Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Section Section One PagesPages to 8 VOL.XLI -MANNING, S. C., WEDNESDAY, MARCH 30, 1921 BIGHAM GUiLIOF MURDER AND SENIENCED TO DIE Jury Returns Verdict in Short Order Prisoner Is Ileard-Sticks to Plea of Innocence. Face Turns Ashen When Judge Speaks SLATED TO DIE APRIL EIGHT Attorney Announfes Plan to Take Case Before The Supreme Court. Flirence, March 28.-Edmund Big ham, charged with killing his brother and four others, was found guilty of murder of his brother here today and sentenced to (lie April 8. A Florence County jury came near equaling the record for speedy justice in bringing in its verdict in the case of Bigham, charged with the murder of his brother, L. Smiley Bigham, his mother, Mrs. M. M. Bigham, his sis ter, Mrs. Margie Bighiam Black, and Leo and John McCracken, the little adopted children of Mrs. Black. The case was given to the jury at 1.15 o'clock this afternoon at 3.25 fol lowing a recess to 3 o'clock, and after a wait of some minutes to bring the prisoner into court ,the jury's verdict, of guilty of murder was read to a court room crowded with spectators. Then, after a painful wait of min utes while the clerk of the court searched for the ceremonial of the ar raignment for sentence, and an haranque by the prisoner in response to Judge Memminger's question if he had anything to say in his own behalf. the death sentence was pronounced and higham knew that he as to die on Friday, April 8, unless the Supreme court grants a reversal of the verdict on the appeal which Attorney A. L. King announced his intention to make. Smile Is Wiped Off. Bigham's stolid inditference to ev erything around him, his apparent in. ability to grasp the solemnity of the proceedings or of the seriousness of his own position, his readiness to re spond with a smile on less than no provocation, all passed when the pris oner came into court to hear the ver dict. Hle resumed in part his role of in jured innocence when he sat in the (lock for final arraignment. For a time he leaned forward hi. head rest ing on his hand as if he prayed for strength to go through the ordeal lie had been called upon to pass. le listened with .o special interest while his attorney ived for a new trial and while -Judge Mlemminger, in refusing it allowed with much feeling to the fact that Bigham's father had while a State Senator from Florence County cast hi. vote in favor of putting Judge Memminger On the bench. The shocking import of the whole thing seemed to reaeh him slowly, but as its realization progressed by de grees, the ashen pallor that had shown in his face all day became more marked, the aid of bravado passel into a pitiable weakness that caused the man to look here and there about the audience with the expression of a hunted aninial surrounded by men who sought its life.. The old Bigham had passed and did not show again un til Judge Memminger asked him what he had to say that sentence should not be pronounced against him. Then, leaning forward on the railing of the prisoner's dock and in a voice that vas calm and unshaken, tile prisoner spoke as follows: "I have nothing to say except that I am innocent. I know nothing of how that crime was coi mitted. That is the truth, so help me God." "That's all I hafe to say. I wish my mother could come down and tell how the thing happened. I wish that little boy had lifed when I asked Dr. Poston to safe his life, lie would have told the same things 1 and my wvife ,told. Judge, I hope you will give. nme time so sonme of the people who testifiedl here against me may have a chance to come forward and tell the truth andl not comle too late like Jludas making his offering of the thir ty pieces of silver." "1 (do want to sa ysomething more. I hope you will take no exception to it. As far as you are concerned I have had a fair trial. But if peole had had time to think things over, consider and take it up with their God1, they wouldl have testified differently." Asked to Explain Pistol When asked to explain the finding of his pistol in his brother's hlandl. IBigham said: "'I left that pistol in my bureau drawer anid it has been testi - flned that tile (door was foundl brokeni open. That is the only way Smniley couldl have got it." If I am guilty hope I may be petrified in front of tis courthouse, just as I was that day or as I an'mnow. I am as inno cent as a new born baby." Bligham's show or weakness att tile endl may have been in someI measure due to the fact that he was not suis tainedl by the presence of his wvife and children whose (devotion has b~een so marked a feature of the trial. When it was announced thlat the jury was about to return to the court room Mrs. Bigham and the children left and heard tile news of tile verdict and sen tence wvhile in the office of the clerk of court downstairs. Mrs. Bigham fainted when she heardl tile verdict, and Mrs. Worrell the wife of a Flofbenee policeman, whol( has been her constant complanion (luring the trial, wvent to the court room for a (doctor. D)r. F. M. Ilicks attendell Mrs. Big ham3) andl when she wvas .made comi fortable she was taken hack to Mrs. Worrell's boarding hlouse where she hlas been a guest. A recordl attendance marked tihe final (lay of thme trial, ,thle p)ercentage of women growing greater' than ever and thecir manifent interest vsibly in creasing. It was an orderly crowd, however, and only once during the day did the Judge have occasion to rebuke any outbreak on the part of specta tors. Attorney A. L. King began his argu ment for the defense shortly after the court opened. Mr. King read impres sively from the gospel according to St. Matthew 26 and drew the ananlogy between this case and the false wit- 1 nesses against the Savior, and then 4 from St. Matthew 27 the demand of the mob for the release of Barabbas and the crucifixing of Christ. The I attorney handled this delicate proposi- , tioi- very effectively and without < bringing upon himself any show of feeling upon the part of listeners. It was a daring thing to do and he did it well. Attorney Is Warned As Mr. King warned up to his at tack on the prosecution for introduc ing the Arrowsmith testimony and be gan to vent his opinion on the Arrow smith fee of $5,000 for straightening out the affairs of the Bigham estate. Mr. Gasque rose nid asked that such attacks be stopped. Judge Meniminger promptly assert ed the court's prerogative and gave Mr. King notice that any further at tacks of such nature would result in his being denied the privilege of fur ther argument and another attorney be appointed to preseft the case to the jury. Mr. King at this period, and more extensively at the close of his argu ment, apologized to the court, the Bar the jury and the spectators for what he had done, took al Ithe blame upon himself and saidl he hoped the jury would not allow his outburst to influ ence their attitude toward his client. Aside from this incident Mr. King's speech was impressive and was pro nounced by those who heard it to be .1 masterly piece of advocacy. At times it w~as not cohesive and this fault was the principal one a literay critic might have urged against it. Mr. King relied pricipally upon the defense's theory of the insanity of Smiley Bigham, his committing of ttte murders and his subsequent suicide. He did, however, bring into his speech the testimony bearing upon the alleged insanity of Bigham's father nad laid stress u pon the prejudice shown by neigibors against the defendant. 'The lpresentation of the case by So licitor Gasque is said by lawyers and laymen to have been an exemplary work of its kind. He connected his facts in logical sequence. From the 8th of January, when it is set forth that Edniud D. Bigham whipepd his sister because she accused him of steal mgr certain papers connected with the Bighani estate, until the day when Mirs. Bigham tried to smuggle a bot tie of chloroform into her husband's cell, Mr. Gasque did not leave an un connected link in the 'story. ,In No Way Entitled The story ran that Edmund ). Big ham, the soi of a rich father who had sold his interest in the estate to his brother and sister and gone away for many years, hald heard of diffreni'ices rega rdiig the rc'ent disposition of his father's estate and hastened home to inject himself us a factor into these faInily disputes, in the hope of recover ing an interest in propt rty to which he was in no way entitled. From the time of his appearance in the Bigham household there had been a succession of bickerings and dis putes, culminating in the incident, which drove Mrs. Marjorie Bighamin Black to Florence, where, at Attorney Arrowsmith's oflice, she had made a will, giving everything she had to her brother, Smiley B ighain, to whom she con fided the care of her old mother and her two little adopted childire In this will she had set forth lieri lear to some person, whom she did not name in the will, who had obtained possession of thbree deleds covering )roperty of her estate, which she had signed in blank. Following this came the declaration of Siniley Bighami oa Tuesday following the v'isit to Flor ence, when he said to Mi's. Kiirton, as Mr's. K irton said on the stand1(, that Edmnund. Bigham was cutting up) and thr ieat(enmig to kill all of them. "'I ami tiot afraid of him, but Margie is. [f he will behave himisel f 1 ami goinag t'o give hi ma pliece of land, thbough he is not entitled to it,, for he has had hiis share." Aohrinciden'it priovinag a dist inctl miotwio foir the cien owhich the solicit - or emiphasized wvas the testimony ot' a niegro that Siniley had r'emonstra t(d with Edmund for paying so much foi' wvood-c'utters; that Edinmnd had re-.. seated this; that Smiley had said that it wits his money, and that before he would have it wasted he wvould go ini the wood~s and settle wvith the ha nds himself; that Edmuind replied with a show of temperi'i that the buisi ness in the wvoods was his ('nd( of' it anad that if Sm iley earne there he would stay there, "and,' sid Mr. Gasque, "'he went ther'ie iand never camec back.'' Mother lFeared Meceting Mi'. Giasque also dwelt on the test i ninny of the ne'gro( witness, Andriew Simgletary, who wvent to the wvoods in 'ompJaniy with Smiley Bighain aftei' being asked to do so by Smiley's imo.. ther, wvhio said she feared the ('onse.. quiences of Smiley's meeting wvith Ed mnund in the woods, ie set forth thait. other' testimony to the effect that in the woods Edmund Blighami carried the same revolver, that was found in his brother's hands when his body was foundl. He told how 8ingletary had left the woods after seeing Ed mnund call to Smiley and the departure of the two men in the direction of the spot where Smiley's body wvas found the next day. .From there on Mr. Gasque pictured m.i his summing up that, after killing his brother in the wvoods, Edmund Big ham had gone home; that on noticing Smiley's failure to return, Mirs. Big.. ham and M's. Black had accused Ed mnund of doing awaynvith him; tata [OCAL HAPPENINGS OF I TWENTY YEARS AGO April 3rd, 1901 Mrs. Dr. A. Becker and child ar .'ed in Manning on Sunday are luartered at Mrs. H1. D. Plowdeln's. t Mrs. Sallic D'Ancona accompanied b >y her mother, Mrs. M. L.vi, return .d to her hone in Chicago last Sun- . lay. Mrs. J. Levy, who has been visiting Mfrs. Abe Levi in Manning, returned s .o her home in Philadelphia last Sun lay. Mr. Lawson McLeod has taken :harge of the express husiness of this town, and the oflice will be located in us street railway oflice in the J. W. McLeod building. The oflice being ocated in the business portion of the town will he a great. convenience to the public. Mrs. P. B. 'Thames went to Char leston Monday night to attend the traduating exercises of the South Car alna Medical College that took place in the Academy of Music last night. Manning is represented aniong the graduates by Mr. J. T. Stukes, Jr., I the medical class and Mr. Plutmer Clark in the plarmacy class. Mr. Clark has also the distinction of standing second in a class of fifteen. One day last week a bank known as the "Bank of Columbia" shipped by the Southern Express Company a package containing $5000 int money, when the package reached New York the consignee opened it., and it was found that instead of greenbacks, slips of paper cut the size of bills was received. The supposition is that the package was tampered with after it left Coltibia. G(EORGICTOWVN Mll111. WILL RESU.\lE \\Om Georgetown, MIarch 29.---t has been i definitely announced that the big I No. 2 mill of the Atlantic Coast Lum- t ber corporation will resume opera- I tiol Wednesday. This fact is received I as very cheerful and cheering news, t is this means the reemployment of aniy luands now idle itt this comn nituntity, and a much increased pay- I roll. Further than this, it seetmis a i harbinger of better tites nea' alea,, t with the ptobability of the entir' lint being placed on a full timue basis before long. Because of the high rail rates on lumber, the coastvise schooner triade is fast becomingti a big factot in Geor'getown, five large scooiters,i foir of them foui r- Imaste's, ate lo- I img cargoes at the docks today. Others areC 'onuntg. A Inube'.of snmalier mills tirougi OUt ti' coulity have tiever shut down, all during the dull period, but kept at it and ate making sm1t:ll but steady shipments by water. Because of tlie p1rosperous fishintg industry, the lumittber mills runnaing on imdustry, the lumber mills runninig n I part timate basis ,the extensive resulip tion of the navaI store business, tle increasiig aiou'it or builing op erationls gomlg onl, Georgetowni has. beven a1 favor-ed spo-: economically. abor is reasoiable and pIlintiful , it factor which is ainking itself felt with those looking for desirable farm ho cat ions, a fter getting his diile a dll preparing to go to laImplico he h:d put his faim ily inl the automobile inl the garage, set. the motor going and, while this naise' drowned tle reports of his pistol he wiped (lot of ex isteice all thoseI wh'lo Stootd to accuse him iofi the cr imeI of his brtot hetr's murder. Bly this mieanas Mr. Gaqu exon ('ratedl MIrs. Ed munid IHighama of gu ilty knowletdge of whtatI het hiusband hadt donote, antd ex phitine the exttraordlin itry (devotttion ofi Itis faiily to the det fetndanit's intIerest s fromtn the time of The motist imatpressive poinut o~f Mr . G;asquie's summlin upi l i ws treachied when hte shttod fac ig thle de'fendanit antd said: "Listent, Eu imnda Bighama. Listen Ther'e is at oice callIinig yout. Look, IEdmnd . TIhete is a itana standing there itt frotnt of' you. It's your brotht er', Siiley, andl lhe is call ing to you to tell you thFat, wil e lie forgives, he statnods as yourt acui(tse'r for the ctrimeii of his murdler.'' Doting this tdramatie eplisodle Big lhaim sat wvith Itis e'yes fatstentetd upont lie solicitor ,antd nti otne twitch of it imutscle norw (lnei ner'vios movemtent e x ('eht the I tapping of hiis f'eet dFisptlayed the fact, thaut lhe evetn heardi what the Judge Menmmintger's~ charge to the jury, whtile couched in legal verbiage, wats as lamii attd unidersutandlable iaS a c'hildl's pritmetr. It left no dloubt its to the pr'opler intertprtatttiont iif thtose two funadamnttals of crimuinal law, malice atforethought anad reasoinable doubit. The ebat'ge was ver'y brief. 'The jury listenfedl to it most attentively, and its conclutsioni broke a nervolus tensiotn that had held every pierson itt the court room fromt the' very oeneintg of Mr. King's argumentt. F~ollowvinug tht' chatrg Judge Mem.. mtinger antnounced at "i'ess -til 3 o''lock. The jurors remained in their seats fot' it time andl~ uit il the ('tiurt house was emupty. They tetn wetnt to dinner andt~ their cotnsidlerr tiont 0 fthe case was given within the space of about an huouri, thti si'nding thle most imupor tanit cr'iminatl ft'ral in the history of Fbor'ence coutnty, aind pr'obably the mtost iamnlortunnt in flue Se I[WSY ITEMS FROM PAXVI[L The Paxville High School Basket all Teaim played the Jordan school ere on last Tueslay afternoo.i. The core stood 38 to :38. The Paxville 2ai expects to go to Jorlan on next uesday a'fte'rnoon to prove out whose est. Miss Pauline Willinis of Sumter, visiting her friend, Mrs. Jesse I. prott. Miss .Lucile Geddings returnel to olumbia College on Mlonday after pending the Easter holidays Vith her arents, Ar. and M'rs. F. S. Geildings. A.li.. Jeff martin and family are isiting tieir riativvs at. Summer On. Aliss Dorma Alius of Sumter, spent anster with her friend, Miss Lucile ;edlings. The farmers of the community a're reparing their 1.am"l a1t getUtig eady to make a crop this year with ut the use of ro much "hligh priced ertilizers." 11rs. Elima Tisdale I, am l son, William etlrneld to their home at Sumter ionilav. a fter a week-eni vi:-it witi Ir. and .s. F". S. Geddings. Mr. C. Anly MlcLeod, of Arcalia. 'Ia., came Saturday to spend a ten lay furlough with his parents, Ar. nld Alrs. W. It. McLeoi. Alrs. Alex Rolgers and haby, of (ingstree, are visiting her mother, JIrs. Annie E. lIerlong. Alr. L. S. Ikarwick has recently >ienedl a grocery businhess in the store uilking iatle vacanit by Mr. Poll Her ong. Ar. J. N. Itown, a life long resi lent of this community dlied sudden y at his home near here on last Ph ursday morning in his 76th year1. le had been ill failing health for 0om11e m11on1ths, he having suffered from eart trouble, consequently his death vas not entirely unexpected. The utieral services were h Fhl trrilay noring at the obl family hurying "rouni, conmlucted by his pastor, the tev. Hill. Th,1e large concourse of rieiis attending the funeral adi the >eautiful floral tributes testified to he high esteeim inl which he was held. le was a charter milmber' of the Pax .ille Haptist chureb, anl for a long imte a trustee of tle Paxville gradeil chool, and1 in his private affairs was i contiW-nial and all'able man. lie et isted in the Confelerate army serV lg gallantly throughout the war, a1 vr I which hI enI f :1 ..1 ro i r'I mi... -. le was k .vn as one of the substa I .il itizev s of the conmtnumity inl wiich he mi l. his wvife was Al iss larriet. I;;,. al to them were bont' <veral ch iuren, six of .vhom are liv ig, two ab pteil chiidren, and a Iar1ge itiumber 4)' !raniilchilleII. HIis family -olinect.ion.; were probably the hi 'st il the country. WOF'OlR D .11 SICIANS II EAll) AT ( 01.1'. .A lXe Wotit'rd college glee club amd jazz orelira delighted the girls of lhe cotlleg' anil all who heat themi ast night with their en tertaintment it. Columbia college. This was the 14th aitual visit of tie Wof fori college glee club to the college. l'l club coisists of 20 men. The pr.og'a mwas diviileil into two parts, the 1'st part incluling, "The Way of the WorldI," by the glee club; I flute solo. "Salut l'Armontr," by S. A. Lanham; 'An Oli Fashionedl Town,' by \Valiter Ierbert; a quaetet-, "en lemeer's St ream," Wa IterI lerbert, S. A. L.anham, .J. 0. Smith, J. E'. Sprott.; a reailing, "Granilpa's Courtship," .1. D. Sim ith; ,.7 rinlg trio, G. C. Brown, It. \- -i g A d' C. II. Wani "r.ne TIowni,'' t he glee club. Pbart two begant withI thte sinlg intg of "'Sw ing Low, Sweet (Chanu'ot,"' hv t he glee club andm iled '"Your t'Eves Illave TPotld Ae So,'' I le orchestra ; a reaintg, "'(ourtitng Undeir lDiceui ties," J1. 0. Smith; quartet, "'I L ove You 'Truly,'" and ''A Family AIf'air'," Sprott, Smith, Herbert, anil L anha'i;i sotli. "'i'll Sinig 'JThee Songs itt A raby,'' WV. A. tLeeth;i sa xaph~one :ad', "'L one - some, Thiat's Al\I,"' WV. lrit ton. 'The ient ertaoinnia''t closedi w.'ithi the' sintginig of theo "WX'inter Song,"' and "'Al ma Materi,'' by Itie glee' club. Th t(peronniet ot the' ('tub 'onisists of Mrs.4 A. G. Ill oeky, ireictre(ss; WV. C.lierber t iand W. A. I.eath , soloi sts J. 0. 'mi tr~eadr; W..A. Briitton, Sax\ phion is't and G.i C. Brown'm'v, accom 1',. IL. Tatum ; seconid tenor, .1. \V. Stokes, WV. L. Gr'ay, .Jr., J. 0. Stmithu, ID. D. lank , C.X It. Wani; Ii rst. bass, WV. A. B~lck; second bass, S. A. lani hamti, L. C. Sandliers, JT. L. Iogers. Tlhe jazz,' orchei(strta cotisist s of thn' folltowinig memb11 ers: G. C . Bon pilanto; IU. A. liIiggints, miandotlitt; ). 1). 1Ulai'k, corn'ietI; ,J. WI. Stokes, tik eiel(; C. I1. Wanti, guitar; S. A. L~anham, saxaphtonite; WV. A. litIton, saoxaplhonie; 11. Stokes, snare driumis ; E. H1. tatumn, malnger; JI. ( . Sm',ith, assista tnt nmn ager; 1R. A. lIIiggi ns, musi'alI jmanager. 'T'he boys werie en tert ainted bty the (cabiniet miiembers'~ of the icolteg.' Y. WV. .A.asniiyht at supper('h ini the dlin. Iing~ r'(om.--T'heO State. P'LAY CHESS A(GAIN II abania, Marc'h :30.--Play in the fi fth gaime of the wortl's chiamtlp iont ishiip chtes,; matchi between Drt. Emiani uet Lasker and .Jose R. Caipahlanca was adjoulrnied eairty this morning af't (er 30 move's had been mn'~(t. The' gamie wilt b e resum--'" t:,ni ght Tlhie four prev'.ious gamleu. playedt resulted( im (drawVs CAROLINA DECISION HALTS BOOZE DIUIyE Liquor To Be Returned-In Seme Cases, Says Commissioner Kram er-Large Quantities Tied I'lp. Washington, Miar. 27.--. ittle liquor will have to be returned to owners as a result of a recent ruling of the United States Circuit Court in South Carolina that the Volstead act super seded the internal revenue laws inso far as they apply to intoxicating li iuors, Prohibition Commissioner Kra mer said tonight. The assertion was made in commenting upon the action in New York yesterday of federal of icials im halting a raid on the ground that the ruling made seizures under the reventue laws illegal. The great bulk of the liquor seized by the government, Comm i issioner Kramer declared, was talken under the Volstead act while being transported illegally and this liquor 'would of course be unal fected by the new in terpretation of the law. le added that he did not know how much liquor may have been seized int various parts of the country under the revenue laws but expressed the belief it was not a c".isiderable quantity in com parison with the total a mount seized since prohibition bemcate a law. Return of some liquor probably woul hvl be necessary where it had been seized under the revenue laws, Mr. Kraiter asserted, adding that while some of it may have been destroyed hirge quantities are still awaiting Ie termniation of' their status by courts. Allr. Kramer said Ite believed the South Carolina ruling would not great l.v interfere with prolibition enforce niet. At presit, Ite said, very lit tle teal liquor is beinlIg taken by fed 'ral agents inl raids. Most of the il legal liquids seized, he explained, werc imitation concoctions transportel by bootleggers for sale as old establi shed brands of liquors. (VElRNOR (A.1.8 FOR .JUR1Y AC("ION IDorsey Wants Georgia Authorities to Co Thoroughly into .Jasper County Case. A t lant a a rch 29.- Invest igation by thte .Iasli'er county granld jury of the death !,f eight ntegroii laili:borer on the tlfalm otf .John S. Williamis. wealithy pilntation owner.1 withl a view to indictimnt of Willi: ms aol itlicials Williamtts hid ithe nlegroes shn becauise of their. reis ,e tol Peonage, and also to inquire into anytV possAible connectionl with the un'anir (;f Williams' three sons was atsked to <hy by Governor Dorsey. The gi ie , Or , aftrt a oferenc with st ate and fe'detral ollicials, tel - egraph u .dIge A. B. Parks of the O mcIIlg'I' judicial circutit Iskinte' him to call a special termI of Newton -o II I II I- II I' - kii' A I I'I I I "a)I e-unty I iperior '. - .\pr4 1: I -n it< (ni- i itsktd l nar ri- I WVilliams and Aianning inl Newton co- e'ty. At th :;,mn(- ti.a ta e licitor General A. 11. Bra Id of th Stone .1altmtalin circuit had eh-clre'd Willia. an'd Al:m 1in i would gt o to triall at Covine'ton within III tIh ee wee s. T air Tll a le:-y under i.l dictment' th(nr il colnnctio lith the finsdinerg of, tlhe bodi le if te ternesi' ell'ga hat hi ut~ htith-.t i 's iit o t ah coultv ansd drowned. f r. Ba:ntd nd Ington todit fori' Awe :hIntoI toI lit tl,0 matter w ith the gov lnni. Grvain Wr'itcV sist:it a ' lorney" geml-ra, will :kid in tuw .Jasper count . :m1 ( t A l iNn, i \: ' no c ait et th-4 ; i-v rn 's oili fie. 4G 4 A'ttorn'uey' tenerall i en y,,oiitor i mucig' itir'.1,~i l land ladrao 'eent to rr'nt i eorsthat, negroes ~t w er e S''' pr;opilm : inative at'gait.'wirt reicsi Frandl' it' inveMsti t tdi'n liti~ 34ovin t'oni ti d a iti was said R lic ia'l'l's pr enitteCd feidenac' <btitnted ttt Itsow eertin wti h tie )iihiteshl pread l the i RESTS8 N IN(A!:l' TON Waihigton4, M ac 29. The edi. homl Iin''( 191'iil bei laide to restt ir Arlbon Nsu at'oa steet mtertomor rowlithgO sevicsu t whl nlich g tba tory Wf kseand o nit Rhi tht'e totc tzeki1; fo natie t' Virgni, 21who 9 o works of lar inc vfl u the Conftdernic it of Wasington.lfronRbe.E ViXED' PROBLEM BEFORE CABINET Ilarding and Advisers Talk of Rail ways. TIrll~iS CAI.LICD IN Chairmen of Two Government Agen cies Will He Summoned to White Hlouse. Washington, March 29.-A compre hensive study of American railway coniditions was begun by the adminlis trationi today with a view of formau lation of a Idefinite program for rail wty rehabilitation. For more han an hour l'resident Iarding discuised the problem with his cabinet and later it was announced that he would call mito conl Itation within the next few (ays the baiinen of the two govern Inent agenc ies having closest contact with the transportation toblems, the interstate commerce commission and the railway labot board. Con ferecJees with ranilway maagers and employees an- expeteed to follow ill tite to pernit action at tte coming special session of c(onlgress. Discussion :ut the cabitet meeting was only of a ptelimimary, indecisive character but there were indications that the chief executive and oflicial advisers were nuich concerned over imformation which, so far, has come into their possessioni. The most. seriots features of tihe sit untion ,as it has been pictured to ad ministration oflicials is tlie applarent inability of the carriers themselvs to make both ends meet and at the satne timle keep .rvice up to a stand arl. A IInber of high railway of f.cials have Called onl Mr. IIlandling simce his election and have told iim that unlers some way to increased earning was foound the whole trans. portation system of the nation faced paralysis. Such a possibility the rail way mnI h:rveinisisteil, coul only le vlewied as public calamity. It is ttunderstood that althiough few detimite retmediatl revogramrns have been suggletd in these conferenres icost of those who have presented the car riers side of the problem ha.ve .a1 vistd aainst any general increase in freighit rates. ..\ further material rat t mcrease in tle present. condition "- ( tol ; " i.i such curtailmnent of, traflite :1. to reIluce rmtIlngs rather than incresethmll. (t their side the railway employees It ve vigorottsly ptotested against a wag- reduelion as anl VCOlonmy expe.. dient ,declaring that living costs re <Ipnre that waves shoui renlminl un chmI cd. .\It along Ile ptssibility (of a general railway strike has tma'de bot h railway execut ives and gioverIInetIs agencies think t wie e . wage (.u1 ths been sttg AI, ' I' this ,and contributingv mla terially to the prlesen; utistt-d con d' -n of the industry has been the c i usion anI inoivelience of re torinv the rI ads fromt .1 war time t~o a e:.e timle basi d : it funsermnlb IhnIg.Q the( Vm-ious1 properties af1ter- a I t p riodt of operation a., one sys temi Under t ov rnmellnt nilrol. It rtvtmins a1 queitio t whether the roub'. w\ill asi I'nnm.fo direct fi-. ancia -lief i :cIditit l o that t pro i id-d tu trthe tran11sporltatio nact to mitti n teiy ktl'm 'or detdrior.tion of 'eir pril orty whil it was ill vov eitnment hailis. Sich a propos il itis hi eved wouli he erasin to develop hittlr opposition i titittre nters, tsttiutation wr tha t s peted it tto deven a (Iit) i n t rctin l i . It C i s h eI ti 0it i i.t t I lilt If liti t I . I0i .1. Ill holdethe men' ibtle class i.:ig meetg whte auter defetedri Flore e1n o the9 methiiilnt byt ia maority of a ti P53. tl T tim iumbetiofti nonttding thei f menttihelCisns ofaitntal 1lthoudisthurh of Florniti wan, li, wie the Mcei-WslyllibtI C nvii e nch it h'in ityg Mt.tidit hurcih, o SuTer he alonr (of1c hatin ,G MAthov lwst ei- resulte IIitIi ~i55ad n cut's and afitrthe clarse, awliorum rowded to 1,740. adth 'san.