davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1935-12-28
VANDENBERG FLAYS
PROJECT FINANCING
$4,000, ,ooo, 900 work-Relief Fund
Used on Unauthorized Jobs,
Senator Declares.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
Senator Vandenberg, Republican, of
Michigan today charged the admins
tration used the S4,0o0,0O0,000 work.
relief funds for projects unauthorized
by Congress. He referred to the
Florida ship channel as an example
Describing the use of work-relief
funds as "Ponzi financing" Vanden-
berg protested the ''unorthodox method
Of mortgaging tomorrow's tax re-
sources" He said the $4,000, 900 al
ready allotted to the Florida project
"is only pin money" and added 1t
probably would cost 80 times that
much to complete.
Vandenberg criticized the canal
project and declared nobody yet
knows whether it will be 80 or 35 feet
deep or whether it will be at sea-level
or have locks. He called for approval
OF the project, If at all, by direct act
of Congress. after suitable investiga-
ton by congressional committees.
Evening star., 1935-12-28
P|LOTSBOMB LAVA,
FLOW IS RETARDED
Mauna loa's Threat to HiIo
Water Supply Is
Reduced.
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
HILO, Hawaii, December 28.-
Mauna Loa's fiery river of lava slowed
down early today after lombard
rAent by Army aviators, who sought to
divert its threatening fiow.
DR.. Thomas A. Jaggar, Government
volcanologist, said the lava was NOV
ing at one-fourth its speed OF yester-
day, but he was unable to determine
If the change was caused by twenty
60o-pound bombs hurled from circling
planes in a unique experiment. From
his lookout on the side Of the noun
tain, DR.. Jaeger reported the molten
rock. a menace to Hilo's water supply,
was creeping along 100 TO 200 feet an
hour.
Planes Poised Again.
The bombing planes stood fueled
and loaded, ready for third attack
should it be necessary.
DR.. Jaeger said the flyers had re
markable success" in hitting the tar
gets he designated.
Ten bombs were dropped upon the
river and the volcano itself yesterday
morning and 10 more in the afternoon.
Thin pillars of black smoke arising
from the mountainside were the only
effects visible from here.
The flow has advanced to within
Is miles of Hilo and about miles Of
the city's water reservoirs.
Seek to Close Vent.
Authorities hoped the explosives
directed at the volcano itself might
close the great vent in the mountain
from which lava has been pouring for
five weeks.
Residents of Hilo went calmly about
their business. DR.. Jaggar told them
there was no occasion for panic" b"
although he warned the condition is
unusually serious as the flow is directly
in the drainage path Qeading toward
Hilo)." He said if the lava entered
the reservoirs and the Wailuku River
it might follow the river bed into the
city.
Lieut.. Col. Asa Duncan, directing
the bombing, said the normal ex-
pectancy of similar type Of bombing
was 40 per cent hits" but that "40
per cent hits" were scored on the lava.
'As we crossed the lava fow at an
altitude of 1000 feet the fumes were
very strong" said Mai. Gilchrist in
describing the flight. The heat was
intense.
"The flow was long, straight line
Of vivid red approaching the timber
line and heading for the tributaries
o. Hilo's water supply.
''We observed the bombing from
two planes. We saw four bombs drop
ped. Two made little penetration.
The others apparently entered the
lava channel.
"The bombs were dropped from
$4,000 feet altitude, 1000 to 5000 feet
above the target.
"The experiment was entirely sue
cessful from the viewpoint Of the Air
Corps. If it doesn't work it is no
ones fault but Pele's."
Pele is the Hawaiian goddess of
Ore. According to native legend, the
eruption Of Mauna Loa Is Pele's ex-
preston of wrath at some recent act
Of humans.
Evening star., 1935-12-28
MYSTERY GUEST
WILL Be REVEALED
Miss Todd's Partner to Dis.
close Identity to Grand
Jury, He Says.
BY the Associated Press

BY the Associated Press.
LOS ANGELES, December 28.-
Identity of Thelma Todd's mystery
guest" on the day Of her death-sub-
ject Of the latest controversy in the
investigation of her fatal monoxide
poisoning-remained a matter of pub
lie conjecture today.
Roland West, the actress partner,
scheduled to testify when the grand
jury resumes its hearings Monday,
branded as ridiculous" the assertion
by Charles (Duke) York that he was
the mystery guest"
At the same time Pasquale (Pat) di
Cicco, Miss Todd's divorced husband,
tacitly denied they were considering
reconciliation and stated:
II can say definitely that I was not
the mystery guest Mrs. Wallace Ford
says Miss Todd planned to take to the
Ford cocktail party Sunday afternoon
December 15). I don't know any
thing In Thelma's life that would have
led to her murder"
West to Tell Grand Jury.
West said II know the name Of the
person Miss Todd had intended to
take to the Ford party. and I'll dis
close that name to the grand jury,
not before"
Di Cicco said he told the grand
Jury he had no information concern
ing his ex-wifes affairs and that he
had not seen her alone in six months.
He declared he was "only kidding"
when he accepted an invitation to a
Hollywood dinner party honoring Miss
Todd, two days before she was found
dead.
It went to the Trocadero that night
with Margaret Lindsay, and the only
time I saw Thelma was when we
danced near her." the debonair Di
Cicco recalled.
She said, I think you ought to
apologize to Ira Oupino, party host
ess) for this and I replied that !
hadn't meant Ida TO take me seriously
about coming. Thelma laughed and
that was all there was to it.
IT took Miss Lindsay to her home
between II and o'clock Saturday
night, and then went home myself"
Planned to Pose as Noblemen.
York had announced he and Lord
Landsdowne," wrestler, had planned
TO escort the actress TO the affair and
pose as English noblemen for a gag"
Declining to subpoena the two,
Foreman George Rochester Of the jury
said, There's nothing to it. Their
stories don't make sense"
II am positive she did not plan to
go with York and Lansdowne," added
West. II know how Miss Todd Gus
tomarily made her engagements. She
would accept an invitation and obtain
permission to bring an escort.
II would go sometimes. Sometimes
it would be her mother. She would
even 60 alone on occasions"
Detectives continued an attempt to-
day to confirm a report that the
actress had been severely beaten sew
eral days before her death. Both
West and r. Schafer, manager Of the
Sidewalk Cafe, denied such an Incl
dent had occurred.
Tests Of Miss Todd's vital organs TO
determine whether she was suffering
from the effects Of drug or poison
at the time Of her death were ex-
pected TO be completed today.
Evening star., 1935-12-28
STAMP REPRINTS
HELD Different
Bureau of Engraving Official Says
Color Is Not Same as
Farley Gifts"

BY the Associated Press.
PHILADELPHIA, December as
Agerard T. Beecknan of the Wash
ington Bureau Of Printing and En-
craving, told the first American
Philatelic Congress yesterday that re-
prints Of Postmaster General James
A. Farley's gift stamps" were diff
ferent from the original in color"
Beeckman's statement was the lat
est development in a controversy
among stamp collectors as to whether
the reprints were exact duplicates
of the originals.
The controversy started last March
after the Postmaster General ordered
reprints Of the gurnmed and un-
gunmed imperforate sheets Of stamps
which, Beeckman said, Farley pre-
sented to Government officials.
friends, and members Of his family"
Beeckman, in a paper entitled "The
Farley Gift Stamps and Reprints, ="
said the reprints were ordered Ito
offset or correct the difficulties that
that arose" after phiiatelists protested
the action Of the Postmaster General.
He said he was convinced that the
Farley gift stamps should be listed by
two entries, imperf. gummed and
imperf. ungummed, and the reprints
as an additional variety"
Beeckman said the difference in
color resulted from the wearing down
Of engraving plates and the "impos-
sibility" Of two or more manufac-
turers to supply materials for the
mixing OF inks that are exactly alike.
The congress, at which stamps val
ued by collectors at 100000 may be
sold or exchanged, will end today with
honor awards for the best papers sub
mitted.
Evening star., 1935-12-28
.ROEPKE IS CHOSEN
DC. GRAND MASTER
Masons, in Annual Com
munication, Elect Officers.
Regar Given Jewel.

Otto 3. Roepke. principal examiner
in charge Of the Electrical Division OF
the United States Patent once. was
elected grand master Of Masons in
the District Of Columbia at the an
nual communication Of the Grand
Lodge last night. The meeting wai
held at the Masonic Temple Thir-
teenth street and New York avenue.
Roepke succeeds Robert 8. Regar
who was presented past masters
jewel. The presentation was made
by Past Grand Master Charles C
Coombs. .-
The Worshipful Masters Associa-
ton, through its president, Milton v
Hanson. presented Regar with suite
Of dining room furniture
Other Grand Officers.
Other officers elected are as follows:
Paul B. Cromelin, deputy grand
master: Leonard p. Steuart, senior
grand warden: Eugene z. Thompson
junior grand warden; j. Claude
KEEPER, grand secretary; Charles e
Baldwin, grand treasurer; Aubrey H.
Clayton, grand lecturer; John C.
Palmer. grand chaplain: S. 3. Daugh-
erty, assistant grand chaplain; Need
ham C. Turnage, senior grand deacon;
Ara M. Daniels, junior grand deacon;
Noble D. Larner, senior grand steward
and Carl H. Claudy. junior grand
steward.
Appointive officers named by the
new grand master are Paul r. Mattix,
grand marshal; Andrew C. wilkins,
grand sword bearer; Edward v. Ben
ham, grand pursuivant. and William
P. Herbet, grand tiler.
The new head Of the lodge has been
active in Masonic affairs since 1911.
when he was made q master Mason
in Naval Lodge. He is now grand high
priest Of Royal Arch Masons and
grand sword bearer of the Grand
Commandery, knights Templar.
Made Master ip 1914.
He was master Of Naval Lodge in
1914 and high priest Of the Washing
ton-Naval Chapter, Royal Arch Ma
sons, in 1919. He Is a charter men,
Der of Columbia Council, Royal and
Select Masters and in 1928 was grand
master Of the Grand Council. He is
now the dean of Past Grand Mas
ters Of Royal and Select Masters.
Roepke's other Masonic activities
include membership in the Scottish
Rite. Alnas Temple Of Mobiles of the
Mystic Shrine, Kallipolis Grotto, Tall
Cedars Of Lebanon, Masonic Veterans
Association, Anchor Club and the
Order Of the Eastern Star.
Roepke is a native of Minneapolis,
where he was born in 1884. He holds
degree in electrical engineering from
the University Of Minnesota. where he
graduated in 1906. He began his
career in the Patent Once shortly
after his graduation. Roepke is also
a member Of the District Of Columbia
bar, and has been admitted to practice
law before the District Supreme Court
and the Court of Appeals. He resides
in Takoms Park, Md.
Evening star., 1935-12-28

What has come over them during
the recess is apparently a recognition
of the fact that the election is getting
near. Whatever personal views they
hold, they know that President Roose-
velt's name will be ahead of theirs on
the same ticket in November.
Thus 1t appears Mr.. Roosevelt's per-
sonal hold on this Congress may be
stronger than last session.
Emphatic Cues.
This chastened mood does not mean
that members Of Congress have de.
cided to quit their mischievous polit-
ical pranks and become docile.
The inner cue to the situation
Uas furnished the other day by no
less an authority than Demo-
cratic leader OF the House. He re-
turned from home tDith the stirring
announcement that he lDds going
to insist on cutting doUn the
spending. OF course, he added,
WITHOUT cracking smile, that there
could be no reduction in relief er-
penses. OF course, also, there
Dould haze to be the bonus, the
P. W. A., ETC., etc.
While this statement came from one
of the most conservative legislators. q
more popular cue is the one offered
by the incoming Republican statesman
from Michigan, Mr. Main. He is Bit
ter against spending. He even wants
to balance the budget. But his "ot
course" includes not only the bonus
but the $4,000 ,00o, ,o00-a-year Town
send plan as well.
Anti-spenders also want the tenant
farm bill, which originally was bill.
lion-dollar measure; the new Wagner
bill, which may seek three-quarter'
of billion for housing, and many
another.
Force Groups Stronger.
What it all seems to boil down to Is
this:
While Mr.. Roosevelt's political pow
er is stronger, the power Of the popular
force groups (veterans. labor. Town
sendite) also has improved. The
large Democratic majority in both
houses apparently is bent on follow
ing Mr.. Roosevelt in general. but ex.
poets to make little personal political
hay for itself on the side by also
espousing the causes of these force
groups, in varying degrees, whenever
they can get away with it.
To cypress it specifically, the
bonus wiH be passed almost undni-
mousty ouer Mr.. RooseUelt's objec-
tton; the social security act may be
uberdlised slightly as q botU to the
Townsendites, but the 30-hour
Ueek bill probably Diu not pass.
There will be hundreds of swill bills
introduced solely for the purpose Of
getting personal publicity back home.
There will be thousands Of political
speeches which can be mailed out to
hometown voters under the franking
privilege.
In short, there will be plenty of ex-
citing politics and darned little legis-
lation
The comings and goings Of New
Dealers continue each day, some with,
but most without, announcement.
Latest unannounced departure was
that of a bureau chief in the Federal
Housing Administration. He was a
mortgage expert who came down from
New York to devote his life to Gov
ernment service. He discovered that
a rival bureau chief In the same ad-
Evening star., 1935-12-28

stayed there until early Wednes-
day morning. ] went to the Trenton
Free Library, where spent the day.
At Z o'clock took the bus to
Lombertville, crossed the Delaware
River to New Hope, Pa, and started
walking on the road to Philadelphia.
When I reached q few miles from
Doylestown, threw my black over
coat away, my brown hat, a pair Of
gray gloves and pair Of scissors and
resumed walking a few miles.
then stopped, taped my eyes and
mouth with tape that I had pur-
chased previously and then tied my
ankles, knees and hands with slip
knots. rolled down hill until I
felt the roadway underneath me.
Within 10 minutes on the roadway
a car stopped and picked me up.
Charges against Milne could be pre-
ferred on the basis that the ransom
letter was sent through the mails,
Hoover declared. He said Mines
family had not been consulted as to
whether any member might file COM
pidluL against Tie yOutu.
Milne had been watched constantly,
Hoover said, since he was released
after treatment at the Doylestown, Pa,
Hospital, but had mot been under
arrest until after the statement was
signed"
Two persons, the bureau chief indi-
Gated, assisted the agents In running
down evidence which resulted in the
hoax confession.
He declined to disclose their identi-
ties, but said they were person iv-
ing on Eighty-sixth street, from whom
young Milne inquired the way to
Oracle Square, and a barber in q
shop where the youth stopped for q
shave before taking the bus to Trenton.
Hoover described the boys work Of
pasting the ransom demand from let
ters clipped from old newspapers in
his New York apartment. The notes
were compiled, the Federal official
said, shortly after Caleb bought the
paste. cotton gloves and rubber
stamp at a chain store.
No Directions for Paying Ransom.
The youth gave his family no di-
rections for paying the ransom money,
the demand merely asking for $4,000
and inclosing the wrist watch as an
identifying mark.
Caleb's apparent anguish after he
was found, bearded and supposedly
under the effects Of narcotics near
the Doylestown road, was "all a pose,"
Hoover said the youth admitted.
"It was a deliberate attempt to mis-
led his family and gain publicity. He
never had any drugs. He was not
mistreated. He did 1t all himself"
Mines kidnapping" started with his
disappearance in response to the pur-
ported telephone call from the mys-
terious "Dr. Green"
The letter, postmarked Poughkeep-
sic, N. Y, was received by Caleb's
brother at their East Thirty-seventh
street apartment later the same day.
Subsequent notes to the youths
grandfather, Caleb J. Milne, I'd, re-
tired manufacturer of Germantown,
Pa, also demanded ransom, which
was not paid.
Motorists Not Involved.
Motorists who finally found the
youth near Doylestown rushed him to
hospital. He appeared dazed and
kept repeating don't stick that needle
in me again" Doctors at first as
sumed he had been drugged.
Hoover emphasized that none of the
motorists who assisted In getting the
supposedly kidnapped youth to the hos
pital was involved IN the hoax.
Federal agents rushed to the hos
pital. barred visitors sxcspt his family
Evening star., 1935-12-28

from Caleb's room and questioned the
boy "as soon as he was able to talk"
Caleb said he had been kidnapped by
four men who took him to a cabin
near Doylestown and kept him in o
stupor with narcotics.
Federal men located what they be-
lieved to be the hideout from q de-
scription furnished by the youth. Sew
eral days later he was taken under
guard to his mothers home at Wood
stock. where he remained until he
came 10 New York yesterday.
Evening star., 1935-12-28
What's What
Behind News
In Capital
Roosevelt's Hold On
Congress Tightens as
Election Nears.
BY PAUL MALLON.

BY PAUL MALLON.
THE reassembling Congress seems
to have developed new mood
during recess.
n The most noticeable change
lies in the absence of the old familiar
Roosevelt talk among Democrats
When they left here few months
ago 1t was popular for them to cuss
the New Deal in private and to vote
for it more or less regularly in public
Now they seem to have run out OF
words. or else are afraid that Jim
Farley will hear them. a.
Evening star., 1935-12-28
Rhode Island Official Resigns.

PROVIDENCE. r. l., December 2s
R.-Dr. Jacob Kasanin, clinical di-
rector ct Rhode Island State Hospital
for mental diseases for the past five
years, win resign January 2 to become
director Of the Department Of Psy-
chiatry at the Michael Reese Hospital,
Chicago, he has announced. He Is q
graduate Of the University Of Michts
gan Medical School.
Evening star., 1935-12-28

Continued From First Page.)
and Mcdonald. 1t was also believed
other witnesses will be called to cor.
roborate her testimony on this point.
At the time OF the shooting Killeen
had given up most of his gambling
operations in Washington, but Mont
gomery County police uncovered evi-
dence which led them to believe he
was preparing to begin operations on
a large scale in the county.
Mrs. Maddox was first charged with
murder. but this charge was reduced
to manslaughter after q preliminary
hearing in Rockville, Md. She Is
represented by Stedman Prescott,
Maryland State Senator, of Rock
vile, and Harry Whelan Of Wash
ington.
Evening star., 1935-12-28

and Special Agent Rhea Whitley, heac
of the bureaus New York office.
Text of Confession.
| Following is the text of the con-
fession of Milne, as made public by
the Federal Bureau Of Investigation
I admit that my alleged kidnapping
was perpetrated by myself. Because Of
my desperate financial condition and
inability to find a Job. felt, since
I was seeking work on the stage. that
if I could get some publicity I would
get a job.
The whole idea came to me around
the 4th or 5th of December.
The first thing bought was pair
of cotton gloves, at the 5-and-l0; ther
bought tube of mucilage and threw
away the one that I had in the apart
ment, and then I bought a rubber
stamp and then cut whole lot OF
odd words out of different newspapers
and pasted them on sheet Of wrap
ping paper.
Prepared Three Letters.
I made up three letters, put them
in envelopes, stamped the address on,
put special delivery stamps on, plus
Scent stamps, and kept them in the
apartment.
Then I bought a black overcoat for
So in secondhand shop. ! took the
rubber stamp and mucilage and threw
fv,fA L4n piuAr
On Saturday, December IA. left
the apartment, went down to the hall
way, where I met Mrs. Tarbel, the
landlady. I asked her to direct me
to Oracle Square, which she did.
I took the Lexington avenue (sub-
way) express up to Eighty sixth street
and got of and took the Eighty-sixth
street crosstown bus. I got off one
block west of East End avenue. ]
inquired in an apartment house where
Oracle Square was and was directed
up East End avenue to Eighty-fourth
street.
Goes to Barber Shop,
fingered there about five minutes
and then walked across TO Mao1Son
avenue and took the Madison avenue
bus downtown. I had my hair cut at
q barber shop on Lexington avenue, in
the 40s.
Previously I made up a package
containing my wrist watch and one
of the letters. made this up in my
room. wrapped this in an Albany
newspaper and put little blood on
the newspaper from one of my gums.
After leaving the barber shop, mailed
it from Grand Central Annex.
I then went over to Grand Central
Station and waited until 1:40, when
an Albany train was to leave. I took
the letter to my brother and put 1t
on the end Of q Pullman car as it
pulled QUO of the station.
Then went and unchecked my
suitcase at Grand Central Station
and took o crosstown Forty-second
street trolley sover to Sixth avenue.
walked to the Midtown Bus Terni-
nal, where waited for the AIS bus
to Trenton.
Isrrived ct Trenton about 8 o'clock.
Evening star., 1935-12-28

q ClldlllRAOh PGP SOAAA 6~S ~~0N 49,
marble-top table.
That ferocious looking brute which,
in childhood. you saw chasing Eliza
across the ice may have been billed
as o genuine Siberian bloodhound.
but II the owners Of the show knew
their business twas q mastiff. With
a real bloodhound on the job Eliza
would have had to chase herself OF
else stay of the ice, and he'd have
wound up in the orchestra leaders
lap, baying with homesickness.
But we cling TO this bloodhound
business Just as we 60 on believing
that only born Southerners know
how to get along with colored people
or that carrying potato in the pants
pocket will prevent rheumatism from
settling in the legs. go
(Oopyrieht. 1885, by the North American
Newspaper Alliance. xasl
Evening star., 1935-12-28
Meningitis Closes Town.

WEEKSBURY, KY, December 28
R.-With five cases reported, this
coal mine town of 1900 was quar-
antined today to block the spread Of
spinal meningitis. The State Board
of Health at Louisville rushed an
emergency supply of serum to help
Floyd County officers. Three deaths
have been reported.
Evening star., 1935-12-28

From practical
observation I'm
prepared to be-
lieve that blood
hounds rarely
caught anything
except the fancy
of the reading
public. A plain.
ordinary blood
hound couldn't
trail q T-bone
steak across a
pool table with
out winding up
in one of the
side pockets. And
a champion pup