davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1950-01-24

sales agent should have beer
aware" that the country's security
was involved in the sale.
The agent was identified as
Boris Pregel. president of the Ca
madam Radium g. Uranium Co
of New York.
Mr.. Merritt testified further that
it appeared Mr.. Pregel violated a
contract with the American Cow
ernment under which he agreed
to give the Government first rights
to buy all uranium the company
could get.
Aware of Manhattan Project.
Representative Nixon, Repub-
lican. of California promptly told
the witness:
IF that shipment of uranium
was a violation of the contracts,
it would appear it was a deliberate
act which was considerably more
than a violation of a business
contract"
Mr.. Nixon asked Mr.. Merritt if
there was any question in Mr.. Mer-
.ritts mind that Mr.. Pregel knew
why the Government contracted
fSee I'M N-AMEPTrAN Dec Ao1
Evening star., 1950-01-24
CI0 Says Soviet Holds
$1,000, as Slaves
BY the Associoted Press

The Congress of Industrial Or
ganizations charged today that
more than 100000 persons are
being worked to death in Soviet
slave labor camps.
| A statement by James B. Carey
CIO secretary-treasurer, prepared
for the Senate Foreign Relations
Committee, said in part:
Both Hitler and Stain organ
lied the greatest machinery for
literally squeezing the blood out
of human beings for two pur-
poses: First, to get human en-
ergy without pay and, secondly,
to kill. through overwork, the un-
desirable people.
''The population of slave labor
camps in Germany reached al
most 100000. ~ The number
of inmates from the Baltic ma
tions in the Siberian slave labor
camps. including the salt mines,
is certainly higher
Mr.. Carey urged American rati-
fication of the United Nations
EGenocide Convention.
The Senate committee is hold
ing hearings on the United Ma
ftions proposal to outlaw genocide,
which the U. N. has defined as "a
denial of the right of existence of
Ientire human groups as homicids
is the denial of the right to live
of individual human beings"
Evening star., 1950-01-24
Lobby Probe Runs Across Fact
congressman Get Fees for I uIks

finally decides to call at open
hearings have used this form of
lobbying, MIR. Buchanan ex-
planned. the fees to legislators
will come out as one aspect of
their activities.
At present, he said, the COM
mittee does not intend to take
up these payments to members
of Congress as a separate issue,
but as part of the picture 1t is
preparing on lobbying by groups.
Which groups will be the sub
ject of open hearings probably
will be decided when the COM
mittee meets in closed session next
week. The activities of groups on
both sides of the street" in the
housing lobby have been explored,
but Mr.. Buchanan said that did
not mean that lobby will lead the
parade at the forthcoming open
sessions.
Evening star., 1950-01-24
Mrs. Lenroot, Fined for Purkinq,
Assuils D. c. 'SpeciuI PRIVILEGES

A routine traffic violation charge
blossomed into thorny issue in
Municipal Court today when the
widow of a United States judge
spoke out against special priv
ilege" in the District.
Mrs. Eleonore Lenroot, widow
of Judge Irvine L. Lenroot of the
United States Court of Customs
and Patent Appeals, surprised the
court by Waging an all-out fight
on an overparking charge.
When Judge Thomas D. Quinn
fined her So. she Immediately
filed an appeal on grounds the
court refused to hear her out on
the special privileges" indict-
ment.
Mrs. Lenroot charged that the
1900 block of Jefferson place NV,
where her infraction allegedly oc-
CURED, receives more police pro-
Evening star., 1950-01-24

lection than any other block in
the city.
She attributed this to the fact
that "a very important person
lives in the block.
John Russell Young. president
Of the Board of Commissioners,
lives at 1884 Jefferson place NV.
At one juncture. Mrs. Lenroot
began reading from a prepared
statement:
The enforcement of the law
throughout the city and the en-
forcement in that one neighbor-
hood is SO unequal that I came to
court to see If the citizens of vote
less Washington have equal pro-
lection under the law" she read.
She was cut off by Judge Quinn.
who said the courts problem was
confined to the traffic ticket.
you have a proper channel
tSee LENROOT, Page A-2.)
Evening star., 1950-01-24
lionih S Fifth Heat Record
Sci as Mercury Goes 10 50

January "heat" records are get
ting to be a habit. Today-for
the fifth time this month-the
thermometer topped a previous
record.
At pm. the reading was SO de-
grees, above the previous rec
ord for this date, set in 1912,
Other record high temperature
days were January 4. 5, 6 and 10,
Today's heat may equal the
high of January 6, when 70 de-
grees was recorded here. the fore
caster said. Partly cloudy and
mild weather are predicted for
tonight, with the lowest tenpera-
ture in the low SOS.
Tomorrow will be rather windy,
the forecaster said. and warm
with showers. Cooler weather is
expected Thursday.
Evening star., 1950-01-24
Senate Prepares Coal Probe
AS Steel Plants Lay Off Men
Lewis Declines to Testify at Hearing
While Unfair Practices Suit Pends

steel workers. and said it may be
necessary to furlough that many
more by the end of the week.
A General Motors Corp. official
said his firm has been notified by
steel companies that they may be
forced to shut down this week for
lack of coal. The official. H. r.
Boyer, director of the corpora
tion's motors production engi-
neering section, did not identify
the steel companies. He added
that GIN would be forced to close
down in 80 days if the steel supply
is cut off.
Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co.
also made plans to cut back
production.
More than $4,000 of the miners
who ignored pleas of the UNIV to
(See COAL, Page A-6.)
Evening star., 1950-01-24

Congressional lobbying investi-
gators are looking into fees paid
to legislators for their talks al
conventions of pressure groups .
Chairman Buchanan of the spe-
cial House Committee on Lobby
ing told The Star today that the
investigators nave run across
what he termed 'honorariums" tc
members of Congress.
He noted a number OF instances
where members of powerful con-
gressional committees are invited
to appear at conventions OF
groups affected by the decisions OF
those committees.
! The fees paid for these appear
ances, he said, are "a form OF
compensation to the congressman
for being interested" and should
be reported by the lobbyists as
an expense item.
If the groups the COMMITTEES
Evening star., 1950-01-24
Congress Backs
On New Leyiies
Doughton and George
Silent About PIuns
To Act on Message
By J. A. O'Leory

Congress was in a mood today
to cut wartime excise taxes, but
was showing little enthusiasm for
a billion dollar overall increase in
revenue.
Even before the President sent
up his tax message yesterday
there was strong sentiment for
whiting down or getting rid Of
the excise rates on travel, COM
munications, and variety of re-
tail goods. Some lawmakers are
willing to look for other ways of
making up the loss from excise
cuts. There was no cheering,
though, for a net increase through
new taxes.
The two men who will have
most to say about the subject
Chairman Doughton of the House
Ways and Means Committee and
Chairman George of the Senate
Finance Committee-did not rush
forward to disclose their plans
Immediately.
Wants Loss Made Up.
| Mr.. Doughton, whose House
committee will start work on the
tax bill in a week or two, said only
that he thought any loss from
excise cuts should be made up.
Senator George asked for time to
study the message.
Although Mr.. Truman made IL
clear he would veto a bill reduce
ing the excise rates without max
ing up the loss. there are some
members in both houses who want
| to act quickly on the excise
changes, fearing it will take Con-
gress several months to work out
the details of off setting new
levies on corporations, estates and
gifts.
The wartime excise taxes apply
to jewelry. furs. luggage, photo
graphic equipment, electric bulbs,
cosmetics, transportation and
communications.
Bigger Staff Sought.
While the Presidents tax mes
sage was being read. the House
Appropriations Committee dis
closed the Treasury is seeking q
larger staff for the Internal Reve-
j niue Bureau, in the hope Of get
ting more revenue by looking for
tax dodgers in the middle income
| brackets.
/ The chief source of new revenue
sought by the administration 10
to raise the corporation tax rate
of 38 per cent on business con-
Germs with annual profits above
$4,000. Congressional experts
said the corporation rate might
have to go up to IL or 42 per cent
to comply with the Presidents
program.
The President also asked for
the closing of loopholes by which
he said some groups legally avoid
their fair share of the tax load.
He mentioned special depletion
allowances to owners of oil wells
and mines, and charitable and
educational organizations engaged
in business.
Evening star., 1950-01-24
u. ). Steel SAYS
Worker Benefits
DrovePricesUp
No Harmful Effects
On Other Industries
Seen by FoirIess
BY Cecil HoIIond

Officials of the United States
Steel Corp. today blamed pensions
and insurance benefits won by the
CIO Steel Workers Union for the
recent increases in the price of
steel. The officials went before
the Senate-House Economic Com
mittee to justify their action.
Benjamin Fairless, president of
the countrys largest steel COM
pany, said that higher steel prices
should cause no harmful effects
whatsoever on price levels in
other industries.
Mr.. Fairless was the first wit
ness as the committee began hear
ings that will continue through
Friday on the recent steel price
increases. Representative of other
companies will be heard later in
the week.
Enders M. Voorhees,, chairman
Evening star., 1950-01-24
RuIesC Votes
5 10 5 and Blocks
Action on FEPC Bill
Two Members Absent,
But Measure Seems
To Be TIGHTLY Locked

A tie vote blocked House Rules
Committee action today on an
anti-job discrimination bill.
A motion to send the FEPC bill
to the House for a vote lost by a
count of S to 5. Four Southern
Democrats, Representatives Smith
of Virginia, Cox of Georgia, Col
mer of Mississippi and Lyle of
Texas, voted against the motion
and were Joined by Brown of
Ohio, a Republican.
Voting to clear the bill were
Chairman SABBATH of Illinois and
Representatives Madden of Indi-
ana. McSweeney of Ohio and De-
laney of New York. Democrats
and Herter of Massachusetts,, Re-
publican.
Two Republicans were absent.
They are Representatives Allen OF
Illinois and Wadsworth of New
York. Both repeatedly would have
voted against approval of the bill
had they been present.
Brown Moves to Reconsider.
Mr.. Brown told newsmen he
voted against approval in order
to prevent final action in the
absence of Mr.. Wadsworth and
Mr.. Allen. He then moved to
reconsider. which means the mat
ter can be considered again when
the full membership is present.
With full membership present
the vote on FEPC, according to
private polls, would be to s.
still less than the seven necessary
to send the bill to the floor.
Today's action reinforced indi-
cations that the measure was
tightly locked in the Rules Com
mittee.
And Speaker Rayburn, the
Presidents own leader, showed no
apparent hurry to rescue it.
Yesterday saw an afternoon of
parliamentary maneuvering, with
statehood for Alaska ostensibly
the business at hand.
Atmosphere" Not Right.
Speaker Rayburn had decided
that the atmosphere" in the
House was not right for a dis
cussion of FEPC so soon after
last Fridays bitter contest over
a House rules change. So, with
Chairman Lesinski of the Labor
Committee trying to get the floor
to call up FEPC under a rule per-
mitting bypassing of the Rules
Committee, Mr.. Rayburn recog-
nized Chairman Peterson of the
Public Lands Committee to bring
up the Alaskan statehood bill in
stead.
These and other measures were
eligible to be brought to debate
Evening star., 1950-01-24
By jones Y. Newton

The Senate Labor Committee
prepared today to investigate the
coal shortage without John L.
Lewis as a witness, while dwindling
fuel supplies cut deeper into oper-
ations of the steel industry.
Mr.. Lewis politely declined to
appear before the committee which
tomorrow will start hearings on a
resolution to urge President Tru-
man to use emergency powers of
the Taft-Hartley Act to end the
three-day week in the coal fields.
The short work week combined
with the continued strike of 68,500
miners, centered about Pittsburgh,
forced Crucible Steel Corp. to re-
duce operations at its Midland.
Pa, plant. Crucible laid off 500
Evening star., 1950-01-24
Agent in Uranium Sale
To Reds Knew Of u. 5.
Project, Probers Told
Witness Cites Contract
To Give This Country
First Rights to Compound
BY Mirium Ottenberq

The sales agent who sold 1000
pounds of uranium compound to
the Russians during the war knew
about the United States atomic
project at the time, the House
Committee on Un-American Ac-
tivities was told today.
Phillip Merritt, wartime officer
on the atomic projects, said the
Evening star., 1950-01-24
Prospective Jurors
In Spy Trial 0uizzed
On Red Prejudice
Coplon-Gubitchev Defense
Loses Motion for Another
Delay in Proceedings
Star Stoff Correspondent

NEW YORK, Jan. 24.-Selec-
ton of q jury to try Judith Cop
Ion, former Government girl, and
Valentin A.. Gubitchev, Russian
engi~ on espionage charges
beSen y in Federal Court.
Nj. men and three men oc-
cupied the jury box when Judge
Sylvester Ryan began asking quail
flying questions shortly before the
luncheon recess.
Earlier. Judge Ryan denied a
defense motion to postpone the
trial here until the Court of Ap-
peals in Washington has had an
opportunity to rule on pending
motion to set aside Miss Coplon's S
conviction on espionage charges
there.
IT have ruled" Judge Ryan said,
that no mention of the result of
the Washington trial may be made
in this case. If either side makes
a reference to the outcome of the
Washington trial I will regard
such conduct as contemptuous."
Miss Coplon Sobered.
All the blitlleness and laughter
that characterized Miss Coplon's S
derneanor at her trial in WASH
ington last summer was gone
from the face of the former JUS
tice Department employe as she
appeared for her second trial on
espionage charges.
The small. attractive brunette
has aged considerably since she
was sentenced to serve from 40
months to 10 years in prison after
her conviction in Washington. Her
face is thinner and much of the
luster has gone from her wavy
hair. In marked contrast to her
attitude in Washington which
lead a national magazine to call
her Miss Giggles," Miss Coplon
sat with bowed head staring at
the counsel table most of this
morning.
At the opposite end of the table
sat Gubitchev. a short, blond man
with thinning hair. whom Miss
Coplon at her first trial described
as "the only man I ever deeply
loved"
The accused pair did not ex-
change even SO much as a glance
during the morning session.
Gubitchev cupped his cheek in his
hand and closed his eyes. He ap-
peared to be asleep at times.
Embassy Representative.
Yuri Novikov. third secretary of
the Russian Embassy. sat between
Gubitchep and his attorney, Abra-
ham L. Pomerantz.
Mr.. Pomerantz asked permission
for the Embassy representative to
sit at the counsel table. explaining
that while Gubitchev had no Diff
Guilty in carrying on social con-
versations in English he sometimes
became confused by legal jargon'
and wanted such talk translated
in his native tongue.
When the jury box was filled
with the first II yeniremen, Judge
Ryan told them that evidence un-
doubtedly would be produced at
the trial to show that the FBI
had tapped the wires of the de-
PENDANTS "in violation of the Fed
eral law" He asked the prospec-
tive jurors if such evidence would
(See SPY TRIAL. Page A-61
Evening star., 1950-01-24
Schoo|boy, 7, Beaten
By Teen-Age Gang;
Police Investigating
Child Taken to Hospital
After Pupils Find Him
Unconscious on Street

Police and school officials today
were investigating the beating of
7-year-old schoolboy by a gang
of teenagers yesterday which sent
the victim to the hospital.
William Smith, jr., colored, 662
Twenty-fourth street NE, a sec
ond-grader, was beaten uncon-
scious by a group of older boys
near the Charles Young School.
Twenty sixth street and Benning
road NE, police reported.
Police Supt. Robert j. Barrett
said this morning he had ordered
the Juvenile Bureau at head
quarters to investigate. A police
man from No. 9 Precinct was sent
| to the school earlier in the morn.
| ing.
Unable to Identify Attackers.
Mrs. Beulah Smith. mother OF
the boy and Veterans Admin
istration clerk, said the attack on
her son was completely unpro-
yoked. The boy was unable to
identify his assailants. and did not
know their exact number, she
said.
The beating occurred at Twen-
ty-fourth and H streets NE.
shortly after the victim had left
school at pm. to walk home,
his mother said. Some neighbor-
hood boys carried him home, and
friends told her he remained un-
conscious for at least half an
hour, she said.
Mrs. Smith said she believed
the attack might be connected
with another incident. last fall
when her son and another boy
were molested sexually by several
teen-age boys William had been
threatened afterward because he
revealed names of the older boys,
the mother said.
Admitted for Observation.
Mrs. Smith had the boy taken
to Gallinger Hospital about $50
pm. last night. He was admitted
for observation, but hospital Off
cials said today he had no appar-
ent injuries.
Associate School Supt. A. X.
Savoy said today he did not be-
lieve the incident had any con-
nection with reports of youthful
gangs preying on pupils of several
other colored schools. A House
subcommittee now is investigating
assertions of the assistant prin-
cipal Of Banneker Junior High
School, in Northwest Washington,
that gangs are demanding "trib-
ute."
Mr.. Savoy said he is waiting for
a report from the principal of the
Young School. Pupils were ques-
toned this morning, but no light
was shed on yesterdays incident,
according to Mrs. Smith.
! Maj. Barrett said nothing had
been reported that would link the
beating with the death of an g.
year-old colored boy whose body
was found stabbed and beaten in
Rock Greek Park last October
Evening star., 1950-01-24

Of United States Steels Finance
Committee, said the company's
expenditures could not be reduced
or other sources of. income OBJ
tanned to cover the increased
labor costs except by reducing the
buying of tools or cutting divi-
dends to stockholders.
Dividend Cutting Opposed.
A reduction in tool purchases.
Mr.. Voorhees, added. would bring
unemployment in the steel pro-
ducing industry and would re-
duce needed steel production.
Both Mr.. Fairless and Mr..
VOORHEES, took a strong stand
against cutting dividends.
Mr.. Fairless said United States
Steel officials do not believe
there is any good reason why
we should sacrifice the income of
stockholders and the interests of
the business as whole to pro-
vide additional benefits for ou1
employees"
MIR. Voohrees said reduction oi
dividends in a period of near
capacity production would con-
stitute devastating blow to in
vestor confidence"
Questioned Sharply on Earnings
1t could, he added, sweep
across the land with grave danger
of seriously, if not fatally impair
ing the processes by which tools
of production come into existence,
by which new jobs are thereby
created to provide for an expand
ing labor force. by which the
American people have in the past
and may alone hope in the future
to have ever more and better of
the good things in life"
Mr.. Fairless hardly had finished
reading prepared statement be-
fore he was confronted by COM
mittee members with sharp ques-
tioning on United States Steel's
earnings.
Chairman O'Mahoney of the
committee read report showing
the rate of return on stockhold-
ers' investment in the company
as being 1878 per cent in 194s
and 8.92 per cent for the 1917
1948 period which. he pointed out
includes the depression years. Aft
er citing other figures compiled by
the committee staff on the COM
Evening star., 1950-01-24
(Second OF a SeriesJ
By Hede Messing
As Told 10 Eugene lyons
fcopyrighf, 1850, by Hede Mossing)


copyright. 1850. by Hede Messing)
NEW YORK, Jan. 24.-Vienna
before World War I was gay,
light-hearted place, but little of
its gaiety penetrated the home
into which I was born SO years
ago.
A more ill-assorted pair than
my parents can hardly be imag-
ined. My father, Phillip Tune,
was dashing, half-literate cir
Gus rider, and a Catholic. My
mother was a plain and meek
Jewess of good education. She
had met the handsome Pole at
a country fair near Lemberg and
he had followed her to Vienna.
She had just enough income to
maintain her husband in idleness
and support their three children
on poverty level. We never
knew a time when she was not
tormented by our fathers philan-
Evening star., 1950-01-24
Bulletins
Di Mag Signs for 500, 900

III mag Sfgns for 9IU,WO
NEW YORK (P.-Joe Di
Maggie, center fielder for the
New York Yankees, signed
1850 contract today that Is ex-
pected to net him as much as
his estimated 100000 salary
of 1949.
Earlier Story in Sports Section.)
Fire in Apartments
Fire broke out in the Tenn
pleton Manor Apartments, at
5603 Longfellow street, East
Riverdale, Md, this afternoon.
Smoke and flames bilIowed from
the attic of the three-story
apartment unit. Five fire COM
panies responded to two alarms.
Named Aide to Gray
President Truman today nomi-
mated Karl r. Bendetsen Of
California to be Assistant Sec
retary of the Army. MIR.
Bendetsen, San Francisco
lawyer. has been serving as a
special consultant to Secretary
of the Army Gray.
'BulF Montana Dies
Los ANGELES (P.-Lewis
BULL Montana, 64, former
wrestler and film actor, died
today of heart disease.
Evening star., 1950-01-24
Boston Club Payroll Taken
Just After Brink S Robbery
By the Assoeio'ed Press

BOSTON. Jan. 24.-Two gun
men robbed Boston's exclusive
Union Club of $4,000 today-just
after the payroll had been deliv-
cred by an armored truck OF
Drinks, Inc, money transport
company which. itself, was robbed
of $l,500,000 a week ago.
Two women employees who only
minutes before, had "kidded" the
Drinks guard about the robbery al
his firm. were held up.
The Union Club, in the shadow
of the Massachusetts, State House
looks out on Boston Common and
has been a haven for old-name
Boston clubmen since 1868.
Evening star., 1950-01-24


Louis E. Denfeld.
The Senator said he wanted
to register my emphatic dis
Aehesen to Explain WithdrowoI in Chino
feT Senators Today. Page AS
approval" of the removal of Ad-
miral Denfeld as Chief of Naval
Operations.
The speech came as the Senate
moved toward confirmation of
Admiral Forrest P. Sherman as
Admiral Denfeld's successor. Sen
ator Mccarthy, Republican, of
Wisconsin also said he wanted to
talk about the way Admiral Dem
field was ousted from Office last
October after the Senate had
confirmed him for a second two
year term which was to have be-
gun December Is.
Senator KEN said he did not
oppose the confirmation of Ad-
miral Sherman and praised his
high character and distinguished
achievement"
But, he added. II am for justice
and a grave injustice has been
done a distinguished officer"
Mccarthy Renews Attack.
Senator Mccarthy yesterday
renewed his attack on Navy Sec
retary Matthews, challenging the
Secretary's explanation of why
he had told the Senate Armed
Services Committee a new COM
mission had never been issued to
Admiral Denfeld.
Mr.. Matthews wrote Chairman
Tydings of the committee that
the commission had been turned
over to the admiral by Rear Ad-
miral Robert L. Dennison, the
Presidents naval aide, without
the knowledge of either the Sec
retary or Mr.. Truman.
But. declared the Secretary
this did not constitute an official
action and had no legal signifi-
canoe because the admiral did not
take several other steps necessary
before assuming such an Office
Furthermore, he added, Admiral
Denfeld actually was removed
during his first term of office and
he never made claim to the Sec
ond term.
Telegram Exhibited.
Senator Mccarthy then ex-
hibited telegram from Admiral
Denfeld saying that Mr.. Matthews
did know the commission was in
his hands. Senator Tydil. gs
staunchly defended the Secretary
and replied that no doubt the ad-
miral thanked him for recon-
mending him for the additional
term. But, he said, Mr.. Matthews
and the President were blissfully
unaware that the admiral held
the commission, which should
have gone back to the Secretary
(see DENFELD, Page A-6D