Evening Star Newspaper, April 11, 1930, Page 1

WEAT! (U. 8. Weather Bureau Forecast.) cloudy and night; tomorrow day; lowest, 47, Late N. Y. Markets, Pages 13, 14 & 15 . 31,391 Ferohes W fair. peratures—Highest, 75, noon to- t 6 a.m. today. Full report on page 7. HER. slightly warmer to- Entered as second class matter shington, ch WASHINGTON, .D. C., FRIDAY, APRIL 11, 1930—FIFTY-EIGHT PAGES. PITS FAGES NEW SIENING OF NAVAL CHARGE OF TAKING §1,136.809 OF FUNDS OF F. H. SMITH CO. Indictment Naming Former Chairman of Board Has 100 Counts, Each Listing Separate Act. ALLEGES HE CASHED CHECKS OF COMPANY Grand Jury's Report Accuses Him of Embezzling Sums Ranging From $1,000 to $155,000 During Period From May 4, 1927, to October 28, 1929. G. Bryan Pitts, former chair- man of the board of directors of the F. H. Smith Co., was indicted by the District grand jury today on a charge of embezzling $1,156,~ 809.84 of the company’s funds. The indictment contained 100 counts, each listing a separate and distinct act of embezzlement. The sums which he is charged| with taking range from $1,000 to $155,500. It is charged that the embezzlements were committed during the period from May 4, 1927, to October 28, 1929. The indiotment charges that the money was secured by cash- ing checks belonging to the com- pany, and that a large part of it was deposited by Pitts in the Southern Maryland Trust Co., at Seat Pleasant, Md., which failed séveral months ago, but since has reopened. Pitts, with six other officials and former officials of the Smith company, were also indicted by the December grand jury on a charge of using the mails to defraud. ¢ After resigning from the Smith company several months ago, Pitts went to Florida and is be- lieved to be there now. Fifty Witnesses Called. Approximately 50 witnesses, many of them former employes of the Smith Co., were called to testify against Pitts at the inquiry just concluded. The Department of Justice, which has conducted the investigation of Pitts and the Smith Co., also has presented other evidence to the grand jury. ‘The indictment follows: “The grand jurors, empaneled and sworn in the District Supreme Covrt, holding the criminal term of said court at Washington, and inquiring for the District, upon their oath, present: “That G. Bryan Pitts, late of the sald District of Columbia, on May 4, 1927, was_an_officer and an agent of the F. H. Smith Co, that is to say, & director and the chairman of the board of directors of the company, and then and there employed and engaged in the direction of its affairs by virtue of his employment, and that on the day and year aforementioned the said G. Bryan Pitts had in his possession $7,500 of the company’s money and did unlawfully and feloneously wrongfully convert the same to his own use, and the same thereby did then and there embezzle.” The other 99 counts are identical ex- cept for the dates and sums of the alleged offenses. The evidence against Pitts, which was presented to the grand jury, was prepared by Nugent Dodds, special as- sistant to the Attorney General. He was assisted by Frank Powell, account- ant and special assistant; Louis Loebl and Aaron W. Jacobson, special agents, and Charles T. Malone, accountant. The same five men worked up the case against the Smith Co., which in December last resulted in indictments being returned against Pitts, Frederick N. Zihlman, chairman of the House District committee; Daniel R. Crissin- ger, former controiler of the currency; Samuel J. Henry, John H. Edwards, Jr.; C. L. Elbert Anadale and Henry C. ‘Maddux. | GEORGE PLITT NAMED TRADE BOARD HEAD Unanimous Choice of New Direc- tors Succeeds Edward J. Murphy. Others Elected. George PIlitt, head of George Plitt, In- corporated, decorators, was unanimously elected president of the Washington Board of Trade at a meeting this after- noon of the newly chosen directors. He succeeds Edward J. Murphy. The directors were elected last night by a full meeting of the board and the elec- tion of officers this afternoon was their first official act. Mr. Plitt was nominated by J. Harry Cunningham, who was re-elected treas- urer. ‘The new president has been a member of the board for the past 25 years. George. W, Offutt, second vice presi- dent last year, was chosen first vice president. ~ Charles W. Morris was selected as secretary. The following were unanimously re- elected: Robert +J. Cottrell, executive secretary; J. Harry Cunningham, treas- urer; Edwin C. Brandenburg, general counsel; Frank P. Leetch, assistant treasurer, and Frank R. Strunk, ser- geant-at-arms. ‘The executive secretary was directed to send a message of congatulation to ‘Theodore W. Noyes on his re-election to a dtracwrm;p lutstml;m;'t and to :1‘1; ess Sympaf . Noyes on Enen whgzn prevented him from at- the directors. FOUR HELD IN PLOTS Mexican General Finds Communists Active in State of Vera Cruz. MEXICO CITY, April 11 (#).—Gen. Miguel Acorta, chief of military opera- tions in the State of Vera Cruz, arrived in Mexico City today to feport discov- ery of recent Communist plots there, but which he declared of no great impor- tance. He brought four leaders of the alleged plotters, who will be detained G. BRYAN PITTS. BRADY FAMILY CALLED IN PROBE Five Members Summoned to Testify Before Grand Jury in Bombing Case. By a Staff Correspondent of The Star. UPPER MARLBORO, Md,, April 11.— Five members of the Brady family have been summoned to appear today betore the Prince Georges County grand jury which yesterday began its investigation of the Seat Pleasant bombing. Most of the Bradys summoned are immediate members of the family of Lawrence Le- roy Brady, automobile mechanic, of Washington, who is in jail. charged with murder. The bomb killed three mem- bers of the family of John Hall cn New Year tay. Cannot Finish Today. County officials said this morning there was no possibility of the jury fin~ ishing its investigation today, a number of new summonses having been sent out by the sheriff’s office yesterdny. As the jury does not sit on Saturday, this means that a vote on a possible indict- ment will not be taken until next veek. Those summoned for today are: was himself arrested and grilled in .he case and later released; Mrs, Yeroy Brady, wife of the accused; Herman Brady, brother of Leroy, whose wife, Naomi Hall Brady, was one of the vic- tims of the explosion; Emmett Brady, another brother, and Mrs. Ella Brady, mother of Herman and Leroy. Delay Yesterday. Yesterday's investigation did not get under way until midafternoon, State's | Attorney J. Frank Parran leing cecu. cases in Circuit Court. Because of the late start, all of he 15 witnesses sum- the grand jury. ‘Those who did were questioned by re- porters as they emerged from the jury room, but refused to discuss their testi- mony. This questioning was reported dered the corridor outside the jury rcom cleared. — 15 REPORTED DEAD 11 Believed Injured in Collision - Between Santa Fe Train and Pickwick Carrier. By the Assoclated Press. ALBUQUERQUE, N. Mex., April 11.— Fifteen persons were killed and 11 in- | Jjured this morning when a Santa Fe train struck a Pickwick transcontinental bus at Ysleta, N. Mex., said reports to railroad officials here. Reports to the Santa Fe yardmaster’s | office here said that bodies were strewn along the right of way. The driver of the bus was reported among those killed. The bus was demolished and the wreckage burned. Parts were strewn *| along the track for half a mile. Many of the bodles of the dead were unrecog- nizable. There were 27 persons on the bus. Eight were brought to a hospital here One passenger who was only slightly injured and who refused to give his name to officers or go to a hospital was put under arrest and brought to the sheriff's office here. George Irwin, engineer of the train, said he saw the bus on the crossing and slowed down_ the speed of the train to 38 miles an hour but said the accident ‘was unavoidable. U. S. TARIFF ARGUMENTS USED IN FRENCH SESSION Debate on Proposals Today Post- poned to Give Parliament Time to Study Bill. By the Associated Press. PARIS, April 11.—American argu- ments for a tariff were cited extensively in a 30-page report on proposed auto- mobile tariff increases distributed among :’he deputies of the French Chamber to- ay. It has been announced that the pro- posals would be debated this afternoon, it the discussiol but n was poned give Parliament time to atu‘:yn the bill. Clarence M. Brady, uncle of Leroy, who | moned did not get a change to go )-efore | to Judge Joseph C. Mattingly, who or- | IN RAIL-BUS CRASH to | sian me PACT TENTATIVELY SET FOR THURSDAY Complete Report of Work to Be Made at Plenary Session Monday. MORROW IS U. S. MEMBER OF DRAFT COMMITTEE Three-Power Treaty to Have Sup- plementary Agreement, Including TItaly and France. By the Assoclated Press. LONDON, April 11.—The “big five” delegates to the naval conference today decided to hold a plenary session on Monday for the purpose of receiving the completed work of the conference. Another plenary session will be held Thursday for signing, if it is possible to prepare the prospective treaty by that time. Should it be impossible to get the treaty ready by Thursday, the sign- ing probably will be deferred until after Easter. In any event, it is hoped that the heads of all the delegations will be in London for the signing whenever it occurs. The treaty will take the form of a three-part five-power agreement, in which the backbone will be a complete agreement between the United States, Great Britain and Japan on the limita- tion and reduction of all categories of sea armaments and a supplementary agreement, including France and Italy, concerning matters upon which all the powers are in accord. Macdonald Well Satisfied. “We are very well satisfied with the treaty which is in prospect from our labors,” said Prime Minister Ramsay Macdonald, after a meeting of the heads of the delegations at St. James' Palace this morning. “The treaty is a sub- stantial step in the direction toward which we have been striving in the face of difficulties which at times appeared to be almost insurmountable.” The drafting of the treaty and get- ting it in shape for signing by next Thursday is a tremendous job, and some of the experts were doubtful if it could be achieved. Most of the delegations today were hard at work preparing a treaty draft, and virtually the whole American delegation was busy getting its treaty ideas on paper. All this rough material will have to be pulled into shape by the conference drafting committee, which was provided for today. Dwight W. Morrow was se- lected as American member of this body. Comdr. Harold -G Train and J. Theodore Marriner are the American pied with the trial of criminal appeal | mempers of a parallel experts commit- tee, to which drafting problems will be submitted. These committees will work .@m unceasingly through the wi e nd. The scene at St. James' Palace this morning_was one of extraordinary ac- tivity. The large, handsome suite of rooms which has been assigned the conference hardly sufficed to accommo- date the various committees partici- pating in preparation of the treaty. When a press conference was held the newspaper men found themselves c.owded out of their usual quarters. London papers hailed the agreement a real step in the direction of dis- armament. Commons Told of Agreement. In the House of Commons Prime Minister Macdonald interrupted debate on the Scottish housing bill to make a “naval announcement,” in which he in- formed the Commons of complete agree- ment covering all categories of ships by America, Great Britain and Japan. “The differences in the naval require- ments of France and Italy have proved intricate and- have not so far been re- solved,” he said. Mr. Macdonald said a white paper would be published covering the work accomplished, and he concluded: “At a meeting this evening between .the French, Italians and United Kingdom delegations it was decided that as such substantial agreement had been reached it was unnecessary and undesirable to keep the full body of delegates sitting at London pending settlement of diffi- culties which primarily concern these three delegations only. “So we shall propose, at a plenary session early next week, that the agree- ment now reached shall be signed and the conference adjourned, on the un- derstanding that France, Italy and our- selves shall continue efforts to come to an_agreement in unison with that (Continued on Page 2, Column 1.) AMERICAN TRADE WITH SOVIET MOUNTS Twenty-Four Ships Bearing Goods From U. 8. Arrive in Three Months at Port of Odessa. = 0FFICER INURED By the Associated Press. ODESSA, U. S. 8. R, April 11.—The striking growth of Soviet-American trade was indicated here today by ar- rival of the twenty-fourth American vessel which has entered this port with American goods in the last three months. These vessels, owned by the American Export Steamship Corporation, which has a yearly contract with the Soviet government, in the three months have taken back wmflm ports more Rus- than was exported from Odessa in the whole of 1929. QUARTER, RIP AND ZRICK IN KNEE WINS CANDIDATE TREASURERSHIP Opponent Voluntatily Gives Up Contest When Coin Bounds Into By the Associated Press. MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich,, April 11. —Myron W. Waxwell sits triumphant in the office of Vernon township treasurer here today, but it cost him a quarter, a rip in his trousers and a near case of housemald’s knee to get the job. Ballot] the election at which Myron and Clyde Prescott were opposed for treasurer was very dull, and when th dges_quickly tallied the returns th:y}gunduqnmulnd it tied at 10 ‘votes each, 3 ito Dark Corner. “Flip a coln for the job, ordered the Judges, after an executive hud Maxwell had “huddle. his knee, but no e?unner 3 Right when the election board was in its deepest quandry, Maxwell’s opponent came to the rescu “Ymunuvu:ficm."-unm Maxwell. “Heu've earned it ‘WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION ADM. LEIGH ORDERED LETTER ON SEA DUTY, WILLIAMS SAYS Message Quoted by Ingalls Was Not Written Voluntarily, Flyer Asserts, Explaining A letter written by Lieut. Alford J. Williams, jr., to the Navy Bureau of | Operations, on the subject of orders | assigning him to sea duty, which was | used against him in Senate hearings yesterday, was not written voluntarily, but in response to orders from Admiral Richard Leigh, chief of the Bureau of | Navigation, Lieut. Williams declared today. Williams declared that the letter was incorrectly quoted by David S. Ingalls, Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Aeronautics, at yesterday’s hearings and left a false impression of his attitude toward the sea duty order, issuance of which resulted last month in his resig- nation from the Navy and the Senate investigation. THE VERBAL ECONOMIST. His Reply. Williams® letter to Admiral Leigh was written in response to an order from the admiral for an expression of opinion from him on the question of his assignment to sea duty, Williams said. Willlams produced from his files Admiral Leigh's letter, which follows: | “The bureau notes that you have failed since October 1, 1924, to express ¢ Foening Star. Ll JOHNSON DECLINES 10 CONDUCT PROBE California Senator Says He Is Too Busy for Campaign Funds Inquiry. By tk. Assoclated Press. Senator Johnson, Republjcan, Califor- nia, today asked Vice President Curtis to relieve him of the chairmanship of the newly appointed committee to in- Associated service. (P) Means Associated VICE SQUAD CHANGE MAY RESULT FROM LETTERMAN'S CASE Frequent Transfer of Lead- ership Held Likely, With Full Shake-up Possible. SERGEANT SOON WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR PROMOTION Advance Automatically Would Eliminate Him From Serving as Commander. More frequent changes in the leader- ship of the Police Department’s vice squad in the future appeared certain today, with entire reorganization of the | squad not entirely out of the picture, as its present leader, Sergt. Oscar J. Let- terman, found himself served with no- tice to appear and defend himself be- fore the Police Trial Board and a war- rant to appear in Police Court as an outgrowth of one of the squad’s ralds last month. The changes, however, are not a re- flection on the work of Letterman, it was pointed out. He becomes eligible for promotion to a lieutenancy next July 1, assuming that he is able to clear | himself of the charges he now faces, and a promotion automatically would take him out of the list of eligibles for command of the vice squad. Letterman’s present troubles center around a raid made by his squad on the apartment of Mr. and Mrs. Eleck Harmon, 1600 block of S street, March 28. He had no search warrant for the premises, and although he reported the seizure of liquor there, Assistant Distrit Attorney David A. Hart declined to prosecute the case. Since that time the Harmons have complained about! him to the department and have sworn cut a warrant for his arrest. Pratt Wants All to Lead Squad. | In discussing the affair today Maj. Henry G. Pratt, superitendent of police, | said that Letterman had been in com- | mand of the vice squad since its in- any preference for sea or shore duty in | vestigate expenditures of senatorial | auguration, February 6, 1928, and that your reports of fitness. In view of this omission and of the extended time dur- ing which you have remained on shore candidates in this year's elections. In a letter to the Vice President, the |it didn’'t seem right to keep one | sergeant in that command continuously, as it was the “easiest place in the de- duty, this bureau desires to be in- ! California Senator said: “My time is so | partment for a man to meet trouble.” formed by you whether further con- tinuance on duty on shore is in accord- | ance with your own wishes. If such is not the case, inform the bureau of your preference for sea duty.” In response to this order Williams INBOOTLEG CHASE Dodges Bullet, but Can’t! Make Turn While Sprinting From Alley. A policeman giving chase to a boot- legger last night dodged a bullet from his quarry’s revolver, but was unable to make a turn while entering a street from an alley, crashed to the street and suffered three broken bones in his arm. E. F. Lewis of the thirteenth precinct the officer, was carried to Walter Reed Hospital, treated and detained over night, but showed up at Police Court today to testify against a man arrested by a fellow policeman at the same time Lewis met with misfortune. Lewis said that he, accompanied by Policeman T. C. Bragg, made a tele- phone call and asked the person on the other end to deliver two pints of liquor to them at Fourteenth street and Colorado avenue. ‘The officer said a small touring car. occupied by two men, arrived at the appointed place a few minutes after the call. Bragg received the whisky and informed the men that he was & policeman. One of the men, Albert E. Ledford, willingly submitted to arrest, but an- other man, unknown to police, leaped from the machine and ran into an al- ley toward Sixteenth street. Lewis pur- sued the fugitive into the dark alley. The chased man, not 10 feet from the officer, turned and fired a shot almost point blank at Lewis. The officer con- tinued to give chase, but fell to the pavement as “his man” turned into Sixteenth street. Policeman Bragg, fearing his com- panion had been shot, followed the chase with his man fastened to his wrist. He picked Lewis from the street and summoned the patrol wi Ledford was charged with possession OBJECTIONS HALT MANY LOCAL BILLS Greenwood of Indiana Re- fuses Consent to Passage of Police Pay Increase. Action in the House on a number of District bills on the consent calendar was prevented today. Representative Greenwood of In- diana refused unanimous consent to passage of the Lampert bill to increase the salaries of police and firemen in the District. Representative Sim- mons of Nebraska, chairman of the subcommittee on appropriations, was on his feet to register objection. ‘The bill to prevent professional prize fighting and to authorize amateur box- ing in the District was passed over without prejudice on the request of Representative La Guardia of New York. The measure retains its place on the calendar. The McLeod bill authorizing the District Commissioners to settle claims and suits against the District was re- ferred back to the House District com- mittee on a point of order. The bill fathered by Representative Reid of Illinois, to amend the act establishing a board of public welfare was passed over without prejudice. The McLeod bill to amend the District code was objected to. The bill fathered by Representative Cochran of Missouri providing for es- tablishing the U. S. S. Olympia as a memorial to the men and women who served the United States in the war wholly occupied with my duties, and particularly those which have come to me as chairman of the commerce com- mittee of the Senate, that it is utterly impossible for me to undertake addi- | tional tasks.” Curtis Seeks Successor. ‘The decision of Senator Johnson left the chairmanship of the newly created committee vacant, and the Vice Presi- dent immediately set himself to the task of filling it. He said he thought that all the | sergeants at the various precincts should | be given a whirl at the job, as it might | prove valuable training in investigation | work. Few would want the job, he | added. The vice squad is dispatched when complaints come into police headquart- ers about speakeasies, gambling dens and disorderly houses, when the com- | plainants have been unable to receive | satisfaction from the precinct captains. If the vice squad is successful in mak- ing the case, then headquarters sends | notice of it to the precinct involved, This means some delay in putting | with an inquiry as to why the precinct under way Norris, Republican, of Nebraska, has urged and which the Senate yesterday ordered. Suggestions already have been made that the investigation be directed to the Illinois primary of last Tuesday, when Mrs. Ruth Hanna McCormick defeated Senator Deneen for the Republican Senatorial nomination and to the forth- coming primaries in Pennsylvania and Nebraska. In this letter Senator Johnson said he regarded the post “as exceedingly important, the chairmanship of which must be a full-time job. My situation is such that I could not perform the duties of the post as I believe they should be performed and as I know you would wish them done. Bill Coming Up. “With the rivers and harbors bill about to be considered by the commerce committee, with the innumerable meas- ures that are pending there, and with the work which otherwise is mine to do at present as a Senator,” he added, “the limitations of time make it an | utter impossibility for me to do what is required as chairman or member of the investigation committee, and with this knowledge I could not accept the po- sition. I beg you, therefore, to appoint another in my place.” Other members will be Goldsborough of Maryland and Patterson of Missouri, Republicans, and Pittman of Nevada and Wagner of New York, Democrats. Secretary Davis of the Labor Depart- ment, who is running for the Pennsyl- vania senatorial nomination, last night issued a statement indorsing the in- quiry and predicting that “a great and permanent service will be done.” His opponent, Senator Grundy, ap- before the Senate elections com- mittee this week to urge that it approve the Norris measure. TWO APPROVE INQUIRY. with Spain also was objected to. The proposal is to have this famous flag- ship of Admiral Dewey docked on the ‘Washington water front where it can be visited by school children from all over the country. of whisky at Police Court today, pleaded not_guilty and demanded jury trial Business Is Good We understand that The Star readers in 110,000 homes turned out in full force today in response to yesterday’s advertising. Yesterday was a good day, too, and there are more to come. Yesterday’s Advertising (Local Display) Lines The Evening Star. .66,627 2d Newspaper.. ...23,78} 3d Newspapet..... 9,701 4th Newspapet..... 6,926 5th Newspaper.. ... 4,605 Total other 4 papers, 45,013 Star Excess. . 21,614 lines Washington people look over the advertisements in The Star of all the at- tractive new things that are on display iithe stores, jat a dinner given by the German DR. AND MRS. ECKENER SAIL FOR HOME MONDAY Graf Zeppelin Commander to Com- plete Plans for Airship Trip to America May 15. By the Assoclated Press. NEW YORK, April 11.—Dr. and Mrs. Hugo Eckener returned to New York today after visits to Washing- ton, D. C., and Akron, Ohio, prepara- tory to sailing Monday on the 8. S. Rellance for Germany. Dr. Eckener is returning to FPried- richshafen to complete preparations for the projected mg May 15 of the Graf Zeppelin to South and North He will be the guest of h::or tonight e - tion ot Former Students n America. FREIGHT TRAINS COLLIDE Engineers and Firemen Save Selves by Jumping Before Crash. HOPKINSVILLE, Ky., April 11 (— Two Louisville and Nashville freight trains collided head on at Little River, just north of this city, today, wrecking two engines. Ed Shulter and S. E. Harris, the engineers, and two firemen saved them- selves by jumping. engines werc wrecked. One coal el.rn;:ll into Little River. The tralnmen all live in Evansville, Ind, Grundy and Davis Join in Pledge to Aid Probe. PHILADELPHIA, April 11 (#).—Leaders of the various Pennsylvania Republican factions declared today they stood ready to co-operate with the special commit- tee authorized by the United States Senate yesterday to investigate pri- maries and general elections. Both Senator Joseph R. Grundy and Secretary of Labor James J. Davis, op- posing candidates for the senatorial nomination, said they favored an in- vestigation of the Pennsylvania primary before May 20, primary day. W. W. Atterbury, president of the (Continued on Page 2, Column 8.) the inquiry which Senator had failed to do what the vice squad was able to do. Fenning Abolished Squad. ‘There was an interval in the term of |the former major and superintendent, Edwin B. Hesse, when the department | got along without any vice squad what- ever. One of the first official acts of | former Police Commissioner Frederick A. Fenning was to order the vice squad of those days abolished. His reason for this, however, was that the old squad | members- were being forced to spend imost of their time in civil courts testi- fying in divorce cases growing out of | raids they had staged. Soon after the death of the old vice squad, Commissioner Fenning instituted the flying liquor squad, under the com- mand of the then Lieut. Guy Burlingame. This squad concentrated on stopping the entry of liquor into the District. Later. the need was felt for a squad to handle the problem of stop- | ping the sale of liquor in speakeasies | after it came into Washington. Shortly after Commissioner Proctor | L. Dougherty succeeded Fenning the | vice squad was reorganized along ‘iew lines and Letterman was put in com- mand. He had been in charge since. Pratt Cites Results. Maj. Pratt saild today that he felt the squad was doing a good work, al- though by the nature of its assignment it becomes the target of waspish criticism, and that he felt that any (Continued on Page 2, Column 2.) —_— TAKE UP MERGER TODAY Senators Also Will Consider Cen- ter Market Bill. ‘The Senate District committee is in session this afternoon to reach decisions | on the street railway merger resolution and on the bill for a new center market. The committee also may devote some time to discussing Senator Howell's bill to tighten prohibition enforcement in Washington. Another measure Ilikely to come up is the bill to authorize the Commissioners to make reasonable regulations governing the erection of outdoor advertising signs. . Bridge Fires Delay Train. MEXICO CITY, April 11 (#).—Dis patches_from Saltillo today said the Laredo-Mexico City train arrived there five hours late because two bridges had been burned between Leona and Santa Catarina. It was believed that the bridge fires wwe incendiary. MRS. McCORMICK GREETED Victorious Illinois Senate President T By the Associated Press. " Representative Ruth Hanna McCor- mick was vigorously applauded today when she took her seat in the House for the first time since her election Tuesday as the Republican senatorial|m nominee in Mlinois. Representative Florence P. Kahn, Re- publican, ot California was the first to see Mrs. McCormick as she emerged from the Speaker's lobby. A message from the Senate was being read but all the Republicans and several Demo- BY APPLAUSE IN HOUSE Candidate to Confer With his Evening. Ruth Bryan Owen of Florida, joined in the tribute. Blushing and laughing, Mrs. McCor- mick bowed acknowledgment of the tribute and then took her seat beside rs. Kahn and Representative Ruth Pratt, Republican of New York. Group of members gathered around her and she was busy for several minutes shak- ing hands. Mrs. McCormick will call on Presi- dent Hoover this afternoon for a long conference. ‘The impression is that before making her State platform Mrs. McCormick is anxious to obtain the President, ¢ v - The only evening paper in Washington with l::: Press news Yesterday’s Circulation, 115,249 Press. TWO CENTS. CHANGES DEFERRED BY COMMISSIONERS PENDING INQUIRIES Croshy and Reichelderfer to Act Only Upon Practical Considerations. STUDY OF POLICE FORCE TO PRECEDE DECISIONS New Officials to Consult Subordi- nates Familiar With Affairs. Call on President. The practical side of every public question will be thoroughly analyzed before any changes are made in the policies of the municipal government, Dr. Luther H. Reichelderfer and Maj. Gen. Herbert B. Crosby, the District’s new Commissioners, announced today as they undertook a study of the func- tions of the various organizations under their respective supervision. Positive assurance was given by both Commissioners that their administra- tion would not be molded on theoreti- cal fantasies, but that the policies in- troduced by them would have a practi- cal, workable basis. The new Commis- sloners also take the position that it would be extremely unwise to make any changes until a careful study is made of the problems which confront them. “I want to get at the practical side before making anything but necessary decisions,” sald Gen. Crosby. “Theories are all right if they work out in practice, but I have found that some- times theories are not practical.” Dr. Reichelderfer said the same policy would govern his actions. Has Begun Police Study, Gen. Crosby disclosed that prior to taking office he made a superficial study of the Police Department, over which he has supervision, but pointed out that his knowledge of this important organization was merely theoretical since he had gained it through reading reports and the transcript of hearings before congressional committees. He indicated, however, that he has no definite plans at this time for carrying out President Hoover's pronounced de- sire that Washington be made a model for the Nation in law enforcement, ‘Through conferences with the heads of the departments over which they have administrative control, Commis- sioners Reichelderfer and Crosby plan to learn the problems of the municipal government and work out with them a practical solution. They look upon the advice of the department heads, many of whom are veterans in the service, as an invaluable asset in bringing about any improvements that may follow. They also believe the knowledge of Dis- trict affairs of their colleague, Engineer Commissioner William B. Ladue, will be beneficial in shaping their respective policies, The department heads and their as- sistants met the new Commissioners for the first time at an informal reception at 10 o'clock this morning in the office of Dr. Reichelderfer. More than 100 of these officials were introduced to Dr. Reichelderfer and Gen. Crosby by Daniel E. Garges, secretary to the Board of Commissioners. Pay Respect to Hoover. With these formalities over, Dr. Reichelderfer and Gen. Crosby con- ferred over several impending routine questions, and made arrangements to go to the White House at 2:30 o'clock this afternoon to pay their respects to the President. The visit, it was said, was a courtesy call. Both Dr. Reichelderfer and Gen. Cros- by have retained the secretaries who served former Commissioners Procter L. Dougherty and Sidney F. Taliaferro. Ralph Norton, Dougherty’s secretary, is serving Commissioner Crosby, and Ross Haworth, whom Taliaferro appointed as his secretary when he took office, is continuing in this capacity for Dr. Reichelderfer. No steps have been taken by the new Commissioners to reorganize the d partments under their supervision, though there is a likelihood that sev- eral changes may be made in the near future. Dr. Reichelderfer, it is believed, may take over the Health Department, which is now under the jurisdiction of Gen. Crosby, which would give his su- pervision over all medical charities. In taking the post left vacant by Tallaferro, Dr. Reichelderfer assumed supervision over the Board of Public Welfare, as well as the corporation counsel’s office, the playground depart- ment, the auditor’s office, the tax col lector’s office, the tax assessor’s office, and the office of the superintendent of insurance. Aside from having supervision over the Police, Fire and Health Depart- ments, Gen. Crosby is the administrative head of the traffic department, the De« partment of Weights, Measures and Markets, and the office of the superin- tendent of licenses. SOVIET TRAINS WOMEN TO BE ARMY OFFICERS By the Associated Press. MOSCOW, April 11.—The Soviet gov- ernment decided today to train certain groups of women as officers in tecnical branches of the Red army. Those who show special aptitude for soldiery will be admitted to military academies for further instruction. GAS MERGER TO BE UP Senate District Committee Sched- ules Hearing for Tuesday. ‘The bill recently transmitted to Con- gress by the Public Utilities Commission to authorize a merger of the Washing- ton and Georgetown Gas Light Com- panies will be taken up for considera- tion by the Senate District committee at & meeting scheduled for 2 o'clock Tuesday afternoon. is the same meeting at which the committee will consider the bill to give the Utilities Commission broader authority in regu- lating the taxicab business in Washing- ton. Officials of the gas companies, as well as members of the Utilities Commission, have been asked to attend the meeting to explain the merger bill. Radio Programs on Page C-12 [N