Evening Star Newspaper, December 13, 1929, Page 1

WEATHER. (U. 8. Weather Bureau Forecast.) Showers tonight and probably tomor- row morning: decidedly warmer tonight. ‘Temperatures—Highest, ‘36, at noon today; lowest, 26, at noon yesterday. Full report on page 9. Closing N. Y. Markets, Pages 14 and 15 @h WITH SUNPAY MORNING EDITION ¢ Foening Star. “From Press to Home Within the Hour” The Star’s carrier system covers every city block and the regular edi- tion is delivered to Washington homes No. 31,2 post office, Entered as second class matte Washington, D C WASHINGTON, D. C., FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1929—SIXTY-FOUR PAGES. % (#) Means Associated Pre as fast as the papers are printed. Yesterday’s Circulation, 111,806 TWO CENTS. RECEIVER IS ASKED FOR SMITH CO. AND INDIGTED OFFICERS Four Bondholders Also Ask Accounting and Injunction in Supreme Court. DEMANDS REPAYMENT OF $35,000 BY ATTORNEY Representative Zihlman and D. R. Crissinger Will Be Arraigned Tomorrow. Application was made today to the District Supreme Court for the ap- pointment of a receiver for the F. H. Smith Co., real estate operators, and for Frederick N. Zihlman, Representa- tive from Maryland; Daniel R. Cris- singer, former controller of the cur- rency; G. Bryan Pitts, chairman of the board of the Smith company, and Sam- uel J. Henry, president of the corpora- tion. The four men were indicted last Tuesday in the District Supreme Court on charges of using the mails to de-;| fraud in connection with the operations of the Smith company. Representative Zihlman will be ar- raigned tomorrow before Justice Wil- liam Hitz in Criminal Division 2 on the indictment. With Zihlman will also be arraigned Crissenger, Pitts, Henry, Elbert Anadale and John H. Edwards, jr., vice presi- dents of the Smith Co., and Henry C. Maddux of the Hamilton Hotel Co. All are named jointly with Zihlnan on the charge of misuse of the mails. Nugent Dodds, special assistant to the Attorney General, and United States Attorney Leo A. Rover, will ask that a date be set for the trial. The defendants are expected to enter pleas of not guilty. The suit today is brought by four bondholders of the company, Andrew B. Caldwell, Grace Caldwell, 3401 Six- teenth street; Mary H. Farmer, 1264 Columbia road, and Eva B. Middleton, 1519 Oak street, through Attorney W. Gwynn Gardiner on behalf of them- selves and other bondholders as may join in the suit. Accounting and_ in- Jjunction are also asked. Allegation is made that an investor who had bought $20,000 worth of bonds on & building in Philadelphia from the Smith Co. consulted Repre- sentative Frederick N. Zihlman more than 11 months ago and was told, i_t is stated, by him that the bonds were well secured and that he would advise the investor to keep the bonds. Zihl- man is alleged to have represented to the investor that he had “considerable of the bonds and would purchase more them bad he suffigient funds. $35,000 Payment Asked. rt is also asked to require R. Gt:ll.(’l‘:neglonlldson. former attorney for the F. H. Smith Co. and now presidel‘lz of the Commercial National Bl.nk.ono pay to the company the sum of $35, and other sums said to have b“‘:)e 1;;: ceived by him from the Boyle-Rol s son Co. for obtaining contracts to erec buildings being let by the Smith O; The statement is made that Donald- son was at the time receiving a lr'e- ‘$ainer of $2.500 monthly as attorney for the Smith Co., and the request is made that he be required to repay the re- tainers. ed as defendants in the suit are Pl{::.muenry. Crissinger, Zihlman, Doin‘- aldson, the F. H. Smith Co. the Smith Selling Co. and Henry C. Maddux. Andrew B. Caldwell tells the court that he has $14,500 worth of bonds and $1,000 in preferred stock. Grace Cald- well holds $4,500 worth of bonds and $700 in preferred stock. Mary H. Farm- er has $2,000 worth of preferred stock #nd Eva Middleton holds a bond of £500. Bonds in Three Series. The bonds held by the plaintiffs are said to be secured on property known as the Fairfax, Forty-third and Locust streets, Philadelphia, which, it is claimed, was purchased by a corporation formed by the Smith officers, or some of them, for $167,500, on which they erected a bullding said to have cost $1,187,709, which would make a total cost of $1,354,509. On the strength of | this security, it is alleged, the company placed mortgages totaling $3,500,000 and issued bonds in three series, one for $1,- 300,000, anoth%l;mmr $1,725,000 and a hird for $475,000. ¥ Allegation is made that some of the bonds of the last-named issue were sold by the F. H. Smith Co. through persons selected by them to the public as “first mortgage bonds and well secured.” The court is advised that the F. . Smith Co., or the Smith Selling Co., or corporations formed, owned and con- trolled by the defendants, now own in ‘Washington the Jefferson Hotel, Hamil- ton Hotel, Cavalier Apartments, Cor-| coran Courts, Investment Building, Smith Building, Tivoll Apartments, Fairfax Apartments, Vermont Building, Stanley Arms and the New Amsterdam, from all of which collections are being made by agents of the defendants of rentals and these moneys are being se1e outside the jurisdiction, because the main office of the company has been ~(Continued on Page Z'HLMAN TO PRESIDE AS COMMITTEE HEAD Chairman Zihiman of the House| District committee will call the com- mittee together for organization next Wednesday. He himself will preside at the meeting and the free text book bill for the Washington school system will be brought up for consideration. This measure was passed by the House in the last session and has now been fav- orably reported by the Senate District committee. When asked regarding a report that Representative McLeod, of Michigan, Yanking Republican member, _would carry on the work of the District committee during the next few weeks, Chairman Zihiman said today: “Necessarily, under existing condi- tions, Representative McLeod will take over much of the detailed work of the District committee.” It is Mr. Zihlman's intention, how- cvex, to be actively in charge of the Disfrict committee and to press all Dis- trict legislation as far as is possible personally when his time is not required Al Smith Walks When Taxi Driver Muffs His Orders Former Democratic Lead- er Nearly Causes Adams to Hold Up Cabinet. Alfred Emanuel Smith, ambassador of big business since the presidential cam- paign which did not put him in the ‘White House, had to walk the sidewalks of Washington this morning on a visit to the Secretary of the Navy, and thereby nearly made that dignitary late for a cabinet meeting with the mam who won out in that same presidential election. The fault was that of a taxicab driver who deposited ex-Gov. Smith at the State, War and Navy Builaing, thinking that was where the Secretary of the Navy's office was. His cab gone and finding none other handy, Ex-Gov. Smith, with his friend, W. F. Kenny, New York contractor, who accompanied him on the trip to the Capital, trod the sidewalks of the Cap- ital, within a stone's throw of the White House, in a drizziing rain to the Navy Building, where the Secretary, with the cabinet meeting on his sched- ule, was impatiently awaiting the arri- val of his distinguished visitor. At the Navy Department the former Governor of New York was treated to & scene reminiscent of his campaign days, when practically every employe of the department lined the halls and cheered wildly at the first glimpse of the famous brown derby. In his conference with the Secretary of the Navy and other high Navy offi- cials, Mr. Smith received assurance that the Navy Department will help him in every way possible to discover the feasilibility and practicability of erect- ing atop the 85-story Empire State Building, which is going up on the site of the old Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, a mooring mast for dirigibles. Ex-Gov. Smith received also an in- vitation from Rear Admiral William A. Moffett, chief of the Bureau of Aero: naultes of the Navy Department, to leave the sidewalks of New York for a trip in the clouds above the city of his birth in the Navy dirigible Los Angeles, (Continued on Page 2, Column 7.) o BUSINESS GROUP PREPARES 10 AID SHATIUEK URGE BY HOOVER TO S SHODT I CHARCE Attorney’s Instructions Dis- closed hy Letter From Lakin Read to Lobby Committee. PRESIDENT’S FRIENDSHIP DEEMED WORTH $75,000 But Cuban Sugar Head Complains of Agent’s Inability to See Nation'’s Chief. By the Associated Press. A letter from H. C. Lakin of the Cuba Co. to President Machado of Cuba, which said President Hoover had in- structed E. P. Shattuck, attorney, and Chairman Smoot of the Senate finance committee “to confer. together,” was read into the record today at the Sen- ate lobby committee hearing. Shattuck, a New York attorney, was employed by Lakin to work for lower tariff rates. The Cuba Co. official had previously testified that Shattuck was employed partly because of his friend- ship for the President. The letter to Machado said Shattuck’s connection with President Hoover “is our strongest weapon except your efforts and those of your Ambassador.” Shattuck has denied that he has attempted to influence President Hoover in_connection with the tariff bill. The letter Lakin wrote Machado said the Cuba company president had “obeyed your instructions to work in co-operation with your Ambassador.” Smoot for High Sugar Duty. Before the committee, Lakin, in let- ters and in testimony, has referred fre- quently to Shattuck’s friendship with the President. He made no comment today on Shattuck’s denial that he at- tempted to use his acquaintance with Mr. Hoover to influence the Chief Ex- ecutive on lower sugar rates. The reference to the conferences be- tween Senator Smoot, Shattuck and Mr. Hoover was not amplified in Lakin’s letter to Maghado. Smoot has favored a higher duty on Cuban sugar and the rate on it in the Senate finance com- mittee bill was placed at 2.20 cents per pound as compared to 1.76 under exist- 20 Leaders of Industry, Headed by Barnes, Are Laying Plans. A new arm of American industry, created to extend a steadying hand to business .in time. of -.economic- stress, was ready today to feel its strength in the first big test of a limited career. The new prosperity factor was born of an idea suggested by President Hoover during the recent business conferences at the White Fiouse. It takes the form of a committee of 20 “big business” executives, headed by Julius H. Barnes, chairman of the board of the United States Chamber of Commerce. The test period covers the next few months, according to an announcement by the chairman in connection with publication of the personnel of the ad- visory committee. Says Confidence Is Warranted. ‘While the committee will forego “ex- cessive optimism” at the present time, Chairman Barnes declared that study of recent reports from all fields of in- dustry “indicates there is nothing to cause further timidity or hesitation, but rather warrants confidence in the early stabilization of business activity.” Members of the preliminary advisory group are Owen D, Young, chairman of the board of the General Electric Co.; Myron C. Taylor, chairman of the finance committee of the United States Steel Corporation; Thomas W. Lamont of J. P. Morgan & Co., Paul Shoup, president of the Southern Pacific Rail- way Co.; Clarence M. Woolley, chair- man of the board of the American Radiator Co.; Henry M. Robinson, presi- dent of the First National Trust & Sav- ings Bank, Los Angeles, and personal friend of the President; Walter S. ‘Teagles, president of the Standard Oil Co. of New Jersey; James Simpson, president of Marshall Field & Co.; C. F. Kelley, president of the Ana- conda Copper Mining Co.; E. Carpenter, president of the National Lumber Manufacturers’ Association; Plerre S. du Pont, chairman of the board of the E. I. du Pont de Nemours Co.; Lewis E. Pierson, board chairman Irving Trust Co., New York City; George Horace Lorimer, editor of the Saturday Evening Post; Walter S. Gifford, presi- dent of the American Telephone & Telegraph Co.; Alvan Macauley, presi- dent of the National Automobile Cham- (Continued on Page 2, Column 5.) CURTIS IS IMPROVED. Vice President Remains at Home to Nurse Heavy Cold. Vice President Curtis remained at home again today to nurse a heavy cold which has bothered bim for sev- ersl daye. Mr. Curtis was reported much better, however, and he is expected to be back at his post in the Senate shortly. Hoover Names Minister. President Hoover today nominated Ralph J. Totten of Tennessee to be m{tnm,er resident to the Union of South Africa. ing law. Another mention of Shattuck in con- nection with the President came dur- ing the reading of a letter to Veriato Cutterrey of the Presidential Palace, Havana, by Lakin on March 15. “In view of Shattuck’s prominence and his intimacy with President Hoover, I expect that we shall pay Shattuck and his partner something like $75,000,” his letter said. . Lakin wrote Cutterrey that it was the. custom of the beet interests to maintain a lobby in Washington, and said that eventually the Cuban interests should have a permanent office in Washington. 0ld Lobby Methods Deprecated. “But the fact that Cuba is a foreign country,” Lakin added, “makes the old- fashioned lobbying dangerous for it to undertake.” “The plan,” Lakin added, “is an at- tempt to put in particular form some general principles with which we know President Hoover is in sympahty. Our knowledge of the desire of, President Hoover is accurate, but nafurally the sources of our knowledge should not be stated in writing. “Moreover, lobbying is no ]onfir popular in Washington and I am in-| formed that the beet interests now do | not find that their old-fashioned meth- ods of lobbying are successful and that they would be in disfavor in Washing- ton if they did not have Senator Smoot their champion. “I do not approve,” Lakin added, “of unguided entertainment of members of Congress. That form of lobbying is no longer fashionable in Washington, Lakin's reference to the conferences (Continued on Page 2, Column 6.) MYSTERY GIRL NOW ILL OF PNEUMONIA Even after a friend of the girl had been questioned, mystery continued to- day to veil the identity of a young woman treated at Emergency Hospital for an overdose of poison. The patient - | has been in a coma since taken to the hospital Wednesday afternoon. When it was discovered today that she was suffering from pneumonia, physicians said her chances of recovering were remote. R. A. Sanders and W. H. Mansfield, headquarters detectives, reported they had found a letter from a Washington man in the girl's purse. They ques- tioned him and learned that he met the girl in Pittsburgh last September. He said he had seen her only once since then. He thought her name was Gllda Corron, With the letter, however, was found a baggage check bearing the name “Annette Brewster, Selma, Calif.” These two names caused detectives to believe the young woman might have several aliases. Meanwhile, several men and women visited the girl in the hospital last night and today in an unsuccessful effort to Identify her. X The girl was found in an unconsclous. condition in St. John's Church, at Six- teenth and H streets, Wednesday. Im- mediately after being removed to the hospital, physicians said the girl mum- bled something about having shot some one in the Park Lane Apartments. She also spoke of a “narcotic ring.” De- tectives belleved the girl knew nothing of any shotting or of a drug ring. RE-ECHOED IN By the Assoclated Press. CHICAGO, December 13.—The lake tragedy of October 29 when Willlam Rogers, a sallor, was saved from the sinking steamer Wiscongin, off Ke- nosha, re-echoed funereally in his home today. His son James, 4 years old, was for defense against the indictment by the grand jury charging him with use of the mails to defraud through his connection as & director in the F. H. iEmith Co. dead. Ever since Rogers was saved, with other members of the crew, from one of the worst storms that has swept Lake CELEBRATION OF LAKE RESCUE DEATH OF BOY, 4 Child Drinks Moonshine Liquor Brought to Father by Jubilant Friends. Michigan in years, there_have been celebrations at his home. Mrs, Rogers said today that friends of her husband had expressed their jubilation by calling often, bringing bottles of liquor. Their son was alone in the house yesterday except for an uncle, Phillip O'Donnell. While his uncle was in an. other room the boy climbed on a chair AND THE STOCKING 5 &7l ! l””'x‘(ml}'!l‘"l £y WAS FILLED BEFORE CHRISTMAS! REALTY CONDITIONS HERE SHOW GAINS Fewer Apartment Vacancies Than This Time Last Year Revealed by Survey. Concrete evidence that the real estate market condition in Washington has improved over the situation existing generally during the past two years is revealed in statistical studies just com- pleted by the Operative Builders' Asso- clation. The surveys, made solely for the guidance of the association’s members as to future building programs, but an- nounced at this time in conformity with President Hoover's program of organizing the Nation's industries to forge ahead, show that: 1. Despite the tremendous volume of apartment house construction car- ried forward here in the past two years the percentage of vacancies in com- pleted buildings now is 9.86 per cent, a reduction from a vacancy total of 10.94 per cent for November of last year, whereas a vacancy of 10 per cent is regarded as no; 2. Nearly twice as many new houses were sold during October, November and the first 10 days of December of this year as were placed under con- struction in the same period, indicating a pick-up in the rate of new dwelling sales, though not in the volume of sales, as compared with last year. Normal Business Outlook. On these statistics, Rufus 8. Lusk, secretary of the assoclation, sees a basis for “normal” business in Wash- ington during the coming year in both construction and sales of residential properties. The survey figures are interpreted to mean not that the volume of construc- tion or sales of new residences now fs greater than in last year, but rather that the fundamental condition has im- proved, with houses selling at a faster rate, with construction running at a slower rate than in preceding years, thus reducing the number of unsold houses on the market. The lowering of the percentage of vacancies in apartment houses during this year is more encouraging, since with the continued addition of new apartments the question often has been asked: “Where are they going to find tenants for all these new buildings?” Statistics gathered, showing a 9.36 percentage of vacancies in apartments, were obtained by the association from 43 property management departments of local realty concerns, covering 18,600 apartment units, approximately 40 per cent of the total in the city. All types of apartments in various sections of the city are included, each realty office sub- mitting reports on all buildings under its management. Figures of Last Year, ‘When a similar survey was made in November of last year figures were gathered on 15,500 apartment units, with a resultant showing of vacancies for the better,” Mr. Lusk said. Because of the reduced volume of apartment construction now under way, the vacancy total probably will fall to about & per cent by next March, Mr. Lusk believes. Apartments containing 2,040 units have been started this year to date at an aggregate cost of $12,304,500. Last (Continued on Page 2, Column 8.) FIERCE GALE DELAYS LINERS TWO DAYS Worst Storm in 35 Years at Sea Buffets France on Way Across Atlantic, Captain Says. By the Assoctated Press. NEW YORK, December French liner France arrived last night two days late, after what her com- mander, Capt. 5 the worst crossing in his 35 years’ ex- perience at sea. . e the liner were two pi s whAoba;;ge brought to America because the storm made it impossible for the ship to make her customary stop at Plymouth, England. They were Wil- llam Williams, & pilot of Plymouth, and Doris White, & 16-year-old English girl, who was returning from Paris to her home in Devenport, near Plymouth. The France went 200 miles off her course to the aid of the disabled Brit- ish steamer Volumnia, which finally sank after her crew had been taken and got & bottle half filled with - s}’fln'e whisky. He drank nnr’l‘)‘vm‘:n of it. Physiclans worked over him several hours, but he died late last night, aboard the British freighter Manches- Regiment. lel:I'h:'cun-rd liner Berengaria docked vesterday from Europe, also two days behind her schedule, ! terference with a court order. 13—The | Jean Simon, said was Waits Two Weeks With Gun for Bandit, But It Won’t Work! By the Associated Press. MINNEAPOLIS, December 13.— Policeman John C. Nordgaard had spent every night for two weeks behind a counter in the Arthur Charley grocery waiting for a bandit. Last night a hold-up man made his fourth visit to the store in six_weeks. Officer Nordgaard raised his shotgun, took careful aim and pulled the trigger. ‘The hammer fell on an empty chamber. ‘The bandit escaped with $50. HOOVER CONSIDERS MTOY SUCGESSOR Associate Justice Expected to Get District Supreme Court Vacancy. President Hoover today was repre- sented as being inclined to elevate one of the present associate justices of the Supreme Court of the District of Co- lumbia to succeed Walter I. McCoy, who last week resigned as justice of that court. This is anticipated shortly, but there is no indication that the vacant place on this bench caused by Judge McCoy’s retirement to private life will be filled by the President so soon. ‘The President has been advised that Justice Wendell P. Stafford has been indorsed for this honor by the Dis- trict Bar Association and others. There is not the slightest indication as to how soon the President will fill the vacancy. He realizes that the court docket is packed to the limit and that there is urgent need to furnish the court in full quota of judges if it is to keep up its work, but he is not going to be unduly hasty in arriving at a choice.. It is understood that very few names of local persons have been suggested for the Supreme Court vacancy. It is further understood that there are no actually out-and-out candidat The several names of local lawyers which have been submitted to the President for his consideration were done so by friends of the individuals. It is under- stood that the names of several persons not residents in the District of Colum- bia have been suggested and are being considered along with the others. Within the next week Judge Mary O'Toole of the Municipal Court of the District of Columbia probably will be (Continued on Page 2, Column 2.) EX-SENATOR REED FACES CONTEMPT Block Missourian and Aides Judge’s Order With U. S. Writ. By the Associated Press. KANSAS CITY, Kans., December 13. —Contempt of court citations, grow- ing out of the legal tangle in which the Federal Reserve Life Insurance Co. has become involved, today faced for- mer Senator James A. Reed and six of his legal assoclates. ‘The seven were cited yesterday by District Judge W. H. McCamish for in- ‘The al- leged offense consisted of obtaining a restraining order in Federal Court en- Joining temporary receivers for the $10,- 000,000 insurance firm, appointed by Judge McCamish, from performing their duties in that capacity. Reed, with Fred J. Robertson, former United. States District attorney for Kansas; Joseph H. Brady, Kansas City; E. H. Henning, Chicago, and Massey Holmes and James E. Taylor, Kansas City, associated with the former Sen- ator, and E. R. Sloan, Holton, Kans., were ordered to appear Monday morn- ing in District Court to show cause why they should not be punished. They acted at the request of the Fire Insurance Co. of Chicago, ma- Jjority stockholders in the Kansas City company. The order was signed by Federal Judge John C. Pollock. The application ordering the seven attorneys to appear charged that they had induced and persuaded Judge Pol- lock to sign the restraining document and for that reason are in direct con- tempt of court for holding Judge Mc- Camish's orders “in light esteem and defying his authority.” Radio Progra-ms—Page 56. OFFICER SURPRISES B0YS ROBBING SAFE Policeman Fires at Fleeing Pair, Arrested After Jumping Through Glass Door. Frightened by a policeman while at- tempting to break open a safe in the rear of the Sanitary Grocery Co.’s store at 333 Eleventh street southwest early this morning, two youths jumped through & plate glass door and escaped a fussilade of pistol shots from the officer, only to be captured later. One of the young robbers, Richard C. Swan, 19, of 1015 C street southwest, was overtaken by Pvt. Earl D. Alber of the fourth precinct less than a block from the store, confessing his part in the crime and furnishing police with information that led to the arrest one hour later of the man he claims to be his_accomplice. The latter, Herbert J. Brown, 21, of 496 School street southwest, was ar- detectives when 1 -hiding in.a clothes closet at his home. Wn was bleeding profusely from a severe leg laceration which po- lice say he sustained when he jumped through the glass door, and he was re- the Emergency Hospital, atius Rutkoski took 15 stitches to close the wound. He was also given first-aid treatment for minor cuts on his hands. Questioned by Detectives. According to police, Brown has also been identified as the man who held up an employe of the Gulf Refining Sta- tion at Sixth street and Maryland ave- nue Tuesday at the point of a pistol and robbed the cash drawer of $10.90, while Swan also admitted that he and Brown last night entered the Minute Service Station at Thirteenth street and Linwood place southwest and stole $5 and a flashlight. The two men were taken to police headquarters for the morning “line-up” today and were later questioned by headquarters detectives in an effort to clear up several other robberies in the southwest section of the city. Policeman Alber was patrolling his beat shortly after 3 o'clock this morn- ing when his attention was attracted by metallic sounds coming from the rear of the grocery store, Peering through the window he made out the figures of two men chopping away at the bottom of an upturned safe in the rear. Alber tried the front door in an effort to gain entry to the store, but the door was locked. Jump Through Glass Door. Hearing the policeman at the front, the youths slid back a bar over a side door opening on to Maryland avenue and attempted to make their escape, but Albar ran to the side of the build- ing, fired once at the figures in the doorway and the men retreated, drop- ped the bar back into place and then ran through the store and jumped through the plate-glass door. A bullet hole, little more than head high, was found in the side door this{ morning. Alber raced to the front of the build- ing in time to ses the men running up Eleventh street. He fired three more shots at them, but none took effect. ‘The policeman later overtook Swan, but the other escaped. Swan was taken to the fourth precinct and booked for investigation. He confessed to having robbed the cash register of the store and attempt- ing to open the safe after gaining en- trance to the building by knocking out a glass transom above a small display window on the Maryland avenue side of (Continued on Page 2, Column 3.) S230,000000 MORE FOR . S. BUILDINGS $115,000,000 Included for Washington Program, to Be Spent $15,000,000 a Year. AGRICULTURE BILL _ - ALSO IS REPORTED $2,000,000 for Mount Vernon Boulevard and $30,000 for Arboretum New Items. Increase of $230,000,000 in the au- thorization for Federal buildings throughout the country, which includes $115,000,000 specifically for the Federal building program in Washington, is provided for in the Elliott bill, which was favorably reported to the House by the House committee on public build- ings and grounds today. The same committee also ordered a favorable report on the bill author- izing the erection of a Supreme Court building at an estimated cost of $9,- 740,000, the site for which has already been acquired at a cost of approximate- ly $1,750,000. The only change made in the Elliott public buildings bill was to increase the amount carried for public buildings throughout the States from $100,000,000 to $115,000,000, making the amount identical with that authorized for the building program in the National Cap- al ital. T e cadh Sear from amount to be expended e $35,000,000 to $50,000,000. Of this amount $35,000,000 is for the program throughout the States and $15,000,000 for the program in the National Capi- tal. The present authorization is $25,- 000,000 annually for the States ane $10,000,000 for Washington. Speeds Building Program. The Elliott bll{’ fiés‘o provlde‘gn !g; speeding up the building pre n‘l’nhnriglngpme employment og outside architects. Carrying $2,000,000 for the Mount ‘Vernon Memorial Highway and $30,000 for the national arboretum, both or which are new items, the agriculturat appropriation_bill for the fiscal year beginning July 1, next, also Was Te- ported to the House today. The total of the bill is $153.255,460, which is an lnm;::’s: of sads'm,%oer::;r’ current appropriations and a deci of iZl‘,Gl%pu:Pder the budget estimate. A decrease of $150,000 results from the abolition of Center Market during the coming year. An important increase in the bill under the Weather Bureau is for the operation of a major control station at Bolling Fleld, the amount recom- mended being $13,820. Highway Item Explained. In presenting the bill to the House Representative Dickinson of Iowa, chairman of the subcommittee, called attention that the $2,000,000 for the Mount Vernon Memorial Highway is due to the fact that work on that proj- ect s being prosecuted this year out of an original appropriation of $2,500,000, more than $2,000,000 of which is being expended during the current fiscal year under a reappropriation. The House appropriations committee disallowed the increase recommended by the budget in the salary of the As- sistant_Secretary from $9,000 to $10,- 000. The committee granted, however, the budget increase of $3,060 for two additional employes and $5,490 to make effective promotions due to employes who have been declared ineligible. The House committee also granted the in- crease recommended by the budget of $1,000 for salaries and compensation of employes in the mechanical shops and power plant. This applies particularly to low-salaried employes. Rent Bill Decreased. ‘The rent bill of the Department of Agriculture has been decreased by the budget to the amount of $103,440 due, to the fact that a large number of rented buildings now occupied by the depart- ment are being acquired by the Federal Government through condemnation proceedings, in anticipation of the pro- posed extensible office building for the denartment. TURKEY SHO[]LD ABANDON COFFEE, PREMIER SAYS Economic Crisis Dictates Strict Economy Throughout Nation, Ishmet Pasha Asserts. By the Assoclated Press. ANGORA, Turkey, December 13.— Premier Ishmet Pasha yesterday told Parliament Turkey's present economic crisis demanded Turkish citizens aban- don all luxuries, even coffee. He exhorted the population to eschew its annual $3,000,000 worth of coffee sipping, and content themselves with plain bread till the crisis is past. The premier asked and received a unanimous vote of confidence on his economic program. STREET CARS DON'T BACK HERE, EVEN FOR SENATOR COLE BLEASE Fiery South Carolinian Gets Off in Middle of Block When He Misses His Stop. Street cars don't back up in Wash- ington even for a United States Senator. Cole Blease, flery Senator from South Carolina, found that out last night. The Senator, from all reports, learned bis lesson in street car operations from the Capital Traction Co. It seems he was traveling incognito on car No. 642 on this line until it turned from Penn- sylvania avenue into Fifteenth street and passed the Washington Hotel. After that there was little doubt as to his identity. Senator Blease lives in the Washing- ton Hotel, and' the car stop there os- tensibly was his destination. But the distinguished passenger, according to the car crew, did not get off. Thres other passengers did, however, As car No. 642 proceeded on its way 4 up Fifteenth street, Senator Blease is said to have rushed to the front plat- form and after making known his identity, demanded that the car be backed to the platform so he couid get off. It was a coincidence, perhaps, but an inspector of the car company stand- ing alongside the motorman told him it couldn’t be done. In the first placc he was told it was not ethical and in the interest of safety to run a car backward, and, secondly, that a car which had drawn up in the rear made it impossible. In a spirit of courtesy and compromise, the car crew offered to give a transfer which would re- turn him to the hotel from the next stopping point. Senator Blease, however, wou'd ac- t no compromise. He got off in the middle of the block and when last seen was trekking back in the direction of the hotel. ‘The incident ent was the subject of con- (Continued on Page 2, Column 4.) — TRACTION MERGER BILL GIVEN HOUSE FOR CONSIDERATION Zihiman Introduces Measure, Which Is Referred to District Committee. AIM TO GET QuICK ACTION AFTER RECESS Body Votes to Report Favorably on Text Book Bill and Architectural Plan. ‘The joint resolution drafted by the Public Utilities Commission embodying an agreement for unification of Wash- ington's two street railway lines was introduced in the House today by Rep- resentative Zihlman of Maryland, chair- man of the House District committee. Members of the House District com- mittee, to which it was referred, promised to give the merger plan prompt attention, and announced that an effort would be made to get House action upon the resolution soon after the holiday recess. The joint resolution also is before the Senate District committee, where it was referred by the Senate Wednesday after its ntroduction by Senater Capper of Kansas, chairman of the committee, Getting off to an early start on a legislative program for Washington, the Senate District committee at its first meeting voted to report favorably the free text book bill and the measure to protect the architectural surroundings of Federal buildings, and at the same time took steps to expedite considera- tion of the merger, ‘With regard to the merger, the Senate committee decided to hold one public hearing at night, immediately after the Christmas holidays, and in the mean- d | time to obtain from Dr. Milo R. Malt- bie an opinion on the merger resolu- tion as recently rewritten by the Pub- lic Utilitles Commission. Dr. Maltbie was the expert advisor to the commit- tee last year. Senator Blaine, Republican, of Wis- consin; who opposed the plan of street car consolidation reported by the com- mittee last year, stated today that he ‘has “only gone over the new plan in & cursory way, but I am convinced that many of the major objections have been overcome.” He recalled that the old agreement stated specifically whis the financial set-up of the new company would be and that he had regarded that as unwise, because it might tie the hands of Congress in the future. The new plan leaves the financial set-up to be passed on by the Utilities Commis- sion, and Senator Blaine poirited out that under this arrangement “we could not be any wore off than at present.” Aids Junior and Senior Schools. ‘The text book bill, which Chairman Capper called up early in the meeting, would give to the junior and senior N& schools the books and educational supplies already provided for children in the grade schools. Members of the Board of Education were present to support the measure, but the committee indorsed it without debate after Sen- ator Capper had explained that the bill was on the Senate calendar the last Congress and ready to be enacted when the ssmion ended. He explained that Senator Heflin of Alabama, who offered. amendments to the bill last year, has advised him that he is strongly in favor not be any worse off than at present.” ‘The bill to safeguard the surround- ings of important Government areas is the Shipstead measure, under which the Fine Arts Commission would have authority to pass upon the height and exterior design of all private buildings to be erected adjacent to the more im- portant Federal areas. ‘When this legislation was originally proj several years ago it would have applied to private property within 200 feet of any Government reservation. As presented this year, and approved by the committee today, it would apply to the alteration or construction of any building any portion of which is to front upon— The Capitol grounds, the grounds of the White House, that part of Pennsyl- vania avenue between the Capitol and the White House and along the front- age of Rock Creek Park, Zoological Park, the Rock Creek and Potomac Connecting Parkway, Potomac Park or the Mall Park system. Grant Gives His Views. Lieut. Col. U. S. Grant, 3d, director of the National Capital Park and Plan- ning Commission, told the committee the commission would like to have the bill worded so as to cover any future Government development, such as the area surrounding the proposed United States Supreme Court Building, but since no objection has been raised to the pending bill, they would rather have that enacted. Senator Copeland, Democrat, of New York recalled that objection was made in the old Congress to applying these restrictions to the area surrounding Lafayette Park and said that if that area was affected by this bill he would want to recommend an amendment. He was told this bill does not include thet area. ‘When Senator Capper called up the merger resolution, Senator Vandenberg. Rpgubllcan, of Michigan said he had talked with other members of the com- mittee and was confident that sne pub- lic hearing, to be held at night early in January, would be sufficien’, to get the public’s viewpoint, after whick the com- mittee could act. Chairman Capper said he had foun: “almost universal approval of this new merger in the City of Washington.” Senator Copeland said he did not have to be converted to the merger, but wanted to know if the new agreement is radically different from the one of last year. Senator Vandenberg replied that it is a better one, ‘Will Ask Malbie for Report. Senator Copeland then asked Senator Blaine if this proposal is less objection- able to him than the previous plan. It was at this point that Senator Blalne said a casual study of the pending reso- lution indicated to him that many of the major cbjections had been over- ~ome. Senator Vandenberg stated that he had learned that Dr. Maltbie was will- ng to give the committee his opinion of the modified unification plan if re- quested by the committee. Senator Capper was instructed to ask Dr. Malt- bie for a report. ‘The action of the Senate committeo today will place the text book measur+ and the Shipstead bill cn the Senate calendar, where they may be called up whenever the Senate considers iis cal- endar of general business. “