davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Daily Alaska empire., 1931-11-25
SITKA SAILS SOUTH
 WITHOUT ANY MAIL

Without mail, the schooner Sitka, Capt. William Doucett, departed this morning from Juneau for Se- attle. On arrival there, she will go into drydock for overhaul. She is not expected to return her un- til next February.
 The vessels owner, I. Goldstein, yesterday offered to transport on this voyage first class mail free of charge.
 Postmaster Josephine Spickett cabled the offer to the Postoffice Department at Washington, D. 0. She received reply late yesterday afternoon declining the offer.
 Acceptance of the proposal would put into Seattle mail from Juneau four or five days sooner than 1t can be handled by any of the regu- lar mail steamships.
 The Sitka will arrive in Seattle not later than Sunday, the day the first regular southbound mail boat is scheduled to depart from here.
 
 nld r,aners at The Empire.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1931-11-25
TIDES TOMORROW

High tide, 1:29 a. m., 14.4 feet Low tide, 7:09 a. m, 4.5 feet High tide, 100 D. m, III feet Low tide, 7:48 p. m., Ia feet
 Tides Friday
 High tide, 2:09 a. m., 14.2 feet Low. tide, TAT a. m., 4.8 feet High tide, 1:A p. m., l6.o feet Low tide, 8:28 p. m., -1.0 rect
The Daily Alaska empire., 1931-11-25
ESTEBETH BACK FROM SITKA;HAS| q aPASSENGERS'
Motorship Reports Un eventful Voyage to
 Various Ports

Reporting an uneventful voyage, the motorship Estebeth, Capt. Ed ward Bach and Purser Robert Coughlin, returned to Juneau this morning from her regular weekly voyage to Sitka and way ports. She brought to this city nine pas sengers They were:
 From Sitka--N. Peter Kostermisi- noff, John Bob.
 From Chichagof-R. McCome.
 From Killlsnoo--A. Mathison.
 From Hawk Inlet-Charles Will Hams, Fred Poessel, J. Ray.
 From Funter-Ray Schultz, o. E, Otto.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1931-11-25
Marine News
Steamer Movements
NORTHBOUNp

} NORTHBOUNp 1 , Norco due Saturday. , Admiral Evans due Saturday. | , SCHEDULED SAlLiNGs : Princess Norah scheduled to . sail from Vancouver Novem- . Der 26 at g p. m. . Nofthland scheduled to sail . from Seattle Nov. 30, at g p. m.
 . Alameda scheduled to sail , . from Seattle Dec. 1 at a. m. . SOUTHBOUND SALNGs 4 . Northwestern scheduled south . bound November %. . LOCAL SAILlNGS
 . Estebeth leaves every Saturday
 . night st 6 pm. for sitks and {
 wayports.
 . Pacific leaves every Satur-
 . day at 10 am, for Peters,
 . burg. Kake and way ports.
 % ss sss oes -
The Daily Alaska empire., 1931-11-25
JACKSON RICE; NO ToNsILs

Jackson Rice, popular pharma- cist with the Juneau Drug Com pany, will get along the rest of his life without his tonsils. He was bereft of them by surgical operation at St. Ann's hospital this morning.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1931-11-25

Old papers at The Empire.
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1931-02-12
Local Man S Nephew Voted
President of Guatemala
Following Heated Election

with his family. and will probably
l.uld a political position.
Gen. Ubico was educated in Ma
drid. when his father. Arturo Ubico.
was minister to Spain, and shortly
afterward he became Of age moved
to London when his father was
transferred as minister to Great
Britain. :
After several years in London,
Gen. Ubico moved 70 Washington,
ID. g. with his father and mother,
"One reason he IS friendly to-
ward foreign capital and foreign
trade is because OF his early train
ing in Europe and the United
States" Mr.. Edmy:idson said to-
cay. He Is extremely well-educated
and learned military tactics in both
America and Europe"
Arturo Ubico, the father, was
minister 10 various countries and
for many years was vice-president
Of Guatemala. which position he
filled at the time OF his death sew
eral years ago.
Guatemala Is a day and a half's
air journey from Brownsville, Is
the largest Central American re-
public. and adjoins Mexico. II has
a population Of approximately g.
600. 900.
The country Is air-minded. the
local man explained. and 90 pei
cent of the mail carried r. carried
by plane. Even the small. isolated
/, towns have airmail connections. The
majority Of passengers travelling
about the country travel by air
plane.
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1931-02-12
DONNA LEADS
HIDALCO IN
POLL TAXES
Total of 1919 Paid
In County; M'Allen
Ranks Second

EDINBURG, Feb. 12-Donna will
lead Hidalgo county in voting
strength for the year 1881. as 1880
poll taxes paid during January give
Donna 1915 out Of 1885. which is
the practically completed poll tax
figure. according to Chief Deputy
Tax Collector j. q. Barerra. who
stated this morning that there are
a few poll taxes Oh which there has
been no ruling made up I'd date.
McAllen comes second to Donna
with 1877. Edirburg third with 1f61
and Mission fourth with 1897.
Eighteen exemptions for voters
under twenty-one were granted. the
exemptions based on the law grant
ing certificates to citizens whose
twenty-first birthdays occur be-
tween February and before the
time OF the election. in cities over
5000 population. which includes the
Continued on page 2)
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1931-02-12
SHOTGUN SLUCS
WOUND VICTIM
Houston Man Recovering
From Automobile
Attack

HOUSTON, Feb. 12.-(R9-Joscpn
r. Navarro. So year old prominent
Italian business man who fell last
night i'm his home before a blast
of shotgun Slugs fired from an au-
tomobile outside, was recovering to-
day.
a sawed off shotgun was found In
a ditch in front of the house. Pc
lice had IL examined for finger prints
and said several clues were being
traced.
Navarro told police he was sitting
in the front room Of his home read
ing when he heard the first explo-
sion. Glass struck him on the face,
Il jumped up and turned in the
direction OF the door. There was
another shot and ! was hit In the
side. I did not see anyone"
Navarro stated he knew or no rea-
son why any n should want to
shoot him.
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1931-02-12
DEATH CLAIMS
MISSIONS DAD
John j. Conway, First Cit
izen, Dies At Home
Wednesday
Especial to The HeraId)

MISSION, Feb. 12.-The Father
or Mission Is dead.
John J. Conway, ~. who laid out
the city OF Mission In 1907 and who,
with a partner. put In the first
irrigation pump in the upper VAL
ley, died at his home Wednesday
curing the early hours Of the morn
ing.
Burial services were to have been
held at 10 O'Clock Thursday morning.
Mr.. Conway arrived in the Rio
Grande Valley in 1907 from Min
neapolis, and stopped at the old
Oblate Mission. on the Rio Grande
four miles south Of what Is now
the city Of Mission.
In company with j. M. Holt. the
pioneer builder constructed the
first irrigation plant and put in
the first canal and pump in the
upper Valley.
In 1908 he started the develop
ment OF the Mission townsite. and
has since been know as the Father
OF Mission.
Funeral services were to be con-
Quoted by the knights or Column
bus. and we're To be from ST. Paul's
Catholic church. Interment will be
IL the Laurel Hill cemetery.
All stores. business houses and
offices were closed in honor OF
Missions first citizen.
He Is survived by his widow: two
daughters. DR.. Nellie Conway and
Mrs. Maurine Murray. both OF Cal
ifornia: four sons. Roy P. Of Mis-
sion. Capt. Myron Conway, who
Gcted as escort to war Mothers In
France and who. with his family,
Is in France new In connection with
work there. John, Jr., OF Reward,
N. j. and william OF the University
OF Minnesota: three sisters. Mrs
w. E. Bertram. Minneapolis. Miss
Nayme Conway, and Mrs. Kate
Johnson, Wisconsin: one brother,
W. j. Conway; and several grand
children.
He died Of heart failure.
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1931-02-12
ANTI-SMITH
funds WENT
TO CANNON
$4,000 Check Trans
ferred To Personal
Account

WASHINGTON. Feb. II. tP-Aft-
er eliciting from witnesses that
some OF the funds deposited to the
credit of the Virginia anti-Smith
committee in 1923 were transferred
to the personal account Of Bishop
James Cannon. Jr.. the senate cam
paign funds committee today re-
NAMED undecided whether further
hearings would be held.
The Nye group which Is investi-
eating political activities OF the
southern Methodist prohibition lead
er yesterday questioned a number
OF bankers. 1t was acting upon
complaints filed by Representative
Tinkham. republican. MaSsachu-
sets, that Bishop Cannon violated
the corrupt practices act through
failure to report expenditures OF
funds contributed to the campaign
against the democratic presidential
nominee.
The bishop came to the hearing
in A wheel chair, still crippled BY
arthritis from which &c has been
suffering for some time. AT the
outset a letter from him was read
asking permission to file. as soon
as his health allowed. a sworn state
ment to prove no criminal or dis
honorable act had been committed.
Chairman Nye granted the request.
Perry Seay. vice-president Of the
American Bank and Trust Com
pany, Richmond. Virginia. told Nye
that Bishop Cannon's anti-Smith
committee opened an account July
"a, 1928. with $50. 708. On February
IL, 1929. three checks we're deposit
ed totaling $lS.605. One was for
ST. 1854. The same day this exact
amount was transferred to Bishop
Cannon's personal account. It was
not traced further nor was its
source disclosed.
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1931-02-12
Valley Irish To
Hold Meeting
Friday

An important meeting a. VAL
ley Irishmen Is TO be held at the
Ell Jardin hotel Friday night az p
o'clock to determine definite plans
for the st. Patrick's Day celebra-
ton March II.
The announcement was made by
Jno. G.. flaming. manager Of the
Capitol theater here, and who ~
In active charge OF the celebra-
ton.
we have been receiving RE-
sponSes from all over tine state"
Mr.. Tanning said today. "Appar-
emily every Irishman In the VAL
ley will be present. and we do not
doubt but that the celebration win
be a decided success. I have re-
ceived letters from Irishmen In
every Valley town. and even from
some In San Antonio. Fort Worth
and Houston"
The meeting rs t0 be Valley
wide. and MIR Tanning has ar-
ranged for n meeting room in the
El Jardin hotel. Tie urged that
all who car possibly attend be
present. M final and definite plans
are 10 be completed Friday night.
IN
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1931-02-12
Cannon's Son L.
Convicted I'm Cal.

PASADENA. Cal, Feb. ~. Up
Major Richard NJ. Cannon, son Of
Bishop James Cannon. Jr., OF the
Methodist Episcopal church. South,
faced sentence on charges Of vio-
lating the state labor laws. He was
convicted here yesterday. Juries in
two previous cases disagreed. Nine
other similar cases are pending
against the bishops son.
Cannon was found guilty In jus
tice court or a charge OF failing To
pay Mrs. Phyllis Case S33 due her
as salary for teaching in an I'll
Monte. Cal. military school with
which he had been associated.
He faced a possible sentence OF
six months in the county iail. a
$500 fine, or both.
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1931-02-12
Southern Pacific to
Try Cent-a-M Mile Rate

SAN FRANCISCO. Feb. II. fR1-
The railroad world today centered
its attention on the announcement
here hv Tle Southern Pacific COM
pany that il would try out a pas
senger fare rate OF one cent a mile
on its lines IN vel western states.
E. w. Clapp. general passenger
traffic panager said experimental
sales would be held February 20
and February 81. Round trip tickets
on the cent a mile basis will be
sold on those days. Clapp said, and
will have a return limit Of midnight
Tuesday following the Friday on
which they are sold.
Travel bargains should be as &C
ceptahle TO the general public as
merchandise bargains. Clapp ex-
planned. and by applying modern
merchandising methods Of low
prices and mass oreration travel
I Should be stimulated.
The regular rate per mile Is 3 10
cents
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1931-02-12
England Swept BY
Raging Storm

LONDON. Feb. 12-Pg-One Of
the most violent gales OF the winter
blew over England and adjacent
seas during the night. The wind
reached a velocity OF 30 and go
miles frequently and occasionally
blew more than 10 miles an hour.
The channel was dashed into
furious waves which seaman eSti-
mated to be 30 feet high. Channel
steamers suffered some damage and
many arrived at ports hours late.
The Bemridge lifeboat searched
for six hours last evening for a
small unidentified vessel seen earl
ief drifting in the channel. It
returned unsuccessful and II was
feared the small vessel was lost.
Many trees we're uprooted and
chimneys and roofs damaged.
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1931-02-12
QUEEN CONTEST
COMES TO END
Miss Esther Guerra Doria
Named Winner With
S2,771 Votes

The contest to select a queen 10
reign during the Matamoros Good
Humor carnival came TO a close
Wednesday night at 10 o'clock with
Senorita Esther Guerra Doria,
sponsored by municipal authorities,
leading all participants.
Srta. Doria was named queen,
and her coronation will take place
Sunday morning. Feb. IS. at 10
o'clock either az the Kennel club or
the Teatro Reforma. depending upon
weather conditions.
The final count was ms follows.
Srta. Esther Guerra Doria. 82.7Ti.
Srta. Lupe Verdugo. sponsored by
federal officials. 35.76l; Srta. Berta
PalacioS. sponsored by a social
group. 1881.
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1931-02-12
SOUR ORANGES
TO BE PICKED
Federal Inspector Advises
Immediate Picking
Of Fruit

Sour oranges Oh trees IN private
yards IN the Valley should be pick
Cd and destroyed Immediately. &C
cording 10 NJ. H. Ford. in charge
O. federal inspection forces in the
Valley.
Mr.. Ford stated that a large
number OF sour oranges were O.
trees In various Valley towns and
that they should be cleaned up now
because the weather was becoming
warmer and fruit fly larvae might
become dangerous 10 Valley Or
chardS.
Mr.. Ford revealed that several
larvae had been found In fruit In
Matamoros.
Valley orchards are now almost
free of the dreaded M0relos fruit
fly. but extreme care must be taken
"a keep them from spreading dur
ing the warmer weather now iii
sight.
lie pointed out that All VALLEY
trees must be clear M fruit NV
March / anyway. and that Ii would
be advisable to eliminate the sour
oranges now.
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1931-02-12
Washington Mail Clerk
Is Slugged Into
Inconsistencies
REGISTERED
Mail Pouches From Federal
Reserve Bank Taken
BY Robbers

WASHINGTON. Feb. l2-Pf-A
daring holdup or "a mail truck car
rying registered pouches Tin the
Union station here early this morn
ing was announced by postal OF
iicials today as netting the rob-
hers nothing but mutilated cur
rcncy.
The sacks. stolen after a mail
clerk had been beaten with lead
pipe, contained only. old bills cut
in half for shipment 70 the treas
ury department.
Police and government operatives
we're at work In many portions or
the capital and watching Its out
skirts lin mn attempt Co ~apprehend
the holdup men.
The treasury department said
the other halves OF the mutilated
Hills had been received here I'm q
previous mail shipment.
The robbery occurred between
two and three a. m. in the Union
station concourse.
Peter Johnson, in charge or 20
sacks or registered mail being
shipped from the Federal Reserve
bank I'm New York I'D the treasury,
was the mail clerk bludgeoned by
the robbers.
Gold Brick
Treasury officials called the loot
a gold brick'-saying II was made
up Of only parts Of bills which once
had a value Of 1907. 900.
Hours after the three bandits
had beaten and robbed the clerk
who was transporting % sacks or
mail from the station TO the post
office. no trace or them had been
reported. Clues we're meaEer.
Two unmasked men, carrying
lengths on lead pipe in VA satchel.
attacked N clerk who was wheeling
a load or 2B registered mail sacks
from the New York train 70 the
adjoining post0ff.ce building.
They beat the clerk. named Johs-
son, with the pipes. Snatched three
pouches and a from the con-
course 20 a taxi Stand under the
station roof where a powerful auto
mobile driven by "a confederate pick
ed them up and dashed off.
The attack took place at 2:I5
H. M.
Johnson had iust loaded his
electric truck at the baggage cars
OF Pennsylvania railroad train l47
on the stations lower level. taken
Il 10 the upper floor by elevator
and started across the concourse.
He was between tracks 3 and 4.
which arc close 10 the taxi en-
trance when the two men rushed
him. He was badly beaten.
Police Immediately broadcast a
lookout to all outlying precincts and
motorized forces in an attempt tO
intercept the bandit car.
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1931-02-12
Harlingen
Woman Is Buried
fBv staff CorresDcndentl

HARLINGEN. Feb. 12.-Funeral
services were to be held at 4 o'clock
this afternoon for Mrsy Olivia Ma
ria Simmons. IS. who died here at
100 p. m. Wednesday. The SER
vices we're to be held from the
Christian church. with Rev. c. w.
Harrison. officiating. Inteyment
will be made in the Harlingen
cemetery.
Mrs. Simmons was born at Miami,
Ind, and IS survived by a daughter,
Mrs. w. e. Johnson OF Harrington,
and three sons. r. II. OF ePtersboro.
Can. J. w. OF Milwaukee, and O.
w. OF LaSalle. Ill.
Among her twenty-five grand
children r Mrs. z. H. Briggs and
Mrs. Clifford Cary Of Harrington,
and W. G. johnson Of Philadelphia.
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1931-02-12
WILLIAM WEEMS
DIES COMBE
Special " The HeraId.l

HARLINGEN. Feb. William
zachery Weems. II. a pioneer resi-
dent Of the Rio Grande Valley, died
at his residence near Combes at 6
o'clock Wednesday morning.
Mr.. Weems was a former county
commissioner Of Cameron county,
and has been a resident OF this sec
ton for e years, coming here from
Brazoria county. Texas.
He retired from politics and be-
came known as one OF the most sue
cesSful farmers In the Valley.
He Is survived by two sisters. Mrs.
Jack Werrel. Chenango. Mrs. John
Allen Hart. Beaumont: n brother,
John II. Weems, Angleton; three
children. w. z. Weems. Jr.. Houston,
Mrs. William Weems Baldridge, Har-
lingen; Mrs. II. p. jackson. Harlin-
gen: and five grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held
Thursday afternoon in Harrington
under the direction or Thompson's
Mortuary- Interment will be In
the Harrington cemetery.
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1931-02-12
Valley Hotels Should
GiUe Free Grapefruit

plants that i have heard from
tourists and visitors Is that Valley
citizens do not 'talk-up' Valley
fruit. and charge a big price for H."
he continued. He pointed out that
restaurants charge from ten to
fifteen cents a half for Valley
grapefruit.
Il would suggest that hotel cof-
fee shops and restaurants set half
a grapefruit before each breakfast
customer, regardless Of what he ~
she orders. with a small card ex-
planning that the grapefruit was
grown locally. was superior to other
grapefruit. and was given without
charge in order that everyone
NIGH sample It," he concluded.
The local chamber Of commerce.
has the idea under adYisement.
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1931-02-12
Motor Car Hoboes
Are the Latest

MINNEAPOLIS. Feb. l2-F)-
The modern beggar doesn't waste
time plodding from house 10 house
on foot. He uses his automobile.
Such n knight or the road was
William Burkholder. police said.
He called on the housewives along
his route In a motor car.
judge sent him TO jair for 90
DAYS.
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1931-02-12

EDINBURG. Feb. H. Many
disputed financial transactions Of
the past two years are expected To
come To light within q very short
time. as Ernst and Ernst. nationally
known auditing firm. was given
the contract 10 audit the entire
accounting Of Hidalgo county. late
yesterday afternoon.
Work will begin on the audit
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1931-02-12

The suggestion was made Thurs
Gay by a citrus expert now in the
Valley that all Valley hotel coffee
shops and restaurants give half a
grapefruit free OF charge 10 each
breakfast customer.
New Orleans has the reputation
Of being the home Of good coffee.
and to foster this reputation, every
restaurant, coffee shop and hotel
gives a small cup OF coffee, free or
charge TO every customer" he said.
The expert added that he had in
terviewed several local packers and
that they had agreed 10 sell the
fruit 10 hotels for one cent each.
Consequently ii would cost only
half a cent per customer to diStTib-
ute the fruit free.
One Of the mcst frequent com
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1931-02-12
Obedience Theme
Of Pope Plus XII
In Radio Address

VATICAN CITY, Feb. u. Up
For the first time In history the
Pope today sent his voice to mil
lions throughout the world in a ra-
dio message Of peace 70 mankind.
Smiling and tranquil as though
he we're a veteran Of radio broad
casting. he spoke over Fl v j, the
new Vatican City radio station built
for him by Guglielmo Marconi and
inaugurated in celebration Of the
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1931-02-12
Sells Trinket, Is
Robbed OF $4,000

CHICAGO. Feb. l2-lRl-Polite-
ness does not always pay.
Samuel Schwartz, owner OF a
jewelry store had closed up for the
night when n woman raped on
the door. indicating she wanted I'D
bay "A 81 cent trlnket.
OblIngingly he opened up the
store.
As she walked out with the
trinket two men walked in the
place. When they left they took
with them $4,000 worth Of jeWelry.
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1931-02-12

ninth anniversary OF his coronation
as Pope Plus Xl.
Senator Marconi, introducing the
pontiff. spoke briefly before the
address for which men and women
we're listening In far distant cities
Of the world.
II was 1882 o'clock (EST) when
the Pope began speaking.
No longer a prisoner Of the Vat
lean. this modern Of all popes sent
his living voice 70 his congregation
Of three hundred million Catholics
and TO the members OF all other
faiths.
His was a message OF peace and
union.
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1931-02-12
Hidalgo Awards
Audit Contract
Work to Begin

ard the refinancing scheme within
the next few days, according TO
Ice ". Brint0n. manager Of the
Houston branch or the firm, who
has been I'm Edinburg the past week.
iii the interest or his bid.
The audit will give an account
ing % Hidalgo county, over a pc
Rod beginning January /, 1923, and
closing December 81, 1890.
Two provisions were made IN
the bid before the commissioners
court would agree 10 a final con-
.Sideration. one to the effect that
local people would be- used in the
clerical services wherever the au-
ditors thought u was possible.
The other provision was made
by the firm after the court con-
sistentlv argued that travelling OK
penSes back and forth 10 Houston
should be eliminated.
Competition for Job
Countering such an argument.
Brinton proposed that If at the
end OF the audit. the commission
ers court was not satisfied In
every respect with the handling q!
the audit. the firm would agree ID
IN adjustment OF the entire cost.
10 which proposal the court agreed
The awarding or the contract
came at the end or several weeks
elaboration on the part or the
commissioners court and r. C.,
Couch. county judge. who had over
a dozen bids under consideration.
The bids were narrowed down "a
four Wednesday. and the Ernst and
Ernst bid was chosen at 4 o'clock
Up to that time bidders and lob
Continued on page ~
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1931-02-12
Butte Arrives At
Manila, Has Been iii

MANILA. Feb. IL. P-Ge0rEe C.
Butte. vice governor or the Philip
pines. arrived here today from the
United States and was given a
cordial welcome at the pier BY an
official delegation and a crowd Of
several hundred persons.
It was learned Butte had con-
tracted influenza in Shanghai and
had just recovered. In view az this.
his engagement for the next few
days. including a dinner In his hon
or 10 BE- given by Governor Dwight
H. Davis, have been cancelled. The
vice governor will rest a few days
before assuming his duties.