Evening Star Newspaper, December 9, 1932, Page 1

“From Press to Home Within an Hour” The Star’s Carrier system coversevery city block and the edition is delivered to city and suburban homes as fast as the papers are printed. ‘WEATHER. Bureau mammrwmycm- gentle vhriable winds, mostly west and at 2:30 p.m. yeturdll;' Towest. 35, “today. Full_report on _page 5. 41, t 7 e ‘WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION The o Star. Closing N.Y. Markets, Pages 13,14&15 Yesterday’s Circulation, 120,314 No. 32,364, post office, Entered as second class matter ‘Washington, D. C. e WASHINGTON, D. C, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1932—FIFTY-SIX PAGES. FRP (P) Means Associated Sepoesistmgee et TWO CENTS. Press. HOOVER ORDERS 58 AGENCIES REORGANIZED 15 BRANCHES ABOLISHED "UNDER PLAN TO MERGE OVERLAPPING BU Effective in 60 Days Without CongressO.K. OUR CABINET : AIDES CREATED o Estimate Made P of Savings Likely to Result. Tezxts of the President’s mes- sage and supporting argument appear oy Pages A-6 and A-7. . BY J. RUSSELL YOUNG. Sweeping reorganization of the executive and administrative mgencies of the Federal Govern- mment is provided for in.11 execu- tive orders, transferring and grouping a large number of these agencies, transmitted to Congress today by Ptesidenj; Hoover, The President’s ordeérs, which &re in accordance with an act of Congress passed last June, be- come effective in 60 days unless disapproved by Congress in the meantime. They would effect the grouping or consolidation of a total of 58 executive agencies and reduce by about 15 the number of independent establishments. These orders are incorporated in a message which, with.a de- scription of the reorganization plan and, a detailed explanation of the tions of ‘the various agencies activities affected, and Mr. Hoover’s arguments for consolidation, grouping or com- ete abolishment, is more than 0,000 words in length. For Eliminating Waste. 1t is made plain by the President that his aim is to eliminate as much as pos- sible the waste of duplicated effort and the overlapping of authority by consoli- dating and grouping activities accord- 4ng to their major purposes under sin- gle-headed responsibility. His plan, which serves as a climax to many years of effort, not only on his own part but that of many of his pred- ecessors, is most comprehensive and, in his opinion, would effect a large saving in public money. ‘The President pointed out in his mes- sage that certain limitations are placed upon the Executive in the provision that statutory measures may mnot be | abolished by cxecutive orders, the effect | of which, he said, rendered it necessary to retain many commissions, but, under his executive orders, their administra- tive functions have been taken away and placed under various departments, ‘while the commissions themselves re- tain only their advisory functions. He was unable, however, to give an estimate of the economies which even- tually would result from such a pro- gram. He pointed out, though, that the total appropriations for the present fiscal year for the agencies affected is approximately $700,000,000. | No new cabinet positions are created by the President’s program, but four new designations for Assistant Secre- taries are provided for. These are: \Assistant Secretary of Interior for Pub- lic Works, Assistant Secretary of Inte- rior for Education, Health and Recrea- tion; Assistant Secretary of Agriculture for Land Utilization, and Assistant Sec- | retary of Commerce for Merchant Marine.' One significant feature of the Presi- dent’s message explaining his executive orders was his statement that he has under consideration further consolida- | tions and groupings in the different | departments, among these being certain functions of the Army and Navy, which he hopes to transmit to Congress at a | later date. Assistant Secretaries. The major portion of the consolida- tions and groupings is placed in the four divisions which would be headed by ghese Assistant Secretaries. | Into the Division of Public Works. which would be a part of the Interior Department, the President shifts the | Bureau of Reclamation and the Geo- | Jogical Survey, both of which now are| in the Interior Department; the Office | ©of the Supervising Architect, now in the | *Treasury Department, and the non- military activities of the Army Engi- neers, including rivers and harbors and flood control work, now under the War Department. | | Trip Would Cancel Historic New Year Day Reception at White House. Into this division also would go the Interoceanic Canal Board; the Bureau of Public Roads, now in the Agriculture Department; the Office of Public Build- dngs and Public Parks, now independ- ent; administrative duties and powers of the National Capital Park and Planning Commission; administrative duties and wers of the Rock Creek and Potomac rkway Commission; the Arlington Memorial Bridge Commission; adminis- trative duties and powers of the Com- mission of Fine Arts; the general Sup- ply Committee now in the Treasury De- rtment, and the Goverament Fuel ards. Into the division known as Education, (Continued on Page 6, Column 1.) FAVOR FIVE-DAY WEEK New York Printers Vote 5 to 1 fd# Proposal. NEW YORK, December 9 () —New ‘York printers voted nearly 5 to 1 for the five-day week in the referendum conducted yesterday by the Interna- tional Typographical Union. The votes, ‘announ« today, were 5663 for the Jproposition and 1,312 against. . | expressed How Consolidation Of Federal Bureaus Will Have Effect By the Assoclated Press. The principal effects of Presi- dent Hoover's consolidation orders, unless vetoed by C.ngress, will be: Reshaping the Departmen® of Interior into an agency handling virtually all public buliding and g:bllc works, including rivers and rbors and flood control, and all education, health and recreation activities of the Government, in- lcludinz the Public Health Serv- ce. Grouping under® the Depart- ment of Commeree of all mer- chant marine activities, including the now independent Merchant Fleet Corporation and Inland Waterway Corporation, and the Hydrographic Office of the Navy and the Naval Observatory. Giying the Department of Com- merce control of the Weather Bureau and assigning the General Land Office to the Department of Agriculture to create a division of land utilization. ' Giving the Coast Guard con- tral of the border patrgl of both immigration and customs serv- ices, thus charging it with control of all entry to the United States. Abolish the Employes’ Compen- sation Commission and certain ‘minor agencies, whose dutles would be taken over by the Dis- trict of Columbia. MERGER APPROVAL BY CONGRESS SEEN Leaders of Both Parties Expect No Action to Hinder Plan. Republican - and Democratic leaders predicted today that most of the Gov- ernment reorganization program recom- mended by President Hoover would go into effect automatically at the end of the 60-day period prescribed by law. Congress must take affirmative action to halt the program and with the calendar of business already filled it appeared unlikely that any of the pro- positions could be stopped. Robinson Foresees 0. K. “The indications,” said Senator Rob- inson, of Arkansas, the Democratic leader, “are that those provisions not requiring legislation will go into effect at the end of the 60-day period pre- scribed by law. Necessarily those fea- tures of the program requiring legisla- tion will involve consideration by the committees having jurisdiction.” Senator Byrnes, of South Carolina, a Democratic member of the Special | Economy Committee, termed the pro- | gram “merely a shuffiing of bureaus that seems doubtful even of promoting efficiency, let alone economy.” | “It appears,” he said, “that the only activities to be abolished are the Rock Creek Park Commission and the board gzhln;sues of the National Training Approval Expected. Senator Pat Harrison of Mississippi the opinion that the President’s recommendation for the re- organization of the Federal depart- ments would become effective. He | pointed out that only an act of Con-| gress turning down the President’s pro- | posal could halt them. Chairman Cochran said the House Expenditures Committee would meet “immediately” to consider the proposals. “I'm for any consolidation that will save money,” he said, “but before I can | give a verdict I'll have to look it over. | I do think, though, that all rivers and | harbors work ought to be kept as free | from politics as possible, and I don't know whether you would be doing that | if you transferred it to the Interior De- partment.” Communists REAUS Efficiency Aim _of Changes Scheduled. DUTIES TO BE CENTRALIZED Proposal Will Lessen Duplications of Effort. BY WILL P. KENNEDY. President Hoover’s reorganiza- tion plan, sent to Congress today, has three important steps. First, he groups together under one responsible head various scat- tered agencies which have common major function er pur- pose. Second, he directs that re- sponsible head to proceed toward efficient co-ordination and con- solidation within department, where there can be a more busi- ness-like reorganization. Third, he creates a stronger | Budget Bureau with undisputed authority to guide and assist in such reorganization, and in a larger way work for co-ordination throughout the entire Government service. His program is not based pri- marily on economy or the lop- ping off of agencies, but aims at good ‘'administration which will naturally bring about greater effi- ciency d economy. He does away with a number of by the simple pro- cedure of transferring their duties to a particular administrative of- ficer and leaving them in an ad- visory capacity, where they are seldom if ever likely to be called upon. He does specifically recom- mend to Congress abolishing cer- tain agencies created by act of Congress. Accounting Office Hit. While there are many shifts from one department to another, probably the most severe cut of all is given to the General Accounting Office, which is stripped of all but its distinctive func- tion—*“for auditing all receipts and ex- penditure accounts in an establishment that is independent of all others.” The President points out that the wording of the act has been interpreted to per- mit the General Accounting Office to extend its powers and duties into the field of administration in the several departments and establishments of the Government to an extent that is far be- yond its primary function. ‘The need for a logical grouping of governmental units with the same ma- _and purposes has been on Page 10, Column 3.) ROOSEVELT PLURALITY 596,996 IN NEW YORK Gain Recognition With 26,407 Votes—177,307 for Thomas. By the Associated Press. ALBANY, N. Y, December 9.—The New York Board of Canvassers today officially declared that Gov. Roosevelt's plurality over President Hoover in the November - election was 596,996 votes. The total vote in the State was 2,534,959 for Roosevelt and 1,937,963 for Hoover. The Communist party gained recogni- tion as one of the major political parties of the State by polling 26,407 votes in the gubernatorial election. Norman Tlloma.s, the Socialist, received 177,397 votes. Trotsky Sails Today. | VENICE, December 9 (#).—Leon Cyclone Overturns Train. MELBOURNE, Australia, December 9 (#).—Fifteen passengers were slightly "I MANCHURIAN 1SSUE Trotsky, exiled Soviet leader, who is|injured today when a cyclone overturned en route back to Istanbul from Copen- a train in the Rockhampton district of hagen, took a train here last night|Queensland. A baby, blown along a direct for Brindisi, where he expects to road for some distance, also was hurt. catch a boat today. Many dwellings were damaged. President Hoover was reported today to be considering a Christmas vacation trip to Florida, but has not decided definitely upon such a journey. | The tentative plan under consider- ation at the White House is for the President to leave the Capital just be- fore, or just after, Christmas for a brief stay in Florida. The spot he would visit has not yet been finally determined. The Chief Executive is holding final decision as to the trip in abeyance | pending action by Congress before its Christmas recess. Should something arise in legislative |or governmental affairs that he feels would require his presence in the Capi- | tal the trip would not be made. Should he finally decide to go, how- PRESIDENT MAY GO TO FLORIDA FOR BRIEF CHRISTMAS VACATION and in the past Presidents have shaken hands with 5,000 or 6,000 people on that ay. If the reception is abandoned, it would be the first time since January 1, 1929, when President and Mrs. Coolidge were away from the city on a holiday visit at Sapelo Island, off the coast of Georgia. The vacation under consideration would be the first real one for Mr. Hoo- ver in nearly two years. The last oc- casion was when he visited Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, which kept him away from Washington for nearly two weeks. the Winter of 1930 President Hoover, with Mrs. Hoover and a party of friends, went to Long Key, near the southern tip of Flarida, where for nearly two weeks he rested and fished in the Gulf stream. He also went to Miami Beach, Fla, for a month’s visit just ever, there were indications today that he might spend New Year day the South, can the historic New Year day tion. at the White Bagio Programs en Page D-4 House. On gccasion the general public is invited in to meet-the Chief Executive, ~h prior to his inauguration four years ago. During that stay in Florida the Presi. dent across the visited The late e Winter home at Fort Myers, ‘west coast. @%@% Y@ 93@@ DS ?TZ@] ,,\T: oN OHEETS 7. v / / f A 0 5 y <P By . ()= P> 1 2% 7/ , /777 7 / GIVEN COMMITTEE League Turns Matter Over to Conciliation Unit for Quick Report. By the Associated Press. GENEVA, December 9.—The League of Nations Assembly, closing an eventful debate on the Manchurian situation, voted today to refer that issue to the Ccneiliation Committee of 19 with a Tequest that the committee Teport as| soon as possible on propocels by the Assembly for settlement. The Lytton report, the record of the discussions in the Assembly and all pertinent documents were passed cn to the committee without comment, and} thus the clash over a resolution by four small nations condemning Japan’s Man- churian policy was avoided. ‘This procedure was regarded as a success for Japan and for a pclicy of conciliation with the support of the big powers. Among the several proposals referred to the committee was that for inviting the United States and Soviet Russia to participate in the work of con- ciliation. ‘Then the Assembly adjourned indefi- nitely. The committee of 19 may meet Monday. Defending the Japanese policy, Yosuke | Matsuoka told the Assembly yesterday that the Japanese people are so sure of the righteousness of their cause they| are prepared to support it in the face of | the severest penalties provided by the League covenant. | ‘The Tokio delegate made this state- | ment after he had protested vigorously | against the resolution which proposed | to condemn Japan's military activities in Manchuria as incompatible with ex- | isting international treaties. | Representatives of Spain, the Irish/| Free State, Sweden and Czechoslovakia | had presented the resolution, which as- serted that Japan had not acted in legitimate self-defense in Manchuria, | that the establishment of the State of Manchukuo violated existing treaties, | and that an International body, with | the United States and Russia partici- | pating, should attempt to effect a con- ciliatory settlem&nt. SU MAY GO TO GENEVA. Interned Chinese General Gets Per-| mission te Cross Soviet Territory. ‘MOSCOW, December 9 (#).—It was| officially announced last night that the Soviet government has given Gen. Su Ping-Wen, leader of a short-lived in- surgents’ evolt against the Japanese in Northwestern Manchuria, permission to | go to Europe via Russia presumably to present his case before the League of Nations. Gen. Su, who fled into Siberia a few days ago after retreating steadily before a strong Japanese offensive, will be accompanied by several Chinese officers. (The Chinese leader and a man claiming to be Gen. Ma Chan-Shan, the hero of the famous Nonni River | battle in November, 1931, whom the Japanese once claimed they killed, yes- terday were reported by Rengo (Japa- nese) News Agency as having been turned over by Russian authorities at Hoover Cabinet Gets Laugh When Asked To Look Cheerful By the Associated Press. President Hoover and his ‘cab- inet today enjoyed a laugh at their own expense. The President and his aides posed on the White House lawn for the last cabinet picture of his administration. The group gazed with studied mien while camera shutters clicked continuously. Suddenly there came a call from the photographers: “Can you look cheerful this time?"” The cabinet relaxed in laugh- ter—and put on less serious ex- pressions. The photograph was the first taken since Mills and Chapin became Secretaries. COLLIER SEES GAIN FOR BEER MEASURE Witnesses Tell Committee Plan Would Give New Life to Many Industries. By the Associated Press. Strength for approval of a beer bill is believed by Chairman Collier to exist in the House Ways and Means Com- mittee. That view was expressed by him to- day with continuation of testimony by beer advocates that legalization of the brew would mean capital investments of millions and vitalize many industries. Looking to early action, Collier told newspaper men that although he had not made a committee poll, “from sur- face indications I imagine we will be able to report out a bill.” “Secretary Mills,” he said, “has ac- cepted the committee’s invitation to give all the information the Treasury has on the proposal. He will appear tomorrow as the first witness and I imagine he will discuss the financial phase of the subject.” Many Witnesses Heard. Previously the Treasury Department declined to send representatives to the hearings, informing Collier it had not made a study of beer legislation. A parade of witnesses today said legalization of beer would pour millions into industry and provide employment for thousands of workers now idle. The group included representatives of the Associated Cooperage Industries, the Mack-International Motor Truck Corp- oration, numerous hotel and restaurant and associated or zations, “the Com- mittee on Industrial Rehabilitation,” the National Electric Manufacturers’ Asso- ciation of New York, the Owen-Illinois Glass Co., Metal Trade Journals and the Associated Producers of Cereal Beverages. A new suggestion was volunteered by Representative Amlie, Republican, of Wisconsin to the effect that each State be allowed to fix its own alcoholic con- tent, instead of having it fixed at 2.75 per cent, as the Collier bill does, or at 3.2 per cent, as many witnesses for brewing interests have advocated. No action was taken. however, and " (Continued on Page 2, Column 8.) The Tragic Story " (Continued on Page 2, Column of The Homeless Boys Thousands of boys of all classes withou’ homes and with- out hope are roaming the country, picking v- a lodging here, a meal there, going from town to town, from one end of the conti- nent to the other, then back again, stealing rides on freight trains, bumming their way on trucks, begging lifts from motor- ists. For them life appears to offer nothing. To get the true, detailed and tragic story of this army of homeless and hopeless wanderers, the North American News- paper Alliance assigned a writer, Daniel Robert Maue, who won _the Pulitzer 4ravel Fellowship for 1925-26, to travel with them as they travel, to share their livi to talk with them. es, to win their confidence and His stories, adequately illustrated, will appear in The Sun- day Star on December 11 and dajly thereafter until completed. THREE GET PRISON TERMS IN LOTTERY |Mann, Past President of Eagles, Given Five Months and $12,000 Fine. By the Associated Press. 5 NEW YORK, December 9.—Conrad H. Mann, president of the Kansas City Chamber of Commerce and Missouri | chairman of the President’s Unem- ployment Commission, was sentenced to tion of Federal lottery laws in the pro- motion of a fund-raising enterprise for the Fraternal Order of Eagles. Bernard C. McGuire, - professional | promoter, was sentenced to serve one year and one day and to pay a fine of $12,000. Frank E. Hering, trustee of Notre Dame University and editor of the Eagles' Magazine, called “least culpable” by the court, was sentenced to serve four months. i v s A e, 2y pay $4, et to serving Sentences Stayed 10 Days. Judge Frank J. Coleman imposed the sentences and stayed their execution for 10 days. In the meantime attorneys will apply for bail in the Circuit Court of Appeals. Pending that the defend- ants are in technical custody of their counsel. The court denied a number of mo- tions to stay judgment to set aside the verdict and to grant a new trial. When hfi pronounced the sentences he said: ‘I will say this for the defendants—I believe that the lottery was honestly cag‘d:mted." er sentence had been pronounced, Ottinger’s firm issued this At':mment: In due course our clients will appeal to the Circuit Court of Appeals and thereby obtain a review of certain im- | portant questions of law presented by the record in this case. The statute in- volved is one of narrow application im- puting no moral dereliction to its vio- lators. Its constitutionality was upheld by a divided court only after prolonged deliberation in the so-call ‘lottery case,’ and no court of appellate juris- diction has ever held that it applied to a case such as this. “No Element of Fraud.” “There is no element of fraud, con- cealment or overreaching in the case, and it is undisputed that a sum sub- stantially in excess of $400,000 found its way into the treasuries of 879 aeries of the Praternal Order of Eagles for the various charitable activities of the order. The fund-raising campaign sponsored by the defendants involved large out- lays of cash and-large commitments of credit before any returns were or could be realized. The risk of loss assumed by the defendants was great, and it is inconceivable that the risk would have been undertaken had it not been for the existence of the contracts of 1926, out of which arose the obligation to conduct such affairs for the benefit of the aerias and without loss to the aeries.” In pleading for mercy for his clients, A.F.OF L PLEADS [PARIS AND LONDON FOR MAINTENANGE OF U. 5. PAY LEVEL Delegation Sees Byrns to Protest Furlough and 11 Per Cent Proposal. CLERKS’ MASS MEETING TO MAP ORGANIZED WAR Pressure Will Be Brought on Con- gress Members by Means of Telegrams, Pleading on behalf of the Government employes and the organized workers of five months in prison today for viola- delegat the country against the economy act, including the furlough and the 11 per cent cut in salaries recommended by President Hoover in his message to Congress, a delegation of American Federation of Labor officials appeared before Chairman Byrns of the House Ap- propriations Committee today. Speak- ing on behalf of 105 national and international unions, Frank Morrison, secretary of the federation, urged that the pay cut should not be included in the appropriation bill. Chairman Byrns pointed out that | the subcommittee will meet tomorrow morning at 9:30 and the full committee at 10 o’clock, when they expect to re- port out the first of the big appropria- tion bills, that for the Treasury-Post Office Department. He intimated that the 813 per cent reduction, under the furlough plan, is included in the bill as it has been drafted, but that the further 11 per cent cqut recommended by the President wi not be included. Mr. Byrns pointed out that the ident should have deducted the amount that would be saved by such reduction from the total appropriations asked. but that this was not done in the budget, which contained only the bald ndation, and that special leg- passed before of Government In addition to Secretary Morrison, the ion included Frank Coleman, secretary of the Plate Printers’ Asso- ciation and secretary of the Central Labor Union; Thomas F. Flaherty, sec- T treasurer of the Na Fed- eration of Post Office Clerks; Edward J. Gainor, president of the National Asso- ciation of Letter Carriers; William H. Collins, president of the Raiflway Mail Association; Clyde M. Mills, represent- ing the International Typographical Union; John Prey, secretary-treasurer of the Metal Trades Department of the federation, and the following members of the Legislative Council of the fed- eration: W. C. Hastings, Edward Mc- Grady and W. G. Roberts. Meanwhile, Federal employes laid definite plans for organized opposition to adoption of a bill which would fur- ther their reduced salaries. A special mass meeting of the Fed- eration of Federal Employes’ Unions has been called for next Friday in the ball (Continued on Page 3, Column 1.) —_— HUNDRED DISCHARGED IN NEW YORK COURT Will Be Taken to Baltimore to Face Trial on Charge of Burglary. By the Assoclated Press. NEW YORK, December 9.—Kenneth Hundred, wanted in Washington and Baltimore for a series of burglaries, was arraigned today on an indictment charging him with carrying a pistol after commission of a crime, a felony. At the suggestion of the district at- torney’s office Hundred was discharged on his own recognizance in order that he might be turned over to Baltimore police, who are prepared to press a burglary charge against him, convic- tion on which would carry a maximum penalty of 25 years’ imprisonment. Detective Sergt. Elmer O'Grady of Baltimore was in court and said he would leave for Baltimore with Hundred later in the day. For the time being Hundred was taken back to his cell in ‘Tombs Prison. Tama ol e Akron on Sea Flight. LAKEHURST, N. J., December 9 (#). —The U. 8. Akron took off last night on a training flight along the coast and | out over the sea. Comdr. A. H. Dresel was in charge. The ship may cruise all day today and return tonight to her hangar. Ottinger told the court that “this is, at best, a technical crime.” “Finally,” he went on, “I would ask your honor to (Continued on Page 2, Column 4.) CAPITAL SHIVERS WITH NATION AS COLD WAVE “STANDS STILL” Temperature Here Drops to 25 Above Zero, With Similar Reading Expected Tonight. above zero. A similar “low” is prom- ised for tonight. Reports of low umgeuture readings came from as far South as Amarillo and Lubbock, Tex., where 11 above zero was reached, and it was predicted freezing temperatures wculd reach down to Corpus Christi. ‘The Middle West and Far West, how- ever, are bearing the brunt of the freez- ing temperatures. Helena, Mont., had an official reading of 28 below zero, and Associated Press reports told of tem- tures of 29 below at Devils Lake, . Dak., Mont. at around zero and five deaths were Washington weather, along with that of almost all of the country, will con- tinue cold tonight and tomorrow, ‘Weather Bureau officials forecast today. They added the possibility of snow to- morrow, predicted yesterday, is less im- minent. The blanket of cold weather which moved down from the frozen North this week is now practically stationary over all the country except the Southwest and is expected to warm up gradually. Probably, however, it will be several days before it begins to get warm. Along with tomorrow’s cold, the fore- and 36 below nnsxm Lake, Chicago shivered morning | ha PREPARING T0 PAY DEBTS NEXT WEEK Both Countries Show Willing- ness to Meet Payment With Reservations. CONGRESS AWAITS FINAL ACTION OF DEBTORS Secretary Stimson, in Note to Eng- land, Again Demands Obliga- tion Must Be Met, By the Assoclated Press. Developments in Europe indicate that both England and France will pay the money they owe the United States next Thursday. There was no flat statement from an official quarter either in London or Paris that this decision has been reached, but, in both capitals, the cabe inets gave their attention to evolving the most practical method of payment. An official statement in London said this matter will be considered at a cabinet meeting early, next week, when Prime Minister MacDonald returns from the disarmament meeting at Ge- neva. In Paris the minister of finance ad- vised the Foreign Affairs Committee and the Finance Committee of the Chamber of Deputies that the govern- ment is disposed to pay with the under- standing that this will be the last pay- ment, pending reconsideration of the entire debt structure. The French pre- mier must now go before the Chamber of Deputies for approval of this course, m)d] l’(’i was expected that he would be upheld. CONGRESS AWAITS DEBT STAND. Stimson, in Note, Says Concessions Might Be Considered. By the Assoclated Press. A Congress resolute in its determina- tion that Europe shall pay looked to Great Britain today for what that na- tion might propose before writing a willingness to accept any new form of war debt payments as suggested by of State Stimson. In advising the British that the De- cember 15 installments must be met, Stimson said he was “confident” that Congress “would be willing to consider any reasonable fuggestion” from that government which would make it easier to remit the $95,550,000 due then. Soon after the United States note to Great Britain was made public last night, Secretary Stimson handed to Ambassador Paul Claudel of France this Government's reply to the second ::ench appeal for a moratorium exien- lon. Disputes Recovery Argument. Secretary Stimson in the reply to the French debt note said the Government “has not been able to reach the con- clusion that a postponement of the December 15 payment from the French government to the United States is necessary because of its effect on the problem of recovery.” “The President of the United States,” | Stimson said, “is prepared, through whatever agency may seem appropriate to co-operate with the Prench govern- ment in surveying the entire situation and in considering what means may be taken to bring about the restoration of stable currencies and exchange, the re- vival of trade and the recovery of prices.” Poland Repeats Request. Later, Poland, in another note to this Government, today repeated its re- quest for postponement of the $4,430,- 000 war debt installment dué December 15, bolstering the request with a de- failed statement of the country's un- satisfactory economic position. The note was presented to Secretary Stimson this morning by Ambassador Filipowicz. Poles have not forgotten American assistance in advancing credit for the necessary staples of life after the World War, the note said, and the govern- ment has done its utmost to put the country on a sound and permanent financial basis, a task in which private American capital was of the greatest assistance. The present Polish government is ready to do its utmost to meet its obli- gations, but it must request now that the December 15 payment be post- poned “until such time as the entire matter of Poland’s indebtedness to the United States is reconsidered.” | Great Britain has rejected President | Hoover’s proposal tha‘ payment be made }by depositing sterling in England, to be guaranteed as to dollar value, and Stim- son’s note last night disclosed that ;uru;erd m;ormilh suggestions” had en made of “methods of minimizing” exchange difficulties. * Consideration Promised. ‘The Secretary said Mr. Hoover was prevared “through whatever agency may seem appropriate” to study in co- operation with Great Britain the whole question of debts, linking it with fae- tors involved in world trade recovery, disarmament and the possibility of opening up new American markets in exchange for debt payments. lonal leaders would com- Possible Fatalities in Kentucky Explosion Unknown HARLAN, Ky, December 9 (#).—- Twenty-three men were reported trap. ped by an explosion in the Harlan Fuel Co.’s coal mine at Yancy today. This- report which came to George Ward, secretary of the Harlan County Coal ~ Operators’ Association, said it could not be determined whether any d been killed. Rescue crews were rushed to the mine. $620,000 in Gold for U. S. CHERBOURG, Prance, December 9 (#).—The liner Bremen sailed today with $620,000 in ld _consigned for private account by the Belgian Foreign to its branch in New. York,