Evening Star Newspaper, January 1, 1937, Page 5

MOMENTOUS VEAR, FORL. 5 LAWYERS Cases Involving Constitu-| tional Questions Paramount | in Justice Department. BY HOMER CUMMINGS, Attorney General of the United States. ‘The Department of Justice during | 1936 has carried on a wide range of | activities and functions committed to | its charge, among which, as of out- | standing _impor- tance, might be . mentioned cases involving consti- tutional q u e s- | tions, anti - trust | and tax suitsand | a further im- provement in its facilitles directed | toward the con- | trol of crime. | Decisions in the | Supreme Court of the United States have in- Mr. Cummings Cluded & number | of general public interest. Probably the one most widely known is that of United States | vs. Butler, involving the A. A. A.! processing taxes. The 6-3 decision | of the court determined the invalidity | of the act. It will be a leading case | upon constitutional law, however, not only because of the holding as to the interference of the act with matters reserved to the States, but also be- | cause of the resolution by the court of the age-old controversy over the meaning of the general wellare clause. It was there decided that this clause gave power to the National Congress to appropriate .for the gen- | eral welfare without limitations grow- | ing out of the specifically delegated powers of the Constitution. T. V. A. Case Recalled. | Others of importance were that of | Ashwander vs. Tennessee Valley Au- ! thority, in which the Supreme Court upheld the right of the Government to distribute by transmission lines electricity obtained from waterpower created by structures erected o im- prove navigation; the Sugar Institute case, where the Government wss suc- cessful in securing a sweeping injunc- tion against practices of sugar refin- ers tending toward price fixing and monopoly: Carter vs, Carter Coal Co., setting aside the Guffey-Snyder act, in which four members of the court held that price regulation in inter- state commerce is valid. Landis vs. North American Co., re- sulting in & decision favorable to the contention of the Attorney General, who, contra:y to custom, had appeared in the courts to urge his position that there is an inherent power in courts of equity to stay numerous cases where they apparently would be ruled generally by the determination of an- BY DON S. WARREN. other pending case, and United States! The problem of how to finance the vs. Curtiss-Wright Export Corp., in' mounting needs of a rapidly growing which the court upheld the joint reso- | National Capital overshadowed all lution of May 28, 1934, empowering other municipal affairs during the past the President to forbid the sale in the ' year and raised the definite threat of a United States of arms and munitions | tax rise for the future. of war to those countries engaged in The Commissioners today voiced conflict in the Chaco. against the con- | yne pope for an increase in the Federal tention that the resolution wnlawfully | havment toward expenses of the delegated legislative power to the pygirict, declaring that only such ac- President. tion can remove the necessity for Cites Slavery Case. placing a heavier burden on Washing- A criminal case of great Interest ton taxpayers. was the conviction of Paul D. Peacher,| Congress will provide the answer town marshal of Earle, Ark., and when it acls on the District budget deputy sheriff of Crittenden County.' for the next fiscal year, after receiv- Ark., for holding a number of colored ing a recommendation from President men to work in violation of the Fed- Roosevelt as to what should be the eral anti-slavery statute. This statute ' size of the Federal payment, was enacted in 1866, and the case was Mt Hase: Miske . Rands: only the second time in 70 years that . «ggution of this very difficult prob- the statute had been invoked. lem is the primary objective of the After investigation of the petroleum ' Commissioners for the new year,” said industry upon numerous complaints.' Melvin C. Hazen, president of the a grand jury was impaneled at Mad- | Board of Commissioners. ison, Wis. Eighteen tons of records “We have made our case before the of the ofl companies were secured Presidents Fiscal Relations Committee upon orders of the Federal District and await its report and the ensuing Court and examined by the officers action by Congress. and agents of the Department of Jus- ' “This much is definite. Uniless tice. Indictments have been returned Conyress approves a more liberal pay- against a large number of oil com- ment we have got to raise additional panles, subsidiaries and individuals, revenues by taxation. We will come charging them with having combined to the end of this fiscal year, June and conspired to raise and fix prices| 30, with a deficit new estimated at of gasoline sold in interstate com- some $3,000.000. Our needs for ex- merce, principally in 10 States of the pansion of the housing of municipal Middle West, in violation of the anti- agencies are mounting rapidly. With- trust laws. This is the first important ' out an incrase in revenues the Dis- criminal proceeding under the anti-| trict next year will be unable to meet trust laws, except for racketeering even the cost of maintenance and cases, since Attorney General Moody | operation, and have not a cent for in 1905 secured indictments against. Capital improvements.” the meat packers. Outstanding crim- | Outlines Developmenta. inal prosecutions resulting in convic-| Commissioner Hazen outlined as tions were those in the Detroit bank ; some of the developments he hopes cases and the New York mortgage | may be provided upon solution of the Tacket cases, typical of the depart-| financial problem: ment’s battle against financial frauds Starting of construction of the and Irregularities. Municipal Center, rebuilding of many The Public Lands Division has | of the old police station houses, adop- passed upon titles to about 6,457,087 tion of an adequate school building | acres of land and 2,413 parcels being | program, expansion and remodeling | acquired by the United States, includ- | of the District Jail or the erection of | A welcomes in the New Year. Liberal Federal Is Hope of ing asites for post offices and other ' a new structure, a variety of additions | publie bufldings, land for national to the Home for Feebleminded and parks, national forests, historic sites. | improvements for many of the other river and harbor improvements, wild agencies under the Board of Public lie refuges and waterpower and slum | Welfare. clearance projects. | “There will be many important ‘Tax Division Burdened. | legislative proposals affecting the Dis- | The widespread legal attack on ad- | trict, presented for congressional ac- ministration measures doubled the | tion in the coming session,” the Com- duties of the Tax Division, which, in | Missioner continued. “I hope, par- addition to ordinary internal revenue | ticularly, for passage bills for modern- litigation averaging from 2000 to i%ing the Juvenile Court procedure, ror_ 3.000 new cases a year, handled more | ¢reation of a mental health commis- | than 2,000 injunction suits against the | slon for handling lunacy cases, estab- | Agricultural Adjustment Administra- | lishment of a farm for treatment of tion alene in the five months just habitual drunkards, to require semi- preceding the decision of the Supreme | 8nNual inspection of all motor ve- Court in United States vs. Butler. | hicles, and 10 strengthen the laws The Federal Bureau of Investiga- #8ainst gambling. | tion continued to improve and ex-| Commissioner George E. Allen hopes pand its training, research and identi- | the new year will bring favorabie fleation facilities, and a number of Action by Congress on the joint reso- | important arrests were made and con- | 'ution which would pave the way for | victions secured. There has been a | the granting of national representa- marked decrease in the number of | tion to the District. Allen and other Federal kidnaping cas delegates won adoption at the Dem: robberies. OB nd [Pack cratic National Conveéntion of a plank | | prospective bidders that it would sc- THE EVENING The Spirit of 1937, in the person of Master Ralph Hawkins, —Star Staff Photo. * Contribution Commissioners Problem of How to Finance (;rowing Needs Raises Threat of Tax Rise for Future. ted or completed in the past 12 months under the direction of Engi- neer Commissioner Dan 1. Sultan. The $4.000,000 sewsge Ltreatment plant was brought nearly to comple- tion, the addition to the Children’s Tuberculosis Sanatorium at Glenn Dale, Md.. was completed and the large adult sanatorium there will be opened in the Spring. Construction of the new Police Court Building. in Judiciary Square, was staried several months ago. The new Calvert Street Bridge was completed and construction of a via- duct and a subway for the road tracks north of New York avenue was ordered by the Commissioners. Re- moval of the grade crossings at Mich- igan avenue, kastern avenue and Franklin sureet also was started and the Benning viaduct widened. Plans were prepared for replacement of Chain Bridge. There were numerous changes in the roster of District officials in the last year. With the resignation of William P. Richards when he reached retirement age early in the year, Fred D. Allen was made District assessor E. Barrett Prettyman resigned as cor- poration counsel last Spring to return 1o private practice and several months later Elwood H. Seal was appointed to ‘he post. Later William A. Roberts resigned as people’s counsel. This place has not been filled. John A. Marshall assumed his new assignment as director of the Unem- ployment Compensation Board and J. Balch Moor was appointed superin- tendent of insurance. W. W. Spaid of W. B. Hibbs & Co. was named a mem- ber of the Board of Public Welfare. Motors (Continued From Pirst Page.) marine engines which would develop 400 horsepower and, because of the required horsepower rating, notified cept converted airplane engines. “The Vimalert Co. was the low bidder on & lot of 62 motors, with & bid of $281,620, or somewhat over $4.500 per engine, and was awarded the contract in August, 1935. ' Coast Guard officials said, however, that the en- gines were almost completely rebuilt, the cylinder blocks. The Vimalert bid was considered reasonable in view of he work done, it was said. “Delivery of the engines was begun only recently. While the work was| going on at the company’s Jersey City plant a group of Coast Guard officers | were stationed there in order that they might familiarize themselves with the engines and thus be able readiiy | to operate and repair them when they were installed.” * * * | U. 8. CARGO RELEASED. i | with little of the originals retained bnw‘ | Spanish Lovalists Yield te Represen- tations, By the Associated Press. The Federal Bureau of Prisons dur- Clling for s congressional study of | ing 1936 established a career service | for its custodial officers and & com- | i lems.” said Allen, “I believe the | hoard' & plete new program for their training | ProP | American cargo which was al and promotion was inaugurated. Pro- | District made some real progress In| gpapish steamer motions within the service are made upon the basis of tests of fitness pre- seribed jointly by | has placed in effective operation the ,egurance that the Archer Daniels s by the nOlvll &m: collection of funds to be used later a3/ C, of Minneapolis, owners of the Commission Prisons. It is my earnest hope that Congress ot its next session will enact adequate legislation for the control of firearms. The registration of pistols, revolvers and other small weapons should be required. The present act, which re- quires registration of shotguns, ma- chine guns, rifles etc., is entirely too inadequate. “With Love and Hisses.” and the Bureau DALLAS, Tex. (#).—Detective In- budget for the next fiscal year will| gress who had feared that the Loyal- spector Will Fritz wants to exchange icnnnln funds for the erection of the | jsis jn Spain might resent the Roose- s Cbristmas present. It’s a West Texas bobcat, presented by a friend who owns s ranch near Dublin. “With love and hisses,” read the eard. the plan. Responding to representations by | | the United States, Spanish loyalists STAR. WASHINGTON, D. (. FRIDAY. JA Washington Welcomes the Year 1937 Senator and Mrs. William G. McAdoo celebrating the turn of the year at the Shoreham Hotel last night. Tom, the House Office Build —Star Staff Photo. ing cat, had a hard time of it New Year eve, and about all he could do today was sigh (in cat language), “Woe is me.” Tom r last night, but today to him, drawn out succession of dreary MANY D. . AUTOS LACK 1337 TAGS 5,000 to 6,000 Motorists Fail to Get Required Plates. Total to Be Larger. Between 5,000 and 6,000 Washington motorists today lacked 1937 license plates for their automobiles—a de- ficiency which cost them the right to operate their cars until the necessary lags are oblained. Traffic Director William A. Van Duzer said & record number had been issued up 1o closing time yesterday, but many remain w0 be cared for. The belated applicants probably will all be | accommodated within a few days. Van Dugzer said about 20,000 more tags had been issued up to and in- cluding New Year eve than during a similar period a year ago. The num- ber of tags uncalled for this year is less than a year ago. Members of the American Automo- bile Association were securing lags at tbat office and can obtain them tomor- row and Sunday, officials announced. Goodman Rubin, Alexandria, Va., was the first motorist arrested for op- erating his car with 1936 lags. Rubin. manager of a grocery store in the 1600 block of Fourteenth street, | was arrested by Traffic Officer H. H. | Hartman at Fourteentn and H streels at 9 am. AL police neadquarters he posted $10 collateral for driving with | dead tags and $100 for operating with- _ | out & permit. Meanwhile the cash register at | headquarters was ringing a holiday tune as motorists got in line to post collateral on traffic warrants, most of | them of long standing. About $1,600 | & day—three times the normal re- ceipts—has been taken in during the past week, JAPAN PESSIMISTIC IN GREETING 1937 Leaders Call for Sacrifices in| Strengthening “Defense” and | Protecting Reich Pact. | | By the Associated Press. TOKIO, January 1.—Japan greeted the New Year in a pessimistic frame of mind. From the Emperor down, leaders of the empire called attention in New | Year statements today to ominous problems. | Emperor Hirohito summed up con- | ditions at home and abroad. The premier, Koki Hirota, said the | nation must defend the recently con- cluded Japan-Germany pact against anged far, wide and handsome as to many others, was just a hours. —A. P. Photo. ESTATE OF $6,362,006 IS LEFT BY OTTO KAHN Total Reduced to $3.970,869 by Debts, Transfer Tax, praisal Reveals. By the Associated Press NEW YORK. December 31.—Otto H Kahn, banker and philanthropist, who died March 29, 1934, left a gross esiate of $6.362,006. which was reduced. prin- cipally by deots, to a net of $3.970,869 a transfer tax appraisal filed today showed. Ap- Miscellaneous ilems of $3 592258 comprised the bulk of the estate, with $2.500.000 listed as the amount of his equity in Kubhn, Loeb & Co., of which he was senior partner. Four children, Gilbert W. Kahn, Rogert W. Kahn and Margaret Ryan of Palm Beach. Fla. and Maud E. Marriott of London, are the principal beneficiaries, No provision was made for the widow, Mrs. Addie W. Kahn. It was explained that adequate provision for her already had been made. Drinkers of Ceylon are taking to canned beer. SALTZ e NUARY 1, 1937. GAINS FORECAST FORU.S. EMPLOYE Prospects for Improving Working Conditions Are Bright, Leaders Say. BY J. A. FOX, Bright prospects for improved work- | ing conditions in the Pederal Govern- ment are envisioned for 1937 by the heads of the two organizations repre- sentative of thousands of men and | women in the executive agencies—Na- 1 tional Federation of Federal Employes | and American Pederation of Govern- | ment Employes. | “The National Federation of Federal Employes looks forward with a sub- stantial degree of confidence—confi« dence which we believe to be very | soundly grounded—that the year 1937 | will bring real progress in the task of improving administration better- ments in working conditions,” Luther | C. Steward; the president, said. | On behalf of the American Federa~ tion of Government Employes, Presi- | dent Charles I. Stengle says it “Paces | 1937 confident that the progress of | Government workers toward better working conditions will go steadily for- ward, and that the efficiency of the governmental establishment will con- tinue to increase. Outstanding Needs Cited. Both see the three outstanding needs, in the order of their importance, as extension of the merit system, clas- sification of the fleld service and liberalized retirement, principles lor| which their organizations are pledged to work Steward also emphasizes the necese sity for correcting abuses which have sprung up in the administration of the new leave laws—the principal gain of | workers this past year—and of adjuste ing more satisfaciorily the quarters, | | subsistence and laundry regulations of | employes in fleld details. ! Stengle believes there e “good | chances of obtaining & sound appeals | system in the civil service.” Forecasting legislation 1o strengthen and extend civil service, President Steward declares “such action long has been needed, and it is now clear that the public is thoroughly con- vinced that legislation must be en- acted to take the civil service out of the realm of partisan polities. “The merit system is essential to 8ood government and to efficient, ef- fective administration. It is the only method fair to ihe taxpayer, fair to the Government and fair to the man or woman who desires to make & career | of public service. This view now is accepted by millions of American citis 2ens who heretofore were apathetic; and for that reason, we believe that remedial action will come during 1937. | “We will also strive for the initia- tion of the thorough-going system of classification which must go hand-in- hand with the merit principle.” “It seems clear that we may expect & substantial extension of the merit system in the United States civil serv- ice for President Roosevelt has indi- cated that he is strongly in favor of such a plan and there is a tremendous national sentiment o support it Stengle declares. Method of Extension. “This extension.” he continues. *will probably develop through placing presidential postmasters under the civil service and bringing into civil service depuly collectors of customs and deputy collectors of internal reve- | nue, as well as all the positions that seem likely to be permanent among those included in the emergency agen- cies. 1 have also strong hopes that Wwe may restore (o civil service status the employes of Veterans' Administra=- tion hospitals who were excepted from It five years 8go.” Stengle is optimistic over chances for new retirement legislation. He specifies particularly the program “for optional retirement and to aliow sn- nuitants, at their option, and without added expense to the Government, to accept a somewhat lower retirement scale in order that they may provide an annuity for a surviving dependent.” Under this, he explains, a retired em- plove might take an annuity of $600 instead of $1200. with the provision that payments continue through the lifetime of a wife if she survived him. s Appacel for Gontlomen 1341 F LANGROCK and other fine clothes at D $40 Suits, Topceats and Overceats. $32 §t. N. Sale of 0% o« $435 Suits, Topeoats and Overceals. $36 $30 Swuits, Topeoats a Overceats $40 $33 Suits, Topeoats and Overeceats . $44 $60 Spits, Topcoats a $63 Swits . $70 Sui $75 Sults . .. .. Overceats . $48 .$52 .$36 seo .$32 $40 Reversible Topeeats. $45 Reversible Tepceoats. “Despite our budget and finance ngye ordered the release of a $400,000 | !the past year. The Unemployment | | Compensation Board was created and | & guarantee against hardship on per- | sons who lose their employment. | | “The W. P. A. program was placed |on a better and more sound basis and the kinks were ironed out. Direct re- lief for those who are not employable | saved countless instances of suffering. | | The Health Department has made | | progress in its campaign against! | spread of communicable diseases, espe- cially as to tuberculosis and diph- |theria and has developed s general- |ized nursing service. We hope the | first of a series of health centers.” | Construction Restricted. | ‘The District’s finaneial straits seri- {ously restricted the construction pro- | grams of the city government, but s | number of important projects were | drafted suddenly | into the Loyalist service. | The Spanish government also gave | shipment of fiaxseed, would be reim- bursed for any damage suffered. cargo was aboard the steamer Motomar, bound from Buenos Aires to Bdgewater, N. J, when the ship was ordered into Vera Crus, Mexico. Authoritative sources reported it was sent there to pick up some American- made airplanes which had been sold | to & Mexican company and resold to the Spanish government. The Spanish response was especially heartening to some members of Con- velt administration’s present effort to | prevent shipment of airpianes motors to them. Adminisiration leaders, completing plans for emergency legisiation to communism and that the empire must | snd to make financisl sacrifices. ‘The navy minister, Admiral Osami Nagano, added that the situation around the shores of the Pacific fenses.” Hachiro Arita, foreign minister, said that “in light of the existing world Japanese people is not warranted.” would apply alike (o both sides in the Spanish strif Robert Cuse, Jersey City sirplane export $2,777,000 of planes and motors to Spain, issued a statement declaring it would be contrary to the Constitu- tion to stop him now. However, Chairman Pittman of the and | Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said a resolution he would ask Con- gress to approve next week would con- tain s retroactive cisuse canceling the block such shipments, emphasised it Cuse license. $50 Reversible Topeoats. . 840 broker, who has obtained a license WE be prepared to strengthen its defenses Ocean does not permit “‘a single day’s | delay In perfecting the national de- | situation optimism on the part of the | $73 Full Dress Suits . . . . We've got room for about words to sell you on this these But we only need . $60 fifty sale, six: IT HAPPENS BUT TWICE A YEAR. You'll be buying Lan grock clothes anyway, so don‘t delay while you can get full selec- tions at these great savings! Use Your Charge Aecoumt Sarr BR.OS. INCGC 1341 F S¢. N.W. 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Our famous warmth- without-weight o tor W gton’s chengeable weather o mended by us atter nearly 50 years' exp: Swi in single end double rcoats ere the type best suited recom- nce in clothing meny of Washington's better dressed men. * Except Alperus and Formal Wear GRADES UP TO $35 Reduced to 823.75 GRADES UP TO $50 Reduced to Warmth - Without - Weight Coats ond Aoah Shah Comel's Hair Topcoats Grades up to $60 Reduced to $43°75 $83-75 e and Esquire own in China. woven in style. 3 d tonsly $100 Imported Crombie CURL OVERCOATS Reduced to SALE ATTRACTION FREE INSURANCE poLICY If your coat is lost thru Fire, Theft, Windstorm or Explosion, the insur- ence company mokes good. We developed we are offering it wInGTON saarTiE wasw o - to every customer with- out cost . .. SAVINGS, PLUS! YNITED § wew vork- 0V ___ TaTES DEPARTMENT We offer the convenience of @ cherge sccount to responsible peocp Those who enjoy regular employment or a relieble source of income, end o substentiel reputation, will heve no difficulty in meking the necessery arrangements with us for o 30-dey charge sccount or the PELZMAN PLAN . oquel D-1-V-1-D-E-D payments. FASHIONS AS SEEN IN ESQUIRE FASHION SHOP, 13th & F Open All Day Saturday