Evening Star Newspaper, March 24, 1940, Page 3

Tax Wealth for Jobs _ Is Lasser's Message To Workers' Alliance Senator Pepper and Two Representatives Speak on ‘End Unemployment Day’ A program “to end unemployment and poverty” was presented yester- day by David Lasser, president of the Workers’ Alliance of America, as thousands of persons nnhel!d< here and throughout the Nation in an “End Unemployment Day” rally. A shivering crowd of about 250 persons, who braved a chilling wind for two hours, gathered for the local observance at Public Library Park. The assembly heard Mr. Lasser and - Senator Pepper, Democrat, of Florida, by radio, while Representa- tives Caroline O'Day of New York and Lee Geyer of California, both Democrats, and others spoke at the scene. 3 Earlier in the day, a committee representing the alliance conferred with Robert E. Bondy, District wel- fare director, for more than half an hour while other members of the group picketed the District Build- ing. 50,000 Jobless Here, Is Claim. Placards displayed by the pickets declared that while only 2,000 un- employed were on relief there were 50,000 unemployed persons in the District and that thousands *faced starvation.” Mr. Lasser stressed these three points in the program of the alli- ance: 1. A guaranteed minimum income to all American families which shall not be less than $15 weekly for a single person, plus $2.50 weekly for each additional person in the fam- {lv. He estimated 10 to 12 million families have less than this income. 2. A works program on & non= relief basis to construct houses, schools, hospitals, roads, etc. 3. A 30-hour week with no re- duction in pay in industries which tend to displace men by machines. ‘This would put an estimated 9,500,- 000 jobless persons to work, he said. Urges Tax on Idle’ Wealth. *“To finance this program,” Mr. Lasser said, “we will tap the idle wealth that today is neither spent nor invested. . We will plug loop- holes of the wealthy tax-dodgers, in- crease rates on larger inheritances, on corporation profits, gifts, trans- fers, and tax-exempt securities.” Senator Pepper ptfaised the alli- ance’s efforts in behalf of the un- employed and declared the war on unemployment must be waged with “unyielding relentlessness.” He said the W. P. A. enrollment should be increased to 3,000,000 persons—700,- 000 over February. Representative O'Day scored those members of Congress who are with- out the vision of true democracy” and who “balk and frustrate our efforts to translate our visions into reality.” Touching on the senti- ment to balance the budget, she declared “we must not balance it against human misery and human suffering.” From Representative Geyer the gathering heard an exhortaticn for the unemployed to organize “if you expect to get anywhere.” Ennes Denounces War. Howard Ennes, chairman of the Washington Youth Council, said that “war, which brings nothing but death and degradation to youth and profit and power to few, reaches out for us.” “‘Are we to solve our youth prob- | lem by dressing it in uniform and | shooting it full of holes?” he asked. Eugene Davidson, administrator | of the New Negro Alliance, declared | that “race prejudice” lay at the| root of the unemployment problem among colored veople. He scored “discrimination” against colored persons in Government and private employment. Other speakers were Jack Zucker, | business agent of the United Shoe ‘Workers; Robert Robinson, secre- tary-treasurer of the District Work- ers’ Alliance, and Philip Bonosky, president of the District Workers’ Alliance, who presided. Resolutions passed by the meeting requested an increase in the Dis- trict W. P. A. quota, passage by Congress of a measure known as the “American standards work and as- sistance” bill, an increase in the Dis- trict public assistance appropria- tion from $900,000 to $4,500,000, revi-' sion by the Board of Public Welfare of its cruel and arbitrary decision denying relief to able-bodied,” a vote by the Senate on the anti- *lynching bill and discontinuance of “police terror against the Negro peo- ple” in Washington. — Planes (Continued From First Page.) to obtain planes at lower costs be- cause foreign buyers have paid for plant expansions. This results from the fact that many Navy contracts are on a so- called “cost-plus” basis, with the Navy paying as profit to the manu- facturer only a percentage above the actual cost. Mass-production methods, made possible by the for- eign orders, have cut these costs Furthermore, manufacturers’ profits are limited by law to 10 per cent, s0 the Navy may benefit from lower costs even on contracts made at specified figures, rather than on the cost-plus basis. Admiral Towers was said to have “ told of specific instances where the Navy was able to get better planes because of the foreign demand. In one case, the Navy permitted the sale of a number of recently manufactured fighting planes to the Finns, only to replace them on the production line almost immediately with an improved model of the ship capable of 30 miles an hour greater speed. Seek Further Information. Despite these assurances, congres- sional investigations will seek fur- ther information on the effect of foreign purchases of American planes. The House Military Affairs Com- mittee expects to start its delayed investigation as soon as Secretary of War Woodring signifies his readi- ness to testify. The committee’s in- TERMITES 4 wumnstmln’-refl:edugnmn“ W. Natl. Press. Blds. “Ask Our Customes MASS MEETING, 1940 STYLE—In order to carry the radio address by Senator Pepper, Democrat, of Florida to every part of the public library grounds, Seventh street and New York avenue N.W, so that those attending the District Workers Alliance mass meeting on unemployment yes« terday could hear it, Robert Robinson, Secretary-treasurer of alliance, had to hold the radio to Sitting (left to right) are Dorothy Strange, Jack Zuker of the United Shoe Workeds; Helen G. Scott of the Workers Alliance of America, and Phillip Bo- the loudspeaker system microphone. nosky, president of the local Workers Alliance. g [ Representative Lee Geyer, Democrat, of California, shown as he addressed the gathering on a program to end unemployment in this country. —Star Staff Photos. quiry was postponed last Wednes- day when Secretary Woodring asked for more time to prepare data to be | presented. Chairman Shepard announced that the Senate Military Coimittee would meet tomorrow to consider a resolution by Senator La Follette, Progressive, of Wisconsin to look into military plane sales to foreign governments. Senator La Follette said he in- tended to push for enactment of his resolution, regardless of the turn of the House investigation. Charged Wire Fence Shocks Chickens By the Associated Press. ST. LOUIS, Mo., March 23.—Wil- liam Shymos complained to the sheriff's office that his chickens were being shocked by an electrically charged wire fence put up by a neighbor. A deputy investigated and found the fence had been erected to pro- tect a flower bed. Since it was on private property, the neighbor was writhin his rights, but the officer ordered him to put up a sign warn- ing that the fence was charged. Now it's up to Mr. Shymos’ chick- ens to learn how to read. Fire (Continued From First Page.) Mr. Sherrill and leaped. She was followed by Mrs. Powell. Baby Tossed From Window. “I saw her catch on the edge of the roof,” said Miss Tenney, “with one foot hanging over the side. I grabbed hold of her and pulled her up on the rovof, but I could see she was badly injured. “Then came the baby,” continued Miss Tenney. “The young man held him out the back window as far as he could. He leaned down with the baby as far as possible. Then he gave Johnny a toss and the baby fell across the open space be- tween the house and the garage and I caught him. One leg caught over my right arm, but his body I caught firmly with my left arm and hugged him tight to me. He was scared a’ little bit, but was a brave little fellow.” 3 Mr. Sherrill, who had successfully tossed the baby, remained behind, the last one to leave the upper story alive. He jumped without difficulty, landing safely on the roof. The garage roof to which the peo- ple jumped has a slanting roof of galvanized iron. It slopes back from the alley on which the side of the house stands, The pitch, however, is not sharp. < Flames Spread Rapidly. Mrs. Charles Howell of Morgan- town, W. Va.; who was visiting her mother, Mrs. H. C. Van Orsdale, at the house, said the blaze was small, in the middle of & couch, when she first saw it. She started for a bucket of water. There were two men in the room, she said, and one of them asked her for a nickel to call the fire department, and they left. ‘When she returned with a bucket of water the flames had caught in window curtains and had reached the ceiling. In another fire yesterday after- noon, a girl leaped from a second story - window when she became frightened by smoke from an ovre- heated stove. She was Thelma Haines, colored, 21, of 1611 Tenth street N.W. She was taken to Freed- men’s Hospital, where it was said she had a slight back injury. KITT’S decide to buy later. 3330 @ Street Georgetown University last night announced the 1940 scientific hon- ors of its Kober Foundation have been awarded to Dr. William George | MacCallum of Baltimore and Dr. | Frederick Fuller Russell of Boston, prominent pathologists, in recogni- tionr of ‘“notable contributions to research in preventive medicine.” Dr. MacCallum, who succeeded Dr. W. H. Welch as Baxley pro- fessor of pathology at Johns Hop- kins University, was designated Kober lecturer for the year. The medal goes to Dr. Russell, Harvard professor emeritus of preventive medicine. For many years Dr. Rus- sell served in the Army Medical Corps and as director, also, of the International Health Board of the Rockefeller Foundation. In announcing the awards the Very Rev. Arthur A. O’Leary, S. J., president of Georgetown, explained that both selections had been made this year by the Executive Com- mittee of the Association of Amer- ican Physicians. That body will present the medal to Dr. Russell at its annual meeting in Atlantic City, N. J., on May 8. Lecture Thursday. The topic of the 1940 lecture is “Pathology of the Parathyroid Gland,” a field of research in which Dr. MacCallum has gained much distinction. It will be delivered at Georgetown University Thursday at 8:16 pm. in Gaston Hall in accord- ance with the terms of the Kober Foundation. Members of the Association of American Physicians, the Associa- tion of Military Surgeons and the Medical Society of the District of Columbia are particularly invited. These are the groups which, in al- ternating years, select the lecturer. The foundation was endowed by the late Dr. George Martin Kober of ‘Washington during his lifetime. He was an officer in each of the three medical groups, president also of the Tuberculosis Association of the Dis- trict and dean of medicine at Georgetown for more than 40 years. Dr. Kober devoted most of his life to preventive problems of health and medicine. Dr. Russell is well known in ‘Washington. Early in his long ca- reer with the Army he began the study of typhoid fever problems. While at the Army Medical Scheol here before the World War he sim- plified and systematized the proce- dure of vaccination against typhoid. His mass demonstration of vacci- nation met with such success it be- came standard practice. Served on G. W. Faculty. While on duty in Washington {from 1907 to 1913, Dr. Russell served five years on the medical faculty of George Washington University as professor of bacteriology and path- ology. During the World War he organized and directed the Army’s Division of Infectious Diseases and Laboratory Service. For this he was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal. . In 1920, resigning from the Army after about 22 years’ service, he Joined the staff of the Rockefeller Institute. As director of its Inter- national Health Board from 1923 to 1935, he did much to advance pre- ventive measures against typhoid and yellow fever, malaria and the hookworm. One of ‘his earliest achievements in anti-plague work was achieved in 1911 when he was sent to Puerto Rico. There he de- vised the well known Russell double sugar medium. Dr. Russell joined the Harvard faculty in 1935 and retired three years later. He is a native of Au- burn, N. Y, graduating from Co- lumbia University and the Uni- versity of Berlin. Honored by many societies, he was made a doctor of science of George Washington University and in 1937 was given the Bucl ON RECORD | HAVE 112,05 il et e of our reliablitty. ANY MAKE - WATCH . wnl : B Guaranteed ene J.F. ADAMS 1 COUPON Any Shape J. F. ADAMS 804 F St N.W. . Net. 2002 \MacCallum and Russell Named By G. U. for Kober Honors Foundation Awards Are Given for Contributions to Medical Research | cellus Hartley Public Welfare Medal. Medal of the London Royal So- ciety and in 1936 the Sedgwick Medal of the American Public Health Association. Before then he had been awarded the medal of the National Academy of Sciences, Washington; the Colonial Institute Medal of Amsterdam and the Mar- Long Career in Sciences. Dr. MacCallum has had an equally long career in the sciences. A native of Canada, he was graduated from the University of Toronto and was honor man in the first graduating class of medicine at Johns Hop- kins in 1897. As a medical student, Dr. Mac- Callum manifested early interest in scientific investigation. At home in his laboratory he made the impor- tant discovery that the flagellated form of the malarial parasite rep- | resents the sperm cell, a fact which | provided the key to the solution of the life cycle of the parasite. In| 1905 he published the first of his notable series of studies which re-| vealed the functions of the pun-l thyroid glands. Along with his contributions to pathological anatomy and physiol- ogy, the nominating committee said, he has had wide influence in the English-speaking world by his “Text- book of Pathology,” which repre- sents the first attempt to treat the subject from the standpoint of etiology. His portrait hangs in Johns Hop- kins' gallery, the gift of his col- leagues on the faculty. He joined its faculty soon after graduating but left to teach at Columbia Uni- versity. In 1917 he was called back to Johns Hopkins. Young People to Dance The Young People's Society of | St. Margaret's Church, Bancroft place and Connecticut avenue N.W., will give their annual spring dance tomorrow night in the parish hall of the church. Will Represent A. U. Miss Helen Snyder, recently elect- ed Queen of the Campus of Amer- ican University, will represent her university as one of the princesses in the court of the 1940 Cherry Blossom Queen, it was announced yesterday. PoNTIAC SIX—EIGHT—TORPEDO TRADE NOW. LIBERAL ALLOWANCE H. J. BROWN PONTIAC, Inc. . Direct Faet Deal 7, Va. (Juss Acress Key Bridge) $7.50 NO HIGHER Why Pay More? This Includes ® EYE EXAMINATION BY MEDICAL DOCTOR (O © Single or Double Visie: POLITAN OPTICAL Nw RE 49 nnsylvanio Ave 9AM th6PM P. Steuart & Bro. INCORPORATED 139 12th St. N.E. Lincolp 4300 HINGTON, D. c, Walkout Climaxes Contract Dispute at Press Cafeferia - Company‘.OHi}:iuIs and Union Leaders Differ On Number Involved A contract dispute between em- ployés of the Press Cafeteria and the operating company was climaxed { yesterday by a walkout at 1:15 p.m,, during the rush hour. Company officials and union rep- resentatives differ as to the number whith walked out. Harvey L. Cobb, president and attorney for the cafe, was quoted in & press release as saying that “out of a tdal of T2 employes, only-26 walked out, & majority of them colored.” Mr. Cobb likewise was quoted as saying, “But slight inconvenience was caused patrons as a result of the walkout,” and claimed substitute workers had been hired when plans for the walkout were learned earlier. 38 Out, Says Union Agent. Jack Mink, business agent for Local 471, United Cafeteria Em- ployes Union, claimed last night that 38 of 40 union employes of the MARCH 24, 1940—PART ONE. plained, it was claimed last night, by some not being on duty when the walkout was staged, union demanded, hcwever, a closed shop.” The statement claimed this would mean forcing 34 non-union em into_the union. Some of the latter employes have been with the cafe- teria 10 years and do not wish to join the union, the statement said, Mink Contradicts Statement. Contradicting a large part of this statement last night, Mr. Mink de- clared the union is not demanding & closed shop, but that its demands. call for a 48-hour week, increase in pay, averaging about $2 & wefk per employe, and double pay or time off for holidays. Mr. Mink further declared the company representative has refused to negotiate a contract and that a compiaint to that effect has been filed with the National Labor Rela- tions Board. 4 A conference on Friday, attended by Mr. Cobb, Mr. Fink and another union representative before L. J. Smith, labor conciliator, failed %o bring about a settlement. District motor accidents during January and February of 1940 fell cafeteria had walked out. The dis- crepancy might be partially ex- off 467 from the 2,286 accidents dur- ing October and November in 1939. PRESS CAFETERIA A STATEMENT OF FACTS CONCERNING LABOR DISAGREEMENT ON MARCH 18, 1939, we entered into a contract with the United Cafeteria Employees Local Union No. 471 (C. 1. O. affiliate) covering the scale of hours, wages, working conditions, etc., applicable to our em- loyees. This contract was mutually satisfactory to th parties. Under that contract, during 1939, this Com- pany earned but 3.3 cents net on each dollar of sales. On March 18, last, the Union presented de- mands for wage increases, which, if agreed to, upon same volume of sales for 1940, would rep- resent a net loss of one-fifth of one per cent on each dollar, all other factors being equal. In addition to the increased wages demanded, the Union also demands double pay for eight legal holidays. In our effort to negotiate a new contract the Union’s representative was shown the Company’s 1939 Federal Income Tax return, showing the gross and net profit. The answer was that they were not interested in profits —only Union wages. The Union’s Business Agent took the unqualified position that there is no relation what- ever between the wages a company can pay and the profit it makes. * s & * = = Wages, once agreed to, are the least of an em- ployer’s trials and tribulations. Actual management of our business, in so far as the hiring of efficient employees and the discharging of inefficient employees is concerned, is taken out of our hands and placed in the hands of the Union. We quote the Union’s de- mands: “The Employer agrees not to discharge any em- ployee without good and sufficient cause and shall first procure the consent of the Union . ..” Two cases will illustrate the impossibilities of such a demand, viz: (1) On April 29, 1939, two of our colored employees engaged in a fight in the dining room. Affidavits by other employees and the arresting officer, showed that both were drinking; that the fight was accompanied by much profanity and that while one wielded a knife, the other employed an iron bar and threw heavy water fla.sses. Several items of Company property were de-~ iberately destroyed. . One of the men fled the police, the other was taken to Emergency Hospital for treatment. He was treated and discharged the following day. Seven weeks later he returned and demanded his job which was refused on the grounds of his conduct and because of his ab- sence of seven weeks. In the interim he had been employed at another place. Theé Union, for several weeks thereafter, insisted that he be reinstated, which was refused. (2) The second incident occurred in August last, when a white girl complained to the management of ‘the conduct of a colored employee, whom she charged, in an affidavit, had made improper advances to her and had placed his hands on her person. On August Tth, still another white waitress charged the same colored employee with having attempted to assault her in one of the storerooms. Both charges were sup- ported by affidavits of each girl. The colored employee was immediately discharged. On August 15th, 1939, a suit was filed by the dis- charged employee and the Union, demanding $500 damages. On October 25, 1939, the case was tried. At conclusion of the plaintiff’s case, verdict was ren- dered in favor of the Cafeteria . . . the sole testimony being that of the Union’s Business Agent, and an admission by the Union’s attorney “that there was a great deal of merit in the reasons for his discharge.” Verdict for costs were awarded the Cafeteria, and the Union refused and still refuses to pay same. Veri- fication of the facts can be had by reference to Munici- pal Court Case No. 383,496. CONCLUSION AND AN APOLOGY We have no quarrel with the 31 of our employees who belong to the Union. They have a moral and legal right to Union representation. Many of our employees have been with us for several years and do not desire to be represented by the Union. That also is their legal and moral right. The owners of the Company are entitled to a fair return on their investment and for their labors. . The Company has not refused to barter with the Union’s representatives, but has refused to enter into a contract that takes away from the management the control of the affairs of the Company and which makes the successful operation of the Company unprofitable. We have agreed to renew our present contract with the Union, provided control of the Company’s operation remains in the management. This the mion has refused. Thus the pickets. ‘We apologize to our patrons for any inconvenience they may have suffered as a result of the picketing. HARVEY L. COBB, Attorn PRESS CAFETERIA, INC., National Press Building (14th & F N.W.) JF ¥OU dance without confidence, perhaps you need & few lessons at Arthur Murray's, + Here talented teachers will make your danc- ing correct, smart, interesting, a real joy to your pertners! Learning is easy. Such fun, too. And lessons coet s0 little. Why not drop ! in, for 3 half-hour lesson today, just to see ‘Bow quickly you'll gain confidence? Make your dancing a social asset! Studios are open until 10 P, M. daily for visitors. Ethel’M. Fistere’s ARTHUR MURRAY STUDIO 1101 Connecticut Ave. District 2460 The De Lure RECORDIO Your favorite programs, the music ond voices of those you love—you have them always when you have @ RECORDIO, the “Triple Treat” radio. e b o o iR Recordie (z8 alie® speilabl in _a smaller comsole size at $132.95. Write or phome for ine formation or literature . . . NATIONAL 4730 radic program or informal entertain- ment on inexpensive, durable discs. A second button makes the RECORDIO a fine-toned phonograph. Also it can be used os o public address system. The de luxe model pictured is a & 4 new, full-size mahogany console with all parts bronze finished and space in cabinet for records. PRICE, $175, ON EASY TEl Xk HOTEL odley Rood PAR Connecticu! Avenve and Wo 3 CALL NATIONAL 35000, ASK FOR THE STAR CIRCULATION DEPT. Presto! Home Delivery of The Star ‘begins instantly . . . and saves money! Washingtonians can enjoy the convenience of Home Delivery Servico—and save money, &imply by making & telephone call. Call NA- tional 5000, give your name and address and the service t Final and you desire. Consult the rates m&: Star___._ 85c per month and eervices to the right Night Final Star 60c per month MONTHLY RATES CITY AND SUBURBS Effective January 1, 1940 The Evi and Blmduyeggr' The Evening Star 45¢ per month