Evening Star Newspaper, March 29, 1933, Page 15

MAPES TAX BILLS INTRODUCED AGAIN FOR HOUSE ACTION Measures to Boost D. C. Levies Revived With Some Revisions. FOUR PROPOSALS FAILED TO PASS LAST SESSION Oncome, Inheritance, Auto-Weigh and Higher Gasoline Assessments Provided in Program. The four so-called Mapes bills to} ncrease taxation in the District a!l Columbia, which were rushed through; the House in December, 1931, follow- ing a speclal investigation by a com- mittee into the fiscal relations of the District of Columbia with the Federal Government, were reintroduced in the House today. Representative Mapes, Republican, of Michigan, who was chairman of the special committee, introduced three of these bills—for an income tax, for an auto-weight tax and for an increase %0 4 cents in the gasoline tax—while Representative Frear, Republican, of Wisconsin, introduced an inheritance tax bill. Referred to Committees. ‘When these bills were passed by the House in recrod-breaking time two s ago they were reported directly y the special Mapes committee. The life of that committee, however, has expired, so the bills are now referred to the regular legislative committee, ghe House District Committee. The Senate failed to take up any of these bills and only one of them was ever reported from the Senate com- mittee, and in that one the committee yeduced the proposed increase in the oline tax. ‘&I‘n the gasoline tax bill introduced today some changes have been made on recommendations of Assessor Richards, to make evasion of the tax more dif- ficult. Income Measure Revised. Assessor Richards has also revised the administrative features of the in- come tax bill so as to make adjust- ments of deductions relating to non- Tesidents and _distinguishing between incomes earned in the District and those earned outside the District. This proposed income tax law would repeal the intangible property tax law. In other, respects, the Mapes bills, as reintroduced today, are practically the same as were reported two years ago by the special committee. SAM THOMPSON_RESIGNS PLACE ON FARM BOARD Former Chief of Bureau Federation Reveals President’s Acceptance of Withdrawal. By the Associated Press. e % Sam H. Thompson y announce his resignation as a member of the Fed- eral Farm Board effective April 1. Thompson disclosed that he trans- mitted his resignation to President Roosevelt (::Ld March 13 and that it has been accepted. He was appointed to the board in March, 1931, to complete the unexpired term of Alexander Legge, the first chair- man. Thompson, whose home is at Quincy, 1., resigned as president of the American Farm Bureau Federation to accept the post. Under the executive order issued two days ago by President Roosevelt estab- ishing the new farm credit administra- tion, Thompson's position will be abol- ished on May 27 unless the order is wvetoed by Congress. e MARK ANNIVERSARY McLean Boy Scouts Celebrate 23d Birthday of Organization. Bpecial Dispatch to The Star. MCLEAN, Va., March 29—A talk on Bcouting by Lynn Drake, Scout execu- tive from Washington headquarters, and presentation of a star Scout badge to A. Rutherford Sadtler and a first aid merit badge to Jack Smocot marked the McLean troop’s celebration | of the twenty-third birthday of Scout- ing. The birthday cake with 23 candles was made by Mrs. A. M. Berthiaume, wach of the 18 boys in the local troop lighting the candles in turn. Two one- act plays, “The Hold-up,” and “The Camp-fire Meeting,” were presented by the scouts and a story was told by Fred Btewart. ‘War Mothers to Plant Trees. FALLS CHURCH, Va, March 29 [(Special).—The Piedmont Chapter, American War Mothers, meeting yester- day evening with Mrs. J. L. Shotwell, decided to plant two memorial trees in the churcn yard of the Dunn Loring Southern Methodist Church. The cere- mony will be in charge of Mrs. T. T. Taylor of Dunn Loring, chairman of the Memory Tree Committee, and will be held April 24. Capital Summers Hold No Terrors For Roosevelts Accustomed to Warm Weather—Hudsorf Fa- vored for Vacation. By the Assoclated Press. MRS. MACPHERSON CRICHTON. INIURY AT CAPITOL BEINGINVESTIGATED {Mrs. MacPherson Crichton Victim of Unavoidable Ac- cident, Say Witnesses. Investigation probably will establish as “unavoidable,” it was said today, the accident in which a prominent Wash- ington matron suffered a fractured hip when knocked to the tiled floor of a corridor outside the Senate Chamber by a hurrying page. Mrs. MacPherson Crichton, street, wife of a well known surgeon, had gone with friends to take lunch jat the Capitol yesterday. She was walking by the Senate Chamber when a violent collision occurred as 12-year- old James Edward Witt issued sud- denly from the Republican entrance. Both Mrs. Crichton and the page were thrown to the floor. Bystanders hurried to Mrs. Crichton'’s assistance and summoned Senator Royal S. Cope- land of New York, a physician. Dr. Crichton was summoned to the Capitol by telephone. Meanwhile, Sen- ator Copeland and Dr. George W. Cal- ver, Capitol physician, administered to the injured visitor. She was taken to Emergency Hospital in an ambulance from the Naval Hospital. Mrs. Crichton spent an “uncomfort- able” night last night. Doctors said she suffered a bad fracture of the left hip, and was too ill to discuss the accident, An informal investigation was started by C. W. Jurney, Senate sergeant at arms. Jurney said the page denied he had been running, and this state- ment was corroborated by some wit- nesses it was said. Jurney said the investigation so far indicated the acci- dent was unavoidable. Young Witt lives at 1913 I street. PLAN REORG;\NIZATION OF CLEVELAND TRUST CO. Bank Officials and State Director of Commerce Confer With R. F. C. Head. By the Assoclated Press. Cleveland bank officials and the Ohio Director of Commerce Theodore H. ‘Tangeman, met with Jesse Jones, chairman of the Reconstruction Finance Corporation, today to_plan possible reorganization of the Union Trust Co. in Cleveland. Others present at the conference were: J. R. Kraus, chairman of the Board of the Union Trust Company; R. S. Crawford, vice president of the Union; Sidney B. Congdon, head of the Cleveland office of the Reconstruction Finance Corporation; E. S. Burke, vice chairman cf the Cleveland Federal Re- |serve Bank: T. H. Jones, attorney for i the Union Trust; A. V. Cannon, chair- man of the Cuyahoga County Relief |Board; George M. Humphrey, vice | president of the M. A. Hanna Co., and ‘Tangeman, state commerce director. AT MARYLAND UNIVERSITY !Dean of Chapel at Chicago U. Will Lecture Tomorrow and Twice on Friday. Special Dispatch to The Star. ! COLLEGE PARK, Md., March 29— {Dr. Charles W. Gilkey, dean of the {Chapel at the University of Chicago, will be guest speaker at the University of Maryland tomorrow and Friday. ‘Tomorrow morning at 11:20, Dr. Gilkey will speak on “Education and the Imponderables,” while on Friday he will be heard twice. Friday at 11:20 he will hold an open forum, and that afternoon at 4:20, in his farewell talk, his subject will be “Is Religion an Extra?” Dr. Gilkey is a graduate of Harvard and was a member of Phi Beta Kappa | there. He also has received honorory de- igrees from Yale, Willlams and Hill- ldnle. He has toured the universities of this country and Canada and has spoken at leading institutions in Ger- i many, Scotland and England. WARNS AGAINST FURS Those seeking Summer White House sites in their vicinity are throwing their efforts away—unless the Roose- velt Summer psychology suddenly changes. The Roosevelt’s really “don’t mind” heat and humidity. ‘When the subject was brought up re- cently, Mrs. Roosevelt recalled that her husband was a Summer worker in ‘Washington in war times and was very off-hand about it. She remembered, further, that he had made, and announced his choice of Tecreation spots—if there is time for recreation—his home on the Hudson. And there will always be his twice-a- ear visits to Warm Springs, Ga. As for Mrs. Roosevelt, she once weathered July in the Capital, doing war canteen work in a humid spot—in s corrugated iron shack made more torrid by an Army kitchen. After that experience, Summer Wash- ington holds no terrors for her. Chamber of Commerce Head Tells of Complaints on Street Sales. The people of Washington were warned against purchase on the streets of furs sold by itinerant peddlers, in a statement issued today by Thomas P. Littlepage, president of the Washington Chamber of Commerce. Numerous complaints have been re- ceived by the police and by the Cham- ber, Mr. Littlepage declared, concerning sale of furs made of rabbit skin which were misrepresented as being of more expensive grades. Fairfax Taxpayers to Meet. FAIRFAX, Va., March 29 (Special).— The Fairfax County Taxpayers' League will meet tonight in the Court House at 8 o'clock. The Budget Committee will make its final report. in 1715 H| |DR. C. W. GILKEY TO SPEAK! he WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION bening S faf WASHINGTON, D. C, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 29, 1933. STUDY BEING MADE OF METHODS USED 10 FIX LIVING COST Secretary Perkins May Adopt New System of Making Survey of U. S. REVISION CONSIDERED IN VIEW OF PAY CUT Labor Department’s Statistics Found Unsatisfactory Because of Lack of Information. Because of its “tremendous impor- tance” to employes of labor throughout the country and to more than half a millicn Federal employes at this time, Secretary of Labor Perkins said today she was making a study into the ad- visability of revising the Labor Depart- ment’s system of surveying the United States to determine the costs of living. Under the new economy act, President Roosevelt may change Federal salaries on the basis of the cost of living deter- mined by the Labor Department. The department on Saturday fur- nished Budget Director Douglas with a report showing living costs throughout the country had been reduced 21.7 per cent since 1928. Douglas submitted this report to the White House, and last night President Roosevelt ordered the salaries and wages of all Government employes réduced 15 per cent. Considered Important, Miss Perkins also said she would make a study of the wage cuts that have been imposed by industry during the economic depression. Employers have contended they have based these reductions in the most part on the department's figures {on the costs of living. She said the wage-cut statistics of the department were not satisfactory be- cause many employers had failed to an- swer the question of whether they had cut wages. “I consider the question of wages of such !mportance that a staff conference will be held to work out some plan to make a significant study,” she said. “To be accurate it must have a check-up in every industry—actual examination of pay rolls.” Miss Perkins said she was aware that the department’s system of gathering costs of living statistics had been under a cloud for several years. She cited the severe denunciation of the survey made by former Commissioner of Sta- tistics Ethelbert Stewart in his annual reports starting in 1927, but the only comment she would make on the syu.un was “the matter is now under study.” Called Method Worthless. She explained she would get the as- sistance of the American Statistical Sogiety in mapping out plans for & new survey. She said the soclety was now forming & committee for this pur- Stewart, who retired last year after more than 40 years in the Government service, and who is considered an in- ternational authority on labor eco- nomics, contended the method employed by the department in determining the living costs was not only antiquated. but was “not worth the paper it was written on.” “In the first place,” Stewart recom- mended in his annual reports, “I would recommend a new family budgetary sur- vey to supplant the survey mi in 1918. Our cost-of-living surveys are necessarily based upon the quantities consumed as shown by the family budgetary survey now 15 years old. “It hardly seems necessary to call attention to the importance of keeping up our cost-of-living surveys, and there- fore to the importance of making them sufficlently up to date. A cost of living survey must be based upon a given standard of living; as that standard changes new surveys must be made to determine what the change in standards is in order to give cost of living surveys the accuracy which is essential to their usefulness.” Revision Not Made. He asserted that employers were do- ing the laboring class an injustice by determining wage scales on the depart- ment’s inadequate survey. Stewart has issued statements defy- ing any person in the United States to explain the American standard of living. He explained that so far no such thing exI‘stted. at Jeast from a statistical stand- point. Because of the lack of funds, it was explained at the department today, Stewart's suggestion for a revision in the system which was made in 32 cities while this country was at war, was never carried out. The department contends that from available data living costs in the coun- try have been reduced 21 per cent since 1928 in Washington. NOMINATION APPROVED Senate Committee Favorably Re- ports Hanley for Radio Body. The Senate Interstate Commerce Committee today favorably reported the nomination of James H. Hanley, Omaha lawyer, to be a member of the Radio Commission. Hanley told the committee he had “an open mind,” was opposed to mo- nopolies, held no stock in any radio concern and had never represented & public utility in any lawsuit. Stanley Hubbard, manager .of Sta- tion KSTP,, who had mfi'fi“ a complaint against Hanley's confirmhtion, withdrew it by telegram today. SUBMETER RULING MAY START PROBE OF PRAGTICE HERE Power Handling by Owners of Certain Buildings Held Discriminatory. CHARGE LEVIES OVER THOSE OF COMPANY Appeals Court Fipdings Laid Be- fore Commission by Corporation Counsel, Raising Question. The decislon of the Court of Appeals Monday, in holding that the submeter- ing of electric power was a discrimina- tory practice, may lead to an inquiry to determine if other “submetering” prac- tices here come within the meaning of the decision, it was learned today at the District Building. The question was raised today in a memorandum laid before members of the Public Utilitles Commission by Corporation Counsel W. W. Bride in for- warding a statement of the findings of the Appeals Court to the commission. ‘The commission as yet has reached no decision as to an inquiry, and the subject will be considered at a later date, it was indicated. Extra House Charges. It appeared possible today, however, the extra charges being levied here by some apartment houses and hotels, for telephone connections through their house switchboards, over and above the rates charged by the telephone com- panies, might be made the subject of a study. In numerous cases, it is re- ported, a flat charge is made by owners of such properties for the operation of a central switchboard through which the lines of the tenants' telephones pass. The Court of Appeals ruled against the submetering of electric power by owners of certain buildings under a system in which charges could be levied over and above the charges made by the power company itself. The power company refused to provide such serv- ice and it was taken to court by the submetering interests. The Public Util- ities Commission issued an order against the submetering practice in the power case, The District Supreme Court and now the Court of Appeals ruled that sub- |h: metering practices as outlined in the case was discriminatory and a burden on the resources of the company. “Open Door” to Practice. The position of the Utilitles Com- mission, unofficially, was that should such power sub-metering have been legally permitted, it would have left the door open for tremendous develop- ment of the practice over which the commission would have no control as to charges to be assessed consumers engaged in reselling such current to ofl'}zg <:c)l.m.||mxs..1 e memorandum on the power sub- metering decision, forwarded g:the com- mission and which was drafted for the corporation counsel by his assistant, Wililam A. Roberts, states, in part: “Careful attention should be given to the paragraphs describing the jurisdic- tion of the Supreme Court on appeals from the Public Utilities Commission and to the general indictment of the practice of submetering, as on these points the jurisdiction of the commis- slon is distinctly strengthened by this decision of the Court of Appeals. w“'lu'?e lx;’pllcm of the decision as e submef ctices of utilities might be con':fd‘eled lho."nm“ PROHIBITION AND BEER DISCUSSED BY CITIZENS Chevy - Chase, Section 8, Group | had to offer.” Favors State Convention for Decision on Repeal. 8pecial Dispatch to The Star. ‘CHEVY Repeal of the probibition prol lon amendment to the Constitution of the United States and prohibition of the sale of beer and other alcoholic beverages in Montgom- ery County. a heated discus- sion :.t mt):e ll“?e%&%n o‘r gl‘le Citizens’ Assoc o 3 ‘hase, held last night. 2 & In a resolution introduced by H. H. Snelling, chairman of the Legisiative|TWO0 D. C. Residents and Kensing- and Legal Action Committee, the asso- ciation went on record in favor of the State convention method of deciding upon' & repeal of the eighteenth amend- ment. ‘The resolution, which aroused pro- longed and spirited debate, recom- mended “that the sale of beer or other alcoholic beverages with an alcoholic content of over s of 1 per cent by volume be prohibited in Montgomery County, as it has been prohibited for the past 20 years, until the proposed change be submitted to the people in popular election.” discussion was a decision by the asso- |scene ciation to allow its delegates to the|ton Montgomery County Civic Federation to use their own judgment in voting on | Ault, $100 and costs, and Havener, $150 this question if it should come before |and costs. All noted appesls to the the federation. Opposition to the proposed exten- sion of Willow lane from its present terminus to Wisconsin avenue was ex- pressed by the association in & resolu- | Heights base ball and soccer teams of tion which was passed. W. T. Allen, chairman of the Enter- tainment Committee, announced that the association will gymnasium of the Chase High School. MISS PERKINS HALTS BULLETIN® ON WORK AS “UNRELIABLE” ( The outcome of the | mon law nuisance by staging an ob- at 8_o'clock ‘would prove ol onable ‘hevy lumedp of its obscene character, he Material Printing Bill Saving Is Expected by Secretary of Labor Department. The employment bulletin published monthly by the United States Employ- ment Service of the Labor Department is to be discontinued because of its “general _unreliability,” Secretary of Labor Frances Perkins announ today. Thy? bulletin has been made up. of reports received from district agents in all States, nn% m pr:nmud o?uhéfi:— de paper. By ontinuing = ls;!c‘;tlon. Miss Perkins said the depart- mentmr‘zul save materially on its print- ing g The woman cabinet official explained that the bulletin's reports were based impressions,” and “reflect only what Sam Jones or Mary Smith have observed city where ced | of the entire labor fleld. She said from now on the ment would publish sta by the Bureau of Statistics. having been gathered under a sound uyxz-’?whle.hntookhlhrnnmple ‘The bulletin has been published i culpable Society and General Tank Car Wrecked By Automobile } & MILITARY SCHOOLS STUDY PRESENTED Results of Eight-Year Survey Given at Meeting of Association. Results of an eight-year study of the | relative standings in universities and | colleges of military school trained and | non-military school trained young men | were presented at this morning's ses- | slon of the twentieth annual meeting of the Association of Military Schools and Colleges of the United States at the Am- | bassador Hotel. Report Confidential. | While a great part of the report, pre- | sented by Col. C. R. Endsley of Tennes- see Military Institute, was confidential, it was revealed that during the past three year§ more military school trained young men have been attending institu- tions of higher learning than during the period before the economic crisis. ‘This, it was explained, is probably be- | cause parents of many of the youths re- | alize they will not be able to get into | business during times of depression, and | feel they should be fitted with a college | education in addition to the academic nng military work they already have a Maj. Roy W. Wonson, Staunton Mil- itary Academy, and Col. C. C. Cham- bers, Culver Military Academy, dis- cussed the topic “Guiding Boys to the Right College,” before the session ad- journed. Buses awaited the delegates to take them to Annapolis, where a regimental drill was to be presented this afternoon by the midshipmen. The delegates will dine at Carvel Hall, An- napolis, before returning to Washing- ton for the final meetings tomorrow. Retrenchment Efforts. Members of the association were told yesterday that public schools have been so seriously affected by retrenchment programs that opportunity is afforded the military schools to render educa- tional service to thousands who ordi- narily would be satisfied with the pub- lic_schools. Lieut. Col. A. M. Hitch, president of the association, said in his opening ad- dress, “The repression has hit us hard, but it has hit private, non-military schools almost as hard. Referring to the public schools, he cited school closures, shortened years, increase in teachers’ work and decrease in number of teachers, reduction in their pay and elimination of certain courses. | “In many ways” Col. Hitch con-| tinued, “we have a wonderful oppor- | tunity to step into an unfortunate | breach and render an educational serv- ice to thousands who might ordinarily | be satisfied with what the public schools | Brig. Gen. Henry J. Reilly spoke on the topic “Activities of the Associated Military Defense Council.” Representatives of 43 milif and colleges are attending schools e con- March 29— | vention. THREE MEN FINED FOR OBSCENE SHOW ton Youth rennd Guilty in Rockville Police Court. Special Dispatch to The Star. ROCKVILLE, Md., March 29.—Julius Rosenfeld and Edmund B. (Tubby) Ault, both of Washington, and Powell Havener, young resident of Kensington, were found guilty in Police Court here today on charges of maintaining 2 com- show ‘1‘? tFeMAngrlys at Kensing- the night of Marc! 3 Rosenfeld was fined $1,000 and costs, Circuit Court and were released on bonds double the amounts of their fines. The performance, it was testified, was given for the benefit of the Columbia hich Rosenfeld is the business man- :ger. Rosenfeld admitted on the wit- ness stand he contracted to have the promptly ordered it stopped. Ault contended that his only connec- tion with the show was to act as ticket- taker and that he likewise was unaware that any obscenity was contemplated. Judge Donald A. de Lashmutt, before whom the cases were tried, held that all connected with the show were guilty and that he felt it his duty to impose penalties of sufficient severity to let it be understood that things of that kind could nct be permitted in Montgomery County. smi-. Attorney Stedman Prescott an- nounced every effort would be made to rehend others connected with the flw and who probably were more than the three found guilty AUTOPSY ORDERED for | Coroner Asts After Man Is Found Dead in Home Here. Acting Coroner A. ider Mac- Magru ts | Donald ordered an autopsy on the body of industrial conditions | of Howard Chambe: reported by the Sta- | found dead this morning in his home Bureau. rs, 35, . who was in the 2000 block of Fourth street | had their incomes severely curtailed MOTHER WINS DAMAGES Given Judgment for $4,000 in Suit Against Her Son. Mrs. Mary Keren, 3615 Warder street, was awarded $4,000 damages from her son for injuries received in an automo- bile accident by a jury in District Su- preme Court yesterday. The woman was riding with the son, Barney Keren, when his automobile was in collision with another machine near Richmond on July 5, 1931. She was badly cut on the face, After the accident, Mrs. Keren brought suit through Attorney A. L. Newmeyer. CAPPER 10 SPEAK IN RENT PROTEST President Green of A. F. L.| on Program With Senator Friday Night. The high-rent protest meeting called | by the District Department of the| American Federation of Government Employes for Friday night at the Mc- Kinley High School auditorium will be addressed by Senator Capper, Repub- lican, of Kansas, and William Green, president of the American Federation of Labor, it was announced today. Senator Capper, former chairman of the Senate District Committee and chairman of the Rent Investigating Subcommittee in the last Congress, will discuss “The High Cost of Housing in the District of Columbia.” Mr. Green | will speak on “The High Cost of Living in the Distrft of Columbia.” Although sponsored by organized Fed- eral workers, all wage earners in the city have been invited to participate in the meeting, which has for its objective a concerted protest against the high cost of housing in the Capital. Committee Statement. In a statement outlining the pur- pose of the meeting, the committee in charge said: “The mass meeting sponsored by the District department of the American Federation of Government Employes is being held in the interest of all wage earners in Washington, those in the Government service as well as those in private employment, all of whom have because of salary reductions. They feel that living costs, particularly those hav- ing to do with housing, should be low- ered proportionately. “The two speakers who have already | agreed to lend their voices to our cau:@ have long been champions of the rights of working men and women. Senator Capper, as chairman of the Senate District Committee, has been a leader in the fight to lower housing costs, and in the last Congress headed a subcom- mittee of the Senate District Commit- tee in the continuation of that cam- paign. President Green of the Ameri- can Federation of Labor s vitally inter- ested in this movement as a possible relief for all workers in the National Capital.” Participants Announced. ‘The committee in charge of the meeting, which is comprised of C. M. Mears, Miss Fanny P. Lamson, Charles E. Ridgway, jr., and J. P. Simpson, an- nounced that the following organiza. tions have been asked to participate in the mass meeting: American Federation of Labor, Fed- eration of Citizens’ Associations, Inter- national Association of Machinists, Union Label Trades Department of the A. F. of L., Maryland State and District of Columbia Federation of Labor, Washington Central Labor Union, Na- tional Federation of Post Office Clerks, National Association of Leter Carriers, National Women’s Trade Union League, Pressmen’s Union, Plate Printers’ Union No. 2, Columbia Lodge of Machinists, Bakery and Confectionery Workers and Firemen’s and Oilers’ Union. ‘The McKinley auditorium is at Sec- ond and T streets northeast. MRS. VERONICA BURDINE OF TAKOMA PARK DIES | terda: ‘Wife of Deputy Clerk in Bureau of Internal Revenue Expires at Montgomery Hospital. By a Staff Correspondent of The Star. TAKOMA PARK, Md., March 29.— Mrs, Veronica C. Burdine, 45, of Ta- koma Park, wife of Ward P. Burdine, deputy clerk for the district of Mary- land 3ed‘hetmth “PM ot,:::emnc‘)kev:; nue, at the Mon ry Count General_Hospital yesterday. Mrs. Burdine, who resided here for 22 years, was born in Washington and lived in that city until her marriage. ‘The deceased is survived by her hus- band, two brothers, Edward Coughlin of Washington and Vincent Coughlin of Baltimare, and a sister, Florence Cough- lin of Baitimore. She was a sister-in- law of Sergt. Earle H. Burdine of the Montgomery County police force. LABOR HOLDS SEAT Bye-Election in Wales Makes No Change in House Parties. PORTH, Wales, March 29 (#).—Labor retained the East Rhondda riding in a bye-election necessitated by the death of Lieut. Col. Watts-Morgan, who had rep- resented the district since 1918 and was chairman of the Welsh Labor party. 10331 Eommudmmfi.ni‘tbw P AL for - and 7,851 for William GAS AND POISON VIGTIMS FOUND Raymond J. Hafer Declared Suicide—Coroner Inves- tigating Other Death. With a gas tube looped about his neck, the body of Raymond J. Hafer, 36-year-old soldier, was found last night in his room at a boarding house in the 500 block of H street. The coroner’s office issued a certificate of suicide. ‘The coroner is investigating the death of William P. Payne, 47, a photog- rapher for the Agriculture Department, and is withholding a verdict until the contents of a half-empty bottle found in his room at the Houston Hotel last night can be analyzed. Two Notes Left. Both men left notes. In a message addressed to his landlady, Mrs. Mary Rosenwelg, Hafer apologized for the trcuble he had caused. He left a sealed letter to Capt. George E. Armstrong of Walter Reed Hospital, where Hafer had been under treatment. Mrs. Rosenzwelg found the soldier's body lying across a bed, when she de- tected the odor of escaping gas and opened the door of his room cn the second floor to investigate. Police noti- fied the man's father, Harry Hafer, of Dayton, Ohio, and had the body taken to the Morgue, pending funeral ar- rangements. Found by Elevator Operator. Payne’s body was found about 11 :‘c!oc'k last mf(l’:rt b§ Nelson Brown, an levator operator. It was lying beside a drinking glass and bottle, containing a colorless liquid, which the coroncr's office ordered analyzed. The photographer, who lives in the 1200 block of E street northeast, left a message saying, “I, William P. Payne, leave all my properties, real and money, to my wife, Lena E. Payne.” A note addressed his wife in endearing terms and stated the writer alone was respon- sible for his act. Payne had occupied the room only two days. o $3,500 IN PROPERTY LOST AND STOLEN $2,000 Bracelet Disappears; $1,000 Taken in Two Cases of Housebreaking. More than $3,500 in cash, jewelry and other articles, reported wkpourcye as ;tlol;n.d lo;: anmd obtained by hold-up en during the past 24 ho wi sought today by police. S The largest single lost was a $2,000 emerald and diamond bracelet reported wh\::stb-yc the Mayfi e tesreling e lower, while trave] lb;:;xt ‘ht:: city. e fore than $1,000 in cash and jewelry 2t roomns of M Age : of es Gallagher and Edward Henkel, roomers IHDIG Cortland place, and from the home of Annile Mowatt, 1405 E street southeast, 1t was reported. Hold-up victims last night were Rich- ard Geraci, held up in a tailor shop in the 2800 block of Fourteenth street; and Relph N. Council, taxicab driver, held up and robbed by two colored passen- gers, according to police records. BILL TO APPEAL EVIDENCE IS BLOCKED IN SENATE Melvin Holds Measure “Danger- ous” Departure From Funda- mentals of Jurisprudence. Special Dispatch to The Star. ANNAPOLIS, March 29.—Terming a bill which would permit appeals on Questions of evidence as well as law in inal cases a “dangerous and radical departure from the fundamentals of Jjurisprudence,” Senator Ridgely P. Melvin of Anne Arundel County yes- 'y waged a successful fight to have the measure recommitted to the Judicial Proceedings Committee, from which it ‘was reported favorably. The measure drew the fire of Senator Melvin as soon as it was brought out on the floor. He contended that the Nation was in a state of unrest and the courts are directed to have crime punished and “judgments meted out as expeditiously as possible.” The bill, he tended, would create delays. “I don't think this measure should pass,” asserted Senator Melvin. “I have no connection with the courts or with any State’s attorney of any county, but I think that it is a dangerous and radical departure from the funda- mentals of jurisprudence.” —_— STRICKEN IN SADDLE William Skinker, 55, of The Plains Dies While Hunting. Special Dispatch to The Star. ‘WARRENTON, Va., March 29.—Wil- liam Skinker, 55, a landowner and horseman of The Plains, Va., died sud- denly Monday of a heart attack while riding in the hunting fleld. He was for years master and manager of the Orange County Hunt, was a member PAGE B—1 TWO ARE INJURED WHEN AUTO STRIKES Watchman and Colored Woman Hurt as Car De- rails Oil Tanker. D. C. MAN IS ARRESTED IN BLADENSBURG CRASH Two Takoma Park Youths Held in Wrecking Stolen Machine in Chase. TWo persons were seriously injured and police uncovered an alleged gang of juvenile automobile “borrowers” as & result of two accidents involving freight tfains and automobiles, one in nearby Maryland and the other in the District, last night. The injuries were received when a car which police say was driven by Grover Cleveland Epley, 27, 1300 block of Columbia road, crashed into the middle of a freight train which was crossing the Defense Highway on the Benning spur track in Bladensburg. Car Derails Oil Tanker. The _car coming down the hill to- ward Washington was unable to stop and smashed into an oil tank car. The {reight car was completely derailed and wrecked. Edwin Nelson, 58, the cross- ing watchman, who tried frantically to halt the on-coming machine with a red lantern, was struck by the auto- mobile. ~He was taken to Casualty Hos- pital by the Bladensburg rescue squad, along with Helen Parker, colored, of Washington, and treated for cuts and bruises about the face and possible fracture of the pelvis. The colored wom- an, examination showed, received pos- sible internal injuries. Epley, according to Constable Andrew Gasch of Bladensburg, left the scene rafter the accident. Police followed a trail of blood that he is said to have left up the hill, where it is believed he caught a ride into Washington. He was arrested at his home this morning and held for Maryland authorities. Confess Taking Five Autos. As a result of the other accident, Charles R. Clark, 16, and Horace R. Jenkins, 15, cf Takoma Park, were arrested and are said by police to have admitted taking five automobiles re- cently. However, it was said they drove the machines until the gas gave out and in each instance abandoned them. Headquarters Detective James Kane and Pcliceman F. S. Hathorne, riding in a headquarters car, recognized a stol car as they were coming into Washington cn Bladensburg road last night. They gave chase. The fugitive car turned into New York avenue north- esst and had proceeded a short dis- tance when its driver turned it from the road. ‘The car bumped over a field and went onto railroad tracks at Langdon, fol- lowed by the police car. Here the boys encountered a fast freight and leaped out just before it demolished the car. Police drove their car from the tracks Just in the nick of time. Letter Leads to Arrest. ‘The youths escaped before the offi- cers could get to them, but Kane found a letter which had been in the wrecked car from a woman in Takoma Park. When police contacted her she told them she had given it to the Clark boy to mail. Both youths were subse- quently arrested and, according to Town Policeman Earl Thomas, confessed to taking the five cars. The machine which was wrecked was listed to L. D. Burns of Takoma Park. One of the other machines was taken from John Adams, a Takoma Park councilman. REGISTRY OPENED FOR SOCIAL WORKERS Office Will Place V‘olnntcen in Ef- fort o Relieve Burden of Commnnity Chest. ‘The Council of Social Agencies yes- terday opened a new bureau for the registration and placement of volunteer social workers. The office, at 223 In- vestment Building, will be in charge of Miss Virginia Christie, herself a volun- tee. The new bureau was designed to relieve the heavily burdened Community Chest agencies of part of the work forced upon them by present conditions. Opening of the new bureau is a part of the plan of the Council of Social Agencies to obtain more volunteer ss- cial workers for Chest agencies. In this connection, the council has been conducting, under the auspices of a special committee headed by Mrs. John Jay O’Connor, an institute for volun- teer social workers in which some of the most notable authorities in the country have spoken. The institute has enrolled 110 women and men who will be_available for volunteer service. ‘The ttee in charge of this work, in addition to Mrs. O'Connor, consists of Mrs. Harry Bernton, Mrs. E. Hilton Jackson, Mrs. Benjamin Weems, Mrs. H. Wellen Fisher, Mrs. Myron Dil- lon, Mrs. Wilson Compton, Mrs. Dwight Clark, Miss G. H. Bowling, Miss Kath- erine F. Lenroot, Miss Anne Carter Greene, Miss Louise McGuire, Dr. D. W. Willard, Mrs. E. H. Griffith, Elwood Mrs. John Selby, Mrs. Willlam W. Mackall, Mrs. Charles Bradley and DeWolfe Hubbard. JIM CROW LAW REPEAL BILL SUFFERS SETBACK Maryland Senate Rejects Favor- able Report From Judicial Proceedings Committee. By & 8taff Correspondent of The Star. ANNAPOLIS, Md., March 29.—The blennial effort to repeal Maryland's Jim Crow law suffered a setback last night when the Senate, by vote of 12 to 11, rejected & favorable report from the Judicial Proceedings Committee on the measure. It may be revived through parliamentary procedure within the next two days. Senator E. Milton Altfeld of Balti- more, author of the bill, defended it on n;e qgonrr. and Sé;‘wgr I;gg!ey G. Roe of jeen Anne nty spoke against it before the vote was taken. After acting on the Jim Crow re- pealer, the Senate adopted favorable Teports on bills adjusting the State school laws to meet cuts made in the Miss'| budget, the bill to create a $12,000,000 State bond issue for the benefit of Bal- timore’s unzm{alnyed. -n‘d the measyre a T . [