Evening Star Newspaper, December 12, 1934, Page 2

NET INCOME HELD DECREASED N 1933 Curve Is Downward for Mil- lionaires in U. S., Ob- server Says. BY DAVID LAWRENCE. There's s atory of far-reaching portance in the official figures just re- leased by the Government as to how American business survived 1932 and 1933, It's & story of the profit and loss system—so often referred to merely as the profit system, as if the profit mo- tive never meant anything else but greed instead of risk. But wrapped up in the figures of how business went into the hole about $6,500,000,000 in 1932 and $4,500,000,000 in 1933 is & query that the opponents of the capi- talistic system, as we know it today, would answer in different ways. “The query is: Where did American bustness get the $11,000,000,000 which it lost in 1932 wda‘&“@ coml;l;;e?d? what did it spend that sum Anrdlm. of all, it should be noted that the Federal Government spent exactly $4,000,000,000 more than it took in last year, while American business spent $4,500,000,000 in excess of its own receipts. Fails to Show Surplus. Had American business failed to save and accumulate a surplus in the years between 1922 and 1932, which Wwere admittedly prosperous years, it is evident that the United States might have suffered a severe collapse which might have caused social disor- T. d!The $11,000,000,000 of expenditures in excess of money taken in for the years 1932 and 1933 went largely for wages and raw materials. Reliable figures derived from Treasury Depart- ment data show that in the last 14 years business earned 3.62 per cent on its investment. This means that a little more than 96 cents out of every dollar went for the payment of wages rials. °l'Omuzwm the $4,500,000,000 of deficit recorded by American business in 1933, nearly the entire amount, there- fore, went to sustain employment. Had ‘American business ruthlessly balanced its budget, there would have been greater unemployment and much more suffering. The deflcit figures may seem dis- eouraging because of their size, but the significant thing is their trend. To lose six and a half billion dollars one year and then cut the loss to four and a half billion to a sizable curtailment of expenses. It is true that gross business fell off from 38 billion dollars in 1932 to 28 billion in 1933, with those businesses that showed no profit at all. But with those which made a profit, the gross volume jumped from 27 to 40 billions, which is a healthy increase in the amount of business done. Figures Were Larger. These figures aren’t in it with pre- ceding years, when the gross receipts total ran anywhere from 52 hillions in 1931 to 127 billions in 1928, But it is interesting to study just how many businesses made & - profit and hHow many suffered a loss: The total number of businesses on the winning side went from 78,775 in 1932 to 104,702 in ‘1933. In the former case this was about 16 per.cent of all the corporations, and in the latter it was about 25 per cent. In other words, 84 per cent of all corporations lost money in 1932 and 75 per cent lost money in 1933. The total profit of those who wece in the black went from $1,850,000,000 in 1932 to $2,500,000,000 in 1933, but this is only a small proportion as net income usually goes with American business. For, beginning in 1923, the net income was more than eight billion dollars a year and it was as high as 10 billion in 1928 and 11 billion in 1929. It is true that “net income,” as the Government figures it, does not al- ways mean net profit, because the ‘Treasury doesn’'t permit dividends to be deducted or various other items that are on the expense side before taxes are paid. But using the “net income” as the Internal Revenue Bu- reau calculates it, American business earned a net income of 6.57 per cent on the gross volume of 1932 and 6.26 per cent on the gross volume for 1933. So while there were nearly 13 bil- lion dollars more gross receipts in 1933 than there were in 1932, Amer- ican business earned less actually in the way of net income in 1933 than it did in 1932. Contrast to U. S. Figures. This information is an interesting contrast to the figures seized upon by those who stress the fact that the number of persons with a million dollars or more of income per year increased from 20 to 46, and that hence no redistribution of wealth is going on. Actually, this group of taxpayers had a net income of $35,000,000 in all in 1932, and this increased to $81,- 000,000, but, if you really want to know what that same group used to get, turn back to preceding years when the total for the year varied between $166,000,000 in 1931 to $1,- 200,000,000 in 1929 and $1,108,000,000 in 1928. ‘What has happened in the million- aire class may be interesting to the 26 more individuals who are in that income group, but so far as the total net income of the country is con- cerned, the millionaires got about 7 per cent in 1932 and were cut down to less than 4 per cent in 1933, so the curve is downward instead of upward for them. (Copyright, 1934.) — DE LIGNE TO SPEAK Overseas Writers to Hear Coun- selor of Belgian Embassy. Prince Eugene de Ligne, counselor of the Belgian Embassy, will speak at the luncheon tomorrow of the Overseas Writers at the Press Club. On the following Thursday, De- cember 20, the speaker will be J. F. T. O'Connor, controller of the currency. The meeting on December 27 will be omitted. Arrangements are being made for an afternoon reception in January at which those who have been speak- ers at the weekly luncheons will be guests of honor. _—_— BOYS’ CLUB GETS BOOKS Optimists and Wives Also Donate Money and Subscriptions. A book shower for the benefit of the Washington Boys’ Club marked the regular luncheon meeting today of the Washington Optimists’ Club at the Hamilton Hotel. More than 200 members and their wives brought books, money to buy books and subscriptions to magazines as Christmas gifts for the boys of the club at Second-and C streets. ‘ What’s What Behind News In Capital Treasury’s Tax Figures Show 1933 Results of New Deal. BY PAUL MALLON. HE Treasury did not intend to, but it gave out the other day what amounts to & box score of New Deal results for the first year. The data were contained in a survey of 1933 taxes. You will have to shovel aside & few million figures to get at the nugget of information, but it is there, It shows that in the first year the New Deal failed to restore dividends, wages and salaries; interest, rents and royalties, but it did immediately im- prove business, profits from sale of real estate, stocks, bonds and the income of partnerships (largely professional men). The income of those who were helped at all increased $610,000,000 over the previous year. The income of those classes not helped decreased 1.2 billions. Keep in mind, however, that these results came before the N. R. A. really started boosting wages to whatever disputed extent it has now boosted wages. Also before the A. A. A. began to increase farm income. It must be remembered also that the figures are loaded down somewhat with results of two pre-Roosevelt months (January and February, 1933) before the upturn started. BOX_SCORE Hew OEAL | DEPRESSION CEk oIS Spi - N\ 4 e The Score Board. For the purposes of analysis, the figures may be charted as follows: DECREASES IN 1933 Wages and salaries s Dividends .. Interest .. ..’ Rents and royaities 00000 Total 10s5... . .........$1.209.000.000 INCREASES IN 1 000 Partnerships Total gain.... 610.000.000 The box, score for the year now closing will be sharply different. But you will not know the extent of the difference from such a responsible source as the Treasury tax figures until the Internal Revenue Bureau gives out its data at this time next year. Some of these New Dealers slip off into exile in the middle of the night without any one being aware of the real reason for their departure or even of the fact that they are gone. For instance, the exit of Benjamin Squires as e of the Textile Labor Re- lations Board is still an inner circle secret. Mr. Squires left virtually before ~he got his coat of. Upon arrival he hastily threw together a staff and began gathering the data to decide whether the unions or mill owners were right. Within a few weeks he presented his findings to the board, but nothing happened. Weeks passed and the board made no decisions. Squires got impatient and served notice that unless it acted he would quit. Then the union, which had liked the nt at his job, went rd’s head to Secretary that he be retained. She was cold to the plea, so Squires went back to Chicago without saying good-by. Hint on Labor Peace. An unreported speech by Ed Mc- Grady, right-hand man of Miss Per- kins, will give you a hint of current inside efforts to clear up the existing lack of understanding between capital, labor and New Dealers, McGrady recommended in a talk to the hosiery workers a few nights ago that the U. S. Chamber of Commerce, the A. F. of L. and the National Manufacturers’ Associa- tion appoint committees to get to- gether particularly on New Deal labor legislation for the coming session. Prospects seem to be fairly good for appointment of such a committee, al- though there is the usual haggling among labor leaders about agreeing on & precise program. N. R. A. Row Over “Pants.” A grave social question has been decided but never announced by the N. R. A. Consumers’ Advisory Board. The issue was raised by a lady repre- senting a local consumer group before the board. She believed in plain speaking, and when she wanted to say “trousers” she said “pants” to make it more effective. The representative of ‘a well known feminine organization left the hearing outraged. She re- ported what she had heard and her organization actually withdrew from the hearings. It came back when the board augustly de- termined, with Solomon wisdom, that while “trousers” is preferable, “pants” may be used by a lady. All of Mr. Ickes’ detectives have not yet been able to detect how a para- graph came to be missing from the oil code. It was the most important para- graph in the code, signed in Septem- ber, 1933, by the President. It pro- vided for prosecutions against violators of quota restrictions. After a year of blissful ignorance the D. of J. dis- covered it had no ground for prosecu- tions because of the errors. The code was hastily amended and resigned last September. But all that Oil Codifier Ickes has been able to discover to date was that it was a stenographic error, undoubt- edly by one of those stenographers or secretaries who are always making the right mistakes for Gen. Farley. (Copyright. 1034. by Paul Mallon.) Allied Youth Group Meets. Dr. Daniel A. Poling, Lieut. Comdr. Alexander McCombs, U. 8. N, and Earl Kernahan were guest ers last night at a meeting of Post No. 4 of the Allied Youth at the home of Mrs. Rushmore Patterson, 2501 Massachusetts avenue. [ A-2 o R THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12, 1934 = BALANCEDPLENTY IS WALLACE'S AIM Secretary’s Report Warns Against “Scarcity Eco- nomics” as Price Aid. By the Assoclated Press. Secretary Wallace .defended the agricultural adjustment program to- day in his annual report to President Roosevelt as one of “economic democ- racy” aimed at “balanced abundance.” His report dealt principally with the work of the Adjustment Administra- tion prior to June 30, scientific work of the Department of Agriculture and emergency activities carried out dur- ing the year in co-operation with other Government organizations. Emphasis was placed in it on the fundamental philosophy behind pres- ent activities, particularly those of adjusting farm supply to demand. If restriction of farm production conflicts with democracy, it should be abandoned, he admitted, “but man's right to live transcends all other con- siderations. In the present state of he Nation, we must enlarge our idea of democracy, or risk losing what democracy we have. Sees System as.Check. “A purely political democracy would not survive a complete eco- nomic breakdown in the United States #ny more successfully than it has done elsewhere.” Farmers were united behind passage of the adjustment act, the Secretary declared, and are still supporting and participating in its functions through county associations. “There is worse danger to democracy than the exten- sion of Democratic principles to farm- ing.” Wallace reiterated his dislike for re- ducing farm output and said reduc- tions to meet loss of foreign markets and surpluses of 1933 were “only a very partial and paradoxical answer | in the long run to the crying need which is briefly expressed in the phrase, ‘balanced abundance.’” One path to this goal is the restora- tion of industrial purchasing power to the end that consumers may be able to pay higher prices for higher consumption of farm products. Profit Is Problem. The problem of the farmers now “is to retain fair and reasonable profits without falling into the pit of ‘scarcity economics,’” he said in warning against such a course. “Now that farmers enjoy powers which are fairly comparable with *hose of city industries with respect to production and price control, it becomes necessary for all of us to spend more time thinking about the | road to ‘balanced abundance' instead of ‘competition for profits induced by scarcity.’ " Production control, he added, can- not be judged solely by the amount by which the spread between actual and “parity” prices is narrowed, since there are many costs, “human as well as monetary, social as well as eco- | nomic.” Any future course looking toward relaxation of control through increasing domestic or foreign pur- chasing-power “must~be considered in the light of such costs.” Among such costs he mentioned “social discipline,” sometimes: cafled “regimentation”;' denial of future op- portunities to farm to some individuals and the' necessity for taking care of them i® other occupations, competi- tive elimination of men and acres, displacement of crops when land is converted from one use to another and adjustments in farm practices and capital structures. “Compared with such intangibles, the money costs of farm adjustment are secondary,” he declared. Defends Price Increase. Turning to the consumer’s interest in farm recovery and objections which have arisen over increased cost of food because of crop adjustment and drought, the Secretary pointed out that restoring farm purchasing power increases farmers’ ability to buy in- dustrial goods. 2 “Consumers gain nothing in the long run by getting farm goods at less than cost,” he said. “In one form or another, they have to pay the full bill eventually. Agriculture must be maintained, and to maintain it, the prices paid for farm products must cover the costs.” ‘Wallace said the end of emergency crop reduction is in view and in the future production must be adjusted to demand, with farmers keeping step “with the growth of demand” instead | of running ahead of it as was the case prior to 1933. ! Scorns “Export Prices.” In his report, Wallace took the | position that America would err should it seek to retain export markets by holding down its farm prices. Dis- cussing cotton, he acknowledged a wish to hold foreign trade, and added this means that we must continue to sup- ply it at moderate prices. “But we do not wish to keep prices ruinously low on the assumption that any improvement through the elimina- tion of the surplus will cause a loss of our foreign markets. “We must not, therefore, permit an increase in foreign production to stampede us back into overplanting.” An asserted possibility of Southern cotton planters losing their huge ex- port market has been used as one of the principal arguments against the Bankhead curtailment act and voluntary acreage reduction. —_— DOCTORS WILL SPEAK Alexandria Medical Society to Hear Clark, Mitchell. Dr. Wiliam Earl Clark and Dr.! James M. Mitchell will be guest speak- ers at & banquet meeting of the Alex- andria Medical Society in the George Mason Hotel tomorrow at 8:30 p.m. Dr. Clark will speak on peptic ulcer and Dr. Mitchell will discuss appen- dicitis. Dr. Samuel B. Moore, president of the society, will preside. Doctors from | nearby counties will attend. The pro- gram was arranged by Dr. William B. Wilkins, secretary. MA). FRIEDMAN TO TALK Army Officer to Be Honor Gfiut- at Cornell Club Luncheon. Maj. William F. Friedman of the ‘War Department will be the guest of honor and principal speaker tomor- row noon at the luncheon of the Cor+ nell Club in the University Club. Edward Holmes, president of the Cornell group, will be toastmaster, Commissioned in Reserve. Two Washingtonians—Edward F. Kent, 2304 Tunlaw road, and Howard Larcombe, 464 P"nnet—-hndt H:vcx- cepted appointments as secon - tenants in the Organized Reserve of the United States Army. Kent will go into the Infantry and Larcombe in the Quartermaster Corps. 2 RECOVERY BY JUNE S SFEN BY DAWES Delayed Rush for Durable Goods Will End Slump, He Says. By the Associated Press. CHICAGO, December 12.—Charles G. Dawes, Vice President of the United States under Calvin Coolidge, predicted today that next June or July would mark the death of the depression and the commencement of full business prosperity for the Na- tion. Mass confidence shattered by the market crash of October 29, 1929, was restored by President Roosevelt's bank moratorium in March, 1933, said Dawes. Since that time, he asserted, the general course of business in con- sumer’s goods has reflected no loss in this recovery of confidence. Dawes, former head of the Recon- struction PFinance Corp. and for ears & power in the Republican party, broke a long silence to address the Chicago Association of Commerce. Sometime early next Summer, said Dawes, will come a delayed rush for durable goods which will herald a period of great recovery. Rise Always Fast. “The demand for durable goods, especially heavy durable goods, in a depression, while it always rises last, always rises fastest,” said Dawes. “When that rush comes is the begin- ning of real prosperity.” To indicate that date, he said, was the purpose of an extensive study which he had completed. Before his hearers he placed three huge charts. They told, he said, the story of the recovery of the two previous great depressions and contained the secret of the present one. The charts traced the trend of pig iron and steel production and prices before and after the crashes of 1873, 1893 and 1929, They showed, he said, the “short swings” of the two previous deprassions and the “short swing,” as far as it has proceeded, of the 1929 depression. He defined the “short swing” as the period of time between the initial collapse of the stock market and the beginning of a sustained great uplift in heavy, durable goods industry, “which always marks the beginning of the end. Five-year Period. “The particular time when the sus- tained postponed mass demands for durable goods in the 1873 and 1893 depressions began to test the pro- ductive capacity of the country . . . was reached in each instance as shown by the chart in a period of about five years and six months after the respective initial stock market collapses,” said Dawes. “Accordingly, I suggest that not later than June or July of next year should be the beginning of the great sustained demand for durable goods due to the accumulation for five years in the country.” The delay in the full recovery, said Dawes, was not caused by any loss of mass confidence since March, 1933, but because the average man, follow- ing the law of human nature, supplied himself with necessary goods for cur- rent consumption and postponed the purchase of durable goods. “However,” he said, “the mass of our people finally arrive together in a rush for the durable goods counter. ‘There occurs inevitably a mass move- ment in demand for durable goods as the earned income of the mass passes the particular point where consump- tion necessities are covered.” 4 FILM THEATERS RIPPED BY BOMBS IN NEW ENGLAND From the Children’s Hospital, where there are boys and girls who will have to spend Christmas in sick beds with little hope of getting presents to cheer them without outside aid, has come an appeal for 500 toys. You can help these unfortunate little ones by sttending a Star-Warner Bros.’ toy matinee on Saturday. In the above group Nurse Hazel Royer is telling child patients of Santa Claus before a hospital fireplace. Will he remember them, they ask? BANK LEGISLATION ISUNLIKELY SOON Senator Glass, After Talk With President, Sees Little Need of Action. By the Assoclated Press, President Roosevelt and Senator Glass of Virginia, authority on bank- ing, talked for an hour in a meeting late yesterday, which brought a dec- laration afterwards from the Senator that he saw little necessity for new banking legislation at this session of Congress. The Virginia Senator declined to discuss the views of the President, but there is every indication that few changes will be sought in the banking laws. Secretary Morgenthau has said he wishes to hold banking legislation to a minimum. Against Evil Laws. lation,” commented Senator Glass, of postponed demands and this time "who was the author of much of the | should also mark the commencement | of the year of full business prosperity | banking reform enacted by the last Congress. Recalling with & smile that the President had smilingly termed him an “unreconstructed rebel,” the Vir- ginian remarked as he left the White House: [ “I guess I am still an unrecon- structed rebel.” Glass, a conservative, has questioned many of the administration’s actions. Visit Entirely Friendly. The visit with the President was described as entirely friendly. In re- sponse to questions, Glass said he saw no necessity for seeking to bring the Federal Reserve Banks and governors further under control of the Federal Reserve Board or Treasury. “The Federal Reserve System Iis based on a regional idea,” he said, “on the theory that the bankers in their regions know more about their business than a group of men sitting down here.” (Continued From First Page.) searching the Majestic Theater debris. The Tremont and Majestic The- aters are owned, police said, by the Greater Boston Theaters, Inc., whose resident manager is Samuel Rich- mond of this city. The Pawtucket and Lynn Theaters are a part of the E. M. Loew chain. Richmond, orly executive of any of the Boston theaters available, re- fused to discuss any aspect of .the bombing. Asked {f there had been labor trou- ble at the Tremont, he said: “I have nothing to say until I find out more about this myself.” Deputy Supt. James Claflin of the Boston Police Department. who was placed in charge of the investigation here, called Richmond, two scrub- women from the Majestic Theater, and two taxi drivers for questioning. He wished to talk to Richmond, he said, regarding any trouble the thea- ter might have had with employes, and he wanted a first-hand story from the scrubwomen, who were in the the- ater at the time of the explosion. ‘The taxi drivers, he said, had re- seeing two men acting suspi- ciously in the vicinity of the Tremont ‘Theater shortly before the explosion. ‘They said, Claflin understood, the two men ran into a subway entrance on the common opposite the moving pic- ture house, Fred E. Lieberman, who said he leased the Majestic and Tremont The- aters from the owners about six months ago, accounted for the bomb- ings by saying: “There are two unions. That's the story.” Tie told the Associated Press his em- ployes “are members of the Knights of Labor.” “My employes have never conferred with me approached me at any time. One of my men was approached by a member of another union, which tried to force us to hire two stage hands merely to raise and lower the fire curtain. “There was & code hearing on De- cember 4 and it was found that there was nothing in the code to require us to hire the men.” The deputy superintendent placed little value upon the story of the two taximen. Claflin said he believed the bombs of the “time type, probably planted some hours before the explo- sion occurred.” Life’s Like That INSTEAD.OF REPEATING MR. 80 OFTEN—WILL IT BE OK. WITH b)) “It is just as important to prevent | | evil legislation as to enact good legis- [Three D ays Left to Enter Santa Claus Essay Contest ($30 in Prizes Offered Children Under| 12 Years of Age—Many to Attend Gift Matinees Saturday. The Star Ezpedition film, “Search for Santa Claus,” a thrilling mov- ing picture record of the airplane trip to the Far North, presenting the first scenes ever made within the home and workshops of Santa Claus, and which has been drawing large crowds to the theaters where is has been shown, will be presented todgy and tomorrow at the APOLLO, It may be seen on Friday at the HOME and at the YORK Theaters. —— OYS and girls, there are just three days left in which to write your letter to win the $30 in prizes The Star is of- fering for the best essays tell- ing why you know there is a Santa Claus and why every poor child in Washington should receive gifts this Christmas. Remember, the contest closes at midnight next Saturday, and your letter must be in the mail by that time to be eligible. What an easy way to win Christmas money with which to buy those toys | for which you are longing! The best letter gets $15. Ten dollars goes to the | second best, and the third best gets $5. The rules are simple and few. First old, and your letter must not be longer than 150 words. Write on one that neatness will count in your favor. Winners to Be Announced. So don't delay. Get into the con- test now, before it is too late, and send your letter to the Santa Claus editor of The Star. Then watch for an- nouncements of the winners, which will be published one week later. Wouldn't it be a thrill to read your letter in The Star, and to have the mailman bring you a check for the prize inoney? Remember, when you write your let- ter, that there are hundreds of little kind person helps them. Surely you, who are luckier than they, would not want this to happen. There are children whose fathers are out of work. Children whose par- ents are very poor. Some have barely enough clothes to wear and barely enough food to eat. Yet they will hang their stockings up on Christmas eve, just like you will, and hope that when they wake up the next morning they will find them filled. Empty Stockings Threatened. Think how you would feel if you found your stocking empty on Christ- mas morning, and if there were no nice toys to make you happy. Yet there will be empty stockings and broken hearts unless all who can will do their share to prevent it. There have been so many letters coming in asking for help for these little ones that it is going to take a lot of kindness and generosity on the part of more fortunate Washing- tonians if all are to be remembered. From the Children’s Haspital alone, where there are boys and girls who will have to spend their Christmas in sickbeds with very little hope of get- ting any presents to cheer them, has come an appeal for 500 toys. And it is going to take many hun- dreds more to take care of the chil- dren whose mothers and fathers are too poor to help them. But there is a way that you, too, can help. And it is such an easy, simple way. Next Saturday the Star and War- ner Bros.’' are going to hold their Christmas toy matinees in 11 theaters in all parts of town. Ask your parents of all, you must not be over 12 years | as well as comedies and animated side of the paper only and remember | * children in Washington who will be | forgotten this Christmas unless some | to bring you to one of these matinees, and to give you a new toy or some new article of child’s clothing as your “ticket” for admittance. This is all you will need to attend one of these shows. And whatever you bring will find jts way into the hands of some poor child who needs your help. The Council of Social Agencies will distribute the gifts you bring, and they are making a careful list of all the needy families in Washington. Their Christmas toy shop, at 1107 Pennsylvania avenue, with Mrs. Loren Johnson in charge each day, will be the clearing house for all contribu- tions. Wouldn't it make you happy to know that you had helped in this fine work? And what a really great show you will see! For no matter which one of the matinees you attend, you will find a wonderful entertainment planned for you. Shirley Temple, Jackie Cooper, Charlotte Henry, Joe E. Brown, Wallace Beery and other favorite stars will be on the screen. And you will see such fine pictures as “Treasure Island " “Baby Take a Bow,” “The Circus Clown,” “Alice in Wonderland,” and other feature plays, cartoons and interesting short sub- jects. You'll admit that that's an easy way to help, isn't it? So ask your parents to be generous and to give you your admission toy now, or to let you buy it yourself. Bring some- thing that you yourself would like to have, and come prepared to have & good time. Remember—next Saturday's the day. And here is the full list of Star- Warner Bros.' Christmas toy mat- inees for you to choose from: Tivoli—Shirley Temple in “Baby Takes a Bow,” a Laurel and Hardy comedy, “Busy Bodies”; “The Night Before Christmas” and “The Man on the Flying Trapeze,” a Popeye comedy. Ambassador—Jackie Cooper and Wallace Beery in “Treasure Island,” “The Shanty Where Santa Claus Lives” and “Can You Take It?” a Popeye comedy. Savoy—Joe E. Brown in “The Cir- cus Clown,” “Bedtime Worries,” an Our Gang comedy; “Touchdown Mickey,” a Mickey Mouse comedy, and “Let’s You and Him Fight,” a Pop- eye comedy. Colony—Shirley Temple in “Little Miss Marker,” “Wild Poses,” an Our Gang comedy, and “The Night Before Christmas,” a Silly Symphony. York—Joe E. Brown in “Son of a Sailor,” “Dirty Work,” a Laurel and Hardy comedy, and “Touchdown Mickey,” a Mickey Mouse comedy. Avenue Grand—Shirley Temple in “Little Miss Marker,” “Dirty Work,” a Laurel and Hardy comedy, and “Sockabye Baby,” a Popeye comedy. Shows Include Comedies. Apollo—Joe E. Brown in “The Cir- cus Clown,” “His Neighbor,” an Our Gang comedy, and “Mickey's Good Deed,” a Mickey Mouse comedy. Home—Bruce Cabot in “Midship- man Jack,” “His Neighbor,” an Our Gang comedy, and “The Three Lit- tle Pigs.” Metropolitan—George O'Brien in “The Last Trail,” “Oliver the Eighth,” & Laurel and Hardy comedy, and “The Big Bad Wolf,” a Silly Symphony. Earle—Charlotte Henry in “Alice in Wonderland” and “Shanty Where Santa Claus Lives.” Avalon—Jackie Cooper and Wallace Beery in “Treasure Island,” “Santa’s Workshop,” a Silly Symphony, and “Shoein’ Horses,” a Popeye comedy. $30 IN PRIZES FOR WASHINGTON Santa Claus Editor of The Star. other awards. your letter. third prize is $5. wu in early. BOYS AND GIRLS. Now is the time, boys and girls, to write your letter, “Why I know there is a Santa Claus and why every poor child in Washington should receive gifts this Christmas.” DON'T DELAY, send it in NOW to the It will be fine to win that prize of $15 offered by The Star for the best letter, and maybe little brother or little sister will win one of the Don’t forget, you must not be more than 12 years old if you write m'butmh'm'hlmdtli.mdpflnh‘lomm Your letter must be at the office of The Star not later than mid- Saturday, December 15. Announcements of the winners, with letters, will be made one week later. Please write on one side of the paper only, and get your letter Boulder Wrecks Train, Kills 2; Locomotive Hurled Into River ‘The locomotive tore up several sec- tions of track, rolled down the em- bankment and landed on its side in the river, which is about 10 feet deep at that point. The firemen and en- ARGUMENTS CLOSE IN OIL GODE CASE Supreme Court Rulings to Have Bearing on Recov- ery Act Itself, By the Associated Press. Oral argument on the validity of the admunistration's oil code ended yesterday before the Supreme Court after the high fustices sgain had criticized Government actions and omissions. The constitutionality of the section of the national industrial recovery act which authorized the petroleum code is at issue in the case brought by a number of Texas oil companies. So is the validity of the code actually framed, and the ruling will have & bearing on N. R. A, itself. Preliminaries Complete. The legislation is the first New Deal measure to approach a decision, since the conclusion of oral argument completes all the necessary prelimin- aries. But the court could, if it wishes, let the oil case lie without a ruling until it had disposed of other pending administration acts. Justice Brandeis, a leader of the liberal group on the bench, and sev- eral of his fellow justices commented sharply yesterday that the adminis- tration had failed to present a clear statement of the circumstances which led to the adoption of the code. Brandeis said there was nothing to show the court what facts were con- sidered when Secretary Ickes recom- mended adoption of the code to the President, nor the reasons which caused Mr. Roosevelt to proclaim the pact. Unaware of Report. Harold M. Stephens, Assistant Attorney General, who conducted the argument for the Government, said he did not know of the existence of an “official” report which contained a digest of the hearings leading up to the drafting of the code, or the facts which influenced the President in placing it in effect. F. W. Pischer, counsel for the Panama Refining Co., said the code had been adopted by agreement among competitors of his companies and without the knowledge of his clients. .PLAY TO BE STAGED Roosevelt Students to Produce “Belle of Baghdad” Twice. “The Belle of Baghdad” will beé pre- sented tomorrow and Friday nights by the students of Roosevelt High School in the school auditorium. The leading roles will be taken by Margaret Ruckert, Harry Nichter, Richard Davis, Howard Bowers, Charles Moser, Charles MacLendon, Betty Sando, Mildred Archer, Betty Smallman, Jean Hartig, Mabel Mundy and Beal Sale. Thespians Give Play Tonight. An old-time Christian play will be featured at the regular meeting of th Thespian Society of the Covenant- First Presbyterian Church tonight in the church chapel, 1764 N street, Refreshments will be served. The public is invited. —_— BAND CONCERT. By the United States Marine Bani Symphony Orchestra this evening at 8 o'clock in the band auditorium, Marine Barracks; Capt. Taylor Bran- son, leader; Arthur 8. Witcomb, sec- ond leader. Program of Pan-American Musie, Marines’ Hymn, “The Halls of Montezuma. Overture, “Salvator Rosa” (Bra- 211) Carlos Gomes Suite of three Araucanian songs, “Lamentations Huilliches” (Chile) ... ++ses Carlos Lavin “Kotenan. “Kayfu Mapu.” “Tayu Tripayal’ Violin solo with harp accompanist, “Perla de las Antillas” (Nica- ragua) David Sequeira (Albert F. Schoepper, violin; Joshua M. Tyler, harp.) “Merinque of Haiti” (Haiti). (Compiled by Capt. John H. Craige, U.S. M. C. Arranged by Luis Guzman, bandmaster.) Xylophone solo, “Alma Llanera” (Venezuela) ...Pedro E. Gutierrez (Wilbur D. Kieffer.) Waltz, “Secretos” (Colombia) Luis A. Calvo Cornet solos— “Estrellita” (Mexico) .Manuel Ponce “Nortena” (Mexico), Eduardo Vigil ¥ Robles (Winfred Kemp.) Septet for wind instruments and harp— Aymara air, “La Huerta” (Boli- via) “El Son de la Lurna” (Costa Rica) .Jose Quesada O. Preludio, “ Colombia) ‘Luis A. Calvo Dedicated to the Marine Band. March, “Pan Americana” (Hon- duras) Ignacio V. Galeano “The Star Spangled Banner.” s Even though they hove & Sonta Clous Chinese Children olso hove firecrack ws on Christmos For 400 years Christmas has been celebrated to a limited extent in shopping days to Christmas