davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1946-08-24
Inquiry Is Renewed
Into Pearl Harbor
Prewar Construction
BY The Assoeioted Press

The Senate War Investigating
Committee moved today to reopen
dormant inquiry into prewar con-
struction work at Pearl Harbor.
Senator Kilgore Democrat, OF
West Virginia, said a subcommittee
he heads wants to know whether
the Government bought and rented,
at excessive prices, machinery which
turned out to be unsuitable for use
on overseas building projects.
II think this machinery investi-
cation may be one of the most inn
portant that we have made Sen
ator Kilgore said. 1T seems to have
been racket employed in the fight
ing zones as well as in construction
in this country"
Earlier Probe Halted.
Committee aides disclosed tips
had been received that machinery
untitled for the intended use was
shipped abroad by contractors and
permitted to lie on docks for months
while the Government went on pay
ing rent for it.
The committee started an investi-
cation four years ago but shelved it
when it learned the House Military
Affairs Committee was proceeding
along parallel lines. Senator Kilgore
said the decision to begin again is
in line with a recommendation by
the Senate House Pearl Harbor
Committee.
Chairman Mead yesterday author
lied another subcommittee headed
by Senator Mitchell, Democrat, OF
Washington to look into the kind
of surplus war property being
brought back from former war zones
Says Ships Bring Junk.
Francis Flanagan of the COM
mittee's staff said information had
been received that many ships were
returning loaded with Junk" in
stead of such badly needed equip.
ment as construction machinery.
The Mitchell group also was au-
thorized to study the maintenance
and support of Naval facilities or
the West Coast" and reports tha
food from decommissioned and re-
turning vessels had been destroyed
The committee is interested, Mr.
Flanagan said, in determining
whether the Navy is complicatins
shortages of housing and other ia.
cilities on the West Coast by con.
centrating its repair and service
organization there.
Evening star., 1946-08-24
Hesse Gems Recovery
On Note From WAC
Related in Court
by the Assosioisd Press

FRANKFURT, Aug. 24.-Ma1.
John D. Salb, Army provost mar
shal Investigator, testified today that
he recovered in Hudson, Wis. 1873
items belonging to the $1,500,000
Hesse crown jewel collection through
a note given him by Capt. Kathleen
B. Nash Durant.
He said the note contained the
code word cemetery"
Earlier, Roy C.. Carlton of Kilgore,
Tex. testified that Capt. Durant
had ordered him to carry the jewels
ito her room" after he unearthed
them from their deep hiding place
in Kronberg Castle.
The former mess sergeant, who
was Capt. Durant's assistant while
the 43-year-old WAC managed the
stately castle as an officers club,
also testified that Col. Jack W..
Durant, and Maj. David F. Watson
were frequent visitors" of Capt.
Durant.
Col Durant and Maj. Watson are
awaiting trial here and were named
in charges of conspiracy, larceny,
and embezzlement against the
Phoenix, Ariz., WAC captain now
being tried by a United States Army
general court-martial.
Produces Note for Jewels.
Maj. Salb. who customarily is
stationed in Washington, told the
court he found the 1913 items
jewels, silverware, goldware, mugs,
books and the Bible of Queen Vic
toria of England-in the Hudson
home of Capt. Durant's sister
Eileen Lonergan.
The investigator produced a note
he said was in the handwriting of
Capt. Durant and which he said had
been given in Chicago, after he re-
quested authorization to pick up the
articles.
Capt. Durant stiffened, clenched
her fists and chewed more rapidly
on a stick Of gum during Slabs
testimony.
The note which Maj. Salb said
Capt. Durant wrote in Chicago was
addressed to Eileen, Jack cher hus-
band) or David (Maj. David F.
Watson).
Il have confessed to having the
box of jewels which I hid in the
attic. Will you give same to officer
carrying this note. Our code ceme-
terry goes. Sorry cause you so much
trouble. Love. Bonnie"
Maj. Salb said that when he asked
what the code word "cementery''
meant, Capt. Durant told him that
Evening star., 1946-08-24
Change Of Prosecutor
In PetriIIo Cuse Asked
Nv ths A.soe;o,ed Press

CHICAGO, Aug. 24.-The Chi
cago Tribune says DR.. Joseph E
Maddy, director of the National
Music Camp at Interlochen, Mich,
is seeking removal of j. Albert
Woll, United States district attorney
here. as prosecutor in the Lea Act
case against James C. Petrillo.
Mr.. Petrillo, president of the
American Federation of Musicians
AFL, is charged with violating the
Lea Act by attempting to compe
Chicago radio station WAAF tt
employ three unnecessary" per-
sons in its record library.
DR.. Maddy, in telegram to At.
torney General Clark. the Tribune
reported, asked Mr. Woll's removal
on the ground he is the son of AFI
Vice President Matthew Woll.
In asking substitution Of an i'm
partial prosecutor without AFI
connections" Mr.. Maddy's telegram
continued the Tribune added, this
is no reflection on the personal in
tegrity of Mr.. VOL. :"
Evening star., 1946-08-24
Condemned Idaho Soldier
Aided by Senator Taylor
BY the Assoeioted Press

An effort TO annul a death SEN
tence imposed by court martial on
Leo w. Christensen of Iona, Idaho
was initiated yesterday by Senator
Taylor, Democrat, of Idaho.
Christensen, 10. a Signal Corps
private on duty in Japan. was con-
victed of murder and rape and
sentenced to death.
The Judge Advocate Generals Of
flee told Senator Taylor that he will
be given opportunity to be heard
The Senator talked with an at
torney who viii represent Mrs. De-
10y Christensen, the soldiers mother
and said he also will be represented
Evening star., 1946-08-24

suit, said he had taken the packages
of jewels from the box and car
ried them in our hands" to the
WAC's room with two Germans who
had aided him dig through the con-
crete floor in the castle cellar.
AS the third day of the Kronbere
trial got under way, the defense lost
it's attempts to prove that Prince
Wolfgang Won Hessen, custodian o1
the jewels, had abandoned" them
and that his testimony was not valio
because he had been a Nazi.
Evening star., 1946-08-24

by personal counsel II he is unable
to return from Idaho for the hear
ings. The Senator left for home
yesterday, after arranging for q
meeting of the lawyers and members
of his staff September f.
Senator Taylor said the trial judge
Of the court rt-martial recommended
that the penalty be reduced to life
Imprisonment, but that he was in
formed that this recommendation
was not carried out.
Evening star., 1946-08-24

DUTCH GOOD WILL VISITOR WELCOMED HERE-Dr. A.
Loudon, Netherlands Ambassador the United States
comes Leen Kevit rgh II Of Rotterdam who is here
good will tour and is making study of American sports
behalf of the YMCA in Holland Teddy Prince
Georges County give pointers
baseball and other games Star Staff Photo.
Evening star., 1946-01-21
Pearl Hurbor
Continued From First Page.

stages of the war, when faster YES
sells were available, he explained
Admiral Kimmel also testified the
Japanese made their greatest mis-
take" by attacking the American
fleet at Pearl Harbor and failing to
put the base itself out of commits
sion
He said it was probable no attack
would have been attempted if the
American ships had been sent back
to the West Coast.
Meanwhile, Committee Counsel
Seth w. Richardson promised a
searching inquiry into the lost
war warning which the late Secre-
tary of the Navy Knox was reported
to have said he sent to the Pacific
Fleet on December s, l941, the day
before the attack.
Murphy Asks More Details.
Representative Murphy, Democrat
of Pennsylvania asked counsel to &c
further into it this morning, after
it had been mentioned for the first
time Saturday.
Admiral Kimmel testified Satur-
day that Secretary Knox. on his visit
to Hawaii few days after the at
Evening star., 1946-01-21
THE EVENING STAR, Washington, D. c. **s As
a.

tack, said he had sent such a mes
sage. Admiral Kimmel said he had
not received such message.
Admiral Kimmel told Representa-
tive Gearhart that even if no dam
age had been done to the fleet at
Pearl Harbor, "it would have been
disastrous" to send that feet to the
relief of the Philippines, because at
that time a train of supply ships
was not then available to transport
oil and other material to the feet
over great distance of the Pacific
Ocean.
Mr. Gearhart then sought to show
that If the fleet had been kept or
the West Coast of the United States
in 1941, the Japs would have found
the task of trying to immobilize ii
more difficult
Two Advantages Cited.
Admiral Kimmel cited two ad-
vantages on protecting the feet or
the West Coast, namely, more ports
in which to maneuver and a smaller
area requiring air patrol. On the
West Coast, he said, the feet would
have had the mainland behind it
leaving only an arc of 180 degrees
over the ocean requiring air patrol
At Pearl Harbor, he said, effective
air reconnaissance required patro
of the whole circle of 800 degrees.
Mr.. Gearhart said it was specula-
tive whether the Japs would have
attacked the feet on the West Coast
but added, they did many foolish
things during the war, including the
attack on Pearl Harbor."
Il think that was the greatest
mistake they made" Admiral Kim
mel replied.
Representative Gearhart noted
Evening star., 1946-01-21

that Admiral Kimmel's predecessor,
Admiral J. o. Richardson. had
sought unsuccessfully to take his
ships back to the West Coast to pre-
pare them for war, but was told
by Washington officials that the
fleet was to be kept in Hawaii as
deterrent to japanese aggressive
moves.
Will Seek Information.
Mr.. Richardson said regarding
the "lost" war warning that he un-
derstood Mr.. Knox was supposed to
have told two officers attached to
the Secretarys Office that he had
written such a message December 6.
l941, the day before Pearl Harbor
was bombed They were named as
Rear Admiral Frank E. Beatty and
Marine Capt. John H. Dillon.
Il think when I have talked to
Beatty and Dillon we will have all
the information available" Mr..
Richardson told the committee.
However, l will try to find out
whether there is stenographer who
might have taken the message or
any one else who might know
something about it"
I'D like to request that any in
formation about a so-called lost
message alleged to have been sent
the night of December 6 be re-
ported to this committee" said Mr..
Murphy, I'D like to know the
facts"
All know is what the Congress-
man heard about a conversation
between Mr. Knox and Admiral
Kimmel,' said Mr.. Richardson, but
we will try to find out if there is
any more information available"
Evening star., 1946-01-21
Veteran Benefits
One Of Largest
Items in Budget
BY ROBERT BRUSKIN.


Describing veterans pensions and
benefits as lone of the largest sin
gle categories in the Federal Budg-
et." President Truman today asked
Congress to appropriate $4,787 900,
600 for this purpose during the next
fiscal year.
Pensions alone will cost 81 TAB ,OO0,-
600. President Truman declared
that two thirds of this amount will
be received by veterans of the war
which we have just won"
Everlasting tribute and gratitude
will be paid by all Americans to
those brave men who did not come
back, who will never come back-the
$4,000 who died that the Nation
might live and progress, Mr.. Tru-
man said in his message to Con-
gress.
All Americans will also remain
deeply conscious of the obligation
owed to that large number of SOL
diers, sailors and marines who Suf-
fered wounds and sickness in their
service. They may be certain that
their sacrifice will never be forgot
ten or their needs neglected"
Veteran Agency Fund Doubled.
To assure efficient functioning of
the harried Veterans Administra-
ton, he asked that it be given more
than twice the amount it had in
1916; $557 .287 900 as compared with
1927, $4,000.
This amount provides for medica,
care and operation of 103 900 hos
pital and domiciliary beds at cost
of $260,000,000. A separate appro-
priation is sought to provide $1,000
hospital beds as part of the con-
struction recently authorized by
Congress. The estimate for this
cost, sl30,000,OO0, was shown in the
budget as part of the general public
works program.
Also included in the funds for
the Veterans Administration, Mr.
Truman said, were provisions for
tuition expenses and maintenance
allowances for half million veter-
ans who are students
Mr. Truman recommended that
Congress increase veterans unem-
ployment benefits from $40 to $25 q
week at an additional cost of $780,
100000 for 1947. Unemployment at
present financial payments is ex-
pected to total $850,000,000 during
veterans readjustment periods in
the next year.
Housing Action Asked.
Mr.. Truman called for "a realistic
and practical attack" on the hous-
ing emergency for veterans, declar-
ing it will require aggressive
action by local governments, with
Federal aid, to exploit all oppor-
tunities and to give the veterans as
far as possible first chance at
vacancies"
1T will require continuation of
rent control in shortage areas as
well as legislation to permit control
of sales prices. 1t will require
maximum conversion of temporary
war units for veterans housing and
their transportation to communities
with their most pressing needs"
The ultimate benefit, he added
which veterans receive from loan
guarantees depends on restraining
building costs and real estate
values from imitation. To pay the
costs of the loan program for veter-
ans on reasonably valued proper
ties, he asked for s21 100000.
Evening star., 1946-01-21
Chavez Would Delay
FEPC for Legislation
OF importance
BY the Associated Press.


Senator Chavez, Democrat. of
New Mexico, whose motion called
the fair employment practice bill
up for debate, has expressed willing
ness to have the measure put aside
for ANY important legislation"
IF any Senate committee reports
any important legislation for action
I am willing to put aside the FEPC
bill" Senator Chavez said. by i'm
portant legislation I mean any labor
legislation or bills dealing with de-
mobilization or other matters.
1--WE ought to vote FEPC up or
down now. There are sufficient
votes in the Senate to pass it. 1t is
the only legislation requested by the
President which is ready for action
But, I am not one to delay or inter-
fere with any important legislation. u
The Southern filibuster against
the FEPC bill, meanwhile, became
official today when Senator Bilbo,
Democrat, of Mississippi announced
his intention to speak indefinitely.
Winding muffler carefully
around his fabulous sound box
Senator Bilbo submitted to an in
terview.
Why, yes," ne said. "It so hap
pens that 1 do intend to speak 80
days or so.
But l am only one of many. We
have about Is Senators on our
varsity team, all of them primed to
talk.
IF the opposition wants to run
"a hours a day, we are abso-lG0-
per-cent-lutely ready.
We have enough speakers so we
can operate in shifts"
Ready With BIueprints.
His reference was to a plan pro-
posed by Senators Chavez and
Morse, Republican, of Oregon to
hold the Senate in continuous ses-
sion in the hope of forcing a vote.
Riffling merrily through a sheai
of reference notes, Pearl River
County's free-style talking champ
disclosed that he has finished the
olueprints for his opening remarks
THE first part of my speech,
Senator Bilbo confided, will be
devoted exclusively to the virtue
and accomplishments OF filibustering
from 1889 to the present time"
The Mississippian added that be-
cause he has so many Others sub
jects to discuss, it is hardly likely
he will get around to reading pas
sages from his new book, to be pub
lished in March. A treatise on race
relations, 1t is entitled take YOU,
choice-separation or mongreliza-
ton"
Chance to Relax.
Prospects were that the South
erners could relax an hour or so to-
day and let the reading clerk do
their work. 1t is the clerks task to
drone out the Presidents combined
lengthy message on the state of the
Union and the budget
When that is over. however, op-
ponents of the FEPC bill plan to get
back on their work. That work, be-
gun Friday, is discussion of improve
ments and corrections in Thursday S
official journal.
The bill that touched off the fill
buster is a measure to create a
permanent FEPC to replace the war
time agency charged with guarding
against lob discriminat tinn
Evening star., 1946-01-21

SuCn OuJlayS as INTERNATIONAL CON-
mitments, the projected Govern
ment pay-raise and some national
defense projects.
This first postwar budget COM
pares with the SGT ,229 ,000, 900 being
expended this year after the COL
lapse of Japan in August permitted
original estimates to be scaled down.
1t is about third of the size of the
wartime budgets-the 500 900 ,000,- :
600 of 1945, for example-but still
runs four times as high as the pre-
war budget of 1910.
13 Billions for Army, Navy.
Defense, war and war liquidation
account for approximately $15,OOO,-
100000. The aftermath" of war
covers about $11 ,000, 900 900 more. in
cluding $4,000, 100000 for interest on
the public debt; $4,208.OO0 900 for
veterans benefits and pensions, a
boost of nearly billion dollars, and
81 900 ,000,00 for tax refunds.
The President, commenting on the
war expenditure, conceded that
SIS, 900 ,000, ,000-Army and Navy will
need $4,000, ,00O, ,00O-is a large sum
for year which begins 10 months
after fighting has ended" being 10
times the amount of prewar defense
budgets. However, he added, this
estimate reflects the immense Job
that is involved in winding up a
global war effort and stresses the
great responsibility that victory has
placed on this country"
The President said for that the
slowly rising trend" in general gov
ernmental expenditures which be-
gan in 1943 again would be in evi-
dence, amplifying that the Govern
ment is larger than it was before
the war because it's responsibilities
have increased. He cited aids to
agriculture, social security and gen.
eral public works as contributing
factors in this trend
Nevertheless. President Truman
added, economies can be effected
through efficient operation and he
expects to make gains in this direc-
ton by using the powers of the new
Reorganization Act.
Not Time" to Cut Taxes.
Discussing the public debt. the
President said it is problem re-
quiring consideration, but that it
can be handled.
On taxes. he pointed out that the
effect of the recent reductions will
not be felt until the fiscal year 1948.
Declaring the administrations in
tention to protect the financial
structure of the country, the Presi-
dent added:
1T is good to move toward a bal
anced budget and start on the re-
tirement of debt at a time when
demand for goods is strong and the
business outlook is good. These con-
ditions prevail today. Business is
good and there are still powerful
forces working in the direction of
initiation This Is not the time for
tax reduction"
The President ended his message
with a plea for national unity.
Playing voices which foster fear
and suspicion and intolerance and
hate" Mr.. Truman said that they
have become busy again"
They must not prevail" he
warned.
Evening star., 1946-01-21
New Budget Stresses
Development Of u. 5.
Natural Resources

sage today-in marked contrast to
those submitted to Congress during
the war years-laid emphasis on de-
of the United States and it's terri
tories. Good roads and the develop
ment Of hydroelectric power received
special attention.
The President asked Congress to
start sl0,000,000 highway program
in Alaska with an initial appropria-
ton of 100000 for roads, bridges
and trails, to be expended during
the 1946-47 fiscal year. Included
was s1,000,0O0 for continuing work
on the Richardson Highway.
Mindful of the return of Indians
from war work and the armed forces
to their reservations, the President
asked SAL, ,393,515. an increase of
S14,000,000 over last years appro-
priation, for the Office of Indian
Affairs to promote education, agri-
culture and other benefits.
Synthetic Fuel Program.
Included in the budget also was
a request for S4,l9O,32O for the Bu-
reau of Mines to carry on its syn
thetic fuel program, primarily from
coal and oil shale. Also provided
were So, 400 900 for the investigation
and development of mineral de-
posts and 100000 for helium re-
search and operation of present
helium plants.
For protection and development OF
the Nations timberlands, the Presi-
dent asked a $4,000, 900 increase for
the United States Forest Service,
making a total budget of s38,251,- :
500. The amount included S3000.-
900 for Government purchase of pri-
vate forest lands.
An $80,000,000 appropriation was
asked by the President for three big
hydroelectric power agencies-the
Tennessee Valley Authority. the
Bonneville project and the South
western Power Administration. The
funds provide for the construction
of 900 miles of transmission lines
and IA substations in connection
with the big Bonneville plant in
the Northwest.
Flood Control Planned.
The President informed Congress
that the administration was work
ing on plans for flood control and
hydroelectric developments in the
Missouri Valley, the Arkansas VAL
ley and the Central Valley of Cali
fornia.
Anticipating rapid rise in visitors
to Americas great public parks, the
President asked an appropriation
of $32 ,643,215 for the National Park
Service to enable it to prepare for
this influx. During the war, he
said the parks have been on a vir-
tual maintenance basis. The cur
rent appropriation includes s22 400,
600 for the improvement of roads
and trails and S2,5OO,O00 for tourist
facilities.
| Appropriation of $212, 100000 for
river and harbor improvements and
$l10,000,0 900 for food control was
recommended. In addition, he asked
$4,815,000 for planning river and
harbor projects and s4,815.0OO fol-
f1ood-control blue printing. The ap-
preparations, he said, will permit q
start on the Florida barge canal.
The protection and increase OF
wildlife would be promoted under
a $1250S,275 appropriation requested
for the Fish and Wildlife Service
an increase of $2,000,000 over last
year. Included in the sum is s858, ,OOC
for protecting the important Alas
kan fisheries.
Evening star., 1946-01-21
Leopold PIeo Rejected

LONDON, Jan. 81 (P).-The Brus-
sells radio said today that the Bel
gian government had rejected a re-
quest by King Leopold that the
question of his return to the throne
be submitted to national referen-
dunn following the forthcoming
general elections. Leopold now is
in Switzerland.
Nineteen American cities have
inter- American centers to foster in
terest in nations south of the border.
Evening star., 1946-01-21
Patterson in Frankfurt
BY the Associated Press.

FRANKFURT, Jan. 81 (P,.-Sec-
retary of War Patterson arrived to-
day from India.
Evening star., 1946-04-23
|Mexican-0. B. Leauue
Seen Ready 10 Yield
To Outlaw Loop
By the Assoeiotsd press

Ell PASO, Tex, April 23.-The Ell
Paso Times said today it had learn
ed on unimpeachable authority that
the president and secretary of the
Mexican National League had re-
signed and that the league was in
difficulties.
The league operates in competi-
ton with Jorge Pasquel's Mexican
League. 1t is the only representa-
tive OF organized baseball in Mexico.
The Times said President Fer
nando Maldonado and Secretary
Reynal, both of Chihuahua City
had resigned because the Ell Paso
and Juarez clubs did not send rep
resentatives to a league meeting
scheduled in Chihuahua last Sun
day to discuss the status of the Tor
reon and Mexico City clubs.
The Mexico City club, said the
Times, definitely will not return tc
its home, and may be moved to Par
raj where former Mexican Ma
tional League club failed in 1945.
The Times said Manager Zeno-
nochoa of the Mexico City Aztecas
had not heard from the clubs own
ers since the team went on the road
a month ago. He is paying his play
ers from travelling receipts, the
Times said.
The purcose of the Chihuahua
meeting, the Times said, was to dis
cuss the possibility of the league
operating as four-club circuit in
cluolng Ell Paso, Juarez, Chihuahua
CITY and Saltimmo