Evening Star Newspaper, December 19, 1930, Page 1

WEATHER. (U. 8. Weather Bureau Forecast.) sibly occassional tures—Highest, 41, day; lowest, 36, it and, tomorro 1y light rain tonight much change in wm:entun ‘Tem) o 7 1l report on page Closing N.Y. Markets, Pages13,14 & 15 W; pos- ; not 3:30 pm. H am. 9. Entered post offic No. 31,643. second class matter Washington, 5 D. C. REPORT IS ADOPTED BY LOWER HOUSE ON DROUGHT RELIEF Measure From Conference Provides $45,000,000, but None for Food. PASSAGE BY SENATE EXPECTED DURING DAY Three Measures Rushed Carry Total of $311,000,000 in Emer- gency Program. By the Associated Press ‘The $45,000,000 drought relief con- ference report was adopted today by the House. It now goes to the Senate. The measure carries no provision for foans for food. but provides for ad- wances to farmers in the drought areas for seed, feed and fertilizer. It does provide, however, for loans Mncident to production of crops. ‘The Senate began consideration of the @rought bill almost as soon as it was received there. Quick enactment of the emergency relief program was predicted by Senator Watson, the Republican leader, as Con- gress took up the compromise drought Dbill and moved to break the deadlock on the $116,000,000 public works fund. ‘Watson was hopeful that three Eills nvolving a total of $311,000,000 would get through the legislative grind even fore nightfall. be'l'he 3550,000,000 appropriation for the Farm Board was before the Senate a4 the outset today, already approved by mfi?fi House the conference accepted report on the $116,000,000 bill, but re- Jected three Senate amendments. Strive for Accord. L te leaders meanwhile sought lnm&‘:lt the breach in their ranks over these amendments in the interests of the bill to the White House. The House bill to authorize an ad-| ditional appropriation of $150,000,000 the Fa Board was Teported to n. planation of htlul l{nflove.n:l‘xvl the measure unf MOTTOW. “Bn:r:l:elrl@fl said_he wanted to “know what the Farm Board intends to do with this appropriation and what it has done with tne other $250,000,000, Child Drops Dead ‘In Midst of Toys He Wished to Own By the Associated Press. PHILADELPHIA, December 19. —Nine-year-old Alexander de Campi died last night in a small boy's paradise, With the thrill of Christmas in his heart and before his eyes a glittering array, he fell dead in the “toyland” of a West Phila- delphia department store. As his eyes glowed with delight he dropped to the floor amid a clat- ter of falling electric trains, planes and boats—the things he wanted most for Christmas. Physiclans sald death was caused by a cerebral ¥emorrhage, pmbtlbly brought on by excite- ment. STEEG CONFDENG POSTPONES RIS Fall of New French Cabinet in January Regarded as Almost Certain. r PARIS, December 19 (#).—Parlia- ment adjourned today until January 13. Thus for a brief while at least Theodore Steeg remains the premier of Prance and his ministry continues as the French government by the margin of seven votes which it re- ceived on a vote of confidence in the Chamber of Deputies yesterday. BY PAUL SCOTT MOWRER. By Radio to The Star. PARIS, France, December 19.—The seven hours' wrangle in the Chamber | of Deputies last night resulting in a | majority of seven votes for the new Steeg government, thanks to the fact that 33 Deputies of the Center ab- stained from voting, means that the French political crisis is postponed until after the Christmas holidays. Following the sensational resignation of five undersecretaries prior to the voting, the Steeg combination turned out to be & complete revival of the old | Left Cartel. The Socialists voted solid- | Iy in support of Premier Theodore Steeg and his Liberal ministers. Sev- eral Center Deputies also voted for the government, It is noteworthy in this connection that there are five under- secretaryships vacant, and it is said that these were promised before the vote to at least 20 Center Deputies. Early Defeat Seen. It is also noteworthy that Andre Tardieu, former premier, and other strong opposition leaders, except Louis Marin and Franklin Bouillon, who in- tervened late in the debate, refrained from attack. The only possible con- clusion is that the Tardieu group really prefers M. Sf to remain in power a short time pending the cooling of politi- cal ns now thoroughly aroused. fact that Raymond Poincare's iliness eliminates from activity the one man with sufficient prestige to bring the | about a coalition makes a reopening of building construc which is included in the usual appro- priation bills for the various depart- ments, ‘The lar sppropriation bills will eIty mmt funds which the White House estimated would total $500,000,- 000, along with the emergency $116,- 000,0000 authorized in legislation now in conference between the Senate and the House. While this latter would be planned for expenditure in the diate future, the regular appropriations would be distributed in the normal eourse of progress on the public building program. 30-YEAR TERM GIVEN FOR STARTING BLAZE Sentence Passed on Colored Man Who Set Fire to Apartment, Causing One Death. James Hickson Willlams, 21, colored, who recently pleaded guilty to second- degree murder in setting fire to the Denver Apartmens, 1419 Chapin street, last October and causing the death of Miss Jessie Camack, 50, & tenant on the top floor of the bullding, who was suffocated, was sentenced foday by Justice Oscar R. Luhring in Criminal Division 3 to serve 30 years 1n the penitentiary. Willlams also nad pleaded guilty to four charges of arson, for which the| ecourt im) sentences of 10 years each, to run concurrently with the murder sentence and with each other, that the total term of imprisonment will be 30 years. The prisoner was overcome when the tence was imposed and nearly col-' E;ed, He had to be assisted from the zoom by deputy marshals. Besides the Denver Apartment fire, jams admitted settin gfire to the ur Apartments, 2000 Sixteenth ; the Coronado, 1840 Vernon street. and ihe clectric supply store of Herbert L. Rucker, 2204 Fourteenth 't Williams was indicted for murder in @he first degree in connection with the death of Miss Camack, but was allowed #0 plead guilty to second-degree murder. The indictment is said to have been the first ever returned in the District for first-degree murder for a death re- sulting from a fire. POSTMASTERS NAMED Eight Offices, Including Alexan- dria, Filled by President. ‘was nominated 3 jows the wi postmasters in Virginia: Eastville, Louise J. Nottingham: Jettersville, Augusta R. Morris; Keys- wville, H. Osborne; Norfolk, Ciinton L. Wright: Parksley, Albert L. Taylor; Phenix, Charles V. Tucker, and Portsmouth, Patrick J. Riley. v Radio Programs on Page D-4 the crisis in January, with probably the overthrow of the Steeg government, a practical certainty. ‘There is no great national or inter- national issue involved in the situa- tion. The pretext for the crisis is the Oustric financial scandal, but the un- derlying cause is the Deputies’ growing preoccupation with the 1932 elections. ‘The Left wants to split M. Tardi<u’s majority. The Socialists want to see the Left in power without themscives acoepting any responsibility, for they can thus wield over M. Steeg an influ- :nee similar to that wielded over Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald by David Lloyd George. Dissolution Possible. The situation is complicated by the paradox that while the Chamber really has a Right majority, the Senate has a L~ft majority, and a government one sustains can be overthrown by the other. If in January this play con- tinues, there will certainly be more talk of a dissolution of Parllament and a new election immediately. Neither side really wants this, but especially not the Right. Meanwhile, though governments rise and fall, high officials of the French | administration continue to run the country as usual. This is the Prench system. Politically, there must be a new deal from time to time, but it is noteworthy that the same face Clrds. always reappear, though in slightly dif- ferent combinations. It is this relative interchangeability of French statesmen, | as well as the authority of the perma- nent officials, which insures continuity | of Prench policy, both internal and external. (Copyright. 1930.) DORAN ORDERS PROBE OF ALL LIQUOR DEATHSi Commissioner Fears Anti-Freeze| and Wood Alcohol Have Con- tributed to Fatalities. By the Associated Press. Orders to investigate every death be- lieved to have been caused by poison liguor or alcohol were issued today to industrial alcohol supervisors, by Com- missioner Doran. He again expressed alarm at the number of deaths reported, saying some undoubtedly are due to the drinking of anti-freeze solutions and some to wood alcohol. “We are anxious” he said, “that no one be nailed to the crcas simply be- The Fpening Star, every cit; WASHINGTON, D. C, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1930—FIFTY-FOUR PAGES. SALARY INCREASE MOVEMENT IS HIT BY CONFEREES' ACT Proposed Budget ' Bureau Plan for Raises May Be Delayed Year. HOUSE MANAGERS YIELD ON WOOD AMENDMENT Some Raises Still Possible, but Not as Many as Senate Intended in Earlier Vote. The movement to grant salary in- creases next year to Government em- ployes in the under-average grades suffered a setback today when the conferees on the Treasury-Post Office appropriation bill struck out the Senate pay increases as well as the Wood amendments. In eliminating the Wood amendment the House managers ylelded to the Senate. This will permit some salary increases by enabling department heads to use unexpended balances for pro- motions to the extent that such bal- ances may occur. The cutting out of the additional money which the Senate voted for, how- ever, if finally sustained, would mean that the systematic program recom- mended by the Budget Bureau to in- crease 30 per cent of the underaverage grades next year would be postponed for another year. Some Increases Possible. In other words, the report of the con- ferees on this first appropriation bill would make possible some increases, but not nearly as many as the Senate voted | for when it placed in the bill 30 per | cent of the money required to adjust| upward all of the underaverage posi- tions. Although these conferees are dealing only with the Treasury-Post Office bill, the same issues are involved in all of the other appropriation bills, and it has been assumed that whatever the two houses do on this bill will be followed in the other supply measures. Ratification Necessary. ‘This action by the conferees has to be taken back to both Senate and House for ratification. The amount of money which the Sen- ate added to the Treasury-Post Office bill last week for salary increases was $1,190,000. This represented 30 per cent of the increases needed to bring up the underaverage grades of these two deépartments, and it was this maney that the conferees struck out. The Wood amendment, which also was stricken out, would have prevented the use of any funds next year for - motions within grades of the cllfllxm tion law. Its elimination would enabls department head to use lapsed balances resulting from debts or resignations in the service to grant promotions to other employes within a grade. exact amount of money that would be avail- able in this way for increases is not definitely known. Similar Bill Considered. Meanwhile the Senate this afternoon began consideration of the Interior De- partment appropriation bill, to which the Senate Appropriations Committee has recommended the adding of similar allowances to take care of the 30 per cent of the under-average grades in that department. The Senate, therefore, may vote again | during the day on the general princip'e involved in the Treasury-Post Office conference report. It is also possible that the Treasury- Post Office conference report may be brought up in the Senate latur today or tomorrow. POLI ATTORNEYS ASK FOR SPECIAL APPEAL Right to Enter Higher Court Asked—Claim Lease to 1939 Violated. Application has been made to the District Court of Appeals for the al- lowance of a special appeal from the recent action of Supreme Court Justice Jesse C. Adkins denying an injunction to Sylvester Z. Poli and Lee and Jacob Shubert, theatrical managers of New York, to prevent the razing of Poli's Theater, situated in the triangle be- tween Fourteenth and Fifteenth streets, Pennsylvania avenue and E street, which is being cleared for a park in connection with the Government build- ing program. ‘Through Attorneys Willlam E. Leahy and Willlam J. Hughes, jr., the lessees of the theater claim that Secretary Mellon violated their lease when he made a cgptract with H. Herfurth, Inc.,, to demol the building. The lease runs until 1939, and the lessees say they were required by the District Commis- sioners to expend $250,000 in improve- ment of the property before they could reopen fit. The lawyers say they noted a general appeal from the couft's decision, but some doubt has arisen as to their right to do so under the law, s0 they are asking for the allowance of a special causs he can hold a liquid that is poi- sonous.” PR bul e bulldin has been tiall; demolished. i gz ’) MARRIED TO NEW FH¥ |PRISONER CONFESSES ROBBERY FOR WHICH ANOTHER IS INDICTED Youthful Salesman Who Had Previously Identified Another ‘Thomas J. Higgins, 18-year-old self- confessed “tax! bandit,” insists on tak- ing “credit” for a hold-up which the victim had blamed on another man, and as a result the previously indicted pris- oner, Edward Eldridge Bunch, has won a reopening of his case before the grand Jury. The victim of the robbery, William J. Mitchell, had “identified” Bunch as the “stick-up” man who robbed him sev- eral weeks ago. Last night Higgins picked Mitchell from a line-up at the Detective Bureau as one of his many hold-up victims, and then, in order to convince everybody that there could be no mistake about it, the grhnner is sald to have given ac- curate detafls of the robbery. Mitchell today was taken before the Suspcct. i /#/ /// Picks Out Victim grand jury after he had expressed a desire to change his testimony regard- ing the “identification” of Bunch. He .admitted to detectives he must have been mistaken in his earlier identifi- cation, Another cab driver who had iden- | tified Bunch as a hold-up man will be | called by the grand jury Monday to see if he, too, wishes to change his tes- | timony. The reconsideration of Bunch's |case is being handled by Assistant 1Urg‘md States Attorney Julian I, Rich- | ards. Higgins, & magazine salesman, whose | two-week campaign of alleged banditry was brought to a close through a bit of daring planning on the part of a taxi- | cab driver early Wednesday, will be ar- raigned in the courts of Maryland after lmsApnt s r'm debt to Capital soclety. uthor LAW TO BAN ‘SNIPE SIGNS 15 SOUGHT Davison Declares Plans Would Permit Clean-up Here Before Bicentennial. Abolition of millions of square feet of “snipe” signs which literally plaster many sections of Washington and over which the Commissioners have no con- trol, Maj. Donald A. Davison, Assistant Engineer Commisioners, sald today was | a direct objective in seeking from Con- gress at this time additional legislation for the effective regulation of outdoor advertising signs within the District. Under amendments to the pending bill which are to be placed before the Board of Commissioners, Maj. Davison pre- dicted, Washington could easily put its own house in order with respect to ob- jectionable signs before the inauguration of the George Washington Bicenten- nial celebration in 1932. Like other Government officials he believes in a thorough clean up within the District in view of the civic campaign to rid the highway approaches to the National Capital of the array of unsightly signs on_every roadside. Discussing the proposed amendments to the bill pending before the House District Committee, Maj. Davison said that those who had framed them with a view to strengthening the hands of the District Commissioners had predi- cated their action on a study of recently enacted State statutes. “Each step considered,” he said, “was taken for the purpose of benumyln! ‘Washington and to set an example for the Nation in Lile elimination of illegal advertising signs.” MaJ). Davison polnted out that the District officials, in pnfi:flnl regula- tions and amendments prospect of the new law, had done their best to (Continued on Page 2, Column 1.) The Christmas Spirit People say that they have never before seen such attractive things in the stores at such reasonable prices. This argues well for a great time in thousands of homes where the Christmas CHIEF JUSTICE HUGHES’ DAUGHTER YORKER AT NOON Drs. Harry Emerson Fosdick and W. S. Abernethy Perform Ceremony—Hoover Gift Beautiful. By the Associated Press. Chief Justice Hughes today gave his youngest daughter, Miss Elizabeth Evans Hughes, in marriage to William Thomas Gossett of New York. ‘The noon ceremony, witnessed only by immediate relatives, was performed by Dr. Harry Emerson Fosdick, pastor of Riverside Church, New York, assisted Dr. Willlam 8. Abernethy, it Gavatiy Bapis. Chireh, g"unfl?.;g;." the | the felicitations doms. exquisitely wrought silver urns on estals, suitable for holding large g;u |quets in a decorative scheme—an ex- | pression of the good wishes of President |and Mrs. Herbert Hoover. | The flower-and-palm decorations of )th Hughes home also were znhlq;ced ?‘y a large floral piece, the gift of 3 oover. Other wedding gifts brought to the home of Chief Justice and Mrs. Hughes of Washington offictal- spirit makes. for the hap- piest time of the year. Get your belated presents tomorrow morning when the stores are less crowded. Yesterday’s' Advertising (Local Display) Lines. The Evening Star. . 76,936 2d Newspaper 3d Newspaper. .. 4th Newspaper . . 5th Newspaper. . : 3 IN AUTO ACCIDENT Broadmoor Apartments Man- | ager’s Car Goes Over Em- bankment in Virginia. Roger L. Calvert, 35 years old, man- ager of the Broadmoor Apartments, at 3601 Connecticut avenue, and well known in realty circles here, was in- stantly killed shortly after last mid- night when a heavy sedan which he was driving plunged over an embank- ment two and a half miles beyond | Falls Church on the Lee Highway, in Fairfax County, Va. Mr. Calvert had been visiting hi¢ parents in Mississippi and was home- ward bound with his niece, Miss Ruth Calvert, 16 years old, of Collinsville, Miss.,, and his brother, W. D. Calvert, 25 years old, of Kemper, Miss. Both of the latter were slightly injured by the impact, which wrecked Mr. Calvert's machine. The Calvert automobile skidded, hit a concrete culvert and overturned into Shockey branch off a 10-foot embank- ment following a slight collision with another machine coming from the op- posite direction. The latter car was operated by Clarence Sauver of Qak- ton, Va. on his way to Manassas. The motor cars side-swiped each other on a sharp curve near the cul- vert and the Calvert automobile went out of control. Sauver, who was un- injured, told Dr. C. A. Ransom, Fair- fax County coroner, that he was well on the right side of the highway and that the driver of the other machine apparently was unaware of the curve until he was fairly on it. In addition to his wife, Calvert is sur- vived by two children, Roger Calvert, jr., 8 years old, and Bernice Calvert, 13 years old. ‘The body was removed to the funeral parlors of O. E. Pearson at East Falls Church. Calvert came to Washington about 15 years ago and has been active in the real estate business since, A number of collisions have occurred in the past at the curve where Calvert met death, police sald. i A it DECISION ON PUPILS’ FARE IS SOUGHT TODAY Senate District Committee Studies Proposal to Give Commission Power to Fix Rate. The Senate District Committee will endeavor to reach a final decision this afternoon on_the substitute bill giving the Public Utllities Commission au- thority to establish a reduced rate of fare for school children instead of hav- fix the rate. As ing Congress by the House early this year the bill | established would have a 2-cent school fare. At the last meeting of the Senate Committee Senator Copeland suggested & compromise that would allow the commission to determine the rate with & proviso that such rate should not exceed one-half the adult fare, il o L Quake Fells Smokestacks. m‘AIxJALUKA, Bosnia, Dmembcrfllz —A_severe earth shock was fel here A number of smokestacks DUCE LAYS CRISIS 10 WALL STREET Tells Senate Plight Is Serious and Growing Worse Since U. S. Stock Crash. BY WILLIAM H. STONEMAN. By Radio to The Star. ROME, Italy, December 10.—A tre- mendous impression has been caused throughout Italy by the speech of Pre- mier Benito Mussolini to the ltalian Senate yesterday afternoon in which he turned the cards face up and admitted that there were very few aces among them. It was perhaps the most candid speech Italy's premier has made since he rose to power. The financial situation he indicated is extremely serious and has been grow- ing worse since the American market clash-last year when, Il Duce declared, “we were again thrown into the middle of the sea. Since that time navigation has been extremely difficult for us.” Calls Deficit Problem Grave. The present budget deficit of $00,900,~ mh,“,,':.{"’““' u'z,ooo.noo at cull,-:-!m , presents a grave problem, Premier Mussolini said, and l\‘apmlutm'n is not forthcoming at this moment. He Doimyed out the !l’g‘t tgll‘thuxud are al- ready extraordina; an be_increased. y ek Italy'’s premier justified the recent cuts in the wages of state employes by declaring that they should be the first to make sacrifices for the nation's sake. These cuts are the only way out of the budget difficulties he was able to hit upon, he said. Incidentally, Premier Mussolini disclosed for the first time that there are 527,769 persons on the state pay roll recelving 9,000,000,000 lire (about $472,000,000) annually. Emigration Policy Switched. Mingled surprise and curiosity was caused by a statement that he had | switched his policy last August and al- lowed all Italians free emigration, ex- cept to the United States. No Italians are allowed papers to go there, he in- dicated, which was taken as his answer to reports that the United States is now planning an embargo on all immigration for the next two years. Il Duce pointed out that he had not changed his policy but simply wanted to show Italians that things are just as bad abroad as in Italy. Very few are taking advantage of the opportunity to emigrate present- 1y, he said. Il Duce's candor in discussing the affairs with the Senators is pleasing to the politicians, although the picture painted is not by any means a pleasant one. (Copyright. 1930.) BITING IRONY MARKS SPEECH. Duce Says U. S. Slump Turned Italy’s Surplus Into Big Deficit. ROME, December 19 (#).—The Ameri- can stock market crash and “money crisis” of the Fall of 1929 are princi- pally to blame for Italy's present finan- cial ills, Premier Mussolini told the Senate yesterday afternoon. In a speech marked by biting irony, frankness and characteristic vigor, the Duce declared Italy was ‘“neal port; was perhaps in view of port wherr the American crisis broke out unexpect- edly and exploded like a bomb.™ His placing the blame on the Ameri- can situation was part of the Duce's defense for his drastic cut of 12 per cent in the salaries of all state em- ployes. “For us poor provincials of old Eu- rope,” he said, “the explosion was a great surprise. We remained shaken and confounded like the world at an- nouncement of the death of Napoleon. We had betn given to understand that the United States was a country of (Continued on Page 2, Column 4.) AUDITOR DESCRIBES HIGHER AUTO LEVY AS SUBSTITUTE TAX Donovan, Under Questioning, Says Fees Are Lower Here Than in Various States. WOULD OFFSET INCREASE BY PERSONALTY REPEAL Quizzed on Water Department, He Says D. C. Has Paid Practically All Costs Since 1917. Maj. Daniel J. Donovan, District au- ditor and budget officer, today told the Special House Committee Investigating Fiscal Relations Between the United States and District Governments that he knew of no reason why the present gasoline tax and automobile registration fee should not be increased. The statement of Maj. Donovan was drawn from him through a series of questions by Representative Frear of Wisconsin, who called attention to Washington's gasoline tax and automo- bile registration fee, in comparison with those in various States, particularly in Maryland and Virginia. Donovan admitted that the gasoline tax and automobile registration fee are lower in Washington in comparison with the varfous States, and sald he was confident that an increase would add to the revenues of the District. He declared, however, that any increase in the automobile registration fee should be accompanied by repeal of the rerwml property tax on motor vehicles. Pictures Financial Set-up. Maj. Donovan also gave the commit- tee, through an unending barrage of questions plied by members of the committee, & comprehensive picture of the financial set-up of the District, showing to what extent the annual Fed- eral contribution to the support of the | District is used for various municipal "l!)‘::‘luté the tensive questioning to e extensive which Maj. Donovan was subjected, the committee did not complete its exami- nation of him and he was directed to continue when the hearing is resumed at 9:45 o'clock tomorrow morning. Donovan was the only witness examined and he was on the witness stand con- tinuously from 9:45 to about noon. van n his by borne entirely by the Federal Govern. ment. From 1882, up until 1917, he plained, the Water Department paid entire cost of the ibution system, while the United States under the old 50-50 plan of contribution paid the cost of maintenance for the water sup- ply end of the system. entire cost of the supply and distribu- tion system was paid out of the int appropriation from 1882 to 1917. In that year Congress required the Water Department to take over the entire burden of :ulrpomnl both the supply and distribution systems. Since 1917 the District has been paying the entire cost, with one exception, from the revenues of the Water Department. This the new water supply system several years ago, which cost more than $9,000,000. The new system was financed out of the general revenues of the District.” Maj. Donovan then introduced a (Continued on Page 4, Column 1.) BRITISH PREMIER FACES HARD FIGHT Severe Test of Alliance With Lib- erals Coming on Trades Dis- putes Measure. By the Assoclated Press. LONDON, December 19.—Ramsay MacDonald's government, which yes- terday was maneuvered into accepting a measure forced upon it by the House of Lords, will face another severe test after the holidays, when debate begins on the so-called trades dispute bill, the text of which was published today. ‘This measure, one of the most im- portant in the government's legislative program, is to nullify the law passed by Stanley Baldwin's government after the general strike of 1926 removing some of the labor unions’ rights, in- cluding those of sympathetic strikes and peaceful glcketlng, ‘The new bill would restore these rights and also would permit British civil servants to hold membership in organizations affiliated with the Trades Union Congress or the Labor party. Debate on the bill, to begin on Jan- uary 22, will test the Labor-Liberal alliance which thus far has kept Premier MacDonald's head above water. Some of the Liberals, including the influential Sir John Simon, are ex- (P) Means Associated Press. “From Press to Home Within the Hour” The Star's carrier system covers block and the regular edi- tion is delivered to Washington homes as fast as the papers are printed. Yesterday's Circulation, 114,408 TWO CENTS SMITH CO. CASE MAY G0 T0 JURY THIS AFTERNOON Judge Expected to Begin Final Instructions After Luncheon Recess. LAMBERT ENDS DEFENSE WITH ACQUITTAL PLEA Lawyer Declares Prosecution Has Not Refuted Evidence Given by G. Bryan Pitts. With the jury expected to get the case this afternoon, the three defend- ants in the F. H. Smith Co. co trial today made their final blm acquittal. Before & capacity crowd in District Supreme Court, Defense Attorney Wil- ton J. Lambert closed the defense side of the case with a request for a not guilty verdict for G. Bryan Pitts, C. Elbert Anadale and John H. Ed- wards, jr. The three men, former officers of the Smith company, have been on trial before Justice Willlam Hits, charged with conspiracy to embezzle funds of the company and to destroy its records, In event of a conviction they face & maximum penalty of 23 years' im- prisonment and a $10,000 fire, pected to oppose the measure stren- uously. VAN LOON PLANNING DISCHARGE OF BANKRUPTCY FOR REMBRANDT Weriter Spends Two Years Preparing Suit to Clear Name of Artist Who Died 261 Years' Ago. By the Associated Press. NEW YORK, December 19.—Hendrik Willem van Loon, biographer, aims to have Rembrandt van Ryn, famous Dutch artist, discharged from bank- ruj 261 years after his death. 'an Loon told the New York World he had spent two years of his time and money to institute a suit, now pending at Amlm!efdm. Siing baeEr . rought,” Van Loon sald, “not because I feel that Rembrandt needs it for his reputation as much as because I feel we need it for ours. Everybody has made mone: out. of It's time we ily than his own—that he ' fellow. He never paid for the Rembrandt van Ryn died without issue after 18 years Tuptes. i i i Judge's Charge Due. ter Mr. Lambert had concluded remarks, Nugent Dodds, special unx:: ant to the Attorney General, closed the Government's case. He asked that all three defendants be convicted on each of the four counts in the indictment. Justice Hitz is expected to deliver his charge to the jury immediately after the luncheon recess. The 10 men and two women, in whose hands rests the fate of the accused men, then will re- vu:: dlv&nn ante-room to determine their Mr. Lambert opened by instructing theplenmbclr“l.of “In other words,” said Donovan, “the | com exception was in the construction of | g ad fallen short proving its case in this respect. He pointed out that Howard, while on the stand as a Government witness, had testified that Pitts refused to give him money for this purpose, e Forgery Suggestion Denied. e attorney then an a discus- slon of certain requumlt,r;‘: and receipts which Pitts had offered as proof of his claim that he was legally entitled to receive certaln money which the Gov- ernment charged was embezzled by him. Assistant United States Attorney Neil Burkinshaw, in his argument to the jury yesterday, suggested the possibility that these papers might have been = suggestion was in tly de- nied by Lambert. At onefl‘g;‘::l: Z: his argument he went so far as to “bet the Jjury” that the requisitions were properly prepared. He was interrupted by Justice Hitz, who advised the attorney that he was not in a position to be making betting propositions to the Jurors. Mr. Lambert also laid great stress on the decision by the Government not to introduce rebuttal evidence. He con- tended that this had the effect of leav- gx‘g':ndhnuted the testimony given by “When Mr. Pitts was on the stand,” Lambert said, “he offered a plausible explanation ‘of every act performed by himself and his co-defendants, upon which the Government based the charges contained in this indictment. ‘Then, when their opportunity came, the prosecution made no effort whatsoever to refute this testimony. It seems to me that this act should appear ‘highly significant to you members of the jury. SRR FILIBUSTER BLOCKS INTERIOR FUND BILL Senator Howell Speaks for More Than Hour and Half to Prevent Action. By the Assoclated Press. A filibuster by Senator Howell, Re- publican, Nebraska, today blocked nnf.halnh.flor g8 £ | e