davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1935-02-18
MINERS CONTRACT
PARLEY TO OPEN
Negotiations Begin Today for
Agreements to Take Effect
March 81.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
Operators and spokesmen for the
United Mine Workers of America will
open negotiations today for new wage
contracts for $4,000 miners to take
effect after expiration of existing
agreements at midnight on March 81.
Hearings will be opened tomorrow by
Senate subcommittee on a bill de-
signed to permit regulation Of the
s11 900 600, 900 bituminous industry as
a public utility.
This bill, introduced by Senator
Joseph F. Guffey. Democrat, Of Penn
sylvania, Is described as the most
drastic measure ever proposed for the
industry. Hearings will be conducted
by Senator Matthew M. Neely Of Wes.
Virginia
Authoritative sources said an early
recess Of the wage conferences might
be decided upon to eliminate conflict
with the Guffey bill hearings which
Nicely has indicated may be extensive.
When the wage conference gets un-
der way tomorrow afternoon, only the
Appalachian region will be repre-
sented. despite the fact that for the
first time in history. all the unions
contracts with bituminous operators
expire simultaneously. However. coal
men explain the Appalachian confer
ence, representing about 70 per cent
of the Nations soft coal tonnage. will
set the pace" for the rest of the
industry.
Hour and wage standards fixed by
this group will form the basis for
contracts with operators in the Ala
bama, Illinois, Indiana and Western
fields.
Evening star., 1935-02-18
MELLON TAXCASE
PLEAS ASPOSTPONED
Hearing, However, Goes
Forward, With Hogan
Outlining Defense.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
PITTSBURGH, February l8.-The
Board Of Tax Appeals today post
poned until tomorrow arguments to
quash subpoenas calling for the rec
ords Of two Mellon-dominate con-
Germs at the inquiry into the former
Secretary of the Treasury's income
tax affairs.
The poStponement was requested by
attorneys for the Union Trust Co. and
the Pittsburgh Coal Co.
Hearing Of the case went forward
with Frank ]. Hogan. attorney for
Mellon. outlining his contentious
against the Governments claim that
Mellon owes more than $4,000, 900 in
Taxes. The figure set by the Govern
ment includes a so per cent penalty
on Melons 1881 income.
Mellon claims he owes the Govern
ment nothing and that he himself is
entitled tc a rebate of $139 900.
Mellon Appears Early.
The former Secretary appeared
early at the hearing with his son-in-
law. David K. Bruce
Attorney Hogan outlined Melons
career from birth. picturing the fam
ily's rise and frequently mentioning
the name of Judge Thomas Mellon,
founder of Mellon institutions and the
father of Andrew.
The Government claims that In
1881 the f1nancier made sales of
stocks in order to avoid tax payment,
but that the securities were really
still under his control. Records OF
about 100 transactions were asked by
Robert H. Jackson, Government coun-
sci. Typical among the demands was
that the Union Trust Co. produce:
Alleged sale on or about December
81. 1881, by A. w. and R. B. Mellon of
$4,000 shares of no par value COM
mon stock of the Western Public Serv-
ice Corp. to the Union Trust Co. OF
Pittsburgh.
Alleged resale on or about January
8, 1882, by the Union Trust Co. of
Pittsburgh of said $4,000 shares of
stock Of the Western Public Service
Corp. to A. w. and r. B. Mellon"
Sales and Resales Claimed.
The others are similar, claiming
original sales and later resales to one
concern or another.
1t was just about year ago that
the former Treasury Secretary and
former Ambassador to England was
accused of "wilfully, knowingly, felon-
iously and fraudulently" evading in
come taxes in 1881. Attorney General
Homer S. Cummings announced Grim
inal proceedings would be brought, but
a Federal jury in Pittsburgh refused
to indict.
The revenue bureau, however, in
sisted 1t was going ahead with a suit
to claim s3.075, ,103.23, including a SO
per cent penalty, in addition to s647,-
$50 which had been paid, and con-
tended that Mellon had used his posi-
ton as Treasury Secretary to perfect
schemes to defraud the Government" "
This was denied vigorously by Mel
lon and in his reply he said the claims
was "scandalous, impertinent and i'm
proper" and the Tax Board denied a
Government plea to have those words
stricken out.
Evening star., 1935-02-18
Your Income Tax
Reduction for Bad Debts.

Bad debts constitute a considerable
item in the returns of many tax
payers and may be treated In one or
two ways-either by deduction from
gross income in respect to debts ascer-
tanned to be worthless either in whole
or in part or by a deduction of a
reasonable addition to reserve for
bad debts. Taxpayers were given an
option for 1921 to select either Of
the two methods.
The method used in the return for
1921 must be used in returns for SUBJ
sequent years unless permission is
granted by the commissioner of In
ternal Revenue to change to the other
method. Application to change must
be made at least 80 days prior to the
close of the taxable year for which
the change is to be effective.
However. a taxpayer filing a first
return in 1884 may select either of the
two methods, subject to the ap-
proval of the commissioner upon ex-
animation of the return. Permission
to adopt the reserve method Is limited
to taxpayers having a large number
of accounts where credit is extended
over a considerable period of time.
1t is not granted for the purpose Of
handling one specific debt.
What constitutes reasonable sd-
dition" to a reserve for bad debts
must be determined the light of the
facts. and will vary as between classes
Of business and with conditions OF
business prosperity. A taxpayer using
the reserve method should show in
his return the volume of charge sales
Cor other business transactions) for
the year, and the percentage of the
reserve to such an amount, the total
amount Of notes and accounts receiv-
able at the beginning and end of the
taxable year, and the total amount Of
the debts ascertained to be worthless
and charged against the reserve dur
ing the taxable year.
Evening star., 1935-02-18
CONGRESS INQUIRY
Of COLLEGE URGED
Arkansas Probe Reveals
Evidence of Communist
I Clearing House.
BY h'e Associated Press.

BY h'e Associated Press.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark, February IS.
Arkansas legislators investigating
alleged "un-American" teachings at
Commonwealth College at Mena ex-
pressed concern today over what they
said looked like a Communistic clear
ing house within their State.
A hearing at Mena yesterday by
Joint legislative investigating commit
tee was said by one committee mem
Der to have taught me more about
Soviet Russia than ever learned in
books"
Congressional Probe Suggested.
Back from the college, located o
few miles from the Oklahoma State
line, the committeeman expected to
hear witnesses tonight from Eastern
Arkansas, where Commemorative Di-
rector, Lucien Koch, was acquitted
recently on a charge Of barratry in
connection with his speeches In be-
helf Of discontented sharecroppers.
One committeeman said he would
copy Of the Mena testimony to "the
proper congressional authorities" and
ask Congress to conduct probe Of its
own.
I'm afraid our committee can't
reach the persons necessary to COM
plete the picture" he said, but the
American people should know of the
facts we have uncovered so far"
The legislators said they did not
get much out Of Koch" whom they
described as plenty smart"
Find Amazing Beliefs"
They said. however, they found the
most amazing beliefs" held by the
Commonwealth faculty and students,
who come from nearly every State to
acquire militant leadership" in the
labor movement
The student body now numbers 80.
The college coniers no degrees or
diplomas.
1t has a fast-growing library con-
tanning files Of several Communistic
newspapers and periodicals, on which
data was obtained by the committee.
Chairman Marcus Miller said the
group would meet tonight behind
closed doors. He indicated the COM
mitteemen might ask the Legislature
for leave to absent themselves for two
or three days to inquire further into
Commemorative teachings.
A report might be filed late this
week with the Legislature, he said.
Evening star., 1935-02-18
MANY STILL CLAIM
ALBERT MURDERED.
First Anniversary of Death
of King Finds Doubt Of
Accident Verdict.
BY ALBERT w. WILSON,
Associated Press Foreign Staff.

BRUSSELS. February 18.-The
first anniversary Of the death Of King
Albert finds thousands Of people in
all corners Of the world still unwilling
to accept the official verdict that the
Belgian monarch died "by accident. +"
As time passes, the belief that
Albert was murdered seems to become
more tenacious and widespread, and
it is conceivable that a century or two
centuries hence, the theory Of murder
might be adopted by historians.
Yet it is learned that messages are
continually arriving at the Brussels
palace and at the Surete Publique,
Belgium's political police department,
expressing the conviction that the
King was a victim of foul play. Clues
innumerable are offered to expose
alleged plots held responsible for the
tragedy.
World Wonders.
How important this matter looms
in the mind of the man in the street
was revealed by this fact: Everywhere
I have been in Europe during the last
year, the first question from persons
who knew was in Brussels was:
Was it murder or accident?"
A few hours after word of King
Albert's death was flashed around
the world. an Associated Press photo
grapher and I arrived here in the
first airplane to get through the trick
fog which had blanketed Belgium
that day.
1t happened that I was the only
American correspondent to see the
body Of Albert at close range, before
1t was draped under the flag Of
Belgium and placed in the dim
candlelight Of a chapel in Brussels
palace for the lying -in-state which
began two days later
I am not in a position to answer
categorically the question stated
above. but I am convinced the King
was killed accidentally by a chunk
Of slate-like rock which, unexpectedly
loosened by him, fell on the right
side Of his head.
Evening star., 1935-02-18
SOVIET PAPER CHARGES
LONDON BACKING NAZIS
Germans and British Declared
Striving to Isolate France
and Planning War.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
MOSCOW. February l8.-The news
paper Pravda charged yesterday that
the Germans, with the help Of Lon
don. are trying to isolate France and
legalize armaments while they prepare
for new war.
Commenting on Berlin's reply to
the Anglo French security proposals,
the paper said: only with help from
London would Berlin dare such a
step"
The Germans are seeking to iso-
late France and other countries
which are keeping the peace of the
world by turning the London compro-
mise into tool against them" it said.
The German reply is suggestion
to a militarist group in England to
struggle together against the idea of
guarantee pacts for Eastern and Cen
tral Europe"
Evening star., 1935-02-18
What's What
Behind News
In Capital
Senate Apparently Get
ting Under Skin of
President.
BY PAUL MALLON.

"HE Presidents frolicsome good
humor appears to have been
slightly ruffled on occasions
L lately, for the first time. As
sociates at the White House
have noticed it increasingly during the
last two weeks. Mr.. Roosevelt is not
exactly cross, but at times his patience
has been momentarily lost with ir-
ritating callers and questions. So
far the result has been nothing more
important than a few short answers.
No one would pay any attention to
1t except that his record for gay
composure has remained unbroken
heretofore through the most excru-
ciating difficulty.
The explanation seems to be that
the Senate is getting slightly under
his usually impenetrable skin.
This may be another sign that
everything is getting back TO normal
because the Senate has been the
cause of more presidential gray hairs
in the past than all the rest Of the
country combined. 1t actually has
tened the death of one, and perhaps
two, modern Presidents. What some
of them have said privately about the
Senate could not be repeated where
children might hear it.
Evening star., 1935-02-18

The cause of Mr.. RooSevelt's seem.
ing irritation is not alone the relic.
bill. but an accumulating mess Of
little things. The relief bill was fairly
well Strengthened out, at least tenn.
porarily. by the White House after
long inside dickering. But immedi.
ately thereafter came the NyeMcCar.
ran resolution to investigate the N
r. A., which, of course, means ar
investigation of business.
Causes Are Plentiful.
You can understand how Mr.. Roose.
welt may feel about this when you
consider. Here is business improve
ment now under way: it is founded
on delicately nursed business psy-
chology; the President has already
dared to disturb 1t by proposals to
put holding companies out of busi-
ness; an investigation Of the A. T. &
T. is in the making, to cost S750,O0O;
another proposal to investigate the
railroads is pending; and now comes
the Senate, not satisfied with all that
proposing to investigate all business
through the N. r. A.. and just at a
time when reformation of the N. r. A
is going to be recommended by the
White House.
1t is enough to upset everything.
Mr.. Roosevelt has spent virtually
all his time in the past Week pork-
ing on the Senate, mainly on the
relief bill. The telephone iDire be-
t,Ueen the White House and the
Capitol has been busy more than
hall OF each day. He has eren
called up Senators at their homes
at night.
The use of the telephone is a recent
innovation by Mr.. Roosevelt.
1t has been scorned by previous
Presidents. They were not sure it
afforded the privacy of a private con-
ference, and there were possibilities
Of misunderstanding.
In the end, Mr.. Roosevelt undoubt-
edly will be able to keep the Senate
reasonably in line with his purposes,
but it will be long and irritating job
To Promote Credit.
1 Ilc puIpOSc DCIllllO IIlc IlcW UdIlk
bill is to promote credit imitation and
prevent monetary imitation. This may
be denied, but it is rather obviously
behind every provision straight
through the entire measure.
For that reason congressional in
flationists are growing restless about
it. You probably will see them select
it as the measure on which to stage
their big imitation fight of this session.
Greenback. gold, silver and other in
f1ationary proposals can easily be ad-
vanced by the inflationists as amend
ments. This will be another hair
shirt for Mr.. Roosevelt.
Those who know Senator Glass best
believe he will try to break the bill
into two parts. segregating the provi-
sions he approves in one bill to pass
and discarding what he dislikes into
a second bill to be forgotten.
1t is too early yet to tell how it will
come out.
Evening star., 1935-02-18

Continued From First Page)
is interested In any action taken by
the grand jury.
Later Fitzpatrick asked Garnett If
he had made statement to the ef-
feet that he did not care to have q
woman as an assistant.
II can't think the committee Is in
terested in the personnel of my ofiice
to that extent" replied Garnett.
Fitzpatrick pressed him for an an
swer. Again he said:
Have you said publicly that you
didn't care to have women assistants
attached to your office?"
II never said that" Garnett re-
sponded. II have no particular OBJ
lection to woman as an assistant
Questioned on Larceny Law.
Later Fitzpatrick questioned Gar
nett about the bad check and larceny
laws and the distinctions between
them. The United States attorney
said the distinctions are finely drawn
at times and be believed that condi-
tion should be corrected.
Garnett also declared the petty
larceny maximum should be raised
from $35 to $75, because it would re-
duce by hundreds the number of cases
sent to the District Supreme Court by
the Police Court.
Judges Of the Supreme Court" he
said, have complained about the
great number of petty cases sent over
by the Police Court. I took the matter
up with my assistants at Police Court
and learned they had no control over
the situation because the judges them
selves sent over the cases"
Garnett also admitted it is the prac-
tice of some of the Police Court judges
to overrule his assistants.
Representative Schultz, Democrat,
of Indiana asked Garnett to name
those judges. He declined on the
ground that he held all of the judges
in high regard.
Criticizes Parole System.
Garnett later told the committee he
believed the District parole system
had been total failure" and that
the probation system is "overworked."
He also urged the committee to rec
omment the creation of special COM
mission to rewrite the criminal stat
utes Of the District and to simplify the
duties of his office.
A year ago, Garnett said, he criti-
cized the parole law and was "cruci-
fled" Now, he declared, everybody
in the country seems to be coming
around to my view"
Schultz questioned Garnett about
the gambling situation and asked him
If he knew that within the last two
or three weeks an out-of-town gang
ster armed with a machine gun en-
tered the establishment of notorious
Washington gambler and robbed him
of $500 in cash and a diamond ring
valued at between $4,000 and $4,000
Name May Be Revealed.
A few days afterward, he said. the
gangster returned and offered to sell
the ring back to the gambler.
Garnett said he did not recall such
o case.
Schultz did not reveal the name OF
the gambler who was robbed, but said
he would do so later in the investi-
cation.
In reply to questions Garnett said
he did not believe all forms of gam
bling should be legalized in the Dis
trict, particularly the numbers game
which he described as a most vicious
FORM"
Evening star., 1935-02-18
HAUPTMANN CASE
THREATS INCREASE
Letter Threatens Governor
and Another Prisoners
Wife and Others.
BY the Associated Press.


TRENTON, N. j., February 1S.-
Two letters, one threatening death to
Gov. Harold G. Hoffman II Bruno
Richard Hauptmann dies in the chair
and another threatening to wipe
out" Mrs. Haupmann. her baby and
the defense staff If any harm comes
to the Governor or jury were received
at the executive ofiices today.
The letter threatening Hoffman,
postmarked Yonkers. N. Y, was the
second received by him. The other,
postmarked washington, D. C.. was
received Saturday and turned over TO
Department Of Justice agents.
Significance In Date.
Hoffman said that William Lagay,
executive clerk and clerk to the Board
Of Pardons. thought significant the
fact that the writer of the Washing
ton letter demanded Hauptmanns
sentence be communited to life i'm
prisonment by February 81.
The Court of Pardons will meet Feb
ruary 26 to consider the cases of four
other men in the death house who.
having lost their appeals to the courts,
are under sentence to die within the
next month.
Awaits Next Step.
Meanwhile, the silent and express
sionless Hauptmann waited for his
counsel to take the next step in his
appeal from his conviction for the
kidnapping and killing Of the Lind
bergh baby.
Frederick A. Pope, a member Of the
defense staff, planned to ask Justice
Thomas w. Trenchard tomorrow to
direct the State to pay the cost Of
printing the trial record necessary for
the appeal.
Hauptmann has sworn a pauper's
trial Judge may grant the petition, at
his discretion.
The second step in an appeal. Pope
said, will be taken speedily II Justice
Trenchard accedes to the request. 1t
will be an application to Chancellor
Luther A. Campbell for writ Of error
to the State Supreme Court.
Pope said he, C. Lloyd Fisher and
Egbert Rosecranz, members Of the
defense staff, may appear Tuesday
before the chancellor
Denial Of such writs Is customary
in order that an appeal may be taken
Immediately to the Court Of Errors
and Appeals, the States highest tri-
bunal. The court meets again in May.
No Change in Status.
"Hauptmann's all right" said Col.
George L. Selby. acting principal
keeper. There's no change in his
status. He's man who doesn't show
his expression outright"
There were reports Hauptmann
wept soon after being led to his cell.
Selby said it was news to him.
William j. Ellis, commissioner of
institutions and agencies, expected to
issue today or tomorrow statement
Of his views and those Of the prison
Board of Managers concerning Haupt-
mann's status.
The Board of Managers probably
will decide also, Selby said, how often
Mrs. Hauptmann will be permitted to
see her husband.
Prison regulations provide man
in the death cell may see his relatives
only once month. but when he has
but few relatives the rules are eased
to permit visits more often.
Selby disclaimed any intention Of
trying to break" the prisoner by
confining him to a cell six PAGES from
the death chamber.
Hauptmann has been given Bible
at his request, but he has not yet
asked for a spiritual adviser.
Evening star., 1935-02-18

If anybody cares, Dr. Townsend
changed his Townsend plan the other
day without any one knowing about
it. He proposed that his plan start
off with persons over IS Cinstead Of
60 and then gradually work down
to the 60-year- -old folks. This would
take a couple of years and diminish
the initial cost. DR.. Townsend did not
say so, but the Mrs. Roosevelt, Sec
retary Perkins and other recent at
tacks on his proposal apparently en-
couraged him to offer the voluntary
modification.
1t will make no difference. The
Townsend plan has no more chance
Of being adopted than you have of
being President.
Lynch Bills Disappear.
Something always happens to anti
lynching bills. They always get mis-
laid for more important business and,
when found, some Senators have a
sudden urge to talk indefinitely.
Somehow or other they never get to q
vote. The customary fate appears to
await the current one.
1t is sponsored by Democrats, all
right, and it tDiI emerge from the
Senate Judiciary Committee soon
and reach the Senate calendar.
There is no reason to belieDe it tDiH
advGnce much further.
For instance, one Democratic Sen
ator from an illustrious Southern
State is telling his friends that he
has been gradually expanding his nat
ural longwindedness by practicing in
the attic at nights. He Is now fit, he
says, to talk for at least two weeks
continuously If that bill ever comes
up. There are at least 20 other Sen
ators who would practice If they
thought there was any need Of 1t.
Controlling leaders are wholly out
of sympathy with the legislation and
may arrange less exhausting means
for its demise.
tCopyright. 1889
Evening star., 1935-02-18
CARS HIT MAN TWICE
Victim Only Slightly Injured.
Drivers Fail to Stop.

CONCORD, N. H., February 18
R.-Twice within a few seconds the
victim of hit-and-run drivers, Arthur
Racine of Concord left the hospital
yesterday after treatment for slight
injuries.
He was knocked down by one au-
tomobile, whose driver proceeded
without stopping, and Immediately
was run over by a following car,
whose driver also did not stop.
Police questioned a man who they
said was the operator of one of the
machines.
Evening star., 1935-02-18
Plane Service Speeded Up.

CHICAGO, February 18 R).-
Transcontinental & Western Air,
Inc, has announced new coast
to-coast plane on 1914 hour sched-
ule, effective February 20, which will
leave New York at am. Eastern
standard time) and arrive at Los
Angeles at 1850 pm. Pacific stand
ard time), via Chicago, Kanas City
and Albuquerque, N. Mex.