Evening Star Newspaper, January 24, 1921, Page 1

WEATHER. Fair_tonight, temperature slightly below ; ‘tomorrow cloudy, follow- by rain at night. ed Temperature for twenty-four hours ending 2 p.m. today: Highest, 60, at 2 p.m. yesterday; lowest, 33, at 8 am. today. Full report on page 16. Closing New Yark Stocks, Page 17. N No. 28,029. POWERS, MEETING TODAY, CONFER ON TEUTONDISARMING Other Post-War Questions Make Gathering Second | Only to Versailles. LONG-PENDING PROBLEMS MAY REACH SETTLEMENT Chief Subjects of Session Include Reparations, Turkish, Austrian and Russian Conditions. By the Associated Press. PARIS, January 24—Representa- tives of Great Britain, France, Italy, Belgium and Japan gathered here to- day for a conference which seemed sccond in importance only to that pre- ceding the signing of the treaty of Versallles. The principal figures of the mqeting were David Lloyd George, British prime minister, and Aristide Briand, who last week assumed the post of president of the counclil of the French republic. About these men the nego- tiations of the conference are expect- ed to revolve during the coming week, | and it was believed that when the conference shall have finally ad- journed. the allied world will have| estions long pending and ong thieatentng serious complica- tions, not only between ally and en- emy countries, but also between the governments which fought side by side against the central empires from Subjects for Conferemce.” In importance these subjects ranked as follows: Reparations, disarmament of Ger- many, enforcement or alteration of the treaty with Turkey, relief for Austria and policies to be pursued in dealing with Russia. All of them ‘were questions on which the different participant nations were more or less divided, and the settiement of which was viewed with great concern. Arrangements for the first session this morning contemplated discussion of German disarmament by allied military experts, who are understood to have agreed on a solution which _'would grant a short period of grace to Germany in which to execute the engagements she made at the Spa conference. These agreements call for demobilization and disarmament of armed forces under the surveil- lance of an interailied control com- mission, and it was believed the con- ference would not be called upon to do more than to-Tatify the plan sub- mitte§ by the experts, which should 1 ire more than one sitting. 2 ym_for the day, which, “was but provisional, calied for of the subject of coal delive s the arrangement msde between the allies and Germany at Spa expiring on January 31. It was forecast that the allies would en- deavor to reach a new decision on the ubject as rapidly as possible, so that Germany might be notified before that date. Question of Reparations. This business once out of the way, the conference ‘would be free to de- vote all its time and energles to the question of reparations, which was evidently the most important te come before the meeting, and upon which much depended. M. Briand, owed his selection as French premier 10 the fact that he Was considered to be the man who could most clearly ly and convinel; France ding reparations The financial and economic position of France and the possible negotiation of loans in Amer- jca were considered in the prepara- tions made by the French cabinet to Jay the claims of France before the aliied governments. German financial and econbmic ex- perts may be summoned to this city before the conference has continued very long. The contention of Premier Lloyd George that the conference ux the amount of indemnity to be paid by Germany, which is opposed by Pre- mier Briand, who holds that the amount of reparations to be paid the allies should be determined only on the basis of what Germany can be compelled to pay, seemed to be of such a nature that expert German ad- vice must be called upon for data. Disarmament of Guards. ‘The discussion of the disarmament of German citizen guards and the reduction of that nation's armed forces to the limit fixed by the Ver- sailles treaty also appeared to re- quire the submission of information on the exact situation, especially in Bavaria and in Prussia, The situation that arose in Greece following the return of Constantine to Athens also seemed to have a di- rect bearing on the conference. It is no secret that France would ot re- sist alteration of the treaty of Sevres, by which Turkey was shorn of sov- ereignty over Constantinople, the Dardanelles, Smyrna and its hinter- | land and large sections of Syria. There hes been a rumored desire on the part of the allies to deal direct 1y with the Turkish national govern- ment at Angora, that regime being dominant .in Asia Minor at present, the Turkish sultan’s power being a mere shadow of authority. Appeals from the government of the Austrian republic, reflecting a critical situation in Vienna, were ready today for submission to the allied repre. | sentatives. Danger of an absolute governmental collapse in Austria, with its sequel of anarchy and bolshe- vism, is realized in every allied capi- tal, and some means of granting a: sistance to 9ustria. it is believed, must be devised before the conference closes. ‘Trade Relations With Russia. Resumption of trade relations with Russia by allied governments, which would entail a sort of conditional recognition of the soviet regime in Moscow. appeared to be a topic which would be discussed seriously during the next week. this subject, the note sent by Presi- dent Wilson to Paul Hymans, presi- dent of the assembly of the league of nations, on Saturday, in which Mr. | Wilson demanded that the allies as- sume a “hands-off” attitude toward the Russian nation. appeared to be of prime importance. “We understand and we know France's sufferings.” the Echo de Paris quotes Premier Lloyd George as saying td Premicr Briand during their talk at the station last even- ing. “England would uot understand if we did anything to injure your interests. We shall, then, discuss with absolute sincerity and friendli- ness our viewpoints, and I am tain we shall reach an agrrement as to what we shall have to do regard- tngGermany.» t was felt here this morning that Entered as se~ond-class matter post_office Washington, D. C. it has been asserted,! In connection with | HARDING TOTAKE OATH AT STAND USED BY LINCOLN When Warren G. Harding Iis sworn in as President, at noon on March 4, and delivers his inaugural address, it will be at the same small stand first used at the in- auguration of Presdent Lincoln, and used at the inauguration of every President since that, except that of William Howard Taft, who took the oath in the Senate cham- ber on account of the very severe weather on that date. This stand is now in the posses- | sion of Watson S. Clark, 417 4th street northwest, who is the son of the architect of the Capitol building. Father and son have treasured this stand ever since the Lincoln inaugural, and loan it quadrennially _to 'Elliott Woods, ! who is now superintendent of the | Cavitol building and grounds. HARDING RUAIG BEFORESEAEDULE Plans to Enjoy Golf and Fish- ing Today on Indian River Grounds. By the Awsoclated Press. ROCKLEDGE, Fla, January 24—A game of golf here and possibly an hour or two of fishing late in the aft- {ernoon on the Indian river grounds to the south supplied today the first real {recreation of President-elect Hard- {ing’s houseboat trip down the Florida { coast. | The boat Victoria, on which he is | making his cruise, spent the night at |anchor a few miles north of Rock- ledge. She was so far ahead of her schedule that it was said the Presi- dent-elect and his party might re- imain overnight at a hotel here, but his companions on the _Victoria thought it more likely that he would choose to sleep aboard. 8o as to pe mit an early start tomorrow morn- ng. He is anxious to complete the south- ward journey to Miami while the water is good, and expects to travel a more leisurely schedule on the feturn trip. . Takes Automobile Ride. The Victoria made the first stop of | her voyage at Ormond Beach yester- {day and disembarked her passengers |for a two-hour motor ride along the Florida East Shore boulevard. The stop here and a brief tie-up when the Victoria tried to go through the Or- mond drawbridge were the only inci- dents on the log of ‘the houseboat during a peaceful Sunday’s sailing. During ihe automobile ride Mr. Harding and his companions drove into Daytona. eight miles from here, and brought back s':.:zr A. B. Cum- ins of Iowa. who en at-a g tona hotel and o mainder® ofet] mber of the vacation party. came- ashore wearing white woolens and a straw hat. His visit attracted little attention,'though the Victoria docked within ‘s stone's throw of a big tourist hotel. Detafls of his vaca- tion trip had been kept confidential. Boat Sticks in Mud. The trouble at the drawbridge oc- curred soon afterward and held up the Victoria for more than an hour. {She attempted the passage at too | shallow a point and stuck in the mud !in such a position that the bridge | could not be closed until her little en- |Eine had forced a way out inch by inch. Meantime more than a score of {automobiles were held up and a crowd jof several hundred gathered on the ! ibridge and cheered the houseboat {when she finally extracted hersert. At no time was the Victorla in a dan- {Eerous poition, and although her rud- jder was slightly damaged, her master isaid the injury was not serious. UNWILLING TO CALL DISARMAMENT PARLEY Special Dispatch to The Star. ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla, January 24.—President-elect Harding feels it is entirely up to President Wilson as to whether or not an international disarmament conference shall be called prior to the time Mr. Harding becomes chief executive on March 4. Senator Harding scrupulously has re- frained from’ attempting in any way to assume any of the responsibilities of government in advance of his in- auguration. He will decline now t | placed in the position of nsumln:r ‘1’3 dictate or recommend what the pres- ent administration should do. The controvesy between Semator Borah and Elihu Root as to whether there should be a postponement of until after March 4 has reach 1 President-elect only in trum:‘:’n:l:; form and he is not likely to take any official cognizance of It inasmuch as neither Mr. Root nor the senator from Idaho is in a position to speak for Mr. Harding. Mr. Harding is efijoy- ing his houseboat cruise down the Indian river and, as he himself has expressed it, is temporarily “aw: rom the world and away from ca, He sald he would like to be aw, from the newpapers if he only “could dare.” but the journals of current hap- penings reached him yesterday aftap noon and again today as the Victoria [1ay off Ormond, just south of here, {and it was from these that he learned |of the Borah-Root controversy. Senate Not to Initiate, There is only one way by® which |an international -conference to con- sider disarmament or any other sub- ject can_officially be calle Jnited States, and that A-d::r’:o\:};fi invitation of the President. Althoush the Senate has essayed recently to say what the international relations of the United States shall or shall not be, that body is not yet vested with the right to initiate foreign ar- rangements. It can only appreve or Veto such arrangements or agree. ments as the President himself shall make. It would seem, therefore, that it is up to Mr. Wilson rather tham to Mr. Root or Borah to say whether or mot the disarmament conferencs or congress shal e call March 4. 5 e ‘When this matter first w. ! aiscussion. and attention was eriicq to the fact that the President, yndes the naval appropriation act of 1916 wus authorized and empowered ty call a disarmament conferance, g { statement came out of Washington {that Mr. Wilson very likely would refrain from calling such a confer. | e in the last six weeks of h | administration lest his action might lin some manner embarrass the in- | coming President. The statement, of {course. was unofficial, but it was, | nevertheless brought ‘to the atten- | tion of Mr. Harding at Marion. The latter said at the time that he had heard nothing definite about the matter, but that if Mr. Wilson should decline to call the_conference on the grounds stated, he thought it would be “very becoming of him.” Mr. Hard- tng said he would be glad to call suci “ (Continued on Ninth Page.) " (Continued o Fourtecyth Page.) the ‘who will make th = he hovseboat &ip as & | ek nder a hot sun the President-elect | Treasus the proposed disarmament conference | WASHINGTON, D. C, WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION MONDAY, JANUARY 24, WEEKS SURVEYING - WAR DEPARTMENT | |Hughes Winding Up Legal Af-.{ fairs—Hoover Believed [ | i Certain in Cabinet. BY DAVID LAWRENCE. There are two ways to tell who will | be in the cabinet of President Hard-, |ing. One is Mr. Harding’s own an-| | nouncement. and the other is definite | |arrangements made by the individuals | concerned to enter public life, such as servering business connections and | {packing their household goods. | Definite evidence has come to the! !writer that John W. Weeks, former | senator from Massachusetts, is pre- | {paring to take over the portfolio of ! Secretary of War. Within the last |week Mr. Weeks has sent for pre- | liminary data so that he may make | |a survey of the entire War Depart-! [ ment. S| Charles Evans Hughes is winding up his legal affairs 50 as to be ready for the secretaryship of state. A. W. Mellon. of Pittsburgh has re- signed as director of the Pennsylva- nia railroad and will become Secre- tary of the Treasury. Charles Grosvenor Dawes of Chica- | go, who was previously mentioned | { for this place, will probably become | governor of the federal reserve board, Ibufl‘eedlng W. P. G. Harding, who is | about to resign to become president of the new hundred million dollar ex- ! port corporation. Sees Hoover in Caibnet. i | Harry M. Daugherty will be Attorney General and Will Hays Postmaster General. Herbert Hoover will be in the cabinet as Secretary of Commerce. Henry Wallace of Des Moines, Iowa, will be Secretary of Agriculture. A. T. Hert of Kentucky, who was con- spicuously mentioned for Secretary of will be rewarded by being given some other post of prominence. | ‘This leaves the portfolios of navy, in- terior and labor undetermined, and every one of Mr. Harding's advisers and close friends who might be presumed to know, including some of those who had last- minute talks with Mr. Harding before he went south, frankly confess that they are up in the air about those three po- sitions. Indeed, Mr. Harding himself is eligibles and probably has come to no Lowden Still Being Considered. 1 It woud not be surprising, however, if after all the talk about eliminating Low- den, the former Governor of Illinois finaily was asked to become Secretary of the Navy. The change of Mr. Weeks from navy to war is at the bottom of it. Everybody belleved that Mr. Weeks wanted to be Secretary of the Navy, be- cause he is a graduate of the Naval Academy at Annapolis, but in truth Mr. Weeks wanted to be Secretary of the i Treasury, as he is a banker. His own bjection to becoming Secretary of the Navy was that he would be embarrassed in passing upon promotions of his own o , Who are now high officers-in | Originally it was pmlull;’ of war. The assumption was that it would make little difference to Gov. Lowden whether he took over the affairs of the Army or the Navy, so the Dresent plan is to urge the acceptance of the Navy portfolio on the Illinois | man whose strength at the republican convention was !hl’oT' at the psycholog- {ical moment to HardIng and thus made possible his nomination. | Sympathies With Lowden Wing. { 1t is not considered likely that Mr. Harding will start out his administra- tion by recognizing the objections made by the Thompson machine in Chicago, for the President-elect is a regular republican and all his sym- pathies bave bern with the Lowden {wing of the party. It is also under- stood that men of influence in Illinois have informed Mr. Harding that the moral effect of climinating Lowden from the cabimet might be more en- couragement to the Thompson wing than would be good for the republican party nationally, so the reward to be given Mr. Lowden is being carefully considered. Furthermore, when it be- came evident that Mr. Mellon’s quali- {ficationse for the secretaryship of the { Treasury were urged by Pengsylvania leaders, who made a convincing pres- entation of the case, Senator Hard- ing was left with the necessity of picking an_Illinois man for ~ the cabinet. The race then narrowed |down to Gov. Lowden and Albert D. Lasker, president of Lord & Thomas, and one of the intimate advisers of Mr. Harding during the last cam- paign. Mr. Lowden's political prominence and the part he played at the Chicago convention in nominating Harding | | have been the factors in his favor. He is by no means a certainty for the cabinet, as last-minute shifts and transfers may be necessary, but he is back again in the cabinet race, and be- ing favorably considered for the secre- taryship of the Navy. Opposes Two in One State. The elmination of A. T. Hert of Ken- tucky for the war portfolio caused Mr. | Harding considerable pain, for he likes Hert and wants to reward him for the part he played as a Lowden manager in swinging the convention to Harding. But Hert comes from Kentucky, which state voted for Cox, and to pick any- body from a southern state which went democratic would be to get into trouble With the republicans who carried Ten- nessee and Oklahoma and Missouri. Some of Mr. Hert's friends urged'that e be appointed on the ground that he | was originally from Indiana, but the selection of Will Hays, who comes from Indiana, too, made that impossi- ble, as Mr. Harding isn’t going to put two men in the cabinet from the same state. (Copyright, 1921.) ——— WAR ON TAX FRAUDS. 0il Men in Mexico Would Have Fixed Rate on Properties. MEXICO CITY, January 24.—Rep- resentatives Of petroleum companies in Mexico will meet here on Thursday to consider the draft of a proposed law providing a fixed rate for taxes on petroleum properties, and designed to prevent irregularitics and alleged frauds in the payment of such taxes. The measure, which was prepared by Adolfo de la Huerta, secretary | of the treasury, will be submitted to | the Mexican congress shortly after it convenes on February 7. et COOLIDGE GOING SOUTH. | Will Rest in Asheville, N. C., Until Middle of February. i EW YORK, January 24.—Vice President-elcct Calvin Coolidge will follow the example of President-elect Harding by taking a vacation in the southland, beginning next week. After his speech before a conference j War, will not be in the cabinet. but| weighing the merits of the various| decision as yet. 4 GOVERNMENT l 7 A SUGGESTION. Revival of C. & O. Canal Trade May Make Georgetown Was Once Famous-in Maritime World—Baltimore and Cumberland Would Benefit, Too—Now Carries Only Coal. The port of Georgetown, once fa- mous in thé maritime world, is prom- ised a revival of its former shipping activities in plans which are to.be passed upon tomorrow for extending the use of the C. & O. cana) between ‘Washington and Cumberland, Md. 'Now used exclusively for coal ship- ment, the canal shortly may have.a fleet which will ply between Cumhe:- land and Baltimore, carrying raw ma- terial to the tire company at Cumber- land, and bringing out cargoes of fin- ished products. ‘Officials of the company, who hat® been at work on the plan for some time, will meet in Cumberland to- morrow to take final action. It has been indicated that they consider the plan a practical one and that the service may be inaugurated this year. A representative of the company stated today that he had found the canal to be in good condition and believed it could be made to rival the New York state barge canal as a com- rce carrier. 2 mifl(ed as to how a fleet of barges could be obtained for immediate service, he stated this was a problem which was treated in the report to $8.543650 CARRIED IN DIPLOMATIC BILL Measure Reported to House Over $3,000,000 Less Than Amount Requested. Carrying a total of $8,543,650.79, the diplomatic and consular appro- priation bill for the fiscal year 1922 was reported to the House today. ‘This is $826,887.12 less than the appropria- tions for the current fiscal year, and is a reduction’ of $3.440,198.15 from the amount recommended in the depart- mental estinrates for 1922. Principal Reductions. rincipal reductions in the 1922 es'lri‘l‘neu?es are as_follows: Salaries of ambassadors, $17.500; salaries of ministers, $5,000; salaries of secre- taries in the dipomatic corps, $68,275; salaries of clerks at embassies and legations, $280,000; salaries of interpre- tors of embassie d legations, $10,200; contingerne expenses of foreign missnons, $450,000; emergencies arising in diploma- fic and consular service, $200,000; in- ternational boundary commission, U. S. and Mexico, $45,310; Alaska, Canada boundary line, $18,000; international institute of agriculture, $8.900; in- ternational joint commission U. S. and Great Britain, $22.000; salaries of con- sular _service, 00; salaries of consular assistants, $40,425; post al- lowances, $650,000; clerk hire in U. S. consulates, $600,000; contingent ex- penses U. S. consulates, $500,000; ex- penses passport control act, $400,000. Increases Noted. The principal increases over the appropriations for the current fiscal year are: Salary-of ambassador to China (net increase, $5.500), $17.500; transportation of diplomatic and con- sular offices to and from their n(;sts, 55,000; arbitration of pecuniary 000t “Unitea States and_Great Britain, $48,520; police and protec- tion of American seamen, $50,000; le- gation buildings and grounds at San Salvador, $11,000, and expenses pass- port control act,” $200,000. i "The principal items of Treduction under the 1921 appropriations are as follows: Salaries of secretaries in the diplomatic service, $56,575; clerks at_embassies and legations, $150,000; interpretors to embassies and lega- tions, 700: contingent expenses, foreign missions, $100.000: purchase of embassy at Chili, $130.000; emer- gencies arising in the diplomatic and Gonsular service, $200,000; Alaska- Canada boundary line, ‘$18.500; Pan- Pacific Union, $8,000; third pan- American scientific’ congress, $25.000; salaries of the consular service, $200,000: salaries of consular assist- ants, $40.425, and post allowances to consular and diplomatic officers, 50,000. #3e recently established Interna- tional Research Council for the first time i8 provided for in this bill. This organization is in_substitution for several international _associations of of business men in Atlanta the latter part of this week, he will go to Ashe- ville, N. C., to rest until the middie of February. He will leave here to- morrow for Atlanta. which the United States has been a member, and the action taken is in accordance with the recommenda. tions of some of the most eminent fentists in the United States. 4 " 1 be acted upon at tomorrow’s meet- Ing. Faltimore, as well as Washington, is interested in the proposition, in the event it is decided to use canal, it will increase its Storage facilities in Baitimore and direct that many o its ships arriving with raw materials from Scuth America put in at that port imatead of New York. Rel ho was largely responsible e government operating the during the war, expressed gratifieation today over the prospect of thif historlc waterway entering upon a new ‘commercial life. “There is no reason why the canat bo made one of the most important of carflers of its Kkin thlgomnlryf’ safd Mr. Zihlman. “The present plan contemplated for in- creased shipments over it is prac- tical, and it should contribute mueh to the commercial development of Washington, Baltimore and Cumber- land.” Officials of the Canal Towage Com. pany, which operates the coal barges i that ply over the canal, stated today that the waterway is in good condi- tion and can be used for much great- er shipments than have been made over it during the past few years. SAYS EUROPE CAN'T BANU. 5. MARKETS Economic Expert Urges Tar- | iffs—Says World Will Owe Us $20,000,000,000 Soon. Europe's debt to the United States will be increased to $20,000,000,000 by 1924, George F. Warren, professor of economics at Cornell University, de- clared today at tariff revision hear- ings by the house ways and means committee. This sum, he said, will include the $9,600,000,000 war-time { borrowings from the American Treas- e ury. Mr. Warren estimated that Euro- pean business now owe meri- ed Aj can firms nearly $4,000,000,000 and he said that Europe must send her prod- ucts to this country irrespective of import duties. He especially urged tariff on farm products, which he said could be turned out cheaper overseas than they can here. Giving it as his opinion that the rate of exchange would not improve for some time, the witness said the rates would tend to increase the Eu- ropean debt danger. The danger in the situation, the witness' added, was that the countries deeply in debt might resort to dump- ing_their commodities in the United States markets regardless of price. He offered no method checking that. however, excepting the use of tariff where available. {Today’s News in Paragraphs Representatives of powers begin con- ferences today in Paris. e“Pan: 1 Auditor supports story 260,000 Schwab ship bill. 1‘».,. 1 Harding to call disarmament conference now. . Page 1 Diplomatic and consular appropriati Bill reported to House carries otal of $8,643,650.72. Page 1 | Colored woman indicted today in D. C. court for first degree murder on charge of slaying Mrs. Mollie Bacalman. - Page 2 Sir Edward Carson expected to retire from Irish affairs. Page 2 Under unanimous consent Senate will vote at 4 today on the packers’ bill. of 2 e National Press Club entertains at la- dies’ night “solree.” Page 2 Slayer of Frederick Schnurr, D. C. barber, eludes police; robbery only motive for crime. Page 3 Cuyler defends railroad practice of out- side shop repairing. Page New York-New Jersey commission pro- poses_extensive underground railway to relleve freight congestion. Page 13 D. C. school children give large majority for the oak as choice of national tree. Page Four women are center of interest in Kansas legislature. 13 Gov. Ritchie says fast motor service will do most to build up trade in southern Maryland. Page 14 as, | the | O'Callaghan, lord mayor of Cork, was is believed the company |surrendered today by his counsel, 7ot | Judge Joseph T. Lawless, to im: entative Zihiman of Mary-: e R gL L 3| a conspiracy between the government 1921 -TWENTY-TWO PAGES. i CALLAGHAN GETS Porel SEAMAN'S PERMIT Surrendered at Norfolk by Counsel, Gets Privilege of Shipping on Vessel. By the Aswoctated Press. NORFOLK, Va., January 24.—Donal igra- tion authorities here, He immeaistely was issued 2 “scaman’s certificate,” and it was sald that he could ship aboard a foreign-bound vessel at his; convenience. The plans of the lord mayor, who arrived here as a gtowaway and with- out a passport, were said to be in- definite. Donal J. O'Caltaghan, lord mayor Cork, who came to the United Bt @8 a stowaway on the #teamer Cantion, left Washington last night for mtk to report tg the immigration | an fes, in with th Darols isaued to S by the = partment. of Labor De- The deportation of O’Callaghan will be vigerously protestéd by Americans of Irish birth throughdut the country, according to an announcement made by Rossa F. Downing at a meeting of the Padraic H. Pearse Council of the American Association for the g~ nition of the Irish Republic, in Gon- zaga Hall, last night. Mr. Downing said the State De- partment would be flooded with tel- egrams and letters condemning its action. A_committee, composed of Rev. J. 3. Callaghan, Daniel E. Doran, Joseph A. Daly, Robert Barrett and John Trant, was appointed to draft measures for the installation in Washington of branch councils of the organization in every section of the city. Tentative plans for the formation of a women’'s picket organization were discussed last night. Final ar- rTng:menls will be made Thursday night. 2 At the request of Mr. Downiag the organization will attend in_ a body the protest meeting to be held to- night by the New Jersey branch of the American commission for Irish independence at Central High School, ‘when the speakers will be men prom- inent in the religious, political and civic life of that state. FORMER GOV. COX COMES FOR A BRIEF STAY ocrats While Here—Plans Trip to Europe. Former Gov. Cox of Ohio, accom- paniee by Mrs. Cox, arrived in Wash- ington this morning to spend several days at Judge T. T. Ansberry's home. Judge Ansberry met the visitors at the station and drove tkem to his suburban residence, Gov. Cox ‘s looking .fit and fine, after his strenuous presidential cam- vaign, the result of which he takes philosophically and is not worrying about the future, politically or other- ! wise. He is planning a European trip | with Mrs. Cox, and will obtain pass- ports while here. He had nothing to say today for publication, although before the week is over Fe will ex- change a few observations with dem- ocrafic leaders in and out of Con- gress. Homer S. Cummings, former chair- | man of the dumocratic national com- mittee, i8 in the city and Chairman George White is expected here tomor- row. Other prominent democrats here | are Thomas B. Love of Texas and Angus W. McLean of North Carolina. | Senator Pittman, Senator Pat Harri- son, Senator Glass and others who were active in the presidential cam- paign will c1ll on Gov. Cox while he is in town and some informal dinners \will be arranged for him, at which democratic politics will be discussed. | Several golf games are also on the| program if the weather holds good. B RAPS CALDER COAL BILL. Because of Its provision taxing coal brokerage commissions as high as 90 per cent, the Calder bill to regu- late the coal industry is “the most stupendious: aid to profiteering ever devised,” former Gov. Oakley C. Cur- tis of Maine declared today before the Senate committee considering the measure. b o “I'm just explaining why the coal men are anxious to see this bill go through,” he said. *“It amounts to and the profiteers to raise the price of coal. It tempts men to profiteer. As a coal man, I've no objections, ‘White House that Mr. Rowell is leav- Pl 3 ing the Shipping Board to me & B ey E el T i Hewspaper, Men. mémber Jof the Callfornia: “There's no coal man who can fig-| LIVERPOOL, Janua 24.—8m | commission. ; uroT out all this bill will do.” .he | Auckland Geddes, British ambassa-| Mr. Rowell, who_is a republicas, added, “and the committes can’t get|dor to the United States, Who was|was appointed by President Wilson at all the details In seven weeks | called to London ten days ago, land- |88 & member of the board h:‘ torm or soven yoars. You're making a bill | ed here this morning at 8 c'clock. [of two yesra —‘New tions that will put the price up out of Nllol,l*’ ¥ ening Star. Membwr of the Assoclated Press The AssoeMited Press is exclusively entitled to the use for repablicatis of all “ews dispatches credited to it or mot otherwise credited ia thle paper and also the local news published kiereia. All rights of publication of special tches berel dispa are als reserved. Saturday’s Net Circulation, 91,207 Sunday’s Net Circulation, 90,027 | caused only small damage. TWO CENTS. RUMOR OF DEATH OF NIKOLAILENIN | STILL PERSISTS COPENHAG January 24— Reports of the death of Nikolal Lenin, the soviet Russian premier. are persisting, according to & Helsingfors dispatch to the Berlin Gske Tidende, and the anti-bolshe- vik press claims to have further evidence of it. These newspapers regard as significant, adds the dis- patch, the fact that Lenin has not attended several recent meetings of the soviet government officials, all of which were presided over by Leon Trotsky, minister of war. Recent rumors of the death of Lenin apparently originated by the fact that the death of an “M. Karpoff” was announced from Moscow and that this znnounce- ment was coupled abroad with the statement that ~“Karpoff” was one of Lenin’s pseudonyms. It was ex- Dlained later, however, that the Karpoff whose demise occurred was a prominent Russian chemist attached to Lenin's official staff. Still later reports, received by Way of the Helsingfors-Copen- hagen route, asserted that Lenin was ill and had been ordered to take a long rest. Reports of the death of Lenin and of armed attacks upon him have been so frequent in the past | three years, only to be followed by authentic refutation, except in the case of certain attempts upon his life. that all such reports have come to be received with decided Teserve. KILLED, OHURT | INGASOLINE BLAST Mempl_1is Is Rocked by Ter- rific Explosion—Row of Houses Splintered. By the Assoclated Presa, MEMPHIS, Tenn. January 24.—At east twenty-five persons, most of them negroes, were Kkilled, according to police estimates, and fifty or more injured by an explosion of a tank car of gasoline near the filling station of the Colyar-Rees Company here to- day. The blast, set off presumably by a spark from a workman's chisel, tore to splinters a row of frame dwellings, shattered windows within a radius of fifteen blocks, and shook the entire north end of this city. The resultant fire which, for a time, threatened to spread to a gas plant and several nearby manufacturing concerns, was checked before it did considerable damage. Police and fire department officials attributed the blast to a chance spark from the chisel of a workman, who was caulking the car, which fell into the gasoline when another workman removed the cap from the top of the tank. Two of the workers were tora to bits while the third escaped prac- tically unscatched. - X The scene of the explosion was at ‘Main street and Mill avenue, in the center of a densely populated part of the city, and a short distance from a gas plant. Every ambulance in the city w: rushed to the scene and volunteer rescue parties were formed to ald the police in removing the dead and injured. The fire was brought under con- trol before it spread beyond the dwellings in the immediate vicinity of the blast. ‘Ten bodies, torn almost beyond recog- nition, were removed within & few min- utes. In all, fifty persons were given treatment. Many of these were seri- ously hurt. Others, bguised and cut by glass, were treated by physicians at the scene, ‘While the police estimate the dead at about twenty-five, the toll of fatalities, it was stated several hours after the explosion, may be larger when a com- plete check is made of the occupants of the dwellings and the ruins are thoroughly explored. The detonation of the explosion was heard throughout the city, and the thousands who flocked to the scene added to the confusion and made diffi- cult the work of the police and volun- teer rescue parties. ‘The filling station, where the ex- plosion occurred was not badly dam- aged. On one side of the station was a huge brick and concrete pumping station, which absorbed the force of the blast. Windows in it were torn out, but otherwise the building was not damaged. The block directly south of the one where the havoc was wrought is unoccupied. The fact that an even greater death toll was not taken was attributed to of the demolished dwellings had left for their work. The first bodies found were of four Begro women and a baby. Their bodies lay a short distance from their homes, while scattered over a radius of a block or more were other bodies. Virtually no trace of the tank car was left. - ‘While the fire was brought under control shortly after the explosion the work of the rescuers was made hazardous by the fact that other gaso- line-filled cars were in the immediate vicinity. in the path of flying embers and isolated by the torn tracks. Po- lice lines were established two blocks from the scene.of devastation. ‘Early estimates of the property damage Indicated that it would not exceed $150,000, One of the injured brought to the general hospital was an unidentified negro boy who, after being hurtled Into the air, fell into a nearby bayou with both legs broken. | An hour after the first explosion a | second tank car blew off its top and gent the crowds scurrying to shelter. Beyond wrecking the car, this blast $30,000,000 LOAN TAKEN. Believed Belgian Fund Was Uver- subscribed in New York. NEW YORK, January 24.—J. PAl Morgan and Company and the Guar- anty Trust Company announced this morning_that subscription books for the $30,000,000 Belgian loan ~ were opened at 10 o'clock and immediately ed. e announcement was taken to mean that the loan had been success- fully floated and that it was over- subscribed, although it was said the Smount. of the subscription probably could mot be determined for several months. —_— GEDDES AT LIVERPOOL. British Ambassador Refuses to See He deolined to reccive newspaper vorrespondents. ? Board, e audited them for the Standard Oil ‘Cnrnvnny and the Luckenbach Steam-. ship Company in connection with the construction of ships for these two corporations. California as a commissioner of the United States Shipping_ Board was announced today at the White House. The resignation is effective imme- diately. | befqre the Senate for AUDITOR SUPPORTS STORY OF §260,000 SCHWAB SHIP BILL Testifies Voucher Was Re- ported to Abadie After Audit Was Called Off. SAYS ATTORNEY’S FEES WERE CALLED ‘OVERHEAD’ Declares Memo Attached to Big Item Showed It Was to Be Charged to Construction. By the Associated Press. NEW YORK, January 24—Perley Morse, whose accounting firm audited the books of the Bethlehem Shipbuild- ing Company, today appeared before the Walsh committee investigating affairs of the United States Shipping Board and corroborated testimony of Col. E. H. Abadie, former general controller, concerning discovery of a voucher for $260,000 alleged to cover personal expenses of Charles AL Schwab for Ociober, 1918, Mr. Morse said he toid Col. Abadie, under whose direction the audit was carried out, of the discovery of the voucher by one of his accountants and of the existeuce of odher vouchers. One of these was for $18,000, paid to attorney for the any and was charged to_overhead, he said. While Morse said he had not seen the voucher, it reported to him by one of his men and he mentioned it to Col. Abadi¢ after the audit had been called off by Chairman Payne. The information given by his ac- count, he deciared, was that the voucher was in the office of the Bethlehem Corporation and on their books on February 18, 1918. . $15000 for Fees. The voucher, he told the committee, was entered in the trial balanee, ‘which his auditors made, under the heading of “administration and ex- pense in general.” Mention of the voucher was made to Col. Abadie, Mr. Morse explained, in connection with other things, which included the voucher of $18,000 to Mr. Cravath. This chargé, he sald, was for at- torney's fees. Questioned concerning the $260,000 voucher, he sald a memorandum was attached to the voucher, showing that $100,000 was to be charged to ship construction. The matter was called to the ut- tention of one of the Bethlehem em- pkayes by one of his accountants and the-shipbuilding employe, he sai.. told his auditor that the item alrea. had been disallowed. « Work Not Carried Out. Mr. Morse explained that when tk resumed his audit was his firm had ti auditing of 6nly the material an labor accounts, and the field wo: for the overhead was to have b- handled by the auditors of the Eme- gency Fleet Corporation. His fir however, was to have general dirc tion of the work, but this plan, i said, was not carried out. The statement of Martin J. Gille former assistafit to the chairman the’board, in his testimony before 1" committee, to. the effect that i Morse had agred that the item w. not charged to ship construction, wi. denied by the witness. Mr. Morse declared he had no know! edge of how the item was handled v: the books of the shipbuilding cur- poration. after his work was Inter- rupted. The contract for the audit, ke said was made with Col. Abadie on Janu ary 10, 1920. Reads From Memorandum. Mr. Morse then read the follow from a memorandum concerning $260,000 voucher: “This voucher was No. C-44B gen- eral, the designation referring to the shipbuilding account number. The voucher was No. €99, the only de- scription that it contained was ‘pro- portion of B-44 expense (B-44 is the Bethlehem Steel administration and general expenses account)—amount, $100,000. “Our accountant looked at B-44 gen- eral expense account for an explana- tion of this charge and found entered thereon Voucher No. 114,980, C. M. S., $269,543.53." “He then asked an assistant in the office of Mr. Hauch for this voucher and it was produced from the files and read: ‘Expenses of C. M. Schwab during October, 1918, $269,543.53 A memorandum was attached to the voucher stating that $100.000 was to Will Confer With Prominent Dem- |the fact that many of the occupants|be charged to ship construction. Mr. Transieu, who produced the voucher for our accountant, stated immedi ately that the sum of $100,000 had already been disallowed. “Nevertheless, it was noted by our accountant that it was included in ‘the total of account C-44, posted to distribution of general expenses, book C, November, 1918.' * Declaring he knew nothing of what took place on the Bethlehem books after February 1, 1920, Mr. Morse said his relitions with the Beth- lehem people had extended over two or three years, and were “vel pleasant until after. the finding this voucher.” Did Net Kuow Objects of Audits. Previous to making an audit of the . Bethlchem books for the Shipping | Mr. Morse declared, had Ty of ‘What the object of these audits was. the witness declared he did not know, but explained that both con- cerns paid him and that before under- taking similar work for the Shipping ~ Board. he got permission from both companies as a matter of “profes- sional ethics.” The audit of the Shipping Board booksstill continues, he said, and has already cost the board nearly $400,000. The board pays for between seventy- and eighty men at this work at scales varying from 360 a day for superin- * t:ntgenm to $20 for junior ants, paid his men, Mr. Morse said by the year, or stipulated sums for speciat work. 5 2~ accoun! he explained. Asked how he - ROWELL QUITS BOARD. Will Become Member of Railroad Commission. Resignation of Chester Rowell of It was nounced at the are mow