Evening Star Newspaper, March 23, 1921, Page 1

WEATHER. Partly cloudy and warmer tonighi tomorrow unsettled and warmer, fo Towed by showers. £ Temperature for twenty-four hours ended at 2 p.m. today: Highest. 5 Member of the Associated Press | The Amociated Press is exclusively entitied to || the use for republication of all mews dispatches credited to it or ot «therwise credited In this paper and also the local news publishd herein. Full report on page 19. m. today; lowest, 35, at 5 a.m. Closing New York Stocks, Page 25. Che hend WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION ny Star. All rights of publication of special dispatches herein are also reserved. Yesterday’s Net Circulation, 96,816 Entered as secol No. * HUGHES MAY AGREE “TO DISEUSS TRADE | TREATY WITHRELS Early Consideration Likely to 28,087. nd-class matter post office Washington, D. C. WASHINGTON, D. ., WEDNESDAY, MARCH 23, 1921-THIRTY PAGES. Early in June, somewhere off the At- lantic coast, Brig. Gen. William Mitchell, Be Given U. S. Relations With Russia. | i | i | LENIN ASKS HARDING | TO EARLY PARLEY HERE| Note Is Sent to State Department ‘Without Being Seen by the President. Farly consideration is to be given to relations between the United States and soviet Russia. it was indicated to- day at the State Department. Formal announcement of any change in the relations between the two .countries or in any of the rulings by ithe Wilson administration may not ‘be made for some time, but it was ‘made clear that already certain modi- fications of those rulings either are under consideration or have been made. These decisions were reached inde- pendent of the appeal from the soviet government to President Harding and the American government for a re- sumption of trade relations between ithe United States and Russia. That appeal reached the State Department today from the White House. First Was Denied. The appeal was sent to the State Tepartment without being called to the attention of President Harding, -and it was first announced that it had not been received. A simlar an- nouncement also was made at the State Department, but this subse- quently was corrected. In the event of an agreement by the JUnited States to treat with the so- Viets, it was indicated that no techni- cal bars would be placed against the entry into the United States of a dele- ation which the Moscow wireless dispatch to London said the soviet proposed to send here to negotiate a trade agreement. It also was developed that aj slightly broader view has been taken by the department regarding the is- suance of passports and vises. While there has been no indication of any material relaxation of the regula- tions it became known that in cer- tain exceptional cases vises and pass- ports would be authorized. Gold on Way Here. The announcement in press dis- patches from Stockholm that a quan- tity of Russian gold now is on the way from that place to the United States also developed that the Amer- jcan government would not raise any uestion as to the metal's origin. it is explained, however, that the parties to whom it as -eeasigned would accept it at their own risk. The official view is that its status can not be properly impugned it it bears the mint mark of any recogniz- ed government, such as that of Sweden, which is reported to have! been placed on the consignment. If, | after it is received and accepted, & * claim as to its origin or ownership is ade, the guestion that would be raised would be one for the courts to_decide. 3 ‘The attitude adopted toward the im- portation of gold. it was explained, is not different from that assumed in Great Britain. In this connection it becomes known that this trade pact recently entered into between Great Britain and soviet Russia, has been carefully studied and analyzed by the State Department. Leaders Go Slowly. It also was learned that official con- mation of Lenin's declaration of his renunciation of many of the principles of bolshevism have been received and will be made one of the bases on which American officials will build their study of the Russian question. It was made clear, however, that | Lenin’s declarations wer not accept-| ed as definite proof that the Russian | leader actually was contemplating any matertal alteration of his methods. The department has no doubt that he made the statements credited to him in which he declared that many of the principles of bolshevism had proved failures, and that they must Jaok to capitalism for rehabilitation and stabilization, but officials are not unmindful of the statements, many times officially made in Russia, that the revolutionary leaders would not hesitate to act and speak in any way doemed expediend to further the gen- | eral plan of world-wide revolution REDS SEEK U. S. TRADE. i i 4 " 'Seénd Appeal to President Harding for Immediate Resumption. By the Associated Press. LONDON, March 22 —The Russian soviet government has appealed to President Harding and the zovernment to resume trade rela- tions with Russia, says a wireless me ge from Moscow todaw. The Soviet government proposes to send a delegation to the United States to negotiate a ment, the message adds. The appeal. which ix made by the all-Russian entral executiv com- 22 { the American | trade agree- | the youngest officer holding that rank in the United States Army, will lead a winged host to the greatest battle ever staged in peace times. It will be a ded affair, as fights go, with hundred airplanes attempting to drop high explosive bombs on a single, un- manned battleship. But its result may be the overthrow of our present sys- tem of national defense. The air serv of the Army is out to et the Navy. Gen. Mitchell in his re- cent testimony before the House military affairs committe declared the urmored ship is as helpless against attack from the air as the armored knight was when firearms were brought against him He challenged the Navy to provide i <hip that his flying men could not sink Laughs From Navy. This brought a laugh from former n a Secretary of the Navy Daniels and Jjests from naval officers, but Congress took the suggestion seriously. The lawmakers who control the appropri- ation strings at the Capitol decided, in view of the fact that a thousand airplanes can be built for the price of a single battleship, it would be wise to test the truth of Gen. Mitch- ell's assertions. And so the demon- stration is to take place as summer opens at a point probably not far from Cape Hatteras, although details of the arrangements are being held back by the censor. Something besides the future of the battleship will be settled by this bloodless battle. President Harding’s proposal, not yet communicated to Congress, for a ministry of defense, to be composed of three distinct branch- es—the Army, the Navy and the air service—will be affected by it. For Gen. Mitchell has told Congress that our air resources must be combined and maintained as a separate arm of defense. and he believes the June demonstration will prove the wisdom Prelate Unconscious Most of Time—Family Loses Hope of Recovery. By the Associated Press. BALTIMORE, Md., March 23.—Card- inal Gibbons, who suffered a relapse last Sunday, was reported to be in a critical condition today. He is con- scious only a part of the time and vir- tually all hope for his recovery has been abandoned by members of his household, who had clung to the be- lef that the prelate’s naturally vig- orous constitution would pull him through the present attack as it had those of the past. He passed a restless night and was weaker this morning, his secretary, Rev. Albert E. Smith, said, adding, howeve; that the doctor had reported the pa- tient’s pulse to be good. His heart action was said to be weak and his temperature low. Blames Warm Weather. No attempt was made to minimize the gravity of the cardinal’s case by mem- bers of his household or his physician. The latter said the prelate’s condition ‘was very serious and that he would have to be watched constantly. He is uncon- scious a part of the time. The doctor attributed the change to the unusually warm weather of last Sunday. Since his return in January to the archepiscopal diocese from the home of friends of Union Mills, Md., where he became seriously ill in December, the cardinal's condition apparently had continued to improve. He was able to take automobile rides almost daily and aiso was able to walk about his home. eral Breakdown. December 5 the prelate suffered a general breakdown due to his unre- mitting devotion to his diocesan du- ties in spite of his eighty-six years. Evidence that the strain was begin- ning to tell on him was given as early as November 7. when he was seized with a momentary faintness while Melivering a sermon at Havre de Grace. The change for the worse in Cardi- nal Gibbons' condition occurred Sun- day night, but announcement of the ARMY DRILLING AIR HOSTS \ TO BATTLE WITH WARSHIP Gen. Mitchell and Staff Rush Bombing Practice With Dummies—Bloodless Battle Off Coast May Decide Fate of Aviation. CARDINAL GIBBONS GERMANY DISPUTES AT DEATH'S DOGRI FIGURES OF ALLIES [ of giving aviation an cqual place with the Army and the Navy. . Not Supplanting Army. “] want it to be distinetly under- stood,” he said, “that I do not con- sider that the air force is to be con- e supplanting sidered s in any sen the Army. You have always K‘ul to come to manpower as the ultimate | thing, but we do believe that the air| force will control all the communica- tions, and that it will have a very great effect on the land troops, and a | decisive one against a navy.” | While plans for the bomb-dropping | tests are heing prepared secretly, one | cannot visit the air service offices in the munitions building, where G Mitchell holds forth as the assi chief of the service, without sen that mighty way. Young officers—men who “went | over and put it over” during the war —are Gen. Mitchell's reiiance in an tindertaking that will make or break the hopes of the service. They are spending long hours studying dia- grams of bombs. of bomb-releasing devices and other minute details that | must be known.thoroughly if they are | to succeed. Practicing With Dammies. When the assistant chief is not con- ferring with his aids in Washington he generally is at some aviation fleld actively assisting the fliers, who daily practice dropping dummy bombs from great heights. In the final analysis the skill of these men in locating their targets will determine whether the air force is to supplant the navy on our defense frontiers. It is hinted that their marksmanship has become gratifyingly efficient, and that sur- prises are ‘In store for the skeptics who doubt the ability of the air officers to hit a battleship in motion without coming in range of machine gun fire. _Gen. Mitchell “hops off” from Boll- ing field, on the outskirts of Wash- ington. two or three times a week for (Continued on Page 10, Column 5.) STILLMAN CHARGE AIRED IN' GOURT Banker’s Wife Accused of In- fidelity as Alimony and Fees Are Taken Up. By the Associated Prees. ‘WHITE PLAINS, N. Y., March 23.— A definite charge that Mrs. Anna U. Refuses to Pay Billion Marks Due; Says 20,000,000 Have Been Overpaid. By the Associated Press. PARIS, March 23.—Germany, in her reply today to the recent ultimatum of the allied reparations commission, refuses to pay the 1,000,000,000 marks £old due on this date, and disputes the commission's figures showing a balance of 12,000,000,000 marks due May 1. Itt is maintained in the German note that the 20,000,000,00 which " the Deace’ treaty. provige been more than paid. Byenlioe The note asks that sion of experts e Ol German deliveries on reparation ac. count, but it declares that in :ncy :"v:nl lltowouldl’be In'apouulhle for Ger- ny pay 12,000,000,0 the 1st of &ax Y mackaiby Willing to Negotiate, ?"'he note concludes as follows: If. after the experts have con- ferred, it is established that there is a deflcit in the payments by Ger- many, she is ready to begin negotia- tions with the reparations commi :i:::,;;glrdins the floating of a loan The reparations commissi morning to consider the Germ: - ply, which was ot transmi Taat night. tted from Berlin The Germans' failure to i deemed a violation of the uf;'& of Versailles, which the commission wil] report to the allied governments. The allies will then determine what meas. ures shall be taken. ot Direct Anawer. It is commented here that ¢he Ger- man experts already have been heard by the commission, which listened to Rheir arguments before fixing the valuation of the German deliveries credited as payments agains the 20, 000,000,000 marks. This valuation, therefore, was considered final. since the treaty gives the commission sole jurisdiction in the matter. The German reply does not answer directly the commission's demand for a first payment of 1,000,000,000 marks op met this fact was withheld in the hope that the bad turn would prove to be only temporary. As time went on, how ever, instead of improving his condi- tion became graver and it was de- cided to let his friends know the un- favorable state of affairs. Several Sinking Spells. Ever since he was taken iil, the ! Cardinal’s condition has shown mark- { ed reactions to extreme weather con- | ditions. During the very cold speil some weeks ago he suffered a re- | 1upse. it was learned today, but re. covered from it in a few days and was able to resume his automobile | rides. mittec, SUEZeSts that nexotiations be started immediately for the resump- tion of trade. It asserts that there has been w long-existing hope for fricudly relations with “the great northern reput refers to the “postility of the democratic ation,” trusts that the pr vernment will “appreciate th eat_advantages which would ensue o both republics by the resumption of trade relatio wnd declares that | it is to the in s of both 1 to remove the which now rates the two countries When many other states have con- cluded trea ith Russia the ab sence of normal relations with United St the appeal s pea a “stfange phenomenon Other Trade Treaties R A wircless messaze from cow announces the rati Ly = Viet government of treaties Persia and Bokahara also nature of a peace treaty with Pe.. 1 and trade agreement wip Britain these treaties conform to ¥s the message, “but nt successex for the and show the consolidation of = power on the international front - Defending the governme itade agreement with Russia, Premier Lioy tieorge declared in the house of com- mens that a complete change was 5 Tdday’s ‘News He took the last of these on Palm | Sunday. but when he returned it was Seen that the heat was exerting a weakening effect upon him. He was at once put to bed and everything possible was d to stimulate his | heart action. He has sinc, ral of the sinking spells that had sev- s0 are a in Paragraphs Atterbury of Pennsylvania - held s suspects in Wall street ex- plosion. Pagy Twenty thousand g nt ¢mploves Reparated from service, refund of line | Ameunts they paid into ret fund. outs give to Associated Chari- | drive; nearly 4,000 contributors. Page greement expected betwesn packers and employes. Page cited to court after shaving Page 4 following the Colorado, | Earl fiv | Ha | h i ds of freshmen. at luncheon, launching of adnaught argue against disarmament. ¥ | Germans sent two American dete | “to jail in Bergdoll case. Page 12 evident in the attitude of the bol. | b AT i shevik government toward what is| Wk Ridjey concerned over fires In Rock called capitalism. | b H c “Indeed,” he said. “some of L.vm.,,tifl;":»m;umm join in fight g,,rm::..,, speeches might vers well have been| : oA delivered by Mr. Churchill Rimsetr~ |France, hovers American who 'Tl’;'v = Tioye) Ceorges Wicwn | City Club urges immediate steps to ob. The Russian soviet premicr was be. | Ciain now conduit % Colon ~inning 10 realize t trade (Continucd on Page 2, Column 1.) was . Benning Cltizens' Association Joins move for better D. . lighting. Page 30 n today. (This point, however, Is cov- ered on the face of things by Ger. many’s contention of overpayment of the entire amount due by May 1.) There is nothing said in the note, nevertheless, to show that it would be impossible for Germany to pay thig 1,000,000.000 marks, which the repars tions commission knows that Ge, many has available in gold, as well as in foreign securities, it is stated. REPARATIONS BILL PASSES. British House of Lords Approves Proposed Levy on Germany. By the Associated Press. LONDON, March 22.— The reparations bill, imposing a levy of 50 per cent of the value of all GGerman imports, to be used toward the pay. ment of reparations, today passed all the remaining stages in the house of ierman lords without discussion. The measure now needs only the king's assent to become a law, HEAVYWEIGHTS TO FIGHT ON PERCENTAGE BASIS Match Set- tled—Winner Takes Big Share of Stake. NEW YORK, March 23.—The half- million dollar purse for which Jack Dempsey and Georges Carpentier were 1o have fought July 2, has been | Dempsey-Carpentier ! withdrawn and the heavyweights will box on percentage basis when they engage in their world's cham- pionship battle. This announcement l“ s made here today by Promoter Tex Rickard, after several conferences | with representatives of the principals, ‘l'ndvr the new agreement, which takes the form of an amendment to the original contract signed in this city ember, the pugilists will re- T gross gate re- ceipts. Of this sum the winner will take 6 per cent and the loser 40 per cent. The contract originally provided that Dempsey, ampion, was to re- -eive $500.000 and C: fix the ‘value of the ! Stillman, wife of James A. Stillman, president of the National City Bank of New York, was the mother of a child by an Indian guide was made in supreme court here today by counsel for Mr. Stillman during preliminary arguments in the divorce suit the bank president has brought. Addressing - Justice Morschauser, who presided at the hearing on ali- mony -and_ counsel fees, Delancey Nicoll, chief counsel for Mr. Stillman, satd: “Evidence already before you shows that Mrs. Stillman took as her lover 2n Indian guide, by whom she had an infant son, whom Mr. Stillman must either acknowledge as a member of his family or repudiata as illegiti- mate. Lasted Three Years. “This criminal intimacy began in 1916 and continued through 1919. Mr. Stillman feels it his duty to his fa- ther’s memory, to his family and to his children to press this matter to a conclusion. “Had it been possible to do this otherwise than in court proceedings, he would have done it. But there was no other way than to make the moth- er and child codefendants in a suit.” Mr. Nicoll said he could not under- stand the feelings of a father “whose wife yielded to the embraces of an Indian guide” but that he could understand why he would hesitate to take court action under such circum- stances. The hearing lasted only about half an hour. When it was adjourned, at 10:30, Justice Morschauser re- served decision on the motions be- fore him for alimony of $10,000 a month and counsel fees of $25,000 for Mrs. Stillman. Spectators Crowd Room. When court opened today So many spectators crowded into the room that deputy sherifs had to be station- ed at the doors to prevent entrance of any more. Not only were all the seats filled, but many persons stood lon_the window sills. The lawyers plunged into the ques- {tion of Mr. Stillman's income, which finally was admitted by one of his lawyers to have been $536,000 in 1 Counsel for the defendant had claim- ed it amounted to $800.000 or $1,000,- 000. Mr. Brennan conceded that the figure of $536,000 was correct for the period of one year, and said that now that he had been supplied with this information he had no further oc- cagion for pressing for an examina- tion of the plaintiff. ; In making his charges against Mrs. Stillman—the former “Fifi” Potter—Mr. Nicoll said his client had ‘“refused to credit for a long time any thought which might have occutred after she may have implicated herself. “Now Mrs. Stillman makes charget against him.” he con- tinued. “Clearly she is entitled to a proper allowance of alimony and counsel fee. renerous, . Mrs. Stillman must defend herself and the legitimacy of the child.” Don’t Ask for Charity. Mr. Brennan sai “Let us take this case and get down to brass tacks. We are not here asking for generosity. We are here to assert our rights. We want an opportunity to find out what these warrior-like people are up in the wilds of Canada, and we want especially to know what they have Yo do with this case” Mr. Brennan added that in the last eight months Mr. Stillman_ has contributed more than $26,000 for_the m: { Column 6). day in the Editorial Secti arpentler, as chal- lenger, §200,000. g Mr. Stillman desires to be fair and | Unprejudiced Americans the real facts about the condition of anarchy existing in the Emerald Isle. They arc told by Sir Philip Gibbs The man who Father Duffy of the famous “Fight- ing 69th” says “brought the truth to a world of lies.” The first of two articles will be published next Sun- TWO CENTS. RADIO FOR POST OFFICE. {Air Mail to Be Directed From Department by Wireless. i Radio messages soon will snap and sparkle from the Post Office Depart- ment tower, giving the big clock the surprise of its life. Installation of a wireless outfit on the tower was in process today, and will be completed shortly. 7 The wireless will be used by the air mail service to communicate directly with air mail fields throughout the country, and possibly with air mail planes’en route. The wires are being run from the back of the building up the sides of the tower, in order to give as high a roint of receptivity as possible to the incoming flashe: GARDNER REGAINS COMMISSION POST Goes Back to International Joint Body—Numerous Selections Made. Obadiah Gardner of Maine, who re- signed from the international joint commission in the closing days of the last administration at the request of President Wilson, accepted reappoint- ment today by President Harding and later was sworn in as a member of the commission. Harry L. Fidler of Indianapolis, Ind., has been selected by President Hard- ing as a representative of the labor interests on the federal board for vo- cational education. Mr. Fidler was in charge of the labor bureau at repub- lican headquarters in Chicago during the 1920 campaign. 3 Judge H. C. Kerr of Lexington, Ky., is said to have been selected by Presi- dent Harding as federal judge of the Panama Canal Zone. The_ President also_is reported to have decided to name Reno S. Harp of Frederick, Md., as United States fish <ommissioner. Backed for U. S. Treasurer. Appointment of John W. Conner of Inited States was urged today by Representatives Clouse and Scott, re- publicans, Tennessee, during a confer- ence with' the President. Representative Langley of Ken- tucky presented to the president the name of McKenzie Moss of Bowling Green for appointment as solicitor of the Post Office Department. Mr. Moss s a former member of Congress, and erved for several years as a circuit judge in that state. Mr. gley also urged the appointment of Mr. Kerr for the Panama judgeship. The latest namo received by Presi- dent Harding for consideration fonnection with the selection of the next public printer is Joscph E. Goodkey of Berwyn, Md., been emploved at the government printing office for more than twenty- one years. Mr. Goodkey is a member the author of a number of laws of Columbia Typographical Union. A score or more of names have been placed before the President for ap- pointment as head of the big govern- ment printery, and he is being urged to make the appointment without de- lay. It is the impression of those who have seen the President within the past few days regarding this ap- pointment that he will make a re- Cess appointment in this case. Revenue Commissioner. It s understood that the President has not settled upon an appointee to the post of commissioner of internal revenue, Col. Edward W. Clifford of avanston, 11L, and Joseph H. ._of Morgan W _are (Continued on Page 2, Column 3.) The Truth lAboul Ireland have wanted to know on of The Sunday Star Knoxville, Tenn., as treasurer of the | in! who has ! of Columbia Typographical Union, No. | 101, and is well known in the Dis. trict of Columbia. He served as chairman of several chapels and is TWO SOVIET ARMIES IN DISORDER, WHILE CROWDS QUIT RANKS LONDON. March 23.—Newspaper reports from Riga state that the fifteenth and sixteenth soviet ar- mies. stationed in the vicinity of Pekov. are in open disorder and deserting in crowds. says an Fx- change Telegraph dispatch from Copenhagen today. The soviet government is report- ed to have declared martial law |r.|”>|xlu‘n Pprovinces, the reports add. SHOOTING OF GIRL LACKING IN MOTIVE { | LIVELY TIMES SEEN IN COMING SESSION Democrats of Congress Pre- pare to Take Advantage of Republican Breaks. BY N. 0. MESSENGER. Did somebody mention “politics”?, The word sounds strangely familiar, though it has not been heard exten- sively of late in the midst of the talk about patronage, revival of the Ver- sailles treaty and all that sort of thing. But just wait until Congress con- venes in extraordinary session, April 11; politics will be rampant trom.ule opening day. The democrats are get- ting ready to open an intensive cam- paign on the republicans, expecting to find their advantage in the tariff and tax reform policies of the dominant party. = During the recess. zome of the demo- 2 have. besn 1. fregueAL. SaRSILL: and have been in. d ton over the oux!oom promising hay-making season throughout the session mow close at hand. Though the professed policy of the national democratic organization, voiced by Chairman George White, is to give the new administration a fair show for its “white alley,” the program does not contemplate remaining silent or oblivi- ous under republican mistakes or em- barrassments. And the democratic Jeaders in Con- gress believe that the republicans “just naturally can’t help butting into difficulties” as soon as they settle down to business in the extraordinary session. The republicans are due for trouble, as the sparks fly upward, in the opinion of the democratic leaders. Tarift to Test Party Loyalty. It is a small minority in the House and Sevate, relatively, but a very mil- itant and determined one. Whether it is a united minority will soon be determined. as action on thte pro- posed emergency tariff bill proceeds. At the last session, it will be re- called, some of the democratic breth- ren in both houses strayed away from conventional party policy on the emergency tarift bill, claiming ex- ceptional ~conditions. They were up- braided by their colleagues and lead- ers at the time, and it remains to be seen what course they will follow from now on. Senator Penrose, republican tariff and tax leader in the Senate, talks of a “disciplined” republican party to push through the legislation decided upon in | party conference, and it is assumed that similar tactics may be pursued by demo- | cratic leaders, although democrats are i notoriously less amenable to caucus | pressure than republicans. In this situ- ation, however, their case is realized to be desperate and, in the opinion of the leaders, hopeless unless they stand solid- ly together. The prevailing belief among demo- cratic political leaders, in and out of Congress, is that by united action and taking advantage of every “break” the republicans may make, the democrats will assuredly diminish the great re- publican majority in the House in the next Congress elections, and even stand a chance of overcoming it. The “breaks” most confidently ex- pected from the republicans relate to possible mistakes in tariff legislation and failure to satisfy the country on tax reform. Some water over the democratic wheel is expected from the handling of the Versailles treaty and the league of nations: that is to say, the democratic leaders are confident that the republicans will have to Approa the policy of the last ad- ministration in a degree and at least sutliciently to allow them to say, “We tolg you so.” Expect Rising. Prices. The first real benefit whioh the dem- ocrats are counting upon to acerue to their side out of republjcan legisla- tion will be, in their opifion, the re- sentment of the country aguinst the predicted rise in prices to follow the passage of the tariff bill—if the rise materializes. as the demoarats om- inously predict. The” democratic leaders think that the country is in no mood to stand reaction from the recent decline in prices, and indeed has not vet be- come satisfled that the level reach- ed is low enough. The republicans realize that they may lose popular favor in a measure, but they are counting _ upon overcoming it through gaining the support of the farmers, if they can be rescued from their present distressing con- dition. All" through the debates coming on the tariff bill the democrats pro- pose to harp constantly on one string—stabilize conditions in Kur rope as a necessary precedent to restoring good conditions in busi- ness in_ this country. And that means, from the democratic view- point, do something with the Ver- sailles treaty. They intend, they say, to keep the republicans with their noses continually to the grind- stone on this propositicn. 1t may be added that in repub- lcan circles this propect is regard- | i i Youth’s Story of Accident CITIZENS ASSAL TRACTION FARESAS PUBLIC INJUSTICE {Want Charge Based on Op- erating Possibilities of Capital Traction Co. 38 ASSOCIATIONS JOIN IN APPEAL FOR A CUT i W. McK. Clayton Sends Brief to Partly Borne Out—Town Pays Tribute at Funeral. From a Staff Correspondent. HARPERS FERRY, W. Va. March .—Absence of a motive for the shooting of pretty Katherine Little- ton, sixteen years old, in her home at Bolivar, Sunday night, is the prin- jcipal stumbling block to the solu- tion of the tragedy which has disturb- ed this town and the places adjacent }sincr the girl was found dead in a 1 half reclining position on a sofa in the ‘par]or of her home Monday morning, by her mother. Every theory has been followed by the state and town investigators, but all of them—assault, jealousy, anger, fear of exposure—fall down under careful examination, and it is now be- lieved the shooting was an accident. James A. Stevens, the eighteen-year- old youth of Halitown, now confined in the jail at Charles Town, still - sists that Katherine shot herself, ac- cording to his attorney, Forrest Brown, who had refused to allow any one to talk with the prisoner. Will Be Arraigned Frid Stevens will be taken before Mag- istrate D. H. Nichols at Bolivar at 2 o'clock Friday afternoon for a pre- liminary Fearing to determine wheth- er or not he should be held for the action of the grand jury. field of Charles Town is seeking to weave evidence of murder against the youth. However, he said today that the facts so far as he has been able to gather them point to involun- tary manslaughter. It is the theory now, according to Mr. Porterfield, that the boy and girl were examining the automatic pistol when it ex- ploded. The range of the bullet, which entered the right eye, was up- ward through the brain and out near | the top and back of the skull, im- bedding itself in the plaster wall be- rilnd the sofa on which she was sit- ting. veral Points Pusslipg. There are several points in the boy's side of the case that are puzzling the officials. One is the statement of Stevens that the oil lamp went out wt'!‘:m itl'lehbl.;lu)l was fired and the other is the disposition of the empty MM{; Upon firing an automatic pistol e empty shell jis ejected. Search by the town officials, headed by Mayor James Brubb of Bolivar, has failed to disclose it, indicating that the young man may have searched with him when he left the house an: that he had likht for this o o¢ 7% According to Magistrate Nichols, Stevens made no effort to elude the police when he was informed they Wwere after him with a warrant. When the constable appeared at Stevens’ home the youth was waiting for him and immediately turned over the gun. No question of assault has entered into the tragedy. An examination made by Dr. W. E. Perry of Halltown, state medical officer, disproves this theory. Accident Theory Left. Investigation leaves only the acci- dental shooting theory. It is believed now Stevens was handling the gun | i Horror-stricken, he is believed to have { hurriedly picked up the cartridge and {gun, put out the lamp and left He rounding country and is popular with the vounger set. Miss Littleton had known him for some time, say her girl friends. who were out wit i both were in the best of spirits when they were left at the gate, both en- tering the dead girl's house. curred is a small whitewashed home situated on the roadside in a thickly settled section of Bolivar. The lounge where Katherine was found in a lean- ing posture by her mother upon coming down at 5:40 o'clock Monday morning | sets in the corner of the room, and al- though the partitions are thin, neither her stepfather, J. W. Ramsdill, her mother or two brothers (one of them slept directly over the parior) heard the shot which struck out the life of the young girl. { Wore Stevens’ Ring. When found Miss Littleton had in her right hand a chewing gum wrapper and a piece of gum Wwas in her mouth. She | also had on a finger of her right hand a ring which was identified as the prop- erty of young Stevens. Her hair was disarranged but a little and a few hair- pins were found on the floor. Miss Gladys Coulter, a friend of Miss Littleton, said that Miss Little- ton's life had been threatened by a young man if he saw her out with any one else. She gave the mame of the youth, but it was not young Steven who made this threat. In fact, accord- ing to Miss Coulter, she went out with | Stevens because of the threat of the other youth. Miss_ Littleton will be buried this afternoon at 4:30 from the home of her grandmother, Mrs. Lucy Sponseler, | where her body has been lying since | lady was | al n | i the inquest. The young very popular in the town, and steady stream of friends have bee calling to pay respects. Most of the business houses of the town, including the clothing mill where Miss Littleton was employed previous to her death, closed down fo balf a day today as a mark of respect W. I W, PLUMBERS FOUND GUILTY. | Two Convicted With Corporation in Building Case. NEW YORK. March 23.—After be- ing out seventeen hours the supreme court jury which has been consid- ering the case of three master plumb- ors and a corporation charged during the building trust investigation with violating the state anti-trust law to- day found two individuals and the corporation guilty and the third indi- Vidual not guilty. The verdict of guilty was returned against Charles A. Murphy, John L. ed as being fraught with consid- able embarrassment to the repub- lcans and tactical advantage to the opposition. X W Knight and the Wells & Newton Company. Frank J. Fee was cleared. Clemency was recommended in Knight's case. | Prosecuting Attorney John T. Porter- for the ghell. found it and took It | bears an excellent name in the sur-| Two | h her and Stevens | the night the shooting occurred say | The house in which the tragedy oc- ! i | depreciation ! Utilities Commission, Outlin- | ing Case of the People. If the Pubiic TUtilities Commission |decides that street car fares must re- {main the same on both con \panies it {should pass down to the W {Railway and Electric the rate which {the Capital Traction Company can OPerats on rather thun pass up to the Capital Traction the higher fare re- quired by the W. R. & E. This appral was made to the com- mission today by William McK. Clay- ton in a brief filed on behalf of the thirty-eight citizens' associations that make up the federation. Attacking the past policy of giving the Capital Traction Company more than it needs 0 meet the requirements of the W. R. & E. Mr. Clayton said: “The public has taken the count several times on the first proposition and prefers to see the process re- versed. Mr. Clayton dwelt at length on the strong financial condition of the Cap- ital Traction Company, and of the un- fairness to the public of continuing the present rate of fare to that road when the testimongy shows the com- pany would earn about 11 per cent on the value of its property this year i* | that is done. Takes Up Wage Question. The brief reads, in part as follows “One serious omission of the pres- ent law is its failure to empower the commission to fix the wages of service companies’ emploves. Having the right to fix the fare, toll or charge to be paid, the right to say what pro- portion of that fare should go into depreciation funds, the right to order issues of bonds and notes and the rate of interest to be paid thereon, the right to order track extensions and the terms and conditions of their financing, the commission should have the right to fix not Only the wages of employes, but as well the salaries of officials of the public service corpora- tions, who, from the very character of the duties they perform, are, after all, more trustees of the public than anything else. “Had this right existed it could have been most wisely and discreetly ex- ercised in the present case by the eommission. “In the case now before the com- mission the Washington Reflway and Electric Company asks 4he pres- | ent fare, § cents, or four tokens for 30 | cents, be continued. “The Capital Tracion Company not only does not ask that the four-for- 30-cents rate be continued, but pre- sents evidence that under the law i should absolutely preciude the com- mission from considering that rate as applying to the Capital Traction. “Paragraph 2 of the act provides: ““The charge made by any such pub- lic utility for.any facility or services furnished, rendered or to be furnish- ed or rendered shall be reasonable, just and non-discriminatory. Every unjust or unreasonable or discrim- inatory charge for such facility or service is prohibited and is hereby declared unlawful.’ Profits Over 11 Per Cenmt. “The evidence submitted by the com- pany shows that the rate of return on fair value received by the company for 1920 shaded closely toward 11 per cent; that the rate of return for 1920 hington 1 i { at the present fare will be greater and was apparently explaining tha! S ] operation of it to the young woman | When it was accidentally discharged. | cannot be doubted from the evidence. “The commission during its life of eight years has fixed rates, fares and tolls in over a score of cases affecting every public utility operating in the District of Columbi; “In the vast majority of these cases the fare or toll fixed afforded a rate of return of less than ¢ per cent on fair value; these cases occurred be- fore, during and since the war. None were appealed from the commission. They were acquiesced in by both com- panies and people. “With the law and its own record side by side before it, can this com- mission now say upon its own initia- tive, for the company stands silent in court, that a fare yielding double the rate of return other service corporation in the District of Colum- bia receives is ‘reasonable, just and non-discriminatory’? “No public service corporation be- fore this commission during its entire existence ever suggested a rate of return_higher than S per cent, and even then the lips before they closed were fashioning 7 or 6 per cent. ‘But the commission may say that special reasons now impel even ex- travagant dealing with the Capital Traction Company. Failure of credit. |lack of equipment. deferred mainte- nance, passed dividends. loss of pat- ronage, justify extraordinary consid- eration at this time. Hearken to your testimony and back to your law and your record. Two Miles ew Tracks. “The comnany last year rebuilt two miles of track, as it did the previous ear, and pians to do this out of cur- rent revenues. It has $1,000,000 in its fund. Tt bought over $300,000 worth of new cars in the st two years out of current reve- nues. Tt paid $720,000 last vear in dividenus and this year announces it will pay $840.000. $300,000 in bond in- terest is paid annually, and it closed 1920 with over $600.000 of surplus on one year's operations. “Can the commission now, after standing these figures at attention, go down the line. justify the present fare as ‘reasonable, just and non-dis- criminatory’ under the law to those who ride upon the cars of the Cap- tal Traction Company? ou must justify it under the law. You have no power of legislation. You cannot write in the law a public pol- icy of vour own; find in that law, it you please, any direction that the Commission must protect one road against the other: that the commis- sion is to see to it that riders are not diverted from one line to the other; that passengers be divided equally between the two systems and kept so divided at the expense of every- thing else. You might as well try to find in your law a direction that the commission should see to it that both companies borrow money on exactly the same terms, and at the same rate terest. o aay be public policy, it most emphatically is not law, and public policy goes limping always a vagrant and a mendicant through the temple of the law. What the Companies Ask. “The commission is asked by companies to treat them as o (Continued on Page 2, Column