The Des Moines Register from Des Moines, Iowa • Page 1

THE WEATHER Fair today; rising temperature. day's record, weather and other statistics, on page 18. reports PRICE MOINES 3 CENTS The Newspaper WEDNESDAY MORNING, U.S. SENATE RIDDLES ECONOMY ACT Depends Upon K. C.

Bandits Slay Clerk, Get $200,000 KANSAS CITY, MO. (P)-Machine gun bandits killed L. Webster Kemner, a bank messenger of the Commerce Trust seized $1,000 in cash and $206,294 in securities on a crowded downtown street and fled in a motor car Tuesday. Tuesday night police arrested two men and a woman. T.

J. Higgins, chief of detectives, said eye witnesses of the shooting identified one of the men as one of the robbers. Kemner was on his way on foot to the postoffice when he was slain. He was followed at a short distance by a guard, Doyle Swofford, armed with a pistol. Rush Guard.

Three men leaped out of a car as it pulled up to a curb. Two of them rushed Swofford and prevented him using the weapon. A third placed a gun against Kemner and shot him through the heart. While startled pedestrians looked on in horror, the quartet picked up the loot and fled in the car which bore Kansas license plates. Dies in Store.

The clerk staggered to a haberdashery where he collapsed and died. A large crowd quickly gathered. Kemner and the guard had started to the postoffice only two blocks from the bank. Attack Unexpected. Swofford said the attack came SO unexpectedly that neither he nor Kemner was able to make any resistance.

"Usually," the guard said, "I follow the man I am guarding, but I had caught up with Kemner. The car pulled into the curb in front of us and three men jumped out. Said Nothing. "I was covered with a machine gun. The men said nothing.

One man shoved 8 revolver against Kemner's chest and fired. Kemner had made no resistance." Police were told an attractive brunet had entered the bank shortly before the holdup and looked around. Admits Another Killing. One of the men arrested gave the name of Sam Decaro. He denied any connection with the holdup but Higgins said he admitted he once killed a man.

Officers identified the woman arrested as Decaro's wife. The other man was identified by police as, Joe Martino, 26. Hoggins said Martino once was indicted by a county grand jury on a criminal attack charge. Reports of some witnesses that a woman drove the robbers' car led police to theorize she may have been Bonnie Parker and one of the men Clyde Barrow, Texas desperado. Police said, however, the theory appeared groundless and it was discarded.

William Green, 4, Swallows 2-Inch Nail William Green, 4, was taken to Iowa Methodist hospital Tuesday after swallowing a two-inch nail at home. It was not believed an operation would be necessary, the boy's physician said. William is the son of Mr. and Mrs. J.

S. Green, 2319 Capitol ave. 36 Votes Are Cast For Dead Treasurer (The Register's Iowa News Service.) DAVENPORT, votes were cast in Monday's city primary election for Charles E. Robeson, Davenport city treasurer for 20 years who shot and killed himself last week. DES MOINES, IOWA, SMALL SHOP'S LIFE PLEADED BY FIRST LADY Mrs.

Roosevelt Puts Issue Before NRA in Critics' Hearing. WASHINGTON, D. C. (P)- NRA got a ready response Tuesday to its forum of self-invited criticism- Franklin D. Roosevelt being among those who suggested changes.

Hugh S. Johnson, recovery administrator, told those who had come to complain he had a good idea of the recovery organization's defects and that he had a 12-point program, including shorter hours and higher wages, to remedy them, Kless Attacks NRA. He heard Joe Kiess, spokesman for the National Furniture Workers Industrial union, tear into the recovery unit. "So far as we are concerned the NRA has lowered our living standards," Kiess said. The views of Mrs.

Roosevelt on the plight of small bookstores and groceries were read by Harriet Anderson of the Channel bookstore, at a hearing on small enterprises. Pleads for Small Grocer. Pleading the case of the corner grocery, the president's wife said "even though we acknowledge chain stores in cities can do it more cheaply, I doubt if they can in smaller communities and give the same value." Many were surprised when Johnson, turning critic himself, said his plan was aimed at a sweeping revision of codes, and that as many reforms as possible would be put into effect through general presidential rulings. Specific Complaints Cited. Here are some of the specific complaints and suggestions made at the meetings: David Kaplan of the International Association of Machinists, said NRA has not required that codes be acceptable to labor before adoption.

Candy Maker Complains. Joseph Weber, New York confectionery manufacturer, complained of increased costs under NRA. Amy Woods, director of information of the Consumers National, congress, suggested code revision so that enforcement would be in hands of committee of three representing labor, industry and the consumer. Fights Fashion Pirates. Miss M.

E. Bendelari, representing designers associations, advocated strengthening of code provisions against piracy of designs. Harry Friedman, Trenton, N. doll manufacturer, urged 40-hour limit on the operation of productive machinery in the doll industry, Oswald F. Schuette, representing independent aluminum manufacturers, protested NRA policies regarding codes.

Asks 30-Hour Week. Harry Kline, RCA- Victor Employes union, Camden, N. asked immediate 30-hour week NRA. Continued on Page Four. Baby's Cries Awaken Parents; Flee Flames ('The Register's Iowa News Service.) FORT DODGE, by the cries of their infant son, Mr.

and Mrs. James Barber Tuesday found their home in flames. Scantily dressed, they escaped from the house into near zero weather. The house was badly damaged. Here I Is, Says a And F.

R. Keeps the Faith Mississippi Farmer, Calls President and Gets Results. COLUMBUS, MISS. (P)-Sylvester Harris' long distance telephone conversation with President Roosevelt has brought results. Here is Sylvester's version of the conversation: "De White House gentleman what answered de phone up there got mad and said, 'quit calling de but I keeps on and finally gets him.

"And Here I Is." "He say, 'who dis' and I say, it's "He say, 'Sylvester "I say 'Sylvester Harris, FEBRUARY 28, PAGES. WHERE PROGRESS CEASES. STREAMLINING KNEE -ACTION WHEELS MORE POWER AND SPEED dories WORKING MODEL OF THE 1934 CAR SEWER PROJECT ASSURED HERE Extension Permitted by Federal Funds. Extension of the intercepting sewer and retaining wall lining the Des Moines river in the civic center was assured Tuesday, streets department officials learned after a conference with civil works administration heads. The sewer and wall now extend from Grand ave.

to a point half way between the Rock Island and the Minneapolis St. Louis railroad bridges. The extension will make the total length more than half a mile, streets department engineers said. U. S.

Funds Allowed. The new project, completion of which was permitted by federal allowance for materials, details of which were not announced, will continue the sewer to intercept sewage emptying into the river on both sides of the river to the proposed "Central the city dump. This will mean an extension of 1,120 feet on the west side of the river and 900 feet on the east, or to a point approximately 500 feet south of the north end of the dump. Hope to Build Dam. Hope has been expressed that through public works funds or city financing 8 dam may be built across the river there, or further downstream to increase the river's water level in the civic center and permit boating, swimming and other water sports.

The first order for materials since the temporary close of CWA operations Feb. 15 was issued Tuesday. It was for 150 pieces of piling. Additions Expected Later, Streets department engineers said the federal government's materials grant on the project might not allow placing of handrail along the extended sewer wall. There was possibility, it was said, that the wall might have to be left off some of the river bank for the present.

Cherokee Carrier Saves City From Fire (The Register's Iowa News Service.) CHEROKEE, IA. Varland, Register and Tribune carrier salesman here, lost his breath, but probably saved Cherokee from disastrous fire. Willis, on his way to deliver papers early in the morning, discovered the Barr Motor Co. building was on fire. He raced to fire station and turned in the alarm.

The blaze was extinguished with damage The Have 'Drop Bridge Is Plea Sent Herring Picture on Page 5. Governor Herring was urged Tuesday by state NRA officials to cancel the contract held by the Wisconsin Bridge Iron of Milwaukee, for construction of the new $153,000 Euclid ave. bridge in Des Moines. The recommendation contained the proviso the contract be canceled "with the approval of the office of the attorney general." Wage Scale in Dispute. The action, newest development in a long controversy over the wage scale being paid by the Wisconsin firm, was taken by the newly-organized state advisory committee to John J.

Hughes, Iowa director of the national emergency council. Nucleus of this committee is the original Iowa recovery board appointed by President Roosevelt last summer. Iowa Members Added. Iowa members of the district covery board for Iowa and Missouri were added to the advisory committee at an -day re-organization meeting Tuesday in the old federal building. John Reid, Cedar Rapids, member of the former state recovery board, made the motion that "the governor and the state highway commission" cancel the contract.

Report Wire From Johnson. The action was taken in executive session. It was reported from an authoritative source the motion WAS carried unanimously after Governor Herring had received a telegram from Gen. Hugh Johnson, national NRA administrator, recommending cancellation of the contract if warranted legally. Governor Herring could not be reached during the night to verify receipt of the wire from General Johnson or say what his next step would be.

Labor to Ask Action. Representatives of organized labor this morning will ask Governor Herring to direct the state highway commission, through the the attorney general, to cancel the Wisconsin firm's contract, John Connolly, attorney for the Dea Moines Trades and Labor assembly, said. John C. Lewis, president of the Iowa State Federation of Labor; Mr. Connolly and officers of the various trades unions in Des Moines will comprise a delegation which will visit the governor, Connolly said.

Halt Called Last Week. Last Wednesday Governor Herring directed the state highway commission to halt work preliminary to construction of the bridge until the contractors satisfied the Polk county compliance board they were complying with the president's re-employment agreement. Board Asked Suspension. The Polk county compliance board prompted the governor's action by formally recommending the work be halted pending official arbitration of the controversy. Organized labor insisted that the Wisconsin firm pay the prevailing wage scale for Des Moinea, which labor contends is 55 cents an hour for unskilled labor and $1.20 an hour for skilled.

Action Taken By White. The minimum scale being paid by the firm, labor charges, is 40 cents for common labor and 60 cents for skilled labor. The Wis-. consin firm, it is said, contend that was the scale stipulated in the contract. After Governor Herring directed that the work at the bridge be suspended, Fred White, chief engineer for the state highway commission, wired C.

E. Shriver, Des Moines representative of the contracting firm, last Thursday requesting him to postpone work for the remainder of the week. Says Work Will Go On. No work was done Thursday, which was Washington's birthday, and none was done Friday and Saturday, but dismantling the old bridge was resumed Monday morning. Mr.

Shriver said Tuesday night work would continue as usual todespite action of the state day advisory committee. Frisk Appointed. Edwin J. Frisk, former Des Moines postmaster, was named Tuesday morning by President Roosevelt as third member of the state adjustment board of the Iowa NRA setup. The other two, previously named, are Guy Logan of the Standard Chemical Co.

and Ben Wiley of the street car men's union. The three men will function as a board of appeal. Des Moines Register and Tribune a Quarter Million Daily Circulation DEATH STRIKES FISHER FAMILY 4 TIMES IN DAY Son Car Victim; Fire Kills Grandchildren, Daughter-in-Law. Death struck four times Tuesin the family of Albert E. day Fisher, 3319 Fitty-elghth st.

Tuesday morning Mr. and Mrs. Fisher were tified of the death of their son, Robert, 27, an accident near Johnston, Ia. Several hours later they received word that the wife and two CHAUNCEY children of an- FISHER. other son, Chauncey, 33, were fatally burned in a fire near Winter, Wis.

They heard also that Chauncey was not expected to live. The blaze started when Fisher used gasoline by mistake in kinding fire in the kitchen of his farm home. He led his wife, carrying their 2- year -old baby, and their daughter, Ila May, 5, through the flames. They were severely burned and forced to take refuge in a barn from the subzero MRS. CHAUNCEY weather while FISHER.

awaiting arrival of neighbors. During the day Mrs. Fisher and both children died. Two other children, boys, who jumped from their bedroom window and ran for help, are being treated for exposure. Richard's Rites Friday.

Funeral services for Richard Fisher, who was fatally injured when the oil truck he was driving overturned two miles southwest of Johnston, will be held at Johnston at 2 p. m. Friday in the Federated Community church. The Rev. W.

L. Cannom will officiate, and interment will be In McDivitt's Grove cemetery. Leave Des Molnes. The accident victim, who had lived in Johnston, WAS a past noble grand and member of the I. 0.

0. F. at Grimes, Ia. He is survived by his widow and a daughter, Delores, 2, besides his parents, four brothers and two sisters. Ernest Fisher and Mrs.

Sylvia Smith, brother and sister of Chauncey Fisher, left Des Moines Tuesday night for Winter. Albert Fisher is a butcher at the Thrift Way market, 208 Locust st. ADMITS SETTING $900,000 FIRE Boy, 10, Confesses He Laid Arsenal Blaze. SPRINGFIELD, ILL. (P)--A 10- year -old boy, Cecil Kiper of Springfield, Tuesday confessed that he started the $900,000 fire that destroyed the state arsenal Feb.

18, Governor Horner anpounced. The governor and Sherman Coultas, state fire marshal, said the boy admitted he started the fire. Confession Studied. Young Kiper was being detained at the statehouse while officials studied his confession. The Kiper family lives near the arsenal.

Announcement of the confession came after a 10-day investigation by a military board of inquiry. Equipment Burned. The fire swept through the arsenal, in less than an hour destroying the building and large quantities of equipment belonging to the state and federal governments. Kentucky Jail Head Ousted in Lynching FRANKFORT, KY. (P) Gov.

Ruby Laffoon Tuesday removed Troy P. Combs as jailer of Perry county for failure to protect Rex Scott, Negro prisoner taken from the jail and lynched. ADDS MILLIONS FOR VETS' AID, DARES A VETO $350,000,000 Is Voted the house. $350,000,000 Added. in Benefits, Federal Pay; Bonus Killed.

WASHINGTON, D. C. (P) -Voting down a plan for immediate bonus payment, the senate Tuesday adopted wild series of amendments that all but lated the economy act's 000 savings in veterans benefits and federal pay. In a session marked by warnings from administration leaders of a certain presidential veto, and a challenge to the Democratic leadership, the independent offices bill was passed and returned to 18 As returned, it was loaded with approximately $350,000,000 of new benefits for veterans and federal employes. The liberalizations were complished by a coalition of Republicans and Democrats, but the membership refused by 64 to 24 to adopt an amendment by Senator Long La.) for diate payment of the 000 soldier bonus with new currency.

House to Vote Mar. 12. A vote on the bonus will be taken in the house Mar. 12, but a I memorandum from President Roosevelt made public during the day by House Speaker Rainey flatly promised A veto if the bonus proposal reached the White House. There was no definite assurance from the president that the independent offices bill would be rejected by him as it stands, but Senator Robinson of Arkansas, majority leader, told the senate it would be.

DRIVER Mercury Due For Climb in State Today Official temperatures in Des Molnes: Mon. Tues. p. m. noon 8 D.

m. p. p. p. m.

p. m. 10 m. 12 midnight 13 Tues. Wed.

m. 13 02 m. 12 from 8 p. m. Tuesday unofficial.

Iowa today will get relief from the cold wave which Tuesday sent thermometers to subzero temperatures. United States weather officials predict a high thermometer reading of 35 degrees today. Cloudy Skies. Cloudiness will accompany rising temperatures, according to the weather bureau. Tuesday's average temperature, 4 degrees, lacked 24 degrees of normal.

After climbing to a high of 18 degrees during the afternoon, temperatures receded slightly, but were maintaining a 13-degree level through the early part of this morning. Gains 50 Degrees. Zero and near-zero cold gripped most of the country north of the Ohio river Tuesday. First to thaw out was the Rocky mountain and northern plains regions. At Havre, the thermometers gained 50 degrees in 24 hours, and stopped at 36 above.

The blizzard which swirled 9 inches of snow down on New York City moved on to the Canadian seaboard, and 41,000 more snow shovelers joined the army already at work. Million in Damage. The cold was intensified in the south, where relief workers aided the victims of Sunday's tornado. Greensboro, N. said the worst freeze-up of its history had cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Storm damage at another hardhit city, Winston-Salem, N. was put at a million dollars. SOVIET GUNS GET JAP PLANE Ship Shot Down in Manchukuo, News Agency Says. TOKIO, JAPAN (WEDNESDAY) (P)-A Japanese military plane was shot down by Soviet troops near the northern border of Manchukuo on Feb. 17, said Rengo (Japanese) News agency dispatches from Hsinking (Changchun) today, HOUSE BACKS UP ON LIQUOR BILL Committee Slip Snags Conference Action.

On Capitol Hill SENATE. Received resolution to adjourn sine die Saturday noon. Passed house small loan bill temporarily cutting interest rate on small loans. Heard Lieutenant Governor Kraschel urge passage of bill to license direct buyers of livestock. Prepared to act on revised liquor control conference report.

HOUSE. Killed state highway patrol bill. Refused to reconsider the administration automatic mortgage moratorium bill. Passed public works act ballot bill. By C.

C. Clifton. Final steps in the enactment of state liquor control legislation encountered a snag Tuesday, which was being ironed out Tuesday night so the report can be submitted to both houses of the Iowa legislature today. The snag was created when the conference committee changed a senate amendment which retained the search and seizure and abatement of provisions 80 a8 to repeal entire sections of nuisance, the existing prohibition law. Senate Rejects Change.

When the conference committee report was returned to the senate, that body refused to accept the change. This caused the house to back up on adoption of the report to correct the error. The new liquor bill report will be made to the house again this morning, and, if approved, will be messaged to the senate, where: a fight still looms. Signature Postponed. Enrollment of the income and sales tax bill was not completed Tuesday, postponing its signature Liquor Bill.

Continued on Page Five. 2 Persons Burned Trying to Save Dogs (The Register's Lowe News Service.) DAVENPORT, IA. Fire broke out in Violet Moen's home here Tuesday. Miss Moen and Jack Mullins rushed into the flames, trying to save Miss Moen's two dogs. Mullins was seriously burned about the head, back, shoulders and hands.

Miss Mon's face and hands were burned. The dogs were burned to death. Party Conference Called. House Majority Leader Byrns of Tennessee called a conference of Democrats for tonight to determine what course they will take on the senate changes in the appropriation bill. Realizing a majority WAS for liberalizing the veterans' sections beyond the point the tion was willing to go, Democratie leaders in the senate sat calmly in their seats A8 Senators Steiwer Ore.) and McCarran Nev.) rushed through their amendments to add millions to the in- Bonus.

Continued on Page Nine. LOBBYIST POKER SESSIONS EYED Men on U. S. Payroll Reported Winners. WASHINGTON, D.

C. (P)- Justice department agents are looking into the night life--including a number of poker parties- -of some of the persons volved in a grand jury tion of the award of army tracts. In addition to the card games, it was learned investigators aiding in the inquiry were delving into yachting excursions and similar functions said to have been attended by lobbyists and certain federal employes involved in contract negotiations. Lobbyists Lose. A series of poker parties over long period of months, during which lobbyists and manufacturers' agents are reported to have lost regularly and heavily to men on the government payroll, has aroused the curiosity of investigators, it was disclosed.

Several yachting trips down the Potomac allegedly enjoyed by an official of Hoover tion at the expense of a person seeking a government award have been the subject of inquiry. Woodring Leaves Stand. nigger down here in Mississippi. A man gettin' ready to take my land and I want to know what to do. De papers say call you and I does and here I "De president says quiet like, 'Sylvester, I'll investigate and you'll hear from There Came a Letter.

That was Feb. 19. Monday, George Hamilton, local representative the New Orleans Federal Land bank, received a telegram, followed by a letter, asking that the mortgage on Sylvester's farm be investigated thoroughly and adjusted through extension. Hamilton says Sylvester has one of the best cotton yields in Londes county, having produced 24 bales on 30 acres. This was made known as Harry H.

Woodring, assistant secretary of war, Tuesday concluded a twoday appearance before 8 District of Columbia grand jury to tell of dealings of his department with Joseph Silverman, New York, N. trader, and others for the disposal of army surpluses. The house military affairs committee chairman, Representative McSwain S. went before the rules committee to urge that his committee be given authority to hire investigators and swear and subpena witnesses. $100 Goggles.

"We have evidence that the army purchased goggles for tors without competitive bidding for $100 a pair when everyone knows they can be bought for to $5," he told the committee..