davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-01-29
Explosion Wrecks
Homes in Southeast,
Injuries ; Persons
Cos Leak Suspected;
Body Unhurt os Debris
Topples on His Crib

A roaring explosion shattered
three houses in 5he 1900 block
Fort Dupont street Sc. at 7:55
this morning, injuring three per-
sons, two seriously.
Five others escaped, one a q
year-old boy whose crib was
covered by the demolished roof
and walls.
The injured are:
Bernard Cady, So, of 1903 Fort
Dupont street, badly burned.
Mrs. Johanna Cady, so. his
wife, also burned.
Margaret Cady. %. THEN
daughter, minor burns of the
right arm.
Another daughter, Anna Cady,
is. was treated and released.
All were taken to District Gen.
eral Hospital.
Gas OdOr Noticed.
Battalion Chief F. D. Scrog-
gins said escaping gas appeared
to be the cause of the explosion.
Fircmen were on the scene fight
ing a fire which crept through
the wreckage almost an hour
after the houses were shattered.
A son of two of the victims,
Bernard Cady, jr.. 81. a fireman
at engine company 6. said his
mother told him at the hospital
that the blast came when the
father lit a cigarette.
Mr.. Cady also said his par
ents had noticed the odor of
gas several days ago in the va
cant house next door. This
dwelling, according to Mr.. Cady,
was a CT loan house which had
been repossessed by the Govern
ment. He said his mother had a
key to let prospective buyers in.
A Veterans Administration
spokesman said the house at
1901 had been repossessed a
year ago and turned back to the
Government. VA officials had
planned a final settlement this
afternoon with another buyer.
Gas Investigation Started.
Mr.. Cady said his parents
called the Washington Gas Light
Co. about the gas odor and yes
terday the gas company sent
some one to the vacant house.
w. Herbert Gill, assistant to
the president of the gas COM
pany, said the company began
an investigation of the explosion
shortly after it occurred.
He said that a worker had
gone to 1901 Fort Dupont drive
yesterday with an order to turn
the gas on, but that the mans
(HorfiNun( ~, no~n . MI =
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-01-29
By The Associoted Press

UVALDE, Tex. Jan. 29.-For-
mer Vice President John Nance
Garner says he's lazy and no-ac-
count So he's sold his stock and
retired as a director of the First
State Bank Of Uvalde.
Cactus Jack" "a. announced
yesterday he had sold all his
stock in the bank to other stock
holders. He had been affiliated
with the bank more than 40
years.
Mr.. Garner said that in retir-
ing he was probably vacating
the last Office he will ever take
oath to administer.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-01-29
Guest Turns Cocktail Party
Into Cancer Fund for F Friend

ers, stricken with cancer. that a
leg amputation was necessary.
How about taking the money
that would have gone toward the
party, Mr.. Leddy suggested, and
pooling it as a fund to combat
their colleagues cancer?
The idea caught on. The pool
today boasts more than $70O,
with more rolling in from here
and abroad.
Party invitations had gone out
to some of Mr.. Leddy's friends
at foreign poSts-as a courtesy.
since they could not attend.
They came through with money
for the pool.
MIR. Leddy, 40. goes on leave
Monday for 10 months, during
which he will do research at
Tufts College, Medford, Mass.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-01-29
District Cites
Need for More
Tax Assessors
Would Increase
Revenues, Lowe
Tells Lawmakers
By George Beveridqe

District officials urged Congress
today to authorize more tax
assessors. needed to carry out a
reasSessment of the city's real
estate values as a means of in
creasing revenues.
The need for more assessors
was cited before a joint Senate
House subcommittee considering
tax increases proposed to help
finance the city's $305 million
public works program.
Schuyler Lowe. District ad.
miniStration director, said the
city is anxious to work toward
"a reasonable system" of re-
assessing all property in the
District. He said that staff lin
itations, however. have held
assessments to newly developed
areas and those in which striking
improvements are made, such as
Georgetown and Capitol Hill
hClSIlUOIIlOOOS.
Representative Smith. Demo-
crat, Of Virginia, has asked about
the possibility of higher real
estate revenues after spokesman
for local insurance and alcoholic
beverage groups attacked as "un-
fair and discriminatory" pro-
posed tax boosts which affect
them.
Would Raise $40 Million.
The tax increases are among
a number of proposed changes
which would raise city revenues
by about $40 million a year.
The $40 million would help
finance the vast works plan.
along with a SO million annual
Federal payment boost and Sill
million in Federal loans over
the next decade.
Edward j. Schmuck, general
counsel of the Acacia Mutual
Life Insurance Co.. representing
also numerous other local insur-
ance firms, protested the District
proposals to increase the tax on
gross insurance premiums from
2 to 2l2 per cent.
He said the firms with home
ofiices in Washington would be
penalized mainly by "retaliatory
laws" in 80 States which impose
taxes on the basis of rates
charged in the home Office juris-
diction.
Would Affect States.
Thus, he said. while the change
would cost his company only
about $4,000 in additional Dis
trict taxes. the change would re-
quire it to pay an additional $685.
600 in States which have the
retaliatory tax laws. If the tax
increase had been in effect in
1852, he said. it would have cost
seven District companies only
$4,000 in new District taxes. but
$13l 900 in new taxes to States.
Subcommittee Chairman
O'Hara. Republican. of Mime
sofa, said the complaint cited by
Mr.. Schmuck showed how far
the ripples go when a pebble is
tossed into the waters of taxa
ton"
Mr.. Schmuck said he doubted
that District officials realized
effects of the tax boost at the
time they proposed it. Commits
sioner Samuel Spencer. present
in the hearing room, said that
tSee WORKS. Page A-5)
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-01-29
BY the Associated Press

The Office cocktail party
started out the way they usually
do. but the guest of honor turned
it into a fight against cancer.
The call went out last Janu-
airy 8: Everybody chip in So each
for a going away party January
% in honor of John Leddy.
-Four days later Mr.. Leddy. an
economic defense official at the
State Department, put out an
Office memo of his own. It said
the party was a fine idea but he
thought he had a better one.
After the arrangements were
made. Mr.. Teddy said, doctors
advised one of his co-work-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-01-29
Derai|ment in Georgia
Injuries Score or More
BY the Associated Press

COCHRAN, Ga, Jan. ga
Southern Railway passenger
train derailment at nearby En-
pire early today sent at least
three persons to hospital with
injuries.
A score or so others was re-
ported shaken up or slightly
bruised. No one was killed.
Cochran is in Central Georgia
In Washington. the railroads
headquarters said eight of the
IA cars left the track. A broken
rail was blamed.
The railroad said the train was
southbound from Atlanta to
Brunswick, Ga, when the acct
dent occurred at 2::30 am. All of
the coaches remained upright
but traffic on the line was
blocked. The mail car. two ex-
press cars, two coaches and three
sleeping cars jumped the tracks.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-01-29
Eisenhower Pays Call
On 2 Aides in Hospitul

President Eisenhower drove to
Walter Reed Hospital this after
noon to visit two associates.
The patients are Brig. Gen.
Paul T. Carroll. White House
staff secretary. who suffered q
slight heart attack last month,
and Mai. Gen. Howard Nc
Snyder, White House physician.
who underwent minor opera
ton q week ago.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-01-29
Substitute Plan
For Curb on Pacts
To Be Offered Today
Bricker Tells Reporter
He Hos Not Closed
Door on Compromise
By J. A. O'LeoN

Senate Republican Leader
Knowland announced a substi-
tute for the Bricker constitu-
tional amendment to limit the
Presidents treaty-making pow
ers will be introduced today with
substantial bipartisan support. "
Asked if the substitute has
been turned down by Senator
Bricker. Republican, of Ohio,
Senator Knowland replied, don't
assume anything not in EVIL
dence." The Republican leader
was not ready to name the SEN
ators who will join in Offering
the compromise. but suggested
reporters wait and see the list
of sponsors.
The Knowland announcement
came soon after Senator Bricker
told a reporter he has not closed
the door on a compromise. He
added that he has seen many
law suits settled after all the
witnesses were heard.
Senator Knowland said there
has been "a substantial develop
ment since yesterday"
Bricker and George Confer.
Senator Bricker conferred this
morning with Senator George,
Democrat. of Georgia, whose
compromise plan is believed to
be the basis for the bipartisan
substitute soon to be offered.
Senator Knowland said he will
keep the Senate in session this
afternoon until the text of the
substitute is ready for introduce
ton.
Senator Bricker said he has
been shown the substitute and
is considering it. He was not
ready to commit himself but
said it was possible that his
name will be on it.
Floor Change Possible.
It requires only a majority to
change the wording of a consti-
tutional amendment resolution
on the Senate floor and if the
leaders of both parties agree on
a compromise today it undoubt-
eddy would command a majority.
On the final showdown, however,
it takes two-thirds to pass a
constitutional amendment and
it still would be possible for ex-
tremistS on both sides to muster
one more than a third against
passage Of compromise.
Senator Bricker had said earlier
he would rather be defeated than
accept what he regards as an
inadequate substitute.
Senator Kefauver, Democrat,
Of Tennessee plans to co-spon-
sor another substitute, which
will state merely that the Con-
Stitution is superior to treaties
or executive agreements and that
the Senate may, in any given
treaty, require legislation to
make it effective as internal law.
Senators generally agree that
this can be done now whenever
the Senate so desires.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-01-29

"a million now covered by the
law and to provide 75-cent
minimum for several million adj
ditional workers who may be
brought under the law.
A special Labor Department
committee is working on the
problem of revising the wage law
with a view to seeing just what
increases are justified. 1t will
report to President Eisenhower
who then will submit the rec
concentrations to Congress If
they are approved by his eco
nomic advisers.
Farm Workers Exempt.
The Wage-Hour Law applies
to industries engaged in inter-
state commerce. Secretary OF
Labor Mitchell has indicated
there are about Is million work.
ers now exempt who should be
brought under the law. But the
administration doesn't contem-
plate taking in nearly that many
at this time. For example, it is
indicated that farm workers,
who make up one of the largest
exempted groups, will not be in
cluded in the new program.
The lifting of the minimum
wage to 80 cents an hour for
those already covered by the
law is under discussion. That
would allow for increases in liv-
ing costs and worker productiv-
ity since the law was revised in
1949.
For the last 10 years the Gov
eminent has maintained a sim
gle standard minimum wage.
The original law, passed in 1888.
provided for upward adjustment
from Is to 40 cents through &C
ton of individual industry COM
mittees. The Accent level be-
came uniform in 1914. 1t was
raised to IS cents in 1949.
There Is discussion that if
the plan is approved the indus
try committee approach may be
used to lift the minimums of
newly covered workers above rs
cents.
Most in Low-Pay Groups.
Most of the Is million per-
sons who are not presently COW
cred by the wage-law work for
such low-pay industries as agri-
culture. retail trades, fisheries
and forest products.
Gen. Eisenhower said in his
(See WAGES, Page A-2)
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-01-29
Garner, at "a, Gives Up Bank,
But Not Blow for Libertv'

j. A. Scarborough, editor of
the Uvalde Leader-News, asked
Mr.. Garner why he had decided
to get rid of his bank interests.
well. you know. Scarborough, +"
the white-haired Garner said,
I'm just getting lazy. I shun
work now more than I ever have.
just put me on the lazy, no-ac-
count list"
Asked If there was anything
wrong with his health, Mr.. Gar
ner said: ''Not much. I am still
able to strike a blow for liberty
about 5 pm. each day, and put
food away three times daily"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-01-29
Transit Income
Declines in 1853

Capital Transit Co. earned net
income of 1897, 461 in 1858, COM
pared with 81, O46,389 in 1852. the
company reported today. This
was a IA per cent decline.
With the annual dividend rate
of $1.60 a share amounting to
81, $50. 900 on 100000 shares dur
ing the year. the company paid
out $638,539 more in dividends
than was earned from transit
operations.
However. the Public Utilities
Commissions recent approval of
a 20-cent cash fare for the COM
pany is expected to reduce or
eliminate this disparity in the
new year.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-01-29
Bergson Case
Dismissed on
Judges Ruling
Mclaughlin Rejects
u. S. Contention on
Meaning Of 'CIoims'
BY Allen Drury

District Judge Charles F. Nc
Laughlin today threw out the
Governments conflict of in
terest" case against Herbert A.
Bergson, former assistant Attor-
ney General.
Without letting the case go
to the jury, Judge Mclaughlin
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-01-29
Parents of Blind
Share Problems

THEY LEARN TOGETHER-Anne
Johnson IS the new president of
Porents OF Blind Children in Metro
politon Washington. How the porents
shore their common problem ond
leorn together is told by Betty Miles
on pose 81.
WORKING WARDRoBE-Tips for
the working girl who wonts to moke
O fashionable appearance during her
office hours ore offered BY The Stor's
toshion editor. Eleni. todoy on poqe
BIZ,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-01-29
BY the Associated Press

BERLIN, Jan. 20. - French
Foreign Minister Georges BIZ
dault called today for a United
Nations disarmament conference,
provided all hostilities such as
the Indo-China war are first
ended and aggression outlawed.
The French minister intro
duced resolution to that effect
in the fifth session of the Big
Four Berlin conference. His pro-
posal countered a disarmament
conference proposition made yes
terday by Soviet Foreign Minis
ter v. NJ. Molotov.
Mr.. Molotov asked the Big
Four to sponsor a world wide
disarmament meeting which
would include Red China and
other states that are not now
members Of the United Nations.
Raising of the disarmament
question apparently stymied for
the moment a concerted Western
plan to force Russia into con-
sidering German unification now.
The West, with Secretary of
State Dulles in the chair. had
intended to bring up the Ger
man question Immediately after
the session opened.
MolotOv Upsets Apple Cart.
Word from behind the closed
doors Of the conference hall,
however. was that Mr.. Molotov
Immediately took the floor and
upset the apple cart. Thereupon
Mr.. Bidault offered his resolu-
ton. calling for an end of hos
tilities and for condemnation Of
any encouragement or support
of aggression. It presumably was
aimed at putting new pressure on
the Communist world to end the
war in Indo-C China.
Mr.. Bidault did not suggest q
date or period Of time for the
conference. Mr.. Molotov had
proposed that a disarmament
meeting be held this year.
The French resolution ] did
specify that the conference
should conform to the United
Nations General Assembly reso-
luton of January II, 1852. thus
making the U. N. the actual
sponsor. That resolution direct
ed the u. N. Disarmament Com
mission to continue its work on
conventional arms and atomic
weapons in accordance with pre-
vious Assembly decisions.
One of the key sections of Mr..
Bidault'S resolution would put
the Big Four on record as pro
claiming that the support and
encouragement of aggression
must be condemned and banned
with the aim of ending all hos
! tilitieS."
Subject Shifted.
The resolution then would
have the four commit them
selves to join theig efforts, in
the Disarmament Commission of
the United Nations. with the
aim of reaching substantial
agreements which will permit
calling a general disarmament
conference under conditions IA
vorable to success"
There was no official word
of what Mr.. Molotov had said
to shift the parley onto the
subject of disarmament but
there was considerable specula-
ton that he may have brought
up his own plan to spike the
warning worlds guns.
After Mr.. Bidault spoke, Brit
aims Foreign Secretary Eden
took the floor indicating that
whether the West liked it or
not the conference faced a full
scale debate on a topic that
wasn't even on the agenda.
At the close of yesterdays ses-
sion Mr.. Molotov proposed that
the Big Four call a disarmament
(see BIG FOUR. Page A-2J
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-01-29
Double Standard
Wage Law Planned
By Administration
Would Roise Minimum,
Cover More Workers
In Revised Measure
Bv jones Y. Newton

The administration is working
on plan for a double standard
minimum wage in an effort to
fulfil the commitment to labor
on revision of the Federal wage
labor law.
The plan is to raise the IS
cents an hour minimum for the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-01-29

PEORIA. ILL.,, Jan. 20 (PD.-
Mrs. Bridget Lewis, %, gave
birth yesterday to her fourth
child within the last II months.
Twins born yesterday were
named Daniel and Diana. Cath
lee and Colleen, likewise twins,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-01-29

~-->--->----~~~--~~>~-~--~
ruled that Mr.. Bergson was not
guilty. The judge took issue
with the Governments attempt
to prove that the defendant vio-
lated Federal law by seeking
antitrust merger clearances for
three firms whose cases he had
handled while still in the Fed
eral service.
The Government charged that
Mr.. BergSon was representing
the firms in claims" against the
Government when he sought the
merger clearances. The judge
agreed with defense counsel that
the word claims" in the con-
flict-of-interest laws could only.
be interpreted to mean demands
against the Government for
money or property.
Stresses Common Sense"
1t was his duty, Judge Nc
Laughlin said. to determine
words realistically" and on a
basis Of common sense"
The construction of statutes
Is not a game to be played" he
said. especially criminal stat
uteS."
The judge cited laws passed in
1858. 1864. 1872, 1919, 1914 and
1948 in support of his ruling. He
said that all were limited claims
in the strict sense of the word"
Any other Interpretation, he
said. would lead to absurd re-
suits"
Judge Mclaughlin did not of.
fer direct criticism of an August
81, 1858. memorandum by At
torney General Brownell which
urged Interpretation of the laws
to cover any type of representa-
ton before the Government by
a former employe acting on be-
half of private firms.
But he remarked that the
legislative history Of the various
laws lis such as to persuade
the court that the word claims
was intended by Congress to be
limited and in the courts opin-
ion it is limited to a demand for
money or property against the
United States"
Political Charge Reiterated.
In a statement to reporters.
following his acquittal, Mr..
Bergson, in effect, reiterated
charges that his prosecution
was a political move.
L said when I was indicted
that this prosecution could not
have been brought unless the
Attorney General was willing to
disregard his public trust and to
pervert the plain meaning of the
statute" Mr.. Bergson said.
"Today's results are a vindica-
ton Of that statement. It, of
course, goes without saying that
I am delighted with the out
come"
Judge Mclaughlin, in his rul-
ing, praised both United States
Attorney Leo A. Rover, repre-
senting the Government, and
John j. Wilson, representing Mr..
Bergson. Both responded with
thanks for his conduct of the
trial, which began January 10.
Must Wait Two Years,
The law says former Federal
employees must wait at least two
years before they represent firms
in claims" against the Govern
ment when they handled matters
involving the firms during their
Government service.
Mr.. BergSon got a Justice De-
partment anti trust clearance
for two firms, the Mime
sofa Mining and Manufacturing
Co. and the Carborundum Co.,
when they wished to merge. He
got a promise that the Govern
ment would not institute anti
trust proceedings against q
third firm, United States Pipe
lines Co. The Minnesota Carlo
rundum case occurred within
two months after he left the
Government. The United States
Pipeline clearance was obtained
within nine months after his
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-01-29
bidau|t Asks
u. n. Session
On Disarming
Condition Attached
Thut All Hostilities
Be Ended First
BULLETIN

BERLIN (P.-British For
eign Secretary Anthony Eden
submitted to the Big Four Con-
ference today a five-stage plan
for the unification of Germany
land the conclusion of q freely
negotiated peace treaty"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-01-29
Guide for Readers

Amuse'nts A-Z0-Zl Lost. Found -. "A
Classified s. C-3-l4 Music RIG
Comics ABBY Obituorv A.31
Cross word --A-2S Rodio-TV Az
Ed'torio' ----A-IZ Sports ----C-l-3
Edit Articles Alb Womon's
Fincneiol ----A-25l Section ---B-l.4
Have The Stor Delivered to Your
Home Daily and Sunday.
Dial Sterling $1,000
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-01-29

President Eisenhower's Economic Report
Drows Proise From 6. o. P. Criticism
From Democrats Poee A.
John [. Lewis Hits Presidents Toft-
Hertley Proposals os Pole PoIliotives."
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-01-29
Sniper Executed

SAN QUENTIN, Calf. (P.-
The phantom sniper who ter
rOriZed Southeast Los Angeles
for more than a year died in
San Quentin Prisons gas
chamber today. Evan Charles
Thomas, 30-year-Old railway
Switchman, was executed for
killing Mrs. Nina Bice, Is,
mother of three children.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-01-29

Picture on Page Az.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-01-29
Late News
Bulletins
Minnesota Names Coach

MINNEAPOLIS (P). - Muir
ray Warmath. football coach
at Mississippi State College for
the last two seasons, today was
named head coach at the Uni
versity of Minnesota, succeed
ing Yves FeSler. who resigned in
December. The selection was
a surprise, as Warmath had
not been mentioned in specula-
ton. He was line coach at
West Point for three years be-
fore going to Mississippi State.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-01-29
a Children in II Months

Continued on Page A-3, Col. ~
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-01-29

An Associated Press Newspaper
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-01-29

(See BAYAR. Page A-2.)
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-01-29
Byrd VS.. Mahoney

Boxers may shake hands before they
square of, but DR.. H. c.. Byrd refused to
when he shared the arena with. his !
gubernatorial candidate rival, George P.
Mahoney. Story and picture on
Page Alt