Evening Star Newspaper, May 16, 1937, Page 1

WEATHER. (U. 8. Weather Bureau Forecast.) Increasing cloudiness, followed by light showers tonight or tomorrow; not much change in temperature; gentle, shifting , Full Associated Press News and Wirephotos ‘winds. p.m. yesterday; lowest, 54, ‘Temperatures—Highest, 68, at 4 , at 5:30 am. yesterday. Full report on Page B-4. () Means Associated Press. No. 1,678—No. 33,983. Entered as second class matter post office, Washington, D. O. he WITE DAILY EVENING EDITION unday St WASHINGTON, D. C, SUNDAY MORNING, MAY 16, 1937—132 PAGES. « - COURT BILL'S FOES WELCOME BATTLE WITHOUT QUARTER * McCarran and Wheeler Hold Present Measure Is Sure to Be Beaten. COMMITTEE TO VOTE ON MEASURE TUESDAY Adverse Report Declared Certain. Rumor Justices Will Retire Is Scouted. BACKGROUND— President Roosevelt's plan for cnlargement of Supreme. Court has caused serious break in Demo- cratic ranks and the resulting fight has delayed other legislation and threatened to carry congressional scssion to late in Summer. Pleas for compromise were raised after Supreme Court upheld constitu- tionality of Wagner labor relations act. Indications have been the Senate Judiciary Committee would oppose plan in present form. Show= down was expected after Roose- velt’s return from vacation. BY G. GOULD LINCOLN, The *no compromise” challenge, issued by President Roosevelt on his return to Washington yesterday, was taken up immediately by senatorial opponents of his bill to increase the membership of the Supreme Court , by & maximum of six new justices. Benator McCarran, Democrat, of Nevada, sponsor of the most discussed compromise—an increase in the mem- bership of the court from 9 to 11— issued a statement last night in which he said there might be no compromise offered if the President maintained his attitude. - He threatened, in effect, to let the President’s bill stand as it is and go to a vote in the Senate. He predicted its defeat. Another leading opponent of the President’s Supreme Court program, Benator Wheeler, Democrat, of Mon- tana, long recognized as a liberal, said that, as matters stand today, there are 49 Senators—a majority—who will aurely vote against the bill. He added that he knew of four other Senators ‘who “very probably” will vote against it. Statement of McCarran. Referring to the “no compromise” statements made by Senator Robinson of Arkansas, Democratic leader, and Postmaster General Farley, at the White House Friday afternoon, Sen- ator McCarran said: “Perhaps those of us who have been inclined to interpose compromise with the hope that we might go on with the legitimate business of the Congress will now be inclined to withdraw our proposal. This, it appears from re- ports, emanating from yesterday's White House conferences, would be more in keeping with the attitude of the other side. “We have been willing by means of the substitute bill now pending before the Judiciary Committee to do the thing lawfully, whereas the admini- stration plan is unlawful and uncon- stitutional. We could, under the sub- stitute bill, enlarge the personnel of the court by two and probably bring « Into the court representative residents of all circuits. The so-called Presi- dent’s bill offers no such legal change. “If, as it appears, there is to be no willingness to compromise, it might be the attitude of those who are against the administration plan to offer no compromise, instead to bring the is- 4ue to a straight-out vote, and we've got them licked.” Committee Votes Tuesday. ‘This week will bring the first actual thowdown on the President’s bill, when the 18 members of the Senate Judi- clary Committee meet Tuesday to vote on the measure and all amendments thereto. The bill, as it stands, is de- feated in the committee by at least 10 to 8. Some of the opponents of the measure say that the vote against the (See JUDICIARY, Page A-6.) 24 HELD IN RAIDS HEADED BY HOOVER 85 Federal Agents Aided by Po- lice in Baltimore Vice Clean-Up. » By the Assoclated Press. . BALTIMORE, May 15—Thirty-five Federal agents, led by J. Edgar Hoover, chief of the Federal Bureau of Inves- .. tigation, arrested 24 men and women tonight in a series of vice raids here. ‘With Baltimore police co-operating, the agents swooped down without warning on a number of alleged dis- orderly houses. They closed eight of . them and took their occupants to the Federal Building for questioning. The officers struck shortly before midnight. They made their arrests on warrants issued by United States Commissioner James J. Cullen. ‘The raids followed an extensive in- estigation into the white slave traffic here. Hoover said the agents partici- .pating were gathered from various of the East. District Attorney J. Bernard Flynn and his sssistant, T. Barton Harring- « ton, jolned the officers in the raids. ffhe names of those arrested were withheld pending further investi- , “The raids in Baltimore are part of the Department of Justice's coun- try-wide investigation of the white ‘slave traffic,” Hoover said. “Other raids have been conducted gecently in Connecticut, New York. Mismi and other cities in Florida. “I cannot reveal the other centers which will receive our attention, for the obvious reason that such a reve- lation would defeat the purposes of * the campaign. Rldiol_’;);rm, Page F-3. D ; Cemplete Index, Page A-2. Is Jordon Guilty? Star Reporter Tells How He Found *Incidental” Which Led to Stay of Execution. The following article by Mr. Love, a Star reporter, is not written as a plea for Thomas Jordon, convicted and sentenced to death for murder. Mr. Love does npt contend that Jordon is inmocent: He writes to give some of the developments which led to the President’s stay of execution for Jordon—developments in which Love's interest in the case led him to take part—and as a resume of some factors, now under investigation by the Department of Justice, which will be weighed in the final decision regarding Jordon’s fate. BY PHILIP H. LOVE, HIS is the true story—told in print for the first time—of how my discovery of a six-year-old police “incidental” helped to win a 30-day stay of execution from President Roosevelt for Thomas Jordon, con- demned to die in the electric chair for the hold-up murder of Mrs. Lizzie S. Jaynes. I covered the first story of the Jaynes shooting. My interest in the case was revived several months ago when Jordon, through his attorney, Harry T. Whelan, asked me to visit him in the District jail. Y He sent for me, he explained, be- cause I had interviewed him on two previous occasions, and he felt that he had been given “a square deal” innocent of the first degree murder charge on which he had been con- i ~ M Although he insisted that he was | [ victed by a jury in District Court on March 27, 1936, I remained uncon- vinced—and told him so. “I don’t blame you for not be- . lieving me,” Jordon said. “I sort of expected you to think I was just Ppoppin’ of the chair. Philip Love, SECURITY RULING TOMORROW SEEN {Supreme Court Members Confer in Preparation for Session. BACKGROUND— The social security program and the holding company act of 1935— integral features of the permanent reform program of the Roosevelt administration—have been sub- jected to court attacks in many jurisdictions. Forty-three States and the District have unemploy- ment compensation insurance laws and 26,610,000 employes and 2,700,= 000 employers are paying old-dge benefit assessments, By the Associated Press. The Supreme Court met in secret conference yesterday to prepare for a session tomorrow which may produce an epochal opinion on constitution- ality of the administration's social se- curity legislation, the major contro- versy among the 28 cases awaiting decision before the justices adjourn for the Summer early next month. The Electric Bond & Share Co. and 26 utility subsidiaries meanwhile threw into the lap of the court the fight over another top-ranking Roose- velt administration law—the 197. act regulating public utility holding com- panies. The utilities asked the court to review a decision by Judge Julian W. Mack of ‘the New York Federal District Court requiring that they comply with the law by registering with the Securities and Exchange Commission for regulatory purposes. If the’ court agrees to review the controversy, arguments probably will be heard next October, followed by a final decision a few weeks later. The litigants sought a Supreme Court re- view without waiting for the cus- tomary ruling by the Circult Court of Appeals. Litigants sometimes are permitted to skip a Circuit Court if the controversy is considered to be of outstanding public importance. Utility Companies’ Contention. In their petition the utility com- panies said that “from the standpoint of the public interest, the urgency and importance of a prompt and final determination by this court of the question presented in this case can- not be exaggerated.” Through Attorneys Thomas D. Thacher and John F. MacLane they argued that the ‘“sole purpose and effect” of the registration requirement “is to prohibit the use of the mails and the facilities of interstate com- merce unless the holding company by registration submits to an unconsti- tutional regulation of its affairs.” Government attorneys have sought to delay prosecution of other litiga- tion involving the act until a final decision could be obtained on the Electric Bond & Share case. They have picked this litigation as a test case. Social Security Issues. At stake in the social security liti- gation are:” 1. Constitutionality of the old-age pension provisions of the Federal act under which employers and ¢ nployes are taxed to provide benefit for the workers when they reach 65. A total of 26,610,000 employes and 2,700,000 employers are paying the assessment. George P. Davis of Waltham, Mass., challenged the pension system in a suit to prevent the Edison ic Tlluminating Co. of Boston, of which he is & stockholder, from paying the levy. The Circuit Court at Boston held the legislation unconstitutional. 2. The unemployment insurance provisions of the Federal act under which employers of eight or more persons are taxed to provide bene- fits for the jobless. They may de- duct 90 per cent of the assessment provided it is paid into a State un- employment compensation fund ap- proved by the Federal Social Security Board. . This part of the act was attacked by the Charles C. Steward Machine Co. of Alabama. The Circuit Court at New Orleans upheld the legisia- tion. 3. Constitutionality of laws passed by 43 States and for the District of Columbia to provide unemployment compensation in line with the pur- pose of the Federal measure. These i States protect 18,530,000 workers, ‘ off because—well, “I know I'm going to have to burn, ard I guess there’s nothing much that anybody can do to stop it now. Just the same, I can’t help feeling that there are & lot of things about my case that haven't been investigated as thoroughly as they should have been. And that's one of the reasons why I sent for you. You're the guy that dug up most of that third-degree stuff for The Star back in 1931, and—well, I figured you might be willing to do a little digging on this.” (See JORDON, Page A-4.) i because ‘ Thomas Jordon, e C.1. 0. GIVES STEEL TEN DAYS TO SIGN “Inevitable” Strikes Hinted by Murray Unless Speedy Agreements Reached. BACKGROUND— While schism constantly widens between A. F. of L. and C, I. O. factions in labor’s ranks, C. 1. O. has blazed ahead in enrolling thou- sands in various unions, banking for support on labor relations act, which guarantees to workers the right to organize for eollective bargeining. Ultimate result of craft-industry war between labor leaders reaches beyond men themselves to princi- ples involved. By the Associated Press. PITTSBURGH, May 15.—Philip Murray, delegated the power to force signed contracts with five big inde- pendent steel corporations, hinted to- night‘ a strike call might be-issued “within 10 days” unless agreements were reached. “We are handling each case as separate and distinct problems, but I would say that a very definite an- nouncement will be' made in each case within 10 days,” asserted the soft- spoken chairmen of the Steel Workers® Organizing Committee, & unit of the John L. -Lewis Committee for Indus- trial Organization. “If the companies persist in refusing to sign labor contracts strikes are in- evitable,” he added. Murray was referring to the Bethle- hem, Republic, Youngstown Sheet and Tube, Inland and Crucible Steel Corps., who employ almost 200,000 workers. . Three Refuse to Sign. The first three concerns definitely have declined to sign the contracts calling for exclusive bargaining agency powers for their workers as demanded by Murray. Murray said the first crisis would likely develop next Tuesday when A. P, Hofnagle, chairman of Crucible Steel, meets with him here. Lodge presi- dents of this concern’s union locals | ‘will be present “so that we can speedily transmit our orders after this confer- ence,” said Murray. Another conference has been sched- uled for Tuesday, May 25, with the chairman of the Inland Steel Corp. in Chicago. Lodge presidents also will be present, ready, to transmit other orders should this meeting fail to bring a signature, the union chieftain said. Between these two meetings will be held the Government -supervised election at Jones & Laughlin Steel Corp. plants to determine whether the union will be the exclusive bar- gaining agent of the men. Murray's statements came after an all-day conference of more than 60 heads of union locals and sub-re- glonal directors in the districts of the Youngstown, Sheet & Tube, Repub- lic, Inland and OCrucible mills. Claim Clear Majorities. These delegates made their reports of progress, which Murray ssid were “highly satisfactory and indicated we have a majority membership in every plant.” Then they voted him the power. to call a strike or employ “any other strategy” he felt neces- sary to achieve the desired written contracts. . Muwrray said no sudden strike call ‘was contemplated, but that he would not commit himself to public an- nouncements on his plans. The union chieftain mobilised the attack 24 hours after he had ob- tained what he called a “complete victory” in settling the strike in- volving 27,000 workers at the Jones & Laughlin Steel Corp. plants in Pittsburgh and Aliquipps, Pa. ELECTION ON C. L 0. CALLED. By the Associated Press. Charles Fahy, general counsel of the National r Relations Board, announced last fiight that the board had called an election for next Thurs- day to determine whether the Com- mittee on Industrial ‘Organisation is to be the exclusive bargaining agent of employes of the Jones and Laughlin Steel Com. z 1 PREAKNESS IS WON BY WAR ADMIRAL IN STRETCH BATTLE 45,000 See Riddle Entry Fight Off Pompoon to Score by Head. TIME FIFTH OF SECOND SLOWER THAN RECORD Victor Pays Mutuel of Only $2.70. Flying Scot Third—Matey Far Back. BY ORLO ROBERTSON, Associated Press Sports Writer. BALTIMORE, May 15.—Refusing to give an inch in the last 3/16 of a mile, Samuel Riddle's War Admiral strengthened his claim to the 3-year- old turf title today as he thrust back the game stretch challenge of J. H. Louchheim’s Pompoon in the $50,- 000 Preakness. With between 40,000 and 45,000 spectators on their feet, yelling madly, the two horses came to the finish line of the 13/16-mile test separated by the narrow margin of a head to furnish one of the most exciting climaxes in the 47 years of the Pimlico classic and duplicate their order of finish in the Kentucky Derby. War Admiral, diminutive son of Man O’ War, had no such an easy time as he did in the Derby, in which he beat Pompoon by a length and a half. Today he was driving all through the stretch, but proved him- self a true champion by running the distance in 1.58 2/5. Nearly Breaks Record. The track was still a trifle slow from yesterday's rains, but the time was only fifth of a second slower than the Preakness record hung up by High Quest three years ago. The judges flashed the “photo fin- ish” sign as the two horses hit the finish line, but it was evident that War Admiral's head was in front. The margin was so small, however, that many, viewing the race from a difficult angle, had to wait until the picture was developed before their hopes were confirmed. Then the yells that had cheered the Man O’ ‘War colt all around the course swelled into a mighty roar. ‘The greater part of the $230,981 which passed through the mutuels on the race went to the support of War Admiral. As a result, he was the shortest priced winner in the history of the “Old Hilltop” stake. Winner Pays Only $2.70. A $2 win ticket on the Admiral re- turned only $2.70. He paid $2.30 to place and $2.40 to show. As the sec- ond choice, Pompoon returned $2.40 and $2.70 to place and show, respec- tively. PFlying Scot, one of the out- siders in the wagering that favored little but the first two horses, paid 2 to 1 to show. Riddle, 76-year-old Philadelphian, who was unable to see his colt win the Derby because of illness, but was present today, fared much better, how- ever. The victory netted him $45,600 and ran War Admiral's earnings for the year to $106,600. ‘The victory sent War Admiral into the select circle of thoroughbreds which have won both the Preakness and Derby, the first two events on America’s “triple crown” that also includes the Belmont stakes. The five previous double winners were Sir Barton, Gallant Fox, Burgoo King, Omahs and Bold Venture. War Admiral’s next engagement will be in the Belmont, June 5. War Admiral Breaks Fast. After delaying the start for nearly four minutes, as he did in the Derby, War Admiral broke fast. He had to yield pace-setting honors for the first few yards to John Hay Whitney's Flying Scot, but passing the judges’ stand the first time, Charley Kurt- singer, Louisville's “Flying Dutch- man,” had the favorite winging along in front. At the end of the first quarter of Every FIVE CENTS Sunday Morning and Afternoon. | TEN CENTS | FISEWHFRE _ | FOUND CQURT CHANGE. SENTIMENT LIKE THIS IN THE GULF! THAT FISH STORY! WELL,IT LOOKS MORE REBEL BOMBS KILL 30 IN VALENCIA Raid Occurs as Largo Ca- | ballero Speeds Formation of Cabinet. BACKGROUND— Spanish elections in February, 1936, brought into office a Popular Front government, composed of coalition of Leftist parties. Fascist opposition became violent with out- break of civil war last July. Subsequent changes in govern- ment brought flve diflerent cabinets to power. Last reform was eflected in November, when representation was given Communists and Anar- cho-Syndicalists. Catalonian branch of latter faction recently revolted in Barcelona. B the Assoctated Press. VALENCIA, Spain, May 15.—More than 30 persons were kilied here to- night and 50 injured in an insurgent air rald as Premier Francisco Largo Caballero moved swiftly toward for- mation of his third cabinet of the civil war. The raid, described as the most disastrous Valencia has experienced in the conflict, damaged the British Ein- bassy and destroyed a number of buildings. A fleet of raiders roared out from | over the sea at dusk. Thousands of persons caught in the streets unawares raced for shelter. One bomb, which struck in front of the British Embassy, critically wounded the Embassy’s Spanish cook and slightly injured a doorman. Almost every window in the building | was shattered and furniture in the front rooms was wrecked as the ex- plosion shook the building. Car Passengers Hurt. Several passengers in a passing street car were injured and taken into the embassy for first-aid treatment as the vehicle’s windows were smashed. One bomb fell in front of the ministry of marine. Largo Caballero, appointed to form a new “win the war” government after presenting his ministry’s resignation in the morning, conferred far into the night with party leaders and then de- clared: “Everything is going perfectly. I expect the syndical organizations and political parties to finish their work tonight. Tomorrow they will submit (Continued on Page B-6, Column 1.) (See SPAIN, Page A-4) Minister to Norway Sworn in And Given Diplomacy Lesson Mrs. Harriman Speaks Prematurely of Trade - Negotiations. By the Associated Press. Hardly five minutes after she had been sworn in yesterday as Minister to Norway, Mrs. J. Borden Harriman, New York and Washington society woman, received her first lesson. in practical diplomacy. At the expense of much discom- fiture on the part of a State Depart- ment official, she learned that an initial rule for diplomats is to be non=- committal. Mrs, Harriman inadvertently dis- closed to news men that the State Department is discussing with the Norwegian government the negotia- tion of & reciprocal trade treaty. This was something the. correspondents were not supposed to kmow st this stage of the proceedings. Mrp. Harriman, recently appointed. Minister to Norway by President Roosevelt, took the oath of office at the State Department at noon. Im- mediately afterward she received newspaper men. Michael J. McDermott, the depart- ment’s press contact man, stood at her side. One of the interviewers asked if she expected to negotiate & trade agreement with Norway. “Oh, that’s already being done,” she mid. McDermott cleared his thro.t nerv- ously. . “There’s been no official announce- ment about that yet, Madam Minis- ter,” he reminded her diplomatically, “Oh, but I theught everybody knew that,” the envey- said. Presumably MRS. J. BORDEN HARRIMAN. —Underwood Photo. she still was unaware then of the enormity of her indiscretion. “I am vastly interested in Norway,” she went on, “and I hope to carry on the great work done there by my predecessor——" McDermott was determined, how- ever, to clear up the trade agreement situation. He interrupted: “We have only been exploring the matter thus far. It is not quite cor- rect to say that the negotiations are in progress.” . “Oh,” said Mrs. !.Hr. “1 see” i Basque Evacuation Of 500 Children to America Is Planned By the Associated Press. PARIS, May 15.—The Basque mission in Paris announced to- night 500 children will be evacu- ated from Bilbao, Basque capital, to the United States. ‘The children will be trans- ported, the Basques said, under direction of an American organi- zation called Guardians for Basque Children. How or when they will be sent to America was undecided, the mission said. DIRIGIBLE PROBERS FIND ACE WITNESS Man on Duty in Hindenburg Stern Expected to Throw Light on Blast, (Picture on Page A-7.) By the Associated Press. LAKEHURST, N. J., May 15.—The investigators of the Hindenburg dis- aster unexpectedly discovered today a man who could tell them what he saw happen in the dirigible's stern when it was torn with a flaming ex- plosion. Considered one of the most im- portant crew survivors yet found, Hans Freund, a rigging officer, told the Commerce Department Investigat- ing Board and its staff of American and German advisors that he was on duty in the ship’s tail at the time and near the spot where disaster struck so suddenly. Called as Routine Witness. Freund had been called as another routine crew survivor witness so that he might sail for his German home tonight with 20 other comrades who have told their stories. His apparent knowledge of the moment of disaster so impressed the investigators, how- ever, that he was suddenly with- drawn from the stand and his thor- ough examination deferred until Mon- day. While today’s brief hearing was in progress, the loss of life from the airliner tragedy of May 6 increased to 36. A German passenger on the last flight, Otto Ernst, 78, a Ham- burg cotton importer, died this morn- ing at Paul Kimbaell Hospital, in nearby Lakewood, from burns and in- juries he suffered in the crash. His wife, less seriously hurt, remained in the same hospital. The condition of two other survivors in a Point Pleasant Hospital has not been con- sidered favorable since the wreck. Landing Rope Fouled. Freund had little chance to gef launched on his story before he was withdrawn., He did reveal, however, that a manila landing rope was mo- mentarily fouled by two fins of the ship during landing operations. In postponing his detailed testi- mony, the Department of Commerce Board ‘members, obviously impressed, said they wished to consult with the German and American experts so as to prepare for a more exhaustive questioning Monday. Dr. Hugo Eckener, head of the Zep- pelin Corp., was invited to let the board have his questions before his departure for a week end in New York, where he and his colleagues of the official German IMmvestigating Mission plan to talk with Capt. Max Pruss, skipper of the Hindenburg, and other injured survivors. THREE FISHERMEN DIE IN DELAWARE BAY GALE Bodies of Two, in Party of Three Aboard Small Boat, Are Re- covered by Tug. By the Associated Press. DOVER, Del, May 15.—Three Glenolden, Pa, fishermen, who had ventured out into the wind-swept Deleware Bay in a small boat, drowned today. Bodies of two were recovered. The victims were believed to be Charles Wychoft, 47; his son Edward, 15, and his son-in-law, Robert Alelo, 24, all of Glenolden. The crew of a fishing tug reported sighting the boat, equipped with an outboard motor, apparently in trouble about 4 miles off shore, before noon. Another fishing tug later came upon two bodies, identified as those of ‘Wychoff and his T FLEXIBLE TARIFF FARMAIDSTUDIED Program to Eliminate Bene- fit Payments Discussed by Officials. BACKGROUND— Since Supreme Court outlawed agricultural adjustment act in January, 1935, President Roosevelt has sought permanent farm policy. | First ezpedient was soil conserva- | tion law. Second was crop in- | surance. The first was unsatisfac- tory, and meanwhile new problems arose of too swift commodity price rise. Last week President an- nounced he wanted these prices stabilized. Present movement seeks that end. — | With President Roosevelt's aim of | | eliminating wide price swings for basic agricultural commodities in mind, the drafters of the adminis- tration’s new farm bill are giving serious consideration to a flexibie tariff provision. Farm leaders met yesterday with ture Department officials to discuss a new program' which the former expect will be offered to Con- gress next week. The program will eliminate benefit payments if it oper- ates as expected. Secretary Wallace, H. R. Tolley, A. A. A. chief, and other administra- tion officers met with Edward S. O'Neal, president of the American Farm Bureau Federation, and other farm organization representatives for several hours, Broadly, the new farm bill designed to meet the President's wishes wouid stabilize prices of wheat, cotton, meats and other basic agricultural products through tariff manipulation, a Gov- ernment-financed storage system and & modified form of acreage control. Would Establish Parity Level. The first step would be, it was learned yesterday, to establish a parity level of prices for the various agricul- tural commodities, that is, a level that would equate the prices received by the farmer with the prices of 800ds that enter into his cost of liv- ing. When the prices of farm prod- ucts rise above the parity level the bars to importation would be let down by lowering the tariff, and when prices of farm products drop below parity level the barrier against foreign prod- ucts would be heightened by increas- ing the tariff. Variations in domestic output of farm products, the other factor which influences farm prices, the President’s advisers plan to regulate by putting into effect the ever-normal granary scheme of Secretary Wallace. This would be accomplished by Government financing of carryovers and acreage control. - Whenever the domestic and world carryover is excessive, the American farmer would store a portion of his crop in Government warehouses, ob- taining a cash advance against his Crop carryover. As a condition the Government would require the farmer receiving such an advance to curtail acreage production the following year. In the next lean year, the Government would release the impounded com- modities and lift the restriction on acreage production. The President discussed in broad outline the proposed plan to stabilize commodity prices within limits during his recent fishing trip in the Gulf of Mexico. He said he talked it over with cattle men, cotton growers and citrus fruit growers. Runaway Prices Harmful. All these producers, it was learned, agreed with the President that run- away price rises in farm commodities were as harmful as depressed prices. The cattle men, it was said, told him that they were as strongly opposed to the sharp upward swings in prices brought about by speculators as he was. Too sharp an increase, they said, shut off demand and brought growers as much grief as when the price of cattle dropped below the cost of production. The President was told, according to his associates, that the producers of the basic agricultural commodities favored any control plan -that would keep prices at a relatively constant level. Farmers, he was told, did not want excessive profits one. season and losses the next. What they did want Was & reasonable assured profit. 8peculation in farm commodities, the President believes, is possible now only because the supply is uncon- trolled. “NUISANCE” TAXES LIKELY 0 OBTAIN YEAR'S EXTENSION Retention of Levies, Despite Admission of Inequities, Is Forecast. APPROXIMATE RETURN PUT AT $400,000,000 Attempt to Revise Major Assess- ments Applied to Capital Gains Held Doubtful. BACKGROUND— Tazes in the United States have developed in “topsy-like” fashion without pattern or clear jurisdic- tion for Federal, State or local levies. Result has been overlapping in many flelds with consequent bad eflects on revenue-raising qualities of tar. Because of political dangers in= herent in any eflort to tax voters, Congress frequently has dodged issue of genuine overhauling of structure and proceeded on “crazy quilt” system. At present time urgent need of revenue complicates any effort to change system. BY JOHN C. HENRY. Despite admissions of Inequities and complaints about administrative difficulties and collection costs, ad- ministration leaders on Capitol Hill within the next few weeks hope to slip through another blanket exten- sion of approximately a score of so- called nuisance taxes that are bring- ing in about $400,000,000 yearly. In this instance, the extension probably will be for one year only. Unless the White House 80 decrees, however, there will be no effort made during the present session to revise or modify such major taxing pro- visions as are now applied to capital gains and to undistributed corpora- tion surpluses. Here again the evi= dent intentions are in contrast to past admissions by party leaders at the Capitol that some revisions probably are desirable. Attitude toward the nuisance taxes, |in fact, is strangely reminiscent of that in 1935 when the levies last were extended with a minimum of de- bate but with expressions of assurance that by the expiration date this year there would have been on overhauling of the tax structure and no further need of most of the excises involved, Statement of Harrison. This attitude was still being ex pressed by administration spokesmen a8 late as last December when Chaire man Harrison of the Senate Finance Committee declared “we are studying the situation with a view to eliminat- ing (some) of the miscellaneous and nuisance taxes.” And last August, after a conference between the President, Secretary of Treasury Morgenthau and Capitol leaders, a Treasury Department state- ment was released to the effect that the time had arrived “to consider re= vision of the tax laws, with the pure pose of removing any inequities or unnecessary administrative difficul~ ties.” The conferees even hinted to inter- viewers that taxes might be “slightly reduced” during the coming session. If any such plans for revisions or reduction are contemplated in the face of disappointing revenues and the legislative jam precipitated by the court reform proposal, they appar= ently are not known to Chairman Doughton of the ‘House Ways and Means Committee, who comments briefly and somewhat significantly that “there will be no general tax legislation this year as far as I know.” As chairman of the taxing com- mittee of the House, where revenue legislation must originate, Doughton presumably should know more than anybody else on Capitol Hill what is planned in that respect. Sees Extension Likely. “We'll extend the nuisance taxes, probably by resolution,” he adds. The “nuisance” taxes expiring in June and July, together with thier returns for the full fiscal year of 1936, follow: Tax on cameras, $577,926; chewing gum, $807,279; sporting goods, $5,531,« 123; toilet preparations, $13,301,79: furs, $3,321,057; matches, $6,885,81 mechanical refrigeration $7.939,064; radio and phonograph records, $5,075,= (See TAXES, Page A-8.) INTERBOROUGH VOTE BIG C. I. 0. VICTORY Rapid Transit Workers Who Broke With A. F. L. 92 Per Cent Behind Lewis. By the Associated Press. NEW YORK, May 15.—The Com- mittee for Industrial Organization, which only recently invaded New York’s transportation fleld, tonight scored an overwhelming victory in a collective bargaining referendum among employes of the Interborough Rapid Transit Co., largest subway and elevated system in the city. The final count of the balloting gave the Transport Workers’ Union, which last week broke away from the American Federation of Labor to cast its lot with John L. Lewis’ C. I. O, 10,638 Votes out of 11,585 cast, or 93 per cent. This development followed the set- tlement of a strike of 800 attendants in some 200 Manhattan gasoline stae tions and an agreement whereby the National Maritime Union, insurgent faction of the International Sea- men’s Union, won recognition from & coastwise shipping line. ‘Walter J. Burke, president of the Gasoline Attendants’ Union, Local 20,408, an American Federation of Labor affiliate, announced at 9 o'clock tonight the signing of contracts giving the strikers & ‘‘complete, 100 per cent victory.”