Evening Star Newspaper, February 16, 1921, Page 1

WEATHER. and warmer tonight; tomorrow cloudy and cooler. ure for twenty-four hours Highest, ended at 3 p.m. today: £ pm. today; lowest, 38, at 7 ull report on page 2. Closing New York Stocks, Page 22. Entered as second-class matter post office Washington, No. 28,052. HAM URGES, KU1Z OPPOSES, MERGING OF POWER PLANT Head of W. R. & E. Presses Proposal at Hearing Be- fore Senate Committee. COLONEL FAVORS TAKING POTOMAC COMPANY LATER With Conrad Syme, Chawman of ‘Utilities Board Believes It Should Follow Car Line Union. A merger of the Washington Rail- way and Electric Company and of the Potomac Electric Power Company as the first step toward the merger of the two street car companies operat- #ng in the District was strongly urged Pefore the Senate District subcom- smittee today by W. F. Ham, president of the Washington Railway and Elec- tric Company and also of the power company. 8 propo. ] er, Apsoclation of the District, itnesses. YTne proposed merger ‘of the Wash- ington Railway and Electric Company and the power company was just as strongly opposed by Col. Kutz. U. S. A., chairman of the Public Utilities Commission of the District, and Con- rad Syme, formerly corporation coun- sel and now employed by the Public Utilities Commission as counsel in . pending litigation over the valuation {of the public utilities of the District. See Increase in Cost. ey insisted that instead of pro- :m'fl'u.’. an eventual merger of the two - street car companies of the District, lithe proposed merger of the power " company and the Washington Railway and Electric Company would be a step ard. Dt Eutz and Mr. Syme also told the committee that in their opinion to the er woul - consumers of the District, because the burden of operating the Washington Railway and Electric Company would | in part be transferred to the power - “Both sides, however, united in the hope ‘that a merger -of the two street railways may be brought about as speedily as possible, in the Interests of the public. In the event of such a ,merger, Col. Kutz said, the power com- d with ad- Reads i sal was backed by Robert president of the Bankers' and other A 'wer company iway and El report was made on the authorizing the merger, and now un- der consideration by the Senate com- fc Company. eir K ‘rarice bill m’x‘r:“iha report the Public Utilities Commission said that it was strongly of the opinien that the merger, instead ~| 1] be - mad jment of Charles Evans Hughes of 72, at am. to- D. C. HARDING FACES DILEMMA IN CONSIDERING HOOVER Ch sentment From Foes To Wield Greater Influence. ‘That world-famous soliloquy “to be ©Or not to be” is said now te be in the “Piker's class” compared with Presi- dent-elect Harding’s pondering over the appointment of Herbert Hoover |to be Secretary of Commerce. The {horns of the dilemma Mr. Harding is contemplating are, whether to endure the slirgs and arrows of party fac- tionalism in appointing him, or to ignore the ‘tremendous pressure brought in behalf of his selection. The latest information available in Washington, coming from a highly trustworthy source, is that Mr. Hard- ing at present writing is disposed to yield to pressure, face the factional displeasure of which he wots, and put Mr. Hoover in the cabinet. The case has many perplexing an- sles. For instance, one eminent re- publican who last December strongly urged the selection of Mr. Hoover has now changed his mind, since be- coming aware of the factional feeling, and almost repents of his first in- dorsement. He is said to have become very much impressed with the grav- ity of the opposition, in and out of THREE POSTS OPEN IN CABINET SLATE Navy, Commerce and Labor Portfolios Still to Be Filled, List Discloses. By the Associated Press. ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla., February 16. —As President-elect Harding contin- ued his conferences with the ranking leaders of his party today it was in- dicated that completion of the cabi- net slate of the coming administration waited only on definite selectfons for the portfolios of Navy, Commerce and Labor. By all of those in close touch with the situation it was conceded, how- ever, that these selections might not only lead to considerable delay, but might also involye some shifting of the sssignments already more or less|is definitely fixed. It was considered un- .any anmouncements would & until a day or two before inaugu! - As the list stood today, with Navy, Commerce and Labor vicant, it was understood to contemplate the appoint- New York for Secretary of State, John W. Weeks of Massachusetts for Secretary of War, Andrew Mellon of Pennsylvania for Secretary of the Treasury, Will H. Hays of Indiana for Postmaster General, M. Daugherty of Ohio for Attorney Gen- of being a step toward s merger of the street car would as a matter of fact retard such a merger. ‘The commission also exp: th ‘belief that and Electric tomac Electrit Company and the Po- c Power Company are t the Washington Ratlway | eral, Hegry Wallace of Iowa for Sec- retary of Agriculture and A. B. Fall of New Mexico for Secretary of the nterior. Lowden Choice for Navy. For the Navy portfolio Frank O. seeking the mergar so as to warrant|Lowden of Illinois is understood to be & higher charge for electric lighting.| Mr. Harding's choice, but it is uncer- Tells of Development. If the Semate committee should de- termine to report the France bill, the report said, an amendment should be opted providing for a merger of the two street rallway companies. Mr. Ham was the first witness. He described the development of the ‘Washington Rallway and Electric Company, and told of its ownership of all the stock of the Potomac Electric Power Company. An act of Congress in 1900, however, while permitting the ownership of this stock. prevents an actual merger of the two companies, he said. Tn _support of the proposed merger Mr. Ham urged that additional financ- ing of the Rotomac Electric Power Company was necessary, due to the tremendous increase in the amount ©of service demanded of it. Gives View of Financing. “This financing. he sald, could be more readily accomplished through a eonsolidation of the company with the E. Company, because the power company now has issued three mortgage bond issues, and a fourth would be practically unmarketable. By a merger, however, it would be possible to issue bonds more directly secured by the property of the W. R. & E. Company. Mr. Ham insisted that it would be just as easy for the Public Utilities commission to fix reasonable rates for street car service and for light under the merger as it is now. He pointed out that the business of the power company had developed from 24,000,- 999 kilowatt hours in 1900 to 102,000, 000 kilowatt hours in 1920, and that §n the next three years it would be pecessary to expend some $5,000,000 in further developing the lighting and wer system. He said that it had necessary for the two companies to enter into contractural relations, ‘because the power company furnishes power to the W. R. & E. Company. These relations, he said, had been criticised by the Public Utilities Com- mission. If the merger is allowed these criticisms naturally would dis- appear. Believes People Want Merger. Mr. Ham said that he was convinced that the public earnestly desired a mer- ger of the Capital Traction Company Commission to fix reasonable rates for tric Company. Unless a merger of the Potomac _Electric Power Company and the Washington Railway and Electric Company is permitted, he said, he did not believe the Capital Traction Com- | pany would entertain a proposal for a merger with the Washington Railway and Electric Company. and the Washington Railway and Elec- Fomerene of Ohio, Mr. Ham said he be- lieved a merger of the two street car companies would resuit in a reduction of fares. He pointed out that the Cap- stal tion Company is now earning In reply to a question by Sepator erty as fixed by the Public Utilities €ommission, and the Washington Rail- ‘way and Electric Company is earning Tess 5 per cent on a similar val- uation. A merger, he said, would nat- urally bring about a reduction in fares. Mr. also sald he believes th enactment of legislation changing the method of taxation of the street car companies would tend to bring about a nerger. Mr. Harper's Statement. Mr. Harper said that he bellieved a merger between the power company and the Washington Railway and Electric Company was desirable from the standpoint of the citizens of the District, and declared that it was the first essential step toward a merger +Of the two street car companies. He on’ tain whether he will accept, and there has been talk of transferring Mr. Weeks to the position if the Illinois governor definitely declines. Several names, including those of John Hays Hammond of New York and Herbert i Hoover of California, have been nien- tioned for the Commerce portfolio, while James J. Davis of Pennsylvania and a number of others are being | urged for Secretary of Labor. | This morning Mr. Harding again talked over the problem’ with Mr. Hays and later in the day he ex- | pected to begin a, series of confer- ences on the subject with Mr. Daugh- erty. Mr. Hughes, Mr. Mellon and several others high in party councils are expected here before the end of the week. Another of Mr. Harding's conferences today was with Arthur Woods, former police commissioner of New York city, and a former offl- cial of the council of national de- fense. A. H. Smith, president of the New York Central railway, also s in St. Augustine and will see Mr. Hard- ing within the next few day: Lamont Sees Wl“v Details of what happened at Ver- sailles in regard to cancellation of the ten-billion-dollar war debt were given to Mr. Harding by Thomas W. Lamont. a member of the Morgan banking firm and a fiscal attache of the peace committee. In a statement after his conference with the Presi- dent-elect he made flat denial of re- cent stories of a mysterious agree- ent to wipe the war debt off the ks, and said he had assured the President-elect his administration would be “as free and untrammeled as_air” in dealing with the question. The statement of Mr. Lamont, who came here at Mr. Harding's invita- tion, follows, in part: “I 'found that President-elect Hard- ing wished to ask me about certain phases of the international financial | situation which had come under my | observation during my attendance at | the peace conference at Paris in 1919. |1 found, too. that Senator Harding | has himself been giving very serious [("lo“xhl to the same situation, and | I may say at once that his view is both sane and reassuring. He began |by disclaiming any ability as a | financier. but I must say that many of his suEgestions were very prac- | i tical and showed the result of care- ful, cool and friendly analysis. “In my turn 1 was able to assure the President-elect that there is ab- solutely mo truth in the statement being constantly repeated to the ef- fect that at the peace conference in Paris there Was some secret under- standing between President Wilson and his advisers, on the one hand, and the French and British repre- sentatives, on the other, to the ef- fect that the allied indebtedness to the United States should, in whole or_in part, be canceled. “It is only fair to say that from start to finish of the peace confer- | ence President Wilson and his ad- visers, without exception, opposed | { vigorously and friendly ‘any such | uggestion of cancellation. To re- peat, there was no commitment, ex- { pressed or implied, near or remote, moral or otherwise, as to the han- dling_of the allies’ indebtedness to the United State: WATTERSON 81 TODAY. GALVESTON, Tex., February 1 Col. Henry Watterson, veteran new: paper editor, wintering here, cele- brated his eighty-first birthday -to-| day. Among friends who are enjoy- ing the day with him are Mr. and Mrs. Edward M. Flexner of Louisville, Ky. oosing Him for Cabinet Will Bring Re- | daughter and granddaughter, in an { of the apartment on 57th street, where 1 was searched yesterday by the police, | robbed # @he Foening WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION WASHINGTON, D. C., WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1921—TWENTY-SIX PAGES. —Friends Believed the Senate, and inclined to think that the friends of Mr. Hoover, who are pushing his selection, will sooner get over their disappointment than the opponents in high places in the party would abate their resentment. But here is another consideration, which it is said is being strongly urged on Mr. Harding: It is claimed that no permanent good will be as- sured by Vielding to the factional op- position, in that, sooner or later, some of the men who are fighting Hoover will break out in some other way, if circumstances arise which, i r minds, justify _opposition to b ministration. ~ The logic of this argu-| ment is that it will be love's labor lost | to seek to placate the anti-Hooverites and in the end the administration will hurt the feelings of the pro- Hooverites, showing e total loss in both transactions. Senators who have seen copies of former Gov. Lowden’s declination of the Navy portfolio, now: in the hands of Mr. Harding, still hope that he may be induced to reconsider. The letter, however, is said to have been emphatic, and to leave scant hope of reconsideration. It is said to have also indicated disinclination to ac- cept an ambassadorial post. WOMAN, 91, BURIED INYARD OF HOME Daughter Confesses Dire Pov- erty Prevented Funeral For Her Mother. By the Associated Press. CHICAGO, February 16.—The body of Mrs. Nancy M. Chamberlain, ninety. one years old, whose mysterious dis- appearance from the home of her artists’ colony, has been under in- vestigation by the police, was found éarly today, burfed in the back yud‘t the family Iived. > Two days of -questioning by police brought from Mrs, Ruth- Townsend, the aged woman's daughter, and Miss :.I‘T;l:n:y :'fi:msend. her granddaughter, ANSWers, suc) # happy -in love,” =2 AR Early today Miss Townsend con- fessed -that the aged. wi died of natugal causes last June, and had been buried by the two women in a flower bed in their back yard, in which the aged Woman had carefull: tended geranium plants, T Every part of their former home and even some parts of the rear yard were dug up, but nothing was found except bones, which doctors said were those of a dog. . Dire poverty caused the two women to bury the body secretly, Miss Townsend confessed to Police Matron Mary Dolan. One by one the prized possessions of the family were sold, until only the grand piano, on which on developed an u lb!%u';emnlned. nusual musical { “We had neither coffin nor bur! permit,” said Miss Townsend. "v‘v’-! covered up the body and placed the geraniums over the improvised grave. To us she is not dead—just buried. Mother and I swore never to say any- thing about it, because we were happy in love.” Withdrew From Soelety. Mrs. Chamberlain. her daughter, Mrs. Townsend, and Miss Marian Townsend, had been well known in musical cir- cles in the city, and until they left the south side artists' colony last summer, their studio was the scene of many Social affairs. Friends said that after the aged woman’s disappearance Miss Townsend ceased to Seek en- gagements, withdrew from social ac- | tivities, - and_ with source of in- ct‘,c;ne gone, gradually became desti- ute. Evidence that the women had been delvers in the occult was found by the police in their studio. Cryptic notes and diagrams were numerous, some relating to theories advanced by the ancient Egyptian sun worshipers and others to the modern system of spirit- ualism. But no ceremony or rites had been performed at the buridl of the grand- other, according to Miss Town- nd’s statement, because of their be- lief that there is no death. She said that ;Dllrl!uu': communication was started in the studio i after the burial. ey “The body is nothing,” Mis: - send told the police matron. FGrana: mother is still with us, for love and the power of God is always present.” s Tgwl:gend‘dln describing her '8 deaf saj th disturbed for two daga® 2007 was ot “On the morning of the third d: 1 o'clock Marian and I carried he‘x"yo::l :;l-.mt:iehe;;alr:. a0 pe_;—et;c: silence we | a flower bed w! oll;!lhrnlzked flowers. e nebat “The burial of my mother most beautiful and- sacred Kfl‘ng""i have ever done. Only a child's hands ahmllld bury her mother. “It was by direction of The One. Oneness—unity is all s e powerful, 1s —_— TRY ROBBING DISTILLERY. FAKE OFFICER ON GUARD | Special Dispatch to The Star. BALTIMORE, February 16.—An un- Buccessful attempt was made to rob the Melvale Distilling Company’s bonded warehouse at Melvale sta- tion, near here, about 4 o'clock this morning. There were 5,000 barrels of bonded whisky in the wareho: The sudden apearance of & motor cycle policeman prevented the rob. bery. Eight men were in the band which is alleged to have been at- tempting to get into the warehouse, Four of them escaped. The policeman drew his revolver and arrested four of the men, who gave their names as John J. Brunner, Elmer Swann, John Cole and Fred 'Strobel, ir. all of Baltimore. A five-ton truck which was backed up to the warehouse waj also taken by the policeman, The other four men made their es. cape by jumping into an automobile when the policeman appeared. One of the men is said to have been wear. ing a policeman’s uniform. This man was walking down the road some dis- tance from the place when he wa. met by another motor cycle poli man, who inguired what he was doing out there. He told the policeman he had been detailed to guard a distil- lery and sald that some one had just t. The man in the police- man's uniform had disappeared when 'elfl:h was made for him Jater. oy RECORDFORSPEED 5 HOUSES BOAST ON APPROPRATINS Mondell Makes Comparison With Other Sessions in Past Twenty Years. CLOSELY SCRUTINIZED ALSO, LEADER ASSERTS Mark Made Despite New Provision Consolidating Work on Bilis in Single Committee. How the House has established a record for speed and ecomomy in handling the appropriation bills at this short session was emphasized by House Leader Mondell in a statement today. He called attention to the fortifica- tions bill, which was presented yes- terday as the last of the regular an- nual appropriation bills. Its passage by the House, he said, will establish a record for the prompt passage of the federal budget. “In my investigation of the date of the passage of the last appropriation bills I have gone back twenty years, and I find the earliest date during that period for the pasage of the last appropriation bill to be February 20. In the last fifteen years we have not succeeded in getting the last of the appropriation bills through the House earlier than February 23, and from that to March 2. Consolidation Under New Rule. “This record of promptness and ef- ficiency,” Representative Mondell in- sisted, “has not been made at the sacrifice of careful consideration of the appropriation bills. As a matter of fact, they have never been more closely scrutinized, and when we take into consideration the fact that we have been operating for the first time under the new rule consolidat- ing the appropriations in one com- mittee, with the Tesultant thorough investigation and close scrutiny of the bills, members of the House may well take pride in the record ti has been made—a record creditable to both sides of the chamber.” In showing -the savings that have been made in cutting the estimates and reducing the appropriations be- low those for the current year Reép- resentative Mondell said: . - ) e BB P e g lon e a reduyction below the estimates of 210,416,298.59, and & reduction below the appropriatfons for the current fiscal year, not. taking into account the post office bill, of . $168,748,882.69. If from these reductions we take the amount of the Increase in the post office bill, due to the increased busi- ness and aries in that department, we have a total net decrease below current appropriations of $100,468,- 861.69. These stupendous reductions below the estimate, and very consider- able reductions below the bills for the current year. were not made hastily or carelessly, nor are they of the character Wwhich will hamper the public service. They have been made with due consideration of the needs of the public service and make prop- er provision for it. Largest Decreases. “The largest decreases have been made in the military and naval es- tablishments and in fortifications, as follows: Military, $63,707,242; naval, $37,278,324 fortifications, $10,775,- 425. This _amounts to a total de- crease of $111,760,991.77. This very considerable decrease in one year on the cost of our defense establish- ments is certainly not too much. In the case of the Navy, we might, without reducing the real effective strength of our establishment, re- duce the amount still further. The Navy is costing too much, even from the standpoint of the necessary up- keep and maintenance of the estab- lishment we have, and the building program which has been entered upon. P congratulate the Congress on the record thus far made. It is our duty to bend every energy and exert all of our efforts toward the completion of the appropriations program this ses- sion. It would be a calamity if this were not done. Important as other matters are, or may be considered, there are few, if any, of the legis! tive questions before the Congress the enactment of which at this ses- sion is as essential as the enactment of the appropriations program. “After today, but thirteen full legis- lative days remain in this Congress. It will require most earnest, con- stant and continuous efforts on the part of the two branches of Congress to pass all of our appropriation bills. It is vital to do it. I have every con- fidence we will.” Today’s News in Paragraphs Three posts still open in tentative cabi- net slate. Page 1 Commissioners see possibility of 15-cent Page 1 cut in tax rates here. Secrétary Houston of the Treasury De- partment promises to halt new foreign loans until the Senate judiciary com- mittee has been consuited and given time for deliberations. Page McAdoo firm asks recognition of Lithu- nian independence. Page Retired government employes plan move to get annuities increased. Page Stringent milk laws for District and cleaning up of tidal beach urged. Page 2 Washington contributed over $167,000 to fund for relief of starving children of Europe. Page Pope expresses desire soon to see Arch- bishop Dougherty. Page 2 Thomas Mott Osborne, in address in ‘Washington, condemns ‘“‘gushing” | over convicts. Page 4 Bolshevik envoy in Italy causes attack on socialists. Page 11 use votes $35,000 for community cen- e work In the District of Columbia, builds 61 age s at Britain 8 merchant shi; e e s o A L L tion records. Page 13 mmuters ask better street car servic, C‘}rum ‘Washington to Maryland l;vl)ll\tl.e . Page 13 Chinese tong war breaks out on Pacific coast. Page 18 Gov. Harding urges caution to conserve ‘American credit. Page 13 re-Paris oil pipe line, a huge Ameri. “22,’.. project, halted by bu.mmmedr;. pression. Page 13 Wounded farmer kills masked-assailant; ‘brief telegraph news of U. 8. Page 14 Petworth Citizens' Association votes to support plan for moving picture cen- m'g‘h Page 17 Falls urch to improve highway streets. Page 26 2 { HOPE THIS SPELL ] SUNSHINE OFS‘I’\CKS DISTRICT TAX CUT HINGES ON BONUS Commissioners May Be Able to Slice 15 Cents Per Hun- dred on Real Estate. The Commissioners will be able to make a reduction of 10 to 15 cents in the tax rate on real estate in Washington for the fiscal year: be- ginning July 1 if no big changes are made in the appropriation bill as agreed to in conference. . Distriet officlals-. who handle :: finances. of ‘the ity are: confident the present real estate raté of $1.95 per $100 of assessed value can be requced next year to approximately $1.80, pos- 8l a-few cents more or less. 'i"‘h’em fs one item still unsettled in Congress which may upset this esti- mate and that is the question of whether the per diem laborers and mechanics of the city are to receive the $240 bonus next year. ‘Would Increase Salaries. There has been talk in Congress of withdrawing the bonus from all em- ployes whose pay is adjusted from time to time out of lump sum appro- priations, which would include the iem men In the District service. n;xdnuu men should be deprived of the bonus their basic salaries, no doubt, would be interested to some extent. Since 60 per cent on the $240 bonus paid District employes comes out of local taxes, however, the withdrawal of the bonus would reduce the amount on which the tax rate would have to be fixed. The District bill as it now stands amounts to $19,347,552. In figuring on the tax rate, allowance must be made for an additional $3,000,000, which, it is expected, will be appro- priated for the city.in other billa Rhis gives $22,000,000, of which Dis- trict taxpayers will have to meet 60 per cent, or about $13,200,000. Estimates of Auditor. Maj. Daniel J. Donovan, District auditor, has estimated that the Dis- trict will collect $1,250,000 in taxes on the gross earnings and receipts of public utility corporations, banks, associations and similar in- :t“x;.l::"::gn!: another million dollars in taxes on intangible personal property and $1,400,000 from miscellaneous licenses, fees and motor tags. These three items amount to $3,650,000. De- dueting this from the $13,200,000, Which representa the District’s 60 per cent of appropriations, there remains, in round numbers, $10,000,000 to be raised from the tax on real estate and tangible personal property. ‘The estimated real estate assess- ment for the next fiscal year is $461.- $60.000, and the assessment on tangi- Dble property is $77,000,000. These two assessments amount to $538,660,000. A tax rate of approximately $1.80 on these assessments, it was pointed out today, would raise the District’s share tions. M'r?.'ewn’:}":i'u. payable this May are on the $1.95 rate. MAY CALL SOLDIERS. Suggested for Police Duty Here During Inauguration. resentatives of the War Depart- m::tp conferred with Engineer Com- missioner Charles ‘W. Kutz at the Dis- trict building today on the possibility of using soldiers to assist the local ndling the crowds and police I e pubiic on insuguration day. d, der: could be learned, no de: S0 far a8 ments were made. It is probable, however, l":?"u:’;;‘ig;?‘:‘:s by camps i Zrom neat™hi be detailed in Washing- %! ton that day- —— MAY DAY WEATHER SHOWS GROUNDHOG WEAK AS PROPHET 0ld Prof. Groundhog is failing miserably as a weather prophet, ai- though he has had full two weeks in which to demonstrate what he could do as a four-footed weather bureau, according to officials at the real bureau. wh‘{'leelmetxl‘le National Capital basked today under a genial sun that - reminded one of nething so much as a bright May day, fore- casters at the bureau united in holding Dr. Groundhog up to scorn. “Why, we had forgotten all about him,” declared the local forecaster. ‘While thermometers were shoot- ing up today in an attempt to hit the February high mark of 178 degrees, set many years ago, the bureau forecast cooler weather for tomorrow, Jut not cold. “Let's go Rshin’, and use that groundhog for bait” was sug- gestion heard today. R l | I ! i Member of The Amociated An rights dispatches * the use for republication of all mews eredited to it or pot otherwise credited in this paper and also the local news pubiished tere.s the Associated Press Press Is exclusively entitied to | of publication of special berein are also reserved. Yesterday’s Net Circulation, 93,689 TWO CENTS. PRESIDENT DESIRES TO OBEY PRECEDENTS ON INAUGURATION DAY President Wilson was represented today as being stronugly desirous of following every precedent estab- lished by custom for the participa- tion by the outgoing President in the cerémonies of the inauguration of his successor. 2 It was made known today at the White House that he had written President-elect Harding inquiring whether the incoming President de- sired to have a luncheon for his guests immediately after he enters the White House. President Wilson also was said to have before him the inaugural plans drawn by the congressional inaugural committee. Mr. Wilson was advised today by telegraph from St. Augustine that luncheon and that the communica-’ tion was now in the jmails. PONER BOARD ASKS IMMEDITEACTON In Report to Congress, Ex-. perts Say Potomac Develop- ment Will Be National Asset Complete development of the Poto- and Chain Bridge, will constitute a national asset of incalculable value, in a report on the proposed harness ing ‘of Great Falls for water supply and water power purposes, sent yes- tepday to Congress. The commission recommends that Congress authorize an immediate start in power develop- ment, in accordance with the report submitted to it by Maj. M. C. Tyler, Engineer Corps, U. S. A Recommendation.also is made that the question of supplementary water supply for the District of Columbia should be separated, and the commis- sion “earnestly recommends to-Con- gress the urgency of the need of the District that this project be at once undertaken.” The commission, after an investiga- tion by engineers of the Interior De- partment, decided that the counter- proposal for erection of ‘a dam, sub- mitted by J. H. Levering of Los An- geles, should be given “no further consideration.” Unanimous on Water Profect. Text of the report of the commis- sion sent to the president of the Sen- ate and the Speaker of the House follows, in part: “The Federal Power Commission, early after its organization, caused pubiic notice to be given of a hearing to be had before it, at which all per- sons _interested in the development of power from the Potomac river would be heard. Such a meeting was held and was attended by representatives of steam and electric railroads, elec- tric light and power companies, per- sous privately interested in the de- velopment. of Potomac power, public commissions, industrial bodies and citizens. - “So far as-these public hearings are concerned, it will be safe to say that there was at all times unanimous con- currence on the part of those present, representing alike the Commissioners of the District of Columbix and the business and private interests of the District, in the judgmént expressed as to the urgent need of immediate steps to supplement the water supply ¢f the District. No serious objection was dis- closed to the development of power from the Potomac. The discussion at the earlier meeting revolved largely around the relative economy of the production of hydro-electric power by various suggested plans, the possible losses which would follow to investors interested in existing -steam plants, and the length of time it would take to develop a market for the power pro- duced with a sufficiently satisfactory load factor to justify the investment and establish a rate which would make the power a real addition to the indus- trial and commercial resources of the community. “The Congress is aware of the fact that both the production of hydro- electric power from the Potomac and additional water supply for the Dis- trict of Columbia have been studied for many years and reported upon by both official and unofficial engineers in a large number of carefully studied documents. Urge Immediate Action. “The Federal Power Commission is of opinion that the guestion of sup- plementary water supply for the Dis- trict of Columbia should be sepa from that of power production, both for the reason that an imm: te ad- dition to the water supply of the Dis- trict of Columbia is imperatively de- manded and also for the m& that « ued _on Puge ¥, umu &) -3 2 "’l TREASURY TOHALT AL FOREIGN LOANS FOR SENATE PROBE Houston Promises to Consuit Judiciary Committee and Give It Time for Inquiry. REED PROMISES STRICT INVESTIGATION OF DEALS. Hearing Adjourned While Secre- tary Gathers Correspondence on Past Commitments. By the Associated Press. Secretfry Houston agreed today with the Senate judiciary committee not to make any additional loans to foreign Eovernments, no matter how pressing the demand might be, until he had consulted the committee and given it full time for deliberation. § The Treasury Secretary previously had declined to give his promise that he would make no further advances to the allied governments under com- mitments which, he declared, bound NEGROHELD SLAYE OF MRS G. H. MANN William H. Campbell Found Guilty of Murder in First Degree. William Henry Campbell, colored, twenty years old, was convicted today Iby a jury in Criminal Division 1, be- fore Justice Gould, of murder in the him in honor to advance money when it was requested. Mr. Houston appeared before they committee for questioning as to . the details of loans already made foreign nations, and particularly as to the legality of each transaction. He had with him a great mass of corre- spondence and other data and was ex- amined by Senator Reed, democrat, Missouri, author of a pending bill to prohibit further advances to foreigm nations. Senator Reed said he would take up each loan in turn and call for the correspondence relating to it. He also explained that he would ask three principal questions in each case, the first to ascertain the authority given for credits advanced, the date of the advances and the purpose of each, the balance and obligations agal cach advance. Hearing Is Postponed. . Loans to Czechoslovakia were first inquired into. The Treasury tary produced a letter to President Wilson under date of October 4, 1918, ukl‘l: if Czechoslovakia had been recogn and whether the Treasury was author- ized to make loans to it. The White House, he said, “approved the letter on the next day and the first commit- first degree, in connmection with the |ment to that nation to the amount of Killing of Mrs. Gertrude H. Mann, near $7,000,000 was authorized on April & 9.’ Porter street and Connecticut avenue, The examination of Mr. Houston g e loans March 11 last -The vérdict carries the death penaity, Campbell” sat~"unmoved " throu, ighout | My, the trial, which came to an abrupt | him all the ending at the conclusion of the gov- ernment’s evidence to offer in his behalf. Argu- tice Gould charged the jury, which retired about noon. The trial was one of the shortest on record for murder in the first degree. It consumed scarcely five hours. The jury was out only a few minutes. Statements by Witnesses. ‘William Johnson of Baltimore, Md.,|. colored, called by the government testified that he purchased a wi from Campbell last March for $2. He ments of counsel were waived, and Jus-|OXYGEN IS USED IN HOPE ateh|, only as far as th to 8 the hearing being adjou! L Monday after it -Houston had not e 5 wers data hw'. members indl r foreign quire into how case. The prisoner did not | made before and r the armistice take the stand, and his counsel had no | and how they wei carried out. OF SAVING CARUSO’S LIFE Singer Strlken"lu: Heart Attack Last Night Sends for Friends and Has Sacrament. NEW YORK, February 16.—Oxygen oday was being administered to En- wore it, he stated, until detectives|rico Caruso, world-famous tenor, who mac river, with dams at Great Falls|claimed it last August. Rose Douglas, | is waging a fight against death, after also of Baltimore, a sweetheart of the prisoner, told of calling at Camp- last night having been stricken with bell's home in Baltimore and finding |2 heart attack that caused his physi- the Federal Power Commission says|2 ring on his watch chain, which she | cians to fear he would succumb before took and wore until the arrival of|gawn. the Washington detectives last Au- gust. Both the ring and the watch were identified by Miss Margaret W. Mann, a daughter of the viatim, now a student at Northampton, Mass., as having belonged to her mother. Alec A. Preece, a student of George Washington University, was the first {to discover the body of Mrs. Mann. He was riding on horseback and mno- ticed what he first thought was a dummy, but on invgstigation found the body. He went a fire engine houze nearby and reported the find. Policemen’s Testimony. Policeman Trenis and Detective O'Brien told of the condition of the body when the police arrived z‘l"\ the st‘ene»tThe last witness for e government was iva Sergt Darnell, who told of a state- ment made by the accused and of the locating of the ring and watch taken from Mrs. Mann, as told by other wit- nesses. Assistant United States Attorney | Cromelin conducted the prosecution, | while Attorneys Royal A. Hughes and | George E. C. Hayes appeared for the | defense. —_— DR. KANE RECOVERING. Says Removal of Own Appendix | Was Success. KANE, Pa., February 16.—Dr. Evan O'Neill Kane, the sixty-year-old sur- geon of this place who late yesterday removed his own appendix. in one of the most remarkable surgical opera- tions on record, spent a comparatively easy night, and sent word from his| bedside today that he is farther on the | road to recovery than is usual the day | following an operation for the re- moval of the appendix. “Just say that I am getting along all right,” said the doctor, through | his nurse. - “Maybe, a little later on 1! will have a statement that will be of | interest.” | It was stated that Dr. Kane, since ! the operation, has dictated a number | of letters and given directions re- garding the conduct of his personal affairs and practice. NORTH IDAHO COUNTIES ASK LEAVE TO SECEDE 1 { AND FORM NEW STATE BOISE, Idabo, February 16— The secesion movement took definite form today, when a reso- lution was introduced into the senate of the Idaho legislature virtually ~ asking permission for north Idaho to secede from the state. ‘The resolution calls for the holding of a convention at the University of Kaho, at Moscow, June 20, 1923, of delegates from the various counties of the Shortly before 11 o'clock mere oxy- gen tanks were taken to the singer's apartments in the Hotel Vanderbilt, where the tenor is lying, surrounded by relatives and comrades in the Met~ ropolitan Opera Company. A consulta- tion of doctors has been called. Caruso's condition was admitt-dly critical, but his physicians declared he was holding his own after a slight rally at § o'clock this morning. Since that hour, however, he had several spells of semi-consciousness. At gne time he was able to recognize his friend, Antonio Scotti, but he was too weak to talk to him. An official bulletin issued by Ca: so's physicians at 11:30 o'clock said: “Caruso has rallied from a very se- vere relapse. His condition is not sat- isfactory, but there is some improve- ment.” The sacrament of extreme unction was administered to him at 1:25 o'clock this morning, by Rev. E. E. Molinelli of the Church of the Sdcred Heart of Jesus. Fully aware of his condition, Caruso directed the sending of a telegram to his son, Enrico, Jr., who is a student at Cul- ver Military Academy, Culver, Ind. He then expressed to his wife a desire to see his friends and all the singers with whom he had been associated in the Metropolitan Opera Company to tell them “good-bye.” When the Rev. E. E. Molinelli of tne Church of -the Sacred Heart of Jesus, called at the Caruso apartment early today and administered the sacrament of extreme unction It was learned that the tenor was comscious and recognized the priest. “What's the matter? What are you doing here? I am not going to die!™ said Caruso, who then thanked the priest for his visit. Mrs. has been n her husband since 10:30 o'clock night, refused to leave his bedside to- d: ay. Throughout the morning the tenor's apartment was besieged by telephone calls from scores of friends and fel- low singers, including Geraldine Far- rar. The secretary of Roland Riccl, newly appointed Italian ambassador to the United States, called at the Caruso apartments. PRESIDENT TO REPORT. - Will Explain Use of $150,000,000 Special War Fun& White House officials announced ¥9- day that President Wilson before his jrement March 4 will make & final itemized report showing the bursements and_allotments made him_out of ;heCSLmQ)W ‘war him by Co! V\‘_);:g House after a stormy session yesterday adopted a resolution calling Upon him for such a report. TRY FOR AIR RECORD. posed new state. At this time a constitution would be adopted, to be submitted to the electors of the mew state_ for their rejection or adoption. The proposed state would in- clude ten north Idaho counties, emBracing an area of 35,000 square miles, and including a of ly 150,000,