Evening Star Newspaper, March 6, 1931, Page 1

WEATHER. (U. 8. Weather Bureau Forecast.) Increasing cloudiness followed by snow or rain late tonight or tomorrow; low- est temperature tonight about 34 degrees. ‘Temperatures—Highest, 48, at yesterday; lowest, 36, 3:30 p.m. , at 1:30 a.m. today. Full report on page 9. Closing N.Y. Markets, Pages13,14 & 15 No. 31,720. post office, Entered as second class matte; Washington, D. <. WASHINGTON, DEMOCRATIC AGTION ON RASKOB PLANS NOW TO HANG FIRE Policy on Prohibition Issue May Be Settled Only by National Convention. POSSIBLE CANDIDATES ANXIOUS FOR SILENCE Sheppard Urges Party to Defeat Proposed State Liquor Control. Debt Removal Planned. BY G. GOULD LINCOLN. Chairman John J. Raskob of th2 Democratic National Committee led his committee up to the prohibit'on ques- tion at its meeting in the Mayflower Hotel yesterday and then postponed ac- tion for nine cr ten months. Out of the turbulent discussion which followed, Chairman Raskob's recom- mendation that the Constitution be amended again so as to permit indi- vidual States to determine whether they wished to handle the liquor traffic or leave it to the National Governméent under the existing eightecnth amend- ment, the following situation emerges: Dry Issue Still Pends. ‘The prohibition issue is still o be settled by the Democratic party, as an intra-party matter. Gaioman Raskob, a leader of the so- called wet wing of the party, is still in the saddle and not likely to be dis- , in spite of the dry clamor. ‘The Democratic party itself must de- termine, in national convention, wheth- er it shall assume a wet attitude to- ward national prohibition as it now exists, a dry attitude, or shall be neutral. ‘The first response today to Chair- man Raskob’s prohibition plan was an appeal, issued by Senator Morris Shep- pard of Texas, a co-author of the eighteenth amendment, calling on all Democrats to defeat the recommenda- tion of Raskob that a State liquor-con- trol plank be placed in the next Demo- cratic pational platform. nator Caraway of r opponent of the plan o Arkansas, an- f Mr. Ras- tob. took issue with his recommenda- | tions regarding economic izsues as well as prohibition. _Senator Caraway de- clared that_Raskob had lined up with extreme por¥ion of the Republican party on economic issues. Candidates Want Silence. At present some of the candidates for | the Democratic pres! next year are extremely anxious to avoll an open declaration by the National Committee on the mb‘)efl of prohibition. | Some of these candidates are wet in sympathy, but are angling for the dry the South and such Western the coming national d | 1] tes | of the Garden Clubs of Maryland; John bition is unpopular. These candidacies may have a decided influence in the next meeting of the National Committee, if Mr. Raskob goes through with his demand that! there be a concrete proposal on prohibi- tion made to the national convention. Gov. Roosevelt of New York and his supporters for the presidential nomina- tion, for example, threw the weight of their influence against action by the National Committee at the meeting yes- terday. Roosevelt is popular with many | Southern Democrats. He wishes to, make economic quest’ons, among them | water power, major issues in the com- ing campaign, and while he must be wet to carry New York and Massachu-| setts, he is soft-peddiing that issue unuli after the convention. | Robinson Heads Drys. i Senator Joseph T. Robinson, the | Democratic leader of the Senate and ( running mate of Alfred E. Smith in the national campaign of 1928, took the lead for the drys in the attack on the | Raskcb plan yesterday. He has been, and he continues to be, the most prom- inent of the so-called gry candidates | for the nomination. There had been threats to eliminate | Chairman Raskob if he had the temerity | to go ahead with his attempt to put the sty on record against national pro- ibition. He went ahead. No sugges- tion was heard in the committee meet- ing that he be ousted. no matter what may have beerf said sotto voce. It is true, however, that the drys were able to put off the showdown on the question of prohibition and other recom- mendations at this particular time. Un- less enough influence can be brought to bear on Raskob in the interim, however. there will be a showdown at the next ! committee meeting. Two lines of attack were launched by | the dry speakers against Mr. Raskob | yesterday. One denounced him for | seeking to make the party wet. The other attacked the chairman for sug- gesting the Democratic National Com- mittee had the right to recommend party policies to the national conven- tion. Varied Statements Issued. Mr. Raskob blew the second line of .~z ‘out of the water when he read 10 1 committee in a quiet and rather chicing voice the language adopied by the l2st national convention itself giv- ing the committee authority to make recommendations regarding party poli- cles. All kinds of statements from all kinds of Democrats were issued last night and today regarding the discussion of prohi- (Continued on Page 2, Column 5.) FOUR MEN FORFEIT THEFT COLLATERAL Newspapers Taken From Street Stand Result in Petit Lar- ceny Charges. Four colored men forfeited a total of $40 in collateral on petit larceny charges growing out of the theft of newspapers from an honor system rack at Ninth and R streets last night. The men were arrested by Policeman R. E. Willlams of No. 2 precinct on complaint of Cecil Chesney of 4410 Prospect avenue, who has charge of the news rack. ‘The men, each of whom surrendered 810, are Henry Green, colored, 30 years old, of 1231 Sixth street; Samuel Smith, colored, 21 years old, of 924 French street; Percy Lyon, colored, 35 years old, of 952 R street, and Henry War- field, colored, 41 years old, of 1612 Ninth street. Warfleld was charged with re- moving two papers from the rack. The offenses occurred at different intervals , throughout the evening. < | idential nomination ! {and found advantageous in nearly half | said he came to ask the assistance of the Legislature in the effort to beau- | garbage and sewage disposal plants and ‘WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION DO, FRIDAY, Judge Denounces Veterans Drinking Away Bonus Loans r | Many Ex-Soldiers Tried Here——T_hird-Offender Given Two Months. Confrented this morning by approxi- mately 60 persons, many of them war veterans, on the charge of intoxication, Police Judge Ralph Given declared that “veterzns who are being benefitted by the bonus law and who find themselves given to drinking, should at least take the precaution before indulging of safe- guarding their money.” “To trequent speakeasies and boof legging estabiishments flourishing lari rolls of money is a dangerous piactice at least, and it is doubly so when a man is drunk,” Judge Given added. The increasing number of former service men appearing before him was assailed as “disgraceful” by Judge Given. who handed out penalties rane- ing from small fines to 60 days im- prisonment. Appearing before Judge Given for the third time this week, Theodore C. Chadwick, a_veteran, was sentenced to 60 days. Special Investigator M. P. McInerney of the Veterans' Bureau, testified Chadwick had been acting d! orderly in the halls of the Vetcrans'| Bureau and using obscene languege. Chadwick was arrested Wednesday and given a suspended sentence for being drunk. Yesterday he was again | apprehended for the same offense and | permitted to forfeit’ the $15 collateral. ~(Continued on Page 2, Column 3.) | | | e TAX O BILLBOARDS URGED AT HEARIG 200 .District and Maryland | Residents Ask Signs Be Restricted. By & Staff Correspondent of The Star. ANNAPCLIS, Md., March 6.—Empha- sizing the fairness and leniency of bills now before the General Assembly to restrict and regulate billboards, nearly 200 men and women yesterday urged the Ways and Means Committee to re- turn a faverable report. The same commiitee will hear op- ponents this afterncon. Those who appeared in behalf of the proposed legislation yesterday included Lieut. Col. U. S. Grant, 3d, director of public buildings and public groundé of the National Capital; Frederick A. De- lano, chairman of the National Capital Park and Planning 3 Lavinia Engle, member of the House of Delegates from Montgomery County: Mrs, L. Emmett Holt, general chairman of the committee co-ordinating the ef- forts of Maryland tions the proposal; Mrs. Edward H. McKeon, State chairman for billboard restriction | Stanely of the Southern Maryland So- clety and Washington I. Cleveland of Kensington. Passage Is Urged. Repeatedly asserting that the bills now before the Legislature would not put the outdoor advertising companies out of business or curtail the farmers’ revenue, proponents declared passage at this time is imperative to preserve the bezuty and safety of Maryland roads and prevent them from becoming the “dumping ground” for signs of all character. Other arguments advanced in favor of the bill, which is in duplicate form, were: It is in keeping with the plan to beautify the entrance to Washington in time for the Bicentennial celebra- tion next year. It applies to the counties’ signboard regulations that have been found neces- sary in nearly all cities and incorpo- rated towns of the State. It gives the State jurisdiction over objects which derive their entire value from roads bullt at public expense. Other States Lead. It is in keeping with laws passed | the States of the Union. It would help Maryland present an attractive instead of a repulsive ap- pearance to the tourist. Asserting he did not venture to dic- tate or even suggest how Maryland aflairs should be handled, Mr. Delano tify the entrances to Washington. Mr. Delano compared billboards to jails as “necessary evils” which are, however, less objectionable in some localities than in others, but are par- ticularly objectionable at the entrances to the National Capital. “Road Ruining” Cited. Recalling that Maryland was one of the first States to develop a fine high- way system, Mr. Delano said it was “in- conceivable” that the State should pes- mit those highways to be “ruined” by signs. __“The signboard people say,” he con- (Continued on Page 5, Column 1.) B o A MAY WIDEN TWELFTH ST. District Commissioners Ban Build- ing Projections. The future widening of Twelfth street between Pennsylvania and Mas- sachusetts avenues wis forecast today when the Commissioners adopted an amendment to the Buflding Code add- ing this stretch of street to the list of streets on which building projections are_prohibited. The action was taken on recommen- dation of the National Capital Park and Planning Commission. | | | | | | Arequipa August 22 last, which prom- | PER) PRESIDENCY SHIED BY JMNEZ FROM NEW JUNTA Cerro Army Leader Ousts Elias When Move Against Arequipa Miscarries. PUBLIC MANIFESTO PLEDGES PEACE EFFORT Crowds Cheer Fourth Revolution- ary Government Within Seven Months. By the Associated Press. . LIMA, March 6.—Through a coup dletat a new group of army officers was in power in Peru today, displacing the civil-military junta which took office last Sunday. The head of the new junta is Lieut. Col. Gustavo Jiminez (pronounced He-may-ness), who left Lima a week ago in command of an expeditionary force which was to subdue the rebels at Arequipa. The expedition was di- verted by naval officers, who then| brought about the deposition of the pro- | visional President, Lieut. Col. Luis M. Sanchez Cerro. Issues Public Pledge. | In 3 manifesto published shortly after his coup, Jiminez stated that he would strive to compose the differences ! of Southern, Central and Northern Pe- | ruvian factions and attempt to carry | out the Sanchez Cerro manifesto at ised elections and return to constitu- tional government. It was supposed for a while the movement was intended to place San- chez_Cerro back in power, and cheer- ing Lima crowds went to' the country | club, where the deposed President had been staying, and brought him back to the palace. He conferred with Jiminez and then announced that he would not be restored as President, but would leave | in two days for a three-month stay in Europe. No Resistance Offered. The expeditionary force returned to! Cailao yesterday morning, marched on ‘Lima and took command of bridges and other approaches, the city yielding with- out a struggle. The deposed Junta, although only five days old, was already on its way out of office when the coup occurred. At a midnight conference, ending early Thursday morning, its members had submitted to demands of the Arequipa insurgents asking leadership in organ- izing the new government. It is not known what attitude the Arequipa in- surgents will take foward Jiminez, but in some rs there was doubt thal he would be-aceeptable to 5 ‘The fourth revolutionary government within seven months dominated the | Peruvian central administration after | a serles of hectic events. Cerro_troops ousted the three-man | Junta but it was understood the re- volt first opened in a different unit, the Seventh Infantry. Lieut. Col. Ruben Del Castillo formerly com- manded this regiment, but was re- moved from the post and also was dis- placed as military chief of the Port of | Callao February 20, as his men mect reverses in attempting to quell a re- bellion in Callao. The uprising later was suppressed with the aid of air- planes. 4 Again Becomes Chief. Today Del Castillo went to the bar-| racks of the 7th and again became their | chief. These troops occupied positions about the Government House, where the provisional junta was meeting, and soon they were joined by Col. Jimenez with other troops. Jimenez had taken these units aboard the steamers Rimac and Apurimac. While some units were left to occupy bridges across the Rimac River, Jimenez and the others went on| to the Government House. Other Lima | troops supported them. | The junta was in session when | Jimenez entered the presidential office. The members, Dr. Ricardo Leoncio Elias, Col. Manuel Ruiz Bravo and Capt. Alejandro Vinces, did not oppose the coup, and left quietly. To Open Negotiations. Col. Roberto Lopez was designated to open negotiations with the southern revolutionaries at Arequipa and the| northerners at Plura, in the hope of establishing permanent peace. When word of the coup spread hasty demonstrations were organized to a claim Jimenez. Other citizens conve: anchez Cerro to the Government House in a surge of enthusiasm. Sanchez Cerro entered amid a host of vivas for both him and Jimerez, and it was here that indications arose he might be re- stored to office. He returned to the country club after about an hour in the bullding, however, and Jimenez| went ahead with his plans for & gov- ernment. Ocampo Sends Message. Samanez Ocampo, head of the Are- quipa Junta, has notified Jimenez that the same delegates he sent to confer with Dr. Elias are empowered to ne- gotiate with the new provisional gov- ernment . Lieut. Col. Jimenez said in the mani- testo that as commander of the expe- ditionary force he intends to organize & temporary government returning, to Peru its constitutional standing. He said the expeditionary force could not accept the action of naval officers who deposed Provisional President Sanchez Cerro and would protest against it. Taking exception to the [reeing of leaders of the Callao mutiny, the of- ficer held they should be tried and pun- ished severely. He expressed hope that the naval and aviation branches of the national defense would support his provisional regime. SPOKANE, Wash, March 6 (#).— Edmon Douglas Angus and Gladys Stone jested as they pinned the num- ber 13 to their backs and entered a dance marathon. Adding as they tripped, they decided to be married after the 454th hcur. They agreed with Will Maylon, man- ager, a public ceremony should be success, It was. {MARATHON DANCERS ARE MARRIED AT 454-HOUR MARK, THEN COLLAPSE Bridegroom Rises to Slagg;r on in “Solo,” but Wife of Few Minutes Goes to Hospital. called last night to handle those who ame to see and couldn't. Two fist hts were recorded officially. R. J. Hart, Indian service policeman, was tripped while running to aid an em- battled patrolman and suffered the fracture cf a leg. Edmon and Gladys ccliapsed as they danced their wedding waltz. Ecmon staggered up to “solo” on, The bride was sent to a jospital. “From Press to Home Within the Hour” The Star’s cair every city block a: tion i3 delivered to as fast as the pers ier system covers nd the regular edi- Washington homes e printed. Yesterday's Circulation, 118,829 MARCH 6, 1931—FIFTY PAGES. ##*% () Means Associated TWO CENTS. Pre /, > Xy 2 von) MEETING D LM OCRAT ] NATIoNg, TTEF TWO FIREMEN DIE ANSWERING ALARM Truck Overturns, Injuring 14, on Way to Burning Rail- road Bridge. Special Dispatch to The Star. HARPERS FERRY, Md., March 6.— Two firemen were reported killed today and 14 others injured when a fire truck of the Charles Town, W. Va., Fire De pariment, speeding to a fire on the Bal timore & Ohio Railroad Bridge across the Potomac River, here, overturned on a sharp curve at Halltown, midway be. tween Charles Town and Harpers Ferry. The bridge, which was in tbe process of construction, was badly damaged by the fire. Clarence Kerks and Fillmore Davis, | both volunteer firemen, were crushed when caught beneath the truck and | were reported fatally hurt. Fourteen others were injured, nine of whom still | were in the Charles Town Hospital at 2 o'clock. The fire started at 12:15 o'clock this afternoon on the West Vir- ginia side and swept across the bridge o the Maryland side, destroying about 1,200 feet of cross ties. The Baltimore & Ohio is spending several million dollars at Harpers Ferry improving its main line and the new bridge of concrete and steel with wooden crossties was to have been opened for traffic April 15. It is feared that the steel work has been damaged by the flames. The fire started shortly after workmen had left the bridge for their junch at noon. The new bridge crossing the Potomac is just above the old structure that is now in use. FRENCH CANAL URGED TO CONNECT WO SEAS| Project Would Cost $2,000,000,000, but Passing of Flood Peril Is Forecast. By Cable to The Bt PARIS, France. March 6.—Numerous | Senators have united in a special com- | mittee to advocate creation of a Prench two-sea canal from Bordeaux, on the Atlantic, coast to Narbonne, on the Mediterranean. The soluns see many advantages in such a project: First. It would make 1t possible for | the French war fleet to go from the ocean to the Mediterranean in less than two days and without passing under the British guns at Gibraltar. Seccnd. It would shorten the route from Great Britain and Northern Europe to the Mediterranean, the Suez and India by 1,100 miles. Third, It would provide adeguate protection against floods which period- ically devastate Southwestern France. Cost of the canal would be about $2,000,000,000. Experts say that it wculd pay. (Copyrigh W. W. EASTERDAY GIVEN SENTENCE OF 3 1-2 YEARS Former Prison Mate of “Nicky” Arnstein Was Convicted in Bucket Shop Case. By the Assoclated Press. NEW YORK, March 6. —W. W. East- erday, former prison mate of “Nicky” Arnstein, was sentenced to three and one-half years in Atlanta Penitentiary by Federal Judge Knox today. He was convicted Tuesday of using the mails to defraud in connection with his New York bucket shop. Charles H. Greenhaus, one-time “Boy Wizard of Wall Street,” received a sen- tence of three years; Joseph Cataldo two years and Harry Greenhaus, younger brother of Charles, 13 months. In addition, each prisoner was sen- tenced to five additional years, to be suspended during good behavior. 1931) POINCARE STILL ILL | | | | Toward Progress of French Statesman Slow. | PARIS, March 6 ().—Slow progress | of Raymond Poincare, French states- | man, toward recovery from his {iliness | of last Fall and this Winter is disquiet- | ing to his friends. Dr. Boiden continues to visit his patient regularly, It was denied today, | however, that the former president was | | agy worse or had urdergone a serious | | crisis yesterday. J0BS T0 BE SAVED *BY WORK ON'SHPS Modernizing of Three Will| Recovery | Halt Discharge of Civilians | | at Navy Yard. Modernization of the three battle- | | ships, U. 8. S. New Mexico, Mississippi | and Idaho, just authorized by Congress, | will bring new work to the Washington | Navy Yard and for the present will halt | the discharge of civilian workmen. In |the late Summer or early Fall there| | probably will be some increase in the | | force at the yard, Capt. P. W. Foote, fsemor inspector of the Washington Gun | | Factory, asserted today. Workmen here will be engaged upon | altering the turrets of the three vessels |and the conctruction of eight 5-inch | anti-aireraft guns, which will replace | | elght 3-inch guns on each ship. “As a result of the new work,” Capt. Foote said, “‘we believe that for the present we will be able to prevent any further discharge of clvilian personnel. | Had this new work not becn authorized, | further discharges might have become | necessary as the work tapered off. Work to Take Months. “We feel that we are now at the bot- tom of the curve for some time,” the captain said, adding that here and there there might be some discharges, how- ever, due to the need for skilled work- men in some lines finishing up the work in hand without any replacement being in sight. Capt. Foote said that it is expected that there will be an increase in the force at the Washington Navy Yard when the designs for the modernization of the turrets have been completed. ‘This work is expected to take a number of months, but it will be pushed for- ward as rapidly as possible, the senior inspector explained. Just how many men will be taken on in the late Summer or early Fall, Capt. Foote said he is unable to say at this time, as these details have not as yet been worked cut. Modernization of the New Mexico will go forward at the Navy Yard, Philadelphia; that for the Mississippi will proceed at the navy yard, Norfolk. Va., where the vessel will arrive prior to April 1, while the U. S. S. Idaho has been directed by the Navy Depart- " (Continued on Page 2, Column 4.) oo 300 PUPILS FLEEFIRE IN ORDERLY MANNER Drills Credited With Preventing Panic at School in Oklahoma Town. By the Assoclated Press. OKLAHOMA CITY, March 6.—About 300 school children were marched safely from their class rooms when a grade school at Harrah, 20 miles east of here, caught fire today. School authorities expressed the be- lief the fire started from the furnace. Fire drills practiced under the prin- cipal, W. C. Jenkins, were credited with reventing a panic at the school. Jen- ins and nine tedchers led the children to safety. STOCK PROBE RUMORED Market Unsettled After Report of Exchange Inquiry on Auburn. NEW YORK, Mdrch 6 ()—The common stock of Auburn Automobile Co. dropped about $14 a share in to- . day’s stock market, following publica- tion of rumors that the recent spectacu- lar rise of the stock was under investi- gation, ‘The State Bureau of Securities de- clined to comment on a,report that it was inquiring into the spectacular rise in the shares, which more than tripled in market value since last November. It had been rumored for some time that the Stock Exchange had questioned cer- l:inkbl’t‘k"l regarding activity in the stoc! Radio ProluT on Page C.7 TR ITAGE ' Pershing | Tells Why U. 8. Troops Were Sent to “Russia Tomorrow I‘The E | Gen. Pershing's Story Today in vening Star| May Be Found on Page A-4. | BLASSMAN GIVEN TWO-YEAR TERM Also Fined $5,000 in Liquor Case—Eight Others Are Sentenced. ; Characterizing their offerse as “arro- gant and contzmptuous violation of the law,” Justice Oscar R. Luhring today sentenced Herbert Glassman, former garage proprietor, found guilty recently of conspiring to yiolate the prohibition law, to 2 years in the penitentiary and fined him $5,000. David Goldsteln and Harry Behrle, wied with Glassman, also were sen- wneed to serve two years and fined $5,000. Sentences of 18 months imprison- ment and fines of $2,500 each were given Irving Rosenberg, Alton Cissel, Antonio D'Ambrosio, Jacob Miller, Har- vey O’Connor and F. J. Paxton, the other defendants. Appeals Are Noted. Appeals were noted for all defend- ants except D’Ambrosio, who withdrew his motion for § new trial, Justice Luhring remanded the defendants to jail pending ion of the bill of exceptions, but he would entertain :u ::;otlon for when the bills were ed. t Relatives of the eonvicted men audibly protested when the sentences were pro- nounced, but the demonstration was quickly suppressed by court attaches. Prior to the passing of sentence, At- torney Harry Whelan made a strong plea for probation on behalf of Glass- man. He told the court that Glassman served overseas with the American Army during the World War and that he later became a member of the local police force, sustaining a serious wound in line of duty during 1922 race riots. He said that Glassman had al- ready sustained a $20,000 loss as a re- sult of the Government’s action in pad- locking his property. Other Pleas Made. Attorney Myron T. Ehrlich explained to the court on behalf of several other defendants that to send them to jail would impose n them a double punishment, as they have already served Police Court sentences for of- fenses claimed by the Government as overt acts of conspiracy in the in- dictment. Other counsel for the defendants in- cluded Lucien Van Doren, Alvin L. Newmyer, Albert W. Jacobson and F. J. Donohue. The case was prosecuted for the Government by Assistant United States Attorneys Harold W. Orcott and James R. Kirkland. ‘Two other men under indictment as conspirators, Robert C. Jones and Samuel Milestone, have never been ap- prehended. Glassman Is Sued. Shortly after Glassman had been sentenced a suit for $11444 was filed against him by Frank W. Hill, real estate operator, 2020 Hillyer place. Hiil says he Is the owner of a garage at 2101 Fourteenth street, which-was pad- locked last year as a result of Glass- man’s law violations. The suit filed by Hill asks $8,944 rent allegedly due since, the date of pad- locking and $2,500 for legal expenses incurred by him as a result of the pad- locking proceedings. The plaintiff savs e and Glassman agreed on a lease in 1927 whereby the latter promised to use the property for the conduct of lawful business only. Hill says Glassman vio- lated this agreement by using the ga- rage as a base for his liquor activities. He is represented by Attorneys J. S. Easby-Smith and Francis W. Hill, jr, T\;vo Die From Heat. BUENOS AIRES, Argentina, March 6 (A).—Two heat deaths and two pros- trations were reported today as the temperature rose to 95 degrees. The heat wave has continued for two vceks. | GAR LINES REQUEST | REVENUETOOFFSET PUPLS FARE LOSS Contend Reduction Ordered | Is lllegal, but Will Yield to Public Demand. {ALREADY BELOW INCOME NEEDED, SAY LETTERS | Appeal to Public Utilities Commis- } sicn to Act Voluntarily to Pro- vide More Funds. { The Public Utilities Commission to- day received letters from the Washing- ton Railway & Electric Co. and the Capital Traction Co., each asking the commission, of its own motion, to pro- vide the companies with additional funds to make up for the losses they expect to result from transporting school children at a reduced fare. Neither company stated what form this action should take. Both contend that they believe the order reducing | rates for school children is illegal and unfair, but owing to the public senti- ment behind it they will not contest it. “We believe and are advised,” wrote Jchn H. Hanna, president of the Cap- ital Traction Co., “that your order, numbered 989, establishing reduced rates for school children, without providing compensation for the loss thereby oc- casioned, is illegal and unfair to this company. In view, however, cf the popular demand for this reduction in school children’s fares, we will, with- out waiving any of the company’s rights in the premises, take no steps to pre- vent the enforcement of this order, but on the contrary will use our best ef-| forts to put it Into effect on the date ! named in as satisfactory a manner as| | possible. | Revenues Found Inadequate. “The Supreme Court found that our revenues, as shown by evidence in the fare case nearly two years ago, were inadequate. Since that time, as our ra- perts show, our revenues have sharply declined. Any reduction in revenues re- sulting from reduced school children's fares must be reflected in full in in- come available for return and in net income, as the alteration of the fare will tend to increase rather than de- crease expenses. “We, therefore, beg to take this op- portunity to aj call to your atten- tion the statements made in behalf of the company at the hearing of January 26 and contained in our two letters | heretofore referred to, and urge that ction be taken by the‘commission of ‘own accord, toward providing the revenue which is so greatly ne " - Ham's Pesition Same. President William F. Ham of the & Electric Co. ad “grave doubts of the validity of uhe order,” but said that his company would do nothing to defeat its going into effect. “However,” he addsd, “we respectfully and earnestly urge upon the conmission that it give careful and sympathetic consideration to cur letters of February 18 and March 2, 1931, As you know, our present net operating révenueshare less than those recently found by the Supreme Court of the District of Colum- bia to be inadequate and insufficient. They will be further reduced through the operation of the present order pro- viding for reduced rates for school chil- dren. ~Under such circumstances it would be construetive and helpful if the commission, acting upon its own initia- (Continued on Page 2, Column 2.) PRESIDENT PLANS TO VISIT HIS SON| Mr. and Mrs. Hoover Will Leave Tomorrow for Ashe- ville, N. C. The President and Mrs. Hoover ex- pect to leave Washington tomcrrow ‘hight for Asheville, N. C, to visit briefly their son, Herbert, jr., who has been living on the outskirts of that city with his wife since last Fall. Ac- cording to their plans at present, they will return to Washington Monday morning. Reports the President and his wife have received are that thsir son, since taking up his residence last Fall at Blue Briar Cottage, on Sunset Moun- tain, has gained more than 15 pounds and is otherwise developing strength and improvement in his health. ‘This will be the first time the Presi- dent has visited his son since he went to North Carolina. Mrs. Hoover has made several visits to her son. On this journey they will be accompanied only by Capt. Joel T. Boone, the White House physician, who has been personally in charge of the treatment and care of Herbert, jr., during his illness; several secret service men and a few newspaper correspondents. ' ‘They will arrive at their destination | shortly after 8 o'clock Sunday morn- } ing, and the present plans are to start | back to Washington before dark that afternoon, arriving at the Capital in time for breakfast at the usual hour ' at the White House, EARTH TREMORS LAID TO STORM RAGING RECENTLY OFF SEABOARD! Low Barometer Pressure Credited by Scientists Here With “Setting Off Quakes About to Happen.” By the Associated Press. probably was caused by low barometric pressure off the Atlantic coast. ‘The shivering, known as a microseism sm'urm. has been noted P.:m' um da; at Georgetoyn, said Father , al,urr:e of ",‘;n seismograph station ere. His theory is that the low pressure area accompanying the recent storm off the Atlsntic coast, caused tremors in the continental shelf, which extends about 200 miles off shore. These were transmitted inland. Capt. N. H. Heck of the Coast and Geodetic Survey also believes the low pressure area in some way caused the tremors. Such tremors may es that are “ready “set off” e to_sf when Ger- from the | h d. g the World d no weather CONMISSONEIVES GAS O, TENDAYS T0 BEY ORDERS Excuses for Failure to Adjust Pressure and Appliances Spurned by Officials. KEECH DECLARES LIVES WORTH MORE THAN 50 CTS. People's Counsel Holds Present Conditions Can Result Fatally. Legal Action Threztened. The Washington Gas Lig:t Co. was informed today by the Public Utilities Commission that fzilure to reduce pres- sures to the recently allowed 8-inch maximum by March 16 would result in action “in accordance with the pertinent provisions of the law.” The commission also told the company that the cost of making adjustments to gas appliances is not an excuse for failing to regulats them to operate efficiently on the new pressures.. At the same time Richmond B. Keech, people’s counsel before the commission, severely criticized the company for statements it made in reply to the com- mission’s previous instructions to reduce pressures and mede necessary read- justments in appliances. Keech de- clared that 50 cents, which the com- pany said is the minimum cost of ap- pliance adjustments, is not too greet to protect a human life and keep gas bills from mounting unnecessarily. Held Cause of Big Bills. The commission also declared it has sufficient evidence to convince it that where the necessary adjustments to appliances have not been made the higher pressures are responsible for greater amounts of gas passing through the meters in a given time, and as a result the Lills of many consumers have “unduly increased ” The commission made known its posiz tion in a reply to the latest report from George A. G. Wood, president of the gas company, in which he pointed out that the general readjustment of gas appliances would cost the company hundreds of thousands of dollars and that he did not believe such an expen- diture was justified in view of the ex- isting unstable pressure cbnditions. Mr Wocd also told the commission that the {company wes readjusting those ap- | pliances in the homes of consumers who gnd complained and in new installa- jons. Keech Resents Attitude. Keech resented the attitude taken by the company with respect to the adjustment of gas appliances and declared that he was “amazed” at the statement of the company to the effect that it felt.an expenditure of 50 cents for an adjustment to# gas appliance is too great to protect a human life as well as to protect gas consumers from excessive charges. He cited paragraph two of the pub- le utilities act which requires public utility corporations in the District to furnish service and facilities that are reascrably safe and adequate and de- clared that in view the existing condi- ticns, the commission should order the company to either comply with its order or els2 subject it to the penalty pre- scribed in the public utilities act. The penaity povisions of the utilities act stipulates that a utility corporaticn failing to obey the orders and regula- tions of the commission is subject to a fine of $200 a day covering the period of the violation. Call to Explain Letter. The commission’s latest ultimatum to the gas company and the statement of Mr. Keech came as a prelude to several conferences between members of the commission and officials and counsel of the gas company. About 10 o'clock this morning, George B. Fraser, vice president of the company, and Wilton J. Lambert and Willlam E. Horton, of the company’s legal staff, called at the commission to explain that the company did not mean every- thing that was implied in its letter of March 4. These officials then learned that the commission was preparing a reply to that letter, and about an hour later the same group returned with President Wood and Bert H. Peck, assistant to the president, and asked permission to see the commission’s reply before it was sent. This request was granted, but the commission’s reply was not changsd. It is understcod that the companvy officials suggested that the reply be held up in order to give them an opportu- nity to submit another letter amplifyinzg the one of March 4 and putting what they said would b= the proper interpre- tation on the first letter. Commission Sends Reply. ‘The commission’s reply te the gas company'’s letter follows: “Your letter of March 4, relative to gas pressures and adjustment of con- sumers’ equipment. has been received. “This letter shows that there are at least two areas in which gas pressures are still in excess of the commission's temporary allowance of 8 inches. commission notes the reasons you give for the delay in correcting this condi- tion. Nevertheless, the consumers in these territories are still confronted by pressures in excess of the commission’s temporary maximum. “This condition must be corrected without further delay. You are hereby instructed to have the pressures in these localities taken and to submit to the ~ommission records which will show the existing condition as of a date not later than the 16th of March. I on that date there are still unduly high pressures in these localities the commission will take Turther action in accordance with the pertinent provisions of the law. “With respect to the adjustment of (Continued on Page 2, Column i.; SECRETARY ADAMS SAILS FOR FLEET MANEUVERS Saluted With 19 Guns as He Leaves on Cruiser Chester for Canal Zone. Mr, By the Associated Press. NORFOLK, Va., March 6.—Secretary of the Navy Adams arrived at Old Point Comtort today and boarded the 10,000~ ton cruiser Chester, which departed 30 minutes later for Cristobal, Canal Zone, in order that the Secretary may observe fleet maneuvers. The Chester saluted Secretary Adams with -19 guns. The cruiser is expected to reach Cristobal Monday morning. Nox Sea, approach of 10 areas from that section was d nof microseisms on Ge Capt, Heck said, pressure sted by sels- Secretary Adgms is expected to re- turn on the same vessel to Key West on March 22, after cbserving the mae g |