-A THE MICHIGAN DAILY FMAY, AUGUST 9, 1935 -i FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 193~ m State's Utility Quiz Branded A 'Whitewash' Delegation Which Includes Municipal Officials, Asks Chance ToTestify LANSING, Aug. 8. - (') -- A dele- gation led by N. D. Jordan, of De- troit, branded the public utilities com- mission investigation of the natural gas industry as a "whitewash" today and petitioned for an opportunity to testify before the house natural re- sources committee. Representative Edward H. Fenion, of St. Ignace, chairman of the com- mittee, told the petitioners today he would remain neutral but they could testify on an equal basis with other witnesses at a hearing in early Sep- tember. The committee is in recess until then. The petition bore the names of Mayor William Shakespeare, of Kal- amazoo; Mayor Max Templeton, of Lansing; Attorney Roger Wykies, of Grand Rapids; L. A. Walkling, of East Lansing, secretary of the Michi- gan Public Ownership league; Jordan as president of the Michigan Mer- chants council, and 10 others. Denies Charges William M. Smith, chairman of the commission, said there was "nothing to" the charges voiced by Jordan as spokesman that the petitioners had, been refused permission to testify. Smith called yesterday's hearing to determine whether there was basis for assertions that certain interests have attempted to throttle Michigan's natural gas industry. Witnesses testified that they had no knowledge of any plot to injure the industry. Jordan, commenting on the testi- mony, expressed the belief that "hand picked witnesses are testifying -we don't have a chance." Smith replied that he would call another meeting if necessary to give all who wanted an opportunity to testify. The chairman interrupted the questioning of Henry Hunt, secretary of the Michigan Oil and Gas Produc- ers Association in yesterday's meet- ing to proclaim a commission policy that "whenever and wherever in this state there is a considerable quantity of natural gas and a market demand for it, tht gas will be transported to the consumers." Hunt had asked whether there would be a more liber- al policy in granting pipe lines per- mits. Replies To Solon Smith stepped down from the chair yesterday to reply to Represen- tative Miles M. Callaghan, of Reed City, who was questioning Glenn R. Chamberlain, of Grand Rapids, pres- ident of the Grand Rapids Gas Light Co. and an officer of the American Light and Traction Co. Callaghan is a member of the house natural re- sources committee, which was ap- pointed to study and recommend leg- islation for natural gas conservation. Callaghan demanded whether the fact four corporations participate in servicing Big Rapids with gas did not increase the cost to users. Smith re- plied it made no difference whether cne company invested $10,000,000 and took a fair return, or two com- panies invested $5,000,000 each and took- reasonable returns. Callaghan pursued the questioning but Smith shut him off with the assertion that "we're not going into that." Hundreds Driven From Homes By Ohio Floods Razor, Horns, Gunfire Echo . LouisVictory Hastings Street In Detroit Scene Of Another Wild Negro Celebration DETROIT, Aug. 8. - (P) - Joe Louis' mother, who declined to ac- company the Brown Bomber to Chi- cago last night to see the fireworks because she "had a feelin' " admtted today she had played the wrong hunch. "I don't know why I didn't feel so confident this time," she said. "I just had the wrong hunch. But I'm mighty proud of him. He sure did the job in just a few licks." The neighborhood of Joe's home was, if possible, more of a bedlam when the news of his one round vic- tory over "that Kingfish, Levinsky," came in than when the Bomber won over Primo Carnera. "Ev'body went craa-zy!" was the way Mrs. Lillian Longpre, who rushed in to tell Joe's mother of the outcome, expressed it. On Hastings Street, the announce- ment of the technical knockout caught the crowd slightly unprepared. Joe had told his friends it would be the second round, and it was the second round they waited for. In a moment, however, the din was on, with pistol shots, automobile backfire, tin horns and shouts con- tributing to the celebration. Some- one even got so excited he raked Floyd Johnson with the business end of a razor, but Floyd hurried to a hos- pital, got his wound dressed and rushed back to the celebration. Traffic was blocked in front of the Big Money Social club while a parade was hastily organized, and at the Louis Booster headquarters, the celebration last far into the night. Not to be outdone, one organization announced a huge labor day celebra- tion at Artistic Hall in honor of the pride of Hastings Street. As usual, Joe indulged in his fa- vorite sport -long distance calls - assuring his mother by telephone that his state of health was unimpaired and exchanged chit-chat with his cronies. Coach Of All-Stars Financier May AppealIncome Tax Conviction Charles E. Mitchell, Once National City Head, Filed 'Fraudulent' Returns WASHINGTON, Aug. 8. - (P) - The next move in the Charles E. Mitchell income tax fight, in which the former chairman of the National City Bank of New York suffered a $1,200,000 defeat yesterday, depends on whether he decides to appeal. The board of tax appeals, in a decision which labelled part of Mit- chell's income tax returns as "fraudu- lent," ruled yesterday that he owes the government the greater part of a $1,275,645 tax claim preferred against him. Mitchell has the right to appeal to the circuit ourt of appeals and thence to the Supreme Court. If he does not, the government presumably will put its collection machinery into mo- tion. The decision yesterday noted that Mitchell's fortunes declined from a "net worth" of about $30,000,000 on Dec. 20, 1929, to insolvency "by an amount in excess of $3,000,000" on March 24, 1932. It did not say any- thing about his present financial sta- tus. According to estimates of treasury officials, the board. decision upheld about $1,200,000 of the original $1,- 275,644 claim. For it held that a New York jury's action in acquitting Mitchell of criminal charges of tax exasion does "not bar the imposition of the penalty of 50 per cent of the deficiency." The original assessment included tax deficiency claims of $850,429, plus 50 per cent penalties of $425,215. The board ruled against the New York financier on two of the three major issues presented. BILL'S STATUS DOUBTFUL WASHINGTON, Aug. 8.- (R)-- A pool of Democrats on the Guffey coal bill was reported authoritatively to- day to have raised grave doubts as to whether the measure would pass the House. -Associated, Press Photo. Hundreds of families were forced to vacate their homes by Ohio's worst floods since 1913 which roared through the east central part of the state and threatened to cause more damage with additional rainfall. Two persons lost their lives and heavy damage was inflicted to property and crops. This scene in Mas- sillion, where 100 families were rescued from their fl ooded homes, was typical in the area. Nation's Vast War Machinery Will Be Paraded This Month PINE CAMP, N. Y., Aug. 8. -(P) - Engines of war whose essence consists of speed and precision will demon- strate America's battle weapons when the largest peacetime maneuvers in the country's history swing into ac- tion here August 17 to 31. Mechanized units developed or brought to perfection since the World war will speed detachments over country roads in fast, armored auto- mobile units; swift darting pursuit planes will swoop down upon "enemy" bombers in spectacular flight forma- tions, and giant searchlights will light up the sky at night at the warning of huge detectors whose grotesque ears thrust upward to trap the telltale sound of an "invading" air fleet. Some 55,600 men will take part in the mimic warfare, representing both regular army and National Guard units. Officers and soldiers in the Pine Camp area will total 36,000. Mount Gretna, Pa., will concentrate 18,000 soldiers, while Fort Devens, Mass., a regular army post, will see a peacetime brigade of 1,600 men go through their training paces. Maj. Gen. Dennis E. Nolan, World war fighter and commander of the First army, will be in charge. Under him 150 "umpires" will tabulate effective- ness and "casualties" of maneuvers as opposing forces swing into ac- tion. The purpose of the war games is to test the ability of active units of the first army to concentrate simul- taneously for field service and to provide combined field training for officers and men. Information head- quarters in New York City points out that United States army officers lack the opportunity, which European commanders have, of gaining experi- ence through maneuvers with large Where To Go bodies of fighting units. The Pine Camp and simultaneous musterings at Mount Gretna and Fort Devens will provide such opportunities. The concentration of officers and men at Pine Camp will create a military population equal to the pop- ulation of Jefferson county's largest city, Watertown. The area has been a military prov- ing ground since 1908. Skyrocketing Retail Trade Is Predicted NEW YORK, Aug. 8.-- (R) - Retail trade, backed by wide gains already achieved this year, is preparing for what some authorities believe will be the greatest forward drive of the recovery era. Conclusions of trade analysts are based on operations reports for this year and on forecasts coming into the financial district on the approach- ing fall and winter season. During the first half of 1935, retail dollar sales were some per cent higher than for the first six months of last year. All major divisions re- ported universal gains with the ex- ception of variety chains, where a large increase by one firm offset small losses from the previous year chalked up by three others. Weekly reports since July 1 have confirmed the upward trend of sales. W all Street's Gigantic Stock Gift Revealed WASHINGTON, Aug. 7. - (P) - Corporation officials and large in- investors have given away millions of dollars worth of stock in recent months. This was disclosed today by reports to the securities and exchange commission. Under the new tax bill now pending in congress such gifts would, if made in the future, be subject to heavily increased taxation. John D. Rockefeller, Jr., led the list with a $1,000,000 gift of Socony Vac- uum Oil Co., shares in March, while Henry J. Fisher, chairman of the, board of the McCall corporation, New York publishers, was next with a $700,000 gift of McCall common in June. The gifts are shown in connection with reports which officials, directors and holders of more than 10 per cent of a corporation's securities making monthly to the commission when their securitiy holdings change. The reports show only gifts of se- curities. Names of the recipients are not disclosed. Under existing law only givers of such bequests are taxed. The rates start at 3-4 per cent on the first .tax- able $10,000 and range to 45 per cent on the portion over $10,000,000. The bill recently passed by the house would also tax recipients at rates ranging from 3 per cent to 57 per cent. -Associated Press Photo. Frank Thomas (above), head football coach of the University of Alabama, finished first in the na- tion-wide poll to select a coaching staff for the all-star college foot- ball team which will meet the Chi- cago Bears at Soldiers Field in Chicago. Canadian Business Rise Steady And Sustained NEW YORK, Aug. 7. - (R) - Con- sistent gains in Canadian business and industry are shown in current surveys by economic authorities. The dominion, which faced depres- sion along with the United states and the rest of the world, appears to be entering a period of sustained re- covery in most lines. The Royal Bank of Canada, Mon- treal, said in its monthly bank letter: "In each month of 1935 there has been an improvement as compared with the corersponding month of 1934, and in May the official index of the physical volume of business for the country reached a new high of 103.2." tEt. 1 Radio - Telegraph Net Linking Nation's Policemen Proposed Death Shadow Hovers Above Love Slayers CHICAGO, Aug. 8. - (R) - Two women who conspired to murder the son-in-law of one awaited today a Judge's decision whether their pen- alty would be death in the electric chair or life imprisonment. One of the convicted killers, Mrs. Blanche Dunkel, who admitted she became Ervin Lang's mistress after his, wife, her daughter Mallie, died, sobbed remorsefully: "It looks like they'll give us the chair." The other, Mrs. Evelyn Smith, who told of being "sap enough" to strangle and butcher Lang because her friend, "hounded" her, commented on the possible sentences with an unemo- tional remark: "Oh, I'm not fussy." Acting Chief Justice Cornelius J. Harrington in criminal court yester- day found the two women "guilty of murder as charged in the indictment." He announced he would pass sentence this afternoon. Mrs. Dunkel and Mrs. Smith each had a turn on the witness stand and put' the blame for the slaying on the other. Each admitted detailed con- fessions read in court. Public Defender Benjamin Bach- rach offered little in their defense. He said the crime was such that it could not have been conceived by persons of normal mind. Mrs. Smith protected her Chinese laundryman husband,' Harry Jung, who has not been captured, inher testimony. She said she called him to help her dispose of the body. but 2 p.m. Majestic Theater, Lionel Barrymore in "Mark of the Vampire" and "Champagne for Breakfast." 2 p.m. Michigan Theater, Mary Ellis and Tullio Carminati in "Paris in Spring." 2 p.m. Wuerth Theater, Maurice Chevalier in "Folies Bergere" and Warren William in "Case of the Cur- ieus Bride." 7 p.m. Same features at three theaters. 8:30 p.m. Lydia Mendelssohn Theater, "The Chocolate Soldier," a musical comedy given by the Reper- tory Players in conjunction with the School of Music. 9 p.m. Summer Session dance, Michigan League Ballroom. 9 p.m. Union membership dance. Canoeing every afternoon and eve- ning on the Huron River, Saunder's Canoe Livery. Dancing at the Blue Lantern Ball- room, Island Lake featuring Clare Wilson and his orchestra. Kalamazoo To Hold WPA Inauguration DETROIT, Aug. 8.-- ) -Inaugu- ration of WPA work in Michigan will be marked by ceremonies at Kala- mazoo tomorrow noon when work is started on the Pitcher St. paving project, it was announced at the of- fices of Harry L. Pierson, state WPA director, today.- The program for the ceremonies includes speeches by Pierson, Abner E. Larned, Michigan NRA adminis- trator, Mayor William Shakespeare, City Managet Edward Rutz and Floyd MANISTIQUE, Aug. 8. -(P)-The annual convention of the Michigan Association of Police Chiefs drew to a close at Blaney Park today with the election of officers and the selection of the Association's 1936 meeting place. The delegates reviewed modern methods of crime suppression in a series of addresses and demonstra- tions yesterday. Caeser J. Scavarda of the Michigan State Police, one of the speakers, pro- posed a nation-wide radio telegrap71 system to link law enforcement agen- cies of the various states. He said that radio telephone sys- tems now in use in many cities and in a number of state police departments as well had proved invaluable in directing the pursuit of criminals, and added that the Michigan State Po- lice radio was an important factor in reducing bank robberies from an av- erage of 18 a year to two in 1934 and none in 1935. He said the extension of police radio telephones was limited, however, by the number of available channels of a radio telegraph system as more economical than teletypes. Two other speakers pointed out the need for co-ordination of law en- forcement agencies. Justice George E. Bushnell of the Michigan Supreme Court said that rehabiliation, rather than incarcera- tion, should be the goal of police and the courts in their dealing with law- breakers. "Eradication of the sources of crime," he declared, "rather than punishment afterward, will save hun- dreds of lives and millions of dol- lars' worth of property." Justice Bushnell also said that at- tempts to exert political pressure up- on law enforcement agencies must be- curbed. He urged longer terms for judges as a method of increasing the independence of courts. HONOR UNKNOWN DOG LENINGRAD, U.S.S.R., Aug. 8. - James S. Egan, chief inspector of the federal bureau of investigation, Washington, also stressed the im- portance of eliminating politics from enforcement work. He urged com- plete publicity to correct absues re- sulting from the pardon and parol( system. "The abuses of the pardon and pa- role power in various parts of the country have been obvious in the past," he said. "Enforcement officers have paid with their lives for mis- takes of the system that have been so numerous that it amounts to a na- tional scandal." Have You Tried One of Housman's R ICHa- Chocolate SODAS PRESCRI PT IONS FILLED AND DELIVERED OPEN FROM 8 A.M. 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