Evening Star Newspaper, February 22, 1931, Page 1

WEATHER. (U. 8. Weather Bureau Forecast.) Fair today; tomorrow, increasing cloudiness and warmer, followed by rain at night. Temperatures—Highest, 42, at 6 pm. yesterday; lowest, 36, at 6 a.m. yester- day. Full report on page 7. “From Press to Home Within the Hour® The Star is delivered every evening ang Sunday morning to Washington homes by The Star's exclusive carrier service. Phond National 5000 to start immediate delivery. WITH DAILY EVENING EDITION L et No. 1,353—No. 31,708, Entered as second class matt: er post office, Washington, C. he Sunty Star, WASHINGTON, D. C, SUNDAY MOR NING, FEBRUARY 22, 1931—-108 PAGES. =* FIVE C IN WASHINGTON CHANCE FOR EXTRA SESSION DWINDLES AS WORK CLEARS P Capitol Hill Rejoices as CaII: Appears Wholly in Presi- dent’s Hands. CALENDAR OF BUSINESS HELD WELL ADVANCED Jam Broken When Relief Bill Passed and Muscle Shoals Agreement Was Reached. BY G. GOULD LINCOLN. No special session of the new Con- gress after March 4 is now expected by congressional ‘leaders of &ny party or faction, There is rejoicing on Capitol Hill. The only possibility of the call of .guch 8 session appears o rest entirely with President Hoover, If for any rea- son he should deem it necessary to call the Congress to Washington he may do 80, Congressional leaders expressed the ion ?:st night that the Chief Ex- ecutive would make no such call. The spectre of a special session after March 4, which has hung over the ‘Capitol and the White House ever since ess assembled last December, was pated during the last week, indeed, during the last two days. Every one of the annual appropri- .ation bills for the various departments of the Government has been com- pleted and sent to the President, or will soon be on its way to the White House. The Senate put through the Navy bill yesterday afternoon and sent it to conference. A second deficiency bill, the last of the appropriation meas- ures, will be taken up in the Senate the m@fllln! week. It has already passed Program Well Advanced. With eight and a half working days still res ng of the present session and a disposition on the part of a huge majority of members of both Houses to “get through and get away,” there seems no real possibility that a legis- lative situation will arise which will make a special session necessary. Senator Jones of Washington, chair- man of the Senate Appropriations Com- mittee, said last night that he did not Tecall that in the closing week of a short session of Congress in the past the appropriation bills had been so far along as they are today. The jam was broken when the drought relief controversy came to an end and the soldiers’ bonus loan bill was put through. The conference agreement on Muscle Bhoals was factor in ironing out the situation %o as to avoid a spe- cial session. The Muscle Shoals meas- ure is due to come up in the Sefate tomorrow. Vote is Anticipated. It has already been agreed to in the House. The Senate is expected to agree also and to pass the measure along to President Hoover. It is generally be- lieved that the President will veto the bill, on the ground that it provides too great a measure of Government opera- of the power and nitrate plants, although the President is authorized to lease the latter, if he can, to private interests. Because the bill will reach him 0 late in the session, the President may give it a “pocket veto,” or he may send it back to the Congress without his approval. If he sends it back, it cannot be passed over his veto, it was said last night. | Senator Norris'of Nebraska, sponsor of the Muscle Shoals bill, apparently has no intention of seeking to force a special session of Congress because of (Continued on Page 2, Column 3. | PR R NICARAGUAN CANAL SURVEY TOUR ENDED Project Linking Atlantic-Pacific Oceans Would Cost About $700,000.000. By the Associated Press MANAGUA. 21.—Thre: mem oceanic canal board, President Hoover to investigate feasibility of building a canal across Nicaragua, today completed a three- week tour of the projected canal route from the Atlantic to the Pacifie. ‘The three commissioners, Dean Anson Marston of Iowa State College, S. B, Willlamson, former division engineer of the Panama Canal, and Ray G Pinch, former State engineer of New York, talked over the project here to- day with Lieut. Col. Dan I. Sultan, in charge of the Army engineers who hav been surveying the proposed Col. Sultan will accompany the com- missioners to Panama tomorrow to in- spect the Panama Canal before they ¢ having been almost completed, it is expected the engineers will be withdrawn n-xt July The proposed Nicaraguan Canal would be 172 miles long, require 10 years or more to build and cost about $700,000,000. according to the estimates of Army engineers. route. | Widow of Hero MRS. GEORGE DEWEY. —Underwood Photo. MRS, GEORGE DEWEY DIES AT HOME HERE Death of Admiral’s Widow Unexpected Despite lliness of Two Years. Mrs. George Dewey, widow of Admiral Dewey, hero of the Battle of Manila Bay during the Spanish-American War, died at 3 o'clock yesterday afternoon at her home, 1601 K street, where she had lived in retirement since the death of her distinguished husband in 1917, } an invalid during the past two years. She was the last of her generation, be- ing the former Mildred McLean, daugh- ter of Washington McLean, one of the | early aristocratic families of Cincinnati and socially prominent also in the National Capital. | Although in her eighty-sixth year, | Mrs. Dewey's death, following a severe | cold she recently contracted, was un- | expected. There appeared to be a chance for her recovery until Friday, | | when her resistance broke. She had | | been in a state of coma since then. After the death of Admiral Dewey in | the K street house on January 16, 1917, | nis widow lived there practically alone |in failing health, surrounded by the | momentoes of her husband’s glorious naval career. The spacious pariors of | the old mansion, scenes of former social | gaity, resemble a private museum in their appearance, the walls being lincd with relics of the Admiral's naval career and priceless gifts from admirers | in America and Europe. Just what dis- | position will be made of this historic collection was not known, for it is| junderstood that Mrs. Dewey had never | discussed the matter with relatives, Mementoes of Admiral. { Among the mementoes is the dia- mond ornamented sword given the admiral by Congress; his admiral’s flag | that was one of only three, Farragut and Porter having the others, and the | amazing huge book containing all the | newspaper clippings, sketches and car- | toons in which Dewey's name carried | from coast to coast through the Spanish ar vears. Gift of the New York shipping inter- | ests, that book of clippings from all | contemporary newspapers, graphically | | tllustrating history-in-the.making, was | of keenest interest to the Prince of | Wales, the last person ever socially re- ceived in that green-gold-and-brocade salon. Regal still. but a semi-invalid, the| admiral’s widow had ceased her social | activities when the Prince of Wales re- quested an audience on his last visit here in 1919. She had trotted him on ‘ppr knee as a child in Buckingham | 7 (Continued on Page 8, Column 1.) SON ASKS TO REPLACE | CONDEMNED FATHER| Needed at Home, Claude Laramore Writes Florida Gover- nor—Would Die for Him. Parent By the Associated Press TALLAHASSEE, Fla., February 21 The son of a man condemned to death for murder appealed to Gov. Carlton today to let him die in the electric chair at the Florida State Prison in- stead of his father. Claude Laramore, an employe at the | Florida State Hospital for the lnsane at Chattahoochee, made the strange request in a lett’r to the Governor. The executive was not at the Capital | today, however, and office attaches | doubted the appeal would come to his | attention before Monday. | J. Webb Laramore, a farmer and for- mer deputy sherifl, was sentenced to | death last Wednesday for killing Leslie | Harrell and Alex Porter, youths of his community KING ZOG MAY LEAVE VIENNA TO AVOID NEW PLOT ON LIFE Police Round Up Suspects—Blood Feud Begun by Kin of Aide Slain as Ruler Escapes. By the Associated Press. VIENNA, Pebruary 21 —There were reports tonight that King Zog of Al- bania intended to cut short his visit to Vienna, fearing another attack on his m:‘ the King left the opera last uight two men emptied revolvers at him, killing one of his attendants and wounding another. Police captured the sssassins, who wers sald to have con- fessed, and detained 60 other persons found in the vicinity until they could establish that they were not connected with the plot. The attempt was attrib- uted tc the King's political enemies. Messages from Tirana, by way of Belgrade, today said the elders of the family of Maj. :?flllll. who was killed by one of the bullets intended for the , had issued a summons to all ‘bearing the name, wherever they to attend s clan council at Tirana to hear a curse on the assassins and to swear fealty w a family blood feud. Heralds have started over the moun- |tains and through the valleys bearing | the summons. As a result of the attack the police decided immigrants in Vienna found to be in possession of firearms. Tirana dispatches said thanksgiving services for the King's escape were to be held throughout the country, but that in the meantime his immediate re- turn to Albania was demanded. At Tirana consternation at the attack | spread drinking among young people, today to deport 28 Albanian |, BURDENED SENATE ASKS MORE FAGTS ON DRY SITUATION Reasons for Withholding Data Are Demanded From Wickersham Body. PROHIBITION REPORTS PRESENT VARIED ARRAY Public Statements Called “Rosier” Than Private Ones as 32 States Are Surveyed. By the Associated Press. A demand upon the Wickersham Commission for more of its prohibition data came yesterday from a Senate already loaded with a conflicting mass of testimony as to prohibition condi- tions in 32 States. The Senate adopted without debate & resolution by Senator Tydings, Demo- crat, Maryland, an opponent of pro- hibition, demanding the commission’s reasons for withholding any informa- tion as to prohibition enforcement in the 16 other States and the District of Columbia. Earlier, word had come from com- mission headquarters that “less than half” the data upon which its conflicc- ing prohibition report was based had been submitted to the Senate and that the portion transmitted was the “less sensational” part. Reports Are Varied. One commissioner explained this as arising from “a natural disinclination™ on the part of some witnesses to “paint a rosier picture” in public statements than in private affidavits. The com- mission was requested in the previous Senate resolution only for its “non- secret” data. Meanwhile a survey of the material already before the Senate disclosed a bewildering variety of reports upon con- ditions in the 32 States touched upon. Prohibition enforcement conditions in six States were assailed as extremely bad, with one, Wisconsin, pictured as provided with a “flood of intoxicants.” Fleven of the States, however, were described as having almost entirely sat- isfactory enforcement, with liquor avail- able, but in an apparently diminishing quantity. Present Conditions Criticized. Reports to the commission on 15 States showed a confusing difference of opinions as to conditions, with all sub- ject to some form of criticism as to conditions under dry laws. Among the States not included in the surveys were several generally con- ceded to be “wet” in sentiment, includ- ing New York, Maryland, Massachu- setts and New Jersey. The most sensational report sub- mitted was that upon Wisconsin. It stated flatly “liquor has always been | plentifyl” there, and listed hotels and shops near Milwaukee where it said large scale gambling was conducted “which police undoubtedly do not dare molest”; corruption among officials and the permitted existence in some cities | of open “red light districts.” The re-| port was prepared by Frank Buckley, | attorney for the Prohibition Bureau be- | fore its transfer to the Justice Depart- ment. Sensational Charges Made. “The sheriff of Milwaukee County | has the best intentons in the world, the report said, “and furnishes as- sistance whenever required. The latter officer, however, is not regarded as| dependable because of being himself al- most constantly intoxicated. During the Republican celebration at Nippon two persons out of 20,000 were drunk, one of whom was the sheriff “Most towns and cities throughout | the State contain their allotment of ‘soft drink parlors’ duly licensed as such by local authorities. Beer, whisky or ‘shine’ may be obtzined in practically any of such resort: Oklahoma Governor Blamed. i A report upon Oklahoma charged former Gov. Holloway directly with re- sponsibility for lax enforcement. adding | that the attitude of officials in some sections was “vicious,” while in other | counties there were “stills in operation | and bootlegging flourishing.” | The Kentucky report told of wide- | while one witness charged the wealthy classes with “offensive” drinking A similar report of general dry law breaking among the rich came from Florida where it was said that “a free- spending sporting class in these places | (Continued on Page 2, Column 6.) TODAY’S STAR PART O! General News. Forelgn Educational News—Page B-4. PART TWO—8 PA Editorials and Editorial Feat Parent-Teacher Activities—Page Army and Navy News—Page 7. PART THREE—I12 PAGES. Society Section. e PART FOUR—10 PAGES. Amusement Section—Theater, and Radio. In the Motor World—Page 4. Aviation—Page 5. District_National Guard—Page 8. Fraternities—Page 6. Serial Story, “Jilted”—Page T. Y. W. C. A. News—Page 1. Organized Reserves—Page 7. Spanish War Veterans—Page T. American Gold Star Mothers—Page 7. News of the Clubs—Page 8. W C. T. U. Notes—Page 8. American Legion—Page 8. District of Columbia Naval Reserves— Page 8. At Community Centers—Page 8. Radio—Page 9. PART FIVE—4 PAGES. Sports Section. PART SIX—12 PAGES. Financial News and Classified Adver- tising A. R. Activities—Page 11. Veterans of Foreign Wars—Page 11, PART SEVEN—24 PAGES. Magazine Section. Notes of Art and Artists—Page 19. News of the Musi¢c World—Page 20. Reviews of the New Books—Page 21. 22 PAGES. Local, National and | Screen was mingled with joy at King Zog's escape and virtually the entire popu- lation of the city flocked to the office of the minister of the interior in a demonstration of loyalty. Prime Minister Pandelli issued a proclamation declaring that the pres- ervation of the monarch’s life was a most fortunate thing for the country. Cross-word Puzzle—Page 22. GRAPHIC SECTION—8 PAGES. World Events in Pictures. COLOR SECTION—8 PAGES. f l i ML 1“1 S, THE CONGRESSIONAL CHERRY TREE CHOPPER. STOCKS TOUCH 1381 HIGH AS SALES RISE Five-Month Peak Reached as Pivotal Shares Increase From $1 to $3. By the Associated Press. NEW YORK, February 31.—Share prices swelled to the highest level since October 15 in the stock exchange today, under the influence of the most strenu- ous high-pressure bullishness witnessed since last Spring. Bull traders again were forced to absorb extensive pre-holiday selling, but were determined to close the week in the market at the best prices of the new year. More than 2,400,000 shares were traded in the two-hour session, the largest turnover for a Saturday since May, and at the rate of 6,000,000 shares for a full five-hour session. Auburn Auto Gains $117. Advances in the so-called pivotal shares were largely limited to about $1 to $3 a share, but Auburn Auto was given one of its typical whirls, finish- ing the day $11.75 higher, at $210.75, a new top for 1931, and $109.25 above its January minimum. It was reported in brokerage circles early in the week that stock exchange officials were ques- tioning some brokers in connection with the erratic performance of this issue, | but official comment has been withheld. The stock market's further advance brought to a close a week of almost steacily advaneing prices, save for an abrupt downturn on Tuesday. Price indices indicate that the total quoted or paper value of shares listed on this market has improved more than 4 per cent during the week, or between $2,000,000.000 and $3,000.000.000. Since the first of the month, the quoted value has swollen more than 10 per cent, or more than $5,000.000.000. Most of this increase has been recorded since the bear stampede which started a fort- night ago. Spontaneous Rise Noted. While the market's advance has been accompanied by moderate increases in steel and motor production, and Teport of a better volume of activity in build- ing. observers generally agree it started quite spontaneously, and has proceeded much more rapidly than business re- covery. It is also widely acknowledged that impetus has been largely provided by manipulative pool activities. A grow ing conviction that the business depression has touched bottom and the pendulum is slowly swinging upward, however. has inspired the speculative fratern with a strong urge to anticipate the return of prosperity. after the several false moves of 1930, which virtually destroyed the market's traditional repu- tation for powers of prophecy. Utilities displayed paramount strength after lagging behind all turned upward. BALLANTINE NOMINATED FOR TREASURY POST By the Associated Press. President Hoover yesterday mnomi- nated Arthur A. Ballantine of New York City as Assistant Secretary of the Treasury to succeed Walter Hope, who has resigned effective March 1 Ballantine is a graduate of Harvard College and of the Harvard Law School. He is at present a_member of the firm of Root, Clark, Buckner & Ballantine. He served in 1917 as advisory coun- sel on taxation matters in the Treasury Department, in 1918 as solicitor of in- ternal revenue and in 1927 as adviser to the Congressional Joint Committee on Internal Revenue Taxation, week, also in today's session, and the rail issues. | Waiter Attributes Fracture to Biscuit Hurled by Customer By the Associated Press. MONTREAL, February 21— Phillip Skinter, a waiter, reported at Montreal Hospital with a broken jaw. A customer, he ex- plained, ordered biscuits. The customer didn't like them and hurled one at Skinter. It landed on the jaw. Anyway, that's what Skinter said. PERUACTSTOCURB - NEWREVOLT MovE Garrison at Arequipa Facing Attack by Forces of Lima Government. By the Associated Press. LIMA, Peru, February 21.—The gov- ernment revealed tonight that a ruvolu- Jfonary movement, which was surpressed yesterday at Callao, had ramifications through other parts of the republic, with part of the military garrison re- volting at Arequipa and now facing an attack by loyal forces. An official statement declared that the movement was headed by officers sceking a return to power of Augusto B. Leguia, the deposed president, now i the national penitentiary, and some civilians also affiliated with the Leguia- istas. Troops from Tacna, Cuzco and Puno were stated to be marching against Arequipa, where Mollendo, the fort controlling Arequipa’s trade, and the Arequipa Airport had been closed. In the meantime 39 prisoners are held for their part in the short-lived revolt that broke out in Lima and Callao yes- | terday, and the government declared tonight the authors of all uprisings would be punished severely. An uprising at Arequipa lends inter- est to the picture of revolt, for It was an_outbreak at_this city that placed ~ (Continued on Page 2, Column 8.) BALTIMORE WOMAN IS BEATEN TO DEATH Wealthy Recluse Found Slain in Apartment—Visitor Sought by Police. By the Associated Press. | BALTIMORE. Md, February 21.— | Miss Anna Herrara, wealthy 48-year- ‘nld recluse, was found tonight by | police, beaten to death in the base | ment apartment of a building sl | owned in the colored section of Balti® more. A physician said she had been criminally attacked, | The woman was found by Sergt. John Cunningham, lying in a pool of blood in a room which showed signs of a ter- rific struggle. Her head had been bat- tered in with a blunt weapon, believed |to have been a hammer, though no weapon was found in the room. Miss Herrara, formerly a milliner, had lived in the building for 30 years. Some time ago she converted it into eight | apartments, renting all to colored ten- ants, but continued to live in the base- ments rooms. Besides the apartment buflding., she was reported to be the owner of several other pjeces of real ate. Thrills of Re Big Bertha Shells Paris. French and British Over- whelmed. Bundy's 2d Division Gets Ac- tion. Near-Panic in Paris. Get The Evenimg Star Every Moon Mullins; Mr. and Mrs.; Mutt and Jeft; Reg'lar Fellers; the Smythes; Brutus; Little Orphan Annlp; High- lights of Eistory. Gen. Pershing's story will al Fighting in PERSHING'S OUTSTANDING STORY “My Experiences in the World War” Every Day This Week in The Euening Star First Division at Cantigny. - Dickman’s 3d Division Or- dered Up. ) Americans’ Gallant Showing. Marines Capture Belleau Wood. Day for the Real Inside Story of American Units and How They Fought in the World War— Told by the Man Who. Commanded Them—General Pershing. be found today on page 4. CONGRESS PASSES SCENT FARE BILL Head of Capital Traction Co. Warns Any Loss Will Have to Be Made Up. Final action was taken in both branches of Congress yesterday on the bill to establish a reduced fare of not more than 3 cents for school children on street cars and busses, Commenting on the subject last night, John H. Hanna, president of the Capital Traction Co., renewed the posi- tion taken before the Utilities Com- mission that if a reduced school fare results in loss in revenue, the company will expect the loss to be made up in some other way. Mr. Hanna said that he had made the point at the congressional hearings that Congress after giving the Public Utilities Commission power to fix rates should leave this power with the com- mission. He was not willing to say | Whether if Congress departed from this olicy and itself fixed a definite rate lor school children, his company would oppose the move on legal grounds. Expect to Make Up Loss. “That is a legal question, on which am not prepared to speak,” he said, vand besides that we do not really | know what may happen and I prefer to cross our bridges when we come to them. “I can say, however, that we will insist that whatever rate of fare for school children is finally fixed, if it | results in a loss of revenue to us, our company will expect this loss to be | made up in some other way. This | was the position we took before the | Public Utilities Commission at their | hearing on the subject and we are still | of the same mind.” Ratification of the conference Teport on the reduced fare bill sent that | measure to the President. The House ! adopted the report without debate, on motion of Representative McLecd, act- ing chairman of the District Commit- tee, after Chairman Capper had steered it through the Senate with brief dis- cussion. Representatives of the street car and bus companies will confer with the Public Utilitles Commission Tuesday regarding the practical details of estab- lishing the school fare. Among the points to be discussed will be the iden- tification of school children and whether the fares shall be pald in cash ticket or token. Not Arbitrarily Set. The bill does not automatically fix the school rate at 3 cents, but directs | the Utilities Commission to establish a reduced rate at not to exceed 3 cents. Although Senators Tydings, Demo- crat, of Maryland, and King, Democrat, of Utah, both urged that the bill be sent back for further conference yes- terday, they emphasized that they were in favor of a reduced fare for school | children, but felt that the commission | should be given more leeway in de- termining the amount of reduction. A motion by Tydings to recommit the bill was defeated on a rising vote, after which the report was agreed to. Tydings has expressed a fear that if the 3-cent maximum specified in the bill should prove confiscatory it might be set aside, and thereby prevent a reduced fare. Senator King favored as low a rate as possible, but argued for the principle of allowing the commis- slon to fix it. Senator Capper pointed out that the House originally approved a 2-cent | fare, which the Senate changed to not | more than half the adult fare. He sald half the adult token rate would be 33, cents, and that in conference an agreement was reached on not more than 3 cents. CREW BATTLES TO_SAVE STEAMER FROM ROCKS Cable of Rescuing Vessel Snaps, Leaving Boat Helpless Off Coast of Scotland. By the Associated Press. WICK, Scotland, February 21.—The crew of the disabled Latvian steamer | inquiry. WLEOD WILL SEEK EMERGENCY ACTION FOR BLAINE BILLS Acting Head of D. C. Commit- tee to Urge House Approval of Realty Measures. PROPOSALS WERE PASSED BY SENATE YESTERDAY Regulation of Securities and Mort- gage Foreclosures Purpose of Provisions, A determined effort will be made by | Acting Chatrman MeLeod of the House District Committee when the commit- tee meets Wednesday to head a drive to get emergency action in the House on the bills to regulate the sale of se- curities and the foreclosure of mort- gages, which passed the Senate yester- day after Senator Blaine, Republtean of Wiseonsin, had spoken for more than two hours in support of the meas- ures, Senator Blaine, who headed the sub- committee which spent nearly two years investigating real estate, invest- ment and mortgage affairs in the Dis- trict, reviewed the work of the sub- committee. Senator Blaine went into detail in discussing the refinancing of the Wardman properties in 1928, and also commented on the steps recently taken in New York to form a protec- tive committee for the bondholders of Wardman Real Estate Properties, Inc. tnd a similar committee for the del re holders of COTflfltH;’Clth il Wardman Realty & e bill to regulate the sale of st and bonds, which went mrwzhwcu‘:: Senate as reported from committee, gives the Public Utilities Commission supervision over its administration. It would require the licensing of security dealers and salesmen. The bill out- lines the procedure to be followed in fl?”ég'é‘,"‘b&“’”ii issues of stocks n ore t] this: pobtie 'y are offered to Redemption Period Extended. The other bill outlines a proced: to be followed in foreclosing :mrlzn‘il:.: in the District, it having been the contention of the Blaine subcommittee that at the present time the District is practically without laws Pproviding for an orderly and regular form of foreclosure, As reported from committee the would have allowed the morwu:rbg days in which to redeem after the date of sale. This was changed on the floor to six months on motion of Senator | Bratton, Democrat, of New Mexico. Senator King, Democrat, of Utah, also urged a longer redemption period. In- cluded also in the foreclosure bill are provisions to prevent losses to investors in mortgage notes through refease of | the mortgage instrument without pay- ment of the funds loaned by individual noteholders, The bill provides that no release by @ trustce or mortgagee shall affect the lien nf a note secured by the instrument relesse¢, unless the note is presented to the rerorder of deeds and by him stamped, “canceled and released.” The action taken by the Senate yes- terday places before the House all three of the remedial measures, whirh have grown out of the Blaine subcommittee The third bill, to license and regulate the real estate business, passed the Senate at the last session and awaiting House action, Withdraws Objection. When Senator Blaine first asked uranimous consent to take up his two bills early yesterday Senator Hale, Re- publican, of Maine, chjected because he did not want to lay aside the naval appropriation bill, which he had pend- ing at the time. 'Senator Blaine there- upon made a motion to displace the ap- propriation bill, and, upon that motion he debated the security and foreclosure subjects for more than two hours, Senator Hale later withdrew his ob- jection to laying aside the naval bill temporarily, and the two local meas- ures were acted on with brief debate. After he had summarized the essen- the week, Senator Blaine explained that (Continued on Page 8, Column 5.) S0 IS RECEIVED Merchant Vessel Paco Signals From Off Colombia Coast. MIAMI, Fla, February 21 (#).—Offi- cials of Tropical Radio here reported tonight that the American merchant vessel Paco had sent an S O S signal from 'an unreported location off the coast of Colombia at 6 p.m. (Eastern standard time). No details were given The radio station attempted to get fur-| ther information, officials said. Rice Mill Burns. CROWLEY, La., February 21 (#).— Fire of undetermined origin today de- stroyed the Iota Rice Mill, at Iota, near here, with damage estimated at $200,000. ENTS AND SUBURBS| ELSEWHERE e ——— Y CITIZENS T0 PROBE HIGHER GAS BILLS; COMPLAINTS CITED |Federation Committee Or< dered to Undertake Sep« arate Inquiry of Causes. |PROTEST $98,000 PAYMENT, TO ALEXANDRIA CAR LINE Also Oppose Free Food Bill for School Children—Advisory Coune cil Abolition Discussed, Foxhall Consumers, Irked by Gas Bills, To Meet in Protest Aroused over mounting gas bills, the Foxhall Village Citizens’ Association will hold a special meeting in St. Patrick’s Parish Hall, Reservoir and Foxhall roads, at 8 p.m. Tuesday night to discuss the situation. The meeting was called last night by Lieut. Col. Henry Spencer Merrick, U. 8. A., presi- dent of the association. According to Luclen Mercier, chairman of the Legal Affairs Committee of the assoclation, one-half of the 180 families of the village have complained of excessive gas bills during the past month. ‘Taking cognizance of the rising tide of protests over mounting gas bills, the Federation of Citizens' Associations last night instructed its committee on public utilities to make an independent study of the gas situation. Willlam McK. Clayton, chairman of the Utilities Committee, told the federae tion that the questions of increased gas pressure, the quality of gas and an overe charge of bills already had been dise cussed by his group, but that it was not in a position to make a report be- cause these matters had not been for- mally referred to it for consideration. Says Emergency Exists. Delegate H. E. Young declared thad an “emergency” existed, and urged that |the federation take immediate action. Dr. C. Havenner, president, ree ferred the matter to the Public Util- itles Committee for thorough study and report. “In view of the fact that numerous complaints have been made by gas con= sumers over high bills" sald Mr. Young, “I think the question should be considered now. An exists mufi tjo t.t!lm vast volume of an ustly so.” Richmond B. Keech. 's counsel before the Public Ugum er’ e who is making an ive n effort to dstermine cause of the wholesale reports over gas bills, attended the meeting and received & | number of additional protests from the | delegates. Oppose Street Car Fee. The federation also vigorously op- posed the payment of any District reve enues to R. L. May, owner of the Alex. andria, Mount Vernon & Wi Railway, for vacating or abandoning his (Continued on Page 2, Column 4.) 'CORONER ORDERS QUIZ AS GIRL DIES OF DRUG | Autopsy Is ‘Ordered by Nevitt of Body of Miss Mildred E. Koontz. An apparent overdose of a sleeping | drug is believed to be responsible for | the death of pretty Miss Mildred E. | Koontz, 22 years old, late yesterday | afternoon at the home of her mother, Mrs. Clara E. Smith, the Euclid, 1740 Euclid street. After viewing the body, Coroner J. " | Ul features of the report which the in- | Ramsay Nevitt ordered an sutopsy 15, | vestigating subcommittee filed earlicr i |an effort to determine whether overdcse was taken accidentally or ihe was not seeking to interfers with | With suicidal intent. The girl left no | messages and her mother knew of no reason why she should have to take her life, police were told. & The girl is believed to have taken the drug Priday night. disturbed _ yesterday mother and stepfather, Louis B. Smith, believing she wanted to sleep late. When Mrs. Smith returned to the | apartment yesterday afternoon she | found the girl unconscious and called the Pire Department Rescue Squad. Firemen from No. 11 Engine Company notified Casualty Hospital and Misg | Koontz was pronounced dead by a hos= pital physician. Miss Koontz had been living in New | Jersey, the police were told, until two weeks ago, when she came back to Washington to live with her mother. She obtained employment about five days ago Wwith a telegraph company. The police were told she worked overtime Friday and came home tired and nervous. She is thought to have taken the drug before going to bed that night. WORLD AIR TRANSPORTATION MARK BROKEN Despite Storms, 356 Carried BY CAPITAL LINE on 36 Trips, 16 More Than Usual Yesterday—200 Turned Away. All world records for the carrying of passengers by airplane in intercity traffic were broken on the National Capital-New York line yesterday for Everline fought desperately tonight against a wild gale from the southwest that was driving their vessel toward the rocky shores of the island of Yell, in the Shetland group. Early today the trawler Monimia of Wick got a line aboard and started towine the Everline to safety, but the cable parted and the helpless drift be- gan again. A wireless message from the Latvian ship tonight said she was going ashore, but the captain of the Monimia thought the vessel might just clear the rocks if the wind held in the same direction. He was unable to get a new line over because of high At last reports the Everline was five miles north of Essa Hess Light, drifting northeast. the second time since the New York, Philadelphia & Washington Airways Corporation line was established last September. Despite stormy weather, which forced one plane down for 10 minutes to es- cape a snow squall, a total of 356 pas- sengers were flown during the day, ex- ceeding by 95 the former record, es- tablished on New Year eve. The week end holiday, along with George Wash- ington’s day anniversary on Mon- day, is belleved msible for the great in passi traffic, which 1 plane in e serv- Normal traffic on the ling calls for 20 flights & day, 10 in each ( Yes- in every terday 36 trips were made, every transe port pilot in the organization, includ- ing Paul Collins, veteran airmail pilot and a vice presdient of the line, being called into service. In establishing this record, planes of the line flew a total of 7,250 miles, also believed to be a new record intercity air transport service. N schedules call for 4,000 miles of flying daily. As the planes used are of tri- motored type, the total number of motor miles flown during the day was equal to the distance around the world at the Equator, officials said. ‘Two hundred prospective passengers were turned away at Wi -Hoo- ver Airport, it was announ ‘The extra schedules flown imposed s heavy burden on the maintenance force at the local field, as each plane had to be serviced and inspected from noss to tail between trips, increasing ths number of plane inspections and serve icing from 20 to 36 for the day.