Evening Star Newspaper, March 1, 1931, Page 2

CAPONE CONVICTION SPURS PROSECUTOR {Turning Point in Chicago Fight on Gangland Is Thought Reached. By the Associated Press. CHICAGO, February 28.—Heartened by the conviction of the keyman, Al- phonse Capone, the agencies charged with enforcement of the law in Chi- cago pushed forward with renewed vigor in their fight on gangs. In the Criminal Courts Building, where the county’s wheels of justice grind, and in the Federal Building, where United States District Attorney George E. Q. Johnson and his assist- ants drive relentlessly at the organized criminal element, a new spirit of en- thusiasm and confidence was apparent. Al Capone, the czar of all Chicago gangs, had at last been proved at vari- ance with the law. “Public enemy No. 1” was found guilty of contempt of court by Federal Judge James H. Wil- kerson yesterday and sentenced to six months in jail. Turning Point Reached. Prosecutors believed that the turn- ing point had been reached in their battlé against gangland with the “big fellow,” the one who had never been convicted in his home courts, finally under sentence. In contrast with the years when the gang barons made their own law and enforced it, ghe Government today was able to point to an impressive list of convictions and indictments. Most of the old-time rival gangs have been merged, driven out of town or killed off, 50 the list is made up almost en- tirely of the henchmen of “Scarface Al” Capone. Ralph Capone, older brother of leader and a leutenant in or-gambling-vice syndicate, h.la been sentenced to three years in vr!lon :H‘ fined $10,000 for income tax vio- Jack Guszik, Capone'’s business man- tm received the biggest sentence so far for income tax fraud—five years. Incomes Are Investigated, Prank Nittl, known as the Capone ‘enforcer,” is already serving an 18- month sentence for dodging Govern- ment taxes, ‘Tony “Mops” Volpe, once Al Capone’s and more recently one of his executives, has been ordered de: ported to Italy. Sam aull.k brother of Jack, has been indicted, and two former beer barons, Frankie Lake and Terry Drug- gan, have entered conditional pleas of guilty to income tax charges. The Government has 1ndluud it is Just getting started on the income tax cases against those who have made mil- lions and given none of it to the Gov- ernment. it is no secret that the "E“ed great wealth of Al Capone him- has been under investigation for Ter- Must Begin by July. Jud% ‘Wilkerson, in permitting Ca- pone days more of freedom on the contempt case to enable his attorneys to file an lppell stipulated that unless hh were reversed, Capone must lervm{1 his term by July. This would keep him in jail until December, ‘when the Government hopes to have its income tax case against him ready to_take before the grand jury. Besides an occasional murder charge or viclation of parole case, the State’s nmq'l ofl!u drive mhm gangland has consisted mainly of prosecution on the vagrancy warrants sworn nnuht into xt. Wedne . 17 on the Nist compiled by the Chicago Crime Commission face Municipal Judge Frank M. Mden and attempt to prove he has pation. BOSTON POLICE GUARD “REDS” HELD IN STRIKE Three Textile Union Officials Ar- rested Pending Probe of Their Citizenship. By the Assoclated Press. BOSTON, February 28.—Specially sssigned police tonight guarded the im- migration station at East Boston, where three alleged Communist leaders in the recent Lawrence strike await the action of the Federal Government. The prisoners are Pat Devine, Wil- liam Murdock and Edith Berkman, all officials of the National Textile Work- ers’ Union. They were arrested yester- day on warrants telegraphed from ‘Washington authorizing their deten- tion until the authorities can establish th.m they are subject to deporta- on. lawful occu- Both Devine and Miss Berkman pro- fess American citizenship, but Mur- dock says he was born in Scotland and that he is a British subject. The three ‘were Jeaders in the recent strike at the Lawrence mills of the American Woolen Co., which resulted in idleness of ap- m)drnnuly 10,000 workers for several A ‘hearing which was scheduled for foday was postponed until Monday to enable the authorities to check the claims of Miss Berkman and Devine as to their citizenship. BURNET TO STRIKE ILLEGAL INCOMES, HE SAYS IN FORUM (Continued Prom First Page) #ble by a penalty of not more than $10,000 or imprisonment for not more than one year, or both, and in addi- tion 25 per cent of the amount of the tax. For willfully making a false or fraudulent return the penalty is not more than $10,000 or imprisonment for not more than five years, or both, and in addition 50 per cent of the nmflunli of the tax. The romance and thrills behind the stories related in income tax returns were described by the commissioner as he referred to the wide variety of life which finds itself reflected through the Federal income tax. ‘The income tax period ends March 16 at midnight, the commissioner ex- lained, becanse of the fact that March 5 comes on Sunday. Exemptions -Aliowed. The personal exemptions, he ex- plained are $1,500 for single persons and $3,500_ for married persons living together. -Divorcees and wedded cou- ples separated by mutual consent are considered as single individuals for the purpose of the income .tax, and each must file & return if his or "her income 48 $1,500 or more, or the gross income 18 $5,000 or more. In this connection, he explained, alimony is not deductible the return of the taxpayer, or is it ble income in the return of its peciplent. PFor each child under 18 years of age there is allowed a credit of $400 on its parents’ income tax return. A similar credit is allowed for Work for Their Keep THE SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C, ICLUES HIDE TRAIL ~ ILUCAS, ACCUSED, HELP SALVATION ARMY DISTRIBUTE FUEL. distributed from Virginia avenue, NEMPLOYED men who aré help! l l to needy familles in return for southwest. ing the Salvation Army distribute wood lodging and meals. The wood is being between First and Second streets —Star Staff Photo. = |FRAZER DECLARED = SANEBY ALIENISTS Counsel for Man Charged With Killing Girl on Ride Sees ‘Perfect Defense.’ BY the Associated Press. ELIZABETH, N. J, February 28.— ‘Three alienists agreed today that Wil- liam M. Frazer of Rahway, who is ac- cused of killing his sweetheart, Mrs. Phoebe Stader, and motoring with her body to Virginia, is sane. ‘The experts reported to Prosecutor Abe J, David after examining Frazer. Victor Greenburg, counsel for Frazer, said he belleved the man had a perfect defense. The attorney said he did not think it possible for the prosecution to estab- lish the place of the shooting nor a motive. Prager, brought back from Raleigh, N. C., where he was arrested after leav- the woman's body in & woods near Bowling Green, Va., appears in a daze. In a docile, detached manner, he has reiterat story that Mrs. Stader was shot accidentally when he reached for his rifle in the car in which they Tode. 'were returning from a two- day y_together in New York State and been drinking, he said. Prosecutor David had planned yester- day to take Prazer over the roads trav- ersed on the fatal ride in an effort to establish exactly where the shooting occurred, but Frazer's counsel objected and it was postponed. WETS MAY FORCE DEMOCRATS’ HAND DESPITE OPPOSITION (Continued Prom First Page.) the prohibition issue, but take a stand flzflnmly for some change in the dry ws. ‘The one specific subject to which the attention of the National Com- mittee is called in the notice of the meeting sent out by Chairman Raskch is & plan for financing the party’s ac- tivities. A survey has been made by a New York concern, and it will be laid before the National Committee for consideration and sction. Chairman Raskob has been charged with holditg a “mortgage on the Democratic party” because of his large advances of money to the national organization. - The plan now proposed is to provide for general financing of the national organization l-nd to repay Mr. Raskob in part at| east, From some quarters there has come a suggestion that perhaps Mr. Raskob would like to relinquish his national chairmanship, and that the matter might be broached at the coming meeting. If there is substance to the rumor it has been closely guarded. Mr. Raskob, a wet, might find it almost as difficult to relinquish his chairmanship as Senator Fess of Ohlo, a dry, finding it to give up the chairmanship of the Republican National Committee. The selection of & new Democratic na- tional chairman might indeed force the wet and dry issue immediately to the front in the Democratic party, with ench side of the issue seeking to have a man of its choice picked for the office of chairman. ‘Whether the prohibition issue is thrown into the discussion of the na- tional committee at its meeting Thurs- day or not, different sections of the country taking part, outside the committee room. i DECLARATION. | OPPOS) Byrd, Virginia Commitleeman, Wants Convention to Define Stand. BERRYVILLE, Fla., February 28 (#). —Former Gov. |cratic national committeeman from Virginia, will do everything in his power to prevent any declaration of policy on national issues being made at the meeting of the national com- | mittee on March 5, he said tonight. Mr. Byrd said that he had not so far received & request from the Virginia House delegation to oppose such action, but he pointed out that several days ago, in & statement made at Raleigh, N. C., he had expressed his personal opposition to any commitment of the perty at this time. He reiterated that he believed that any pronouncement on national iscues should come from the party conven- tion, and not from the committee, and | that it would be improper for the com- mittee to arrogate to itself power which 3t e rightfully claim, LOUISIANA STAND STATED. Commitieeman Against Discussing Prohibition Issue. NEW ORLEANS, February 28 (#).— Robert Ewing, Democratic national every person dependent upon the tax- pytr for his or her chief lugpon, it Femn is mentally or physically ‘fect The full text of the commissioner’s .fldru- appears in the editorial section o The Sunday Star today. committeeman for Louisiana, discuss- ing the possibllity of the pmmbmon issue being raised in the forthcoming National Committee meeting tonight, do not think the national commit- teemen have any right to pass i that question. It is a matter for the na- tional convention to decide.” Mrs. W. D. Hamlin, national commit- ununln. said “It was not my under- nwu fl\-t any issues it is & foregone conclusion | that there will be plenty of conferences | about the matter, with Democrats from | Harry F. Byrd, Demo- | ROOSEVELT RATED AHEAD OF AL SMITH Governor’s Backers Expect to Get State Delegation in 1932 Race. Special Dispatch to The Star. NEW YORK, February 28.—While the name of Alfred E. Smith is still re- garded natlonally as in the list of po- tential candidates for the Democratic presidential nomination next year, the State Democratic organization, which is supporting Gov. Roosevelt for the White House, now feels that Mr. Smith may fairly well be regarded as out of the running, it was learned today. That view of the situation is based upon the opinion of State organization leaders that Mr. Smith cannot hope to go into the Democratic National Con- vention with the support of the New York delegation. It had been conceded that should his protagonists be able to present to the convention a solid or even a reasonably strong split delegation from his home State, he might stand a chance of renomination, in event of a deadlock, because of the enormous pop- ular vote he received in 1928, Failing to demonstrate before the country that his own State wants him as the party’s candidate again, the friends of Gov. Roosevelt believe that it would be impossible for Mr. Smith’s supporters to overcome in the conven- tion the great prejudice which was dis- played against him in the South and Middle West in the election of 1928, Roosevelt Backers Hopeful. ‘The State organization is understood to be not entirely assured yet that it can deliver a solid delegation for Gov. Roosevelt, but the organization leaders feel that the perfection of a solid dele- gation between now and the election of convention delegates is merely a mat- ter of practical politics. ‘The fact, that with the defeat of the Republican candidate for attorney gen- eral last Fall, the Democrats are now completely in the saddle of the State government has given Gov. Roosevelt and the Democratic State Committee | more power over county committeemen | throughout the State than any Demo- cratic Governor and committee has ever exercised before through patronage and reprisal. ‘That power is backed by Gov. Roosevelt’s record popular plurality in his re-election. ‘The Governor's position, therefore, is felt to be virtually impregnable up- State when the time comes for the selection of national convention dele- gates. The antipathy to Mr. Smith which has grown up in Tammany Mall in recent years, together with Gov. Roosevelt's considerate attitude toward Tammany scandals and the natural dis- position of Tammany to get on the right national political band wagon, are count- ed upon to take care of New York City. May Oppose Raskob. Plans are already being made on the basis of this picture of the situation to take a solid Roosevelt delegation to the convention. While it is understood nothing definite has been done about it yet, there is reason to believe that if the prospective split in the Demo- cratic party develops out of the meeting of the Democratic National Committee March 5, when it is anticipated Chair- man John J. Raskob will demand a showdown on the prohibition issue, the Roosevelt Democrats of New York State may ultimately be found lining up with the Southern and Western drys against the continued chairmanship of Mr. Raskob. It is known that leaders closely as- sociated with Gov. Roosevelt and the Democratic_State Committee feel that Chairman Raskob is making a serious mistake in undertaking to place the an'l\' on record on prohibition at the | | forthcoming meeting of the National Committee. That sentiment is based on two reasons. One is that it is too far ahead of the convention and needless at this time to try to put the party on record on this ticklish issue, and the other is that the assumption thst the National Committee has the rignt to place the party on record is a_high- ;h-nded plece of business. The Roose- | velt supporters are outspoken in their | contention that the party policies are |to be established in this national elec- tion, as always, not by the National Committee, but by the delegates of the voters duly elected to the national con- vention, Moreover, there is a distinct disposi- |tion to believe that if Mr. Smith has not guided Mr. Raskob in his present | maneuver, the Democratic national | chairman is at least moving in that | direction with the full knowledge and | consent of Mr. Smith. Among many of Gov, Roosevell’s | | friends, 1t was said, the feeling exists | that if the issue is forced the State party organization, which Gov. Roose- velt dominates, might be forced to throw its weight lllinst Mr. Raskob. and I don't bl( ssue will be called for that think the prol brought up.” Arkansas in Opposition. ELDORADO, Ark., February 28 (#).— Miss Alice Cordell, national Democratic committeewoman for Arkansas, tonight OF NOOSE SLAYER Any of Six “Racket” Groups Are Possible Suspects, Detectives Learn. By the Associated Press. NEW YORK, February 28.—A multi- tude of clues today served chiefly to hamper dozens of detectives. seeking a motive for the noose slaying of Vivian Gordon, red-headed mystery woman. From diaries found in her $150-a- month apartment and from other sources police learned a great deal about her past, which they said touch- ed policemen, convicts, swindlers, racketeers and business men. Any one of half. a dozen groups might possibly have wanted to kill her, they said. Detectives were told she knew the slain Arnold Rothstein, Broadway gambler; George McManus, another gambler, and Jack “Legs” Dia- mond, gangster, Mrs. Gordon had threatened to tes- tity before investigators of the magis- trates’ courts that her divorced hus- band,, John Bischoff, and a plain clothes man, Andrew J. McLaughlin, “framed” her .on vice charges sevel years ago. She was “taken for a ride,” strangled and tossed into a Bronx thicket. Wanted Vindication. Referee Samuel Seabury, conducting the court’s inquiry, made public a let- ‘woman wrote to an unnamed In it she said she expected to tell investigato: w she was ‘“rail- roaded” by ‘ex-husband and the po|lca in 1923 “Boy, I'll be glad to get that cleaned up if it takes my last breath,” she wrote. “To be vindicated, vindicated, vindicated. And then when folks feel mean and nasty they can’t say ‘Why, she this, that and the other thlng'" Plain-clothes = Man McLaughlin, whose salary is $3,000 & year, will re- turn tomorrow from a Bermuda cruise. He wi‘.ll be questioned about the 1923 arres Threat Letters Received. ‘Threatening letters were received to- day by investigators of alleged cor- ruption in New York’s lower courts and Police Department. “Well, there's one squealer that won't talk and we've just started. You ain't heard nothing yet,” one letter said. “We are sorry to see three nice young men go _wrong, but we gave you a chance to Jay down. We are taking things into our own hands now.” The “one squealer” apparently was Miss Gordon. Referee Samuel Seabury, head of the Appellate Court inquiry, has three young assistants prosecuting the investigation. Vice “Racket” Bared. ‘The assistants struck again today at the records of Magistrate Jean Norris and vice squad policemen. They pre- sented to Mr. Seabury a new example of the “rooming house racket” in which vice squad detectives are alleged to have preyed on landladies. Nina Landry, operator of a small hotel, testified Plainclothesmen Lee Halperin and Danilel Sullivan waited outside the hotel while & man and woman rented a room. On a signal from the man, she said., they entered and arrested Mrs. Landry. A cousin K‘ld $40 for a $500 bond :nd $500 to & wyer. Magistrate Norris convicted the wom- an, but after she had spent two weeks in jail the Court of General Sessions reversed the conviction. BISCHOFF LEAVES., Ex-Husband of Vivian Gordon Goes to Audubon, Former Home. Deputy Marshal John C. Bischoff of Lorton Reformatory, Va. former hus- band of Vivian Gordon, 32-year-old New York murder victim, left his post at the jail yesterday with Audubon, N, J, as his destination, according to attaches at the reformatory. Bischofl’s home was in Audubon before he came to_Lorton, two years ago. Bischoff had declared F\‘ldly that he had been in communication with New York authorities investigating the crime and that he had been informed that they did not desire to question him in connection with the case. Inquisitors in the slaying are said to have revealed that the murdered woman had threat- ened to “expose” her former husband and another man, a police officer, al- eging that they had attempted to “frame” her on charges of vice. Laval Given Confidence Vote. PARIS, February 28 (#).—The gov- ernment of Premier Pierre Laval to- night won a question of confidence easily by & 390 against 156 votes, a ma- Jority of 234. The vote came in a late sitting, when opposition to employment of secret funds by the government be- came so strong in the Chamber of Deputies that Laval proposed a ques- tion of confidence. INCOME TAX FACTS No. 28 ‘To be allowed as a deduction from gross income, a bad debt must have been determined by the taxpayer to be worthless within the taxable year for which it is claimed, and where books are kept it also must have been charged off within the same year. The necessity for this pro- vision is obvious. If a bad debt were allowed as a deduction without the requirement that it be charged off the taxpayer's books, the certainty of its worth- lessness would be open to ques- tion. Neither the taxpayer nor the Government could certain that a debt would not be claimed more than once. Also if & bad debt were allowed in the year in which it was charged off, without regard to when it was ascertained to be worthless, such charges could be accumulated advantageously, to be deducted in a year when there was a large income. How- ever, a taxpayer who erroneously has canceled a debt in a year subsequent to that in which it was determined to be worthless may file an amended return for the year in which the debt was ascertained to be worthless and not charged off. Bad debts may be treated in one of two ways—either by de- duction from gross income or by deduction from a reasonable re- serve for bad debts. Permission to adopt the reserve method is limited to taxpayers hlvlng a large number of accounts. It is not granted for the purpose of handling one specific debt. Par- tial deductions are allowed with respect to specific debts only. ‘The burden is upon the tax- payer to show that a debt claimed as @ deduction was without value during the tax- able year. A statement should be attached to the return show- ing the propriety of any deduc- tions for bad debts. If in the expressed unqualified opposition to any move to put the Democratic party on record on prohibition at the forthcom- Anl Nluoml Executive Committee Th! N'qunll Oommll.m has mn-fl"fim exercise of sound business judg- ment a taxpayer concludes, after making every reasonable effort to determine whether there is likelihood of recovery, that the debt is of no value, deduction for such debt is allowed. Court action is not a requisite. DENIES FUND HID Nye Committee Says G. 0. P. Official Guilty of ‘Corrupt’ Practices. (Continued From First Page.) not_constitute, contenipt of the Senate as defined in the Pederal statutes.” The committee promised at a later date recommendations for legislation to “curb or prevent the recurrence of the evils exposed by this investigation.” ‘This is reserved for its final report, it uid ngart was signed by Senators Nye Nortl Dnou, lnd Dale, Vermont, Republicans, and Dill, Washington, and ‘Wagner, New Ydrk Democrats. Senator Patterson, Republican, Mis- souri, the fifth member, refused to sign, saying he did not agree with the report in its entirety. i Explains His Action. “I did not deem it of enough impor- tance to prepare a separate report,” he commented informally. “There is no contest on in the Senate. I think the subcommittee that made the investiga- tion in Nebraska spent most of its time investigating self-evident propositions. The entire investigation centered around gr:c:r Norris, who never got on the icket.” Under & head “General Conclusions,” the report said: “How far the various methods out- lined above were interrelated and con- stituted successive stages of a single conspiracy, are yet to be determined. After the major facts became known, two of the principal figures in the con- spiracy, ‘Grocer’ Norris and Victor Seymour (formerly connected with the Republican Senatorial Committee) were in process of indictment for perjury and were, therefore, not available as wit- nesses, Common Motive, “The committee has been impressed, however, by the fact that all these ac- tivities have been actuated by the com- mon motive of Immplhhlnl the defeat of Senator Norris by fair means or foul; have been carried out by agents ‘whom the record shows were in frequent commnication, and have been char- acterized by the common features of concealment of funds, employment of fictitious names, and elaborate precau- tions to })revem either the actors or the ;o‘::ce of t.he funds from being publicly losed. PROSECUTION IN DOUBT. Nebraska Attorney General Refuses to Discuss Possible Charge. LINCOLN, Nebr., February 28 (#).— Whether Samuel R. McKelvie and Charles McCloud would be prosecuted for violating the Nebraska election laws, as charged in the Senate Clmpuxn Funds Committee report, was in doubt tonight. Attorney General C. A. Sorenson de- clined to discuss what action he would take, but pointed out that County Prosecutors could also file complaints. McKelvie, former Governor and mem- ber of the Farm Board, was reported to be in Washington. Both he and Charles McCloud, Republican National Com- mitfeeman, opposed the renomination of Senator George W. Norris and are charged in the Senat: committee’s re- port with contributing In excess of the $1,000 limit, provided by State statute, to the campaign of Lincoln Stebbins, former State treasurer and Norris’ primary opponent. ‘Two other Nebraskans are under Federal indictment for perjury in con- nection with the Senate committee's investigation of the April primary. George W. Norris, Broken Bow grocer, ‘whose petition to oppose Senator Norris was knocked out by the Supreme Court, and Victor Seymour, former attache of the Republican National Committee, were indicted for alleged false testi- mony before Senator Nye's committee. $100,000,000 FUND URGED BY WHEELER FOR JOBLESS RELIEF ___(Continued Prom First Page. 000,000 for public construction, would take care of the situation. ‘The Department of Agriculture ex- pected to be ready to entertain appli- cations for loans from the $20,000,000 fund Monday. Loans would be made the latter part of the week, 1t was said. Hyde said & committee would be set up in each of 21 drought States to aid in administering the respecting agricultural credit co: ns. ‘That in Arkansas has been formed and will meet tomorrow. Direct Loans Explained. As to direct loans to farmers, Hyde said he did not believe agricultural rehabilitation meant the purchase of new live stock, new machinery or im- provements. Senator Caraway denied the compro- mise represented a surrender on his part, saying it called for more than he had originally asked, though he agreed it did not take care of the unemployed. enator Walsh, Democrat, Massachu- set®, who joined in the attack on the driinistration’s rellef efforts, said it was too late to enact further legislation at this session. New Legislation Doubted. Administration leaders, who kept out of the debate, said later there was no chance for enactment of further legis- lation now. They contended the $65,- 000,000 already appropriated for drought loans and about $500,000,000 for public construction would take care | of the situation, Demanding legislation to aid the un- employed, Senator Copeland said: “There has been an utter failure on the part of the administration to vis- ualize the situation and deal with 1t.”l “Doesn’t the Senator think that lnl view of the administration’s attitude, there has been a lack of courage on the part of Congress in carrying out its program?” Borah asked. Senator Barkley, Democrat, Ken- tucky, predicted a widespread reduction in wages following the adjournment of Congress, “when there is no longer a uhulc éo m where the situation can sy No General Program. He sald Congress was adjourning without any “general program” for dealing with economic conditions. “During the whole fight,” he added, “the Government has occuplied the fa- miliar position of the ostrich with its head in the sand.” Asserting this country is wealthier today than ever before and yet people are unemployed, starving and naked, Senator Smith, Democrat, South Caro- lina said, “It is an indictment of this administration and previous adminis- trations that we produce so much wealth in this country that we go to the poor house.” Idaho Divorce Act Vetoed. BOIBE Xdlho February 28 (#).—Gov. Ross today vetoed the 90-day dlvorce act passed by the Legislature and immediately action was started among supporters of the bill to attempt next week to override the veto. id, settled policy of our State.” The present Idaho law requires a year’s residence. St kol AN Planes now fly between London, Eng- | Wi land, and Delhi, India, in seven and one-half du:zn, as compared with 16 dmwm MARCH 1, 1931—PART ONE. tage Future Seen Brighte PRODUCER FAVORS ONE-NIGHT STAND. AL JOLSON AND MORRIS GEST (Right). “The Wonder Bar,” which, with Al Jolson as its star, will have its Ameflnn evening at ‘Thea! “The tmuble with the theater nowa- days,” the producer declared, “is that actors and actresses try to ‘make’ Broadway without proper training. ‘That's where the one-night stand came in. t gave youngsters a chance to learn—Iit was a school in which they were given training that couldn't be obtained by taking all the dramatic courses in the world. Benefit of Movies. “Of course, the movies—particularly the ‘talkles’—had something to do with the passing of the one-night stand. They made it possible for small-town residents to see shows that satisfied them at comparatively low prices. “The theater can't compete with the movies in so far as is concerned. The theater deals in flesh and blood, the movies in celluloid. Films can be made in carload lots, very much like a large clothing factory turns out suits, but _honest-to-goodness plays can’t be made that way. —Wide World Photo. “It costs money to produce s good show, and theater . be anything but “Hard times have been with us, and the theater has suffered, just as every other kind of enterprise has suffered. Pmle llmply haven't had the money to spend. * movies, however, haven't been affected to such a great exum.. Nearly every one can afford to movies when it costs only 50 cen! or s0. But there’s a vast difference be- tween 50 cents for a good seat at & movie and $3 or $4 for a sim@ar seat in a legitimate theater.” Mr. Gest, who started in the '-h!lfl‘l- cal business 31 years ago as a “prop” boy in a Boston theater, believes that conditions in the theater, like those in the business world in general, “hit bot- tom” and will improve steadily from now on. “When things get so bad that they can't get any worse,” he pointed out, “they’re just bound to get iter. An as I see it, the theater is pointing to- ward a future that is even brighter than its past.” BOULEVARD FUNDS URGED OF HOUSE $2,700,000 Senate Amend- ment to Final Supply Bill 0. K.’d by Conferees. Although further action must be taken by the House on the $2,700,000 fund placed in the second deficiency bill by the Senate to complete the Memorial Boulevard to Mount Vernon in time for the George Washington Bicentennial celebration, it was learned last night that the item will go back to the House with the recommendation of the con- ferees that it be agreed to. The news that the conferees would recommend acceptance of the Senate amendment was an encouraging de- velopment in view of the necessity for additional funds if the Memorial high- way is to be finished in time for the Nation-wide pilgrimage to Mount Ver- non during the Bicentennial year. The boulevard appropriation was one of several amendments which conferees must take back to the House before a final agreement can be reached. ‘The conferees on this, the last of the supply bills, were in session nearly all day yesterday and agreed to retain two important local amendments added to the bill by the Senate, namely: For establishment of the new depart- ment of vehicles and traffic, created by the recently enacted traffic law, $34,300. For expenses of the District of Colum- bia George Washington Bicentennial Commission, $100,000. A partial report on the deficiency bill, covering nearly all of its provisions, will be submitted first to the Senate tomorrow. The memorial boulevard fund is one of several amendments which are classified as still in disagree- ment pending House action. CONFEREES AGREE ON DISTRICT BILLBOARD RESTRICTION PLAN (Continued From First Page.) for publication of new regulations, which would not be enforced for 30 days after they are promulgated. . Senater Blaine, in stating his opin- ion with reference to signs on private property within public view, said: “My suggestion was that a sign placed on private property which would intercept the view of pedestrians or others using the street, so as to en- danger the life and safety of individ- uals, could be regulated. But that signs on private property which had nothing to do with those questions, which merely had to do with the es- thetic taste of individuals, were not subject to regulation by anybody, not even Congress, Senator Robinson of Arkansas agreed with this general principle expressed by Benlwr Blaine, but said it did not ap- to him that the language of the blll 5.! invalid. The bill ".!elf in its present form, he said, is lim! to a proper exercise of the police power. “The point 1s,” Senator Robinson added, “that in the exercise of the power conferred by the act the execu- tive authorities will not be able to do t!ll‘:h!hlng! they might wish to accom- “May I say to the Senator from Wis- consin,” Senator King of Utah inter- Jected, “that even it the view which he is expounding is correct, under the well known principle that a law invalid in one respect may be d in other re- spects, the validity of that part of the act were challenged in case an at- tempt were made to enforce it, lt would not_affect the rest of the act.” “The validity of the act is not af- fected at all, as I see it,” sald Senator Robinson, “Only the power of the Commission- ers would be challenged, as I see it,” said Senator Blaine. The conferees who worked out the agreement on the measure were: Sena- tm Capper of Kansas, Senator Jones of ton and Senator King of pruentlflvo Zlhlmln of Mary- of Indiana CONGRESS INQUIRY INRUSSIA SOUGHT Crowther Introduces Measure for $75,000 Expenses of Trip on Labor Issue. By the Assoclated Press. Shortly after an investigation of Rus- sian labor conditions was discussed in closed session yesterday by the House ‘Ways and Means Committee, Represent- ative Crowther, New York, a Republi- can member, introduced legislation to send & congressional committee to the Soviet Union. Intended by Crowther for considera- tion by his committee, the proposal was referred instead to the Rules Committee. Chiarman Hawley announced, however, the Ways and Means Committee will meet Monday for consideration of pro- posed tariff investigation before the next Congress meets. $75,000 for Expenses. ‘The Crowther measure would make available $75,000 for expenses of a Joint Committee of the Senate and the House in an investigation of economic and labor conditions in Russia. The mem- bership would be drawn from the Fi- nance and Ways and Means Committees, respectively, which handle all revenue and tariff legislation. ‘The duties of the committee would be “more particularly to investigate con- ditlons relating to agriculture, manu- facturing and the production of manga- nese, coal, ofl, lumber and pulpwood.” Embargo Bills Shelved. Earlier in the week the Ways and Means Committee shelved bills for an embargo on all Russian products, crude oil and depressed agricultural com- modities. It approved and the House passed a bill to tighten the restrictions on goods produced by convict and forced labor. This measure was tabled by the Finance Committee. Hawley said his committee will take under advisement suggestions made by some members that a subcommittee make an extensive inquiry during the next mine months into the claims of oil, agricultural and lumber interests for additional protection against im- ports. Chairman Snell of the Rules Com- mittee had no statement to make on the Crowther resolution. POLICE GUARb PIPE LINE JOB AS WORKERS STRIKE Lexington Project Stopped for Month When Agreement Plans Fall Through. By the Associated Press. LEXINGTON, Va., February 28— Officers were on guard mnighc around offices of the Columbia Gas & Con- struction Co., but no disorder was re- ported after an announcement that work on construction of a pipe line in this vicinity would be stopped for a month, The company’s announcement fol- lowed failure to reach an agreement at & conference between representatives of the company and a committee repre- senting laborers who struck last Wed- nesday in an effort to force a wage in- crease from 25 to 35 cents an hour. At first it was said that operations would be continued and employment given to '.hon willing to work for the price that had been paid, but this morning lnnouncement ‘was made that the work would be stopped and equip- ment was packed up or moved under cover. Declines to Run for Mayor. ACCIDENT, Md, February 28 (Spe- chl)uo—nAdnm ‘Richter will have no op- Geory wummamuunmr.xmu& IPARIS 0. K. OF NAVY DEAL LIKELY TODAY British Officials, With Rome in Line, Confident of Suc~ cess in France. By the Associated Press. ROMRE, February 28.—Italy and Great Britain today reached an &greement i principle for the settiement of naval problems left over by the London Cone ference last year, and although the so= cord is subject to French approval, it official circles here there was a generiil feeling that 1t is all but signed. Arthur Henderson, British forelgn secretary, who headed his nation’s naval delegation at Paris and here, said fo- night before he started back for the French capital, “We'll get an agreement in Paris if we do as well there as we did here.” He added that the were bright for such a result. This tentative accord, which, when it is ratified, will obviate the danger of & ;n:;}uu:: naval nu s -4 pouuuuymnnumnmuuq-nn. Prestige Is Chief Concern. is uppermost in the official mlnm is always present Premier I's pflnclrle that the Rome of the Caesars is entitled to an important place in the world, and many arguments based on the negotiations which ended today at noon have been brought forward as in- dications that Italy’s diplomatic ability, Judgment and importance have been fully recognized. Behind the m?-hz Mussolini has been tish he. virtually concluded the accord with Mr, Hene derson. mm--wmn ister, 2-:4 finl‘hm lm “- ‘were almost triumphantly hlm Makes Five-Power Pact. ‘The agreement which both British and Italian officlals expect will be ap- proved by France tomorrow, when ti British delegates stop at Paris on the way to London, settles the Franco- Italian naval rivalry for the five 3 duration of the London pact, is mmt transformed into & five-power y. “We have made serious sacrifices,” Grandi sald tonight as he saw the Britons off on a train, “but they were Parity, a bone of contention for mm than a year, was not mentioned in the negotiations here, but Italians believe real parity has been gained in more ways than one. The exact tonnage fig~ ures agreed upon have not been dis- closed, but as the Rosso- Orllfll stands virtually unchanged, the Italian government feels its stand for approxi- parity has been granted. The Italian press, creetly because the government to wait for French acceptance making any official statement, discusses the accord with a note of pride and confidence. FRANCE EXPECTS ACCORD. Officials Now Turn to Problem of Alr Strength. PARIS, February 28 (#)—French statesmen, now that an accord has virtually been reached between France, Italy and Great Britain co! naval construction up to 1936, their attention to the problem of air strength, which will be one of the im+ portant considerations at the general disarmament conference next year. ‘The Associated Press was informed tonight that while a few minor mat- ters remain to be arranged between the three countries on naval ml'fll‘ the accord reached at Rome today, to- gether with a similar one ne[othusd at Paris earlier in the week, provided substance for an agreement which hn virtually been acl After the meeting tomorrow between Arthur Henderson, British foreign min- ister, and Aristide Briand, the next step will be submission of the Rome accord to the governments of the United States, Japan and the British Dominions, for the Rome agreement was considered here to constitute a vital amendment , to the London naval treaty, requmn'ncihe ratification of all the signatory es. The prohlem of parity, as such, be- tween France and Italy was said to have been completely sidestepped in the new tripartite arrangement and the hope was expressed that the World Conference ol 1932 and the new Naval Conference to be held in 1936 will end any other naval differences that may appear on the horizon. STIMSON GETS REPORTS. British Envoy Tells Secretary of Rome Agreement, By the Associated Press. Sir Ronald Lindsay, the British Am- bassador, gave Secretary Stimson yes. terday a partial report on the meculfu! conclusion of negotiations between the British, French and Italians, to reach an agreement in principle on a tentas tive Franco-Itallan naval accord. The Ambassador’s information from the foreign office at London was not complete and came to State Depart- ment officials simultaneously with & brief veport from the American embassy at Rome telling of the Italians’ agree- ment to a tentative plan which would permit adherence of France and Italy to the London naval treaty. U. 8. Is Satisfied. Stimson informaily advised the Ame 'nd.m. tll:e" a:ne‘r with any “- pected to be sa ment that was satisfactory w Orut Britain. The attitude of the American Government since the London Con- ference has been that it is only con- cerned with the status of the Italian and French navies in so far as they were related to the British navy. In spite of a variety of information so far received, the State Department does not yet have the complete picture before it of the settlement so far as it has been attained. From information at hand, officials have found that a reshifting of minor figures may yet occur. These, however, are not considered of great im and _department officials expressed gratification that so much progress had been made. Reports to Colleagues. Stimson to his on the Americas aclegation m%m Naval Conference yesterday that the by America, Great Britain and He conferred at Senators Robinson of of Pennsylvania and Morrow of New Jersey, who also were delegates. mune, the Michael least 18 years