Evening Star Newspaper, April 27, 1937, Page 2

A2 ¥% ARMY BILL T0PS BUDGET ESTIMATE Military Establishment Measure $25,000,000 Over Current Cost. BACKGROUND— Traditional War Department ap- propriation bill is thing of past. It has been divided into two measures. Today the House Appropriations Committee is reporting first of new bills, for military establishments. Other supply bill, for non-military establishments, is to be handled separately. Procedure is designed to correct false impressions as to oost of Army by separating such actiwities as rivers and harbors and flood control work of Corps of Army FEngincers and other mon-military projects. Including $746,000 for conunuing development of the new Bolling Field, the appropriation bill for the mili- tary establishment was reported to the House today. It carries a total of $416.413,382. Including reappropri- ations totaling $661,850, this bill ex- ceeds current appropriations by $25.- 037.598 and exceeds the budget esti- mates by $358,078. The increases are: Pay of the Army, $5.861329; subsistence, $2,934,516; clothing and equipage, $5,506,221; mulitary post construction, $5415,000; acquisition of Jand, $1.582,000; bar- racks and quarters, $428.832; signal service of the Army, $401114; Air Corps, $1.102,286; ordnance service and supplies, $5,803,630; National Guard, $1.634.021, and Organized Re- serve, $868805. making increases | which total $31,537,754 The decreases are: Travel, military and civil personnel, $417,677; Army fransportation, $695.819; sea coast de- fenses. $4315674, and Reserve Offi- cers Training Corps, $330,276, mak- g the total decreases $5,759,446. Fdgewood Development Disallowed. The estimates included $1,114,000 | for development of the chemical ware fare establishment at Edgewood Ar- senal, 25 miles north of Ealhmore.. This was not allowed, as members of the commititee felt the War De- partment and the Military Affairs Oommittee should restudy the ques- fion whether all chemical warfare | manufacture and the great bulk of the storage should be concentrated in | this one establishment. Total for Bolling Field. The total budget recommendations | for Bolling Field included: Heating | plant, $147,000; telephone construc- tion, $5,750; hangars, $469,050; shops, 475,000, paint, oil and dope storage, $5.550; gas and oil storage, $16,650. It was explained during the hear- ings that already $2.669.456 has been expended in development of the new Bolling Field, and that, after the ap- | propriation recommended today, more than $430,000 will be required to com- W ashington Wayside Random Observations of Interesting Events and Things. PROPHET? ACK EDWARDS of the news- papers got a taste of what a prophet feels like in his own country the other night. Members of the National Press Club and their wives were playing bridge fast and furfously in a tournament in the club auditorfum. Mr. Edwards, who was not playing, walked over and sat down behind a woman he knew among those tilting for the prize. Thoroughly familiar with the eti- quette of the game, Mr. Edwards just sat there, watching the play, saying nothing. Even that was too much for a crochety elderly gentleman playing at the same table, however. “Young man,” he said severely to Jack, “would you mind leaving the room? What are you doing here, anyway?” “No, I wouNin't mind,” said the po- lite Edwards, “and as for what I'm doing, I'm only here because I do- nated the cup for which you are competing.” * ok % X TRA-LA—. Something like a new high in the use of corsages was established at the recent D. A. R. Congress here. Even delegates of least importance sported a few flowers, while officers had many. One D. A. R. official wore three corsages at once, and another dis- played a single corsage of more than a score of orchids. The lady wore the flowers in a rope over her shoulder like a Hawaiian lei. The explanation was that rela- tives, husbands., sons, daughters and ambitious D. A. R. politicians showered corsages on the officers, who had to choose between deck- ing themselves as sort of walking floral displays and hurting some- body's feelings. * % ¥ BROADCAST. L NORTON, master of ceremonies at one of the local cabarets, has taken up amateur radio operating to fill in the small hours of the morning when he's through work, and he re- ports tuning in on the dizziest ccn= | versation of the year a few nights ago. plete the field, including another bar- racks, non-commissioned officers’ | quarters, some officers, quarters and ! some miscellaneous utilities. Relief | funds took care of a seawall. It was emphasized that the new field, when | completed, can be used in all weather | and will provide a safe landing place | for the largest airplanes now con- | templated | The old Bolling Pield will be turned | over to the Navy, under an execitive | order, and all flying cperations of the | Army will be removed to the new field. The old Bolling Field was originally | used by the Army, but some years ago | the War Department allowed the Navy | to come onto the reservation with a | émall hangar for a seaplane. | The proposed apropriation for | Bdgewood Arsenal included $628.179 for magazines, $105263 for rail- | road sidings, $74.000 for moving | and reconditioning ammunition, $65.« 000 for an ordnance assembling plant, $40,000 for a laboratory building, $49,« 800 for water supply, $36,500 1or office and administrative building, $46 375 | for roads, $23,883 for fencing, $24,000 | for a heating plant, $9,500 for a sew- erage system, $3,500 for electric wiring And $8,000 for a film storage building. | These funds were asked for completion | of & storage project ! Rehabilitation Lacking. There has been no rehabilitation of | this plant in recent years out of, emergency funds, as there was no re- lief labor available. Edgewood Ar- xénal is the only Chemical Warfare base and manufacturing plant in the United States. The present estimated value of land, Chemical Warfare, Ordnance, Quartermaster Corps and other buildings and equipment at that plant is $14,500,867. It is estimated the plant could not be duplicated else~ Where for $20,000,000, exclusive of cost of land. Several members of the Appropria- tions Subcommittee visited the senal. In addition to the manufac- ture of gas masks and protective clothing, activities there include the filling of certain chemical ammuni- tion grenades, candles and the man- ufacture of chemicals. Approximately 4,000 additional ¥oung men are to be trained in the citizens’ military training camps this Summer, which means an increased humber at Fort Myer. The training ik progressive through four annual oamps of 30 days each. This four- ¥ear course, plus the Army exten- son course, eventually leads to a commission in the Officers’ Reserve Corps is the trainee so desires. There were actually trained in the current fiscal year 31,480 young men, and with the same appropriation it is ex- pected to increase the number to 35,000. Provision is also being made for a better grade of uniform. In standard law schools in or near the District, the War Department is having 10 ceptains and 2 first lieu- tenants take law courses through Bssignment by the Judge Advocate General's Department, Congress in Brief TODAY. Senate: Considers routine business. Civil Liberties Committee continues Harlan County, Ky., coal fields in- vestigation. Judiciary Committee begins con- sideration of Roosevelt court bill, Hou: Considers repeal of law requiring publication of all corporation salaries of $15,000 or more. Military Committee ends study of anti-war profits legislation. Interstate Commerce Committee opens hearings on petroleum con- servation measures. Rivers and Harbors Committee continues hearings on Florida ship canal. Education Committee studies Har- rison-Black-Fletcher $300,000,000 ed- ucation aid bill. Seems he caught a local short-wave fiend in conversation with a fellow “ham” out in Nebraska. The local lad happened to mention the thought that he could do with a nice mess of oysters, then found himself using up the next hour trying to tell the Ne- braskan, who'd never seen one, just | what is an oyster and why it’s good to eat. Try it yourself sometime—explain- ing an oyster. * % % COLOR. “HE austere simplicity of the monu- mental edifice which now houses Secretary Harold B. Ickes and the De- partment of the Interior has been brightened by a spread of 4 by 9 rubber mats at all the street level entrances. These mats are modern in construction, but purely Indian in color and design. Sporting all the primary colors and showing the geo- metric designs favored by the Indians, they make a cheerful contrast to the tan, white and light gray of the walls and floors and are a reminder that the Indians had distinctive ideas con- cerning art, either with or without a capital A. The story back of the selection of these designs is an interesting one, as the nine patterns were chosen in a contest open to the students of the five Indian schools maintained by the Government. Sixty-four designs were submitted, and the nine selected were by students of Haskell Institute, in Kansas. But the selections repre- sent the ideas of students of eight different tribes—Sioux, Blackfoot, Chippewa, Seneca, Cheyenne, Kicka- poo, Cherokee and Potawatomi. The designs are very similar to those seen on Indian rugs and blan- kets, but each tells a separate story, the inspiration for which is associated with tribal history of the country in which the tribe roamed in nomad days. * ¥ x X SOUR. ’I‘HERE'S & young local marine who's much sadder these days because his lip wasn’t up to normal early on a recent morning. He's & bugler and he was all set to make the junket to London to be one of the official marine buglers at the coronation—he was all set until the other morning. Then, as he was blow- ing reveille, or some such thing, he struck a slightly sour note. A commissioned officer, possibly a music lover, heard the bugle’s mis- fire, canceled the coronation plans, *x K X x MANSION. A. B. Hamilton, University of Maryland aide, whose duties some- times take him to Annapolis, was stopped on the street there by a man who inquired: “Mister, could you tell me the way to the execution house?” Thinking it over a minute, Ham- ilton replied: “Oh, I guess you mean the ez- ecutive mansion.” “Yeh, that’s it” answered the man, who looked like a gardener in search of a job. So Hamilton, who w-s standing on State Circle, pointed out Gov. Nice’'s remodeled residence, which, incidentally, is oficially known & “The Government House.”" Old Gas Tank Erupts. HORNERSVILLE, Mo. (®). e Wells tossed a burning match to the ground near the mouth of a pipe lead- ing to an underground gasoline tank, unused for 17 years. Mud and pebbles bubbled from the pipe. Then the tank, a few feet away, exploded. Wells is well. He wasn't huft. Q THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, D, HARLAN TERRORIST RULE IN' 1937 TOLD Assassination Threats and Bribery Attempts Related by Union Workers. BACKGROUND— After months of probing habits of espionage practiced by some of Nation’s great industries, Senate Civil Liberties Committee turned attention to status of human rights in notorious Harlan County, Ky., home of some of world's richest soft coal flelds. Charges of strong-arm rule through collusion between coal operators and law enforcement agencies have been numerous and refuted only in small part. BY JOHN HENRY. Before a tensely expectant audience, “bloody Harlan's” 1937 rule of terror was spread on the records of the La Follette Civil Liberties Committee to- day. Included in the kaleidoscopic pic- ture of vigilante law and oppression during the first three months of this year were tales of dynamitings, as- sassination and murder threats and bribery attempts directed at intimi- dation of officers and organizers of the United Mine Workers. ‘ Included also was evidence that Kentucky's Gov. A. B. (Happy) Chandler last January gave Harlan's sheriff a clean bill of health on charges brought by forme" Gov. Laffoon, explaining his action by say- ing that records in the case were “lost.”” A committee agent refuted this explanation by testifying the records in question were available in the State Capital only a few weeks ago. Aroused by the testimony, Repre- sentative May, Democrat, of Ken- tucky, who has been present through the morning, took the stand shortly before noon to denounce the “indus- trial despotism” of the county. “If there were the proper kind of co-operative action between the State and county auttorities,” May said, “there would be no such trouble in Harlan. There is & vicious system of control of police activities by the pri- vate corporations.” Ex-Lawmaker Called. Before a capacity audience that in- cluded Harry Hopkins, Federal relief administrator, and John L. Lewis, president of the United Mine Workers and chairman of the Committee for Industrial Organization, youthful John Young Brown, former Representative and now an attorney for the U. M. W, was the first witness called Brown told first how a labor pro- gram scheduled in Harlan last Labor | day had been disrupted by summoning | each of the scheduled speakers before | a grand jury. Such was the fear of Harlan grand juries, Brown said, that virtually all the scheduled speakers failed to appear on the program. At this point Senator La FPollette placed in the records an executive order by Gov. Chandler stating that | records in connection with charges of misfeasance and malfeasance | brought by former Gov. Ruby Laffoon | against Sheriff T. R. Middleton of | | Harlan “had been lost or destroyed,” and, accordingly, the charges were being dismissed. Gov. Chandler stated further that he had found Sheriff Middleton “a competent, efficient and | energetic official.” The order was dated last Janu- ary 186. Tells of Seeing Records. Immediately A. R. Rosenberg of the committee staff took the stand to testify that complete records in the Middleton-Laffoon case were dis- | played to him in offices of the Ken- tucky secreiary of state and adjutant general in Frankfort, Ky, only a few weeks ago. L. T. Armett, U. M. W. organizer, next took the stand to tell of 1937 organizing efforts in Harlan On January 11, he said, he registered at the New Harlan Hotel with a group | of organizers. Meeting Deputy Allen Bowlen in the lobby, Arnett said, he told the officer that a peaceful organizing drive ‘was planned. “You're a damned fool if you think you can do it peacefully,” Arnett quoted Bowlen, who was sitting nearby in the hearing room. Being boyhood acquaintances, Arnett testified, Bowlen said: “If I'm caught talking to you, they'll kill me in 15 minutes.” At a later meeting, according to Arnett, Bowlen said: “You fellows are going to get killed. T can protect you, but you'll have to get me some money for it. I can tell you where and when to move around.” Arnett said he never took sdvan- tage of the proposition. Warned of Dynamiting. Arnett said he later was warned that dynamiting of his hotel room was contemplated and that when he failed to move out he was told if he would leave the county he would be paid more than the U. M. W. would pay him in a lifetime. He made no answer, he said. On the night of January 22, Arnett said, he was awakened to find three tear-gas bombs outside his door. Calling Sheriff Middleton to the stand, La Follette introduced invoices for purchase by the sheriff’s office of guns and gas grenades. Included in the latter were six “triple chaser” grenades, which the sheriff said had been used in a “demonstration.” He denied knowing the serial numbers, Committee Agent Jack B. Burk took the stand to testify that Middleton had refused to let him see the ex- ploded shells found outside the hotel room of Arnett. Tells of “Auto Ride” Plot. Later, Mrs. Martha Howard, wife of a previous witness, took the stand to tell how a deputy named John Hickey had offered her $100 for each instance of luring one of the U. M. W. organizers out for an automobile ride. “T'll attend to him then” she quoted Hickey. She turned down the offer, she said. In the audience while Arnett was on the stand was Representative May of Kentucky. After seVeral other acts of intimi- dation, including the dynamiting of two automobiles owned by the organ- izers, they left the county under protection of Sheriff Ridings of ad- joining Bell County. On January 25 William Turnblazer, U. M. W. official, wrote to Middleton, recounting the instances of intimida- tion and asking protection, but, as on & previous occasion, the letter was re- turned unopened and marked ‘“re- fused.” Organisers Fired Upon. On February 8, Arnett continued, & carload of organizers was fired upon and one man wounded. With the dis~ abled, the organizers, including the wounded man, left the county in a bus. Bherift l(mdlem.tnd some of the | also had traced expenditures of $102.« committee for a long time. Benators Financier SHERIFF THEODORE R. MIDDLETON Of Harlan County admitted before the La Follette com- mittee yesterday to three years of business dealings in- voh:ing more than $102,000 since he became sheriff. Harris-Ewing Photo. deputies were in attendance as they left the county, he said. After being advised in March by Adjt. Gen. G. Lee McClain that they would be unwise to go into Harlan again, the U. M. W. stayed out of the county until April 21. Bowlen, who acknowledged having served a prison term for murder in Frankfort, next was called to the atand. He was reappointed a deputy sheriff | in Harlan in 1936 after being re- leased from prison. Bowlen's version of his conversa- tion with Arnett was that the latter had offered him a job as an organizer at $125 per month. Transcript of testimony together with all records assembled by the committee in developing the financial manipulations of High Sheriff Theoe dore R. Middleton of Harlan County were to be turned over today to the Bureau of Internal Revenue. Previous to the sheriff'’s action of | yesterday afternoon in declining to | answer further questions about his personal income and expenses since taking office in 1934, the committee had brought out by questioning of Middleton that he had taken in about $33,000 in three years in salary, commissions, dividends and other forms of income while acquiring stocks and property costing more than $102,000. With this information to be studied by the income tax division, the com- mittee today returned to the practices | of vigilante rule in “bloody Harlan.” | Among those scheduled to testify was | Marshall A. Musick, U. M. W. or- ganizer and mountaineer preacher, whose son was killed by gunmen in February. Examine Financial Practices. Holding only one session yesterday, the committee devoted the entire afternoon to examination of the finan- cial practices of Sheriff Middleton Succeeding in developing the fact that Middleton received $11,789 in- come as sheriff during the years 1934, 1935 and 1936, and $20,075 more in other income, the committee 728 before the witness declared his intention to stand upon his consti- tutional rights and decline to answer further questions of that nature for fear it would involve him in legal ac- tion with the Federal Government over income tax obligations. VJ ll(li (Continued Prom Pirst Page) ciary Logan proposal to vote two weeks hence on all amendments and the bill, & vote on the McCarran amendment may be delayed. During the meeting Senator Mc- Carran also suggested it might be advisable to appoint a subcommittee to whip the court bill into shape, with the idea that some compromise might thus be reached. Unless the Logan proposal or some modification of it is agreed to, the oourt bill may be before the Senate said after leaving the committee to- day that debate and amendments would undoubtedly be lengthy. Under the Logan proposal two full weeks would be given for discussion and then the committee would get down to the work of voting. Such a plan would avoid perhaps any test vote on the bill for another two weeks. Van Nuys May Give Test. However, if Senator Van Nuys in- sists upon his motion to separate the bill, & real test may be had without 8 much delay. Some of the Sena- tors said they would support Van Nuys’ proposal and that they believed it had a good chance of being adopt- ed. If that were the case it would be a blow to the administration, which is insisting upon keeping the bill as a whole, with the Supreme Oourt program included. Senator Ashurat, chairman of the committee, said that it was his plan | matchstick as he sat at his desk. to have the committee meet every day except Saturday until the court bill is disposed of. Although the chair- man would not commit himself on any proposal today, it is understood he is favorable to the Logan proposal to vote two weeks hence. Perhaps the chief development-of the meeting today was the apparent determination on the part of members of the committee to go ahead with all amendments and vote on them prior to voting on the bill itself. Radio Carries Debate. Public debate over the President's proposal continuea last night in radio speeches by Attorney General Cum- mings end Senator Bridges, Repub- lican, of New Hampshire. Cummings said the court bill was a “direct, simple, workable and con- stitutional” measure for ending & sit- uation in which the Government finds four of the Supreme Court’s nine votes “lost to it in advance.” Bridges contended it would set up “an all-powerful executive Govern- ment.” “No dictator ever ran on a piatform calling for a dictatorship,” he said, “and it is no sufficient answer to deny that a dictatorship is the aim of the group in control.” AR Ice in “Fresh-Killed” Chicken. WINCHESTER, Va. () —Poultry dealers today received an order to discontinue immediately the practice of selling cold-storage fowl as “fresh killed.” Order was signed by Mayor C. R. Anderson. Purchaser had found ice in a chicken s0ld as “fresh killed.” NT“ was Mayor, INCREASED DEFICIT SEEN IN CONGRESS Snell and Byrd Believe Fig- ures Will Far Exceed Presi- dent’s Estimate. BACKGROUND— Powerful drive for ecomomy in government has developed in past Jew weeks as tar revenues fell short of expected totals and various special groups increased pressure Jor costly legislation. In Senate, economy fight is being led by Byrd of Virginia, who favors reorganization of departmental set= up as best means of cutting costs. In House, fight was touched off by Republicans with proposal that appropriation bdills be slashed flat 10 per cent. By the Associated Press. ‘Two prominent members of Congress predicted today the Government's deficit for 1938 would be more than the $418,000,000 mentioned by Presi- dent Roosevelt. Representative Snell of New York, the House Republican leader, declared there was a strong possibility the Gov- ernment would go “in the red” about $2,000,000,000 unless the administra- tion changes its entire spending policy. Senator Byrd, Democrat, of Virginia, chairman of a committee studying Government reorganization, said next year’s deficit would approach $500,- 000,000, with expenditures $102,000,000 greater than this year. His figures, he said, were based on the President’s message of last week. Snell said the President’s estimate does not take into account the extra expenditures Congress always approves. How many of these extra appro- priations has he vetoed?” asked the New Yorker, biting deliberately on a | Demands Statement. He 3aid he wanted to see a definite statement from the President before he would believe legisiation for farm tenancy aids, housing and crop in- surance had been abandoned. Speaker Bankhead said he believed the measures mentioned would not be enacted, although he personally hoped for passage of tenancy aids. Bankhead added the administra- tion’s economy drive would put the House in a position to clear its cal- endar within a “few weeks.” He told newsmen President Roose- velt's court reorganization program, now before the Senate Judiciary Committee, made speculation on the end of the seasion difficult, however, Economy sentiment in Congress divided between a horizontal 10 per oent reduction in Government ex- penditures and a saving of millions by consolidating agencies and reduc- ing personnel Senator Byrd, lukewarm toward Pproposals for a flat cut, said if “those in authority” allow fair consideration of his bill to unite the Federal Hous- ing Administration and the Home Owners’ Loan Corp. he would draft & series of other consolidations. Garner Believed Active. Some friends believed Vice President Garner was active in behalf of the suggestion by Senator Byrnes, Demo- | crat, of South Carolina, to reduce by one-tenth all appropriations for the fiscal year beginning July 1. Senator Borah, Republican, of Idaho, and others contended for s selective approach in making cuts. The situation contrasted with the economy campaign of 1933, when Congress authorized the President to | save $500,000.000 a vear by cuts in| veterans' allowances and Federal pay. | No suggestions for similar reductions | now are being made. Various Sena- tors pointed out that those original cuts were largely restored in & matter | of months. Representatives Scott, Democrat, of California, and Bigelow, Democrat, of Ohio, said they would seek to have part of the proposed $1,600,000,000 re- lief fund earmarked for developing self-help co-operatives. “Pinancing the destitute 30 they can produce their own consumption goods is a cheap and practical form TUESDAY, APRIL 27, PURVIS WEDDING of relief,” Bigelow said. . Taxes (Continued From !lut Page)) tax on insurance companies $200,000. Theee three bills constituted only & part of the tax increase program to be submitted by the Commissioners. The District is confronted with rais- ing $6,000,000 in additional revenue in the coming fiscal year to meet an anticipated budget deficit of that amount. The three bills submitted by the Commissioners will raise less than one-half that amount. Commissioner Hazen pointed out consideration is being given to a sales tax as a means of raising some of the balance needed to offset the prospec- tive revenue shortage. A sales tax on tobacco is one specific proposal being considered. The Commissioners submitted the preliminary tax increase program after Capt. H. C. Whitehurst, director of highways. had explained the need of an increase in the gasoline tax to finance the activities of the Highway Department. The Commissioners’ tax proposals were approved yesterday in session with their special tax committee. They took no action on the proposed tax on cigarettes and tobacco, refer- ring the matter to Chester Grey, as- sistant corporation counsel, for further study. Haszen explained, however, it is possible the tobacco tax would be approved if an easy way could be found to administer it. It would necessitate applying revenue stamps. A _plan for a new corporation tax on gross receipts of all corporations in the District was turned over to Rich- mond B. Keech, vice chairman of the Public Utilities Commission, for draft- ing. Keech estimated such a tax could easily be made to produce from $2,- 000,000 to $3,000,000 or more. Consideration also is to be given to an inheritance tax and there was some talk yesterday of an income tax. The District has no inheritance tax at present. Chairman Kennedy of the House District Subcommittee on Taxes an- nounced today s new procedure, primarily designed to expedite prep- aration of a tax program. He disclosed, as hearings were resumed, that the subcommittee would develop its own tentative program before inviting civic and business leaders to testify. ‘The original plan of prooedure con- tempiated calling these persons im- mediately after District officials had been questioned about their views on new tax legislation. “I don't see any reason for ealling the ecivie gnd business leaders befors 1937, Wedding “Postppned” MELVIN PURVIS AND JANICE JARRATT. —Wide World Photo. the subcommittee to discuss all the tax bills pending before it, because some of them undoubtedly will be scrapped,” said Kennedy. “I think the subcommittee should give them something tangible to shoot at. “For that reason I plan to have the subcommittee, as soon as possible, work out a tentative program of tax- ation that will raise the needed $6.- 000,000 and then call on the civic and business leaders to discuss it. I think that should be done in the in- terest of eficiency. Time now is a serious element in this tax study. It's just a little over two months before the beginning of the new fiscal year, and I think Congress owes it to the District to have the new tax program on the statute books by that time." The Commissioners’ proposal for a graduated weight tax on automobiles | would displace the existing $1 tax | on tags, but would not disturb the | personal property tax now levied on motor vehicles. The schedule of registration fees would work out as follows: Class A, passenger vehicles with s seating capacity of less than eight passengers exclusive of driver: Not more than 3,500 pounds, $5. 3,500 pounds up to 4,500 pounds, 8 Over 4,500 pounds, $12. Fees are doubled when equipped with other than pneumatic tires. Class B, trucks, tractors, trailers and passenger vehicles for hire carrying more than eight passengers in addi- tion to driver Not more than 2,000 pounds, $15. 2,000 pounds up to 4,000 pounds, $20. 4.000 pounds up to 6,000 pounds, $35. 6.000 pounds up to 8,000 pounds, $50. 8,000 pounds up to 10,000 pounds, $65. 10,000 pounds up to 12,000 pounds, $75. 12,000 pounds up to 16,000 pounds, $100. Over 16.000 pounds, $150. Fees are doubled when equipped with other than pneumatic tires. Class C—Motor cycle, motor bicycle, motor tricycle and motor wheel, $5 each. Class D—Motor vehicles not pro- pelied by gasoline, double the fees for similar vehicles propelled by gasoline. Class E—For dealers’ identification tags, first three sets of tags, $25, and $5 for each additional set. Late Registration Half. When application for registration of any vehicle is received on or after | August 1 the registration fee shall be[ one-half the usual amount From the 3-cent tax on gasoline approximately $1,100,000 would be turned over for the exclusive use of highway development, improvement and maintenance, leaving some $500,- 000 for impounding in the general fund for support of the District gov- ernment. It also imposes a $5 license fee on gasoline stations. Chairman Kennedy of the House subcommittee has his own ideas about some of these tax proposals. He | would apply the weight tax on auto- mobiles only to commercial vehicles. On so-called pleasure cars he would place a tax on horsepower, similar to the tax imposed in Maryland, which is 32 cents per rated horsepower. ‘The Commissioners’ proposal, how- ever, works out slightly less on aver- age weight cars than would a horse- power tax. Virginia has a weight tax of 40 cents per 100 pounds on private vehicles as well as a personal property tax. The Collins measure sets up al weight tax somewhat similar to the one proposed by the Commissioners but abolishes the personal property tax. With respect to the proposed 1.5 per cent increase in the insurance tax, the Commissioners believe the levy would still be somewhat lower than similar taxes imposed in most other States. 1-Cent Gas Tax Asked. Capt. Whitehurst was next called, and urged an increase of 1 cent rather than 2 cents in gasoline taxes. He explained a 1-cent increase would yleld $1,100,000 more in revenue and permit development of a satisfactory highway program provided Federal aid is made available under the Fed- eral aid highway act. Capt. Whitehurst also pointed out that a 3-cent local tax on gas would make $3,700,000 a year available for highway improvements. Reducing the amount that would be diverted to sup- port some of the activities of the De- partment of Vehicles and Traffic, as provided in the 1938 district appro- priation bill as it passed the House, | he sald there would be $3,475,000 available in the coming fiscal year for | the Highway Department. “This sum of $§3,475,000,” he said, “is $477,000 less than the annual average appropriation of the Highway Department for the nine years, 1925 to 1933, inclusive. During this period the annual average appropriation was $3,952,283, of which a little more than 50 per cent was paid from the general funds of the District. During the period from 1934 to 1937, inclusive, the annual average from Distriet funds was only $2,678,812, with over 90 per cent being paid from the gas tax fund. During the years 1934 to 1936, inclusive, the annual average of $2,678,812 was supplemented by an annual average of $1,280,000 from the Bureau of Public Roads varicus e act funds, making s total of funds available for these years of $3,958812, a sum almost identical with the period 1925 to 1933 of $3,- 952,283. For the fiscal year 1937 the | passes and viaducts, could be pre- |8id as proposed in Senate bill 978, | would be in a position to meet the total available is only $2,610,880. "Wit*vnfly & similar amount— ‘ $2,792 820—proposed for 1938 ani | urgent demands due to city-wide growth and development, the situation | is critical. This is especially true due | to the increased cost of materials and | labor, making the current and pro- posed appropriations even less than they appear to be in comparing them | with prior appropriations. Large | quantities of urgent work of nearly | all classifications are necessary to cope with the situation confronting the Highway Department, “Highway Department needs at this | time for street and bridge division work are urgent. The rapid growth of the city, increase of traffic and the | accumulation of necessary work of all characters demand an annual fuud | availability of certainly not less than that of prior years. Even a similar amount would produce less improve- ment due to increased unit cost and broader activities. The department is faced today with the necessity of pav- ing at a cost of more than one and one-half million dollars local or resi- dential streets where the abutting property is more than 75 per cent improved. “The urgent need for street widen- ing, grade separations, etc., to par- tially relieve traffic congestion is ap- parent to all. The estimated cost for repaving abandoned street car track areas exceeds $500,000. Main thor- oughfare development to meet traffic needs and permit development of property is of equal importance to other needs of the city. Ample jus- tification that would warrant the an- nual expenditure of two million dol- lars, in addition to regular operating expense, for the next flve years for new paving, widening, bridge con- struction and major highway changes, including grade separations, under- sented. U. 8. Aid Would Meet Demands. “With approximately $3,475.000 an- | nually available for street and bridge division activities from the gas tax fund, the department, with Federal urgent demands through a definite and progressive program of development that is essential to the growth of the city and necessary to meet the traffic | situation. “Senate bill 978, which has passed | the Senate, provides for the inclusion of the District of Columbia in the Federal aid highway act. The District would not participate until the fiscal year 1939 (July 1, 1938). Under the present authorization of Congress the District will receive, if this bill is finally approved, approximately $609.- 000. When added to $3,475,000 esti- mated availability from our funds the total of $4,084,000 will give & sum only slightly more than the department had annually available from 1925 to 1936 inclusive. “In estifating the amount needed for the department in order to meet | the situation, we have counted upon | the amount that we expect to receive from Federal aid. The passage of this bill through the House is considered equally as urgent as the amendment presented herewith, Division Is Opposed. “While the tax of 4 cents proposed in ‘several bills already introduced in | the House could, without diverting | any of the revenue from highway purposes, be fully justified to meet the urgent situation confronting the Dis- trict, it is believed by the increase to 3 | cents proposed in the amendment a satisfactory program can be formulated provided Federal aid is made available | and there is no diversion to any otber | activity or use.” Representative Nichols, Democrat, of Oklahoma registered his opposition | to an increase in the gas tax on the | ground that this source of re nue al- ready is bearing its fair share of the | tax burden. He said he favored an | equal distribution of the tax load over | the entire taxing fleld. | “If that is done” he declared, | “there will be plenty of money avail- | able without loading any one business or individual.” Nichols expressed the belief that a sales tax is & most “painless” form of taxation. Commissioner Hazen ex= plained that this form of taxation, in connection with tobacco, already is| under consideration. | Richmond B. Keech, vice chair- man of the Public Utilities Commis- sion, the first witness, submitted a report showing periodical reductions in telephone rates since 1932, and | the amount of taxes paid by the| various public utility corporations. Keech, however, said the commis- sion is not yet prepared to make recommendations for new taxes on the utility corporations. He pointed out this question is under consideration by the Commissioners’ Tax Commit- tee, of which he is a member. Representative Dirksen, Republican, of Illinois questioned Keech about operating revenues of the Capital Transit Co. He said they are in- creasing. Dirksen asked him to sub- mit later a statement comparing the company’s operating revenus last year with that in 1936. Dirksen also wanted to know where the “water” i in the transit com- pany stock. “There isn't any,” Keech replied. — Present and Prompt for 8 Years. BLACKWATER, Mo, April 27 (#).— Guy Wilson was graduated from the eighth grade recently with a record of not missing & day’s school or even 10 ACTRESS OFF Ex-G-Man and Model Post- pone Ceremony on Eve of Performance. Br (he Assoclated Press SAN ANTONIO, Tex., April 27— Melvin Purvis, who got his man—Jonn Dillinger—-when a Federal agent, to- day apparently had lost, at least temporarily, the woman of his heart, Miss Janice Jarratt. photographer's model and screen actress. The ex-Federal agent and Miss Jar- ratt’s nuptials, previously announced for Thursday, were “indefinitely post- poned” last night with “no comment.” Tersely, A. J. Rummel, brother-in- law of Miss Jarratt, made the an- nouncement. Miss Jarratt left the city in an auto- mobile with two girl friends, reportediy headed for a ranch near Victoria, Tex. Purvis, who flew here from San Pran- cisco a week ago, checked out of a hotel. Neither was reached for come ment. Rummel was asked if a future date | would be set. “I have no comment,” he answered Previously, Rummel had telephoned San Antonio society editors requesting that an announcement of an affair in honor of the couple scheduled for to- day would be canceled. Both Miss Jarratt and Purvis attended a break- fast honoring them yesterday. A dinner party honoring the couple was canceled late yesterday afternoon. Miss Jarratt figured in an automo- bile collision a few days ago but was not injured, Rummel said. He also denied that a movie contract Miss Jar- | ratt canceled had anything to do with the wedding postponement. AUTO INSURANCE FOR D. C. PRESSED Representative Opens Drive as Result of Injury of Six Sightseers. Representative Millard, Republican, of New York initiated a determined campaign today to require taxicabs and other public vehicles in the Dis- trict to carry liability insurance as the result of an accident in which six high school students from Bedford Village, N. Y., were seriously injured while sightseeing in Washington about & month ago. The children, en route from Con- gressional Library to a downtown hotel were in a taxicab when it collided with another vehicle at an intersec- tion. The impact threw the children through the top of the cab and all were injured. One of them suffered a broken back and is still in the hos- pital Millard explained the children came to Washington with money they had saved over a four-year period and thelr parents could not afford to pay the hospital bill. An effort to force the driver of the cad to pay the ex- penses, he said, disclosed he did not own the vehicle, had no liability in- surance or cash and that his assets consisted of a small equity in a house, Indignant over this situation, Mil= lard late yesterday reintroduced the old McLeod automobile responsibility bill, but discovered afterward it was similar to an existing law and would not require cabs to carry liability prior to an accident. Now he plans to with- draw this measure and introduce one that will apply to public vehicles as soon as they go into service. RS WOODRING NAMED WAR SECRETARY Nomination Sent to Senate by President for Confirma- tion. The nomination of Harry H. Wood- ring of Kansas to be Secretary of War was sent to the Senate today by Presi= dent Roosevelt. Woodring has been serving as Secretary under a recess ap- pointment since the death of Secretary | Dern. This action by the President re- moves any doubt that may have existed about Woodring's tenure in the cabines a& being only for a temporary period. When Secretary Dern died while Mr. Roosevelt was campaigning in the Par West last Pall, Woodring. who was then Assistant Secretary of War. be~ came Acting Secretary. Inasmuch as the law stipulates that an Acting Sec- retary may serve only for 30 days, the President, before the expiration of that temporary period, gave Acting Secre- tary Woodring a recess appointment as | Secretary. At the time it was understood that it was actually a temporary appoint ment. Unless the nomination was sub- mitted during the present session of the Senate, Woodring's recess ap- pointment would have expired when the Senate adjourned. The President also sent to the Sen- ate the name of Harold P. Burke of Rochester, N. Y., to be United States District Judge for the Western dis- trict of New York. _l;ari(ing_ (Continued Prom First Page.) the committee. Other members are Capt. Hugh P. Oram, District director of inspection; Edward A. Dent, District surveyor, and John Nolen, jr., director of planning for the National Capital Park and Planning Commission The committee was instructed to recommend what may be done under existing law and regulations. and to suggest any legislation that it may consider necessary. Capt. Oram said he understood the proposed requirement of off-street parking for the tenants of flats and apartments would apply to the con- struction of new muitiple-family buildings. He sald he did not know how the proposed requirement could be applied to bulldings already erected. In the past, there have been sug- gestions for regulations banning all- night parking in the streets, a rule which prevails in many of the larger cities. Surveys have indicated, how- ever, there are some sections so thickly built up with row houses, flats and apartments that off-street ga- Tages could not easily be provided for all the car owners of the imme- diate vicinity without the razing of some existing structures. It has been suggested, for this rea- son, that a period of years might be being tardy during the entire eight yoars. allowed before the requirement went into effect in such s community. g