Evening Star Newspaper, March 6, 1940, Page 2

A—2 www Republicans Jubilant At Party Victory in lowa Election G. O. P. House Nominee Piles Up 3-to-2 Margin In Wallace's District By the Assoctated Press. DES MOINES, Iowa, March 6.— Exultant Republicans today hailed the party’s victory in the 6th Iowa district congressional election as an indication tha the 1938 G. O. P. comeback in the corn belt has car- ried over into the presidential year of 1940. Robert K. Goodwin, 35, Redfieid, Towa, Mayor, farmer and manufac- turer, yesterday won the special election to fill the unexpired term of Representative C. C. Dowell, Des Moines Republican, who died Feb- ruary 4. Mr. Goodwin’s margin over Byron | G. Allen of Des Moines, his New | Deal opponent, was more than three } to two. Complete unofficial returns | from the 218 precincts in this| normally Republican district gave Mr. Goodwin, 29,396; Mr. Allen, 18449, and W. W. Klein, independ- | ent, 396. In Washington, Chairman John Hamilton of the Republican Na- ! tional Committee declared the G.| O. P. tide “was moving higher.” Sixty Per Cent of Vote. “Not only was the New Deal the clear-cut issue in this (Iowa) elec- tion,” he said, “but the success of its | farm policies was likewise an issue.” | Representative Ditter of Pennsyl- | vania, chairman of the National Republican Congressional Commlt-i tee, said: “In this typical farm district the home of the New Deal Secretary of Agriculture, our Republican candi- date carried all six of the counties. His Democratic opponent was hailed | as a 100 per cent New Dealer. These results confirm the marked gdins registered last week in the two special elections in Ohio. As in Ohio, also, the Iowa election re- pulsed a leader in the Roosevelt | third-term movement.” | Mr. Goodwin polled 60.4 per cent | of the total vote, compared with 38.8 | per cent for Mr. Allen and 0.8 per | cent for Mr. Klein. Has Been in Force S gets results. The industry’s response to to deserve, and, if so, whether it regulation. Since May 28, 1937, the Commis-" sioners, acting for the board, have issued eight, orders promulgating new, or madifying or repealing earlier, regulations. The last writ- ten regulation was promulgated De- cember 13, 1938. Policy Rule Put in Effect. Substitution of a policy rule for a written regulation was ordered May 28, 1937, in wiping out the “400-foot rule” protecting churches, schools and colleges against en- croachment by liquor establish- ments. This rule, first enacted by law on March 4, 1913, impeded progress, the board held in effect, by operating to bar a package liquor store on Fourteenth street between New York avenue and H street N.W. The New York law proscribes liquor establishments within 1,500 feet of churches and schools. How the unwritten policy theory | of regulation has operated also may be judged by the complaint of public education officials over the licensing of a package sales outlet directly | across the alley from the Armstrong High School. Whether the board has promulgat- ed any additional policies since December 13, 1938, cannot be ascer- tained. Licensees and the public | are free to consult the local clair- voyants. La Roe Expresses Opinion. A typical reflection of civic opinion on the success of liquor control administration by rule of thumb is expressed by Wilsur La Roe, jr, The total vote approached 49,000, | compared with 90561 in the 1938 general election. Mr. Dowell two years ago received 59.08 per cent of | the vote as he defeated Hubert Ut- terback, the Democratic nominee, | 53505 to 37,056. Mr. Utterback’s | proportion was 40.92 per cent. | Backed Farm Program. i Mr. Goodwin, an A. A. A. co- operator, on his 280-acre Dallas County farm, took the wind out of Mr. Allen’s efforts to make the Fed- eral farm program an issue. The Republican nominee talked parity | prices for the farmer in approved | A. A. A fashion while his foe was declaring that the election would | constitute either an indorsement or | repudiation of Secretary of Agricul- | ture Wallace in the latter’s home | district. | Only once in Iowa history has this | area gone Democratic in a congres- sional election. | Mr. Goodwin’s term will expire January 3, 1942. - He has announced | he will not seek the nomination for | the regular term in the June pri- maries. Three Children Found* After Night in Swamp By the Associated Press. NORFOLK, Va. March 6.—Three | badly frightened children, suffering | from exposure after being lost all! night in the Dismal Swamp, were | found today by a group of 20 county | officers, Boy Scouts and citizens who had been searching since late yes- terday afternoon. The children gave their names as | Audrey Sawyer 12; Lillian, 10, and‘ Robert, 7. They were found about | 2 miles from the home of their parents, Mr. and Mrs., Walker Bawyer. A member of the searching party said the children had become lost after being sent in search of some ducks belonging to the family. When found, Audrey, the oldest | child, said they had heard the searching party blowing automobile Jhorns and had seen the searchlights being used to attract their attention, but had been frightened by the clamor and were afraid to come out | of the swamp. Flights Over Washington | To Aid Finnish Relief | “Fly for Finland” will be the motto of the local unit of the Finnish Relief Fund, beginning Saturday when it will sponsor a series of benefit sight-seeing flights over ‘Washington. The flights, of 15 to 20 minutes duration, will be in new 21-passen- ger Pennsylvania Central Airlines transport planes. The first flight is to begin at 10:45 a.m. Saturday, and others are to be conducted between | 9 am. and 1 pm. daily thereafter. | Tickets will be $5 per person. | Congress in Brief TODAY. Senate: Continues debate on broadening Hatch Act. Finance Committee continues hearings on reciprocal trade pro- gram. District Committee considers gen- eral business. House: Considers $119,000,000 Interior De- partment appropriation bill. Foreign Affairs Committee con- siders Polish relief bills. Special Subcommittee of District | Committee resumes liquor investi- gation. Reorganization Subcommittee of | District Committee. resumes consid- eration of plans to modernize mu- nicipal government. TOMORROW., Senate: Probably will continue debate on Hatch bill. Judiciary Subcommittee hearing | on hill to establish uniform require- ments affecting Government con- tracts, 10:30 a.m. House: Continues consideration of In- terior Department appropriation bill. Merchant Marine Committee con- siders Federal aid to the States, 10 am. District of Columbia Legislative Subcommittee continues hearing in executive session, Special District subcommittee in- vestigation District liquor situation resumes public hearings, 10 am. chairman of the Civic Affairs Com- mittee, Washington Federation of Churches. “Many of the stores are badly located, near schools and churches, and in residential communities, he said. “In determining the location the welfare of the liquor dealer has often been deemed co-equal to the | welfare of the community.” Indicative of the responsiveness of the A. B. C. Board to public in- dignation over an enforcement angle is regulation 7 as to signs. Outside signs or interior signs visible from the exterior containing any refer- ence to the price of alcoholic beverages alone are taboo. This bulwark against the disposition of the liquor trade to outdo Broadway is strengthened by footnoted men- | tion that the board “invites” the attention of the licensees to the general sign regulations of the Dis- trict. Sign regulation as to both size and contents are.a feature of post-repeal liquor legislation gen- erally. . The present policies of the board stand in sharp contrast against the statement in its first annual re- port of March 1, 1936, that: “It has been most clearly demonstrated THE EVENING . ince May, 1937 (Fourth article of a series.) By OLIVER B. LERCH. Washington’s liquor enforcement is based on the policy that government “by moral suasion, rather than by mandate of law,” In taking this position the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board admits it has something less than an unwritten law to back it up. this treatment and the public’s estimation of its effectiveness can best be judged by the contro- versy now raging over liquor conditions in the National Capital. It is pertinent to inquire whether the liquor traffic is such as should imr fairness be expected to observe enforcement standards based upon an unwritten law or -— worse than those of the saloon days. Local enforcement embraces 1,853 establishments including retailers, wholesalers and manufacturers em- ploying 10,000 people. The 400 package sale retail li- censes (class A) include 227 ex- clusive package stores, 116 grocery and delicatessen stores and 57 drug stores. Distribution by Sections, The 1,853 establishments are dis- tributed throughout the city “s follows: Section. Northwest Northeast - Southwest 439 Southeast - 588 The tabulation below on police enforcement gives a cross-section of this activity. Summarized, it shows that the Metropolitan Police Department referred 119 cases to the A. B. C. Board, made arrests in 124 cases and handled 57 cases involving various infractions where no arrests were made between Oc- tober 15, 1939, and February 8, 1940: Number of cases sent to the A B CoBoard: o ool Arrests Made. Drinking in public - -Drunk - Disorderly ... ..... Selling whisky without lic Keeping whisky for sale Retailers. Employes. 6,593 1,136 119 93 2 Total arrests Cases Where No Arrests Were Made. Failing to have tax stamp number on merchandise . Drinking on premises (Class B) Sale of beverages before hours. | General disorder .__ o | Serving intoxicated persons __ Failing to have required food (Class C) Py Unlabeled bottles (beer) __ Intoxicated persons on prem- ises .. Serving minors _ Patrons carryj table __\__ _— Failing to notify board change of ownership ___ Drinking while standing. . Misrepresenting product .. Permitting gambling on prem. ises S Furnishing bail Permitting minor to serve in- | toxicating beverages _ '3 | Sale of beverages after expira- | tion of license 2 | Keeping liquor on unlicensed premises | Total that a liberal law, strictly and im-| partially enforced without fear or| favor, is far superior to a strict and exacting law with approximate enforcement only.” Broadly speaking, the term en- forcement as applied here includes both police enforcement and A. B. C. Board inspection. Job Long Overdue. From the police standpoint local enforcement probably is as good as, if not better than the police aspect of liquor enforcement in cities of comparable size and system of op- eration. Certainly it is no worse |800ds improperly stamped by having | than in comparable areas and possi- bly more efficient. Closer police at- tention to the widespread bootleg- ging after hours of pint and half- pint packages of whisky is a local disinfection job that is long over- due. Police opinion is that the Dis- trict Act is extremely difficult to enforce because of its liberality. In his proclamation repealing the prohibition amendment President Roosevelt asked “that no State by law or otherwise authorize the re- turn of the saloon, either in its old form or in some modern guise.” Police officials will tell you that conditions today are as bad if not Uncle Sam’s Almanac, 1940— A Book of Knowledge Uncle Sam is one of the great practical scientists of our age. Almost daily Gov- ernment experts search out new facts of science, new in- ventions of service and con- venience. Drawing upon every source of governmental ex- periment and scholarship, our Washington Information Bureau has compiled UNCLE SAM’'S ALMANAC for 1940, the most useful booklet ever offered to our readers. Its 68 pages present a wealth of practical knowledge. Every member of the family will find some use for this booklet every day in the year. Inclose 10 cents to cover cost, han- dling and postage. USE THIS COUPON. The Washington Evening Star Information Bureau, Frederic J. Haskin, Director, Washington, D. C. I inclose herewith TEN CENTS in coin (carefully wrapped) for a copy of UNCLE SAM'S AL- Street or Rural Route Few Inspections. The gross inadequacy of the ! board’s small inspection force in checking 1,900 liquor establishments | is self-evident. Dealers report fre- | quencies of inspection ranging from inone in six years to an average of | three in some instances and one generally. Window displays in liquor stores reflect the lack of board inspection as does also the extensive pint and | half-pint bootlegging of tax- | liquor after midnight. Display of stamps affixed willy-nilly—even on the back of bottles—instead of on front as required can be noted within three blocks of the board's office. One bottle had no District stamp. There can be no doubt that the absence of adequate A. B. C. Board inspection contributes greatly to the antj-social aspect of liquor condi- tions here. Loopholes ifA minimum size of container restrictions as well as maximum quantity retail’ sales limits aid chiselers. W. H. Wright Dies; Retired G. P. O. Employe Willlam H. Wright, 80, retired employe of the Government Printing Office, died yesterday at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Esther Flem- ing, 912 Decatur street N.W. A native of New Hampshire, Mr. ‘Wright came to Washington in 1899 to work for the Government Print- ing Office and retired 13 years ago. He was a member for 56 years of the Masonic Order, being affiliated with Lebanon Lodge, No. 7, and Pet- worth Royal Arch Lodge here. He was also a member of Lebanon Lodge of the Order of the Eastern Star, Federal City Lodge of Odd Fellows and Dorcas Lodge, Rebeccas. Besides Mrs. Fleming, he leaves another daughter, Mrs. Bernice Speckmann, and two granddaugh- ters, all of Washington. Funeral services will be held at 2 pm. Friday at the Deal funeral home, 4812 Georgia avenue N.W. Burial will be in Fort Lincoln Cem- etery. Blast Killing 91 Laid To Faulty Equipment By the Associated Press. Secretary Ickes made public today a Bureau of Mines report that the Bartley (W. Va.) mine explosion on January 10, which killed 91 men, probably was caused by sparks from faulty electric equipment. Interior Department officials said that in making the report public Mr. Ickes set a precedent ovérturn- ing practices followed in the bureau before the forced resignation of John W. Finch as its director. Heretofore, they said, it had been the custom to keep secret the causes of mine disasters and explosions. K. of C. Meeting The Edward Douglass White Council, Knights of Columbus, will meet tomorrow night at the club- house, 3227 North Washington boulevard, Arlington, Va. The sec- ond series in the pinochle tourns- ment will be held after the meeting. 24| 2! 1 paper d | STAR, WASHINGTON, Enforcement of Liquor Rules |Maverick Assails Here Based on ‘Moral Suasion’ |Dies, Sees Power Regulation by Unwritten Policy As Prober Waning Former Representative Addresses Descendants Of American Revolution ¢ Maury Maverick, former Texas Representative and at present Mayor of San Antonio, last night formally attacked professional patriots, big business, and Representative Martin Dies, Democrat, of Texas, chairman of the House committee investigat- ing un-American activities. Speaking under the auspices of the Descendants of the American Revolution in a packed National Press Club auditorium, he declared Mr. Dies “is willing to smear men and women by the thousands, and in a manner strange to American ideals and constitutional practices. He i; willing to pin the badge of un-Americanism, by unfair and this puts him to the top,” the Texan declared of his fellow State resident. Gives Personal Tribute. The Mayor, who formerly sat in the House of Representatives with Mr. Dies, lashed out at the com- mittee chairman, but personally paid tribute to his integrity. He stated: “What about Martin Dies per- | sonally? I know him; I can give my opinion. In the first place, he is financially honest. The fact that he may make money on lectures and magazine articles is nothing wrong. And I say frankly that were he a soldier in a war, I would not be afraid to trust him. I would not suspect his patriotism. “I personally know many con- servative Congressmen who are op- posed to the methods of the Dies Committee and have said so pri- vately. But they are afraid, and so they go along and vote for more appropriations. And I know liberal | Congressmen who fear to be called | Communists or who fear for their | wives and relatives. | | Would Stop Witch Hunts. “We must demand that Congress | of democracy and which have. al- ready done so much damage to the free institutions of our country. The sight of the C. I. O. and the A F. of L. picketing each other here recently he termed “monsterously idiotic to see.” However, he said, “labor unions are as much a part of | democracy as business itself.” A panel discussion followed the main talk which was introduced by 8 Henry T. Hunt, a.lawyer in the | Procurement Division of the Treas- | ury Department. Mr. Hunt said the | revolutionary descendants were liberal, but were distinct from the Daughters of the American Revolu- i tion and the Sons of the American Revolution. The discussion leaders included Senator Murray, Democrat, of Mon- (tana; Representatives Coffee of | Washington, Keller of Illinois, Hook | ‘ot Michigan and Marcantonio of New York. The panel was intro- duced by Kenneth G. Crawford, | president of the - American News- Guild, who briefly spoke (against poll tax practices which previously had been brought up by Mr. Maverick. Though no action was taken against the Dies committee, a reso- ; lution was adopted by the meeti to eliminate the poll tax throu Federal legislation. iPauI D. Sleeper fo Head | Chest Metropolitan Unit Appointment of Paul D. Sleeper, | general agent of the Aetna Life In- surance Co. and volunteer worker in | the Community Chest’s Advance Gifts | Unit last year,as .. ... ey head of the Met- ropolitan Unit for the next Chest campaign, § was announced yesterday by Chauncey G. | Parker, jr., gen- eral campaign chairman. Mr. Sleeper, in accepting the appointment said: “Because the Community Chest seems to Mr." Slesper. me one of the best examples of the American way of doing things that our community provides, I feel that those of us priviledged to take part are offered a real opportunity.” The new Metropolitan Unit head is a past president of the District of Columbia Chapter of the Chartered Life Underwriters, past chairman for banks and trust companies of the District of Columbia Life Under- writers’ Association, and a member of the Board of Trade, the United States Naval Academy Alumni As- sociation, the Army and Navy Coun- gly hClub and the Columbia Country ub, Hearings Complefed On Trade Agreements By the Associated Press. The Senate Finance Committee wound up its hearings on the trade agreements bill today after hearing a plea by Senator Pepper, Democrat of Florida, for an amendment to limit the imports of vegetables and horticultural products. Chairman Harrison announced that the committee would act on the House-approved measure Monday. He said he thought the legislation would be ready for Senate consid- eration by Tuesday. Senator Pepper, appearing as the final witness in, hearings conducted during the last 10 days, complained that a 50 per cent reduction in im- port duties on fresh vegetables in the Cuban trade agreement had hurt Florida vegetable interests. Earlier, Prof. James Ggafton Rogers of Yale University told the committee that if the United States abandoned its reciprocal trade pro- gram, European neutral nations would be forced to give up hope of maintaining normal commerce and seek the best possible bargains with belligerents. Appearing in support of legisla- tion to extend the program for three years,: Mr. Rogers described trade agreements as a stabilizing influence in “a desperate world.” | cruel methods, on any one else, if D.. C,. WEDNESDAY, NEW YORK.—AFTER FIRE SWEPT LA GUARDIA AIRPORT—View of the twisted wreckage of an unfinished $1,250,000 hangar at La Guardia Field today, after fire swept it last night, causing part of the roof to collapse. Damage was estimated at $500,000. —A. P. Wirephoto. War Causes Changes In Designs of New U. 5. Warplanes Decision Is Revealed by Gen. Arnold at Secret House Hearing | By the Associated Press. | Disclosure that the European war | has dictated essential changes in the designs of new American Army planes was made officially today fol- lowing the testimony of Maj. Gen. Henry H. Arnold at a secret House committee session. Such alterations as equipping | | | stop these witch hunts, which are bombers with armor and installing in violation of the decent ideals| fuel tanks whiech automatically seal | | bullet holes were decided on after | a week's conference of experts. | Members of the House Military | Committee said Gen. Arnold testified privately yesterday that the cost of planes had mounted about 10 per cent since the Air Corps’ $300,000,000 expansion was voted last year. The increases were ascribed in part to the alterations. Earlier, it was learned, Gen: Arn- old informed a group of Army of- ficers that the war lessons: were learned “fortunately in time.” Completion on Schedule Seen. He predicted that despite a delay in the production of some high- powered engines, anticipated delays | in construction of some pursuit and bombing craft, and the contemplated design alterations, the goal of 5,500 planes should be reached on time, by July 1, 1941, “Many planes built abroad at great expense, and but recently turned from factories and sent up | to the battle fronts have demon- strated complete inadequacy—defi- | clencies which made it necessary to pull them back from the fronts im-, training roles,” Mr. Arnold said. He called in top technical and tac- tical men for the conference, he re- lated, after asking for the most com- plete possible summary of informa- tion from military intelligence sources. “We had heard that foreign pur- suit planes were finding enemy bombers easy prey,” the Air Corps | chief said. “We heard that foreign planes were forced to hang on armor; we learned that the warring | nations found it necessary to use protective coverings for fuel tanks, ¢ * ¢ Study Completed. “We have now completed that study. We are now preparing the specifications for submission to make the indicated essential changes in our aircraft program.” Tests are in progress at Wright Field, Dayton, Ohio, on various types of self-sealing fuel tanks, but Air Corps officials said details were con- fidential Committee members quoted Gen. Arnold as saying that a British plane, with about 100 gallons of gasoline,- sustained 63 bullet holes in its self-sealing tanks, but was able to land safely with the loss of only about 10 gallons. The vast European orders since the war started have resulted, he said, in “an industrial mobilization of our aeronautical industry.” “European nations are buying our equipment because it is better than they can get at home,” he con- tended. ‘The foreign sales helped the Air Corps by partially financing new models; he noted, but counseled that “there must be some strong hand to co-ordinate and control those orders or, conceivably, they may easily throw our own programs out of gear if not indeed completely out of the window.” Meanwhile, President Roosevelt signed today a measure designed to speed up purchases of airplanes for national defense during the next fiscal year. The act permits the War and Navy Departments to award con- tracts for fighting planes and their equipment to the three “lowest re- sponsible bidders” when that is necessary “in the interest of na- tional defense.” $30,000,000 Is Sought For Sweden's Navy By the Associated Press. STOCKHOLM, March 6—An additional naval defense appro- priation of 117,000,000 kroner (about $30,000,000) was submitted today to the Riksdag (Parliament) by the Swedish government. The requested amount is for con- struction of mine sweepers, torpedo boats, submarines and other naval items. A record military defense budget of 800,000,000 kroner (about $200,- 000,000) was announced January 11 for the coming year. It was ex- pected to cause the first deficit in many years. Whnflflmfllflh France. mediately, and relegate them to! Two F;eed on Charge Of Unlicensed Vending Ruling in effect that the District License Act, prohibiting the un- licensed sale of any article of merchandise except newspapers from the public streets, does not apply to the distribution of “free political Iterature,” Police Court Judge Edward M. Curran yesterday dismissed charges of unlicensed vending against Arla A. Albraugh, 40, of 2428 Second street NE. and Allen Goodsaid, 18, of 7436 Georgia avenue. NW. The defendants, self-termed mem- bers of the Socialist Labor Party, were arrested last December at Fourteenth and P streets N.W, where they were giving away and selling political literature leaflets. | Navy's Surplus Guns ToBe Shifted fo Army 'For Sale Abroad Ships and Heavy Weapons, However, Not Included Surplus war stocks of the Navy | Depaitment probably will be trans- ferred to the War Department for | sale to foreign governments, it was learned today. | It was explained the Navy does | not have legal authority to sell its stocks, whereas the Army has under a law passed 20 years ago. The Navy has comparatively small amounts of supplies available under the category of “surplus.” Prelim- inary inventories, it was said, indi- cate the surplus stocks consist pri- marily of old Springfield rifles, 6- pound guns and other landing force armament. It was said the Navy will not put | up for sale any of its ships “of any type.” In part explanation, it was pointed out that when a Navy ship is stricken trom the list, it is prac- tically of no value except for junk, and that heavy guns are used until | worn out and then scrapped. Ship Sales Denied. Rumors that the Navy would free | | some of its destroyers and lighter craft for sale to Latin American countries were denied today on the ground that ships are on the “re- stricted list” and cannot be made available as long as they are still useful. It also was pointed out that con- struction of ships for foreign gov- ernments could not be handled, in view of the rushed naval building program Meanwhile, old but usable Amer{- can artillery, rifles and other muni- tions were offered today to Latin American and other neutral nations at a fraction of their original cost of several hundred million dollars. ‘Woodring Can Fix Prices. The War Department labeled “For sale” a formidable list of weapons left over from the World War, in response to President Roosevelt’s decision to open the stores of surplus arms o non- belligerents. The price tags were left off, but it was reported reliably that in storage for years at scattered posts and arsenals, Secretary Woodring is empowered by law to decide what is surplus and fix the price. Major details were disclosed fol- lowing announcement that 90 six- inch guns made in Great Britain in 1919 had been sold to Brazil at an undisclosed figure. Other Latin- American nations and Sweden | | | No Steps Yet Taken To Halt Swedish Ore, Says Churchill Stoppage Would Involve Serious Considerations, Commons Is Told By the Associated Press. LONDON, March 6.—Britain has taken no steps to halt the transport of Swedish iron ore to Germany. Chance of Sahotage Not Ruled Out in Hangar Fire Probe New York W. P. A. Head Says 35 Were Laid Off 20 Minutes Before By the Associated Press. NEW YORK, March 6—Lieut. Col Brehon Somervell, W. P. A. ad- ministrator of New York, declined today to rule out the possibility of sabotage in the fire that swept the $1,250,000 hangar, No. 4 at La Guar- dia Airport yesterday. Damage estimates ranged from $250,000 to $500,000. “I think it is very improbable that there was sabotage,” he said, “but until the fire marshal has fin- ished his investigation we can't rule out anything.” Questioned about the dismissal of 300 W. P. A. employes working in or near hanger No. 4, whose work ended only 20 minutes before the flames were discovered, Somervell said only about 35 men were ac- tually “laid off,” the others being transferred to other jobs. Surveying the wreckage in the morning light, Col. Somervell said it “didn't look as bad as it did last. night,” when flames shot 100 feet into the air and generated such heat that giant steel girders buckled. The W. P. A. administrator dis- closed that plumbers had been put- ting the finishing touches on a sprinkler system to be ready for operation next week, and he said that the fire. which started in a painter’s shack inside the hangar, “couldn't have happened” if the system had been completely in- stalled. Fire Marshal Thomas Brophy said he believed the fire was acci- dental. “Nothing has been discovered so far to indicate that the fire was other than of accidental origin,” he said. Mayor La Guardia, asked to com- | ment on the pessibility of sabotage, | said: Winston Churchill, first lord of the admiralty, told the House of Com- mons today. The government is aware of the trafic and its importance to Ger- many, Mr. Churchill said in reply to a question, but “the arrest of such traffic would involve many serious considerations.” Mr. Churchill disclosed that the plane which sank the British liner Domala with ‘a loss of 108 lives last Saturday ~had fooled a nearby British destroyer into believing it was a friendly craft until bombs started falling. The Domala was attacked sud- denly, he said, and since the plane was believed to be friendly the Domala’s guns were not brought into action before the bombs fell. Mr. Churchill said the nearby de- stroyer similarly was misled. Mr. Churchill promised to investi- | gate a report that the ship’s gun crews were not at their action sta- tions when the attack was launched. Prime Minister Chamberlain an- nounced that Britain and France had decided against publication for the present of documents cover- ings their negotiations with Soviet Russia which broke down after signature of the German-Russian non-agresstion treaty, last August. Britain and Prance had been negotiating for months with Russia to get her to join their bloc of nations. These efforts collapsed with Russia’s surprise turn to sign with Berlin. M. Chamberlain said that the decision not to publish the docu- ments now represented a change of mind in light of general considera- tions. Asked whether the documents would be published later, he would say only that they would not be published at present. ‘The French and British govern- ments were believed by observers to have decided to withhold publi- cation to avoid further antagoniz- ing Russia. Air Minister Sir Kingsley Wood said Britain proposed to order no new civil aircraft from overseas dur- ing 1940. Weather Repo “That is up to Fire Marshal | Brophy.” | No airplanes were inside the | hangar, which was under lease to | Transcontinental & Western Air and i was to have been put into operation late this month. It was the center | one of a bank of three. | Airline operations continued un- hampered today. No Insurance Carried. | Neither the city nor the Govern- | ment, which helped to finance the project, had insurance on the hangar. The city faced the likelihood of i immediate rebuilding—at its own and the Government’s expense. Un- der an arrangement with W. P. A, the Government supplies the labor and the city the material. Mayor La Guardia said he be- lieved the expense would be shared equally. Civil Service Official Speaks at Central High f Young people in quest of Govern- | ment jobs were advised yesterday afternoon by Civil Service Commis- sioner Arthur S. Flemming to keep taking examinations to get on as many eligibility lists as possible. Speaking before 200 students at Central High School's Town Hall, the Republican member of the com- mission advised the students to specialize and to keep posted on what examinations are being given. | Mr. Flemming said that, con- | trary to public opinion, Civil Service | status does not insure permanent | jobs to inefficient employes. He | explained that it was comparatively | simple to fire an employe whose work was below standard The students asked Mr. Flemming | many questions about Government employment following his address. | Frances Bedell was the student chairman of the meeting. Burcro;t Club to Meet | _ The Barcroft School and Civic | League will meet tomorrow at 8:30 | pm. in the Barcroft Commuity House, Eighth and South Buchanan streets, Arlington, Va. rt (Purnished by the United States Weather Bureau.) District of Columbia—Mostly cl about 32 degrees tonight; tomorrow loudy and slightly colder, with lowest cloudy and continued cold, followed by light snow tomorrow afternoon or night; gentle northwest winds becoming northeast tomorrow. Maryland—Mostly cloudy and slightly colder, with light snow in extreme west and cloudy; followed by light snow tomorrow afternoon or night in east and central portiofis, Virginia—Mostly cloudy and slightly colder tonight; tomorrow cloudy and slightly colder,’ with light snow In west portion tomorrow and light rain on the coast and light snow in the interior tomorrow afternoon or night. West Virginia—Cloudy tonight and tomorrow; light snow tomorrow and in north portion tonight; slightly colder tomorrow in north portion. T e e e o i The Atlantic Coast disturbance is now: moving very slowly northward over New England. Concord. N H.. 998.3 millibars (29.48 inches). and a broad 'trou; tends thence southward to Iatitude and from the ids Straits. A disturbance that developed Tuesday aver Colorado has moved south- eastward to the Ty dle with in- among European countries likewise had made inquiries, Mr. Roosevelt said in ordering surveys of both material last month. Manogue Bequests Left To Catholic Charities Catholic churches and charities in the District will benefit under the lic at District Court today. In disposing of an estate of more than $10,000, she left several be- quests to members of her family and distributed the remainder among religious groups. Catholic organizations benefitting were: Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church, the pastor of which was willed her property at 3009 Dum- barton avenue; Little Sisters of the . 2. BpLe e ““Zoweit. 35. 6 a.m. todsy. Year axo. 36. | 55} Poor, House of the Good Shepherd, Sister Seraphim of the Order of the Bon Secour and Holy Trinity Coun- cil of the St. Vincent de Paul So- ciety. which were left equal shares of her property at 3011 Dumbarton avenue N.W.; Epiphany Roman Catholie Church of , the pastor ‘of which received $1,000, and the Sisters of Bon Secour, who re- ceived $1,000. . She directed that if any bequests should be voided, the should pass to Archbishop Michael J. Curley of Baltimore. A petition for probate of the will was filed through Af Prancis L. Neu- ttorney beck, The petitioners for probate | Sun Mae J. Manogue and Joseph mmulh. [ 4 ‘War and Navy Department surplus fé will of Mary J. Manogue, made pub- :‘mne ibars (29.58 e i . A pance is centered over Noi iston. 1.014.6 millibars (29.96 inches). ey e Atlantic Coast. Pressu the Pacific Coast eastward to Rocky Mountain region and ward to thy high_from the Northe; from the Lake 8 ulf of Mexi 1o the "Gult . 1.030.1_millibars (30.42 inehes): , Minn. “1,021.3 miilibars_(30.16 inches). and New Orieany La. 10146 milibars 29.36 inches) e weather has become warmer over the Southern while colder weather has overspread the Northern y Mountain region and por- tions of the upper Lake region. Elsewhere iperature chanses have been unimpor- Revort for Last 24 Hours. ‘Temperature. Barometer Inches, Yesterday— 4 p. Highest, 46. 4 pm. yesterdsy. Year Humidity for Last 24 Hours. (From noon yesterday to noon today.) Highest. 75 per cent, at 3 a.m. today. Lowest, 51 per cent. at noon today. River D R, P mp ¢ 2 at Great today. s Tide Tables. (Purnished United Coast and afllfie 8 fll;.)l ¥ 5 ., X Moo, todsy fi"% 0 pm. Automobile lights must be turned on gh ex- | 350 N, e southwestward to the Flor- | iy | August September October re is | D Shenandosh | Portl'd, Ore. Precipitation. Monthly precipitation in inches in the Capital (current month to date): onth. ag January ebruary March emIass 52 gamana0an 3% S32523) November _ es. Stations. Abilene lains States. | B SPzegpess S a2y FOREIGN STATIONS. (Noon. Ole'nyrl lll-l'l".tzlv)“ Horta (ragab, Ammrel R Ny rputengl S Canal hn'::-:nmm ; ¥ val