Evening Star Newspaper, May 3, 1931, Page 21

SPONTANEQUS LIFE | DENIED BY DROPLET Physical Society Given Ver- sion of Start of Living Organism. BY THOMAS R. HENRY. The start of life on earth hardly could have been an accident. Such was the implication of profound mathematical and physical considera- tions presented before the American Physical Soclety at its closing meeting yesterday afteroon by Dr. N. Rashevsky of the Westinghouse Research Labora- tories. Dr. Rashevsky's mathematics led to the supposition that at least an introduced physical system must have marked the start of the infinite suc- cession of cell divisions that has con- stituted the flow of life through time from the appearance of the first bit of living matter to the highly complex organisms of today. Dr. Rashevsky described the behav- for of a hypothetical drop of liquid, a discrete system, in a liquid of similar composition and specific gravity. The drop and the liquid surrounding would interact. The drop would absorb from the surrounding medium and grow. At the same time it would undergo the process of dissolution at its surface. Similarity of Behavior. Now Dr. Rashevsky showed, under appropriate conditions, this drop would behave in a manner very similar to a cell, which is the unit of all living things. The cell is approximately such a drop which grows by taking in nu- trient substances from the blood stream. ‘When it reaches a certain critical size it breaks in two, each half becoming a complete cell and undergoing the same process in its turn. The one-celled plants and animals reproduce in this way. This also is the method of in- crease of body cells. Dr. Rashevsky pointed to the similarity of the behavior of cancer cells, as shown in recently taken moving pictures, to that of his hypothetical liquid drops. The liquid drop is naturally spherical in shape. On its outside surface it is dissolving into the surroundmf medium. This dissolution is going on all over the surface and nowhere else. While it dis- solves here it s growing from the inside, due to the material which has been ab- sorbed. Now the smaller the drop the greater the surface area where the dis- solution is going on proportional to the amount of the internal material where the growth is on. If the propor- tion is such that the rate of dissolution is greater than the rate of growth the drop simply will disappear as a dis- crete system and become part of the surrounding medfum. If the reverse is the case it will increase. A grows and a little one declines. Discrete Physical System. Thus, Dr. Rashevsky pointed out, in the beginning of a chain of divisien and formation of new droplets th.efe must be a drop, constituting a discrete . physical system, big enough to grow in- stead of disaprets. Now mathematical considerations show that such a system appearing spontaneously would nece: sarily be so small that it would be dis- sipated by dissolution from the surface. It would be necessary to have a drop readymade big enough to keep on growing. But when it keeps on growing the drop, due to certain physical condi- tions inherent in its make-up, reaches a critical size where it will split in two. Each of the daughter drops will then go through the same process. “When such a system,” Dr. Rashev- sky said, “interacts chemically with the surroundings in such a way that the mass of the substances of which the system is constituted slowly increases, the system will possess, under very gen- eral conditions, properties remarkably similar to those found in living organ- ismz. Thus it is found that such a s tem may have a certain positive rate of growth when its size exceeds a cer- tain critical one. Below this critical size the rate of growth is negative. Such a system, therefore, can never be formed spontaneously, ~although all substances necessary for its formation may be present. Under certain very general conditions the system will, un- der the influence of osmotic and other forces, divide into two halves when reaching a certain size. In many cases the system will possess & very definite etrical form which will tend to restored when the system is de- Tormed by some external disturbance.” Models of Physical Life. ®r. Rashevsky emphasized that his hypothetical liquid droplets, not actu- ally produced by experiment, but formu- lated only on the paper of the mathe- matician, must be considered only as models and not as actual pictures of possible piysical life units as they exist in nature. Nature, it was emphasized, might in- troduce iactors which are beyond the skill of the mathematical physicist in consiructing models of what might have hoppened. But the mathematical mod- €15 thow how the life stream might have ctarted mechaniczlly. Chemists and biologists have postulated a start of 1 ue to the accidental chemical com- bination of the substances which enter into protoplazm, but Dr. Rashevsky showed that this could not have hap- pened if the start was anything like the start of the artificial growth and reproduction stream of his models. The paper was the outstanding con- tribution to a symposium on colloidal physics. BANK PROBE HITS STATE INSPECTORS North Carclina Board Pictured as Lax in Regulation of Bank Affairs. By the Assoctated Press. ASHEVILLE, N. C., May 2—The North Carolina Corporation Commis- sion, which until recently had super- vision of State banks, came under fire today in the trial of three former of- ficials of the <@funct Central Bank & ‘Trust Co, charged with ing false reports of the bank's condition. Attorneys for the defendants, Wal- Jace B. Davis, who was president; Dr. J. A Sinclair and C. N. Brown, direc- tors, brought out in the cross-examina- tion of State witnesses that some of the collateral held by the bank, and classed 8s doubtful by bank examiners, had been carried for a number of i ki during which the Corporation Commis- sion had made periodic inspections Judge M. C. Barnhill he was in- , clined to dismiss the false report charged against Davis, Sinclair and Brown, but deferred his decision until Monday. The three are under indict- ment on other charges of violating State banking laws. Twenty-four other men also are under indictment Solicitor Zeb V. Nettles announced in open court that he would prefer charges sgainst the Corporation Commission if it was developed by evidence during the ‘Buncombe County bank trials that there was sufficient ground. The commission was divested of its control of banks by the present session of the Legislature. ‘Weather Halts U. 8. Flyers. EAN JUAN, Porto Rico, May 2 (#).— The American fiyers, Clyde Pangborn 4 Hugh Herndon, ‘A:A be ‘:‘pcnd\n( tonight in Santo Do- m'n7o instead of continuing their flight BT . qecision was made, 1t was sald, ! ~v received a radio report pre- ol 132ttled weather and rain over the TidE SUNDAY From the Front Row Aot oo GREEE Reviews and News of Washington's Theaters. George Arliss in Comedy msun;ummnm ORE action than is usually M associated with the name c{ %g‘ened yesterday uurfi A leader r‘\? dny’::hymnus name customarily s with sympatheic shrewdness, mixes s new element with his perfection of suavity, and there is an un- precedented Ar- liss. It is in the naturg of the play that has been chosen for him that, though he appenrs as & millionaire, e must be, for & portion of the time, the pro- moter of a new= 1y acquired ga=- rage business, facing competi- tion, and that means nnm u.l:rv. rson. Mr. Ar- Georpe Ariss. PETSOR. ing to rvation, always gives reality to firroile. 50 he achieves the almost possible—a _combination of ~the everyday fighting man and the f finance. ‘Another difference to be noted is that while in other productions he has had occasion to employ stratgy in the ordinary relations of life, the plot of “The Millionaire” 1s such that he is obliged to hide his identity, with the constant peril of being dis- covered, 8s his friends and relatives drive about the region served by his garage. The result is the satisfac- tion given to an appreciative public of ol an Arliss creation which has all the old finesse with a new 2 of reactions. The quality of e plot is due to the fact that it ‘based on the story “Idle Hands,’ by Earl Derr Biggers, and that the dialogue is from the pen of Booth ‘Tarl n. me unfolded is of the man who by energy has bullt a motor car manufacturing _plant ‘:nzzn has ;’;;; velo] & prosperous business. mi’é?m advises him to spend six months in the West in search of health, and reluctantly.he takes this advice. Idleness and medicine fail to produce results, and an insurance agent advises him to buy a small business in which he may exercise his active mind. The result of the experiment is & great improvement in condition, with an incidental romance involving his daughter and his young partner. Gradual revela- tions as to his identity are accom- panied by all the proper elements of edy. comedy. Mrs. Amfi\e“ ‘hp:c Manners as prosi 1, and Evalyn Knapp ov.{a;h:fi‘:! interest, while Noah Beery as & owner and it Tully Marshall -l‘ll’:fle tricky lawyer have roles which require distinctive acting. J. MacDonald and Sam are the typical factory Jeaders. James Cagney is & breezy insurance agent, Ivan Simpson plays the conven! doctor, and Bram- well Fletcher. is well cast as the wealthy rival for the hand of the ” The Earle stage show is of the usual high quality. In addition to several standard attractions, there is visit from a former master of cere- monies, Charles Melson, , with double ent, offer the ; and there are Beehee “Hail the Romans.” and Lionel “The Becret Six” And A-1 Show at Palace. 'THE SECRET SIX" \1).\‘ in- variably be compared to “The Big_H . Frances Marion wrote it, Wallace Beery is in it, and what robably the latter did for prison- ?olk. the ’m"dlh meant to do for Ye cago banditry. 'rhim ..S&nc.um oé the kaootl:g- d the rough and rugged rack- %‘nh b‘:wnlni something to think about. Although these gentlemen of the “rod” end up full of lead and no honor, they- are yet portrayed by such sterling actors and such pleas- ing personalities that the average theatergoer must be delighted by them. With the possible result that this form of indoor and outdcor sport may soon do away with Mother Goose rhymes, and pitch babes out of their cradles into the atmosphere of Daddy dis- parlor, instead of allow- ing to romp discreetly at s knee. Mg}l:;". moral reflection on “The Secret Sex” will, however, not alter the fact that it is an unusually en- grossing Plenty of action, oc- casional bursts of amusing Beery dialogue, and splendid performances by some of the cast—most notably Clarke Gable—make it distinctly worth_seeing. The rise and fall °,¥ Mr. Beery as “Slaughterhouse Bcorpio—{rom a meat packer to the king of the underworld, presumably in Chicago—and his final extermi- nation by & cagy group called “The Secret Sex” is the ultimate theme. Beside it run thematic tributaries —such as the continued thirst for news of the newspaper men, the poor little girl who loves a pauper, and lives herself on $100,000 a vear, and the usual assortments of speakeasies, dance halls, secret passage and an automobile accident that tear at least one lining out of one's ctom- ach. Recommended in this is an entire- ly dialogueless passage, in which John Mack Brown, as the cub re- rter, is being searched for in ry'’s palace-like apartment— which gives a certain feeling of the “creeps,’ scarcely, if ever, dupli- cated by the talkies before. Recom- mended also is the short scene in which Beery is shaved, bathed and manicured while he dictates a ltter. in fact, is good 22 T 2 TPl 77 —AUTOMATIC ‘HEAT in your home? Decidedly ves, and of the most sat- 1sfactory type. We're filling orders for— nited States Oil Burners —on these more than liberal terms: $25 Down with Monthly Payments Beginning Oct. 1st. Estimates wthout obligation, to you Maurice J. Colbert Co. PLUMBING. HEATING. TINNING N1908 M St. n.w.—Tel. NO. 0402-3-4Y N N NJ2IIIII 7777777777177 2711 AT 2L 1AL TP A1 7 about it—except the ending, and that seems unnecessarily weak. Mr. is grand, but not 50 grand as he was in “The Big House. Marjorie Rambeau gives one of her splendidly standardized perform- ances as a lady of not-so-good re- pute, while Jean Harlow is as blonde and as unconvincing as ever. The stage show is so good that it doesn't need eulogizing. Every bit of it is A-1, and that includes Borah Minevitch and his Rascals, a grand collection of dancing malds with purple legs and faces, and, best of all, The ‘I'hree Bobs, who just about dance you out of your seat. E. de S. MELCHER. “Iron Man,” Lewis Ayres Offering at the Rialto. “IRON MAN,” the Lewis Ayres feature at the Rialto, contrives to be a sort of panoramic view of a boxing cnampion’s career. The achievement of this air of scholar- ship may serve to retrieve the piece as public entertainment. ‘1hose who want to know how the cham- pions got to be that way, and why they fell, will find it interesting. As 8 straight movie, it is mediocre. . R. Burnett's narrative lacks the power of his recent ‘“Little Caesar.” This may be attributed to Edward Robinson’s ability to vitalize that picture, and Ayres' decidedly moderate performance in the pres- ent film. Or, perhaps, mere fisti- cuffs seem too tame after the ex- citement of disputes a la machine gun. Modified murder is not enough. “Kid" Mason, the hero of the box- ing saga, was a young man who could fight when some one told him how to handle himself, and might have lived a fairly pleasant life if he had been able to get his life managed by contract, too. His man- ager, well played by Robert Arm- strong, guided him to a champion- ship, but could not steer the boy away from a treacherous wife and fatal overexpansion of the ego. ‘When the Kid had salted away his championship, he set out to search for territory more exciting than a gymnasium. His wife, who had left him when he failed to produce the ;xpe‘m;d b::.km in jma he‘:rher days, urrie 0 en, rosperit; with him, S ‘Without really having to act, Jean Harlow makes the role of the wife as unattractive as possible. The Kid's spouse revels in the luxury his money buys, is unfaithful to him with a theatrical producer, and jol- les him along in his {llusion of self-importance. Of course, his manager tries to warn_him, gets thrown out for his trouble, and brings on the contender who promptly gives the champ a beating. By this time, our hero has learned of his wife's infidelity, and is all repentance and sorrow. The big-hearted manager, as gathered from the last gratuitously takes him back into camp. The most satisfying shot of the fiim is the moment in which the producer con- stitutes himself something of a critic of histronics by his manner of fare- well to the Kid's wife. “Iron Man” shows the boxer in his native lair, and gives a fairly good rtrait of those who come to beard there. A Universal news reel, dull Clyde Cook comedy, and song feature, and & le!rllnf “Oswald the Lucky Rabbit” complete the pro- gram. R. B. P. “Trader Horn” Reappears at the Columbia. LD man “Trader Horn” is back in town again. This time— after a vastly successful sojourn & short while since at the National— he may be seen at the Columbia ‘Theater, and with him an entertain- ing panorama of African mammalia and a super-blonde lady of the jun- gle, Edwina Booth. ‘This film is notable, however, not for its lady, or for its plot, but for the courage and energy that in- spired Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer to g0 down into the African wilds and take the pictures they have. The creeping and crawling things and the great glants of this hinterland have been photographed with rare Judgment and considerable excite- ment by this enterprising firm. The result is a series of breathless films, and one which, of course, goes on ‘the “musts” calendar of the year. Wandering through these se- quences of vital and stirring pictures goes Harry Carey as the genial gen- tlenfan in the battered hat whom fiction has called Trader Horn. Be- side him is the vaseline-haired hero and a white-bodied African girl, whose skin has never been touched by the sun. They roam and they ramble, and they fall almost into the jaws of death. But each time, when a devil is popping out at them, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer ~ waves & magic wand and leads them safe and sound out of danger—and, prob- ably, back into the mother arms of Hollywood. E de 5. M. Metropolitan— “Ten Nights in a Bar Room.” HAT men and women enjoy the sensation of having heart- strings pulled and emotions stirred is evidenced from the throngs which continue to flock to the Metropcli- tan, where the revised, melodra- ‘mam classic of a past generation, ‘Ten Nights in a Bar Room,” has been held over fcr a second week. Whether it is a love of the mor- bid or a genuine appreciation of excellent acting that continues to attract people to the cinema deplc- STAR, tion of the wreckage of humans and hearts through the abuse of alcohol is for a psychologist to de- tel rmine. Whatever may be the lure, it is sufficient that Washington audi- ences are receiving entertainment from the production, which, in vari- ous forms, burlesqued and other- ‘wise, has preached its lesson of tem- perance fcr years past the counting. Tears are shed and sniffles may be heard throughout the audience, but “Ten Nights in a Bar Room,” while dramatic, fails, through a happy ending, to be tragic. Although one descends to the depths with poor Jce Morgan (Willlam Farnum), weak, liquor-loving father of a dear little daughter, one also enjoys the thrill of his subsequent redemption, when, grief-stricken through the near death of his child, he “comes his senses.” wco-mmng with Mr. Farnum is Thomas Santschi, the double- crossing saloon _keeper and _the cause of Jce Morgan's troubles. Patty Lou Lind, pretty and blonde, is excellent as Joe Morgan’s daugh- ter. | “An African Boma,” the second in a series of African travel pic- tures, is also shown this week, as well as “Sky High" a short Vita- phene featyre of dubiwsGmeéu. Y. M. C. A. Drama Group Presents “The Ghost Bird.” MURDERER stalked through darkened rooms of the Central Y. M. C. A. Friday night, but he failed to elude the strong arm of the law, and his capture was effected to the satisfaction of ah apprecia- tive audience assembled in the audi- torfum as guests of the Triangle Players of the Y. M. C. A. The nefarious doings were un- folded in four acts by members of a cast which presented the mystery , “The Ghost Bird,” under direc~ of Hall Hopper. The “Ghost Bird,” alias the “Vulture” was a myste- rious criminal who was a gentleman by day and a fantastically costumed ghost at night. A dozen members of the cast were under suspicion until the identity of the ghost was estab- lished with dramatic effect in the final scene. ‘The “ghost” turned out to be King Prender, and his “victim,” the chief of detectives, was Mason Hardy. Other members of the cast included Lillian B. Krause, Albert H. Muehl- haus, Vernon Smith, Marguerite Bone, Jean Bone, Ray Kurtz, Faith Howell, Mabel Planalp, Jane Harri- son and Charles A. Bell. Sam Eggert was stage manager and Evelyn Thomas assistant stage manager. ‘The lighting and other scenic effects were in the charge of a technical staff composed of Francis Kingman, Charles Prince, Albert DiRosa, Fern Campbell, Albert Jonas, Helen Carpenter, W. A. Davis, Robert Ennis and Evelyn Smalling. - GRAND JURY SCORES CLOSING OF BANKS Louisville “Disaster” Could Have Been Prevented by Courage, Says Report. By the Associated Press. LOUISVILLE, Ky., May 2—Reitera- tion of the March grand jury's statement that the National Bank of Kentucky and the Louisville Trust Co. were solv- ent when closed last November was made in the report of the April grand jury, filed in Jefferson Circuit Court here today. ‘Today's report termed the closing of these banks and those of approximately a score in and near Louisville “the greatest financial disaster that ever visited Louisville,” and added all this could have been prevented had the National Bank of Kentucky been kept open. pelhe grand jurors said they believed | James B. Brown, president, “did everv- thing in his power to prevent collapse |of the bank. which claimed total re- sources of $54,000,000.” Brown, with Charles F. Jomes. also an officer, has been indicted in both State and Fed- eral Courts in connection with the failures, and Brown has gone into per- sonal bankruptey. Of the bank's directors who were present at the meeting called to close the bank. the report said if thev “had shown the courage to stand by him (Brown) in his efforts to keep the bank open, we believe this disaster might have been prevented.” Criticism of others was voiced by the report. It expressed the opinfon the Federal Reserve Bank “failed in its duty” and that its management could |have aided the two banks. bridging over what the report termed a “tem- | porary difficulty.” $17,750 JEWELS TAKEN | Apartment Bandits at Kansas City Rob New York Woman. KANSAS CITY. May 2 (P).—Mrs Anna Bink, New York, reported to po- lice that two well-dressed bandits robbed her late today of $17.750 in jewels at the apartment of her sister, Mrs. Charles L. Lewls Mrs. Lewis ancwered the doorbell and was _confronted by the men who held revolvers. Mrs. Bink told police she was ordered to “hand over your jewelry” when she entered the front room, and took it from a handbag on the table. William H. Baker of Boston, Mass., Is Now at Our Wash- ington Rooms, 1424 Massachusetts Ave., for Consultation. For the Past Thirty Years Mr. Baker Bas Been Our RUPTURE Specialist He Is Widely Known for the Successful Treatment of Difficult Rupture Cases. WHERE OTHERS FAIL WE SUCCEED Our “Common Sense” Supports for Rupture Are Entirely Different From All Others. A Different in Principle, Material, Construction and Application. P ients’ Hours 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. CONSIDER THESE FACTS WE DO NOT steel springs, dhesive plasters or under st th are not sanitary, com necessary in treating hern; employ bel Evenings by Appointment. WE DO GUARANTEE To return and retain the rup: ture at once to the comfort and 0 SR e MONEY _ UNTI MoNE L PATIENT 18 A CORRECTLY CONSTRUCTED AND PROPERLY FITTED SUPPORT WILL HOLD YOUR RUPTURE. For More Than Sixty Years The Dependable Truss of security, t our pa’ Common S has given a feelin A sense of comfor tients. In 1877 Heaton and Daven- port, M. D., Published “The Cure of Ruptur This book now in the Boston Public Library and on page 151, they say: “There are many styles and patterns of trusses. I my- self most frequently made use of e ‘Commo nse’ truss. This truss 1s also exclusively used by the United States e manul rers have their factor! ablished in ton 1o = Government. nad Bos- During All These Years We have steadily incr content with & ne local business, but now we sanding experi- enced representatives to the larger cities throughout the coun- try to demonstrate our supports. We want everybor cted with hertla to knon the Comiort no_steel spring i belt to inter! on, no under straps nnoy, no buckles or other harness to adjust. It is casy to apply, comfortable and secure. It costs, mothing to investigate— sometimes it is quite worth while. Examinations !rn. No charge for treatment unless patient gets immediate and sal actory relief. Powers & Johnson, Rupture Specialists Since 1860 1424 Massachusetts Ave., Washington, D. C. This statement should be cut out and ved WASHINGTON, D. ( IPROBER IS BAFFLED INWAR ON DIAMOND Bennett, State’s Prosecutor, Finds Self Handicaped by Lack of Witnesses. By the Associated Press. ALBANY, N. Y., May 2.—The young- est of New York’s long line of attorneys general realizes, after a week's, cam- paign, that ridding the picturesque Catskill Mountain region of gangster activities may be an all-Summer job. John J. Bennet, jr., in his early thir- ties, urbane, calm voiced and persistent, back in the capital after a week at Catskill, center of gang operations, has found it difficult to expose the opera- tions of the lanky “Legs” Diamond and his “mob.” 'Foresees Tough Job. “My observations during the week I have been in Catskill convince me I eral said. “Information already gathered from the witnesses we have interviewed shows that Jack Diamond and his gang have done all their business with real finesse. For this reason witnesses generally have been reluctant so far to give any testi- mony as to actual commissidn of crimi- nal acts by the Diamond gang.” Bennett learned that drivers automobiles and trucks were stop by gangsters and warned they might meet with some accident if they continued to travel certain highways. It was diffi- cult to find any one who had been threatened with death or violence if he failed to heed the warning. For the past year or two the Cat- skill region has been reported as the center of beer racketeering operations. The locality is within easy motoring distance of the New York market, while the cities of the Hudson and Mohawk River Valleys are also within easy traveling range. Furthermore, the in- accessibility of the mountain by-paths furnishes numerous hide-aways in case of pursuit. While the Attorney General and his investigators have heard reports that some folk had given up money to racketeers under threat, careful in- quiry developed that none of the al- leged victims would admit he had been coerced. They had found instances, Mr. Bennett indicated, where individ- uals had loaned money to persons sup- posedly associated with Diamond, but borrowing is not an offense in the eyes of the law any more than is a warn- ing that roads are dangerous. Assigned by Roosevelt. Mr. Bennett is a former State com- mander of the American Legion. He is from Brooklyn. His assignment to put an end to | racketeering operations in the Cats- kil Mountain and Hudson Valley regions came rather suddenly and fol- lowed closely upon the complaint to | Greene County authorities by Grover Parks, motor truck driver, that he had been seized and tortured not far from Diamond's home at Acra by a gang of men after he had refused to tell them to whom his load of cider was con- signed. When Diamond was shot and of lcritically wounded at the Aratoga Inn at Cairo, under circumstances indi- cating gang warfare reprisals, Gov. Roosevelt ordered Bennett to supersede the Greene County prosecutor. ALL ODD LOTS MUST BE CLOSED OUT! 1931—PART have a tough job,” the attormey gen- | ONE INDUSTRIAL SHOW 10 AID CHILDREN Hyattsville Exhibit Proceeds Will Be Used by Club to Buy Milk. Spectal Dispatch to The Star. HYATTSVILLE, Md, May 2.—That undernourished children will benefit in- directly by the Industrial Show, to be staged by the Exchange Club of Prince Georges County, June 4, 5 and 6, in the armory here, was brought out at the committee meeting of the club held yesterday evening, at the office of the chairman, O. B. Zantzinger, jr. After expenses are deducted the entire cur- plus will be turned over to the Wel- fare Committee of the club, headed by Rev. Clyde Brown, to be used in con- tinuation of the present milk supply to the various sections of the county with the co-operation of the Harvey Dairy, Inc. To Be Annual Show. Much enthusiasm is being shown in arrangements for the show, which will be an annual affair, devoted to activi- ties of the county. Local business men are lending active support and Henry Hiser has been named chairman of space reservations. Other additions to this committee are R. 8. Czarra, F. Smith and 8. H. Har- ney. Many of the 28 booths have already been reserved for local business men. Contract for decoration of the booths has been let. Space reservations are being made at 25 per cent cash and the balance payable before the show. Program Is Prepared. ‘The program, which is being prepared by B. L. Anspon and Leo Dunn, lists unusual talent and a number of sur- prises are in store for those who wiil attend. A number of prizes will also be_announced later. ‘The Reception Committee has als> been enlarged, Frank Smith, W. D. Porter, D. C. Fahey, jr.; Ray S. Czarra and Dr. Ray A. Vawter. The semi-annual monthly luncheon and business meeting of the club will be held Wednesday at noon, at the Maryland Inn, Coliege Park. MICHAEL PAST CRISIS, SHOWING SLIGHT GAIN By the Associated Press. BUCHAREST, Rumania, May 2.— Crown Prince Michael showed im- provement today from the attack of diphtheria which struck him suddenly earlier in the week, but the steady vigil of his mother, Princess Helen, continued unrelaxed. Physicians said tonight that the 9- year-old prince had continued to main- tain the slight improvement in his condition shown this morning, and that he was thought now to be out of danger. King Carol left on a tour of the provinces this morning. Scorning the advice of physicians and warnings about the infectious nature of the disease, former Queen Helen has refused to leave the sick room. Michael has a temperature of 104 degrees. m Peerless Furniture Stores v Hits Wage Law EDWARD J. HARDIN TAX DEMURRERS HEARD BY COURT Arguments Completed, Judge Delays Decision in Ar- lington County. Ey a Staff Correspondent of The Star. ARLINGTON COUNTY COURT HOUSE, Va., May 2.—Arguments on | Court here in the name of the State were heard yesterday by Judge Walter T. McCarthy, who took the matter under advisement. The suits, which are for the collec- tion of delinquent real estate taxes, were filed in the name of the State by Commonwealth’s Attorney Willlam C. Gloth and the demurrers entered by Jesse, Phillips and Klinge on behalf of a number of their clients. Two years ago Gloth, acting under instructions from the Board of County Supervisors, instituted approximately 400 suits for the collection of approx- imately $500,000 in delinquent taxes and former Judge Howard W. Smith held them to be unconstitutional because filed on behalf of the county. The new constitution, he ruled, prevents special privileges to counties in the matter of tax suits. As a result of this decision, the suits were revamped to make the State plaintiff and again filed, the demurrers following. It is claimed in the demurrers that the efforts to collect before the filing of the sults were cient. A peculiar angle on the case is that while the suits are brought in the name ot the State, real estate mssessments are no longer made by the State, the entire revenue from this source of taxa- .uon going to the local jurisdictions. demurrers to several of the many tax | | sults that have been filed in the Circuit | CONTRACTORS SEEK WAGE LAW CHANGE Board Will Meet Here Friday to Map Legislative Plans for Association. The Executive Board of the Associ- ated General Contractors of America will formulate “a natior legislative prosam, to be aggressively supported y organized general contractors” when the organization holds its Spring meet- ing here Friday and Saturday. the managing director, Edward J. Harding, announced yesterday. “Fallure of the lawmakers, notably in the case of the Davis-Bacon pre- valling wage act, to frame legislation directly affecting the general contrac- tor in such form that its purpose might be accomplished without hardships and uncertainties,” Harding declared, “nas convinced the association it must take a constructive hand in framing all | such legislation in the future.” Seek Workable Wage Law. The organization’s program, he con- tinued, probably will include a “con- | structive amendment to make the wage law workable and equitable, and, at the same time, assure a living wage to construction labor.” Bills for recodification of Govern= ment contract statutes and for author- ization of a permanent national con« | struction census also will be supported by the association, Harding sald. add- ing: “The board undoubtedly will give favorable consideration to plans for pushing legislation in the States for long-term advance planning of con- struction and for prequalification.” Greensfeider to Preside. The organization'’s program will be presented to the board by Col. Gerze B. Walbridge of Detroit. Among tn8 | 15 general contractors who are mem- bers of the association are State Sena- tor M. A. Connor of Hartfcrd, Conn, and State Senator Eric Ryberg of Salt | Lake City, Utah. More than 200 general contractors are expected to attend the two-day ses= sion, over which President A. P. Greens= felder will preside. Mr. Greensfelder will also preside at the first méeting of President Hoover's White House confer- ence on home building and home own: ership, to be held May 6 at the Depart- ment of Commerce. CHURCH HONORS WOMAN I8ix to Attend Methodist Confer- ence for First Time. NASHVILLE, Tenn., May 2 () —For the first time in_history, women will represent the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, at an ecumenical con- ference of world Methodism when the approaching cdnference meets at At- lanta, October 16-23. The College of Bishops today made public & list of delegates, including & number of women. Yesterday the col- lege decided 10 of the church's 97 del°- gates would be the 10 bishops eldest in point of service. As a rule, single women live longer than single men. NO EXTRA CHARGE FOR CREDIT Our Great February and March Sales have left us with a large accumulation of Odd Pieces, Onz-of-a-Kind Suites, etc. ... WHICH MUST BE CLOSED OUT AT ONCE! This alone explains the sensationally low prices below! TWO SPINET DESKS, strongly made and dull rubbed $().88 walnut finish. Formerly $19.75. Rummage Sale price.... American period. Colonial DRESSERS, walnut veneer. Sale price . FIVE WALNUT SERVING $19.50 to $30.00. Rummage Sale Rummage Sale price ... TRESSES, floor samples. THREE 4-PIECE BED ROOM SUITES, maple $96.50. Rummage Sale price ... TWO HOLLYWOOD FULL-LENGTH Formerly $49.00. to $26.50. Rummage Sale price . of early finish.* Pormerly 84715 EIGHT FINE TABLE LAMPS, 2-candle style, with dec- Q@ orated shades. Formerly $4.95. Rummage Sale price........ " FOUR LARGE SIZE DRESSERS, with big mirror. Fin- ’9‘!5 ished in walnut. Formerly $19.50. Rummage Sale price VANITY Rummage ll 8.95 TABLES, formerly $17.50 EIGHT 50-LB. MATTRESSES, of cotton felt and pure cotton. Formerly $9.75 and $11.50. Rummage Sale price... TEN l'lNi ALL-FEATHER BED PILLOWS, large size. Formerly $3.95 to $7.50. Rummage Sale price TWELVE FINEST FLOOR AND BRIDGE LAMPS, marble trim bases and most gorgeous shades. Formerly price ..... S oo TWO FINE 10-PIECE WALNUT DINING ROOM SUITES, finest guaranteed construction. Formerly $169 and $198. 389.15 ELEVEN FINE INNER-COIL, SPRING-FILLED MAT- Formerly $29.50. Rummage Sale 59." FIVE 3-PIECE MOHAIR LIVING ROOM with reversible spring-seat cushions. Formerly $159.00. t7950 Rummage Sale price ............. FOUR FINE VELOUR 2-PIECE BED DAVENPORT OVER- STUFFED SUITE, loose reversible less bed spring in davenport. Formerly $145.00. e_Sale price THIRTY-ONE HICKORY PORCH ROCKEES. Rummage Sale price..... to sell for $3.95. SIX 9x12 SUMMER GRASS RUGS, all new pat- $9.89 terns. Formerly $7.75. Rummage NINE HANDSOME OCCASIONAL AND PULL-UP CHAIRS, carved mahogany-finish frames and button upholstered seats §4.78 and backs. Formerly $9.75. Rummage Sale price.......... TWO MAHOGANY EXTENSION GATE-LEG TA- Formerly $49.50. Rummage 319.” BLES, can seat 10 people. Sale price . THREE WHITE ENAMEL KITCHEN CABINETS wit porcelain tops. Slightly shopworn. T Rummage Sale price FIVE FINE LIVING ROOM DAVENPORT AND OCCASIONAL TABLES. Formerly $9.75 to $16.50. mage Sale price . —LOW TERMS— Arranged—Weekly or Monthly QUANTITIES ARE LIMITED BE EARLY! PV UV VYV VYYVYYVY WYYV VVVVVVY ¢ SUITES seat cushions and sag- Made Sl-ll Sale price ... Formerly $39.50. 119&! ‘Walnut veneer. Rum- l4 95 LV VW WV VWV VYV VYV AbAAAAAAANA LALLM TWO STORES Main Store, 827-829 7th St. N.W. Store No. 2, 1213 Good Hope Road S.E.