Evening Star Newspaper, January 13, 1930, Page 1

WEATHER. (U. 8. Weather Bureau Forocast.) Rain tonight and tonight; grees, ‘Tem, peratures—! today; lowest, n.}:’:' Full report on page 5. Closing N. Y. Markets, Pages 14 and 15 No. 31,303. post office, tomorrow; ‘warmer lowest temperature about 50 de- w; hest, 2:30 at noon 50, . today. Entered as second class matter ‘Washington, D @he WASHINGTON, D. C., MONDAY, JANUARY 13, 1930—THIRTY-TWO PAGES. i nenin WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION o Star. Wit The Star’s tion is delivered to Sunday’'s Cire carrier s cvery city block and the regular edi- “From Press to Home hin the Hour” system covers Washington homes as fast as the papers are printed. Saturday's Circulation, 110,495 ulation, 116,849 L2 () Means Associated TWO CENTS. Press. HOOVER URGES SIX STEPS TO AID IN ENFORCEMENT; FAVORS DRY LAW IN D. C. Court Relief Is Advocated in Message CONGRESS GETS CRIME REPORT Trial of Casesby U.S. Commissioners Is Recommended BY G. GOULD LINCOLN. Definite recommendations for legislation to strengthen the en- forcement of Federal criminal laws, especially the enforcement of prohibition, were made in a special message of President Hoover to Gpngress today. The President transmitted to the Congress also the first report of the Law Enforcement Commis- sion, which for seven months has been studying the question. Modification Is Unsuggested. ‘The report of the commission contemplates rigid enforcement of the dry laws. No suggestion of modification is advanced, al- though the commission asserts that it is not ready to make a final report on the subject of pro- hibition. The tone of the report is that the law must be given a fair trial. ’.lt embodies a number of recommeéndations. President Hoover also sent to the Congress memorandums of the At- torney General and the Secretary of the Treasury upon various phases of these problems. The proposals advanced by the President in his message are six in number. They follow: 1. ization of the Federal Court structure so as to give relief from congestion. 2. Concentration of responsibility in detection and prosecution of prohibi- the various in prevention of uor, narcotics, other “altens” over United States_frontiers. 4. Provision of adequate court and prosecuting officials. 5. of Federal prisons and reorganization of parole and other practices. 6. Specific legislation for the Dis- trict of Columbia. Hoover Dcals With All Laws. In making his recommendatiops, the President relies not only on the report of the Commission on Law Observance and Enforcement, but uj the advice of the officials of the partment of Justice and the Treasury Department. ‘The report of the Law Enforcement Commission, indeed, does not cover several of the recommendations made by the President. While the President essigns to the prohibition laws a place of great importance in the discussion of the failure of law observance, he deals in his message with the whole question of enforcement of the Federal laws. The Law Enforcement Commis- sion’s report is confined to the question of enforcement of the prohibition laws. President Hoover said in his message: “After exhaustive examination of the subject, the Commission on Law Ob- servance and Enforcement and the offi- cials of the Department of Justice and the Treasury Department unite in the conclusion that increasing enactment of Federal criminal laws over the past 20 years, as to which violation of the pro- hibition laws comprises rather more than one-half of the total arrests, has finally culminated in a burden upon the Federal courts of a character for which they are ill designed and in many cases entirely beyond their capacity. The re- sult is to delay civil causes, and of even more importance, the defeat of both jus- tice and law enforcement. Moreover, experience shows division of authority, responsibility and lack of fundamental organization in Federal enforcement agencies and ofttimes results in ineffec- ve_action. ““‘ew.l’lcfle some sections of the American people may disagree upon the merits of some of the questions involved, every re- sponsible citizen supports the funda- mental principle that the law of the land must be enforced. Of all the recommendations made by the Law Enforcement Commission in its report to him, President Hoover calls the attention of Congress particularly to that which contemplates giving United States commissioners enlarged powers in minor criminal cases. Need for Study Is Cited. The President and the Law Enforce- ment Commission both comment upon the magnitude of the question of ade- quate law enforcement and the need for an intensive study covering & long period. The causes of crime, the char- acter of the criminal laws and the benefits and liabilities that flow from them, should all be considered, the esident said. P e Fecommendations for strengthen- ing the enforcement of the prohibition laws made by the Law Enforcement Commission are: i Transfer of investigation and prep- (Continued on Page 4, Column 6.) 58TH SESSION OPENED BY COUNCIL AT GENEVA Budgetary and Administrative Matters Considered Informally Before Regular Convening. By the Assoclated Press. GENEVA, January 13.—The Council of the League of Nations convened in its fifty-eighth session here today. The Council met in formal session only after it had considered certain budgetary matters in a preceding in- formal session, Both were under the chairmanship of Aluggst Zaleski, for- el minister of Poland. ,‘lehue budgetary and administrative matters were presented by Senor Aguero Bethancourt, Cuban representative on ‘the Council. President’s Message Hoover Proposes Six Change: to Remedy Abuses. President Hoover's special message to Congress, accompanying the Law En- forcement Commission's report on pro- hibition, follows: ‘To the Congress of the United States: In my previous messages I have re- quested the attention of the Congress to the urgent situation which has grown up in the matter of enforce- ment of Federal criminal laws. subject, the Commission on Law Ob- servance and Enforcement, and the of- ficlals of the Department of Justice and the Treasury Department unite in the conclusion that increasing enact- ment of Federal criminal laws over the past 20 years, as to which violation of ‘the prohibition laws comprises rather more than one-half of the total arrests, has finally culminated in a burden upon the Federal courts of a character for which they are ill de- signed, and in many cases entirely be- yond their capacity, The result is to delay civil causes, and of even more importance, the defeat of both justice and law enforcement. Moreover, ex- (Continued on Page 4, Column 7.) LAW ENFORCEMENT REMEDIES URGED Attorney General Mitchell Tells Hoover “Obvious Defects” Must End. Speedy adoption of measures to rem- edy “obvious defects” in criminal law enforcement and the “extended inquiry to determine more fundamental trou- bles” was recommended today in a re- port by Attorney General Mitchell to President Hoover, who forwarded the suggestions to Congress in transmitting the first preliminary report; by the Law Enforcement Commission. Mitchell’s report: follows: Seme Defects Qbscure. “There are some obvious defects in our enforcement ‘agencies, and there are measures that may be readily de- 3&: are ot‘::g defects ob?cure dI.n nt‘;h;;r ure, requiring more prolonges 5 “It has teel;\td to me, thgretnl’:. ‘:l’: any program for improvement natur: falls into two parts: “Pirst: The prompt adoption of measures readily to be devised for curing obvious defects; and Extended inquiry to deter- mine the more fundamental troubles and means of remedying them. “The Department of Justice and the Commission on Law Observance and Enforcement have been co-operating in the preparation of proposals which may be put into effect speedily to produce immediate improvement, having in mind that this preliminary program would be followed by more elaborate and thorough consideration of the subject. Only measures requiring new legislation need now be mentioned. “The task of enforcing the criminal laws is not confined to a single agency. Several must operate efficiently to pro- duce good results. There must be: “First—Agencies to detect offenses and obtain evidence. “Second—Prosecuting attorneys who use the evidence thus prepared and try the cases in court. “Third—Courts to hear the cases.* “At present obvious defects exist in each of these agencies. Court Congestion Serious. “Congestion in the courts deserves ut- most_consideration. In many districts the Federal courts are unable to cope with the volume of business brought be- fore them. This results in delay, with weakening of evidence and difficulty in obtaining convictions. Another effect of congestion is the effort to clear dockelg by wholesale acceptance of pleas of guilty, with light punishment. The de- terrent effect of speedy trial and ade- quate punfshment is lost. tion also means delay in trial of civil cases, with hardship to private litigants, par- ticularly those of small means. This condition has been disclosed in the statistics for the vear ending June 30, 1929, set. forth in my annual report. ‘That there has been no relief since June 30, 1929, is shown by telegraphic re- ports from United States attorneys (ex- cepting those in the territories) cov- | ering prohibition and narcotic cases commenced and terminated during the six months ended December 31, 1929. These reports show 28,437 prohibition and narcotic cases commenced; 25,887 such cases terminated, and 20,066 pend- ing December 31, 1929, an increase over the number pending June 30 last, and an increase as compared with, those pending December 31, 1928. “The most important and constructive After exhaustive examination of the|" vised and taken tending to cure them. | try Unified Border Patrol Asked by Mellon SEEKS INCREASE IN ENTRY PORTS Transfer of Guard Force Is Wanted by Secretary By the Assoclated Press. President Hoover today sent to Congress along with the first pre- liminary report of the Law Ep-, forcement. Commission a report submitted. to him by Secretary Méllon urging & unified border patrol under jurisdiction of' the Coast Guard; an increase in the number of ports of entry, and a prohibition against entry into the United States of all persons ex- cept at ports designated by the President. i i Considered Some Time. The Mellgn report follows: Mr. President: The Treasury has been consid- ering for some time the creation of a unified border patrol in or- der that the executions of the customs, immigration, prohibition and other laws regulating or pro- hibiting the entry into the United States of persons and mer- chandise, may be made more ef- fective. ~The following recom- mendations are submitted for your consideration and transmis- sion to the Congress if you ap- prove: 1. The entry into the United States of :.ll me:l sh?uld tl'»e prohibited ex- cept_at pof of en designated b the President. 34 v ” 2. The present number of points of entry should be increase sufficiently to Ermtt uninterrupted and unhampered itercourse with our n coun- tries over established routes, Basis of Work Is Cited. “border. patrol.should be patrol the ‘and pre- vent illegal entry. . " 4. The unified border patrol should be & part of the Coast Guard. A specific statutory prohibition of en- into the United States of either aliens or citizens, in any manner and with or without merchandise, except at designated points, is essential as a basis if the border patrol is to function ef- ficlently, since it will give the patro! a plain and simple rule to enforce, and relieve them of any necessity of inter- preting and applying the customs, im- migration, and other laws. tion, quarantine and other of- ficers will be stationed at the designated points of entry and the administration of the laws at these points should re- main, of course, under the jurisdiction of the present services. Flexibility Is Essential. The points of entry should be desig- pated by the President, just as ports of entry are now designated. They should be established at the boundary intersection of all established and cus- tomary routes and wherever intercourse with our neighboring countries justifies. Flexibility is essential in order to per- mit an ircrease in the points of entry conformably with the growth of com- merce and travel, and in order to meet seasonal necessities and constantly changing conditions. There should be a substantial increase, rather a in the present number of customs and immigration stations. It is belleved that the proposed plan will promote materially the convenience of the traveling public, as well as relieve those traveling on inland highways from inspection. Today, general speaking, travelers may ~enter the United States anywhere, but must re- gn at a customs house, which may well entirely out of their line of travel, and declare and enter their merchan- dise. Moreover, our present patrol must necessarily be maintained on interior roads and not along the border, with the consequent necessity of stopping vehicles and pedestrians who may never have left the country. Adequate provi- sion should, of course, be made b regulation so as to meet the needs of farmers and others whose property ex- tends across the border or who are living along the border. Duties Are Outlined. The unified border patrol should be charged with the enforcement of the statutory prohibition—that is, it should be charged with the duty of guarding the border between the designated points and preventing entry of all per- sons and merchandise over the land and water boards except at the points of entry specified, where the usual cus- toms, immigration, quarantine and other officers will be stationed. The proposed unified border patrol will replace the patrols now maintained by both the Customs Service and the " (Continued on Page 4, Column 8.) (Continued on Page 4, Column 1.) l DORAN RECOMMENDS 1931 DRY LAW COST BE HELD TO $15,000,000 | Greater Expenditure Would Be Unwise, Prohibition Com- ! | The expenditure of more than $15,- 000,000 during the fiscal year 1931 to enforce the Federal prohibition law would be unwise, in the opinion of Prohibition Commissioner Doran, be- cause of the congested condition of the Federal courts. “The biggest problem right now that confronts the Federal Government in the enforcement of this law,” Doran told the House appropriations commit- tee, is the congested condition of the Federal courts.” Doran Sees Improvement. ‘The committee approved the commis- sioner’s request and set the figure at $15,000,000. Asserting that the Jones law, enacted last year, providing for prison sentences missioner Advises House Appropriation Body. of five years and fines up to $10,000 for liquor convictions, had brought about better enforcement conditions, Doran said, ‘take it over all, with the known drop in smuggling, I say the situation is improving.” “Undoubtedly the Jones law had a eat effect,” he sald, adding that it gd driven thousands of the smaller operators, manufacturers, runners and retail dealers out of business and de- creased arrests from 75,000 in 1928 to 67,000 in 1929. Could Arrest Many More. “We could make a 50 per cent increase in the number of persons arrested,” Doran continued, “but under the pres- ent_conditions it would merely congest (Continued on Page 5, Column 4.) Customs, | ferred RESOLUTION ASKS NEW LAW REPORT Senator Wagner in First Reaction to Hoover Spe- cial Message. By the Assoclated Press, ‘The first reaction to the preliminary report of the Law Enforcement Com- mission and President Hoover's special message to Congress transmitting the document came from the Senate with the affering of a resolution by Senator ‘Wagner, Democrat, New York, to have the commission report upon the “suit- ability of existing laws for the promo- tion of temperance.” ‘The New Yorker presented his meas- ure a short time after & special mes- senger from the White House had pre- sented the commission’s report and the accompanying communications from the President, Secretary Mellon and Attor- ney General Mitchell. ‘The resolution would have the Presi- dent divect. the to investi- gate and report on the particular phase of the prohibition situation mentioned. In both the Senate and House a few minutes delay in reading the communi- cations was meelslh‘fin kz the wind- up of business a m‘u‘;oon as the Senate finished read- ing Mr. Hoover's message, incorporating the various reports, the papers were re- to the judiciary committee, and the tariff debate was resumed. In the House, at the conclusion of the read- ing of the me: , there was applause by Republicans, which some Demo- crats joined. Speaker Longworth immedistely re- ferred the papers to various House com- mittees. At the Senate side, Senators Jones, Republican, Washington, and Harrls, Democrat, Georgia, the dry leaders who engaged in the recent public discussicn of law enforcement conditions, followed copies of the messages closely through- out the reading. Senator Borah Absent. Senator Borah, Republican, who has condemned existing law en- forcement agencies, was not present at mffl‘x‘”‘%v lution placed e Wagner resoluf was upon the table for future consideration without any debate. It would request Idaho, the commission to “inquire into and re- port upon: “1. The suitability of existing pro- hibition laws for the promotion of tem- perance; “2. The advisability of amending such laws and the amendments necessary to the end that more adequate enforce- ment may be obtained through greater voluntary observance of law; “3. The extent to which the inade- quacy of existing administrative and judicial machinery for enforcement of (Continued on Page 2, Column 1) PARTY TO SEEK COUPLE MISSING FOR 13 MONTHS By the Assoclated Press. ST. GEORGE, Utah, January 13.— Although it has been more than 13 months since the wild gorges of the Colorado River swallowed Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Hyde on a honeymoon boat trip, two determined fathers still roam the river banks searching for at least a clue. Having thoroughly combed the north- ern side of the river's banks, R. C. Hyde of Hansen, Idaho, father of the missing youth, and William y, father of the bride, were en route today to Angeles to organize a new searching party to cover territory south of the famous river gorge. Hyde, also accompanied by his daughter, Miss Jeanne Hyde, arrived here after another search of the vicinity in which the young couple last was heard from. The hunt occupied three weeks. Customs Inspector and Wife Grilled Following Home Quarrel. SEATTLE, Wash,, January 13 (#).— J. C. Drake, a shop foreman, today was in a hospital suffering from a ul‘lnst bt wound in the abdomen, while G. Wennerlind, 36, United States customs | () inspector, and his wife, Mrs. Meree We'x:ferlmd. were being grilled by police regarding a quarrel at the Wennerlind home which preceded the here sterday. yeMl'l. );Vennzflmd said Drake and Wennerlind had been drinking. She and her husband quarreled and she obtained her husband’s revolver, usually loaded with blank cartridges, to pretend she was gom¥ to commit suicide. ‘Wennerlind told the police that Drake took the gun from the woman and the m“xh:u discharged accidentally in a scuffle. ! 1 JusT /A ONEY BOIL AFTER ${ % ANOTHER Y QA 4 Two Hardy Gunmen Admit They’re Out To Slay Dead Pair By the Associated Press. CHICAGO, _January 13.—If what Claire Smith and _Harry Peterson say is true, Dion O'Ban- jon and Hymie Weiss were due for a killing, anyway. O'Banion and Weiss are dead, g war victims. Detectives, owever, found the two youths riding around with a pistol in their possession. “We won't deceive you,” Smith and Peterson told the officers. “We're bootleggers, and O'Banion and Weiss are gunning for us. ‘We've come to get them before they get us.” “Mercy me,” said one of the arresting officers, “gang killing has come to a pretty pass when the boys go hunting ghosts.” RECOVERS $24 651 TAKEN FROM NAVY Government Resumes Trial of Musil, Who Pleads Not Guilty of Theft. The Government has recovered the entire '$54,651.21 which Lieut. Charles Musll, naval paymaster, is accused of having taken, it developed today when the special general court-martial hear- ing his case was resumed at the Wash- ington Navy Yard, under the presi- dency of Capt. Willis McDowell. At the %4 [’ e/ ’}/1_ U. 5. HUNTS SOURGE OF PARROT FEVER Third Victim Dies as Malady Is Reported in Five States. =3 By the Associated Press. Surg. Gen. Cumming today placed Dr. Charles Armstrong, public health epi- | demologist, in charge of a Nation-wide investigation of widely scattered serious illnesses attributed to “parrot fever” or psittacosis. Calling in all assistant surgeon gen- erals, Dr. Cumming conferred with them today to consider unofficial reports at- tributing 25 cases of sickness to the rare disease. He said later that he belleved the situation warranted the Public Health Service's “serious at- tention.” Three deaths, in Pittsburgh, Annapo- lis and Toledo, respectively, have been attributed to the- malady. Heaith off- cials believe the disease is trarsmitted g:llly from affiicted birds - {6 - human ngs. Dr. George W. McCoy, director of the Health Service's hygienic laboratory. was_in New York today, it was sald here, and-with city health authorities he will investigate at a large pet shop from which it is. thought diseased birds were bought. GERM BELIEVED ISOLATED. Maryland Scientist Says Further Tests of Bacilll Are Necessary. NEW YORK, January 13 (#).—While outset the court-martial board over- ruled a defense plea, calculated to halt the trial on the ground of insanity, after the court had been advised that an examination of Lieut. Musil, under authority of the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, Navy Department, had failed to reveal any evidence of this. ‘The prosecution, conducted by First Lieut. Miller V. Parsons of the Marine Corps, the judge advocate of the court, had rested its case shortly before noon. The defense had put one witness on the stand, and Capt. McDowell then au- thorized an journment until tomor- row morning at 10 o'clock. Following the formal arraignment of Lieut. Musil, in answer to the charges and specifica- tions read at the previous convenin, the court-martial, which was halted last month to permit of the accused being given a mental examination, Lieut. Musil pleaded not guilty. Identified by Parsons. Lieut. Parsons first took the witness stand and was sworn and then identi- fled the accused. He offered in evidence and identified the report from the naval medical officers, holding that a detailed neurological examination had failed to reveal evidence of any mental abnormality in Lieut. Musil and had reported that the officer is not insane and 1s fit for duty. After this evidence was introduced, the court was cleared of outsiders to consider overruling of the plea in bar, ?l!h:ha defense, designed to halt the hind closed doors, the court denied the defense plea and Capt. McDowell ordered thé judge advocate to proceed. During his formal arraignment, Lieut. Musil stood up and in a clear voice pleaded not guilty to the charges and specifications which had been pre- viously read. Money Not Embezzled. Lieut. Arthur P. Spencer, defense counsel for Lieut. Musil, advised the court that the accused officer admitted that the $54,651.21 was in his posses- sion, but that Lieut. Musil did not em- bezzle this money or convert it to his own use. Assisting Lieut. Spencer at the de- fense counsel table were two Wash- ington civilian attorneys, Alvin L. New- myer and Joseph A. Kaufmann. On December 12 last, Lieut. Musil claimed insanity and sought to prevent (Continued on Column 6.) TACKLES BIG QUESTIONS. Labor Council Reconvenes After Week End Recess. ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., January 13 .—After a week end recess members of the executive council of the Amer- bacteriologists conducted ‘final tests in their efforts to isolate ‘the baccill of psittacosis or parrot fever, a third death and several additional cases of illness today. 3 The death of Mrs, William Shields, 51, of Preeport, Pa, was ascribed to parrot fever after an autopsy. She was stricken a week after receiving a par- rot for a Christmas gift. The bird later died. Mrs. Shields’ 14-year-old -daugh- ter is geriously ill with a malady sim- ilar to that which caused her mother’s death. Herber ©. Ward, bacteriologist of the f | Maryland department of health, an- nounced that he had isolated the bacilll which he belleved caused psittacosis. Further tests will be necessary, he said, before complete identification of the germ is made. Three more cases of the disease, were attfibuted to the: disease | gard PEN-MIND POLICY ASKED OF FRENCH NAVAL DELEGATES British Reiterate Preference for Kellogg Pact to League as Limitation Basis. LITTLE ENCOURAGEMENT | TO MEDITERRANEAN PACT Classes, Types and Categories Fa-| vored Over Paris Thesis of Global Tonnage. By the Associated Press. LONDON, January 13.—A note from the British government to the French, | published today, tacitly asked that France not come to the forthcoming London Naval Conference with a pre- conceived stand from which it might be difficult to recede. The note reaffirmed the British ex- pression of faith in the Kellogg anti- war pact as a basis for prospective naval limitation in contrast to the French view that the covenant of the League | of Nations should be the basis instead of the Kellogg pact. The British note exoressed preference tor h:nflélng 'Zt "1:'1““‘:?1 by n;:'l:me!, types and categories, rather on the French thesis of global tonnage. The British gave little encouragement to the French suggestion of a pact of non- aggression and mutual security in the Mediterranean. The note was the answer of Mr. Mac- donald’s government to the French communication of December 20, which various French views with refer- ence to the coming conference were set forth. Although London after publica- tion of that note saw no insurmountable obstacles to a naval agreement in its expressions, certain Washington circles regarded it as distinctly clouding in possibility of a five-power agreement. Confidence Expressed. The British answer concluded with xpression : e e: n: “His majesty’s government note with particular pleasure the opinion express- ed by the French government that none of the problems mentioned in the memorandum amount to irremovable obstacles and they share entirely in the confidence felt by the French govern- ment that there will be cordial co- operation amongst the delegations to promote the great aims of the confer- ence and that success will terminate their labors.” One point on which the French gov- t_has a} énll:zr times irmly-*tha mmyh tioned., 3ut at Sheffield, men at Sheffield, A V. Alexander, first Yord of the ad- § Sunday, expréssed the readiness of the British government to agree to their complete al n. As to the Kellogg pact the British note says: “His majesty’s government places considerable trust in the fact that 46 countries have declared their intention to renounce war as an instru- ment of national policy and to resort only to pacific means for settlement of international disputes. “His majesty’s government earnestly hopes the nations attending ithe Lon- don conference may by agresment on reduced naval strengths register their confidence in the great advance made since the war in provision for national security by political agreement. A “His majesty’s government. obssves with interest the distinction in the French memorandurg betwesn the pact of Paris and the co of the League of Nations. They suggest, how- ever, that the two' documents may. be re- led as complementary, one of the ubmarines British ernme itself to pi other.” Oppose Global Tonnage Plan. As the French m?nflon of prefer- ence for limifation by Global tonnage the note expresses confidence that any (Continued on Page 2, Column 7.) GRAND JURY PROBES GASOLINE PRICES Major O0il Companies’ Agreement Brings Anti-Trust Charges. By the Associated Press. which physicians say is contracted only from parrots, were reported in Baltimore. Previously three cases had been diagnosed in Annapolis as parrot fever and four others in Baltimore, the latter all employes of a pet shop, where parrots were kept for sale. One other person in Baltimore is believed to be After a’ brief consultation be- | Aberds disease in this country called to the attention of public health authorities were those at AnnapoMs. Four new cases described as psitta- cosis were listed with the New York State health department over the week end. SAN FRANCISCO, January 13.—FPed- eral investigation of alleged price-fixing agreements between the major oil com- panigs of six Western States will here today, with Assistant United States Attorney General Amen conducting the anti-trust probe before the “Federal grand jury. Subpoenas Mave been fssued for secs retaries of 23 oil companies in Cflflo{; xgxs. as well as their representatives Jury. - Charges are believed to be the out- growth of the recent gasoline war on the Pacific Coast. Among the companies whose repre- sentatives have been ordered to appear Four cases diagnosed as psittacosis " (Continued on Page 2, Column 3. before the grand jury are the Standard, Union, Shell, Richfield, Texas, Asso- clated and General. STOLEN PARROT CAN STAY STOLEN, GIRL DECIDES AS FEVER SPREADS Owner of Pet Winds Up in Jail After Row With Sus- pected Kidnaper. What with all this talk about parrot fever going the rounds, Ethel Nelson decided that her pet parrot, Polly, which had been stolen a week ago, could stay stolen, But evidently Polly’'s kidnaper also reads the papers, and when Miss Nel- son returned home from work Satur- cay afternoon she was chilled to hear ican Federation of Labor today had before them a discussion of the most important labor questions to be taken u% at their Midwinter convention. irtually all of the minor convention has been disposed of since the con- ference opened last We et gloyment and the dis- 'n by machinery. Radio Programs on Page B-7. placement of Poll;"- familiar “Hello, Ethel, how’s a girl?” How Ethel felt was no parrot's busi- ness at thal t moment. Polly found that out. But we're getting ahead of the stor Ty, Now it seems that Polly’s mistress had certain ideas all along as to who had made away with her garrulous bird. Grabbing Polly’s u’e and avoiding lly’s possibly contam- inated breath, as even one’s best friends are wont to do, Nelson hot- footed it from her home, in the 1900 gingerly | block of Seventeenth street, to the home of the suspected person, on Eighteenth street. th every step her fever mounted several degrees. ly what happened when Polly and her ine ant arrived at the Eighteenth street premises is not & matter of court record, in all its col- orful details. Reports from spectators who frantically called the riot squad of No. 3 police precinct indicated that the q | be sufficient in | 500 57,000,000 TRIANGLE FUND IS CARRIED IN TREASURY-P. 0. BILL Increase of $2,000,000 Over Current Appropriation Is Recommended. $23,000,000 LUMP SUM FOR BUILDINGS IS URGED $1,200,000 for Rent of Temporary Quarters and $500,000 for Remodeling Is Provided. Carrying a specific appropriation of 187,000,000 for acquisition of properties in the triangle south of Pennsylvania avenue to the Mall, an increase of $2,000,000 over the current approprias tion, and a lump sum of $23,000,000 {to continue the public building pro- |gram in the Capital and throughout the country, the Treasury-Post Office appropriation bill was reported to the House today. The measure also carries $1,200,000 for rent of temporary quarters, alter~ ation and moving expenses here, and $500,000 for remodeling public build- ings so as to make available additional space in emergency cases. Chairman Wood of the appropriation committee in reporting this measure, explained that of the $50,000,000 author ized for the public building program ’in the District, $47,968,741 has been jconsumed in limits of costs on nine projects. Pending legislation increases the original $50,000,000 authorization by $100,000,000 for buildings and $15,000,~ 000 additional for land, bringing the contemplated program for Wi including the "autho: B Siba0000, “The prbgei and’ outside of Washington. 3f pendiny legislation is carried out, will amouni to approximately $553,000,000. Specific Amounts Unset. The bill reported today follows the practice of last year in not any specific amount for continuance work on any !g:clflc , leaving the amount to allocated by the de- partments within the authorized total for the building as the progress of the construction work requires. The Treas- ury Department believes that with the appropriations in this bill, in previous l})mpfllu 3 will lunds to on work on all established pmject?l:.’ rapidly as they can be prosecuted. o A e name ted in- clude pletion of the building and continuation of o1 the " are Printing Office : Building; for remodeling and ing completed and occupied in order to get additional emergency cases; and an involving not more than $25,000 on one buddlg%. '.h,eslmmnt increase m $350,000 to $500,000. Under this aj . fiscal vear 71 projects were taken and additional u? aggregal are fee at an average cost of $5.10 Der beare toot: Triangle Total Is $21,680,000. pprop: $21,680, all of the property to be taken will not cost in rexgga &lfl $22,000,000. An in- crease of ,000, making the appro- priation $1,200,000, is mvfded for rent of temporary quarters to care for pub- ess pending completion of con- nructlos‘:r remodeling under the pub- g P! m. There is a decrease of 180,000 in the fund for outside mffllmll serve- Ices, due to a reduct in the com- mitments for this class of service in conrection with the lic buildings program. The $275, Tecommended in the bill covers payments to outside architects on the the St. Louls Courthouse and Customs louse. | Increase of $350,000 in the appropria- tion for public buildings operat! force, $85,000 for furniture, and ng.! for rating mpg:m. are made Guring the neRt TSGRl year of approst: g e nexi year of a - mately 40 new buildings completed un- der the present program. 5 Architects’ Office Provisions. “JAuthority also is provided in the bill ini luced today payment of ex- penses of officials under the architects’ office in attending meetings of technical and other associations in connection with the work of that office, which it is expected will prove beneficial in the construction and maintenance of public buildings. The present status of the Pederal :‘mm:n w-:gemmn was s on Treasury- post office bill. Treasury officials dis- closed where the $47,968,741 of $30,- 000,000 aiready approved has been allo- uh’rg‘ufl:g' some oil Itmument. t step in program, clals stated, was the Economics Build- ing, purchased for the use of the De- (Continued on Page 2, Column 8.) NEARLY DROWNS TESTING ICE TO AID ARMY PLANES City Commissioner’s Becretary JLoses Car in Lake Near Coeur D’Alene as Sheet Fails. By the Assoclated Press. SPOKANE, Wash,, January 13.—Wil- liam Lettau was nearly drowned to do & good turn for the Army “snow=- birds” flying here from Selfridge Field, alr was turbulent with parrot screams, | Mich. feathers, accusaf and recriminations. Police Judge John P. McMahon heard all about it this mom!.r:sbd{mm Miss Nelson herself. He dec! she had worked herself into too much of a fever on her Eighteenth street expedition and sentenced her to 25 days in jall or pl‘:l/lng the court $25. She went to a Efforts to locate Polly for an inter- view were unsuccessful. It is sald she has gone into retirement until this par-* rot fever has blown over.