Evening Star Newspaper, March 21, 1935, Page 1

The only evening paper in Washington wi'.g the Associated Press News and Wirephoto Services. U 8 Westher Wureau Poreeast V Pair, lowest temperature about 52 de- grees tonight; tomorrow fair and slightly colder; Saturday showers Temperatures—Highest. 69, today; lowest, 51, at 2:15 am Full report on page A-11. at noon today WE 00 ouR st Closing N. Y. Markets, Pages 17,18&19 Entered as second class matter post office, Washington. D. C. WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION ¢ Foening Star @b WASHINGTON, D. C, THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 1935—FIFTY-SIX PAGES. Yesterday’s Circulation, 131,277 wokkn TWO CENTS. FRANCE DEMANDS TRIAL | ROOSEVELT FIRM 7 INDICTED HERE OF GERMANY BY LEAGUE; "\ - ON'BONUS ISSUE ON FRAUD CHARGE BERLIN SCORNS PROTEST AS VOTE NEARS IN PWA. PROJECT * : COll' deration} = iBulkley Gives White House \ SN Attitude Concerning ' No. 33,196. (P) Means Associated Press. Three Millionaires Among | Group Accused—Two For- mer Workers on List. ] |Pope Prepares To State Stand On Reich Arms Cardinals Allocution on April 1. VATICAN CITY, March 21 (#).— Prelates said today that Pope Pius is| preparing an allocution on the world | situation as & result of Germany's | arms decision, which will be read to| Seeks Specia Session of Council. ITALIAN NOTE ALSO OFFERED Flandin Accorde Confidence of of 2 Notes N p . ompromise. Refused. NEURATH CURT | IN HIS REPLIES; 'MAJORITY PREDICTED FOR CASH PAYMENT to Hear {CANAL SPECIFICATIONS REVISION IS CHARGED | Change Sought $400.000 Profit for Those Named, Grand Jury Is Told. Senator Says He Sees No Indica- tion President Will Back Legislation. Signers of Treaty Fail to Disarm, Senate. the cardinals in a secret consistory | April 1. The Pontiff also is writing an en- | eyclical letter to be published at the (Copyright, 1955, by the Associated Press) | PARIS. March 21.—France today | conclusion of the Holy year, in which | he again will plead for peace and dis- armament. The preparation of the He Says. (Copyright. 1 BERLIN, March 21.—Determined to accused Germany of violating treaty |allocution and the encyclical. a prelate | override all opposition in its march obligations in a note which the Reich refused to consider and, at the same time, asked the League of Nations to | put Germany on trial. | The French government requested “an extradorinary session of the League Council for the examination.” The note to Germany said the Ger- | man action “was clearly contrary” to| treaties and agreements and raised “the most formal protest.” Two Notes Rejected. | The French communication was| similar to one of the Italians de-| posited in the Wilhelmstrasse, but the Berlin foreign office announced offi- | cially that neither note would be con- | sidered. | ‘Whereupon the French government | disregarded an arrangement with Ber- lin and published the note which cov- ered three typewritten pages. It warned Germany that the decision to re-establish its army was “clearly contrary to the contractural engage- ments written in the treaties that| Germany signed” and declared it | France's “duty to raise the most formal | protest against these measures with regard to which it now had formulated every reservation.” | Document “Accepted.” Ambassador Francois-Poncet let* the note at the German foreign office, which “accepted” the document but told the Amoassador that the note disregarded the real situation und that therefore rould not be taken into consideration. | ually takes advantages of world occa- sions to make a pronouncement. has | said, explains why the Pope, Who us-| toward full rearmament, the German | government today flatly declined to| by the Associated Press.) | not made known his thoughts on the | consider French and Italian pm!esls: present situation. FRANGE REPORTED NOVING IS ARIY Concentration of Forces in Rhine Direction Is Rumored. | dealing with military restrictions, are ! BY CONSTANTINE BROWN. | The White House and the State De- partment continue to follow with the | keenest interest the tense situation in Europe, which is nearing a breaking | point Long confidential dispatches are re- ceived hourly by the State Depart- men® from London, Paris, Rome,! Berlin and Vienna and are being for- warded as soon as they arrive to the White House. As in July, 1914, hurried eleventh- the Versaille treaty military clauses. After paying separate visits to the German foreign office to deliver the communications of their government, the French and Italian ambasadors, to their great astonishment, were in- formed in effect by Baron Konstantin von Neurath. the foreign minister. that Reichsfuehrer Hitler would pay no attention to them. Further Warning Is Seen. | | This action was interpreted in offi- | cial circles as a further warning that Germany already feels so strongl confident of her military power thl": paper protests of her violation of part 5 of the treaty of Versaille, the section useless. Intimates of both ambassadors. Andre Francois-Poncet of France and Vittorio Cerrutti of Italy, said the envoys left Wilhelmstrasse feeling they had carried “another piece of paper to the waste basket.” Both missaries immediately sent long reports home to their govern- ments. An official communique issued after | the departure of the Italian Ambas- sador sald Von Neurath had informed Cerrutti that “the basis of the Italian note cannot be acknowledged, as the This was taken by French officials | hour consultations are taking PIACe| disarmament promises of the other ih Berlin to mean that neither the|betwecn the leaders of the various yersailles signatories have not been French uor the Italian notes would | be answered further than by acknowl- edgments of their receipt. European powers in an effort to avert | what easily may become a calamity. Germany, according to reliable re- fulfilled.” The foreign minister's quick. curt answer apparently had been decided The German actions, said the note, ports, is ready to defend the Reich.|ynon by Reich officials as soon as “are equally contrary to the deciara- | German aviation is concentrated at! reports reached Berlin that the two tion of December 19, 1932, whereby strategic points and the army is pre- | powers intended to communicate their the Reich government voluntarily recognized that a general statute of | armaments carrying equality of right | for Germany with all nations hould | not be made withou' the establishment | of a security regime for all.” ! France nsisted that the aegotia- tions between herself and cngland were compietely “free and fully com- patible with respect of treaty right for the establishment of contractual | means of a new arms statute for Ger- | many in a general settlement of the problem of security and of armament and that the government of the Reich had appeared o justify confidence in | accepting such procedure.” { Law Publication Hit. “The publication of the German law | March 16, said the note, “intervening brusquely shortly before the date fixed | for the first exchange of views be- tween the government of the Reich | and one of two signatory governments | of the London communique of Febru- | ary 3, constitutes new manifestations of the methods the government of the Reich intends to oppose to the offers of conciliation which had been made | to it. “A double conclusion thus must be drawn by the government of the (French) republic on one side and in a general fashion the governmeat of the Reich deliberately distrusts the essential principle of the right of a people that no power can denounce the engagement of a treaty or modify its stipulations except with the agree- ment of the contracting parties and by means of a frieadly agreement; on the other side, and in particular after } having itsclf marked its desire to see cleared up between the interest powers the immediate effect of U negotiation to which it was invirec the government of the Reich has de- liberately taken the most effective measures to compromise the fate ot this negotiation in taking for itself | in advance and unilaterally through a fait accompli of one of its essential | objects. “The government of the republic has the duty to make the most formas protestation against these measures with regard to which it now makes ail reservations. Uneasiness Laid to Reich. “Conscious of the efforts of con- ciliation which it has not ceased to follow, in 31l loyalty and with the most constant care for German dignity to associate Lhe Reich fully with the or- ganization ¢f European security, it can only lead 0 the account of <erman government responsikility for tae state of uneasiness thus created m the world and the ~onsequences which can result from it—that is to say—those obligations which from this fact may be impossd on the governments of the different interested countries. “Determined, so far as it ‘s con- cerned, ‘o seek all means of irterna- tional co-operation designed to dissi- pate this uneasiness and to safcguard (Continued on Page 4, Column 1)) HATMAKERS STRIKE 1,200 Millinery Makers Demand 20 Per Cent Pay Raise. LOS ANGELES, March 21 (®.—A strike in the millinery industry, which employs approximately 1,200 persons, was voted last night for this morning, it was announced by Max Zaritsky, president of the In- ternational Millinery Workers' Union. The union demands hearings for discharged employes and a 20 per cent pay increase, a demand they are willing to arbitrate. The union president charged that 60 per cent 9 of $8 a wee G 4L s average the women in the industry enrnl 1. No peaceful evolution is possil #4 in Germany. pared for any emergency. | French Concentrate Army. | The French Army is being put on a war basis as quickly as possible. Confidential reports reached Washing- ton today indicating a concentra- | tion of forces in the direction of the | Rhineland. | France is determined to act legally. | She has asked that the Council of | the League of Nations be called on the basis of Article 11 of the League's covenant dealing with the “threat of war,” and it is believed in well-in- | formed quarters that if Germany re- fuses to appear at the bar of the Geneva tribunal France will be ready | to adopt “coercive measures.” There is little doubt that the Coun- cil of the League which is in full sympathy with France's point of view will render a decision giving the for- mer allies a free hand. Italy., which has had a partial mob- ilization since the beginning of her troubles with Abyssinia, has impor- tant forces at the Austrian and Yugo- slav borders. In well informed quar- | ters, it is believed, however, that the | concentration of these forces is mostly “diplomatic.” Mussolini is of two minds regarding eventual action against Germany. It is true that the | blunt refusal of the German govern- | ment to consider the Italian note | protesting against the Reich's re- armament has caused a bad impres- sion in Italy. But it is a matter of doubt as to whether Mussolini's sen- | sitiveness is deep enough to involve | Italy in a new European canfllct.‘f when France intends to bring mat- | ters to a showqown. Soviets Eager for Action. i The Soviet government appears | more decided on action against Ger- many than any other European gov- | ernment. Russia is boasting today of | an .incomparably better army and air force than it had in its history. | For reasons of internal policy and because the Soviets don't believe in protracted situations which might put France and Russia at a disadvantage, the Moscow government is in favor of immediate action. It has less to lose from another (Continued on Page 4, Column 6) Colored Organizer Missing. MARKED TREE, Ark., March 21 (®).—A colored organizer of the | Southern Tenant Farmers' Union was | reported “missing” today by C. T.‘ Carpenter, union attorney, who said the colored man's house was fired | upon last night by a mob. 1 protests. “Actual Situation” Ignored. When Baron von Neurath received the French Ambassador’s document he frigidly remarked: “The arguments adduced in the French note do not take the actual situation into account, wherefore the German government must decline to entertain the protest.” AUSTRIA TIGHTENS LAW. Fases Means of Requisitioning Re- sources in Peace. (Copyright. 1935. by the Associated Press.) VIENNA, March 21.—Austria took another step toward military prepar- edness - toaay by tightening and strengthening laws governing the commandeering of private vehicles and civilian skill for military pur- poses in peacetime. The text of the revised laws pub- | lished in the official gazette provides for what amounts to universal com- mandeering of male skilled workers | |in so far as their services may be needed to further transport of men and materials for army purposes. The new commanders to requisition automo- biles, airplanes, motor cycles, horse- drawn vehicles and steamboats, as well as the services of civilians who may be operating or servicing them. Rehearsals for the peacetime com- mandeering may be carried .out on a limited scale tomorrow. when the industrial district of Wiener Neu- | stadt, south of here, is the scene of air defense maneuvers. AZANA TO DEFEND SELF Spain's First Premier Charged With Exciting Portuguese Exiles. MADRID, March 21 (#).—Manuel Azana, Spain’s first premier, came back to Congress yesterday for the first time in several months to defend himself against charges that he was connected with Portuguese exiles in fomenting an insurrection in the neighboring country. The noted Leftist leader also had Beer? accused of facilitating the sale of arms and ammunition to the Portu- guese rebels, which later were used in Spain's Leftist revolt last October. That the vote would go against Azana was regarded as virtually cer- tain, inasmuch as the present Rightist government has an overwhelming majority in the Congress. |2 By the Associated Press. PARIS, March 21.—The publication Agence Economique, a leading French commercial .agency, published a sen- sational and unconfirmed account to- day of a purported memorandum sub- mitted to President Roosevelt in which an early economic collapse in Germany was forecast and the advisability of closing all American business houses in that country was discussed. (American officials in London char- acterized the alleged report as “just another unfounded war scare story.” It was officially denied that any Amer- ican had gone to Berlin from London to collaborate in such a memorandum as the Paris report said.) The main headings of the memor- andum were reported to be as follows: I April, to lack of raw r and e%- W Jflh. 'Roosevelt Reported Notified Reich Near Economic Chaos 2. The Nazi government wHl last several years. 3 3. The financial and economic col- lapse of Germany is in sight. 4. The supply of raw materials will become increasingly scarce. 5. Confiscation of industrial capital are too small for her present popula- tion. m?é War in Central Europe is & possi- y. “The financial situation of the Ger- man government is desperate,” the memorandum was quoted as saying. The beginnings of economic col- lapse were predicted in the m:;yhli: rials | against its unilateral abrogation of | | SPRING IS HERE! Nine TrabtvDi;tributors Jailed . In Alexandria for Soliciting i “Jehovah Witnesses” Group Planning Convention for 20,000 Here, Refuses to Pay Fines, Denying Guilt. filiated with the International Bible Students’ Association, said today that | the five men and four women are il- |legally held in direct violation of all (Pictures on Page B-1. | Nine Jehovah's Witnesses, members | of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract | Society, are in jail In Alexandria serv- b ing 15-day sentences for refusal to | constitutional rights—State and na- | pay fines of $5 and $3 costs imposed | tional. 2 oy vesterday by Judge James Reese Dun- Evidently,” Koerber said, “Alex- can for soliciting without a permit | 3Rdria is trying to uphold an old ! custom, an old Alexandria custom. while distributing religious tracts. On the court house, where the sen- A The four sisters and five brothers who re under arrest there were not tences were dealt out, is a bras: , plaque which reads: “Site of Colonial | Soliciting, were not collecting monies. | We do not collect money, or solicit. Jail, 1750-1752. Here Jeremiah Moore . | was imprisoned for preaching the The Watch Tower Bible and Tract | Society is 54 vears old and in all that | gospel ‘without a license."” Anton Koerber, Washington repre- [ time there has never been one in- | sentative of the soclety, which is (Continued on Page 9, Column 5.) - 2 = MARYLAND SALES RELIEF BILL BOOST TAXNEAR PASSAGE SEEN SURE TOFAL 000,000 for Relief and Lacking Senate Votes. Pensions. Leaders Irked. | was nearer today, with a 2 per cent | sales tax bill up for final passage in | By the Associated Press. laws authorize military | BULLETIN. the House of Delegates and provision | made by the Federal authorities to By a vote of 78 to 8, the Senate this afternoon defeated the La Fol- continue relief work in the State until | Saturday. lete amendment, which sought to The House acted promptly early to- | raise the total of the work-relief | day to provide the $5,000.000 for re- | lief and old age pensions which Harry | tor, notified Gov. Harry W. Nice would be acceptable to the F. E. R. A. The $5,000,000 program includes $1.500,- 000 for old age pensions. Shortly after the Legislature was notified of the definite program agree- able to Washington, the House Ways and Means Committee voted a favor- able report on the sales tax measure, which it is estimated will produce $6,500,000 annually. Of this amount $3,500,000 would go for direct relief, $1,500,000 for old-age pensions and the balance to service the outstanding $12,000,000 State bond issue for un- employment relief. . The favorable report of the com- | mittee was adopted by a 67-to-44 vote at 12:40 am. and the 17 amend- | ments had been incorporated and the bill passed on second reading and ordered printed for final passage 14 minutes later. An amendment de- signed to except Harford and Wi- comico Counties from the tax was defeated by a voice vote. Tax Effective One Year. As amended the tax would be for one year, from May 1 to April 30, 1936. A special session of the Legis- lature would be required next year if 1t is considered advisable to con- tinue the levy. Under the bill in its present form the following articles would be ex- empt from taxation: 1. Fertilizer, lime, dairy and poultry feed and seeds to be used by the purchaser for production of crops, dairy products, beef, poultry and eggs for sale. 2. Automobiles, which would be subjected to a 2 per cent. titling tax on the ‘value of the machine when application was made to the motor vehicle commissioner for a title. 3. Sales made by manufacturers, dealers for resale. 4. Sales of gasoline upon which & tax has been imposed by the State. 5. Farm produce when sold by the grower to the consumer. form when sold for consumption off the premises of the vender. 1. Newspapers. ‘While the House was locked in the sales tax debate the Senate Finance Committee met and returned a favor- able report on the messure.. The bly & tax on electricity, gas and telephone bills. The amended bill' would make the tax 5 per cent gengrally and 1 per cent on industrial power. Munici- palities and hospitals were exempted. The Sepate also has up for final m;l L3 ;flxl lev?:: & 325 cents per gallon on 3 Proceeds earmarked for relief, | L. Hopkins, Federal relief administra- | producers, ‘wholesalers or jobbers to i bill from $4.880,000.000 to $10.000.- 000.000. By the Associated Press. While Senator La Follette. Progres- sive. of Wisconsin. expounded his con- tention that vaster cxpenditures are needed for recovery, Democratic lead- ers were predicting today his amend- | ment to increase the $4,880,000.000 | work and relief bill to $9,880.000,000 would garner only about 10 votes in the senate. Irked by the success yesterday of two amendments which restrict some- what the wide powers of President Roosevelt to administer the huge fund, administration supporters were press- ; ing for quick passage of the bill with- | out further important changes: | mentioned by some commentators as & | possible presidential nominee if a third party movement should get un- der way for 1936—planned to resume | today his speech in which he declared | that the time when the United States | can “drift” out of depressions is past Chance View Held Falacy. | Pounding his desk as he said all previous funds voted for the jobless were “inadequate,” La Follette de- clared: “It is my opinion that there is no greater fallacy than the view that we have drifted out of depressions in | the past and will drift out of this | one. “Today the real inducement for pri- vate capital expenditure has disap- peared, largely due to disappearance of our frontiers. It is the reason why this so-called normal recovery that has been predicted has not taken place and never will.™ Once Senator Glass, Democrat, of Virginia, interjected a comment that Woodrow Wiison was opposed to financing emergency expenditures en- tirely by borrowing, “as we are doing now.” He recalled that Wilson urged that the war be financed by taxation. La Follette replied that taxes should be increased. | | Road Funds to Go by Ratio. | One amendment adopted yesterday requires all money for road construc- | tion to be apportioned in lump sums for expenditure by State highway de- partments. . Senator Hayden, Demo- crat, of Arizona, who offered it. said it would bar the use of the money for transcontinental superspeedways and other “dazzling schemes.” The other amendment gives juris- diction over routine construction out- lays to old-line agencies of Govern- ment. It previously had been re- jected by the Senate, after adminis- tration had said it would interfere with the President’s power to handle the funds. After sharp debate the Senate voted to set $40,000,000 of the big bill's funds aside to keep 42,000 schools open from April 1 to the end of the school year. “Indications are that a final vote will not be reached until Saturday.” Majority Leader of Arkan- s said & bit wearily, & Pe T (YT | | La Follette—who already is being | CRITICOF HEADLEY DESCRIBES CLASH Lieut. Desch Says Rating | Reduced After “Run-in” | With Inspector. BY JAMES CHINN. H Lieut. Emil Desch of the eleventh | police precinct charged before the Special Crime Committee of the House today that his efficiency rating had been muysteriously reduced after a clash with Inspector Albert J. Headley and as a result his oppor- tunity for promotion had been seri- ously jeopardized. Headley, who already has figured | }prommenuy in the investigation. was { characterized as “a strange man” who |is difficult to deal with on police | matters. Desch described his own “run in” | with Headley several weeks ago after which he said he discovered his effi- clency rating had been reduced from 84 to 63. Capt. Marks Questioned. The foundation for Desch’s story was laid through the questioning of | Capt. Sidney J. Marks of the eleventh precinct, who told the committee Headley had remarked to him that some officers in the department had | a “slim” chance of ever getting pro- | moted. | Desch explained he overheard Head- | ley make a remark to Capt. Marks| | that certain sergeants and lieutenants | were “not doing their work.” and he asked the inspector for an explana- | tion., “You are speaking out of turn,” he - said Headley replied. | Desch pointed out that, while he believed Headley intended only to | justify the statement he had made several times that No. 11 is a “third class precinct,” he discovered shortly afterward his efficiency rating had been reduced i Capt. Mark's testimony was com- | paratively brief and, after relating | | the Headley incident, he pictured the | difficulties encountered in attempt- | ing to police his large precinct with- out an adequate personnel. Cites Need of More Police. Capt. Marks apologized when he took the witness stand because of an | | impediment in his speech. He ex- | | plained he had just had all of his | ‘ueth extracted. Chairman Randolph told him to take his time. | The eleventh precinct, Marks said, | | covers an area of 17 square miles, policed by 54 officers. Eighteen addi- | | tional men are needed. he declared, | | to police the precinct properly | Sometimes, the captain said, there | ! are no more than two foot patrolmen | to patrol seven beats. Scout cars. he pointed out, cover a major portion of | the precinct. | Capt. Marks told the committee | there are no mounted traffic officers | | under his command. despite the need. | | due to heavy traffic over main arteries | | leading into Southern Maryland. He | (Continued on Page 3, Colnmn 1.) e | | Heart's Migration Completed. | TEMPLE. Tex., March 21 (#).—The heart of Waiter Baker, which a week | ago beat against his right chest wall. finished a 6-inch trip back to its normal position yesterday. The heart | was forced out of place by collapse | of the left lung, following pneumonia, | and he was treated with drainage | operations. | By the Associated Press. A proposal that the controversial bonus issue be disposed of through a compromise was made to President Roosevelt today by Senator Bulkley, Democrat, of Ohio. but the Chief Ex- ecutive was reported still firmly agamst immediate payment. “He didn't indicate any change in his atitude,” the Senator said after the conference. He went to the White House just as the House renewed debate on the legislation in an effort to begin voting as soon as possible on amendments to the $2,000,000,000 proposal. House leaders predicted a substan- tial majority for cash payment. The Patman bill would meet the expense by issuing new money. The Vinson bill leaves the method of pavment up to the Government. Initiates Compromise. Bulkley, an opponent of immediate cash payment. cai¢ he initiated the compromise discussion. “1 talked of the possibility of doing something to get the issue disposed of I have voted in the past against present cash payment and I am ready to stand by again on that point, but I do hope we can do something that will be measurably satisfactory to both sides.” Representative Reilly, Democrat. of Wisconsin said he would stand by his campaign pledge to give 100 per cent support to President Roosevelt's recov- ery program in face of threats that he would be “elected to stay home in 1936” if he failed to vote for either the Patman or Vinson bonus bill. “If T go into political retirement because of my vote in this hour and in this crisis in support of the only program for saving what is best in our economic and political system, I shall go there with the consciousness that I have done my duty. and I shall have the consolation of knowing that in my political exile from Washington I shall have the company of my self- respect.” Reilly said. Fears Credit Impairment. He added he would be pleased to vote for a bill providing for bonus pay- ments to unemployed veterans, bu expressed fear the Government’s credit would be impaired by adding another two billion dollars to the national debt A “compromise” proponent was Rep- resentative McReynolds, Democrat, of Tennessee, close friend of the adminis- tration, whose bill was drafted by the Veterans' Administration. A quorum call had filled the floor when McReynolds arose to discuss his plan, under which negotiable, interesi- | bearing bonds would be exchanged for the adjusted compensation certificates which veterans now hold. “My purpose in offering this bill,” | aid, “was to try in some way to| h & compromise by which we can do something for the soldiers. I be- lieve every man who has made an investigation knows that neither the Vinson nor the Patman bill can be- come & law this Congress. “I think a compromise can be reached. and I think one should be reached before interest on what they have borrowed eats up the balance of the bonus.” Plan Tlustrated. McReynolds explained that under his plan a veteran who held an ad- | justed compensation certificate with a 1945 value of $1,000 would get $750 in negotiable bonds and $18.24 in cash. By 1945, however, those in- terest-bearing bonds would have a value, he said, of $993. “So the veteran who didn't sell his bonds would get only $7 less than his certificate would bring.” he added. With the legislators meeting at 11 am. the hope was that the voting could start about 3 p.m. There were no indications, however, that the House would arrive at a choice be- tween the two major cash payment bills—the Patman and the Vinson- American Legion measures—before tomorrow at the ‘earliest. Bonds Compromise Asked. A plea for the Tydings-Andrews- Cochrane - McReynolds compromise plan to pay in negotiable bonds in- stead of cash was voiced yesterday by Representative Cochran, Democrat, of Missouri. He sald: y “The President will not sign the Patman bill or the Vinson bill, and there are not enough votes in the Sen- ate to pass them over his v o The Japanese cherry trees fringing | the Tidal Basin will be in full blossom in two weeks, if favorable weather continues. This was the official word given to- day as a first day of Spring greeting by National Capital Parks officials, after an inspection of the swelling buds on the cherry trees. Prospects are for a bumper crop, it was added, after David Saunders, horticulturist of made s careful the organization, scrutiny of the trees. C. Marshall Finnan, superintendent of the National Capital Parks, said present weather conditions indicate the single-flowering Japanese cherry trees will come into full bloom be- tween April 5 and 10. “An unusual cold spell during the interim, however, may delay the bloom- ing of these trees.” he explained. Officials said thgt if the prediction is “borne out by ther the trees will blessom 10 abead of last; t $pead 34 Tidal Basin Cherry Blooms Expected Within Two Weeks year. Easter is unusually iate this year and the outlook is that the single- blossom variety of trees already will have displayed blooms. The double- blossom species, found In East Potomac Park along the Speedway, probably will be out at Easter. The single blossoms have appeared in previous years anywhere from March 20 to April 20, contingent upon the weather. This year the officials anticipate that ihere will be an exceptionally good display inasmuch as the trees, under the New Deal work program. have received. special treatment in surgery and to minimizing the danger of plant diseases. Almost overnight when the weather is favorable trees shadowed in the Tidal Basin burst into full bloom, said the authorities. Here and there, how- ever, individual trees will begin to show the : pi beforehand, & « id white blossoms | Seven men. including four reputed millionaires and two former Federal | employes, were indicted by the special District grand jury today on charges of conspiring to defraud the Govern- ment in connection with the construc- tion of a $5.000,000 P. W. A, irriga- tion canal in Texas. ‘Those indicted are: | Charles R. Oldberg. former engineer | examiner in charge of irrigation work with the P. W. A. in Texas and the West William A. Harding of Raymond- ville, Tex.. director of the Board of Directors of Willacy County Water Control and Improvement District Harding. a graduate of the University of Minnesota, is said to be one of the wealthiest men in Southern Texas. Leonard C. Hammond. vice presi- dent of the Hammond Lumber Co. San Francisco, Calif. Harry W. Cole, president of the California Redwood Association and vice president of the Hammond & Little River Redwood Co.. Ltd James P. Barry of San Francisco. engineer with the Hammond & Little River Redwood Co. Contractor Is Accused. Prank P. McElwrath of Corsicana Tex., a contractor and banker of that city. Perry A. Welty, formerly engineer examiner with the P. W. A. State office at Fort Worth, Tex. The indictment, which sets forth 28 | overt acts by the defendants, was re- turned after months of investigation which led agents of the Interior De- ! partment into all sections of the coun- try. It is the first major graft charge made in connection with P. W. A. activities. Originally the irrigation plans called for a gravity canel. It is charged in substance that the defendants con- | spired to change these plans so that a pressure system calling for approxi- | mately 250 miles of redwood pipe would be installed. If these plans had been carried through. the indictment charges. the | defendants would have made a profit of approximately $400,000. Ickes Granted Fund, The Willacy County district origi- nally applied for a loan and grant for construction of an irrigation canal on what was known as the open or gravity canal system. Oldberg ap- proved these plans in Washington and Secretary of Interior Ickes made |an allotment of $4.853,000 for the | project. It was necessary that certain minor changes be made before the money could be ‘paid out and the plans were | sent back to Fort Worth, where they | were turned over to Welty. The Gov- | ernment charges that instead of mak- | ing these corrections. he sought to have the plans rejected entirely in favor of the pressure system. Shortly after recommending to his superiors that the pressure system be substituted. it is charged. Welty took & position as engineer with the Willacy County district. which had been of- fered him by Harding The indictment alleges that Welty. after leaving the Government service, combined with the other defendants and entered into a conspiracy to have only redwood pipe used in the 250- mile pressure system. M is charged that in an attempt to insure the use of the redwood piping Welty and Barry, the latter representing the California lumber company, wrote the new specifications with such terms that no other material could compete with the redwood. | Job Offer Is Charged. | After the specifications had been | written on these terms, it is charged. they were sent to Washington, where Oldberg was supposed to approve them. In this connection. it is al- | leged. he had been promised a $10,000- a-year job as engineer on the Texas project if he would give up his $6,000 job with the Government. | The allegedly fraudulent conspiracy | was uncovered. however. before the money_had been granted, and Secre- tary Ickes immediately Kkilled the project. The alleged conspiracy, | rests upon four grounds 1. An attempt to defraud the United | States of its right to have the na- tional industrial recovery act admin- istered in a fair and effective manner. 2. An attempt to defraud the Gov- ernment of its right to have contracts let by competitive bidding. { 3. An attempt to deprive the Gov- ernment of its right to contract freely |and fully in all matters concerning in brief, - | its property and money. 4. An attempt to deprive the Gov- ernment of the honest and faithful | services of Oldberg | Cole, Hammond, Barry and Harding |are said to be millionaires. United | States Attorney Leslie C. Garnett and | his assistant. John W. Fihelly, who handled the actual presentation of the | case to the grand jury, said all the defendants will be given a reasonable time to appear voluntarily and answer the irdictment. but that warrants will be issued for them if they remain out of the jurisdiction. The indictment was returned before | Justice Jesse C. Adkins. Guide for Readers l Page. After Dark... ..B-4 Amusements Comics . ... Features ... Finance Lost and Found. Radio ...... Serial Story Short Story Society .., Sports .-l’