Evening Star Newspaper, February 6, 1930, Page 1

WEATHER. (U. 8. Weather Bureau Forecast.) Cloudy, followed by light snow late to- night or tomorrow; slightly colder to- night; minimum temperature about 26 degrees. Temperatures—Highest, 44, at 12:15 p.m. yesterday: lowest, 26, at noon today. Puil Y. report, Closing N.Y. Markets, Pages 13,14&15 = on page 9. Entered post office, ec No. 31,327. ashington, ond class matter D C. @he WASHINGTON, D. C, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1930—FIFTY PAGES. Foeni WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION ny Star, FHP () Means Associated ACGORD REPORTED REACHED 0 CURB USE OF SUBMARINE WITHOUT ABOLITION Flat Declaration Made by France Against Doing Away With Undersea Vessels and Favoring “Humanization.” FRENCH TONNAGE PLAN TENTATIVELY ACCEPTED Premier Tardieu to Tell Conference Type Is Necessary for Defense of Coast, but Is Not Wanted as Offensive Weapon in Case War Breaks Out. LONDON, February 6.—What virtually amounts to a five-power agreement by which submarines will not be abolished, although their activities will be restricted, was said in conference circles this afternoon to have already been achieved. French circles declared flatly that France would not in any way consider now the abolition of submarines. The pronounce- ment was in answer to the announcement of the American delegation head, Col. Henry L. Stimson, that at next Tuesday'’s. plenary session he would propose | abolition of underwater craft. France, as had already been forecast, it was said, intends to make proposals for “humaniza- tion” of submarine warfare. It was understood the main French stipulation would forbid the sink- ing of merchant vessels in war- time unless they were armed heavily. In this case the nations would bind themselves to make every provision for the safety of - crews. Tentatively Agree. ‘The conference, sitting as a commit- tee of the whole this afternoon, agreed Suicide Leaves “Every Cent” for His Own Funeral By the Associated Press. SAN FRANCISCO, February 6. —Before committing suicide by inhaling gas here last night, Joseph A. Bonk, 58-year-old car- penter, wrote a will in which he directed that every cent of his savings be spent on his funeral. “And, if necessary,” the will read, “place two tombstones on my grave.” It stated that $1,048 would be found to his credit in a local bank. ORTIZ RUBIO RESTS WELL AFTER BEING SHOT BY ASSASSIN Wife of Mexican President, | Also Wounded, Not Se- | riously Injured. | By the Assoctated Press. MEXICO CITY, February 6.—Pascual Ortiz Rubio, President of Mexico since yesterday noon, rested easily today at his home with a wound from a 38- caliber pistol shot in his cheek and jaw inflicted by an assassin just two hours after his inauguration. His physicians and his secretary, who was with him when the attempt was made on his life, believed he would be recovered sufficiently within about a week to assume the duties of his new office. Meanwhile, Emilio Portes Gil, who turned the presidency over to Ortiz Rubio, in his new glpuclly of minister of the interior in the one-day-old gov- ernment, conducted an_investigation of the shooting which he believed was the development of a widespread plot. The assassin himself was held in the Mexico City military headquarters, the subject of almost continuous questioning since 2:30 p.m. yesterday when he fired six shots at the automobile of the Presi- dent as he left his first cabinet meeting at the National Palace. Seven others, m:ir names undivulged, were held by | | Blames “Vasconcelistas.” Police finally settled upon the assas- sin’s identity as Daniel Flores, age 22, from little town of Charcos, Luis Potosi. Although he carried a small picture of the Virgin of Guada- upe in his pocket they did not believe his crime had ligious motive, but Wi, None of six others wounded by the grazed the ear of the Maria ‘young niece, Senorita nage, a conference Spokesman an- | Rosh, while the chauffeur of the presi- nounced. The Italians still entered reservations on all points. A subcommittee of two experts and one adviser from each delegation will be named to adjust cer- tain technical differences between the two groups, namely, the British and Americans on one hand and the French and Japanese on the other. The sub- committee also will draft resolutions summarizing the .progress which has been made. in the original French proposal blank spaces were left for the global or total tonnage fi of each nation. The meeting decided this afternoon that these figures should be inserted before the plan is finally accepted. It is understood the French proposed that light cruisers and destroyers should b2 placed in one single category. Japan supported this, but the United States and Great Britain opposed it. It finally was decided to leave this for further dis- cussion by the experts. French Plan on Tuesday. It was understood the resolution which the French will propose at ‘Tuesday’s plenary session would provide that in time of war all international maritime laws and regulations provided under The Hague convention shall be applicable to submarines equally as to other warships. One of these regula- tions provides that no merchant vessel shall be sunk by any war vessel unless the safety of the people aboard the merchantman can be assured and the attdcking vessel has sufficient accom- modation to provide for those taken ©ff the torpedoed ship. It was understood France would de- mand that any convention on the sub- ject of submarines signed at London shall be registered with the League of Nations. Then all other naval powers possessing submarines and not repre- sented at the London Conference would be invited to sign and ratify the con- ‘vention. The French announcement was made after a meeting of the delegation last night, at whi¢h the submarine question was examined again on the basis of an announcement that America and | Great Britain were agreed on the ad- | visability of abolishing the craft. The outcome of the deliberation was a re- | affirmatiop of the old stand that sub- | marines are a necessity for France. Tardieu to Make Speech. It was understood that Premier Tardieu plans next Tuesday's plenary session to meet the proposal for aboli- tion of the undersea boat with a speech, in which he will say that France considers the submarine the afeblvod of the French Navy. Although dential car has a bullet wound in shoulder. his ‘Three bystanders were wounded. One of them, J. Carmen Jimenez, still is in a hospital with a wound on his forehead. Two others whose names ‘were not ‘wounds. Precise information as to just what had happened was lacking for hours after the shooting. First reports that the President’s sister and daughter were in the car were rectified with later information that the automobile was occupied by only five persons—the President, his wife, niece, chauffeur, and secretary, Senor Chazaro, of whom only Chazaro escaped unhurt. Had Met With Cabinet. The President had just concluded his first meeting with his new cabinet in the National Palace when the attempt was made. As his automobile departed from the palace from the gate of honor a well dressed young man, standing be- hind the presidential guards, was seen (Continued on Page 2, Column 2.) BLIMP CONQUERS WIND IN LINCOLN OBSERVANCE C-41 Lands at Memorial After Four-Hour Struggle With Ele- ments From Langley Field. try winds and snow flurries, the Army Blimp C-41 from Langley Field, Va., landed at the Lincoln Memorial today in a demonstration flight in connec- tion with the observation of Lincoln's birthday, February 12. The airship, commanded by Capt. William J. Flood, Army Air Corps, was 0 have landed on the ice of the re- flecting pool, but this plan was canceled when tests showed the ice too thin to bear the weight of the landing crew. A landing party of enlisted men from Bolling Field, under command of Lieut. L. S. Stranathan of Bolling Field, handled the landing lines, pulling the ship to the ground just north of the memorial. The return flight is to be made this afternoon. $300,000 Gift by C. H. K. Curtis. PHILADELPHIA, February 6 (#).—A gift of $300,000 from Cyrus H. K. Cur- tis, Philadelphia publisher, toward erec- tion of a women's dormitory at Drexel Institute, was announced yesterday by Dr. Kenneth G. Matheson, president of the college. This gift of Mr. Curtis, who is a member of the board of trustees of Drexel, brings his donations 1t is not wanted as an offensive weapon, (Continued on Page 4, Column 8.) to the institution in the last six years to more than $1,400,000. BANDITS’ PET VICTIM REBELS AFTER THIRD HOLD-UP IN 2 WEEKS Much-Robbed Chicagoan Tells Thugs He’s Carrying Only Car Fare By the Assoclated Press. CHICAGO, February 6.—No longer will Nate Fisher be a fish for bandits. He has served notice that hereafter all the collateral on his person will be nothing in excess of car fare. Fisher has been a favorite among Tobbers. It were as though the rob- bers, meeting in their club house, would { say: “Oh, hum, business is bum. Let's | £o out and hold up Nate Pisher again.” ‘The motion would then be passed unanimously. Three times in two weeks they worked From Now On. it. The first two visits were at his office and netted $70 and $60 respec- tively. Fisher was not what would be called a good haul, but he was de- pendable, ‘The third time was last night. The robbers were waiting for him at his home. They hadn't had time to get down to the office in the day time, doubtless. Pisher resignedly handed over $12 and his watch. “But let me tell you something,” he | said to the robbers. “This is abso- lutely the last time. Henceforth I'm carrying no cash to speak of, and I'm going to tell time by the sun, and if it's night, T'l] guess what time it is.” After a four-hour battle against Win- | j, COMMUNITY CHEST HANGS IN BALANCE AS TIME DWINDLES $604,000 Shortage Imperils Campaign, With All Forces Toiling Valiantly. DRIVE IS DUE TO CLOSE BY 7 0°CLOCK TODAY At Least Half of Deficit Is Expect- ed as Special Advisory Com- mittee Is Named. The fate of Washington's second | Community Chest campaign hung in the balance today with only a few hours remaining in which to wipe out a $604,- 000 shortage in the quota to meet the requirements of the increased budget for this year. Cheered by the moral support of the | President of the United States, who has called upon every citizen of the District to rally to the aid of the Chest in this emergency, the volunteer army Iot workers combed the city today for approximately 70,000 additional contri- butions. The accomplishment of this task alone, it was said, would have an important bearing on the outcome of the Chest campaign which ends to- night. Fewer Contributors. “The fact remains,” Chairman John Poole said today, “that only approxi- mately 21,000 contributors have been listed this year as compared with a total of 65,000 persons who contributed to the Chest last year. Group solicitation will account for a large number of these givers by tonight, but we should have reports not only on these missing 44,000 contributors, but on at least 30,000 new givers. I am ‘what hopes I have for the success of the campaign on the reports that will be brought in on these givers at tonight's meeting " Some idea of the “clean up” job may be gleaned from the audited rendered this morning, which accounts for a total of $1,177,931.59, or only 65.9 per cent of the quota of $1,786,737.07 required by the Chest before 7 o'clock this evening. This sum, Frederick A. Delano, president of the Chest, says, represents the minimum amount the 75 agencies affiliated with the Chest can get along on this year. ‘The eyes of Community Chest organ- paig passed into its final, critical stage. This fact, as much as the necessity of keep- shots from Flores' gun was injured seri- | N8 faith with its pledge of last year, ously. One of the six shots fired grazed rred ‘provisionally on the general outlines of | the ear and scalp of Senora de Ortiz | efforts the French plan for limiting naval ton- Rublo 4,500 workers to renewed the closing hours. 100 Per Cent Attendance Expecied. . ‘The meeting at 7 o'clock in the May- flower Hotel is expected to bring out a 100 per cent attendance of worl While yesterday's disappointing of only $67,911.94, as revised the of- ficial ting department, failed to meet expectations, it was fully expenc}and B eported tonight, even by those who do not anticipate reaching the required goal. One encouraging factor in the final campaign is the aid that is being ren- dered by the Special Gifts committee by an advisory body of approximately 150" leading citizens, who at the meeting addressed yesterday after- noon at the White House by President Hoover. Mrs. is a member of L P e ‘Wwelcome support, the Spe- clal Gifts committee was uonfldemp:f completing its own quota, now about 95 per cent raised, before the campaign ends. The newly organized committee also is expected to render much aid in bringing in additional increased sub- (Continued on Page 3, Column 1.) AIR SURGEONS RETURNING First Flying Clinic En Route to Ha- vana After Tour of 11 Nations. CARACAS, Venezuela, Februa 6 (#)—Turning the noses of their pln;nes northward, five flying surgeons from the United States today headed home- ward after demonstrating new methods of practice and procedure to physicians 11 Central and South American countries. The flying clinic is due at Barranquilla, Colombia, for the first overnight stop on the trip to Havana. The surgeons conducting the first aero-medical expedition to Latin Amer- ican nations were honored here last night by representatives of the Vene- zuelan government. “The Proof of the Pudding” The merchants of Wash- ington use more space in The Star, day after day, every evening and Sunday morning, than in all other Washington papers combined, because of results—yester- day’s circulation of 115017 was an increase of 7,714 over the corresponding day last year. Yesterday’s Advertising, (Local Display) The Evening Star, 2nd Newspaper . 3rd Newspaper . Lines. 29,747 10,163 6,890 LooK Jim! EVERYTHING IPE F'OSNRUSP To g While the President has been repre- sented as having acted on the advice of the Attorney General in deciding to to a District commissionership upon 4th Newspaper .. 3,255 5th Newspaper .. 2,258 Total (other four) 22,566 Washington’s most success- ful merchants have special attractions to offer the public each day of interest to shoppers. his retirement from the Army in March, despite the law which reads that “the two persons appointed from civilian life shall be, etc.” it appeared today that the question whether Gen. Crosby upon his retirement will in fact be a civilian was far from settled. Attention was directed today to deci- sions of the United States Supreme Court and of the District Court of Appeals which have held that retired and Navy officers are, in fact. not_civilians, ‘The District Court of Ap in an opinion rendered May 2, 1927, held that a retired naval officer is under the £ | FEPPRODUCING POTION GIVEN TAFT Most of Physicians’ Hopes Placed Upon Obtaining More Rest. William Howard Taft was given a sleep-producing potion by his physicians this afternoon to aid him in obtaining more rest. ‘The doctors base much of their hope on prolonging Mr. Taft's life upon his obtaining rest. It was noted last midnight, when Dr. Thomas A. Claytor called, that the former Chief Justice still was awake. It is understood he was wakeful much of this morning. The visitors at the Taft home de- creased materially today, there being only scattering callers compared with almost the steady stream of those ap- pearing at the mansion yesterday to leave cards or messages. Indication that the former Chief Justice was in no immediate dan- ger was taken from the report here that his sons, Charles P. and Robert A. Taft, were still in Cincinnati and would not arrive in Washington until the week end. Despite his improved condition, phy- sicians made no effort to conceal their concern over their patient, whom they still regard as a seriously ill man. Friends Express Sympathy. The first visitor at the Taft house- hold this morning was J. Austin Lati- mer, secretary to the Governor of South Carolina, who came to present the re- spects of the chief executive of the Southern commonwealth. His card was presented. Other messengers, also bearing messages of sympathy from friends of the former President in various parts of the world, arrived at_the big red brick house. The Senate today adopted a resolu- tlon expressing regret over the “serious illness” of Taft and the hope that he soon would be restored to health. Hoover Pays Visit. The 73-year-old former President and Chief Justice of the United States was able yesterday to sit up in an easy chair several times, and during one of these intervals recelved the present Chief Executive, who was an old friend long before Mr. Hoover went to the White House to live. A display of the same patience and gentle good humor for which he was widely known during the long career that led Mr, Taft to the two highest posts in the land was shown during the visit of Mr. Hoover, ‘The invalid greeted the President with a smile and a feeble expression of pleas- ure at his visit. After a brief exchange of words, during which Mr. Hoover voiced his gratification at finding him improved, the President left. They parted with a lingering handclasp. A small police detail been sta- tioned at the Taft home. After examining former Chief Justice Taft this morning Dr. Francis R. Hag- ner said that Mr. Taft had experienced some difficulty in taking nourishment. Ihlinn-A\utria_n 2 Treaty Signed. ROME, Febru 6 (#).—The Itallan- Austrian treaty of friendship and con- ciliation for judicial settlement of dis- putes was signed at_noon today in Premier Mussolini's office by Il Duce .:ndt iJulnnn Schober, chancellor of ustria, GEN. CROSBY'S CIVILIAN STATUS QUESTIONED IN VIEW OF RULING Decisions of U. S. Supreme Court and D.C. Appeals Tribunal Hold Retired Offi- cers Still Are in Service. appoint Maj. Gen. Herbert L. Crosby | U. command of the Secretary of the Navy to such an extent that he might be sent to an insane asylum against his will. Lieut. Comdr. Charles E. Treibley, . S. N, retired, is still an inmate of St. Elizabeth's Hospital to which he was returned following the decision of the appellate court. In deciding that the Secretary of the Navy had right to order the in- carceration of the retired officer, Justice Charles H. Robb cited a decision of the United States Supreme Court in the case of Tyler vs. United States, in which it was held that “retired officers are in the military service of the Gov- ernment.” ‘The Triebley case was argued in the District Court of Appeals by Justice Peyton Gordon, then United States at- torney, and Assistant United States At- torney Neil Burkinshaw, who m to reverse & decision by former A (Continued on Page 2, Column 4.) WOMAN PATIENT LEAPS T0 DEATH Engineer’s Wife, Injured by Previous Plunge, Jumps 7 Stories From Hospital. Mrs. Gladys Sterns, 25-year-old wife of a production engineer, leaped to her death this morning from the seventh- floor at Emergency Hospital to which she had been confined since August by injuries from a previous plunge of four storjes. An ambulance driver had just stepped from the garage into an areaway in the rear of the hospital when, he says, the body come hurtling down the face of the building. Mrs. Sterns fell to .the concrete floor of the alley, and was dead before the driver, Ernest Yates, colored, could reach her side. The woman had been bed-ridden for months by a fractured hip, and hospi- tal attendants were mystified by the manner in which she summoned strength to leave her bed, open the window and project her body across a broad cornice below it. Hurt in Fall Last August. On last August 24, Mrs. Sterns either leaped or fell from her husband’s apart- ment at Cathedral Mansions, 3100 Con- necticut avenue. The husband, Allen G. Sterns, was not on the premises when Mrs. Sterns fell, although he arrived in time to pick her up and summon an ambulance. The injured woman was removed to Emergency Hospital, where she was be- lieved at the point of death from a fractured skull and back and internal hurts. She slowly recovered, however, and as late as a week ago doctors re- ported a marked improvement in her condition. Surprised by Strength. Mrs. Sterns’ private nurse, Miss Inez Jackson, had left the sick room a mo- ment before Mrs, Sterns fell, to go to the dlet kitchen, across the corridor. She said the window was down, and professed surprise that the injured wolnnlx; had been strong enough to open it. When picked up from the areaway | Mrs. Sterns was still clad in night at- | re. Mr. and Mrs. Sterns came here about | a year ago from Philadelphia, when Mr. Sterns accepted a position with n| local firm. ) “Vhen he arrived at the hospital this morning in response to a hasty sum= mons, he was accompanied by Dr. Abram Simons, rabbi of the Washing- ton Hebrew Congregation. Dr. J. Ramsay Nevitt, coroner, issued a certificate of suicide in the case. LIGHT SNOW FORECAST. A light snow tonight or tomorrow with slightly colder temperatures was forecast today by the Weather Bureau. The weather 1s expected to remain cloudy, with a minimum temperature ' tonight of 26 . Tomorrow be slightly warmer. ! ‘The snow will be very light and my' change to rain tomorrow, although a rising temperature is expected to stop the precipitation, Radio Programs on Page D-4! DRY TRIAL SCHEME OF CRIME PROBERS HIT AND DEFENDED Wickersham and Pound De- NEW RETIREMENT PLAN GIVEN HOOVER Proposal Providing for Greater Benefits Is Ex- plained by Lehlbach. Chairman Lehlbach of the House civil service committee in a conference with President Hoover at the White House today explained to him a new plan for a complete revision of the civil service retirement law which he said will bring much greater benefits to the veteran employes than is provided for in the pending Dale-Lehlbach bill. He laid before the President’ estimates of cost under the new plan and balanced against those the benefits to the em- ployes. on his return to the Capitol Repre- sentative Lehibach sald he would intro- duce this bill drafted. Just as soon as it can be | by the fend Plan to Have Commis- sioners Hear Cases. REPORT DRAWS FIRE OF SENATOR WAGNER New Yorker Tells Senate Hoover Law Board Is on Wrong Track. BY G. GOULD LINCOLN. Recommendation of the President’s Law Enforcement Commission that United States commissioners hear cases 5f minor violation of the dry laws was both attacked and defended on Capitol Hill today. George W. Wickersham, former At- torney General and chairman of the Law Enforcement Commission, and Dean Pound, another member of the commis- slon, appeared before the Christopher- son subcommittee of the House judiciary committee, in support of the proposal. The subcommittee has before it a bill posing to put the commission's rec- n;:mendstlonplnw effect. At the same time Senator Wagner of New York, a wet, attacked the plan in an address in the Senate, declaring that it would deny the right of trial by jury, guaranteed by the Constitution. He criticiséd the commission vigorously be- cause it had, in its report, confined itself merely to recommendations for strengthening law enforcement, and had not gone into the suitability of the ex- isting prohibition laws for the promo- tion of temperance. ‘Wants Real Abuses Uncovered. “If the President was in earnest when he called prohibition an experi- ment,” said Senator Wi , “if the President was in earnest when he prom- ised a thorough investigation into the abuses of prohibition, he can find no fault with the resolution which I have introduced. By the terms of that reso- lution I want the investigative work of commission redirected into impor- chnxnngl.r’,nbmnn uncovderwthe real abuses of prol , an proj remedies for their correction. Pnngg\: larly we want the commission to report m the suitability of existing prohibi- laws for the promotion of tem- perance and advisability of amending the prohibition laws to the end that we o1 e Jaw ‘and. be sparea the peceasity o W an e of de g to those accused of violat- ing it due process of law guaranteed Constitution,” ment_employes towards their annuities| Senator Wagner ridiculed the com- will remain exactly as at nt, 3% per cent of their salaries. mfi.mv- 000 fund already to the credit of the emtglom will remain to their credit with each employe having an individual account exactly what he has paid in with interest. Minimum Would Be $450. Annuitants would receive $30 a year for each year of service not to exceed 30 years, so that the minimum would be $450, which is 30 times 15, the lowest length of service on which any one can get an annuity in the Govern- ment service. There is no maximum annuity. In addition to recelving $30 a year for each year of service the annuitant would get whatever annuity could be bought with the amount his savings account with the Government lhn'l: T cen from his contributions of 3%, with compound interest, As goes. on this money to the credit of the in- dividual employes will amount to a very substantial sum, Representative Lehl- bach emphasized. In his bill he incorporates minimums to cover over the period until these separate accounts have reached a sub- stantial figure These minimums are the provisions of the Dale-Lehlbach bill, that is as a salary not to exceed $1,600 muitiplied by the number of years of service not to exceed 30, and the result divided by /0, so that a Gov- ernment employe at a salary of $1,600 or over would get an annuity of $1,200. This provision is included by Mr. Lehlbach in order not to limit the em- ployes during the next few years to a maximum of $800 resulting from pay- ment of $30 a year for each year of ser- vice, not to exceed 30. Fund to Be Established. There must be established a fund out of which the $30 a year is to be paid. To build up this fund $1 a month, or $12 a year, is to be taken: out of the 3% per cent contribution of each Gov- srnment employe. Representative Lehl- back says it is estimated that in this way the employes would pay one- third and the Government would pay two-thirds of the cost of this basic an- nuity. 'l‘f‘;e remainder of the employes’ con- tribution after deducting $1 a month would be treated as heretofore, except that a separate account will be set up for each employe as a saving account. As heretofore on death or separation from service without annuity, the em- ploye or his heirs gets whatever is to his credit in this savings account. For example, an employe of $5,000 con- tributes $175 a year out of which $12 is deducted for the fund and $163 is placed to_ his credit in the savings account. When it comes time for him to retire, assuming he has been in the service 30 years, he gets $900 plus whatever his accumulation at the rate of $163 a year with compound interest will buy as an annuity. So that there is no maximum in the Lehlbach plan and at the same time no one can re- ceive an annuity less than $450 a year. Representative Lehlbach will discuss the new plan thoroughly with the offi- cial representatives of the various em- ployes' associations. “I expect to put this bill through,” id Representative Lehlbach. “I can't see any possible ob- jection to it ‘from any source. The employes will be very substantially benefited above the provisions of the Dale-Lehlbach bill.” Notice to the Public The Star does not author- ize its carriers, or other boys, to solicit the public for any purpose except to obtain subscriptions. Requests for contributions toward athletic equipment or for similar purposes may therefore be considered irzudulent. | titles. mission’s plan, saying it advanced a novel doctrine that J:e same offenses may be both petty and grave, at once misdemeanor and felony, and that such gflmu may be punished without trial y_jury. In conclusion he said he would with- draw his resolution, and trust in the good faith of the commission to have its_terms carried out. While the pros and of the recommendation of the commission re- garding the use of United States com- (Continued on Page 2, Column 6.) TAX SALE NETS CITY TOTAL OF $886,314 cons of Last Year Is Shown by Collector. ‘The annual sale of titles to properties on which taxes were delinquent netted the District $886,314.32, Chatham M. ‘Towers, collector of taxes, reported to- day. Of this, $97,023.66 represented interest and penalties on unpaid tax bills, and $829.70 represented charges collected for the cost of recording the ‘This sum is an increase over the proceeds of last year's sale of $88,914.26. The assessor’s office on December 17 turned over to the collector's office 17,502 cards representing lots on which taxes were overdue. Before the sale actually took place, 2,919 of these were redeemed by the owners. Of the re- maining lots, 8,297 were sold to indi- viduals who bid for them, and the ?).l]a:rnlut: 6,286 lots, were bid in by the c The lots sold to individuals increased 1,117 this year over the 1929 total. The sale was held at the District Building January 7 to 14. LADY ASTOR HONORED. Museum Gets Dress Worn as First Woman in Commons. PLYMOUTH, England, February 6 Ppeeress, has acquired a new and striking fame. 'Plymouth Museum has secured the dress she wore as the first woman to take a seat in the House of Com- mons and the dress wi' have a place among habiliments worn by royalty and other personsges in centuries gone by. Lady Astor was elected to Parliament in 1919 and has held her seat ever since. Increase of $88,914 Over Proceeds |Mrs. (#).—Lady Nancy Astor, American-born | Yesterday’s Circulation, 115,017 TWO CENTS CRIPPLED CHILDREN TAKEN TO SAFETY INFIRE AT SCHOOL Four Teachers Bundle 40 Pu- pils in Wheel Chairs as Jan- itor Fights Blaze. Press. OLD HEATING SYSTEM IS SOURCE OF FLAMES 140 Others on Second Floor March From Weightman Building in Order. Forty crippled children, pupils of the Weightman School for Cripples, at Twenty-third and M streets, were car- ried bodily or helped to safety from the building at 11 o'clock this morning when the iron-grilled register which is part of the school’s antiquated hot-air heating system suddenly burst into flames that shot three feet into the air in the central corridor. None was hurt, although half of the youngsters, terrified at sight of the flames within a dozen feet of their class room doors, became hysterical and were not quieted for nearly an hour after they were returned safely to their rooms. ‘The flames, caused by the ignition of accumulated sweepings which had settled in the pipe vent under the floor, were discovered by Fred J. Courtnay, Janitor, and while he fought them with a hand er, four woman teachers bundled the cripples into the wheel chairs and rushed them to safety. Some Unable to Walk. Some of the children, unable to walk themselves, were picked up by the teachers who worked furlously to fit the handicapped youngsters to the safety of the out-of-doors. Others were able to toddle along themselves and with eyes wildly upon the fire, attempt- ed to quit the building alone. These were gathered into the teachers’ arms and half led and half pushed to the open_doors. Some 140 normal children, occupying the second floor of the old school build- ing, walked to safety with the precision and order which marks their regulation fire drills. ‘This school building's heating plant was roundly condemned in the con- cluding article of The Star's series on the school system survey yesterday. the Weightman Building, peaking of the article pointed out: “It is heated by lmgr old-fashioned Couldn’t Move Register, Today, when efforts were being made to force adequate heat into all the rooms through the old iron rzmm the e, o v B T e of years caug! . The oll- soaked wood floor din, Department, were handicapped by the absence of a sufficiently large enough screwdriver with which to remove grill m‘.’mAs soon as firemen reached the g they were able to wrench the grill from its position and the actual extinguishing of the flames was but & few moments’ work. Meanwhile, Mrs. B. J. Drake, teacher in charge of the school for cripples, which is quartered on the first floor of the old structure, and her associates, . J. M. Drysdale, substitute teacher; Miss Helen Mocre, physiotherapist, and Mrs. Helen Davis, matron, worked heroically to get the physically handi- capped &u&u- out of the threatened school. Within three minutés all of the youngsters were huddled in the chill air of the playyard and the four women were returning to the deserted and smoke-filled rooms to fetch blankets whlfll: they bundled around the terrified pupils. After firemen had given permission for the children to return to their rooms, the normal children of the sec- ond floor, to whom the blaze was little ; more than a lark, marched cheerfully upstairs. Then the task of carrying, rolling and helping the cripples indoors was begun. Children Break Down. Reaction by this time had set in and more than half of the helpless or par- tially helpless boys and girls were weeping hysterically. Mrs. M. Joseph Hanley of 1133 Twenty-fourth street, vice president of the Weightman Par- ent-Teacher Association, dropj her work, flung a coat about her shoulders at the first si of trouble, and went into the school, hugging sobbing chil- dren to her in her efforts to help quiet them. Many of the little cripples cried out to her as they saw her coming and (Continued on Page 2, Column 5.) “Ex-Wife Sues Conway Tearle. SAN FRANCISCO, February 6 (#).— Conway Tearle, thrice-married screen star, yesterday was sued for $9,932.50 back alimony by Mrs. Josephine Park ‘Tearle, his first wife. Mrs. Tearle all the Superior Court of New York City ordered Tearl to pay her $75 weekly until April 1928, when she was to s: $100 week. To date, she sald, had re- ceived nothing. in Which Auto By a Staff Correspondent of The Star. HYATTSVILLE, Md.,, February 6.— Leo Townshend, Washington Govern- ment clerk, and motorist, lost an argu- ment with an express train about a month ago and yesterday lost another argument in Prince Georges County Trafic Court by pleading gullty to a charge of reckless driving. The court was informed that the man drove on the tracks of the Pennsylvinia Rallroad at Ardwick in a new car and unintentionally turne: MOTORIST IS FINED $5 FOR DRIVING {CARINTO PATH OF SPEEDING TRAIN Rail Line Brings Reckless-Driving Charge After Crash Is Demolished. lea) for his life and the train de- molished his machine. The railroad company preferred the reckless dri cl and when Townshend ref to return to Maryland for trial obtained extradition papers from the governor. The man_thereupon returned volun- tarily and Judge J. Chew Sheriff, hav- ing in mind the loss of the car, imposed d toward Wash- | Hym: . Before he could right the auto | Wi Townshend 2n express train appeared.