Evening Star Newspaper, April 17, 1930, Page 2

WORLD-WIDE RADIO Senator Dill Charges Owen| D. Young Behind Proposed R. C. A. Transaction. Owen D. Young, chairman of the board of the General Electric Co., was charged in_the Senate today by Sen- ator Dill, Democrat, Washington, with seeking to form a “world-wide radio trust” through che proposed business affiliation of the General Electric, the Westinghouse Electric and the Radio Corporation_of America. Senator Dill said the proposed ar- rangement would permit the General Electric to dominate the Radio Cor- poration of America and all its sub- sidiaries He called attention to the relation of Mr. Young to the newly formed World Bank. “Only one more step is needed to complete the wrold-wide radio trust that Young is building,” be continued. “He is in a position to connect up the | World Bank and to use the exclusive contracts which the Radio Corporation | has with the other nations of the world except Russia.” DEAL RAISES NEW LEGAL ISSUE. | Justice Department Puzzled by Move Invelving R. C. A, BY DAVID LAWRENCE. The newest legal problem in cqr- porate law has been developed by mel latest move of the Radio Corporation of America, and while the lawyers at | the Department of Justice, at the behest of members of Congress, are studying its ramifications, they are frankly puz- | zled as to whether they have any right of interference. In a nutshell, the question is unlike any ever presented since .the Sherman anti-trust law_and the Clayton law were enacted. It transeends the holding company idea and is something new in the field of patents. Can an owner of one group of patents sell his rights to hasn & G. Bryan Pitts, former chairman of the board of directors of the F. H. Smith Co., and his attorneys leaving tl he District Supreme Court, where the fourth indictment growing out of the Department of Justice's investigation of the concern was returned against him Raichle of New York. and Rudolph Yeatman. MAY CALL PARKER T0 FACE PROTESTS Movement Begun in Senate, and Informal Conferences Are Held. A movement began in the Senate to- today. Left to right, Pitts, Frank G. —Star Staff Photo. PLOT TO CONCEAL SMITH CO. BOOKS CHARGED TO FOUR (Continued From First Page.) sum of money belonging to the Smith company. “In each instance these sums were wrongfully and fraudulently charged to & credit account with one of those other corporations that then had a credit ac- count with the said Smith company. “That the defendants did unlawfully conspire, in an endeavor to conceal em- bezzlement and misuse by them of & total of $5000,000 of the company's funds, to remove from their proper place THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON TRUST HELD A s "W IPRESS FIGHT URGED ' ON “GAG" STATUTE Minnesota Law Attacked in Address as Editors Open Meeting. Urging editors of the Nation to op- | pose aggressively any law designed to papers, Walter M. Harrison, president of the American Soclety of Newpaper Editors, opened its annual meeting today urging support of the Chicago Tribune campaign against the Minnesota “gag"” law. The Minnesota statute, Harrison said, holds that any newspaper or publica- tion which regularly publishes mali- cipus, scandalous or defamatory matter o be a nuisance. Under the law, he continued, the Saturday Press, a small weekly publication of Minneapolis, was restrained from publication. The Injunction was sustained by the higher State courts and the Chicago Tribune, Harrison _continued, planned to carry on to the Supreme Court. The American Soclety of Newspaper Editors had offered to join the fight against, the aw. Holds Public Amply Protected. “Here is a club in the hands of crooked office holders which the press cannot accept with folded hands if it ues its freedom,” Harrison said. “Without a jury, this summary pro- ceeding may be used in a campaign to destroy property. “The rules of law governing libel, slander and privileged publications are ample protection of the public.” Harrison sald there was danger if the Minnesota law went unchallenged that similar statutes might be passed in other States. He urged support of the Capper-La Guardia bill designed to protect re- porters in their refusal to divuige con- fidential information in any Federal court. Harrison, representing the Oklahoma City Oklahoman and Oklahoma City ‘Times, deplored the “flood of publicity give courts power to censor news- | D. STATES IN REVOLT, CURRAN TESTIFIES Tells Lobby Probers Five Are Openly Against Prohibition Law. (Continued From Pirst Page.) what action would be taken in Montana, He sald yesterday his organization would not support & dry. Curran said he obtained his informa- tion about Montana from the 1926 and 1928 election returns. In 1928, he added, the association appropriated $10,000 for the prohibition referendum. Senator Robinson, Republican, In- diana, remarked that the association had collected $182,000 during the first two months of this year and $152.000 had been contributed from Delaware, New York, Pennsylvania and Illinois. Curran said the five States he men- tioned had repealed State enforcement laws. Foolish to Lobby in Washington. Curran reiterated that his organiza- tion did no “lobbying” in Washington. “Does that mean you do lobbying outside of Washington?” Walsh asked. Curran said the organization some- times sent men to State capitols to inquire into prohibition legislation. “I think it would be foolish to lobby in Washington,” he asserted. Curran said the assoclation main- tained two offices in Washington—one for the secretary and another for Wil- liam H. Stayton, chairman of the board. Curran said pamphlets and literature of the assoclation were sent to members of Congress and there was a little cor- respondence with them, but that it was not, initiated by the organization. Caraway read a memorandum of the association which quoted Representa- tive La Guardia, Republican, New York, as saying that Curran should not ap- pear before a House committee investi- gating prohibition because “he isn't big C., THURSDAY, APRIL 17, 1930. DONOVAN DECLARES $9.000.000 FROM U. S. IS INADEQUATE SUM (Continued From First Page) tion increasing salaries of policemen and firemen. “It is our experience that annual budgets do not go down; they increase year by year. For example, the 1930 appropriations amounted to’ $3.000,000 more than the 1929 appropriations. Forecasts Larger Budget. b “The bill before this committee car- ries appropriations for $3,000,000 more than the 1930 appropriations. That, it appears, is bound to be the case. OQur needs the demands on e growing: our revenues are increasing, and for 1932 the very strong probability is that we shall have to submit a budget that will be several million dollars higher than the present one. That additional amount of money, under existing law, will have to be met out of current rev- enues, and this means an increase in taxes. “If the present budget had to be financed entirely out of current rev- enues, it would mean a tax rate of $1.90, against our present tax rates of $1,70. and if there be included the increase in policemen and firemen's salaries we would have to have a $2 tax rate to carry this bill. It may not be necessary to go above $1.70, because we will be able to use .our surplus revenues. but in 1932 the surplus revenue will be gone and the Commissioners will be confronted with the necessity of raising the tax rates to $1.90 or more, unless Congress agrees to and appropriates a larger amount than the present lump sum of $9,000.000 as the Federal par- ticipation in District appropriations. “I do not belleve the present $9.- 000,000 is an equitable participation by in" appropriations $42,000,000, exclusive of ap- propriations payable from the - gaso- line tax fund and the watér fund. The $9.000.000 lump sum contribution com- n the basis of the total appropriations at that time, this sum represented a more equitable participation by the United States in District appropria- tions than is the case now, when the very material increase in total appro- the United States totaling menced with the fiscal year 1925. priations is taken into consideration. For the fiscal year 1925, the divisible (which _excludes those pald from the gas tax funds, the water and trust | P appropriations funds and from special funds) amounted to $31,183,000. Of record of the House hearings shows that our assessment is higher, relative to the real value of the property, than that of almost any city in the United | States.” Does Not Understand. In discussing the proposed loan to take care of the municipal center, Sen- ator Bingham said he did not under- stand “why the District taxpayers should have to buy this year $3,000,000 worth of real estate to be used for & magnificent municipal center that is going to last for 100 years; why the taxpayer of the current day should be asked to go without things which he thinks he needs, like additional school teachers for his children, and additional school houses and assembly rooms and gymnasiums and books in his library and improvements to the roads which he is going to use and get the benefit from, and should be asked to carry in two years the burden of $6,000,000 for the purchase of land that is going fo be used by his children and grand- children and great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.” Senator Kendrick—"Mr. Chairman, may I ask whether the burden of this appropriation is to fall upon the tax- payers of the District or upon the Fed- eral Government?” Senator Bingham—*“This bill calls for about $45,000,000, more or less, of which the Government bears about $9.000,000; but it is fair to say that this $3,000,000 (for the municipal center) will practi- cally all come out of the pockets of the taxpayers of the coming 12 months. Any other city in the United States that contemplated building a municipal cen- ter at a cost of many millions of dollars would issue bonds for it, which would be amortized over a period of years.” Compares Mall Project. Senator Kendrick—"I desire to ask the chairman if he does not believe that this particular appropriation should be as directly chargeable to the Federal Government as to any of the purchases we have made for governmental build- ing on the Mall?"” Senator Phipps, Republican, of Colo- rado—"“There is another element that enters in there, if I may interpose. This proposal, as I recall it, involves the de- livery to the Federal Government of the present municipal building.” Senator Phipps brought out that the rice agreed upon for turning the pres- ent District Building over to the Federal Government will be a credit to the Dis- T QUET IS RESTORED AFTER DI ROTS Further Clashes Feared Be- tween Salt Strike Leaders and Troops. . By the Associated Press. KARACHI, India, April 17.—This city was quiet today after bitter fight- ing yesterday in which British troops fired on & mob of thousands gathered outside the court house in protest against arrest and trial of six of the civil disobedience campaign leaders. A check showed that 1 was killed, 11 seriously injured and 46 others injured s0 as to seek treatment. These in- cluded 17 police. The government health laboratory, with apparatus valued at thousands of pounds, was destroyed, while both the treasury office and another government office were seriously damaged. Considerable criticism of government handling of the mob was heard. It was said that the impending demonstration was a matter of common knowledge, but that authorities, in pursuance of the government’s _ conciliatory policy, did nothing to forestall possible trouble. ‘Reports here were that Calcutta was quiet yesterday, after sanguinary riot- ing Tuesday. Poona also was quiet. Anxiety, however, continues that troops soon may have to be employed in earnest. At New Delhi today Mahatma Gandhi's son, Davi Das Gandhi, and Shanker Lal, arrested April 9, were sentenced to three months’ simple im- prisonment for violation of the salt laws, Ten others arrested at the same time were sentenced to three months’ rigorous imprisonment. . TARIFF CONFEREES AGREE ON RATES this amount the contribution of the United States was 29.33 per cent, and allowing credit for miscellaneous rev- enues released to the District of Co- lumbia, 30.87 per cent. For the fiscal year 1931, the bill pending before this and destroy certain books and accounts of the Smith company.” The articles allegedly concealed or destroyed by the defendants were de- scribed in the indictment as 20 books of account, 100 debit slips, 100 canceled and propaganda” and the growing use of press agents. Harrison, discussing crime news, said he believed press associations put more of this matter on their wires than the average subscriber wants. enough.” g “That goes for Stayton, too” the memorandum added. Curran Says He Grew. ‘When the reference to Curran was day to have Judge John Parker of North Carolina, the nominee of President Hoover for the Supreme Court, called before the judiciary committee to an- the owner of another group of patents when the combination of the two means an outright monopoly in the manufac- ture of devices or articles of merchan- dise? That's the point involved and it trict, but that against that the District will have to put up a new municipal building. MISS MARY BAKER'S Only Eight Schedules Now Unfla- ished—Will Be Reserved for Later Vote. takes into consideration that singly an | swer protests made against him. checks, 20 files and 100 journal ¢ 'the large sudience burst | committee provides for approximately individual may have an absolute] Determined opposition to Parker by | vouchers. - Broadcasting Advocated. e ‘%-prltl“; - $42,000,000 in appropriations, exclusive LETTERS SEARCHED "’"15‘32"’ 'yr.'fia“'ih'?pfiin‘?&‘,?“‘u’;fi?,““ jis | colored people, who have attributed Lists 10 Alleged Overt Acts. Harrison advocated that newspapers id you appear,” Caraway asked. of (T ?sgdw]:ew":‘ funds, and trust and By the Associated Press. " a o - w g - | spec! 3 expamsion an ha peacht 'Sk the|Tachl prejudice to him because of &| The indictment then sets forth 10| et into the broadeasting field and prev | -es "I grew and grew.’ CUrten TeC) Spe BN FOR MURDER CLUE| The conterees on the tarift bill today fadlo manutacturing faciities of the speecht i 1920, s caused. consider- | alloged overt acts, each of which is de- | Uit e {ermed the atiempt of aviation | laaghed 215 Per Cent of Total. completed the adjustment of differences estinghouse and the General Electric | able concern in the Senate Republican | scri as an attempt to further e 4 - - b ighouse eneral e © Lt conspiracy to conceal the g interests to prevent the publication of Senator Walsh read some corre: “The contribution of $9,000,000 by (Continued From First Page.) between the Senate and House over all Co. together with their patent rights relative to the making of radio appa tus, sets and tubes. No hew cOmPpany has been formed—no holding company | has_been erected merely to hold the stock of those units or companies which have hitherto owned the manufacturing plants in question. The radio corpora- tion has purchased the plants and owns | them, as it does other property. If cash | had been paid, there probably wouldn't have been any question raised at all. Stock Payment. ‘The issue now is whether the pay- ment in stock makes any difference. Por the Radio Corporation now pro- poses to pay the General Electric and Westinghouse for their property by giv- ing them stock in the radio corpora- tion, in which they already hold a substantial amount. The radio cor- poration. has bought all General Elec- tric and Westinghouse stock in all sub- sidiaries, so that the latter now are 100 F!‘ cent owned by R. C. A. The . C. A., therefore, bears to the Gen- eral Electric and Westinghouse the same relationship heréafter that any enmmany does to a simple stockholder. On the corporate side it is not believed here there is any basis of attack, unless the payment by stock on the one hand is construed as buying up of a compe! itor by an exchange of stock, and ui Jess the grouping of patent rights under s single ownership is a restraint of trade. The Department of Justice can only determine these points finally by court action, but it will not proceed unless it feels absolutely sure of its ground and there are no precedents to indicate its course. The courts have decided in the oil cracking case that a cross licens- ing of patents is illegal and that's the only chart the Government lawyers have. That, however, involves a phase of patents not_covered by the present ! set-up which eliminates cross licensing and involves purchase of patent rights. | Indeed, the Radio Corporation contends | the new move is a simplification which | tends to conform to the demands of opponents that patents be definitely traced to their Tesponsible owners so that the individual alleged to be in- fringing can. know whose patent he is supposed to be violating. Litigation Possibilities. If the case ever gets into the courts it can go all the way to the Supreme Court of the United States under the broad stdtutes governing restraints of trade rather than under the patent laws alone, which do not as a rule per- mit of any appeal beyond the Circuit Court. It has not been unexpected that there would be discussion of the case in Congress, as it brings to a head the claims that have hitherto been ex- pressed by manufacturers who object to paving a license fee to the owners of patents when they group themselves together. The other side argues that, while it is a large manufacturing enter- prise, it is entitled to as much protec- tion for the inventions it has developed or owns as any individual. Ultimately Congress could of course have the final say in forbidding & grouping of patents under any single owner, but this would embrace many other things besides radio sets and probably would provoke & good deal of controversy in which all companies whose main business is the patented articles would have much to say. ‘The case opens wide the whole prob- lem of grouping of patents under cor- porated ownership, and the Depart- ment of Justice will not announce its findings until after a thorough investi- gation. The Radio Corporation gave all the facts to the Department of Justice, but did not ask for any formal or in- formal opinion, so that the iniglative must come from the department in the usual course if any further steps are to be taken. (Copyright, 1930.) TOWN HAS ONE MORE VOTER THAN OFFICIALS By the Assoclated Press. TETERBORO, N, J., April 17.—Here's & town with more officials than voters. The .census, completed today, showed “Teterboro’s official family numbered 12, including mayor, magistrate, clerk and & council of five, The voting populs- tion totaled 11. Twenty-six is the borough’s total population. Clarence Chamberlin formerly was justice of the peace here, but quit the job to fly over the Atlantic. BAND CONCERT. By the United States Soldiers’ Home Band Orchestra, John 8. M. Zimmer- mann bandmaster ani avdon Pointner assistant leader, this evening wt Stanley Hall at 5:30 o'clock: March, “On the Farm”.. .Goldman | Overture, “The Impressarue”, ... Mozart Entr'acte— “Ye Who Have Yearned Alone,” Tschalkowsky “A Song of India” Rimsky-Kersakow | Scenes from musical comedy “A Con- ranks. Informal conferences were leld to- day by Senate Republicans and it ap- peared that Judge Parker would be asked to come before the Senate judicl- ary committee to answer the complaints lodged against him, Some of the Republican Senators who urged the Parker nomination strongest upon President Hoover are | among those now classed in the doubt- tul column. Representations have been made to the President and he is stand- ing pat pending developments. The nomination is still before the judiciary committee, which will meet again Mon- day. MAN GIVEN 24 YEARS FOR SHOOTING POLICE George Wharton Also c{ of Taking Part in Store Hold-up. | ieted | George Wharton, colored, 19 years | old, was sentenced today by Justice Peyton Gordon, in Criminal Division 1, to serve 24 years in the penitentiary The prisoner was on crutches from the effects of being shot in the leg by Policeman Van D. Hughes alter he had shot the officer four Limes as Hughes approached him in an alley following a statement by Wharton that he would surrender. As Hughes got near him, | Wharton shot point blank at the officer For the assault on the policeman, to which he pleaded guilty, the court m- posed & sentence of 14 years. The ad- | ditional 10 years were given for the hold-up of the store of Louis Rosen= berg, 1415 Tenth street, where $28 was taken frém the cash register. Wharr ton denied this charge, but was cons victed with Henry A. Jacobs and James | 1. Stansbury, both colored. Jacobs and | Stansbury were given sentences of 16 years each in the penitentiary. The three men were in an_automo- | bile speeding away from the Rosenberg store when_observed by Hughes. who called to them for driving without | lights. Wharton ran and was pursued | by the officer. | Assistant United States Attorneys Kirkland and Goldsteln appeared for the Government. CLAIMS NEW SUB RECORD Italian Vessel Reported to Have Descended 400 Feet. SPEZIA, Ttaly, April 17 (#).—The Itallan submarine Ammiraglio Bei Geneys made what is claimed here as a world record, descending 400 feet b low the surface during trials toda: The craft is one of a new type of a medium cruising radius. It has a dis- placement of 830 tons on the surface | and 1,500 tons submerged. 150 ADULT PUPILS BRING HOMESPUNS FOR WHITE HOUSE (Continued_Pr | First Page) H‘()o\'er's new dresses are of white and blue. In addition, two books have been pre- pared by the mountaineers for presen- tation to the President. One is cailed the “Community Night School pilgrims and their children.” It is filled with pictures of the men and women on the pilgrimage and their children, who were left behind in the mountain homes. ‘The other book contains the signa- tures of the 150 adult pupils. John Helms, middie-aged mountaineer, sat on the running board of an automobile last night by the roadside when the car became stalled and laboriously mas- tered the writing of “Charlotte, N, C.,” as_his contribution to the book. When it was proposed to write names and addresses of all in the President’s book, Helms looked disap- pointed. He had learned to write his name, but not his city. After several hours labor he wound up with a tri- umphant flourish. The delegation spent this morning viewing the Capitol. Mrs. F. G. Wil- son, middle-aged mountain woman, clasped her hands when she saw the goal of her dreams in the early morn- ing light and said: “Why to think that anything could be even prettier than you had hoped!” Frank Wright, aged 48, stood beneath the great dome and told how he had been able to acquire a $100-a-month job since he got some “book larnin’”. He has been eight years going through seven grades of night school. He had to drop out at times on account of work requiring him at night. ‘The pupils who have arranged to necticut Yankee" - .Rodgers Fox-trot, “Congratulatior Stept Valse de concert, “Tenderness,’ ‘Waldteufel | Mrs. Elmer Gillespie, Silas Hensley, W. | Siegel, Greer J. Smith, Mrs. Viniarski, Mrs. Finale, “Just, Just Me” “ZFhe Star Spangled present the gifts to President Hoover today are A. C. King, Ben Butler, Mrs. Lue Meadows, mother of 6 children; ©. N. and Burgess Davis, They | are in part: ‘That Anadale, on March 6, 1928, or- dered removed from the Smith Build- ing, 815 Fifteenth street, to the Jeffer- son Apartment House, four boxes of books and papers. ‘That Anadale, on April 1, 1928, burn- ed in the furnace of the Smith Bulld- ing four boxes of papers and books. ‘That Pitts, on August 1, 1928, directed Anadale to charge $15,000 to the credit account of the Pittsburgh Insurance Ex- change, Inc. ‘That Heury, on May 4, 1929, arranged for storage of records on the farm of J. Rucker Porter, near Brookville, Md. ‘That on May 6, 1929, the defendants caused a number of records to be re- moved to the farm. It is charged they were packed in 50 trunks, ‘That on June 14, 1929, the defendants took 50 more trunks filled with records to the farm of Arthur H. Chapman, near Falls Church, Va. ‘That Henry, on September 6, 1929, had delivered to Pitts, at Washington, the individual ledger sheets covering the checking account of Pitts with the Southern Maryland Trust Co. Willful Concealment Charged. ‘The second count of the indictment charges the four defendants with “un- lawfully, willfully und feloniously” tak- ing away and concealing an account book of the Smith company with intent to defraud the Smith company, its pre- ferred stockholders and the purchasers of bonds issued on buildings financed by the company. ‘The third count charges the fraudu- lent concealment of “50 checks drawn payable to corporations and persons who have no just claims to the sums for which the checks were drawn, and also 50 checks made payable to ‘cash’.” ‘The fourth count alleges that the defendants wilfully and fraudulently concealed the general journal of the Smith Co. ‘The indictment charges the four de- fendants with intent to defraud the Smith Co; its preferred stockholders, owners Of bonds sold by the company, the creditors of the company, the Hamilton Hotel Corporation, the Roch- ester Corporation, the Fifth Avenue Apartment ' Corporation, the Fairfax, Inc., of Plttsburgh; the Hilltop Manor Co., the Cavaller Corporation, the Bev- erly Building o, the Law and Finance Building Corporation, the Pemberton Building Co., the Fairfax Apartment Corporation of Buffalo, the Pittsburgh Insurance Exchange, Inc.; the Welling- tori Building Corporation, the Marti- nique, Inc., and others, ACTION OF BORNO APPROVED BY U. S.! Revising Membership of Council of State Intended to Bring Roy’'s Election. By the Associated Pr Acting Secretary Cotton today said he approved the action of President Borno of Haiti in revising the member- ship of his council of state, if the ac- tion resulted in the election of Eugene Roy as provislonal president of the republic. The scting_Secretary of State said the United States Government was exercising a decree of persuasion in the selection of the next president, acting on the recommendations of the Forbes Haitian Commission. Port au Prince dispatches have told of Borno discharging 12 members of his council of 21, apparently in an effort to replace recalcitrant councilors with those who would carry out the United States suggestion of electing Roy. It is understood the State De- parlment expects the election will be held next Monday. EDITORS WILL VISIT MELVILLE STONE TOMB Directors of American Society Vote to Pay Tribute to Associated Press Founder. ‘The board of directors of the Ameri- can Society of Newspaper Editors, at a session preliminary to the opening of the annual conference today, voted to go in a bo‘:z to the Washington Cathedral Saturday morning to pay their respects before the crypt contain- ing the ashes of Melville E. Stone, founder and fermer general manager of the Assoclated Press. The editors will be accompanied by H. Wickham Steed, formerly of the London Times, and Andre Geraud, po- litical editor of the Echo de Parls. e Lel‘Amh Club Elects. The Ies Amis Club elected officers Tuesday evening at the Jewish Com- munity Center. They are: Isie M. president; Henry Cohen, vice president; Saul 8. Sober, treasurer, and Irving King, secretary, accidents and said progress in this field was due to free publicity given the activity ‘The society president asked support for the movement to prevent the cus- toms service from censoring books brought into this country, and praised the Cleveland press for its fight against paper men. Support for a bill by Senator Van- denberg of Michigan designed to pre- vent & judge sitting in contempt pro- ceedings in which he is challenger was urged by him. Capper Bill Indorsed. The sociely’s committee on legisla- tion and freedom of the press listed five “outstanding matters” in its an- nual report. The committee indorsed the pending Capper bill, which would protect newspaper men from attempts to force them to reveal the sources of confidential information, and the Van- denberg bill. P the ‘The Minnesota law trial, Cleveland Press contempt of court case, in the course of which the editor and chief editorial writer were sent to Jail, and a California case in which & news- paper editor criticized a judge and was Iater vindicated, were described in the report as “typical of a tendency on the part of courts and legislative bodies which must ever be watched.” Commenting on the Capper bill, the committee set forth its views as follows: “The inviolability of confidential sources of news is fully established in tradition, if not in law, and seldom have courts attempted to disregard it. 1t is one of the fundamentals of news- | paper service and most important, if not absolutely essential, to the service which the newspaper is bound to give the public.” ‘The Vandenberg bill was described as “perhaps the most hopeful outgrowth of the year's activities in our line.” The report was submitted by Grove Patterson of the Toledo Blade, chair- man of the committee. Directors of the society met at the Willard Hotel this morning, prelimi- nary to the opening meeting. The editors were welcomed to Washington by Norman Baxter, president of the National Press Club, Who greeted the organization on behalf of the Washington correspond- ents. Mr. Baxter is managing editor of the Washington Post. The meeting will continue through Saturday and will close that night with a banquet, at which President Hoover, H. Wickham Steed, formerly of the London Times, and Andre Gereaud, political editor of the Echo de Paris, known widely as Pertinax, will speak. The address of President Hoover will be only to the editors and the usual custom of not publishing his remarks will be followed. Subjects Are Varied. A variety of subjects touching on the social as well as the professional aspects of newspaper work will engage the editors during their meeting. Chief among the matters scheduled for ex- tended discussion is the relation of the press and the courls, a subject which has grown in importance to newspaper editors in recent years, Virtually all phases of journalism will be studied by the editors, who annually regard their meeting in the Capital as & pilgrimage to the fountain head of national news. A large number of the editors have served here as correspond- ents for the papers they now control. Dinner to Honor Visitors. Among the speakers on the three- day program will be Edward H. But- ler, editor and publisher of the Buffalo Evening Times; Marlen E. Pew, editor of Editor and Publisher; Senator Van- denberg of Michigan, who publishes a newspaper; Justice Ernest 1. Edgecomb of the appellate division of the Supreme Court of New York, George W. Wicker- sham, chairman of the National Law Commission; Andrew R. Sheriff of the American Bar Association; Dr. Robert M. Hutchins, president of the Univer- sity of Chicago: Secretary of the ln- terior Wilbur, M. H. Aylesworth, presi- dent of the National Broadcasting Co.; Frank E. Gannett, president of the Gannett newspapers; David Lawrence, president of thé United - States Dall | | | Drake University; A. R. | managing editor of the New York Herald-Tribune, and W. G. Corpe, Sun- day and feature editor of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. A buffet dinner and entertainment program_ will be given in the quarters ning in honor of the visitors, by the membership of the club. i NAMES WERE CONFUSED Party Was Not Given at Home of J. E. Bennett. A news story published in ‘The Star of April 6 stated that John Shymansky, charged with impersonating an officer, had left a party in the home of Fifth Precinct Pvt, J. E. Bennett. Later it developed that the testimony in Police Court referred to another po- liceman with a similar name and not J. E. Bennett, who is attached to pre- cinct No. 11. The Star makes this cor- contempt sentences imposed on news- ! | | George Gallup, director of journalism of | Holcumbe, = fled. of the National Press Club this eve- | | sue it might be a good idea to sup- spondence concerning a recent anti-pro- nibition speech delivered in the Senate by Senator Tydings of Maryland. It sald the association was alding in ob- taining publicity for the speech. “Are you going to distribute it,” ‘Walsh demanded. “I don’t know,” Curran said. Asked if the association supported any candidates other than members of Congress, Curran said this action was taken “occasionally.” Senator Walsh read a letter sent by Curran to Nicholas Murray Butler, president of Columbia University, a wet, asking him to send a telegram to Representative John W. Reamer of New York urging him to support prohibition legislation before the New York Legis- lature. Holds “This Is Turning Point,” Curran said that the people were three to one sgainst prohibition and Congress was three to one for prohibi- tion. “This is the dryest Congrest we have ever had,” Curran continued. “This is the bottom of the hill—this is the turn- ing_point.” Questioned about reports made by Carter Field, who was not further identified, Curran said he had been paid $625 a month for the last five or six months to make political investiga- tions. Reading from reports of the associa- tion, Robinson said 53 contributors last year had given $321,260, or more than 75 per cent of the total amount. “The revolution you were talking about doesn’t extend to the pocket- books,” Robinson said. “Revolution in Ballot Box.” “The revolution is in the ballot box,” Curran replied. Robinson read a report made by Field on Maryland, which said: “Personally, I would be inclined to put the re-election of Gov. Ritchie, includ- ing the renomination, first. econd, hold Cole in the second dis- triet. “Mr, Beck in the first district himself regards the district as dry, so I am not excited about that. “In the sixth district, in the fight on Zihlman, T am told by Mr. Shanberger that the probable Democratic nominee, Fuller Barnard, bas not stated his posi- tion, but is wet. “Now if a primary fight between Barnard and David J. Lewls should en- port Barnard, providing he gives the proper assurances. “But unless he is willing to do this openly it seems to me very little would be gained. It is an up-hill fight any- how, for Davy Lewis has always been very strong in the District.” Cites Prohibition Slayings. Curran started his testimony with the charge that some of the reports by Gov- ernment agents of prohibition slayings did not fully represent the facts. He added that the agents reported killings to “save their own skins” and said Assistant Secretary Lowman, in charge of prohibition enforcement for the Treasury, accepted the reports. Appearing for the second day, Cur- ran said the principal activity of his association was assembling and distri- bution of prohibition informaton. Questioned by Senator Walsh, he testified there was “no concealment of facts that come to our knowledge.” Walsh asked if the association com- piled statistics concerning the gumber of persons killed by prohibition ‘agents. “We do, and it seems to us a consid- erable number,” Curran replied. “Have you ever reported that the person killed was shot while engaged 1n violating the law and endeavoring to resist arrest” Walsh demanded. Curran said Government reports had been used and “we have faithfully fol- lowed those reports,” he added, saying Government agents usually reported that persons killed were engaged in violating the law and in resisting arrest. Scans Pamphlet of Asspciation, Curran looked through a pamphlet called “Reforming America With a Shot- gun,” issued by his association, but was unable immediately to find any case where it was reported by the or- ganization that the killing was justi- ed. Pressed by Chairman Caraway to state whether the assoclation reported prohibition agents killed by bootleggers, Curran sald he would have to look through the literature of the organiza- fon, don't think you know anything,” Caraway commented. might compare favorably with you,” Curran shot K. Caraway, ing the floor, continued to demand that the witness answer the question and Curran interjected: “If yowll compose yourself and sft n, T'll try to answer the question.” 0, I'll stand up,” Caraway asserted. Questioned by Walsh, the witness sald he was under the impression that the facts were reported on both sides of the question, but he wanted to be certain of his answers. “We try to give the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth” he asserted, adding that that was not true of the Anti-Saloon League and the Methodist Board of Temperance, Pro- hibition and Publjc Morals. rection in justice to Policeman Bennett.. “We'll get to ' later,” Walsh said. the United States is 21.5 per cent of this and giving the United States credit for the release of miscellaneous revenues to the District, the lump sum represents 24.5 per cent of proposed If the test of equitable contributions by the United ! States is to be determined on the basis of the proportion that the lump sum total, 1931 appropriations. contribution represented to the total ap: propriations in 1925, it must be obvious that the amount of the lump sum does not meet the test when set up agains the amount of the District bill for 1931, which carries $12,000,000 more (in di- visible appropriations) than the appro- priations for 1925.” At this point, Senator Bingham told the auditor he was wondering whether it would not be possible to arrange to borrow from the Federal Government the money needed for the municipal center and pay such interest as the Federal Government would have to pay for the money “and provide for spread- ing this payment over a period of years.” Senator Bingham asked whether ad- ditional legisiation separate from the would be needed. appropriation bill e % the belief The suditor expressed would require legislation. Later, the auditor submitted a pro- posed amendment to be added to the item in the appropriation bill for con- tinuing the purchase of land for the municipal center, in complance with stion Senator Bingham had | the su made. ‘This amendment would provide for a loan of $3.000,000, which is the amoun! the House appropriated toward con: tinuing the municipal center projec during the coming fiscal year. The bil which Senator Capper introduced yes terday would call for a loan of $15,000, 000, to cover not only purchase of the | remainder of the municipal center area, but also the first two bufldings. Against Paying Interest. After he had presented the suggested | amendment te make the $3,000,000 loan. Maj. Don;)\'nn explained: Tt will of this $3.000,000. which I will indicate in a moment, be Tequired to pay money. “Should your committee decide that any loans made to the District by the Treasury in connection with the de- velopment of the municipal center proj- ect should be considered on the same basis as the bills now pending in Con- gress for the acquisition of park land and for the establishment of an air- port, which propose reimbursements to be made to the United States out of the revenues of the District of Colum- bia over a period of years without any interest charge, it is suggested that the foregoing amendment be modified by | striking out the words ‘with interesi at T cent per annum on the rate of 3'4 annual balances ‘The hearings show that the interest rate of 31; per cent was fixed as the result of information given informally to the auditor by the Treasury Depart- ment. “You will recall,” Donovan told Sen- ator Bingham “that the Cramton Park bill spreads the reimbursements over a period of 16 years, and does not require interest to be paid by the District of Columbia; and I believe the airport bill makes the reimbursement period 10 years and does not require the District to pay interest " “That is true.” Senator Bingham re- plied. he difference there is that both of those measures are measures which concern the Natlonal Capital as a National Capital.” Adornments to Capital. “Is not that also true, Senator, con- cerning the development of the four blocks here at the foot of the Capitol into a magnificent series of structures, adornments to the National Capital?” Donovan continued. “The National Capital idea appeals to me as being Just as much involved in the municipal center development as in the sirport and park development schemes.” “I do not think so, quite &s much,” Senator Bingham responded. “How- ever, I do not want to go into that! question now.” The discussion turned at this point to assessments in the District, with Senator Kendrick, Democrat, of Wyo- ming, inquiring if they were based on full “value of the property. Donovan sald the law required full value assess- ments and that the assessor takes the view that real estate throughout the District, taken as a whole, is assessed at slightly more than 90 per cent. “It is necessary, of course, to main- tain equalization in the assessment of property,” the auditor explained. “It would hardly be possible to assess all real property at & full 100 per cent and maintain equalization.” Sepator Kendrick. suggested that in many cases property is overvalued for the assessment of taxes because of the fluctuations. “That is the allegation in some quar- ters,” Donovan sald. “I belleve it is pretty generally recognized that prop- erty in the District of Columbia is as- sessed just about as high as it should 80." Senator Bingham added that “the it be noted that the above amendment. proposed an interest charge to be pald by the District on the use For the rensnn; do not believe that the District should interest on this theory advanced several days ago that the clerk may have been murdered with her own weapon. It was thought that if Miss Baker carried a gun in the car she undoubtedly reached for it to defend herself against the man who criminally assaulted her and that he wrested it away and shot her after the attack. The investigators are particularly anxious to locate the gun, but an ex- haustive survey of the supposed scene of the crime and the irrigation pond on the Arlington experimental farms of the Department of Agriculture has failed to locate it. The weapon is con- sidered one of the important missing links, for if it is found the detectives are confident it would not be difficult to trace its owner. The detectives also are still search- ing for the missing coat, hat and pocketbook of Miss Baker. At first it was believed that the two colored men who were arrested last Saturday night in Arlington County for removing a small coin purse and a scarf from the slain woman's abandoned car may have taken the clothes, but the authorities are now satisfied apparently that the two men had nothing to do with the removal of these articles. Missing Clothing Puzzles. The fact that the clothing cannot be found is one of the most puzzling questions confronting the investigators. They cannot account for the missing t | articles in any of their theories. Be- " | cause the coin purse which she carried +|in her large pocketbook together with 1| the keys to the car were found in the - | Arlington Experimental Farm grounds, the detectives are satisfied that she was not choked and assaulted in a house and carried into Arlington Coun- ty and shot to death. If the slayer had followed this course, it was said, it would account possibly for the miss- ing clothing. But they contend that the murderer would not have taken the trouble to gather up Miss Baker's pocketbook and shawl and put them into the car and left them there for the authorities to find. Like all other leads that the in- vestigators have followed the trail which took two of them into the northern neck of Virginia to question several of Miss Baker's friends there failed to produce any information which will be of assistance in finding the murderer. ‘The two investigators returned this morning and reported to Commonwealth Attorney William C. Gloth of Arlington County that they had been on a fruit- less trail. L 1 Not Suspected. ‘The names of Miss Baker’s friends in the northern neck of Virginia were ob- tained from some of the correspondence the authorities found in the slain clerk’s home. These friends, however, were in no way suspected of having anything to do with the crime, but the investigators felt that she may have confided certain things in them which could throw some light on the motive for the slaying. ‘The procedure to be followed in the investigation now, was not disclosed by Inspector Shelby, but there are indica- tions that the officials are still depend- ing almost entirely on the letters writ- ten 1o Miss Baker for even a mcager clue. Only two members of the humicide squad were away from headquarters this morning conducting an investigation of the case. These were Detectives Fowler | &nd Fleharty. The others spent most jof the morning with Lieut. Kelly and | Inspector Shelby examining the corre- spondence and other personal belongings of Miss Baker. | Gloth and two Department of Justice agents, however, were not seen at head- | quarters. They were reported to be | investigating rumors that some of Miss | Baker's correspondence and photographs had been removed from her desk prior to the visit at the Navy Department Monday by the Arlington County com- monwealth attorney and the two agents. A new theory that grew out of the unending flow of rumors into police { headquarters was that Miss Baker may have been secretly married and that this probably had some connection with the crime. A check-up of the marriage license records in Washington and other nearby cities and towns, however, failed to disclose a license issued to any Miss | Baker who would correspond in age to the murdered woman. TWO HOOVER SPEECHES TO BE ON HOOK-UP By the Associated Press. NEW YORK, April 17.—The voice of President Hoover will be heard in two Nation-wide broadcasts early month over the National and the Co- lumbia chains. ‘The first will be the President's ad- dress at the annual meeting of the Chamber of Commerce of the United States from Washington at 9:30 p.m., Eastern standard time, May 1. ur days later when the President speaks to the annual convention of the Amer- ican Red Cross at Washington, he also will face the microphones of the two networks. He will talk during the open ;r“:’ msymh at 10:30 am. Monday, next | rates but eight in the Hawley-Smoot measure. ‘The eight rate disputes reserved for later decision affect sugar, cement, casein, lumber, shingles, silver, narrow laces and cigarette papers and books. Agree on Leather. ‘The conferees yesterday agreed %o place hides, leathers and shoes on the protective list and to increase the duties on leather gloves of all descriptions. Despite four adverse votes on hides, leathers and shoes in the Senate, the Republican Senate conferees yesterday voted along with the majority of the House conferees for the House duties of 10 per cent on hides, from 12!; to 30 per cent on leathers and 20 per cent on boots and shoes. Garner Sees Burden, Men's leather gloves were given an increase in duty of $1 a dozen pairs; :lo;r‘l)en‘n and children’s, an increase of Representative Garner of Texas, House minority leader, and one of the conferees, predicted the duties on hides and leather products would add “mil- lions of dollars to the burden this tariff h"ul will impose upon the American peo= ple.” SENATE PASSES AIRPORT MEASURE AFTER BRIEF DEBATR (Continued From First Page.) within 10 years from the date of exe penditure, but without interest, Senator Bingham urged prompt aee tion because he sald the airport site is so situated that it ties in with the plans for completing the George Wash= ington Memorial Hlmwly to Mount Vernon and the Arlington Memorial Bridge. Senator Dill, Democrat of Washing- ton, said the only objection he had heard was that the site is directly in | front of Arlington National Cemetery, and inquired if there was any other place available not so close to the cemetery. Senator Bingham said the nearest possible location would be Gravelly Point, about half a mile distant. The Connecticut Senator said very few planes actually fly over the cemetery, and he did not think this could be prevented even if the District airport is not located there. Senator McKellar, Democrat, of Ten- nessee asked what effect the airport’ would have on the Memorial Highway. Senator Bingham replied it was hoped to develop it in an attractive way so that it would improve the view from the highway at that point. In response to another question, Senator Bingham stated that it was the expectation of those who have studied the matter that the $2.500,000 provided for would cover development of the air- port as well as purchase of land. | | FOR TOMORROW. FIRST RACE—_31.2 iming: 2-vear- olds; 4% furlongs. S T Petabit ... us ¢ BCoten fassie 1 108 *Broad A 111l 104 Black Lula ... 105 Launaia . 108 bducticn 1111 105 Erse il 108 y Caballero''" 116 _ Also eligible— 104 Ppretty Boy . 105 Running Girl . I 116 Tuckahoe Fliaigives i1 s I8 HOBIE aDixiana and H. E. Talbott entry. SECOND RACE--£1,200; i 3 ol 8 ey T 200:! lkiming: ‘3 *Theo Rochester.. 1 Kink Kelly - 1B Sednaen alome 5.0 00110 1 Rty Marie THIRD RACE—Purse., $1.200; claiming; 4= year-olds and up; 6 furlongs. 113 *Montferrat .. 106 *Gold Mint b5 1 4 D18 By i FOURTH RACE- Py . 31 dora~ ble: 2-year-old flme.‘“rg"; ’\,n:l‘zanl:.". s mern Snappy Soub .... 113 Irish Poll; . 113 Venurock .. 10 Billie N © L e tty Bewu ©. .. 113 Poincia g Red Cross Sister 110 Merry Mack ... 113 PIFTH RACE -The Mayflower: $1.500; 3- sear-olds and up; 1 mile and 70 yards. + 1076 Spelboc . ‘ooderaft ... terwood o kPacricia 1 fog Sum Vi SIXTH L ACE—Cl: olds; 1 MIR and 10‘;“‘ Tirudseon . *Gnoue Boy ! SEVENTH RAO! 3 4-year-olds and B T 31.200; elaiming: W mil . 208 *Chattaho, Bounding Vimont . nk Pullen ‘Mary MeNeil TEaker Play”. nee k! Hoser. *Folamile West Wi hee D *Apprentice WeREe Fataine: