Evening Star Newspaper, December 24, 1932, Page 1

WEATHER. (U. 8. Weather Bureau Forecast.) Cloudy, with occasional rain tonight and tomorrow; slowly rising temperature tomorrow; minimum temperature tonight about 40 degrees. Temperatures—High- est, 52, at 4 p.m. yesterday; lowest, 42, at 5 a.m. today. Full report on page 12. The only evening paper in Washington with the Associated Press news service. Closing N. Y. Markets, Pages B-2 & B-3 ah hos 32,379. No. post _office, Entered as second class matter ‘Washington, D. C. WASHINGTON, D. C., SATURDAY, DECEMBER 24, R.F.C. BARES SLASH ININERESTRATES 2 . TOALL BORRDWERS, ™ Cut Amounts to One-Half of 1 Per Cent, Starting January 1. CHARGES ESTABLISHED FOR SALE OF SURPLUSES Tive Per Cent Will Be Asked on Loans for Shipmcn& of Farm FProd- ucts to Foreign Countries. By the Associated Press. The Reconstruction Finance Corpora- tion today made a Christmas present to banks, railroads and financial institu- tions borrowing from it—in the form of & reduced interest rate on the loans. It amounts to one-half of 1 per cent per annum, effective January 1, 1933, and will apply to new loans authorized between January 1 and June 30 and maturing on or before December 31, 1933. It also will apply to outstanding balances of existing loans for the period from January 1 to June 30. The rate on loans to banks, trust; companies, building and loan assccia- tions, insurance companies, mortgage loan companies, credit unions, joint stock | land banks, live stock credit corpora- tions, agricultural credit corpora- tions w reduced from 52 per cent to 5 per cent. Loans to receivers or liquidating agents of closed banks was cut from 5 per cent to 4!2 per cent. Farmers to Benefit. The rate charged by regional agricul- tural credit corporations to farmers and stockmen Will be reduced from 7 per cent per annum, including the cost of and appraisal, to 5': per i NINE HOMES FEEL YULE CHEER, BUT 11 LEFT UNPROVIDED Christmas eve brings a message of and parents ASSLII‘E& Care for w Year as 56 Youngsters Await Mercy of Opportunity Fund. Yuletide joy to 9 of the 20 impoverished families for whom The Star is collecting a Christmas Opportunity Fund. What will the day and the morro unprovided for on the “misery list"? w mean to 11 other families remaining Twenty-two children and their parents will have real cause for rejoicing when the dawn of Christmas day breaks upon their humble homes tomorrow. They will have received the greatest Christmas gift that could come to a desti- tute household—assurance of food and the New Year. What of the other 56 underpriviliged youngsters embraced in the cases for which funds still are urgently needed? Will Washington permit these inno- cent children and their harrassed par- ents to face the New Year without defi- nite hope of succcr—without a guaran- tee of the bare needs to keep body and soul tcgether? The Star is gratified at the gener- ous response already made to this Christmas appeal for specific families in distress. It will most sincerely de- clothing and other necessities of life for | plore any shortage in the fund that | would leave some needy cases not fully cared for. There is yet time to send this fund | “over the top.” A total of $7,045.80 | has been received to date, leaving $3.- 671.40 yet to b2 raised if the 11 other opportunities are to be closed this holi- day season. That is a small amount to pay for the satisfaction 08 knowing that every single one of the 20 cases of dire " (Continued on Page 3, Column 2.) ROOSEVELT POSTED CLOSELY ONSSUES Delegate Held Mark of Alert Policy. By the Associated Press ALBANY, N. Y. December 24¢—In the expectation that Warld War debt, disarmament and economic problems will be handed on to the Roosevelt ad- Impending Visit With Arms| Dies in Shanghai ministration in much their present| form, close friends of President-elect | Rocsevelt believe that he has decided to | keep well posted on these intergovern- | ! mental matters prior to taking office ve of the cost of inspection | March 4. and appraisal. The new plan, however, requires that the borrower pay not to exceed 1 per They drew added support for their be- lief today frcm the visit which Mr. cent of the amount of the loan as the | Roosevelt said he is expecting early next cost of inspection and appraisal of the security tor the loan. The rate of interest on outstanding balances of existing agricultural credit Ioans is reduced one-half of 1 per cent from January 1 to June 30. The corporation will rediscount paper for the Regional Agricultural Credit| economic conference. Corporations at the rate of 5 per cent.|said yesterday that Mr. Davis, who re- turned last Thursday from Europe, | | probably would arrive in Albany Mon- | Interest on loans to aid co-opera- and similar organizations in and marketing agricultural tives carrying week from Norman H. Davis, American delegate to the disarmament confer- ence at Geneva and one of two Ameri- can members who have been working | | on the Organizing Committee for the Mr. Roosevelt products and live stock is reduced from | day, Tuesday or Wednesd:y. 5. per cont to 5 per cent and a rate of 5 per cent is fixed for financing the! sale of surpluses of agricultural products ! in foreign countries. This latter is the first time a definite rate has been fixed for foreign mar- keting. The rate on railroad loans is reduced from 6 per cent to 5!z per cent. The corporation will continue its| pelicy of fixing the interest rate on self lcans on each individual| | liquide epplication. Low Rates Cited. : of the prevailing low rates * the corporation ennounce- the ooard of directors of ction Finance Corpora- educed the rate of interest nt on loans of the corporation of 1 per cent per annum, ef- January 1, 1933.” detailing _the changes _this flect in various classes of loans tatement said: “The rate of interest on loans or to aid in the financing of seif-liquidating projects under Secti 201A of the Emergency Relief Construc- Silent on Hoover Plan. There has been no further comment from the President-elect regarding his correspondence with President Hoover concerning the Hoover proposal to Con- gress for joint action between himself and the incoming President in dealing with the three major world problems. Mr. Roosevelt's only public comment | was the statement issued late Thursday night saying he considered it “a pity not only for this country, but for the solution of world problems that any stalement or intimation should be given that I consider it undesirable to assent to co-operative action on foreign | problems.” He referred to Mr. Hoover's statement of Thursday afternoon. Christmas eve finds Mr. Roosevelt “cleaning the slate” for Herbert H. Lehman, who will succeed him January 1 2s Governor of New York. and turn- ing toward Hyde Park for the holiday. Orphans Given Party. After disposing of State matters this morning and attending a party for or- | phan children at the executive mansion / COL. RICHARD S. HOOKER, GOL. HOOKER DIES SUDDENLY IN GHINA Marine Commander Played Important Part in Japa- nese Siege. By the Associated Press. SHANGHAI, China, December 24— Col. Richard S. Hooker, commander of the 4th Regiment of the United States Marines stationed in the Shanghal In- ternational Settlement, dropped dead today of heart failure. Lieut. Col. E. P. Moses, who recently arrived from the San Diego Marine WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION WOMEN GRANTED EQUAL RIGHTS IN FEDERAL SERVICE Hoover Signs Executive Order Amending Eligibility Requirements of Law. EFFECTS CONSOLIDATION OF JOBS’ REGISTERS Campbell Joins With Miss Dell in Recommending Change to President. Equality for women in the Federal service—a goal for which women gen- erally have fought for years—was as- sured today with transmission to the Civil Service Commission of an execu- tive order amending eligibility require- ments of the law. The order, signed by President Hoo- ver yesterday just before he left for the South, revoked the privilege granted in rule ¥, under which appointing officers in the Government could specify the sex of eligibles for appointment to fill vacancies. Revision of the rule had been re- quested of President Hoover on Octo- ber 8, when Thomas E. Campbell, presi- dent of the commission, joined with Commissioner Jessie M. Dell, long advocate of sex equality in the Gover; ment service, and constituted a ma- jority of the commission. George R. ‘Wales, third member of the commission, dissented, expressing the opinion that women would not acquire the equality they desired due to veterans’ preference requirements, which, he said, would clog the top of the list of eligibles with former service men. Campbell Hails Merger. President Campbell hailed the con- solidation of employment registers as “one of the lcngest steps ever taken in the administration of the civil service act.” Although Campbell has not yct re- ceived the order, he sald it would be put into effect as soon as it reaches the commission from the State Department, through which it must pass from the White House. The first step to be taken under the order will be consolidation of several hundred registers where merr and wom- en have taken examinations, and giving | the women the standing to which they are entitled President Campbel] poirted out there are thousands of jobs in the civil serv- ice for which women are not qualified, citing those in the 1_service and similar jobs where hard lakor is re- quired. For all others where tney are equally capable with men, they will have the same chance. Another Change Due. In this connection, the Civil Service Commission plans to make another change in operation. It is customary now when advertising an examination to say that a man or woman, as the case may be, is “preferred” for the position. Now the Civil Service Commission will specify straight out those exami- nations where either men or women will not be acceptable. This will save expense for those who otherwise might take the examination without any hope of get:mg the position, Campbell point- out. base, assumed command of the Marine | ed | regiment. Col. Hooker collapsed in the draw- ing room of his residence while playing { with his children, soon after returning |home from a Christmas shopping tour, | Funeral arrangements had not yet been made. Lieut. Col. Moses said it would be several days before the plans would be known. ¢ of 1932, will be established in | ith each loan application . if a borrower under this this afternoon his plans called for de- parture for his home at Hyde Park, where there will be a family party. Be. fore leaving Albany he planned to con- sider 30 or 40 commutation cases be- sides the cases of 23 prisoners whose sentences he commuted yesterday. CONVICTS PLAN SHOW Clinton Prison Inmates to Stage Christmas Minstrel. DANNEMORA, N. Y. December 24 () —Inmates of the isolated Clinton Prison, known to the underworld as “Siberia,” will stage a Christmas minstrel show tomorrow, the first ever 2 or contract or sells all its obli- gations held by the corporation in con: nection therewith during 2 period of i two years from the date its lean or| contract is authorized by the corpora- tion, on such a basis that the cost of the money to the borrower is lower than the of the money received | from the corporation, the borrower will | be permitted during such two years| to repay the corporation on the same basis as to yield as that Lpon which | the borrower refinances such loan or contract or sells such obligations, pro- | vided the return to the corporation fori the use of its money will not be less than the rate of 4 per cent per annum.” THIRD* ROUNDTABLE ON INDIA SUGCESS nemora. “English Harry” Wallem, who gained notoriety by having himself nailed in- side a packing case in an unsuccessful attempt to escape from Auburn Prison | several months ago, is staging the show, | with the sanction of Warden Thomas directed and acted by convicts at Dan- | $ir Samuel Hoare Outlines Outccme} of Conference in Closing I for Britain. By the Associated Pres LONDON, December 24.—After more | than four weeks of arduous werk grap- plex problems in build- tion for India, the third| ian Round Table Conference ended ith a plenary session at which' > measure of success was an-\‘ t-o’ place in the King's m in the House of Lor secretar ing addre and ocutlining the outcome of the con- ference. The scene was a colorful one with the representatives of the Indian Prin- cess, ceremonial turband, comprising a striking group as they faced the spokes- men of the Sikhs, Parsees, depressed classes and Moslems, the head of whose community, the Aga Khan, has been one of the conference's hardest work- ing members, The conference ended with agree- ments reached on a large number of | points, notably in the solution of the franchise problem, although there re- mained division of cpinion on others, notably certain aspects of finance and | the distribution of the governmental powers. The conference was heralded as suc- ieessful as a whole, inasmuch as in addi- tion to definite accomplishments it brought out a large volume of repre- sentative opinion for the guidance of the government whose detailed propo- ;.axs will now be embodied in a white per. —_— . Radio Programs on Page B-10 , | prem H. Murphy. Thirty-three inmates will appear in the cast PARDONED BY KING Margherita Blaha, Whose Lover Plotted Against Il Duce, Freed. ROME, December 24 (#).—The King, at Premier Mussolini’s sugestion, today pardoned Margherita Blaha, who was sentenced to serve 30 years in connec- tion with a plot against Il Duce for which her lover, Domenico Bovone, was executed by shooting in the back June 17. ‘Bovone was implicated in the plot by Angelo Sbardellotto, who confessed that he had intended tossing a bemb at the X at a cersmony in honor of Garibaldi. Col. Hooker was one of the most pop- ular American officers who ever came | to China. His death plunged the regi- ment into mourning in the midst of | elaborate Christmas celebrations, all of | which were canceled. Col. Hooker came to China in Oc- | tober, 1930, from the Marine Barracks |at Bremerton, Wash. During the Sino- | Japanese hostilities in February in | Shanghai, he played an important part in the defense of the International Set- | tlement. Lieut. S. C. Col. Moses is from Sumter, HAD FIGHTING EXPERIENCE. | CoL Hooker's Command in Line of Fire in Recent Conflict. By the Associated Press, Col. Hooker, whose fighting experi- ence ranges from the Philippines to Vera Cruz and Haiti in the years be- | fore he went to China, was 54 years old. | " His command of 1225 Marines at Shanghai was part of the time directly in the line of fire between the Japanese and Chinese forces, They were clus- tered behind barbed wire entanglements in the International Settlement, and, with troops of other nations, threw up barricades to protect the foreign colony. The 4th Regiment had been sta- tioned at Shanghai since 1927, when Chiang Kai-Shek’s nationalist forces menaced the city. Col. Hooker went there from Puget Sound to relieve Col. Charles Lyman. Col. Hooker was well known in this city, where he is remembered for his “gray rattler,” one of the first auto- mobiles here. He used to take the late Maj. Gen. George Frank Elliot to | luncheon in the machine. The colonel's | mother, Mrs. Bessie Stewart Hooker, lived here until she went to North Africa. She was reported living at Tunis early this year. MOTHER, TRYING TO UNDERSTAND CHILDREN, GETS COLLEGE DEGREE Attends Summer School, as Household Duties Prevent Regular Attendance at University. By the Associated Press. MINNEAPOLIS, December 24—A feeling that university training was essential to understanding her children, two of whom were college students, prompted & middle-2ged mother to strive to obtain a bachelor of arts de- gree from the University of Minnesota, and today she proudly exhibited her diploma. She is Mrs. Susan Evans of Minneapolis. Watching, as she received her degree from President L. D. Coffman, were her four children—Charles, 21, 2nd Marion, 19, both students at the uni- “~ versity, and John, 16, and Joseph, 14. Mrs. Evans started as a freshman 10 years ago but the press of household duties precluded regular attendance and she had to resort to Summer schocl. Hurrying _home _immediately after commencement exercises, she was found with her degree tucked under her arm, still wearing her mortar board graduation cap, and instinctively reach- ing for a dust cloth. “I could see my children growing and advancing year by year,” Evans said, “and I just couldn’t and let them go on, not having' idea of the world in which they are living. I had to go to the university so I T could undersiand them.” . . -~ - - ] | Under the new order, the department still will have the right of selection, but now if they seek to choose a man who stands lower than a woman who is qualified for the job, they will be forced to give the commission some cogent | reason for their action. As President Campbell pointed out, it would be pos- sible that the three top names on the register which always are submitted to the departments proposing to fill a va- cancy might be those of women. Then, if the department heads wish to go further down the list to pick out a man, he would have to establish to the full satisfaction of the commission that none of the women was fitted for the position. Issue of Long Standing. While the subject matter of the new order has been at issue for a long time, Commissioner Tessie Dell having pressed for it, it has been only in the past few months that action has been taken looking toward bringing it about. Last Summer President Campbell un- dertook a study of the feasibility of consolidating the registers, making a suivey to determine if there had been discrimination against women in mak- ing appointments. His study con- vinced the head of the Civil Service Commission that men had been favored over women and he lined up with Miss Dell in_recommending to President Hoover that an executive order be is- sued to merge the registers. While the matter has been pending before President Hoover for several menths, it is thought that his delay in acting was occasioned by the inter-| vention of his campaign for re-election. There was a feeling that the President may have thought that affirmative ac- tion prior to the election would have been construed as a political move and that because of the nature of the mat- ter it was not desired that it be given a political tinge. The Executive Order. The executive order signed by the President follows: “Amendment of Civil ‘Service rule 7. Civil Service rule 7, section 1, para- graph (a), is hereby amended to read as_follows: “(a) Certification—The nominating or appointing officer shall request the certification of eligibles, and the com- mission shall cerlify, from the head of the register of eligibles appropriate for the group in which the pcsition or posi- tions to be filled as classified, a number y | He formerly was of names sufficient to permit the nomi- nating of appointing officer to consider three names in connection with each vacancy. When so provided by regula- tion of the commission, selection shall be made from the register by the nomi- nating or eppointing officer without preliminary certification of the com- mission. Certification of eligible for appointment shail not,affect his certi- fication or propational appointment. Certifications shall be made without re- gard to sex unless the nature of the du- ties of the position to b filled are such gs, in the cpinion of the commission, can be performed cnly by men or women, as the case may be.” - Fall Kills Editor in China. SHANGHALI, China, December 24 . —J. H. Gray, founder and former edi- tor of the Maul News, Maul, Hawall, fell out of a window on the fifth floor of the American Club today and was a ved n Shanghal in July. s T S and newspapers. ! Martha Gray, in Evanston, Ill, sur- vives him. up Mrs. | killed. ¢ Fpening 1932 / Y [ < CHRISTMAS EVE taf. Yesterday’s Circulation, 116,699 TWENTY-TWO PAGES. #%#% (P) Means Associated Press. TWO CENTS. JUST LEAVEE ):FRB. TLLDO Ci FAoORtw frooste 3 PREPARATION. CAPITAL PREPARES FOR SANTA'S VST RAIN T0 CREET H Raw, Wet Weather, Cloudy Skies and Little or No Snow Forecast. CURTIS TO BROADCAST GREETINGS TO NATION National Community Tree to Be Lighted in Sherman Square. Notables to Attend. An old fat fellow dressed in red, with a benevolent grin and long white whis- kers began his annual Christmas round this morning on the other side of the earth and expected to ride westward with the night, striking the Capital of the United States as the clock tolls 12. The chances are he will find raw, wet weather here, cloudy skies and little or no snow for the runners of his sled, for that is the kind of weather the fore- caster has predicted, but, being a good | fellow, he won't mind. Rat is pre- $714.000 Alessandri Becomes Sixth President of Nation in Seven Months. Policies Will Have Influence | on American Capital in Nitrate Fields. 000 U. S. INVESTMENT AT STAKE IN CHILE INAUGURAL By the Associated Press. SANTIAGO, Chile, December 24— Arturo Alessandri, 64-year-old veteran Leftist politiclan, becomes President of Chile today for the second time in 12 years. The inauguration late this afternoon before a joint session of Congress was | to be followed by a state procession to Moneda Palace, the presidential res- idence, for a reception this evening. The new President was elected Octo- ber 30 by an overwhelming majority over four other candidate for a full six-year term, to succeed the repub-| lic's last constitutional President, Juan | E. Montero, whose administration was | (Continued on Page 2, Column 1) | | dicted for the Capital tomorrow His magic pack bulged with its myriad toys as he slid down a Chinese chimney this morning and left a shiny comb for a wee one's pigtail, and, strange to say, it was still as big as ever when he was reported seen almost as far along as Europe. Consequently children here, some- what alarmed when they learned he was giving his first toys to the Chinese, be- came reassured with the belief that it still would be of sufficient size to as- sure them full stockings when he reached Washington. Curtis to Broadcast. SAVANNAH THRONG GREETS PRESIDENT, Given Reception Reminiscent | of Campaign Days as Party Arrives. | By fhe Associated Press. SAVANNAH, Ga7, December 24— | | President Hoover and his party, bound ARTURO ALESSANDRI SENATE FAVORABLE 10 SPEED UP BEER Judiciary- Committee Shows' Majortiy for Madification of Dry Act. By the Associated Press. A check of the Senate Judiciary Com- | mittee, where the House 3.2 per cent| beer hill faces its next test, disclosed | | today & clear majority for rodification | ! of the Volstead act. | Interviews with members indicated | the bill would receive speedy considera- | | tion unless a snarl develops over its | ia]cchnlic content provision. | The destiny of the Collier bill now lies in the hands of the committee, fol- lowing action of the Senate yesterday in refusing to adopt a motion for im- | mediate consideration of a beer bill. This was proposed by Senator Bingaam, Republican of Connecticut, and the vote declining the motion was 48 to 23. Only Four Opposed. Only 4 of the 13 committee mem- bers remaining in the Capital over the olidays indicated they would oppese legalization of beer at this session. The other nine said they would vote for beer. though one or two made reserva- tions on the alcoholic_content. ~Three of the absentees are Democrats, whose party platform calls for immediate odification. M ince. the Senate decided yesterday to let the beer bill take its regular| course through committees, the next action will come in the Judiciary Com- possibly Monday, Chairman Norris has called a meeting for that day, but with the Senate in Christmas recess until Tuesday, a quorum may not | be present and consideration would go over until after January 1. But prompt action then has been promised. Norris proposes to sendbcthe m{ he same subcommi Thien is e prohibition | repeal legislation. Overwhelmingly for Beer. | The check showed this subcommittee, headed by Senator Blaine, Republican. of Wisconsin, 15 overwhelmingly for beer. Only one member, Senator Borah, Republican. of Idaho, is definitely op- The other members are Walsh, Dem- ocrat, of Montana; Dill, Democrat, of Washington, and Hebert, Republican, of Rhode Island. Walsh said he is for “some kind of a beer bill” though he (Continued on Page 2, Column 6.) AUTO TARIFF CHANGE DUE Belgian-U. S. Negotiations Pro- ceeding Favorably. BRUSSELS, December 24 (4).—Pre- liminary consultations between Brus- sels and Washington concerning the Belgian tariffs on automobiles today were proceeding favorably. Measures were contemplated which aim at a readjustment rather than an increase of duties and will be operative only after mutual consent. Negotia- tors were anxlous to safeguard interests of the American plants established at Antwerp. Bels were confident that iglan quarters ‘Washington finally would consent to re- adjustments already accepted by France. :Pope enumerated his | By the Associated Press. 54 INPRISONED BYMNEBLAS Illinois Rescuers Seek to Force Air to Men Caught by Gas. on a 10-day fishing eruise, arrived in Savannah at 8:30 am. today, to be! given a reception reminiscent of cam- | paign days. | ” The Chief Exeeutive and Mrs. Hoover + boarded the U. S. 6. Sequoié and shortly | afterward headed. down the Savannah | River toward Ossabaw Sound, accom- | panied by three Coast Guard patrol | boats, the lighthouse tender Kilkenny and the yacht Miramer. Christmas ‘Gifts Packed. During the three-hour cruise. from | Savannah under sunny skies, the Presi- dent and the First Lady and their five 3uests settled themselves into the shined and polished 115-foot craft that will be | their home for at least a week. A Christmas eve party on board after the day's fishing is done was planned by Mrs. Hoover and under her direction half a truckload of carefully wrapped Yuletide gifts were packed into the Sequoia’s hold. As_the Sequoia slipped swiftly down | the Savannah River, she was the flag- | ship of a fleet consisting of three Coast | Guard boats acting as_secret service | cutters, the 100-foot lighthouse tender Kilkenny and the 125-foot yacht Miramar. Train Trip Uneventful. Fiching in the Ogeechee River was| planned for the afternoon with possibly , a slow cruise southward tonight. The journey from Washington was uneventful. Arriving in Savannah. the | party was met by a crowd that filled the railway station and lined the streets outside. ‘There were applause. and As the youngsters looked forward with eager anticipation for the arrival of Santa Claus, grown-up Washington prepared with charity, reverence and & joyous spirit, scarcely dampened by the troublous times, for observance of Christmas. Vice President Curtis will broadcast the Yuletide greetings of official Wash- ington to the Nation this afternoon at the lighting of the National Community Christmas tree in Sherman square, south of the Treasury. A few mnutes after 5 o'clock he will throw the switch. filling the hundreds of varicolored lights on the living spruce with brilliant radience. Distinguished groups of spectators, including those high in official, diplomatic and social life here, are to attend the ceremony. The Vice President will arrive at the tree at 5 o'clock, accompanied by & party including his sister, Mrs. Edward E. Gann. Preceding his arrival there will be a half-hour concert by the United States Marine Band, led by Sec- ond Leader Arthur S. Whitcomb, in & program of music appropriate to the occasion. In past years the President has been the central figure at the tree-lighting ceremony, but his vacation trip South this year interfered. Gov. Pranklin D. Roosevelt and Mrs. Roosevelt have accepted the invitation of Senator Capper to listen in on the Christmas tree lighting ceremonies. The following telegram was received from the Governor: “Mrs. Roosevelt and I will be de- lighted to listen in on the national community Christmas tree celebration. Merry Christmas to you all.” The metropolitan police forces are co-operating to take care of traffic near the tree. The Eliipse is available cheers as the President and Mrs. Hoo- | e e e | for parking, it was announced by Capt. | Doyle Hickey, superintendent of park Mayor Thomas M. Hoynes, M. O.| Dunrning, collector of the port ofi Savannah and Mrs. Dunning headed |a group of prominent residents in | forming a reception committee for the | presidential party. TRAVEL ON MOWEQUA, Ill, December 24— Fifty-four miners were imprisoned in the co-operative mine at Mowequa, near Decatur, by a gas explosion in an underground shaft at 9:30 am. today. Escape was cut off and the fate of the men remained in doubt. Attempts were made to force a tube through the barrier, through which to force down | a supply of fresh air. There was no evidence of the wreck- | age wrought by the explosion. That | something “awful” had happened in | the pit was the word spread from the | little tipple to the village of 1,200 in- habitants, a mile away, when the dull | roar stopped all response to the sig- | nals from : thelnine ofce. On board also were a group of Secret Miners imprisoned were those who | Service men and two stenographers, in- four m:onths ego attempted to make a | dicating that the vacation may not be living for the 7 ini | entirely free from work. The Presi- & e s ooty dent immediately settled down to com- SPECIAL CARS. Presidential Party Includes Secret Serv- ice Men and Two Stenographers, The presidential party. which included Justice Harlan Stone of the Supreme Court and Mrs. Stone, Senator Austin of Vermont and Mrs. Austin, Mark Sullivan, newspaper writer; Dr. Joel T. Boone, White House physician, and Lawrence Richey of the White House secretariat, left Washington at 8 o'clock last night. They traveled on two spe- cial cars attached to one of the fast Southern limited trains. nil | death and co-cperative venture to reopen the mine, which the coal operators had closed as unprofitable. A citizens’ committee leased it from the Schafers, ccal| cperatcrs of Pana, and those who werked as miners shared and shared alike as :tockholders. They had barely managed to make wages, | Glenn A. Shafer of Pana, owner,| was one of the first outsiders to reaci the Mowequa mine. He telephoned Mayor Charles E. Barnett of Pana, re- questing that the Pana Fire Depart- ment be sent to the scene equij with pulmotors and gas masks. “The mine, Shafer said, “is evidently filled with gas. We cannot say what caused the explosion.” He said 50 miners had escaped from the mine. | plete relaxation, however, and talked| engagingly of fishing prospects. DEALER'S BURNS FATAL 86-Year-Old Chicagoan Dies as Re- sult of Christmas Planning. CHICAGO, December 24 (#)—Wil- liam Anderson, 86, started to brighten up the rear of his shoe shop last night with Christmas wreaths, but he never | finished. He knocked over an oii stove and in | pe extinguishing the resulting blaze his clothing caught fire. He put out that blaze tco, but he was so badly burned that he died today. CARES FOR HOLY “JUBILEE” YEAR Desites Surcease in Talk Ab Problems Starting April 2. By the Associated Press. . VATICAN CITY, December 24— Pope Pius XI, in a Christmas message to the world today, expressed hope that there might be surcease from talk of armaments and reparations, debt pay- ments, moratoriums and insolvencies, during a holy year begining April 2, 1933, which is to commemorate the neteenth centenary of the passion, e Tesurrection ‘of cri;rm. e Pope's message was response to Christmas greetings from the score of Cardinals who live in Rome and from the sacred curia, the church’s ad- ministrative departments. These car- dinals, represent cardinals and bish- ops throughout the world, were gath- ered before him in the Consistury Hall. . Pollowing an ancient custom the joys amd sorrows A POPE URGES WORLD TO BANISH out Arms, Debts and Other of the last year. Listed among joys were the spread of missions, Catholic action and success, and the Eucharis- tic Congress. Among his sorrows listed were “the Russia, Mexico very sad conditions” in and Spain. The Pope sent best Christmas wishes and prayers for “peace, tranquility, mu- tual confidence, friendly relations, greater assistance wherever were the greatest needs, in sufficient remunera- tive work, and less unfavorable and un- certain general conditions of life.” This was expressed particularly at a moment when, he said, there were “‘so many divisions and conflicts among | ghe would proceed |1 les and states, not excluding the orrors of war and civil war and the consequent continuance and worsening 7" (Continued on Page 2, Column. 2.) police. Motorists from the North are asked to enter the tree area via West Executive avenue or Seventeenth street. Special invited guests and all persons having special automobile passes will have a reserved parking space west of Sherman Square on East Executive avenue. Capper to Speak. The arrival of the vice presidential party will be announced by a Girl Sezut | bugler, who will blow “Attention.” As |they take their seats in the stands a | Boy Scout will sound “Roll Call” and the exercises. to be broadcast through- cut the Nation, will begin According to the official forecast, the Christwas weather will be raw, but any { rain which may fall will not come until | night or tomorrow X Senator Arthur Capper, chairman of the National Community Christmas Tree Committee, will make a brief in- troductory address and the Vice Presi- | dent will light the tree. Then to the ctrains of “Hark, the Herald Angels Sing” the Gordon Junior High School carolers, dressed in red and green medieval co-tumes, will march around the tree. The Girls’ Glee Club of George Washington University will sing “The Bells.” and Arlton Mur- ray, a Boy Scout, will present the greet- ings cf the people of Washington to the Vice President. A Girl Scout, Isabel Walter, will give Mrs. Gann an armful of pink roses. After more music by the Girls' Glee Club and the Men’s Glee Club of George Washington University and the Marine Band, Vice President Curtis will broad- cast his message to the American ople W"’ith President Hoover in the South and Congress in recess until Tuesday, with many members away to spend their holidays with familics and friends, many other officials also were out of the city. Secretary Wilbur also was in the South, inspecting the proposed Everglades Park in Florida. _Secretary ~(Continued on Page 2, Column 4) FREIGHTER SINKING OFF JAMAICA ISLAND 'Liner President McKinley Gets $ 0 S and Proceeds to Scene 125 Miles Away By the Associated Press. NEW YORK, Dccember 24—The British freighter Newbrough broadcast an S O S early today, stating it was sinking off the Island of Jamaica, with its engine room flooded. The call, picked up by station WAX at Miami, was rebroadcast to the liner President’ McKinley, which replied that to the position given, 25 miles, or about eight hours away. The Miami station's call also was cked up by the Coast Guard in New ork. { ¢