Evening Star Newspaper, February 19, 1940, Page 1

Weather Forecast Cloudy, intermittent light rain today, probably ending tomorrow morning; not much change in temperature, lowest about 36. Temperatures today—High- est, 45, at 1 p.m.; lowest, 39, at midnight. From the United States Weather Bureau report. Full details on Page A-32. Established in 1852 Most people in Washington have The Star delivered to their homes every evening and Sunday morning. Closing New York Markets, Paga 14. [88th YEAR. No. 34,992. UP) Means Associated Press. Destroyer Sunk By Natzis With 1 oss of 157 ' The Daring Is 25th English Warship Sent to Bottom By the Associated Press. LONDON, Feb. 19.—Great Brit- ain and Germany traded blow for blow today in furious naval warfare. White the British pridefully count- ed two captured German merchant ships as prizes of their sea blockade, the admiralty disclosed the British destroyer Daring had been torpedoed and sunk with a loss of 157 lives. The Daring” was the sixth de- stroyer lost by Britain since the out- break of the war. In all, the British fleet has lost 25 vessels, of which 14 were capital ships, destroyers or submarines. Where or when the 1,375-ton Dar- Ing was sunk was not disclosed. Sistership of Duchess. She was a sistership of the de- stroyer Duchess, lost earlier in the war, and carried four 4.7-inch guns, seven smaller guns and eight 21- inch torpedo tubes. She was com- pleted November 24, 1932, at a cost of about $1,125000 and could at- tain the exceptional speed of 382 knots. Among those lost were her mas- ter, Comdr. S. A. Cooper. ‘The German high command com- munique in Berlin reported the sinking of a destroyer and an un- disclosed number of convoyed mer- chant steamers and tankers “in vari- ous sea areas” yesterday. It said the merchantmen were in three convoys, and the destroyer was part of naval forces guarding a fourth) Convoy Attacks Denied. The German statement that four allied convoys had been successfully attacked by submarines was au- thoritatively said to be “as fantas- tic as. German claims usually lre,"l Two of six German ships reported to have gambled against the British naval' cordon in a dash from Vigo, Spain, were brought into a British west coast port—the 3,000-ton Morea, loaded with Manganese ore, and the 2542-ton Rostock, the British announced. | The Morea’s crew of 23 men and seven officers were British prisoners. The French admiralty announced that the Rostock was captured at| sea and brought to port after being | intercepted by a French warship while trying to reach Germany with & cargo of 2,000 tons of bauxite and turpentine. The capture was first announced February 14 without giv- ing the name of the vessel or details. Six Ships War Casualties. Six merchant snips—two British and four neutral—were week end casualties of the war at sea or regular wartime hazards. ‘The British ships were: The Baron Ailsa, 3,656 tons, sunk | in North Sea after an explosion. | Captain and firemen died in open boat after rescue. The Cheldale, 4218 tons, sunk off | Bouth African coast after collision with another British vessel. Cap- tain and 15 crewmen missing. The neutral ships were: The Liana, 1,646 tons, and the Osmed, 1,526 tons, both Swedish, sunk in North Sea. No further de- tails The Ameland, 4,537 tons, Nether- lands, sunk by mine in North Sea. Scveral crewmen injured. The Banderas, 2,140 tons, Spanish, gunk off Spain. Cause unexplained. Twenty-two believed lost. Convoys Successfully Attacked, Say Nazis BERLIN, Feb. 19 (#).—The Ger- man high command reported today the sinking of a British destroyer and an undisclosed number of mer- chant steamers and tankers in at- tacks yesterday on four convoys. The German communique said: “In the west, minor local artillery activity, “In various sea areas, once again four enemy convoys were success- fully attacked by U-boats. “Out of three convoys, steamers and tankers, out of the fourth a destroyer which belonged to forces for safeguarding this convoy, were sunk.” The communique yesterday re- vorted that .between February 11 and February 17 German sea forces had sunk 32 French, neutral and British ships aggregating 128,174 tons. It said also a British war- plane had been brought down by a German Messerschmitt over the North Sea Saturday. Britannic in New York With 375 Refugees B5 the Associated Press. . NEW YORK, Feb. 19.—The armed Cunard-White Star liner Britannic, carrying 471 passengers, 375 of them refugees from Germany and Central Europe, arrived today from Liver- pool. Among the passengers was Frank Courtney, British fiyer and aircraft designer, who attempted unsuccess- fully to make a west-bound trans- Atlantic flight in 1928. Now 45, Mr. Courtney said he was too old for army service. His wife and 16- year-old daughter Olive accom- panied him. Sheriff, Called to Church, Finds Audience in Braw) By the Associated Press. INDIANAPOLIS, Feb. 19.—Deputy Sheriff Anthony Maio, called to the Bomerset Methodist Church, said he found the congregation engaged in a free-for-all fist fight. The Rev. D. W. Noble, pastor, told the deputy an argument over his policies had broken up his Sunday service. The deputy stepped to the pulpit and preached a short service on charity. When he left, the church members were shaking hands and t 8t r ine. {7 Previous Reports Denied. /163d and 44th—have been wiped | WASHINGTON, D. Altmark’s Release by Norway Depends on Arms Questi' Oslo Cauglit Between British De: / m' Ad for Internment and Nazi Request for l.eturn By the Associated Press. GJESSINGFJORD, Norway, Feb. 19.—Whether the German prison ship Altmark may become a prisoner herself apparently depends on Nor- way’s answer to one question: Was she armed? Great Britain has demanded in- ternment of the ship from which a British destroyer freed some 300 British merchant seamen Friday in Norwegian waters. Germany has protested and is expected to ask the Altmark’s return. And Norway, un- willing center of the diplomatic tug- of-war over a maze of legal tech- nicalities which imperils her neu- trality, must decide. So far, she has not confirmed theY German contention that the Alt- mark was unarmed, or Britain’s that she mounted two pompoms (multi-barreled anti-aircraft guns) and four machine guns. Another Red Division Annihilated Near Ladoga, Finns Claim Victory Is Reported 15 Miles From Border Northeast of Lake By the Associated Press. HELSINKI, Feb. 19.—The Red| Army's 18th division, swollen to 18,000 men by reinforcements, was reported by the Finnish high com- mand today to have been surround- ed and “annihilated” near Sysky- jarvi, 15 miles from the Russian frontier northeast of Lake Ladoga. The Finns said about all of 18,- 000 were killed or taken prisoner. No mention was made by the Fin- nish communique of Russia's an- nouncement of further penetration of the Mannerheim defense line along the Karelian Isthmus, and isolation of an important pivotal| Kovisto, western terminus | The Finns said “piece by piece” fighting reduced vhe Red Army divi- sion—the same one which unofficial reports February 6 said had been | wiped out. | A Finnish army headquarters rep- resentative at that time denied that Ithe Russian division had been de- stroyed and said the report arose because the 18th was cut off from its supplies and the Russian advance stalled northeast of Ladoga. The battle zone is north of Lake | Ladoga and about 55 miles from the | Mannerheim Line fighting south of the lake. Danish and British reports on | February 6 had said the division had been wiped out. It was sai then to be one of five Red Army divisions fighting to thrust around the lake and outflank Finland's! strong defense fortifications smmg% across the isthmus. | Two other Russian divisions—the | out during the Russian-Finnish war, ! the Finns declare. Both of them | were reported from fronts farther | north. s Planes Reported Downed. Today's communique, reporting that 20 Russian planes had been | shot down, said Soviet attacks along the bitterly-contesteq, isthmus front | had been thrown back from the | Finns’ “new positions.” | This apparently referred to fresh | positions taken up after Russian penetrations into the band of for- tifications which form the Manner- heim Line. Russia’s losses there were equal to “about the strength of a bat- talion’—approximately 1,000 men— the Finns declared, adding that six tanks had been captured in the bit- ter fighting. Large quantities of war materials were reported taken northeast of Lake Ladoga. Twenty tanks, 36 guns (See FINLAND, Page A-2) Downtown Stores Open Half Day Thursday Downtown rgtail stores will close at 1 p.m. on Washington's Birthday, Edward’ D. Shaw, secretary of the Merchants and Manufacturers’ As- sociation, announced today. Coal dealers who are members of the association also will keep their offices open in the morning to make deliveries, but will close at noon. In Oslo, the Norwegian Parliament was called in session today to hear an official statement on the Altmark incident. Announcement that a statement would -be read to the legislators was made after a meet- ing of the Foreign Affairs Committee of Parliament with Fereign Minister Dr. Halvdan Koht, other members of the cabinet and experts on in- ternational law. The Altmark, meanwhile, lay aground here so close to shore that sightseers could see blood staining the ice of the fjord, me- mento of the brief battle when the British destroyer Cossack maneu- vered the Altmark into shallow water and sent a raiding party aboard to rescue the prisoners. The Nazi swastika flew at half- mast for the seven or more members of the German crew who dled in (See ALTMARK, Page A-3) Jones Would Aid Finn¥ "AsLong as They Are Still Fighting’ Sees Lending Stopped Entirely If Measure Is Cut to $50,000,000.: .. BACKGROUND— Aid for Finland since the Rus- sian invasion has been forthcom- ing ‘from the United States in Jorm of a $10,000,000 loan through Ezport-Import Bank for purchase of non-military goods and a pres- idential order under which the little nation’s December 15 debt payment was placed in Treasury for congressional action. House now has before it Senate-ap- proved measure to increase Er- port-Imvort Bdnk's lending au- thority by $100.000,000. with dis- cretion to advance $20,000,000 to Finland. Ry J. A. O'LEARY. Federal Loan Administrator Jesse | Jones told the House Banking Com- | mittee today- her would be willing | 1o extend furthgfcredit to the Finns | | “As long as they are still fighting, | with a chance to win.” | He made the statement as he | neared the close of his testimony on | the bill already passed by the Sen- | ate to add $100,000.000 to the capital | of the Export-Import Bank. with discretion to lend Finland $20.000,- 000 of that amount. ‘When committee members sought | to pin him -down, however, as to how much he would advance the PFinns if the total of the bill were cut to $50.000.000, he declared: “If we onlv got $50,000,000 I think | | we would have to auit lending en- | ntirely, because we are already overcommitted to that extent. If| you don't want to pass this bill for | general purposes, I don't think it ought to be passed at all.” South American Trage Cited. Representative Gifford, Repub- lican, of Massachusetts suggested that, while the genesis of the bill is aid to Finland, “somebody- is try- ing to take advantage of/us by rais- ing the new loan authorization | $100,000,000.” This prompted Mr. Jones to read a prepared statement in which he said that if it is deemed desirable to foster trade relations with South America, credit will have to be ad- vanced to facilitate some of their purchases in this country. He called attention to opportunity which the European war sit: " (See FINNISH LOAN, Pag 20 in French Patrol Killed in Nazi Ambush By the Associated Press. PARIS, Feb. 19.—A French patrol fell into a German ambush before dawn today in a central sector of the Western Front and about 20 men were killed. The casualties were the heaviest suffered by the French so far in any single skirmish of patrol war- fare. Usually only two or three soldiers have been killed in brief exchanges of fire. s The French high command com- munique this morning: “East of the Nied (River), one of our detachments fell into an ambush n the cousse of the night and suf- fered some losses. There was firing from the casemates on both sides of the Rhine.” Summary of Page. Amusements, Obituary B-16 | Radio Comics .B-14-15 | Sports _ Editorials. ._.A-8 | Society _. .. Finance ...A-13| Woman's Page, Lost, Found B-12 B-11 Foreign Another Red division annihilated, PFinns report. Page A-1 Altmark release up to Norway; arms possession question. Page A-1 Russian troops hammering at Vii- purl defenses. Page A-1 Nazis sink British destroyer Daring; 157 Im'..u 5 4 P‘me A.-:‘ Est bia makes sel raguay! m. Page A-2 Japanese bomb Chinese lifeline rail- way twice more. Page A-2 Britain orders 60 U. S. securities surrendered. Page A-15 Fascist “gold shirts” thwarted in re- volt, Mexico reports. Page B-10 National Republican leaders hail Frank re- e[?m'l: as tive, Page A-1 Jones would aid Finland “as long as they're still fighting.” Page A-1 Washington and Vicinity, Today’s Star Page. | Rain causes several traffic accidents; one’'man killed. Page B-1 President approves promotion of Navy medical officers. Page B-1 Wine cup owner believed found through Star story. Page B-1 Editorial and Comment This and That. Answers to Questions, Letters to The Star. David Lawrence. Prederic William Wile. Page A-8 Page A-8 Page A-8 Page A-9 Page A-9 Page A Page A-9 Page A-9 \ Griff, Harris, Bengough agree Early is coming star. Page A-10 Tilts’ this week may settle several varsity basket titles. Page A-10 Basketers hold stage here while box- ers, trackmen roam. Page A-11 Improved Eastern quint fights for title playoff spot. , Page A-12 Miscellany Of Hearts and Song. Nature’s Children. Bedtime story. Crossword ‘Puzzle, Page B agreeing to settle their differences peacef 4 Three- deaths caused by Lord Pair- fax Clubhouse fire. Page B-1 ) - Woman Killed, 13 Hurt as Blast Destroys Home 11 of Victims Injured As They Go to House - After Asphyxiation (Pictures on Page A-2.) One woman was killed and 13 other persons were injured when, gas seeped through a defect in the meter line and then exploded with a terrific blast which demolished a two-story frame home today. Eleven of the injured included friends and relatives who had gone to the house on learning of the as- phyxiation. The dead woman is Mrs. Thomas Ridgeway, a 69-year-old widow. Her daughters, Miss Catherine Ridgeway, 26, and Mrs. Helen Linder, 33, were overceme by the leaking gas and *were taken to St. Agnes’ Hospital, Baltimore. Their con- dition was reported this afternoon as favorable., ‘Women Asleep at Time. ‘The three women were asleep in Mrs. Ridgeway’s home when gas be- gan to leak in the basement. Mrs. Ridgeway died without awakening. Most of the 11 injured persons were hurled from their feet when the gas exploded in the basement, while M ss Ridgeway and Mrs. Linder were being treated by a neighboring phy- sician on the first floor. Several were thrown doors of the structure by the blast, which was followed by a fire which almost destroyed the small frame building. None of the 11 was belleved seri- ously injured. They were: Dr. Frank Shipley of Savage, who was attending Mrs. Linder and Miss Ridgeway. He was cut and bruised. Richard E. Linder, 44, husband of Mrs. Linder. Cuts. Charles Lecallett, 25, of Baltimore, an employe of the Consolidated Gas & Electric Co., who had gone into the cellar to effect repairs when the blast occurred. He suffered first and second degree burns of the hands and face. Arthur Sweeney, 47, of Baltimore, also an employe of the gas company. He also was in the cellar and re- ceived first and second degree burns of ‘the head and face. State Policeman W. M. Bohler. Minor leg injury. Mr. and Mrs. Monroe Collisen of Savage, the former 40 years old, ter of Mrs. Ridgeway. They suf- fered shock. Mrs. Effie Hackley, 42, of Savage, Mrs;. Ridgeway's daughter. Shock , 22, her son. Herbert Ridgeway, 36, a son of the dead woman. Shock. Mrs. Emory Swann, sister of Dr. Shipley. Shock. Believed Ignited by Furnace. Savage firemen, who helped treat the injured, believe a furnace may have ignited the leaking gas. The explosion occurred shortly before 3 o’clock. Mr. Linder said the leak was dis- covered at the point where the gas line and meter connect. Mrs. Linder was awakened by the odor of escaping gas about 2 o'clock and telephoned for Dr. Shipley after trying unsuccessfully to arouse her mother and sister. She then put in a call for her hus- band, proprietor of the Stockholm, a tavern on the Washington-Balti- more boulevard, but, overcome by the gas, fell to the floor in a coma before.completing it. Dr. Shipley hurriec w the house, broke in the door and found Mrs. Ridgeway dead and Mrs. Linder and Miss Ridgeway overcome, They were all in rooms on the first floor. The Savage and Glen Burnie rescue squads were called for pul- motors to be used in reviving Mrs. pairmen to fix the leaking gas line. Repairmen Arrive. Dr. Shipley and firemen were en- deavoring to revive the two un- conscious women when the repair- men arrived from Baltimore. The repairmen went immediately to the basement, Mr. Linder said, and opened a door leading into the room where the gas meter was Io- cateds : As soon as they opened the door, Mr. Linder said, the gas exploded with a terrific blast which split the house in half. Several of those on the first' floor were hurled through the doors of the building, others were thrown from their feet, 'and one of repairmen was blown through a trapdoor leading onto the side’ lawn. 7 The wreckage of the house left men pou water onto the blaze for several flours before extinguish- ing it. Blown Through Glass Door. Mr. Linder was blown through a glass door and a screen at the front of the house. He was badly cut. Dr. Shipley was hurled through the aperture behind Mr. Linder. He returned to the house to direct first-aid work. Mr. Ridgeway and Mrs. Swann were blown through a back door and the Collisens and Mrs. Hackley were thrown to the floor and her son hurled against the wall. Mr. Collisen and Mr. Hackley took Mrs. Linder and Miss Ridgeway from the burning building after the explosion. Rescue workers took them Mr. Lecallett and Mr. Sweeney, the re) , were removed to University Hospital, Baltimore. Others who were injured were given first aid on the scene. Dr. U. S. Hanna Dies BLOOMINGTON, Ind., Feb. 19 (P). at Savage, Md., near Laurel, early|: through | the latter 38, son-in-law and daugh- | Linder and Miss Ridgeway and the Consolidated Gas & Electric Co. in | Baltimore was asked to send re- standing ‘burst into flames ‘and fire- | Dr. Frank's Report Gefs High Praise From G. 0. P. Chiefs Program Asking 20% Budget Cut, Defense and Peace Held Constructive Republican congressional comment on the Glenn Prank report—out- lining a “program for a dynamic America”"—was extremely favorable today. It was generally held that the Committee of Two Hundred, under the leadership of Dr. Frank, former president of the University of Wis- | consin, had completed a constructive job—a job that would be of great assistance to the writers of the Re- publican platform when the party’s national convention meets. ~The report, representing the opinion of rank and file Republicans on the problems of the day, calls for international peace, increased pro- duction, encouragement to . privite enterprise, economy, and a lessening of Government control of business and the private affairs of the people. hl:::lmd M?;W p-'-‘ ‘cent-cut fn expenditures with the. aim of balancing the budget in 1943 is coupled with a proposal for remod- eling Federal, State and municipal tax laws, but opposing an increase in taxation at this time. McNary Praises It. Senator McNary of Oregon, Sen: ate minority leader, commented: “The report is comprehensive and commendable.” Senator Austin of, Vermont, as- sistant minority leader, said: “The report of the Program Com- mittee is excellent. I think the committee did a magnificent job. The report will stimulate thought throughout the country, and I am sure lead to a constructive party platform.” . Senator Capper of Kansas declared that the report had been “generally good.” “I was particularly pleased. with the program committee’s recom- mendations regarding trade agree- ments,” said the Kansan. “It calls for the negotiation of realistic agree- ments, subject to approval by both houses of Congress. ually agree- ments with foreign nations are rat- ified alone by the Senate, but I have no objection to the House taking part. Trade Pacts Hit. “The kind of trade agreements we have now are autocratic, one-man affairs, and I believe, unconstitu- tional. “The report recognizes the need of the American farmers for continued suppart from the Government at this time, and with that I agree. Parity payments and soil conserva- tion benefits, I favor. “The idea back of the report is gocd. Heretofore Republicans have gone to national conventions of the party without any. preliminary work looking to the drafting of a na- tional platform. The committee has performed a very constructive service which should be of great as- sistance to the platform committee of the national convention.” Senator Townsend of Delaware, chairman of the Republican Sena- torial Campaign Committee, said he considered the report “constructive” (Continued on Page A-4, Col. 1) | Boland Will Speak In Forum Tonight On Trade Pacts Representative Patrick J. Boland, Pennsylvania Democrat and his party’s whip in the House, will be the guest speaker tonight during the National Radio Forum, broadeast by WMAL et 10:30 o'clock. “Trade Treaties” is to be Mr. Boland's subject. He is ex- pected to reveal results of an informal poll of the lower cham- ber on the question of continuing the administration’'s reciprocal trade. treaty program. The National Radio Forum is arranged by The Ster and broad- coast network of National Broad- cqsting Co. stations, C, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1940—THIRTY-TWO PAGES. Dame Democracy’s Dilemma! Would Be Subterfuge, He Says; Sawyer May Be Substitute By G. GOULD LINCOLN. Roosevelt third-term boosters in Ohio got a setback today when Sen- ator Donahey issued a statement de- claring he would not run as a favor- ite-son candidate in the presidential preferential primary. To do this, he said, “would be a subterfuge.” His statement was directed at the resolution adopted Saturday by the Democratic State Central Commit- tee and Executive Committee of Ohio. The resolution read: “It is the sense of this meeting that if Franklin D. Roosevelt is a candidate for President the dele- gates from the State of Ohio shall cast their votes for him; that if he is not a candidate for President their votes shall be cast first for the first choice favorite son candi- date and second for the second chojce favorite son candidate until and unless & majority of the dele- gates present and voting decide otherwise.” In Cincinnati, National Commit- House Passes Bill Delaying Budget in Inauguration Years Permits New Presidents * To Submit Their Own Fiscal Programs By the Ascociated Press. % The House passed and sent to the Senate today a bill permitting new Presidents to pass on the fiscal budget for the first year of their terms. The measure specifies that in inauguration years, when Presidents do not succeed themselves, the budget shall not be submitted until January 21—the day after inaugura- tion—or not later than Pebruary 20. Under present law budgets must be submitted January 3 in all years. Representative Burdick, Republic- an, of South Dakota at first objected to consideration of the measure, but withdrew his objection after Rep- resentative Pish, Republican, of New, York offered this interpreta- tion: “This bill assures the new in- coming Republican President the right to prepare his own budget.” With a small band of Democrats joining the -Republicans in opposi- tion, House members were lined up for one of the biggest battles of the session—renewal of the administra- tion’s reciprocal trade program. Both Sides Claim Victery. Both sides claimed victory. agreed, however, that whatever the outcome, the trade pacts will be an issue in the election campaign, for President Roosevelt and Secretary of State Hull have made the pro- gram a keystone of their foreign policy. i Leaders decided start debate late in the and to let it continue throughout the week on a resolution extending the program for three years after its June 12 expiration date. Representative Coffee, Democrat, would vote with the Republicans on an amendment to require Senate ratification of each irade pact. The present law lets the President and mshu:wmmtmm agreemen Representative Boland of Penn- (See CONGRESS, Page A-2) Instances of double dealing service station operators selling grade gasoline as high test and, in cans were cited today before a House District subcommittee. e mmmmmnmm- vestigatars. twice: had made chases of oil from one chain station Donahey Spurns Ohio Race As Roosevelt ‘Stalking Horse' by low- | mobile, two cases, selling oil from empty | fied. SENATOR DONAHEY. teeman Charles Sawyer said a sub- stitute “favorite son” candidate will be selected shortly. A four-meshber (8e¢ DONAHEY, Page A-: Schulte fo Offer Bill To Set Up Separate | Traffic Court Here Seql Says One Judge Couldn’t Handle All Cases, as Is Proposed Representative Schulte, Democrat, of Indiana announced at a meeting of the House District Committee today he proposed to introduce,a bill to establish a separate traffic court. The plan, he said, was suggested by Washington I. Cleveland of the | District Motor Club of the Ameri- can Automobile Association and will | require one judge to devote his entire time to traffic cases. “I think it's a good idea,” declared Mr. Schulte, who is chairman of the Streets and Traffic Subcommit- tee of the District Committee. “It will stop the rotating of Police Court judges on the Traffic Court bench and do away, I hope, with the leniency shown by some of the| judges.” Jjudge would be mbla to handle all traffic cases. He pointed out that many of these cases are tried by Jjuries. The committee, with Mr. Schulte acting as chairman in the absence of Representative Randolph of West Virginia, favorably reported a bill to exempt from provisions of the Un- employment = Compensation Act newspaper delivery boys under 18 years of dge. A bill ‘introduced last week by THREE CENTS. Reorganization Plan, Revised, Given Congress D. C. Heads Refuse To Yield to Some Federal Officials BACKGROUND— Bill to revamp District governe ment under city manager was in=- troduced at last session of Con- gress by Representative Kennedy of Maryland after study by Grif- fenhagen experts. Citizens at hearings last fall urged that suf- Jrage for Washingtonians in form of elective city council be includ- ed in measure. Commissioners Jormulated plan to substitute for Mr. Kennedy's, advocating paid advisory council to be appointed by Commissioners despite sug- gestions for an elective one. By JAMES E. CHINN. The Commissioners today re- turned to Congress their revised plan for reorganizing the municjpal government, refusing to yield to proposals of Federal officials for changes in provisions affecting cer- ! tain Federal agencies. “The comments and suggestions | by Federal agencies, as recorded by their replies, have been given most careful consideration by the Com- missioners,” said the letter of trans- mittal. “They represent in most instances, the Commissioners be- lieve, merely differences of opinion. Consequently, the proponents of the proposed bill adhere to the views as expressed by them in the proposed bill, as amended. and submit the same to the Congress, together with the attached comments, for what- ever action the Congress desires to take.” In the letter transmitting the re- vised edition of the reorganization program to Speaker Bankhead, the Commissioners called special atten- tion to a paragraph in a letter ad- dressed to them by Harold D. Smith, director of the Budget Bureau. It read: “In view of the intimate relation- ship between the Federal Govern- m-nt through progress and certain of the executive departments and agencies, and the Government of the District of Columbia, it may be un- wise to remove some of the existing ties between the two governments as contemplated in the proposed bill and in this connection the attention of Congress should be specially in- vited to title 3 of the draft which proposes to exempt the District of Columbia from the budget and ac- counting act.” Advisory Council Proposed. Correspondence of other Federal officials who' reviewed the reorgan- ization program which was attached to the letter of transmittal, also dis- closed that objection was registered chiefly to proposals of the Commis- sioners to create a paid citizens’ ad- visory council to be appointed by them and to place disbursements of appropriations for certain Federal activities in the District under offi- cers of the municipal government. The suggestion was made that the advisory council be appointed by the President and that its members not receive any compensation. ‘The correspondence shows that Secretary of War Woodring objected to a provision in the proposed legis- lation that disbursements of appro- priations for the District militia, National Capital parks, National Capital Park and Planning Com- mission, National Zoological Park, the Washington Aqueduct and other appropriations expended under di- rection of the chief of engineers of | the Army should be made only by accounting offices of the municipal | government. Enactment of such a provision, Secretary Woodring said, would- | affect the operations now committed to the chief of engineers principally in connection with the Washington Aqueduct, Anacostia Park and the Washington Channel water front. Complications Feared. “The placing of disbursement of funds for these projects in the hands of the accounting officers of the Dis- trict of Columbia would complicate -1 the administration of these oper- ations,” he declared. “Furthermore, considerable delays might be exper- ienced by contractors, material men, and laborers in receiving payment for their services. In connection with the Washington Channel water front improvement, the District of Columbia, as a prescribed measure of local eo-operation, is required to provide a portion of the funds for this improvement. To prescribe thas the disbursing of these funds shall be made only by the disbursing of- ficer of the District of Columbia would be contrary to the intent of the congressional authorization for this project, and would place the Representative Nichols of Okla- homa, inaking it possible fof liquor dealers to appeal to the Commis- sioners for a review when the Alco- holic- Beverage Control Board re- fuses to renew their lcenses was x- ferred to a special subcommittee th- vestigating the liquor situation. This proposed legisiation is an outgrowth of the case of Leo J. Rossiter, Geor- whose license was recently { after it hdd first beeri denied by the A B.C. Board. ’ Gasoline Probers Hear of Sale Of Motor Oil From Empty Cans into the ofl receptacle of the auto- , none was delivered. “The cans were empty,” Mr. Roberts testi- He said seven shortages in oil sales were found in the same chain last year. The corporation was ecuted and fined a total of $175, he bought” oil from other , but discovered “We mwhfiumm = B+ GABOLINE, Fige A3) — District of Columbia in an entirely different category from. other local communities where local co-oper- ation is required. “The disbursing of funds as pres- ently administered by the district engineer of the Washington district has, functioned smoothly and -ef- ficlently and no useful purpose wouid be served by transferring the administration of such funds to the District of Columbia.” Acting Secretary of Interior Bur< lew also objected strongly to the proposal to give District officials authority to make disbursement, purchases and receive collection’ for (8ee REORGANIZATION, Page A-3) Balfimore Bank Held Up, Bandit Flees With $1,500 BY the Associated Press. BALTIMORE, Feb. 19—A lone b.ndlm t, al'metll h:‘ll: # 32-caliber tar- revolver, up the Wi branch of the Union Trust m Dros- | 2219 Annapolis road shortly before noon and escaped with about $1,500 in cash. 3