Evening Star Newspaper, August 16, 1929, Page 2

s b MERGER FAILURE LAID T0 CLAYTON ‘Accusation Is Made by Hanna During Long Cross- Examination. (Continued From First Page.) Co. had matle any trackage changes in the last 10 or 12 years, to which Mr. Hanna replied that the company had made a number of improvements in that respect. Says Curves More Expensive. “Does a large number of curves add to the expense of operation?” asked Mr. Clayton. Mr, Hanna answered in the affirma- tive, saying that curves in tracks cost more in the first place, caused more wear, used more power and were gen- erally more expensive to maintain. Mr. | Clayton then referred to the tracks in the vicinity of Fourteenth street| and New York avenue, where there are | a large number of turns, and asked; whether the Capital Traction Co. had ever considered making any changes there, ‘When Mr. Hanna admitted that the question of changing tracks in that vi- cmity had been considered, Mr. Clay- ton asked: down Fourteenth street to Pennsylvania avenue over the tracks now used by the ‘Washington Railway and Electric Co. be _desirable?” 4, Mr. Hanna said such a change might be an improvement under a unification of the street car properties, but that it would mnot be helpful under separate operation. About 50 per cent of the passengers coming south on Fourteenth street go westward at Fifteenth street, Mr. Hanna declared, and he therefore held that it would not be beneficial to reroute the Capital Traction Co. cars down Four- teenth street to Pennsylvania avenue. He thought that would add to the con- gestion in the busy part of the city, es- pecially since the traffic on the Wash- ington Railway & Electric tracks be- tween New York avenue and Pennsyl- vania avenue, and especially between New York avenue and F street, is now very heavy. Not Prepared for Changes. Referring to Mr. Hanna's statement that possible changes in tracks had been considered, Mr. Clayton asked: “Is your company now prepared to make any cha o 1t is not,” replied Mr. Hanna. “Would you make them if the com- panies were merged?” asked Mr. Clay- on i “Yes answered Mr. Hanna. “Then| changes could be made that would un- doubtedly be an improvement.”. “Do you believe a merger will take place?” asked Mr. Clayton. “If it had not been for you, unifica- tion would not have been held up for such a long time,” sharply rejoined Mr. Hanna. B “Then it is up to me to make good, snapped back Mr. Clayton. Just when it looked as if the attorney for the Federation of Citizens’ Associa- | tion and the Capital Traction chief were on the point of getting into a bit- ter controversy over the merger ques- tion, Commissioner Hartman interfered. srdering that Mr. Hanna's statement ‘bout Mr. Clayton having held up the aerger plan be stricken from the record. | Mr. Clayton next asked why. when he Washington Rapid, Transit Bus Co. asked for a 10-cent fare, the Capital Traction Co. did t intervene. Mr. ‘Hanna replied that bus traffic and street car traffic were not the same thing. Quizzed on Effect of Rates. Questioned about the effect of differ-| ent rates of fare on the two street car| lines, Mr. Hanna said: “We have/| taken the position that street car fares should be uniform. If they were not, one line would suffer financially because t received a less fare, and the other ine would suffer because of inability to :ake care of the increased traffic. The| net result would be that the public ‘would suffer.” Mr. Clayton wanted to know what the Capital Traction Co. would do, for in- stance, if the Washington Railway & Electric Co. had its fares reduced. “You stand for uniform fares,” de- clared Mr. Clayton. “Would you ask to have your fares cut if those of the other company were cut?” “No,” answered Mr. Hanna promptly. | “Then it works only one way—in the | case of fare increases, doesn’t it?” de- manded Mr. Clayton. “Aren't we getting away from facts and into an argument?” interjected Commissioner Hartman. “Yes, we are,” admitted Mr. Clayton. Continuing his testimony Mr, Hanna said that ever since 1925 sums of money had been taken out of surplus and added to earnings to meet the 7 per cent dividends paid since 1924. The sums taken out, he said, were 1925, $51.534; 1026, $37,137; 1927, $132,546, and 1928, $219,594. In 1924, he said, the company earned more than a 7 per cent dividend on its stock by $15,783. Dunlop Objects to Questions. Mr. Hanna said that the 7 per cent dividend had been continued until the quarterly payment made on July 1, but declined to prophesy whether any reduction would be made in the future. Mr. Dunlop objected to questions by Mr. Clayton on this line, but Mr. Clayton sald that there was another method of supplying funds for the company than an increase in the carfare, and that he was endeavoring to show that the difference between the dividend earned and the dividend paid had been made up from surplus. He then sought to learn what the results would have been if during the years in question divi- dends of less than 7 per cent had been paid, but Commissioner Hartman ruled that this could be learned from simple arithmetical computation based on figures already in the record and over- ruled the objection. ~Is your financial condition sound?” asked Mr. Clayton. “Yes. | 1 “Do you have knowledge of any com- pany paying 7 per cent on its stock?” “I have no knowledge whether there * are or not. “This could not of itself be taken as) an indication of their financial sound- ness.” “Does the dividends the company pays influence its value?” ess “Do_you contemplate at this time any further issuance of stocks or bonds?” “Is there an immediate need for money for refinancing your company?” Asked About Basis for Increase. “It isn't on that basis that we are asking for it.” “On what basis are you asking for an increase in fare?” “On the basis that we are not earn- in% a reasonable return upén our fair value.” “Was there any agreement between you and the Washington Railway & Elictraic Co. before you filed this pe- tition?” “We advised them of what we intend- ed to do, but had no knowledge of what they intended.” Mr. Clayton's following question then developed the fact that in December, 1926, the company, with the approval of the commission, had put into effect a change in the lines and rates calculating their depreciation reserve, retroactive to January, 1926, and that the result of this was to take $60,000 approximately out of the depreciation reserves and place it into earnings, and that if this had not been done. the amount taken out of surplus in 1926 would have been approximately $97,000 instead of approximately $37,000, as was actually done. “Would it be correct to say that the dividends in that year were paid indi- “Would rerouting your cars |= THE EVENING SAFER AND FASTER FLYING PREDICTED BY LINDBERGH \ Colonel Foresees Great Strides in Aviation in Next Five Years, With Expan- sion of Lines. BY RALPH L. PETERS. Written Exclusively for The Star and the North American Newspaper Alliance. DETROIT, Mich., August 16.—Aviation’s next five years will be even greater than the last five, which have been banner years, Col. Charles A. Lindbergh said % i here yesterday in an interview that cov- ered aviation’s past achievements, its pre§- ent status and its future. He made this statement, he said, with- out desiring to detract from the accom- plishments already attained and disclaim- ing any desire to appear as a prophet. His views were expressed at the home of his bergh, mother, Mrs. Evangeline L. Lind- in a frank, comprehensive manner, underlaid with the quiet, but forceful re- gard he holds for his calling, the naviga- tion of the skies. “Much more lies ahead for aviation than has appeared in the past,” Col. Lindbergh said earnestly. “Looking at aviation from that standpoint, it is just emerging from infancy, although much has been accomplished already. The next Col. Lindbergh, ments rectly out of depreciation?” Mr. Clay- ton asked. “No, it would not,” Mr. Hanna re- plied. In answer to further questions, Mr. Hanna next said that the Capital Trac- tion Co. has not yet applied for an in- crease in the fares charged for its Maryland operation, but that the com- pany had such a request in contempla= tion, particularly with reference to the Kensington line. He said the company had an informal understanding with the Maryland Public Service Commission that it should receive fares on the Kensington line enough to allow it to | meet operating expenses, and tha® the company is not now even making oper- ating expenses on this line. Queried on New Benefits. “If the commission should grant the increased fare you ask, what benefits would the car riders derive which they do not now enjoy?” asked Mr. Clayton. “They would have the satisfaction of knowing that they were paying the proper price for the service they re- ceived,” replied Mr. Hanna. “Anything else?” insisted Mr. Clayton. “Are you asking what improvements we would make?” Mr. Hanna asked. “If so, I would rather you asked a direct question.” “Would you grant lower fares for school children?” queried Mr. Clayton. “No,” replied Mr. Hanna, “that would | be a matter for the commission to de- termine.” “Haven't you always resisted it?” in- | sisted Mr. Clayton. » “We have always taken the position that the commission should determine matters of this sort, bearing in mind the effect that reduced rates for school children would have upon the general rate of fare and the service rendered,” declared Mr. Hanna, “I don't person- | ally think reduced rates for school children would seriously affect our in- come, but, of course, it would have some effect.” Mr. Clayton wanted to know whether reduced fares would not result in an increased number of children riding on the cars, and therefore increase the in- come in the long run. Mr. Hanna said that in other cities with a reduced school fare it had been found that the number of such children riding was only about 3 per cent of the whole num- ber of riders, and therefore he did not think the income of the company wouid be increased in that way. “Then you are not willing to take that chance?” Clayton declared. “I prefer to let the commission de- cide that?” Mr. Hanna replied. Objects to Question. Commissioner Hartman asked Mr. Hanna why the Capital Traction Co. | had requested a rate of return higher than the maximum which the steam railways get under the act of 1920. This rate is 6 per cent. Counsel for the company+at once objected to this question on the ground that the opera- tion of street railways and steam rail-| ways was different. “Is there any reason why ctreet rail- | ways should receive a higher rate of | return than Mr. Hartman. Again counsel objected, and Commis- sioner Hartman conferred with Com- | missioner Ladue, after which he an- nounced that the witness would be re- quired to answer the question, and later when Chairman Patrick was present, the objection would be considered, and the answer ruled out of the record in case the objection should be sustained. Mr. Hanna then said that he could not answer the question, so far as a comparison With steam railways was concerned, because he was not familiar with that subject, but he could state why the Capital Traction Co. should | in be permitted to earn a minimum of 7 per cent. “The rate of return necessary to con- duct-the public utility,” explained Mr. Hanna, “‘depends largely on the rate it has to pay for borrowed money to ex- pand its business. Credit depends on earnings and their ratio to capital stock and value. A return of less than 7 per cent on value would impair the abil- ity of the company to borrow money on favorable terms. “Our 5 per cent bonds are selling considerably below par, although they represent only one-third of our capital- ization. Our stock is also below par, although paying 7 per cent dividend, all of which, however, it does not earn. I would like to point out.that not- withstanding .all this our estimate of return under the proposed rate of fare would be less than 5 per cent.” J. E. Heberle, chief statistician of the Capital Traction Co., who has prepared most of the statistical exhibits being used in the case, took a three-day va- cation, after the session yesterday. The burden of the hearings has fallen heav- ily upon Mr. Heberle’s shoulders, as he was asked a barrage of questions on financial matters that took exhaustive research of old company records lo answer. Everybody present at the hear- ing yesterday, including members of the commission, appreciating his work, wished him good luck. Ralph B. Fleharty, people’s counsel, in the course of his brief cross-examina- tion of John H. Hanna, president of the Capital Traction Co., yesterday afterpoon questioned him about the “going value” of the company allowed n the valuation. Mr. Hanna admitted that if the company could not earn a “fair return” by means of higher fares a change in conditions would one remedy. He shied away, however, from an answer that might have been con- strued as approval of the proposed uni- fication agreement. Mr. Hanna said many things might be done tc bring-about changed conditions. “A subsidy might be deemed wise and necessary,” sald the witness. “In Se- attle there is a considerable sum turn- ed over to the street car company by way of taxes. In Boston, there is a considerable sum contributed by the city in cash to make up the earnings which the street railway company should have.” Street cars are a necessity, Mr. Hanna held, and if they are operated by pri- vate capital, then private capital must be reasonably compensated. When Mr. in | Fleharty tried to pin the witness down to a statement regarding the worth of the street car service to the public, Mr. Hanna said: “The service is worth what is costs urti] euch tme as the public won't pay for it.” It was conceivable, Mr. Hanna, ex- plained, that fares might be increased beyond what the service was worth, but he held that such a point would be “far in excess” of the increase now asked by the company. ¥ steam railways?” asked | few years will see much greater develop- that has the past. Experimental “I expect to see heavier-than-air lines between North America and Europe within the next five years,” he contin- ued. “Aviation in the next few years will take its place as an accomplished mode of transportation. No one will think twice about taking a plane. It will be a part of every-day life. Any spectacular phase will be gone from commercial aviation. Predicts Faster Planes. “Reliable transportation. companies using multi-motored equipment are |operating with greater safety than | railroads,” said the colonel. Col. Lindbergh was asked what he considered some of the more important needs of aviation that will be met in | the future. He thoughtfully surveyed the long, lean hands that have played such an important part in air trans- portation before replying. “There will be a development of larger transports and faster planes. ‘There will be a develooment of more efficient airplane motors and the de- velopment of planes requiring less skill for safe operation. This will benefit the individual owner particularly. Such cafety features are nmow being brought out by the Guggenheim safe aircraft competition, sponsored by the Daniel Guggenheim Fund for the Promotion {of Aviation. “There is more flying by private in- dividuals in the United States at pr ent than in the rest of the world com- bined.” Col. Lindbergh was asked how he re- garded the present position of the United States in regard to aviation. “Generally speaking,” the colonel said, “the United States leads in avia- tion, but in certain developments. such as large flying boats, Europe holds the lead. 1t is only natural that Europe | should have the lead in certain devel- | opments. The United States is leading | the other countries in the number of | miles flown and freight carried and in- 1 d{cauom point to the retention of that place.” Col. Lindbergh stressed anew the im- portance of the marking of towns and cities so that an aviator can get his | bearings. He pointed out that while much has been done along this line since three years ago when he was fly- ing the air mail routes, many towns are still unmarked. Marking Is Held Vital. “The marking of towns and cities is | of the greatest assistance to the trained pilot and is a necessity when the ama- | teur pilot is concerned. It makes it | much simpler to fly,” he added. | _In commenting on the growing chain ot airports being extended North and South, East and West, he said every im- | portant city in the country either has | or is constructing an airport. “The time will come,” he continued, ‘when the town without an airport will in the same position as’the town without railroad connections has been. Col. Lindbergh views altitude ai work indicates that. | tempts and endurance flights, when conducted for the purposes of sclentific | experiment and the testing and demon- strating of new equipment, anything but stunts. He also expressed warm admi- ration for pilots carrying on such pio- neer flights for definite scientific pur- poses. “Altitude flights have a definite bear- ing on the future of commercial avi- ation,” he explained. “Their findings have to do with the possibility of greater efficiency, the getting away from storm areas and the operation of planes at a higher speed. _,"Such attempts cannot be classed as stunts, and neither can endurance flights for the testing and demonstrat- g of new equipment. Refueling will find its place in commercial aviation in the near future.” The fiyer declared he saw no com- petition at present between lighter- than-air and heavier-than-air crafts. “Lighter-than-air craft should be given every opportunity to develop. Recent flights have demonstrated great possibilities. The next step is the es- tablishing of a commercial route to en- able the obtaining of data on perform- ance and cost of operation.” Commenting on the expansion of air lines in this country and between the United States and other countries, Col. Lindbergh said the Transcontinental Air Transport, of which he is technical advisor, and the Pennsylvania Rail- road are preparing’'to open this Winter or next Spring a business day-and-two- night service between New York and California. Planes Promote Good Will Passengers will travel to Columbus by train and then board a plane, with sleegin% accommodations, for the flights to the Pacific Coast. It will be possible to leave New York at 6 a.m. Saturday and arrive in Los Angeles or San Fran- cisoc about 9 a.m, Monday. Several hundred miles of this airway already ;edliahted for night flying, the colonel Air lines between the United States and South and Central America have just started to develop, he continued. ‘The existing and additional air lines will do much in bringing closer contact between the countries of South and Central America and the United States and will do for the undeveloped parts of South America what the railroads did for the undeveloped parts of the United States, he added. Col. Lindbergh, in amplifying this, pointed “out that in parts of South America where there is no rail trans- portation, air-transportation saves from gehgny to one week for each hour of g When asked to comment on the re- cent work he had done in connection with the locating of ruins of ancient civilization in New Mexico and Arizona, Col. Lindbergh said he and Mrs. Lind- bergh, the former Anne w, had been working in conjunction with the Carnegie Institute in an attempt to demonstrate that the airplane could be used to a very definite advantage in archeological exploration., It will take some time to determine the result and value of the flights, he said. Minutes had passed swiftly by while Col. Lind| h talked, now with a smile and now with serious mien. He had been talking “ " ml;l b;enu;dl nx;ld concluded the intervi saying he is_in Detroit to confer with Ford officials. ; (Copyright, 1929, by North American News- Daper Alliance.) 1t is estimated that the British Board Smrioan Souet ok Noveunoer, of the erican . lovem! 'y Vestris with 112 lives, will cost $150,000. STAR, WASHINGTON, D.C.VOTEIS AIM HOOVER TO LEAVE OF WAR VETERANG FOR GAMP TODAY V. F. W. Delegates Will Enlist| Meets With Cabinet and National Membership at St. Paul Convention. ‘Washington Veterans of Foreign Wars will enlist the entire national member- ship of their organization in the fight to gain national representation for the District of Columbia at the annual en- | campment of the veterans which opens in St. Paul, Minn., Monday, August 26, it was announced today by Harvey L. Miller, department commander for the District. Determined bids also will be made by the 100 District war veterans who will attend the annual encampment, to ob- tain the backing of the national organ- izetion for legalized boxing in the Dis- trict and to bring the 1930 V. F. W. encampment to the District. To Take Up Representation. Following a conference today with Jesce C. Suter, vice chairman of the citizens’ joint committee for national representation, Miller announced that he and his delegation of Washington veterans from the seven posts which comprise the department of the Dis- trict, will, take up the matter of na- tional representation for the District with representatives of posts in every State in the Union, and will distribute joint committee literature telling the facts in the case of the voteless District residents. ‘They will seek not only the backing of the convention by resolution, but wili engage in a convention-wide campaign to have the veteran constituents of every Representative and Senator in Congress make personal pleas to their Repre- sentative in behalf of representation for the District. It has been our policy in the District department to keep entirely out of poli- tics, but this matter of votes for the veterans of the District, and our cam- paign for legalized boxing here make it necessary for us to seek the aid of the other State departments,” Miller de- clared. Comradeship, Appeal Basls. “Helpful comradeship is the basis upon which the appeals for help of the national organization in obtaining rep- resentation for the District and boxing legislation will be made, Miller states. “‘We are going to St. Paul prepared to buttonhole the most influential V. F. W. members in each State and impress them with the plight of the District, so that they will get behind their Repre- sentatives and Senators and get some action up on Capitol Hill,” he declared. ‘The Washington delegation expects a stiff fight in its efforts to obtain for Washington the 1930 encampment of the V. F. W. Other large cities are pre- pared, it is reported, to offer large cash funds for entertainment to secure the convention, as St. Paul has done to get the encampment this year. ‘The Washington delegation will leave ‘Washington the evening of Saturday, August 24, and will return Sunday, Sep- tember 1. e OVERTURE IS MADE TO AVERT CRISIS IN DEBT CONFERENCE had deepened the gloom overhanging the headquarters of the various dele- gations this morning, although it was hoped the last minute-efforts might be of avail. The German dels ularly perturbed by what the status o the Rhineland evacuation will be shoul ihere be a fallure to settle the finan- cial question. Insists on Vote. 1t seemed likely the crisis would be reached when the financial committee takes a vote on a resolution offered by Mr. Snowden last week, proposing creation of a subcommittee to arrange | revision of the Young plan. Mr. Snow- den has indicated he will insist upon an immediate vote on his resolution. Its rejection seemed inevitable and with rejection it did not appear pos- sible Mr. Snowden and his British col- leagues could remain here longer, since the British chancellor has said that further participation in the conference could be conditioned only upon ac- ceptance of his motion. ‘There was much speculation as to the consequences of withdrawal of the British and subsequent breakdown of the negotiations seeking to substitute the Young plan for the Dawes plan and to liquidate some of the final prob- lems of the World War. Several possibilities have been dis- cussed—separate agreements between the creditor nations, excepting Grecat Britain and Germany, on the matter of reparations, and, as a trading point, evacuation of the Rhineland; mere ad- Journment to meet again at Geneva in September when the Assembly of the League of Natlons convenes, or a call for another conference a few weeks hence. Meanwhile, of course, the tentative agreement which had been reached on evacuation of the Rhineland probably will be voided, the Dawes plan, about to die a natural death, will be con- tinued in operation, and other develop- ments soothing to the peace of Europe which had been counted upon will be withheld. FRANCE FEARS BREAKDOWN. Sees Difficulties Ahead If Britain Per- sists in Demand. PARIS, August 16 (#).—Authorita- tive circles here today viewed the pos- sible breakdown of the Hague confer- ence as a_ deplorable outcome of the meeting which was called to make a final settlement of World War problems. If Philip Snowden, British chancellor of the exchequer, insists at the meeting of the financial committee tomorrow morning upon reconsideration of the Young plan, French spokesmen affirm that other countries, including France, will veto such a project, thus leading to suspension of the conference. Offer Compromise. 1In Paris it is pointed out that France and other countries, like Italy, Belgium and Japan, have, in a spirit of comg;o- d:y mise and conciliation, agreed to sal a considerable measure of British sires in connection with the annuities under the Young plan. A system: has been evolved whereby three-quarters of the amount Britain demands as pay- ment would be forthcoming to England. If Snowden insists upon altering the ‘Young plan, which the American finan- cler and his committee of experts per- fected after weeks of study in Paris, France and other nations will decisive- 1y assert their opposition. Believed in Plan. 1t is pointed out that Premier Briand and ex-Premier Poincare pleaded with the French Parliament to ratify debt agreements with the United States and Great Britain upon the assumption that the Young plan would be accepted by all governments, and thus France would have revenue with which to meet ol tions to the United States and Great Britain. ‘The opinion is expressed here that should France consent to revision of the Young plan the new Briand cabi- net .would encounter a stornr of oppo sition in the French Parliament that would dize the life of the minis- try and throw open to renewed discus- slon the whole &roh!em of payment of French war debts to the United States. ion was partic- | | Foundation upon his arrival on the s {HARLAND PROPOSES B €, Budget Heads, but Makes ‘No Other Engagements. With the view to getting as much work done as possible before 3 o'clock this afternoon, when he expects to, leave the White House to spend the week end at his retreat in the Vir- ginia mountains, President Hoover to- day made virtually no engagements. He met with his cabinet, as is his custom each Friday morning, and with Col. James C. Roop, who yesterday as- sumed the duties of the Director of the Budget, and R. C. Kloeber, assistant director, who has been acting head of the budget since Brig. Gen. Lord's re- tirement, May 31 last. Writes Madison Speech. ‘Toward noon the President took time from his labors to scribble off the speech he is to make tomorrow at the fair grounds in Madison Court House, Va., where a celebration is to be staged in 'his honor to express the apprecia- tion &f the citizens of that section of the President’s selection of that part of the country for his Summer play- | ground and resting place, | ‘The President will take quite a large | company of friends with him to his mountain retreat. Mrs, Hoover and | Allan Hoover, the younger of the two Hoover boys, are still at the camp. Those who will accompany the Presi- dent today are Henry P. Fletcher, Am- bassador to Rome, who has recently re- turned to the United States prepargtory to his retiring from the foreign service; Commodore Ernest Lee Jahncke, Assist- ant Secretary of the Navy; Willlam P. MacCracken, Assistant Secretary of Commerce, in charge of aeronautics, and Mrs. McCracken; Capt. Allan Buchanan, chief naval aid to the Presi- dent, and Mrs. Buchanan; Represent- ative Franklin Fort of New Jersey, James Logan of New York, an oid | friend of the President, who was asso- clated with him in European relief work during and following the war, and Lawrence Richey and George Akerson, two of the President’s secretaries, and Lieut. Comdr. Joel T. Boone, White House physician. Herbert Hoover, jr., and his wife, who have been with the President and Mrs. Hoover on several of the week end outings, are in New York and will be unable to join the party this week end. Party Going to Madison. ‘The President plans to reach the camp ‘before dark tonight. He and the members of his party will leave the camp tomorrow morning to in time for the commencement of the celebra- tion in. Madison, about 15 miles away, at 11:30 o'clock. The President has been advised that the ceremonies will be over within half an hour, which will make it possible for him and his party to be back at the camp in time for the midday dinner. During the afternoon tomorrow it is expected that the President will, as has been his weekly custom, round up the ablebodied members of his party and | put them to work helping him build another dam in one of the streams near the camp. This work consists prlnci-i pally of lugging huge bowlders and | stones and other things used in this form of crude dam construction. He does his share of the lugging, too, but he also acts as chief engineer and prin- cipal architeet. All of the spare moments of the guests will not be taken up in this fashion, however. There will be sufi- cient lulls in the dam building to allow indulgence in other forms of recrea- tion and sport. There will be horseback | riding, hiking over the trails and along the creeks and horseshoe pitching. The President intends to return to| Washington during the forenoon Mon- day. . TRAFFIC CHANGES THROUGHOUT D. C.| (Continued From First Page.) alley to Pifteenth street from 8 am. to 10 p.m. Other amendments proposed by Har- land are designed to make Carroll | street a one-way thoroughfare for east- bound traffic between First and Second streets, and to prevent commercial ve- hicles from parking in the rear of private dwellings or apartments, except when actually engaged in loading or un- loading merchandise. Harland said he drew up the latter regulation in answer to numerous complaints that trucks and other commercial vehicles are often parked over the week ends and over- night in the rear of private dwellings. An existing regulation forbids commer- cial vehicles ;o park in {:um %! R:lv:r:z dwellings and apartments, an = torceme':t by the police, he declared, has driven the trucks to the rear of the buildings. ‘The final amendment proposed by Harland is intended to make it a viola- tion of the traffic code for a driver with defective vision whose permit was issucd on condition that he wear properly fitted glasses while operating a vehicle to drive without wearing the glasses. The permits of such drivers are so stamped, the traffic director said, but the courts have not convicted in cases where arrests have been made for fail- ing to wear glasses because of the lack of a provision in the regulations. JOHN D_R_INKWATER TELLS OF SCHOLASTIC PRIZES British Poet Declares Two Awards to Him Were by Accident—=Shone in Oxford Athletics. DON'DOI: (%’»A.’}.'.AJ’.‘—hiohrL Ii:lx;:- water, poet and playwright, who - ing congratulated on the birth of a daughter, recently has been talking about his school days. Apparently, he received only two prizes, and those, he says, by accident. One was presented to him after he had remained in one form two years longer than he ought. They had to do something with him, so they gave him a prize. The other award was for chemistry, of which he says he under- stood nothing. ‘Mr. Drinkwater shone in how- ever. While school in Oxford, at the age of 132, he broke the record for the long jump for boys under 14. And he holds 1t to this day, for shortly afterward the school authorities in- creased the age of entrants in the event to 15. (Copyright, 1929, by North American News- per Alllance.) FRIDAY, AUGUST ‘ail 16, ~1928. 1 it Lieut. N. D: Mamer, Spokane, Wash., pllot (left), who yesterday siarted a coast-to-coast non-stop round-trip refueling flight, is shown directing Pilot Vern Bookwalter in repair work. 'MAMER SEES FLIGHT AS REAL TEST OF PLANE'S ENDURANCE Craft Will Be Required to Meet Changing Conditions on Round-Trip Trans- continental Venture. BY LIEUT. N. B. (NICK) MAMER. mum speed of 80 miles an hour. As Written Exclusively for The Star and the | the refueling is completed, the Spokane North American Newspaper Alliance. Sun God will skid to the left. FELTS FIELD, Spokane, Wash., Au- |~ yerne Bookwater, pilot from my fly- gust 16.—On the eve of the departure | ing service, and R. N, Wilson, the pilot of the Spokane Sun God on our non-|who flew the Spokane Sun God here stop refueling transcontinental flight a | from the Buhl Airplane Corporation, description of our plane and what we | Marysville, Mich., will fly the two re- hope to accomplish seems opportune. | fueling ships at Cheyenne. Bookwater Both Art Walker, my co-pilot and‘ will again refuel us on our homeward mechanic, and I are confident of suc- | flight at the twin cities. cess, although this is the first time the | Through the kindness of Capt. Frank two and a half tons of weight will be | Hawks and the Texas Oil Co., refueling lifted into the air at an altitude of | planes are being provided by the Texas 2,000 feet above sea level. Practically | company at Cleveland and New York. other heavily laden endurance | We have selected Texas products for our planes have taken off from much lower | flight because of their high test. Capt. altitudes. | Hawks also has informed me that he Walker and myself anticipate get-| will accompany us part of the way on ting a great deal of information out of | the flight in his Lockheed record-hold- the radio enquipment, which will make | ing plane. hourly weather reports and observa-| The Spokane Sun God will have 320 tions along the entire route. Tests gallons of gasoline in the wing and made have proved the radio practical! auxiliary tanks when the take-off is for such use. made. There will be an oil capacity of Severe Test of Motor. 10 gallons. The Buhl Co.,, which has | St. Louts are fo be complimented on | provided me with the plane for this After a successful Spokane-New York- | flight, has rigged it nicely for such a contest. The rear seat can be removed and a full length bed installed. We have both a magnetic and earth in- ductor compass. A special Alemite ofl- ing system has been connected to the rocker arms and tappets on each cylinder. Another interesting sight we are look- ing forward to is the flight over Cleve- land, where the 1929 national air races and derbies are to be held. In 1927 these events were held on the airport from which we are departing. Officials of the Cleveland show can rest assured that we would have been in their Portland-Cleveland air race if we were not up here attempting another flight for the benefit of commercial aviation. (Copyright, 1929. by North American News- paper Alliance.) Spokane flight, it is our opinion that| the motor will have been given the| most severe test ever given airplane | motive power. It is true that other mo- tors will have remained aloft for a longer period of time, but the real test! will come in the fact that this motor will be carrying an almost tapacity load from start to finish and through | all sorts of weather conditions and| varying altitudes. Motors flown in re- | cent endurance fiights have made won- | derful records, but alw: in the same climatic conditons and altitudes. - | All the endurance pilots frcm the time of the Army plane Question Mark's record flight to the recent splen- did record of O'Brine and Jackson at | their accomplishments, as they have proved that refueling over ap airport is practical and that American motors are superior to all others. Great Contribution to Aviation. DORAN PLANNING ‘They have made a wonderful contri- bution to commercial aviation, which must progress rapidly in the United | States. Their contributions must be carried forward and it is with this view in mind that we are setting out to prove to commercial aviation that refueling while in flight over a daily operation of passenger, express, air mail and freight services is practical and will be in com- mon use within a relatively short time. From such refueling there will be even faster airplane service from the Pacific to the Atlantic. Non-stop flights will be common, and these will be of tremendous benefit to the financial ‘world and business men. ‘There also is a big financial benefit to be derived by flying companies from refueling between terminals. The pay load of the_airplane at this time is greatly reduced because of the large poundage in gas necessary. This non- Pmfle producing poundage can be great- ly reduced by frequent refuelings in the air, thereby increasing the pay load. Wear and tear, which comes mostly to airplanes in landings, also will be re- duced by fewer landings, made possible | by refueling in the air. ‘Will Fly 5,000-Foot Altitude. One of the most pleasing points in my departure from here this evening is the fact that the Spokane Sun God will be flying over the latest addition to the Nation’s air mail system, the connecting Hnk from Spokane to Pasco and Pasco to Portland. The award of this contract to the Varney airlines by the Post Office Department today has just been called to my attention. ‘When only a short distance out from Spokane, we expect to climb to & 5,000~ foot altitude for a flight down the Co- lumbia gorge to Portland, where dark- ness will have overtaken us. The same altitude will be maintaimed until we reach Eugene, Ore., where we will go to 10,000 feet on a compass course down the Pacific Coast to San Francisco. Each night as darkness overtakes us we will put on parachutes. ‘We are looking forward with a great deal of interest to our first refueling contact at either San Francisco or Sac- ramento, We will be refueled by a crew of pilots we never have met be- fore. However, it has been mutually agreed that we shall meet over Dun- barton at 4,000 feet altitude at 4:45 o’'clock. Right Kind of Hose Tested. In our refueling practice, we found a refueling hose with an inside di- ameter of one inal and a length of 50 feet to be the fs.. Refueling planes along the route Liave been instructed to use 25 pounds of lead strapping on the end of the hose. Refueling pilots will seek the altitude with the best air and fly in a straight line course at a mini- TIMID INDIANS, AFRAID TO FISH, AREFOUND IN VENEZUELAN WILDS Jungle Tribesmen Believe Men’s Spirits Enter Animals’ Bodies, So They Eat Bugs and Worms. By the Assoclated Press. NEW YORK, August 16—A race of Indians along the ‘Orinoco River in Venezuela so timid they are afraid to fish was described by Dr. Herbert Spen- cer Dickey of the American Indian Heye n:sllwlys and street car. llnu‘ox India Furness liner Silvia. operate 965 busses.. e sald the Indians live secluded imiwfter +—w~¥ng 1.900 miles vpstream. a canyon 1,000 miles up the river and subsist _entirely on worms, bugs and ants. They do not eat animals in the belief that the souls of men enter beasts after death. Dr. Dickey, who had set out to trace the headwaters of the Orinoco, termed ition a “dismal failure.” of sailing yacht DRY LAW PARLEY Important Developments Ex- pected to Follow Confer- ence on West Coast. Dr. James M. Doran, commissioner | of prohibition, planned to leave Wash- | ington this afternoon for Chicago on the first leg of a journey to Calitornia for conferences with prohibition ad- ministrators on the Pacific Coast. Out of these conferences, at San Fran- cisco, Los Angeles and other cities, are expected to proceed important develop- ments in the Prohibition Bureau's at- titude toward various phases of en- forcement. Cczamissioner Doran’s immediate in- terest is the general subject of the manufacture, storage and withdrawal of sacramental and medicinal wines, in connection with the Prohibition Bu- reau’s. recodification of its regulations. Chief Purpose of Trip. Chief among the purposes of his trip, however, is his intention to confer with Maj. R. E. McReynolds, a special in- vestigator, who, at Doran's direction, has been investigating prohibition con- ditions among grape growers in Cen- tral and Southern California. This investigation has been under way for several months and on the basis of McReynolds’ report, which Dr. Doran expects to receive at a confer- ence probably at Fresno, the commis- sioner will conclude whether there is evidence of a conspiracy among any of the growers and manufacturers of grape beverages to violate the prohi- bition laws. Declines to Discuss Report. On the eve of his departure, Com- missioner Doran declined to discuss Mc- Reynolds’ report fufther than to say that he would confer with the investi- gator at length and probably accom- pany him to Fresno for a visit of at least one day. Fresno is the leading city of the grape growing area in Cen- tral California and the headquarters of the California Vineyardists Assoclation with which the great number of growers are affiliated. Dr. Doran expects to be on the Pacific Coast until after Labor day. He returned only yesterday from Lexing- ton, Va, where, in an address at the University of Virginia, he urged State and municipal co-operation in the en- forcement of prohibiti GIRL SLAYER IS HELD. Child, 12, Who Shot Playmate Is Detained by Officials. NEWCASTLE, Pa., August 18 (#).— Genevieve Rich, 12, who shot and fatal- ly wounded Olga Zemack, 7, today was detained at the county detention home as a material witness upon orders of District Attorney J. Elder Bryan. ‘The district attorney sald yesterday he was undecided - whether charges ‘would be made against the girl. Gene- vieve said she had not known the rifie with which she shot her playmate was loaded. She said she pointed the gun at the little girl tn friehten haw GRAF REACHES ASIA: AL WELL BOARD ;Safely Crosses Ural Moun- tains—Liner’s Speed Aver- ages Over 60 Miles. ____(Continued From First Page) population is already s megligible minority anong the tribes of the Urals. | " Ustsicolsk 1 Toughly 225 miies north- { northeast of Viatka and is located just below the 62 parallel of latitude. Along this course Dr. Eckener would head far into the north of Russia before crossing the Urals into Siberia in the direction of the Ob River Valley. ‘The Ob River empties at the Arctic Circle into the Gulf of Ob and the Kara Sea, east of Nova Sembla. { _If Dr. Eckener strikes east from | Ustsisolsk _he will skirt the Arctic | Circle a little south of it, following a { course much farther north than any { he had been expected to take into the northern steppes of Siberia. Ustsisolsk is in European Russia. Véering northward to escape 2 gale, the Zeppelin speeded toward Tokio with | its cargo of 20 passengers, 50,000 pieces | of mail and crew of 40. Apparently all was well aboard. At 7:05 p.m. Thursday, Eastern stan- dard time, the dirigible gave its posi- tion as over Wischni-Wolotschok, about 175 miles northwest of here and mid- way between this capital and Leningrad, old capital of the czars. At the time the dirigible was 20 hours and 31 minutes out of Fried- richshafen, which it left at 10:34 p.m Wednesday. Fastern standard time, and had covered 1,245 miles, at an average speed of 60 miles an hour. The lact 340 miles, from Dwinsk, Latvia, the ship took in 4 hours 35 minutes, an average of about 75 miles an hour. Graf Avoids Moscow. At 8 pm. Eastern standard time. | Thursday, the Graf Zeppelin radioed information to the Soviet authorities here that it was compelled to proceed north, avoiding Moscow, because of un- favorable weather. Previously Dr. Hugo Echener, its master. asked and secured permission to change the agreed upon itinerary in this wise. Dr. Eckener pleaded unfavorable weather conditions. The authorities re- plied that a flight by the airship over this capital was urgently desirable but they left to its commander the final decision, depending upon meteorological conditions with which he found himself faced. It was believed here that possibly Dr. Eckener, finding tail winds which helped him northeastward at the com- paratively rapid rate of 75 miles an hour, felt obliged to take advantage of them rather than steer due eastward from the Latvian frontier over Moscow as he had at first planned. Although the Moscow press promi- nently displayed the announcement the Zeppelin would fly over this city dur- ing the night, escorted by an air squadron, the Moscovites’ interest was not aroused. By 1 am. streets were deserted, and from that time on a group of foreign correspondents wandering in and out of the imposing new telegraph bullding appeared to be the only per- sons interested in the Graf's progress. Adverse Winds Likely. No definite weather reports were available, but it was understood the Zeppejin' probably would meet adverse winds and heavy weather before reach- ing and crossing the Ural Mountains, probably near Bogolovskii, near the confluence of the 60th meridian east and the 60th parallel north. From Wischni-Wolotschok tc the Urals, if the crossing was made at Bogolovskli, as Dr. Eckener planned at his departure, it was approximately 1,000 miles, the course eastward and slightly north. There were no large cities along the route, although Rybinsk and Vyatka lay slightly to the south. The Ural crossing was not expected to present any considerable hazard, since the average height of the moun- tain area is only something more than 1,500 feet. Barring mishaps, it was ex- pected the Graf Zeppelin would be well in the mountainous area by early after- noon At Wischni-Wolotschok the Graf had flown over between a fifth and sixth of its 6,500-7,000-mile journey, although that section traversed was the least dangerous to be crossed. More than three days of the expected five-day jour- ney will be spent in cruising above the vast Siberian steppes, where a forced landing' might have serious conde- quences. Speed Varies With Weather. Speed of the Graf Zeppelin yesterday as it cruised northeastward from Fried- richshafen varied with the weather con- ditions encountered. The average, up to reaching the U. S. S. R.. remained in the neighborhood of 50 miles per hour. ‘The Graf's course was almost due northeast, cutting across Nurnberg (Nu- remberg). Leipzig and Berlin at 3:55 p.m. It flew over the free city of Dan- zig at 5:15 p.m.. over Koenigsberg, East Prussia, quitting German territory at 6:05 p.m. at Tilsit, East Prussia. After flying over Latvia it crossed the Soviet frentier at Dwinsk, appar- ently choosing the northeastward course there, which carried it to the north of Moscow. Little difficulty was experienced in maintaining communication with the ship and its position was reported fre- quently. CHINA WILL RESIST RUSSIAN ADVANCE, IT TELLS POWERS (Continued From First Page) the Nationalist government to its Min- ister here to advise signatories of the Kellogg anti-war treaty that Russia had started an offensive on the Manchurian border. It was said Minister Wu of China had not communicated to the department regarding his government's decision in this matter nor had he told of any change in Russian-Chinese re- lations. The lack of official advices to the de- partment telling of any developments in the Far East only this morning prompt- ed Secretary Stimson to express opti- mism over the outlook in the relations between the two powers. Some State Department officials were inclined to discredit the reports of a Soviet offensive against China. So far no reports have been received from American diplomatic or consular officials in China telling of any out- breaks or border skirmishes, and the department was completely in the dark on reports pointing to hostilities which have been received through press dis- patches during the last week. EMPLOYMENT SITUATION IS CALLED SATISFACTORY By the Assoclated Press. ‘The industrial employment situation in the United States during July was described today by the Labor Depart- ment’s employment bulletin as “fairly satisfactory and somewhat better than that usually apparent at this time of =) the N “While & recession has been apparent in some industries,” the bulletin eaid, it had not been as great as in former years and that unusually high schedules had been maintained in the iron and steel mills, automobile factories, rubber ufacturing electrical equipment, ai planes and radio supplies. ‘What unemployment existed through- out the country, it added, was confined chiefly to unskilled laborers, coal min- A== and clerical workers