Evening Star Newspaper, November 15, 1915, Page 1

WEATHER. Fair and much colder tonight and to- morrow; fresh northwest winds. Temperature for the past hours: Highest, 50 at 12 Full report on page 18. o'clock today; lowest, 44, at 8 p.m. yesterday. twenty-four CLOSING NEW YORK STOCKS PAGE 18. Che Evening Star. Last Week's Sworm Net Circulatios— Daily Average, 74,216; Sunday, 54,572. SSS) No. 20,137. WASHINGTON, D. CG, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1915.-TWENTY-TWO PAGES. ONE CENT. ULGARIAN FORCES ENACE MONASTIR: 8,900 SERBS TAKEN German War Office Announces Capture of Prisoners and Twelve Cannon. KAISER’S SUBMARINES USE VARNA AS BASE French and British Troops Continue Advance in Balkans, Salon- iki Reports. RETAKE BULGARS TETOVO Possibility of King Peter's Troops Retreating Over Greek Territory Is Causing No Disquietude in Athens. SALONIKI, November 14, via London, November 15,°7:20-a.m. —Renewed uneasiness is reported among the population at Monastir because of a large Bulgarian force which is threatening the Perlepe front: in’ ‘the Babuna region, although the situation at Babuna pass and the Katchanik defile is said to be unchanged. It is reported here that’ three German submarines are using the Bulgarian ‘harbor of Varna on the Black sea as a. base, and that three battalions of Turkish troops have been sent to that port. British troops and stores con- gered. However, the military author- ities have taken the necessary meas- ures for all eventualities.” The Athens correspondent of the Havas Agency, in a dispatch dated Saturday, says ‘that news from a pri- vate source reported that the French were within twelve kilometers of Ve- les, Serbia, which was held by the Bul- garians. Town Captured and Recaptured. LONDON, November 15.—A dispatch to Reuter's Telegram Company from Saloniki. says: “The fighting yesterday between the Serbians and Bulgarians In the region of Tetovo resulted in a success for the Serbians, who occupied the town of Tetovo, capturing one gun and a quan- tity of stores. Only small forces were engaged in this region, one battalion of Serbians being pitted against two battalions of Bulgarians. ‘A Bulgarian attack on the left bank of the Ornaya river was repulsed with heavy losses. Toward the south, in the Valandovo region, the French captured several trenches.” A Saloniki dispatch to Reuter’s Tele- gram Company, under date of Sunday evening, says that the Bulgarians have recaptured the town of Tetovo. An Athens dispatch to the Exchange Telegraph Company says: ‘The possible retreat of the Serbian forces over Greek territory is causing no disquietude in official circles, ac- cording to the newspaper Embros, as such an event would be unlikely to strain the relations existing between Greece and the entente powers. At the present time the movements of the Serbian army do not indicate that such an eventual close at hand.” RULES ON SATURDAY HALF-HOLIDAY ISSUE Auditor for Treasury Settles Vexed Question of Claim for Pay. PLACED ON SAME STATUS 30 DAYS ANNUAL LEAVE Employes Cannot Count Same as Four Hours’ Service and Secure Extension of Time Off With Pay. Saturday half holidays for govern- tinue to be landed here, taxing to the utmost the resources of the port and railroad. The French and British troops ment employes are not matters of right, and employeg of the government can establish no claim for pay for work done on such half holidays, according to a ruling made today by the auditor continue their advance along the whole line. : It is officially announced that the Proportion of wounded to killed on the allied side so far in the Balkan cam- paign is as ten to one. Destroys Ammunition Trains. The Italian cruiser Piemonte bom- barded and destroyed the railroad sta- tion at Dedeaghatch, Bulgaria, Friday. The warship also destroyed two trains made up of eighty cars loaded with war munitions. The cruiser has arrived here. ROME, via Paris, November 15.—The Serbian ‘legation has received the fol- lowing official statement from Athens uhder Saturday's date: “According to authentic information it is untrue that Valandove has been occupied or even threatened by the Bulgars. It is reported that the Serbian government has been installed at Mitro- Vitza. Serbian troops are carrying out their retreat in perfect order, and are in ho wise discouraged. They have had to abandon no material, and Bulgar al- legaticns to the contrary are false.” More Serbs Captured. BERLIN, November 15, by wireless to Sayville, .—Announcement was made by the war office today of the capture of 8,500 Serbians, with twelve cannon. Of 009 prisoners and six cannon were taken by the Bulgarans. Pursuit of the = is being continued all along the | Among the news items given out by the oo News Agency was the follow- ng. “Dispatches from Sofia say that im- portant documents were taken from the archives of King Peter at Nish and the archiver of the foreign office and the Bel- grade Serbia: University, and buried, but the = showed the invading Bulgarians where the documents had been Reports from Sofia to the Lokal An- | er, Says the Overseas News Agenc lare that up to the present the rian troops have been on the de- | against the forces of the en- tente powers, and that the latter have suffered heavy losses. z “The opinion is prevalent in the Bul- farian capital,” says the correspond- ent, “that Macedonia will be another Gallipoli for the Anglo-French y. “Bulgaria the Overseas New: Agency otes the correspondent as| saying. “has now gained nearly all her! ends and is not thinking of more con-|{ quests. All other reports published in| the forejgn press are Anglo-French in- | ventions.” Serbs Forced Back. MILAN, Italy, November 15, via Paris, 4:55 a.m.—An account of the re- cent fighting before Babuna pass, in southern Serbia, is forwarded by a war correspondent of the Corriere Della Sera. The Bulgarians, he says, were 20,000 strong, the Serbians 6,000. No resistance being possible for the Serbians on open ground, they fell back from Veles and Isvor and set up a de- fense where the road narrows near Abdi Pasa, at an elevation of 2,000 feet. The 20,000 Bulgarians were frouped between Veles and Babifna pass, supported by powerful artillery. ‘The Serbs were hard pressed, and for @ time it seemed as though they must give way, which would have meant the Joss not only of the army but. of Monastir. The situation was changed, gomever, by the tactics adopted by the lerbian commander, Col. Vassic. He per- gnitted the Bulgarians to advance as far ‘as the Perleps road, and then fell upon them with all his forces, smashing through thetr first and second lines with the b&yonet and driving the Bulgarians beyond Kotziak. Sn the following days the Bulgarians attempted to recapture the lost posti- tions, but the Serblans, though poorly supplied with food and munitions were able to hold them back. Secrecy Regarding Operations. PARIS, November 15.—Military om- cers at Salonik! have taken stringent maer Saturday half holida: for the Treasury Department. Further, according to the same ruling, such em- ployes cannot establish a claim for de- ductions from their salaries made be- cause of unauthorized absence from their work on such Saturday half holi- days. In brief, today’s ruling by the au- ditor for the Treasury Department, for the first time, officially places the sum- ‘on the same status as the thirty days’ annual jeave of government employes, which has long been recognized as a matter of discretion on the part of heads of de- partments, chiefs of bureaus, etc, and contingent on the exigencies of the public service. The latter principle has been thoroughly established by rulings of the Attorney General and the con- troller of the Treasury, though no such ruting has ever been made before in re- gard to the Saturday half holidays. Construed as Loss of Time. In the precedent-establishing ruling, which is concurred in by W. W. War- wick, controller of the Treasury, it is held that unauthorized absence of an employe on a Saturday half holiday is Properly construed as a loss of time, and that such employe, absent without authorization, may suffer a deduction from his salary because of the absence. In his ruling the auditor of the Treasury admits that “Saturday after 12 o'clock noon {s a holiday for ail purposes in the District of Columbia,” adding, however, that “the head of an executive department may extend ths hours of labor in his department over such holidays {f in his judgment the interests of the service require such extension. “When the hours of labor have been thus extended Saturday is, to the ex- tent of the extension, a work day, as much as any other secular day of ‘the week.” Buling Based on Employe’s Claim. The ruling was based on a claim pre- sented by a female employe of the | government who, after having had her thirty days’ annual leave, and after being required by the head of the de- partment in which she was employed to work on a Saturday afternoon dur- ing the half-holiday period, was absent from her work. When an amount of her $1,200 per year salary sufficient to cover the unauthorized absence was leducted, the employe filed a claim for reimbursement. The claim was disallowed in the rul- ing made public today, the ruling fur- ther stating that Saturday half-holi- days included in the annual leave of employes, with pay, were to be con- sidered as full working days, the same as any other days included in the an- nual leave, and that without author- ization employes may not count such Saturday half-holidays at four hours each and thus obtain a considerable extension of the annual leave of thirty days with pay. ORIGIN OF SWISS LIBERTY. Anniversary of Battle of Morgarten, 1315, Celebrated in Bern. BERN, November 15, bia Paris, 10:15 p.m.—The anniversary of the battle of Morgarten in 1315, which marked the origin of Swiss liberty, was celebrated yesterday. President Motta delivered an address in which he declared Switzer- land must avoid doing anything which would tend to cause a division in the country and must take every step pos- sible to unify itself. The time will come, he said, when the entire world will recognize the good will and recon- ciling influcnce of neutral countries. he revolting Swiss, confederated 1,400 strong under Unterwalden, defeated 15,000 Austrians under Duke Leopold in’ the mountain pass at Morgarten on ONLY ONE AMERICAN ONANCONA ESCAPED Nine Others Were on Ship, Ac- cording to the Italian Of- ficial Statement. LOSS OF LIFE IS PLACED BY AUTHORITIES AT 208 Austrian Admiralty Denies Any Shots Were Fired at Lifeboats, and Blames Vessel’s Crew. ROME, November 15.—Of ten Americans who were on board the Italian steamship Ancona when she was sunk by a submarine off the Tunisian coast, only one was saved, according to a statement issued by the Italian emigration office. The statement also says that out of 507 passengers and crew of the Ancona only 299 were saved. The Italian government has sent an official communication to the neutral governments dealing with the sinking by a submarine of the Italian liner An- cona. The note denies that the Ancona carried any arms or contraband, or per- sons ‘in belligerent military service, or that there were any circumstances justifying such an attack as a necessity of war. The note declares also that the submarine began to cannonade the An- cona without any previous warning or a blank shot, and fired without respite at the wireless apparatus, the decks, and even at the boats, in which pas- sengers were attempting to escape. “Many of these,” adds the note, “were killed or wounded, while many who ap- proached the submarine were driven off with jeers. Thus nearly 200 people were drowned.” Ambassador’s Report Differs. So far as Thomas Nelson Page, the American ambassador, has been able to ascertain from the official reports re- ceived through the Italian government, and from the British consuls at Bizerta and Tunis, the following American citi- zens were on the Ancona: Df. Cecile L. Greil, Alexander Patativo and_his wife and four children, Mrs. Francesco Mascolb Lamura, Pasquale Laurino and Giuseppe Torrisi and his wife. Of these only Mrs. Greil andj Torrisi are among the survivors. The opinion is expressed here that it was the same submarine, proceeding from Gibraltar or from the Aegean sea, which first sank the Ancona and then the steamer Firenze. All the re- ports agree that the submarine was a very large one—-about 200 feet long. It has been decided that the sur- vivors of the disaster will be sent back to Italy by the Italian consuls at Bizerta, Tunis and Malta, when ves- sels for their transportation are avail- able. Insists Ship Was Escaping, BERLIN, November 14, by wireless to Sayville—The Austro-Hungarian ad- miralty hag officially announced that the Italian Steamship Ancona attempted to escape at full speed after a warning shot had been fired across her bow and that the vessel stopped only after be- ing shelled several times by an Aus- trian submarine, says the Overseas News Agency. The submarine commander, it is further asserted, allowed the Ancona’s passengers and crew forty-five min- utes to abandon ship, after which the vessel was torpedoed, sinking three- quarters of an hour later. The report that the submarine fired on the life- boats is denied. The statement issued by the Austro- Hungarian admiralty, after declaring that the foreign press had spread false rumors regarding the Ancona incident, says the sinking took place as follows: “The submarine fired one shot in front of the Ancona’s prow, whereupon the steamer fled at full speed, in ac- cordance with the order issued by the Italian authorities which instructs ship commanders to flee or to sink the submarine. The submarine pursued the steamer and continued firing, but the vessel stopped only after being hit several times. Gave Passengers Warning. “The submarine allowed forty-five minutes for the passengers and crew to abandon the steamer, on board of which panic reigned, but only a small number of boats were lowered, and these were occupied principally by the crew. “A great number of boats, probably sufficient to save all the passengers, re~ mained unoccupied. “After a period of fifty minutes, and as another steamer was approaching, the submarine submerged and tor- pedoed the Ancona, which sank after an additional forty-five minutes. “If any of the passengers lost their lives, this was due to the fault of the crew because the steamer tried to es- cape after it had received orders to stop, and then the crew only saved themselves and not the passengers, “Reports published in the foreign press that the submarine fired on the ‘Ancona’s lifeboats are mendacious in- ventions. When the steamer stopped the submarine ceased firing.” U. S. Ambassador at Rome Unable to Obtain Details Relating to Ancona Case Ambassador Thomas Nelson Page, at Rome, cabled that his conferences at the Italian foreign office thus far have failed to develop the details or facts concerning the sinking of the Italian liner Ancona. : The Italian government, according to Mr. Page, is having considerable dif_- culty in establishing just what oc- curred before the vessel went down. An November 15, 1315. Fifteen hundred Austrians perished. Warsaw University Reopens. measures to assure secrecy regarding the operations and movements of the troops of the entente allies, according to a dispatch from Greece to the Temps. All suspects, including a number of ir- yegular troops and merchants, have been expelled from the military zone. 4 dispatch to the Temps from Sa- loniki dated Saturday says: “Although communications with the north are in- terrupted, Monastir is not yet endan- BERLIN, November 15, by wireless to Sayville, N. ¥.—In consequence of the decision of the German authorities at Warsaw. to permit reopening of all schools, Warsaw University has re- sumed its work. At the opening cele- bration Gen. von Beseler, the German governor general, replied in German to & speech delivered in Polish by Pres- ident Brudhinski of the university. investigation is under way, however, and as soon as its results are known Mr. Page will communicate it to Wash- ington. . jecretary Lansing has been waiting to learn whether it was a German or Austrian submarine which destroyed the Ancona, and therefore has not in- structed either Ambassador Gerard or Ambassador Penfield to call at the Ber- lin and Vienna foreign offices, respec-. tively, to ask for information. Inquiry May Be Made Later. It\appeared today, however, that im order to obtain officially such informa- i re THE BACK-HOME SEND-OFF. ———— tion as is in the possessign of the German and Austrian governments, in- structions might be sent to inquire of the admiralties. Until the United States embassies at Rome and Vienna cable definite information the Washington government will be unable to take any stops diplomatically in the ~Ancona case. From the Austrian statement, as quoted in the press dispatches, offi- cials thought the case might deyelop a parallel to that of the British steamer Falaba, torpedoed by a German stb- marine with the loss of Leon C. whresher, an American citizen. In that case the vessel was given warning, but was torpedoed when it was belieyed by the German submarine commander that the ship had summoned help by wire- less or was attempting to escape. A settlement of it was never reached on account of conflicting testimony of pas- sengers and crews. STEANSHP ADR SUN, RUMORED Reports Uncertain Whether White Star Liner or Another Boat of Same Name. NEW YORK, November 15.—There was a report this morning in maritime circles that the steamship Adriatic had been sunk, but the report did not state whether the steamship was the big passenger ship of the White Star line or was the British steamship Adriatic, which left Kymassi, Greece, October 13 for Philadelphia, and passed Tarifa, Spain, October 19. ‘The White Star liner Adriatic arrived in Liverpool November 11, and was not scheduled to leave for New York until November 24. Later a report became current on the maritime exchange that it was the Adriatic of the White Star line that was in trouble. The other steamship Adriatic, bound for Philadel- phia from Kymassi should be about in mid-Atlantic today. Believe Liner at Liverpool. Officials of the White Star line said this morning that they had no informa- tion regarding the Adriatic other than she had arrived safely last Thursday in Liverpool. They did not credit the report. David Lindsay, assistant to Mr. Jeffries, the passenger manager of the White Star line, said that he was positive that the Adriatic was still at Liverpool. “The Adriatic was heavily laden when she left New York,” said Mr. Lindsay, “and it would take at least three days to unload her and as many more to load the steamship for her return voy- age to this port. She was not scheduled to sail for New York until Novem- ber 24.” The Adriatic was built In 1906 and cost nearly $4,000,000. She has a gross tonnage of 24,541. TEN OF CREW LOST. Spanish Steamer Runs Ashore Dur- ing Gale and Is Wrecked. BORDEAUX, France, November 15, 5:20 a.m.—Ten members of the crew of the Spanish steamer Bernabe, Cardiff for Bilboa, with a cargo of coal per- ished when the vessel ran ashore in a gale at Point de la Coubec at the mouth of the Gironde river. The steamer is believed to be a total loss. Campaign Nears Close. NASHVILLE, Tenn., November 15.— ‘The campaign for the democratic nomi- nation for United States senator enter- ed on its last week today. The primary occurs next Saturday. The run-off, it one is necessary, will be held Decem- ber 15. 5 Former Gov. M. R. Patterson, who left the stump last week on account of the death of a son, resumed his campaign today. Senator Luke Lea and Repre- sentative K. D. McKellar are speaking in middle Tennessee. . PRESIDENT ORDERS BURKITT PUT BACK | Directs Conditional Reinstate- ment of Assistant Postmaster Who Criticised Him. WHITE HOUSE ANNOYED AT THE UNDUE PUBLICITY Discharged Employe Remains Sus- pended Pending Investigation of Other Charges Against Him. President Wilson structed Postmaster Burleson to reinstate George Burkitt, removed as assistant postmaster at Winnetka, IIl., caused he criticised the President for his engagement to be married. The President qualified his in- structions by telling the Postmas- ter General that Burkitt should be restored to his position if there were no other charges against j him, Announcement of this action was made today by Secretary Tumulty after a brief conference with President Wil- son. It was said unofficially that the President entirely disapproved of dis- charging Burkitt for making the re- marks accredited to him. Criticism Not Sufficient Reason. In published correspondence between Burkitt_and Postmaster Kloepfer of Winnetka it was stated that Burkitt had been given demerits for other things than the remarks about the President's engagement. That Burkitt denied. The President did not go into that feature in his instructions to Postmaster General Burleson, but made it clear that Burkitt should not be dis- charged for merely expressing the views that a man should not become engaged within a year after the death of his wife. It was stated at the White House that Postmaster General Burleson had no knowledge of the case before it was called to his attention by publication in newspapers. The discharge of Burkitt was approved by Assistant Postmaster {General Roper after an exchange of ‘letters with Burkitt. Annoyance at White House. Burkitt protested that he had not had an opportunity to reply to the charges, as required by civil service laws. Mr. Roper informed him that the law had been complied with by a let- ter sent to Burkitt by the postmaster notifying him>of the charge of show- ing disrespect to the President. White House officials were annoyed by the publicity given to the case, -and it was expected that Postmaster Gen- eral Burleson would act immediately on the President's instructions. Investigation Is Begun. The Post Office Department issued a statement, saying Burkitt was charged with a series of offenses, which had been accumlated for months. Among them the statement detailed insubordi- nation, inefficiency, too much atten- tion to outside affairs, taking vacation in excess of his allowance, improper forwarding of mail and unsatisfactory service. “His statement. with references to the President's engagement,” said the announcement, “ia simply -an- incident today General | pressed opini be-/ Said he replied, “Hardly a_year, | which alone would not have been suf- ficient ground for his dismissal. It was announced th..t Burkitt's case was being further investigated and that meanwhile he stands suspended. Burkitt Dismissed for Unsatisfactory Services, His Postmaster Insists CHICAGO, November 15.—George Burkitt was discharged from his posi- tion as assistant postmaster at Win- netka, a suburb, November 4, by Post- master A. M. Khoepfer, who wrote Burkitt a note giving as a reasoi “your disloyalty to the President an the very unsatisfactory service which you have been rendering, 2s evidenced by the demerits which have from time to time been imposed upon you, and numerous other acts of which you are fully aware." Mr. Burkitt, in making public the letters exchanged between himself and the postmaster and with Assistant Postmaster General Roper, said that there had been no demerits against him. He said there had been two con- versations in the post office at Winnet- ka about the President's betrothal. In in-/one all the clerks were talking of the affair, he said, and several had ex- ions. a Burkitt said that later a man came in and remarked that the President was going to be married, and added, “Didn't wait long, did he?” Burkitt or “Tt something of the kind, adding, |seems to me that a man ought to wait at least a year before remarrying and I don’t see why the President should |be any exception.” Burkitt said in both instances he made the remarks casually and meant no disrespect to the President. The only person who overheard the second conversation besides the speakers, Bur-{ Kitt said, was Postmaster Kloepfer's brother, who later was appointed to Burkitt's position. Burkitt said that Mr. Kloepfer had made efforts to get back the correspondence in the case. Burkitt’s Comment. Burkitt, when informed that Presi- dent Wilson had ordered his reinstate- ment if the charge of commenting on the President's betrothal is the only one against him, said: “There was a mention of inefficiency in one of Postmaster Kloepfer’s letters to me, but I have been unable to find that he has made any formal charge against me. I am a hold-over from the previous administration and Winnetka citizens will testify that my inefficiency is purely political. COMMITTEE HARE TOLD OF ARMY'S NEEDS Senator Chamberlain and Representa- tive Hay, chafrmen, respectively, of the Senate and House military committees, have been furnished by the War De- partment with complete data on the military needs of the country, on which they will found the bills calculated to put into effect the army's part in the administration’s national defense pro- gram. Officials of the War Department, have worked overtime for two weeks} or more to get the figures in shape. Senator Chamberlain is now in Wash- ington, working on the bills, and the ‘War Department data was sent to Rep- resentative Hay at his home in Vir- ginia. It is expected that they will ar- range a joint conference with Secretary Garrison and his advisers aS soon as they have studied the data. ‘The papers laid before the committee chairmen include the report of the gen- eral staff on the military situation of the country and the staff’s estimate of what was needed to insure protection against invasion. The continental army plan prepared by Secretary Garrison and a special board of officers and offi- cials is a compromise with the staff's findings, which are understood to have urged a standing army of at least 250,- 000 men and 300,000 reserves as the first line of defense, with a million practically trained men behind it. The staff’s report has not been made public. Secretary Garrison, however, has in- dicated ‘his willingness to publish it should the President feel it wise to lo 80. i batt WOMEN MAKE PLEA FOR DEFENSE PLAN Call on President Wilson and Congress to Provide for National Preparedness. DELEGATES FROM STATES FORM AN ORGANIZATION Section of Navy League Elects Board of Governors and Considers Plan of Action. What is hoped by memhbers will prove to be a practical work- ing organization fer the recently formed .woman’s section of the Navy League was obtained today at the New Willard Hotel, when delegates of the section to what was called the “first woman's national defense conference,” met in the big ballroom and| elected a board of governors, one from each state, which includes some of the most prominent women of the country. The election of the governors came about by the adoption of the report of the committee on nominations, and resolutions brought in by the commit- tee having the latter in charge also were adopted, with a slight modifica- tion in one, the meeting refusing to declare that nothing but the language spoken in the United States should be used by children at school. In the main the resolutions called upon Presi- dent Wilson and Congress for increased military preparedness. Afternoon Program. The members of the conference, which is to last but one day, and which ig to conclude tonight with a big re- ception, at which a number of socially prominent women from out of town are expected to be present, will hear ad- dresses this afternoon by prominent men. Greetings, it is stated, will be ex- tended by the following: Mrs. Wil- liam Alexander, president Special Re- lief Society; Mrs. Reynold T. Hall, president Society of Naval Sponsors; Miss Frances Whitaker Baker, presi- dent Children’s Auxiliary, Woman's National Made in U. S..A. League; |Mrs. William Cumming Story, presi- dent general Daughters of the Ameri- can Revolution; Mrs. Oliver H. P. Bel- president Political Equality Mrs. Frank D. Odenheimer, president general United Daughters of the Confederacy; Mrs. Arthur M. Dodge, president National Association Opposed to Woman Suffrage; Mrs. Ada H. Weiss, president Legion of Loyal Women, and Mrs. Catharine Roche, resident Ladies of the Grand Army tt the Republic. Reports Presented. ‘The morning work of the conference was devoted principally to hearing re- ports of various officials. Miss Natalie Lincoln, the treasurer of the organiza- tion, reported that since the day of or- ganization, four months ago, the wom- an’s section has received from the Navy League $2,200, and in voluntary contributions from members, ete., $278.90. She has paid out, she said, $1 .85 in salaries, and for printing, postage, etc. $1,247. After having paid some other miscellaneous expenses there is a balance in the treasury of $62.57. Addresses are to be delivered this afternoon by Miss Mabel Boardman on “Red Cross Preparedness,” Frederick Huidekoper, Miss Frances A. Kellor of “the national Americanization commit- tee” and others. National Defense Resolution. The principal resolution offeréd at the meeting was one calling ypon Presi- dent Wilson and Congress, “and other public servants of the nation,” to do all that in their power lies “to pro- vide sufficient national defense to pro- tect this country from invasion and the threats of war.” This resolution further provided that copies of it be sent to the President of the United States, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, to the Secretary of War and the Secretary of the Navy. It was requested that the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives lay the pe- tition before Congress at the earliest possible moment. Plea for “America First.” The resolution called upon “all Ameri- can citizens who by birth or naturali- zation have come into the inheritance of citizenship to place America first in their lives and hearts,” and “Ameri- can citizens, in loyalty and gratitude for the liberties of America and in token of their unswerving allegiance to the principles for which it stands,” are asked to pay all honor and rever- ence to the,American flag and to do all in their power to prevent its desecra- tion or abuse.” Hearty Co-Operation Pledged. The resolution pledged “hearty co- operation to all organizations which are endeavoring to secure adequate legislation to protect and honor the American flag,” and the educational de- partments of the several states are urged to “insist that the children in the public schools who are in training for American citizenship under the pro- tection of the American flag should speak the language of the American people while they are on the school grounds and during school hours.” Support President’s Program. Among the first resoiutions introduced was one thanking “President Wilson, FISCAL RELATIONS ARE DEFENDED BY MMR. MACFARLAND Head of Joint Citizens’ Com- mittee Makes Strong Argu- ment for Present System. - VIGOROUSLY ASSAILS PLAN OF D. C. COMMISSIONERS Joined in Attack on Proposal by W. D. Mackenzie of the Tax Reform Association. NO BENEFICIAL EFFECT SEEN Theodore W. Noyes Speaks for Half- and-Half Arrangement at After- noon Session of Congressional Committee. A strong defense of the half- and-half plan by Henry B. F. Macfarland, chairman of the joint citizens’ committee, was a fea- ture of the hearing today before the joint select committee of Congress investigating the fiscal relations between the United States and the federal govern- ment. While defending the half-and-half plan, Mr. Macfarland attacked vigorously the suggestions of District Commission- ers Newman and Brownlow, former Senator Blackburn of Kentucky and others, by which the federal govern- ment would pay all the expenses of the District, the residents of the District paying a “reasonable” tax into the fed- eral Treasury. In the attack upon this plan Mr. Macfarland was joined by W. D. Mackenzie of the Tax Reform Asso- ciation, who insisted that the proposed new plan would not have the beneficial effect predicted by its supporters and might lead to much harm. Mr. Mac- kenzie urged that the people of the Dis- trict be given home rule as a solution of the problem under consideration. At the afternoon session of the-com- mittee Theodore’ W. Noyes, spepking on » behalt of the joint citizens’ committee, argued. in support of the half-and-half plan. Change in the Program. When the committee met today = slight change was made in the order in which the witnesses would uppear to- day. Mr. Macfarland of the joint citi- zens’ committee was first, and he was followed, not by Herbert J. Browne, as had been planned, but by W. D. Mac- kenzie and James Hugh Keeley. Theodore W. Noyes of the citizens’ joint committee spoke after Mr. Keeley, and he in turn will be followed late this afternoon by Herbert J. Browne. This arrangement leaves the following speakers to be heard tomorrow: A. 5. Worthington of the joint citizens’ committee, A. B. Johnson, A, S. Trundle, C. C. Lancaster and W. J. Kehoe. Today B. M. Seibold requested time to make a further statement of his views to the committee. Senator Chilton, the chairman, said that the committee would take his request un- der advisement. District Commissioner Brownlow said today that he desired to be heard tomorrow after the other speak- ers had completed their remarks. It is the plan of the committee to end the hearing tomorrow. Before beginning his argument today in support of the half-and-half plan Mr. Macfarland submitted to the com- mittee some data for which the com- mittee had called. He presented a table taken from the 1907 census report showing the percentage of park area in the various cities, the park area being compared with the entire area of the cities. This table showed that in cities in the United States over 30,000 in pap- ulation the percentage of park area was 2.9; in cities of 500,000 or over, 3.8; in cities of from 300,000 to 500,000, 3. Cities of from 100,000 to 300,000, 1. all cities, including smaller cities, the percentage was 1.4. The table showed that the percentage of park area in Washington was 5.8. Submits Important Data. Mr. Macfarland also submitted a state- ment showing that combined area of streets, avenues and parks in the Dis- trict of Columbia was 10,836 acres, and that streets and parks now projected added another 4,808 acres, the total land being set aside for these purposes in the District being 15,240 acres, out of a total acreage in the District of 38,425 acres. « ‘He showed, too, that in Washington there are 103.000 trees along the streets of the city, the largest number of trees to be found in any city in the world These data were presented to the com- mittee to show some of the reasons why the expenses of Washington neces- sarily must be very much greater than the expenses of any other cities In America comparable to Washington in population and location. Mr. Macfarland also laid before the committee a statement prepared by the fire marshal of the District showing how many fire alarms in buildings of the federal and District governments have been answered by the District |fire department since 1873. The total number was 259. Exclusive of the fires which damaged the patent office in 1877 and the pension office in 1888, the total loss by fire in the government buildings in this time was $476,477, the statement showed. The losses in the two fires excepted were very heavy. “The statement shows also,” said Mr. Macfarland, “that the fire department has responded eleven times to fire alarms in the Capitol building itself.” Senator Works Dissents. Early in his argument, Mr. Macfar- land asserted that it had been shown to the committee that the great ma- Speaker Champ Clark, the Secretary of War, the Secretary of the Navy and other officials for the patriotic stand they have taken for national defense.” The resolution concludes: “and be it further resolved, That we support the President in his announced purpose to demand from Congress on behalf of the American people the im- mediate necessary legislation for na- tional defense.” Special resolutions were introduced jority of citizens in the District. were in favor of the retention of the half- and-half plan. Senator Works took exception to this statement. He said that the hearing had been one-sided in that the ma- jority of the witnesses had announced themselves in favor of the half-and- half plan, but that he was convinced that a large number of citizens here ‘were opposed to it. “If a large number of residents of the District hold such views,” said Mr. to thank Secretary Daniels and Capt. Willard of the Washington navy yard for the use of great quantities of naval flags and ensigns with which the ball- room of the New Willard has been dec- orated. The resolution add: “In this connection we wish to thank also the petty officers and bluejackets (Continued on Thirteenth Macfarland, “in view of the great gen- erosity this committee has evinced in granting hearings to all, why did they Not appear and state their opposition to the half-and-half plan?” replied Mr. Macfarland. “The people of the Dis- trict certainly have the courage to. ¢x- their views. “I know that some of the byginess