gratitude to God for his partial restoration to health and ex- presses the hope that this improvement may be maintained. ““The council being, however, unable to see the practicability of the sugges- tion made by the general and realizing (Continued on Page 4, Column 1) PARAGUAYAN TROOPS WILL BE DEMOBILIZED Forces Called Into Service for Bo- livian Dispute Are Mustered Out by Decree. By the Assoclated Press. ASUNCION, Paraguay, January 10.— President Gugglari has signed a decree demobilizing the troops that were called to the colors when the dispute with Bolivia became acute. It was learned from a reliable source today that Dr. Eligio Ayala, Paraguayan delegates to the Pan-American Arbitra- tion Conference, would be appointed a Paraguayan member of the commission of investigation and conciliation created by the protocol signed at Washington time she never rode on a train. Her hushand survives. for the settlement of the Chaco inci- dent. Wild West Lecturer’s Boy Wounded in By the Associated Press. CHICAGO, January 10.—Robert W. Limbert's lecture on “The Old West” before the Lake Forest Young Men’s Club last night ended in unexpected gunfire and the wounding of 15-year- lold Francis Kelly. “And now, gentlemen,” said Limbert, Breckenridge, 3. The father was away »arom home at the tim. an explorer, marksman and writer on the wild West, “I will illustrate how a Al Shot Goes Wild, Test of Quick Draw ‘Westerner would beat one of your city gunmen to the draw.” one man by whispering to his attorney. ‘The first wi IHYEARALD BOY CALN A HE FACES HoX MURDERILRY Fate in Hands of Elderly Farmers, Nearly All Fa- thers of Families. BLYMYER FOUND GUILTY; LIFE TERM IS URGED Curry Youth's Lawyer Says He Would Not Stress Witch Angle. Trusts to Mercy. BY THOMAS R. HENRY. Staft Correspondent of The Star. YORK, Pa., January 10.—A 14-year- witcheraft cult went on trial for his life this morning before a jury of stolid, elderly farmers nearly all of whom are fathers of families. John Curry, barely out of short pants, is accused of helping murder Nelson D. Rehmeyer, recluse and reputed “witch,” on Thanksgiving eve. Last night the boy’s mentor in the witcheraft cult, 32-year-old John Blymyer, was found guilty with a recommendation of life imprisonment. Curry is accused of clubbing Rehmeyer and afterward pouring coal oil over his unconscious body to which Blymyer ap- plied a match. Accompanied by Mother. The boy was accompanied in court by his 32-year-old mother, Mrs. Anna McLane. Although under the Pennsylvania law he might be sentenced to the electric chair, therc is little actual likelihood of this, not only because of his age, but because of the more lenient sentence given Blymver. Curry’s lawyer, W. W. Vanbaman, said that he would not stress the witch- craft angle and would urge the boy to tell the entire truth and trust to the mercy of the jury. He will appeal for a verdict of voluntary manslaughter. Commonwelath Attorney Amos Herri- mann painted a gruesome picture of the slaying of Rehmyer and urged the jury not to be swayed by sentiment of the boy's environments. Yesterday, Blymyer, who admittedly introduced the child into the witchcraft cult, ‘tried to put on his shoulders al- most the entire blame for the murder. Boy Defendant Is Calm. The boy seemed entirely inconcerned at the gravity of the charges against him as he faced the jury men, but he ad the peremptory challenge of tness called by Herriman: was Mrs. Alice Rehmyer, the dead man’s widow, who lived in her own house and cultivated her own farm, adjoining that of _her husband. yer iate yesterday afternoon was found guilty of murder in the first de- gree for the killing of Rehmyer. The jury recommended life imprisonment after considering for slightly over an hour the evidence concerning this gro- tesque tragedy. Blymyer accepted the verdict without the slightest trace of emotion. Nothing, according to his own testimony, can affect him now that the spell which was killing him has been removed. Strange Stories Heard. Seldom has an American jury listened lips of these primitives who testified yesterday to their faith in supernatural, malevolent powers. The effort of Herbert R. Cohen, attorney for Blymyer, to prove his client insane was a failure. The defendant was his own worst wit- ness in this respect, with his story of the hallucinations which have followed him all his life. He has lived in a strange, borderland world of his own creation between the world of reality and the world of gruesome phantasies. The final verdict, it was understood, was a compromise reached after a full consideration of Blymyer's childhood environment, and after several members had stood out for the death penalty. Attorney Cohen announced that he would make a formal appeal. Blymyer Occupies Stand. Blymyer, with childlike blue eyes set deep in an infantile face, took the stand in his own defense and told with- out interruption the story of a child about whose pursery hover the grotesque figures out of the folklore of the child hood of the race It was a childish story of the phan- tasies of a child mind. Yet this country boy who had never grown up in 32 years displayed the apparent craftiness of a small boy mingling truth and false- hood to his best advantage. His testimony revealed the strong hold which this eerie witchcraft cult has obtained among a considerable number of persons in York County. In a few months before the murder he had visited six different witch doctors in the city of York, paying them from $5 to $10 each for their unsuccessful efforts to take the spell off him, he said. All told him he was bewitched. He was unable, he said, to rest, sleep or eat. First he went from medical doctor to medical doctor and was told that he was a victim of chronic melancholia. They did not help him. Fdeally he turned to the “hexers,” he said. “Hexer” Revealed to Him. They all told him some ensmy was bewitching him but were unable to locate this enemy. At last one woman “hexer” revealed to him that it was “an old gentleman down country.” For more money she crossed his hands with a dollar bill and he saw form in his open palm the features of the bearded, grotesque appearing recluse Rehmeyer, ! he told the jury. He recognized the' man who long had had an uncanny reputation among be- lievers in the witch cult, he continued. He knew Rehmeyer's valley, lonely stretch of woods and farmland about 20 miles from York, which had an unsavory reputation among the neigh- boring rustics as “witch ridden.” ‘The witch doctor told him that in or- der to break the spell, he must either get Rehmeyer’s book, “The Long Lost Friend,” or a lock of the recluse’s hair, which he must bury 8 feet underground, he said. Still he had his doubts. Five times he went back to see the witch doctor. Each time she gave him the Young Kelly volunteered from the audience to assist. The lecturer handed him a pistol and stuck another in his own Lolster. The boy shouted, “Stick ’em up!” at the same time starting to level his weapon. Limbert's right hand shot to his holster, his gun flashed, and a bullet burrowed into Kelly's knee, same advice. Then he met 14-year-old John Curry, who confided that he also was losing his appetite. He took Curry to the witch doctor, who assured the boy that Rehmyer also was bewitching him, according to his story. She charged Curry $5 for this information. Up to this time, Blymyer said, he had (Continued on Page 2, Column 4.) N old disciple of the York County’s eerie | to a stranger story than came from the | BY HECK !SS5 THIS YEAR 2 IT LOOKS LIKEL~7— THE CARDSZZV/ 4= MERN WHAT: ’ SITTING PRETTY! PAY BILHEARNGS OPENANUARY 6 Lehlbach and Four Other Measures to Be Taken Up by House Group. ‘The House civil service committee to- day decided to open hearings on Janu- ary 16 at 10:30 o'clock on the Lehl- bach relief pay bill for Government em- ployes and the four other pay measures pending before the committee, as a re- sult of the failure of tiie Welch pay bill to provide increases especially for lower salaried employes of the Govern- ment, as Congress intended. The National Federation of Federal Employes and other organizations repre- sentative of various groups of Govern- ment workers will be given the first hearing and all those who have griev- ances against the pay schedules “have been promised a hearing by Chairman Lehlbach. He explained today that the committee expects to receive ex- pert testimony from the Personnel Clas- sification Board, the Budget Bureau, the Controller General, and similar Government agencies. Lawyers Want to Be Heard. He has also been advised that the lawyers in the various departments who are organized as the Federal Bar Asso- ciation desire to be heard in regard to i the way in which they will be affected by section 1 of the Lehlbach bill. Chair- man Lehlbach expects a sufficient num- ber of representatives of organizations and individuals desiring to be heard to occupy the time of the committee for several days. In addition vo the Lehlbach bill there are four other measures which will be considered at these hearings, one intro- wced by Representative Cellar, which is a companion bill to the Brookhart measure in the Senate; two, introduced by Representative Sirovich of New York, ‘;mlkone by Representative Fish of New vork. No Retroactive Clause. ‘The Lehlbach bill provides for two step-ups in the fourth class, and none m the fifth, sixth and seventh. It car- ries no retroactive clause, except where the benefits under the Welch pay act were deferred a month or two later than July 1 by administrative delinquency. ‘The Lehlbach bill also provides for the field service employes. Its principal feature is to_entrust the Personnel Classification Board with reallocation of salaries and withdraws any such jurisdiction from the Controller Gen- eral. The Brookhart-Celler bill is for a uniform two step-ups for those who did not get such increase under the Welch pay bill, and carries a retroac- tive clause. ‘The Fish bill is for a minimum wage of $1,200 for all Government employes. ‘The Sirovich bills are somewhat dif- ferent in phraseology, but the main feature is a flat increase of about $300 for employes in the lower salary grades with lesser increases as the salaries in the higher grades grow larger. KILLER PLEADS INSANITY. Defense Begins Case in Trial of Confessed:Slayer of Boy. JERSEY CITY, N. J, January 10 () —Pleading “intermittent insanity,” the defense today began its case in the trial of Peter Kudzinowski, con- fessed slayer of 7-year-old Joseph Sotrelli of New York's East Side. While in a cell in a Detroit prison, charged with drunkenness, Kudzinow- ski made a confession which led to the finding of the Storelli boy's body in the meadows near Secaucus. He also confessed the slayings of Julia Mlozianowska, 6, at Lake Hopatcong, last Summer, and Harry Quinn, 20, near Scranton, Pa., in 1924. —_ .. STUDY MEETING DATE. GENEVA, January 10 (#).—Officials of the League of Natlons are arranging the date of the first meeting of the committee of jurists, which will study revision of the statutes of the World | iMysterious Hand Turns on Gas Burners To Stove in Friendship House Building Court. Most of the jurists on the com- mittee prefer that the first meeting be held in March, after the session of the League Council. The decision of Elthu Root, noted American jurist, to serve on this com- mittee has created great satisfaction in League circles. American Robbed in Germany. HANOVER, Germany, January 10 (#).—Johann Thiemann, a hotel pro- prietor of Washington, had his pocket picked at the railway station of Ameri- can checks and cash amounting to $870. Mr. and Mrs. Thiemann'’s passports and return steamer tickets were also stolen. The city directory and records of the Hotel Men's Association fail to identify iv’:lm-m Theimann as a hotel proprietor Man Who Operated Cars 14 Years Sans License Fined $50 John Davis, colored, who told police he had been working for ihe District government 14 years and driving a truck “off and on” during that time, today pleaded guilty to operating without a per- mit and reckless driving before Judge Isaac R. Hitt in Traffic Court. He was assessed fines totaling $50. Traffic Bureau records disclosed Davis never had a permit. The man told the court he had tried to get one but failed to pass the examination. He was arrested following a collision with a taxicab at Con- necticut avenue and Calvert street Saturday afternoon. MOSES SEEKS VOTE ON TREATY SOON Borah Tells Him He Would Be Glad to Consider Agreement. By the Associated Press. An understanding for an early vote on the Kellogg anti-war treaty was asked in the Senate today by Senator | Moses, Republican, New Hampshire, who has led the fight for an interpretative resolution to accompany ratification of the pact. In an effort to speed up debate the Senate met an hour earlier today, and an immediate vote appeared imminent on Senator Moses' suggestion, but it was deferred when Senator Barkley, Democrat, of Kentucky, asked to deliver the speech he had prepared. He in- dorsed the treaty, but expressed dis- appointment that Secretary Kellogg had not said “just a little more” in ex- planation of the position America takes in adhering to the pact. The move for settlement of the dif- ference of opinion among Senators, heretofore handled in off-the-floor con- ferences, was broached openly in the Senate when debate on the pact began to lag. Chairman Borah of the foreign rela- ticns committee, who is sponsoring the treaty, replied that he would be glad to consider the suggestion of Senator Moses for an agreement. Thus far Borah has steadfastly rejected all proposals for a comapromise on an interpretation of the pact and on Tuesday night broke off all \negotiations to that end. Fending renewal of the negotiations proposed by Senator Moses the Senate went abead with debate, Barkley taking the floor. At the outset Borah assured Senator Reed, Republican, Pennsylva- nia, that he did not consider that the treaty would preclude “any nation from king any readjustment of its bound- aries so long as it is undertaken by neaceful methods.” Pushes Interpretation Fight. Senator Blaine, Republican, Wiscon- sin, yesterday carried on the drive for an interpretation of the pact. He put { forward his resolution to declare it the sense of the Senate that the note of Great Britain reserving the right to defend her territories should not be considered as a reservation to the | treaty. After a lengthy argument by the | Wisconsin Senator, Senators Walsh of | Massachusetts and McKellar of Ten- ! nessee, Democratis, swelled the total of Democratic support for the pact. Walsh indorsed the treaty as “a forward step | toward* world peace, but whether a large step or a tiny step the future wilk disclose.” | Senator Blaine argued that the treaty | “commits our Nation to an impossible {peace, unworthy of the traditions of {America, and forgetful of that which | made this republic possible.” { “I have no doubt,” he said, “but that the Senators who are supporting the big Navy program will vote for this treaty. I am not surprised that many of those voting for this treaty justify | solution would FAR PROBLENS TOLD T0 HODVE Nationa! Grange Committee Finds President-Elect Hope- ful of Early Legislation. BY G. GOULD LINCOLN. The executive committee of the Na- ilonal Grange, headed by L. J. Taber, national master, today discussed with President-elect Hcover the agricultural problem. The National Grange has gone on record in favor of a special session of Congress next Spring to deal with the farm problem, unless a compre- hensive program of farm legislation can be passed at the present short ses- sion of Congress, Mr. Tabor said after the committee's conference with Mr. Hoover that they had called to pay their respects to the | tha President-elect, to wish him a success- ful administration and success in dea ing with the farm problem. The Na- tional Grange, with 800,000 members, Mr. Taber said, believes there must be revision of the tariff in the interests of the farmer and a sound land policy. He said he believed Mr. Hoover was very sympathetic and anxious for a proper solution of the farm problem. Mr. Taber said he himself believed such a be found within the next year. Will Receive Envoys Today. Accompanying Mr. Taber were Lester R. Smith of Boston, Eugene Eckert of Illinois and Albert S. Goss of Seattle. This afternoon Mr. Hoover will receive visits of the Chilean Ambassador and the Minister of Uruguay. Other callers will include Representative Hawley, chairman of the House ways and mearis committee, and Representative Tread- way of Massachusetts, a member of the same committee. It is presumed they will inform Mr. Hoover regarding their plans for tariff revision. The committee now is holding hearings on the tariff schedules, in preparation for a bill to be submitted to the new Congress. Engagements have been made for Mr. Hoover through Monday. It now is expected that Mr. Hoover will leave ‘Washington for Florida by the middle of next week. ) Slemp Not Seeking Office. C. Bascom Slemp, Republican nation- al committeeman from Virginia and former member of the House, after a visit to Mr. Hoover today said he hoped the Republican organization in the Old Dominion would be kept intact and that it would be possible to elect a Republican governcr there Mr. Slemp, whose name has been recommended to Mr. Hoover for ap- pointment to the cabinet as Secretary of the Interior by Representative-clect Schafer of the ninth Virginia district, insisted he was not a candidate for public_office. He said he had called upon Mr. Hoover to pay his respects and discuss the political situation. Mr. Slemp expressed the hope, however, that a Southerner would be arpointed to Mr. Hoover’s cabinet. Mr. Slemp, a power in the Republican organization in the Soutk for many years, was a strong supporter of Mr. Hoover for the presidential nomination and played an important part in the campaign. Recommendation for cabinet appoint- ment was made to Mr. Hoover today by Senator Gillett of Massachusetts, who declined to say whose name he had advanced. Senator Gillett, who favors & prompt revision of the tariff, did not indicate, nowever, whether he had urged upon Mr. Hoover the need of a special session this Spring to deal with tariff revision. George W. Laughlin, legislative repre- sentative of the Brotherhood of Loco- motive Engineers, who called upon Mr. Hoover, said afterward his organiza- tion had a candidate for the cabinet, presumably for Secretary of Labor, but did not reveal the name of the man he had proposed. W. N. Doak, vice presi- dent of the Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen, however, has been prom- | ~(Continued on Page 2, Column 6.) (Continued on Page 2, Column 2.) Police are carrying on an investiga- tion to solve the mystery of who turned on six gas burners to a stove in the buildings of Friendship House, 326 Vir- ginia avenue southeast several hours before dawn this morning after appar- ently having gained entrance to the building through a rear window. ‘The affair was reported by Miss Lydia A. H. Burklin, head resident of Friend- | ship House, who sleeps in the building with several of her young women assist- ants. She declined today to reveal the names of the latter. “We don’t know any more about it than is on the book,” I £ declared the officers of No. 5 precinct, while Capt. W. E. Sanford, after a long interview with Miss Burklin shortly be- fore noon today said he did not have a clue. Miss Burklin, Capt. Sanford said, says she does not suspect any particular | party. she has g to say” and stated that per- haps “it would have been better” if sh> had not rted it to police. Friendship House, widely known as the settlement house of Southeast Washington, has long been active in! welfare work in that section. A FARE. GUARANTEE FOR 2 YEARS HIT BY TRACTION LINES Merger Demands by Senate Group Accepted Only in Part by Companies. VALUATION QUESTION BECOMES MINOR FACTOR Capital Company Head Reports $620,405 Total Net Income for 1928—Decline Shown. Apparently defeated in their efforts to get congressional approval of a merger agreement with a fixed $50,000,- 000 valuation, representatives of the transit companies are conferring among themselves today to determine whether to accept the terms of unification laid down by the Senate subcommittee or whether to seek a compromise with the committee’s special envoy, Dr. Milo R. Maltbie, The transportation officials most vehemently deny reports they have agreed to accept the committee’s terms in toto, and point out that further con- ferences with Dr. Maltbie, at which he will be asked to shed more light on the committee’s wishes, will be necessary before they take any definite action to revise the merger pact. Dr. Maltbie was in session with the traction com- | pany representatives until nearly mid- Inlght last night, and left immediately | for New York. He is expected to re- |t;u'n tomorrow and resume the discus- { sion, Fare Question Important. Although no issues are said to have | developed at the initial conference, the tracticn officials, it was explained, made { it clear that they are in no way bound by the action of the committee and will insist on certain legal rights to which they claim they are entitled. The fixed valuation, which has long been the stumbling block in the merger negotiations, no longer seems to be the most important factor. The traction representatives feel confident that the question of valuation can be taken care of in another way, should they decide to abide by the committee’s resolu- tion and remove it. It has been re- placed, however, by another factor, which is considered far more serious ! by the transit officials—the principle laid down that the rate of fare should remain-unchanged pending a new valu- ation, to be completed in not later than two years. The merger agreement in its present form provides that the existing rate of fare shall continue for one year after consummation of the unification, and the traction representatives seem ree m"t";:rm to agree to an extension of The transit companies are willing to risk the uncertainties of one ye' K operation on the existing rate of fare, it was sald, but two years is just 12 months too long, for in’ that time many unforeseen developments could occur which might drain the operating income of the consolidated company. Stockholders’ Approval in Doubt. Another development which has come out of the comml‘:tce‘s refusal to accept she merger agreement as now written is the question whether the stockhold- ers of the Capital Traction and Wash- ington Railway & Electric companies would have to approve the changes made in the original contract. This is a legal question which is to be settled within the next few days. The board of directors of the two companies, acting for the stockholders, approved the o 1 plan of merger, m lherl; ’:e a sulrx:ng u!:ellef that they wou requires changes. & e Such action by the stockholders would work to delay congressional action on the revised agreement, it was said, unless a clause could be written into the joint resolution of Congress au- thorizing the merger to make a condi- tion for subsequent approval of the *“The stockhold e s olders of the Capital Trac- tion Co. held their annual nll’eetlng to- day, but consideration was not given the developments in the merger nego- thél:.nl.:_.';c Wwas announced. an Capper of the Senate sub- committee said that from what he l'::d learned some headway was made in %:h m!x}llfeer:nces wl:i‘c"t‘: Dr. Maltbie had rese pagks. apresentatives of the com- enator Capper explained th: Maltbie’s trip to N:V’; York b:l’ee 13‘:') relation to the local merger situation. The subcommittee decided against having any fixed valuation provided for in the merger legislation, recommending that the value be determined by a com- plete revaluation of the properties, to be completed within two years. It also recommended that rates of fare remain undisturbed pending the revaluation, except that universal free transfers be- tween car lines be made effective im- mediately following the merger. It was further provided that the Public Utili- ties Commission should employ =Dr. Maltbie to supervise the revaluation. Vandenburg Sees Wilson. mlme resolutludn wr;lech the subcom- e approved yesterday embodys these principles was offered by Semi:'éf Vandenburg, Republican, of Michigan, Several days ago Harley P. Wilson had a conference with Senator Vandenburg. It is not known whether the particular phases of the merger plan acted upon by the subcommittee yesterday were gone over at that time. Following his conference with Mr. Wilson last Satur- day, however, Senator Vandenburg said he saw no insurmountable reason why :ux;zerger agreement could not be worked Mr. Wilson conferred with Senator Vandenburg at that time in order to go over a memorandum which the Sen- ator from Michigan previously had sub- mitted to the Senate subcommittee out- lining his views regarding the basis for the merger. This memorandum- had been turned over to the traction representatives for comment. Senator Blaine, Republican, of Wis- consin, a member of the subcommittee, is considering whether to propose some legislation that would define the meth- ods of valuation to be followed by the Utilities Commission. He said today, however, that he is waiting for the outcome of the conferences between Dr Maltbie and the representatives of the traction companies before determininy upon his course of action. Senato Blaine sald he favors valuations base on the amount prudently invested p!: additions and less depreciation. Senator Capper will call anotha meeting of the subcommif as Dr. Maltbie has definite word to re- port from the negotiations. R — Radio Programs—Page 36 2