Evening Star Newspaper, February 25, 1935, Page 1

WEATHER. (U. 8 Weather Bureau Forecast.) Cloudy, followed by rain tonight and tomorrow; slightly warmer tonight, colder tomorrow, minimum temperature tonight about 40 degrees. Temperatures—Highest, 57, at noon today; lowest, 36, at 5 a.m. today. Full report on page A-9. Closing N. Y. Markets, Pages 14,15 & 16 No. 33172. MALL INDICATES PUBLIC EQUALLY DIVIDED ON RELIEF Senators’ Letters Continue For and Against Wage Amendment. LEADERS INSIST DRAIN WOULD BE TOO HEAVY Crisis Watched by President and | Meeting Later in Week May Determine Move. By the Associated Press. First returns from the country, as assembled in senatorial mailbags, to- day were represented as about evenly divided on the prevailing wage issue which had deadlocked the adminis- tration's $4,880,000.000 work relief bill. That was the verdict of early morning letters to Senators Wwho voted for and against the prevailing wage requirement, which President Roosevelt opposed. So far, most found the country’s attitude had not been reflected in a greatly increased mail. the crisis in the legislative situation from his home at Hyde Park, Demo- cratic leaders insisted retention of the prevailing wage would be too heavy a drain on the Treasury and ; render impossible the substitution of work relief for the dole for 3,500,000 distress roll employables. Glass Move Awaited. Chairman Glass, Democrat, of Vir- ginia, of the Appropriations Commit- tee, meanwhile had made no definite arrangements to call his group to- gether to report out a separate direct relief measure. A meeting was ex- pected later in the week, however, after more time had been given for public reaction to set in. Bearing out the prediction of some leaders that State Governors and mayors would come to the aid of the President’s public works program, Paul V. Betters, director of the United Btates Conference of Mayors, issued a statement saying if the action of the Senate meant the killing of the | had met Prime Minister J. Ramsay $4,000,000,000 works program, “it means the sentencing of 3,500,000 | president of the council. American citizens who want work in- stead of free groceries to & term of involuntary idleness.” Here are a few senatorial comments | tirely with home politics. on the week end relief mail: Senator McCarran, Democrat, of Nevada. author of the prevailing-wage clause: “All correspondence received by my office approves of the wage- scale amendment being retained.” Senator Minton, Democrat, of In- diana, who voted against the McCar- ran amendment: “I have received a lot of commendatory mail for my vote against it.” Couzens’ Vote Approved. Senator Couzens, Republican, of Michigan, who voted for it: “Nothing but_endorsement of my action. The mail is mostly from individuals. I have noticed no corporate of union mail in connection with the matter.” Senator McKellar, Democrat, of Tennessee, opponent of the amend- ment: “My mail has not been par- ticularly heavy, but everything I have received endorses my vote. I haven't had a letter to the contrary. All think they have thrown the fat into the fire because here was a splendid program and these gentlemen turned it down. It's in danger and I don’t know what’s going to be done about it.” Senator Truman, Democrat, of Mis- souri, who voted for the amendment: “I had more mail before the vote than now. A majority of the people in my State want the prevailing wage.” Senator Trammell, Democrat, of Florida, opponent: “No change in mail, but it’s evident the people would rather have the program without the pre- vailing wage than no plan at all.” Senator Donahey, Democrat, of Ohio, advocate of the amendment: “I've had 500 letters today and not one ques- tioned my vote for the wage amend- ment.” Clark’s Mail Unchanged. Senator Clark, Democrat, of Mis- souri, opponent: “I have noticed no change in my mail. It is nothing like the barrage-on the World Court.” Senator Davis, Republican of Penn- 8ylvania, who voted for the amend- ment: “I have a lot of letters from industrial districts to stand by the Prevailing wage.” Senator Glass, opponent: “Look at this pile of mail. Al of it indorses my speech on the bill.” Glass opposed :Re Wage amendment. But wants duceemant of the appropriation re- A mobilization in behalf of work relief “that will make the bonus army look like a Boy Scout parade in com- parison” was foreseen by bolters, There was some belief Mr. Rooseyelt may at a later day ask the Senate to reconsider the bill. CHINESE DOLLAR " REACHES NEW HIGH Effort of Government to Check Advance Due to Speculation Fails. By the Associated Press. - SHANGHAI, February 25.— The Chinese government’s machinery for stabilization of exchange failed to halt the advance of the Chinese sil- ver dollar today. The dollar reached the highest mark since 1929, sky- rocketing to 38% against the United States dollar under a wave of specu- lative buying. (The average quotation for the sil- ver dollar last week as against the United States dollar was .372.) An attempt to spike a rumor which reportedly was contributing to the dollar’s advance, the Nationalist gov- ernment’s ministry of finance issued a statement that “the government has nod !ntenu:un of abolishing the export duty on silver or relaxing con- girol over the exchange ""’3 Entered as second class matter post office, Washington, D. C. ’tned much better than could be ex- i With President Roosevelt watching | . ah Lost Tuwins, Back Home, Spent | WASHINGTON, D. C, Night on Bed of Pine Needles Boy and Girl, 8, Wander Into Arms of Policeman on Awakening—0Object | SARED T0 PROBERS of All Night Search. All was well today with the modern twin “babes in the woods” whose self- sufficiency enabled them to pass an almost comfortable night under a pine tree while a thousand men searched for them through the undergrowth, quicksand, sink holes and standing water of a three-mile swamp near Beltsville, Md., just off the Baltimore Boulevard. Hand in hand, shortly after sunrise today, the 8-year-old twins, John Al- exander and Margaret Elizabeth Mil- ler, emerged from the pine thicket where they had spent the night and were seen making their way across the fields toward the Baltimore Boule- vard by Policeman Claude O. Reese of the Prince Georges County force. The thorns had damaged John's i trousers and scratched Margaret's , knees, but otherwise the twins had | pected, and even summoned a smile | | of greeting for Reese. The pair ex- | plained « policeman was just the man they were looking for. “Well, you've got nothing on us!” the policeman replied. The whole county force, or such of it as could be spared, had been searching the swamp, together with several hundred volun- teers to radio appeals, 200 C. C. C. men from a nearby camp, and volun- teer fire departments of Berwyn, Berwyn Heights, College Park, Branch- ville and Hyattsville. The twins had wandered for miles in and out of the swamp, finally cross- ing and skirting the Baltimore Boule- vard, far from the scene of the search. They saw magy houses and motorists, but a paternal injunction was always uppermost in their minds—*Never speak to strangers!” When dark came and the twins could find no policeman, they made a bed of pine needles in a thicket with- in hailing distance of the highway (Continued on Page 3, Column 2.) NAZI REPORT MADE BY SCHUSCANIGE | Austrian Chancellor on “Del- 1 icate” Mission to English Statesmen. By the Associated Press. LONDON, February 25—What are probably the most delicate and sml‘ the least important international dip- i lomatic exchanges in London in sev- jeral years began today as Kurt| Schuschnigg. chancellor of Austria, | Esnd his foreign minister, Egon Ber- gerwaldenegg, made their rounds of British government offices. | A steady rainfall assisted the police in their guardianship of the visitors. |Cnly a handful ot curious onlookers gathered at Whitehall, the govern- ment building district. ! The British cabinet held a special : session after the Austrians had a | half-hour conversation with Sir John | Simon, British foreign secretary, and | MacDonald and Stanley Baldwin, lord Series of Pacts Talked. It was reliably stated, however, that the cabinet was concerned en- The series of Central European pacts to guarantee Austrian independence and establish a regime of non-inter- ference in the Danublan area, which the British government formally in- | dorsed February 3, was the chief topic TEXTILE WALKOUT MOVE COUNTERED Special Board Opens Study of Code Protests by Firms and Unions. (Copyright. 1935. by the Associated Press.) Confronted by growing discontent from both manufacturers and labor, the N. R. A. has set up a special board to study conditions in the textile industry and determine the possibility of code revision. While N. R. A. has not said so | officially, the action was reported | reliably to have been taken with the view of forestalling another tex- tile strike, threatened early in the | Spring if labor's demands for wage concessions and more satisfactory code enforcement is not forthcoming. Meanwhile, led by Gov. Curley of Massachusetts, a group of New Eng- land manufacturers and State of- ficials gathered here for a conference today with the New England congres- sional delegation. Objectives of the meeting included preparation of a program to limit imports of Japanese textiles, to eliminate or lighten the cotton processing tax, to remove sec- tional wage differentials and to stand- ardize wages throughout the in- dustry. Bitter Fight Is Seen. A bitter controversy was foreseen of the Anglo-Austrian talks. ‘The purpose of the Austrians’ visit is to thank the British government for the part it played in foiling the alleged Nazi plot to seize power in Austria last year at the time of the assassination of Chancellor Dollfuss. ‘The Austrians also gave the British a confidential report on the present strength of the Nazis in Austria. Extends Conversation. Chancellor Schuschnigg later had further conversations with Sir John Simon at his office. The Daily Express said today Chan- cellor Schuschnigg has definitely dam- | pened whatever hopes Archduke Otto | i\ may have had that the London visit | would speed plans for restoration of | the Hapsburg monarchy. “The Austrian government has no plans whatever for changing the polit- ical organization of the country,” the Express quoted Dr. Schuschnig, “Restoration of the Hapsburgs will not be discussed in my talks with Prime Minister MacDonald and Sir John Simon.” The chancellor said his visit fulfills a plan formulated a year ago by his predecessor, Chancellor Dollfuss, shortly before his assassination. T haven't come to Britain to ask for money,” Schuschnigg was quoted. “I do not favor a hat-in-hand policy. Austrian begging has ceased.” “Red Menace Dead.” The Express represented the chan- cellor as saying the Nazi forces in Austria were completely disorganized and quarreling with each other. “As for Socialists,” he said, “the red menace is dead.” __A brief demonstration at Victoria (Continued on Page 3, Column 1.) —_— VESSEL IN DANGER Salvage Tug on Way to Aid Japa- nese Ship Off Vancouver. VICTORIA, February 25 (#)—The Pacific Salvage Co.s tug, Salvage King. today was en route to the aid of the Japanese motorship Taihei Maru, reported disabled by engine trouble 150 miles off Estevan, on the ‘West Coast of Vancouver Island. The Taihei Maru is a 6,200-ton vessel owned by the Mitsui Co. and was outbound from Fort Ludlow, Wash, with a cargo of lumber when it called for help last night. over the wage differentials, with Northern interests demanding that Southern mill pay be forced up to the Northern level, Representative Edith Nourse Rogers, Massachusetts Republican, planned to introduce a bill in the House today calling for reopening of the cotton textile code and said its purpose was to open the way to standardization of wages. | “The Southern mills already have i natural advantages, through proximity | to their raw material,” she said, “and | vantage in wage rates.” The N. R. A’s decision to act swift- ly in the textile situation was reached last week in the face of rumblings of new walkouts. Serving on the special board are Division Administrator Prentiss Coonley and Arthur D. White- side, Leon Henderson and Sidney Hill- man of the National Recovery Board. Report Due Tomorrow. A preliminary report on the cotton industry is du. tomorrow, with sub- sequent investigations to be made of the woolen and worsted and silk in- dustries. “We have an acute situation here,” Coonley said, in confirming creation of the special committee. Leaders of the United Textile Workers maintained that continued peace in the textile industries de- pended on the outcome of hearings soon to be held by the N, R. A. on recent reports by the Bureau of Labor Statistics on wages and hours of mill workers and on a more satisfactory enforcement of decisions of the Tex- tile Labor Relations Board. Francis J. Gorman, organization director of the United Textile Work- ers, recently told the House Labor Committee that “we are beginning to wonder if we did right in urging our members to end the strike of last September.” He said wholesale viola- tions of section 7-a of the national recovery act continued in the South. The manufacturers on their side complained that the higher prices re- sulting from the cotton code and the cotton processing tax have left them meflm to compete with foreign S, Crash Kills New Yorker. DETROIT, February 25 (#)—John J. Clarke, 23, of Hoosick Falls, N. Y., was instantly killed yesterday, victim of a two-car crash at a street inter- section. Two others were hurt. Reception and Singing Mark Labor Building Dedication Secretary of Labor Perkins, first ‘woman cabinet member, gave an elab- orate coming-out party for her new departmental building at its dedica- tion today, with flowers, music, a re- ception line and punch. Formal speeches of dedication, de- livered by the Secretary and by Wil- liam Green, president of the Amer- ican Federation of Labor, constituted only one of three parts to the festive program at the new Government audi- torium, next to the new Department of Labor Building at Fourteenth street and Constitution avenue. Organized labor was given a prom- inent role in the celebration, with President Green speaking and with the United Mine Workers' Band of ‘West Virginia and the “Melody Stroll- ers” of Spartanburg, S. C., represent- ing the United Textile Workers of America in the Carolinas, and others featured in the musical program. The great auditorium foyer was banked deep with flowers, as were also B e e Labor Building. # The Mine Workers’ Band started the program with a concert of several selections prior to the two speeches of the day. Invocation was by Dr. ZeBarney T. Phillips, chaplain of the United States Senate, and the bene- diction by Right Rev. Msgr. John A. Ryan, Following the formal exercises there was an intermission before the musical This merri- | it is unfair to give them an added ad- ' ¢ Foenin ‘WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION $12.82000 GRACE BONUSES IN1917-3 Salary $12,000 Annually in Period, Senate Com- mittee Hears. PROFIT ELIMINATION IN WAR IS OPPOSED Government Operation of Indus- try Would Be Inefficient, Steel Head Believes. By the Associated Press. Bonuses paid to Eugene G. Grace as president of the Bethlehem Ship- building Co. and Bethlehem Steel Corp. were disclosed today before the | Senate Munitions Committee to have amounted to $12,282,000 from 1917 to 1931, in addition to a salary of $12,000 a year for most of the period. Just previously, he expressed opposi- tion to elimination of all profit in the event of a future war involving the United States. ‘The bonus testimony was in con- nection with committee guestioning whether Grace would approve having | his plant commandeered by the Gov- ernment in time of war and his own salary cut to that of a general, “about $10,000 a year.” Inefficiency Is Seen. “T can't conceive of the Government taking over an institution and telling the man at the head to go on and run it,” he replied. “That is not govern- ment.” He contended Government operation of industry would be “inefficient Records supplied the committee said his salary climbed to $101,000 in 1931, the last year bonuses were paid to the { officials, and for 1932, 1933 and 193¢ his salary was $180,000 a year and no | bonuses. Grace defended the bonus system as a proper “incentive” for increased production on the part of officials and men. “Did the corporation or the Govern- ment get additional service from you because of that bonus that it would not have received otherwise?” Chair- man Nye, Republican, of North Da- kota asked. “Certainly not,” Grace replied. Difference in Draft Cited. The noted shipbullder and steel- maker declared there was a “differ- ence” between drafting manpower and capital. “Do you see why a skilled mechanic should be drafted and capital left to operate at a profit,” Senator Clark, Democrat of Missouri, asked. “What is the difference between capital and manpower?” “There is a difference,” responded. “Would you favor or oppose & 100 per cent tax on profits in war time?” asked Chairman Nye. “Let me answer in the reverse” Grace answered, leaning comfcrtably back in his chair. Would Oppose Tax. f “I would be pleased if we no longer | made any kind of war equipment. I would like to see the relations among nations such that no nation would spend a dollar in preparation for war. I think, however. we should be fairly compensated for use of invested pri- ate capital.” ‘You would oppose & 100 per cent profits tax then?” Nye pressed. “Yes,” Grace said. “I would.” “You would consider it excessive?” “yes” “Would it bankrupt pany?” Nye continued. “The company couldn't operate. would ruin it,” Grace replied. “Wouldn't it ruin a man to be called from his job to work for $1.25 a day and perhaps lose his life?” Clark asked. Again the shipbuilder reiterated there was a “difference.” “Why should there be in dealing with life property?” The shipbuilder did not answer, settling back in his chair while he twiddled a paper clip in his fingers. Grace answered questions calmly as the committee sought to gain in- formation for preparation of a tax program to curb profits in time of Wer. Before beginning the questioning, Chairman Nye said the committee sought not only means of trimming war profits, but also during the period “before war, while building is going on in preparation for war.” Grace sald he had “very great doubt” that Governmerg operation of industry would be efficient. “Suppose an officer walked into your plant and told you you were drafted,” Senator Clark asked, “and he told “you the trains were still running out to Leavenworth (peni- tentiary) what would you do?” “I would do the very best I could,” Grace replied. | He said he could “see no reason” for scaling down salaries of industry to Army levels, “unless it was a part of a great national policy.” “I can see no reason for changing the relation of rates of compensa- tion,” he said, “just because we go from one industry to another.” He described “making war” as an industry. S. W. Wakeman, vice president of the company, introduced a mass of cost Grace the com- It difference and with Last Big Executive. As head of the Bethlehem Ship- building Co., Grace was the last ex- ecutive of any of the “big three” shipyards to face questioning by the Grace is 58 years old. His rise in the steel industry was meteoric. Fresh from Lehigh University, he went to the Bethlehem Steel Co. as an operator of ap electric crane in 1899. In a little over two years he was superintendent of yards and transportation. It was about 1905 when he was MONDAY, FEBRUARY 25, W 17 7 7 Wi 1 1 HOUSE PUTS ASIDE DISTRICT CAR BILL Patman Asks Withdrawal - as Result of Protests by Cab Operators. The District auto responsibility bill, | passed by the Senate on January 10, was today withdrawn from the House | calendar at Lhe request of Representa- | tive Patman of Texas, chairman of | the Subcommittee on Streets and Traf- | fic of the House District Committee. | This was one of the most important| of the District measures scheduled for consideration in the House today. It was withdrawn as a result of protests by independent taxicab operators that they had not been granted an oppor- tunity to be heard on this measure. They insisted that they would prefer to have compulsory automobile insur- | ance imposed upon taxicab owners and | operators. The present bill makes in- | surance compulsory after an accident. After the bill was reported a demand | for reconsideration was made in the House District Committee last week by Representative Hull, progressive, of Wisconsin. Twice previously a similar bill has been passed by the House, but failed to get through the Senate. Members of the District Committee said today that they have found that there is a decided difference of opinion among the taxicab companies regarding the provisions of the measure. | Provisions of Bill. The bill provides for the suspension of an operator's license and registra: tion certificate in the following cases: First, if convicted of operating an antomobile while under the irfluence of intoxicating liquor or narcotic drugs; second, if he has left the scene of an automobile accident in which | personal injury has occurred without making his identity known, and, third, if a judgment has been ob- | tained against him and remained unsatisfied for a period of 30 days. The permit and registration cards would not be returned to an operator until after he has furnished evidence of his ability to respond in damages of certain specified amounts for future accidents involving life or property. CRASH KILLS CONSUL AT MADRAS, INDIA Leroy Webber, Career Man, Dies With 3 Others in Auto Accident. By the Associated Press. MADRAS, India, February 25.— Leroy Webber, United States consul here, and three other persons were killed last night in an automobile ac- cident near Madras. A. W. Estey, Standard Oil official; Mrs. Estey and the native driver were the other victims. Leroy Webber, United States consul at Madras, India, who was r¢ killed in an accident there yesterday, was born at Buffalo, N. Y., July 7, 1891, according to State Department records. He began his diplomatic career at 22 in Glasgow, Scotland. He had 1935—THIRTY PAGES. served in consular capacities at Not- tingham, England; Palermo, Italy, and Hongkong, Amoy, Chefoo and Shanghai, China. Mr. Webber became a vice consul, career class 3, in 1920; a consul in 1923 and a foreign service officer in 1924. $500,000 OYSTER PEST APPROPRIATION VETOED President Expresses Doubt of Benefit in Atlantic and Gulf Experiments. President Roosevelt today vetoed a bill authorizing an appropriation of $500,000 to make experiments on rid- ding the waters of the Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico of pests which have been injurious to the oyster, clam and scallop su; b In returning this bill without his approval, the Preside: q Sfar HH% MUCH Dprruu 1 The only evening paper in Washington with the Associated Press News and Wirephoto- Services. Saturday’s Circulation, 126,074 Wi 50 ouR paRT Some Returns Not Yet Received. UP) Means Associated Press. BETTER DD Sweethearts Sought in Death, Du Bois Girls’ Notes Reveal Coroner’s Jury Over Protests of American Consul. By the Associated Press. ROMFORD, England, February 25. —Elizabeth and Jane Du Bois, who plunged from an airplane to death last week, visualized their suicides as a “pretty straight” corridor to the dead men they loved. A coroner's jury today returned a joint verdict of “suicide while of un- sound minds” after it had heard the contents of two letters which the girls had intended only for their father, Coert Du Bois, United States consul General in Naples, and their mother. The father, tight-lipped and white- knuckled, attended the inquest. The mother stayed alone at a hotel, still unaware of the complete details of here daughters’ plunge from a com- mercial transport plane. In their letters, the two beautiful American girls told of their grief for the deaths of Flying Officer John A. C. Forbes and Flight Lieut. Henry L. Beatty, who were killed at Messina, Sicily, two weeks ago when their Royal Rir Force flying boat, Ace of Diamonds, crashed into hillside. One of the notes said that Flying Officer Forbes, engaged to another girl, was going to break off his en- gagement in order to marry Jane. The letters were read publicly over | the protest of Franklin C. Gowen, United States Consul. ‘duty in reading the letters as with- out them it would have been difficult for the ,ury to arrive at a proper verdict. “In time to come,” he said, “I am sure the father will realize that read- ing these letters was the only course o be taken in the circumstances.” The fury retired only a few min- | utes before arriving at the verdict, which was worded in the usual pnrases for suicide cases in England. The jury expressed sympathy to the par- ents and also to Pilot P. Kirton of " (Continued on Page 3, Column 5 LONG IS PROTECTED N NEW ORLEANS None Permitted to Talk to Senator on Dash to Baton Rouge. By the Associated Press. NEW ORLEANS, February 25.—Sur- rounded by bodyguards, Senator Huey P. Long arrived by train from Wash- ington today and took an automobile immediately for Baton Rouge, where martial law has been in force for about a month due to the fight on his politi- cal leadership. The Senator, as counsel for the Louisiana Public Service Commission, said he was resuming today his inves- tigation of telephone rates before the Louisiana Public Service Commission in the capital city. When he left the train his army of bodyguards surrounded him and no one was permitted to speak to him. Some of the attendants of the Senator held their hands to their pockets as they rushed Long across the station platform to a line of six waiting auto« mobiles. Long and his guards filled the cars and the motor caravan sped away. Rev. Gerald K. Smith, organizer of Long's “Share-the-Wealth” Clubs, ar- rived on the same train with the Sen- ator, but left the station in a different direction. Long said nothing here about his proposed investigation of Postmaster General Farley in Washington or any- thing else. Citizens have been expecting the State administration, which he con- trols, to call a special session of the Legislature at an early date to reduce the 5 cents a barrel oil refining tax. Four cents of the tax were said to have been rebated under an agree- ment between Long and the company without legislative action. DRELT SUBSDES TOSHRSOPPOSED Roosevelt Is Expected, How- ever, to Recommend Plan in Message. | By the Associated Press. A forthcoming message in which President Roosevelt is expected to recommend direct subsidies to Ameri- can shipping in place of ocean mail contracts will drop into a Congress which holds differing opinions on the subject. While several legislators have been outspoken in their criticism of what they term the present mail subsidies, some are known to be opposed to all subsidies ir principle. The attitude of Senator Black, Democrat of Alabama, who headed the committee which investigated ocean and alr mail contracts a year ago, is that subsidies are inadvisable “unless adequate safeguards are provided.” Black said his committee showed that huge sums paid to build up a merchant marine had been “largely spent in high salaries, extravagant (Continued on Pa; Column 7.) ROOSEVELT ACCEPTS California Exposition Head Says President Will Attend. SAN DIEGO, Calif., February 25 (#)—G. A. Davidson said here today upon his return from Washington that President Roosevelt had prom- ised he “positively would attend” the California Pacific International Ex- position, opening here May 29. “The President manifested great interest in the exposition and stated that he positively would attend,” said Davidson, chairman of the exposi- tion’s Board of Directors. Wife and Other Disabilities Revealed in Mail to Senate By the Associated Press. Bulging mailsacks bring the Nation’s thoughts and woes to its 96 Senators— and stooped shoulders to 24 postmen working in three shifts. The mail this year seems to be heavier than last year, when a survey at , Wl munications daily from the folk back home. A Teporter who was permitted to inspect one day’s mail—which is why the Middle Western Senstor prefers to writer didn't say ‘other disabilities’.” (The secretary is married, which is why he prefers to be anonymous.) Another letter contained a tearful admired the Roosevelt recovery pro- gram warned that “unless something the voters are going to take for a slay (sic) ride at the election.” ted that med Government loans while 't porrow $40,000 to enable E§>§§§ Another large stack or favored utility leg- islation. 8till another pile contained flu‘ that the Government forbid pub- inspection of 'wmm incomes. ‘The coroner said he only did hns; TWO CENTS. RODSEVELT AIDES STUDYING POPULAR RULING ON POWER Constitutional Amendment Would Be Submitted to States. PLANS LAID TO MEET AN ADVERSE DECISION Independent Corporation to Be Financed by Government Also Is Considered. By the Assoclated Press. The possibility of taking President Roosevelt’s power policies to the peo- ple in what would amount to a na- tional referendum was considered to- day by some admunistration advisers. Under a plan suggested for possible use if the Government’s intention to sell electricity in the Tennessee Val- ley is blocked by the Supreme Court, the public’s sentiment would be tested by submission of a constitutional amendment to the States. Would Back Roosevelt. The proposed amendment would be {Last Letters to Parents Are Read to o s that u ratied by tne necessary 36 States. it would stamp approval on the Roosevelt power pro- gram. The amendment was one of several | possibilities studied for use in event ! the Government should lose finally the appeal it is preparing from a decision by Federal Judge W. I. Grubb of Ala- bama. He ruled last week that the Tennessee Valley Authority has no right to sell surplus electricity. | . Another proposal given considera- tion by administration advisers was [thm a_corporation financed largely | by the Government, but not connected directly with it, might be set up to carry out the President’s plans. Setback Held Temporary. Officials insisted, meanwhile, that they regarded Judge Grubb’s ruling only as a temporary setback which would be overcome in the higher courts. Because the judge granted an injunction against P. W. A. allotments for constructing municipal power plants to distribute T. V. A. power, counsel for the Public Works Admin- istration has announced it will join in appealing the case. Should the final judgement in this litigation go against the Government, one power expert said, the proposal for a constitutional amendment and the suggested independent corporation might have serious drawbacks. An in- dependent corporation might get out of Federal control, it was said, and obtaining approval of 36 States to a constitutional amendment usually re- quires a long time. Rankin Is Confident. Confidence that the Supreme Court will approve the sale of surplus elec- tricity from Government plants was expressed in a speech last night by Representative Rankin, Democrat, of Mississippi. He called T. V. A. “the most profit- able investment the American people have made in your day and mine,” and referred to private power interests with the comment: “An old regime dies hard.” Speculation continued in the Capital regarding the possible effect of Judge j Grubb's decision on other links in the President’s power program. Some sug- gested that the administration might not press for Senate approval of the proposed St. Lawrence waterway until present uncertainty is past. The St. Lawrence project, involving extensive power developments, long has been advocated by Mr. Roosevelt. —— {BELL IS “NOW SANE” HOSPITAL REPORTS Fredericksburg Church Deacon Sent to Marion After Jury Failed to Agree. By the Assoctated Press. FREDERICKSBURG, Va., February 25.—Marion State Hospital authori- ties today reported that Edward C. Bell is “now sane.” Bell, Baptist church deacon, who formerly was active in the business and civic life of Predericksburg, was sent to Marion for observation after a jury failed to agree at his trial here lon a charge of attempting to poison his invalid wife. e FRENCH SHIP EXPLOSION IS FATAL TO FOUR MEN Many Others Injured When Case of Explosives Blows Up in Hold of Boat. By the Associated Press. TUNIS, Tunisia, February 25.— Four men were believed dead and many others injured when a case of explosives blew up today in the hold of the French government's S. S. Gouverneur General Jonnart as it was unloading at its pier. The Gouverneur General Jonnart is a French government steamer, at- tached to the ministry of marine, and is of 4,513 tons gross register and was built in 1922 at Brest, France. Amusements .. Comics .. Features