Oakland Tribune from Oakland, California • Page 1

OAKLAND today; AND Thursday VICINITY fair; mild Oakland. Tribune HOME temperature; light variable wind. 24 hours ending 7 a. .00 Last year Seasonal to 9.60 RAINFALL FIGURES Normal 6:26 EXCLUSIVE ASSOCIATED PRESS WIREPHOTO -UNITED PRESS EDITION WEATHER VOL. CXXVII-NO.

168 5c DAILY OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1937 10c SUNDAY 34 PAGES HOUSE LEADERS FORESEE WAGE HOUR BILL PASSAGE Administration Chiefs Confident They Can Complete Action This Week WASHINGTON, Dec. confidence today that they to send the wages and revamping. Speaker Bankhead said prevail and announced his if necessary, to complete Dallying tactics, however, kept the House from considering amendments to the bill. A quorum call was demanded, and ordered, when only a handful of members gathered for the day's work. More involved parliamentary weapons were in the hands of those endeavoring to sweep the Administration's measure into the discard.

Rules regarding amendments made possible an indefinite delay in obtaining a vote on it. HEARINGS CALLED OFF The Judiciary Committee, meanwhile, called off on House, a measure requiring a National referendum before any war could be declared. Chairman Sumners pointing out that by signing a petition members had ordered direct House action on resolution, said the committee "decided that under all the circumstances it would not at this time proceed with hearings." The Senate like the House was threatened with. night sessions. Majority Leader Barkley was considwhether to order a meeting tonight to continue debate "on the farm bill.

One of the first matters to come up today was a new demand by Vandenberg for senanitation on expenditures to be made sunder the measure. A similar Vandenberg proposal wa. defeated yesterday. COMPLICATED SITUATION These are details of the complicated situation confronting the House today: Chairman Norton N. of the Labor Committee wanted to substitute a reprinted version of the containing several committee amendments, for the draft originally offered last Summer.

Democratic chieftains are backing the commit-, tee legislation. Under the rules, any other sub-1 stitutes had to be voted on before the Norton proposal was disposed of. At least six members, all from the North and West, had substitutes ready. Adoption of any one, of them would supplant the committee bill. WOULD SET STANDARDS All but two of the substitutes impose uniform wage-hour standards on all industries in interstate commerce and leave enforcement either to the Justice Department or the Federal Trade Commission.

One of them, introduced by Rephad the endorsement the Ameriresentative Dockweiler, Calif.) Federation of Labor. It provided for a flat 40-cents-an-hour minimum wage and a 40-hour week. committee's bill, however, contained flexible provisions empowering a Government authority to fix minimum wages up to 40 cents an hour and a work week of 40 hours or more. It would permit consideration of local economic conditions, living costs and freight rates in determining such standards. The House heard both denunciation and praise of legislation yesterday.

Neither the opposition nor the support was confined to sectional groups, the Southern memmers having finally agreed support the Administration measure mause of its wage differentials, Bingham's Condition 'Fair' After Operation BALTIMORE, Dec. condition of Robert W. Bingham, U. S. ambassador to Great Britain, who underwent an operation at Johns Hopkins Hospital yesterday, was reported "fair" today.

The surgeon, Dr. William F. Rienhoff said the operation disclosed "an inflammatory condition in various parts of the abdominal cavity, in some of the glands, but there was no evidence of a malignant tumor." Prolonged treatment would be required, Dr. Smith indicated. Josef Hofmann Visits F.

R. at White House WASHINGTON, Dec. 15. (AP) Josef Hofmann, the pianist as a child prodigy of 10, played before President Roosevelt when the latter was but a lad of 5, paid a courtesy call at the White House today. Hotmann, who is playing here with the National Symphony Orchestra, remained only for a handshake and a brief exchange of greetings: Ex-President Hoover's Chicago Address to Be Broadcast Locally The address by former President Herbert Hoover before the Economics Club at the Palmer House in Chicago tomorrow evening will be broadcast throughout the Nation by CBS and will be released locally over KSFO from 7 to 7:30 o'clock, Pacific Standard Time.

Hoover's subject will be "Economic Security and the Individual." 'Robin Hood' Red Burglar Is Arrested Communists Got Most Of Loot From Stars' Homes, Say Police BEVERLY HILLS, Dec. A modern-day Robin Hood, Arthur Scott, alias Arthur Kent, 38, sat in jail today. Police said he confessed Burglarizing mansions of wealthy film folk in a weird plan to "rob the rich and give to the poor." The "poor," according to police, was the Communist party. They said he confessed turning over to the party 90 per cent of more than $10,000 loot he allegedly took from 13 Beverly Hills mansions. Held with Scott were his wife, Harriet, 38, described as the daughter of a prominent San Francisco family, and Tom S.

Johnson, 35, circulation manager of the official news organ of local Committee for Industrial Organization unions. CLAIMS "FRAME-UP" Johnson was taken into custody, police said, on information that Scott had an accomplice. He hotly termed his detention a "frame-up." Police said Scout confessed burglarizing homes of Joseph Swerling, movie scenarist; Louise Henry, actnearly a dozen others in this's swank suburb of movie people's residences. He was quoted as saying his operations were part of a plan to "steal from the rich and give to the The plunder supposedly was shipped to the San Francisco Bay area and sold there, most of the money being turned over to Communist party members ostensibly for distribution "to the poor." Local leaders of the party denied their members were implicated but police said several are being sought. JEWELS RECOVERED Recovery of more than $2000 in stolen jewels and' furs at a ranch near Santa Barbara where the Scotts lived was reported by police.

Much plunder was believed- to be in the San Francisco area. Scott and his wife were taken into custody at the ranch after Scott had been trailed to San Francisco and back. Johnson was apprehended at a downtown later, hotel. The two men were booked on suspicion of burglary and the woman on suspicion of receiving stolen property. Mrs.

Scott, said to be a University of California graduate, denied knowledge any burglaries and said she "must have been home in bed" during the times police assert Scott he was looting homes. Officers said a camel's hair coat and valuable jewelry she was wearing had been stolen. She appeared in Beverly Hills Justice Court to have her bail set at $1500 but did not post it and was returned to jail. SERVED PRISON TERM Her husband, according to police, served a term in San Quentin Prison for burglary. Johnson, circulation manager for the "Industrial Unionist," also denied implication.

His wife insisted he was home with her on many of the nights the burglaries occurred. J. R. Robertson, regional director for the Committee for Industrial Organization, declared Johnson's arrest "is intended to discredit the C. I.

O. movement in Los Angeles." First Stanford Student Dies ORANGE, N. Dec. Francis J. Batchelder, 65, the first, student enrolled at Stanford University when it opened in 1891, died Monday night on a business trip near Princeton, it was announced today.

He was a student at Cornell when the late Professor David Starr Jordan was chosen Stanford's first president. He became Dr. Jordan's private secretary and as the first student admitted continued his civil engineering studies. He left the university in his junior year but returned 10 years later to graduate. Pride Hurt, S.

F. Man Leaps From Window His pride hurt because he was not called as a witness in the murder trial of Sidney Featherly, hotel Eli Benozeth, 1001 Harrison Street, leaped from a second story window of, his hotel yesterday, San Francisco police reported today. Benozeth was at the French Hospital with a broken leg and possible internal injuries. Japan Note Fails to Calm U.S.; Machine-Gunning of Panay Bared leaders expressed could defeat an impending move hours bill back to committee for he was sure the leadership would intention to hold night sessions, action on the measure this week. 2 Girls Saved In S.

F. Fire Firemen Carry Out Pair Trapped on Third Floor by Blaze Two young women were rescued today by firemen of the rescue squad of the San Francisco Fire Department when they were trapped on the third floor of a burning building at 340 Sansome Street, in the heart of the downtown wholesale district. One of the women, Hettie Brown, 25, 1490 Pine Street, was found semiconscious in the corridor, and was carried to safety through the halls and down the stairs. She was treated at Harbor Emergency Hospital for first degree burns of both hands and for asphyxiation. The other girl, Miss Vivian a concert dancer, was taken from her third floor studio down a ladder hastily placed against the window by firemen.

She was suffering from smoke but otherwise uninjured. Scene of the fire was the Carmen Johnson Building, which formerly housed the famous Lola Montez Theater, but has since become an office and studio building. The fire broke out in the basement, and heavy smoke poured upward through air wells and stairways. Miss Wall told firemen that she was practicing dancing in her studio when she heard a scream in the corridor. She opened the door and -saw Miss Brown in the corridor, suffering etfects of smoke.

She ran back into her apartment and tossed the girl a wet towel, and then was forced to return to her apartment because of the dense smoke in the hallway. Firemen found Miss Brown on the floor. Miss Brown said that she had left the offices of a printing firm on second floor fled upstairs to escape the smoke when she was overcome. Both her hands were burned contact with the office door. Peace With Berlin Urged by Flandin PARIS, Dec.

15. (AP) Former Premier 'Pierre Flandin today said his recent visit to Berlin, where he talked with high Nazi officials, indicated there were "considerable differences" between French and German views of the "principal problems in international politics." The leader of the French Centerists, who conferred at length with Col. Gen. Hermann Wilhelm Goering, Chancellor Adolf Hitler's closest adviser, Foreign Minister Baron Konstantin Von Neurath and others, added: "It is the Government's and the people's duty, take note of reciprocal concessions that may or may not be made in the interests of peace between the two countries." Motorist Beaten, Robbed by Couple David Hersh, 810 Walker Avenue, was beaten and robbed of $130 by two Negroes early today when he stopped his automobile at Myrtle Street to investigate screams which he Hersh told police that a Negro dragged, him from his car to the porch of the house before which he parked. A Negro woman, he said, his joined in beating him took and all searching pockets.

They money and escaped. The was described by Hersh as six feet tall and weighing more than 200 pounds. Military Spy Gets Death Sentence PRAHA, Czechoslovakia, Dec. 15. -(AP)-A Czech military court today pronounced the first death sentence for military espionage since introduction of an espionage law in May, 1936.

The man condemned was Josef Bradl, minor official of Asch, a town in Northwest Czechoslovakia. The country for which he was convicted of spying was not disclosed. French War Council Calls Secret Meeting PARIS, Dec. (AP) -Edouard Daladier, Minister of National Defense, today called a meeting of the Superior War Council. Major General Marie Camelin, chief of staff of the army, Marshal Henri Petain and a dozen generals attended the meeting, which was secret, as usual.

Sinking Ship REFERENDUM IS ISSUE Washington Waits Attempt Shelled by Two Launches and boarded her for inspection. BRITISH CONFIRM STORY SHANGHAI, Dec. (AP) The United States crusier Augusta received today an eyewitness story of the Panay bombing which declared that two Japanese launches machine-gunned the vessel after Japanese airplane bombs tore gaping holes which sent it to the bottom. All of the more than 70 foreigners involved in the incident, except three known dead, were reported safe and either aboard the United States Oahu and the British gunboat Ladybird, or ready to' embark for Shanghai. The Augusta listed 16 Americans wounded, but other reports listed two more.

The eyewitness account by Colin MacDonald, London Times correspondent, said Japanese planes bombed the Panay from' a great height and that before she went down, with flags flying, crews of the launches machine-gunned her and sank at 3:54." JAPANESE SILENT Dispatches from the British gunboat also reported two Japanese motor launches machinegunned the Panay before it sank. The British naval vessel, anchored off Hohsien, relayed. an account of the Panay's sinking to the Augusta. The Bee's report, quoting unidentified eye-witnesses, said: "Japanese planes bombed the Panay at 1:50 p. m.

Sunday (12:50 a. E. S. from a great height, blasting a terrific hole in the vessel. "The ship was abandoned 2:05 Japanese authorities, meanwhile, announced they had heard of the machine-gunning episode The and known declined dead to in the comment.

Panay in- cident were Charles L. Ensminger, Ocean Beach, Panay storekeeper; mander of Captain one C. of H. three Carlson, oil com- com- pany ships in the attack, and. Sandro Sandri, Italian newspaperman.

In addition, a Chinese crew member of. one of the vessels and an unidentified seaman had been reported killed. It wa's believed at first the unidentified seaman might have been Ensminger. American naval authorities were informed that the United States gunboat Oahu and the British gunboat Ladybird were bringing refugees to Shanghai, and that the Bee, with some of the survivors on board, was proceeding to Wuhu, upstream from the scene of the tragedy, presumably to pick up two other foreign survivors. The Oahu reported they expected to arrive in Shanghai Friday afternoon.

A Japanese spokesman said minesweepers accompanied the rescue ships, because of mines. REFUGEES SUFFER SHOCK Four survivors on the rescue newspapermen, that the refugee band was suffering from shock and exposure and added that "it was a miracle any escaped" the bombing and the Chinese-Japanese fighting near -Hohsien, were they landed after the attack. Two Japanese surgeons were on board the Oahu, tending the wounded. Eleven of those designated as wounded were listed as "stretcher cases." Some suffered fractured limbs, others gunshot wounds, and the injuries of the remainder were described in terse messages merely as "wounds." Before the receipt of word that the and Ladybird were on their way back to Shanghai, officials had feared that their delay in leaving had been due to new outbreaks of fighting in the middle Yangtze area. German-French Pact Waits Signature PARIS, Dec.

Foreign Office today announced 'an agreement between France and Germany concerning frontiers would be signed tomorrow at the French Foreign Office. Hungary Pays $9800 to U. S. In Move to Defray War Debt WASHINGTON, Dec. Hungary today made a debt token payment to the United States 'and thus became the first nation among resume payments since the general foreign default on American debts began in 1932.

Finland has paid regularly all the time. Hungarian Minister John Pelenyi called at the State Department to announce officially, that his gov- To Settle Bombing Incident; Hull Denies Navy to Act Now Tokyo yesterday, President Roosevelt and Secretary of State Cordell Hull awaited a direct and categorical reply to their demands for "satisfaction." The note received from Foreign Minister Koki Hirota was prepared and handed to Grew before the President made his demands, which he requested be brought to the personal attention of Emperor Hirohito, It was not considered a reply, but a communication hastily dispatched in anticipation of the American de- WASHINGTON, Dec. Hull emphasized today that the United States Government had not yet considered any naval action in connection with the Far Eastern situation. The secretary of state was asked at his press conference if this Government's traditional policy of separate and inde-1 pendent action in international affairs. precluded the possibility that it might consider ordering a naval demonstration in the Far East in connection with the recent bombing of the Panay, either jointly with the British Government, or; entirely independently.

Hull' afterward authorized the statement that this Government had not had and has not now under consideration any joint or any other kind of naval action. He refrained from committing the United States Government to any course of action in this respect in the future. By HOBART C. MONTEE WASHINGTON, Dec. United States Government waited today for Japan to make another and better attempt to settle the international incident caused by the sinking of the American gunboat Panay by Japanese airplanes.

Frankly dissatisfied with the apologies and offers of indemnity contained in a note received from the Japanese Foreign Office through American Ambassador Joseph C. Grew in Gunboat Fight To Last Bared Representative Dudley A. White, Ohio Republican (left), signs a petition to bring out of committee the proposed constitutional amendment of Rep. Louis Ludlow Ind.) which would require a vote of the people for the United States to declare P. Wirephoto.

War Act Row Faces House Congressional Petition Brings Proposal Out Of Committee the proposed amendment. DECIDING FACTOR WASHINGTON, Dec. Louis Ludlow's perennial fight to "complete the Bill of Rights" by reserving for the people the power to declare war faced determined Administration opposition today. Majority Leader Sam Rayburn announced that he would exert every effort to. prevent consideration of the Indiana Demo-, crat's war referendum resolution despite completion of a petition to bring the proposal to the House floor, January 10.

The House Judiciary Committee, after an hour's secret meeting, decided today not to hold hearings on Chairman Hatton W. Sumners Tex.) indicated the delicate international situation created by the sinking of the U. S. gunboat Panay by the Japanese was the deciding factor in the decision not to hold hearings. "The committee decided," said Sumners, "that under all the citcumstances that it would not at this time proceed with hearings." Sumners added that "the diplomatic situation might have had something to do" with the committee action.

He invited newsmen to on the reasons that motivated the committee, including the possibility that the White House and the State Department had been consulted. APPRECIATES SITUATION "Personally," he added, do appreciate. the diplomatic Ludlow and a group of other signers of the petition, including Representatives Jerry Voorhis Calif.) and Ralph Brewster, Me.) were waiting in the committee anteroom when Sumners, called off the hearings. They were prepared to testify. The 218th and final signature was obtained late yesterday while congressmen freely expressed concern over the sinking of the American gunboat Panay by Japanese bombs.

A last minute effort by the leadership to scratch names failed. The petition would relieve the judiciary body of further consideration of a proposal on which it has withheld action for three years. It provides for six hours of debate before a final vote. The committee majority and the House leadership support the private contention of State Department officials that submitting a declaration of war to a popular vote would be dangerous. U.S.

Gunners Fired Until Boat Sank, "Reveals Writer SHANGHAI, Dec. Marshall, Collier's Magazine Far Eastern correspondent and survivor of th Panay bombing, said today the Panay opened fire on the attacking Japanese planes when bombs started dropping and "kept her, guns blazing until the last minute." Marshall arrived in Shanghai by airplane today from Wuhu, Yangtze River port to which he had made his way after the attack which destroyed the Panay and damaged three Standard Oil Company ships Sunday. "Japanese planes dropped 12 bombs around the Panay and the Standard, Oil impossible steamers, for coming them not so to know it was a foreign ship. "The visibility was excellent. JUMP OVERBOARD "I was standing on the Panay's stern when a bomb hit the forecastle.

When the ship began to sink, the captain ordered it abandoned. Au the passengers and crew jumped overside. "I landed on the deck of the Meian (one of the Standard steamers) and helped the captain up anchor and get under way. "Sandro Sandri (Italian newspaperman) was in the upper ward room of the Panay when he was hit by shrapnel, receiving fatal wounds. "I was aboard the Meian when that ship was bombed.

I was struck by shrapnel, receiving wounds in the neck, stomach, shoulder and chest. "After the gun crew fired until the last, Anders (Lieut. Arthur F. Anders), who was wounded and unable to talk, took a piece of white chalk and scribbled the side of the ship: 'Take to boats. Stay as close to shore as possible.

Theh swim and send boats WALK 20 MILES "When the Meian was sunk, I struggled ashore. Hodge (John L. Hodge, Panay fireman) helped me. W. walked with Vines (F.

Hayden Vines) 20 miles before we were picked up. "The first night we slept in A Continued Page 12, Col. mands. WANTS RULER'S APOLOGY Flood Crest Perils Delta 200 Work to Raise Levees as High Water Perils Farm Area Flood waters higher than at any time in the last 30 years today endangered rich agricultural land in the Sacramento River delta. Safety of the 8875-acre.

Egbert Reclamation District became exceedingly precarious with reports that three inches of water was about to flood the Rio Vista-Dixon Highway, the Associated Press said. Should this occur residents considered there was every possibility that the district itself would be inundated from the side away from the river. Some 300 to 400 residents would be forced to flee. Rio Vista residents expressed fear for the safety of the concrete span connecting Sacramento and Solano counties. The trestle, damaged during floods several.

years ago by piledup debris, has accumulated another load of driftwood that the current presses' against it. Highway department workmen were sent to clear the debris away. Peak of the flood in the Rio Vista area was. expected late this when a six-foot, 9-inch tide was forecast. Residents feared the tide would back up the river waters.

Two hundred men piled sandbags along the levees in the delta region, hopeful they will prevent inundation of areas in addition to the already -covered Prospect, Liberty and Hastings Islands. Those who fled delta islands found refuge in Rio Vista, Sacramento River town above their Continued Page 2, Col. 7 Officials professing to know something of what was in Roosevelt' mind when he pointed his demands directly at Emperor Hirohito, said the President would be satisfied with nothing less than an apology. or its equivalent from the Emperor, and assurances from a higher authority than those received here tofore that there would be no repetition of a similar attack by Japan nese forces on American nationals or their property in China. In his press conference, the Presto dent said his memorandum to Hull, which was given to the Japanese ambassador, Hirosi Saito, spoke for itself.

Hull followed this with a stiffly, worded, formal protest, reciting the futility of previous Japanese assure ances against interference with on injury to American nationals and their pronerty in China. 'OPEN DOOR' INVOLVED Offietals said the protests rested upon a broader base than merely, the Panay incident. They rest upon principle of the "Open door" policy in China, they said. It was believed that the Japanese Government now realizes the grave ity of the situation and the seriousness with which the United States views the attack. The note from Hirota said, in closing: "The Japanese Government in the fervent hope that the friendly relations between Japan and the United States will not be affected by this unfortunate affair, have frankly, stated as above their sincere attitude which I beg your excellency to make known to government.

This was the first time in the series of apologies for the Panay incident that the resultant strain on the relations between the two countries has been frankly mentioned, Noted Artist Dies MANILA, Dec. -Fabian de la Rosa, 68, outstanding Filipino artist whose work was shown in America and Europe, died last night after an extended illness. TODAY IN THE OAKLAND TRIBUNE CHAIRMAN HATTON W. NERS Tex.) "The committee decided that under all the circumstances that it would not at this time proceed with the hearings (on the proposed amendment giving the people sole right to declare -Page 1. vivor of Japanese bombing the JOHN L.

HODGE, wounded, surU. S. gunboat was machine-gunning us from the bank. The planes attacked us while we were afire and even after we put out the -Page 12. JIM MARSHALL, correspondent wounded during the sinking of the U.

S. S. planes dropped 12 bombs around the Panay and the Standard Oil steamers, coming so low it was impossible for them to know it was not a foreign ship. The visibility was, excellent." -Page 1.. WHERE TO FIND IT Subject Page Amusements and Plays 21 Classified Advertising 29 Comics and Strips 26 Crossword Puzzle 25 Daily Knave Column 23 Editorials and Columns.

34 Editorial Features 23. Financial and Stocks 27 Geraldine Column 25 Marine News; Weather 33 P.T. News Events 22. Radio and KLX News 24 Society and Clubs 22 Sports and Sportsmen 14 Theaters: Wood Sones 21 Vital Statistics 33 DOROTHY THOMPSON, "On the way to get out of our dilemma is to find what is workable, but this Government has in no wise reformed the mechanism for finding out. Quite the contrary.

It has introduced inquisitorial teatures into the public Magazine Page, ADMIRAL DEWEY predicted In 1898- foresee a Japanese naval squadron entering this harbor and demanding surrender of Manila," -Page 3. DELEGATION OF JAPANESE schoolgirls calling on U. S. Ambassador Joseph C. Grew in Tokyo in connection with the Panay incident- "Japanese women no words to apologize sufficiently.

Page 12. ernment tendered the United States a check for $9800 as a semiannual installment on its debt. The amounti is only of one per cent of what Hungary normally would pay. It is part of plan announced by the Hungarian Government to pay the United States one per cent of what it owes for at least three years. After that some other arrangement may be I adopted by negotiations..