Evening Star Newspaper, June 7, 1931, Page 1

‘WEATHER. (U. 8. Wéather Bureau Forecast). Local showers today; Oomor"ow gen- erally fair; not much change'in tem- perature. ‘Temperat 82, at 4 pm. .m. yes- itures—Highest, yesterday; lowest, 66, at 6 terday. Full report on Page B-4. “From Press to Home Within the Hour” The Star is delivered every evening and Sunday morning to Washington homes by The Star’s exclusive carrier service. Phone National 5000 to start immediate delivery. WITH DAILY EVENING EDITION No. 31,813. BORAH SUPPORTS GERMAN PLEA FOR REPARATIONS CUT Asserts Revision of Settle-| ment to Victor Nations Expedient and Just. 1,368—No. FAVORS CANCELLATION IF ARMS ARE REDUCED Bays Complete Economic Break- down Will Result From Present Annuities. BY G. GOULD LINCOLN. | Germany's appeal to the world for | reduction in the World War reparations which she is compelled to pay has met the favor of Senator William E. Borah, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, In a statement issued last night Senator Borah declared that re- vision of the reparations settlement was in his opinion “expedient economically and fundamentally just.” The chairman of the Foreign Rela- tions Committee took the position that to grind Germany to a complete eco- nomic breakdown would be a mistake from which all Europe and the world Entered as second class matter post office, Washington, D. C. he Sunday Star WASHINGTON, D. C, SUNDAY .MORNING, JUNE 7, 1931—108 PAGES. * 16 FLYERS PREPARING By the Associated Press. NEW YORK, June 6.—One airplane completed the last leg of its trans-At- lantic flight yesterday, three were poised today for the weatherman’s signal, and seven are trying their wings, preparing to answer the annual early Summer challenge of distant skies. Sixteen fliers, three of them women, will pit their skill and courage shortly against fatigue, uncharted spaces and possible storms.” Three expeditions will be world flights. The expeditions are: DO-X flying from Switzerland, ar- rived yesterday at Natal, Brazil. Col. Charles A. Lindbergh and Mrs. Lindbergh at Curtiss Field, to fly to Orient, probably about June 22. Ruth Nichols, awaiting favorab'e ;\"C:k:'her at Roosevelt Field for Paris Wiley Post and Harold Gatty, await- ' FOR LONG-DISTANCE HOPS ;Three World Cruises Among Expeditions Planned as Annual Challenge to Summer Skies. ing favorable weather at Roosevelt Field for start of world flight. Laura Ingalls, testing plane at Roose- velt Field, rprepmns to fly to Paris late in Summer. Hugh Herndon, jr., and Clyde Pang- g‘;‘r}r:‘-t Roosevelt Field ready for world Alexander Magyar, Hungarian fiyer, to fly from Roosevelt Field to Budlg:n in month. Capt. Roy W. Ammel, on way to Roosevelt Field for Paris flight. Benjamin Zabora and Emil Bugen to start world flight late this Summer. Set Yerrington and Edward F. Maloney expect to leave Roosevelt Field 1{:.1‘ week in non-stop flight to Mexico ty. % Holger Hoiriis preparing to fly to } Denmark. ing her transatlantic | Altenheim, Switzerland. (Continued on Page 3, Column 7.) GATHOLIC GROUPS HELD ACTING FOR ‘would suffer. Demands Arms Cut. Discussing the question whether the DUnited States should play its part in the proposed revision of the reparations which Germany must now pay under the Young plan through the reduction or cancellation of the war debts owed this country by Britain, France, Italy and other nations, Senator Borah said he would be willing to agree to debt conceliation under certain conditions. The principal condition, he said, would be an agreement, actually car- ried out, to reduce armaments. “If Europe would reduce armaments and disarm to a large extent, then I would be willing to cancel the war debts,” said Senator Borah, replving to a question after he had issued his statement bearing on the German rep- arations. “But if the countries of Europe would take advantage of the cancellation of their debts to America merely to increase or to continue with their heavy expenditures for arma- ments, there is certainly no reason why the American taxpayer shoyld be called upoln to throw money into that cess- pool.” Called Revision Just. “Revision of the reparations settle- ment,” said Senator Borah in his pre- pared statement, “seems to me to be expedient economically “and funda- mentally just. Nothing is to be gained by the Nations to whom reparations are due and nothing is to be gained by any one in forcing Germany into a complete economic breakdown. As- suming Germany could have met her reparations obligations according to the Young plan had conditions coutinued favorable, yet in the light of the late depression it would seem impossible for her to do so now. “No Nation ought to want to grind down into unspeakable misery the working people of Germany and there is where the great weight of this bur- den is falling. The great middle-class families are being sacrificed. That is a calamity the evil consequences of ‘which, to say nothing of its inhumanity, no tongue can properly express, “In considering this question of rep- arations revision and the ability of the German_people to pay, it ought not to be overlooked that one of the great contributing causes of the depression in Europe and which has made it more difficult for Germany to meet her obli- gations is the constantly increasing burden of armaments superinduced by the nations other than Germany and in violation of the clear intent of the Versailles Treaty. It was agreed and understood that the disarming of Ger- 1 the SANTIAGO RIOTERS ASK CONSUL'S AID| 1,500 in Unemployed March Dis-i persed by Police—Appeal to U. S. Office. By the Associated Press. SANTIAGO, Cuba, June 6.—A score ot persons were slightly injured today in an unemplcyment ~ dentonstration, after which 50 rioters sought the refuge of the American consulate here as they | fled from rural guards. Those entering the consulate were part of a crowd of 1500 who shortly after noon marched through the busi- ness district, crying threats against employers and the government. The city police attempted to break up the procession, but were unsuccess- ful Rural guards then attacked the crowd with drawn machetes, and the rioters dispersed. About 50, pursued by the guards, burst into the consulate and begged Consul Edwin Shoenrich to give them protection. ) The consul talked to them, urging them to leave. During the fight one man fired point plank at the municipal military super- wviscr, Lieut. Rosillo. The shot missed and the man was arrested immediately. The Santiago troubles followed simi- lar outbreaks last night at San Antonio de Los Banos, where several persons were arrested, 11 having been brought to Havana from there this afternoon. DO-X TO STAY AT NATAL 3 WEEKS FOR REPAIRS Two Months in Water Necessitates Overhauling—Rio d¢ Janeiro Is 'Next Stop. By the Associated Press. RIO DE JANEIRO, June 6—The glant German seaplane DO-X will re- main at Natal, Brazil, at least three weeks for overhauling before proceed- A':g.here. it was officially announced y. The fact that the great flying boat has been in the water conztantly for two months makes a considerable amount of repairs and readjustments necessary. The DO-X will remain at Rio de Janeiro for two wecks or a month, it was sald, before proceeding to the United States. “FOREIGN POWER” Authorized Italian Speaker Says Society Controlled From OQutside. By the Associated Press. ROME, June 6.—The Catholic Action Society was described tonight, in a radio broadcast purporting to give the Italian side of ‘the government's con- troversy with Pope Pius XI, as “a strong organization taking orders from a foreign power.” The declaration was broadcast during the regular evening program of the Roman radio station. It did not pur- port to be offical, but it was pointed out that it would undoubtedly not be broadcast unless it represented an offi- cial view. Catholic priests were accused in the broadcast of ‘“black ingratitude” to Fascism, which, it said, “guarantees religious lberty.” This unofficial reply to the Vatican and to the speeches of Pope Pius XI was made on the eve of the second anniversary of the ratification of the Vatican treaty and the concordat, the)y two documents which ended the Popes’ 59 years as “prisoners in the Vatican.” Fascism Honors Church. It came also at the end of a day when the Pope had declared: “We are | fighting a battle for liberty of con- sclence.” The Pope's declaration was made during an address to a group of Catholic members of the Fascist or- ganization. Ttalian listeners were reminded in the broadcast that Facism gave a place of honor to the church, which was “badly protected by preceding govern- ments.” It declared the church and not the Fascist State had deprived the people of their religious processions and it said that many of these had occurred, with perfect order, through the co-op- eration of Fascist authorities in places where the Pope’s prohibition against them was delayed or disregarded. The condition of the church in Italy was compared with that in ‘“other countries, where it is really persecut- ed.” The Pope, it said. instead of criti- cizing those countries, spoke ‘sharp words against Italy.” Referring to the demand made yes- terday by an editorial in the Osservas tore Romano that proof be offered that the Catholic Action Society was polit- ical, it said that the society *had all the externals of a political party” and that most of the leaders and many of the members belonged to the old anti- Fascist Popular party, which has been dissolved. Says Mussolini Justified. The acts of the soclety, it was de- clared, also supported ‘the political charge. Premier Mussolini’s action in proceeding against the clubs was de- clared to have been jutified by the gov- ernment’s high duty to defend itself. No government in the world, it said, would have permitted such a state of affairs. “All the revelations of the Lavoro Fascista (Fascist organ) have been at least 99 per cent confirmed,” it said, “by the Osservatore Romano, which confined itself to corrections of form, and not of substance. “Regarding the persecutions spoken of in Vatican circles, every one can see that they are ridiculous attempts to make the church appear as a victim in a country where thousands of foreign- "(Continued on Page 2, Column 3.) Dynamite Hurled At Soldiers’ Camp Near Coal Mines| Blast of 25 Sticks Fails 10 Result in Injury. Trio Arrested. By the Associated Press. HARLAN, Ky., June 6.—Three men, accused of hurling sticks of dynamite at an encampment of Kentucky Na- tional Guardsmen stationed at Yancey, were arrested today. The ite exploded, but injured no one. The dynamiting occurred early today, but news of it was not made public until the men were under arrest. It was the first reported attempt at vio- lence against State troops, which were sent here several weeks ago to quell dis- orders in the Harlan County coal fields. ‘The men arrested gave their names as Edward Holman, Berry Murphy lndi Peul Pace They were charged with banding and confederating for the pur- pose of injury. Harlan County officers, who made the | arrests, said 25 or 30 sticks of dynamite, tied together and with lighted fuse at-! tached, were thrown into the encamp- ment of about 30 soldiers guarding mines in the vicinity. The explosion caused no material damage. R4 Sawmill Filing Din Laughable ’til Man Loses Bean in Ear By the Assoclated Press. ABERDEEN, Wash., June 6.— Roscoe Jensen, head filer at a sawmill here, laughed when others complained of the noise. Yesterday he visited a surgeon, and a bean, which lodged in his ear 35 years ago, was removed, Later he said the noise in the filing room was terrific and the rattle of his automobile deafen- ing. He drove a new car to work today. TWONAVY MEN DIE - INBLAST OF STILL Norfolk Yard Lieutenant and Civilian Die of Burns in Hospital. | By the Associated Press. NORFOLK, Va. June 6.—Explosion of distilling apparatus in the apartment of Lieut. T. W. Smith, 44, assistant to the outside superintendent at the Nor- folk Navy Yard, this afternoon re- sulted in his death and that of O. E. ‘Whilden, civilian employe at the navy rd. f A visitor in a neighboring apartment, who heard the explosion, met the two men staggering out through dense smoke with their clothing ablaze. He smothered the flames with wet blan- kietf:i but both men died later at a hos- pital. Police sald there was evidence that a copper tank placed on the gas stove had blown up with terriffic force. The explosion and fire which followed did considerable damage to the apartment, in which officers reported finding a quantity of what appeared to be mash and beer and jugs and bottles. Lieut. Smith's home was said to bfl in Belleville, IIl. He resided in Chi- cage before joining the Navy and came here some time ago from Boston. Whilden was a resident of Portsmouth, Va., and during the war served as a lieutenant in the Navy. Both men were married. Lieut. Smith’s wife and three sons live at 3119 Adams Mill road. KING’S COUSIN ILL Marie Louise Stricken ‘With Stomach Infection. LONDON, June 6 (#).—Three doctors tonight announced that Princess Marie Louise, first cousin of King George, was suffering from an intestinal infection. Her temperature, whica rose to 104 degrees when she was stricken with a chill early today. was maintained, the doctor’s announcement said TODAY’S STAR PART ONE—24 PAGES. Ge;‘l:rll News—Local, National reign. Schools and Colleges—Page B-4. PART TWO—8 PAGES. Editorials and Editorial Features. The Home Gardener—Page 6. W. C. T. U. News—Page 6. PART THREE—12 PAGES. Soclety Section. PART FOUR—12 PAGES. Amusement, lon—Theater, and Radio. In the Motor World—Page 4. Aviation—Page 5. Fraternities—Page 7. Parent-Teacher Activities—Page 8. Community Centers—Page 8. Public Library—Page 8. Marine Corps Reserves—Page 8. District National Guard—Page 8. Milady’s Motoring—Page 8. Marine Corps, News—Page 8. | District of Columbia Naval Reserve— Page 9. Organized Reserves—Page 9. Veterans of . Foreign Wars—Page 9. Spanish War Veterans—Page 9. Army and Navy News—Page 9. News of the Clubs—Page 10. American Legion—Page 10. D. A. R. Activities—Page 10, Gold Star Mothers—Page 10. lo—Page 11. “ PART FIVE—4 PAGES. Sports Section. PART SIX—12 PAGES. Pinancial News and Classified tising. PART SEVEN—20 PAGES. Magazine Section. The Bridge Forum—Page 15." Reviews of the New Books—] 16. News of the Music World—Page 17. Cross-word Puzzle—Page 18. The Boys’ and Girls' P‘gr 19. Those Were the Happy Days—Page 20. GRAPHIC SECTION—8 PAGES. World Events in Pictures. ° COLORED SECTION—8 PAGES. Taizan; Moon M M d the Timid Soul; Reg’ Annie; Princess Screen ver- | The seaplane Do-X dropped down | !into Natal Harbor yesterday, complet- | voyage fi | The Slast 1eg. | Navy group of buildings in the triangle WO0D 10 OPOSE STE ELECTEDFR WARAAYY GROP Declares Purchase of Three “ Apartments Would Be “Excessively Costly.” PREDICTS THAT CONGRESS WILL REJECT PROPOSAL Suggests Proper Place Would Be in Southwest Section—Presi- dent Undecided. Firm belief that Congress will never sanciion the placing of the new War- between New York and Constitution avenues, Eighteenth and Twenty-third streets, on which location the Public Buildings Commission decided last March, was expressed last night by Chairman Wood of the House Appro- priations Committee in & long-distance telephone interview with The Star. Chairman Wood emphasized that this site west of the White House is exces- sively costly, and therefore in direct conflict with the policy of President Hoover, with whom he proposes to con- fer upon this subject when he returns to Washington between June 20 and 25 from his home in Lafayette, Ind. Holds Price Prohibitive. “That location, where three large apartment buildings would have to be torn down, the Mayfair, 2115 C street; the Potomac Apartments, Twenty-first and C streets; the Riverside. Twenty- second and C streets, and the Architects’ Building at Eighteenth and E, make the price of this location prohibitive,” said Representative Wood, who vigorously declared that the estimated cost of eight or nine million dollars for the land alone falls far short of what the real cost would be before the Government acquired these buildings under con- demnation nmce(fiiy‘.nna. il "I am personally very muc! to that location west of the White House,” said Mr. Wood, “and believe that the only proper location is in the Bouthwest section, in the triangle bounded by D street and Virginia ate- nue on the south, Maryland avenue and B street on the north, Second street on the east and Seventh street on the w ‘That_loca is conven- " (Continued on Page 2, Column 4.) 150 OFFICERS TAKE TRIO IN GAS THEFT Siege in Woods, Directed by Plane, Culminates Chase Over $1.55. By the Associated Press. SYRACUSE, N. Y., June 6.—A force of 150 State troopers, city police and deputy sheriffs, aided by an airplane pllot, captured three of four men who had engaged in a running gun battle from an automobile for several miles with a tropper who tried to stop them. The men had sped away after taking $1.55 worth of gasoline from an Au- burn gas station. The fourth occupant of the car escaped after the car over- turned. The three were captured in a woods. The fourth man, with gun drawn. | i forced a motorist to carry him and, after driving 4 half mile, forced the car own- er out and drove on with the stolen roadster. - ‘The three prisoners gave their names as Harvey Sulton, Kansas ‘City, Mo.; John Ryan of Chicago and Steve Mack, no address. One of them told police the sedan in which they were traveling was stolen in Chicago. A loaded sawed- off shotgun was found in the wrecked car. After the trio had fled into the woods, Trooper J. E. Crouse, who had pursued them on his motor cycle, exchanging re- volver fire with them for several miles, gave the alarm, which brought county, city and State officers to surround the woods. Emil Roth, flying from the Syracuse Airport, circled over the woods, signal- ing searchers to guide them to their quarry and occasionally returning to the airport to telephone more detailed directions to the officers. Eventually the three were rounded up. The stolen car in which the fourth escaped had not been traced early tonight. The car in which men had been riding bore an Ohio license plate. P M FIVE CENTS IN WASHINGTON AND SUBURBS SQUASH CENTER COMMENTS ON THE FTd(’K MARKET, COUZENS DEMANDS MITCHELL'S REPLY Plans to Force Answer of At- torney General in Hill Tax Case. By the Assoclated Press. Senator Couzens, Republican of Michigan, made it plain yesterday that he expected Attorney General Mitchell to reply to his questions about the million-dollar Hill tax case. For two months, the Senator said, the Attorney General had ignored his questions. There was no indication yes- terday that Mitchell intended to reply. “I expect an answer from Mr. Mitchell to my question of why the Department of Justice reiused to appeal that case to the Supreme Court,” Sen- ator Couzens said. “There may be very good reason for it, but I don't know it.” Makes Stand Clear. Couzens said he was in earnest and, while he did not talk about the future, he made it clear that he would not hesitate to go before Congress, if neces- ry. The tax case was one involving an assessment of $1,130,000 upon the estate of the late Mrs. James J. Hill of Min- nesota. Mitchell was attorney for the estate. The District Federal Court ruled that the assessment should be paid. The Circuit Court of Appeals held that the tax should not be paid. “The Treasury Department and Mrs. Mabel Walker Willebrandt, then Assis- tant Attorney General, recommended an appeal of this case to the Supreme Court,” the Senator related. “Attorne; General Sargent refused to appeal. Mr. Mitchell at that time was solicitor general. Suspects Evasion. “I do not challenge the personal in- tegrity of Mr. Mitchell. I do say that on the face of it this case is a great example of tax evasion. I think I have a right to have my letters to the Attor- ney General answered.” Senator Couzens and Secretary Mel- lon engaged in a controversy on taxa- on problems over a period of years. During that dispute the Treasury levied & $10,000,000 additional tax assessment on Senator Couzens. The tax board gave Couzens the decision. Treasury. Robert Hawes Married to Daugh- ter of Former Missouri Governor. ST. LOUIS, June 6 (#).—Miss Janet Gardner, daughter of former Gov. and Mrs. Frederick D. Gardner, and Robert Nicholas Hawes, son of Mr. and Mrs. Richard H. Hawes, were married here %‘yb:i'dm! holllis of the l;rlride'n parents. e legroom is a nephew of United States Senator Harry B. Hawes. Hungarian Elections Set. BUDAPEST, Hungary, June 6 (#).— ‘The Official Gazette will announce to- morrcw that general elections will be held between June 28 and July 6. price index for was rosy. Wideawake around. quantity. not knock again. merchants, prices on goods in stock, are not sulking in the corner and rueing the day—they are moving the goods. Retail prices are down along with wholesale prices, and the shelves are being cleared, keeping dollars flowing and keeping the wheels of business whirling O pportunity Knocks For the week ending M “all commodi touched a new low level since the war. compares today with what it was along about 1913— the “good oid days” when things were cheap and life them— That figure with fallen wholesale The margin between wholesale and retail prices has tightened and goods are being moved in increased These wise merchants are setting the rest of the business world a good example. And, through the Daily and Sunday columns of The Star, they are breaking hot news of many opportunities—that may 2| Brown, Couzens ob- | by tained a Senate investigation of the | B! Husband Reclaims Widowed Mate He Left 22 Years Ago By the Associated Press. WINNIPEG, Manitoba, June 6.—Twenty-two years ago Axel H. Hermenson learned that his wife had placed a charge of insanity against him. So he left their home at Sandridge, Manitoba, to live at Duluth, Minn. ‘Ten years ago Mrs. Hermenson was married again. Several years later her second husband died. More recently Hermenson asked friends at Sandridge to help him locate her. They found her in ‘Winnipeg and she went to Duluth to see him. Now they plan a second marriage. POST OFFICE LEASE ABOLITION VISIONED in Radio Forum, Says Cost to U. S. Is $10,000,000. ‘While no evidence of fraud has been uncovered in the senatorial investiga- tion of post office leases, Postmaster General Brown favors complete aboli- tion of the lease system on the ground that it is “poor business” for Uncle Sam to prefer a tenant’s role to that of property owner. Addressing a Nation-wide audience last night in the National Radio Forum, arranged by The Star and broadcast over a coast-to-coast network of the Columbia Broadcasting Co., Brown predicted that the, next Con- gress will give his department authority to erect its own post office buildings. Legislation Blocked. Such authority was recommended by President HMoover during the last ses- sion, he pointed out, but the proposed legislation, sponsored by Representa- tive Kelly of Pennsylvania, was blocked by Senator La Follette of Wisconsin when it reached the Senate floor. The Senate investigation, conducted a committee headed by Senator ine of Wisconsin, was launched after charges of fraud had been made in connection with negotiations for a post office lease in St. Paul, Minn. The St. Paul case has been in the courts since 1928, Brown said, and two weeks ago the Court of Claims ordered the Government to reimburse the building owners for unpaid rent, no evidence having been presented to sus- tain the fraud charges. “While this court decision effectually disposes of the only definite charges of fraud made in connection with any postal lease contract,” the Postmaster General stated, “it does not alter the fact, which we have repeatedly called to the attention of Congress, that it is poor business for the Government to lease from private owners the quar- ters which it requires for post office stations, branches and garages in the large cities. Rental Totals $10,000,000. “The department now leases about 1,500 buildings for such purposes throughout the country at a rental cost of about $10,000,000 a year. Be- cause many of these buildings were specially located and specially de- signed to meet the peculiar require- ments of the postal service, in sucl cases the rates of rental are neces- sarily high enough to permit the owner to recover substantially all his invest- ment, plus a moderate profit, within the terms of the lease. “It needs no complicated analysis to demonstrate that such an arrangement is costly and unbusinesslike in the ex- treme. During the term of the lease the Government must pay the full value of the building in rental and at the end of the term has nothing to show for its expenditure, since the building r stantial saving in operating costs if the department had the authority to erect its own buildings for these purposes.” For the t, Brown said, the de- (Continued on Page 2, Column 1.) BUILDS SPEED PLANE. .. Harry Williams Says Machine Will Go 286 Miles an Hour. BATON ROUGE, La., June 6 (P)— ‘Williams, Harry [ an and air- plane manufacturer of Patterson, La., announced today he had built a plane capable of flying 286 miles an hour and m it in air races here June AR SHYS Y SAING EFFECTED Hoover at Rapidan Meeting Hears Two-Year $25,000,- 000 Economy Plan. By the Associated Press. ORANGE, . Va.. June 6.—Secretary Adams today informed President Hoo- ver at a Rapidan camp conference that savings during the current year in the Navy Department had amounted to ap- f;ox\mluly $10,000,000 and that prelim- ary estimates for next year indicate they will run from $10,000,000 to $15,000,000. It was determined at the confer- ence today that the Island of Guam is no langer of any military value, and that all activities there will be reduced to the minimum basis required by the civil government. The Navy appropriation for last year was $380,000,000 and for the coming fiscal year $360,101,000. Destroyers Decommissioned. Most of the savings this year resulted from decommissioning a number of destroyers and reassigning a number of battleships.. Through this opera- tion 4,800 men whose enlistments ex- pired were not replaced. ‘The Navy last August had 84,500 en- listed men and at the present time has approximately 79,700. A statement from official sources said every division of the Navy was combed for economies that could be effected without sacrificing efficiency. Exhaus- tive studies, it was said, are being con- ducted with a view to increasing sav- ings without danger to employment or _inefficiency in training. ‘The meeting between the President and the Navy officials began early in the afternoon after Secretary Adams had come to the camp in an airplane with Assistant Secretary Ingalls at the controls. Adams said he enjoyed his flight. President Hoover came to his camp vesterday afternoon making an unan- nounced and hurried departure from the White House. He spent the morn- ing working on a speech he will de- liver about the middle of this month. Mrs. Hoover arrived at the camp this morning accompanied by her son Allan, who is home from Harvard, where he is taking a post-graduate course in the business school. Representative Simmons of Nebraska and Mrs. Simmons and Hugh Gibson, Ambassador to Belgium, were guests. FLORIDA FAILS TO ADD CONGRESS DISTRICT Legislature Closes Without Pro- viding for Fifth U. S. Representative. By the Associated Press. TALLAHASSEE, Fla., June 6—A district for Florida's fifth representa- tive, allowed because of population in- crease in the last decade, was not pro- vided by the regular session of the Leg- islature which adjourned today. Numerous bills proposing redistrict- m; of the State to create the fifth dis- ict were introduced, but none passed. As the Legislature opened a special session of twenty days today, soon after adjournment of the regular session Sen- ator Parrish of Titusville introduced a bill to have the fifth representative elected from the State at'large. A simi- h | lar bill was offered in the regular ses- sion, but did not advance to a vote. Under federal laws the fifth repre- sentative will be elected from the State at large if the Legislature does not cre- ate the fifth district. THE LUCKY : LAWRENCES | A New and Stirring Romance by Kathleen Norris Pull of Action and Sus- pense,: This Delightful Story Moves With “ the Vividness of Youthful Love Adventure. Beginning Tonorrow is the husband of Mar- | The Evening Star s_Associated Pr I TEN CENT ELSEWHERE FEDERATION ASKS FOR PROSECUTION OF GAS GOMPANIES Reimbursement of Consum- ers Also Urged Because of High Pressures. = FORMER COMMISSIONS ARE SCORED BY CITIZENS Past Officials Are Accused of Fail- ing to Act in Code Violations. Prosecution of the Washington and Georgetqwn Gas Light Companies for past violations of the gas pressure regu- lations of the Public Utilities Commis- sion and the reimbursement of gas con- sumers whose bills were abnormally high because of excessive pressures were urged last night by the Federation of Citizens’ Associations at its final meet- ing of the season. ‘The federation also criticized former Public Utllities Commisisons for failure to exercise supervision over gas pressure in the past and recommended that steps be taken to reduce the existing allow= able variation in pressures. The pres- ent allowable variation, ranging from a two-inch minimum to a temporary eight-inch maximum. was held to be unreasonable from the standpoint of Justice and fairness to consumers whose appliances cannot be adjusted so they will operate efficiently on such a wide range. Has Ample Authority. ‘The Public Utilties Commission, the federation pointed out, has ample authcrity to prosecute the gas com- panies by invoking paragraph 85 of the Public Utilities act, which prescribes a penalty of $200 for every violation of the commission regulations. No esti- mate was made. however, as to the number of violations that can be charged against the companies or the probable total amount of the assess- ments that could be levied. ‘These penalties, the federation de- clared, should be levied and refunds made to consumers whose bills went up because of the increased pressures “in the interest of justice and fair dealing to_the public.” g ‘The federation’s action was recom- mended by its Committee on .Public Utilities, which submitted a 1,200 word report analyzing the pressure situation and stressing the importance of a sub- stantial uniform pressure to prevent a possible waste of gas by consumer ap- pliances. The report was writien for the committee by George E. Sullivan and was read by Willlam McK. Clayton, chairman. One dissenting vote pre- vented its unanimous adoption. The report declared that the gas com- panies had been consistently guilty of long standing and continuing violations of the gas pressure regulations and made no apparent effort to comply with the requirements in . any wise until ordered to do so by the commission last January 22. Opposed Part of Report. It also was pointed out in the report that the consumption of gas in January this year increased 47.13 per cent over the corresponding month of 1930. “How much of such increase repmesents wasted gas at the expense of the consumers due to excessive pressures for which their appliances were not adjusted,” the report said, “your committee has no means of ascertaining.” An effort was made by Dr. George C. Havenner, presidént of the federation, to have a portion of the report criti- cizing former commissions stricken out. He contended it is not the policy of the federation to censure or criticize indi- viduals or commissions unless it is sure they neglected their duty. He then of- fered an amendment to strike out the criticism, but the amendment was de- feated. Sullivan and Clayton both strongly defended the portion of the report eriti- cizing the former commissions. Clayton argued that the language used was in- offensive. Later, the federation on motion of Charles I. Stengle, commended the committee for its report. Text of Report. The text of the gas report follows: “Your Committee on Public Utilities 1s glad to report that it has completed its study on gas pressure conditions in the District of Columbia, with the fol- lowing_findings: “1. The importance to the gas con- sumer of the maintenance of a sustan- tially uniform gas pressure cannot be overestimated, for the reason that his gas appliances must be adjusted to the particular gas pressure supplied thereto in order to obtain the efficiency to which the consumer is entitled. ~After his appliances have been adjusted for a particular gas pressure, the substitution of a substantially higher or lower pres- sure, without feadjustment of the =p: pliances, will necessarily result in ineffi- ciency, causing an unnecssary waste of gas for which the consumer is required to pay, either, in the case of the higher pressure, because of the increased amount of gas consumed during the same period of time without correspond- ing, if any, benefit to the consumer, or, in the case of lower pressure, because of the increased q tity of gas used as the result of a greater period of time being required, without corersponding, if any. benefit to the consumer. “2."At this late day, it is hardly in order for any one, least of all the gas company, to attempt to minimize or disregard the situation by asserting that the consequences to the con. sumer are necessarily inconsequenti: No expert worthy of the name withstand cross-examination in at- tempting to support any such propo- sition. Recognized by Congress. “3. The importance of regulating gas pressure in order to deal fairly with the consumer was expressly recognized by the Congress of the United States when passing the public utility act of (Continued on Page 2, Column 5.) PORTO RICO UNIONISTS FAVOR INDEPENDENCE By the Associated Press. dAN JUAN, Porto Rico. June 6.— ‘mbers.of the former Unionist Party, in a special corfvention called tonight, plan to drop the notion of statehood for Porto Rico and to siress complete in- dependence as its chicf principal aim. Independent sentiment has been greatly increased following upon a Su- preme Court decision that the name “Unionist” could not be used by the party in the 1932 elections.