Evening Star Newspaper, May 27, 1931, Page 17

FINAL ARGUMENTS ENLIVEN HEARINGS ONELECTRERATE Attorney Bowen for Pepco Speaks Hour and Three- Quarters. REASONABLENESS HELD NECESSARY TO DECIDE Motion to Dismiss Is Overruled. People’'s Counsel Assails Consent Decree. ‘The public hearing on the method of setting rates for electricity consumed in Washington reached its last day to- day when arguments by lawyers on both sides were presented. The first two days of the hearing saw little ex- cept arguments, but those were merely preliminary skirmishes. Today's argu- ments were official and final. S. Russell Bowen, lawyer for the Po- tomac Electric Power Co., started things off by an oration which took one hour and three-quarters to deliver. He started with the mmon that it is impos- &ible to c the case without con- sidering the reasonableness of the rate charged, which thus far has escaped attack. The rates, he said. furnish the company its return; it has no other source of revenue. Questioned of Reasonableness. ‘There must be some finding that the rates are unreasonable, he argued. Rates imposed which yleld less than a fair return on valuation are unreason- able, but the converse of the proposition is not true. The fact that a corporation earns more than a fair return is not evidence that the rates are unreason- able, he declared. To drive this proposition home Mr. Bowen sel a case from the House of Lords, in which it was held that the rates charged by the International Bridge Co. for its usez by the Canada Southern Railway were not unreason- able solely because the bridge company was able to pay a dividend of 15 per cent. One of the reasons ascribed was that the bridge was liable to be swept away by a flood at any minute, taking its capital investment with it. Mr. Bowen then produced a case decided in 1876 in which an income of $2,700 in one year from wharfage dues on a wharf which was maintained at the cost of $50 was held not unreason- able. Mr. Bowen insisted that the price charged each customer for each individual transaction by which the consumer made a purchase of electricity must govern. So long as each indivi- dual price is reasonable it makes no differdtice that the aggegate profit from all the sales ylelds the corporation a Tetud® over 10 per cent, as was found by the commission, he claimed. High Rate Undecided. He said that the Supreme Court of the United States had never decided how high a rate of return could be earmed by a public utility without a rate being considered unreasonably high; that all of the questions decided as to return had to do solely with the dividing line between confiscation and no_confiscation. ‘Without the consent decree, which Mr. Bowen holds is binding on both parties, the corporation would never have dared to place its maximum rate for domestic consumption as low as| 4.2 cents per kilowatt hour, and even ‘under the protection of the decree the| company has been criticized by the electrical industry for bringing its rates 80 low, he said. After Mr. Bowen concluded, the com- mission overruled his motion to dismiss and called on People'’s Counsel Rich- mond B. Keech for the next argument. Assistant Corporation Counsel Willlam A. Roberts will argue the case for the commission this afternoon, and Mr. Bov;ren will be given an opportunity to Teply. Consent Decree Attacked. Mr. Keech bas:d his argument on the theory that the right and power to regulate “rates was cne which the | commission could not give away by means of a consent decree or other- wise. . The consent decree itself, he pointed out. says that it is based on paragraph 18 of the public utllities act which vests in the commission the power to regu- late rates notwithstanding any ccntract entered into with a utility for the institution of a sliding scale of rates or other financial device. If the com: mission were to accept Mr. Bowen's ar- gument, then, as to the power com- | pany, they would have no functions | left, 'and the cnly remaining regula- | tion could be accomplished by a staff | of clerks who would add up the com- | pany’s earnings at the end of a year| and mathematically calculate the rates | for the next year. To give the statute | ch an absurd construction would rever be sanctioned by any court, he| said. 1 | | Clashes In Afternoon. At yesterday's afternon session, a bit ter and prolonged series of clashes be tween opposing lawyers dragged the hearing out almost interminably. All{ of the many objections lodged by As-| sistant Corporation William A. Roberts for the commission, and People’s Coun- #el Richmond B. Keech, were sustained, and the record was strewn with ex- ceptions taken by Mr. Bowen, for the| company. The corporation was extremely anx- fous to get into the record a list of power rates in other cities, .with which Washington is said to compare very favorably. This was ruled out. Then Mr. Bowen tried to read into the record excerpts from the testimony of Presi- dent Willlam F. Ham of the company, at the last public hearing on power rates December 30, 1930. Since this statement contained the list of power | rates referred to, this likewise was rulcd‘ out, largely on the ground that Mr. Ham was present in person and could be call- ed to testify if necessary. Mr. Ham on Stand. Mr. Bowen finally put Mr. Ham on the stand after a grueling argument on the luw 3f evidence, especially as administered by quasi-judicial tri- bunals such as the Public Utilities Commission. Judging from the de ions of the Supreme Court of United States quoted by both sides, it seemed to the lay spectatcr that that august tribunal must have decided on both sides of every possible point of ; Jaw on the subject. As Mr. Ham seated himself in the witness chair, Mr. Bowen handed him the extract from his previous testi- mony. This led Commissioner Har- lefgh H. Hartman to accuse Mr. Bowen cf showing disrespect for the tribunal in trying to get the evidence in by im- proper means. He cautioned the compariy lawyer to proceed “in an orderly fashion.” Mr. Bowen then asked Mr. Ham a question and Mr. Roberts was on his fcet objecting. Mr. Bowen gave it up, snd Mr. Ham left the stand without baving said a word, { i Home Robbed GALLAUDET OFFICIAL VICTIM. CHARLES R. ELY. Charles R. Ely, vice president of Gal- laudet College, and his wife, Mrs. Louise C. Ely, were awakened in their resi- dence on the college campus early today | by a burglar with a pistel and flash- light, who ordered them to remain in | bed while he took their money. i Mr. Ely awoke shortly before daylight to hear some one moving about the bed room. In response to his query, the intruder announced he was a robber. “Be quiet where you are,” he said, turn- ing his flashlight on the couple. “I'm after your money.” ! Mr. Ely said he had about $4 in a| trousers pocket and also told where the robber could find Mrs. Ely's pocketbook, containing a few dollar bills. The bur- glar found this money but left Mr. Ely's watch on the dresser when he departed, warning the couple to Tremain quiet where they were. Mr. and Mrs. Ely's room was on the second floor and other members of the family slept undisturbed on the third floor. Nothing except the money was taken. The robber gained entrance by re- ! moving a screen from'a dining room | window on the ground floor. He climbed in on a ladder which he had found on the premises. Mr. Ely noti- fied police as soon as the burglar left, | but a search of the neighborhood re- vealed no trace of him. The couple were unable to obtain a good look at the robber because of the glare of the flashlight, aithough they were convinced he was no amateur. LASTMAN FREED | IN SLAYING PROBE Gordon Released After Probe | Fails to Reveal Slayer of Jack Cunningham. | | Police released today the last suspect held for questioning in connection with the murder last week of Jack Cunning- ham, police informer. Albert Gordon, 25, of 761 Princeton place, was liberated after detectives questioned him at head- quarters this morning and satisfied | themselves he had revealed all he knew concerning Cunningham's movements prior to the shooting. Gordon was the last witness yester- day before the coroner’s jury which | found the Cunningham came to his death at the “hands of persons un- known."” Wanted to Buy Ale. Gordon admitted to the jury he sought to purchase ale of Cunningham and had been in his company for some | time on the night of the shooting. The | ale, police say, was part of a quantity | of liquor stolen from an I street speak- easy by Cunningham and an accomplice several weeks before The same jury which inquired into Cunningham's death concluded an in- quest yesterday into the fatal shooting | of Irving Leroy Zirkle in a Ninth street | pool room Saturday night. The jury held 20-year-old Robert Emmett Martz for the murder and detained Harry | Burch, 27. & chauffeur, of 928 New York avenue as an accessory. Martz said the gun discharged ac- cidently as he handed it to Burch. The latter was held when his testimony regarding his reason for entering the pool room conflicted with that offered by his mother, Mrs. Blanche Burch. Admits Three Phone Calls. Young Burch insisted he “had no reason” for going into the pool room, operated by the slain man and his two brothers, and that he did not know why Martz entered. Mrs. Burch told the jury that while she, her husband, young Burch and Mart g vere driving to the home of the elder surchs in the Southeast section he heard Martz remark that he was| going into the pool room to “see who is telling stories on me.” Under cross-examination Burch ad- mitted he telephoned Irving Zirkle three times on the day of the shooting, but denied that it was with regard to a rumor that Zirkle had been going with his wife. While {he coroner's jury recom- ! mended that Burch be held for the grand jury simply as an accessory, he was booked on a charge of murder When police returned him to first yesterday afternoon. NOTEHOLDERS BUY HIGHLANDS AT SALE $72,500 Is Paid by Second Trust Investors—First Mortgage Remains. precinet | The Highlands Apartments, large residential hotel at Connecticut avenue and California street, was bought at auction yesterday by Alexander Mun- caster, agent for second trust note holders. for $72.500, subject to a first trust of $190.000. The property was advertised for sale by the National Savings & Trust Co. trustees under the second trust, and was sold by Thomas J. Owen & Son, auctioneers, The property has a frontage of 162 feet on Connecticut avenue and of 131 feet on California ctreet, the site con- taining 21,731 square feet. The bulld- ing, erected in 1902 by the Washington Heights Apartment Houss Co., contains 72 apartment units. It was designed Arthur B. Heaton and bullt by BIRD TAKES STAND T0 DENY CHARGES INEXTORTIONASE Never Made Scandal Threat to Calhouns, Defendant Testifies. - SAYS HE TOLD NOBLE TO SIGN AGREEMENT Tq‘al of Four Persons in Alleged Blackmailing. Blanket denial that he had attempt- ed to extort large sums from Capt. and Mis. Clarence C. Calhoun was made to- day by James F. Bird at his trial with three other persons in District Supreme Court on blackmail conspiracy chargs “Did_you attempt to extort fror them $100,000 or any sum _of money whatever?” asked Charles W. Afth of defense counsel “Certainly not,” Bird responded. Denies Scandal Threat, “Did you ever threaten to publish stories involving the Calhouns in one of the greatest scandals the country has ever seen 0. id you engage in against the Calhouns? “I did not.” Bird told of a conference more than a year ago between the defendants, Mrs. Calhoun and Samuel W. Hardy, a Department of Justice agent, which resulted in the arrests. He said he refused to sign an agree- ment not to publish stories derogatory t> the Calhouns. He added he told Hardy he was unable to understand why the agreement contained such stipulation. Advised Noble to Sign. The witness said he advised W. Clark any conspiracy to sign the paper because he felt it was the only way Noble would obtain payment of a claim he held against the Calhouns for his services as a sculptor. Bird said Noble signed the ment after first objecting and declaring he was unwilling to accept “any tainted money.” “‘After our arrest,” Bird related, “Mrs. Calhoun jumped up and down, clapped her hands and shouted, ‘We caught you just like mice in a trap.’ " Mcrg than a dozen character wit- nesses, including several attorneys, testified in behalf of Bird. WIFE GIVEN DECREE Mrs. Marcum Granted Limited Di- vorce From Special Assistant to Attorney General. Justice Jesse C. Adkins decided today that Mrs. Maria S. Marcum is entitled ito a limited divorce from Phillip H. Marcum, a special assistant'to Attorney General Mitchell assigned to the office of the Alien Property Custodian, on the ground of desertion. The court said he would fix alimony at $135 per month and would allow counsel fees to the wife. Marcum’s salary is $4,800 a year. They were married November 21, 1924, at El Paso, Tex., and have no children. Both had been previously married and divorced and Marcum had adopted a son of the plaintiff by a former marriage. The latter is now of age. The couple lived together until April, 1928, when in this city Marcum is said to have deserted his wife, telling her he would no longer live with her and taking away his personal effects He has since refused to provide a home for the wife, the court finds. the court. holding that he is a resident of West Virginia and that was also the domicile of his wife. Justice Adkins agrees with the husband’s claim that he is a legal resident of West Virginia and that until the separation the wife's resi- dence was also there. After the sspara. tion, the court holds, Mrs. Marcum adopted the District of Columbia as her place of residence and at the time of filing suit and now has been a legal resident here i CITY NEWS IN .BBIEF. TODAY. Meeting. Line Officers’ Association of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Covenant Lodge, 1. O. O. F., Hall. Dinner, Ladies’ Aid Society, Luther- an Church of Atonement, North Capitol street and Rhode Island avenue. Meeting, Argo Club, B'Nai B'Rith Club, Jewish Community Center, 8:15 p.m. Dinner, Immaculata Seminary Ath- letic Association, Mayflower Hotel, 7:30 pm. Card party, Holy Name Church, Eleventh and K streets northeast. Children’s night, La Fayette Lodge Chapter, No. 37. O E. S, Chapter Hall Fourteenth and Kenyon streets, 7:30 pm. Meeting. Vann Chapter, Meredith College Alumnac Association of the District of Columbia, Chastleton Hotel, 8 pm. Meeting, Anacostia Citizens' Associa- tion, Masonic Temple, Fourteenth and U sireets southeast, 8 p.m Meeting, Rotary Club, Willard Hotel, 6 pm Dinner, Marjorie Willard Hotel, 7 pm Meeting, Rhode Island Citizens' As- soclation, Sherwood Presbyterian Church Hall, 8 pm FUTURE Card party, Girls' Friendly Soclety, Masonic Hall, Eighth and .P streets. northeast, tomorrow, 8:30 p.m. Webster School, Birthday party, Brightwood Chapter, 0. E. S, Brightwood Masonic Temple, tomorrow, 8 p.m. Meeting, Conduit Road Citizens' As- sociation, Potomac Heights unit; Church, tomorrow, 8 pRm O g WILL GIVE RECITAL The Spring recital of the Jean Hill dancing class will be given Friday eve- ning at All Saints’ Parish Hall, Six- teenth and Harvard streets, at 8 o'clock. Among the features to be presented will by Richardson & Burih&sa In recent years the Highlands was a part of the Wardman chain of epart- ment hotels here, be a rope-skipping dance and an infer- pretation ©f "A Midsuramer Night's Dream” Attorneys Vouch for Character at| Noble, another of the four defendants, , agree- | ON DESERTION CHARGE | Marcum attacked the jurisdiction of | WASHINGTON, D. C, WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 1931 PAGE B—1 0 A OF CENTRAL RATED FIRST IN DRLL COMPETTION Noses Out Co. L. of Western by One-tenth of 1 Per Cent in Close Contest. CO. C. OF McKINLEY HIGH WINS THIRD HONORS Regular Army Officers Judge Event as 20,000 Crowd Griffith Stadium. One of the closest victories in the history of the drills was won by Com- pany A of Central High Schoel yester- |day in the forty-fourth annual com- pany competitive drill of the Washing- ton High School Cadet Corps, when it { nosed out its nearest rival by one-tenth of 1 per cent and surpassed its secong nearest competitor by only two-tenths of a point. Company A, under command of Cadet Capt. Thomas S. Hinkel, von the cov- eted silk flag of victory with a rating of 98.9. Company L of Western, under Cadet Capt. Carl H. Swanson, took second place with an average cf 98.8. Company C of McKinley High School, under Cadet Capt. Thomas P. Corwin, captured third honors with a rating of 98.7. Rated by Army Officers. The ratings were given in_Griffith | Stadium late yesterday by the board of three Regular Army officers, who had the companies sent into the field by the five white high schools during the two- day drill period. These judges were Capt. Alexander R. Bolling, First Lieut. James C. White and First Licuc. Thom- as H. Allen. Nearly 20,000 versons witnessed the award of the colors to Company A and Medal to Cadet Capt. Hinkel. The sun, which had been veiled during most of the afternoon by threatening clouds, was clear and hot during the tense ceremonies. Cadet Col. Daniel C. Pol- lock was summoned from his position in front of the entire brigade, assem- bled at attention. The namc of the winning company was given him by Lieut. Col. Wallace M. Craigie, U. S. A, professor of military sclence and tactics in the District schools. Col. Pollock in turn notified his adjutant. Central Stands Cheer. Executing an about-face, the ad- jutant marched toward the assembled companies while tl stadium was breathlessly silent. The young cadet officer halted when about 100 feet from the phalanx. After a pause the ad- jutant turned to face the left where the 1st Regiment companles of Central High School were lined up. The Cen- tral High School section of the stands broke into wild cheering in which the supporers of other schools joined The adjutant carried the notification to the first regimental officers who in turn transmitted the news to Company A. Remarkable as had been its per- formance on the field, Company A lost its military bearing for just a moment as its men gave a spasmodic cheer. It regained its composure instantly, how- ever, and marched forward to receive the fruits of its victory from Maj. Gen. Fred W. Sladen, U. S. A, commanding the 3rd Corps Area. Gen. Sladen thrust the metal shaft. which carried the be ribboned flag, into the muzzle of th rifie carried by Sergt. David Roadley, right guide of Company A. The procedure was repeated as the second and third place units were noti- fled of their share of the awards. Gen. Sladen Presents Awards. After the companies had recelved their prizes, awards earned in other cadet competitions were presented by Gen. Sladen. Cadet Sergt. Edmund S. Van Brunt of Western High School re- ceived the Distinguished Non-Commis- sioned Officer’s Gold Medal for winning the non-commissioned officers competi- tive drill at the close of the first drill day. Sergt. Karl H. Hennige of Central received the silver medal for second lace. Pl e Gen. Anton Stephen Trophy was presented to McKinley High School's war game team which, under Cadet Lieut. Hugh B. Chapman, won the an- nual war games earlier in the year. The 3rd Corps Area medals for the rifie marksmanship were presented to | the members of the cadet brigade rifle team which recently fired its way to victory over universities, colleges, mili- tary schools and other high schools in the entire 3rd Corps Area. Cadet Lieut. Col, John C. Ludlum of Central, captain {of the team, received the gold medal and Ross L. Fryer, also of Central, got the silver medal. Bronze medals were presented to the individual members of the team. Eastern High School's Band under Cadet Capt. John H. Davis, was pre- sented with the first honors red ribbon in recognition of its victory in the re- cent band competition. BODY OF WASHINGTON . MAN FOUND IN VIRGINIA Effort to Verify Suicide as Res- taurant Worker Fails. body of a man, believed to have Cozgefromy ‘Washington, was found by Virginia State police vesterday on a wooded hill off the Richmond-Washing- ton highway about seven miles from cksburg. fi;'dh:“m&n ngs identified by Pete Raf- telis, a Quantico restaurant owner, as A. Crayas, formerly employed in a junch room at 359 Pennsylvania ave- nue. Inquiry at that address failed to show that any one by that name had ever worked there. Jerry Georgas, proprietor of the res- urant, said a man named A. Cranias had worked there, but left some time ago for Richmond. Georgas said he saw Cranias alive today, however. Besice the man’s body was a .32-cal- iber revolver, while in his pockets were a receipt for bus fare from Washington to Predericksburg and 85 cents in change. Coroner W. A. Harris of Spot- sylvania County issued a certificate of | death by suicide. Yacht on 6,000- Manned by C. Coles of Blackneath, England, and three Argentine Univer- sity students, the 15-ton cutter-rigged vacht Ingrid is on a voyage of 6,000 miles from Cowes, England, to Buenos Aires. Argentina. = All the youths are members of the Argentine Yacht Club. studied the individual performances of | the diamond-studded Allison Naylor | | | | HLY H AN YD oo i ey | | NEW SCHOOL PLEA FIRCAPRED DI |Small Buildings for Classes | Near Hosnitals Sought as Report Is Drafted. Recommending _th modations for cripph upils in Weightman and Magruder Schools be | replaced by modern facilities in build- ings to be constructed adjoining hos- |pitals where cducational and physical { rehabilitation of these children could Ibe carried on to best advantage, the {final report of the special committee | studying the needs of handicapped chi t present a 1 d mittee meeting shortly before noon to- day. This committee, appointed by the |1ate Dr. Charles F. Carusi, president of of both the crippled children and tuber- | cular pupils. Having reached the opin- ion that their primary nged is physical | rehabilitation, rather tMan education, the committee set about today to draft its report, which probably will be pr sented to the School Board at its sec ond meeting in June. Committee members have decried the expense of undertaking to equip school houses with elaborate hospital facilities which would duplicate equipment al- ready available at Children’s Hospital They have concluded that if small build. ings were erected adjoining hospitals, | teachers could educate the pupils while | the curative treatments of which they stand in such great need could be pro- | vided more efficiently and far more ad- | equately by the regular hospital staff. the medica! needs of the crippled chil- |dren are “proportionately greater” than {their educational needs. A majority of | {the parents of the crippled children al- ready in the two schools, it was reported at today’s meeting, are in hearty ap- proval of the proposed plan | Dr. H. Barrett Learned, president of the committee, and presided over to- Johnson, also 2 member of the Board | of Education; Dr. Joseph A. Murphy, | representir.g the District Health Office; | George S. Wilson, representing the | Board of Public Welfare; Dr. John Allen Talbot of the Children’s Hospital | staff, Mrs. Emest R. Grant, represent- | ing the Association for the Prevention | of Tuberculosis; Garnet C. Wilkinson, first assistant superintendent of schools; | Robert L. Haycock, assistant superin- | tendent, and Dr. Frank W. Ballou, superintendent of schools. The com- | mittee will meet again, it is expected, | two weeks from today. GARDEN PARTY PLANNED Woman's Party to Hold Fete in Honor of Miss Stevens. A garden party will be given Sunday afternoon by the National Women's Party at the Alva Belmont House, 144 B street northeast, in honor of Miss Doris Stevens. Miss Stevens recentl; 1 was appointed & member of the League of Nations International Committee on ‘Women. Miss Stevens will speak over a_coast- to-coast chain of the National Broad- casting Co. as a part of the program. i SCHAFER CHARGES CAPTOL GANBLING Phone in House Barber Shop Used to Place Race Bets, He Declares. Prompted by his own observation of in Hous: barber shop being used stead half in placing bets on horse races by employes in the Capitol, Representa- tive John C. Schafer, Republican, of Wisconsin has _written to Joseph G. Rogers, sergeant-at-arms of the House; William Tyler Page, clerk of the Hous and Bert W. Kennedy, doorkeeper, sug dren was being prepared at the com-|gesting that they warn all employes | | that they will be discharged unless they | yote, | desist from gambling during Wworking | Njchol: hours. That gambling in many forms is { the Board of Education, last December, | prevalent in the Capitol and House | has made a thorough study of the needs | Office Building, as well as throughout | the Government service in Washington, was declared today by Representativ Schafer, who last Saturday wrote to Walter M. Newton, secretary to Presi- dent Hoover, suggesting that he call the matter to the attention of all ad- Officials Silent. Mr. Schafer said today that he was surprised after all the publicity given to this matter and the general knowl- |edge of the gambling conditions that | thus far he has received no assurance from any Government official of co- op;:‘rsnon in the drive to wipe out the evil. Unless administrative action is taken, Mr. Schafer is determined to have the matter aired thoroughly before the The committee stands convinced that | House Committee on Expenditures in| the Government departments, of which e is a member. “It may be necessary to call some of the employes of the House before the committee to testify regarding the plac- ing of bets,” he said today. ? Wants Gamblers Fired. Schafer emphasizes that Mr. this of economy and efficiency in the Fed- day’s meeting. Other committee mem- | eral service, and is not aimed at any|of Gov. Albert C. Ritchie of Ma bers attending were Dr. John Hayden | individuals or any particular branch of | for example, would make them. This s} the Government service. In his letter to the sergeant-at-arms, doorkeeper and clerk of the House, Reps resentative Schafer said: “I would suggest that it would in- crease the efficiency of the employes at the Capitol if you would notify every employe under your supervision that any Government employe who, during oftice hours, uses the time of the Gov- ernment in activities relating to base ball pools, horse race bets and lotteries would have his name struck from the Government pay Toll.” Deaths Reported. Cornelius Willis. 78, Gallinerr Hosital Richar mobetl, 76, 1977 skes. 56. 1729 St s Ed Otto, 48, Gallinger Hos- Plidibert xing. 42. Gallineer Hospital Julis M. Poole. 37 3718 Benton st Samuel Lindsey, 37, one mile below Dis- triet Jine. Infant of John H. and Thelma Snyder, 21_days, Georgetown Hospital ‘Hospit Ravmond A. Wheeler, 2 days, Georsetown al, Georse Philips, 63. e B Wiling, fe Brooks. Hy Walke % ‘Gali “Hospital e alker. 28, Gallinger Hospital. Unkiown. infant 2 Bouss, rear 528 U st for an hour and a | Top—Central High School's Company A, winner of the first place, marching forward to receive the victory colors. Middle—The officers who command- ed Company A to victory. Left to right —Sergt. David Roadley, First Lieut. Jean Mitchell, Capt. Thomas Hinkel, Second Lieut. Herbert Via, jr., and First Sergt. John Stevens. Bottom—Maj. Gen. Fred _Sladen, U.'S. A. commanding general of the 3d C-rps Area, presenting the colors 1o Sergt. Roadley, right guide of Com- pany A —Star Staff Photos. WET STATE PLANKS FORECAST INNORTH Republican Leaders Still Hope to Gain Hoover’s Consent to Plan. BY DAVID LAWRENCE. Announcement that both the Demo- | cratic and Republican platforms in New Jersey would contain a plank advocat- | ing repeal of the eighteenth amendment is regarded here as a forerunner of what | will happen in many Northern States | next_year. New Jersey has a gubernatorial elec- it will become for the national Re- publican administration in 1932. There are hopes on the part of Northern Re- publicans that they may vet get Mr. | Hoover to consent to a platform plank | which gives each State organization in | the Republican party freedom of action, but there are no signs that the Presi- | dent will deviate from his unqualified support of the eighteenth amendment. ‘Will Propose Revision. | That the Democratic national plat- | form will propose revision of the eight- eenth amendment is now a foregone conclusion. Most Democrats feel the subject will not be ignored and that the dry South will accept changes in the wording of the eighteenth amendment provided those changes do not weaken | the opportunity of the South to main- | tain the status quo on prohibition of the liquor traffic. Most Republican leaders are inclined to believe the Northern States in their State platforms will insist upon a | freedom of action permitting State tickets to espouse the wet cause if the | leaders in the wet States so desire. The trend is toward a minority fight in the next Republican National Con- vention, which will require a record In 1928 the wet forces, led by as WMurray Butler, did not keep | the issue before the convention as ag- | gressively as will be the case in 1932 If the National Convention should take a vote, it probably will mean embarrass- | ment 'for various State delegations in | Congress as well as difficulties for the | Republican party in the wet States. | The Democrats will contend that a vote for the Republican National ticket is a dry vote, nothwithstanding the fact | | ministrative officers of the Government. | that Republican delegations from the wet States will have registered their ob- | jections to & dry plank Economic Issue Paramount, Evidence is multiplying that prohibi- on for the moment is not as promi- nent an lssue as it vas a year ago. This is not due to any lessening inter&St in "the prohibition* controversy, but | through the acutness of another lssue which has superseded it in importance, namely, the economic situation. The Democrats are counting on the effects of the depression to carry most of the important Northern States, and they reason that even though the Re- publican _State organizations t State planks advocating repeal of the ! eighteenth amendment the wet votes will go to the Democratic side. | "*It all depends, of course, on who the | Democratic candidate happens to be. the Boerd of Education, is chairman of | effort on his part is in the interests| If it is Franklin D. Roosevelt, the drys | will not be so happy as the selection ryland, because Mr. Roosevelt, while advocating | repeal of the eighteenth amendment, | has proposed a substitute amendment which would require State distribution of alcoholic beverages and would not | allow each State to legislate as it | pleased. | "If the business situation improves, | prohibition will again take first place in national politics. (Copyright, 1931.) LIEUT. GEORGE F. WALDO Funeral Rites Held in Arlington for Retired Army Officer. Funeral services were held in Arling- ton National Cemetery this morning for Lieut. George E. Waldo, retired Coast Artillery officer, who died in D-nver, Colo., last Friday. He was a native of Leavenworth, Kans., and was graduated {ll;omoztzhe ‘West Point Military Academy 1923. ‘While statio ‘ort Mills, Philip- pine Islan s invalided to the Ui States and retired for disability in line of duty %g Se; tember, 1830. His widow, Mrs. Afjpie Waldo, ompanied the funeral to this cify. HAYNES CONTENDS HE SOUGHT T0-AID WOMAN CUSTOMER Continues to Build Defense on Finances of.Mrs. Louise T. Chambers. BOOKKEEPING ERROR CLAIMED BY DEFENSE Note Erroneously Carried as Cash in Bank’'s Records, He Harry V. Haynes continued today to build his defense on the contention that the charges growing out of his opera- tions as president of the Farmers & Mechanics’ National Bank were linked with efforts to protect the finances of Mrs. Louise T. Chambers and the bank where she was a customer. Going into the last of two counts of false entries in the bank records, the defendant, under direct examination by his counsel, H. Winship Wheatley, 8s- serted that two items specified were the result of errors in bookkeeping for which he disclaimed responsibility. An- other item was defended as legitimate bookkeeping. . In one instance, where false entry of $12,500 is charged, Haynes explained he carried a charge for this amount against Mrs. Chambers’ account for five months because of her waning finances after the loan had been ad- vanced her to protect some stocks. When she finally made a note, he testified, it was erroneously carried as “cash” in the bank's records. He couid not explain why bank subordi- nates did this, he said. Where an allegedly false entry of $6,369.39 is linked with a charge of misapplication of this amount, Haynes contended the sum itself represented the difference in some extensive stock dealings by Mrs. Chambers through W. B. Hibbs & Co., of which Mrs. Chambers received the benefit, and that the entry also was erroneously carried for some reason unknown to him. In connection with this count, Haynes introduced some papers which he said belonged to Mrs. Chambers and which he found on his desk with some others. Another allegedly false entry of $4,200.34, representing interest due from Mrs. Chdmbers, was declared to have been correctly carried on the bank’s books before it was discharged by allowing Mrs. Chambers to dispose of collateral which the bank held against her loan. On these three items is based the fifth count of the .indictment, which alleges the falsifying of a report to the controller of the currency. This afternoon Haynes' counsel was prepared to go into the remaining counts of the indictment which charged misapplication of funds and abstrac- tion of collateral. After that United States Attorney Leo A. Rover will conduct the cross-exam- ination. I PONCE DE LEON TRUST FIGURES IN SUIT Charles Curtis Asks Court to Re- instate $375,000 Claim on Apartment Building. Sult to reinstate a released trust for $375.000 on the Ponce de Leon Apart- ments, Connecticut avenus and Apple- ton street, was filed in District Supreme Court today by Charles W. and Stephanie M. Curtis, holders of $8,000 worth of the notes secured thereunder. The atlention of the court was called to a foreclosure sale advertised for to- morrow under a deed of trust for $325. 000, advanced by the New York Life Insurance Co. and placed on the prop- erty in place of the released encum- brance. It was charged that Luther B. Swartzell and Edmund D. Rheem, the trustees under the original trust, illegal- ly released the property and that David L. Stern, the builder, transferred it to the Abner-Drury Co., said to be the owner. | SRR 2 WICKERSHAM DINNER RECALLS DAYS OF TAFT | Former Associates of Ex-Attorney General Honor Him at Cosmos Club. Memories of the Taft administration were revived last night at a dinner given former Attorney General George W. Wickersham, who served under Presi- dent Taft, by persons who served on his staffl when he was at the head of the Justice Department. The dinner was held at the Cosmos Club. Former _ Solicitor General William Marshall Bullitt presided at the gather- ing which was attended by several of | Mr. Wickersham's former associates who are now justices of the District Su- | preme Court. Those who participated included: : Jesse C. Adkins, Clyde Ambrose, A. | Bruce Bielaski, William Marshall Bu! i litt, David D. Caldwell. John Cherry, | Frank Cole, Wade H. Ellis, O. J. Field, jJames A. Finch, Stanley W. Finch, { Hugh A. Fisher, John W. Gardner, John Gaskins, Henry C. Gauss, Peyton ! Gordan, Willam S. Gregg, Willlam R. | Harr, Austin Harveycutter, William J. | Hughes, Ernest Knaebel, William Ww. Lemmond, James H. Mackey, Robert J. Mawhinney, Clark McKercher, George | P. Mikkelson, Abram F. Myers, James | M. Proctor, William H: Ramsey, Arthur Robb, W. W. Scott, Roger Shale, Charles B. Sornborger, George T. Stormont, G. Carroll Todd, Franklin G. Wixson. {DEPARTMENT STORES TO CLOSE SATURDAY Members of Association Prepare to Observe Memorial Day. Department stores will be closed all day Saturday in commemoration of Memorial day, Mark Lansburgh, presi- dent of the Merchants & Manufacturers’ Association, announced . The ac- tion was decided upon at a recent meeting of the association’s department stores group, of which Mr. LanSburgh is chairman. ‘The group will meet soon to consider the customary Summer practicz of clos- ing department stores on Saturdays during July and August. i