Indianapolis Times, Volume 42, Number 250, Indianapolis, Marion County, 26 February 1931 — Page 11

Second Section

UTILITIES CURB BILLS NEARING FINAL BALLOT Abolition of State Commission and Rate-Making Change Provided. VALIDITY IN QUESTION Federal Court Decisions for Reproduction Cost Basis Cited in House. Having successfully weathered ■ '.o storms, proponents of the two bills, one of which would change the rate-making valuations of the public service commission and the other abolish the commission, were preparing today for the third trial at arms, which will come when the bill is handed down in the house or representatives for final passage. Both measures successfully ran the gantlet on second reading late Wednesday and were sent on to engrossment. An amendment was de - bated which would have prevented a chaotic condition which would arise In event the first bill, abolishing the public service commission, were passed and the second recre- ' atlng it with minor changes were defeated. This amendment would have continued the commission’s authority over trucks and busses which it does not possess under the 1913 railroad, commission act. It is necessary to pass one bill abolishing the commission and another recreating it, but with the provision that valuations for ratemaking purposes shall be on the basis of cost less depreciation instead of the present system of reproduction value in order to make any changes, as the public service commisison act is a contractual catute Representative Cecil J. Kistler <Rep., Elkhart) pointed out. Amendment Lost Motion of Representative John ■ D. T. Bold (Dem., Vanderburgh to table the amendment, was carried on a division showing 42 ayes and 37 noes. “You might just as well kill the bills,” declared Kistler, because chaos will result if the measures are passed without the amendment." “ He later declared that an attempt to insert the amendment will be made In the senate. “The people of Indiana are as vitally interested in remedial legislation on utility rates as on taxation reform,” he said. “Cut the rates, as this bill would provide, and you would save more than enough to pay the taxes. “If you do not pass these bills, the highway robbery by the utilities will be continued.” Material Costs Less Kistler quoted Babson, authority on economics, on the fact that material used by utilities are 20 per cent lower in cost than two years ago and declared this is one reason why the rates should be reduced. Admitting that “highway robbery has been perpetrated by the utilities in their rate making,“Bold declared that the legislature could not change the method of fixing the rates. This is because, he said, federal courts have declared that reproduction value should be the basis of fixing the rates and this has crippled remedial legislation by state bodies. “The federal courts have set up a monopoly and we can do nothing about it, and therefore there is no reason to attempt to bring chaos in utility regulation by abolishing the public service commission. A roll call showed 46 to 44 against postponing the bill. The companion measure was also advanced by a voice vote. STILL 22 GALLONS OF MASH TAKEN BY POLICE Workmen Find Liquor Plant in Bathroom of House. A 100-gallon still in operation, discovered by three workmen called to make repairs at the house, together with fifteen gallons of moonshine and twenty-two barrels of mash, was seized by a police squad under Lieutenant Lester Jones, at 220 North La Salle street, ' oday. A woman at the house when the workmen made the discovery escaped in a sedan which was driven m front of the house before police arrived. The still, located In a second floor bathroom, was discovered after the workmen, under a trap door, found a gas pipe connected back of the meter, leading to the bathroom. •BIG BILL’ JOINS LOBBY Thompson and Party Leave for Capital to Urge Flood Relief, By United Press CHICAGO. Feb. 26.—Mayor William Hale Thompson, renominated m Tuesday's Republican primary, started for Washington today with a half dozen of his friends to urge flood relief legislation in congress. Chicago Man to Speak By I'imfi Special ANDERSON, Ind.. Feb. 26.—Dr. Preston Bradley of Chicago will be the speaker tonight at the annual fish fry of the Izaak Walton League.

Action by Governor

BUI* Sirntd Feb. 25 H. B. It (Doublms)—Authorise* and reQUlres tosrp.s In which volunteer Are com* oanles exist to Insure members In event of tnlurr or death while on dutv. Provides for maximum compensation of *I.OOO navable at the rate of sls a week for disablement and *3.000 in event of death. BiUa Aimed Feb. 36 3. M. 37 'Bates)—Deflndine the powers atlas of the Indianapolis citv council and board of aorlcs In respect to istabliabment and operation of municipal airport, riving the works board sole power over administration of the airport. W. B. 173 (Watson'—Clarifying track ■elevation las and bringing ft. W’aync within ite ctovisions.

ttae (Joked Press Association ' full Lasted Wire Service of

‘Big Bill Laughs Again

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“Big Bill, the Cowboy” has done it again. Victor over a divided opposition , Mayor William Hale Thompson of Chicago smiled a broad smile as he received word that he'had a plurality of nearly 70,000 over the anti-Capone Judge Lyle.

ABOLISH AID’S JOB, PLEA OF KILGORE

Retiring Recreation Chief Advises Elimination of Position. Clash between David Kilgore, city recreation director, and Miss Julia Landers, assistant, of several months’ standing grew more bitter today. In his resignation, to take effect March 15. Kilgore sugested to the park board that it abolish the assistant’s position. It is unnecessary in the department, he said. He added that if the position must be continued, duties of the director and his assistant should be defined clearly in order that conflicts between them might be minimized. Kilgore charged Miss Landers with malicious efforts to undermine him and his work, and told the board a repetition of this condition should be avoided. In a verbal statement, Kilgore alleged that Miss Landers was the instigator of much of the trouble centering about community houses and civic clubs last summer and fall, and accused her as well of authorship of several anonymous letters addressed to the park board and Mayor Reginald H. Sullivan criticising the recreation department’s work. Kilgore said he made the suggestions with the thought in mind that he was aiding his home city. While not officially announced, it is said he has offered to continue in the department as assistant to H. W. (Wally) Middlesworth, named to succeed him. TRAINS KILL THREE Two Strike Automobile at Areola Crossing. By United Press ARCOLA, Ind., Feb. 26.—A double crossing crash here on Wednesday caused death of the three occupants of an automobile when it was struck by two Pennsylvania trains. Charles Piatt, 67, driver; John Hoffener, 21, and Piatt’s foster son. Robert, 5, were killed. Piatt apparently did not see either of the approaching trains. A freight struck the auto first, throwing it into t 1" path of a passenger. STRcET PLAN APPROVED Works E-oar 1 Will Resurface and Widen New York Street. Approval of plans and estimates for widening and resurfacing of East New' York street. Gale street to Emerson avenue, has been made by uie works board today. It will be a sixty-foot street and a forty-five-foot roadway with estimated cost of $12:,760. Advertisement for bids will be made this week. Plans for the widening of West New York street, from Blake 'to Beauty avenue, also have been completed. Engineering department plans call for a thirty-six-foot roadway with present twenty-four-foot roadway resurfaced. Engineers estimate of cost is $29,205. ■ 1

TOBACCO LEVY IS DOWNED IN HOUSE

Assailed as “vicious legislation” and “aimed at the poor man’s pocketbook,” the Galloway-Black tobacco tax bill went down In defeat in the Indiana house of representatives late Wednesday by the close vote of 50-42. No sooner was the bill brought out for third reading than Representative Russell J. Dean <Dem., Marion) introduced a motion for indefinite postponement. This was the signal for half a dozen representatives to demand the chair’s recognition srith Representative John D. T. Bold (Dem., Vanderbur), the most agile in getting on his feet. “This session of the legislature is supposed to be a poor man’s session,’’ asserted Bold. “It’s supposed to help the poor man and

The Indianapolis Times

Scare Cure By Times Special MUNCIE, Ind., Feb. 26. Effie (Strings) Harper, Ball college basketball center, has found a cure for influenza. The athlete had been suffering from the disease and was en route home to go to bed. Seeing a crowd at a filling station where his brother is employed, Harper believed his brother had been shot by a holdup man. He rushed to the station to find that his brother had shot a young bandit. Harper forgot the influenza and returned to basketball practice.

NINE FIREMEN HURT Two Trucks Damaged in Crash at Anderson. By Times Special ANDERSON, Ind., Feb. 26.—When city firemen from No. 4 substation misread the alarm signal tape and started to the wrong place, they caused an accident that caused minor injuries to nine firemen, and disabled two trucks. The collision occurred at Thirteenth street and Madison avenue, when the pumper, driven by Carl Phillips, turned suddenly into Thirteenth street directly in front of a heavy truck from central station, which was being driven by Joseph Phillips. The drivers are not relatives. Firemen were hurled from the truck’s impact, but none was injured seriously. Another station unit, responding to the same alarm, continued to the intersection where the alarm was reported, and extinguished the blace. The damaged trucks will be out of service two or three weeks. POLITICIAN KILLS SELF Gallatin Roberts, Former Mayor of Asheville, N. d| Faced Indictments. By United Press ASHEVILLE, N. C., Feb. 26 Gallatin Roberts, 50, for eight years mayor of Ashville, and now under indictment with eighteen other persons on charges of conspiracy in connection with the tying up of millions in public funds in closed banks, committed suicide Wednesday afternoon, leaving a note protesting his innocence. SUIT AGAINST ESTATE Niece of Late Shelhyvillc Ne iTspaper Publisher Seeks $2,60t-. By Times Special SHELBYVILLE, Ind., Feb. 26. Mrs. Annette C. Coffman, 52, niece of the late T. E. Goodrich, Shelbyville newspaper publisher, has filed a claim for $2,676 against his estate. She alleges that in 1929, she was employed as a social service worker in Springfield, 111., at a salary of $275 a month, but her uncle induced her to give up the position and come here to assist him in publishing the paper. For the work, Mrs. Coffman says, she received no compensation.

; yet here’s a bill aimed at his tobacco and there’s another one coming up | aimed at his home brew. If we pass j this bill putting a 10 per cent tax !on the invoices of tobacco wholesalers, jobbers and dealers, it means | the poor man is going to have to stand the tax eventually or the state will lose some business. “This legislature has refund to pass a medicinal whisky bill on the grounds that it would ‘put bootlegging in the hands of the doctors and druggists.’ You’ll make tobacco bootleggers out of 40,000 tobacco dealers if yc jass this bill.” Representatives Hardin S. Linke | (Dem., Bartholomew) and John M. Cantley (Dem., Cass) defended the I measure, both asserting the proposed tax is a small one and that other states have no difßcultv in ‘ collecting it. 5 * v

INDIANAPOLIS, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26,1931

SCHOOL AID TO FACE ANOTHER FIGHT TO LIVE pleasure Once Passed to Be Subject of Vote in House Today. EXPENSE OF $1,000,000 Northern and Southern Parts of State Clash Over Two-Year Plan. Parliamentary feat of killing a bill winch already his been passed is scheduled to be attempted in the house of representatives this afternoon as a result of a motion to reconsider action on a measure appropriating $1,000,000 for state aid schools. Th's measure, which would set aside $500,000 a year for two years from the state aid school fund, raised through the 7-cent state levy, for the purpose of paying claims that developed from 1926 to 1929, inclusive, passed the house late Wednesday, 69-21. Although fighting the bill vigorously Representative W. E. Stanton (Dem., Lake) voted with the majority in order to take advantage of the house rule and then filed a motion to reconsider the passage of the bill. This motion must? lay on the table for twenty-four hours and will be called down for action this afternoon at approximately 3 o’clock. Opponents of the measure charge the state department of public instruction with being responsible for the deficit. Assails State Department “If you .want to increase taxes in this state,” declared H. H. Evans (Rep., Henry), “just vote for this bill. There is something wrong in the education department or this deficit in state aid never would have been permitted to accumulate. “In what years were these deficits created?” asked a Democratic representative. “That’s the question of a Democrat and it’s designed to put the burden for these conditions on the Republicans,” retorted Evans. Os course, we, the Republicans, did it. You fellows haven’t been in power long enough to put a deal like that over.” Demand for a complete reform of the state school system was voiced by John M. Cantley (Dem., Cass), who declared: “This state aid proposition is creeping from southern Indiana to the Great Lakes. It must be corrected.” Charges that the state aid claims resulted from misuse and mismanagement of funds was made by Stanton. He pointed out that “there are more teachers than are needed in the counties of Clay, Crawford and Martin.” Sectionalism Displayed The bill was defended on the grounds that if the members from the wealthier section of the state has not forced unwanted and “unnecessarily rigorous education requiremnets” on the southern part of the state, where are located the school corporations asking state aid, there would never have developed the necessity for this aopropriation. “Misuse of the funds has been charged on the floor and I resent the statements,” challenged Fabius Gwin (Dem., Dubois and Martin). “There may have been some things done down there that were not right, but will someone show me a part of the state where funds are not misappropriated? “We were compelled to revise our school system down there in southern Indiana. We were satisfied with the six-months’ term but you forced us to take eight months. Your inspectors came in and said you must have this and must have that, and the state aid will pay for it. Now you have the result. All we ask is that the bill be passed so the teachers may be paid.”

Jilted !

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Jilted by the man she loved, Gypsy Mcßride (above) married an utter stranger the day after she met him. He, too, had been thrown over by his sweetheart, who chose a millionaire. The problems Gypsy encountered have been woven into a fascinating new serial story, “Mad Marriage,’’ which begins Wednesday, March 4, in ITie Times. Former Official Dies By Times Special BRAZIL, Ind., Feb. 26.—James P. Suttie, 70, former Clay county recorder, is dead after a long illness. He was a native of Scotland, but came to America wit* his parents when u small boy.

Arid Enough Even for Dr. Woodcock

*** 1 — 1 111 — ——W, I .P.,M|! ,1. I . ■ I ■ .11 .11 —————— mmmmwmmmmmmmmm —

On this map, Dr. Charles F. Marvin, chief of the United States weather bureau, shows the approximate percentage of normal snow and rainfall recorded between Jan. 1, 1931 and Feb. 16, 1931, this being the latest official compilation.

RESORT RADIED RY U. S. AGENTS Dry Squad Reports Gaming Paraphernalia Seized. Special prohibition agents returned to Indianapolis today with firearms, gambling account books, and other evidence, which they report they obtained in raid of The Pines, alleged gambling resort and roadhouse, near New Albany, Wednesday night. The agents, headed by Ben F. Hargrove, arrested three men on gambling charges, detained twentyseven employes and seized $5,000 worth of gambling paraphernalia, they reported. Alleged owners of the establishment, charged with violating the national prohibition law and maintaining a nuisance, are held under bond. They are Harry Dailey, August Bower, Charles W. Walford and Gus Kamer. More tfian 150 guests were at the roadhouse when Hargrove and agents, James Lavely and Warren P. Allender, entered. New Albany police and county sheriffs aided in the raid. Eight guests, including two women, who the agents said had liquor, were held as material witnesses. Two truck loads of slot machines, four dice tables, and two roulette wheels were taken to the New Albany police station, the agents declared. SPREE IN JAIL COSTS PRISONERS PRIVILEGES Newspapers and Late Hours Banned by Sheriff at Noblesvillc. By Times Special NOBLESVTLLE, Ind., Feb. 26. Sheriff Frank Hattery found that prisoners in the Hamilton county jail here broke a lock on a cell where confiscated liquor was stored and much of the liquor was drunk by five men* one of them being Charles McCammon of Indianapolis, charged with the murder of Owen Crickmore, filling station attendant, last October. The sheriff found nothing in the jail with which the men might have broken the lock, and believes they kicked it off. Asa penalty, Hattery has refused newspapers to prisoners; he will not permit them to smoke, and all lights in the jail go out at 8:30 p. m. In the pjst' prisoners have been permitted to remain up as long as they desired to read or play cards. THIEF BELIEVED GUILTY IN SLAYING OF FARMER Body With Bullet-Pierced Head Found in Granary Near Princeton. By Times Special PRINCETON, Ind., Feb. 26.—Gibson county authorities are searching for a person believed engaged in theft, who killed Marion White, 63, farmer, as he did his evening chores at his farm, four miles northeast of here. A .32-caliber bullet passed through his head and was imbedded in the wall of a granary, where he was picking up corn. No clew to identity of the slayer has been found. The body of White was found by the owner of the farm, Dr. J. Cunningham, and a neighbor, Albert Landers, who started a search when they became alarmed because White had been absent from the house an hour. - Thefts of grain and livestock from farms in the vicinity have been numerous of late, leading to the theory that a thief committed the murder. Club Initiates Mayor By,Times Special GREENSBURG, Ind., Feb. 26. Mayor Cicero F. Northern was inducted by the Greensburg Kiwanis Club, this week as an honorary member. The ceremony was in charge of Mayor Samuel L. Trabue of Rush'dlle, for many years an active member of the club of this city. State Senator 111 By Times Special BOSTON, Ind., Feb. 26.—State Senator Thollie Druley is confined to his home near here by illness. He arrived home Sunday and was ordered to bed by his physician. Members of his family stated that It is thought his illness is not serious. Back for Another Term By Times Special TERRE HAUTE, Ind., Feb. 26. George Bowen, arrested at the gate of the state penal farm as he concluded serving a term, is under sentence to spend another six months there, following conviction of burglary, the- same charge on whictr'he was first committed.

Normal is taken at 100, and you will notice that only two states equal this amount and three others exceed it. Dr. Marvin points to Arkansas, which experienced the driest summer in its history with resultant crop failures last year, but this year seems to be getting a good start toward normal.

Driest Ever This official weather bureau summary describing conditions during the crop-maturing season of last year shows clearly why the relief is necessary for hungry drought sufferers: “For the summer season (June to August) Arkansas with but little more than a third of the normal rainfall, was relatively the driest state east of the Rocky mountains, followed by Kentucky with 44 per cent; Mississippi. 47 per cent, and Maryland and Delaware, 48 per cent. “It was the driest summer on record in Arkansas, Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, West Virginia, Virginia and Maryland, and the driest since 1894 in Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Pennsylvania. “In Arkansas, June and July had only about one-fifth of the normal rainfall, while the total for the summer (4.19 inches) was nearly 30 per cent less than the previous low record of 5.84 in 1896. “For tho. year as a whole, forty of the forty-eight states had less than normal rainfall.”

AGITATOR IS FINED Luesse Is Convicted on Vagrancy Charge. Convicted on one of three vagrancy charges, Theodore Luesse, 30, of 933 South Senate avenue, red agitator and unemployed leader, today- was fined SSO and costs by Municipal Judge Paul C. Wetter. The other vagrancy charges were dismissed and judgment was withheld on the allegation that Luesse resisted arrest by Captain Otto Ray, Feb. 12. Luesse, through his attorney, Milton Siegel, appealed the vagrancy conviction to criminal court. Appeal bond of S2OO was posted by Perry Wyatt, 208 Sanders street. Ray produced park board records to show Luesse had worked thirteen hours in two weeks, and then never collected his pay. He also testified Luesse had patronized the souphouse for unemployed. The unemployed leader was arrested again Wednesday afternoon following a speech on the statehouse steps as part of an international demonstration. BAND TO GIVE CONCERT 75-Piece Shortridge Organization to Present Free Recital. The seventy-five-piece Shortridge high school band will present a free recital at 3 p. m. Sunday in Caleb Mills hall. The concert will be first of a series. The band will be directed by J. W. Wainwright, head of the music department. PATIENTS ON INCREASE Hospitals Show Large Gain Over 1930 Period. Indiana university hospitals in January served 679 more patients than during January, 1930, it was announced today by Dr. Edward T. Thompson, hospitals and medical school administrators. Riley, Coleman 'find Long hospitals cared for 116 patients in January, as compared to 1,437 a year ago.

COUNTY SALARY BILL NEARS FINAL FORM

Representatives who are “salary grabbing” for the officials in their home counties by amending the Democratic platform pledge straight salary bill, were told to get their changes and increases in by noon today so that a single amendment might be drawn, Earl Crawford (Union and Wayne), Democratic caucus chairman, announced. The salary bill would turn several millions collected in fees by county officials into the county general funds and place all officials on salaries, it is declared. The amendments were discussed at a Democratic caucus Wednesday night when it was also decided to make the bill, if passed, become effective Jan. 1, 1932. This would put the bill into force after the terms of many county officials had expired, it was pointed out by Representative Balthaser Hoffman (Lake and Porter). “No one had the audacity during the campaign to- suggest that the

Second Section

Entered ee Becond-Qisj Matter et Poetofflee India ti*roU*

YELLOW KID IS IN JAIL AGAIN Re-Enters Confidence Racket, Farmers Charge. By United Press HAMMOND, Ind., Feb. 26. Joseph (Yellow Kid) Weil, Chicago confidence man who announced his retirement from the racket last year, was in Hammond jail today charged by several Indiana farmers with having re-entered the “profession.” Weil, it was charged, met the victims recently, telling them that he was a big real estate operator from Chicago interested in the purchase of large tracts of Indiana land. The farmers claimed that their interest, stimulated by the Yellow Kid’s sales talk, suddenly diminished when they found themselves relieved of several thousand dollars by way of the confidence route. Weil, wearing his customary yellow kid gloves, but minus his famous whiskers, was arrested Wednesday in the company of Elmer Whitley, Max Hoppe and Arthur Bourbon, all of Chicago. The four were held without formal charges, but police indicated that they would be charged with fraud. PRINTING MACHINE FOR RADIO USE PERFECTED Device Uses Keyboard Similar to Keyboard in Sending. By United Press DETROIT, Feb. 26.—A machine which transmits written words by radio and reproduces them instantly at any distant point or points in the same manner as a telegraph printer circuit has jpeen perfected by Glenn W. Watson, salesman. The seriding apparatus resembles a typewriter to which has been attached a revolving disc, and the receiving set is of similar construction. As the letter key on the sending machine is depressed, its characteristic impulse is sent over the air, causing the disc to revolve. When the impulse is received, the disc on the receiving set is turned so that the same letter is printed by the receiving apparatus. boxinTbill passes Commission Measure Wins in House, 63-20. Despite charges that “the state is going into partnership with social parasites,” the Indiana house of -epresentatives late Wednesday Pk. *ed the boxing commission bill, 63 to 20. All boxing bouts would be placed under state supervision and promoters and participants licensed by the commission. The measure also would permit decisions to be given by the referee and two judges to be appointed by the commission. Representative Herbert P. Kenney (Dem., Floyd), coauthor, asserted during debate the bill would raise at least $500,000 for the state during its first year of operation. Opposition to the bill was led by Representative John F. White Marion).

change become effective after our candidates went out.of office,” he said. “I do not know why we should quibble at the present time.” The caucus followed the afternon session of the house at which were introduced a maelstrom of amendments to a separate measure which would fix the salaries and deputy hire of the prosecutors of the state. The bill was *dvaiiced to engrossment after fifty-five amendments had been included, forty-one of which slashed the proposed expenditures in some way or another and fourteen granted increases. The bill boosts the salary of the Marion county prosecutor from $7,500 to SIO,OOO and provided for an appropriation of $34,000 for deputy hire. This was not deemed sufficient by Representative Russell J. Dean (Dem., Marion*, who is said to have his eyes on a deputy prosecutorship. Dean introduced an amendment boosting the deputy hir* allowance to $38,600. 1

NATION AGAIN FACES PERIL OF DROUGHT Second Arid Summer Is Feared; Winter Rainfall Far Deficient. OHIO VALLEY HARD HIT Nine States Report Least Precipitation on Record in Two Months. BY ISRAEL KLEIN Science Editor, NEA Service WASHINGTON, Feb. 26.—A return of list year's disastrous drought over practically the same area is threatened by the unusually warm winter and the serious deficiency in rainfall during the last few months. Continued long and heavy rains over most of the land east of th® central Mississippi valley are needed to save the situation, according to the United States weather bureau. Rainfall in this area has been far below normal in some spots for nearly a year, and this deficiencyhas been continued since Jan. l , Asa result, the soil is so dry that it will require long, heavy rains to make it again fit for the normal production of crops. Water Supply Low Residents in the affected araas even now are limited in their water supply, because of dry or extremely low wells and because of dried-up streams. The bright side to this situation is the fact that floods will be rather rare this spring as a consequence of this lack of rain. “The deficiency in precipitation which the United States as a whole suffered during 1930 and up to the present surpasses anything in the exact records of the weather bureau,” says Dr. Charles F. Marvin, chief of the bureau. “For the period of December and January, nine states —Nebraska, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan! Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky—had the least rainfall on record. Least Rain on Record The total rainfall since the close of the last growing season—or from the period from October to January. inclusive—was the least on record in Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania and New York. “Ohio affords a fair sample of conditions in the area which has continued dry for many months. In this state, rainfall has been deficient for eleven consecutive months, with the total for the period being only 58 per cent of normal, and ending with January, the driest on record." Dr. Marvin say 6 no limit can be fixed on the time this situation may continue or on the amount of rainfall that may be expected this year. He adds the warning, however, that measures to insure adequate water supply should be taken not only In rural districts, but in cities as well. Ohio Valley Needs Much Light, steady rains fell in a great part of the affected area during February, and raised the hopes, of weather bureau officials for at least partial relief. „ But Montrose W. Hayes, chief of the rivers and flood division of the bureau, says the Ohio valley will need twice its normal rainfall during the next three months to fill the rivers to nonnal stage and retain them at such level. “Rivers were remaining at about the same level In the middle of February as they had he’d In late/ fall or early winter,” he says. “For some months they have been subsisting almost entirely on underground water. “While this drain on underground | water supplies continues, the subi soil becomes drier. Naturally the soil will require plenty of rainfall before there will be a surplus to spare for the streams.” Planting Season Early Recent rains, however, accompanied by the mild winter, have started agricultural activity quite early, especially In the south, reports J. B. Klncer, chief agricultural meteorologist of the weather bureau. “The mild, open weather of the winter has favored seasonal farm work,” he says, “and such activities as well as vegetation are abnormally advanced over the southern half of the country. “Much spring garden and truck planting has been done under favorable conditions well northward of a normal year, while more than j the usual amount of spring plowing ; has been accomplished rather generally. Circus Gets Tom Mix By Times Special PERU, Ind., Feb. 26.—Tom Mix, former motion picture star, has arrived here in advance of the circus season opening set for April 11. when the Sells-Floto show, now in winter quarters here, will open an engagement In the coliseum at Chicago.

Elephant Eggs By United Press DETROIT. Feb. 26.-Mayor Frank Murphy's ideas on . zoology suffered a sudden upset today when he received a Letter from Jack Lee Bauiden, Dallas, Tex., requesting a shipment of white elephant eggs from the Detroit zoo. Baulden wrote that his uncle wished to make tiie Dallas zoc a present of a hatching of such eggs, and that he knew Detroit had some white elephants. Mayor Murphy is writing to tell his Dallas correspondent that while Detroit has it’s share of a big city’s white elephants, none of them lays egg*.