Evening Star Newspaper, January 16, 1936, Page 1

WEA' 5 (U 8. Weather Bureau Forecast) Rain or snow tonight, probably ending tomorrow morning; slightly colder to- morrow; lowest temperature tonight about 32 degrees. Temperatures—High- est, 42. at 1 a.m. today; lowest, 35, at 8:30 a.m. today. Full report on page A-12. The only evening paper in Washington with the Associated Press News and Wirephoto Services. Closing N. Y. Markets, Pages 17, 18, 19 Entered as second class matter post office, Washington, D. C. No. 33,497. @h w BRUNOREPRIEVEDMONTH AS CONFESSION BY NEW FIGURE L3 Latest Move Is “Unknown” to Hoffman. UNDECIDED ON REPRIEVE STEP Conferences Held| by Governor Hint New Action. BACKGROUND— Bruno Richard Hauptmanrm, Bronz carpenter, was convicted last February of kidnaping and killing first son of Col. Charles A. Lind- bergh. In October New Jersey Court of Appeals upheld verdict. In Decem- ber United States Supreme Court declined to review case. On Jan- uary 11 New Jersey Court of Par dons refused clemency. On Jan- uary 12 it was revealed that two Washington attorneys had Dbeen added to defense staff. On January 14 United States Circuit Court re- fused to issue writ of habeas corpus. Ezecution of convicted man now is scheduled for tomorrow night. (Copyright 1936, the Associated Press.} TRENTON, N. J., January 16.—With an appeal to the United States Su- preme Court denied, a statement from a high source that there had been a “confession” in the Lindbergh murder case today gave Bruno Richard Haupt- mann his only hope to escape the elec- tric_chair tomorrow night. ‘The information concerning a con- fession that came from a source close to the leading figures in the case was: “There has been a confession, and it is by some one other than Bruno IS REPORTED BULLETIN By the Associated Press. TRENTON, N. J.,, January 16.—Gov. Harold G. Hoffman this afternoon granted Bruno Richard Hauptmann a reprieve of 30 days. Supreme Court Bans Petition To Halt Execution for Review The Supreme Court refused today| to file a petition for writ of habeas to save Bruno Richard Hauplmnnn] corpus is denied.” from the electric chair tomorrow | Tension in Room Eases. night. | The court room tension eased as Apparently the only hope of the newsmen flashed the word. A moment convicted kidnap-murderer of the|later argument was resumed in a Lindbergh Baby lies in a possible re- | routine case. Hauptmann's Washing- prieve by Gov. Harold G. Hoffman of | ton lawyers, who had filed the last- New Jersey. | minute appeal slightly more than two Hauptmann's petition for a writ of | hours before, were not in the court ¢ Foening ‘WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION habeas corpus and a stay of execution had been filed shortly after noon by his attorneys. The decision to deny it was agreed upon while the justices ate their lunch, from 2 to 2:30 p.m. ' Chief Justjce Hughes announced the verdict to a hushed audience as soon as the court convened, at 2:33 p.m.— three minutes late. Apparently the discussion had extended overtime. Execution Stay Denied, Too. effect, included the petition for a stay of execution. The delay had been re- quested in order to permit the court to review the petition. Only a moderate crowd was in the court room when the black-robed jus- tices filed in. An attorney arguing a case before the court started to arise to continue his speech, but was stopped by Hughes. The Chief Justice in a low voice said: “Just a moment.” Adjusting his glasses he leaned for- ward and in a clear loud voice said: “In the matter of Bruno Richard Hauptmann, the application for leave Court, observers said the action, in| | room, | Hughes paused slightly before say- ing the last word, “denied.” Asking the court for a writ of habeas corpus to review the legality of the trial and a stay of execution, Attorneys Nugent Dodds and Neil Burkinshaw of Washington contended the prosecution had suppressed im- | portant evidence favorable to Haupt- mann. The petition, signed by Hauptmann, said the first ransom note was taken | away from New Jersey officers almost immediately after they received it. Hauptmann's attorneys said testimony |at the trial was that the note never | | had left the possession of the officers. Fisch Letters Cited. It also was contended letters be- tween Hauptmann and Isadore Fisch, from whom Hauptmann claimed to have received the ransom money, were | “suppressed.” Another assertion was | that the prosecution failed to disclose | at- the trial evidence that the ladder (See COURT, Page 4.) ALTITUDE ERROR Richard Hauptmann.” There were no further details. In some official quar- ters there was much skepticism as to the merits of such a confession. Governor “Uninformed.” Gov. Harold G. Hoffman's office here said the Governor had “no knowl- edge of a confession.” The Governor, who has not been at his office for several days, was said to be in New York in ‘conferences the nature of which were kept secret but which were presumed to be in connection with the Haupumann case, in which the Gover- nor has shown marked interest. Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia’s secre- tary said that the Governor was ex- pected to attend a conferente in the mayor's office this afternoon with J. Edgar Hoover of the Department of Justice, Col. H. Norman Schwarzkopf, head of the New Jeersey State police, and Lewis J. Valentine, New York City commissioner of police. The pur- pose of the conference was not dis- closed. Hoover said he was unable to throw any light on any confession Hoffman might have. Undecided on Reprieve. Gov. Hoffman'’s press aide, William Conklin, after saying the Governor had no knowledge of a confession, added that the Governor had as yet made no decision as to a reprieve to | Hauptmann, facing death tomorrow night. Before the Governor also was & new affidavit by Samuel Small, & pro- fessional penman of New York, to the effect that Hauptmann “could not possibly have written” the ransom notes, which were a great factor in the conviction of the Bronx carpenter at his trial at Flemington. Small drew his conclusion from general methods of writing. Another Governor, Horner of Illi- nois, came into the case today. Chi- cago advices said that Gov. Horner (See HAUPTMANN, Page 4.) ROOSEVELT REAPPOINTS MATTINGLY D. C. JUDGE Nomination Is Sent to Senate, Although Term Does Not Ex- pire Until June. Robert E. Mattingly, who has been & judge in the Municipal Court here for 16 years, was reappointed by Pres- ident Roosevelt today for a term of Tour years. ‘This nomination was sent to the Senate today, although Judge Mat- tingly’s present term does not expire until June. He was appointed origi- nally by President Wilson in 1920 and, although he is a Democrat, he was | the AIR GRASH HINT Jammed Indicator May Clear Swamp Disaster to 17. By the Associated Press. GOODWIN, Ark., January 16.—In- vestigators dug a jammed speed indi- cator today from the muddy swamp where 17 persons died in the crash of ASHCRAFT SHOUTS LIAR" AT HIS RIVAL Cripple, on Trial for Slaying Son, Aroused by Testimony. BY WILLIAM §. TARVER. | Half lifting his frail, twisted body =3 BIT BY BIT! Star ASHINGTON, D. C, THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 1936.—FORTY-EIGHT PAGES. #%x%* LAVAL CONFIDENCE VOTED, 315 10 262 Premier Stakes Cabinet’s Life on Postponement of Policy Debate. BACKGROUND— Heading coalition government, France's Premier Laval last month retained partial support of radical Socialist wing by fight to save franc. Connection with British- French peace plan for present Italian-Ethiopian controversy re- newed coolness, however. Strong supporter of League of Nations and real leader of radical Socialist faction, Herriot refrained jrom open break with Laval. Re- signing nominal presidency of group, Herriot retained post as minister of state. Twice previously, Laval has gained narrow vote of confidence in Chamber of Deputies. By the Associated Pres: PARIS, January 16.—Premier Laval of France was granted a vote of con- ! from his wheel chair, David I. Ash- | erat, crippled newspaper vendor, hurled the epithet “liar” across the Deputies today. Thus the swarthy premier again & luxury airliner and thereby found | pist, i i " | rict Supreme Court room this triumphed over Lefist -Torts to unseat their first clue to the cause of the Na- | afternoon at the man whose alleged his government. tion’s worst plane travel disaster. The official inquiry, headed by Eu- | despair which led him to slay his only | by members of the domnant Radical- | gene L. Vidal, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for aeronautics. must de- pend on mute evidence to fix the cause of the Southerner’s plunge Tuesday night. None aboard the g:ant plane when it ripped down into the wooded Ark- ansas swamp was left alive. The pitifully-torn bodies of the four women, 12 men and s child were be- ing returned to their families today while .State Rangers stood guard over twisted wreckage to prevent further looting. ~ The air speed indicator, jammed at 180 miles an hour—nearly three times the plane’s landing speed—was enigma as well as clue. With it, buried deep in the mud, were found the ignition switches, which were on, and the switch control- ing the landing lights. It was off. The big twin-motored Douglas had a top speed of about 200 miles. cruised | at 180 to 190 and landed at 65 to 70. Thus if the broken insuument showed the speed at the time of impact, the Southerner was thundering along at full cruising speed when it smashed into the trees. Vidal, dispatched by Secretary of Commerce Roper to head the official inquiry, will act with five others in efforts to fix the cause. Other members of the board were Maj. R. W. Schroeder of the De- partment of Commerce, Col. Harold L. Hartney, technical adviser to the Senate Subcommittee on Aviation; Lake Littlejohn, airline inspector at Little Rock; B. M. Jacobs, Chicago inspector, and J. B. Janes, Fort Worth inspector. The unofficial tragedy were: 1. Shortly after the “all well” sent from 2,000 feet at 7:15 o'clock Tues- day night some mechanical trouble (See CRASH, Page A-3.) — theories on the Socialists Vote for Merger. MILWAUKEE, Wis., January 16 (/).—Members of the Wisconsin So- cialist party, balloting in a State- wide referendum which started a month ago, have voted, 5 to 1. for reappointed by Presidents Harding, Coolidge and Hoover. affiliation with the newly organized Farmer-Labor Progressive Federation. WREPHOTO SCORES "ACAIN Through the medium of the Associated Pr&ss Wirephoto system, The Star in its later editions yesterday was able to present pictures of the tragic plane wreck in Arkansas, in which 17 persons lost their lives. Pictures and news stories run co-ordinately since Wire- photo appeared on the newspaper production scene. You visualize the news and read more informatively. You should not miss Wirephotos as they appear daily and Sunday in The Star. Why wait until the next day or, in some cases, days ofter- ward, to see the pictures of world news events. Watch The Star and Wirephotos. | affair with his wife he blames for the | son. The witness, George Carney, 29- questioned by Defense Counsel Fred J. party held in the Ashcraft's basement home at 227 Third street a year ago. *“Isn't it a fact that you told Ash- craft to get over into the corner and keep his mouth shut or you would smack him?” inquired the attorney. “I did not,” Carney answered in belligerent tone. Ashcraft aroused from the lethargy | and melancholia which seemingly had | overcome him during the four days of the trial, seemed to rise from his chair as he shouted: “You're a liar! You did so!"” Admitted Liquor Parties. Court attaches and Icenhower | quickly quieted him and Carney con- tinued his testimony. He admitted frequent liquor parties at the Third Street rooming house and said he went out with Mrs. Ashcraft while her husband was in the hospital, al- though Ashcraft had objected to their association and once had threatened him with a gun. The witness denied he was the father of Mrs. Josephine Ashcraft's 6-month-old baby Richard, as charged by a defense witness. Carncy, the last witness in the lengthy first-degree murder trial, was put on by the Government in rebuttal of previous testimony concerning re- lations between himself and Mrs. Ashcraft. Under cross-examination, he admitted he visited Mrs. Ashcraft's home on Seventh street northeast last night and the night before. The wit- ness said that while Ashcraft was in the hospital he, his roommate and Mrs, Ashcraft pooled their food and she did the cooking. The case was expected to go to the jury late today. Rebuttal testimony that Ashcraft was sane when he killed his son on September 12 was presented this morning. Dr. John E. Lind, veteran chief of the Criminal Insane Department of St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, stated Ash- craft’s mind was sound and that the rare malady which had twisted his (Sce ASHCRAFT, Page 3. E— 31 OIL LEASES ILLEGAL Philippine Cabinet Approves Can- cellation Action. MANILA, P. I, January 16 (P .— Ten oil leases granted the Standard Vacuum Co. and 21 granted 12 domes- tic corporations were declared illegal and canceled today by the common- wealth Department of Commerce. The cabinet approved the department’s action. The department announced a Jus- tice Department report indicated cer- tificates of incorporation were issued to the domestic corporations ap- parently without consideration of stock ownership. Contro}, of the companies were said to be in Violation of corporation laws restricting the ownership control of mining corporations and of provisions limiting leasing of mining areas. 3 year-old P. W. A. worker, had been | Icenhower concerning a “strip-poker” | Today's showdown was precipitated | Socialist party, who voted in caucus | a condemnation of M. Laval's policies. | The premier, however, posed a ques- tion of confidence on postponement of debate on his general policies and won. He asked instead for priority for a discussion of agricultural mat- ters. | _Previously only the inability of the | Radical-Socialists to agree among themselves had saved the cabinet | from collapse before the chamber convened. Chamber Recess Called. A chamber recess was called after Center and Right deputies had howled down a Socialist. Obviously perturbed at the prospect of a cabinet upset, Premier Laval pre- viously had called in Minister Edouard Herriot of the Radical-Socialists, and deputies said he warned him of the valuation. The Radical-Socialists, in addition to condemning the Laval policies, also voted by 62 to 20 to demand that members of the party resign their six cabinet portfolios. They held this demand in abeyance, however, preferring to fight M. Laval on the floor of the Chamber on a mo- tion condemning his policies. The premier, it was understood, told M. Herriot there was danger of an empty treasury, with the government unable to borrow funds to meet its bills, if a cabinet crisis is precipitated. The possibility of Laval's victory on the floor was left open when the Radical-Socialists, by a vote of 41 to 40, failed to impose party discipline on the group. Free to Vote for Laval. Thus the members were left free to vote for Laval if they wish, with- out automatically incurring expulsiol from the party. - Radical-Socialist hostility toward the premier was based on: 1. The belief he i “lukewarm” in his support of the League of Nations. 2. The feeling that his economic Steamer Hunting Ellsworth Bay of W hales Sees Man on - Part of Radio Message From Ship Captain Is Garbled. BACKGROUND— Seeking to map uncharted terri- tory along 2,140-mile route between Weddell Sea and Byrd’'s base at Little America, Lincoln Ellsworth and Herbert Hollick-Kenyon, his Canadian pilot, took off for Antarc- tic fight on November 21. On morning of November 23, radio communications ceased and mnoth- ing has been heard from the pair since. Supply ship, Wyatt Earp, follow- ing previous instructions, left Dun- dee Island, starting point of the flight, to lay supply depots at regu- lar intervals between there and destination of flyers, The royal research ship Discovery, 1I, sailed from Dunedin, New Zealand, on January 2 for the Bay of Whales, or the Ross Sea. By ..o Assocliated Press. fidence, 315 to 252, by his Chamber of | | worth, indicated in a report today danger of a financial crisis and de-‘ | without an operator’s permit for 15| LONDON, January 16.—The cap- tain of the Discovery II, searching for the missing explerer, Lincoln Ells- | that an airplane had been sighted in Little America and that a man had been seen on the Bay of Whales. Neither the plane nor the man was identified in the report. The committee in charge of the Discovery II's rescue expedition an- nounced officially: “A message has been received by | LINCOLN ELLSWORTH. e the Discovery Committee from the master of the Discovery II reporting | that the boat arrived safely at the | Bay of Whales at 10 p.m. January 15. The message indicates one man was sighted from a plane and also a ma- | chine at Little America.” Part of the wireless message was garbled, making complete decoding impossible. Officials were waiting for a repetition of it. The Wyatt Earp was believed here to be 420 miles from the Bay of | Whales today. NEW DRIVE OPENS 0 CURB SPEEDERS Suspension Rule in Effect Today—Fines to Be Paid as Well. Beware of speeding. If you do not, you may find yourself | days or longer, and also forced to pay | the fine that follows conviction. Police last night started to report | arrests for speeding to the Board of | Suspension and Revocation of Opera- tors’ Permits, which will automatically suspend the driver's permit on convic- tion in Police Court. George Mackey. 27, a teacher, liv- ing at 4427 Volta place, was the first District motorist to be reported on the new forms provided for the purpose. Inspector L. I. H. Edwards emphasized that no action will be taken by the Suspension and Revocation Board un- til the case is disposed of in court and that the board’s action would follow automatically a finding of guilty by Judge Gus A. Schuldt. Other Speeders Fined. Several other speeders were fined to- day for varying speeds up to 50 miles an hour, but will escape the provisions of the new policy because they were arrested before the new report forms were distributed. Arrests made today probably will come before the court to- mMOrrow. District officials, including traffic (See CABINET, Page 4. (See SPEEDING, Page 5.) .Newspaper Advertising Record For the past four years The Star has led all American newspapers in the total amount cf advertising. TOTAL ADVERTISING OF THE TEN (Daily & Sunday) NEWSPAPERS IN THE UNITED STATES Printing the Greatest Volume of Advertising YEAR 1935 4. Chicago Tribune 5. New York News _ 6. Baltimore Evening and Sunday Sun 7. Pittsburgh Press 8. St. Louis Post, Dispatch-. 9. Los Angeles Times____. 10. Milwaukee JOUINAl aeeeeemccocommcmneana-n. ) Lines. - 21,837,189 19,420,969 18,358,617 17,854,712 17,817,490 17,286,416 - 17,092,161 15,188,958 14,487,953 14,287,533 [ 4 GRAYSON ARREST MADE INHOSPITAL Warrant Served, but Il Man Is Allowed to Remain in Bed. By the Associated Press. CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va, Jan- uary 16.—John Cooke Grayson, for- mer chief clerk in the chief national bank examiner’s office, was arrested at the University of Virginia Hos- pital today on charges of conspiracy in the failure of the Park Savings Bank at Washington, but was not removed from his hospital bed. Edward C. Garrard. United States deputy marshal, served a bench war- rant on Grayson, but said he mani- festly was suffering from heart trou- ble and could not be moved. He said he read the warrant to the ill man in the presence of Dr. J. Car- roll Flippin, Grayson's physician, and that “the patient made no response.” “He seemed to be suffering se- verely and had his hand on his heart,” the officer declared. Before leaving the hospital, Gar- rard said no bond would be required of Grayson, and that he would be left to appear in court on his own recognizance when able. Neither, said he, would a guard be necessary. Physicians at the hospital expressed doubt - whether the elderly patient, who came to Seminole Lodge. near here, shortly before his indictment at Washington in 1933, “ever will leave the hospital.” Reporters, pho- tographers and other would-be spec- tators were barred from the hospital while the warrant was being served. Garrard left for Roanoke at noon. Condition Held Critical. Armed with the warrant for Gray- son’s arrest, Garrard arrived here last night from Roanoke. Garrard spent last night with his son, a student at the university, and conferred this morning with Gray- son’s physician. Dr. Flippin said (See GRAYSON, Page 5.) — CHINESE QUELL MUTINY 40 Rebels Killed in Uprising of Changhchow Garrison. AMOY, Fukien, China, January 16 (#).—A mutiny at the Changhchow garrison, 30 miles west of here, was put down today by loyal government troops, who killed 40 of the rebels and arrested many others. The mutiny, informed sources said. was the result of long smoldering au- tonomy agitation, which has been fanned by Formosan snd vigorously Japanese “outlaw” elements. | ernment had been discounted | types. Yesterday’s Circulation, 133,775 Some Returns Not Yet Received. (P) Means Associated Pr TWO CENTS. 1. CALMLY VIEWS TOKIO'S REJECTION OF NAVAL RATI0S America Had Little Hopes| for Japanese Accord at London Parley. CONFERENCE NOW ACTS TO SET NEW PROGRAM Course Not Expected to Mate- rially Change Fleet Building Plaus of This Country. B/ACKGROUND— World limitation of naval arma- ments was first agree¢ upon at ‘Washington Conference in 1921, Britain and United States were given mazimum parity in capital ships with Japan allotted lower rank in 5—5—3 ratio. In 1930, agreement also was reached on cruisers, destroyers and submarine, with Japanese ratio increased slightly. In 1934 Japan pressed demand for parity with other major pow= ers; last December she warned na- tions participating in present con- ference that demands must be met before agreement could be reached. France and Italy, other partici- pants in conference, agreed with Britain and United States in re- sisting Japanese demands. BY CONSTANTINE BROWN. Official quarters in Washington are | not perturbed over Japan's bolting the | London Naval Conference. This course of action of the Japanese gov- for | several months and the American dele- | gation went to London with but little hope that Japan would accept the | maintenance of the ratios established | in the agreement of 1921. The withdrawal of the Japanese from the London conference puts an end to the existing limitation agree- | ments beginning January 1, 1937. | The natural implication of this fact is that Great Britain, the United States and Japan will be free, after | that date, to build new ships of all It also means. technically, that | the United States will be free to fortify its present naval bases in the Western Pacific. No Immediate Action Seen. Official quarters believe, however, | that this will not occur immediately | after the termination of the Washing- ton and London naval agreements of 1921 and 1930. The Japanese, it is believed here, are not anxious to start building up | to parity with the United States. | They have the right to do so, and this will enhance the prestige of the Japanese militarists with their own | people, but it is doubtful that they | will exercise this newly-acquired right. On the other hand, high officials | here cannot see any good reason to begin the fortification of the naval bases in the Western Pacific. A sub- stantial improvement in the defenses of Manila and Guam might have been a desirable thing at the time | when the Washington conference was | called, but with the Philippine Islands | becoming independent it is considered here that any expenditure in the Western Pacific is superfluous. A final decision on this question will de- pend entirely on uhe future political developments all over the world. American Delegation to Stay. The American delegation—minus Undersecretary of State William Phil- lips—will linger on in London for a | while. The purpose of their staying | on—officially, at least—is that some | kind of an agreement between the | four remaining signatories of the (See NAVAL, Page 5.) - NEW TRIAL REFUSED VIRGINIA KIDNAPER | Maj. Robert C. Kent, Jr., Must Serve 13 Years in Abduction and Death of Hotel Operator. By the Associated Press. RICHMOND, Va., January 16.—The State Supreme Court of Appeals today | refused & new trial to Maj. Robert C. Kent, jr., who was convicted of the kidnaping of Mrs Mary Jane Hast- | ings, Blue Ridge Spring Hotel oper- ator, and sentenced to serve 13 years | in the State Penitentiary. The decision came after more than a year of effort by counsel to upset the jury conviction which followed a sensational trial at Fincastle in 1934. Kent was arrested in July of that | year after the discovery of the body of | Mrs. Hastings near Stroudsburg, Pa. | Jurisdiction in the case was uncertain, but he finally was brought to Bote- | tourt County for trial, not on a mur- der charge, but on an indictment charging kidnaping, and was con- victed. Over his indignant protests Kent was taken to the Southwestern State Hospital last September. Hospital doctors reported him sane in November and last month he was brought to the State Penitentiary | farm. Readers’ Guide After Dark.__ Amusements Comics .. - Cross-word Puzzle_ Finance Lost and Found Sports _ Washington Wayside Women's Features..._B-18-19 §300.000,000 BILL 10 PAY FARMERS GIVEN APPROVAL Senate Committee Agrees on Measure to Meet Obli- gations Under A. A. A, $60,000,000 FOR SEED AND FEED LOANS 0.K.D New Deal Chieftains Again As- semble at White House to Dis- cuss Agricultural Problems. BACKGROUND— Program of crop control and Federal cash benefits was essence of New Deal panacea for farmers. On January 6 Supreme Court invalidated program, directing principal criticism at benefit plan, which it termed form of coercion. The administration immediately called farm leaders for aid in form= g mew program; agreement sub- sequently reported on 7-point plan centering about Government sub- sidies. Yesterday National Grange, dean of organized farm groups, revealed difference of opinion. sub- mitted its own 10-point program. A $300,000,000 bill to pay contracte ing farmers under the A. A. A. start- ed through Congress today as New Deal chieftains again assembled at the White House to discuss the agrie culture problem. A measure by Senator McNary, the Republican leader, quickly was ap- proved by the Senate Agriculture Committee. It would authorize a $300,000,000 appropriation to meet financial obligations of the Govern- ment under crop production contracts entered into prior to January 6— date of the A. A. A. invalidation by the Supreme Court. The committee also approved a $60,000,000 bill for seed and feed loans on 1936 crops. It was spon- sored by Chairman Smith, one of those called to President Roosevelt's office Cotton phases of the agricultural tangle were scheduled for emphasis at the White House meeting. Be- sides Smith those to attend included Attorney General Cummings, Secre- tary Wallace, Senator Robinson, the Democratic leader; Senator Bank- head, Democrat, of Alabama; Chair- man Jones of the House Agriculture Committee, and Chester Davis, A. A A. administrator. Bankhead Act Doom Seen. The Bankhead compulsory cotton control act has been challenged in the courts. The Supreme Court has not ruled on its constitutionality but the A. A. A. decision generally was believed by administration leaders to doom the Bankhead statute. In advance of today's meeting, the White House said no plan on a sub- stitute for the A. A. A. has so far reached the President from the con- sultations of Secretary Wallace and farm leaders. Sees Utilization of Law. Jones told newsmer he thought the 1935 soil-conservation law could be utilized “almost without change” in developing that approach to new farm legislation. “If you will look at the Dempsey- Jones law you will see that it is pretty broad.” he said. The law authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out erosion preventative measures, “including, but not limited to, engineering operations, methods of cultivation, the growing of vegetation, and changes in use of land.” He can “co-operate or enter into agreements with, or * * * furnish financial or other aid to any agency, governmental or otherwise, or any person, subject to such conditions as he may deem necessary * * *." The statute also enables the Secre- tary “to acquire lands, or rights or interests therein,” and permits the conservation steps specified on Gov- ernment-controlled land “or any other lands, upon obtaining proper consent or the necessary rights or interests in | such lands” As a “condition” to extending bene- fits, it provides for “the enactment and reasonable safeguards for the en- forcement of States and local laws imposing suitable permanent restric- tions on the use of such lands and | otherwise providing for the prevention of soil erosion; agreements or cove- nants as to the permanent use of such lands; and contributions in money, services, materials or otherwise, to any | operations conferring such benefits. Coincidentally, flat predictions that the national agricultural conference would “blow up” were heard among men high in its councils today as the five major farm groups composing it met to discuss a substitute for A. A. A, These organizations, which leaders say represent 3,000,000 American farmers, originally planned to meet here for unified action to offset the Supreme Court’s invalidation of A. A. (See A. A. A, Page 3.) STAVISKY CASE TO JURY AFTER PROLONGED TRIAL Panel Deliberates 1,955 Ques- tions on Charges 17 Defend- ants Assisted Frauds. By the Associated Press. PARIS, January 16.—France's fa- mous Stavisky case went to the jury today after one of the longest trizls in the annals of the nation. The jury deliberated 1,955 questions concerning charges that the 17 defen- dants, including Arlette Simon Sta< visky, widow of Sacha (Serge Alex- andre) Stavisky, aided the swindler in the vast frauds which caused bloody riots in the streets of Paris and up- set a French cabinet. The prosecution dropped the charges against three of the defendants, Camilie Aymard and Paul Levy, editors, charged with lending their influence to Stavisky for profit, and Henri Due pardon, a banker, charged with lend- ing his name to Stavisky swindlers. A