Evening Star Newspaper, March 24, 1931, Page 2

GOTHAM AFFAIRS WILL BE PROBED G. 0. P. Legislature Vote Downs Democrats to Obtain Committee Study. By the Assoctated Press. ALBANY, N. Y., March 24.—The af- fairs of the City of New York are to be investigated by a legislative committee. A resolution calling for a “thorough- going” investigation was adopted early today by a strictly party vote in both houses of the Legislature after pro- longed debate, in which the Democratic minority vigorously assailed the pro- posal, while the Republicans, for the mast part, sat quietly by, secure in the knowledge that they had enough votes. The action of the Legislature fol- lowed closely upon the announcement of Gov. Roosevelt that he had for- warded to Mayor Walker of New York, now visiting at Palm Springs, Calif., & copy, of charges preferred against him by the City Affairs Committee, headed by John Haynes Holmes and Rabbi Stephen 8. Wise, with a request that any reply the mayor desired to make be sransmitted to the Governor as soon as possible after the mayor’s return to New York. ‘The Democratic legislators were taken by surprise. The Republican leaders had assur- ances that the Westchester Senators, Seabury C. Mastick and Walter W. ‘Westall, whose opposition to a similar Tesolution a few weeks ago caused if defeat, would line up behind an amend- ed resolution with the assurance that Samuel Seabury would be counsel to the committee. The secret was kept till late last night. Seven Members Provided. In order to meet the objection of the Westchester members, the amen resolution calls for the appointment of a Legislative Committee of seven mem- bers instead of the 12, as at first pi posed. Three of the committee wfll be members of the Senate and four will be members of the Assembly. They are empowered to make a most searching investigation of all departments of Lh! city government and of the intes courts. They are to Tt their flnd- ings, with recommendations for reme- dial legislation, not later than February 1, 1932, and are granted $250,000 for nses. e preamble of the resolution de- elared that the limited investigations government of the counties comprising the Greater City and the inferior gourts of the city had revealed condi- sions “that have impaired public con- fidence in the efficient and honest ad- ministration of the government of the said city.” In the Senate debate &llie minority members declared mn e pmp:)sed fishing expediif that t.hl Clty of New York could take care of its own affairs Ind‘&hl: fl& majority wdeu “undg; ':h': Iash” of Klnnlln Macy, chairman of their party. N ew Assemblyman Henry O. Kahan, York, Democrat, bitterly criticized the the two members of the from their csl]lng in involving ves in the matter. Governor’s Signature Unnecessary. ‘The resoluticn became law upon adoption by both houses, inasmuch as 1t did not require the Governor's signa- ture, as in the case of l bill Thk next step to be taken will be selec of the membersof ‘the committee by Senator Enight and Speaker McGinnles. Seabury, an anti-Tammany Demo- vestigating Crain of New York as a oommmlontr designated by the Governor. As referee ke 1is presiding at an inquiry into mag- Mntes' courts by the appellate dm.Hon, an mquiry ordered by Govemor. LEADERS OF G. 0, P. OPPOSE STAMPEDE INTO FARM RELIEF (Continued Prom First Page.) tion will propose to meet the situation. The Parm Board has sharply called at- tention to the need of curtailing the size ©f the wheat crops planted this year. It is expected that the demand for :he del?eg:uu and 'r:;. the equn:ge:ulfl ee wil aggravated, along wi demand for the special session of the new Congress. There is nothing to in- aicate, however, that President Hoover ‘will approve either the debenture plan or the equalization fee or that he will call a special session of Congress. 1932 Farm Issue Looms. 1t is clear that with the national cam- paign coming on the problem of farm relk-( is being a iive one. Political lead- ers who are looking for the farm vote are expected to be strongly insistent upon the enactment of further legisla- tion to help the farmer. Sooner or later the administration will have to make elear its program toward the agricul- ture program. Some of the members of Congress to- day are insisting that the country has now had a demonstration of the fact that legislation cannot permanently in- crease and maintain high prices for wheat when this country produces more wheat than can be consumed by the | American public. The farm relief law that went through during the last Con- gress, they point out, undertook to sta- bilize prices by permitting the Federal | Farm Board to go into the market and | buy wheat by providing the board with necessary funds. This the Farm Board has done, buying up nearly 200,000,000 | bushels of wheat. With the production | of wheat increasing throughout the | world as well as in this country, it does not appear that the Federal Govern- ment can go on buying wheat at these prices. One member of Congress sald today | that the only solution for the wheat problem was an increase in the con- sumption or a reduction in production. Tariff s Suggested. ‘The same member said that the argu- ment had been advanced that prices of manufactured articles had been | stabllized and increased through the protective tariff, and that the same thing should be done for agriculture. He pointed out that the wheat farmer mlong with other farmers should be given a protective tariff, just as are manufactured products. He called at- tentice 1o the fact that the textile in- dustry in this country has for several years been hard hit with many mills closed down. If the Federal Govern- ment is to provide that all the wheat farmers shall sell all the wheat they grow at high prices, then, he said, the textile mlnulltcu!er! might well de- mand that the Government undertake 10 see that the textile factories oper- ate and that all their products are sold. ‘The Federal Farm Board had blem on its hands to dis will impose a minimum burden on domestic and world prices, The de- «cision of the board not to go into the f further - IMELLONS HONORED ded Vision of Two Noted Brothers |MRS. HOOVER TO LEAVE Left to right: Miss Ida Jespersen, Ester Bonnesen, Sigrid Asmussen, Mrs. Elll Arntzen, Grethe Shrens and Lise Rode. FOR AID T0 SCIENCE Reflected Throughout Indus- try and in Every Home. By the Associated Press. YORK, Mafch 24.—Science honored Andrew W. Mellon’s seventy- sixth birthday anniversary today with a chemistry medal which reveals a scarcely known, side of bis life The award, jointly to him and his even-more-silent brother, Richard B. Neither of them scientists, !he ‘Mel- lons are honored as pioneer patrons of sclence credited with gifts of many millions of dollars given so quietly that even now the totals are a secret. It all began about 20 years ago. Results in Every Household. ‘The practical results ap today in every American house] in articles of daily use, quite literally created with aid of the Mellon gifts. They have — health research with an al- m condition that their identity ‘as backers be withheld from publication. ve been the Unlversay of Pittsburgh in 1913, ‘There all industry and many branches of science are furnished a place to e eries, The Mellons do not usually pay for these researches, nor receive any credit for them, altho they furnish an important part of scientific machinery. *““West Point of Industry.” “The Mellon Institute,” says Dr. Fred- erick E. Breithut, nruldent of the insti- tute of chefnists, “is the West Point of our industrial system, assisting United States to attain and hold its foremost position among the industrial | nations of the world. Its activities have | assisted in bringing to the United States | themhr‘ab chemical industry in the| worl “In mvcrung scientific k.nowled(e into a of industry and of the Nation, men of l.n-‘e means and grand vision are needed to the gap be- et ocamerdal solestinic specula- tkm lnd commercial reality. 'w W. Mellon lnd Richard B. Mellcn hlve proved themselves to be this sturdy bridge. “What they have done has become | more or less & part of our industrial fabric and technological organization, but it required great vision and courage to see this 20 years ago when research was still merely an unwelcome step- child in most of our industries.” What the Pittsburgh institution has done for industry, Dr. Breithut said, will now be done for public health by the National Institute of Health at Wash- ington to which Andrew W. Mellon is devoting his interest. SPENDS DAY AT DESK. Secretary of Treasury Avoids Any Kind of Celebration. By the Assoclated Press. Secretary Mellon passed the seventy- sixth anniversary of his birth today at the desk where he has worked for the past 10 yeals. Avolding anything akin to a celebra- tion, the Secretary came to his office before 10 o'clock to spend the day at his usual tasks. The only indications of the anniversary - were the expressions from friends and Treasury employes who came in contact with him. These paid due respect to his known desire to avoid any osteéntatious observdtion. The Becretary entered +his eleventh year in his present office on last March . He has served under three Presi- dents and his term has been longer than any of his predecessors except Albert B. Gallatin, also from Pennsyl- vania, who served from May 14, 1801, until February 9, 1814. The latter, however, spent much of his time in France and his office was declared vacant while he was abroad. Mr. Mellon, following his usual cus- tom, declined to be interviewed. TONIGHT TO VISIT SON First Lady Is Expected to Return From Asheville Early Next Week. Mrs. Herbert Hoover will leave to- night for Asheville, N. C,, to spend the remainder of the week visiting her son. ‘Herbert Hoover, jr. The First Lady expected to make the trip last week after President Hoover lef® on his Caribbean cruise, but she spent several days at C'mp Rapi- dan, in Virginia. She returned to the White House yesterday and last night delivered a radlo address. ‘The trip to Asheville will be by train. President Hoover ted back from his cruise on Monday and White House attaches are looking for Mrs, Hoover to return about the same time. ———— GIBSON FUNERAL SET Services for District Woman to Be Held Tomorrow. ‘The funeral of Mrs. Laura Gibson, 1y dlw‘ pose to buy whuzn!thzfl!l g‘hh it was pointed ou!, Eve mfinw-fl. wife of Abraham Gibson, who died at her home, 1257 Third street south- west Saturday, will be held tomorrow | Police at 1 an!ock at Mount Carmel Church. FRISSELL CAUGHT IN DEBRIS AND FIRE, RESCUER REVEALS (Continued From First Page.) after deck caught fire, and of all the| persons there Sargent, King and my- self are the only ones left.” Kennedy said that some of the men ‘were fllunk powder cans in the maga- zine, and that some was spilled on the floor and then, offered as his version of the explosion, “a spark from a pipe fell amongst, the loose powder.” ‘The Vi ’s navigator lapsed into unconsclousness. Capt, Kean picked up the rescue story "We made for _Horse Island,” the sealer said, “and I tried to put doctors and_medical supplies ashore. “Drs. Patterson and Moores took & crew of 25 and a new Gloucester dory and when the island was reached the dory was so_badly broken up by rough going over heavy broken ice that she was useless and lost on the beach. “Without rest or sleep, in the pierc- ing cold, the two doctors from the Sa- gona and Dr. F. Everett Fawcett of New York, surgeon aboard the Imogene, min- istered to the Viking survivors. « “The few people on the island were exhausted from continuous work and loss of rest, and the limited aupply of (Bo‘:lm%n the island was nearly ex- He told of the unselfish giving of the islanders, how the women gave their beds and homes to the sick and injured and the men gave clothing that they zearce could spare. Ambulances Were Waiting. The old sealing captain told his story simply and without display of emotion other than a far-away look, born of memories of the injured men he had taken aboard, that came into his eyes. ‘The ambulances that walted at the dock were ready to take the Viking's h | men to hospitals, and Capt. Jake turned to see them taken safely ashore. Eager ears listened for first-hand storfes of the Viking'’s fate, The stories came reluctantly. At 8 o’clock Lhnt fateful Sunday the crew of the Viking was below singing hymns. The sealer, making slow prog- ress, hit a pan of heavy ice and lurched. “Hell burst loose!” said one survivor. George Day of Placentia was the only man aft of the smokestack who survived. He sald he was flung into the air and pitched onto the deck. When he regained consciousness the whole stern of the ship was gone and flames were licking at him. He jumped over the side to loose ice pans and had a hard time of it to hold his footing. Men were scattering in all directions. Kept Them Togethef. Capt. Abram Kean, jr., master of the Barkentine, picked himself up from the ice where he been flung from the bridge, barked quick orders to keep his men together. It saved many from death between the pans. Together then they Struggled over the ice and hours hur reu ed Horse Island. the cause of the explosion nearly -n had theories, hardly any two of them altke. The powder magazine of the Viking board side. Next to it was the boat- | swain's cabin in which there was be- lieved to have been an oil lamp. The captain’s cabin was next forward. On the opposite side were rooms occu- fled by Navigator Kennedy and Wire- ess Operator King. Between was the cabin of A. G. Penrod, Harry Sargent and Frissel. Frissell had been speaking of the dl er of the powder magazine with n of explosives. Planned to Post Sign. He had just said: “I'm no artist, but I'm goig to make a danger notice.” Penrod was engaged with some flims. Sargent was discussing the next day's operations, Frissell had scarcely spoken when the ship lurched before the explosion. perator King was in his bunk be- hind where Penrod was sitting, and was blown out through the side onto the ice. His face and eyes were badly burned anu his leg was fractured. On the ice his feet were badly frozen and one leg must be amputated. Sargent was flung out with a plece of wreckage which pitched onto a pan of ice. He hauled King up with him and was joined by Navigator Kennedy. Sargent and Kennedy managed to gather from the ice near them some of the debris, including tins of milk, pre- serves, two flags and a plece of burlap which was laid over King. They drifted all night and all the next day, suffering untold hardships. Sargent was suffering from burned eyes and an injured arm. Kennedy had a fractured skull. The pan in which the wreckage was imbedded broke and gradually became smaller, The drifting men walched it dissolving as they proached open water. Then to their eyes came the welcome sight of a ship. 1t was the suom ‘The night before the disaster, sald cameraman; the whistle of the Viking. Master \Watch Johnson ran to the bridge. The officer on watch had seen no one pull the whistle cord, ‘They thought it ominous. ARNOLD BENNETT BETTER LONDON, March 24 (#).—Arnold Bennett, noted author, who has been ill for some time, is suffering from typhoid fever, it was learned today, al- though his iliness originally was diag- nosed as influenza. There was a slight improvement in his condition today, it was stated. He was taken {ll while in Prance shortly after Christmas. Slain Nurse's Body Found. TIVERTON, R. I., March 24 (P).— Miss Verna Russell, 20, a student nurse, was found slain in a ditch here today. were searching for the son of & mmchu.eolme.mhn'r d and I Mmfihm was in the very stern on the star-| the survivcrs, there was a shrill blast on | —Star Staff Photo. BY GRETCHEN SMITH. CCOMPANIED by six young so- clety women of Copenhagen, pupils in her school in the Dan- ish capital, Mme. Agnete ‘Ber- tram has arrived in Washing- ington where she has demonstrated at the Y. W. C. A. and at George Wash- ington University new ideas in gym- nastic_training for women, which have | gained for her a reputation as one of the foremost women in gymnastic train- ing in Denmark. Mme. Bertram brought about radical changes in gymnastics for women, when she completely eliminated from her classes the militaristic system of training which had been popular in the Scandinavian countries for approxi- mately 200 years. Different Training for Women. “My theory is that women should have entirely dlflerem. gymnastic train- ing from men,” said Mme, Bertram. “The training should reflect the mind and temperament of women, and it must take account of the great ana- tomic differences between men and women. The movement should be less rigid than those in gymnastics for men. The mcvements are also continual and are given not only to create strength but to create co-ordination of the move- ments of the body to make it more fit for the ordinary course of daily living.” Mme. Bertram's pupils have demon- strated their teacher’s theories in sev- eral groups of exercises, in many of which they are kept in constant motion for a Eemd of over 30 minutes, without once breaking the rhythmical flow of movement with the dead pauses, which characterize the ordinary exercises of gymnastic classes. Mme. Bertram agrees with many lead- ing physicians that swimming is by far the best physical sport for women. Among the women of Denmark swim- ming and tennis are the two most popu- lar sports, she said. Training Compulsory in Schools. “I find that you have more sports and games for women and girls than we have in Denmark,” she continued. “On the other hand, we have more gymnas- tic training than you do. Gymnastic training is compulsory in all Danish schools.” Mme, Bertram'’s school in Copenhagen numbers over 1,000 feminine students, ranging in ages of from 4 years to mid- die age. ough radically different from the methods taught in her country until a decade ago, Mme. ram’s theories have been enthusiastically adopted by many of the leading gym- nastic leaders of Europe, particularly in her own country and in England, where she has lectured and given exhibitions. Invited to the United States by the American Physical Education Associa- tion to attend its annual convention in Detroit April 1, Mme. Bertram has been asked to lecture and demonstrate her theories before a number of the univer- sities and Y. W. C. A.’s of the country. Her visit to Washingion was made through an invitation of the Y. W. C. A., where her pupils demonstrated a group of exercises before a large audience Saturday evening. MELLON BUYS FAMOUS VIRGINIA RACE HORSE FARM FOR HIS SON lccnunued From Plrst Page.) as alternate to race Epinard and others of equally famous breed. On the Rokeby estate is a large stone country house and ample stables. ‘The house, formerly in a decayed state, has been remodeled and a number of rooms added to it. It is one of the old country estates in Fauquier County, having survived the Civil War, and was at one time owned by the Loughborough family, prominently known in Virginia and Maryland. House Is Famous. Admiral Grayson has not occupled the house, as it has heretofore been in- tact with the former Oxnard estate. It has been famous through the Virginia region as an assembly place for hunters during the season, as well as for the breed of its horses. The place was purchased by Secre- tary Mellon as & country estate for his son Paul. Mr. and Mrs. Bruce, the latter formerly Miss Aflsa Mellon, are expected to be frequent visitors there during the various seasons. Their mother, Mrs. Mellon, who formerly was Mrs. Nora Mary Lee and was the wife of Secretary Mellon prior to 1912, is now a resident of Hertfordshire, Eng- land. Recently she reassumed Mr. Mellon's name. She, also, will spend much of her time at Rokeby. The deed to the property had mnot been recorded at Warrenton, the county seat, early today, and the consideration for the property was not made known. HEART ATTACK FATAL Rescue Squad Fails to Save Em- ploye of Coach Company. Efforts of the rescue squad to resusci- tate James F. Farnsworth, an employe of the Washington Motor Coach Co., when he suffered a heart attack in his room at the Ebbitt Hotel last night, were futile, and he was pronounced dead by Emergency Hospital doctors. Farnsworth, whose home was in Pitts- burgh, was 42 years old. Mrs. Farns- worth, who was with her husband at the time, was treated for shock. He is sald to have been undergoing treatment for heart allment. Acute Indigestion Fatal. David D. Waldman, 13 years old, of 806 L street northeast died at his home last night from acute indigestion de- spite efforts of fire rescue squad mem- bers to save his life by the administra- uon of oxygen. Dr. Benjamin L. Naiman said he was called to the Waldman residence yes- terday and that David apparently him | dead after seemed to respond to treatment. He became worse two hours later and died within a few minutes. A cuunny Hos- pital surgeon pronounced uth flnm tried for M utes day to revive him. . Police Campaign Decided on to Enforce Regulations on Unauthorized Notices. A general police campaign to remove placed on An{ c space in the In violation of existing regulations wu decided upon today by ',he District Sign Committee as the first step neces- sary in regulating the outdoor advertis- ing situation in the District of Colum- ‘The effect of this general clean-up, it ‘was said, would be the removal of many ‘unauthorized signs used hy'?flhn‘ sta- tions, delicatessen - and other stores which are now placed between the build- ing line and the cul‘b in front of these places of bus signs are clearly in vlohdon “of existing regula- tions, the committee said, and must either be eliminated or moved back be- hind the building line. Considers New Law. ‘The 8ign Committee, which is headed by El]. Donald A, Davison, Assistant gineer Commissioner, held its first meeting today and considered in gen- eral the sign situation and the new law enacted by Congress authorizing the Commissioners to promulgate and en- force regulations controlling all forms of outdoor advertising. Capt. L. I. H. Edwards, personnel ‘officer of the Police Department, who is a member of the committee to draw up these regulations, was instructed to take up the matter of the police survey with Maj. Henry G. Pratt, superin- tendent of police. Bulletins informing the police of their duties in this matter will be issued to each precinct. A complete survey of all signs in the District, ‘including wall signs, authoriz- ed billboards and the famaliar 4x8 signs, will be made through the co- operation of the police and the inspec- tor of buildings so that an accurate check may be made of the number of illegal or unauthorized in exist- ence, as well as the exact locations and number of duly authorized signs. Ocehmann Plans Study. Building Inspector Oehmann lllo will make cnretul study of the regula tentatively drawn up last S rinq lnfl report back at the next meeting of the committee on April 6, with respect to needed revision. Maj. Davison made a suggestion at the meeting which will be given careful consideration in view of its important bearing upon the whole question of dealing with the authorized billboards. In exchange for the privilege of re- habilitating - some of ! large bill- boards now in a Wfilly delapidated condition, under suggestions, the billboard companies would be asked to make three concessions. These concessions include agreements, first, for strict adherence to a definite and specified list of authorized bill- board locations which would be agreed upon by the bill board companies and the District officials; second, removal of all billboards in residential areas, and, third, removal of all billboards cnnfmntln[ public bulldings and public ks. u.j Davison was of the opinion that the advantages to be derived from such concessions on the part of the bill- board companies, if agreed to, would outweigh ylelding in the matter of re- hablilitating boards which eventually would drop to pleces. Under existing regulations repeirs are not permitted to billboard units, the idea being to let them rot awa; Many of them, conse- quently, are sorry looking objects. WILLIAM BLACKMAN DIES AT RESIDENCE Mediator of United States Railroad Board of Mediation Will Be Buried Thursday. William Blackman, mediator of the United States Railroad Board of Medi- ation, died at his residence in the Chalfonte Apartments, 1601 Argonne place, last night after an illness of eight months, He was 59 years old. Mr. Blackman was widely known in this city, where he had resided for the past 15 years. He was a member of the Washington Lodge of Elks, the Inde- pendent Order of Moose and the Na- tional Union Assurance Society. During his career, Mr. Blackman had served on the United States Shipping Board during the World War and prior to then kad served for some time as labor commissioner of the State of Washington with headquarters at Seattle. He is survived by his widow, Mrs. Elizabeth Frances Blackman; a sister, Miss Frances Blackman of Des Moines, Iowa, and a brother, George Blackman of Deridder, La. The funeral will be held from the resi- dence Thursday morning at 11 o'clock. Interment will be in the New Cathedral Cemetery, Baltimore, Md. TREASURY GETS REPORTS ON ALCOHOL ACTIVITIES Plant in California to Distill Spir- its From Grapes and Make Créam of Tartar By-product. By the Associated Press. First reports of actlvity under the new industrial alcohol regulation, g | mitting the manufacture and sale of high-prof brandy, today reached the Treasury Department. Chief Doran of the Industrial Al- cohol Bureau, said one plant at Sac- ramento, Calif, was preparing to dis- till alcohol from grapes, and to manu- facture a cream of tartar preparation from the residue. “We are watching these experiments th great interest,” Dr. Doran said. “The new regulations may trend to place high-proof fruit spirits, dis- tilled principally from the California grape crop, in ¢ompetition with other forms of industrial alcohol. Whether this will prove commercially profitable remains to be proved.” The new regulations, authorized un- der the 1930 tariff act, were approved last week by Secretary Mellon and Attorney General Mitchell. Only holders of industrial alcohol permits are authorized to manufacture and sell this pmducb. 31-HOUR AIR SERVICE ACROSS U. S. TO START By the Assoclated Press. CHICAGO, March 24—A 31-hour, direct, all-air passenger service will be possible between New York and San Francisco after ril 1, it was an- nounced today by Lester D. 8eymm vice pruldent. and unenl manager of National Air Trans) Passengers will uvo New York on a National Air Transport plane at 5 |zata am. (Eastern time), Chicago at 3:47 p.m. (Central time), and transfer to & lufln‘ Chicago at 4: 30 p.m. Prancisco af lowing_day. The eastbound will call B & daily departure from Sa Prancisco at 12:45 p.m., with ar- rival at Chicago at 11:09 a.m. the next and at New Yorkat 7:2¢ v.n, an time of 37} hours, ing | the wound. ving in San 118 (Pacific time) the fol- |- schedule Builds 300 M. P. H. Plane BUCK, 17, HOPS TO SEEK RECORD. Bob Buck, 17-year-old junior transcontinental airplane record holder, is receiving the best wishes of Edwina Davis, Eastern Air Tragsport hostess, before taking off from Washington-Hoover Airport today to establish a new junior speed —s record between the Capital and New York. ROBERT EDESON. EDESON, VETERAN FILM ACTOR, DIES Character Fame When He Played Op- posite Maude Adams. By the Associated Press. HOLLYWOOD, Calif, March 24— Robert Edeson, veteran character actor of the stage and screen, died at his home today of heart disease. ‘The actor had been in ill health for some weeks, Edmund Breese, friend, said. He was on the stage as a leading man at the age of 19 and was starred at 21. His first outstanding success was opposite Maude Adams in “The Little Minister.” His first motion picture appearance was in “Call of the North.” Others in- cluded “Classmates,” “King of Kings,” Dr, Brodie in “The Doctor's Secret,” Don Fernando in “Romance of the Rio Grande” and Col. Randall in “Cameo Kirby.” RITES FOR MRS. LEVERS | Resident of Capital for 30 Years to Be Buried in Bethlehem, Pa. ‘The funeral of Mrs. Rosanah Lucinda Von Steuben Levers, 79 years old, who died Sunday at her home, 1357 Perry street, after a long illness, will be held at 8 o'clock tonight at the residence. In- terment will be in Bethlehem, Pa. She was the widow of the late Theodore Franklin Levers. Born in Bethlehem, Pa., a daughter of the late August Ludwig von Steuben, Mrs. Levers had lived in Washington for the past 30 years. She was well known in social and church circles here. She was a member of the Keystone Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revo- lution and of St. Paul's Lutheran Church, A daughter, Miss May Adele Levers of Washington survives. GFFICER FOUND SHOT New York Policeman Dies in Hos- pital From Wound. NEW YORK, March 24 (#).—Patrol- man Robert L. C. Sehringer died in Mount Sinai Hospital today an hour after he was found unconscious in his automobile with a bullet wound in his ad. The discovery was made by an :}:‘p::lle of the hospital walking through Park. Sehringer’s death, at first attributed to suicide, became the ohjecl o! an in- vestigation after doctors at said there were no powder mesks o Detectives hunted for the bullet, head ‘Which passed through his :;ldd‘m.lhed through the door of his n. Examination of his record and the his pockets in falled to reveal moun for suicide. Pln}: !o;! sending radlo from oran& #Are DoW heing i Artnst Attained | a close | tar Staff Photo. UST before taking off from Wash- ington-Hoover Afrport at 11:18 o'clock this morning in an at- tempt to establish a junior spred record between the National Capital and New York, “Bob” Buck, 17-year-old holder of the junior trans- continental record, announced that he is having built for future record at- tempts a special plane which is ex- pected to have a top sped in excess of 300 miles per hour. his new plane he hopes, before hls eighteenth blrthdly to smash all transcontinental spétd records, includ- ing the recent record of 12 hours and 35 minutes established by Capt. Frank M. Hawks. ‘Will Be Ready in May. Buck said that the plane will be com- pleted before th> end of May, but that flight testing and the working out “bugs” during the tests probably would require most of the Summer. He does not expect to have it ready for record attempts before pext August. He ex- pects to compete for tte new Anderson y for junior pilots next October, in addition to att-mpting to shatter all speed records, senior or junior, between the coasts, The plane will be powered with an inverted fluid-cooled engine, delivering & maximum of about 700 horsepower with a supercharger, he said. It will be built in accordance with racing plane designs and will be a low-wing mmo- plane with conventional landing and controls. He said he was pl ed not to give cut the names of the build- ers or place of construction. Seeks Record Today. On his New York flight today young Buck expected to climb to about 10,000 feet to take advantage of a 40-mile-an- hour tail ‘wind reported at that altitude. His present plane has a cruising speed |of 120 miles per hour. The present | junior record between New York and Washington, which Buck now holds, is 103 minutes. He hoped to lower thi¥ time materially. Buck was 17 years old last January. He has been flying for the past two years. In addition to the junior trans- continental record he also holds the junior record between New York and Havana. MRS, PICKETT RITES HELD HERE TODAY Bishop ~ McDowell Comes From Delaware to Con- duct Services. The funeral of Mrs. La Salle Corbell Pickett, widow of Gen. George E. Pickett, whose charge at Gettysburg represents a high light of Confederate heroism, was to be held at Gawler’s chapel, 1754 Pennsylvania avenue, this afternoon at 4:45 o'clock. In accordance with a request made of him by Mrs. Pickett some time before her death, Bishop William F. McDowell of the Methodist Episcopal Church was to officiate at the services. He was hurrying here from Delaware this morn-~ ing and was expected to arrive some time before the time of the funeral. Mrs, Pickett's body is to be cremated, it was made known today. It had not been deeided where the ashes are to be finally placed at some later date. It was explained that due to the fact that nearly all of those whom Mrs. Pickett had requested to act as pall- bearers preceded her in death no list of honorary pallbearers was prepared. The various Confederate Veterans’ or- ganizations in the Distriet were to be represented at the funeral. Mrs. Pickett, who was 83 years old, died in a private hospital at Rockville, Md., Sunday. Both she and her famous husband were natives of Virginia and were beloved throughout the Scuthland. She had written many books, a number of which are among the best known reminiscences of the South. She had been active in many organi- zations, was honorary president of the United Daughters of the Confederacy; was former president of the League of American Pen Women, active in the ‘Women's Natlonal Press tion and was a founder of the Arts Club of ‘Washington, in which city she resided for half a century. BAND CONCERT. By the United States Soldiers’ Home Band t Stanley Hall, at 5:30 o’ imm The mduy, Old-Timers” to_Me' MRS. TOWNSEND DIES AT AGE OF 76 Services to Be Held Thursday for Former Dictator of Society Here. Mrs. Mary Scott Townsend, widow of Richard H. Townsend, and for 50 years & prominent figure in the social life of the Capital, died at her residence, 2121 Massachusetts avenue, at § o'clock yes- terday afternoon, after an iliness of seve eral years. With her at the time of her death was her only child, Mrs. B. Sum- ner Welles, and the latter’s husband, and h!r nlece, Mrs. Scott Strong of Erie, Pa. Funeral services for Mrs. Townsend will be held at 11 o'clock Thursday, and the burial will probably be in Erle, Pa., where her mother, father, husband and other members of her family are buried. Mrs. Townsend was practically the Capital's social dictator until about 10 ears ago, when failing health caused r to retire from all large social affairs. One of the last ‘This was a diplomatic rece] or five years ago where, wi Henry White, former Ambassador to France, and Mrs. White, she was & guest. Born in Erie, Pa. Mrs. Townsend was born in Erle, Pa., July 7, 1854, and was married to Rich- ard H. Townsend, son of Dr. and Mrs. lllulc'hnd To\mund of Philadelphia, in 79. Mn Townsend died at their 1902, from the effects of injuries re- ceived when his horse fell with him when he was riding in Cleveland Park, then an almost open country. She was the daughter of William Law- and ngresses retired politics. He had a brilliant career railway world, and at the time death was presids Goelet Gerry cf New York and Rhode l’;hnd but from whom lh- 'Il divoreed 1925, her marriage to Sumner Welles of Oxen Hill Manor, Oun Hill, Md.,, formerly attached to the State De- ' ent in Wasl New York June 27, 1926. Senator Gerry was married Edith Dresser Vanderbilt, widow of George Vanderbilt, in London L1 oughfare, and Ilater she bought house at 22 Lafayette Square, now Women's City Club. i fssse 4 i was not torn away, but new dence was planned not to disturb it and was built around it. President and Mrs. Roosevelf their younger daughter, Ethe! ciety while in the White HO\I- event was followed by one Townsend's elaborate flower hu.l in her honor, Honored Helen Taft. ln the following administration, 'hu: the late William Howard Taft was Pres. ident, Mrs. Townsend showed the same attention, to Miss Helen M now Mrs. Frederick J. Manning, in the year she made her debut at the White House. ‘When Miss Townsend and Peter G. and diplomatic corps were guests. Mrs. Townsend was almost the only hostess in Washington who fairly en- compassed the question of precedent, entertaining the most imj it offi- cials, diplomats and others without ever having a question raised. was con- sidered an authority on all social sub- Jects. Possessed of great wealth, Mrs. Town- send gave constantly and liberally with- out permitting her name to be used in announcements. She retired from an active p.n ln soclety nearly 10 years ago on accoun f il health, but constantly drew lur old friends about her. Once an impor- tant factorin life at Newport, she went abroad in later , generally taking tl“:curl: at some famous spa during her vels. CREPE ON CATAFALQUE SNIPPED FOR SOUVENIR Burial Carriage of Presidents Is Robbed of Piece of Cloth in Capital Crypt.~ Discovery today that a piece of cloth had been cut or torn from the black crepe covering the historic catafalque kept in the basement of the Capitol for funerals of distinguished Americans, led officials at the Capitol to believe it may have been clipped off by souvenir hunters. The catafalque has been used in the State funerals for Presidents, and also was used for the burial of the Unknown Soldier. It also was used during the funeral of the late Chief Justice Taft. It is kept in a crypt under the cénter of the Capitol Building, which was od‘lnllly lntended to bl used as a tomb but the will o( ‘Vernon. David Lynn, architect of the tol, said that a new eovefl.n( s on the catafalque each time it is used. R R0 Lenten Service New York Avenue DProbptation Chisich 12:20 to 1:00 O’Clock Speaker Tomorrow Myr. Camilo Osias