Evening Star Newspaper, December 28, 1934, Page 1

WEATHER. (U. 8. Weather Bureau Forecast.) Cloudy, followed by rain tonight and tomorrow; slightly warmer tonight, mini- mum temperature about 35 degrees; mod- erate southwest winds. Temperatures— Highest, 42, at noon today; lowest, 29, at 3 am. today. Closing N. Y. Markets, Pages 17,18 &19 Entered as second class matter No. 33,113. post office, Wa FOUR ARE INDICTED INTAX CONSPIRAGY AGAINST TREASURY Two Former Internal Reve- nue Officials Named in True Bills. — NEW YORK CONSULTANTS INCLUDED IN CHARGES J. W. Hardgrove, H. R. Nelson, Frank B. McElhill, R. E. Cal- laghan Are Accused Men. The District grand jury today in- dicted four persons—two of them for- merly in responsible positions in the Internal Revenue Bureau—on chnrgesi of conspiring to defraud the Govern- ment in connection with settlement of pending income tax cases. Those named in the indictment are John W. Hardgrove, formerly associate chief conferee of the bureau, who was dismissed by Secretary of the Treas- ury Morgenthau after an investiga- tion conducted by agents of the bu- reau’s intelligence unit. Henning R. Nelson, formerly auditor in the bureau, dismissed along with Hardgrove. Frank B. McElhill of New York City, practicing privately as a tax con- sultant. Richard E. Callaghan, also of New ‘York, associated with McElhill in the tax consulting business. McCarter Was Star Witness. ‘The indictment resulted largely from testimony given the grand jury by the Government’s star witness, Thomas N. McCarter, president of the New Jersey Public Service Corp., and of the Edison Electric Institute. The lat- ter organization represents 80 per cent of the power interests of the Nation. McCarter is the man Secretary Mor- genthau recently described anony- mously as a “public spirited citizen” for reporting the case. McCarter pro- tested to Morgenthau about the activ- ities of the tax consultants and the Treasury Secretary instructed Revenue Commissioner Guy T. Helvering to in- vestigate. Helvering placed the in- quiry in the hands of Elmer L. Irey, chief of the Intelligence Unit. The indictment charges that dur- ing the period from January to Au- gust of this year the accused men “unlawfully, wilfully, knowingly and feloniously did conspire, combine, confederate and agree together and each with the other and with divers other persons to the grand jury afore- | £aid unknown, to defraud the United States of America by impairing, ob- structing and defeating the lawful functioning of a department of the United States Government, to wit the Treasury Department of the United States and a bureau thereof, known as the Bureau of the Internal Revenue, and to interfere with its lawful, orderly and usual functions.” 22 Overt Acts Listed. The indictment calls to attention to numerous laws and regulations prohibiting divulgence of confidential information contained in income tax returns and alleges that Hardgrove and Nelson violated these regulations in conspiring with the New York tax consultants to settle certain cases. A total of 22 overt acts in further- ance of the alleged conspiracy were listed by the grand jury. These acts had to do largely with telephone and other communications between the former bureau employes and the New York tax experts. Some of the conversations listed in the indictment papers are alleged to have taken place between McCarter and MCcEhill. Others took place be- tween McElhill and Hardgrove, Hard- grove and Nelson, McElhill and Cal- laghan, it is charged. The case was presented to the grand jury by Assistant United States Attor- ney George E. McNeil. MRS. HAM IS HELD IN FATAL ACCIDENT Wife of Power Firm Board Chair- man Must Await Action by Grand Jury. Mrs, William F. Ham, 52, 2621 Woodley place, wife of the chairman of the Board of the Potomac Electric Power Co., today was held for action of the grand jury at a coroner’s in- quest into the death of Miss Blanche K. Teel, fatally injured December 23 when struck at Conrecticut avenue and Calvert street by an automobile operated by Mrs. Ham. The decision to hold Mrs. Ham was arrived at after the coroner’s jury had deliberated for approximately an hour, after hearing testimony at the District morgue. e Both police and eye-witnesses said Mrs. Ham was making a right turn from Connecticut avenue into Calvert street and going slowly when the ma- chine struck Miss Teel. Among eye- witnesses to testify were Miss Anne Pendleton, 1919 Biltmore street, who saw the accident shortly after the light had changed from red to green, allowing Mrs. Ham to proceed to make the turn. Another witness was Harry Robin- #on, 2300 block of Champlain street, colored, a chauffeur. Both Miss Pen- dleton and Robinson testified Mrs. Ham was driving slowly. Miss Pen- dleton also asserted Miss Teel appar- ently stepped directly in front of the machine, CONVICTS A.BDUCT MAN Escaped Prisoners Force Wife and Children From Car. MACON, Ga., December 28 (#).— Dr. T. M. White, Cochran veterinarian, was reported tcday to have been ab- ducted by a gang of escaped convicts | after his wife and two children had been ejected from their automobile on the Cochran-Macon highway. Mrs. White made her way to a telephone at a farmer’s house and notified police here 30 minutes after her husband had been overpowered and driven away by the gang which she said was composed of four Negroes and two white men, ‘ [ Full report on Page A-5. shington, D. C. Traffic Victims RAYMOND V., SINCLAIR. E SIEGFRIED VON AMMON. MOGRE AND FOUR OTHERS INDICTED Police Destribe Defendant as One of Better Known Gamblers. Striking another blow at organized gambling in Washingson, the District grand jury today indicted Thomas C. (‘Tom™) Moore, described by police as one of the better known local gam- blers, and four of his alleged associ- ates. Those charged with Moore are Jere= miah Ross and Charles Harrison, both colored; John Thomas Tilghman and Elmer Clayton. They are accused of setting up a gaming table and con- spiring to violate the gambling laws. Ross, Tilghman and Clayton were arrested December 13 in 2 raid on the second floor of 1712 Fourteenth street. Police said they found more than 100 telephones, 10 trunk lines and other equipment in the receipt of race horse information and the taking of bets. Phone Lines Active. The official report of the raid said the phones rang constantly after po. lice entered the establishment and that a number of bets were accepted over the telephone by police officers. Ross is alleged to have told the raiding party he worked for Tom Moore for nine years. Harrison was arrested the following day at 1728 Fourteenth street, a cigar and newsstand. Police claim several women came into the place while they were there and offered Harrison envelopes containing money and numbers slips. Harrison, it was stated, refused to accept the enve- lopes, but a policeman got one, with the name and address of the woman. Conspiracy is Charged, ‘The indictment charges a con- spiracy existed among the five men, as a result of which both places were operated. About a year ago several bandits at- tempted to rob Moore in his apart- ment at a hotel. The intruders were captured by Deetective Sergt. Frank Brass after a gun battle in the hotel. It is understood information result- ing in the raid was obtained by tap- ping telephone wires leading to and from the establishments. A second gambling indictment was returned against Peter Stegos, John Peter Marcos and Joe Smith as the result of a raid last month in the 2500 block of L street. The raid followed the alleged placing of num- bers bets by an undercover in- vestigator. Stegos and Marcos were indicted several weeks ago and the second in- dictment was returned today to in- clude Smith. The war on Washington’s numbers racketeers broke out anew yesterday with the seizure of a quantity of num- bers books, slips, adding machines and money and the arrest of Siki Jackson, 23-year-old colored youth, when police raided a house in the 100 block of Randolph street. Ledgers (Continued on Page 2, Column 6.) @h WASHINGTON, D. C., ‘FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28, 1934—THIRTY-EIGHT PAGES. SINCLAIR 1S KILLED CHASING SPEEDER AS TOLL HITS 133 Von Ammon, U. S. Auto Scientist, Dies of Christ- mas Crash Injuries. ALL-TIME RECORD HERE SURPASSED IN 1934 Traffic Officer Led Force in Num- ber of Arrests for Violation of Rules. ‘The deaths early today of Washing- ton’s first motor cycle policeman, from a standpoint of arrests, and a Bureau of Standards scientist brought the number of traffic fatalities here this year to 133, surpassing by 10 the pre- vious all-time record for 12 months. ‘The dead policeman is Raymond V. Sinclair, 39, motor cycle officer of the Trafic Bureau, fatally injured early last night when his motor cycle ran into an automobile on Bladensburg road northeast as the driver of the car started a left turn into Queen’s Chapel road. The accident occurred at 7:30 p.m. and he died at 7 o’clock this morning in Casualty Hospital from injuries to the head and chest. Siegfried von Ammon, 58, 3840 Lega- tion street, automotive engineer of the Bureau of Standards for the past 15 vears, died at 3:15 a.m. in Emergency ospital from injuries received in an automobile collision early Christmas morning at Connecticut and Nebraska avenues. Mr. Von Ammon for the past 10 years had been secretary- treasurer of the Chevy Chase Citizens' Association. Trailing Speeder. The crash which caused Sinclair's death occurred a few minutes after he and Motor Cycle Policeman E. C. Spaulding of the Traffic Bureau had started out Bladensburg road after a speeder. The two had slowed down, however, police said, when the ma- chine they were trailing suddenly slowed up as they began to “pace” it George -A. Nolte, 30, 54 Quincy place northeast, driver of the car which was making the turn, was being detained at No. 12 police station today, pending action of the coroner. 8inclair had a stormy career since being appointed to the metropolitan police force January 7, 1920. Several times he had been brought before the Police Trial Board, but each time had been acquitted. In October of this year Mrs. Doro- thy Ballard Metz, 32, of the 4900 block of Georgia avenue, made verbal complaints against Sinclair regarding alleged rough handling when arrested by him on a traffic charge. Later, however, she decided not to prosecute. No charges were filed with police on the incident. Champion Arrester. Sinclair, long known as a champion arrester of the police force, due to his diligence in tracking down viola- tors of traffic regulations, likewise had been praised a half dozen times for courtesy by motorists, several of whom he had warned. Four times prior to last night he had been injured when his motor cycle had struck an automobile or a street car while he was after speeders. On one occasion his motor cycle was dragged many feet when a handle bar caught in the side of a street car. On October 17, 1929, he suffered a wrist fracture, numerous cuts and bruises in chasing a speeding metor cycle while en route from his home to work. In April, 1929, he suffered a brain con- cussion. During his first year on the force Sinclair was transferred numerous times and since had been assigned to various duties. In January, 1921, he was promoted to driver. He was mounted as a bicycle policeman August 1, 1927, and on October 16, 1927, promoted to motor cycle police- man. ‘The policeman lived at 5218 Illinois avenue, where his wife, Mrs. Margaret Sinclair, and mother, Mrs. Annie Doherty, also reside. The funeral will be held Monday at 10 am. at St. Gabriel's Catholic Church. Interment will take place at Mount Olivet Cemetery. Another Traffic Victim. Mr. Von Ammon, a native of Cali- fornia, was educated in technical schools in Harover and Berlin, Ger- many. Besides long being active in civic affairs, he was president of the (Continued on Page 3, Column 1.) BOMB WRECKS 10 CARS OF ILLINOIS COAL TRAIN By the Associated Press. WOODLAWN, I, December 28.— Ten empty coal cars on a south- bound Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad train en route to the South- ern Illinois coal fields were blown off the tracks by a dynamite bomb near here early today, paralyzing for s time traffic on both north and south bound tracks. Conductor C. A. Schaeffer of Cen- tralia was the only one injured. He suffered a bruised left hip. Railroad officials said the damage was slight as all of the cars were empty. Music’s Power to Charm Men To Goodness Is Bunk to Editor By the Associated Press. MILWAUKEE, December 28.—A. Walter Kramer, editor of Musical America, says he believes the idea that music is a great force for elevating human nature is “just bunk.” Kramer is attending the conventions of five musical organizations. “It's time,” he said, “that we were debunking the idea that music makes people better human beings. Except for a half dozen of the greatest com- positions of all time * * * music leaves people just as wicked as the day they were born, and that's pretty wicked.” He said it's been proved that it isn't even a aign of intelligence to be mu- sical, Kramer said that the radio has done much to increase enjoyment of music, buf audiences haven't learned to listen to it correctly. “Instead of getting the listener’s un- divided attention, the radio concert is merely an accompaniment to conver- sation, card playing, eating, loving and living,” he said. “You can’t really en- joy it when it's only a secondary at- traction.” Another to discredit popular beliefs with regard to music was George Pul- len Jackson, Nashville, who “discov- ered” the American white religious folk songs and who said spirituals were not of colored origin, 4 ¢ Foeni ‘WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION n SEEMS To ME THOSE FELLERS WHO WROTE THE CONSTITUTION SHouLD HAVE HAD Anne Lindbergh Will Testify||FACUF ATIACKED Against Hauptmann Next Week State Spurns Offer of John Hughes Curtis to Be Witness. *® By the Associated Press. TRENTON, N. J., December 28— Mrs. Anne Morrow Lindbergh, it was learned from an authoritative source today, will be called as a witness for the prosecution in the trial of Bruno Richard Hauptmann, which starts at Flemington next week. Hauptmann is charged with the murder of Mrs. Lindbergh’s infant son. It was not revealed what the nature of her testimony would be. She is to be a “willing” witness and will not be subpoenaed. Curtis’ Offer Spurned. At the same time it was also learn- ed that the State will not accept the offer of John Hughes Curtis, Norfolk, Va., shipbuilder and convicted hoaxer of the case, to testify for the prosecu- tion against Hauptmann. It was understood, however, that the defense is very anxious for Cur- " (Continued on Page 3, Column 7. ANNE LINDBERGH. INTRA-STATE RULE OFNR A OPPOSED U. S. Trade Body Would| Have Interstate Business Fix Own Regulations. By the Associated Press. A proposal to remove the tens of thousands of intra-state businesses from N. R. A's jurisdiction came to- day from the Chamber of Commerce of the United States as the big debate that will decide the Blue Eagle's fu- ture neared. Members of Congress returning for the session starting January 3 also found the chamber, basing its stand on a referendum of its membership, calling for a new N. R. A. law which would permit interstate industry to fix its own rules. ‘They found, too, that the bitter con- troversy over collective bargaining and “majority rule” was to the fore again. The rule, handed down by the Na- tional Labor Relations Board, provides that representatives chosen by a ma- jority of workers in a plant or other unit shall represent all workers for collective bargaining. This principle and the views of the chamber conflict. The chamber ar- gued that “in any new legislation it should be made unmistakable that col- lective bargaining is bargaining with representatives of all groups of em- ployes that desire to act through spokesmen, without the right of a minority group to deal collectively or the direct right of individual bargain- ing being precluded.” Labor Favorg Ruling. Spokesmen for the American Fed- eration of Labor, though hearty in their approval of the majority rule de- cision, have not announced a drive to enact it into law. They have asked merely that the collective bargaining section, 7-A, be renewed as it stands. Lloyd Garrison, who headed the La- bor Board when the majority ruling was written, suggested yesterday that Congress put more teeth in the law by empowering the board “to enforce its decisions{ against all lawbreakers.” Calling the board impotent under existing law, Garrison said in a speech at Chicago that removal of the Blue Eagle in many cases “amounts to nothing” “I left the board,” he said, “with the conviction that ‘section 7-A will never be adequately enforced under existing machinery.” The chamber urged that the Gov- ernment, in permitting industry to lay down rules of competition, should be (Continued on Page 4, Column 1.) Guide for Readers U..5. MEETS JAPAN IN SURPRISE TALK Tokio Sought Final Confer- ence Before American Delegates Leave. By the Associated Press. LONDON, December 28.—Admiral William H. Standley of the United States and Admiral Isoroku Yamamo- to of Japan met today to discuss the naval situation as it appears now that the tri-power discussions have broken up. ‘Yamamoto, among others, had been Standley’s guest at a luncheon. Ya- mamoto suggested that the two meet tomorrow, just before the American delegation sails for home, but the luncheon gave them an opportunity to nold their conference today in- stead. It was understood that the Japa- nese admiral outlined Tokio’s i structions that the Japanese deleg: tion is to discuss with the British a possible approach to a compromise. These instructions, however, did not indicate that there would be any change in Japan's demands for equality. ‘Yamamoto's desire for the confer- ence with Standley was a surprise. This unexpected move, some Amer- jcan quarters said, may be actuated by a Japanese wish to make it ap- pear that the Washington delegates are leaving when the Japanese iye willing to discuss further steps toward & compromise. The possibility of & naval confer- ence within another year seemed even more remote today than it did a week ago when the three-power conversa- tions were officially terminated. Japan’s continued demands for equality caused naval and diplomatic quarters o believe no conference will be held in 1935 aithough one is sched- uled. As a sign of encouragement, how- ever, the British point to the fact that the denunciation of the Wash- ington treaty by Tokio is not effec- tive until December, 1936, giving two years for the arranging of a con- ference which might write a new (Continyed on Page 4, Column 1.) Death Pilots Train Again, Killing Two More at Crossing By the Associated Press. CHICAGO, December 28.—Two persons were killed today when the International Limited of the Grand Trunk line crashed into an automobile in suburban Blue Island, The same train last ‘Wednesday struck a sedan in nearby Harvey, killing seven em- ployes of the Illinois Emergency Relief Commission. The victims were the wife and daughter, Leona, 19, of Leon Metzinger, 55, of North Dakota, who was taken to the Blue Island Hospital, suffering from a frac- tured arm and leg. Metzinger is dean of modern languages at the University of North Dakota. His daughter was a student at the university. o Star kh BY NAZIS IN SAAR Counter-Campaign Against| Hitler in Stormy Session of Landestrat. Copyright. 1934, by the Associated Press. SAARBRUECKEN, Saar Basin Ter- ritory, December 28.—The Saar’s Nazis, led by Hermann Roechling, today counter-attacked the campaign against Hitler in a stormy session of the Landesrat—the Saar’s “House of Rep- resentatives,” which has only advisory privileges. Today's session was the final one before the plebiscite January 13 which will express the Saarites wishes as to whether their future citizenship shall be German, French or League of Na- tions. Nazi speakers in the body demanded to know why the people of Danzig, Memel, Eupen and Malmedy were not also given the right to express their wishes, insinuating that all the people separated from Germany by the World War would vote for a return to Germany. Acrid attacks were made against “the lack of energy” of the League of Nations Governing Commission which manages the Saar territory and the president of the governing commis- sion, G. G. Knox, was taken to task for reqyisitioning buildings for the in- ternatiohal troops who are policing the area in connection with the | plebiscite. Hitler Agreed to Plebiscite. “Common Front” — anti - Nazis— members of the Landesrat replied to the Nazi attack with the statement that Reichsfuehrer Hitler of Germany himself had agreed to the plebiscite and pointed out that fhe governing commission had erected thousands of buildings in the basin in the 15 years of its supremacy. The Landesrat had met to debate the housing problem, but the plebiscite campaign was the only subject discussed. Roechling, often called “the brains” of the Nazi party in the Saar and the | most prominent industrialist in the area, finally left the meeting. He stalked out holding one hand high in a Nazi salute and shouting “Deutsch- land! Deutschland! Deutschland!” The “Germant Front"—the Nazi or- ganization—today took 2.500 Saar children in four special trains for an outing in Germany. It is organizing a big German Yuletide celebration to- morrow night at Stuttgart and Frank- fort for Saarlanders commemorating “the last Christmas before the Saar returns to Germany.” ‘Warned to Hold Cards. The Nazis issued a warning to all persons to hold tight to the voting cards now being issued by the Plebi- scite Commission. “Beware of attempts to buy or get them away from you,” i (Continued on Page 4, T0GO'S WIDOW DIES Husband Directed Japan's Fleet in Conquering Russia. TOKIO, December 28 (#).—Coun- tess Tetsuko Togo, 73, widow of the famous admiral who was the hero of the battle of the Sea of Japan which clinched a victory for his country in the war with Russig died today of pneumonia. Admiral Togo, one of the greatest heroes of the empire's history, died May 30. The only evening paper in Washington with the Associated Press News service, Yesterday’s Circulation, 122,994 Some Returns Not Yet Received. () Means Associated Press. THREE REVISIONS PLANNED IN WORK RELIEF PROGRAM Administration Would Re- turn Unemployables to States and Towns. INCREASED ACTIVITY IN BUSINESS SOUGHT Elimination of Cash Grants as Far as Possible for Employ- able People Desired. By the Associated Press. The Roosevelt administration, map- ping a new approach today to the Government's paramount problem, planned thre changes of major import In its unemployment relief policies. 1. By February 1, the Federal Emergency Relief Administration hopes to have returned all the “un- employables” on its rolls to the care of the States. Administrator Harry L. Hopkins said that, with their depend- ents, they number about 20 per cent of those on Federal relief. 2. Hoping increased activity in private business would diminish the army of jobless, President Roosevelt sought to work out an elastic budget for relief which could be curtailed with an increase in private employ- ment. 3. There were new indications President Roosevelt desires to elimin- ate direct cash grants, so far as that is considered possible, for the employ- able people on Federal relief and sub- stitute work aid Direct Relief Task. With the completion of the cam- paign announced by Hopkins, the task of direct relief would become ex- clusively the province of the States and local communities. Hopkins, who outlined the plan after a conference at the White House, indicated a hope that the saving to the Federal Govern- ment would be considerable. It prob- ably would not correspond, however, with the cut in the number of Federal relief because State expenditures for the purpose would be considered in determining what State contributions to other phases of the relief problem are adequate. Hopkins disclosed that “unemploy- ables” have for some time been gradu- | ally transferred back to the care of the States. He said that before the de- pression, these people, who include the | aged, infirm and others unable to work, were cared for locally. “Since then,” he said, “they have | increased and have got on to our re- | lief rolls. Regardless of any pick-up in employment, they will still have to be cared for.” Some States already use their own funds for their care, he said, and the change there would be only a matter of bookkeeping, while in others, he as- | serted, it should lead to more ade- | quate relief for this class. Cabinet Meeting Today. Following yesterday's White House conference, in which Secretaries Ickes and Morgenthau and Budget Director Daniel Bell also took part, the entire cabinet and other high officials were expected to gather with the President today to discuss the legislative pro- gram. ‘The extent of the public works ap- propriation to be sought has yet to be announced. Though Secretary | Ickes emphasized that this was “some- thing for the President to announce,” | he expressed favor again for low-cost | housing. | “I have always been for housing,” he said, “because of its social value, | because of its effect on the durable | goods markets and because it puts to | work craftsmen who have been the hardest hit. “The subsistence homestead pro- gram also should be extended. All things considered, I think we have made a success there.” The Public Works Administration has set before the President a sur- vey seeking to show Federal projects totaling several billions of dollars could be started quickly. While these Government discussions about the jobless were going on, the American Federation of Labor an- nounced figures to show further in- creases in unemployment. Placing the number out of work in industry in November at 11,459,000, it said this was an increase of 420,000 over October and 400,000 over November last year. The rise was laid to “the normal increase in population, which yearly adds more than 400,000 to the army of jobseekers.” Jobs Are Lacking. “Our industries,” the federation said, “have not created enough jobs in the last 12 months to put these boys and girls to work, or, if they have found Jjobs, it has been at the expense of some older persons employed.” The federation found one bright spot in its figures—a 2 per cent gain in union employment in building. That gain, it said, was the first since 1928. The Relief Administration yesterday disclosed partial allotments for Jan- uary totaling $136,791,268, as com- pared with an aggregate of $151,000,- 000 disbursed so far in December. Capper to Support Roosevelt In Practical Plan for Recovery BY J, A. O’'LEARY, Announcing he will support Presi- dent Roosevelt in any practicable pro- gram for economic recovery this ‘Winter, Senator Capper, Republican, of Kansas, today described unem- ployment as the most important prob- lem awaiting the attention of the new Congress. Just back from the Middle West, Senator Capper said there has been a noticeable improvement in retail business in that section in recent months, but that unemployment is still a serious problem. “I am strong for a public works that will create employment and enable us to get away from the dole or direct relief,” Capper said. The Kansan asserted that in gen- eral he would be for the Roosevelt program, He said he did not expect any basie crop reduction programs, although there may be amendments to the de- tails of the act. He also announced he will support payment of the soldiers’ bonus, and believes 1t wiil pass. Discussing the future of the Re- publican party, Capper expressed the belief it will have to follow a liberal course, but indicated he does not be- lieve party reorganization need be un- dertaken :mmediately. “I think we have got to liberalize leadership and policies,” the Senator said. “I would not condemn the pres- ent leadership, but certainly the Re- publicans cannot afford to go before the country two years from now with reactionary leadership.” He added that the party program fi have to appeal to young Repub- ns. Senator Capper also made known he would support the movement to restore the remainder of the Govern- TWO CENTS. BILL CENTRALIZES RULE OF DISTRICT IN COMMISSIONERS Proposal Grants Power to Order or Veto Acts of Boards. MEASURE TOUCHES ON FINANCES AND TAXES Prettyman Reveals He Is Draft- ing Measure—Hazen and Allen Approve “in Principle.” The Commissioners would be given authority to order or veto acts by the Board of Education and other inde- pendent boards or agencies which are supported in whole or in part by Dis- trict revenues, under the terms of a bill to broaden their powers, drafted by Corporation Counsel E. Barrett Prettyman, it was revealed today. Such power, Prettyman explained in a statement summarizing objectives of the bill, might be exercised on rare occasions only, and the bill would leave the active administration of the independent agencies where it now Tests. The Commissioners have tenta- tively agreed upon the basic principles of the measure, but as yet have not committed themselves to it. Pretty- man has discussed the bill with Chair- man King of the Senate District Com- mittee, and he plans to introduce it as a part of the District's legislative program early in the forthcoming ses- sion of Congress, Centralizes Authority. The purpose of the Prettyman bill would be to centralize the ultimate authority of the administration® of District affairs in the hands of the District Commisisoners. A summary of the objectives of the bill was made public today by Pretty- man, who has been mapping the Dis- trict’s legislative program for six months. Shortly after they came into office, Commissioners Melvin C. Hazen and George E. Allen let it be known they were convinced city administration should be centralized in the Board of Commissioners, since they share the major responsibilities in many cases even where independent agencies hold administrative powers: Prettyman’s statement follows: “The Commissioners have before them for consideration a draft of a proposed bill relating to their powers in the government of the District of Columbia. The purposes of the bill are threefold: (1) to clarify and amplify the powers which they al- ready have but which have been given them from time to time by statute over the last 60 years and which are therefore in many instances confused and uncertain; (2) to relieve the Commissioners from the necessity of appearing before Congress for legisla- tion in respect to many trivial and minor matters, and thus at the same time to relieve Congress from the necessity of considering and passing upen this mass of detail; (3) to make the Commissioners in fact the govern- mental executives of the District. Powers Limited. “While theoretically the Commis- sioners are the governors of the Dis- trict, in fact they could hardly be called such. They have no power, for | example, over the jails, public institu- tions of charity, public hospitals, pub- lic schools, many of the parks and playgrounds and some streets; in fact, there are a few instances in which they have no power over officials within the District government. In practice this causes confusion. As a matter of government the dissipation of executive power is unsound. Legis- lative power should be upon & broad base, but executive power should be concentrated. “In form the bill is modeled upon the best in the State statutes relating (Continued on Page 3, Column 6.) FRANCE DEPORTING SCORES. OF ALIENS Inability to Get Work Permits ~ Forcing Many Refugees to Leave Country. By the Associated Press, PARIS, December 28.—Thousands of foreigners, including many refugee German Jews, are being forced to leave France as a result of inability to obtain working permits. Poles and Italians are among those particularly affected. More than 100 Germans have been notified since No- vember 1 that they must depart un- less able to prove themselves self« supporting. The promise of Premier Pierre- Etienne Flandin to curtail the em- ployment of foreigners in France led to restrictions against the issuance of new working cards and refusal to re- new many old ones which had expired. About 25.000 German refugees have flocked to France, approximately 11,- 000 eventually reaching Paris. Many ultimately moved on to other coun- tries. At first France welcomed the refugees, but the enthusiasm was quickly quenched when it appeared Germans who had received working permits were taking jobs away from Frenchmen. OFFICER HELD SUICIDE Navy Man Found Dead in Hono- lulu Vacant House. HONOLULU, December 28 (#).— Lieut. Joseph Thomas Sheehan, naval officer whose body was found in a va- cant house here, was reported today by Detective Lieut. Michael Morse to have committed suicide by cutting his throat with a knife. The officer was attached to the U. 8. S. Beaver. The body was found yesterday by & real estate man when he called st & house next to the home of Lieut.