Evening Star Newspaper, January 16, 1935, Page 1

WEATHER. (U. 8. Weather Bureau Forecast.) Rain, possibly mixed with sleet or snow, with lowest temperature about 32 degrees tonight; tomorrow rain and warmer. Tem- peratures—Highest, 39, at 4 p.m. yester- The only evening paper in Washington with the Associated Press News and Wirephoto services. day; lowest, 30, at 9 am. today. Full report on page A-9. Yesterday’s Circulation, 131,463 Some Returns Not Yet Received WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION ¢ Foening Star ah WASHINGTON, D. C, Closing N. Y. Markets, Pages 11, 12, 13 Fntered as second class matter post office, Washington, D. C. TWO OF BREMER KIDNAPERS SLAIN 'PRESDENT URGES DISTRICT SUPPLY BILL 1§ SLASHED SENATE TO RATIFY COURT PROTOCOL 10 33308404 IN REPORT T0° HOUSE Message Seeks Quick Ap- proval Without Modifying Measure Based on Contin- uing Present $1.50 Tax Reservations. Rate and Leaves Federal Payment at $5,700,000. (#) Means Associated Press. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 1935 —THIRTY-FOUR PAGES. #%# No. 33,132. TWO CENTS. £ TR OF EXPERTS Federal Agenss Kill P UNAUTHORSHPOF. 4727 gy rour Cur. Figh At “Hang-Out” in Florida AI.I. RANS[]M NmES“Mg” Ba;(ker, 60dYIe(¢flrls (;)T;l/, gr;inz of '|'[] HAUP]‘MANN ang heporte tle 112 re Barker, Son, in Furious Fray. H. E. Cassidy of R|chmond,‘ OKLAWAHA, Fla, January 16—Fred Barker, long sought for the Wilmer Souder of Bureau kidnaping of Edward G. Bremer, wealthy St. Paul banker, and his mother, “Ma” Barker, were shot to death today by Department of Justice agents of Standards and A. D-i after a withering six-hour machine gun battle. Just aiter the furious battle ended the Federal agents said two men and Oshorn Back Four Others. | a woman had been killed. but a later check disclosed that only the Barkers were slain, Apparently they were the only occupants of the house. The agents suffered no known casualties. The battle raged for nearly five hours. The beautiful Summer home, be-*" IT'SA SAD STORY, MATES! JOHNSON OPENS FIRE ON PROPOSAL AT ONCE Opponents Prepare for Vigorous Battle Against Adherence. LARGE SURPLUS LEFT FEDERAL MAN ADMITS DIFFERENCES IN LETTERS | Accused's Attorneys Reveal New Witness Will Testify Dead Man and Two Others Offered to longing to Carson Bradford, president | of the Biscayne Kennel Club at Miami, who had rented it two months ago to | a man who gave his name as T. C. | Blackburn, was shot full of holes. To queries, an agent replied the mobsters were “members of the Black- chine guns and tear gas into the house. Two of the three killed in a ma- chine gun battle with Federal agents today at Oklawaha, Fla., were identi- fied by the Department of Justice as Fred Barker and his mother, “Ma” Barker, both long sought for the ab- Sell Him Lindbergh Ransom | purn gang” sought in connection with duction of Edward G. Bremer, St. Paul Money. (Copyright. 1935, by the Associated Press.) FLEMINGTON, N. J., January 16.— Three more State experts today in- sisted that Bruno Richard Hauptmann was the writer of the 14 Lindbergh ransom notes, but the defense—strik- ing again at the dead Isador Fisch— scored slightly in a fight to establish differences between Hauptmann's ad- mitted handwriting and that found in the notes. One after the other, Harry E. Cas- sidy of Richmond, Va.; Wilmer Sou- | der of the United States Bureau of Standards, and Albert D. Osborn of New York took the stand and de- clared it their positive opinion Haupt- mann was the ransom note vriter. Os- born, the seventh expert to testify. is the son of the first, Albert S. Osborn, who gave his testimony last week. Souder, in cross-examination, ac- knowledged differences between cer- tain letters and words in the notes as compared to Hauptmann's admitted writings, but insisted “there was no discrepancy which indicated a dif- ferent writer in all these documents.” Acknowledges Differences. His acknowledgment of differences between certain “d's,” certain “a's,” certain “r's,” in the writings, and his | admission that he had not, though he examined 8,000 papers in the case, compared two writings of the word “please,” caused the prosecutor to ask him: “Has anything been brought to your attention by opposing counsel which in any way changes your opinion on the writer of these documents?” ““No,” Souder said. The State considers the handwrit- ing evidence one of its strongest weapons for placing Hauptmann in the New Jersey electric chair for the kidnaping and murder of Baby Charles A. Lindbergh, jr., stolen from his crib on the night of March 1, 1932. Osborn Prepared Material. The expert Osborn revealed shortly before the noon recess that it was he who prepared the material for dicta- tion to Hauptmann after his arrest. These dictated specimens were used by all of the experts as a basis for | comparison with the ransom notes. Here is what the experts said: Cassidy: “If Mr. Hauptmann wrote those request writings and standard | writings, I feel compelied to say nei wrote those ransom notes.” { Souder—If Mr. Hauptmann wrote | the request writings and the admitted | writings, he also wrote the ransom | documents.” Osborn: “In my judgment. based upon these standards. Bruno Richard Hauptmann wrote all the ransom notes. The defense, which is openly trying to implicate Fisch in the writing of the notes, bore down on the possibility that a clever penman imitated Haupt- mann’s hand in the notes. Fisch, who died in Germany of tuberculosis last March, was named by Hauptmann as | the real owner of the $14,600 ransom money found in Hauptmann's garage. “Let me ask you this,” C. Lloyd | Fisher of the defense staff cross- examined Cassidy, “assuming some- one, some penman had a specimen of the true writing of Bruno Richard ‘Hauptmann with all its eccentricities, misspelling, peculiarities, its failure to cross “t's” and whatnot, would it in your opinion be a difficult matter for the person who had that writing to copy Hauptmann's writing in such a way that it would be deceptive even to you experts?” Almost Impossible Task. “I would say,” drawled Cassidy easlly. ““that for a small amount of writing and a very expert imitator or " (Continued on Page 4, Column 7.) e PODERJAY FRETS IN BRIG More Concerned Over Wardrobe Than Bigamy Charges. ABOARD 8. S. PRESIDENT POLK, January 16 (®).—Ivan Poderjay, en route to New York to face bigamy charges and questions in connection with the disappearance of Miss Agnes *Tufverson, sat in the brig of this liner today and fretted because he re- garded his wardrobe inadequate for a trans-Atlantic tourist. “Why didn’t they tell me I was going to the United States?” the dapper for- mer Yugoslav Army officer complained. “I've only three shirts with me, which aren’t enough for a gentleman.” —_— Minnesota Publisher Dies. MINNEAPOLIS, January 16 (#).— ince 1926, died yesterday. who was | | the Bremer kidnaping. The firing started about 7 o'clock this morning when the agents sur- rounded the house. | The barricaded group answered with | machine gun fire and shotguns. | For hours the battle kept going and | finally the agents obtained a quantity | | of tear gas which they began pouring | into the building. | There had heen no casualties among | the officers. | Residents of the community had | withdrawn to a safe distance to listen to the battle. ‘There is only one telephone in the little Summer resort village. Shortly after noon one of the offi- | cers made a call to an Orlando un- | dertaker: “Bring the wagon, we have two dead men for you.” They continued to fire their ma- banker. None of the 15 Federal agents who surrounded the house in Oklawaha was killed or injured. ‘When “Ma” Barker fell, the de- partment said, she was holding a ma- chine gun in her hand and part of the drum of cartridges had been ex- hausted. Bremer was kidnaped on January 17, 1934. Taken from St. Paul, he was released on February 7 near Rochester, Minn., after the payment | of $200,000 ransom. | At that time the Department of Justice named Arthur “Doc” Barker, | believed to be a relative of today's | casualties, and Alvin Karpis as those responsible for the kidnaping. The Barker-Karpis gang has been | described as the last of the free- running mobs to be at large in the United States. COMMISSION VET0 FOUGHT INHEARING | Civic Group Spokesmen Fear Political Abuses Under New Plan. | | Overwhelming sentiment against the | proposal to give the Commissioners authority over the Board of Education | and Public Library was voiced today by civic leaders at the opening ses- sion of a public hearing on the ten- | tative bill to expand the powers of | the city heads. | This feature of the bill monopolized practically all of the debate and there | was a veritable revolt against the change, which was regarded by speak- | ers as opening the door to the pos- sibility of political influence over the school system. With the exception of a number of District officials who championed the objectives of the proposed bill, there was scarcely a speaker who did not register opposition to the plan to give the Commissioners power of veto and direction over the actions of the Board of Education. Another Session Expected. The hearing was concluded at 12:45 p.m. Commissioner Allen said it was probable another session would be called soon to afford a more deliberate discussion of the many questions in- volved in the whole bill. The measure would give the Com- missioners control over many other agencies as well as the Board of Edu- cation and deals also with a wide range of matters, including finance, recreation and police powers. Corporation Counsel E. Barrett Prettyman, who drafted the tentative measure at the request of the Commis- sioners, opened the hearing with a de- fense of the need for the change, de- claring the District now has a verita- ble “crazy quilt” of legislation. He said there are many important issues involved aside from the question of who should control the school and library boards. “Sane” Attitude Urged. Prettyman was followed by William A. Roberts, peoples’ counsel, who ad- vised the public to consider the facts and to take “emotion” out of argu- ment. ‘The power of the Board of Educa- tion should be broadened rather than narrowed, according to Henry I Quinn, of the board’s Legislative Com- mittee. In a spirited appeal, the Board of Education member asserted: “The citizens of this community would be justified in believing there is ‘something rotten in Denmark,’ should you tear down this long-estab- .I;ShLe!d system without proving its de- While favoring the broader general powers for the Commissioners, Edward F. Colladay objected to bringing the Public Library under municipal au- thority. “I think the Public Library should be wholly independent,” Mr. said, “since it is highly efficient and unique in its function to the com- munity.” Discussing the school question Quinn told the Commissioners, “you (Continued on Page 3, Column 5.) Georgians Elect Bishop. AUGUSTA, Ga., January 16 (#).— The Right Rev. Middleton Stuart Barn- well, bishop of Idaho, last night was copal Diocese of day convention session, Notified of his election, Bishop Barnwell sald ¥ would consider the appointment. 9 BANK BANDITS KILL 2 AND RESCUE PAL Sheriff and Cashier Die in Gun Battles—Gang Kid- naps Farm Boy. By the Associated Press. LA SALLE, IIl, January 16.—Five terrorist bank robbers, who killed a bank cashier and the sheriff of Marshall County, wounded two others seriously and kidnaped a 13-year-old farm boy whose automobile they had stolen, were surrounded by the police in a field near Varna, I, Three of them were reported wounded ‘The dead were Glenn Axline, sheriff of Marshall County, and Charles Bundy, cashier of the Leonore State Bank. The wounded were @harles Feipp, a member of the Board of Super- visors of La Salle County, and Deputy Sheriff Brown of Marshall County. Sheriff Slain in Fight. Sheriff Axline was shot and killed near Varna, Ill, by the bandits when he and his men attempted to halt the where they had killed Bundy and wounded Feipp in an attempted bank robbery. City and county police from La Salle, Putnam and Marshall Counties and La Salle, Peru, Peoria and other cities were closing in about the bandits. ‘The five desperados gained entrance to the Lenore Bank during the night, apparently through a coal chute. When Bundy, accompanied by Feipp, opened for business shortly before 9 a.m., they were confronted by the robbers, who fled, abandoning their automobile. As ther neared a cornfield the robbers split up, four taking to the highway and one dashing into the field . Bundy and Fiepp followed the man into the field and overpowered him. Farm Boy Kidnaped. The four who had escaped encoun- tered a farmer and his 13-year-old son driving to Leonore. Forcing the farmer from his car, they compelled the boy to remain and returned toward the city. They came upon Bundy and Feipp as they were marching their prisoner from the field. The four bandits opened fire and Bundy and Feipp re- plied. In the exchange the two men fell wounded, Bundy mortally and Feipp seriously. The freed robber joined his com- panions and the five sped south. The boy hostage was later freed, un- harmed. One of the bank robbers committed suicide in preference to capture. —_— ELISSA LANDI FILES SUIT Amended Divorce Complaint Says Husband Boasted Affairs. LOS ANGELES, January 16 (F).— Charging that her husband was “harsh, rude and impatient” and sug- gested that she have affairs with other men, Elissa Landi, screen actress, to- day sought a divorce from John Cecil Lawrence, London lawyer, on an amended complaint. Miss Landi charged her husband openly boasted of his affairs with other women and suggested she “exer- cise similar freedom™ with other men. ‘The actress also asserted Lawrence made similar suggestions to her mother. A complaint for divorce recently filed in London by Lawrenc today. | robbers in their fight from Leonore, | Long Debate Seen. BY G. GOULD LINCOLN. President Roosevelt today called on the Senate to ratify United States ad- herence to the World Court and “once | more to throw its weight into the scale | in favor of peace.” | The President’s plea was made in a special message to the Senate which has before it the protocols that, if | ratified, will place this country finally | as a member of the World Court. The message was read soon after the Sen- | | ate assembled. | | Less than an hour after Mr. Roose- | | velt's message was read, a slashing | attack on the World Court was made | | by Senator Hiram Johnson, Repub- | | lican, of California, one of the group ' | of “irreconcilables.” Johnson told the | | Senate “we enter the Court, not for the benefit of America, but to meddle and muddle in the hysterical inter- nationalism that Europe has and that Europe never will get rid of.” Calls Court “Foreign.” The fiery Californian, a supporter { of Mr. Roosevelt on most issues, de- | clared: [ Do we enter this sacrosanct tribunal for the preservation of peace? Not so. | Not so. Do we enter it for the de- termination of any American question? | Not so. Not so. Do we enter it for determination of questions involving | America with any other country? Not | | s0. Not so. ! |~ “Then why do we enter it> Not for America, our beloved republic, but to | meddle and muddle in European af- | | fairs and in a court that is foreign | to our people and the genesis of our | | institutions.” In his message the President ex- | pressed a firm conviction that the | sovereignty of the United States would | in no way be diminished or jeopardized by ratification of the protocols and | membership in the court. | i Opposes Reservations. | He advised strongly against adoption | of further amendments or reservations | | which might defeat or delay admis- | sion of this country into the court as | & member. “I urge,” said the President, “that the Senate’s consent be given in such | form as not to defeat or delay the ob- | jective of adherence.” Opening his attack, Senator John- | son said: “This is a day of singular signifi- cance to me. It is the 2lIst birthday anniversary of my oldest grandson. T can not do better by him and to those other Americans situated as he | is than to dedicate my whole effort for the preservation of our traditional policy of remaining out of European entanglements; to keep this country really independent in regard to its| dealings with other nations. “I speak not as a citizen of the world. I speak as a citizen of the United States. With that I am con- tent; * +¢ Recalls His Stand. “I stand as I stood in 1918, 1919, and 1920. ‘I stand where I have al- ways stood. I feel a little lonely now.” He referred to the fact many of the old irreconcilables who were opposed to American entry into the League of Nations and later the World Court, have since left the Senate. “Johnson said he resented attacks made on the Senate on the ground it had held up so long American entry into the World Court. “The Senate needs no defense at my hands,” said Senator Johnson. “It stands as a bulwark of American lib- erties, say of it what you will. So I resent criticism of this body by citi- zens of the world who are not content to be just Americans.” The text of the President’s message follows: “The movement to make interna- tional justice practicable and service- able is not subject to partisan con- siderations. For years, Republican and Democratic administrations and party platforms alike have advocated & court of justice to which nations might voluntarily bring their disputes for judicial decision. Early Decision Asked. “To give concrete realization to this obviously sound and thoroughly Amer- ican policy, I hope that at an early date the Senate will advise and con- sent to the adherence by the United States to the protocol of signature of the statute of the Permanent Court of International Justice, dated Decem- ber 16, 1920; the protocol for the re- vision of the statute of the Permanent Court of International Justice, dated September 14, 1929, and the protocol for the accession of the United States of America to the protocol of signa- ture of the statute of the Permanent Court of International Justice, dated September 14, 1929, all of which were submitted to the Senate December 10, 1930. “I urge that the Senate’s consent be given in such form as not to de- feat or delay the objective of ad- herence. “The sovereignty of the United States will be in no way dimini or jeopardized by such period of international relationships, | pean when every act is of moment to the future of world peace, the United States has an o] nity once more to throw its weight into scale in favor of peace.” L4 TRANSFER OF SAAR MARCH 115 HINTED Agreement Between France| and Reich on Arms Is Reported. By the Associated Press. GENEVA, January 16.—Experts in | the League of Nations indicated today | that the Saar Basin territory probably will be transferred out of the jurisdic- | tion of the League to Germany March 1, following the Nazis’ sweeping vic- tory in last Sunday's plebiscite. Despite the cancellation of a Coun- cil meeting today amid rumors that France and Germany were disputing conditions for the date of transfer, experts said they saw every reason to believe that an accord would be reached and that a Council meeting was likely tomorrow. A French spokesman said an agree- | ment already had been achieved. A German negotiator, however, told the | Associated Press the accord had not been completed late this afternoon, although an agreement seemed prob- able. Germany, it was learned, has been holding out for transfer on Febru- ary 15. The thorny problem of armament of the Saar, it was said, will probably be overcome by a resolution saying that the Saar is to be annexed to Germany under provisions of the treaty of Versailles. Such action would indi- cate confirmation of article 42 of the treaty, which prohibits Germany from constructing any fortifications on the left bank of the Rhine, of which area the Saar forms a part. The treaty also forbids the presence of armed forces and all minitary maneuvers in that district. FIVE REPORTED KILLED. Police Force Socialists From Saar- bruecken Headquarters. SAARBRUECKEN, Saar Basin Ter- ritory, January 16.—Police today forced the Socialists out of their headquarters here and occupied the building. Un- confirmed rumors said five persons have been killed and several injured in various parts of the Saar Basin ter- ritory. Six Communists were reported by their friends to have been arrested in Saarbruecken. In Saarbruecken itself, no acts of violence were apparent. Common Front (anti-Nazi) sympa- thizers wearing red vests paraded in Saarbruecken this afternoon without interference. Nazi newspapers today demanded that the German government be per- mitted to take care of question of op- position to the Nazis, claiming that it was not a question for the League of Nations to settle. Three thousand Jews are anxious to leave the Saar, leading Jewish resi- dents said today, but that they “do not know which way to turn.” Berlin has agreed with Rome, it is understood, not to apply the Nazi Aryan clause until next year. Jews were advised to remain in the Saar by Bruno Weil, famous interna- tional lawyer and leader of the Ger- man Jewish organization. A former Saarlander, he told them to stay “in the fatherland and see the battle through.” At Forback, France, on the border, a check of frontier gendarmeries re- vealed that 10 known Saar refugees thus far have entered France. RECONCILIATION INDICATED. Hitler Stresses New Viewpoint Broadcast. BERLIN, January 16 (#).—Ger- many’s next foreign political objective, now that she is to have the Saar, is a reconciliation learned today. Reichsfuehrer Hitler made this plain with France, it was “Perhaps we are at the threshold of an historical turning point in Euro- politics,” Goebbels asserted. Hans Oberlindober, of the German World War veterans, tele- graphed Hitler “the road is now clear for an honorable recon n with our neighbor people,” France, | Giant Navy Biplane Speeding on Course Over Spanish Main Non-Stop Flight to Coco Solo Seen as Fuel Con- sumption Test. A report to the Navy Department this morning said the huge plane flying from Norfolk, Va. to the Canal Zone was northeast of Honduras in the Caribbean. Offi- cials predicted the plane would complete the 2,000-mile non-stop flight by 2 p.m. By the Associated Press. NORFOLK, Va., January 16— Speeding from Norfolk to Coco Solo, Panama., the Navy's giant four- motored biplane XP2H-1 was heading off across the Spanish Main today with “all well aboard.” She was on a non-stop flight of about 2,000 miles as a fuel consump- tion test. Rear Admiral Ernest J. King, chief of the Bureau of Aeronautics, Navy Department. witnessed the take-off at 3:30 p.m. yesterday, as did Capt. Au- brey W. Fitch, commanding the naval air station here. They shook hands with the plane’s commander, Lieut. John S. Thatch. From the moment of the take-off the ship was in wireless communica- tion with the base here, clicking off landmarks as each was passed. Besides Lieut. Thatch, the crew in- cludes Co-pilot Lieut. (J. G.) Carl E. Giese and a crew of four. IINOVIEFF ADMITS CONSPIRACY ROLE Pleads Guilty in Moscow Trial—Fate, With Others, Remains in Doubt. By the Associated Press. #MOSCOW, January 16—Nineteen persons, including Leo Kameneff and uregory Zinovieff, once powerful solshevist leaders, faced Soviet justice today after pleading guilty to par- tt]cltpation in a counter-revolutionary plot. A government communique dis- closed they had been put on trial at Leningrad, but did not specify whether the prosecution demanded the death penalty. The group was accused of plotting the assassination of Sergei Kiroff, Communist leader. Since December 1, when Kiroff was slain at Leningrad, 117 persons have been shot for con- spiring against the government. Trotsky Also Accused. (Dispatches to London from War- saw two weeks ago said Zinovieff and Kameneff and their families had been exiled to Russia's “Devil's Island,” in the White Sea. Moscow reported, however, that new evidence had been found against them. The government charged Leon Trotsky, exiled former Red leader, was in the plot.) Sevon other defendants were ac- | cused with Kameneff and Zinovieff of participation in a secret Moscow counter-revolutionary center and the others with activity against the gov- ernment in both Leningrad and Mos- cow. The group was accused of re- sponsibility for Kiroff's assassination. “Blindness” Admitted. The government said G. Evdokim- off, one of the accused, had con- fessed that “Zinovieff, Kameneff, my- self and others were guilty of system- atically intoxicating the people and must be responsible now,” and “we were blind to our relationship with the party and did not recognize its Zinovieff was ome of the closest friends of the late Nicolai Lenin, but is a bitter enemy of Joseph Stalin, present Communist party head. He was expelled from the Central Com- munist Executive Committee in 1927 on charges of plotting against Stalin. Kameneff is a former president of the Moscow Soviet, former acting premier and former chairman of the Council of l‘bol” GOLD EMERGENCY AGTION WEIGHED Cummings Sees Morgen- thau—Inflationists Meet to Draft Program. By the Associated Press. While a surprise meeting between Secretary of the Treasury Morgen- thau and Attorney General Cummings today intensified Capital speculation over possible administration moves in | the confused international money sit- uation, inflationists and currency ex- | Building to discuss future plans. Detroit opened the latter conference | by describing regulation of the cur- | rency by “private bankers” as “invif ing revolution.” The gathering was called by Senator Thomas, Democrat, of Oklahoma. Meanwhile it was made clear at a White House press conference that President Roosevelt will not discuss monetary questions until the Supreme Court rules on the Government's ac- tion in stopping gold payments on contracts. Apprehension over the court's deci- sion was the unsettling factor in caus- ing changes of the franc and pound in terms of the dollar. Financial mar- | kets credited use of the Treasury's $2,000,000,000 stabilization fund with restoring much of the decline in the English and French currencies. While the President turned aside questions of the press, Morgenthau was closeted with Cummings, who in arguing the Government's case before the high court contended the halt in gold payments was constitutional and should be so held to prevent “chaos.” With Morgenthau was Herman Oli- phant. the Treasury's general counsel, gold act under question. Coughlin Applauded. Addressing the conference meeting in the Senate Agriculture Committee room, Father Coughlin said the time had arrived when the country must “jettison the monetary philosophy of the past.” Father Coughlin arose to speak amid a storm of applause from delegates and spectators. The conference heard re- peated demands for expansion of the currency voiced by a half-dozen spokesmen of farmers’ organizations and social and economic reform or- ganizations. More and cheaper dollars to restore the 1926 price level was the aim an- nounced by Senator Thomas. Though both he and Senator Wheeler predicted a “definite program of action,” the latter added that all plans for mone- tary legislation depended on whether the Supreme Court ruled that gold clause securities must be paid in the pre-New Deal dollar or the present one. “We need only to reach a general plan,” Thomas urged. “When we go into details, disagreements arise and we get no place.” “Whatever course the Court takes,” he added, bring any disaster. (Continued on Page Supreme “will not _Australia Plans Tariff Demand. SYDNEY, Australia, January 16 (#). —The commonwealth government was understood today to be planning to seek tariff concessions from the United States, possibly under the threat of imposing a special tax on goods im- ported from America. Australia an- nually buys seven million pounds ster- ling (approximately $33,950,000) more from the United States than it sells to it. o | Service Orders Short Story Society . ' | | pansionists met at the Senate Office | Rev. Father Charles E. Coughlin of | who was instrumental in drafting the | IN WATER-GAS FUNDS Uniform Rates and Zones for Tax- icabs Required by House Com- mittee Rule to End Chaos in Present Situation — Character Education Ended. Already cut practically to a subsist- i ence basis as it came from the Budget Bureau, the 1936 District appropria- | tion bill was further slashed $1.066.- 418, as reported to the House today- | by the Appropriations Committee. | as reported, the bill carried a total of $39,308,404. Although this is slight- ly higher than the current appropria- ticn, the increase is due primarily to | the provision of funds for restoration : of the remaining 5 per cent of the pay cut on July 1. The sum appropriated for the cur- rent year was $36,584,677.94, but the committee explained in . report that | this figure does not include the cur- | rent expenditure for that part of the | pay restoration that took effect last | July. This expenditure will make the | actual appropriation total for the cur- | rent year $38,097,524.94, so that the | new bill for next year is only $1.210.- | 879.06 higher than this year's appro- | priations. Increase Explained. “This net increase is due to the ad- dition of $1,215,546 to the bill to pro- | vide for salaries on a 100 per cent | basis during the next fiscal year,” the | committee stated. “Whatever increase 3nppeam in the bill for 1936 for new |items or increases in existing items, apart from salary restoration, are off- iset in the aggregate amount by the | elimination of non-recurring items for 1935 not repeated for 1936.” | Reported to the House by the Ap- | propriations Committee at noon, the ! bill was taken up with an agreement that general debate would continue | for the rest of today's session. The time was divided equally betweea Chairman Cannon of the subcommit- tee in charge of the bill and Repre- sentative Ditter of Pennsylvania, ranking Republican member. During general debate the discus- sion is not confined to the District bill, on which no action will be taken until tomorrow. The bill is based on continuing the present tax rate of $1.50 per $100 of assessed value, and leaves the Fed- eral payment at $5.700,000. Some rec- ommendation on fiscal relations may come from the White House after President Roosevelt receives the report of the Treasury experts now studying the District’s tax burden in compari- son with other cities. If the tax study should lead to a recommendation af- fecting the Federal share. it could be considered before the bill is finally | enacted into law. | Few New Projects. ‘The bill carries only a few new im- provement projects, and the effect of the $1,066,418 cut in the budget recom- mendation would be to leave District tax money idle in the gasoline tax and | water funds. along with a surplus of | $612,780 in the District’s general rev- enue fund. The Budget Bureau esti- mates would have ended the year with a $388 deficit in the general fund. Even if the budget figures had been allowed, there would have remained | unexpended balances of $283,000 in the | gas tax fund and $650,000 in the Water Department special fund. The House Committee, nevertheless, cut $215,000 from the recommendation for gas tax street and road expenditures, which merely builds up the gas tax surplus from $283,000 to $498,000. The House group also slashed $238,- 000 from the budget items for the Water Department, which raises the water-fund surplus to $888,000. Since gas tax and water-rent col- lections can only be used for highway work and for Water Department ex- penses, these unused balances will be idle in the Treasury. The net cut of $613,168 in general fund items was taken largely from public schools and public welfare. The budget estimates for the school system were reduced by $252,759 and the pub- lic welfare estimates were cut to the extent of $214,800. The remainder of the general fund reduction was spread over a number of departments. ‘The committee refused to allow $87,- 540 for a special ferce for character education beyond the present fiscal year, thereafter turning this work over to the regular teaching force, who come in direct contact with the chil- dren. Other cyts in the school esti- mates include: Night schools, $3,130; Community Center Department, $5,189, and for buildings and grounds, $140,000. The public welfare cut was made up of: Workhouse and reformatory, $116,- 500. of which $16,500 is disallowance of new employes: $90.000 reduction in the $190,000 item for construction of buildings and walls and $10,000 frorh the maintenance fund. Tuberculosis (Continued o(i’ Page 5, Column 1)