Evening Star Newspaper, February 24, 1935, Page 17

oo v | @he Saumday Shar CAPITAL PICTURED BY RANDOLPH AS STEEPED INCRINE Chairman of Investigating Committee Broadcast Lurid Picture of D. C. LAWNAKERS WAIT MARCH 4 HEARING ONBUS TERMINALS Ditter Studies Plans to Alleviate Traffic Prob- lem Here. “WORST IN WORLD,” HE |SITES FOR OFF-STREET TELLS DIXIE LISTENERS| DEPOTS LEFT TO LINES West Virginian Emphasizes Im-|Commission, However, Will Assist portance of Speedy Justice. Probe Resumes Tomorrow. A picture of Washington as the most crime-ridden city in the world, where many criminals escape arrest and where prosecution of those who are caught is delayed, was spread throughout the South last night by Representative Randolph, Democrat, of West Virginia, chairman of the Special Crime Investigating Commit- tee of the House. Over WISV and the Dixie network of the Columbia Broadcasting System, Randolph described the activities of his committee, and declared: “The investigation thus far indicates there are far too many criminals escaping arrest and punishment Further, there is substance for the belief that there is a woeful lack of speed in the administration of criminal Jjustice in this jurisdiction. Nothing will so definitely discourage crime as the certainty of punishment through speedy and impartial enforcement of the law.” Cites Record for Year. Randolph pointed out that nearly 9,000 felonies were committed in the District last vear and 6,000 cases cleared by the arrest of about 5,000 persons, but, he said: “Of those ar- rested, there were less than 1250 indicted by the grand j What happened to the other 0 cases is & matter that our committee proposes to ascertain.” in Choosing New Routes to Points Selected. Representative Ditter, Republican, of Pennsylvania, and several other members of the House, who have shown keen interest in Washington’s traffic problems, are planning to at- tend a hearing before the Public Utilities Commission March 4, on a | proposal to require motor busses to | provide off-street terminal facilities. Interstate motor busses already are required to lay over in off-street terminals, and the hearing will be de- voted to the class B and class C busses serving Washington and the so-called metropolitan area. The class B busses are those operating into nearby Mary=- {land and Virginia. Busses which oper- | ate in the District exclusively are in class C. A Ditter Asked for Study. The commission believes the re- moval of all busses from curbstone terminals not only will increase park- ing facilities, but at the same time will alleviate the traffic situation gen- erally. Ditter, several weeks ago, was re- quested to study the bus and taxicab parking situation because of his inter- est in all public utility problems in the District. His attention was called particularly to the situation on Tenth and Eleventh streets between D and E streets, where four bus lines termi- | nate. The commission, according to Rich- ard B. Keech, vice chairman, does not propose to go into the problem of | finding off-street terminals for the bus lines, leaving this to the bus own- ers. It will, however, co-operate with Randolph declared Washington's erime rate is abnormal and, in pro- portion to population, it has two and a half times as many murders as New York and 40 per cent more murders than Chicago. 3 “The people of Washington,” he said, “must look to Congress for pro= tection against the depredations of anti-social elements. Congress has charged this committee with the responsibility of finding the weak- nesses in the law enforcement ma- chinery of the District, and recom- mending such remedial action as may be necessary. Hopes for Solution. “I can assure you that it is the sincere desire of every member of the | committee to discharge that duty to| the fullest extent “I am hopeful that the inquiry will result in a lasting solution to the problem, and, further, I am hopeful that the committee will have the courageous and determined support of | the owners in rerouting the lines to the points selected by the operators if public convenience and necessity warrants. Tentative Sites Considered. Keech said the bus owners that would be affected by an off-street terminal order now have several ter- minal points under consideration, and-| others are hoping to escape the plan by abolishing stop-over periods in the District. One of the terminal points under consideration is the new bus depot on Pennsylvania avenue near Sixth street, the Washington headquarters of a large interstate line. Another is the Washington, Baltimore & An- inapolis electric line station at Twelfth street and New York avenue. Some of the business men on lower Seventh street are understood to be urging the bus operators to select the Sixth street and Pennsyl- | | | District Committee at 9:30 am. the people of the District in whose | vania avenue site in order to provide | behalf our work is being conducted. “With the aid and support of the citizens, churches, schools and organ- izations in Washington, Congress can and will make the crime rate of the Nation's Capital the lowest of any city in the United States.” 60,000 Arrests in Year. During the last fiscal year, Ran- dolph said, more than 60,000 persons were arrested in Washington, or more than 10 per cent of the entire popula- tion, although about 55,000 of the arrests were for violation of traffic and municipal regulations and misde- meanors. “The fact remains, however,” he added, “that there were 5,000 arrests for felonies. I cite the total figure to indicate the widespread disrespect for authority which exists among our people generally. “Of course, in any jurisdiction, only a portion of those who commit crime are arrested. A much smaller | portion are tried and convicted. The chance of escaping punishment in this jurisdiction is entirely too favor- able to the criminal.” Stott Will Testify. Randolph’s committee will resume its hearings tomorrow at 11 a.m., with Inspector William G. Stott on the witness stand. Chairman of the Police Trial Board, Stott is to be questioned about the department’s disciplinary machinery | and various cases handled by the | board in the last two years. He will | be asked particularly about cases where dismissals were recommended | by the board, but disapproved by the | Commissioners. Inspector L. I. H. Edwards, assistant superintendent and personnel officer, has turned over to the committee, a record of all Trial Board cases in the | last two years, This report will be used in connection with the question- ing of Inspector Stott. TOWN HALL SESSION TO CONSIDER GOLD Prof. E. W Kemmerer of Prince- ton to Be Speaker Tonight. The United States Supreme Court's recent decision on the gold clauses and the plea of former President Hoover that the United States return to the gold standard will be linked with discussion at the Town Hall of Washington tonight in the Shore- ham Hotel. Prof. Edwin W. Kem- merer, professor of international finance at Princeton and author of several books on money, will be the speaker. The questioning panel will include Benator Connally, Democrat, of Texas and member of the Senate Finance Committee; Representative John B. Hollister, Republican, of Ohio and ranking minority member on the House Banking and Currency Com- mittee; Assistant Secretary of Com- merce John Dickinson and Earl B. Schwulst, a director of the Commodity Credit Corp. and special assistant, R F.C. The meeting will start at 8 o'clock. * | service for customers from Virginia. None of the Virginia busses, it is pointed out, go beyond Tenth street, whereas a continuation of the route to Sixth street would provide addi- tional service and take the vehicles out of the seriously congested business lsecuun while on a lay-over. SEVEN D. C. BILLS T0 BE CONSIDERED | “Auto Liability” Measure Among Those to Come Before House Body. ‘Tomorrow is District day in the Hcuse with seven bills ready for con- sideration. Principal among these is the so-calied “auto liability” bill, which passed the Senate on January 10, and which twice previously passed the House. This bill is sponsored by the American Automobile Association, the American Motorists’ Association and other important organizations. Efforts to amend the bill providing compul- sory insurance for taxicab operators are promised by Representative Hull, Progressive, of Wisconsin. Pensions for the needy blind of the District with administration in the Welfare Department is another bill to be called up tomorrow in which | special interest has been shown dur- ing hearings and committee consider- ation. Other measures include a proposal to change the procedure for settle- ment of estates of absconders and other absentees; legislation to give the female line equal rights with the male line in inheritance, commonly known as “descent and distribution”; granting a charter to Trinity College; covering unlawful entry on property and changing the name of Leffier place. WASHINGTON, D. C, SUNDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY 24, 1935. Wildcats and Monkeys No. 1—Carl Beale, owner and keeper of the Benning “back- yard” 200, shown holding the stick with which he tamed the two wildcats before him—Tommy and Bandi.. No. 2—Agnes Beale, Carl’s sister, a little topheavy with the weight of Chita, the ring- tail cinnamon monkey, purchased from an importer in New York. No. 3—Mrs. Earnest R. Beale, Carl's mother, holds the jealous rivals of the zo00. The parrot would be going after the apple as Chita is doing if he hadn’t heard the cameraman.. No. 4—Ear- nest Beale, Carl’s brother, holding Bill and Joe—two goats that have a prominent place among the exhibits. ~Star Staff Photos. ARPORT HEARINGS WILL BE RESUMED Subcommittee Again Wil Take Up Bill for Gravelly Point Site. Hearings on the Smith bill to estab- lish a model airport for Washington on the Gravelly Point site will be re- sumed by a subcommittee of the House to- morrow, with representatives of the National Capital Park and Planning Commission as chief witnesses in sup- port of the measure. Hearings Interrupted. The hearings began three weeks ago but, owing to pressure of other busi- ness, including the crime investiga- tion, members of the subcommittee have heard no witnesses since last Mcnday. By starting early, Repre- sentative Randolph of West Virginia, chairman of the subcommittee, hopes to conclude the hearings tomorrow. Samuel Solomon, manager of Wash- ington Airport, will conclude the pres- entation of testimony in support of the proposed improvement of the present airport as a permanent air terminal | for Washington. Several witnesses are to be heard in favor of other sites in and near ‘Washington. Since Congress first be- gan consideration of the local air- | port problem nearly nine years ago, a total of 48 different sites have been | proposed for the local airport. Mem- bers of the present subcommittee are believed to have narrowed these sites down to two—the present Washington Airport and Gravelly Point. Two Bills Presented. The committee has before it two bills, the original Smith bill and a more comprehensive bill also preparéd by Representative Smith of Virginia to meet objections of the District Commissioners and other witnesses. The new bill contains many of the provisions of the bill introduced in the Senate by Senator Gibson of Vermont, upon which hearings may be under- taken soon by the Senate District Committee. Thieves Take Church Carpet. JOPPA, Md.,, February 23 (P.— Those who attend Trinity Lutheran Church here tomorrow will have to tread lightly, for thieves stole the plush carpet off the floor. George Harmeyer, sexton, found a broom, a mop and dishes also missing. Children Throng Hospital, Due to Rigors of Weather ‘Washington’s bad weather conditions of the past month have been respon- sible for the greatest overcrowding of Children’s Hospital in the history of the institution, according to Miss Mattie Gibson, superintendent. Due to colds, influenza, grippe and complications resulting from respira- tory infections of all kinds, the attend- ance for several days last week reached a record high level of 195, as compared with a maximum total of 169 patients on the highest previous day in the history of the hospital. Children’s Hospital, with a normal maximum capacity of 185 beds, has had 190 or more patients many times during the month. The warm weather of the last few days has had a bene- ficial effect, and last night there were only 172 children under treatment in the hospital, Miss Gibson said. “Children’s Hospital is crowded be- yond capacity at the present time,” Miss Gibson said in a report to thie Community Chesi made public last night. “For the last few weeks, in- cluding January, the largest number of patients in the history of the hospital have been treated, and this includes the still highest figure for the first two weeks in February. “We have been compelled to bring old beds out of storage and to set them up in various places because our daily average of patients is now 195. This has created overcrowding in the wards, and only the seriously ill chil- dren are being admitted until this situation is cleared up.” The hospital treated 524 children for a total of 4,901 hospital days dur- ing January, Miss Gibson reported. ‘This was an increase of 134 patients and 1,338 hospital days over the fig- ures for the same month last year. ‘The report shows there were 3874 visits to the dispensary and the So- cial Service Department was called on for 654 visits to the homes of chil- dren brought to the dispensary. In spite of the increase in the volume of work done, Miss Gibson said the rec- ord showed a smaller number deaths than for January, 1934, . AMENDED CENTER | PROGRAN STUDIED !Fine Arts Board Expected to Report This Week on Wyeth Plans. Indicating satisfaction with sketches | for the revised Municipal Center pro- !gram as submitted by Municipal Architect Nathan C. Wyeth, the Fine Arts Commission yesterday took the plans under consideration. A formal ! written report is expected to be sent to the District Building this week. Lcoking ahead to the time when | Washington will have a population of | | 900,000, anticipated by 1990, the com- | mission suggested that the District Supreme Court building should be restored as a City Hall, a purpose for | which it was used 100 years ago. This | would mean that a new Supreme Court building is in prospect where the old Pension Office Building, oc- | cupied by the General Accounting | Office, now stands. gram would take in the two squares | north of C street, along Indiana ave- | nue, adjacent to John Marshall place, for an administration building of the | District government. The Police Court, | Municipal Court and Juvenile Court | buildings would be placed in Judiciary | Square. In all probability, according to H. P. Caemmerer, the commission’s executive secretary, the recorder of deeds’ office will be in the Juvenile Court building, although this awaits further study. No Ruling on Two Squares. The Fine Arts Commission handed | down no ruling on the question of | the two squares owned by the District | government along Pennsylvania ave- nue, adjacent to John Marshall place, that were originally intended for the Municipal Center. The decision has been made to modify the plans and erect a less costly development. Some thought has been given to selling these two squares to finance the build- ing of the revised Municipal Center and there has been some talk of swapping these with the Federal Gov- ernment in return for the National Park Service giving up its jurisdic- tion to the municipality in Judiciary | Park. Inasmuch as the Fine Arts Commis- sion is concerned only with questions of architecture and landscaping, it did not delve into these problems of land transfer and finance. Some sug- gestion has been made to have the new General Accounting Office Build- ing constructed along Pennsylvania avenue, near John Marshall place. Wyeth submitted a design for the new Tuberculosis Hospital at Glenn Dale, Md., and this received commis- sion indorsement. This program also embraces a nurses’ home. The plan is in the Georgian type of architec- ture. A comprehensive program looking to development of the approaches to the Capitol and suggesting studies along this line by the National Cap- jtal Park and Planning Commission and the Fine Arts Commission, was presented to the latter body by Fran- cis P. Sullivan, speaking on behalf of the Allied Architects of Washington, Inc. Threat to Dome View Seen. Mr. Sullivan told the commission the prospective industrial develop- ment of the area to the south of the Capitol s a threat to the vista of the beautiful dome from the river. Al- ready a number of commercial activi- ties have sprung up in the region near the Army War College. The architect, who is chairman of the National Capital Committee of the American Institute of Architects, said his presentation was designed to indicate a line of study by the two commissions, as offering possibilities for future development. All the ap- proaches to the Capitol should be nudlzd?hc said, as a unit and treated to harmonize with the build- (Continued on Page 2, Column 3.) HEN Carl Beale \/s ) dealing in ch! small way a few his fclks couldn't possibly have visioned what it was leading to. Now it's just a question of how much longer the home at 223 Minne- sota avenue northeast is going to be large enough to accommodate family, and collection of birds, beasts and reptiles that just grows and | grows and grows. ‘There’s “Chita,” a ringtail cinna- started s in a Boy,” a South American parrot, given to saying “Hi, Carl!” and things not so printable; two Southern Maryland goats, now able to go through a reg- ular routine of tricks, and having a more utilitarian value when hitched to a wagon built especially for them; two wildcats, on which Carl practices animal training; 57 canari 2 dogs, an alligator, fish in profusion, a lizard—and this is only a cross-sec- tion. i It seems that when Carl, who now is 22, was in short trousers he used to earn his spending mo by home the | o \Boy’s Zoo Gives Family Great Variety of Cre eping Anxieties s for movies TInstead of going i other forms of amusement, he dealing in chickens. But this palled after a while and that's when the combination zoo-aviary-aquarium, etc.. was bo! he got chore: the two wildcats, *and “Bandi,” Carl decided | to branch out as an animal trainer. He bandaged his own scratches and decided that, after all, it might be| | just as well to do the training with | the goats. Visitors always are warned, if that is necessary, to stay at least The amended Municipal Center pro- | mon monkey. that drinks beer; “Big 2 feet from the cage of the cats. | “Big Boy” and “Chita” are prima | donnas, ard each takes violent ex- ception to any attention paid the oth- |er. Consequently, they are never al- | lowed to get close together. The family didn't break into tears| when this past Summer ended and Car] sent his 23 snakes out to the Zoo here to keep warm. In fact, they'd probably like to see him devote more | time to the secretaryship of the Ben- ning Citizens’ Association, which he | has held two years—even it it did interfere with his plans to become a ! snake charmer when Spring comes. WORK INSURANGCE MANDATORY IN BILL | Proposed Michigan Measure Has| Indorsement of Emergency Relief Officials. By the Associated Press. LANSING, Mich., February 23.—| State Representative Harry Glass, jr., Democrat, will introduce a bill in the Michigan Legislature Monday calling for mandatory unemployment insur- ance in the State. The measure has | the indorsement of emergency relief | officials and was drafted in collabora- tion with William Haber, State wel- fare administrator. The bill sets a maximum benefit of $15 a week, for not more than 20 weeks a year. Workers receiving more than $2,000 a year, “casuals” and strikers would be ineligible. The payments would be from a State-administered fund, to which employers would contribute annually not less than 1 nor more than 3!, per cent of their pay roll and em- ployes 1 per cent of their weekly wage. In a declaration of policy the bill said: “The lack of voluntary provi- sion by business, corporations and in- dividuals for the eventuality of un- employment has resulted in shifting the burden to the taxpayers.” AUTOPSY TO BE HELD Woman Is Found Dead With Head Near Gas Jets. An autopsy was to he held today in the case of Mrs. Lucille Buerhle, 26, who died yesterday after being overcome by gas in the kitchen of her home at 1430 V street. Her husband, Paul Buerhle, found her with her head resting' on a gas stove whose three burners were open. ‘The fire rescue squad attempted to revive her, but its efforts were un- successful. Two hours later she was pronounced dead by an Emergency Hospital physician, CERErMilVJN} AT LABOR BUILDING TOMORROW Secretary Perkins and President Green of A. F. of L. Principal Speakers at Dedication. The new Labor Department Build- ing. with one of the finest auditoriums in the country, will be dedicated to- morrow at 2 p.m. Secretary of Labor Frances M. Perkins and William Green, president of the American Federation of Labor, | will make the principal addresses. The huge auditorium, with its gold- leafed columns, will be the scene of the gathering which will be attended by members of the cabinet, the diplo- matic corps and leaders in Congress, including the members of the two labor committees. State Labor com- missioners also have been invited. Edward M. McGrady, Assistant Secretary, is to preside. Organized labor will furnish music for the oc- casion. The United Mine Workers' Band of West Virginia and the Gov- ernment Printing Office Orchestra are to take part in the program. COUNSELOR TO SPEAK Mexican Diplomat to Talk in Bethesda Church. By a Staff Corresponde ¢ of The Star. BETHESDA, Md., February 23.— Dr. Louis Quintanilla, new counselor at the Mexican Embassy, will speak on Mexico at the Central M. E. Church here Friday night at 8 o'clock, when the church holds the second of its series of “ifiternational good will” meetings. ‘The address will be the first made in this country by the new counselor. Mrs. John H. Werner will preside. Musicale Planned. ROUND HILL, Va, February 23 (Special).—At a meeting of the Round Hill Community League plans were made to hold a benfit musicale in the school March 15 at 8 p.m. » Sports—Pages 7 to 11 PAGE B—1 SHIALL LOAN LAW ACTION DUE SOON {Proposal for Higher Inter-! est Rate Debated Be- fore Committee. After hearing arguments on the | proposed new small-loan law for the| | District yesterday afternoon, the Sen- | ate District Committee will be called | by Chairman King to meet sometime TRI0 IN CONGRESS BACK D. C. UTILITY OWNERSHIPBY U.S. Maverick to Introduce Bill for Purchase of All in Washington. ECKERT AND RANDOLPH PLEDGE THEIR SUPPORT Roberts Favors Project—Urges Great Falls Hydroelectric Power Development. Three members of Congress yester- day pledged their support to a move- ment to put all public utilities in the District of Columbia under Federal ownership and operation. Representative Maury Maverick, Democrat, of Texas told the dele- gates to the Ninth Biennial Public Ownership Conference at the Willard Hotel he will soon introduce & bill in the House to provide for the pur- chase of all utilities in the District, including street car, electric and gas companies. Representatives Jennings Randolph, Democrat, of West Vir- ginia and Charles R. Eckert, Demo- crat, of Pennsylvania pledged their support to the. movement. “The Government has tried to con- trol public utilitiés and has made a failure of it,” Maverick said, “so the next step must be complete own- ership and control by the Federal Government.” Resolution Adopted. The conference last night adopted a resolution favoring Federal owner- ship and control of all hydro-electric projects and their facilities for de- livering power in interstate commerce. The resolution stipulated that the Federal Government should “originate, design, develop and own in perpetuity all the permanent works and facilities for developing the water and power this week for final action. The com- | plant” in such projects as the T. V. A., | mittee voted about two weeks ago ! Boulder Canyon Dam, the Columbia, to report the bill favorably, but Sena- | Upper Mississippi and St. Lawrence tor King later received requests for| a further hearing. | The pending bill, which would fix an interest rate of 2 per cent a! month on small loans, with a definite limit on the fee that could be charged for obtaining a credit report on ap- plicants, was favored by Corporation Counsel E. Barrett Prettyman, Peo- ple’s Counsel William A. Roberts, Evan H. Tucker Citizens’ Association and A. J. Dris- coll of the Mid-city Citizens' Asso- clation. Opposition to the bill was led by Paul E. Jameson., representing the Burroughs Citizens’ Association and | the City Firefighters’ Association, who | advocated strict enforcement of the existing law of 1913, which limited the | interest to 1 per cent a month. Jameson said there may be need for | an amendment to the old law to curb what is known as procuring | of loans for other persons. His op- | | position to the new bill was directed | particularly at the proposed increase | in the rate. | Sees Enforcement. Corporation Counsel Prettyman told the committee he believes it is gen- erally admitted that enforcement of the 1913 law would drive loan com- panies out of the District. He said he believes the existing law can be enforced, and that he intends to en- force it. He pointed out, however, | that Washington is surrounded by Maryland and Virginia laws, allow- ing an interest rate of 3!, per cent a month. With that set of circum- stances in view, he said, District officials tried to wcrk out a bill with an interest rate on which it was thought the loan business could be operated in the District. He said the pending bill was drafted, accord- ingly with a 2 per cent rate. The corporation counsel expressed the belief that, with proper regulations, small loans constitute a social service and that if Congress reaches that conclusion, he believes the pending | bill would be preferable to driving loaning agencies out of the District, in view of the rates allowed in the adjacent States. Tucker said the citizens' commit- tee which worked for the enactment of the original law in 1913 favored a 2 per cent interest rate at that time, but Congress changed it to 1 per cent He said there is a social need for small loan facilities, and that the effort to obtain a new bill has been going on for a number of years. Tells of Bills. Roberts related the history of va- rious small-loan bills that have been considered by Congressional commit- tees In recent years, some of which proposed 314 per cent rate, and were not passed. Roberts and Prettyman both opposed a rate that high in Washington. g Roberts told the committee that if it decides not to report out the pending small loans bill, that every effort should then be made to secure enact- ment of a bill already on the Senate calendar to make the usury law of the District more stringent. Asked by Chairman King if he favored the pending bill, James G. Yaden, president of the Federation of Citizens’ Associations, said his own view is that if District residents could borrow at 2 per cent, it would be bet- ter than having to go to Maryland or Virginia, where the rate is higher. . Alfred Bennett, representing a loan company, said the company he spoke for could operate in the District un- der the bill being considered by the committee. H. Ralph Burton suggested that action be postponed until further study can be given to the question. Senators Capper of Kansas, Mc- Carran of Nevada and Austin of Ver- mont took part in the hearing, CAR HITS WOMAN Struck by a street car last night while crossing the street in the 1400 block of New York avenue, Bertha M. Arnold, 49, of 802 Twentieth street, was treated at Emergency Hospital for a possible skull fracture. F. A. Burk, 44, of 3017 Otis street northeast, the operator of the street car, was Teleased by police pending outcome of the woman's injuries, | Government.” | of the Northeast | | Rivers. States within the regions to be served by these projects, the resolution said, should construct power lines to serve cities and rural communities, *“pro- vided that all transmission lines origi- nated by the Federal Government shall be owned and operated by the Federal Dr. William McClellan, president of the Potomac Electric Power Co., was among the visitors at the after- noon session when the whole gamut of public utility problems was dis- cussed by several speakers. Roberts Praises Pepco. People’s Counsel William A. Rob- erts spoke in favor of public owner- ship. He praised the Potomac Elec- tric Power Co. as one of the best in the country, but said the rates charged for electric energy here are excessive. He favored development of a hydroelectric power project on the Potomac River above Great Falls. He said the cost of production by steam in the Washington plant of the company is about 3 mills per kilowatt hour of energy and that the company is buying power from a Maryland plant and carrying it over more than 100 miles of high-tension line and at a rate of 1!; mills per kilowatt. Charles M. Hopkins, regional direc- tor of the Public Ownership League, also spoke in favor of the develop- ment of Great Falls as a power proj- ect. Other speakers on the District meeting program were Col. George R. Laird, president of the Public Ownership League of the District; Harvie W. Goddin, economist and util- ity engineer, and Arthur W. Watwood, president of the Progressive Voters' League. L. J. Scheer, assistant to the pres- ident of the Detroit, Mich., City Coun- cil, at the morning session of the con- ference made a plea for public own- ership of all public utilities. He told of the progress in the plan to pipe natural gas from the Texas oil fields to the population centers of the Mid- dle West through pipe lines built with Public Works Administration funds. He said Secretary Ickes, P. W. A. ad- ministrator, and James V. Allred, Governor of Texas, had practically come to an agreement on the pipe line construction. The project ine volves the expenditure of approxi- mately $50,000,000. Scheer said the | greatest monopoly in the country ex- ists in the gas industry. Describes Springfield Savings. Samuel J. Sibley, superintendent of light and power in Springfield, Ill., de- | seribed the savings affected by Spring- field with its municipally-owned light and power plant and water works sys- tem. Public ownership of radio was ad- vocated by Bruce Bliven, editor of the New Republic Magazine, in a talk last night. He said the rddio had degenerated from a public service ine stitution into a money-making adver- tising scheme. He suggested the Gov- ernment set up and operate a few powerful stations throughout the country, broadcasting from the only programs designated solely for en- tertainment or for the edification of the public. The conference, which opened Thursday morning, will continue through tomorrow. U. OF M. DEBATE TEAM WILL MEET STANFORD By a Staff Corresponden of The Star. COLLEGE PARK, Md., February 23 —The University of Maryland and Stanford University will meet Wednes- day in a debating contest at which members of national and State law- making bodies are expected to be judges. The question will be, “Re- solved, That all collective bargaining should be negotiated through non- company unions safeguarded by law. In addition to members of the ‘Washington Alumni Association, many other Washingtonians are ex- pected to attend. In the judges’ seats will be United States Senators George L. Radcliffe and Joseph I. France of Maryland, Representative Virgil Chap- man of Kentucky. State Senator Harry ;l;}:hoebus -and Capt. Louis B. Mont- [