davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1937-03-21
THOMAS TO OFFER
NEW DOLLAR PLAN
Determination of Value to
Stabilize Prices Is
Aim of Bill.
BY J. A. OLFARY.

A new plan for determining the
value of the dollar as a means Of
stabilizing commodity prices Will be
brought forward in the Senate this
week by Senator Elmer Thomas,
Democrat, of Oklahoma, he made
known yesterday
His proposal, on which he has been
working since the session started,
comes on the heels of recent discus
sions in which Government officials
have disagreed over whether the price
level has advanced sufficiently or not
far enough. The bill will be ready for
introduction by Thursday, but will
be referred Immediately to COMMITTEES
for study.
Meanwhile, the Senate will turn
attention again early in the week to
the $5l2,847,80 naval appropriation
bill for next fiscal year, followed prob
ably by the Guffey bituminous coal
control bill, if the Interstate Com
merce Committee is ready to report
it out in the next few days.
Specific Yardstick Planned.
Senator Thomas said his bill would
convert the Federal Reserve Board
into a MOnetals = Authority with IN
Structions to determine the proper
value of the dollar in accordance with
specific yardstick. or formula, to be
outlined in the law.
This formula, the Oklahoman said,
would take into consideration the
problems of producers and consum-
ers, Of debtors and creditors. When
the value of the dollar has been de-
| termined, Thomas said, it would be-
/ the duty of the Monetary Authority
to use powers TO be conferred on it
/ by Congress to keep it stable, in terms
| Of commodities.
Referring to recent interchanges
between officials over price trends
! generally, Thomas said some take the
view they are going too high while
others contend they are not yet up
( sufficiently He said his own view IS
that they are almost, but not quite,
high enough TO enable the producer to
make profit
Navy Bill Debate Due.
When the Senate reconvenes to-
morrow debate will be resumed on
the Navy supply bill. with prospects
Of passing it by Tuesday.
The Guffey-VinSon coal bill, which
passed the House recently, is scheduled
for consideration by the Senate In
terstate Committee tomorrow AFTER
noon. A subcommittee, however, has
been studying it for several weeks, and
1t probably will be reported to the
Senate within few days.
The labor provisions which the Su-
preme Court found Objectionable when
1t declared the original Guffey coal
bill unconstitutional have been omit
ted from the pending bill Support
ers Of the measure believe. however,
that, even without those provisions,
the remaining price control features
will improve working conditions and
wages of miners by stabilizing the
soft coal industry.
Evening star., 1937-03-21
DISTRICT P. E. O. UNIT
PLANS CONVENTION
Second Annual Session to Be Held
at Pierce Hall on Tuesday
and Wednesday.

The second annual convention Of
the District Chapter Of the P. E. o.
Sisterhood will be held at Pierce
Hall, All Souls Unitarian Church,
Tuesday and Wednesday. with Chap
ters c and D as hostesses. The con-
vention will open at 10 am. Tues
day.
The second annual banquet Is
scheduled for the Mayf1ower Hotel
Tuesday at 7 pm, followed by re-
ception for the guest Of honor, the
supreme organizer, Mrs. Veda M.
Jones OF Portland, Greg
Luncheons at the convention will
be served by the Ladies Guild Of All
Souls Church. The co-chairman of
the convention are Mrs. Maude H
Waterman of Chapter c and Mrs. E
Loretta Newly of Chapter D. They
have been assisted by Mrs. Bertha
P Mattocks, president of Chapter C.
and Miss Myrtle Seidler, president OF
Chapter D.
Evening star., 1937-03-21
Rising Commodity Prices Pinc1,
d. G.. Wage Farmers Stable Pay
But While His Dollar Has Fallen IL,
Purchasing Po,uer, 1t Is Still
Far AbOre 1929.

w. P. A., which examined costs In
SO cities, reported:
AT the maintenance standard, the
most expensive city in which to live
was Washington. Rents and the cost
of food and miscellaneous items ac-
counted for the high total cost"
The Department Of Labor in 1919
published health and decency
budget for Washington, D. c. set
ting s2,26247 year as the mini
mum required income for a family Of
I'VE persons.
BY December, 1882. when the in
dex was 1911. this minimum was re-
computed to be sls57.
For practical purposes, then, An
index figure Of 791 could be in
terpreted in dollar value as 1857, or
an index of 100 at s2,095.
s199 Rise in a. Months.
On that basis. the cost Of the mini
mum standard for June, 1898, would
be set at 81 636 and for Decent Der.
IS. 1885, at s1,835. an increase of
Sl99 in AZ months. There are no
trustworthy figures on District wage
levels during that period, but for
the country, the National Industrial
Conference Board traces a wage rise
from an index Of 100 in March. 1893
to l30 at the end OF 1886 And q
minimum standard" of $1,83511 to-
day will buy as much as the same
standard-S2 ,161 92-in 1925. We are
still ahead of the game, in other
words.
II the dollar in the District citizens
pocket on June Is, 1888, be taken as
worth 100 cents, then, it was worth
just 80 cents on December Is, 1886
but will have to lose another 10 cents
before reaching the level Of 1929.
The course Of indices, cost of mini
mum decency income and dollar value
in Washington from 1925 to date
based on the mathematical formula
used above, follows (the index for each
year except 1885 and 1885 is taken
| for June):
Evening star., 1937-03-21
80 HURT IN CRASH
OF SCHOOL BUSES
Is School Children Reported In.
jured Badly in Collision in
Arkansas.
By the Associated Press.

b the Associated Press
PRESCOTT, Ark, March 20-Col-
lision Of heavily loaded truck with
two school busses II miles south OF
here last night injured 80 persons,
most Of them children.
Fifteen school children were among
a score described as badly hurt. Three
received serious injuries while 10
others required only emergency treat
ment.
The crash occurred after the two
busses loaded with children and their
parents left the Central High School
at Laneburg following q school play.
Physicians held no hope for re-
covery Of Nettie Cross. Is, daughter
OF Randolph Cross. Mount Moriah
farmer. The girls skull was fractured
and she remained unconscious tonight.
Others most seriously injured were
Mae Harper, broken Jaw, and Alvin
Harper, crushed chest and fractured
hip.
Rev. BHce Barham. rural holiness
preacher, received a broken hip. and
his wife suffered broken collar
bone.
Evening star., 1937-03-21
BY BLAIR BOLLES.

The value of the dollar in Wash
ington, which the w. P. A. found the
most expensive city in the country,
has declined IL cents since June,
1898, but it still has a long way to
go before it reaches the level of the
good old days" of 1929 and 1925
Because there are few industrial
workers to benefit from the height
ened income. Washington Is hit with
especial adversely by the policy of
raising commodity prices after rails
ing industrial wages, practice con-
demned last week by Federal Re-
serve Board Governor Mariner Ec-
cles. But prices here, though high,
are not as high as they were six
years ago.
For the most part" bulletin OF
Standard Statistics points out. "it is
likely that added labor costs will
be passed along to consumers with
out important delay. permitting the
relatively prompt restoration of profit
margins"
Al. L. Sees Low Prices Needed.
The American Federation of Labor
today in its Monthly Survey Of Busi-
ness deplored the price rises.
If We want prosperity to continue
it is all important to enlarge the
market for consumer goods as rapidly
as possible. This can only be done
by raising wages and keeping prices
low"
Price rises following wage rises ir
monotonous circle make wage rises
valueless, Edward McGrady, Assist
ant Secretary of Labor, stated, and
the BrookingS Institution, assuming
that costs automatically go up with
wages, two months ago frowned or
the theory of a shortened work week
which in effect constitutes a pay in.
crease.
The result of the rising commodity
level since 1888 through last year
according to the A. F. of L. bulletin
has been to reduce the Nation wide
purchasing power of the workers dol.
lar from 100 cents to SO cents. But
the workers dollar still buys more
than it did in the years up to 1880
when prices began to tumble before
the advance Of depression.
Living Cost and Index Is Key.
A picture of the course of purchas
| ing power in Washington during tina
period can be drawn from Bureau o
Labor Statistics showing that the cos
of living index in the Capital ha.
moved upward from 7S.l in June
1898, to 876 on December Is, 1886
The basic index of 100 is th
average for the period from 1872;
through 1925. In survey made dur
! ing 1885, when the Washington flgur
f1uctuated between 85.3 aid 863, the
Evening star., 1937-03-21
BUYING EXPECTED.
Government Issues Seen low on
Bargain Counter"

Fiscal officials expressed belief that
yesterdays downturn in Government
bonds will encourage buying this
week.
The sharp recession, they said,
placed Government issues on the Sc
curIty bargain counter" and should
shift emphasis from liquidation to
buying.
Oflcials said that before the down.
trend of the last week began, some
Government issues were undoubtedly
over-priced and the market was due
for general shaking down.
Treasury and Reserve Board Off
cials kept close watch on the mar
ket, but asserted they were not seri-
ously concerned over the liquidation
movement.
Evening star., 1937-03-21
HOUSES DEMOLISHED
IN CAROLINA TORNADO
Seven Injured in Gaffney, S. c.
Business Section Escapes
Twister.
the ciated Press.


GAFFNEY S. c., March 20 "a
tornado hit here early tonight. demol-
lshed four houses, damaged a number
of others ana resulted in injuries to
seven others.
The tWlster struck in the Chambers
Knob section of town, where the
houses were blown down. skipped over
the business section and hit again in
the Western part OF the city, where it
demolished brick garage.
A number Of other buildings were
damaged
T R. league apparently was the
most seriously hurt Of the injured. He
was taken to hospital unconscious
where it was found he was suffering
from head injury. His wife and their
2-year-old son, j. c., were also hurt,
but not seriously.
The other injured included Mrs w.
K Black and Mrs. j. N Fowler and
her 7-year-old son, Boyd Their con-
dition was believed not to be serious.
They all lived in the Chambers Knob
section of the city.
A Negro woman. Matte DaWkins,
was also injured. She was SAID to
have been crippled.
None was injured in the Western
part of the city, where the garage,
unoccupied at the time, was blown
| down
The tornado hit shortly after pm.
Evening star., 1937-03-21
HIT
|. BY De la ROGUE
Rightist Leader May Be
Hailed Into Court on
Croix de Feu Charge.
by the Associated Press.

81 the Associated Press.
PARIS, March 20-Col Francois de
Ia Rocque, militant Rightist leader,
accused the Popular Front government
tonight Of persecution" amid reliable
reports that authorities were about to
hail him to court on charges Of re-
vivlng the illegal Croix de Feu.
A spokesman declared expected is
Suance OF court summons for De la
ROGUE was part OF plan to blame
a Communist uprising on him" If
charges were made against him, he
might face prison term of four years
De la ROGUE, after delivering q
warning" to President Albert Lebrun
and the Popular Front government,
went into Seclusion to map out a de-
fense with his lawyers.
Investigating Magistrate Beteille, a
reliable informant declared, probably
will sign a summons early next week
ordering De Ia ROGUE to appear in
Police Court to face trial on the ac-
cusation that his French Social party
is nothing more than the Croix de Feu
Veterans League in disguise.
Some of De la Rocque's lieutenants
might be tried with him, three or four
weeks after the summonses are issued,
court officials said.
Disorders flared last Tuesday night
when members of the Social party
and police battled with Communists in
suburban Clichy in Frances worst
rioting in three years-a struggle that
left five Leftists dead and about 300
persons injured.
| De la ROGUE, aroused to new anger
by the governments suppression OF
Rightist party meetings as result Of
the rioting, asserted that "tyrannica
acts against his party might arous.
immense uprisings."
That warning caused Socialist Pre-.
mier Leon Blum to strengthen Paris
defenses today with the addition o.
many platoons Of mobile guards from
the provinces.
De La Rocque's spokesman declared
his chief was at home when the Clich,
rioting occurred.
All members Of the French Socia
party who had been attending Clich!
movie had left the theater and wer,
far away" when the fighting began
he said.
(Previous reports said Communist!
attacked Rightists as they left th
theater under police escortD
The spokesman denied Communis
assertions that De la ROGUE want
to be dictator of France, declaring
that, "as always" ne was seeking t
gain power by constitutional means.
SMUGGLING INVESTIGATED.
Evening star., 1937-03-21
WIFE OF ALFONSO
FILES FOR DIVORCE
Former Crown Prince of Spain
Abandoned Her, Says Dancer,
Asking No Alimony.

By the Associated Press.
HAVANA, March 2O-The Countess
Of Covadonga filed suit for divorce
today against her husband, the former
Crown Prince Alfonso Of Spain, charg-
ing him with voluntary and contin-
ued abandonment"
UNFORTUNATELY my marriage to the
count was not successful" said the
former Edelmira Sampedro, beautiful
Cuban commoner for whose love the
Prince of Asturias renounced his
claim to succeed to his fathers va
Gated throne
She said she sought only freedom
from the marriage and absolutely
would not marry anybody else for a
long, long time"
L don't know what effect this
divorce will have on the counts an
nulment proceedings in New York,
and I'm not interested" she said. THE
count has made no financial settle
ment with me and I have not asked
for alimony in my suit today. What
want is freedom"
Evening star., 1937-03-21
CANDLES IGNITE DRESS
OF GIRL AS SHE PRAYS

BY the Associated Press.
NEW YORK. March 20.-The prayers
of 8-year-old Concetta Loicono, on
her knees before two lighted religious
candles. turned to screams of terror
today as her dress caught fire, causing
severe burns to herself and two others
who tried to smother the flames.
The child's mother, Mrs. Mary
Loicono, tried in vain to beat out
the fire, and collapsed from severe
burns. Concetta then ran across the
hallway, where Mrs. Christina Com
pone suffered burns in a similar at
tempt before her daughter Mary. 16,
finally succeeded in saving the child
from death by throwing a blanket
around her.
Both Mrs. Loicono and the child
were taken to hospital and their
condition was described as serious
Evening star., 1937-03-21
Some Sharp Rises in 1896,

In a report tracing the rise in cost
OF living for Federal workers in Wash
ington from January Is, 1895, to
December 49, 1886, when difference
of 0.6 was recorded, the Bureau Of
Labor Statistics remarked:
The different groups of items
entering into the cost Of living of
Federal employees show very diverse
price movements over the 11-month
period.
Prices for certain groups of items
rose sharply The cost of personal
care showed the greatest percentage
change (87 per cent?, due to an
increase of prices in barber shops and
beauty parlors.
The rise in clothing costs was next
largest. For this group an increase OF
40 per cent was caused primarily by
a rise in the price Of mems suits and
women's coats.
THE increase in the cost OF house
furnishings and equipment OF A per
cent was largely the result OF in
creases in the price of suites OF fur
niture. A rise in college tuition in
creased the average cost OF formal
education for the entire group OF
Federal employees II per cent while
increases in rents averaged 1.6 per
cent
Three groups of items which take
an important part Of the Federal en-
ployes dollar declined in cost from
January to December, 1886. Food
costs f1uctuated during the year and
were on the average 10 per cent lower
in December than in January
Transportation costs were 3.3 per cent
lower, due to the decline in railroad
fares, and the cost Of household
operation decreased due to . dror
IN coal priceS.H
Evening star., 1937-03-21
Thomas to Talk in Forum
ABOR RELATIONS" will be
the subject of an address by
Senator Ebert D. Thomas

O1 0CdII THIIO1IdI
Radio Forum tomorrow at 1890 pm.
The National Radio Forum is ar
ranged by The Washington Star and
broadcast over the network of the
National Broadcasting Co.
Senator Thomas, a member Of the
Senate Committee on Education and
Labor, will deal with problem that
has gripped the country from coast
to coast in the last few months.
It is expected he will present a
constructive suggestion for legisla-
ton making labor unions more re-
sponsible and proposal that both
sides to an agreement between labor
and capital be held accountable in
all contracts.
Evening star., 1937-03-21
PART FIVE.
Financial, Classified
DUSTSTORM 0BSCURES
SUN IN KENTUCKY AREAS
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press
LOUISVILLE, KY, March 20-A
duststorm that came out of the West
obscured the sun in scattered sections
of Kentucky today.
At Louisville the dust rode high,
fusing with light rain to form mud
drops which spilled on new Spring
togs, automobiles and window panes.
AS the showers let up the dust de-
seemed to street levels, carried on q
brisk wind
Visibility was limited at Paducah,
where the dust passed close to the
ground.
At Frankfort heavy clouds Of dust
similar to a light fog hung over the
Kentucky River Valley in which the
capital lies.
The Owensboro area of Western
Kentucky reported a duststorm OF
considerable intensity.
Evening star., 1937-03-21
us. S.B0NDSDEC[|NE
IN HEAVY TRADING.
Losses as High as $1,000
Per ST. 900 Face Value
Are Recorded.
By the Associated Press.

NEW YORK, March 20-United
States Government bonds resumed
their downward march today In the
heaviest Saturday trading since last
October, with losses running as high
as 5000 per $1,000 face value bond,
and few buyers in the field.
The new decline, which bankers
said was engendered in part by q
conviction of investors that higher
returns on their money was overdue,
carried some issues to new low prices
and new high yields-for 1887.
Since the sharp downward move
nent began March IL, declines in
some instances have reached as high
as $50 per $1,000 face value. Gains
Of the long upward climb of the
second half of 1885 have in several
cases been wiped out.
High grade corporation bonds
Joined in today's slump although the
fall in prices was less pronounced.
Mixture Of Influences.
Wall Street experts, in the face Of
today's renewed selling, sought some
adequate explanation for the situa-
ton in a complex mixture Of in
fuences which included:
l. Growing evidence that the price
of money is gradually on the upturn,
making the present wide premiums
on Federal obligations less attractive
TO buyers.
2. Higher reserve requirements of
Federal Reserve member banks, to
become effective May i, forcing some
banks to sell securities to provide
cash.
3. Investors psychology, which in
duced selling as holders saw the profits
of long rise slip through their fin-
gers.
a. Desire of banks to avoid impair
ment of reserves through carrying OF
securities at less than cost price.
5. A tendency to wipe out the un-
due spread which had existed between
returns from Federal loans and high
grade corporate issues.
Selling Pressure Appears.
Selling pressure appeared almost at
the outset of todays session and con-
tinued through the short Saturday
trading. Most loans, Federal and low
yield corporate, were at or near their
poorest level for the day at the close
The stock market, yielding some
what to the example of bonds, bore
an indeterminate aspect in the dullest
Saturday session since January 2
Price changes we're generally narrow
and gains Of any consequence were
limited TO a selected few shares.
The most pronounced decline among
Federal loans was in the 234 per cent
issue Of l951-54 which, at s99937
was off Sl094 The 234 per cents Of
1851 likewise fell below par to s99937
losing Sl03l in the process.
Other loans to suffer drops of from
SIS TO more than SO were the Treasury
234s of 1948-5l, the 31ss of 1946-49
the 3lss of 1949-52 and the 4 as Of
1947-52.
Among the high-grade corporate:
the Associated Press average OF II
issues dropped 20 cents per s1o0 t.
Sl092, the lowest figure of l936-37
Total sales were S11,096000 fac'
value, compared with S9841 900 las
Saturday. Government issues account
ed for s4,950000 of todays sales
Evening star., 1937-03-21
BILL URGED TO CURB
SALE OF MARIJUANA
New York Legislator Says Cigar
cites of Drug Weed Available
at Colleges.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
ALBANY, N. Y, March 2O.--State
Senator John j. McNaboe said today
peddlers of cigarets made Of the mari
juana drug weed have invaded "the
campuses of many high schools and
colleges" in New York
He said Cornell University and the
United States Military Academy at
West Point were among schools where
the drug could be obtained.
Asserting he would ask passage next
week of his bill providing for divi-
sion of narcotic control in the State
Health Department, the New York
Democrat said that at present ''one
man, Capt Frank j. Smith, is en-
forcing the uniform narcotic drug
law"
A similar bill by McNaboe passed
the Senate last year, but died in an
assembly committee.
McNaboe's measure would provide
three investigators.
Evening star., 1937-03-21
Washington
Wayside
Tales
Random Observations
Of Interesting Events
and Things.
TREATISE.

n ECAUSE he heard Of a new
- usage for the word "lollypop, >"
the office etymologist has gone
- off into a trance of scholarly
reminiscence, speaking words which
so fascinate us that we are turning
over virtually the entire column to
him today.
"Lollypop," it seems, has become a
fighting word out in the sit-down strike
areas. 1t is generally used to desig-
nate a member of company union,
an anti-sit- -downer. Call any good
c. l. o. man that and he will tell
you to put up your dukes and pull in
your chin.
Evening star., 1937-03-21
DAVIS WEDDING TUESDAY

NEW YORK, March 20 L)-Miss
Christine Paschel Davis, 81, daughter
of Norman H. Davis, President Roose-
velt's Ambassador at large, and Robert
Wilton Stuart, 20, New York build
ing contrac ctor, obtained a marriage
license today. Their wedding will take
place Tuesday. Miss Davis SAID.
Evening star., 1937-03-21
MESSAGE.

A n,atron out in SilUer Spring,
Md, came home the other day and
found her maid had Uritten a note
on the telephone scratch pad
"Mr. B. called and said it Dould
cost 81 TOR 1Uinding the May pole"
The lady'S husband Wanted to
knoto il by chance she planned to
hold May day festival in March.
NO" said she. "Mr. B. promised
to call and let me knoW about the
price of certain piece OF maple
furniture"
Evening star., 1937-03-21
CLEAR SKIES FORECAST
ON FIRST SPRING DAY
Slightly Cooler Weather Not Ex-
pected to Prevent Palm
Sunday Parade.

In marked contrast with the gen.
eral run of Sundays for the last sew
eral weeks, today, the first day of
Spring. was expected to be ushered
In with clear skies, according to the
Weather Bureau
1t will be somewhat colder than
yesterday, but not cold enough to halt
the prospective Palm Sunday parade
of Easter finery, the forecaster said.
A light rainfall last night accom-
panied the arrival of Spring at 7;45
o'clock.
Evening star., 1937-03-21
NOVELTY
wv LII L
On ar,a ha rro ccirau tnQnlPntS

4 DID embarrassing moments:
The instant when a lady falr
turned to he escort at the National
Symphony-Paul Whiteman concert
last week and said, Now what sort
of instrument do you suppose they
used to initiate typewriters in Grofes
Tabloid Suite'?"
Editors note-The instruments
mere tupetCriters)
Evening star., 1937-03-21
SMUGGLING INVESTIGATED.
Arms Said to Have Been Imported
from Reich, Italy.

from Reich, Italy.
BELFORT. France, March 20 LP).-
Police investigating an alleged SNUG
Cling ring were told tonight that arms
intended for use by French political
parties were smuggled into the coun-
try from Italy and Germany.
Georges Bertrand, a Marseille arms
dealer, admitted he made such state
ment to a Lausanne dealer through
whom arms we're alleged to have
passed.
Police announced at Annecy, France,
February IT, that they had discovered
an arms smuggling ring running Ger
man arms into France. They reported
Swiss authorities had unearthed q
cache Of arms near the French border.