Evening Star Newspaper, January 25, 1937, Page 1

WEATHER. (U 8, Weather Bureau Forecast.) Fair and colder tonight and probably tomorrow; lowest temperature tonight about 34 degrees. Temperatures—High- est, 54, at noon today; lowest, 36, at noon yesterday. Full report on page B-6. Closing New York Markets, Page 12 Entered as second class matter post office, Washinston, D. C. 85th YEAR. No. 33,872. RISING WATERS INCREASE FLOOD HAVOC; WASHINGTON, WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION D. - @he Foening Star C., MONDAY, JANUARY 25, 1937—THIRTY-TWO PAGES. The only evening paper in Washington with the Associated Press News and Wirephoto Services. 154,825 SATURDAY'S SUNI CMIII!I.? lss'al‘ Circulation, me returns not yet received.) TWO CENTS. Fkkk (P) Means Associated Press. 'FOOD SHORTAGE SEEN; 500,000 HOMELESS EVACUATE LOUISVILLE, CITIZENS ARE ADVISED; POWER SUPPLY CUT OFF White House to Ask Congress to Meet Relief Costs—River 79.1 at Cincinnati. SHORTAGE OF DRINKING WATER NEW MENACE IN HARD-HIT AREA Gaps Reported Made in Levee to Relieve Cairo, I1l., Where 13,000 Residents Were Endangered by Streams. (Full page of flood pictures on Page A-7.) By the Associated Press. The White House announced today Congress would be asked to assume relief costs in the Nation’s flood area, where at least 10 States counted a mounting list of about 60 known dead and half a million homeless. Deepening rivers, meanwhile, fed by heavy rains in their sources and tributaries, pushed threats of new disasters toward many communities. With the cities of Cincinnati and Louisville heaviest sufferers, the Red Cross asked the Nation to contribute $4,000,000 at once for relief, augmented by appropriations from various Legislatures. Flooded rivers continued to feed the Mississippi in its course toward the Gulf, raising fears of a major rise south- | ward of Memphis, Tenn., should the rains persist. Record river stages studded the rampaging Ohio all along its course from West Virginia through Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky to Illinois. The Monongahela and Allegheny Rivers, which join to form the Ohio, were rising again, fed from their mountain water- sheds in Pennsylvania. Missouri, Arkansas and Tennessee counted heavy losses from rising tributaries of both the Ohio and the Mississippi. Minor floods threatened other States. Cincinnati Gripped by Water Famine. Cincinnati’s 750,000 residents were gripped by a water famine and a new threat to their health. Authorities feared water might be available only 15 or 20 minutes each day, with pumps inoperative and the re§ervoir supply dwindling. The Ohio reached a 79.1-foot stage at Cincinnati. This menace followed in the wake of a $1,500,000 fire, the worst in Cincinnati’s history. Blazing oil tanks made the danger of a new fire ever present. Flames broke out again this morning, but were subdued by firemen. With 200,000 already homeless at Louisville, authorities re- quested all who could to evacuate the city as the river rose, and discussed with Army officials the desirability of martial law. Mete- orologist J. L. Kendall predicted an “unprecedented” level of 58 feet by tomorrow night. Electricity was cut off. Hundreds were marooned in sections surrounded by water. The known figure of 58 dead throughout the flood area did not count 15 convicts killed in rioting in the Kentucky State Re- 1onnl;11tol"z at Frankfort, where river waters filtered through the cell blocks. < Fire, pestilence, food and water shortages, and power shutoffs fol=-| Jowed in the wake of the mounting | waters in many cities. National Guardsmen, the Army and Navy, other governmental agencies and the Red Cross rushed relief into the devastated areas. | Acute Suffering. | Tales of acute suffering were told. Countless thousands were marooned in their homes. Refugee camps held hungry thousands more, many of them cold and sick. Health clinics were set up and vaccines rushed into the flood areas to forestall dangers of epidemics. | Aprislng river stage left fully 25,000 homeless and hungry at Portsmouth. At Pomeroy, Ohio, the 3,500 residents (See FLOODS, Page A-5.) COLDER TOMORROW, DISTRICT FORECAST Potomac at Little Higher Than Normal, Though Sycamore Is- land Partly Submerged. Colder weather was forecast today as observers reported the Potomac seemed to be Xalllxsg along the Wash- front. e “Weatner Buresu _predicted “fair and colder weather tonight and probably tomorrow, with a low tonight of about 34 degrees.” The low yester- day was 36 at noon. The prospect Wwas welcomed by Washingtonians after many days of chill rain, low clouds and persistent fog. gfluh tide at 6:46 am. today saw the Potomac here at little more than normal level. Sycamore Island, up- stream from Washington, was partly water. “Iid!:::dreds of spectators lined the river banks yesterday, but the Po- tomac, although swift and dotted with drift wood, was lower and much less spectacular than during the flood S 3 flksmul. william J. Matteson, War Department engineer for this area, said the flood crest, now on its way from Cumberland, Md., would not reach Washington until late tonight or tomorrow. He pointed out, however, that only a tenth of an inch of rain has fallen over the watershed in the last 24 hours, and there is little danger of flood damage here. At Union Station it was said that trains from the flood areas in the ‘Middle West are running several hours late. Louisville is cut off from train with Washington, of- ficials said. New Fires Menace Cincinnati as Water Supply Sinks Lower BY the Associated Press. CINCINNATI, Ohio, January 25.— Greater Cincinnati's 750,000 residents fell today into the grip of a grave water famine and new fires added to the flood menace in the city. With it arose a new tnreat to the health of a city one-seventh flocded, in capricious paradox, by an Ohio River swollen 28 feet above flood stage. The possibility that water would be available only 15 or 20 minutes a day followed curtailment of the flow to only a few hours out of every 24. City Manager C. A. Dykstra warned the city, in which 65,000 were homeless and eight dead as the result of the worst flood in its history: “It is imperative that you use water only for cooking and drinking purposes. “Not a drop should be wasted.” Coupled with the water shortage was a shut-off of all but 2 seventh of the city's power supply. Fire Under Control. A fire at the de luxe Riverview; Apartments, which caused-the sound- ing of a general alarm, was declared under control today an hour later. Damage was confined to the base- ment, where several apartments had been burned cut. The janitor said the fire started in a locker near the laundry room, where several women were washing. Lack- ing any steam heat, the girls had started a small bonfire and that got out of control The general alarm, firemen ex- plained, was sounded because that many companies were needed to pro=- (See CINCINNATI, Page A-3.) < | Flood Fact l | By the Assoclated Press. THE DEAD—538 known dead in 9 States; 15 more reported dead in Frankfort, Ky. Reformatory riot and 4 at Lawrenceburg, Ind., both unofficial. THE HOMELESS—Conservatively es- timated at almost half a million, including 200,000 in Louisville, Ky., area alone. THE AREA HARDEST HIT—Cincin- nati and the Ohio River lowlands of the State of Ohio, Southern In- diana, Kentucky from Louisville to Ballard. PROPERTY DAMAGE—At least $6,- 500,000 from fires and floods in Cincinnati; uncalculated most other points. THE OUTLOOK—Ohio River still ris- ing at Cincinnati and downstream; Government observers predict flood conditions possible for a month; critical period may begin in Mis- sissippi Valley when Ohio’s crest reaches Mississippi at Cairo, IIL, in 10 days or two weeks. RELIEF MEASURES—White House says Congress will be asked to pay relief costs. Red Cross asks $4,000,- 000 contribution from Nation. President Roosevelt sets Army, Navy, Coast Guard, C. C. C. and W. P. A. to aid sufferers and bol- ster river levees. ARMIY MAY ASSUME LOUSLLE RELIE Mayor Discusses Desirabil-| ity of Martial Law With Gen. Naylor. B the Associatea Press. LOUISVILLE, Ky. January 25.— Desirability of martial law to give the United States Army full sway in relieving Louisville’s 330,000 flood- conquered citizens was discussed to- day by Maycr Neville Miller and Brig. Gen. William K. Naylor, act- ing commander of the 5th Area Army | Corps. Mayor Miller said he had “no pride” against turning the city over to the Regular Army if it meant getting relief and if Gen. Naylor feared divi- sion of authority. When the general expressed doubts about getting troops into Louisville because of the floods north of here, the Mayor replied he could get them here himself. The Mayor and the general were calm, but Horace A. Taylor, head of the Board of Alder- men, interrupted sharply several times to know why the Army didn't start in. Sun Begins to Shine. Gen. Naylor arrived today in response to appeals from Gov. A. B. Chandler and Mayor Miller to Presi- dent Roosevelt. The paralyzed city, its stores closed and 230,000 of its residents homeless, most of them grimey and unshaven and being fed by relief agencies, found a ray of hope in sunshine. It was the first bright sky in four days and there had been no rain since yesterday’s 2.94 inches. More water continued to come down the Ohio River, however, and (See LOUISVILLE, Page A-4) BOILER BLAST KILLS 4 AT WEST VIRGINIA MINE Brick Building Wrecked and Company Substation Fired. Several Sought in Debris. By the Assoctated Press. OAK HILL, W. Va., January 25.—A boiler adjoining the wash room of the Loch Gelly coal mine of the New River Co. exploded yesterday. killing four men. The blast wrecked the brick build- ing and set fire to a substation at the mouth of the mine The dead were: Emory Ellison, a teamster; Jack Mitchell, an engineer; Silas Hill, a pumper, and John Lucas, section foreman. Mine cfficials, asserting they did not know what caused the blast, ordered workers to dig into the wreck- age to detennine if others had been killed or injured. Star Will Receive Funds for Red Cross Flood Relief The District of Columbia has been assigned a quota of $48,000 (originally $24,000) for flood relief by the Amercan Red Cross. The Evening Star will assist in raising the required amount by receiving and acknowledging in Washingtonians. Red Cross, for flood relief. Evening Star. its columns the contributions of Moake checks payable to District Chapter, American Bring or mail them to the cashier, The The Star has made a contribution of $250 to this fund to start the ball rolling. Those who desire to submit their contributions directly to the American Red Cross may send or deliver cash or checks to the District Chapter, American Red Cross, 1730 E street. LEWIS IS WARNED BY AUTO WORKERS Tactics Declared Un-Ameri- can—Leaders to Leave for Parley Here. BY the Associated Press. DETROIT, January 25.—Homer Martin, president of the United Auto- mobile Workers of America, an- nounced today he and three associates will leave for Washington tonight to attend Secretary Perkins’ peace con- ference on the General Motors auto- motive strikes Wednesday. Accompanying Martin will be Wynd- ham Mortimer and Ed Hall, union vice presidents, and George Addes, secre- tary and treasurer. Martin said they would confer with John L. Lewis, chairman of the Com- mittee for Industrial Organization, be- fore meeting Miss Perkins. Plan to Reopen Shops. General Motors officials, awaiting receipt of the Secretary of Labor’s summons to the conference, went ahead with preparations to reopen some of their plants, idle because of effects of the strikes. Martin said “mass picketing” was in progress at 17 General Motors plants where men are on strike. The corporation has said these would not be reopened at present. The Workers' Committee of the idle Chevrolet Gear & Axle plant in De- troit made public a telegram to Lewis, asserting that 10,000 workers there “defy you and your malicious, un- American tactics.” It added that “while so far we have * * * voiced our disapproval through lawful and peaceful measures, we have arrived at the point where the families of workers are beginning to feel actual deprivations, and are warning you that unless some effort on your part is made to settle this controversy,’ that we will not be responsible for what may occur in the very near future.” Union picket lines formed at 7 a.m. (See STRIKES, Page A-2) PAGE APPOINTED President Roosevelt today appointed John C. Page of Nevada to be Com- missioner of Reclamation. Page has been acting commissioner since the death of Dr. Elwood Mead. He resides at 6600 Barnaby street. Summary of Page. Amusements B-16 Comics '.....B-12 Editorial A-8 Financial _.A-11 Lost & Found A-3 Obituary -..-A-10 NATIONAL. Drinking water shortage threatens in Cincinnati. Page A-1 Congress to be asked to defray flood relief costs. Page A-1 G. M. C. preparing to reopen plants. Page A-1 Forty trapped by fire in flood-sur- rounded hotel. Page A-5 FOREIGN. Japanese cabinet blocked by army. Page A-2 WASHINGTON AND VICIITY. Night parking ban held “unreason- able” by Judge Curran. Page A-1 $899,717,318 deficiency bill reported to ‘House. Page A-1 House delays action on red rider re- pealer. Page B-1 Acton goes on trial in alleged “debt” murder. Page B-1 Senate committee to consider audi- torjum bill Thursday. Page B-1 Largest electric rate cut here in years proposed 2 Learivs. . _ Fege B-1 ‘Woman'’s Pg. B-10 TRAIN SERVICE HALTED Pennsylvania Discontinues Trips to Louisville. NEW YORK, January 25 (#).—The Pennsylvania Railroad announced last night it was immediately discontin- uing all passenger service into flood- stricken Louisville. Trains from New York, Philadelphia, Chicago and Pittsburgh for the Kentucky city will be halted at Indianapolis until fur- ther notice. Today, however, the railroad will open a local shuttle service between Indianapolis and Jeffersonville, Ind., across the Ohio River from Louisville. A northbound train will leave Jeffer- sonville at 9 am. and will leave In- dianapolis to return at 3 p.m. AID OF CONGRESS SOUGHT IN FLOOD Relief Costs to Be Asked. $4,000,000 Red Cross Immediate Need. By the Associated Press. ‘Word that Congress would be asked to pay relief costs in the flood area came from the White House today. At the same time, the Red Cross asked the Nation to contribute $4,000,- 000 for immediate use in relieving distress. The White House said Congress would be asked for a flood relief ap- propriation as soon as needs were determined. The appropriation will not be inserted in the deficiency-relief bill about to be reported to Congress. Senator Barkley, Democrat, of Ken- tucky called & meeting of members of Congress from the flood area for 3 pm. to discuss with Works Progress Administrator Harry L. Hopkins flood- relief measures. A group of Representatives from the Ohio Valley decided beforehand to ask Congress for an emergency appropria- tion of $10,000,000. Rear Admiral Cary T. Grayson, Red Cross national chairman, issued a call to 3700 chapters to double the relief quotas after receiving word that 400,000 now are homeless. Pre- viously he had asked for $2,000,000, which was in addition to $1,000,000 (See CONGRESS, Page A-5.) Today’s Star . | Pirst deficiency bill, totaling $34,000 for D. C., reported. Page B-1 Colored bandit stages three hold-ups, fails in fourth. Page B-6 EDITORIAL AND COMMENT. This and TThat. Page_A-8 Answers to Questions. Page A-8 Washington Observations, Page A-8 The Political MillL Page A-8 David Lawrence, Page A-9 Paul Mallon. " Page A-9 Headline Folk. Page A-9 Jay Franklin. Page A-9 Dorothy Thompson. Page A-9 FINANCIAL. Rail bonds ease (table). Page A-11 Advertising above year ago. Page A-11 Stocks go down (table). Page A-12 Curb List Mixed (table): Page A-13 Stock seat price sags. Page A-13 Steel rate maintained. ONE OF MDIVANIS ARRESTED INPLOT {His Family Is Linked With “Conspiracy” to Over- throw Communism. B3 the Assoclated Press. MOSCOW, January 25.—Confessed Trotzkyists on trial for plotting the defeat of the Soviet Union at war implicated and caused the arrest of a Mdivani today and testified the ex- iled Leon Trotzky had given this sabotage order: “The more human victims the bet- ter.” Bydy Mdivani, former Soviet com- mercial attache at Paris and identi- fled by Soviet officials as a brother of the marrying Georgian princes, was placed under arrest after testi- mony of two of the 17 defendants had implicated him in the alleged conspiracy. J. N. Drobnis, black-bearded for- mer secretary to the mayor of Moscow, said he (Drobnis) had relayed the Trotzky instructions to Soviet in- dustrial “wreckers.” The schemes were so well drawn, he declared, that although he was arrested last August 6, an explosion planned in the Kuzbas Mines oc- curred September 23, as scheduled. Christian Rakovsky, noted former Ambassador to France, who was the last of the exiled Trotzkyists to re- cant, was implicated in the conspiracy by Drobnis. The defendant said N. I. Muraloff, another of the 17, told him Rakovsky knew of the “Trotzky parallel center” formed to overthrow the Stalin re- e. (Rakovsky, who left his Paris post in 1927 after a stormy international controversy started by his signature on a proclamation urging the workers of all countries to arise, was exiled with Trotzky in 1928. In 1934, how= ever, he submitted to bolshevist rule and returned from Siberia.) Mdivani, known as a disciple of Leon Trotzky before the now banished Bolshevist fell from favor, was said to be a prisoner at Tiflis, Georgia. (Georgia is a republic in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics where, in Czarist days, the Mdivani family were princes of the realm.) His arrest was ordered, officials said, on the strength of testimony yester- (See TRIALS, Page A-2.) 60 Reported Killed in Mine. ANTOFAGASTA, Chile, January 25 (#).—Fifty-eight workmen and two engineers were reported killed today in a catastrophe at the Chuquicamata Mines of the Chile Exploration Co. 20 DIE IN PLUNGE OF BIG FLORIDA BUS INTO CANAL Passengers Are Trapped Under Water Along Tamiami Trail, Only 11 Escaping. FATAL ACCIDENT IS BLAMED ON BREAKING OF FRONT WHEEL Fleet of Ambulances Rushed to Scene as Passing Motorists Gather and Recovgr Bodies. (Wirephoto of bus plunge scene on page A-5.) By the Associated Press. MIAMI, Fla., January 25.—A score of persons drowned today when a large motor bus left the Tamiami Trail in the Florida Everglades and toppled into a canal paralleling the highway. The bus company, Tamiami Trail Tours, Inc., said 31 persons were aboard the west-bound bus, which left here for Fort Myers and Tampa on the Florida West Coast. First reports indicated 11 survived, although several were seriously injured. Robert Singleton, Negro porter, said those who lost their lives were trapped within the coach in 12 to 15 feet of water. Escapes by Breaking Window. He said he broke a window in one corner of the bus and crawled out. Then, he said, he helped all he could to get out through this one exit. Ambulances and a police rescue squad rushed to the scene, 30 miles west of this city. Passing motorists aided in recovering the victims. One ambulance driver, who brought in four bodies, said the accident was “the worst I ever saw.” . Singleton said the right front wheel broke, the big bus luac,hte}:'l f;om side 1to side, rolled over twice and tospled in e deep canal which par: i brosghracions d!:s. parallels the highway through Passengers Are Trapped. Only one corner of the bus remained above water. Thogfn Ytég perished were trapped inside. e otherosl?rvirv%‘sestgagfdetg? breaking a glass and then helped the ne o ese was V. H. Rogers of Walla Walla, Wash. He stood about in a daze calling for hi i trap%:ld berl]legtht:l:e el g for his wife, who apparently was e police station also received a report that 23 had A An ambulance driver returning with fpoglr bo:ies d:scr?ggis htelse accident as “The worst I ever saw.” Bill Hammond of Tampa, veteran driver, was brought in with lacerations of the head. Another survivor, Edward Lisk, seriously injured about the head, accompanied him. “The bus turned and rolled went into the canal,” said Ena DEFICIENCY BILL REORTIHOLSE Bulk of $899,717,318 Ap- propriations for “Recov- ery and Relief.” E5 the Associated Press. The House Appropriations Commit- tee reported an $899,717,318 deficiency bill to the House today, the bulk of it to be used to finance “recovery and relief.” At a last-minute session of the committee, called coincidentally with a White House conference between Speaker Bankhead and the President, it was tentatively decided not to open the measure for inclusion of an emer- gency fiood relief appropriation be- cause the exact needs were as yet un- known. The major item in the bill called for an appropriation of $780,000,000 for recovery and relief, to be spent _(See DEFICIENCY, Page A-5.) Night Parking Ban Is Held “Unreasonable” by Curran The snow removal regulations pro- mulgated by the District Commission- ers were declared by Traffic Judge Edward M. Curran todsy to be arbi- trary, unnecessary and unreasonable. The court will render a decision to- morrow on a motion to quash any in- formation charging Attorney T. Ed- ward O’Connell with parking his au- tomobile on Sixteenth street between the hours of 2 and 8 am. against & regulation prohibiting such parking. The only reason he did not rend his decision today, Judge Curran said, was because there was some doubt in his mind as to whether the case was properly brought on a motion to quash or whether it should have been on a demurrer. Judge Curran’s statement followed erly submitted, although he waived his rights in that connection, stating he was not particularly interested in the outcome of the case in the lower court because he wanted the question definitely settled by the appellate court. While he would not definitely state there would be an appeal in case of & decision adverse to the District, it was indicated this would be done. stated, “If there was anything in the iny would be reasonable. He held, in agreement with O’Con- Commissioners over a couple of times and then Price, a survivor. “That’s all I <¢remember.” The crews of a fleet of ambulances and a large crowd which collected from passing cars set to work to extricate the victims. Men dived beneath the water and emerged with | bodies, which they held until the crews on shore fastened ropes and | dragged them out. No attempt was made to identify the victims at the scene. In the private mortuary here to which they were brought the undertaker refused | to permit their effects to be disturbed ]ulnul police completed their examina- tions. The Tamiami Trail runs through the heart of the Everglades in South Florida, affording the only connection between the cities of the East and West Coast at the lower end of the Florida Peninsula, The country is sparsely settled. Tamiami Trail Tours, Inc., which operates busses over the trail, said the bus which overturned might be the one which left here at 8:30 am. for West Coast points. They said it was full, but had no list of the passengers. Two injured persons were brought to the Coral Gables Clinic, but the ambulance driver who brought them rushed back to the scene without glving any details of the accident. The injured were rushed to the emer- gency ward and were not identified. |~ omcers receivea reports that the bus was traveling 40 to 50 miles an hour at the time of the accident. A later check-up by the Tamiami Trail Tours disclosed 31 persons were on the bus and an incomplete survey (See BUS, Page A-5.) FOUR DIE FIGHTING FLOOD IN COAL MINE Collapse of Walls Is Fatal to ‘Workmen Battling Rising Waters. By the Assoclated Press. NASHVILLE, Tenn. January 25.— A special dispatch to the Nashville Banner from Madisonville, Ky, said four men drowned today when a coal mine caved in while they were fighiing flood waters. The victims were listed” as Fred Monroe, superintendent of the mine;