Evening Star Newspaper, January 30, 1931, Page 17

Washington News WOMEN ARE URGED T0 DEMAND PROBE OF RUSSIAN LABOR Representative Fish Address- es Defense Congress on Soviet “Atrocities.” DISARMAMENT DECRIED BY REAR ADMR. MOFFETT Gen. Amos Fries Proposes Military Training and Stamping Out of Communist Teaching. The use of every effort within its power was urged upon the Sixth Wom- an’s Patriotic Conference on National Defense by Representative Hamilton Fish, jr., this morning to demand that the Treasury Department request, through the State Department, permis- sion to send inspectors to Russia to investigate reports of the use of prison labor in the cutting of timber and pulp- wood, which is now imported into the United States from that country. “If the Soviet government should re- fuse this reasonable request,” declared Mr. Fish, “when approximately a thou- sand Russian engineers and Soviet sub- jects are roaming at will through the nited States inspecting our factories, mills and mines, and gathering all kinds of information, then the Treasury De- partment should prohibit the entry im- mediately of all Soviet pulpwood and Iumber, until such time as the agents of the Treasury Department are per- mitted to make a thorough investiga- tion and ascertain the facts by and with the permission and co-operation of the Soviet government.” Convinced of Atrocities. “I am firmly convinced,” declared Mr. Fish, “that-a large part of the Jumber produced in Soviet Russia is through the use not only of convict labor, but through the most appalling suffering, brutality and atrocities to many scorées of thousands of helpless and innocent people. I urge that the aroused conscience of the American people shall demand of President Hoo- ver and the Federal Government that the United States shall not abet in this bloody crime against civilization.” “Let us see,” concluded the Repre- sentative, “that no more lumber or pulp| goo¢ wood is brought into the United States from Soviet Russia in competition with free American labor and in violation and degradation of humanity.” Moftett Hits Disarmament. Lack of armaments has never proved an insurance against wars, declared Rear Admiral W. A. Moffett, chief of aeronautics, U. S. N., who, in an address this afternoon before the conference, urged the immediate carrying forward of the naval program as provided for the United States in the London naval | tha treaty. “Tt has been said,” declared Admiral Moffett,” that armaments make for war. ‘We can judge by our own history.” Calling attention to the five wars in which the United States has been en- gaged since the Revolution of 1776, Ad- miral Moffett said: “At none of these periods were we armed and yet war was orced_upon us. Many of you would have been spared suffering had this country been a real sea power in 1914. If we had had an adequate Army and Navy at that time, the responsible lead- ers in Germany would have considered us before going to war, instead of re- garding us with contempt. We could have forbidden war by declaring that we ‘would oppose them with a real force.” Cites Belgian Plight. Admiral Moffett cited the case of Belgium's fate during the World War and declared, “Treaties are not worth the paper on which they are written unless backed by sufficient force.” Development of aviation as a means of national defense was urged by the Navy's air chief. Admiral Moffett also spoke in favor of development of the American mer- chant marine. No compromise should be given to Boviet Russia, declared Gen. Amos Fries, who urged military training for the youth of this country as the “Na- tion’s greatest need” and warned that great danger lay in the spreading of communistic teaching in the United States. “The world cannot continue half Communist and half free,” said Gen. Fries. “The Russian Communists know they must spread Communism through- out the world, and thus destroy all free people, or else eventually the free peo- pie of the world will destroy com- munistic Russia.” Enumerating the benefits of military training for boys, Gen. Fries said: “It teaches the boy joyful obedience to properly constituted authority. By di- rection and by inference he is taught to oppose all that is wrong and evil and beyond all, that honor is to be con- sidered before his life.” Representative Douglas Speaks. At the morning session, Lewis W. Douglas, Representative from Arizona, speaking on national defense, declared that “national defense need not be con- fined to physical and material power. It occasionally may be fitting to specu- late on the inner destructive forces ‘which slowly and imperceptibly are cor- roding our structure of Government.” Mr. Douglas warned against the yapidly “increasing encroachment of Federal power over individual State’s rights g"Lucal responsibility,” he declared, #is dying a lingering death.” Frederick H. Payne, Assistant Secre- tary of War, spoke on the necessity of industrial preparedness, declaring that a nation’s ability to mobilize industrially was as important as its ability to mo- bilize men for national defense. “To you assembled here, I would urge the careful consideration and active support of industrial preparedr.ess. By so0 doing, you emphasize the intelligence and vision of your citizenship,” said Mr. Payne. 2 Music was offered at the morning’s gession by the United States Army IPASSING DRIVER AS LIQUOR RUNNER ESCAPES| WASHINGTON, D. C, FRIDAY, STEALS RUM Whis](y-Ladcn Car Robbed Of TWO Cases After Chase by Policeman and Upset. Thief Now Sought. ‘The colored driver of a heavily-laden liquor car escaped and two cases of whisky were stolen from his overturned m e by a passing motorist in a swift series of events centering around a chase between the rum runner and Motor Cycle Policeman J. E. Bennett of the Traffic Bureau, last night. ‘The whisky car, endeavoring to shake off the pursuing officer, toppled over in making a turn at Fourth street and New York avenue, The driver, thrown clear of the car, fled from the scene on foot with the policeman close behind. Liquor Is Stolen. Bennett was outdistanced, however, and returned to the whisky car, where he found five cases of liquor intact. ‘The machine and contraband were confiscated while a lookout for a truck driver was broadcast when police learned that the man, a witness to the chase, stopped beside the overturned machine, picked up two cases of whisky and drove away while Bennett was chasing the man. Smoke Screen Fails, Meantime an automobile, believed by police to be carrying a load of whisky for delivery in Washington, was forced to turn back into Maryland when its two occupants failed to halt Policeman S. R. McKee of the eleventh precinct, with a smoke screen attack after a three-mile chase last night. ‘The pursuit began at Fifty-seventh street and Blair road southeast when McKee saw the machine traveling at top speed without lights. SEWER AND WATER LTS PROTESTED Move to Equalize Assess- ments With Paving Charges Is Made. A move to equalize sewer and water assessments with paving costs to prop- erty owners, as contemplated under the revision of the Borland law now pend- ing in Congress, will be made by the Sewer Committee of the Washington Board of Trade. The committee yesterday afternoon directed its chairman, Rufus S. Lusk, to lay such a petition before the Board of District Commissioners. ‘While District officials are hopeful that the proposed revision of the Bor- land street assessments law will be passed by Congress at this session, it was pointed out that there has been no move to change the plan of assessing eoa:' of the laying of sewers and water ains. Mr. Lusk cited one case in which the purchaser of a $1,200 lot found he had to pay an assessment of $1,300 for sewer and water c?'on;zectmns. The new land measure would pro- vide that (hetl'rnlxlmum linear f?ont aseessment for paving shall not ex- ceed $3.50 and that the total bill levied shall not exceed 20 per cent of the total value of the abutting property. The sewer connection assessment is now $3 per foot. The committee in the past has urged and will continue to urge that such assessments be reduced to $1.60 per foot. Members of the com- mittee contend that the price in instal lation of sewers has dropped since the rate was fixed and that now property owners are being forced to pay more hn:“tm actual cost of such improve- LAUNDRY IS ROBBED ‘Three young colored men, them brandishing a pistol. entered the laundry of Lee L. Me, Chinese laundry- man, at 1326 Fourth street, and took $10 from the cash drawer last night, he reported to police. i — response by Mrs. Virgil McClure, - tional president, Amele'lcnn Wl‘ll'RMo'éE- ers, Mrs. Robert Lincoln Hoyal, na- tional president, American Legion Aux- eu‘rynee's;l?e chalrm»r;n of the confer- 3 on “The e, Purpose of Our “No interest in armaments or armies as such moves us to come here,” said Mrs. Hoyal. “The things of war are foreign and hateful to us. We would rather come to welcome the day when all armies could be disbanded and all navies converted to eaceful purposes, but we refuse to let our sentiments dominate us in these matters. We realize that such a day has not dawned for the world and we cannot let our- selves be lured into a sense of security by a false dawn of world peace.” Col. Robbins Speaks. Col. Charles B. Robbins, former As- sistant Secretary of War, addressed the delegates on the present condition of national defense. Decl that there never had been & time in the Nation's history when such efforts had been made to strip the country of national defense, Col. Robbins said that those women and men backing the move- ments to bring about disarmament, demobilization and abolition of mili- tary training would be greatly surprised if they knew that the leader of such movements is an atheist and a Com- munist and that much of the financing of the disarmament propoganda in this country is financed by Soviet atheists. ‘Walsh Denounces Passivity. Strongly denouncing the administra- tion’s policy of passivity and inaction relative to the naval program resulting from the Washington Naval Conference of 1922, Senator Walsh said: “Since the Washington Conference the other powers have launched upon intensive programs of small shipbuilding, while American construction atrophied. Paci. fists tell us that we should set an e: ample to the rest of the world and dis- arm. The record of the other naval powers—Great Britain, Japan, France and Italy—in the last eight years has afforded abundant disillusionment as regards the effectiveness of this ‘reduc- tion-by-example’ method.” A conference dinner will be attended by delegates this evening at the Wil- lard Hotel at 7:30 o'clock. Women members of Congress and Mrs. Eleanor Patterson will be guests of honor. Funeral Toda SERGT. AUGUST P. GALL. WHITE HOUSE OFFICER’S FUNERAL IS CONDUCTED Military Honors at Arlington Cem- etery Given Sergt. Gall, Spanish- American War Veteran. Funeral services for Sergt. August P. Gall cf the White House police, who died at Emergency Hospital Wednesday night, were conducted at the W. W. Chambers funeral home, 1400 Chapin street, this afternoon at 2 o'clock. Interment, with military honors, was in Arlington Cemetery. Sergt. Gall was 52 years old. He was a veteran of the Spanish-American War, a mem- ber of the Spanish War veterans' organization and of Hiram Lodge, No. 10, of Masons. MDYEAR CLASSES RECENE DIPLOMAS Eight Commencement Exer- cises Held and 12 More Are Scheduled. Midyear commencement exercises for Washington's high and junior high schools, which got under way yester- day and last night, with a total of eight graduation exercises held, were to be completed with 12 additional exercises today and tonight. Business High School last night awarded diplomas to 81 students of the four-year class’ and held exercises for its two-year class yesterday morning. The class was addressed by Dr. Cloyd Heck Marvin, president of George Washington University, and the scholar- ship awards for the year were an- nounced by Allan Davis, the principal. Mrs, Henry Gratton Doyle, member of the Board of Education, presided at the exercises. Richmond B. Keech, people’s counsel of the Public Utilities Commis- sion, spoke at the morning exercises at Business, and Harry O. Hine, secretary of the Board of Education, presided. ‘The graduating class at Armstrong High School last night was addressed by George E. C. Hayes, and diplomas were awarded by J. Hayden Johnson, member of the Board of Education. Garnet C. Wilkinson, first assistant superintendent of schools, told of the special achievements of individual students. Other schools which held commence- ment_exercises yesterday were Colum- bia Junior High School at 2 o'clock in the afternoon, Hine Junior High School at 2 o'clock, Macfarland Junior High School at 1:30 o'clock, Francis Junior at 10:30 o'clock in the morn- g, and the Garnet-Patterson at 2 o'clock in the afternoon. Among those holding exercises today and tonight are Central, 8 p.m.; East- ern, 8 p.m.; McKinley, 8 pm.; West- ern, 1:45 pm.; Jefierson Junior, 8 p.m.; Paul Junior, 2 p.m.; Powell Junior, 2 p.m.; Stuart Junior, 2 p.m.; Cardoza, 2 p.m.; Dunbar, 8 p.m.; Randall, 10:30 am., and Shaw, 2 p.m. Band. Reports of committees were made by Mrs. N. N. Nock, chairman of the American War Mothers, and Mrs. Kath- erine W. Kittredge, chairman of the Credential Committee, Daughters of the erican Revolution. After adjournment of the morning’s gession, delegates were received at 12:30 by President Hoover at the White An imposing scene was offered last jevening at the opening exercises of the conference in Memorial Continental Hall. To the music of the United States Marine Band, standard bearers carrying the banners of the 40 patriotic organizations participating filed down the center aisle of the hall to stage, where they stacked their pen- jmants and took their seats. High School Cadets and Girl Scouts served @5 pages. After the invocation, pronounced by 3 Thomas J. Dickson, U.S.A., . welcome, deliv- wnd.co-h ermJM Fletcher v B e, DA R, and & WEATHER BUREAU MAN POKES FUN AT ALL METHODS OF RAIN-MAKING Says Savages Beating Kettles in Palm Trees Not More Ridiculous Than Moderns. Here is the earliest known recipe for “making rain,” as practiced by savages centuries ago: Pick out the three tallest trees in the vicinity and the three most agile mem- bers of the tribe. Give one a burning torch, another nkling can and the third a kettle club. Make them climb the trees. ‘The one with the torch brandishes it in the treetop, simulating lighting. The savage in the next tree beats lustily on the !:ttl!. ‘That is the thunder. The last of the trio tilts up the sprinkling can. That is rain. In the meantime their fellow tribesmen on the ground dance and shout, in effect, to the gods above: ridiculous, but no more so than the tactics of the present day rain makers, Wil J. Humphreys of the United States Weather Bureau, told the Society of Sigma Xi at its regular meeting last night in the Carnegie Institution. All of the modern methods for pro- ducing rain, however complicated, are doomed to failure, he declared. Rain comes only from the action of natural forces, Mr. Humphreys explain~ ed, and it cannot be artificially produc- ed by any known method. He pointed out that Congress appropriated $9,000 about 40 years ago to “make rain,” but that even this attempt was a failure. Mr. Humphreys explained the atmos- pheric conditions which must prevail 10 bring about rainfall, and also gave an illustrated lecture on the amounts of precipitation in various parts of the country during 1930, JANUARY 30, 1931, - @he Toening - Star * HOUSE RECEPTION BY PRESIDENT SETS SOCIAL PRECEDENT Mr. and Mrs. Hoover Receive Representatives in Un- rivaled Event. VICE PRESIDENT’S SISTER UNABLE TO BE PRESENT Function Marked by Unusual In- formality and Hominess at Executive Mansjon. ‘The President and Mrs. Hoover led more than a thousand gussts over an unbroken social trail last night when they gave a reception in honor of the members of the House of Representa- tives. It was the first reception ever held by a President exclusively for the Rpresentatives, and from the stand- point of comfort, friendliness, good fellowship and above all exquisite diplomacy, th> event was never equaled in the long history of social life in the Capital. Given over to a monotonous form and ceremony, all State receptions in | the past have been more or less alike, and had b>come fixed features in the | social firmament of the Capital's social | regime, and while every bit of the form and ceremony always allotted to the most distinguished diplomats and other visitors was carried out, while the Chicf Executive and the First Lady of the Land recelved the men in Congress chosen by the people, and their ladies— who are now no inconsiderable part of the scheme either socially or politically as befitted them, there was yet a charming informality and hominess about the evening seldom felt in the ‘White House at a State function. Mrs. Gann Absent. ‘The impressive march down the state stairway, across the corridor into the blue room was done in the customary way. The Vice “President, Mr, Curtis, following immediately after the Presi- dent and Mrs. Hoover. Mrs. Gann was absent last evening owing to the continued illness of Mr. Gann, and Mrs. Hurley walked with the Vice President, as the Secretary of War is out of town. The Secretary of State and Mrs. Stim- son were next in line with the Post- master General and Mrs. Brown, with Mrs. Mitchell, wife of the Attorney General, who was absent, walking with the Secretary of the Treasury, Mr.| Mellon. The Secretary of the Interior and Mrs. Wilbur followed, though neither the Secretary of Agriculture nor Mrs. Hyde was present last eve- ning and the Secretary of Commerce and Mrs. Lamont and the Secretary of Labor and Mrs. Doak were the last couples in the line. Mrs. Hoover wore a lovely gown of white satin fashioned with a bertha effect and the skirt molded to the fig- ure. The long skirt trailed the floor several inches, She wore a long string of carnelians and pearls and carried long white kid gloves. Mrs. Stimson was in a striking gown of wine-color velvet, the bodice cut low at the back and the skirt. falling into a graceful train. Mrs. Hurley in Gold. Mrs. Hurley had on a gown of gold net incrysted with tiny gold beads and a heavy gold chain about her neck. Mrs, Lamont was in a canary yellow brocaded chiffon. The bodice was cut low at the neckline and the skirt went into a train at the back. Mrs. Wilbur wore a gown of white and gold brocade made on long draped lines, the side flares forming trains. Mrs. Brown was in a turquoise blue taffeta, the skirt designed in tiers at the back. Mrs. Doak had on a gown of white brocade with a flower design worked out in_gold threads. Mrs. Longworth wore a gown of blue and gold corded silk, made with a fuli skirt and the bodice with a deep yoke. Representative Ruth Hanna Mec- Cormick with her debutante daughter, Miss Katrina McCormick, were among those in the party. Mrs. McCormick wore a graceful gown of white chiffon, and her daughter was in jade green velvet, fashioned long and full, and wore dainty green velvet slippers to match. Representative Katharine Lang- leyl also was there and had a gown of white chiffon embroidered in crystals and jets, and at the sides were full godets of black tulle. Mrs. Ramseyer Wears Black. Others at the party were Mrs. Ram- seyer, wife of Representative C. Wil- liam Ramseyer of Iowa, whose gown was of black taffeta brocaded in silver flowers made with flaring skirt, and the bodice had a deep yoke of flesh- color chiffon studded in crystals. Mrs, Hoch, wife of Representative Homer Hoch of Kansas, had a gown of deep blue velvet made with a yoke about the hips and a graceful drapery at one side. Mrs. Bacon, wife of Representa- tive Robert Low Bacon of New York, had a gown of black taffeta made with wide flaring skirt, very long, and a bodice cut low to the waistline in the back and having a narrow belt em- broidered in a dainty tracery of green threads, marking the normal waist- line. With this she wore several strings of green beads about her neck, pendant earrings made of beads and carried a small bag embroidered in green. Mrs. Thatcher, wife of Representa- tive Maurice H. Thatcher of Kentucky, vore a gown of gold lace, fashioned with circular skirt, with which she carried a cluster of violets. Mrs. Kelly, wife of Representative Clyde Kelly of Pennsylvania had a smart gown of black satin made very long and with a closely fitted yoke about the hips. Mrs. Gifford, wife of Representative Charles L. Gifford of Massachusetts, was in a severely simple gown of black velvet and wore a shoulder bouquet of violets. Mrs. Reed in Black Chiffon. Wives of other Representatives were Mrs. Daniel A. Reed of New York, who wore black chiffon, long and full and finished about the neckline with a yoke of flesh-color chiffon embroidered in beads, and Mrs. Addison T. Sexith of Idaho, in a gown of black velvet trim- med with cream-color lace. With Rep- resentative and Mrs. Smith were their son and daughter-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Walter S. Smith, the latter wearing a gown of figured taffeta. Mrs. John M. Nelson of Wisconsin had a gown of figured georgette crepe, brown pre- dominating. Mrs. James S, Parker of New York wore a white beaded gown made on straight lines, Mrs. William William- son of South Dakota wore a graceful gown of blue crepe romalne and her daughter, Miss LaVerne Williamson, was in rose pink romaine crepe. Mrs. Henry W. Temple of Pennsylvania had a costume of heavy black silk trimmed with rhinestones and with which she wore a black tulle scarf. Represent- ative and Mrs. Temple were accom- glnled by thelr son, Mr. Edward ‘emple. Mrs. Albert Johnson _of Washington wore rose-color chiffon, SOLUTION OF CRIME IN LIMERICK DEATH UP TO GRAND JURY Police Investigation of Case at Standstill as Probe Is Continued. NINE WITNESSES CALLED TO TESTIFY DURING TODAY List of 200 Gun Purchasers Given Girl's Friend in Search for Acquaintance. Probable solution of the slaying of Beulah Limerick rests once again with the grand jury, as police announced to- day their investigation was at a stand- still. Nine witnesses, including Lieut. John Fowler, police firearms expert, will tell the grand jury this afternoon what they know about the life and murder of the Sky High Whoopee Club secretary. Fowler to Testify. Fowler is expected to recount in de- tail his ballistic investigation in connec- tion with the case. He will tell of the finding of two .25-caliber revolvers in the home of Robert Langdon, suspended fifth_precinct patrolman, now held in the District jail with three other sus- pects in the baffling case. The police ballistic expert is expected to tell ‘the jury that neither of Lang- don’s guns could possibly have fired the .25 calibre slug which ended the life of the 19-year-old usherette. He also will testify, it _is believed, that the shells found in the murder house have no pos- sible connection with either of Lang- don’s guns. Fowler is expected to state to the jury that the .25 calibre bullefs found in a sewer trap near the home of Mrs. Dora Limerick, mother of the slain girl, do not compare with the fatal bullet. Investigators are inclined to believe that the bullets were planted in the sewer trap. Pistol Buyers Listed. Mrs. Martha Bargfrede, friend of the Slain girl, was given a list of 200 per- sons who have bought er sold guns dur- ing the past two years. Police wanted to know if she could recognize any of | the names as friends of Beulah Limer- ick’s. She was unable to recognize any of them. Julian Richards, who is presenting the case to the grand jury, announced today that he will recall Lyman Green, Casualty Hospital interne, to testify again for the grand jury. Richards said the jury wished to clear up a certain point in Green's story. Investigators intimated they will visit the District Jail some time tody and question Langdon, William Paddy, Richard Reed and Vernon Limericl now held in connection with the case. Other Witnesses Called. ‘The four suspects have been grilled almost daily since their incarceration, but have failed to waver from their original storfes. The other witnesses to testify this afternoon are Francis Pilkerton, Joseph Bell, David Thompson, Roy Wolfe, Louis Calvert, Samuel Friedlander, El- mer Donaldson and Sergt. Thomas McNamara. made full and long. Mrs. William F. Kopp of Towa had a eostume of powder- blue crepe trimmed with rhinestones and wore gloves and slippers to match. Mrs. Richard N. Elliott of Indiana wore egg-shell-color flat crepe, made plain and with a full flaring skirt. Representative and Mrs. Rowland L. Johnston of Missouri had with them their son, Mr. Donald Graham John- ston. Mrs. Johnston wore an imported French gown of white chiffon beaded in crystals and long crystal earrings. Mrs, Yates Wears Pink. Representative and Mrs, Richard Yates of Illinois and their son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. John Hen- derson of Scotland, were in the large company. Mrs. Yates wore pink velvet made simply, and Mrs. Henderson was in black lace. Mrs. Lindley H. Hadley of Washington had a gown of black lace made over steel blue Mrs. Carl A. Chindblom of Illinois wore dark blue velvet with a beaded ice. Mrs. Fred S. Punell of Indiana wore black taffeta made bouffant and with a yoke of flesh color chiffon on the bodice. Mrs. Ar- thur H. Greenwood of Indiana had a gown of beige color satin fashioned with a flaring skirt, long and full. Mrs. William E. Hull of Illinois wore a_cos- tume of green and gold llame. Rep- resentative and Mrs. Hull were accom- panied by the latter’s niece, Miss Vir- ginia Harris, who was in white satin. Representative and Mrs. William E. Evans of California had with them Mrs. J. T. Millikin of Pittsburgh and Mrs. Harold B. Heshman. Mrs. Evans wore a gown of white llame and gold, Mrs. Milliken was in white lace and Mrs, Heshman in a modish gown of pink taffeta. ‘The Assistant Secretary of War and Mrs. Frederick H. Payne were among the early arrivals, Mrs, Payne having a becoming costume of black chiffon, the full skirt falling in graceful folds and just escaping the floor and the bodice with a deep yoke of flesh color chiffon embroidered in tiny crystal beads. Assistant Secretary of the Navy and Mrs. Davis S. Ingalls were mem- bers of the small company assembled in the blue room before the hosts took their places. Mrs. Ingalls wore a gown q(l shell pink chiffon embroidered in silver. Mrs. Herbert Hoover, Jr, Present. Mrs. Herbert Hoover, jr., who arrived yesterday from Asheviile, joined the guests in the blue room before 9 o'clock. She wore a gown of eggshell color chiffon. Miss Gertrude Lamont, in white satin fashioned long and with circular godets in the skirt and bodice trimmed with rhinestones, was also in the blue room before her parents came from the private apartments on the up- per floor. Among others at the party were Miss Catherine Lowman, daugh- ter of Assistant Secretary of the Treas- wry and Mrs. Seymour Lowman, who has fsst returned from a long visit in Egypt, who was in white lase made cir- cular ‘and long with a circular flounce about the hips. Mr, and Mrs. Alfons Landa were also there, the latter in severely plain black silk, Former Representative and Mrs. Frank W. Mondell, with their son and davghter-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. W. H Mondell; Mr. and Mrs. Conrad Syme, Mrs, Margaret Pou Moran, Mr. and Mrs. Edward Campbell Shields, Repre- sentative and Mrs. Tilman B. Parks and the former’s son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Jack Marshall; Dr. and Mrs. Le Roy Sawler, the latter formerly Miss Blanche Wingo, and Lieut. and Mrs. James D. Gardner. Representative and Mrs. Oscar De Priest attended the reception, Mrs. De Priest wearing a gown of cream lace and ornaments of cuf’ crystal. Society and General PAGE B—1 HOOVER TO TURN ON NATURAL GAS FOR CITY OF WASHINGTON Flow From Kentucky and West Virginia to Be Mixed With Manufactured Prod- uct at 10 O’Clock Tomorrow. President Hoover at 10 o'clock tomor- row morning will press an electric but- ton in the White House officially start- ing the flow of natural gas in the city of Washington. ‘The President's participation in this event will be marked by a small cere- mony which will include several officers of the Washington and Georgetown Gas Light Cos. Slemp Accompanies Party. The invitation to the President to take part to this extent in this cere- mony was extended to him today by G. A. G. Wood, president of the Washing- ton Gas Light Co.; Wilton J. Lambert, general counsel; F. A. Woodhead, vice president, and W. M. Russell, chief engineer. C. Bascom Slemp, Repub- lican national committeeman from Vir- ginia and secretary to former President Coolidge, accompanied the party to the ‘White House. A supply of the natural gas will be released into mixing chambers at the East plant of the Washington Gas Light Co., Eleventh and M street southeast. Tapped at Rockville. ‘The gas, which comes from the prop- erties of the Columbla Gas & Electric Co. in Eastern Kentucky and®Western West Virginia, will make no change in the heating value or price of the pres- ent gas supply. It will be mixed with water gas in the correct proportions, instead of en- riching the water gas with crude oil, as at present. The natural gas comes from a pipe- line leading from the gas fields to New York. The Washington supply is tap- ped in at a point near Rockville, Md. POLICEMEN HURT ANSWERING ALARM Cars Collide as Officers Re- spond to Broadcast—Riot Report Is False. ‘Two second precinct policemen were slightly hurt last night when an auto- mobile in which they were answering an emergency call was struck by a pri- vate car at First and R streets and sent crashing into a large tree. The police- men were responding to a riot call at Eckington place and R street northeast, which proved to be a false alarm. ‘The officers, Pvts. Charles B. Mc- Donald and John Ehlman, were dis- missed from Sibley Memorial Hospital after treatment. Fred J. Martin of 63 Randolph street and his companion, Miss Leona Taylor of Silver Spring, Md., occupants of the other machine, escaped unhurt. Crash Broadcast by Police. ‘Word of the crash was broadcast over the new police radio system as soon as a report was received at headquarters and a scout car manned by Pvts. L. W. Payne and J. B. Wallace picked up the call and was on the scene in less than two minutes. Several witnesses told police the siren of the police car driven by McDonald could be heard several blocks away, but that Martin failed to give the speed- ing machine the right-of-way. Martin was released after being ordered to appear before corporation council today, when it will be determined w‘l';lher charges will be brought against Both Cars Damaged. Both cars were badly damaged, while the police vehicle was further threatened when a machine operated by James Slaughter, 37, of 221 M street, swerved to avoid crashing into the patrol car as it was being towed across the inter- section of New Jersey avenue and P street and ran onto a lawn. Slaughter was arrested for reckless driving. Others hurt in accidents reported to police were: Arthur Van Nort, 36 years old, of 126 Maple avenue, Clarendon, Va.; Charles Harris, colored, 47, of 432 Neal place; Mrs. Ida Pumphrey, 65 years old, of 920 M street; Billie Crump, 3 years old, 616 Sixth street, and Joseph Stump, 7 years old, 925 I street. U. S. T0 ASK PERJURY INDICTMENT OF PITTS Evidence Against Him and His As- sociates to Be Presented Monday. ‘The Department of Justice is ex- pected to go before the grand jury Monday to resume its efforts to secure perjury indictments against G. Bryan Pitts ‘and certain persons associated with him in the pecent F. H. Smith Co. trial. Several additional _witnesses, Wwho were not in the city when the case was first brought to the attention of the jury, are expected here next week. The names of these witnesses have not been disclosed. It is claimed by the Government that several persons associated with the de- fense committed perjury in the intro- duction of requisitions and receipts in an effort to justify the payment of large sums of money to Pitts from the treasuries of several corporations sub- sidiary to the Smith Co. WARRANT AUTHORIZED FOR OFFICER’S ARREST Youth Makes Assault Charge on Policeman After Arrest for Alleged Speeding. Authorization for the issuance of a warrant for the arrest of Policeman James H. Dellinger of No. 11 precinct! on a charge of assault was given early this afternoon by Assistant United States District Attorney Michael Keogh upon complaint of a 19-year-old youth whgg} thah omcelr ehgdt n:ested on a E charge last Saturday. p'eI‘hengoufl?r—gOscar A. Reba of Boule- vard Heights, Md.—charges that the policeman struck him over the head after he stopped his car at an address near the 2800 block of P street south- east. ‘When_the speeding charge came up in ‘Crafic Court Monday, the officer testified Reba drove his car in excess of 50 miles an hour at times on Min- nesota avenue southeast. The officer said that upon arrival at the youth’s destination Reba resisted arrest and attempted to attack him with the of- ficer's bludgeon, which he took from the seat of the policeman’s car. Reba was given a suspended sentence by Judge Isaac R. Hitt that day. Following investigation of the case by uarters detectives and by the office of the assistant district attorney, the complainant appeared at Mr. Keogh's office today to seek a warrant for the arrest of the officer. JOHN W. SMITH DIES MORGANTOWN, W. Va., January 30 (#)—John W. Smith, 67, West Virginia commissioner of agriculture, died today after suffering a paralytic stroke while attending the West Virginia University Farm and Home week here. He was to have been toastmaster at color the annual banquet of the Farm and Home week tonjght. POWER RATE PLEA 10 BE: EXPEDITED Commission to Send Petition to Court Within Two or Three Days. ‘The petition of the Public Utilities Commission for modification of the consent decree governing rates for electric power in the District will be presented to Equity Court within the next two or three days, Harleigh H. Hartman, legal member of the com- mission, said today. ‘The petition was prepared by Cor- poration Counsel William W. Bride and forwarded to the commission’s office on Wednesday, but Mr. Hartman explained that he had been ill with influenza since then, and would not undertake to read the petition critically until his mind is clearer. The petition is brief, merely setting out that the Potomac Electric Power | POLICE SHIFT BLANE IN EAMBLING CASES TOU.S, PROSECUTOR Report to Maj. Pratt Says Policeman Answered for, Fellows Before Judge Given, FITZPATRICK INSISTED ON DROPPING CHARGES Inspector Bean Says Other Officers Involved Were in Criminal Court and Could Have Been Reached. Dismissal by Police Court Judge Given several days ago of the six so-called “clean-cut” gambling cases was at the insistence of Assistant United States Attorney John R. Fitzpatrick, accord= ing to a report submitted today to Maj. Henry G. Pratt, superintendent of police, by Inspector Thaddeus Bean. At the direction of Maj. Pratt, In- spector Bean made an exhaustive in- vestigation of the action of the court to determine whether any negligence on the part of police officers to appear as Wwitnesses was responsible for the dis- missal of the cases. He recommended to Maj. Pratt that the report of his in- quiry be filed .without prejudic officers involved. b Rover Absolves Aide. Fitzgerald reported to United States Attorney Leo A. Rover yesterday that he had not made any recommendation to the court as to the disposition of the cases, but had merely informed Judge Given of the facts as to previous continuances and the failure of some of the policemen involved to notify him that they were in the District Supreme at the time the cases were called. Mr, Rover subsequently announced he had absolved his assistant from any blame in_connectioni: with the dismissals. Inspector Bean, however, offic advised Maj. Pratt that at 10 o'clocl Wednesday morning when the jury Co. has been making an excessive re- turn under the operations of the con- sent decree and asking for changes in thewdecree. The changes sought would allow a greater percentage of the com- pany’s excess profits to be used for com- puting rate reductions, and also con- firm the commission’s interpretation of the decree that future earnings must no: be taken into account in setting rates. The form in which it stands at pres- ent, however, is not necessarily that in which it will finally be presented to court, as the commission may decide to amend it in one or more particulars, COL. H. D. SOUTH DIE AT NAVAL HOSPITA Funeral of Marine Officer Will Be Held From Epiphany Church Tomorrow Afternoon. Col. Hamilton Disston South, United States Marine Corps, 51 years old, died yesterday at Naval Hospital. He had been in the service more than 25 years. e Corps officers will act as pall- services, to be held at Epiphany Church at 1 o'clock tomorrow afternoon, to be followed by military ceremonies at Arlington Na- tional cemetery at 2 o’clock. Pallbearers will include Brig. Gen. George Richards, Brig. Gen. Hugh Matthews, Col. Louis McCarty Little, Col. Julius S. Turrill, Col. Thomas C. Turner and Maj. Edward O. Osterman, Lieut. Comdr. Clinton Neyman will of- ficiate. ‘The officer, whose home was in Phila- delphia, is survived by his widow, Mrs. Elizabeth Turnbull South; two sons, H. D. South, jr.; and Midshipman Thomas W. South, and a daughter, Elizabeth Turnbull South. Col. South was awarded a letter of commendation when he was on duty at the maval prison at the Portsmouth, N. H, Navy Yard, in recognition of conditions _there. Guam and Nicaragua and service on board the battleship Pennsylvania, he studied at the Naval War College and was assigned to duty as chief of staff 351;‘ ;fisistam commander of the Garde SENATE REPORTS BILL TO REINSTATE MIDDIES Walsh Resolution for Two Youths in Academy Mess Hall Prank Gets 0. K. By the Associated Press. The Walsh resolution providing for reinstatement of two Naval Academy students who were dismissed for taking two Washington girls, dressed as mid- shipmen, into the mess hall at An- napolis was favorably reported today by the Senate Naval Committee. The two former midshipmen, Law- court convened at Police Court with Judge Given presiding, Mr. Fif stated that he sent notices to the officers involved o appear in his office at 9 o'clock that moming, and that they had failed to do so. en, Inspec- tor Bean declared, the prosecutor recommended that the cases be dis missed for want of prosecution. Says Policeman Answered. “At that time,” Inspector Bean's re- port continued, “Mr. F. W. Adams, as- sistant United States District attorney, who has always had charge of these cases, announced that the officers were in Criminal Court 1, that he had called Mr. F. W. Scht chief clerk of the District ~attorney’s office, and 3 Schwartz stated that -the officers were in Criminal Court 1, under summons, - F. D. Hilbard, the officer who had made plays in the cases, was in Police Court and when the cases were' called one by one he answered his name, telling the court that the officers were in Criminal Court 1. “Notwithstanding these facts, Mr. Fitzgerald insisted that these cases be dismissed for want of prosecution, which Judge Given did.” Maj. Pratt said he would take mo further action in the case, since United States Attorney Rover had ordered Fitzpatrick to file new informations in Police Court against the persons in- volved in the gambling cases. CORRECTION Assistant Prosecutor Did Not Move Dismissal of Gambling Cases. The Star erroneously implied in an editorial yesterday that the six gambling cases dismissed by Judge Given in Police Court on Wednesday were dis- missed on motion of the assistant dis- trict attorney prosecuting the case. The explanation of the assistant district at- torney, made to his superior, Mr. Rover, shows that the cases were dismissed by the court and not on motion of the prosecutor. The Star regrets the erroneous implication, which arose from the statement of Judge Given after dis- missal of the cases that his action was taken after hearing the prosecutor’ statement regarding the continued fail- ure of the Government witnesses to be Ppresent. Judge Given deelined today to dis- cuss his action and the formal explana- tion of the assistant prosecutor has not been made public. ASYLUM NAMES OFFICERS William C. Zimmerman President of German Orphans’ Home. Officers and directors of the Ger- man Orphan Asylum have been elected for the year 1931. William C. Zimmer- man is the president; Gustave W. Brahler, first vice president; Franklin W. Schneider, second vice president; Rudolph W. Santelmann, secretary, and Edward A. Tripp, treasurer. George C. Gertman was added to the board of directors to fill the vacancy * caused by the death of Attorney Myer Cohen. He will serve for years, Other members of the board include Dr. G. K. Baler, August Plugge, John G. Meinberg, Jacob Mueller, Thomas E. Jarrell, Henry M. Wiegand, Charles Aufenthie and Herman G. Winkler. rence L. Myatt of Quincy, Mass, and Miller S. Burgin of Jacksonville, Fla., appeared before a naval subcommit and deseribed the incident as a “prank.” Senator Walsh, Democrat, Massachu- setts, was author of the reinstatement resolution. The committee amended it to provide for their return to the academy after a two-year interval in- stead of one, as provided in the original measure. Mrs. Charles W. Boyd, the former Lorette Taylor, whose marriage was an- nounced Wednesday by her mother, Mrs. R. L. Taylor, 3505 Woodley road, and Miss_Eleanor Hayden, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Hayden, were the two Washington girls who donned “middy” uniforms and entered the academy mess hall with Midshipmen Myatt and Burgin. —_— 39 CARS AUCTIONED Police Sell Machines Seized in Pur- suance of Duties. req ‘Thirty-nine automobiles auctioned off jand Planning by police this morning brought an aver- | p1 WILSON RITES TOMORROW Funeral services will be held at the Arlington National Cemetery tomorrow morning for Lieut. Col. Evert R. Wilson, a retired Infantry officer, who died at his home, Fairmont, W. Va., last Tues= day. A native of West Newton, Ind., Col. Wilson served in the ranks during the Spanish War of 1898, and was com- missioned second lieutenant of Infant in October, 1899. He reached the ra of lieutenant colonel in July, 1920, and ‘was retired for disability incident to the service in September, 1922, His widow, Mrs. Edith P. Wilson, accompanied the funeral party to this city. CONDEMNATION FILED Planning Commission Seeks Prop- erty in Southeast Washington. The Department of Justice, at the juest of the National Capital Park Commission, has n, filed in the District Supreme condemna- roceeding age price of approximately $3.10 at the [ Court for the acquisition .y District Propert; Water streets 3 machines, some § in prohibif cases and oth# abandoned on the streets, brofl total of $821. The lowest price car today was 50 cents, while the High est was $24. The police sell abandofes cars aftef they have remained uf claimed & reasonable length of time, Yard, Twelfth by and |tion of a portion of the tract known as Aaron and assessed by police | over 24. found | condemned is located at Pennsylvania t a|avenue and Thirty-eighth street souh= pr a|east and has an area of 4.3493 acres. The petition is signed by U. ney Leo A. Rover and Special United Stetes Attorney Glassie, as parcel 207 The portion sought to be