Evening Star Newspaper, March 7, 1939, Page 1

Weather Forecast Falr and colder, with lowest tempera« ture about 28 tonight; tomorrow fair; Thursday rain. Temperatures today— Highest, 51, at 2 p.m.; lowest, 36, at First in Washington— First in the news coverage that builds public confidence—First in circulation and advertising that 6:30 am. Full report on page A-2. Closing New York Markets, Page 14. 87th YEAR. Base at Guam Is Urged as "Listening Post’ Admiral Says Effort Is Not Made to Extend Defense Line BACKGROUND— Congress began armaments program last year with authori- zation for naval and aviation in- creases. As world tension mount- ed materially in intervening months, President sent to new Congress in January a recom- mendation for $552,000,000 pro- gram. Except for balking at im- proving naval facilities in Guam, all factions in Congress have sup- ported administration plans. No. By the Associated Press. Rear Admiral Arthur B. Cook to- day urged establishment of a sea- plane base at Guam to serve as & “listening post” for the Navy. Denying contentions that pro- posed harbor improvements at the tiny island in the Pacific were linked to any plan for fortification, Admiral Cook told the Senate Naval Commit- tee the Navy needed a plane base there to give it advance information of any movements of a possible enemy. He declared a $5,000,000 proposal for Guam improvements would not constitute “an effort to move our de- fense line to a possible untenable and unjustified area too far to the westward.” Juan T. Trippe, youthful presi- dent and general manfger of Pan- American Airways, also urged the committee to vote the Guam item. He said improvement of seaplane landing facilities on the tiny Pacific island was essential to efficient com- mercial air service to the Orient. Four Cruisers Authorized. Simultaneously, President Roose- velt authorized the Navy to build four new 6,000-ton cruisers, to cost about $12,000,000 each, in private yards. Under the Vinson-Trammell Act, two of the cruisers would have been built in private and two in navy yards, unless the President specif- ically directed otherwise. Assistant Secretary of the Navy Charles Edison, who disclosed the President’s action, said it was taken on his recommendation and that three benefits would be gained by having the ships built in private yards. “We can get them more cheaply,” he said, “more quickly and of better quality as regards uniformity.” Admiral William D. Leahy, chief of naval operations, asked the com- mittee yesterday to restore the Guam item to the $65,000,000 naval air base bill. It was deleted by the House after statements of opponents that Japan might consider fortification of the island a provocative step. Senator Bone, Democrat, of Wash- ington disclosed, meanwhile, that a large group of Senators soon would propose drastic tax legislation to take the profits out of war. Senator Bone’s announcement came while the Senate approached 48 final vote on the Army expan- sion bill. It approved yesterday, 54 to 28, a proposal to fix the maximum number of Army planes at 6,000, a total of 500 more than the House voted. Must Have Stopover. Mr. Trippe said it would be impos- sible for present planes to reach the Orient without a stopover at Guam. He predicted it would be at least 10 years before ships were built which could fly from Wake Island to Manila with full loads, passing up Guam. And, he added, present lack of a breakwater makes the harbor at Guam unsuitable for commercial planes. Under certain wind condi- tions, clippers have been held up for as much as three days there, he said. Largely because of Guam’s haz- ards, clipper payloads have been kept 1,000 pounds under what other- wise could have been hauled, Mr. Trippe testified. When new and larger clipper ships are put into service on the run, he said, there may be an additional 500 pounds reduction under the normal pay- load. Mr. Trippe said his company hoped soon to reduce the flying time from San Francisco to Hong Kong from four days to two and one-half days. Senator Bone predicted the war tax bill would have at least 40 sponsors—or almost half the Senate —when introduced later this week. The legislation automatically would impose a heavy schedule of * personal and corporate profits taxes if the country went to war. The levies would range up to 97 per cent of profits. “This bill would largely supplant (See GUAM, Page A-4) Woman, 60, Found Dead In Shallow Creek Face down in 2 feet of water, the body of Mrs. Gussie B. Ruffner, 60, & widow, was found early today in Castle Branch, a creek near her home at Clifton Station, Va., by a young grandson. A search was Instituted when a granddaughter awoke about 4:30 am., discovered her grandmother © was missing from her bed and notified her mother, Mrs. Helen R. Davis. After calling Fairfax Coun Sheriff Eppa P. Kirby, Mrs. Davtli and her son and daughter began a search for Mrs. Ruffner. The boy found her body lying in the shallow creek near the house. She wore only a nightgown. Sheriff Kirby and members of the family sald Mrs. Ruffner had not been well. Dr. E. C. Shull, Herndon coroner, said he would issue a cer- tificate of suicide by drowning. - In addition to Mrs. Davis, another daughter, Mrs. Mary Whitmer of Clifton Station, and a son, Fred L. Ruffner, survive, 34,643. Entered as second class matter post office, Washinston, D. C. Supporters of Negrin Create Rift Within Republican Ranks BACKGROUND— Fall of Barcelona and complete rout of Loyalist army in Cata- lonia leaves proud Madrid only nut left to crack for Gen. Fran- cisco Franco's troops. *Madrid has withstood steady pounding fjrom batteries and planes throughout 33 months’ civil con= fiict. By the Associated Press. HENDAYE, France (at the Span- ish froftier), March 7.—Communist troops created a civil war within a civil war today by revolting against the new Spanish republican gov- ernment of Gen. Jose Miaja, who seeks a “worthy peace” in the 31- month-old conflict. The rebellion broke out during the night with fighting in barracks and shooting in Madrid's environs be- tween Communist supporters of for- mer Premier Juan Negrin’s govern- ment and moderate followers of the National Defense Council, which took power Sunday. First reports reaching the border said that Miaja's regime was mas- ter of the situation, but rapid-fire Miaja, Seeking to End War, Combats Madrid Uprising GEN. JOSE MIAJA. developments this afternoon indi- cated that the struggle for the last remnants of the power of the Span- ish government was continuing. Gen. Miaja, who saved Madrid from outright capture just 28 months ago, had made ready to surrender (Bee SPAIN, Page A-4) Gandhi Ends Fast . After Gaining Victory In Plea for Reform Drinks Orange Juice After Rajkot's Ruler Sends Him Letter BACKGROUND— Fasting of Mohandas K. Gan- dhi to bring about political re- forms in Rajkot, was attended by rioting in several parts of India before the viceroy decided to in- tercede. Gandhi began his fast last Friday, declaring that the ruler of Rajkot had broken his promise to institute a more democratic form of government. By the Associated Press. RAJKOT, India, March 7.—Wiz- ened, 69-year-old Mohandas K. Gandhi this afternoon ended a fast of 98 hours and 25 minutes to win political reform. He drank a glass of sweet orange juice. The nouristment was the first since he started the “fast unto death” just over four days ago after drinking a cup of hot goat's milk. ‘The British viceroy of India, the Marquess of Linlithgow, intervened | in Gandhi’s dispute with the ruler of Rajkot, 29-year-old Thakore Sa- reb Shri Dharmendrasinhji. Settlement of the dispute—Gan- dhi sought more democratic forms of government—was regarded as an- other significant victory for the re- vered leaders of millions of Indians. Accepts Viceroy's Invitation. This afternoon Gandhi accepted an invitation from the viceroy to visit New Delhi as soon as he had regained sufficient strength for per- sonal discussions of the reforms he demanded. It was understood that the ruler of Rajkot state agreed to fulfill his original promise to set up an ad- visory council whose purpose would be to suggest ways of introducing a democratic government. Gandhi started the fast when he and the ruler failed to agree on representation on the council. Gan- dhi alleged that the Thakore broke the original promise to set up the council when he demanded repre- sentation for interests which do not belong to Gandhi’s congress party. Lord Linlithgow today undertook to guarantee that the ruler of Rajkot would set up the council, and prom- ised to refer to the chief justice of India Gandhi's charge of breach of faith and any future dispute re- garding the proposed reforms. Civil disobedience prisoners held in Rajkot since Gandhi started his campaign were released. Gandhi voluntarily ended the long fast, which his doctors said was en- dangering his life, immediately after receiving a letter from Thankore Saheb. Accepts Orange Juice. The letter was handed to the ascetic former “mahatma” by a chauffeur sent by E. C. Gibson, British resident in the states of Western India. Gandhi opened the letter, smiled weakly, and turning to his attend- aflts, accepted the glass of orange Juice, which he began sipping slowly. The British viceroy and Gandhi’s secretary, Mahadev Desai, had car- ried on one side of the negotiations, while Gandhi himself dealt with Mr. Gibson, who was acting for the Rajkot ruler. Gandhi had spent a restless night, much of the time being prevented by nausea from drinking water. He was rejoined yesterday by his wife, who was released from jail de spite rejection of a previous offer of freedom She had been in jail since Febru- ary 3 with others arrested for a civil disobediance campaign. Messages Kept Secret. The details of the messages which Gandhi and Lord Linlithgow ex- changed were not made public, but those who knew Gandhi felt that they gave cause for optimism—if Gandhi’s health permitted him to carry on the communications. The former mahatma was losing weight rapidly. His blood pressure had increased 17 points since he started the fast. He was too weak this morning to sit up on his cot or to be weighed. Gandhi’s secretary, Mahadev De- sai, saw the viceroy in New Delphi this morning. further strengthening the belief among Gandhi’s followers that Lord Linlithgow would inter- vene. Hundreds of sympathetic tele- grams poured in on Gandhi head- quarters from all parts of the world, and the viceroy received many urg- ing him to stop the fast. Lasting Recovery’ Urged by Morgenthau As Pressing Need Tells House Committee Issue Is More Vital To Nation Than Politics BARKGROUND— Administration has displayed eagerness in recent weeks to en- courage business, promising that no new taxes would be enacted and indicating further that some of the present levies declared repressive may be modified. At same time, considerable strength has appeared in Congress for re- duction in Government spending. (Teat of Representative Martin's Speech on Page A-12.) By the Apsociated Press. Secretary of the Treasury Mor- | today | genthau advised Congress that “lasting recovery” was the most important thing before the country. Considering the world situation, he said, it was so important that it transcended party political consider- ations. He agreed with Representative Andresen, Republican, of Minnesota that Republicans and Democrats should work together, “100 per cent,” toward achieving recoyery. Secretary Morgénthau made his statements before the House Coinage Committee, which is considering legislation to extend the administra- tion's power to operate the $2,000,- |000.000 stabilization ~fund and its power to alter the gold value of the dollar. Martin Pledges Report. Meanwhile, Republican Leader Martin of the House pledgéd support for a business improvement pro- gram and Senate economy advocates maneuvered to foree the administra- tion to take the initiative in cutting Federal spending. Representative Andresen, ques- tioning Mr. #orgenthau, said he had been pleased by the recent state- etary and President SS, Page A-4.) House Unit Held Ready To Vote for Miss Perkins By the Associated Press, Three members said today the House Judiciary Committee was ready to vote “almost unanimously” to exonerate Secretary Perkins of impeachment charges involving the Labor Department's enforcement of immigration laws. They said privately the committee might reach a formal vote Thursday on a motion to ask the House to drop the accusations, filed by Repre- sentative Thomas, Republican, of New Jersey. One of the group said the only question was “how we are going to drop the matter.” It was disclosed that Chairman Sumners had ap- pointed a five-man subcommittee to draft an informal report on future procedure in committee investiga- tion of the Thomas charges. Reorganizafion Foes in 1938 Back New Bill Shift of Position in House Expected to Pass Compromise BACKGROUND— Reorgan!zutiafi of the erecutive branch of the Government long has been the subject of a hot dts- pute in Congress. It provided one of the major battles of last ses- sion, when a measure giving the President reorganizing power without check by Congress was passed by the Senate, but re- jected by the House. ‘The shift of position by House members who opposed the Govern- ment reorganization bill last year and who are expected to supply sufficient administration strength to secure its adoption by the present Congress became a matter of record today as eight hours of general debate on the measure began in the House. Representative Cox, Democrat, of Georgia, one of the foes of last year's bill, was the first to take the floor in support of the pending measure, Remarking that he could find “no valid ground on which to base ob- Jection to the bill we have before " Representativ Cox announced, ve are now closer to adoption of a reorganization bill that expresses the will of this House, uninfluenced by any outside interference, than we've ever been before.” That the compromise features of the present bill still will not assure it of Republican support was indi- cated, however, by the first minority speaker, Representative Springer of Indiana, who complained that the measure still implied an abdication of congressional powers to the President. Byrd Bill May Be Offered. Meanwhile, it was generally ex- pected some opponent of the House plan would offer as a substitute the bill introduced in the Senate yester- day by Senator Byrd, Democrat, of Virginia. It retains in the hands of Congress a tighter rein on reorgani- zation. The major difference between the two measures is whether to let presi- dential régrouping orders take effect | automatically after 60 days unless ) disapproved by Congress through a concurrent resolution under the House bill, or require definite action by Congress before orders take ef- fect, as required in the Byrd bili. Both bills contain safeguards against filibustering to defeat reorganization orders. Democratic leaders also expect sev- eral efforts will be made in the House to add more agencies to the list already granted exemption from | reorganization in the bill. Representative Warren, Democrat, of North Carolina, author of the House bill, promptly turned thumbs down on the Byrd bill. He argued taat if affirmative action by Con- gress on a presidential order is re- quired the bill would be no different from existing law, since the Presi- dent could merely make recom- mendations to Congress. Dangerous, Says Springer. Representative Springer told the House last year's measure was de- feated largely because of the new powers it conferred on the Presi- dent. He added: “It is dangerous to vest unlimited power in a President, no matter who he may be.” Representative Martin of Massa- chusetts, the minority leader, said some members of his party objected at a caucus last night to powers given the President under the ad- ministration bill. Senator Byrd offered his bill yes- terday with the backing of three others on the Senate Reorganization Committee, which he heads. They were Senators Brown, Democrat, of Michigan; McNary, Republican, of Oregon, and Townsend, Republican, of Delaware. Taber Seeks Change. ‘While some Republicans wanted to offer Byrd's plan in the House Representative Taber, Republican, of New York, said if some of the amendments he has in mind were adopted, the administration meas- ure probably would get considerable support from the minority. Democrats, during debate yester- day, contended it was a good bill without changes. They pointed out that the principal objections raised (See REORGANIZATION, Pg. A-6.) Summary of Page. Amusements, B-18 B-16-17 Editorials ___A-8 Finance ____A-13 Lost, Found B-13 Obituary __ Radio - __ Short Story B-10 Society .. .. B-3 Sports _ A-16-17 Woman’s Pg. B-12 Comics Foreign. Maija combats revolt seeking peace in Spain, Page A-1 Gandhi ends fast as Rajkot dispute is settled. Page A-1 Japanese planes blast China’s Com- munist northwest. Page A-5 National. Drastic tax on war profits to be pro- posed in Senate. Page A-1 Admiral Cook urges base at Guam as “listening post.” Page A-1 House Republicans favor Byrd re- organization bill. Page A-1 Labor negotiators meet with Presi- dent this afternoon. Page A-1 Frank W. Stearns, “discoverer” of Coolidge, dies. Page A-10 Washington and Vicinity. Commissioners urge fiscal plan of Overton. Page A-1 Medical school spokesmen defend visiting physicians. Page A-1 Mackenzie to be called in Gallinger quiz. Page A-1 Five more groups join Lee boulevard zoning fight. Page A-3 Pencil vendor is twentieth tramc victim of year. Page B-1 Today's Star .| Commissioners expected to oppose Griffenhagen plan. Page B-1 Editorial and Comment This and That. Answers to Questions. Letters to The Star. David Lawrence. Alsop and Kintner. G. Gould Lincoln. Constantine Brown. Delia Pynchon. Sports. St. John's, Eastern quints win as Star tourney opens. Page A-16 Grissom’s fine form gives hope to Cincinnati Reds. Page A-16 Cartwright, not Doubleday, now hailed as baseball pioneer. Page A-16 Sutherland may land at Navy after lay-off of year. Page A-16 Griffs held due to climb, provided outfield delivers. Page A-17 Guldahl-Snead play Little-Manero in golf semi-finals. Page A-17 Kayak II doubtful starter Saturday in $25,000 race. PageA-17 Miscellan: Vital Statistics. City News in Brief. Nature’s Children. Bedtime Story. A-8 A-8 A-8 A-9 A-9 A-9 A-9 A-9 Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page B-6 Page B-2 Page B-8 Page B-16 Page B-16 Page B-16 Page B-17 Page B-17 1 Hope SoMeBODY HERE WILL GIVE THE Lfl;‘rlLE DARLING President Expected To Present Labor With Peace Facts Three Elements of Row Will Be Discussed Today At White House BACKGROUND— American labor moved toward split in 1935 when some dozen A. F. L. leaders formed commit- tee to direct organization of mass production industries. In 1936, Federation Council suspended unions active in new movement and outright expulsion has fol- lowed in most cases. Peace ef- Jorts were undertaken in 193/, but failed. Last month, President Roosevelt asked that new eflorts be made. By JOHN C. HENRY. Three elements of politics and | economics were expected to provide the principal arguments for peace to be laid before committees of the C. I. O. and the A. F. of L. at the White House this afternoon. Calling the newly-named nego- tiating groups into a joint confer- ence with himself and Secretary of Labor Perkins at 2:30 o'clock, Presi- dent Roosevelt is expected to base his plea for a settlement of their three-year dispute mainly on the following considerations: 1. That their division endangers the liberal political movement, im- proving the 1940 election prospects of candidates likely to be unfriendly to labor and social legislation. Hampers Business Recovery. 2. That their division in its mani- festations of interunion strikes, boy- cotts, etc., is interfering with legiti- mate efforts of industry to function and with current administration ef- forts to improve business. 3. That their respective member- ships have made clear in the form of resolutions and messages received during recent weeks by the Labor Department and the White House that they have a mounting and sin- cere desire for an end to the strife. Actually, of course, both factions already are well aware of these three circumstances, but thus far they have not allowed them to take precedence over the numerous fac- tors inherent in the split. In fact, the political consider- ations may not even weigh heavily with the A. F. of L. negotiators in view of their campaign to revise such New Deal legislation as the National Labor Relations Act and their recent utterances which have been interpreted as a bid for Re- publican favor in 1940. Aware of Cost. At the same time, the opposing labor leaderships unquestionably are concerned at the costs of their con- tinuing warfare and the extent to which both memberships have been reluctant to continue spending money to fight each other. On this ground, they undoubtedly will be impressed by the peace demands made on them by their own locals and the reflection of this fealing in messages to the Labor Department or the White House. Since last fall, when Miss Perkins issued a public call to the labor factions to discontinue their feud, the department has received mes- sages of support representing nearly & million members of the two organ- izations. It was at the first signs of this response that the Secretary began informal discussions with leaders of both the A. F. of L. and (See LABOR, Page A- $85,000 Prizes Offered In National Air Races By the Associated Press. CLEVELAND, March 7.—Prizes totaling at least $85000 will be posted for pilots peting in the 1939 national air races here Septem- ber 2, 3 and 4, L. W. Greve, presi- dent of the National Air Races of Cleveland, Inc., said last night. Last year $102,000 was offered in prize money, but Mr. Greve said the 1939 total may be increased later. ‘Winners of the 300-mile Thomp- son race will split $37,500, with $16,~ 000 going to the first-place victor. Prizes in the Los Angeles-Cleveland Bendix Derby will total $27,500, with $9,000 for first. The purse for the 200-mile Greve race will total $20,- 000, with $8,000 for first. Mr. Greve said the qualifying speed for the Thompson race would be increased from 235 miles an hour go 240 and the Greve from 200 to Britain Told U. S. Of Stand on Spain, Chamberlain Says By the Associated Press. LONDON, March 7.—Prime Minister Chamberlain asserted today that Britain had kept the United States informed of its position concerning recognition of Generalissimo Franco's Na- tionalist regime in Spain, but added that there had been “no exchange of views between the governments.” He spoke in the House of Commons in reply to Geoffrey L. Mander, opposition Liberal. When Mr. Mander asked whether the policy of the United States was not to recognize the acts of an aggressor, Mr. Cham- berlain retorted, “It is not for me to say what may be the policy of the United States Gov- ernment.” Britain's recognition of Franco's regime as the legal government of Spain was an- nounced just a week ago. 4 Children Burn fo Death {In Kerosene Blaze By the Associated Press. MOUNT AYR, Iowa, March 7— Four children burned to death this | morning when fire destroyed the farm home of Mr. and Mrs. Milo | Morse 6 miles south of here. She told rescuers the blaze started when she poured kerosene into a | range to start a fire. The dead are" Ruby, 17, Mount Ayr high school student. Evelyn, 15, a high school fresh- man. Billy, 5. Mary Lou, 10 months. when the fire broke out. Mrs. Morse ran out of the flaming Kkitchen, rolled in the snow her clothing, ran to the barmn to call her husband. Both the elder girls were dressed and were standing in the room with their mother when she poured kerosene into the stove “to hurry up the fire,” she said. girls tried to rescue the two younger children who were still in bed and were unable to escape from the building. A son, Everett, 9, was the only other member of the family to escape. He was with his father in the barn. Father Is Slain, Son, 19, Is Held By the Associated Press. WILMINGTON, Del, March 7.— Martin Griegg, 46-year-old painter, was shot to death today in his home and his 19-year-old son, Carl- ton, was held without bail on a charge of murder. Detective Capt. J. Curtis Riley said the youth told him he shot his father to protect his mother. Capt. Riley quoted Mrs. Griegg as saying her husband had been drink- ing and started an argument when he came home. “He came into my m,” Capt. Riley said the wife told him, “and started arguing. To keep him from making any more noise and waking the children I went to an adjoin- ing bedroom. He kept cursing me. The noise must have awakened Carlton. “The next thing I knew there was a terrible noise and my hus- band slumped to the floor.” CALLENDER, Ontario, March 7 (Canadian Press) —Oliva Dionne to- day declared he looked with dis- favor on an invitation for his five famous daughters to travel to Tor- onto May 22 to meet King George and Queen Elizabeth. “I can’t see why the government cannot arrange to have their maj- esties visit the nursery here,” said the quintuplets’ father after the Ontario government sent him an in- vitation and offered two special railway cars to transport him, his wife and five daughters. “I am not in favor of it” Mr. Dionne said, but added he would not reply to the invitation until he had consulted Mrs. Dionne. It was belleved the invitation, sent by. Provincial Secretary H. C. Nixon, Mrs. Morse was seriously burned. | Mr. Morse was in the barn milking | and when she | had extinguished the flames from She said she thought the two | reflect public University Heads Defend Gallinger Visiting Doctors Declare Incompetency, If Any, Lies With Dr. Ruhland By DON S. WARREN. Spokesmen for the Medical Schools | of George Washington and George- | town Universities, appearing today | for the first time before a subcom- mittee of the House District Com- | mittee investigating conditions at | Gallinger Municipal Hospital, made | a determined defense of the services | of the visiting physicians, urging | that control over the hospital's ma- jor wards be returned to them. From the Very Rev. Arthur| O'Leary, S. J., president of George- town; Dr. Cloyd Heck Marvin, pres- | | ident of George Washington, and Dr. Walter A. Bloedorn, chief of | staff at Gallinger, came the follow- ing declarations: That if there has been any “in- competency” on the part of visit- ing physicians at Gallinger the fault lies with Health Officer George C. Ruhland rather than with the old system of control or the visiting physicians, since Dr. Ruhland approves the ap- pointments of the visiting staff. That Dr. Ruhland since he has been health officer has sent no communication to the medical schools complaining of any in- competency. Leaders Held Agreed. ‘That the university leaders agreed with Dr. Ruhland as to the desirability of appointing the five full-time ‘“chief resident physicians” who took office last July, aided Dr. Ruhland in ob- taining appropriations for the purpose and declared these men should be retained. That the almost universal practice in American cities is for the experienced specialists from the staffs of medical schools to be placed in control over munici- pal hospital medical work, sub- ject, of course, to the direction of the legal head of the hospital, which in this case is the District health officer. That whereas the years of practical experience of the five full-time men is only 11 or 12 years, the visiting physicians show actual practice in special- ized fields of an average of 17 years. That Dr. Ruhland's efforts to place the five full-time resident men in control over the visiting physicians is a violation of an understanding reached last sum- mer at a joint conference with the District Commissioners. Volunteer Service Cited. That Gallinger must have the services of highly specialized physicians, who for many years have been giving volunteer serv- ice without charge, and Dr. Bloedorn estimated it would cost the District “by very conservative (Continued on Page A-5, Col. 2.) Hughes, 11, Due to Stay At Home Rest of Week A mild attack of grippe probably will confine Chief Justice Hughes of the United States Supreme Court to his home for the remainder of the week, friends said today. Mr. Hughes yesterday missed a session of the court for the first time confidence. THREE CENTS. Commissioners Urge Overton'’s Fiscal Formula House Hearing Told $8,000,000 U. S. Share Is Fair BACKGROUND— To provide solution to District’s jumbled fiscal setup, a New York tar erpert and a Joint Con- gressional Committee on Internal Kevenue Tazation nearly two montns ago completed a new local tax program which included a combination retail sales and personal income tax. Though this provision has been topic of much controversy in civic circles, Dis=- trict Commissioners have with- held any public comment on the new program. By JAMES E. CHINN. Inclusion in the new tax program of the formula proposed by Senator Overton, Democrat, of Louisiana, for fixing the amount of the annual Federal payment toward District ex= penses was urged today by the Com= missioners before the fiscal affairs subcommittee of the House District Committee, ‘The tax program prepared by Dr. Chester B. Pond, New York tax ex- pert, and Colin F. Stam of the Joint Congressional Committee on Internal Revenue Taxation, carefully avoids the fiscal relations question. In the course of today's hearings Dr. Pond was asked if he thought the real estate tax rate in Wash- ington is too low. Dr. Pond replied that on the basis of his study of the tax situation, he thought local real estate taxe payers are entitled to some relief be- cause they had been overtaxed rela- tively for some time, relatively with respect to the entire tax burden. Urge Serious Study. Called as the first witnesses before the subcommittee as it began a long delayed study of the tax plan, the Commissioners declared, “most seri- ous consideration” should be given' to the Federal obligation to the Dis- trict and expressed the opinion that the method of solving the trouble- some fiscal relations problem advo- cated by Senator Overton seemed to be fair. The plan of Senator Overton would base the Federal obligation toward the National Capital on the percentage of land area in the Dis- trict required for Federal purposes. The acreage of land required for Federal activities, plus half of the park area, representing the excess of park eereage here over comparable citi would be 20 per cent of the total area of the city. Under the Overton plan this ratio of 20 per cent would be applied to the genaral fund expenses. If applied to the estimates for the coming year, this percentage would make the Federal payment $8.015980, in place of the 1$5,000,000 lump sum paid annually during the past few years. Senator Overton adopted the acre- age yardstick instead of appraised value to avoid differences of opinion over the value that should be placed | on Government property. Tax Program Indorsed. The Commissioners also gave their | blanket and unequivocal indorse- ment to the new tax program in its | entirety, thus revealing views they | had publicly withheld ever since its | completion nearly two months ago. Seven of the nine members of an Advisory Committee on Taxation, which they had appointed to co- operate with the tax experts in framing the plan, however, pre- viously had approved it. The tax structure set-up in the plan, the Commissioners said, they regard as fair and equitable and voiced the hope it would be given congressional approval. Incidentally, they paid tribute to Dr. Pond and Mr. Stam for doing “a good job." Commissioner Melvin C. Hazen outlined the position of the Board of Commissioners in a prepared (See FISCAL, Page A-3.) Colpoys Silent on Report 0f Deputy’s Ouster United States Marshal John B. Colpoys would neither confirm nor deny a report today that Deputy United States Marshal Harry C. Allen, recently suspended as an aftermath of the Warring jury-fixing inquiry, now has been dropped from the rolls. Mr. Allen, reached at his home, 15 Adams street N.W. took the same stand, declining to comment “at this time.” Mr. Allen’s suspension was based on his failure to bring to the imme- diate attention of authorities evi- dence which was brought out at the recent contempt proceedings growing out of the Warring trial. Emergency Meeting since his appointment as Chief Jus- tice nearly a decade ago. Papa Dionne Opposes Quints’ Trip to See King and Queen would be considered by the four guardians who watch over the quin- tuplets. Dr. Allan Roy Dafoe, who is their physician and glso a guardian, re- fused to express an opinion regard- ing the advisability of the little girls taking such a trip, but said, “If the Ontario government says we must allow thé quints to be taken to Toronto, whkat can we do?” The quintuplets are wards of King George and residents of Callander have expressed regret that a visit to their nursery has not been included on the itinerary outlined for the royal visit. Though disapproving of a trip to ‘Toronto, Father Dionue said he was anxious for his daughters to bé pre- sented to the King and Queen. For Symphony Fund An emergency meeting of the National Symphony Or- chestra Association will be held tonight at 8 o'clock in the United States Chamber of Commerce Building, Connec- ticut avenue and H street, to discuss the financial erisis confronting the orchestra. All persons interested in the future of the National Sym- phony Orchestra are urged by the association officials to at- tend the meeting, whether they are members of the asso- ciation or not. All who have contributed to the orchestra fund are asked especially to be present at the discussion, which may decide the fate of the popular orchestra this year.