Evening Star Newspaper, February 19, 1931, Page 1

WEATHER. (U. 8. Weather Bureau Forecast.) i Cloudy, probably occasional light ral tonight y-nd tomorrow; not much change in temperature; minimum temperature to- night about 36 degrees. Temperatures— Highest, 48, at 5 D. 38, at noon. tod .m. Ful . yesterday; lowest, 11 report, Closing N.Y. Markets, Pages13,14 & 15 he Foening Shar, No. 31705. Enerchss e Entered as second class matter shington, D. WASHINGTON, D. C, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1931—FIFTY PAGES. [ BONUS IS EXPECTED 10 PASS IN SENATE SOME TIME TODAY Effort to Limit Debate on Measure Fails as Bingham Opens Attack. LEADERS ANTICIPATE VETO BY PRESIDENT No Amendments Planned in Order to Rush Legislation to ‘White House. BY G. GOULD LINCOLN. The soldiers’ bonus bill is expected to pass the Senate before that body quits work today. Proponents of the measure are intent upon passing the bill in the Senate just as it came from the House, in order that it may be hurried to the President. A prompt veto of the bill by President Hoover was predicted by some of the Republican leaders at the Capitol to- day. It was predicted by one of the Senate leaders that 24 votes would be cast against the bonus bill when it reached & vote in the Senate. This opposition would be entirely from the Republican side, it was said, except for one Demo- crat, Senator King of Utah. It requires 33 votes in the Senate to sustain a Presidential veto, if the whole membership of the Senate is accounted for. Sustaining Veto Question. Wheéther enough Senators would change their attitude toward the bonus bill in the event it is vetoed by Presi- dent Hoover to sustain that veto was considered extremely doubtful today. Supporters of the bill continued to in- sist that the Senate would pass it over the President’s veto, and that the House would do the same. At least 15 members of the Senate bave signified a desire to discuss the bill before it is voted on. Senate leaders, however, said they believed that most of these speeches would be brief, and that a vote would be reached perhaps late this afternoon, although it might be necessary to hold a night jon finally to dispose of the bill. Although some of the supporters of the bonus bill continued to urge today the need of prompt passage of the bill, 50 that it could be sent to President Hoover today or tomorrow at the latest, 5o that he would not be able to give it a “pocket veto,” the administration Senators de‘cl.lred th: Pr:ldenz ;.o;tl‘lg not attempt a pocket veto, no when the bill might reach him, but would return the bill to Congress with- out his approval almost immediately after it reached him. " Senator “Bingham of Connecticuf himself a veteran of the World War and a member of the American Legion, opened the debate on the bill in the Senate with an attack on the measure. The Connecticut Senator declared willingness to vote for a bill which would aid World War veterans who are actually in distress. He declined, how- ever, he said, to vote for a bill which ~would make it necessary for the Gov- ernment to pay out & billion dollars or more, much of it to men who are not| in distress, at a time when the Treasury is facing a $500,000,000 deficit. ‘Would Limit Debate. Genator Bingham said that perhaps he felt more iree to attack the bonus bill than cthers might who had not been so lucky as to have served during| the war. He insisted that many of the veterans, like himself, feel that the pro- posed legislation is not justified, grant- ing as it does the privilege of borrow- ing money from the Government on their bonus certificates to hundreds of thousands of men who are not now in ed. P Genator Bingham was beginning his address to the Senate, Senator Harri- son cf Mississippi, & supporter of the; bonus bill, suggested that the Senate | enter into a unanimous consent agree- ment to limit debate, allowing each Senator 15 minutes on the bill and amendments thereto, Senator Reed of -Pennsylvania. an opponent of the bill, said that he feit it necessary to object to such au agree- ment, certainly until after the debate ©on the bill had had an opportunity to get under way Reads Editorials. Senator Bingham, a_member of the Finance Committee, called attention 1o the fact that he had supported an amendment proposed by Senator Walsh of Massachusetts, proposing to give cach needy veteran $150 when the bonus bill was before the committee yester- d: This amendment, he said, ha_‘\‘ been voted down. The Connecticut Senator expressed his willingness at all times to vote money or other assist- ance to veterans of the World War who are disabled or in distress. He de- clared his strong opposition, however, 10 voting at this time to allow the able- bodied veterans of the war who are not in distress to draw upon the G ment for money Editorial comment on the soldiers’ bonus bill in the New York World and ““(Continued on Page 2, Column 6.) “FINANCIAL WIZARD” INDICTED BY JURY Illinois Man Is Accused of Operat- ing Confidence Game and Ar- * INDOLE INGREASE Delivery of Wine Extract Overdue, Fraud Suspected Business Bureau Acts on Complaints of Four Local Customers. Grape juice that turns to wine, if allowed to stand for a time, has been a popular subject of discussion hereabouts of late, but now come complaints by a quartet of local prospective customers who fear they are being “stood up” in- stead of having the privilege of letting the grape juice do the “standing.” It is all due to the activities of a salesman, who cbtained prepayment for future delivery of wine-producing grape juice, but who, according to complaints to the Better Business Bureau, has failed to deliver the wine, alcoholic or otherwise. The grape juice product was promised in “three or four days,” and is about that long overdue, the complainants tell the Better Business Bureau. __Consequently, the prospective pos- (Continued on Page 2, Column 7.) LABOR VIGTORIOUS Bill Passes Second Reading| in Commons After Cahinet Defeat by Lords. By the Associated Press. 3 LONDON, February 19.—A few hours after the British Labor government had been defeated in the House of Lords yesterday, Prime Minister Ramsay Mac- Donald’s forces swept to a victory in the | House of Commons and carried on sec- | ond reading a bill which would increase the fund for the dole. | The Lords rejected the government's | education bill by 168 to 22 votes, but | their action had no political conse- | quences. ds adverse votes are common in | the Upper House and no British gov- | ernment has ever been overthrown by | the peers. But in the House of Commons the government carried its unemployment insurance bill through its second stage | by 279 against 218, or a majority of 61. Had Narrow Squeak. ‘This measure has, among its provi- sions, one increasing the wing powers of the dole fund by roughly $100,000,000. The government had a narrow squeak on this same measure a week ago, for it defeated by only 31 votes a Conservative amendment which would have reduced the figure to only $50,000,000. At present the unemployment fund stands at $350,000,000 and it is vir- tually exhausted. The new measure, :;)0 carried, will raise it to $450,- finally ,000. Debate in the House of Commons was made lively by the fiery Winston Churchill in fleriest mood, direct- ing a large part of his criticism against David Lloyd George, leader of the Liberal party. Charges Political Bid. Churchill asserted that Lloyd George had thrown innumerable difficulties in | the path of Philip Snowden, Labor chancellor of the exchequer, and de- | clared the Welshman ought to be very | modest and subdued instead of claim- ing to be a wizard. ‘The House eagerly awaited Lloyd George's reply, but the Liberal gen- eralissimo confined his personal re- marks mainly to saying Churchill was angling for the leadership of the Empire Crusade party, which Lord Beaverbrook is pushing in opposition to | mz:q;hl Conservatives under Stanley w CONVICT LABOR ON | LEE BOULEVARD HIT General Contractors Condemn Move to Arlington County Supervisors. Associated Denouncing the action of the Virginia | State Highway Commission in its de cision to establish a prison labor organ- ization in Arlington County to build the memorial Lee Boulevard and in divert- ing from its expressed intenticn of let- ting the work by contract as uneco- nomical, reactionary and in the present | stress inhumane, Edward J. Harding | managing_director of the Associated General Contractors of America, today called upon the Board of County Super- visors and the people of Arlington County to oppose the change in the in- terest of unemployment relief and the | social welfare of the county. . Harding declared that the establish- ment of prison labor on the project, which has been pushed by the Board of Supervisors as an unemployment re- lief measure, will deprive at least 100 free and unemployed workmen in the county from jobs that are rightfully theirs and will turn loose upon the county roads some of the State's most undesirable element. Harding's conten- tions were supported by W. R. Richards, an engineer and a member of the County’s Zoning Commission. BLAINE CHARGES COLLUSION TO BAR P. 0. LEASE PROBE Declaration Follows Sharp Clash With New During Cross-Examination. EX-OFFICIAL DECLARES SENATOR “INSULTING” Chairman Intimates It Was Feared Inquiry Would “Blow Up” Presi- dential Campaign. By the Associated Press. | The flat charge that there was col- lusion to prevent a second grand jury investigation of the St. Paul Commer- cial Station postal lease was made to- day by Chairman Blaine investigating the leases. Cross-examining former Postmaster General New, Blaine said a “chain of circumstances was growing in strength to show there was collusion” to pre- vent the second investigation. Blaine's charge followed a sharp clash with New, in which the latter asserted the committee chairman was “insuit- ing.” Biaine questioned New at length about reports submitted by postal inspectors sent to investigate the lease after a grand jury had found evidences of fraud and recommended a full investigation. The committee chairman said the in- spectors sent to St. Paul by New had criticised the first grand jury which found evidences of fraud in the lease. Sent to Get Truth. New insisted he had sent the in- spectors to obtain the truth. After a Icng cress-examination, Blaine asked: “Do you still contend the inspectors were not sent to place a construction on the evidence that would discredit fu- ture investigations?” “That question,” New said, “is almost insulting and not worthy of answer.” “It is quite insulting,” Senator Hast- ings of Delaware, another Republican member of the committee, interjected. “Whether it is insulting or not, I can’t help it,” Blaine said. “I intend to pursue this case.” “I am sorry you are unable to control the workings of your mind,” New said. Blaine said it was not the workings of his mind, but evidence of the Justice Department on which he was making his statements. Property Valued at $800,000. New testified his inspectors reported to him the value of the St. Paul prop- erty was about $800,000. “The grand jury held the property on which the Government was paying an annual rental of $120,000 was less than ,000. “Was it the duty of the inspectors to investigate the grand jury?” Blaine asked. “It was their duty to run down all the stories which were going to the grand jury,” New replied. “The inspec: tors were sent there to get the truth. I accepted them as the truth.” Blaine said the inspectors’ report showed “they made a constant effort to delend the department against any charges and not to ascertain the facts.” Chairman Blaine had intimated that an attempt was made to prevent the investigation for fear it would “blow up” the 1928 presidential campaign, then in progress. Asked if he knew Assistant District Attorney Fesler at St. Paul contem- plated taking the case to the grand Jjury, New replied: “None of those things came over my desk. I had nothing to do with them.” Asked About Letter to Good. Blaine then asked New about the contents of a letter he sent to the late James W. Good, attorney for the lessor of the St. Paul property, and later Western campaign manager and Secre- tary of War for President Hoover. John Bartlett, New's first assistant, has testified he delivered the letter, but did not know its contents. T “I've seen a reference to a mysteri- | ous letter T am supposed to have writ- ten Good,” New replied. “If there was anthing confidential in | that letter, I made an unfortunate se- lection of a messenger.” New revealed yesterday that relations between Bartlett and himself were far from cordial. “I have no recollection of having writ- ten any such letter to Good, but I don't deny I did,” New added. MANAGUA CABINET QUITS MANAGUA, Nicaragua, February 19 (#)—The entire Nicaraguan cabinet resigned yesterday. Semi-official reports said the minis- ters took this action so that President J. M. Moncada might be at liberty to form a new cabinet, but it was said most of them would be retained, al- though shifted around. One report was that there would be a new minister of agriculture. Cathedral Falls, Killing One. TLAXIACO, Oaxaca, Mexico, Febru- ary 19 (#).—One soldier was killed and two serfously injured yesterday when the town cathedral collapsed. The soldiers were on guard in the doorway of the church, which had been weakened by the January 14 earth- quake. rest Ordered. By the Associated Press. BELVIDERE, Ill, February 19.—The spectacular rise of Albert W. Benham from a shipping clerk to a “financial wizard” had an aftermath today in his sndictment by the grand jury. Benham, variously called “the one- man- mint,” “Prosperity Al” and a “Midas" because his business, extending over a period of two years, was repuf to have paid investors as high as 50 per cent interest, was accused of oper- ating a confidence game and obtaining money under false pretenses. Four true Dills were returned by the county grand ’“? bench warrant for his arrest was ssued Judge E. D. Shurtlefl of the Circuit Court. Benham, who described his business as that of buy! up bankrupt stocks at low prices a selling them quickly Jarge profits, was missing, but his {-ends said that he would return to face the charges. ‘ : CARAWAY’S “tOLORED” DROUGHT CRITIC HAPPENS TO BE WHITE Texas Oil Man’s Reply to Letter Suggests Senator’s Re- tirement Would Gain Public Gratitude. l By the Assoclated Press. . NEW YORK, February 19.—The New York World today quoted letters indi- cating that Senator Thaddeus H, Cara- way of Arkansas had curtly terminated correspondence with a critic of his drought policy under the mistaken im- pression that the critic was colored. O. G. Halliburton, Fort Worth, Tex., ofl man, wrote Senator Caraway censur- ing him and his colleague, Senator Joe T. Robinson, on the ground that in past years of severe drought neither Government nor Red Cross aid had been extended to Texas. ‘The Senator’s reply, dated February 2, and written on Senate stationery, was | tude. quoted as follows: “I have your letter in which you com- plain about wan! hungry people fed and talking about having seen hungry people in West Texas. was white people that made it. But the rest of you, if they had gotten it, that a Negro always finds something to complain about, although his imme- diate wants are cared for. “I should be very glad indeed if you would confine your correspondence to people of your own race.” Halliburton's answer, under date of Pebruary 16, was quoted as character- izing the Scnator's letter as “undig- nified, contemptible and insulting” and suggesting that he should discharge his public office “without distinction of race, color or previous condition of servi- " The answer suggested Caraway's retirement to private life would gain public gratitude. The exchange of letters was made g:buc here by friends of Halliburton as left the city for Texas after a visit “Yes, and the first appeal ever made | he; to this Government for relief was made for drought sufferes In Texas, and it all members of the would have been fed also. It is strange | | HELLO CoN e g BN GRESSIONAL CONFERENCE EVERYBODY! DRY WIRE TAPPING PARTIALLY 0. KD Mitchell Tells Committee HeI Approves Practice With Certain Controls. By the Associated Press. Wire tapping by prohibition agents in certain cases was approved before the | House Expenditures Committee today by Attorney General Mitchell. ‘The Attorney General told the com- mittee he issued an order January 19 permitting wire tapping in special cases when approved by the head of the| bureau irvolved and the Assistant At-| torney General in charge of the case. | This order, he testified, was issued to | remove & discrepancy in the regulations for the Investigation and Prohibition Bureaus. The former bureau prohibited the practice under a 1928 regulation, while it was permitted in the prohibi- tion branch. Leaves Discretion Open. i Mitchell said he had not felt he was in a position to establish an “iron-clad rule,” so left it open for consideration of the bureau heads involved “in spe- cific cases.” Assistant Attorney General Young- quist in charge of prohibition testified he had approved wire tapping in three specific cases since the order of Jan- uary 19. This was done, he said, in the ab- | sence of Director Amos W. W. Wood- cock of the Prohibition Bureau. Mitchell testified he wrote to Assist- ant Attorney General Youngquist in charge of prohibition on January 19, saying he believed “the present condi- tion in the department cannot con- tinue.” Asked State Law Study. Mitchell asked Youngquist to study State laws which prohibit wire tapping | and submitted data gathered on court | interpretations of the various sl.!lu{es.l “The Louisiana State law,” he said, “can’t be construed to apply to police officers. In New York it has been held to have no application to police | officers. | “I believe wire tapping is quite gen- | crally used by police agencies through- | out the country. If you are going to go into wire tapping you will have to study other things such as eavesdrop- ing. P Mitchell said he believed the practice | should not be allowed without the ap- proval of the head of the bureau con- cerned. Woodcock told the committee wire ! tapping had not been brought to his | attention until a question was asked | about it before the Appropriations Committee in December. | The bureau has a group of men who | “supervise wires” to obtain evidence, | he said. He approved the new order of the Attorney General and added he agreed that wire tapping should be used in only special cases. BALTIMORE DRY AGENT ORDERED SUSPENDED| Accused of Breaking Furniture in House During Raid—Will Be Given Hearing. | By the Associated Press. Prohibition Director Woodcock today suspended Nathaniel Bowes, a Baltimore | prohibition agent, on a charge of hav- ing smashed the furniture of a house in that city during a raid February 16. Pictures of the ralded house have shown part of the furniture badly | broken and piled in one corner of the room. Formal charges will be preferred against Bowes, it was said at the Pro- hibition Bureau, and he will be given an opportunity to answer them. The suspension is for an indefinite period. PERSHING DEFIANT How the Commander of the A. E. F. faced Allied leaders, pounded the table, and refused to be coerced. Read this startling bit of history— Tomorrow in The Euening Star |& Metal Co, Inc., | pay Bidder Offers U. S. $10,175 for Right To Raze Building All Other Companies Ask Money to Tear Down Power Structure. A surprising development in the Gov- ernment’s public buflding program came today, when the Washington Iron the Government $10,175 for the right to tear down two blocks of prop- erty now occupied by the Potomac Electric Power Co. The site on B stfeet between Thirteenth and Fourteenth is | for the new Department of Labor. ‘This company was the only one of- fering to “pay” the Government. all the nine other bidders who figured on the job putting in their bids to ask the Government to pay them. The bids asking for money from the (Continued on Page 2, Column 8) -OF MEYER DENIED Copeland and Wagner Fight Charge of Effort to Bar | Tammany Probe. By the Associated Press. Both New York Senators—Copeland and Wagner—branded as false today the charge of Chairman McFadden of the House Banking Committee, they were supporting Eugene Meyer for governor of the Federal Reserve Board as part of a “deal” to prevent an investigation of Tammany. Both Democrats, they rose on the question of “personal privilege” to deny the charge, which was made by Mc- Fadden in a statement printed today | in the Congressional Record. Rule Violation Claimed. McFadden, who is opposing Meyer's confirmation, did not make the state- ment in a speech, but in an “extension of remark: Democratic Leader Robinson termed | | his statement as a violation of House rules. “I do mot think it is fair for any member of Congress to play politics with human character,” Copeland said. “I brand as false any rumors or any statements that I have been approached | with reference to my vote on Mr. Meyer in exchange for some political deal in my State or for any other reason. Absolutely False, Says Wagner. “The statement is utterly false and unfounded.” ‘Wagner characterized the charge as “‘absolutely false and untrue.” Declaring he had some experience with McFadden during the investiga- tion of Meyer's confirmation, Wagner said, “so I knew something of the un- | reliable source” of the charge. KELLEHER GRANTED PAROLE ON MARCH 4 Was Convicted During June, 1929, on Charge of Setting Up Gambling Table. ‘The Federal Parole Board announced today that parole effective March 4 has been granted John B. Kelleher, wealthy apartment house owner, who was sen- tenced to eight years and nine months imprisonment on his conviction in Dis- trict Supreme Court during June of 1929 on 23 counts of an indictment charging setting up a gambling table. A jury-found Kelleher guilty on 6 felony and 17 misdemeanor counts on June 12, 1929, and sentence was im- McCoy in Criminal trial attracted wide attention in sport- ing circles and the court room through- out the two-day session was crowded with men known to police as tipsters, bookmakers and gamblers. Kelleher was arrested December 28, 1926, during a raid on an alleged book- lishment in the 1400 block making establ of H street. A sensation was cralt:ld at Kelleher’s Gen. Pershing’s story to- day will be found on page 4. men, members of the Washington ball team and physicians, said by rosecution to have been patrons of goflmlln‘ establishment, » made an offer to| that | S BUTLER MAY SEEK . SEATIN CONGRESS |Rumor of Ambition Revived as He Announces Plan to Quit Marines. Announcement last night by Maj. Gen. Smediey D. Butler that he | planned to retire from the Marine Corps next Fall revived rumors today that he intended to become a candi- date for Congress. Should the fiery Marine carry out | this ambition he would be following |in the footsteps of his father, the late Representative Thomas Stalker Butler | of Pennsylvania, former chairman of the House Committee on Naval Affairs. The general's father had a distinguish- ed career in politics. With more than 30 years of active service behind him, Gen. Butler has been eligible to retire for some time. His friends declared today that he intended to ask to be placed on the inactive list next September. ‘While Gen. Butler has declined to re- veal what he would talk about on the contemplated tour, it was said he might dwell on prohibition as a result of ‘the first-hand information he ob- tained during his spectacular regime as | director of public safety in Philadel- phia some years ago. Logan Feland, commander of the Department of ‘the Pacific, probably will be raised from the temporary to the permanent grade of major general with retirement of Butler. ADAMS NOT NOTIFIED. | Nor Has Marine Corps Head Known | Butler's Plans. By the Associated Press. Neither Secretary Adams nor Maj. Gen. Ben H. Fuller, commandant of the Marine Corps, has received notification of Maj. Gen. Smedley D. Butler's in- ‘;‘enutlon to retire from the corps next all. | “I have received no official notifica- tion from Gen. Butler of his intention to retire,” Secretary Adams said. “There has been much gossip about the matter, but nothing official has come to my attention.” Gen. Fuller said he had heard “such talk for the last seven years” and “there scemed to be as much truth in | it today as there was then.” Gen. Butler has been in the Marine | Corps for 32 years. He was eligible for !xeurmgn at B"hte.\ close of 30 years’ | service. en. utler's by | $8.000 a year. Fa yewontia be $6,000. BUTLER PLANS TO RETIRE. Marine General Will Begin Lecture Tour in October. BUFFALO, N. Y., February 19 (#).— Maj. Gen. Smedley Butler plans to retire from the Marine Corps next September to become a lecturer. __He_announced his_intention to for- (Continued on Page 2, Column 5.) . BAN JOHNSON WORSE Former Base Ball Magnate to Un- dergo Blood Transfusion. ST. LOUIS, February 19 (#).—Ar- rangements for a blood transfusion for Ban Johnson, former president of the American League, were made today as his condition became increasingly serious. The veteran base ball leader's con- dition was described by his physician, Dr. Robert F. Hyland, as “very serious. He was unable to recognize friends who vl‘si"f'd him at St. John’s Hospital last night. Johnson, who is 65 years old, has been undergoing treatment in various hospi- tals for several years. i g His retired pay would | Associated service. The only evening paper in Washington with the Press news Yesterday’s Circulation, 118,305 (#) Means Associ ed P TWO CENTS. MEAT PRICES HERE PROBED AS STUDY OF MILK CLOSES Bread Is Reduced by Major Companies After Inquiry by Capper Committee. DAIRYMEN’S CO-OPERATIVE PRAISED BY CHAIRMAN Merger of Two Companies Will Give Them 50 Per Cent of Capi- tal Business, Official Says. ‘The Senate Food Committee is.turn- ing its attention to meat prices today, following a study of milk costs yester- day, during which Washington dairy- men defended prices here, pointing out that they have been paying farmers the same basic wholesale rate for more than three years. Inquiries by Chairman Capper as to what reorganizations or mergers have taken place in the milk business here developed testimony to the effect that two years ago the Chestnut Farms Dairy became » part of National Dairy Products Corporation and that within the past month the same concern has taken over the Chevy Chase Dairy. Doubts Control of Supply. Henry N. Brawner, jr, head of Chestnut Farms Dailry, was asked by Capper if National Dairy Products is on the wn{ toward control of the local milk supply. Brawner replied he did not think it would be in control, but estimated it might possibly have 50 per cent of the business when the two dairies are merged. A. L. Thompson of the Thompson Dairy, testified his dairy is independent. Asked by Capper if any efforts have been made by other organizations to absorb it, Thompson answered in the affirmative, but said such offers have been turned down and that it is the intention to keep the Thompson Dairy independent. While the committee went on with its study of milk and meat prices, another echo of the recent bread hear- ings came in the form of an announce- ment from the Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co. of a reduction of approximately 20 per cent in the price of its standard | filed whole wheat loaf. A statement from the company said it acted on the sug- gestion of the Senate committee, and estimated the result would be a saving of about $6,000,000 to consumers of whole wheat bread throughout the country. Several days ago the same company announced it was bringing a 5-cent one-pound loaf of bread to its Wi stores from its own . the Holmes & Son the bakeries had cut the price last Monday and they were merely follow- ing the cut. Officials to Testify. Among those who will testify today regarding_meat costs are: Joseph A. Becker, Department of Agriculture; Ethelbert Stewart, who will give quo- tations gathered by the Bureau of Labor statistics; P. E. Mollin, secretary of American National Live Stock Associa- tion; W. W. Woods, president of In- stitute of American Meat Packers, and Davis van Gelder, president New York State Association of Retail Meat Deal- ers, Inc. Brawner told the committee while 15 cents a quart may seem high for milk, in contrast to prices in other ecities, ‘Washington is getting a quality of milk for 15 cents which is the equal of pre- mium milk selling for higher prices elsewhere. The witness said the farmers receive a basic price of 33 cents a gallon, to which is added a premium for quality cattle and farm scores. He said the premiums average 4 cents a gallon, making the average price 37 cents. The spread between the farmer and con- sumer price, he said, is 5 cents a bottle. After the expenses of processing, " (Continued on Page 2, Column 3. WET WEATHER TO HOLD HERE UNTIL TOMORROW Temperature to Vary Little and Few Showers Will Fall Over Week End. Sloppy, misty weather, with occasion- al light rains, will be the portion of the National Capital through today and to- morrow and possibly longer because of a “stagnation of conditions” in the Eastern and Northeastern part of the country, it was forecast today by the ‘Weather Bureau. Weather stagnation of the sort ex- perienced along the coast is unusual at this time of year, though it is common in the Spring months, especially April and May, it was explained. If weather conditions stagnate during a spell of clear weather, the clear weather holds. This time the stagnate condition was reached when the Cap- ital was in the throes of a wet spell, it was pointed out. There will not be much change of temperature, the forecast shows. There are no indications showing when the period of stagnation will end, though no definite forecast was made beyond tomorrow. “In view of the need for rain, we may regard this as a blessing,” the fore- caster said. HOOVER PLANS FLORIDA FISHING TRIP WHEN SESSION ADJOURNS President May Spend Brief Vacation Casting for Tarpon at Long Key Retreat. With the fears of an extra session rapidly diminishiig, President Hoover back to Long Key, Fla, where he Mrs. Hoover spent such an enjoy- week last Winter. The waters in n known th & Y KEECH FORMALLY ASKS COMMISSION FOR GAS INQURY People’s Counsel Says Office Has Been Deluged by Con- sumers’ Complaints. HOLDS EXTENDED BILLING PERIOD NOT ONLY FAULT Also Points Out That Increased Pressure Is Not Cause of Pro- test in Some Areas. The Public Utilities Commission had before it today a formal request from Richmond B. Keech, people’s ‘counsel, that its engineering department be re- Quested to make a thorough investiga< tion of gas consumption in the District to determine the cause of the flood of complaints over mounting gas bills, The need for such action, Mr, Keech told the commission “clearly exists,” be« cause his office within the- last two months “has been practically deluged with complaints.” He also declared he did not believe that the extended billing period for January, which covered 35 days, accounted for the amount of the bills over and above that used by the consumer for a similar period. In the meantime Elvin A. Potter, the commission’s chemist, began a test of the mixed natural and manufactured 8as now being distributed through a portion of the gas system to determine what efect it has on gas appilances. This test was ordered by the commis~ sion because of complaints that pilot lights were carbonizing and extinguish~ ing the flame. The commission be- g‘e‘:u that such a condition is danger- Await Wood’s Reply. The commission is anxiously await- ing the result of the tset, as well as a reply from George A. G. Wood, pres- ident of the Washington Gas Light Co., to its latest order directing that steps be taken immediately to bring gas pres- sures within the limits prescribed by its regulations. Mr. Wood was specif- ically Tequested by the commission to acknowledge the receipt of the order. “In furtherance of our several con- versations with reference to complaints by various consumers of gas in this jurisdiction and in mission, “I now ask that you have T question of $as comsamptort o th consumy Jjurisdiction with a view to 4 the cause. 1, ‘months this of- y deluged with complaints, both letter, telephone and personal visits. It is likewise worthy of note that the caliber of per- sons making complaints are not f.g:u generally given to harrassing utilities. Many of them have béen from persons holding high positions, professionally and otherwise and their time is so oc- cupied as to render it impractical for them to dispute matters of this sort unless they feel thoroughly justified. Corrections Needed. “I realize that a bill rendered for January covers & period for some four days over the ordinary month, but of the complaints received by me, deduc- tion for this excess does not account for the amount over and above that used by the consumer for a similar period. It is, of course, understood that consump- tion in your house cannot be properly compared with mine, also, in viewing these complaints it has been necessary to ascertain whether or not there has been any change in the equipment, per- sonnel, or general living conditions. Where, however, no change has been found as to these elements, it 1s, there- fore, evident that some conditions exist which should be corrected. “I read with interest the pressure report of your engineer. Likewise, in my conversation with your chief en- gineer, I was given to understand that at least in some locations the question of pressure was not controlling, this be- ing a fact in the vicinity of Seventh and S streets. It would, therefore, seem that while the question of pres- sure is one which must very properly be gone into thoroughly, that there are other conditions which must be ascer- tained and corrected. “Upon completion of such an inves- tigation by your staff, I would appre- ciate bemng advised as to the result thereof.” Aside from the “deluge” of complaints Mr. Keech said he had received, the commission has acknowledged and in- vestigated about 85 written protests, but this total, it was said, does not In- clude those reported over the telephone to the commission’s office in the gas company building. In view of present conditions, the commission has ordered that all complaints received at the gas " (Continued on Page 2, Column 1.) CRASH KILLS MAKER OF MYSTERY GLIDER Craft Constructed in Utmost Se- crecy Nose-Dives From 50-Foot Height in First Test. By the Assoclated Press. ROOSEVELT FIELD, N. Y, Febru- ary 19.—Emry Davis, designer of a mystery glider took his craft into the air today for the first time and was killed when it crashed., Carl Nelson, his_co-pilot, was slightly injured. The glider was being towed by an au- tomobile when it nose dived to the earth. Davis, a man of 74, who came here a couple of years ago and refused to tell any one the details of the glider innova- tion he was tinkering with, was in- stantly killed. ‘The glider was only about 50 feet in_the air when it crashed. Davis had been perimental work in & to which were always kept locked. Cur:.nn;‘ covered the l“nmueln': pre: vent curious persons from thing that was going on within, Visit- ors were not welcome. Field officials estimated that during the last two years the inventor ex- pended about $100,000 on his Little was known it .fi that he lived at a hotel near the and had no intimates. Radio Programs on Page C-6 o ¥