Evening Star Newspaper, February 18, 1935, Page 2

CONGRESS' DELAY HELD' BENEFICIAL Sign of Normalcy Seen in Desire of Lawmakers to Deliberate. BY DAVID LAWRENCE. Things are getting down to normal. Congress is taking its time again. ‘The newspaper men have had a gentle rebuke from the President for being a bit too inquisitive. Somebody in the Senate wants a cabinet officer re- moved. And our legislators are talk- ing of out-spending the President. All these happenings, taken to-| gether, more or less illustrate that official behavior is about the same whether millions or billions are at stake, that political bombardment of the administration in power goes on apace whether the Democrats or the Republicans are in office, and that even a good-natured President, like Mr. Roosevelt, who wants his confer- ences with the press to be the acme of frankness and candor, discovers sooner or later that maybe his prede- cessors had a reason for keeping their counsels a bit to themselves. Delay to Cause Irritation. ‘The delay in Congress will produce, | as it always has, irritation. But it's| a choice between ill-considered legis- lation passed under the whip of emer- gency ballyhoo or more temperate and calm deliberation, with perhaps just a few months or even a year more of study of legislation that is supposed to reorganize vital units of our economic structure. ‘Thus the holding companies in the utility fleld have had the sentence of death pronounced upon them to take place in 1938 or thereabouts. A few weeks more or less of hearings might possibly give innocent investors, who stand to lose their life savings. a chance to argue against a ruthless, policy of confiscation and in favor of some plan whereby the abuses can be cut out through a sensible policy of regulation. Investigation Likely. Also, the far-reaching nature of the banking legislation, which is to set up an entirely new banking system by abolishing the present Federal Reserve system, is likely to cause the legis- lators to appoint a national commis- sion to go into these matters more penetratingly than can be done in a few weeks. It will be recalled that a national monetary commission spent nearly two years studying banking conditions before changes in our national bank- ing system were recommended, and that Senator Carter Glass, father of the Federal Reserve system, worked for at least two vears steadily on the first Federal Reserve act and then nurtured it carefully for nearly two decades as strengthening amendments based on experience were offered. Also, there are banking authorities of unquestioned integrity who actually contend that maybe the remedy is going to be worse than the cure. They want a chance to be heard. All this may sound like delay, but it's con- structive delay, if the term may be permitted. It will mean better and sounder legislation in the end. Public Wants Deliberation. The moment Congress tends to be- come a deliberative body again it is accused of purposeful procrastination, but the fact is public opinion is now back of the demand that Congress watch its step before turning upside down important industries and the entire credit system. Unfortunately, of course, many peo- ple are being guided by their preju- dices rather than their reasoning powers. Persons, for instance, who lost money in closed banks have no further confidence in private banking and want it all taken over by the Government. They forget, of course, that if the total number of dollars on deposit before 1929 is consideed, then more than 95 per cent of the money has been unimpaired. Also, it will be recalled that the President paid tribute to the sound banking of those institutions which were reopened after the bank holiday. And when the final figures on liquidation of closed banks are written it will be found that 6623 per cent of the money on deposit in those institutions will have been re- covered. This doesn't mean that the loss will be only one-third in every bank, but it will be true on an aver- age. Many a stock and bond, and many a security issued by a municipal govrenment, managed by the politi- cians, had a depreciation of more than one-third. Bank Safeguards Favored, None of this is consoling to the man or woman who lost money, but members of Congress are being im- portuned to consider whether a polit- ical control of banking may not lead to even worse conditions than it has been sought to alleviate. Certainly the fact that there are business failures every day can hardly be taken as a good reason for closing up the successful businesses or putting them under Government management. | The way to diminish ratlroad wrecks, it was learned long ago, was not to dismiss all the engineers but to put better safety signals and devices into effect. Congress has before it the choice | of carrying reform to the extreme point of complete reorganization, with new and doubtful schemes of man- agement, or of returning to an ob- jective view of what tested experience has found is worth while to retain in the economic system, but cutting out effectively all the fraud and misrepre- sentation and abuses which honest enforcement and existing laws will tend to eradicate. Certainly it's too big a job for a single session of Con- gress. (Oopyright. 1935.) WEALTHY MAN FINDS SON| Bought for Six Weeks, Youth Is Disocvered in Texas. FORT WORTH, Tex., February 18 () —Marcus Bachenheimer, wealthy garment manufacturer of Wheeling, W. Va, and New York, was reunited at police headquarters yesterday with his son, T. Klee Bachenheimer, 25, who had been the object of a Nation- wide search after disappearing from home six weeks ago. Police found the youth at a hotel here after they were informed he would call there for money from home. He told newspaper men that be left home in search of work. —_— Plane Service Speeded Up. CHICAGO, February 18 (®).— Transcontinental & Western Alr, Inc., has announced a new coast- to-coast plane on a 12%-hour sched- ule, effective February 20, which will leave New York at 9 am. (Eastern standard time) and arrive at Los Angeles at 11:50 p.m. (Pacific stand- ard time), via Chicago, Kan:as City and Albuquerque, N. Mex. ", | composure has What’s What Behind News In Capital Senate Apparently Get- ting Under Skin of President. BY PAUL MALLON. HE President's frolicsome good humor appears to have been I slightly ruffied on occasions lately, for the first time. As- sociates at the White House have noticed it increasingly during the last two weeks. Mr. Roosevelt is not exactly cross, but at times his patience has been momentarily lost with ir- ritating callers and questions. So important than a few short answers. No one would pay any attention to it except that his record for gay heretofore through the most excru- clating difficulty. The explanation seems to be that the Senate is getting slightly under his usually impenetrable skin. This may be another sign that everything is getting back to normal because the Senate has been the cause of more presidential gray hairs in the past than all the rest of the country combined. It actually has- tened the death of one, and perhaps two, modern Presidents. What some of them have said privately about the Senate could not be repeated where children might hear it. WONT YOU EVER LEARN TO. The cause of Mr. Roosevelt's seem- ing irritation is not alone the relief bill, but an accumulating mess of little things. The relief bill was fairly well straightened out, at least tem- porarily, by the White House after long inside dickering. But immedi- ately thereafter came the Nye-McCar- ran resolution to investigate the N. |R. A, which, of course, means an investigation of busines Causes Are Plentiful. ’ You can understand how Mr. Roose- velt may feel about this when you consider. Here is a business improve- ment now under way: it is founded on a delicately nursed business psy- chology; the President has already | dared to disturb it by proposals to | put holding companies out of busi- ness; an investigation of the A. T. & T. is in the making, to cost $750,000; another proposal to investigate the | railroads is pending; and now comes the Senate, not satisfied with all that, proposing_to investigate all business through the N. R. A, and just at a time when reformation of the N. R. A. is' going to be recommended by the White House. It is enough to upset everything. Mr. Roosevelt has spent virtually all his time in the past week work- ing on the Senate, mainly on the relief bill. The telephone wire be- tween the White House and the Capitol has been busy more than half of each day. He has even called up Senators at their homes at night. innovation by Mr. Roosevelt. It has been scorned by previous Presidents. They were not sure it afforded the privacy of a private con- ference, and there were possibilities of misunderstandings. . In the end, Mr. Roosevelt undoubt- edly will be able to keep the Senate reasonably in line with his purposes, but it will be a long and irritating job. To Promote Credit. The purpose behind the new bank bill is ta promote credit inflation and prevent monetary inflation. This may be denied, but it is rather obviously behind every provision straight through the entire measure. For that reason congressional in- flationists are growing restless about it. You probably will see them select it as the measure on which to stage their big inflation fight of this session. Greenback, gold, silver and other in- flationary proposals can easily be ad- vanced by the inflationists as amend- ments. This will be another hair- shirt for Mr. Roosevelt. Those who know Senator Glass best believe he will try to break the bill into two parts, segregating the provi- sions he approves in one bill to pass and discarding what he dislikes into a second bill to be forgotten. It is too early yet to tell how it will come out. If anybody cares, Dr. Townsend changed his Townsend plan the other day without any one knowing about it. He proposed that his plan start off with persons over 75 (instead of 60) and then gradually work down to the 60-year-old folks. This would take a couple of years and diminish the initial cost. Dr. Townsend did not say so, but the Mrs. Roosevelt, Sec- retary Perkins’ and other recent at- tacks on his proposal apparently en- couraged him to offer the voluntary modification. It will make no difference. The Townsend plan has no more chance of being adopted than you have of being President. Lynch Bills Disappear. Something always happens to anti- lynching bills. They always get mis- laid for more importang business and, when found, some Senators have a sudden urge to talk indefinitely. Somehow or other they never get to a vote. The customary fate appears to await the current one. 1t is sponsored by Democrats, all right, and it will emerge from the Senate Judiciary Committee soon and reach the Senate calendar. There is no reason to believe it will advance much further. For instance, one Democratic Sen- ator from an illustrious Southern State is telling his friends that he has been gradually expanding his nat- ural longwindedness by practicing in the attic at nights. He is now fit, he says, to talk for at least two weeks continuously if that bill ever comes up. There are at least 20 other Sen- ators who would practice if they thought there was any need of it. Controlling leaders are wholly out of sympathy with the legislation and may arrange less exhausting means for its demise. (Copyright. 1935.) . Jobs Still Increase. Employment in Cuba continues to increase. far the result has been nothing more | remained unbroken | The use of the telephone is a recent | THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, FORSOGIETY ASKED Advocates of New Law Would Extend Jurisdic- tion of Juveniles. This is the second of three articles discussing local opinion concerning amendatory Juvenile Court legisla-. tion—why it is favored and whw opposed. i Most extreme of the factions now concerned with Juvenile Court law needs of the District is the group committed to the theory of social re- sponsibility—the theory that society ! should not only be protected but that it should take a hand in shaping the lives and conduct of its members. ‘This group contends, that properly, this responsibility begins when its sub- jects are children. The vehicle upon which it rides is a court set-up em- bracing jurisdiction over children in any degree delinquent, neglected or dependent, and over adults who may be guilty of contributing to these cir- cumstances. Such a court would have no trials, no juries, no attorneys, no convic- tions—instead it would have informal hearings and conferences between the children and adults involved and the investigating officers who are servig the court. Primarily it would not be concerned over how to punish a child who stole some groceries—rather it would be concerned with why the deed ocurred. In seeking this cause, it would be empowered to examine the life history and circumstances of the subject, to find out, for instance, if the child stole groceries because its mother refused to give it enough to eat. Power of Discipline, And if such proves to be the case, | the court would be empowered to order the parents to change their method of bringing up the child. If disciplinary action for the child was deemed neces- sary, the court would have the same | power to impose it that parents ordi- { narily assume in care of their own | youngsters. And if parents are not | believed capable or able to supply the | proper care and supervision of their children, the court could fill this func- tion in any manner deemed most feasible. Confinement in an institu- tion, however, would be directed only in extreme cases. Such a law as this is now being prepared by a local group, prepara- tory to introduction in Congress dur- | ing the present session. | In its preliminary draft, this pro- | posed law states its purpose and basic | principle as follows: “The purpose of this act is to secure for each child under its jurisdiction such care, guidance and control, preferably in his own home, as will serve the child’s welfare and the best interests of the State; and when such child is removed from his own fam- ily, to secure for him custody, care and discipline as nearly as possible equivalent to that which should have been given by his parents. Wards of State, “The principle is hereby recognized that children under the jurisdiction of the court are wards of the State, sub- Ject to the discipline and entitled to the protection of the State, which may intervene to safeguard them from neglect or injury and to enforce the legal obligations due to them and from them.” | As to the key circumstance of juris- | diction, the proposed law would give | the court extremely wide jurisdiction j through its definitions of “delinquent, neglected and dependent.” In addi- tion, it provides that “any person may, jand any peace officer shall, give to the court information in his posses- sion that a child is within the provi- sions of this act. Thereupon the { court shall make preliminary inquiry to determine whether the interests of the public or of the child require that further action be taken. Whenever practicable, such inquiry shall include a preliminary investigation of the home and environmental situation of the child.” Court hearings would be conducted in informal manner, thus wiping out the entire legal procedure, without a jury and with the public excluded. Adults coming within jurisdiction, however, would retain their rights to counsel, jury trial, etc. ‘Three broad alternatives of disposi- tion would be available to the court; first, to place the child under proba- tion or supervision in own home or in custody of relative “or other fit person”; second, to commit the child to the Board of Public Welfare, the National Training School or to “a qualified suitable private institution or agency willing and able to assume the education, care and maintenance of such child without expense to the public”; third, such further disposi- tion as the court may deem to be best. Wide Powers Criticized. Naturally enough, such an extreme proposal has encountered criticism, principal point of attack being the autocratic powers which it would be- stow upon the judge of the court. In this point would seem to rest both the strength and the weakness of the pro- posal; namely, the quality of person- nel. Selection of a properly qualified and high-minded judge and of simi- larly equipped probation and investi- gating officers would be necessary, proponents of the plan admit. Oppo- nents, more cynical and fearful of the usual political manipulation, declare the chances of such selections too slim to make it safe to endow a single individual with such power. In a second direction, crities attack the privilege of “meddling” into family lives, declare it of no business to society as long as no prohibited act actually is committed. In rebuttal, proponents cite the powers of health officers to place a family in quaran- tine and of other public officials to guide family conduct. Establishment of such a court, they claim, is merely another step in the progress of civil- ization and the development of & well-ordered society. Only by such a judicial creation, they claim, can punishment of indi- viduals be replaced by guidance and character improvement of individuals. Eventually, they continue optimistical- ly, this principle will be adopted not only for juvenile courts but for the entire court system. (Further discussion of the present and proposed juvenile court law for the District, together with a compromise viewpoint held by some, will appear in The Evening Star tomorrow.) 5 ——— PLANE CRASH KILLS 2 4-Passenger Craft Cracks Up in Pasture Near Butler, Pa. BUTLER, Pa, February 18 (®).— A four-passenger cabin plane nose- dived 300 feet into a muddy pasture late yesterday, killing two men. The victims are Charles (Slim) Heim, 37, who bought and rebuilt the plane atter it cracked up nine months ago, and William Fungent, both of Pittsburgh. ) D. C, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1935. [:[]N'[RUI_ []F B[]UR'I' Maj. Brown Swears In Police Detectives Recently Promoted BUNGRESS |NUU|RY Recent promotions in the Metropolitan Police resulted in three pre- cinct detectives being sworn in Friday as detective sergeants. Several precinct detective and assigned to No. 9; George L. Saunders, promoted from private to detective and assigned to the first precinct; Precinct De- OF COLLEGE URGED Arkansas Probe Reveals g'/idence of Communist Clearing House. By th's Associated Press. LITTLE ROCK, Ark., February 18. —Arkansas legislators investigating alleged “un-American” teachings at Commonwealth College at Mena ex- pressed concern today over what they sald looked like a Communistic clear- privates took oaths of precinct detectives. Left to right: Precinct Detective William Wright, assigned to duty as a detective sergeant at the Detective Bureau; Detective Eugene D. Lambert, assigned to duty as a detective sergeant in the bureau, and Private C. C. Carver, who is being sworn in as precinct detective for duty at No. 2; Private Walter D. Perry, assigned as a precinct detective to the fourth precinct; Private G. E. Thornton, made a tective Benjamin H. Jobnson, who is being assigned as a detective sergeant in the buteau. H. E. Crawford, chief clerk, swearing in the promoted officers with Maj. Ernest W. Brown, superintendent of police. Bernard F. Day was promoted to a precinct detective but was not present when the others took the oath of office. —Star Staff Photo. MANY STILL CLAIM ALBERT MURDERED First Anniversary of Death of King Finds Doubt of Accident Verdict. BY ALBERT W. WILSON, Assoclated Press Foreign Staff. BRUSSELS, February 18.—The Albert finds thousands of people in all corners of the world still unwilling to accept the official verdict that the Belgian monarch died “by accident.” As time passes, the belief that Albert was murdered seems to become more tenacious and widespread, and it is conceivable that a century or two centuries hence, the theory of murder might be adopted by historians. Yet it is learned that messages are continually arriving at the Brussels palace and at the Surete Publique, Belgium’s political police department, expressing the conviction that the King was a victim of foul play. Clues innumerable are offered to expose alleged plots held responsible for the tragedy. World Wonders. How important this matter looms in the mind of the man in the street was revealed by this fact: Everywhere | ! I have been in Europe during the last year, the first question from persons who knew I was in Brussels was: “Was it murder or accident?’ A few hours after word of King the world, an Associated Press photo- first airplane to get through the trick that day. American correspondent to see the body of Albert at close range, before it was draped under the flag of Belgium and placed in the dim candlelight of a chapel in Brussels palace for the lying-in-state which pegan two days later. I am not in a position to answer categorically the question stated above, but I am convinced the King was_ killed accidentally by a chunk of slate-like rock which, unexpectedly loosened by him, fell on the right side of his head. GARNETT ADMITS HE SET PRECEDENT BY REVEALING FILE| (Continued From First Page.) is interested in any action taken by the grand jury. Later Fitzpatrick asked Garnett if he had made a statement to the ef- fect that he did not care to have a woman as an assistant. “I can't think the committee is in- terested in the personnel of my office to that extent,” replied Garnett. Pitzpatrick pressed him for an an- swer. Again he said: “Have you sald publicly that you didn't care to have women assistants attached to your office?” “I never said that,” Garnett re- sponded. “I have no particular ob- jection to & woman as an assistant.” Questioned on Larceny Law. Later Fitzpatrick questioned Gar- nett about the bad check and larceny laws and the distinctions between them. The United States attorney said the distinctions are finely drawn at times and be believed that condi- tion should be corrected. Garnett also declared the petty larceny maximum should be raised from $35 to $75, because it would re- duce by hundreds the number of cases sent to the District Supreme Court by the Police Court. “Judges of the Supreme Court,” he saild, “have complained about the great number of petty cases sent over by the Police Court. I took the matter up with my assistants at Police Court and learned they had no control over the situation because the judges them- selves sent over the cases.” Garnett also admitted it is the prac- tice of some of the Police Court judges to overrule his assistants. Representative Schulte, Democrat, of Indiana asked Garnett to name those judges. He declined on the ground that he held all of the judges in high regard. Criticizes Parole System. Garnett later told the committee he believed the District parole system had been a “total failure” and that the probation system is “overworked.” He also urged the committee to rec- omment the creation of a special com- mission to rewrite the criminal stat- utes of the District and to simplify the duties of his office. A year ago, Garnett said, he criti- cized the parole law and was “cruci- fled.” Now, he declared, “everybody in the country seems to be coming around to my view.” Schulte questioned Garnett about the gambling situation and asked him if he knew that within the last two or three weeks an out-of-town gang- ster armed with a machine gun en- tered the establishment of & notorious Washington gambler and robbed him of $500 in cash and a diamond ring valued at between $2,000 and $3,000. Name May Be Revealed. A few days afterward, he said, the gangster returned and offered to sell the ring back to the gambler. Garnett said he did not recall such s case. Schulte did not reveal the name of the gambler who was robbed, but said he would do so later in the investi- gation. In reply to questions Garnett said he did not believe all forms of gam- bling should be legalized in the Dis- trict, particularly the numbers game, which he described as a “most vicious form.” - \ | Albert’s death was flashed around | fog which had blanketed Belgium | It happened that I was the only ! | George L. Selby, HAUPTMANN CASE THREATS INCREASE Letter Threatens Governor and Another Prisoner’s Wife and Others. By the Assoclated Press. TRENTON, N. J, February 18— Two letters, one threatening death to | | Gov. Harold G. Hoffman if Bruno | first anniversary of the death of King | Richard Hauptmann dies in the chair and another threatening to “wipe | out” Mrs. Haupmann, her baby and the defense staff if any harm comes to the Governor or_jury were received at the executive offices today. The letter threatening Hoffman, postmarked Yonkers, N. Y., was the second received by him. The other, postmarked Washington, D. C., was received Saturday and turned over to Department of Justice agents. Significance in Date. ‘Hoffman said that William Lagay, executive clerk and clerk to the Board of Pardons, thought significant the fact that the writer of the Washing- ton letter demanded Hauptmann's sentence be communited to life im- prisonment by February 27. The Court of Pardons will meet Feb- ruary 26 to consider the cases of four other men in the death house who, having lost their appeals to the courts, | are under sentence to die within the next month. Awaits Next Step. Meanwhile, the silent and expres- sionless Hauptmann waited for his | counsel to take the next step in his grapher and I arrived here in the | appeal from his conviction for the kidnaping and killing of the Lind- bergh baby. Frederick A. Pope, a member of the defense staff, planned to ask Justice | Thomas W. Trenchard tomorrow to | direct the State to pay the cost of | printing the trial record necessary for the appeal. Hauptmann has sworn a pauper’s | oath, and under Jersey statute the | trial judge may grant the petition, at | his discretion. The second step in an appeal, Pope said, will be taken speedily if Justice | Trenchard accedes to the request. It | will be an application to Chancellor Luther A. Campbell for a writ of error to the State Supreme Court. Pope said he, C. Lloyd Fisher and Egbert Rosecranz, members of the defense staff, may appear Tuesday before the chancellor. Denial of such writs is customary in order that an appeal may be taken immediately to the Court of Errors and Appeals, the State's highest tri- bunal. The court meets again in May. No Change in Status. “Hauptmann’s all right,” said Col. acting principal keeper. here’s no change in his | status. He's a man who doesn’t show | his_expression outright.” There were reports Hauptmann wept soon after being led to his cell. Selby said it was news to him. | William J. Ellis, commissioner of | institutions and agencies, expected to | issue today or tomorrow a statement of his views and those of the prison Board of Managers concerning Haupt- | mann’s status. The Board of Managers probably will decide also, Selby said, how often Mrs. Hauptmann will be permitted to see her husband. Prison regulations provide a man in the death cell may see his relatives only once & month, but when he has but few relatives the rules are eased | to permit visits more often. | Selby disclaimed any intention of | trying to “break” the prisoner by | confining him to a cell six paces from | the death chamber. Hauptmann has been given a Bible at his request, but he has not yet asked for a spiritual adviser. —_— CARS HIT MAN TWICE Victim Only Slightly Injured. Drivers Fail to Stop. CONCORD, N. H, February 18 (#) —Twice within a few seconds the victim of hit-and-run drivers, Arthur | Racine of Concord left the hospital yesterday after treatment for slight injuries. He was knocked down by one au- tomobile, whose driver proceeded without stopping, and immediately was run over by a following car, whose driver also did not stop. Police questioned a man who they said was the operator of one of the | machines. | Mellon’s Stock Income Tax Returns for Congress in Brief By the Associated Press. ‘Today. SENATE. Continuous consideration of $4.880,- 000,000 work-relief bill. Finance Committee studies social security bill. Naval Affairs Committee considers Marine nominations. Munitions Committee resumes ques- tioning of Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co. HOUSE. Considers oil control bill, credit liberalization measure and home owners' loan investigating resolution. Ways and Means Committee works on social security legislation. Banking Committee works on home owners' loan extension bill. MELLONTAX CASE PLEAS POSTRONED Hearing, However, Goes Forward, With Hogan Outlining Defense. By the Assoclated Press. PITTSBURGH, February 18.—The | Board of Tax Appeals today post- | poned until tomorrow arguments to | quash subpoenas calling for the rec- | jords of two Mellon-dominated con- | cerns at the inquiry into the former | Secretary of the Treasury's income tax affairs. The postponement was requested by attorneys for the Union Trust Co. and | the Pittsburgh Coal Co. farm | SAGE OF ENPORIA HOST T0 HOOVER William Allen White Calls in Friends and They Spend the Night. By the Associated Press, EMPORIA, Kans, February 18.— There were “big doin's” at the home | of Willlam Allen White last night. Herbert Hoover was in town. The Sage of Emporia, who has been rushing to meet editions as e writer and publisher most of his life, made | one “deadline” after another for the | event—one of those homey affairs for which Bill and his wife Sallie are | noted. It was a spontaneous affair. When ‘White heard the former President, his long-time friend and political crony, was coming through, he telegraphed his Republican compatriots: | “Let's give a party for Hoover. | Bring your tux.” “Not Political,” He Declares. Hoover came, as did his son Allan. There were a half dozen well-known Republicans and their wives. | Mrs. White stirred up some Ken- tucky spoon bread; there was sliced Kentucky ham and strawberry short- cake. | “Nothing fancy,” White explained. | “Just plain staple groceries, without | | *drugs, paints or ofls." " The host explained there wasn't the “slightest political significance” | attached to the dinner. “Just a lot of | past masters in the Has-Been Society, putting on the work from the grand lodge,” he said. Several of the “past masters” at | the dinner also were in attendance in Hearing of the case went forward | 1927, when Hoover was a guest of | with Frank J. Hogan, attorney for | the Whites for an outdoor dinner of | ing house within their State. A hearing at Mena yesterday by & joint legislative investigating commit- tee was said by one committee mem- ber to have “taught me more about Soviet Russia than I ever learned in books.” Congressional Probe Suggested. Back from the college, located & few miles from the Oklahoma State line, the committeemen expected to hear witnesses tonight from Eastern Arkansas, where Commonwealth’s Di- rector, Luclen Koch, was acquitted recently on a charge of barratry in connection with his speeches in be- helf of discontented sharecroppers. One committeeman said he would propose that the Legislature send a copy of the Mena testimony to “the proper congressional authorities” and ask Congress to conduct a probe of its own. “I'm afraid our committee can’t reach the persons necessary to com- plete the picture,” he said, “but the American people should know of the facts we have uncovered so far.” The legislators said they “did not get much out of Koch,” whom they described as “plenty smart.” Find “Amazing Beliefs.” ‘They said, however, they found the “most amazing beliefs” held by the Commonwealth faculty and students, who come from nearly every State to acquire “militant leadership” in the labor movement. The student body now numbers 33. The college confers no degrees or diplomas. It has a fast-growing library cone | taining files of several Communistic | newspapers and periodicals, on which | data was obtained by the committee. Chairman Marcus Miller said the group would meet tonight behind closed doors. He indicated the com- ‘mmeemen might ask the Legislature | for leave to absent themselves for two |or three days to inquire further into Commonwealth’s teachings. A report might be filed late this week with the Legislature, he said. SOVIET PAPéR CHARGES LONDON BACKING NAZIS Germans and British Declared Striving to Isolate France and Planning War. By the Associated Press. MOSCOW, February 18.—The news- Mellon, outlining his contentions gainst the Government’s claim that | Mellon owes more than $3,000,000 in | tioned for the presidential nomina- Taxes. The figure set by the Govern- ment includes a 50 per cent penalty on Mellon’s 1931 income. Mellon claims he owes the Govern- ment nothing and that he himself is entitled tc a rebate of $139,000. Mellon Appears Early. ‘The former Secretary appeared law. David K. Bruce. Attorney Hogan outlined Mellon's | career from birth, picturing the fam- | whom stayed for the night, the Whites |ily's rise and frequently mentioning 00K over the home of their son, Wil- | to a militarist group in England to the name of Judge Thomas Mellon, founder of Mellon institutions and the father of Andrew. The Government claims that in 1931 the financier made sales of stocks in order to avoid tax payment, but that the securities were really still under his control. Records of | about 100 transactions were asked by Robert H. Jackson, Government coun- sel. Typical among the demands was that the Union Trust Co. produce: “Alleged sale on or about December 31, 1931, by A. W. and R. B. Mellon of ‘;51.000 shares of ao par value com- | mon stock of the Western Public Serv- ice Corp. to the Union Trust Co. of Pittsburgh. “Alleged resale on or about January ‘ 8, 1932, by the Union Trust Co. of | Pittsburgh of said 54,000 shares of | stock of the Western Public Service Corp. to A. W. and R. B. Mellon.” Sales and Resales Claimed. The others are similar, claiming original sales and later resales to one concern or another. It was just about a year ago that the former Treasury Secretary and former Ambassador to England was accused of “wilfully, knowingly, felon- iously and fraudulently” evading in- come taxes in 1931. Attorney General Homer S. Cummings announced crim- inal proceedings would be brought, but & Federal jury in Pittsburgh refused to indict. The revenue bureau, however, in- sisted it was going ahead with a suit to claim $3,075,103.23, including a 50 per cent penalty, in addition to $647,- 559 which had been paid, and con- tended that Mellon had used his posi- | tion as Treasury Secretary to “perfect schemes to defraud the Government.” | ‘This was denied vigorously by Mel- lon and in his reply he said the claims was “scandalous, impertinent and im- proper” and the Tax Board denied a Government plea to have those words stricken out. . Caravans Snowbound. Snowfall in Western Siberia is so heavy that many caravans are snow- bound for days. Losses Shown 1931 Disclose Financier Didn’t Always Pick Winners After Crash By the Assoclated Press. Days. PITTSBURGH, February 18.—Andrew W. Mellon, who made millions by his investments in such concerns as the Aluminum Co. of America, the | | Koppers Co. and Gulf Oil, didn't pick his stocks so well in the post-stock market crash days of 1930-31, his income-tax returns for 1931 disclose. Displayed before the Board of Tax Appeals, which opens a hearing today on his claim for a $139,000 rebate and the Government’s demand for $3,075,000 additional tax, Mellon’s return shows these transactions: Shares. Domnln& ‘Bought. 125 Pittsburgh Coal. June, 1830... 4,500 Western Public Service, Sept. 1 6.200 American Locomotive. Apr. 103 500 United Light & Power. N 2,500 Westinghouse _Electric, 11400 United Light & Power. N Total 0 18,000 49,600 101,400 .. .$848,162 $346,510 $501,652 He reported & much greater loss in the $150,000,000 Pittsburgh Coal Co. He had but $1,348.50 invested in this concern when the income-tax became effective in 1913. He acquired by December, 1931, and sold the lot to law 123,497 shares at a cost of $6,171,000 the Union Trust Co. for $499.500. Likewise, in Western Public Service he had acquired 22,500 shares in 1928-29 before the market crash, at a cost of $442,500, and sold for $90,000. 4 paper Pravda charged yesterday that the Germans, with the help of Lon- don, are trying to isolate Prance and legalize armaments while they prepare | for a new war. = Commenting on Berlin's reply to Guests Stay for Night. | the Anglo-Prench security proposals, The Whites were not taken aback | the paper said: “Only with help from when it was decided to make the |London would Berlin dare such a | event an all-night affair. step.” “While we won't say where we're | “The Germans are seeking to iso- sleeping,” White said, “it's a safe bet | late France and other countries ;chtcken and roasting ears. On that | occasion, Hoover, then being men- | tion, | hours. answered questions for three | early at the hearing with his son-in- | We Will have pallets under the grand which are keeping the peace of the | piano in the living room.” world by turning the London compro- | To accommodate the guests, all of | mise into a tool against them,” it said. “The German reply is a suggestion liam L. White, across the street. The struggle together against the idea of younger Whites are in New York. | guarantee pacts for Eastern and Cen- | Among the guests were former Sen- | ira] Europe.” ator Henry M. Allen, Charles F. Scott, director of publicity in the 1932 cam- | paign; Arthur Hyde, former Secre- tary of Agriculture, and Henry Has- | kell of the Kansas City Star. gk o More Food Consumed. England’s food consumption per | person is said to be 10 per cent | greater than a year ago.’ l Your Income Tax | Reduction for Bad Debts, Bad debts constitute a considerable item in the returns of many tax- payers and may be treated in one or two ways—either by deduction from gross income in respect to debts ascer- tained to be worthless either in whole or in part or by a deduction of a | By the Associated Press. | reasonable addition to a reserve for | Operators and spokesmen for the bad debts. Taxpayers were given an United Mine Workers of America will option for 1921 to select either of open negotiations today for new wage ' the two methods. contracts for 650,000 miners to take | The method used in the return for effect after expiration of existing 1921 must be used in returns for sub~ agreements at midnight on March 31. | sequent years unless permission is | Hearings will be opened tomorrow by | granted by the commissioner of In- a Senate subcommittee on a bill de- | ternal Revenue to change to the other signed to permit regulation of the |method. Application to change must $11,000.000,000 bituminous industry as | be made at least 30 days prior to the | & public utility. | close of the taxable year for which This bill, introduced by Senator the change is to be effective. | Joseph F. Guffey, Democrat, of Penn- | However.-a taxpayer filing a first | sylvania, is described as the most |return in 1934 may select either of the | drastic measure ever proposed for the | two methods, subject to the ap- industry. Hearings will be conducted | proval of the commissioner upon ex- | by Senator Matthew M. Neely of Wes, amination of the return. Permission | Virginia. to adopt the reserve method is limited Authoritative sources said an early | to taxpayers having a large number recess of the wage conferences might | of accounts where credit is extended be decided upon to eliminate conflict | over a considerable period of time. with the Guffey bill hearings which It is not granted for the purpose of Neely has indicated may be extensive. | handling one specific debt. When the wage conference gets un- | What constitutes a “reasonable ad- der way tomorrow afternoon, only the | dition” to a reserve for bad debts Appalachian region will be repre- must be determined the light of the sented, despite the fact that for the| facts, and will vary as between classes first time in history, all the union’s of business and with conditions of contracts with bituminous operators | business prosperity. A taxpayer using expire simultaneously. However, coal | the reserve method should show in men explain the Appalachian confer- | his return the volume of charge sales ence, representing about 70 per cent (or other business transactions) for of the Nation's soft coal tonnage, will | the year, and the percentage of the “set the pace” for the rest of the |reserve to such an amount, the total industry. | amount of notes and accounts receiv- Hour and wage standards fixed by |able at the beginning and end of the this group will form the basis for |taxable year, and the total amount of contracts with operators in the Ala- | the debts ascertained to be worthless bama, Illinols, Indiana and Western |and charged against the reserve dur~ flelds. |ing the taxable year. MINERS’ CONTRACT PARLEY TO OPEN. Negotiations Begin Today for Agreements to Take Effect | March 31. The Euvening Star Offers Its Readers This Worth-While BOOK It explains the permanent departments of the Federal Government and the Alphabet Bureaus of the New Deal. Every American should read it. Order today. = o e e e = Order FOrm = == o e e THE AMERICAN GOVERNMENT TO-DAY Frederic J. Haskin 1 ‘ Name .. Price §1 at The Evening Star Business Office, or by mail, postpaid | Street ...evieiiiiiniiiiiiiiinniee. s ) | -