Evening Star Newspaper, July 19, 1935, Page 4

e I 1) HOPKING 15 IRKED AGAIN BY CRITIGS Boondoggling Vital, to Go| Right On, He Tells Inquirers. By the Associated Press. The press conference where he made his famous statement that critics of “boondoggling” are “too damn dumb to appreciate the finer things of life,” was almost duplicated yesterday by Harry L. Hopkins, works progress ad- ministrater. Then, expressing his contempt for those who criticized such New York City white collar relief activities as a | historical study of safety pins, he promised there would be more under the New York relief program. His temper again was worn thin by | questions about the usefulness of $20.- | 642,700 of white collar projects just | approved for New York City. | “What about $130,200 for a map showing the rocks under the soil in | New York City?” he was asked. “That's a very important study,” came the reply. Impatient at Other Questions. Hopkins grew impatient as report- ers asked about what good it would | do to spend $2,100 to study circum- | stances back of art gifts to the cit or $6,300 “to make impartial investi- gation of the surrounding homework | — :;t‘h;:win:::sl&s;:l" flower, feather and | p,¢ pis relations with Silveiman Then, asked uow these studies, | ::‘;r:«“:’ for :;‘:r: mHen?;d‘:t; ;:;‘ surveys, censuses and research activi- | ;o T 0" 0 them since. Asked ties carred out the criginal (-\:g:cem to explain this work, he sald he spent P A $4.000000.000 o | considerable time at the War De- | h:iexfi‘;ltin?dp;:hfft o O onerdi- | PAFtment in an effort to arrange con- | rector of the prcgram flared up. }t"m for' Sllvetionn. | THOMAS J. RYAN. Sensational statements made to- day by Ryan, attorney for Stlver- man, before the House Military Af- fairs Committee, prompted Chair= ~Of course, thev are not self-liqui- dating,” he said. “But they are use- ful in terms of getting someoody & job, a job he is fitied to do. Lots of Construction. “We're going to nave lots of con- | struction projecis, l.robably an $8,- | I 000,000 park d:velopment ,in New | “and everything would seem to be all On Again, Off Again. Ryan said “practically everybody” | in the judge advocate general's office took part at various times in the con- | ferences which had to do with Silver- man's contracts. “We would &1l get together.” he said, | G STAR, WASHINGTON, BAR POSTPONES - NEW DEAL VIEW “Hands-off™ Polioy Adopted on Report Dealing With Rights ‘and Liberties. By the Associated Press. LOS ANGELES, July 19.—A “hands- off” policy regarding President Roose- velt's New Deal was adopted by the American Bar Association as it neared the conclusion of its fifty-elghth an- nual convention here today. A decision to defer until November, at least, any expression on the New Deal was reached yesterday when the association approved without comment the action of its Executive Committee suggesting the postponement of final consideration of the report by a spe- cial committee named to determine the “effects of the New Deal on the rights and -liberties of the American citizens.” The Executive Commitiee of 15, which apparently stood 14 to 1 favor- ing approval of the report, is com- posed of the association’s president, secretary, treasurer and 12 other com- mitteemen. Nature of Report Secret. Neither the special committee nor JOSEPH SILVERMAN, JR. man McSwain to declare that, if the testimony were true, there was a “conspiracy to obstruct Jjustice” in the Army lobbying ine vestigation. —A. P. Photos. would disclose whether the report praised or criticized the New Deal. | Another subject which developed controversial elements—a report per- taining to the Hauptmann trial—also !puud through the general session Eilverman succeeded in getting former Assistant Secretary of War Frederick H Payne to revise a contract so as to permit Silverman to resell in this | Without alterations. country goods he had purchased from| A portion of the report, as origi- the Army. | nally presented by the Committee on Calling attention to the furore | Co-operation Between the Press and made by disclosure before another |the Bar, criticized attorneys for the committee that the power lobby had | defense and the prosecution, stating spent $300,000, McSwain asserted’ | they “took advantage of the situation “Here we have you, & single firm, | and by persanal interviews with the spending nearly $500,000 around | press and by talks over the radio Washington.” | seemed wholly to disregard all of the Siiverman explained that his per- | accepted rules of dignity and ethics conal expenses were very heavy. He | with which the profession and the seid his household expenses run |courts have sought to surround the | around $30.000 a year and hp ex- | trial of a man for his life.” the Executive Committee members | York City, hundreds of playsround | right, and the next morning I would‘mm;ed $25,000 last year for his improvements and swimming pools | find that everything was all off. That | gaughter's wedding. over the country. sort of thing went on for days. Finally He has a home |in a fashionable residential section “But you must remcmber that only | T wrote to Col. Payne and complained | nere and a Summer place at Bradley 30 per cent of the unemployed are construction workers “It is a waste ¢{ morey and ume to at the treatment given Silverman.” | "McSwain wanted to know why | there was need for hurried confer- | Beach, N. J | Silverman punctuated his testimony with such forceful language that Mc- get these others to duing things they | ences to change Silverman's contract | Swain at one time warned him to tone are not fitted ror. won't be a project that is not sub- mitted by a iocal public offic.al as sponsor “We've got to have all kinds of projects if the work program is to give a break to those that need it wost.” Silverman (Continued From Pirst Page.) General, who was also attorney for Silverman. The latter is a widely known dealer in surplus Army sup- plies and was barred from further contract negotiations with the War Department just before the grand jury convened. Speicher exentually was located by | the Federal Bureau of Investigation in New York City and was brought back as a voluntary witness before the House Committee several months ago. His testimony in executive session was turned over to the War Department and resulted in the court martialing recently of Col. Alexander E. Williams, former assistant quartermaster gen- eral of the Army. Willlams was con- victed of receiving a $2,500 loan from Speicher. Ryan declared that Speicher and Col. Willlams had a conference in a New York hotel before the court- martial proceedings. Speicher was chief witness at the trial. Silverman also testified before the court of gen- erals. Col. Williams faces dismissal from the Army. Money Thought for Information. McSwain expressed surprise that Ryan, a lawyer, should have talked with Speicher over the phone and given money to his lawyer when he knew that the Department of Justice was looking for him. Ryan said he was under the impression that the money was going to Speicher to pay for information which Silverman or Palmer was turning over to the House committee. He said he understood the information was going to Edward E. Goss, then a Republican member of the committee from Connecticut. Ryan also gave a detalled account of conferences at the War Depart- ment on March 3, 1932, in which Silverman obtained from former As- sistant Secretary of War Frederick H. Payne a signed modification of a surplus goods contract, permitting Silverman to resell Army materials in this country. Interrogated about the money trans- actions with Schneuer, Ryan said he handed one envelope to him on an afternoon in July of 1934. “He called six or seven other times and got envelopes containing money that Silverman had turned over to me,” Ryan said. Blue Envelopes Shown. McSwain displayed a handful of blue telegraph envelopes and asked Ryan if they looked like the ones which contained the money. The Witness sald they looked similar. “How much did those envelopes con- tain?” McSwain asked. “Oh, about & hundred dollars apiece, I guess. I never looked into them, but Schneuer opened one and I be- lieve it had about that amount in it. I should judge he got $600 or $700 in all—maybe more than that—I don't know.” “You understood this money was to go to Speicher?” the chairman asked. “I was just acting as sort of a clerk or agent for Silverman and Palmer,” Ryan declared. “I knew Schneuer was in touch with Speicher, but I couldn’t swear that Speicher got it. I was told the money was being paid for infor- mation which Speicher was sending indirectly to your committee.” Didn’t Know His Whereabouts. McSwain pointed out that the com- mittee at the time was asking J. Ed- gar Hoover, director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, to use every possible resource at his command in & hunt for Speicher and that “it was in all the newspapers.” “I didn’t know where Speicher was,” Ryan said. “When Speicher called me several times he told me about being in trouble and being hunted, and I always told him to give him- self up.” % » »“Why didn’t you communicate at once to the Department of Justice or this committes that you were in tele- phone touch -with Speicher?” Me- wain “As an attorney, | administration.” The committee adjourned until next Wednesday, when it. plans to call other witnesses in connection with the revelations made by Ryan today | and by Joseph Silverman yesterday. Nathan Silverman, brother of Joseph, probably will be called. Ryan First on Stand. Ryan was the first witness today. In response to questions he said he was attorney for Silverman in 1932 | and had represented him recently in some matters. Bros,, Inc., consisted of “Samuel, Jo- seph, Nathan and -a couple of Silver- | man wives.” He explained there are | several corporations. “Did you talk with anybody at tne War Department about Silverman's surplus property contracts?” Mec- Swain asked. | “Yes,” he replied, “many times." Pressed, he said he had talked fre- quently with former War Secretary Hurley, former Assistant War Secre- tary Payne, Gen. MacArthur, Col. McMullen and other officers. Mac- Arthur, he explained, said he was a soldier and did not have anything to do with surplus property. Contract Underbought, He Says. McSwain drew from the witness the statement that Payne signed a paper that he could sell Army products in the United States. This climaxed a long series of conferences at the War Department and at the Mayflower Hotel between Army officers, Sflver- man and Ryan. The paper was signed on the evening of July 3, 1932, he said. Ryan said he had argued with Gen De Witi, the quartermaster general of the Army, over what he described as De Witt's prejudice against Jews in general and Silverman in particular. The questioning turned to Speicher and his disappearance at the time of the ggand jury inquiry. “Do you know Speicher? McSwain asked. “Only slightly,” the lawyer said. “I might have seen him. He thinks he knows me very well. He's the kind who would call me Tom. He called me on the phone several times.” Was Sought Then. “And that was during the time the Department of Justice was looking ail over the country for Speicher, to bring him before the grand jury? While he was a fugitive from justice?” Ryan said he didn't know Speicher was a fugitive from justice. “Speicher merely called me on the phone and said somebody was looking for him and he mentioned something about a general or a colonel,” Ryan explained. “Was it Gen. Williams?” McSwain asked. “That's the one,” the witness con- He sald the firm of J. Silverman & | underbuying Silverman’s contract so | Aud anyway, there | “on the day before a change in the | i down. Ryan said he had | been urging haste long before mlt.; Made Hazy by Whisky, He Says. was not significant or improper. He | remarked that “good whisky” had made him & bit hazy about events on | the night before the change in ad- ministration, when the contract was amended. “You were not too hazy to get the modification before the Assistant Sec- retary of War went out,” McSwaln suggested. | “That's a dirty insinuation,” Stlver- | man shot back. Silverman was barred from further | dealings at the War Department coin- cident with the launching more than a year ago of a special grand jury investigaticn of contract lobbying at the department. The grand jury re- ceived information from Assistant Secretary of War Harry H. Woodring, Gen. Douglas MacArthur, chief of staff, and other high military officials, in addition to questioning American Legion representatives, lobbyists, sales- | men and others. Silverman did not | testify. The grand jury refused to issue in- dictments, but sent to the White House | & report condemning lobbying condi- tions at the War Department. The evidence received by the grand jury was turned over to Chairman Mc- Swain’s committee, which conducted lengthy hearings. | Following further investigation by | the committee and the Department of | Justice, two Army officers were cited for trial. Col. Alexander -E. Williams, former assistant quartermaster gen- eral of the Army, was convicted by court martial recently of accepting & $2,500 loan from a contractor and sen- tenced to be dismissed from the serv- fce. Col. Joseph 1. McMullen, chief of the patents section of the judge advocate general's office, was Indicted by the grand jury several weeks ago for accepting fees from firms doing busi- ness with the Army. ASSOCIATION PROTESTS A protest will be sent the District Commissioners by Dr. C. Herbert Marshall, president of the Rock Creek Citizens’ Association, because the asso- ciation was not officially invited to participate in the “dedicatory” ex- ercises of the new P street bridge planned Monday. The action was directed yesterday by the Executive Committee of the colored association. The action was taken after the offices of the surveyor, the superin- tendent of highways, and the Engineer Commissioner had disclalmed respon- sibility for arrangement of the ex- ercises, which, it was said, are to be held under auspices of the Dupont Circle and Georgetewn Citizsens’ Asso- ciations, ceded. The chairman identified Gen. Wil- liams as the officer recently convicted by court-martial of accepting a $2,500 loan from Speicher. “I had three or four phone calls from Speicher,” Ryan continued, mop- ping his face. “I told him he better give himself up. I told him I wasn’t interested in his troubles.” cn::lfi:ghnhndemhmdedm an attorney for Speicher, Ey:n said he handed several envelope;’ to “a w“t::k attorney named Schneur.” rage of questions fired Chairman McSwain. ol The surplus goods ~trader vague as to stock ownership in the several companiés with which he and other members of his family are as- McSwain. told Silverman the com- mittee had learned he spent half « million dollars in Wi Silverman protested that the change | | Payne made in a clothing contract | | | | | | | ! David T. Wilentz, attorney general of New Jersey, termed the criticism “unjust, unwarranted and without basis of truth or fact.” . Report Action Held Up. ‘The report, however, was neither approved nor rejected by the confer- ence of delegates. It was believed a modified report eliminating reference to the “presecutor” would be made. Association leaders said they ex- pected no serious opposition to the re- election of Wililam L. Ransom, New York, as president; the re-election of John H. Voorhees, Sioux Falls, 8. Dak., as treasurer, and William P. MacCracken, Washington, D. C, as secretary. James M. Beck of Pennsylvania was regarded as ark horse” presidential candidate. Boston was believed o have the in- | side lane in the contest for the 1936 convention. Invitations also have been tendered by St. Louis, Colum- bus, New Orleans and Kansas City. Report Hizh Lights. High lights of some of the scores of committee sud section 1eports follow: Emergency !n“—-"l'm need for emergency legislation arparenty was not so acutely feil in legislative bodies this year as in urecec ng years. This may be an indication that Legisla- tures believe th> grestest needs of the depression havc been met and that their task is moire the adapta- tion of the ideas which already have taken statutory form than new in- ventions or the takiug of measures to provide for immediately threatening situations.” Criminal law—"“The most vital thing in law enforcemen: « personnel and not machinery.”—Johnu B. Waite, Ann Arbor, Mich. Claim Compromises Urged. Federal taxation -- “In situations where the Government is the only claimant of consequence, and where the benefit of reducticn would travel directly to the taxpayer and his com- munity, the Treaswy Department should have authority to compromise tax claims and should express that authority in proper cases."—George M. Morris, Wasningtun, D. C. Unemployment irsurance -~ “The committee is ooosed to the enactment of any comnulsory irsurance laws, whether State ot Federal.”—Charles Denby. jr., Philadelphis. Administrative 1aw—“A brake must be put on this contagious fever for placing business under a license sys- HOT SENATE FIGHT AWATS G0LD L Measure, Passed by Houui Is Threatened Even in Committee. By the Asspeiated Press. the House has passed the Roosevelt bill to close the door to suits against the Government result- ing from dollar devaluation, a fight awaits it /v the Senate. Some Senstors on the Banking Committee predicted today the com- mittee would report adversely on the measure. If that should be the case, it would be the frst adverse report from a Senate committee on any of Presi- dent Roosevelt s major legisiative pro- posals. Administration leaders still were hopeful, however, of a favorable | report, in view ot the swift House ap- proval of the measure yesterday by & vote of 258 to 88 | Predictions that the committee would oppose the measure were based on criticism of it in the recent hear- ings, led by Senators Glass, Democrat, | of Virginia anc McAdoo, Democrat, of | California, former Treasury Secre- taries. Senate Reaction Unfaverable. Regardless of the committee’s &c- tion, the Senate reaction to the pro- posal to block suits for recovery of processing taxes forebodes trouble for the gold clause legislation. Opposition tc closing the courts to| aggrieved citizens sprang from both| | sides in yesterday's debate and forced | | consideration of a compromise under | | which those showing they had been damaged could obtain trial. A similar modification of the goid | clause resolution is pending in the | Senate Banking Committee, backed by Senator Gore, Democrat, of Okla- homa. Such a clause would virtually destroy the effect of the resolution, for | the Supreme Court already has indi- | cated that is the only kind of case | that would have standing. | The legisiation is frankly designed | | to prevent suits even if damage could | be shown. Former Secretaries Score It. McAdoo and Glass have denounced the proposal as “repudiation™and pre- dicted it would have dire consequences |on Government credit. Secretary | Morgenthau argued it would help i of the suits. | the bill back t> committee was beaten, 250 to 92. The motion, made by Rep- resentative Hollister, Republican, of ernment’s refusal to be sued apply only to gold cases. As it stands, the resolution applies to suits involving any Government securitles, coins or currencies. More than $10,000,000,000 in gold- clause securities are outstanding. It requires $1.69 In dollars of the present gold content to equal the gold weight of the old dollar. PEEPER KILLER PAROLED pointed Guardian. LOS ANGELES, July 19 (#).—Kath- elyn Parks, 17, dancer, who shot and killed Glenn Drewyor, 15, from the bath room window of her home in the | belief that he was a “peeper,” was | made a ward of the Juvenile Court yes- | terday and paroled to custody of her mother, Mrs. Lou Parks of Hunting- ton Park. She was ordered to return to court August 1 to receive terms of her pro- bation, which will be effective until | she is 21. —— CARNIVAL TO OPEN i H. 8. Bishop to Throw Switch Monday Night. The carnival of the Holy Comforter Church, Southeast, will be opened Monday night, when Capt. H. S. Bishop, Assistant Engineer Commis- sioner of the District, throws the switch, The festival, to be held on the campus of the church school at Fif- teenth and East Capitol streets, will last until August 3. Profits will be Capt. tem, such as wes artempted ‘n the N.LR. A and the A, A, A" G. Caldwell, Washingtor.. D. C. Communications—"Tn the field of radio, no sweeping changes of method or allocation are now indicated. The most important question for immedi- ate consideration is whether the stat- utory, provisions of ‘public iuterest convenience or necessity’ is 0 be interpreted to authorise direct or in- direct governmentsal interference with program content. This question may become increasinglv important as the time for presidentisl election draws ln;u—.'bdohn ‘W. Guider. Washington, . C. Melcher’s Play F aces Test “44 Below,” by The Star’s Dramatic Critic to be Presented Next Week. LEAP over the footlights from dramatic critic’s seat to play- 's D. C., ‘FRIDAY, JULY 19, 1935. Business Men at Play ROOSEVELT GVES PEDGETOD.AV. Disabled Veterans Should Be Adequately Compen- sated, He Says. By the Associated Press. NEW HAVEN, Conn, Juiy 19.— Disabled American veterans, described by President Roosevelt as “living examples of the sacrifices made by our citizens during the World War,” were assured last night in & message from the Chief Executive that “there never can be any question but that the war disabled should be adequately compensated.” The President’s letter, addressed to National Comdr. Volney P. Mooney of Los Angeles, Calif, was read at memorial services held in connection with the nationsl Convention of the Disabled American Veterans of the World War. The President termed the D. A. V. an organization “well qualified to speak of the needs among our Na- tion's war disabled since you can measure those needs through the ex- perience of your own membership.” “I know In this connection.” he wrote, “that you have sincerely co- operated with the Government in meeting its recognized obligations and appreciation for the services rendered by your soldiers and sailors during the World War.” The delegates were warned by | Thomas Kirby, national legislative | chairman of the D. A. V., that “there is ample evidence in Washington for the conclusion that when the present | unparalleled spending is over there will arise sufficient public opinion to demand reductions in governmental Federal credit by removing the threat | Before the overwhelming House ap- | | proval, & Republican effort to send | Ohio, was designed to make the Gov- | 17-Year-Old Dancer's Mother Ap- | The Federation of Business Men's Associations held its outing yester- day at the home of Martin Hysong, Broadwater Beach, Md. Participating in the base ball game (below), left to right: Clarence Donohoe, umplire; Kitty Coleman and Martin Hysong. Above, Marion F. Cord winning the bottle and nipple contest. —Star Staff Photos. INSURANCE ESTATE BIG GAS VICTIM DIES Percy Rockefeller Leaves $3,124,- Woman Was Found in Kitchen, 773 to Beneficiaries. | Stove Jets Open. | CHICAGO, July 19 (#).—The larg- Found unconscious Wednesday in | est life insurance estate of 1934¢— | the gas-filled kitchen of her apart- | $3,124,773—was left by the late Percy ment, Miss Rosie M. Brosnahan, 30, A. Rockefeller of New York. the Na- | of 603 New Jersey avenue died last | tional Underwriter reported yesterday. night in Gallinger Hospital. | The New Yorker, a nephew of John| The odor of escaping gas attracted D. Rockefeller, died last September 24. | neighbors to the apartment, where, The insurance concerns of the United | after forcing open the door, the body States and Canada paid out a total of | was found near a kitchen stove, the $3,101,525,930 to policy holders and | burners open. beneficiaries last year, the weekly | magazine’s annual summary disclosed. | Three other Americans left policies of more than $1,000,000. They were | Flying Club on Tour. 8ix members of the Bombay Flying Scrap Metal Co. executive, whose | the late Arthur Joseph, Cincinnati| Club of India are air-touring Europe. | outlay.” {BALLOTS TO BE COUNTED | Results of Firemen's Relief Elec- tion to Be Announced. Ballots recently cast for officers of the Piremen’s Relief Association of the District will be counted tonight and results announced. The candidates for the various offices are as follows: For president, Battalion Chief J. B. Simms, the incumbent, and Pvt. A. J. Woodhouse; for vice president, Bat- talion Chief L. L. Willard, the incum- bent, and Pvt. C. E. McGhee; for | treasurer, F. J. Nesline, and secretary. Capt. C. L. Satterfield, the incumbent, and Pvt. P. W. Stafford. RABS mow past the sluffing —are stage. running large and heavs. Ellis crabs are carefuily Se- wected. properly soned. and conked on premises upder per- " 8. Ci Crabs, Males, doz., $1 Live Crabs, dos., k2 50c and 75¢ Lobsters, Shrimp, Crab Flal All Sea Foods in Season _ FISHING BAIT Peelers, Shrimp, Bloodworms Open Until Midnight G.C.ELLISCC. No. 7 Municipal Fish Market 16 AL AR | | = estate was second largest, $1,500,000 | H. K. Noyes, West Newton, ‘Mass. || 1$1,046,310, and the late Melvin A. || il | Traylor, Chicago banker and & "fn«‘;‘ | vorite son” candidate for the Demo- | cratic nomination for President in 1932, who left $1,002,500 in life in- surance. | Other well-known public figures and || the amounts paid on their deaths || were: James Rolph, former Governor |||/ of California, $922,000; Russ Columbo, | || Hollywood, radio singer, $49,000; George Lytton, Chicago merchant, |||/ $905,000; Darwin P. Kingsley, former president New York Life Insurance Co., $90,130; Prederick A. Geler, Cin- | || cinnati, $965,123. SEVENT George McManus’ Mother Dies. HOLLYWOOD, July 19 (#).—Mrs. July Cl used for enlarement of the school. Sméll enough or big enough— to fit the you are trying to work out Come in * Morris Plan Bank Under Supervision U. S. Treasury THE BANK FOR THE INDIVIDUAL 1408 H Street Northwest £ $11.95 Linen Suits $2.50 Cotton Spol 325 situation 39¢ Shorts, 29¢; 4 EISEMAN’S OPEN SATURDAY UNTIL 6 P.M. SALE $19.75 Tropical Worsteds . . $16.50 $8.50 All-Wool Sport Trousers, $6.95 |ALL-WOOL SUITS| 515 $1.95 Straw Hats..........o......... $1.50 Shirts, reduced to - 39c Wash Ties, 25¢; 5 for............$]1.00 35c¢ Fancy Rayon Hose, 29¢; 4 for..8].00 OPEN A CHARGE ACCOUNT H AND F carance rt Slacks . . $1.95 30 for........