Evening Star Newspaper, March 17, 1931, Page 1

\] . LR WEATHER, (U. 8. Westher Bureau Forecast.) Fair tonight and temperature tonight warmer tomorrow. ‘Temper: day; lowest, Full report on page Closing N.Y. Markets, Pages13,14 & 15 ature—Highest, 41, at 33, at 4 a.m. today. tomorrow; lowest about 30 degrees; noon to- 5. % @h ¢ Foenir WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION No. 31,731. post office, Entered as second class matter Washington, D, C WASHINGTON, D, 10, 22 DEAD, 118 SAVED, FILM PARTY LOST AFTER BLOWING UP OF SEALER VIKING Rescue Ship Reaches Horse Island—Dory Containing 7 Men Sighted as It Struggles | Amid Waves. FRISSELL, CAMERAMAN, AND EXPLORER MISSING Injur 4 Captein Tells of Beingi Hurled 12 Feet by Explosion. Hulk of Craft Cremated by Bil- lows of Flame as Survivors Seek Temporary Safety on Ice Floes. Special Dispatch to The Star. ST. JOHNS, Newfoundland, March 17.—Capt. Abram Kean, skipper of the sealing vessel Viking, which blew up and sank off Horse Island with a loss of at least 22 lives, declared this afternoon, in his first coherent statement since the disaster, that the explosion occurred while the crew were taking powder from the kegs in the ship’s magazine to be used in blasting ice jams. (Copyright, 1931.) By the Associated Press. ST. JOHNS, Newfoundland, March 17.— Succor raced through ice-choked ‘White Bay today for the 118 known survivors of the Barkentine Viking, which exploded at sea Sunday night. ‘The number of presumed dead stood at between 20 and 25. The known missing were eight—including Varick Frissell of New York, who was aboard to make “shots” for a movie of the sealing industry; A. E. Penrod of Water- bury, Conn., cameraman, and Harry Sargent, explorer, who, cast as the film “villain” in the Frissel picture. Others missing were the wireless operator, the mv‘l‘:lw. cook, steward and the boat- swain, The mate of the Viking was on the ice with a broken leg. The 118 known survivors, including Capt. Abram Kean, jr., reached Horse king ashore across HORROR OF VIKING BLAST DESCRIBED BY SURVIVOR Night Explosion Scatters Bodies Amidst Wreckage—Groaning Sufferers Lugged Across Ice. Special Dispatch to The Star. ST. JOHNS, Newfoundland, March *7.—While rescue tugs carrying doc- tors and nurses battered and rammed through the ice floes toward bl:ak Horse Islarfd today, the survivors of the Viking blast, many horribly maimed and in- jured, lay in or huddled about the tiny shacks of the little settlement, still too stunned to understand the disaster, which had taken the lives of their lead- ers and at least 20 of their comrades. It seemed impossible to obtain a con- nected account of the terrific explosion which tore the Viking asunder Sunday night and sent her in flames to the bot- tom of the sea eight miles across the ever-shifting ice from Horse Island. Sur- vivors sat with their heads in their hands and ignored questioners, or turned away. Only one had recovered sufficiently from the shock to tell of his own ex- periences. Brown. “All except the deck watch were below when the blast came,” Brown re- called. “Some were abed, some were lounging about and all were happy and merry. Then came a terrific ex- plosion. It shook the ship. Every- body scrambled for the deck. It was horrible. “She sank kind of quickly after the explosion. I don't know how many minutes she was above water, but it seemed so short. The forward portion burned to the water's edge. ¥hen there was a fearsome hiss and we could only see the ice and the water and some wreckage floating about. “Most of the dead and wounded oc- cupled the cabin and afterberths, near where the magazine was located. That goes to prove that the force of the explosion was aft, not amidship. “The whole stern deck was ripped (Continued on Page 2, Column 7.) He was & chap named RECEIVERS NAMED FORWARDMAN FIRM G. L. Boothe of Alexandria and H. L. Barker of Wash- ington Appointed by Court. Gardner L. Boothe of Alexandria and Harry L. Barker of Washington were named receivers of the Wardman Mort- gage & Digcount Corporation by Judge ‘William P. Woolls in Corporation Court at Alexandria today, following the con- ference here of attorneys for both sides. Boothe is statutory agent for the cor- poration in Virginia, and Barker Is chairman of the committee of minority stockholders who secured the receiver- ship. They are to give $2,000 bond each and immediately begin the work of mnndm‘ up the affairs of the corpora- Harry F. Kennedy, chief counsel for the stockholders, and Norman Fischer of ‘Washington, were named attorneys for the receivers. Decision to allow the appointment of receiver was handed down by Judge Woolls Friday on the basis filed by the minority stockholders last October, ;.rlll of W:!lch‘d:‘;lig wmlfl:u‘g January 7. The only assel the corporation are 8,320 shares of stock ht’c '.h‘;em Wardman Realty & Construc- tion ~esity | SHOOTING IN TOKIO Seven Labor to Reach Island. A dory mmnin{euvm men, five of ‘whom appeared to badly hurt, be seen at daylight four or five miles off the island shore lal eflorts to reach the islane It was hoped that the ers, Foundation Pranklia and Sa- upaided, because of an off-shore wind and their weakened condition. “The Newfoundland government re- ceived the following message from the and today: “Inhabitants of island are lodging rescued men. Many badly injured and sick. Around 25 announced dead. Was speaking captain 10 o'clock last night. In very weak condition. He stated engine staff, operator, navigator, cook, steward, movie men and bo'sun are missing. Mate on ice, leg broken. One hundred and eighteen landed safely. Absence of medical aid severely felt.” Capt. Kean said he was on the bridge when the explosion occurred. Captain Hurled 12 Feet, “T was hurled about 12 feet to the ice | and injured in the fall,” he said. All the others who reached Horse | Jsiand were unhurt, although many were in a weakened condition. The rescue ship from the mainland was not expected until 1 o'clock this after- noon and until then the survivors were without food and were inadequately housed. There are no supplies available on | the island. The five houses there are| crowded with those survivors who seemed most in need of the warmth| the dwellings provide. | The men in the forward part of the ship. Capt. Kean believes, escaped injury and were able to get off the craft and on to the ice. Those aft, however, were less fortunate. The explosion ap- peared to tear the rear of the boat to pleces. In the shadow light of the| night motionless forms could be seen on the ice floes and cries for help were heard. : Fire broke out, discouraging efforts of some of the men to salvage personal dons. Billowing smoke swept across the ice as the 50-year old Viking Was cremated in the ice fields through which it has plowed 50 many decades. The rescue ships dispatched were the sealer Imogene, dispatched by Bowring Bros., Ltd., owners of the Viking; the tug Sagona_and the salvage steamer foundation Franklin, which were sent by the Newfoundland government. The Sagona and the Franklin carried doc- tors, nurses and medical supplies. 1t was the Viking on which Frissell “(Continued on Page 2, Column 5.) | to halt attacks and !mutiny in the troops at Swatow. CALLED ANTI-RED PLOT Moscow Papers Say Attack on Soviet Official Aimed at Widen- ing Fisheries Controversy. By the Assoclated Press. MOSCOW, March 17.—The conclu- slon was voiced today by two morning newspapers, Izvestia and Pravda, that the attempted assassination of Paul Anikeleff, Soviet commercial counselor, in Tokio yesterday by & Japanese was an incident in the conspiracy which they charged to exist between Japanese fisheries and other interests to create friction between Soviet. Russia and Japan. " Anikeleff was dangerously wounded, and the episode was followed in the Upper House of the Japanese Diet by passage of a resolution calling for a settlement of Japanese fishery rights in Soviet waters. Soviet officials' would make no com- ment on the shooting, but Izvestia, of- ficial Soviet organ, sald: “The Japa- nese government has taken no sieps propaganda of the anti-Soviets, and this shooting is the natural result of such a policy.’ Pravda, Communist organ, said: “This new attack on the Soviet representative in Japan shows our enemy is not sleep- ing. There is nothing our enemies will not do to undermine our victorious so- cialistic constructions. Under such cir- cumstances we must be extremely calm. Later events will show what steps the Japanese government takes to brl the anti-Soviet conspirators to justice and to put an end to a campaign which has been going on for some time.” 73 CHINESE EXECUTED CANTON, China, March 17 (®).— Seventy-three officers of the Chinese army were executed here today after discovery of a Communist plot to stnr‘: | hundred other officers and soldiers are awaiting sentence. The central government stated in connection with the executions that it was having considerable trouble with |Red activity and influences, which 1 have obtained a strong hold throughout the country. Ten days ago a division of govern- ment troops stationed on the Peking- Hankow Railroad mutinied because they believed that their disbandment was | imminent, ard tore the tracks up in | their neighborhood. They joined Red |forces in ravaging the surrounding | country. BU_RGLAR FLEES WHEN i—IIS TARGET RETURNS GUNFIRE SHOT FOR SHOT Intruder Dashes Through Plate Glass, Passes Policemen, to Learn Too Late That “Victim” Was Own Reflection. By the Assoclated Press. CLEVELAND, March 17.—The burg- far had just taken $50 from the cash register. Then, gun in hand, he paused to reconnoiter. It was dark inside the Frank Praiberg ‘music store here last night and the man of stealth strained his eyes to see. Suddenly he trembled. Over in a corner he saw the figure of a man, gun 4n hand, watching him. Subsequent events happened wfly. Simultaneously the burglar and fig- ure, facing each other, raised their ‘weapons and fired three shots. Then with a yowl like a wounded imal the burglar dove through a plate :l‘;fl window in a frantic efl.on to escape. ‘Two policemen arrived just at that moment, but the prowler ran too fast for them. In the mood he was in just then probably no policeman on earth could have caught him. Today the burglar possibly read in the newspapers the reason why those three rhots fired point-blank hadn’t wounded him. He had been shooting at his own reflection in a mirror. PSR Radio Programs on Page :C-4 £ . ing [to get & jury qualified to send him to PLANS COMPLETE FOR HODVER TRP Cabinet Members, Aides and 30 Writers and Photograph- ers to Go to West Indies. President Hoover has decided definite- 1y to leave Washington tomorrow night by train for Old Point Comfort, where he will sail Thursday morning on his visit to Porto Rico and the Virgin Is- | lands. \ To those with whom he has discussed his forthcoming trip he has insisted that he will do no work while away, and that he will devote his time to relaxa- tion and to the enjoyment and benefits of the salt air and the tropical sun. Thirty News Men Included. The President's party will include Secretary of the Interior Wilbur, under ‘whose jurisdiction the administration of the affairs of the Virgin Islands was re- cently ordered by the President; Secre- tary of War Hurley, under whose juris- diction the affairs of Porto Rico-are in- trusted; Col. Campbell B, Hodges and Capt. Russell Train, military and naval aides, respectively; Capt. Joel T. Boone, the President’s personal physician, and Lawrence Richey, one of the President’s secretaries. The party will include about 20 newspaper correspondents and about half that many cameramen. During the absence of her husband from the White House, Mrs. Hoover will visit her son, Herbert, jr., in Ashe- ville, N. C., where he has been recuper- ating from a long illness. Will Tour Island. ‘The President’s itinerary has not been made public, but it is understood that he will lJand in Porto Rico early next Monday morning and before leaving the island will engage in an automobile ride of more than 100 miles, to see for himself the living conditions of the agricultural people, and to see also the extent of the damage caused by the hurricane of 1929, While in San Juan, the capital, President Hoover will be the personal guest of Gov. Theodore Roosevelt at the Governor's mansion, which was at one time the home of Ponce de Leon. At the Virgin Islands, the President will be entertained by Dr. Paul Pear- son, who was only recently appointed by him as Governor of the Virgin Islands. THREE ACCEPTED FOR LINGLE JURY Prospective Talesmen Evince No Scruples Against Death Penalty. By the Associated Press. CHICAGO, March 17.—Alert and in- terested in every detail of his case, Leo V. Brothers, St. Louis gangster, watched as the State proceeded with its efforts the electric chair, if deemed necessary, for the slaying of Alfred Lingle, Chi- cago Tribune reporter. None of the prospective jurors ques- tioned yesterday by Assistant State's Attorney C. Wayland Brooks gave indi- cation of any scruples against sending the defendant to the chair. Brooks ex- plained carefully, however, that he was not suggesting that electrocution would be the disposition of the case, but that he wanted to know the jurymen's thoughts in the event the evidence re- sulted in a verdict that would put the ?l:xesuon of capital punishment up to em. ‘Three jurors had been tentatively ac- cepted by both the State and the de- fense whe: court was opened today. Meanwhile coples of a song entitled “All My Days Are Wasted Away,” with words and music by the accused St. Louis man, were sold outside the court room. There was a big crowd on hand and business was good. AN BLAST WRECKING HOME IS LAID TO GANGSTERS Fire Sweeping Ruins of Denver Residence Hampers Search for Bodies by Authorities. By the Associated Press. DENVER, Colo., March 17.—The two- story home of Pete Carlino was de- stroyed last night by an explosion which police interpreted as another outbreak in the gang warfare for control of tise bootlegging business in Southern Colo- rado. Fire, which swept the ruins, ham- | pered a search for bodles. Neighbors, however, sald they had not seen the Carlinos for several days. Carlino ’ convention” which police broke up was o leader in a “bootleg- | 108 ARNED BAND AMBUSH GUARDS N PELINEFEAT 25 Autos Circle About Depu- ties in Ravine, Exchanging 400 Shots in 12 Minutes. 4 OF WORKERS’ ESCORT HIT IN FIRST VOLLEY Labor Row in Building of 0il Tanks Blamed for Attack on Illinois Roadway. By the Associated Press. ST. LOUIS, March 17.—About 100 men armed with shotguns and revolvers | ambushed six guards of the Phillips | Pipe Line Co. today as they drove along a hog-haven road to escort laborers to the tanks of the company and wounded four of the guards in a gun battle. The attack was attributed to labor troubles, as the tanks of the pipe line company are being erected by the Chi- cago Bridge & Iron Co. under an “open- shop” policy. As the guards, all special deputy sheriffs, traveling in three automobiles about 100 yards apart, entered a ravine between two railroad embankments about 25 automcbiles appeared from a side road. “The cars began to circle around us Indian fashions 3 chief special deputy, who was_treated for gunshot wounds in the leg. “I stepped out and said, ‘Don’t come any further, boys; stay off this road,’ and then they opened fire. Some of them fired from their cars. Others got be- hind trees. As our two other cars ar- rived we all jumped behind them and fired back from behind them. About 400 shots were fired, the shooting last- ing about 12 minutes, but those of us who were wounded were shot in the first volley. “We couldn't tell whether we hit the other men or not. They drove off after an automobile truck appeared.” Warns Approaching Workers. ‘The other guards wounded were Thomas J. McMurray, who received pellets in the leg and hips; Clarence ‘Watkins, a pellet under the left eye, gndk_!men Goff, shot gun pellets in the acl The attack occurred on the Illinois side of the Mississippl. After the truck passed the attacking party got into their cars, the guards related, and drove off toward Cahoki, yelling “Scabs, scabs, Ac’;ba,” and cursing and firing into the air. Johnson said he went to a ferry land- ing to warn a ferry boat full of ap- proaching workmen not to land there. The men landed later and were es- corted to their work of erecting the gasoline storage tanks, which consti- tute the eastern terminus of the Phil- lips pipe line from the Texas Panhandle. Union Leader Speaks. Commenting on the attack, John L. McCarthy, financial secretary and busi- ness agent of the Ironmakers’ Local Union, No. 2, of East St. Louis, affil- jated with the International Association of Bridge, Structural and Ornamental Ironworkers, said his organization ob- Jects to the employment of “over 100 non-union ironworkers and boilermakers on the job. McCarthy said these non-union em- ployes were “apparently imported here for the express purpose of breaking down the union conditions that have existed here for years.” MORROW TO DISCUSS NAVY PACT IN LONDON Will Confer With British Officials on Side Trip to His Holiday in Europe. By the Associated Press. LONDON, March 17.—Senator Dwight ‘W. Morrow's visit to official Britain on matters pertaining to the Anglo-French- Italian naval agreement will be a mere ¢ "¢ trip in his European holiday. Arrival of the liner Leviathan at Southampton shortly affer noon will enable the New Jersey Senator to reach London late this afternoon. Arthur Henderson, minister for foreign affairs, will be waiting to receive him at the foreign office for a discusion of the naval agreement when the Senator ar- ‘ives with Ambassador Charles G. Dawes, who has arranged to have Mr. Morrow carried quickly from Waterloo Station to Downing Street. Messrs. Craigie, Rosso and Masigli, ex- perts representing Britain, Italy and France, will begin work Thursday on the formal draft of the new pact. DEALER NOT LIABLE Court Rules Person Paralyzed by Ginger Cannot Recover Damages. JACKSON, Miss, March 17 (#)—A person paralyzed from drinking “impure Jamaica ginger” cannot recover dam- ages from the dealer who sold the ex- tract when both knew it was to be used as a beverage, the Mississippi Supreme Court held yesterday. The court stated the buyer and seller were “equally liable” and both had vio- lated the prohibition law in the sale and purchase of the extract, “since the bottle’s label set out that it contained not over 83 per cent alcohgl.” Preparing for Meuse-Argonne PERSHING tells tomorrow about attack on foe’s most strongly defended position in e LBQ January. He recently was attacked by gunmen as he stood on a street cor- T, escaping unscathed. azio Va- sarro, Carlina’s nephew and guard, disappeared about a month ago. The Evening Star said Jack Johnson ! WANTEDY AST. p— e o Star. TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 1931—FORTY-FOUR PAGES. PARICK Associated service. F¥P THOMPSON GABINET RESIGNS EN MASSE Entire Staff of Chicago Mayor Quits to Assist in His Race for Re-election. By the Assoclated Press. CHICAGO, March 17.—Mayor Wil- liam Hale Thompson's entire cabinet resigned today, she resignations to take effect at the mayor's pleasure, Samuel Ettelson, corporation counsel and chief of the mayor's aides, said the move was to give Thompson a free hand in the conduct of his campaign for re- election against Anton J. Cermak, Democratic chairman of the Cook County Board. “We felt we should relieve the mayor of any obligation to continue any of us in office in his next administration,” Ettelson said. “All of us have pledged ourselves to work vigorously for his re- election.” - Among the leaders of the cabinet are Dr. Arnold H. Kegal, health com- missfoner; Morris Eller, city collector; Richard W. Wolf, commissioner of public works; Michael J. Flaherty, president of the board of local im- provements, and Daniel Serritella, city sealer and first ward leader. Another member, Christian Paschen, building commissioner, recently was indicted by a Federal grand jury for income tax evasion. \CARS PLUNGE, STOP ON EDGE OF LAKE Pennsylvania Train Leaves Rails. Few Hurt as Coaches Halt in Mud. By the Assoclated Pres: BRISTOL, Pa., March 17.—Rallroad men and Bristol police today viewed the derailment of a Pennsylvania pas- senger train here last night witir no loss of life and serious injury to only one person as remarkable. Six cars of train No. 230, bound from Philadelphia for New York, left the rails, Three day coaches and a bag: gage car toppled down a steep embank- ment, coming to rest on the edge of Grundy Lake, which is 30 feet deep. Less than 10 feet of muddy, slippery earth separated the coaches from the lake. All cars were steel. When firemen and police had extri- cated the passengers from the over- turned cars, all but six or eight were found to have escaped unhurt. Those injured, with the exception of James W. ‘Wahl, 60, of Philadelphia, suffered only slight cuts and bruises. ahl was injured about the back. FIVE JOLIET CONVICTS CLUBBED BY MATES Bombing of Chair Factory Fails to Occur After Warning Is Given. By the Associated Press. JOLIET, I, March 17.—Five men were injured today in a quarrel among 16 convicts in the band room at the new penitentiary at Statesville, across the river from the old prison, in which a riot broke out Saturday. No guards were present at the time. The cause of the argument had not been learned immediately. ‘The convicts beat each other with clubs, and five men were hurt badly enough to require hospital attention. Deputy Warden Frank Kneff said he had been warned that the chair fac- tory at the new prison was to be bombed at 10 a.m. Extra guards were posted, however, and the attack did not ‘materialize. DIES OF EXPOSURE Iowan, Paralyzed, 68, Thought Victim of Wife’s Slayers. By the Assoclated Press. h!Fl fyuclgv'm mless paralytic, in a hospital today of exposure, having been beaten, presumably, by %m"' who had slain his 68-year-old e. ‘The crime was discovered last nigh by a sister of Mrs. Beach, who foun the husband bound and unconscious be % her March 17—A Beach, 74, died & bed body of the wil on the floor, hands tied behind hei & gag in her mouth. e hing and ‘The brother after |edge of a $10,000 Mail Flyer Fights Storm Five Hours On Richmond Run/| Jamieson, Forced Back Twice, Reaches Bolling on Third Attempt. Caught in banks of fog and storm clouds nearly two miles deep, aftermath of the storm which forced Verne Treat to jump for his life from an ice- sheathed plane less than 30 hours earlier, L. S. Jamieson, airmail pilot on the coastal route passing through the Capital, battled for five hours early to- day to get through from Richmond, Va., to the National Capital, ordinarily an hour’s flight. During his five hours of fighting with the elements, however, Jamieson cov- ered the distance between Richmond and the Capital five times, being forced back twice and finally getting through on his third attempt. Reports that a mail plane had been lost in the storm amieson for forced to duplicate P life, Jamieson took off from Richmond | with_about 300+ pounds of mail aboard | (Continued on Page 2, Column 2.) BARRING OUTSIDE Power Vested in Education Board, Bride Says in Legal Opinion. The District Commissioners today for- warded to the Board of Education a legal opinion to the effect that the board has the power to exclude puplils who do not reside in the District of Columbia if their presence creates con- gestion and unsatisfactory conditions. The opinion was in response to a re- quest from the Board of Education for construction of the various laws on the subject. One of the laws, approved March 3, 1899, reads: “That hereafter pupils shall not be admitted to or taught free of charge in the Public Schools of the Dis- trict of Columbia who do not reside in said District, or whose parents do not reside, or are not engaged in business or public duties therein, provided that such pupils may be admitted to and taught in said public schools on pay- ment * * * to cover the expense of their tuition.” i The act of March 3, 1915, provided: “Hereafter all pupils whose parents are employed officially or otherwise in the District of Columbia shall be ad- mitted and taught free of charge in the schools of the District.” After explaining the method of con- struing such statutes Corporation Coun- sel Willam W. Bride, who wrote the opinion for the Commissioners, said: “In lptplyln‘ these principles to the course of legislation outlined above I am of the opinion that where non-resi- dent pupils desire to enter schools in this jurisdiction, under the conditions provided for in the statute, they are entitled to admission if, in the opinion of. the Board of Education, their pres- ence in the schools does not create un- satisfactory conditions to resident pupils. If, on the other hand, the schools are already congested, I do not think it was the intention of Congress that non-resident pupils must be ad- mitted. 1n all events, I think the Board of Edueation is vestad with some cretion in regard te the conditions in the schools, but that this discretion must be reasonable in its exercise. REWARD FOR BROTHER $5,000 Offered for Word of Busi- ness Man, Dead or Alive. MIAMI, Fla, March 17 (#)—Casey Wentz, Norristown, Pa., yesterday offered $5,000 reward for information leading ME or alive, of UTLITES MAGNATE MAY EAD EAS 0. A. L. Pierce, President of Chicago Corporation, Re- ported to Replace Wood. the ownership of the Washington Gas Light Co. and its subsidiaries centered today in New York as reports spread through public utilities circles that A. L. Plerce, head of the Central Public Service Corporation of Chicago, may become president of the Washington gas companies. The Central Public Service Corpora- tion is the gigantic public utility com- bine which recently took over the man- agement of the Washington and George- town gas companies and other holdings of the newly created Washington & Suburban Companies. These include the Alexandria Gas Co. and the former Hyattsville Gas Co., which is now Gas Co. Mr. Plerce became president of the at the time of ts the reported change is made, it is expected that the local company will be under the im- mediate direction of a resident execu- tive under Mr. Pierce. Roberts in New York. ‘The reports of an impending change in the executive staff of the gas com: pany were strengthened by the stat ment of an official of the Central Pub- lic Service Corporation last week when it took over the ent of the Washington gas properties. This offi- cial intimated then that shifts were to be made when he said no changes were cogwfi‘eluul.pllkd “at the moment.” m A. Roberts, assistant corpo- ration counsél, who was sent to Bosion last week to inquire into the high finance involved in the shift in owner- ship of the gas com) , is now in PUPLS IS UPHELD =25 (P) Means Associated Press. The only evening paper in Washington with the Press news Yesterday’s Circulation, 117,124 TWO CENTS. ULTIMATUM WARNS PEPCO TO REDUCE RATES FOR POWER Commission Cites That Com- pany Has Not Denied Re- turns Are Excessive. DECLARES CO-OPERATION WOULD BE GOOD BUSINESS Modified Consent Decree or Con- tract Setting Up New Sliding Scale Suggested. ‘The Public Utilitles Commission to- day laid all of its cards face up on the table in its dispute with the Poto- mac Electric Power Co. over reduction of power rates here. In a seven-page letter delivered personally to Vice President S. Russell Bowen of the com- pany, the corporation was warned to co-operate with the commission in re- ducing rates or take the consequences. The letter starts with a history of the high return earned by the corpor- ation under the sliding scale set up by the consent decree of Equity Court. It points out that the company has not denied that its returns are excessive and that regardless of any legal aspect of the matter it would be good business for the company to co-operate with the commission in some effort toward re- ducing the rates. The commission suggests either a New York, searching for additional evi- dence. He is scheduled to confer today with a prominent banker who is pected to throw some light on the re- cent transactions, and will return to ;v-.shmmn immediately after the con- erence. Corporation Counsel William W. Bride, who is directing the investigation for the Public Utilities Commission, said Roberts had kept him fully advised of the information he had developed. He declined, however, to make it public, and explained that there would be no (Continued on Page 2, Column 1.) SLIDE CUTS HIGHWAY Government Erecting Barriers to Protect French Village. LE CHATELARD, France, March 17 (#).—The road from this village to Aix- les-Bains was cut in two ces today by the huge mountain slide of mud which for a week has been descending into the valley toward the town Chambrey. A major general of the army and an inspector from the government forestry service, were supervising the erection of barriers and the digging of trenches by which it is hoped to divert the earthen torrent from this village. The evacua- tion of menaced houses in the outskirts bel:l;n today under government super- vision. modification of the consent decree or else ignoring the decree and entering into & two-party contract, setting.up a new sliding scale, which will result in reduced rates. It states that if the com- ‘The scene of the investigation into i ‘The letter bids the company study the well and reach a decision and this decision to the com- mission. Thereafter the commissiol promises that it will “very promptly decide” what action it will take. letter states in part: dt.hc public hearing the latter known as the Washington Suburban |Certain dity of the decree which the court had entered, or the court’s juris- diction.” Business Phase Discussed. Addressing itself next to its position that it would be good business for the :anvlnyl': w—open;'lte Wé!h L:e com- secu rate reductions, gome thonght shoul " e thought ld be given to the impression which will be created if your company opposes in court a re- quest made by the commission for changes in the decree. Your company will place itself in the position of op- posing a concession to its custo which this commission, after careful study, has announced it believes to be fair and just. You will, no doubt, in the opinions of many of your custom- ers, be fighting to prevent the lessening of an unduly high rate of return by insisting that you should be permitted to make about 10 per cent upon thc value of your property, when it i (Continued on Page 2, Column 3.) FATHER OF 11 ATTEMPTS SUICIDE IN JAIL CELL Man Held on Non-Support ‘Charge in Serious Conditjon After Slashing His Throat. ©of | Spectal Dispatch to The Star. HAGERSTOWN, Md, March Yy.- hflmd je Jones, 60, father na( 11 children, on & non-su e, at- tempted suicide in lpeglol at m head- qu today by slashing his throat. > is in a serious condition. He used & penknife and lost considerable blood. Several years ago, while in jail, he used & plece of chicken bone to cut his throat in a suicide attempt. By the Associated Press. BOMBAY, and worship, and commanding the re- last night hofdhil Bflg:gu.mhfld ast ear catcalls from a l.:t:'r audience which he was about to address. oot T T Wenkes 47, woblity | D T, ‘ent , Wi Rt et el — man. said he had no knowl- Boen posted £ thets Taamie. by, relatives n el similar information. He made his | bef offer in a letter addressed to Chief of Detectives L. O. Scarboro of the Miami “olice force. Wentz disa) 6 after March 18 mmwu&h of here, for He had approximately $2,000 . on his person. vali India, March 17.—Ma-~|fo: & hatma Gandhi, accustomed to adulation | f8g with, GANDHI JEERED BY COMMUNISTS ON FAILURE TO FREE AGITATORS Taunted on Truce With Lord Irwin, Amazed Nationalist Leader Sees Red Flag Hoisted at Meet. ; teers fought with the Communists few minutes and replaced the the Nationalist emblem.