davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Imperial Valley press., 1933-04-13
M DONALD s
PLEA ALTERED
Accused Englishman Recants
Guilty Plea Made Yesterday
In Soviet Court.
By EUGENE LYONS

United Press Staff Correspondent
OCTOBER HALL, Moscow, April
13.-William Macdonald, one of
six Englishmen charged with high
crimes against the Soviet state,
withdrew his plea of guilty when
the second session of the trial op-
ened today.
"I considered it convenient to
make those statements under the
circumstances" Macdonald said
when asked why he had given his
lengthy and detailed confession if
he were not guilty.
He was called to the stand dur
ing the examination of Vassili A.
Sokolov, chief electrician at the
zlataoust Electricity and Metal
Works.
He said he had not given orders
to Sokolov to wreck machinery al
the Zlataoust plant.
Prosecutor Andrew Vishinsky was
clearly taken aback when Mac
Donald, in response to his first
question, denied instructing Sokoloy
in sabotage.
did you plead guilty yesterday
he demanded.
"YeS."
well, do you plead guilty to-
day?"
Macdonald cleared mis- throat
To-day I admit I said guilty
yesterday, but actually am moi
guilty"
The presence of diplomats en-
phasized, as it did yesterday, thai
the personal fate Of the accused
was secondary to the possible in
ternational repercussions hingine
on the outcome. Great Britain has
demanded the release of her sub.
jects without trial. She was pre-.
pared to declare a complete embar-
go on Russia and sever all relation:
If the trials conduct and its con.
clusion were not to her liking.
Imperial Valley press., 1933-04-13
Steam PoUered
Plane Success

OAKLAND, April 13. (U.Pj-Wil-
liam and George Bsler, sons of a
New Jersey railroad executive, tim
kered over the mechanism of a
steam motored airplane today, pre-
pairing it for an official test flight
at Oakland airport Monday.
The brothers, young Princeton
engineering graduates, took the
ship up for brief run yesterday
remaining aloft seven minutes. AL
len Bonalie, official observer for the
National Aeronautical association
who witnessed the trial, said it was
the first successful flight ever made
by a steam engined plane.
The engine, weighing 500 pounds
and developing $50 horsepower, is
virtually noiseless. 1t was installed
in an ordinary biplane. A tank con-
tanning 40 gallons of fuel oil is
housed in the fuSelage under which
are a series of coils and 'conden-
sers. The brothers, who took three
years to build the engine, said 400
mile flight could be made without
refueling.
Imperial Valley press., 1933-04-13
GOVERNORS CHARGES AGAINST
INMAN DECLARED 'GROUNDLESS

''If so, it was improper action
on the part of the chief executive.
but having acted under advice and
with the aid of counsel, we can
only assume the fault, if any, was
that of his attorney"
Criticizes Attorney
The report outspokenly criticized
Isadore Golden, the governors at
torney, but was careful to make no
statements against the executive.
THE legislature" the committee
report continued. "has a very i'm
portant function to perform and
should not be embarrassed by the
filing of groundless accusations
which have no other effect than
maligning a member or subjecting
him to ridicule and thereby inter
fere with his duties. The legisla-
ture should look with disfavor on
any action of any official which
would tend to lessen the efficiency
of its members"
The report said that in each in
stance mentioned in the governor S
charges, Inman acted as an attor-
ney.
"There is neither law, rule nor
reason which prevents him appear
ing before any tribunal or depart
ment in the practice of his pro-
fession. We are not justified in
criticising private actions of a per-
son simply because he is a member
of the legislature"
Senator Ralph Swing, committee
chairman, said had the charges not
been preferred by the governor, the
committee would not have even
considered the accusations. How
ever, because of the source of the
accusations, Swing said, the matter
was referred to Fred Wood, legiS-
lative counsel, who submitted a
complete report to the committee
Governor Rolph refused immed-
/ late comment.
Imperial Valley press., 1933-04-13
Estes Taken To
States Prison

L. C. Campbell and G. E. Kirk
patrick, deputy sheriffs. left El
Centre yesterday afternoon to take
w. E. Estes to San quentin peni-
tentiary. Estes was sentenced to
serve not more than ten years in
prison by Judge Vaughn Thompson
Tuesday morning.
Estes had been convicted of man
slaughter by jury in superior
court last Saturday after his trial
for the homicide of Sam Stanley at
a service station near Holtville on
March 8.
On their return, the two deputies
will bring back P. Rengor, now SER
wing a term in San Quentin for
murder. Rengor will be witness
for the state in the trial of Govino
Manzano for murder. This trial is
scheduled to start in superior court
on Monday morning.
Imperial Valley press., 1933-04-13
MG R1~~
Ois,a AeNausht Syndicate. lnsN
GIVE WARMING
ON BANKNOTES

LOS ANGELES, April 13. W.P|-
Secret service agents today re-
ported that rings of eastern coun-
terfeiters have made attempts to
flood Southern California with
quantities of spurious $100 federal
reserve notes.
The notes, more than a score,
have been received by banks and
business houses, w. w. Ashe, in
charge of the Los Angeles secret
service bureau said. He issued a
general warning to merchants and
bankers advising them to make
every effort to detain strangers Of
fering suspicious $100 notes pend
ing the arrival of police or federal
officers"
Secret service agents have been
confronted with the task of trac-
ing bogus 500 notes since early in
1923, when they made their appear
ance in large numbers at Dallas,
Tex. Since that time, seacoast
banks have reported the receipt of
numerous 500 counterfeit bills os-
tensibly issued from the Chicago
federal reserve bank.
Imperial Valley press., 1933-04-13
Palmer Denies
Theft Charge

c. E. Palmer appeared before
Justice of the Peace Mayfield this
morning and pleaded not guilty to
petty theft. His trial was set for
Thursday, April 20.
This charge grew out of COM
plant signed by C.. w. Knapp. local
real estate man. Palmer was ar
rested early last Sunday morning
when he moved house from some
property outside the city limits into
the city on north Sixth street. He
finally moved the house over to
Eighth street and then to Imperial.
The present complaint, however,
was not signed by Knapp until
Tuesday.
According to the report of the
affair made TO the Sheriffs office
Palmer is alleged to still owe 5000
on the two lots and when 1t was
discovered that he intended to
move the house on the property,
his arrest followed. For while it
seemed that some difficulty would
arise over the matter of jurisdic-
ton as the house was originally
outside the city but the arrest was
made within the city limits
Palmer appeared at The Press
office this morning and expressed
his regrets that his action had
caused any trouble to the city en-
gineering department or other city
officials.
Imperial Valley press., 1933-04-13
VETERANS CITE
BILLS EFFECT

Interesting figures showing the
effect the economy bill recently
signed by President Roosevelt has
on Imperial county veterans are
given by local officials Of the Dis
abled American Veterans.
Veterans in this county draw
ing compensation for disability in
actual war service formerly re-
ceived approximately $4,000 per
month. Under the terms of the
economy bill this will be cut in
half, the veterans point out, re-
ducing it to $4,000 a month.
Veterans who have been drawing
compensation for non-service con-
nected disability totaled approx
imately $14,400 per month, which
is completely eliminated under the
new law.
The total financial loss to Imper-
ial county is estimated by the vet
erans to be close to $23 400 per
month, not including losses to
widows, Spanish war veterans or
other dependents of pensioners.
This may be increased approx
mately $1,000 per day as there are
many World war veterans whose
files are in other reginal offices
and who will be unable to prove
their right to compensation until
such files can be investigated.
In addition to this financial loss
the veterans are deprived of free
disqualification, diagnostic an d
medical care, much of this. expense
being passed on to the county.
Disabled veterans are taking it
on the chin as good soldiers are
supposed to do" veteran said,
but the unfairness of the economy
bill should be manifest to all fair
minded persons, and we earnestly
hope for their support in our eff
forts to obtain readjustment of
the bill to make it fair both for the
government and the veteran"
Imperial Valley press., 1933-04-13
SOVIET AGENT
SEEKS SAFETY

HARDIN, Manchuria, April 13
U.P)-Director Rudy of the control
bureau of the Chinese Eastern rail-
way took refuge in the Soviet con-
sulate here today, fearing arrest at
the hands. Of Manchukuo author
titles who demand the return of
railway rolling stock allegedly con-
fiscated by Russia.
At the same time 1t was reported
that another Russian railway Off
cial, Vice Chief Director Kuzent-
SOW, visited the American consulate
for an informal discussion of the
situation with Consul George c.
Hanson.
Kuzentsov's visit was reported
after he had informed the Manchu-
kuo government representative that
600 freight cars had already been
returned to Pogranichnaya, eastern
Manchurian terminal of the rail-
road.
He insisted, however, that 33 To-
comotives which government auth
critics had demanded restored to
Manchurian service we're owned by
the Chinese Eastern railway in So
Wet territory. In an ultimatum de-
livered to Moscow yesterday, Man
chukuo demanded return of the To-
comotiveS, the freight cars and 190
coaches within a month.
Manchukuo authorities promised
to block international freight and
passenger service through Man
churia until their demands had been
met.
Imperial Valley press., 1933-04-13

SACRAMENTO April 13. up
The senate judiciary committee re-
fused last night to investigate Gov
ernor Rolph's ''irregularity" charges
against Senator ]. M. Inman, Sac
ramento. and suggested the chief
executive had been enormously
advised"
1t was a victory for Inman,
chairman of the senate investigat-
ing committee which conducted a
prolonged inquiry into tie Rolph
administration.
The governor filed charges
against Inman toward the close of
the senate investigation hearings
They were referred to the senate
judiciary committee. This body
ruled the charges "groundless.'
The committee submitted a
lengthy report to the senate ex-
planning its reasons for refusing to
give the accusations consideration.
The report said this committee
has no authority to subpoena wit
nesses, nor to conduct hearings on
the charges made, nor do any OF
the charges justify procedure OF
that character"
The committee questioned the
propriety of preferring such charges
against legislative member, when
that member was engaged in ar
authorized investigitive task.
I'VE cannot assume the COVER
nor acted other than in good faith,
the report stated. However, the
statements contained in the charges
suggested to an impartial mind the
possibility of the governor having
been enormously advised"
The committee statement asked
the, question:
"Was the making and filing ol
the charge timed SO as to haras,
the member and embarrass hin
while performing an importan
legislative function?
Imperial Valley press., 1933-04-13
Public May Pass
On Gas Tax Money

SACRAMENTO, April 13. UP
California's electorate may decide
the controversial question next June
of whether or not gas tax funds
can be used for other than highway
purposes.
The assembly roads and highways
committee today sent a measure au-
thorizing diversion of $8,700000 of
gas tax funds for payment of high
way bond interest and retirement
of bonds during 1878 to the ways
and means committee without rec
ommendation. These bond charges
have been paid out of the general
fund.
The committee decided if a spe-
cial election is held in June-as
now appears probable-three con-
stitutional amendments should be
submitted to the people which
would settle once and for all how
the prosperous gas tax fund should
be distributed.
Imperial Valley press., 1933-04-13
Tsvo Seriously
Hurt In Fight

LOS ANGELES, April 13. (U.D -
Two men were perhaps fatally beat
en- early today in a brawl outside a
Negro cabaret which was dispersed
by several squads of police.
A. P. Elliott, 26, sailor on the U.
S. S. Colorado, and William j. Way,
33, Negro, probably will die. Elliott
was paralyzed in both legs and one
arm when his neck was fractured,
apparently by blow from an auto
mobile crank Razors, blackjacks
and clubs augmented flying fists
and feet in the fight.
The battle started, police said,
when a Negro directed remark at
Mrs. William Baker, who with her
husband and friends, was leaving
the night club. The Bakers, with
Mabel Lawrence, j. R. Groces and
j. B. Walling, also OF the Colorado,
were held as material witnesses.
Imperial Valley press., 1933-04-13
BILL To HELP
FARM OWNERS
PASSES HOUSE
approves Roosevelts Two Bill
lion Program For Refinancing
Farm Mortgages.
VOTE is OVERWHELMING
Only IL Representatives Regis
ter Opposition To Construc-
tive Measure.
By WILLIAM F. KERRY

United Press Staff Correspondent
WASHINGTON, April 13.-Presi-
dent Roosevelt's $2,000,O00,0O0 pro-
gram for refinancing farm mort
cages passed the house today.
The vote was 387 to IL, Speaker
Rainey announced
A substantial number of Repub-
licans joined with the huge Demo-
cratic majority to place the rub
ber stamp of approval on the Sec
ond section of the administration
agricultural program.
The bill was passed after Speak
er Rainey ruled out of order an
amendment sponsored by the in
flation bloc which would have SUBJ
stituted an $8,000,000,0 currency
expansion scheme for the farm
mortgage measure.
The farm refinancing measure as
passed by the house is substanti-
ally in accord with the original
White House draft.
1t provides for issuance of $4,000
100000 of farm loan bonds. These
bonds may be used in three ways
l, to exchange for or purchase out
standing farm mortgages on the
best terms possible; 2, to make new
loans on farm mortgages, 3, after
the expiration of one year, If the
bonds are not required for the first
two purposes, to refinance at lower
interest any outstanding issues OF
federal farm loan bonds.
In addition federal land banks
for the period of five years after
final passage of the bill are author
lied to grant extensions to farm
borrowers and $50,000,000 is appro-
priated for this specific purpose.
Another section reduces for a
period of five years the interest
rate on all outstanding and new
mortgages held by federal land
banks to four and a half per cent
per annum and suSpends the pay
ment Of principal during the same
period.
The maximum limit of federal
land bank mortgage loans is also
increased for individuals from $685.
900 to $4,000.
The federal land banks are also
authorized to make direct loans to
farmers in localities where such fl
nancial aid is not now available.
Imperial Valley press., 1933-04-13
Court To Rule .
Upon Operation

NEW YORK, April 13. U.Ej-Five
justices of the appellate division
soon will hand down a decision that
may mean life or doom for two
year-old Helen Vasko, whose par
ents refuse to permit an operation
to remove an eye tumor which me-
dical authorities insist will prove
fatal.
1.-THE doctors are crazy" her fa-
ther, John Vasko, said. See" and
he pointed to the child as she play
ed with rag doll on the floor -
"She's healthy all right"
"No operation" the mother, An
ma Vasko, declared firmly. God
gave me the child. If God wills it
He will take her away"
The court has been asked to de-
eide and will speed up its procedure
SO decision may be made immed-
lately.
Imperial Valley press., 1933-04-13
Does Not Affect Refunding

Does Not Affect Refundlng
That passage of this bill can in
no way affect pending refunding
bond issues is the opinion of Evan
T. HeWes. director and representa-
tive of the minority group of the
Imperial Irrigation district board
of directors, who, at his own eX-
pense, went to Sacramento to de-
fend the bill.
In an interview with The Press,
Hewes stated that this opinion was
confirmed by the advice. given by
legal authorities and by Assembly
man C. Ray Robinson of Merced
who sponsored the companion bill
in the assembly and who ably as
sisted Senator Hulse in his fight in
the senate.
Robinson is legal expert and
before the committee hearing he
testified that pending refunding
bond issues such as that confront
ing the Imperial Irrigation district
cannot be affected since the pro-
posed bond issues can be carried on
merely by incorporating the dis
trict's classification in the measure.
Hewes stated that this mythical
argument was advanced by Mark
Rose. director, F. H. McIver, secre-
tary-treasurer, representing the ma
jority OF the board, and also by w.
D. Wagner, secretary of the irri-
CATION association but that 1t
was not regarded as having any
bearing on the question. A. Young
berg, stock broker of San Francis
ed, also argued that the bill would
be detrimental to refunding bond
bond issues, but Robinson refuted
the argument. Robinson testified
that every constructive bill that the
legislature had attempted to pass
in this connection had been yigor-
ously opposed on the same grounds
by bond holders.
"It is the opinion of Senator
Hulse and the minority representa-
ton on the district board as well
Imperial Valley press., 1933-04-13

NEW bUDCE 7

SACRAMENTO, April 13.-Deep-
ly concerned over the legislatures
failure, so far, to reach decision
on how to balance the budget, Gov
ernor Rolph today prepared to step
into the breach and suggest a way
out of the states financial morass.
The governor admitted he had no
definite plan, but said he hopes to
devise one with the assistance of
his advisers, prominent state lead
ers and departmental heads.
His first move will be to confer
with a group of men in San Fran
cisco today in an attempt to get
fresh ideas on this disturbing Sit
uation."
Next, he will summon all de-
partment heads and listen to their
views.
Out of these conferences he hopes
to mould plan which will strike
balance between opposing legis-
lative views on the budget making
problem.
The governor said he hoped to
offer a plan that would not neces-
state new taxation. He added that
any budget balancing program
should contain proviso whereby
SO 100000 of gasoline tax funds
would be diverted to the state gen.
eral fund for interest and retire
ment of state highway bonds.
At the outset of the session the
governor said he offered budget
balancing program. This was scrap
ped by a legislature unsympathet-
ic with his views of economy and
diversion of funds.
The beer regulatory measure will
probably be taken up on the SEN
ate floor today.
Imperial Valley press., 1933-04-13
NEW MESSAGE
To CONGRESS
BY ROOSEVELT
President Asks For Legislation
To Help Lift Burden Of Mort
cages On Small Homes.
URGES PROMPT ACTION
Marks Another Step In Cam
paign Pledges To Give People
OF Nation A New Deal
BY LYLE C. WILSON
United Press Staff Correspondent

WASHINGTON, April 13. = Pres
ident Roosevelt asked congress to-
day in message bristling with di-
rect demands for legislation "to
help lift the mortgage burden of the
nations small home owners"
He described such proposed action
as an urgently necessary step in
the program to promote economic
recovery"
Implicit in such legislation" he
said. "is a declaration of national
policy That the broad interest
of the nation requires that special
safeguards should be thrown around
home ownership as a guarantee of
social and economic stability"
The Presidents message followed
out his pledge that was contained
in his program for ''new deal', in
| asking congress to grant $2,000,-
100000 bond issue that would allow
the refinancing of mortgages on
small homes much in the same
manner as that urged for the farm
er.
Mr.. Roosevelt pointed out that
legislation of this character de-
manded prompt consideration and
added that "the terms are such as
to impose the least possible charge
upon the national treasury"
i, He pointed out that the program
could be put through without in
| justice to investors and that the
bill provides substantially lower in
terest rates and where cases war
ranted 1t, moratorium both on in
terest and principal payments.
The bonds under present plans
would be exchanged for the mort
cages. Interest on those bonds
would be guaranteed by the treas
| ury The President made it plain
that the plan of settlement would
provide yardstick to put an end
to .present uncertain and chaotic
| conditions that create fear and
despair among both home owners
and investors"
| 1t is a proper concern OF the gov
ernment, said the President ito
protect home owners from inequit-
able enforced liquidation in a time
of general distress
The bill to carry out the Pre5i-
dents recommendation was made
public by Senator Majority Leader
Robinson.
President Roosevelt was repre-
sented by his associates as feeling
that $2,000,000 1000 bond issue was
sufficient to meet the needs al
though outstanding home mortgages
now total approximately $4,000, ,000,-
! OOO.
Imperial Valley press., 1933-04-13
STATE SENATE PASSES CLASSIFICATION Bill
Threatens Martial
LdtU In Minnesota

ST. PAUL, Mimi, April 13. U.P)
Martial law and confiscation of
property in Minnesota is threaten
ed by Gov Floyd B. Olson unless
the state legislature acts on relief
legislation.
"I want to say to the people of
Minnesota" the governor declared
in an address before several hun
dred bonus expeditionary members,
"that if the legislature does not
make ample provision for the suf-
ferers of the state, and the federal
government refuses aid because the
state has refused to act and local
communities become unable to care
for their own, I shall invoke the
powers that I hold"
The governor said he would de-
clare martial law. He said many
people fighting relief measures be-
cause they possessed wealth, will
be brought in by provost guard
and will be obliged to give up more
than they are giving up now"
Imperial Valley press., 1933-04-13

The above telegram, received today from Sem
ator Ben Huse at Sacramento indicates, despite To-
cal reports to the contrary, that senate bill Gil pro-
vding for classification of irrigation districts was
moved out of committee Tuesday, reported in yes
terday's Press.
Evan Hewes director of the Imperial Irrigation
district, who was present at the committee hearing
Tuesday night had confirmed the statement that the
bill was unanimously approved by the committee, be-
fore the telegram from Senator Hulse announcing
the bills passage in the senate, had been received
here.
Hewes said all six members of the senate lrrlga-
ton committee present at the hearing and voted
individually for approval and "do pass" recon-
mendaton at 10 o'clock Tuesday night.
Hewes further stated that talks he had with nu-
merous members of the senate and assembly brought
from them the frank admission that Imperial county
is being ably represented in the senate by Ben Huse,
and in the assembly by Sam Robinson
"The people of Imperial county ought to Know
the esteem in which Senator Huse is held by his col
leagues and the respect which they have for his abl
itv as legislator" Senator J. B. Mccall of Reading
told Hewes. IL.
"The measure was bitterly opposed in committee
bv the majority of the board of directors OF the m
peral Irrigation district, and it's unanimous passage
out of committee and subsequent unanimous passage
on the floor of the senate would indicate that the po-
stion of Senator Hulse in the senate is most certain
lv strong one" HeWes said.
Imperial Valley press., 1933-04-13
Woman Kidnaper
Facing Sentence

LOS ANGELES, April 13. up
Luellapearl Hammer, convicted kid
naper of Mrs. Mary B. Skeele, 65,
today faced a prison sentence of
from 10 years to life.
She was pronounced sane yester-
day by a jury in superior court.
Miss Hammer had entered the in
sanity plea as a means of averting
a prison term. Sentence will be
passed Monday.
E. H. Van Dorm, asserted sweet
heart of Miss Hammer, pleaded
guilty to kidnapping Mrs. Skeele
and demanding $4,000 ransom,
and was sentenced to from 10 years
to life in Folsom prison.