davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-01-28
U. s. Secretary of Treas. ury Was Witness Today
 at Senate Committee ]
WORLD WAR DEBT
 PAYMENT HOPELESS
Britain Cannot Pay for Present War Purchases
 at End of Year
BY JOHN R. BEAL United Press Staff COrrespOndentN

tUnlted Press Staff COrreSpOnoenSH
 Washington, January 28.- (UP) - Secretary of Treas ury Henry Morgenthau, IT,, told the Senate Foreign Rela- tionS Committee today he has abandoned hope that Great Britain ever will pay her World War debt to the United States. Testifying in support of the administra- tion's Aid-to-Britain bill, Morgan- thau made his statement on the $5, 9,0O0, 900 British war debt in response to a question by Senator Arthur H. Vandenberg, Republican, Michigan.
 Are you prepared to write those (debts) off for keeps?" Vanden- berg asked.
 Any time" Morgenthau replied. T did so some time ago, mentally"
 Morgenthau submitted a British balance sheet" to the committee, showing total British dollar assets as compiled by his assistants and officials of the British treasury. He said that the British just haven't got the dollars" to pay for purchases after the current year.
 Amount Unknown
 Morgenthau said he was unable to say how much money would have to be expended under the British aid program, and he added that it would be futile to attempt to give estimates.
 Vandenberg then asked if the pro- posed increase of the United States debt limit from $4e,OoO, ,00O,O to $65, ,OOO 0OO, ,00O will cover the spend. ing under the aid-to-B Britain pro- gram.
 That will take care or the situ- ation, as far as we can see it today, until June 30, 1942, the end of the next fiscal year." Morgenthau re- piled. We missed the mark last year."
 Vandenberg demanded to know what the president can do under this bill that he can't do now"
 After comforting with several of the aides who accompanied him to the hearing Morgenthau said:
 "The chief power he would get would make it possible for him to make available munitions of war to nations which need them and haven't the dollars to pay for them."
 French Funds Held
 Morgenthau revealed for the first time that frozen" French assets in this country amounted to $1.593,- 100000. The French holdings were ordered sequestered by President Roosevelt after the fall of France.
 "They are still impounded?" Sen. Tom Connally, D., Tex, asked.
 "Oh, yes," Morgenthau replied.
 And it is your purpose to contin. ue to control rnem?"
 "Just as long as the president d. rectS me to-"
 "Well, to release those assets nov with France under the control of Germany would just be aiding Ger. many" Connally observed.
 Continued on Page D
The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-01-28
NEW BILLS POUR
 INTO ASSEMBLY
Four Sessions This Week With Friday for Final
 Bill Offerings

Hartford, Jan. 28 -CUP)- The General Assembly reconvened today for a four-seSSion week devoted al- most entirely to the introduction of new business. Friday was des- ignated as the final day for the re- ception of new measures.
 A major Republican program bill proposed establishment of a state proba tion board of five members to be appointed by judges of the Su- perior court. Members would serve without pay, but would appoint a state director of probation at $6,000 annually.
 Various probation officers would be named throughout the state to assist in administering the proba- ton system. The measure was in- troduced in the House by Rep. Will liam L. Haddsn, R., Orange.
 Meantime, the Assessing Officials Associations of Connecticut ap- proved in principle a proposal that the state levy five per cent tax on interest and dividends to ease the burden on real estate.
 The proposal would exempt in- comes under $l,O00, but was expect ed to yield $5,000,000 year on in- terest and dividends above the ex- emption limit.
 The association did not approve proposals for the establishment of state board of tax appeals, and turning over to the state the duty of assessing and collecting property taxes on automobiles.
 Another Republican measure in- troduced in the House would extend unemployment compensation cover- age to employers with three or more employees, instead of the present five or more.
 h&wNaanA SAwa nAAam
The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-01-28
BRITISH LINER
 IN SEA MYSTERY
Message Says It Was Be- ing TorpedOed; London
 Says It Is Safe

Miami, Fla, Jan. 28-(UP(-The 2l l,833-ton Empress of Australia, British luxury liner which took King George and Queen Elizabeth to Can- ada in May, 1899, was the principal actor in a new mystery of the sea today. A message picked up by the tropical radio station here last night said the ship had been torpedoed and was being shelled of the west coast of Africa. The message said the liner was down by the bow, her decks awash, and that "all boats are over the side"
 Then, at 1O:55 p. m. EST, the sig nal faded and Tropical Radio re- ported it was picking up only "un- intelligible 0otS and daShes." But authoritative sources in London said this morning the Empress was safe in port. Tropical Radio received the first distress call from the Empress of Australia at 1O:43 p. m. The po- sition given was 200 miles off Dakar. A message at 10:53 said: Being shelled again." Signals were heard for two more minutes, then the ship was lost in silence.
 The two Expresses" formerly were ships of the Canadian Pacific Line. The Empress of Australia was built at Stettin, Germany, in 1914, just as the World War was starting, and was intended to be a palatial yacht for the former Kaiser Wilhelm She was called the Tirpitz. She went to Great Britain under repa- rations terms after the war and was rechristened the Empress of China but never sailed under that name.
 London, Jan. 28-(UP)-Authorit- ative sources said today that the liner Empress of Australia was safe in port. The semi-official British press association said it had learned the ship was safe in an unnamed harbor,
The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-01-28
Secretary Morgenthau Has Practically Erased Debt
BRITISH DRIVE
 OVER ER|TREA
Closing in on AgOrdat in Fierce Attacks; Indian
 Troops in That Smash
By H. L. PERCY

United Press Staff Correspondent
 London, Jan. 28- (UP)-BritiSh forces in Eritrea are closing in on Agordat and pursuing fleeing Ital- ian troops down the main railroad which runs from the Biscia railroad to Massawa on the Red Sea, mili- tary authorities announced today.
 Italian troops have abandoned strong positions on the western frontier of Ethiopia and are being pursued into the country, they said.
 On the southern front, informants added, British patrols inflicted cas- ualties on Italians without suffering losses themselves in the frontier zones of Italian Somaliland and Southern Ethiopia.
 Authorities disclosed that most of the British forces in Eritrea were picked Indian troops and that the commander in chief there was Maj Gen. William Platt, who has been in command in the Sldan since 1888. They emphasized the importance of his drive into Eritrea because of its route along the railroad which runs through Agordat and Asmara, capital of Eritrea, to the sea.
 No News of GraZiani
 Discussing a report broadcast by the sAnkara, Turkey radio, that Marshal Rodolfo Graziani, Italian commander in chief in Africa had been dismissed, informants said they had no confirmation. They suggested that if Grazini were dismissed Gen. Mario Berti, who fought in the Spanish Civil war and was in Libya last September, might succeed him.
 Authorities said that Derna, next stop in the British drive through Libya, had not yet been taken but that it was not very heavily de- tended or, apparently, provided with strong Notifications.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-01-28
JUDGE FLOOD IS
 STATES ATTORNEY

Middletown, Conn, Jan. 28-(UP) Probate Judge Thomas 0. Flood, Portland. began an interim appoint ment today as states attorney for Middlesex county. He was named by the state supreme and superior court justices late yesterday to succeed Bertrand F. Spencer, who died last week.
 Judge Flood formerly was d referee in bankruptcy and served several terms as Portland town clerk and member Of tho school board
The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-01-28
By RALPH HEINZEN United Press Staff COrrespOndent)

Vichy, France, Jan. 28-(UP)- Adolf Hitler's long-awaited note to Marshal Philippe Petain, on which hinges the future of French-Ger- man relations, is on its way to Vichy from Paris, 1t was understood today.
 Petain, sent a note to Hitler Dec. IA, explaining why he had just dis missed pro- German Pierre Laval as vice premior and foreign min- ister. Germany showed its dis pleasure at Laval's dismissal and for more than six weeks Petains note had gone unanswered.
 Soon after the arrival in Paris yesterday, after a brief visit to Der. lin, of Count Fernand de Brinon, special envoy of the government to occupied France, the resignation was announced of two cabinet inin- isters, Raphael Albert, justice, and Rene Belin, labor and industrial production.
 Ak tho same time an authoritative
The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-01-28
ITALY SENDS BIG
 MEN INTO FRONT
Two More Cabinet Min= isters GO to Join SOn=in=
 law of MussOlini
BY REYNOLDS PACKARD United Press Staff Correspondent

Rome, Jan. 28 - (UP0 - Two more cabinet ministers left for the front today and the government placed all railroad workers handling freight on seven day week.
 Giuseppe Bottai, minister of na- tional education, and Giuseppe Cor la, minister of public works, both officers in the crack Alpine corps, left for front service, it was an- nounced.
 It was announced last night that Count Galeazzo Ciano, Benito Mus solini's foreign minister and son-in- law, had gone to the front as a lieutenant colonel in the air force. Renato Ricci, minister of corpora tions, Alessandro Pavolini, minister of popular culture, and Roberto Farinacci, minister without portfolio had preceded him to the front.
 It was announced that the dis patch of the ministers for active service was in line with the Fascist party policy of giving younger key men war experience. Ciano had served in the Ethiopian war. Nu-
The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-01-28
BILL IS
 BEING FOUGHT
Passed at Time of Local Conspiracy Case; Towns
 Are Now Kicking
By RAYMOND J. FITZPATRICK (DemOcrat Legislative ReDOrter)


 State Capitol, Hartford, Jan. 28.- Repeal of the municipal audit act of 1889 is Sought in a bill introduced in the House today by Rep. Richard D. Seymour, Republican, of East Granby. Passed two years ago by the General Assembly this law was the direct outgrowth of the Water bury conspiracy case in which mu- nicipal audits played such an irn- portant part of the testimony of many of the witnesses.
 Two years ago its passage was declared most important and was generally hailed as a progressive step in compelling cities and towns to undergo annual audits by ac- countants who are approved by the state tax commissioner.
 This year, however, the support Of legislators from many small towns is said to be behind the repeal move ment.
 Rep. Seymour himself said: '"The audits cost too much to the town. It costs $5 to save $1. We come from country towns where the pay is small and the cost of the audits is high. It is unreasonable for what they find,
The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-01-28
WAR IN EUROPE A YEAR AGO,
 JAN. 2S, 194O

By United Press
 Big Finnish coastal guns on Koivist0 Island blasted railroads and highways behind Russian lines. Films reported turning the tide of Red ArIny's eight-day Of- hnSive north of Lake LadOga.
 Heavy artillery duel reported Gn the Western Front.
 Losses at sea: French steamers Tourny and Alsacien. Estonian ercighters AgU and Nina
The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-01-28
Purdie Was One Of Men Convicted In Conspiracy Case
Bill to Restore Rights Presented in Legislature; Sen= atOr Egan Presents Two Health Bills; Senator
 Blansfelds Bill for Damages
BY RAYMOND J. FITZPATRICK Democrat Legislative RepOrter)

State Capitol Hartford, January 28. = Restoration of
 forfeited rights to John G. Purde of those convicted the Waterbury conspiracy trial is sought in bill intro duced in the Legislature today The bill was introduced by Senator Samuel Makan of New Haven Purdie is the first of those implicated in the Waterbury conspiracy
The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-01-28

who have already served the terms imposed upon them by Judge Ernest A. Inglis to attempt to regain civil rights through application to the General Assembly.
 While Purdie is believed living in New York at present, it is presumed that he seeks restoration of his rights as citizen here in Connec- ticut in the event that he chose to reside in this state at later date. Purdie, who completed his term at the New Haven County Jail during 1940, had been given 8 years sen tence.
 Several bills, affecting others in- volved in the conspiracy case and who have served jail terms, are ex- pected to be filed before the dead line occurs this Friday.
 Purdie, it will be recalled. was charged by the grand jury and the prosecution with acting as spy for the Waterbury city administra- ton.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-01-28
TREASURY BALANCE

Washington, Jan. 2s-(UP)-Govs ernment expenses and receipts for the current fiscal year through Jan. 25th, compared with year ago: This Year Expenses Lanf Year s6,061, ,500 .S15.5S $5,S65, 500, ,4ss.E7
 Receipts ss,1ss, ,4O3, ,o21.51 s2,ss7, ,1ss, ,sss.9l
 Gross Deficit
 Net Deficit s2.s22, 2,2s5, ,ss4.O2 ss.s5s, ,sos, sSAee s1,47O.sss. .sOs.ss ss,sOs. .s4S.s2i.ss
The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-01-28
Health Bills

Senator Edward P. Egan of Wa terbury introduced two bills today for State Health Commissioner Stanley H. Osborn. Senator Egan is the chairman of the committee in public health and safety to which these measures will be referred.
 One of them sets up a uniform state narcotics drug act, while the other would prevent the pollution of public water supplies and their trib- utary streams.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-01-28
Damages Sought

Payment of 5000 damages is sought by Antonina DiLeo of Wa terbury in bill introduced in the Senate today by Senator Michael V. Blansfield. A fall near the State Armory in Waterbury is cited in the
The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-01-28
Flag Display

Rep. Daniel J. Mahaney of Water bury today introduced by request a measure which would compel the United States flag to be displayed in all court-rooms of the state when ever court sessions are being held. This was requested by Mrs. Lura Dutton of Waterbury, chairman of the legislative committee of the Woman's Relief, Ladies Auxiliary, to the G. A. R.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-01-28

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The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-01-28

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The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-01-28

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The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-01-28
The Weather

Cloudy, Warmer Tonight, Wednesday.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-01-28

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The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-01-28

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The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-01-28

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Evening star., 1941-05-25

not met. Southern operators con-
tended they could not raise wages
further.
In Canton, Ohio, A. F. L. Off
cials ordered work Stoppage" be-
ginning tomorrow in % Ohio, )
Pennsylvania and Indiana sewer
pipe factories to support their de-
mands for new contract and wage
increases.
Negotiations broke down last
night, said Frank Hasten of Chicago
president of the United Brick and
Clay Workers of America, which has
about $500 members in the plants
involved.
The union asks closed shop, i'm
proved working conditions and an
increase of % cents in the basic rate
of SO cents an hour.
Settlement of wage controversy
involving approximately 1000 ore
dock workers and four Lake Supe-
rior railroads was reached in Duluth,
Mimi, yesterday with the basic wage
set at 1872 cents an hour, an in
crease of 10 cents per hour.
Evening star., 1941-05-25
Strike
Continued From First Page)

tCOnllnueQ from f1rSC PdSeD
and made telephone and personal
calls on many of the 1000 A. F. OF
L. members on the Oakland side
Of the bay.
John P. Frey. head of the A. F
of L. metal trades department, said
there had been daily increase III
the number of workers returning
Senate Hearing to Resume.
Mr.. Frey and local Leaders called
the walkout unauthorized. Involv-
ing about 1,700 men, it tied up
$500 000,0 900 in defense orders and
threw $4,000 other workers into idle
ness. The machinists want pay in
creases from ST to S115 an hour
with double time for overtime. A
contract negotiated by A. F. of l.
metal trades provided SLIP with
time and one half for overtime.
A Senate committee will resume
hearings on this dispute tomorrow
when labor leaders are to be the
witnesses.
A labor and management mora
torium" on work stoppages was
urged by the United States Chamber
of Commerce.
Albert w. Hawkes., chamber presi-
dent, said in a letter to its members
that such action would 'be of first
importance in carrying out defense
preparedness"
He declared that capital and
management are not justified in de-
laying production through any
shutdown or lockouts in plants vital
to defense.
Pay Is Still Coal Issue.
In announcing that the Media
ton Board had been unable to bring
soft coal miners and Southern op-
orators into agreement, Mr. Davis
withheld details of the points of
difference.
1t was understood, however, that
the chief stumbling block continued
to be wages.
Both Northern and Southern
mines recently increased wages 81
a day under a temporary agreement
which ended a month-long work
stoppage. This brought the scale to
ST in the North and $3.50 in the
South.
The union demanded a uniform
ST wage throughout the industry and
threatened a strike if it's demand Is
Evening star., 1941-05-25
Disputing Unions See
Indianhead Strike
Serving as Precedent
6. l.. o. and A. F. L. Bottle
For Advantage, With Eye
To Similar Projects

The jurisdictional battle between
A. F. of L. and C. I. o. construction
workers on the defense housing prof.
ect near Indianhead, Md, is con-
sidered important by both unions
because it might serve as a prece-
dent in many similar prefabricated
house-building enterprises, it was
learned last night.
Advised that the C, I. o. has Of
fered to furnish sufficient men to
complete the work begun by A. F. of
L. workers who walked out last week
in protest against hiring of C. I. O..
men by one of the several contrac-
tors, A. F. of L. leaders indicated
, that picket lines may be established
early this week, possibly tomorrow.
The project is one of the biggest
of its kind now being undertaken by
the Government, and a number of
firms are putting up their own types
of prefabricated house, hoping to
win official approval for future
projects.
The Unions Contentious.
Government contracts do not
specify what kind of labor shall be
used in construction, but they do
require under the Bacon-Davis Act
and the Defense Housing Act, that
prevailing wages" must be paid.
The C. I. o. maintains that its
industrial type of union is particu-
larly suited for erecting the houses,
since the structures do not require
nearly so much skilled labor of the
craft union classification as do more
conventional houses.
To this the A. F. L. replies that
the worker scale is predetermined by
the laws covering Government con-
tracts, that its craft unions have
put up practically all prefabricated
housing in the Nation, and that
the C. I. o. is simply trying to
muscle in" on prefabricated house
construction.
F. W. A. Seeks Settlement.
John Locher, secretary of the Dis
trict Building Trades Council, A. F.
L., said that about 600 A. F. L.
workers have been called off the
project, which calls for erection of
GAG houses for families of employees
of the naval powder plant. He said
that only few c. l. o. men were
on the job for two of the contractors
yesterday.
The Federal Works Agency has
been attempting to settle the dis
pute, but Ray c. Kirkpatrick. F. w.
A. labor relations adviser, has de-
clined to give out information on
progress of the conferences.
Evening star., 1941-05-25
Britain to Fall Unless u. S.
lntervenes, Horbord Fears

b. the Associated Press
MANHATTAN, Kans., May "a
Maj. Gen. James G. Harbord told
Kansas State College graduates and
alumni tonight he doubted if Eng
land could last through the year
without actual American interven-
ton"
Gen. Harbord, now retired, was
A. E. F. chief of staff during the
World War. He now is chairman of
the board of the Radio Corporation
of America.
One of Kansas State College S
most distinguished graduates, Gen
Harbord, in talk for delivery at
an alumni-senior dinner, said 1--WE
dare to believe that Britain, with
Americas aid, will win this strug-
gle, but am not bold enough to
believe that she will last through
the summer without convoys. OF
through the year without actual
American intervention"
Evening star., 1941-05-25
New British Assaults
In Africa Defeated,
Rome Declares
Attacks in Tobruk and
Solum Areas Declared
'BloodiIy Suppressed
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
ROME, May 24.-British attempts
to recover some lost ground in North
Africa have been "bloodily suppress
sed," Stefani. the official Italian
news agency, declared tonight, while
the Italian high command claimed
destruction of four British cruisers
in four days of Mediterranean con-
nict.
Stefani said a new British attack
yesterday on positions held by the
italian "Brescia" division in the
western sector of Tobruk were i'm
mediately broken even though aided
by the usual tank thrusts," and that
British attacks on German positions
In the Salum sector also failed.
Three British tanks were destroyed
and two damaged. the agency re-
ported. as we'll as some cannon, while
axis bombers continued to hammer
especially at Tobruk's waterWorks
and guns.
Hit BY Torpedoes.
Two of the British cruisers re-
ported sunk were hit by torpedoes
of Italian surface craft attacking
the feet around Crete, the Italians
said
One was described as vessel of
the new 5,450-ton Dido class, the
other of the 7270-ton Leander class
which includes the Achilles and
Ajax.
II Giornale dItaian listed Is
British warships as sunk and %
damaged by Italian and German
torpedoes and bombs thus far in
May and lauded the italian Nays
part in the battle for Crete.
It's story, by Editor Virginio Gayda,
confirmed that a battle was in prog
ress for Crete as further base from
which to attack Egypt and the Near
East, although it still refrained
from mentioning Crete by name.
Tells of Sudden Attack.
Stefani, in a dispatch under an
Athens dateline, said German par
achutists made sudden attack five
days ago and caught the British in
the midst of preparations for an as
sault which they had expected no
earlier than the end of June
Stefani said the British had been
busy building tank traps, small forts
and permanent works and had con-
siderably increased their Crete gar
rison in the last Is days, but had
misjudged the speed with which the
axis would be able to launch the
present drive.
Evening star., 1941-05-25
HyuttsviIIe Flower Show
Will Be Held Tuesduy

The May flower show of the Hy-
attsville Md Horticultural Society
will be held in Pinkney Memorial
Parish Hall Tuesday. Rose exhibits
will be featured.
Exhibits are required to be placed
by 4 pm. The show will continue
until $50 pm.
George A. Vadney, show chair
man, will be assisted by Mrs. R. B
Bierly and Mrs. w. A. Chavous.
DR.. James Gamble of Woodbridge
L. l.. Powers of Hyattsville and Prof
A. S. Thurston of Riverdale are list
ed as tentative judges. The judging
will take place at 7 pm.
Evening star., 1941-05-25
"A. P. Wirepholo
Deals Beach Citizens
Elect Officers

The following persons were elect
ed officers of the Deale Beach Md
Citizens Club at a meeting last
week: J. Dallas Shirley, president:
C. Schmitt, vice president, and j
Russell Anderson, secretary-treas-
urer.
Mrs. J. Russell Anderson. Mrs
V. Padua and H. Knott were elect
ed to the board of governors.
Evening star., 1941-05-25
Newspaper Calculations
Reach AII-Time Hiqh

Newspaper circulation in the
United States is now over 6200O,-
000-an all-time high-according to
| the census. The average family now
spends nearly $40 a year for news
papers.
Daily newspapers have increased
their average circulation three-fold
in 40 years-from 1000 per paper to
2l,000.