Evening Star Newspaper, April 18, 1933, Page 1

WEATHER. (U. 8. Weather Bureau Porecast.) Generally fair tonight and tomorrow; slightly cooler tonight; gentle to moder- ate Highest, 76, shifting winds. . Temperatures— 2:50 p.m. yesterday; low- est, 54, at 5:00 a.m. today. Full report ou Page A-9. il i Closing N. Y. Markets, Pages 14 and 15 Entered as seco: 20 c post office, Wa No. 32,494, nd class matter D. C. shington, he RODSEVELT TAKES IFLATON I HANE CONERESS MAKES READY FOR BILL Advocates of Money Exban- sion Withdraw Amendments to Farm Bill, Expecting Speedy Action. PRESIDENT MEETS TWICE WITH SECRETARY WOODIN | | Honse Rules Committee Approves Tightening of Discharge Rule, Raising Petition Signers From 145 to 218—Revision Is Fought by 59 Democrats in Caucus. By the Associated Press. President Roosevelt today took over the problem presented by congressional sentiment for cur- rency inflation, while on Capitol Hill the Democratic leadership evidenced expectation of adminis- tration plans looking toward' swift combatting of deflation. As a round of White House conferences was begun, advocates | of currency inflation withdrew | their pending amendments to the farm bill to await the adminis- tration’s move. Mr. Roosevelt conferred twice with Secretary Woodin before go- ing 1n to a cabinet meeting at 2 o'clock. Meanwhile, Speaker Rainey, . told newspaper men “some form | of inflation” would be enacted.| He indicated he was waiting for | administration pronouncement on| the subject, which possibly would be framed in light of the cur- rency stabilization negotiations soon to be undertaken with Prime Minister MacDonald and other world leaders. President Studies Problem. The President is known to be study- ing the problem closely with a view to getting more money into the hands of the people, but there is no sign that he favors suggestions for forthright currency expansion. Yesterday's vote in the Senate, when | the 16-to-1 silver proposal got 33 votes, | apparently has brought a decision for an_early administration declaration. The two currency plan votes aban- doned in the Senate today were on pro- posais by Senators Thomas of Okla- homa and Long of Louisiana, Demo- crats. Thomas later told newspaper men he ' pnd Senator Byrnes, Democrat, of South Carolina. an administration staiwart, would go to the White House late today. The inflationists plainly have indi- cated hed been informed the ad- ministration was working on some plan to combat deflation and that this was the reason for their withdrawing further | currency amendments to the farm bill. “The sentiment for something to be done aleng this line is pretty strong.” Themas said, adding Senator Robinson —the party leader—had asked him to withdraw his amendment. Rainey Favors Inflation. Yesterday Rainey said he favored in- flation through the remonetization of silver, but added he was without knowl- edge of the administration’s attitude. Rainey said he did not know when the administration’s “inflation propo- sition” would be submitted, but sur- | mised it would be after the preliminary | discussions here to the World Economiz Conference. | At about the same time Chairman Adams of the Senate Banking Com- mittee’s silver subcommittee today call- ed it to meet Saturday to discuss policy and the numerous silver bills submitted at_this session. A The Coloradan—a banker—said the session was called because “I think it is time something should be done.” ‘Want to Talk Over Vote. He explained he thought members would want to talk over the vote yes- terday in the Senate by which th ~ (Continued on Page 2, Colu TWO MEN DISCUSSED FOR INTERIOR P(lST'1 H Aprointment as Assistant to Ickes Lies Between Two West- erners. By the Assoclated Press. Just who will be named Second As- nt Secretary of the Intericr today ided a puzzle to addinistraticn of- | s end Western Senators, who tood the place lay between Harty Mitchell of Montana and Oscar Chap- man of Denver. Mitchell was conceded the inside track, but several Senators were advised by administration spokesmen and Sec- retary Ickes that no decision had been mas%eme sources understood Mltcheu—l backed by Senator Wheeler, Democrat, Montana, to be Indian commissioner, but denied that place—would be offered the position of commissioner of the General Land Office. This they construed as meaning Chap- man was preferred by Ickes for the second assistant secretaryship and, Mitchell and Wheeler would be placated | by the ccmmissionership. Senators Costigean and Adams, Col- orado Democrats, are waging the cam- paign for Chapman, and some Senators ‘understood Postmaster General Farley supports him. T. A. Walters of Idaho is considered virtually certain to be named First As: sistant Secretary of the Interior. Radio l’ruum. on Page A1l House Restaurant Shows Profit of $72 on Beer Sales By the Associated Press. Beer may dispose of the House restaurant’s annual deficit of around $10,000. Ths new 3.2 beer was put on sale in the restaurant yesterday. Today, when the managers fin- ished their accounting, they found the restaurant exactly $72 ahead on the day's business—the first plus written on the bocks in yeers. And there was more beer for sale today. TRUST OWNERSHP OF GAS R HT Federal Trade Commission| Counsel*Sees Plain Attempt to Violate Laws. Judge Robert E. Healy, chief counsel of the Federal Trade Commission, stat- ed in public hearings before the com- mission today that the setting up of common law trusts to take over owner- ship of 84 per cent of the capital stock of the Washington Gas Light Co. was “a plain attempt to evade the laws of VERDCT OF EOLTY 5 EXPECTD TODAY N SHBOTAGE TRAL Moscow Court Retires With! \Defendants Making Final % Pleas. THREE BRITISH SUBJECTS FACING PRISON TERMS Two Others Expected to Be Ban- ished—S:veral Russians May Get Extrcme Penelty. By the Associated Press. MOSCOW, April 18.—Just before the court retired today to consider its ver- dict in the Metropolitan-Vickers sabo- tage case, Willlam L. MacDonald re- iterated his guilt, all the other British prisoners stoutly affirmed their inno- cencé, and all the Russian defendants abjectly threw themselves on the mercy of the court. The Russians admitted all the charges against them. These varying statements were made the State of New York and the laws passed by Congress affecting the Dis- | trict of Columbia.” | The testimony today dealt with the financial ventures of Albert E. Peirce | and the Central Public Service Co. and | the Central Public Service Corporation | of which he was president. These are | the concerns which engineered the pur- | chase of the gas light stock in 1929, | although other evidence to bz intro- cGuced will show that control later passed | out of their hands. | Examination of Robert J. Ryder by | Judge Healy drew out the testimony | that Pederated Utilities, Incorporated, an associate or subsidiary of Central Public Service, paid through Peirce $13,725,000 to “the Dawes interests.” This money was to buy the New York & Richmond Gas Co. for the Central | Public Service group. According to the | contract, Ryder said, the Dawes inter- | ests got $13,070,000 and the balance | went to the Public Service Engineering Corporation, which is still another Cen- tral Public Service subsidiary. At the time of this purchase, the stock of the New York and Richmond Co., according to its own books, was | worth only $1958,413.19. This stock, | according to the testimony, found its way into the Washington and Suburban Cos., which owned the Washington Gas Light stock. The testimony this morning only traced the history of the Central Public Service activities to the close of 1931. Its later history will be developed at hearings this efternoon. Willlam A.| Roberts, assistant corporation counsel, | will be a witness. | ROOSEVELT CONFERS WITH CUBAN ENVOY| Takes Up Island Situation Hour’s Conference With Ambassedor Cintas. in | By the Associated Press. President Roosevelt personally tock up the Cuban situation today in an hour’s conference with Ambassador | Cintas, from the island republic. Leaving the conference, Ambassador Cintas told newspaper men that in- ternal econcmic and political affairs of Cuba were barely discussed with the | President. He said it was “very essential” to obtain a revision of the commercial | treaties between the countries. | #e told the reporters he considered | recent shootings in Cuba “very unfor- tunate” and he attributed them to the unrest resulting from unemployment. . ROOSEVELT T0O EUSY Will Be Unable to Attend Asso- ciated Press Dinner. President Roosevelt today informed Clark Howell, Atlanta publisher, he would be unable to keep his tentative date to address the annusl dinner of | the Associated Press in New York next | Mcnday. Mr Howell called on the President as a member of the board cf directors of the Asscciated Press. The President explained his conferences with Prime Minister MacDonald and Edouard Hor- riot wculd forbid his departure from the Capital on Monday. | year term. | active in that pursuit. individually to the court by each of the defendants just before the judges retired to make their decision. Likely Sentences, The prospect that three of the British defendants would be sentenced to prison terms, two of their colleagues would be banished from the country, and at least two of the Russians would he ordered to face a firing squad ap- peared likely. The decision of the court was expected to be made tonight or tomorrow. The closing appeals of the attorneys for the various defendants found those representing the Britons blaming the Russians for inveigling their clients in ?lols against the Soviet Union. The at- orneys for the Russians fired back the charge that the British engineers were the original plotters. L. C. Thornten, head of all the erec- tion work in Russia for the Metropoli- tan-Vickers Co. of England, and Mac- Donald were believed among some close followers of the trial to be due for 10- year prison sentences. Allan Monk- house, director of all business in Russia of the Metropolitan-Vickers concern, was believed likely to be given three- | Facing Execution. Vassili Gusev and A. T. Lobanov, who were once prominent figures in the Russian electrical industry, were ex- pected to be condemned to execution. The other Russiens, including Monk- house’s blonde, bobbed-haired secretary, Anna Kutuzova, were likely to be given prison terms. Since Prosecutor Andrey Vishinsky | already has declared he belived A, W. | Gregory innocent, it was regarded as/ certain_he would be acquitted. The other British engineers, John Cushny and Charles Nordwell, faced probable cxpulsion if they escaped prison sen- tences. Prosecutor Vishinsky was particularly | bitter in his attack on Thornton, whom he called a “military spy” who was still In his strongest denunciation of Thornton he warned him directly, “Some day you may serve as fertilizer on our Soviet flelds. You might just as well be dead now as far as the British intelligence service is conzerned.” Condemns Thornton. He called Thornton, MacDonald and Monkhouse the main culprits among the | Britons, but he also asserted that| Cushny was “a spy of great experience” | and that Nordwell also was an “agent of the British secret police.” He asked for the “highest penalty” for Gusev, who was director of the Soviet "electrical station at Zlatoust in the Ural Mountains, and for V. A. Sokoloff, Gusev’s assistant, and P. E. Olyenik, a former electrical worker in Chicago and San Francisco. CABINET CONSIDERS RELATIONS. British Take Up Future Trade With Russia. LONDON, April 18 (#).—Great Brit- ain’s relations with Russia in view of the trial of six British engineers in Moscow was subject to the cabinet's consideration at a meeting this after- noon. The Anglo-Russian trade agreement has expired and the British govern- ment now is in a position to place immediate embargo on Russian imports by proclamation. The authority for the act was rushed through Parliament last week. No authoritative intimation of the| British policy has been given out. o Spain Aids Loring Flight. MADRID, April 18 (#).—The sub secretary of communications anounced today that the government had con-; tributed 40,000 pesetas ($3,400) to the | Manila flight of Fernando Rein Loring. The statement was in reply to published report that the airman hax been forced to sell his plane in Manila because of lack of funds. MOISTURE ADDS 3¢ DUE STAMPS TO FARLEY DINNER INVITATIONS Change in Atmosphere Increases Postage O;I Letters Announcing Honor Event for Postmaster General. By the Associated Press. NEW YORK, April 18 —The prelim- inaries to a dinner of honor to Post- master General Far:ey, to be held here May 13. have demonstrated the great scientific principle that a wet day is not as good a day to mail a letter as a dry day. This meteorological phenomena, or whatever it is, has come to the atten- tion of the Post Office Department in the matter of invitations mailed to some of the 3,500 persons who are to be given the privilege of buylug a $6 ticket to the dinner of honor. . The committee had elaborate invita- tions printed on chcice linen paper. Inclosed in the envelope was a subscrip- tion card mentioning the $6, and & return envelope. Having some misgivings about the weight of the invitation, the commit- tee took a sample to the post office and had it weighed. It came within the 3-cent stamp requirements. So the invitations were mailed. The great scientific ‘principle which the committee overlooked, however, was that the sample invitation was weighed on a dry day, and the actual malling was done on & wet W‘J 4 So what? The linen paper, in ac- ccrdance with the well known scientific principle concerning linen paper, began absorbing moisture. - It added weight. 1t became overweight. The post office clerks tried a few on the scales and found they called for another stamp. They put “3 cents post- age due” stamps on them. Considering the fact that the dinner is for the head of the Post Office De- partment, the committee was chagrined. It confessed it had overlooked the great scientific principle of moisture and linen paper, but there were some ex- pressions to the effect that there ought to be special rules by which, perhaps, the moist mail could be put in an oven and- dried cut The committee felt that it had mailed a dry invitation and had a right to expect the Post Office Depart- ment to deliver a dry invitation. One of those to whom invitations have | been matfled’is President Roosevelt. The President, however, will not have to pay 3 cents e due because the com- mittee did not include subscri) . card and therefore his letter was. n the weight. 7 fo ol For most of: the others, howevez, the iSenate Subcommittee Holds i cide whether the slayer of Agnes Anne : amined her for 38 minutes, under court e WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION o Star. WASHINGTON, D. C, TUESDAY, APRIL 18, 1933—THIRTY-TWO PAGES. \ ——— FRANK I'VE BEEN GOIN' FAR, BEYOND MY USUAL GAIT- CANT You GIVEME A LITTLE THIN' T¢ SOME e / 7 7/ ) 7 / 7 PP Associated service. The only evening paper in Washington with the Press news Yesterday’s Circulation, 122,699 () Means Associated TWO CENT Press. PERMANENT BANK BILL 15 DRAFTED Up Approval, Awaiting Views of Administration. By the Associated Press A Senate banking subcommittee to- | day completed the draft of a psrma- nent bank feform bill, but awaited | recommendaticns from the administra- | tion before finally approving it | After another meeting of his lub-; committee, Chairman Glass announced | that it had done “about all we sre‘ going to do” until Secretary Woodin; was ready to submit the administra- tion's views. - l The finsl. déatsion of ‘the subcom- | mittee was to include provision in the | bill for admission of mutual savings and Morris Plan” Banks to the Federal | Reserve system, so they couid partici- | ?lw in the proposed $2,000,000,000 fund | for csits. ese banks, with total deposits of | about $2,000,000,000, have sought modi- | fication of the bill to permit their par- ticipation. | As many States would not allow them to subscribe for capital stock, as| other banks do, the committee decided to let them join by depositing instead | of subscribing in the Federal Reserve | System | Glass indicated that the amendment | had not been finally drafted, but said ' the subcommittee would ‘“devise a| scheme” to admit the savings banks. | Woodin is expected to confer with the committee tomorrow or the next day to give the administration’s de- cision on the contfoversial proposal for insuring depcsits and other contested features of the bill. ‘The White House has indicated that | President Roosevelt had not finally de- cided what stand he would take on the | * insurance proposal. RUTH JUDD GRANTED STAY UNTIL APRIL 28 “Trunk Murderess” Allowed Re- prieve While Insanity Hear- ings Continue. By the Associated Press. PHOENIX, Ariz, April 18.—The Ari- zona Board of Pardons and Paroles to- day granted Winnie Ruth Judd a re- prieve until April 28. FLORENCE, Ariz, April 18 (®.— ‘Winnie Ruth Judd refused to co-oper- ate today with - psychiatrists for the State who examined her preparatory to testifying before*a jury Which will de- Lerol will be committed to an asylum as insane. Dr. Joseph Catton of San Francisco and Dr. Paul Bowers of Los Angeles ex- order, at the State Prison in the pres- ence of Warden A. G. Walker, but Mrs. Judd refused to answer any questions. The blond 28-year-old woman was carried fighting and screaming from the court room late yesterday. Rev. and Mrs. H. J. McKinnell, who had given evidence intended to show their daughter was insane when called |- as witnesses 15 months ago testified there had been insanity on both sides of the family. In one instance, they said, it reached back 125 years. ENGINEER WHO HELPED BUILD UP WEST IS DEAD Col. Joseph H. Willard, 89, Re- tired Army Officer, Was Na- tive of Illinofs. By the Assoclated Press. NEWPORT, R. I, Joseph H. Willard, 89, Enginee: U. 8. A, retired, died Newport .today. He was born in Chi- m in 1844 graduated from West t in 1868 and in his capacity of engineer bmlmyed»m important part in the upbuilding of the West. He retired in 1908, but returned to active service during the World War and was stationed at Newpari. He leaves three daughters, Mrs Rob- ert Goelet of Newport and New York, Mrs. Richard 8. Hooker, widow of Ccl.] Richard Hooker, commandant of Ma- rines at Shanghai, who dropped dead there last Christmas eve, and Miss Natalga Willard, and his sister, Miss Mary Adams Willard. SRR TTTR AR g i Alcoholism Kills Boy, 7; Father Held As Death Is Probed By the Associated Press. BLOOMINGTON, Ind. April 18.—John Davidson, 48, was held without bond last night pending an inquest into the death of his 7-year-old son, Robert. Dr. Ben Ross, coroner, said Robert’s death resulted from acute alcoholism. Police said Mrs. Davidson sought their aid, telling them Davidson had forced the boy to drink corn whisky, and had driven her from their home. She expressed fear harm might come to thelr 3-week-old baby. Robert was found unconscious on the floor of the home, officers repcrted, and a quantity of alco- hol was pumped from his stom- ach. He disd yesterday after- noon. Dr. Ross announced he will hold an inquest today. WILL PROBE DELAY INHARRIMAN CASE Senate Orders Investigation in Prosecution of Bank Officials. By the Associated Press. The Senate tcday directed its Ju- diciary prosecuting cfficials of the Harriman National Bank for alleged violation of the banking laws. It adopted without a word of debate resoluticn' by Senator Costigan, Democrat, of Colorado, calling for the investigation. Joseph W. Harriman, former chair- man of the bank’s board, recently was indicted on charges of falsifying ac- ccunts of the institution. Costigan called for the inquiry on the basis of a statement by George Z. Medalie, district attorney at New York, that he withheld prosecution of -Har- riman for several months at the re- quest of the Justice Department to per- mit an effort to straighten out the bank's affairs. The Senate Stock Market Investi- gating Committee looked into the case, but decided it did not have jurisdiction to inguire into the delay. The resolution, approved by the Ju- diclary and Audit ‘Committees of the Senate, carries an appropriation of $500 and directs the committee to re- port back “at the earliest practicable date” the results of its investigation, together ‘with recommendations. From One Who Knows. A letter to The Star from an out-of-town advertiser states: “That the pulling power of your newspaper has amazed us —it is evidence that your sub- scribers are reading the adver- tisements and that they are now buying products which have merit.” Yesterday’s Advertising. (Local Display) The Evening Star. 2d Newspaper. .. .. 3d Newspaper. 4th Newspaper . . .. 5th Newspaper. . . . Total 23,306 5,735 4,632 3,069 2,708 16,144 (Four other newspapers) People in modest circum- stances cannot afford to be without The Star, as they save many times the subscription price by carefully readjng the advertisementa, Ccmmittee to investigate the | delay by the Department of Justice in | BALANCED POSTAL BUDGET PLEDGED Farley Promises in Forum to Eliminate Deficit by July 1, 1934, | 4 i | | l k | Facing a postal deficit of $72,000,000 |in the current fiscal year, Postmaster General James A Farley last night told | the Nation he proposed to balance the ‘depanmi‘ntal budget by July 1, 1934, lmd at the same time maintain unim- | paired service. It was made clear there | would be no indiscriminate slashing of | personnel in this economy program, al- | though consolidation of rural routes | and “staggering” employment to han- dle the surplus of employes in view of the 30 per cent decline in postal business is under contemplation. Speaking in the National Radio Forum, arranged by The Star, and broadcast over a coast-to-coast network of the National Broadcasting Co., the Postmaster General outlined the finan- cial problems of the huge agency in his charge. At the same time he touched humorously on his troubles as patronage-dispenser in the role of chairman of the Democratic National Committee, saying applicants outnum- ber jobs “ten to one.” Third in Series. His speech was the third in the series being given in the National Ra- dio Forum by members of President Roosevelt's cabinet. At the outset of the talk the Post- master General pointed out that the | postal budget has been out of balance since 1919, culminating last July in a net deficit of $153,000000. Various savings will pare this to $72.000,000 by July 1, and this 1s what must be taken care of. $30,000,000 Salary Saving. Under the new economy act, he con- tinued, about $30.000,000 will be saved in salaries, come from such miscellaneous items as rents, transportation costs, supplies and continuing the policy of not filling vacancies. This leaves a balance of $22,000,000, to take care of which, he said, some “pretty violent” suggestions have been made. To get this prospective deficit on the other side of the ledger, Farley, coun- seling moderation, said he believed for cne thing the “whole system of rural deliveries should be reorganized. with longer routes and fewer carriers.” Per- haps 10,000 routes out of 40,000 could be worked mto consolidations, he amplified. but it would have to be determined whether this should be done progres- sively, as it has in the past, or effected in one move. ‘This same thing holds good in_ the rest of the service, he said. Recalling that it has not been the policy to dis- (Continued on Page 5, Column 1.) — DISAGREE ON SHOOTING Husband and Daughter Claimed to Have Killed Woman. CHICAGO, April 18 (#).—Otto Luetz, 45, telephoned the police he had shot and killed his wife, Myrtle, 42, in_their home today, but their daughter, Doris, 16, said she had done the shooting. Luetz, an embalmer, had returned to his home with some friends after 3 a.m. The police said he was too intoxicated to tell a coherent story. They arrested both, holding the daughter as a wit- ness. Doris told police “we struggled for the gun, and I accidentally discharged it Luetz, however, insisted he fired the shot. another $20,000,000 is to| — = ROOSEVELTSEES CLOSEANT GROUP ON PBLE WORSS Believed to Be Motive-Behind| $54,000,000 War De- partment Cut. INTERIOR DEPARTMENT WOULD BE IN CONTROL Branches of Agriculture-end Com-| r2-rcs Would Be Included in Shift. . One major motive behind the ministration’s proposed c:t oI $54,000, 000 from the War Department’s 1934 non-military appropriations is to weed out its non-essential activities and transfer the remaindet to the proposed Interior’ Department’s publi¢ construc- tion division, ranking Democrats indi- cated today. Thus, when President Roosevelt'’s public works program to ease unemployment is placed in opera- tion, it could be administered by one department. The proposed new set-up of the con- struction division of the Interior De- partment is likely to include the rivers | and harbors work now being admin- istered by the Engineer Corps of the Army, the Agriculture Department’s Bureaus of Public Roads and Forests, Commerce Department’s Bureau of Mines, Interior Department's Bureau of Reclamation and its nation2l park serv- | | ice, and the, Treasury Department or- | chitect’s office. | Would Give Wide Powers. Should this plan be adopted, it would | give Secretary of the Interior Ickes di- Tect supervision over practically the | major portion of the President’s pro- ! posed public . works program—roads, rivers and harbers, reclamation, mining ] rehabilitation, forests and public build- in, gemocnts declared that in all prob- | ability a final decision on the plan will be reached immeciately by President} Roosevelt after a conference with his | advisers. | | Although the $54,000,000 slash will cut the rivers and harbors work for ! | 1824 to & minimum, it was pointed out | | this work is slated to play an important , part in Mr. Roosevelt's public works program, which is to be financed out of a long-termed Federal bond issue. Secretary of War Dern, in discussing she proposed rivers and harbors slash, | admitted the transfer of this activity to | the Interior Department was being con- sidered seriously. | Plan $144,000,000 Cut. | He said the administration plans to reduce entire Army appropriation for 1934 by $144,000,000, of which $90,- | 000,000, as forecast in The Star Sunday, would come direct from the military | branch of the department. The gen- | eral reduction is about two-fifths of the | total appropriated in the last Congress for the coming fiscal year. | The amount appropriated was $349.- 1840,749. Even that was more than | $100,000,000 under the sum providea | for 'expenditures during the current year. For all purposes, military, rivers and harbors improvement and the Pan- ama Canal, the 1933 appropriation reached the collosal total of $467,- 458,000. . Dern called at the White House late yesterday and upon leaving he pointea out to newspaper men how the admin~| istration proposes to save $90,000,000 ;J}' curtailing military activities as fol- lows: Curtailment of all branches of tne | militia, as outlined in The Star Sun- | day, including withdrawal of suppors |from the R. O. T. C., one year sus- | pension of National Guard, emergency | officers and citizens’ military training camps, and reduction of the Guard pay drill periods by 50 per cent. Would Dismiss Officers. Dismissal of 2,000 to 3,000 commis- | sioned eofficers. | Dismissal of 12,000 to 13,000 enlisted | men. | Curtailment of field equipment and | reserve supplies. | “We can make the reduction all right, if it must be made,” Secretary | Dern said, “but there are questions or | policy on making the cut where the least damage will be done.” | _The War Department said today the (Continued on Page 2, Column 7.) 'SHIP AFIRE AT SEA APPEALS FOR HELP Vessels Rush to Aid of British Steamer in Trouble Off Coast of Spain. By the Associated Press. GIBRALTAR, April 18 —The British steamer Benholm sent out a call today for immediate assistance. It reported a fire on the shelter deck. The ship was en route here from ‘Torrcx, near Almeria, Spain. Salvage craft were rushing to assist the ship. Some time after the request for as- sistance was received it was reported that the fire was lessening. The Brit- jsh cruiser Leander was proceeding to the position of the Benholm. The steamer was bound from Suva, Fiji Is- lands, to London with a load of copra. 1925 Nobel Prize Winner Enemies of By the Associated Press. GOETTINGEN, Germany, April 18.— Prof. James Franck, joint Nobel prize winner with Gustav Hertz for physics, in 1925, presented his resignation from Goettingen University today to the min- istry of education. “I have requested my superior thorities to release me from office and will endeavor to continue sclentific work being treated as foreigners and mies of the Fatherland. It is demanded from us % SCIENTIST RAPPING RACE HATRED, | QUITS GERMAN UNIVERSITY POST Says Jews Are Treated as Fatherland. up conscious of never being allowed to show their worth as Germans. “World War veterans are to be per- mitted to continue to serve the State. I refuse to accept this favor although I understand the viewpoint of those who conceive it to be their duty to keep at their posts.” Prof. Franck volunteered for the World War, served continuously for four years and was decorated with the Iron Cross, first class. Foundation provided AKRON WRECKAGE ISBELIEVED FOUND NEAR GRASH SCENE Fabric Brought Up by Grap- nel After Heavy Object Is Encountered. NAVY RESUMES PROBE AT WASHINGTON YARD Constructor Denies All Charges of Faulty Material and Workmanship. By the Associatcd Press NEW YORK, April 18—A message {rcm the naval tuge Sagamore, inter- cepted at naval headquarters here to- cay, said grappling cperations at the scene of the crash of the dirigible Ak- ron had resulted in the finding of a large sunken object. The message w;: Portland, - headauarters of - ihe. - sea search for bodies and wreckage frcm the lost dirigible. It led to the belief jmong shipping men that the main LUl e airship might have been The message read: “On second trip across between | buoys our grapnel fouled bcdy heavy enough to part three-sixteenths-inch chain stopper. Fabric remaining on grapnel ccntaining two sliding round ports about 12 inches diameter. Fab- rie marked port staticn No, 18 forward, Falcon now anchored over this spot.” The Falcon is arother naval tug en- gaged in the search. DENIES AKRON CHARGES. Obtainable. . Specific denial of all charges th faulty material or workmanehip ea tered into the construction of the U. S. S. Akron was made by Comdr. Ralph D. Weyerbacher, naval constructor who was in charge of the design and con- struction of the airship, when th- Investigation of the crach W cost 73 Ves was resumed today at ihe Wi - mglggn gm-_v Yard. 7 e e Special Board of Investigati which has been in session a: Lakouony N. J., opened a series of ssssions which may continue the greater part of the week in the Naval Reserve Armory. Weyerbacher declared there was ne room”for doubt in his mind as to the structural “sourdness of the Akron which he said was ac well de: and stronger than the best Geimany has produced. Investigated Charges. Comdr. Weyerbacher testifie under orders of former Afsist’j‘l?ge}gfd-‘ tary of the Navy Ernest Lee Jahncie mace a thorough inspection of the Akron and the materials entering inte its construction to determine the truth of persistent reports of faulty material and workmanship. He said there was no ground for the reports. The witness said he assisted in the design of the U. S. S. Shenandoah and had followed the development and de- sign of zirships since 1912. He was questioned as to the materials used in the Akron and said the duralumin which composed its framework was su- perior to that used in any foreign air- ship because of the greater purity of aluminum produced in this country. After his first inspection of the Aln’on In June, 1931, he testified, he was “impressed by the quality of work- manshil which, he said, was better than that of the Shenandoah. The workmen were thoroughly schooled, he | said, and the inspection standards un- usually rigid, “There was no chance for any im- proper material or workmanship to be in the final product,” he added. Defends Ingpectors. Subsequently, he said, he received or- ders from Jahncke to investigate, but he could find “no faulty workmanship that had passed Government in- spection.” “I found some faulty workmanship which had not been submitted to the inspectors, but which had been cor- rected in the normal procedure,” he said. This faulty workmanship, he added, was only what would normally be expected in the fabricaticn of ma- terial and was rejected or corrected by inspection. Ncne of it entered into construction of the airship, he said. He said the bulk of the complaints came from two “informers,” whom he identified as “a Mr. Underwocd and a Mr, MacDonald,” who had been em- ployes of the Goodyear Zeppelin Co., makers of the Akron. Some of the alleged faulty material produced by the informers, he said, was found to be scrap which had been rejected by the inspectors, and one fample was not even intended for use in an airship. Asked whether he had any doubt as ° to the soundness of the Akrcn, Comdr. ‘Weyerbacher replied vigorously: “None ‘whatever.” > was questioned as to whether the ‘ontinued on Page ‘olumn 4.) APPEAL IS GRANTED IN NEW RIVER CASE Appalachian Electric Power Co. Wants Review of Dismissal of Complaint. By the Associated Press. RICHMOND, Va. April 18.—Judge Luther B. Way in United States District Court here today formally entered an order granting the Appalachian Elec- tric Power Co. an appeal to the Circuit Court of Appeals from his decision dis- missing the company’s complaint against the United States Power Commission. Counsel for the company and the commission, at a conference in court today, agreed to expedite formalities so as to permit hearing of the appeal at the June term of the appellate court. The power company in its plea, which was dismissed by Judge Way, sitting at Norfolk on March 28, complained that the Federal Government had no right to impose upon it a major license for its proposed power development at Rad- ford, Va. and asked for an injunction to prevent such imposition. The chief point at issue was navigability of New River, on which the plant was to be located, or affect of the development upon other navigaBle streams, and the Government has jurisdic- tion over power developments on the | streams which are themselves not navigable in fact, »