Evening Star Newspaper, August 10, 1930, Page 1

“From Press to Home Within the Hour” The Star is delivered every evening and Sunday morning to Washington homes by The Star's exclusive carrier service. Phone National 5000 to start immediate delivery. WEATHER. (U. 8. Weather Bureau Porecast.) Fair and continued warm, possibly followed by local showers and cooler in te dt:;:m today; tomorrow partly T, ‘Temperature—Highest, 102, at 4 pm. yesterday: lowest, 77, at 4 a.m. yester- day. Full report on page ; No. 1,325— No. 31,512. HOOVER DEMAND ARMY AND NAVY AIR DISPUTE BE ENDED Services Contend for Right to Control Coastal De- fense by Planes. HURLEY FORCES ISSUE, ASKING FOR SHOWDOWN Attorney General Refuses Opinion Asked by Adams, Indicating Congress as Final Arbiter. BY THEODORE C. WALLEN. President Hoover has asked the Army and Navy to settle without further delay their long-standing dispute over control of the coastal air defense. Presidential intervention was invoked by the War Department, it was learned yesterday, after reneyed and vigorous Army protests that the Navy was duplicating Army bombing aircraft at Pearl Harbor and Coco Solo had been ignored at the Navy Department. It is said to have been suggested that the Bureau of Efficiency be invited into the case unless the two services reach an sgreement. The development forces the issue in & 10-year struggle, which only recently has resumed major proportions, behind the scenes. With the Army primarily responsible for land defense and the Navy for sea defense, both are fightin, over the comparatively new field o air operations above the line where land and sea meet. Within the last two weeks Patrick J. Hurley, Secretary of War, has writ- ten to Charles Francis Adams, Secre- tary of the Navy, demanding a show- down. This was after Attorney Gen- eral Mitchell had washed his hands of the matter in response to an appeal from Secretary Adams for an opinion which might decide the issue. It was also after Hurley had appealed directly %o President Hoover. Conferences Unsuccessful. As a Tesult the two cabinet officers directly concerned have begun con- ferences to try to settle the issue. Ap- rnutly a solution is not yet in sight, for further conferences are planned, according to reliable information. President Hoover’s apparent determi- nation to go to the bottom of the mat- Sy s wnmscany”la sappasten to - ciency and economy pro- unyielding pressure for a definite ‘The President is said to be par- ticularly anxious to avoid any jble duplication of costs at a time the entire Government 1s being searched for instances of ex- pense. However, no public announce- ment on the matter has come from the White House or either department. Previous to the President’s interven- tion the pressure in the last few months to exclude Navy bombers from coastal bases seems to have come from the War Department. At any rate, Secre- tary Hurley wrote Secretary Adams pointedly on July 26, two Weeks ago, charging the Navy with persistently re- to before the Aeronautical Board its annual estimates for the five- year aviation building program, now in t is claimed for the War 1t recognizes no Navy right to any such bombing, except from planes based on ships, a contention which the Navy ridicules as a Navy scouting plane to go and get an Army bomber to destroy any raider discovered offshore in wartime. It is a problem in national defense in which the Army would restrict the Navy's aerial combat forces to the area over the water and the Navy would keep the Army’s bombers within the coast lines except in case an enemy raider ever got through the Navy's defense. Navy Moves o Oust Army. ‘The Navy has pressed the latter in- terpretation whenever pushed by the Army. It has also moved to oust the Army Air Corps from Ford Island, in Pearl Harbor, and from North Island, of San Diego, now shared by the two rival air services. The fact that such convenient land- ing fields are considered essential to harbors where aircraft carriers are based appears to have given the Navy something of an advantage as to these islands The Army is said to have promigsd to move off one or two of them upon completion of nearby fields of its own. ‘The Navy's reply to Secretary Hurley's specific complaint about not submit- ting its annual estimates to the Aero- nautical Board is that the adoption of the five-year $350,000,000 program ob- (Continued on Page 2, Column 2.) SHOTS FIRED AT HOME BY PARTY IN SEDAN! Robbery Attempt Precedes Visit to @igiardina House, and Police Take Four Men. Pour men were held at the ninth police precinct station this morning in connection with a_ shooting late last night in the 1000 block of Third street northeast, in which several persons nar- rowly escaped injury. Residents of the neighborhood said that a sedan pulled up in front of the home of Vincent Gigiardina, 25 years old, of 1003 Third street northeast, and one of the occupants of the machine poked a revolver from the machine and fired a volley at Gigiardina and others ‘who were standing in front of his home. Later Precinct Detective W. B. Sat- terthwaite arrested Thomas T. Ellam, 24, of the first block of S street; Clif- % Entered as second class matter post office, Washington, D. C. he Sunday Star. WITH DAILY EVENING EDITION P) Mea ns_Associated Press. WASHINGTON, D. C, SUNDAY MORNING, AUGUST 10, 1930—106 PAGES. * FIVE CENTS IN WASHINGTON AND SUBURBS ‘ TEN CENTS ELSEWHERE 1$10,000 Refused, Thug Bombs Self And Bank Official | Two Dead and Two Hurt as Texas Desperado Faces Failure of Plan. i | By the Assoclated Press. FORT WORTH, Tex., August 9.—His demand for $10,000 refused, Nathan Monroe Martin, 30, today hurled a Stockyards National Bank here, wreck- ing the office and killing Martin and Fred L. Pelton, vice president of the institution. L. W. Marshall, assistant cashier, was hurt seriously. Clifton Mager, 8, was !injured by fiying glass. Fear was voiced that Emergency Policeman Ben- son might lose his hearing through de- struction of his ear drums. Benson en- tered the building as the bomb was thrown. For several hours after the bombing police were unable to identify Martin, who, until a short time ago, had en- ke had been unemployed. An attendant at the funeral chapel finally recognized the bomber. He then (Continued on Pa Germany’s Total 2,757,000. Britain’s Dole List Passes 2,000,000. v the Assoclated Press. LONDON, August 9.—Unemployment reached & new high record in the Old World with the announcement today by Germany that her total number of per- sons out of work is 2,757,000. As Great Britain’s unemployed offi- cially passed the 2,000,000 mark last month, it is estimated that in six Euro- pean countries there are today at least 5,949,287 persons listed as out of work. In Great Britain, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Italy and France the workers dependent for their livelihood upon pri- vate charity or public doles now exceed the population of any European capital except London. Reports from some other countries in- dicated that conditions were improving, but this was not true of either Germany rtag. wAih 322,287 offck ly, ,287 officially reported jobless, 114,094 of them women; France, of 100,000 on strike ~nd 20,000 out of work involuntarily; Hun- gary, with 400,000, mostly agriculturists, idle today, accounted for about 5,949,287 officially tabulated, while Austria added 450,000 to the roll. Dole System Necessary. Everywhere throughout Europe deter- mined efforts have been made to check the lengthening lists of jobless, but the “dole,” or government insurance remit- tances, to hundreds of thousands has been necesary, costing the several gov- ernments far into the millions to meet the emergency. ‘The London Herald on March 3 claimed that the total unemployed in the entire world was 16,000,000. The Herald, supporting the Labor govern- ment, which has been grappling with the problem in England, informed its readers that America’s situation was worse than that of any other country, advancing the figure 6,000,000 as the total in that country. The Herald at the same time said there were 4,500,000 jobless in Germany, 2,000,000 in Rus- sia, 1,500,000 in Great Britain, 800,000 in Japan and 500,000 in Italy. The l;)urce of these figures was not made clear. The figures later were modified by a clllt of 1,000,000 in the United States’ total. Great Britain’s army of out-of-work has been growing since last Autumn (Continued on Page 2, Column 4 MYSTERIOUS DISORDER KILLS FOURTH CHILD Expert Chemist Investigates Fatal Malady Which Invades Home of Joseph Hand. By the Associated Press. UTICA, N. Y. August 9.—For the fourth time within a week death from a mysterious disorder entered the home of Joseph Hand today, taking the life of Frank, 10. Working on & theory that all the victims died of accidental poisoning, city and county officials and an expert chemist continued to push their vig- orous investigation. The disorder, first thought to have resulted from the eat- ing of green apples—a theory now dis- carded—became evident Friday. Sat- urday Rosemary Hand, 6 old, died. Lawrence, 14 months, died the next day. Edward, aged 4, died yes- terday. Two other children who became {ll were reported today to be recovering. Bank Robber Captured. ELKHART, Ind., August 9 (#).—Two young robbers, who held up the Farm- ers State Bank at Stroh, Ind, this afternoon, taking $800 in silver, were captured near Ashley, 10 miles south- east of Stroh. One of the bandits, | suffering from a serious bullet wound, was taken to a hospital at Garret, Ind. nitroglycerin bomb to the floor of the. gaged in the battery business. Recently | SIX MILLION IDLE &= and shot past the 2,000,000 mark on | CAR REVALUATION - MAY EXTEND T0 OTHER UTLITES Commission Considers Pro- posal Relative to Power and Gas Light Properties. PHONE SYSTEM WOULD WAIT DIAL INSTALLING Main Purpose of Street Car Inquiry Is to Prevent Another Fare Increase. The revaluation of the Washington Railway & Electric and Capital Trac- tion Cos., ordered several weeks ago by the Public Utilities Commission as a sequel to the action of the District Su- preme Court in increasing car fares, likely will be a forerunuer of an ex- haustive investigation of the value of &t‘h:r utility corporations in the Dis- o ‘The commission Iet it become known yesterday that it is considering a pro- to revalue the properties of the Potomac Electric Power Clo. and the Washington Gas Light Co. as well as the car companies. The Chesapeake & Potomac Telephone Co. probably will be spared a revaluation for some time, at least until the installation of its dial system in the District is completed. ‘The revaluation of the car companies, however, is to be undertaken first and preliminary plans have been made to start about September 1. By tnat time the commission hopes to have its new engineer, provided in the ~urrent District appropriation act, who will su- pervise the technical work involved in the proceedings. Purpose of Revaluation. Although the primary object of vir- tually all valuations, initiated by & commission, is to bring about a reduc- tion in rates, this is not wholly true in the case of the car companies. The main purpose of revaluing the proper- ties of the traction lines at this time, it was revealed, is to preclude the com- panies from going back to the courts within the next year and asking for a still higher fare. With the present fare of 10 cents cash or four tokens for 30 cents, the Commission is confident that neither of the car companies can earn, under present conditions, a fair return on their respective valuations. Thus, they will be a position to lgpell to the court at any time for a higher fare and probably ges it, unless thwarted by such a proceeding as a valuation, which, it is est ted, would take about two years to complete. -A new valuation of the car com- panies also is desired in vew of the possil of a merger. It is felt at the Commission that it can bring about a reduction in the valuation of the Capi- tal Traction Co., though there is some doubt whether the revaluation proceed- ings would have the same effect on the value of the Washington Railway & Electric Co. The commission is anxiously await- ing the July financial reports of the car companies to determine what effect the higher fare has had on their in- come. These reports are scheduled to be submitted the latter part of this week. In view of the inroads made on the street car business by the low-rate taxi- cabs, however, the commission feels certain that the higher fare has beeg of little or no benefit to the companies. During the first six months of the current calendar year the two com- panies lost 3,393,000 revenue passen- gers in comparison with the same period of 1929, and the 35-cent cabs are held to be largely responsible. Assessment of Cost, ‘The first step in the revaluation of the companies will be an assessment against them for the cost of the pro- ceedings. Under the law, this assess- ment is amortized and charged to oper- ating expenses by the companies. The money will be used to hire engineers, accountants and a clerical staff. Every piece of property of both companies will be inspected and appraised. Rates will be drawn up showing the deprecia- tion of the various items of property and a tentative figure set for the valuation. Then will come public hearings, at which the valuation force will read its conclusions into the record and sub- mit itself to cross-examination by law- yers for the companies. The companies also have the pavilege of putting in any evidence they desire to combat the figures submitted by the commission's experts. After this procedure the com- mission will fix the new value. ‘The valuation proceedings at this time were urged by Richmond B. Keech, people’s counsel, before the commission as a move to bring about a possible reduction in fares. Fares are based upon valuation, because the law pro- vides that public utilities shall be per- mitted to earn a reasonable rate of return on the fair value of their prop- erty. Thus, if the valuation claimed by the companies could be reduced enough to show exorbitant profits there would be hope of a reduction in car fares. On the present valuations the com- panies admittedly are earning less than a_ “reasonable” return. In the case of the Capital Traction Co., which earning less than 4 per cent, $8,000,- 000 would have to be deducted from its present value before its return would begin to approach 7 per cent, which the courts in this jurisdiction have held to be “reasonable.” It is regarded as doubtful if any such result as this will be obtained, but Mr. Keech’s posi- tion is that the public, whom he repre- sents, is entitled to certainty in the matter of valuation of public utilities. A lookout was broadcast from police ton C. Gibbs, 26, 400 block of Second street; Howard E. Bell, 24, and Thomas ¥P. Dorsey, both of Brentwood, Md, in the 800 block of H street. An empty revolver was found on police said. G dina told police that five men had made an attempt to rob his home earlier in the evening. At this time he repuised them with one revolver shot. He said that he believed this the same gang which fired the shots later. Seven shots were fired at Gigiardina's home, and the residents in the vicinity who were nearby ducked for safety, mmeoxmmmnimmenmuxw headquarters early this morning for an automobile bearing Maryland license tags which is believed to be en route to Richmond, Va., carrying the “corpse” of either a man or woman. A description of the machine, together with its ver, was given to Lieut. C. J. P. Weber at detective headquarters by Russell G. Flynn, 606 I street, & taxi driver, who sald the information was given to him by an unidentified fare he picked up at Ninth street and Mount Vernon place and Thirty-first and O streets. According to Flynn, the fare told him the weird story of having @ POLICE SEARCH FOR *“CORPSE” HAULED IN AUTO THROUGH CITY Taxi Fare Tells Weird Story of Riding With “Body” of Man or Woman in Stranger’s Car. by the driver of the Maryland car at Fourth and Eckington place northeast and asked the direction of the road to hmond, In refurn for the informa- tion, the driver ¢/ the car, Flynn said, carried the r:n to Ninth and Mount Vernon plac: and dropped him when he began making inquiries about a mysterious bundle on the rear seat of the car. Flynn said his passenger declared the bundle looked like a “corpse” of either a man or a woman. Virginia_ authorities were asked to look out for the car. Sergt. William Messer of the Detective Bureau also was assigned to make an in tion. SQUASH CENTER DISCUSSES THE DROUGHT. THREE DIE AS PLANE CRASHES INTO ILLUMINATING GAS TANK Wreckage Is Submer_ged in 40 Feet of Water. Pilot Believed Blinded by Driving Rainstorm. By the Associated Press. CHICAGO, August 9.—A pilot and two passengers of a small cabin plane are believed to have perished late to- day when their ship crashed into the top of a huge illuminating gas tank and fell, a crumpled heap, into 40 feet of water on which the tank floated. From bits of the wreckage the plane was tentatively identified as a mono- plane which had left the municipal air- port a short time before, with Pilot Orville Suchy at the stick, taking two p‘:sun‘ers for a pleasure ride over the city. The pilot is thought to have been blinded by the deep gloom and driving rain that fell over the city shortly after 3:30 p.m. ‘The plane hit the mammocth tank with a terrific impact. As the puncture released the gas within the tank the plane settled down into ths well of water. The site was at Elston and Divi- sion streets, about 3 miles from down- town Chicago. The tank was vsed Iy the People’s Gas Light & Coke Co. to store illuminating gas. A bridge tender said he saw the plane | go into a sudden tailspin and drop, as though it might have been struck by lightning. Fw said he saw no one drop from the ship, although a painter working on a nearby roof thought he (Continued on Page 2, Column 7.) MESSENGER HELD IN MAN'S DEATH Government Worker, 71, Re- ported in Quarrel With Veterinarian, 65. John P. Quill, 71-year-old Govern- ment messenger, is being held pending an autopsy today over the body of a veterinarian, George G. Pearson, 65 years old, whose death, police said, oc- curred mysteriously yesterday afternoon during a reported quarrel in Quill's home at 3643 Warder street, where Pearson Was & roomer. Coroner J. Ramsey Nevitt, who set the autopsy time for 10:30 o'clock this morning, said he ordered the medical examination after he viewed the body and on discovering bloodstains on Pear- son's face, Quill is quoted by police as having admitted he struck Pearson in the mouth with his fist during a heated dispute between the two' while they were in the dining room of the home. Investigators said they learned, how- ever that Pearson had been under treat- ment for heart trouble for some years past, and they expressed the opinion death was due to heart failure, prob- ably superinduced by excitement and sudden exertion. Neighbors Heard Argument. Occupants of a house at 3641 Warder street, only a few feet from the Quill home, told police they heard the voices of Quill and Pearson raised in a violent (Continued on Page 2, Column 4.) TODAY’S STAR PART ONE—22 PAGES. General News—Local, National Foreign. PART TWO—8 PAGES. Editorial Section—Editorials and Edi- torial Features. The Home Gardener—Page 5. Veterans of the Great War—Page 6. PART THREE—12 PAGES. Soclety Section. PART FOUR—10 PAGES. News of the Clubs—Page 4. District of Columbia Naval Reserve— P: 4. w. E‘.QT. U. Notes—Page 4. In’ the Motor World—Page B. Aviation—Page 7. Fraternities—Page 8. District National Guard—Page 8. Army »-d Navy News—Page 8. Marine Corps Notes—Page 8. Red' -Page 9. PART FIVE—4 PAGES. and | sports Sectlon. PART SIX—] Financial News and tising. Serial lEwry. “The Dll;z‘e:“—l’ue 10. Organized Reserves—] 10. PART SEVEN—24 PAGES. Magazine Section. Reviews of New Books—Page 18. Cross-word Puzzle—Page 22. GRAPHIC SECTION—S8 PAGES. World Events in Pictures, COLOR SECTION—8 PAGES. Moon Mullins; Mr. and I'rs.; Reglar Mutt and J:ff; Little Or- Annfe; Brutus; the Smythes; hlights Hlltory‘\ PAGES. Classified Adver- SIX IDENTIFY PAIR IN STORE HOLD-UP Eyewitnesses Among Those Laying McCrory Robbery to Baltimore Men. ‘Two of the suspects held in the Mc- Crory Pive and Ten Cent Store hold-up were reported to have been pointed out at police headquarters last night by eye- witnesses as alleged participants in the robbery which netted $1,200 from two store employes late Thursday. The store is located at 416 Seventh street. Police announced that John Irving, 24 years old, and Elmer Bennett, 28 years old, both of Baltimore, were picked from a group of men by two persons who said they saw the hold-up, while four others told police the men were in the southwest section of the city early Thutsday night. Irving sank to his knees, according to police, when a colored taxicab driver, Logan Fields, told police he had driven both men to Baltimore Thursday night. A second cab driver, Alexander Hopkins, colored; told detectives, according to a headquarters announcement, that he accompanied Fields on the trip, and pointed out Irving and Bennett as the p‘-'.;cengers they drove to the Maryland city. Tdentified by Manager. David Beavers, colored manager of the taxicab company, by whom Hop- kins and Fields are employed, identi- fied the Baltimore men as the two who approached him at 232 F street south- west at 10:30 o'clock Thursday night and told him they “wanted to get to Baltimore and get there quick.” Beavers said Bennett paid him with a $20 bill taken from a large roll of money which he drew from the inside of his shirt. Neither Irving nor Bennet would talk following their alleged identification. ‘Two others, the driver of the car in which the four men made there get- away and the man who trained the gun on the two store employes, are still being sought. Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Putnam of 108 Eighth street southeast, who had “par- tially identified” Irving Friday night. returned to headquarters last night and informed police they were positive that he was one of the four men who staged the hold-up. Driving Past Store. ‘The Putnams were driving past the five and ten cent store when Earl D. Flory and Harvey W. Smith, the two store employes, were robbed of the day's receipts, which they were taking to the bank for deposit. Putnam and his wife told police they followed the car used by the hold-up men as far as Stanton Park before the latter finally dissuaded her hus- band from continuing the pursuit. Flory and Smith were given another look at the two suspects, but again failed to identify either. The em- ployes sald they could only identify the man who pulled the gun on them as they walked from the store, because they said they were so badly frightened. Rat Poison Kills Five. TEMESVAR, Rumania, August 9 (#). —Five women died and 10 were taken ill within a few hours today after handling some rat poison commended them by a chemist for use in the corn fields. It was belleved the preparation decomposed in their hands and entered through the skin, SHOWERS POSSIBLE AS HEAT PERSISTS! Forecast Gives Hope of Relief From 22-Day Record High Temperature Here. Relief from the extraordinary heat wave in the grip of which Washing- tonians have sweltered 22 days was promised for today by Weather Bureau officials last night. ‘The forecast, containing more pros- pect of a break in warm period than any other issued recently, read: “Pair and continued warm, possibly followed by local thundershowers and cooler in the late afternoon Sunday; Monday partly cloudy and cooler.” ‘Three heat prostrations were reported here yesterday as the thermometer soared to a maximum of 102. This increased to 12 in slightly more than three weeks the number of days in which the 100 mark has been exceeded. Never before in the more than a halt a century of the existence of the Weather Bureau has such a severe heat wave been known here. Record after record has toppled. Temperatures Elsewhere. Meanwhile, high temperatures pre- vailed in a large portion of the country | yesterday, although some sections ex- perienced sudden relief when the mer- cury nose-dived from 10 to 15 degrees. The drop came early in the day at some points in the Great Lakes re- gion. A 15-degree fall within two hours was reported at Milwaukee, Wis., re- ducing the mercury to 74. In Chicago the reading receded from 80 to 79 with- in 30 minutes shortly before noon. A minimum of 77 for the day was reached here yesterday at 4 am. By 6 o'clock the mark of 80 had been reach- ed, the climb continuing to 82 at 8, 90 at 10, 95 at noon, 99 at 2 p.m., and 102 at 4. The temperature began to drop shortly after 5 o'clock, touching 99 at 6, 91 at 8, 86 at 9 and 82 at 10. ‘The humidity here hovered around the same figures which had prevailed for several days. The percentage at 8 am. was 62, at 2 p.m, 18, and at & pm., 40. In comparison with the official fig- ures recorded by instruments on top of the Weather Bureau Building, the Pennsylvania avenue kiosk yesterday reached a mark of 110 degrees at 2:30 pm., remaining at that figure until after 4 o'clock. The lowest reading at (Continued on Page 3, Column 2.) AUBURN CONVICT MAKES ATTEMPT FOR FREEDOM Clings to High, Grilled Window, His Cries of “Murder” Draw- ing Crowd Below. By the Assoclated Press. AUBURN, N. Y, August 9.—Auburn Prison, scene of rioting last year, was bedlam for a while today when a con- vict broke from guards and climbed a grilled window five stories above the ground. He broke the panes as he climbed and shouted = repeatedly: “They're murdering us.” His cries brought a crowd in the street outside, while inside the inmates raised a hue and cry that was suppressed only by the use of ammonia gas. ‘The climbing convict clung just under the roof while guards used tear gas and a fire hose in an effort to dis- lodge him. He finally climbed down on the promise given through the Rev. F. G. Straub, a priest, that he would not be beaten. He was taken to the prison hospital, his arms badly cut by the glass he broke. Red Cross Notifies By”—Farm Boa By the Associated Press. The helping hand of the Fed railroads reached out yesterday to further relief. most seriously affected areas in Interstate Commerce Comission. roads they could place in effect stock, feeds and water without transportation act. The Agriculture with him latest reports on drought regions, first-hand picture Southern Ohio. Red Cross the Hoover lodge or one nearby The American Red Cross took | sending a The message said area and authorized the chapte: initiative in supplying relief. Meanwhile, messages of accep tion to a conference of governo: 12 governors—Reed, had replied iuflndg ver the week end. 3y c;:sm-n Legge of the Farm Board notified Washington from _Caldwell, Idaho, that he was hurrying train and airplane to attend House conference. 7 Not Blessing, Hyde Declares. In a statement before his departure for the Hoover camp, Secretary Hyde said the economic effects of the drought | emphasized the benefits that might be | attained by the organization of farm- ers to control crops. He added, how- | ever, he did not share the feeling “that this terrible drought is a blessing to American n:irslculmu. either in disguise or in an e.” “The yde?l.!tlflon of whole groups of counties and of large areas of States and the ruin of thousands of farmers; he said, “does not appeal to me as a desirable thing, no matter what eco- nomic results it may have in clearing away the accumulated surpluses.” News of the Interstate Commerce Commission order was transmitted to Mr. Hoover soon after it was announced. The President was highly gratified. He had conferred with members of the commission earlier in the week, but it was stated at the White House that since the commission is an independent agency he had no authority to order the reduced rates. The commission pointed out that some of the railroads had expressed a desire to put the lower rates in effect to relieve drought conditions and that a “special case” exists demanding im- mediate measures of relief in many sections to avoid loss of live stock and to “prevent general suffering.” Includes Other Commodities, The order also authorized the car- riers to cut rates on other commodities if it was found necessary and extended the authority to October 31. The usual relaxation at the Hoover lodge was conspicuously absent last week end as the Chief Executive plunged into the details from which this week he expects to develop a func- tioning relief program in co-operation with the States and local agencies. Long a moving spirit in national and ternational relief steps, the President himself plotted the develop- ments upon maps he took with him from the White House. It was said the President expected to have a definite program ready for operation early this week and for presentation to the Governors’ Con- ference. Poignant reminders of the wide- spread drought were plentiful about the Hoover retreat. Two small streams —Laurel and Mill prongs—that in normal weather cascade beside the lodge to form the Rapidan River at his front doorstep were all but dry. Mrs. Hoover's garden was parched and dead. Only 7 miles away a detach- ment from the camp's Marine guard the day and VIRGINIA ORCHARDISTS TAKE FIRE INSURANCE ON TREES Policies Issued for First Time in History Due to Danger Incurred by Drought. Special Dispatch to The Star. WINCHESTER, Va., August 9.—For the first time in the history of the American apple industry, it was stated here, fire insurance on apple trees was issued today by a local insurance agency due to the fire menace which the prevailing drought has brought about to the millions of apple trees in the Shenandoah-Cumberland Potomac Valley section. Several large growers were reported to have taken the Insur- ance, which was said to have been is- sued for a period of threc mouths, A local insurance agency issued the policy in behalf of a New York insur- ance company. For several days Clif- ford D. Grim, a member of the local firm, with growers and io- ! surance companies with the result that the policies were offered today covering the fire risk on apple trees, ‘While the question of fire insuraace was at its height as regards apple trees, the menace was even clear to -local growers by a fire in Gray Silver's or- chard, near Martinsburg, W. Va., which destroyed numerous apple trees. Grow- ers pointed out that the grass in 'local orchards was parched and that the scorched condition of the apple trees made the risk from very gre=v. It was reported here today that a leasing trrigation specialist from Lynchbutg, Va., has offered to irri- gate local orchards. However, the wa- NATION’S FORCE TO THWART, DISASTER IN WAKE OF DROUGHT message to its 3,500 chapters to “stand by and be 1 e Chief Executive. actiion call fet gy continuance of the abnormally high tempera- tures might mean conditions of disaster proj an reaching the here next Thursday ll’(egnsas; Parnell, Arkansas, and Cooper, Ohio— the others were expected to S UNITE Rates Cut in Emergency L C. G Order as Railroads Prepare to Help Stricken Farms. HOOVER CALLS HYDE AND STONE TO RAPIDAN FOR CONFERENCE Chapters to “Stand rd Head Speeds to Capital. eral Government and the Nation’s assist the drought-stricken farmers with reduced freight rates as President Hoover and the American Red Cross kept constant tab on the situation with a view to extending The first concrete step to aid the million farm families in the a dozen States was taken by the In a special order it notified rall- immediately reduced rates on live observing the provisions of the President Hoover late in the day conferred at his Rapidan River lodge in Virginia with Secretary chairman of the Federal Farm Board, and was in constant touch with the White House by telephone. Secretary and Mr. Stone were called discussion of latest developments. de tool e the situation from county ageirm in the while Stone was prepared to give the President a of conditions in Kentucky, Hyde and James C. Stone, vice to the cam; Southern Indiana and Stands By. e cted to remain overnight either at paLbaleel e expemaintainefl by cabinet officers. cognizance of the long dry spell !')z portions in a restricted r chairmen to act on their own nce of President Hoover’s invita- g: of the drought-stricken States ‘White House. Three of the follow was summoned to bring under a forest fire that fed avidly upon dry timber. Price to Be Paid Too High. b Secretary Hyde emphasized in statement = that while the would help some farmers through appearance of the surplus, from standpoint of agriculture as the price to be paid would be “The vigorous rise in prices of corn, but of all substitute to prospective short supply,” h “js a demonstration none the immediate effect of the supply and demand.” “That this regulation drought aids some farmers ruinous expense of other farmers force- fully points to the wisdom of crop con- trol by the organization of American farmers,” he added. The text of Mr, Hyde's statement o 5 “I do not share the feeling that this terrible drought is a blessing to - can agriculture, either in disguise in any guise. The devastation of whole groups of counties, and of larg: areas of States; the ruin of thousands of farmers does not appeal to me as & desirable thing, no matter what eco- nomic results it may have in clearing away the accumulated surplus. “It is true that, as a result of the drought, the American carry-over of wheat, and the surplus of the domestic wheat crop will probably be consumed. This result may possibly be accom- plished without the export of a single pound of wheat or corn. It is probable that the drought has already damaged the corn crop to a greater extent, in (Continued on Page 3, Column 1.) \FARMER ATTEMPTS T0 MURDER HIS SON Penniless, He Scoops Grave for Motherless Boy, Lying Injured. By the Associated Press. the State Hospital for the Insane. huchulrlu Meronk ml&;h:u wamty Judge plan was prom esperation for money to &rad gfl #’ght motherless children. His wife had died a month ago; a son, 6, had fallea from a tree and broken an arm. There was no money to pay a doctor. The injured boy called for his mother incessantly. ~Meronk decided to kill him, he told the court. Three nights straight he took him to a cemetery in the town of Galloway to H‘yngnc him for death. Neighbors called police. Beside a newly dug ve two feet in depth, which Mero scooped out with hands, they found him resting from his efforts. .As officers came up, the boy stirred, awakening from sleep, and asked: “Papa, I'm so tired; I Meronk told his tory terday. It was his plan, after burying he to kill himself. R-100 TO SAIL WEDNESDAY Lord Burney, Designer, on Way From Montreal to Lakehurst. NEWARK, N. J., August 9 (P).—Sir Tenniston Burney, designer of the Brit- ish dirigible Rl-:ooh.:ld here today 'S ter supply has become so leted that this is out of the .’