Evening Star Newspaper, March 29, 1921, Page 1

P WEATHER. Fair tonight and to morrow; freez- ing temperature tonight; warmer to- morrow. Temperature for twenty-four hours ended at 2 p.m. today: Highest, 81, at 2 p.m. yesterday; lowest, 26 at 6 am. today. Full report on page 2. Closing New York Stocks, Page 21. he bening Star. Member of the Associated Press The Amocisted Press is exclusively estitied to the use for republication of all news dispatches credited to It or .ot wtharwise credited in this paper and also the local mews publish>d hereis. Al rights of publication of special dispatches bereln are aiso reserved. WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION =| u Yesterday’s Net Circulation, 90,669 No. 28,093. RED RIOTERS SLAIN 'ASESSEN WORKERS) | CLASHWITH POLICE Fifteen Killed, 40 Wounded in i Fighting—General Strike z. Program Blocked. RHENISH PRUSSIA CITIES ¢ IN ‘NON-MILITARY’ SIEGE | —. Government Forces Appear to Hold i Control—Thousand Radicals Captured in Factory. Br the Associated Pres 3 ESSEN. Germany, March 20.—Fif-| teen rioters were killed and forty | others wounded in a clash with the ®ecurity police here. The attempt to bring on a general atrike in this region has so far fail- od. “An exceptional status” has been proclaimed for Dortmund, Bochum. Gelsenkirchen and other points in Rhenish Prussia. The “exceptional status” referred to presumably is similar to or identi- cal with the “non-military state of siege.” which has been put into force by the German authorities in parts of central Germany. affected by the communist disorders. With the exception of the minor outbreak in the American brldgehe:d jon Monday, which was promptly and effectively dealt with by the American military police, the dis- orders reported in the foregoing are the first to be recorded in the Rhine area since the outbreak of the com- munist risinpg in Prussian Saxony. ! Whether or not these movemenls are connected does not yet appear. Anxiety in Berlin. / Berlin dispatches filed late Monday { night indicated some anxiety in gov- ernmental circles over the develop- ment of possible disturbances in the 1 capital Tuesday, an attempt by the extremists to tie up the big indus- trial and other plants in ageneral ‘strike being forecast. The Wilhelm- strasse was ordered closed to traffic e d all the approaches to the foreign flice and other government buildings re barricaded with barbed wire en- tanglements and guarded by troops. Last_reports from central Germany were that the situation had not mate- rially changed, the principal trouble ‘being sporadic _outbreaks at points temporarily held by rioting bands which the security police had as yet Mailed to control in the roundup of ridscs in_which these police forces w e Essen is a cntral point in the Rhine| Industrial region and ,:nt?un"““leelx adjacent to the recéntly occup! by the allles m“-?mm“ their sone to include the coal ports of Duisburg and Ruhrort. These towns, in which allied troops are now located, are situated at the mouth of the Ruhr .within ten miles of Essen, and there- «fore within easy striking distance of Ithat city should any. extension of the :allied occupation area in that direc- tion be deemed advisable. Important Gains Made by Govern- ment at Leuna Plant. By the Associated BERLIN, Fress. 8 29.—An important saln was made today by the gov- ernment forces engaged in dealing ‘with the communist disorders in cen- Germany, when troops and secur- Entered as second-class matter post office Washington, D. C. WASHINGTON, PRESIDENT IN JAUNT AROUND ELLIPSE IN SNAPPY MORNING AIR ‘The brisk, snappy air and the sunshine were too much for Presi- dent Harding this morning when he started from the White House to the executive offices. After inhaling_deeply of the fresh breezes he hurried back into [ the White House, donned his golf cap and called for Laddie B | While he was waiting he was | i Joined by Brig. Gen. Charles E. i Sawyer. his personal physician, and ‘when Wilson Jackson, master of hounds at the White House, arrived with the airedale, the lit- tle group started toward the west gate, where they were joined by several secret service men. They walked down Jackson place to the roadway directly to the south of the White House grounds, turned to the right and made the full swing of the ellipse, which is a fa more than six-eighths of a miie in length. It was shortly before 9 o'clock and th, was a regular proces- sion of men and women hurrying to their offices at the time. The President was kept busy acknowl- edging salutations until the south side of the ellipse was reached, where but few persons were en- countered. Laddie Boy was unleashed and he rushed k and forth at the head of the walkers. The Presi- dent arrived at his desk a few minutes after 9. “It was fine,” he said, as he hurried to his desk and the pile of business awaiting him. CITY HEADS LIKELY TOAID SCHOOL PLEA Expected to Ask Congress for Emergency Funds for Building Program. That the District Commissioners will endeavor to obtain appropriations from the special session of Congress next month for at least a part of the school building program was regard- ed as practically certain at the Dis- trict building today. The city heads, at -their regular board meeting this morning, discussed the building needs of the school sys- | tem. While they reached no definite | conclusions as to the amount that should be asked for now or as to the ! manner in which the money should be | appropriated, it is understood that | they will submit a school building budget to Congress at the forthcom- ing_session. : The Commissioners will have fur- ther conferences before deciding whether to ask that part of the amount required be taken from the more than $4,000000 of surplus Dis- trict revenues accumulated in the Treasury. Engineee Commissioner Charles W. Kuts, wi6 supervises dchool com struction work for the District gov- ernment, is expected to go over the situation as presented by the school officials yesterday before the board of Commjssioners decides definitely on how fauch to ask for and in what form. CABINET TAKES UP RAIL SITUATION Subject Holds First Place in Discussion at White | ity police "surrounded "the mitrogen H ! piant at Leuna, which has been a unist stronghold for the past ouse. five days, and forced the InSurgents| The rallway situstion held firat The insurgents, against whom the |Place in cabinet discussion today, was opened at an early hour | President Harding calling for opin- attack . this morning. at first offered stub-|iong from his circle of counselors resistance, but their escape was cut off on all sides, and they were obliged to capitulate. ‘The troops took 1,000 prisoners and seized large supplies of rifies, ma- chine guns and ammunition. REVOLT BREAKS OUT ANEW. Attempts to Seize Ruhr Cities Fail in-Most Instances. By Cable to h:;o:'" and Chicago Daily News. | BERLI yright, 1921. i N, Germany, March 29.—The spirit of revolution is flickering up afresh _in various parts of Germany | after having subsided a short time| during the Easter holidays. New com- munist uprisings are reported from | géntral Germany as well as the Ruhr| ‘ aistriet. Radical attempts to seize the Ruhr | Remscheid and Bochum| failed as the result of the carefully prepared resistance of the government | troops, but the reds succeeded in cap- turing the important Ruhr city of | “Me n, where they have set up a | soviet government after entrenching | themselves. Tn a city near Berlin, where was lo- cated the largest arsenal of arms and ammunition in Germany, ten com- i entered the electrical works, ! held up all the employes at the point of revolvers, herded them into a small room. planted ten pounds of dynamite under the machinery and then made ! their escape by automobile. The em- ployes were able to break out of their . however, and get away from the works. With the aid of the police, } who showed great courage, they suc- ceeded in putting out the fuse, which was burning close to the percussion preparatory to the framing of a gen- eral administration policy. It was indicated that the question of railway legislation probably would | be touched on in the President’s mes- sage to the special session of Con- gress next month. To prepare for! his recommendation, Mr. Harding will consult with the chaifmen of the In-| terstate Commerce Commission and | the Rhilway Labor Board within the| next few days. { Keeps in Touch. The administration has been in touch with railway executives and railway labor leaders, and the Pres dent is understood to be much im- pressed by the present situation, in Which the carriers are operating at a loss at the same time that shippers are complaining that rates are-too high. The wage reduction element in its situation Is understood to have ! been touched on at the cabinet ses- | sion, but Mr. Harding attempted to | reach no decision pending his confer- | ence with the government agencies which deal with railway conditions. Freight rates were said to have been considered by the cabinet, al- though the suggestion was made that| present passenger rates might be so | high as to restrict travel and actually curtail railroad earnings. | approaching the railroad problem took {into_account its possible relation to | tariff legislation and conditions aris- ing from the fact that under the pres. ent tariff schedules rallroad rates make delivery of American agricul- tural products in some of the home commercial centers more expensive than costs of their importation from abroad. < \“Borlin itselt 1s very quiet, though ithe people are nervous in the expecta. /tion of new outbreaks today or to- morrow. when the employes resume work after the Easter holiday$ Comment is made concerning the ap- t reluctance of the government to send regular troops to the endan mered areas. It is said that =o many regulars have been massed along the Silestan front that there are scarcely enough left at any point in Germany to protect the government against up. risings such as have oocurred in the last few days. Another strange feature of the pres- ent situation in Germany is the faot that affairs have been extraordinarily Figures Produced. Figures were produced during the iscussion to show that producers, say {at one point in the west, pay the same rate to ship £00ds to a point in the east as do producers in Europe ship-. | ping to the same point, but a distance | thousands of miles farther. Among other matters discussed at the | session were those for the removal of | the censorship of the commercial ca- | ble, foreign trade relief and the ex- | | tension of long-time credits to pro- | ducers in the cotton states. The President and his advisers in|Gen. quiet in Bavaria and West Prussia, ' FLYER KIRKE WINS. the parts of Germany which have re- | TR T T sisted the disarmanent d | Z Thors ‘&b & ‘rerult the “omands and Takes Fifty-Mile Flight at Bell- armed civilian militia reigns supreme. | air, Fla. SUCCEEDS N. H. DAVIS. P. Fletcher U. S. Member of Communications Conference. Henry P. Fletcher. undersecretary of state, has been detailed to repre- H. ELLAIR, Fla., March 29.—Lieut. L. F. Kirke, piloting the naval seaplane H-16, won the fifty-mile aerial race | here in the concluding race event of | the national southern air tournament. | Lieut. Kirke averaged slightly better | than seventy-three miles an hour with a crew of three men. Lieut. F. P. Snody, in the naval plane F-5-L, was VARIANCE IN VIEWS OF REMEDY NEEDED FOR ECONOMIGILLS |Congress at Coming Session to Face Differences on Pending Problems. AFTER-WAR SETTLEMENTS FACTOR IN DISCUSSION 0ld Guard Resolves to Steer Clear of Versailles Treaty and League Isstes. BY N. 0. MESSENGER. When Congress convenes in ex- traordinary session, one week from next Monday, it will disclose the existence of two different plans for remedying the economic and indus- trial {lls which beset the country. One ]wiu be the contention that no legis- lation can help business until there Eas been an after-war settlement with Europe. The other suggests a tempo- rary high tariff wall to keep out im- ports and turn the home market over to home producers. The first-mentioned proposition is backed by the chambers of commerce and by business men far and wide. The second is put forward by the old guard republican politicians, support- ed by an element of the manufac- turers. Old Guard Apparently in Saddle. The old guard politicians appear to be in the saddle at the outset, and in Pposition to give their proposed remedy a try-out. Their objection to the al- ternative plan is that it involves some action on the treaty of Versailles, with a squint toward a league of na- tions, and_therefore unpalatable to many republicans. While it is iterated and reiterated that the powers that be, residing at the opposite end of the Avenue from the Capitol and known as “the ad- ministration,” recognize the necessity for participation by this country in the after-war settiement fn Europe, the fact is the Congress is preparing to_experiment with its remedy first. The State Department has repeated- ly served notice that the United States will jealously watch its interests as affected by the carrying out of the treaty of Versailles, although the Senate has not ratified that treaty. The department confesses that the United States has a stake in the game now being played in Europe and con- tends that non-ratification of the treaty has' not vitiated any rights of the United States set up under its provisions, - Attitide of the Democrats. he democratic attitude in Congress is that the United States is ot fl‘oln‘ anything to help an after-war_ sottle- ment in Europe, and that thil,coun- try cannot do anything effectively until the treaty of Versailles is recognized in some form. The dem crats scorn the suggestion that the party in power can bring prosperit at home by building a high tariff wail around imports. rom the moment the gavel falls in the new Congress the democratic play will be to in t the ministration “toe the line" and “ad- mit the economic truth that lack of foreign markets is the base of all the trouble with the farmers and with business.” They will contend that what the republicans are proposing in excessive tariffs will work out in 'p;lclln ‘:’ cause reprisals and fur- er restrict the foreign m: American goods. et Many republicans acknowledge that there is much to be said in favor of this argument, and have their doubts as to the practical efficacy of the high tariff remedy, but they yield to the judgment of the party and the administration who apparently have determined upon this course. Prompt action upon the tempo tariff bill is assured in the Houl;!:"lrl’- though members will be allowed to extend their remarks in the Congres- sional Record, and emphasize their differing _economic views. Senator Penrose has served notice that the Senate will not consent to a flood of amendments to the measure as it comes from the House and that rea- sonably speedy action may be ex- pected in the Senate. The democratic policy is expected to be to refrain from making unnec- cessary delay and let the experiment the republicans can get thel: - lation in shape. Belleving urthl:y‘l;o that the majority party is riding to po- litical disaster ‘through failure, from their viewpoint, to adopt the right measure of relief, and anticipating an immediate rise in prices of ali commodities, the democrats say, “Give them all the répe they want.’ Today’s News agraphs in Par: Ralilroad situation first at discussion of cabinet meeting today. Page John Burroughs, naturalist, dles on train. Page 1 Lobbyists’ work is seen in fail U. 8. to recognize u,,,c.,.',&‘.,;’f ment. Page 1 . Dawes made head o Wiich will investigate was rias Lo and wounded soldiers' welfare. Page. 1 H. G. Atkisson indicted on charge of murdering Millard F. Harry. Page 2 Collegiate Alumnae open business ses- sions. Page 2 Viviani, due here this afternoon, will not be guest of U. 8. Page 2 Business men protest American valua- tion on imports. Page 3 Thousands pass by catafal Cardinal Cibbons In cathedml or mars timore. Page 3 Tableau to show District history to- night. Page 4 eleven negroes push Rail management blamed in reply of State and federal inquiry of staying of ed. Page 5 union men. Page 1 Mrs. G. M. Pullman dies in Pasadena hotel. Page 10 Irish_relief drive passes well beyond $100,000 mark. Page 11 . C. labor unions rof yposed D west Virginia sury b o Ppepe 32 Men’s advisory committee aid L V. N. 8. drive. ‘m;::. 3 present uly 1. 5 Page 13 «Pin-can® tourists want to stop here on. Page 13 D. C. Commissioners will make ‘tunds cover repair work until ‘way north from Florida. Mid-City_ Citizens’ Association demand for better street lighting™® > i Page 13 West End citizens approve traction ‘merger. Page 13 Turkish cities fall before advance of sent the United States on the inter- “4Gond: oRID Ay national communications conference cruiser Acromarine, carrying a crew in place of Norman H. Davis, former|of four and nine passengers, came in undersecretary of state, who has re-|third with an average of more than signed. | sixty miles an hour. | " Greek troops. Page 13 Baptists would oust “rent profitcers” from the church. Page 14 Howard _University students present stirring play at Belasco Theater. Page 17 be tried on the country as soon as| D. C, TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 1921 —-TWENTY-SIX PAGES. ; TWO CENTS. DAWES WILL LEAD WAR RISK INQUIRY Vocational Training and Care of Wounded Also Under New Committee. A committee of eleven, headed by Charles G. Dawes of Chicago, who served as a brigadier general with the American expeditionary forces, was appointed by President Harding today to conduct an inquiry “into the administration of the war risk bureau, board for vocational train- ing and care and treatment of wound- ed or impaired service men gener- ally.” Although detailed plans have not been formulated for the investiga- tion, ‘the Président’s ideas as to the ,tl’ln:_ {t should: take were communi- cated to Mr. Dawes and_three other former service men at & Whitd House dinner Sunday. The committee will meet April § to organize. In addition to Mr. Dawes the mem- bers aré Franklin W. Galbraith, jr., national commander of the American Legion; Thomas W. Miller of Dela- ‘ware, alien property custodian; Theo- dore Roosevelt, assistant secretary of the Navy; Mrs. Douglas Robinson of New York, a sister of former Presi- dent Roosevelt; John L. Lewis of ln- dianapolis, president of the United 1 ‘Workers of America; Franklin D'Olier of Philadelphia, former na- tional commander of the American Legion; Mrs. Henry R. Rea of Pitts- burgh; Milton J. Foremen of Chicago; Henry S. Berry of Hendersonville, Tenn., and T. V. O’'Connor of Buffalo, | head of the Longshoremen's Union. In announcing selection of the com- {mittee White House officials issued a brief statement which said: “The President thinks the inquiry will clear the situation, enable Con- gress and the administration to fix upon a policy which looks far into the future, and reveal a way to correct inadequate hospital service.” DEPUTIES GUARD MINES IN BIRMINGHAM DISTRICT Result of Ambuscade Last Night in Which Two Men Were Shot. BIRMINGHAM, Ala, March 29— Guards were being thrown about goal mines in the Birmingham district to- day as a result of an ambuscade in the Pratt City zone last night, in which two miners who had worked during the recent strike were shot, one seriously. A hundred shots were fired when a group of negroes, said to be former strikers, attacked a number of men returning from work at No. 2 mine of the Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad Company. Fifty special deputies are guarding the property. Trouble is said by county authorities 110 have resulted from a mass meeting tt City Sunday, at which time B P kers are alleged to have advised to “chase the ‘scabs’ out so you can get your jobs back.” — LIEUT. CONEY SINKS. Plyer Whose Back Was Broken Passes Restless Night. NATCHEZ, Miss, March 29.—Lieut. W. D. Coney, who was seriously injured when he fell with his plane last Friday while attempting a_return flight from Jacksonville to San Diego, Calif., passed 2 Very restless night, and was much ‘weaker today. He was barely conscious at 10 am. J VENEZELOS AS ARBITER. Japan Chooses Him to Settle Dif- ferences With U. S. ATHENS, March 29.—Former Premier Venizelos is going to Japan to be the of the emperor, who will ask him ‘“e::mt.uu difficulties pending between to and the United States, says a S on. dispatch to the newspaper Patris. FAMOUS AVIATOR KILLED. Lieut. MacIntosh Flew From Eng- land to Australia. PERTH, Australia, March 28— Lieut. MacIntosh, who last year flew from England to Australia, was kill- ed in an air accident at Pilbara, 300 miles northwest of Perth, today. Lieut. Macintosh's mechanic also was_killed and a passenger in his machine was badly injured. . ACK [0 NORMALCY. lEX-ARMY CAPTAIN, UNDER MURDER CHARGE, ON BOND Robert Rosenbluth, Implicated in Slaying of M4ij. Cronkhite, Agrees to Stand Trial. NEW YORK, March 29.—Robert Rosenbluth, former United States Army captain, charged with having caused the murder of Maj. Alexander Cronkhite at Camp Lewis, Wash,, October 25, 1918, was_ released today by Federal Judgei John C. Knox on a $25,000 bond. He agreed to return to Seattle to an- swer the charge pending against him there in the United States di!lrficl' court. JOHN BURROUGHS, | NATURALIST, DEAD| On Way Home From Pacific Coast, He Succumbs on Train. UTICA, N. Y., March 29.—John Bur- roughs, naturalist, died on a New York Central train near Kingsville, Ohio, on his way home from Cali- fornia, at 2 o'clock this morning. He had been very ill for six weeks with an abscess on the chest and heart and with kidney complications. He was 50 eager to get home that the long journey was undertaken with the hope that he could survive. The ‘end came suddenly, a few min- utes after he had asked: “How near home are we?" His physician, ) Dr. Clara Barrus; his granddaughter, Ursula Bur- roughs, and the Misses Elinor and INFLUENCES' DELAY U S-MEXICO AMITY At Work to Prevent Harding Administration From Rec- ognizing Obregon. BY DAVID LAWRENCE. All the various influences which managed to keep the relations be- tween the Wilson administration and Mexico in an atmoSphere of contro-| versy, mutual suspicion, propaganda and selfishness, interfering with the efforts of the two governments to get together,. are at work again trying this time to prevent the Harding ad- ministration from reaching an under- standing with the Obregon govern- ment. It is true that the conditions laid down by Secretary Colby as a step toward. recognition are in the main what the ned administration here wants to see accepted. If the two governments, however, were the only factor in the situation. the solution might be worked out amicably. But certain American interests, im- patient to force the hand of both ‘Washington and Mexico City, are de- termined to show Gen. Obregon that unless he comes into line the same process of disintegration will set in as managed to weaken the Carranza government. Notwithstanding the fact that conditions in Mexico "are greatly improved over what they were during the Carranza regime and are closer to the status of things in 1910 than they have been since Diaz held power, the impression sought to be created is that Mexico is back in the same stages of anarchy as she was four or five years ago. Seek to Help Mexico. Such discussions as the Harding cabinet has had on matters of foreign Harriet Burroughs accompanied him|policy have been characterized by a on the journey. CLEVELAND, Ohio, March 29. New York Central headquarters here received a report from their super- intendent at Erie, Pa., that John Bur- roughs died on train No. 16 near Kingsville, Ohio, early this morning, apparently from heart disease. The report says the lady physician who was accompanying Mr. Bur- roughs took charge of the body and continued east. Mr. Burroughs boarded the train at Chicago and was bound for Poughkeepsie, N. Y. The train conductor reported at Buffalo that he was first told of the death shortly before reaching Buffalo, when he was asked to file several telegrams to friends of Mr. Bur- roughs ennouncing his death, New York Central officials here understood the body was taken east from Buf- falo. Dean of Nature Writers. { . John Burroughs was the venerable dean of nature writers in the United States. Through a score of books he shared with countless readers his lifelong intimacy with birds, bees, flowers and the whole out-of-doors. His highly developed powers of ob- servation and the charm of his in- terpretations were the marvel of his e hil s flowing white beard, his kindl mien, his whole habit of life anz his literary style were rather remi- niscent of that famous New England school of essayists a generation or two before him. His earliest writ- ing, on “Expression,” was at one time widely mistaken for the work of Emerson, a close reader of whom Burroughs had been from youth. His later works on nature suggested something of Thoreau. but, as crit- ics sald, Burroughs was the more sociable writer. He learned to love nature when he drove cows at his birthplace farm, Roxbury, among the Catskills, in New York state, but anything .like a literary composition was a bug- bear to him as a youth. The story is told of how, when he was four- teen, in common with the members of his class at school, he was required to write twelve lines of original composition. He copied something out of a comic almanac, His theft was detected. Again in desperation upon_ his second trial, he paid Jay Gould, his classmate, 60 cents for a twelve-line verse, which he handed in as his own. Gets Job in Washington. desire to help Mexico by evolution rather than revolution. : ‘There is not the slightest ground for believing that the Harding ad- ministration would countenance coun- ter revolutionary propaganda if it were_in a position to control it, and the danger to the relations of the two countries today is that impres- sions sent out broadcast concerning State Department policy are apt to be accepted as authoritative when such is not the case. The trouble seems to be, of course, | that President Obregon is sparring. He believes possibly that recognition will come in the natural course with- out accepting the conditions laid down by the United States. He is willing to assent to the desires of the United States unofficially, but unwilling to record those pledges on paper in the form of a treaty. He contends that the anti-American feeling in Mexico is still strong enough to unseat him politically if he appears to be yield- ing to the United States. However that may be, the Obregon government is suffering now from the fact that the oral pledges of the Car- ranza government, indeed their paper promises, proved valueless, and . the great body of Americans who have in- terests in Mexico insist that this time something substantial shall be given as a guarantee that the lives as well as proberty of Americans will be safe- &l he United S The United States government prob- ably will not alter its determinatjon to insist on that guarantee, and the Obregon government may indeed be weakened if it fails to get the moral and economic backing which comes from recognition by the Ukited States, but, on the other hand, such a resulf might come naturally. The Washing- ton government will never be in the position of having encouraged Obre. gon’s overthrow even indirectly. Europe Walits on United States. Practically all the European govern- ments have indicated to Mexico that until the United States extends rec- ognition it would be impolitic for them to act. This had been tradi- tional policy. ‘Washington is indeed the key to the Mexican _situation. and American ankers stand ready to assist Mexico in refunding her debts the moment a favorable understanding is reached as between the Harding and Obregon administrations. If these two gov- ernments were left alone to work out the problem, all would be well. The difficulty is that emissaries, lobbyist: lawyers who must justify large fee: and a lot of mischief-makers are here again trying to influence State De- partment policy. He was born in 1837. 1In 1863 he went to Washington with something of an inclination to enlist in the Unfon Army, but he decided to seel a government office. It is related that with only a few of his poems as credentials he walked into the Treas- ury Department and asked for a job. It ‘was agreed that his vernal verses really smelt of the woods and smacked of sincerity. He would be a safe man to watch the Treasury vaults. He agreed to take the place, At a little desk. facing the huge iron vault, where he kept tabs on those who went to handle the $50,000,000 stored there, he began writing of the birds, to relieve his homesickness. The re- (Continued on Page 2, Column 7.) There are plenty of lobbyists at the| P! legislative end of Pennsylvania ave- nue, but the growth of the same class of trouble-makers at the executive end of Pennsylvania avenue is com- paratively recent. Secretary Hughes is not easily in- fluenced and the lobbyists will not get very far, but they have a tremen- Gous capacity for misrepresenting conditions in Mexico and they Lave already begun the campaign against Obregon, * with armed intervention back in their minds as the single so- lution satisfactory to them. (Copyright, 1921.) SITS WITH CABINET. Assistant Secretary Roosevelt Acts | for Secretary Denby. | As acting secretary of the Nav | the absence of Secretary Denby, Theo- dore Roosevelt attended today’s cabi- {net meeting, held in the room where | his father presided dver the meetings | of his cabinet ! FREEZING WEATHER DOES BIG DAMAGE Widespread Injury to Fruit.l Mercury Drops 56 Degrees | Here—Winds High. 5 | | | Tremendous damage to fruit throughout the middle west and the Atlantic states as far south as Ten- nessee and northern Texas was re- ported to the weather bureau today as the result of the almost un- precedented drop in temperature. The driving rain and wind, lowed by the drop to freezing and below, did much damage to fruit and flowers in the District and nearby Virginia and Maryland, shoots in many instances being frozen SUff in their water-soaked condition. The bureau of markets and bureau | of crop estimates of the Department | of Agriculture were chary today in regard to reports of the freeze from throughout the country. Employes of fol- | | | the former bureau who live in near- ences, but would give no official es- timate of damages nor of reports as to damages. Fall of 56 Degrees Here. A drop in temperature of 56 de- bureau here, going down from 82 de- today. A drop of 60 degrees, believed to beat all records, was registered at the kiosk on Pennsylvania avenue, which registered 88 degrees yester- day afternoon against 28 degrees early today. High winds prevailed last night, but police reports show that very little damage was done, although five trees were blown down and branches were broken from several other trees. Flowering plants in and about the | city suffered from the cold and wind. | The ground about hundreds of flow- ering Japanese cherry trees was cov. ered with blossoms this morning, which were blown to the ground, and blossoms of small plants were 'stiff- lened by the cold, wilting with the { morning sun. The begutiful rosebed in front of | the weather bureau was ruined by the freeze of last night. Freezing temperatures, predicted | for this vicinity again tonight by the | weather bureau, will about put the finishing touch to the damage to fruit done last night, in the estimate of nearby farmers. ‘Warmer weather tomorrow, follow- ing freezing again tonight, with con- tinued fair, is forecast. Damage in Nearby States. Reports from nearby Virginia today reported éverything frozen stiff ex- cept early apples. It looked to farm- ors in that state as if everything was killed, but this cannot be definitely ascertained until today’s thaw allows more mature judgment of the exact damage. At Accotink more than an inch of ice formed on nearly stgeams. A repetition of freezing again tonight is feared. The thermometers stood at 30 de- grees this,morning in nearby Mary- land, reports coming in that new leaves on trees, bushes and plants of all kinds had been frozen stiff. Some farmers estimated that much damage had been dome to fruit in Maryland, while others were more conservative, stating that the sun of | today would reveal the truth as to damages. Some said that the highl winds, by drying out the plants, had prevented much damage. All agreed, however, that repetition tonight of ast night's freeze wouid result in a} great financial set-back through fruit { damage. Twenty-five degrees above zero jwas reported today from Prince Georges _county, Md., with ice formed on ponds. The reports stated that the high winds had blown the rain out of blossoms and lessened the damage. Several days would be required, it was stated, accurately to estimate the e. G erowers who have early vege- tables under glass started their fires last night as a precautionary meas- e. Uit is said that most farmers in this section plant their early potatoes |2bout March 17, but because of the advanced season this year many did their planting shortly before or after March 1. One grower said he feared | cold weather would affect his crops, ! ibut he felt that it was worth while | to take the chance. | MARYLAND FRUIT NIPPED. rees Freezes | ‘l'emi)eutm-e of 22 Deg: i Buds Generally. Special Dispatch to The Star. ANNAPOLIS, Md., March 29.—The great lowering of temperature in this | vicinity last evening and night has | ruined the fruit crop in this section, according to the best judges. The | | fomperature _reached 22 — degrees, freezing the buds of the fruit trees and killing them. The effect appears to have been uni. versal in the vicinity. $11,000,000 OKLAHOMA LOSS. Reports Indicate Enormous Dam- age in Southwest. KANSAS CITY, Mo, March 28 — Based upon reports from many dis- tricts of Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas, | Oklahoma and Texas, officials of farm : and horticultural associations here | said that enormous damage had been | caused by freezing temperatures | Which prevailed over the Soufhwest | 1ast night. Little hope for early fruit crops in Missouri and Kansas was in- Qdicated, although it was said the later crops_probably had not suffered ma- terially- The sudden cold snap was preceded by warm weather in most localities, | and officials said in many places fruit | trees were in bloom. ~Grain crops| were said to have been well advanced, | and in some sections jointing had | taken place. Fields which had not been pastured were damaged last night, the reports here indicated. Oklahoma's state board of agricul- | ture estimated today that the loss of | early fruit in that state would ap- roximate $11,000,000, and said that| 75 per cent of the crop was ruined. In addition to damage by cold in Nebraska, rail traffic and telegraph and telephone wires were blown down. GALE DAMAGES IN NEW YORK b Two Deaths in Accidents in a Touch of Real Winter. £ NEW YORK, March 29.—An elghty- mile gale swooping down on New York late yesterday afternoon tore off 1 the fruit and vegetable division of | by states spoke of personal experi- ! grees was registered at the weather| grees yesterday afternoon to 26 early | J-GENT FARE WITH [O-CENT POWER UP INDECIDING RATES Commissioners Gave Serious Consideration to Com- promise Proposal. OYSTER TO PRESS PLAN TO AGREE ON VALUATION Impounding of 1 1-2 Cents Each Kilowatt Hour Under Court Order Factor in Situation. BY JOHN L. MARTIN. Disclosures having an admittedly important bearing upon the question of rates for utility service in the District in the future today followed the action of the Public Utilities Commission yesterday in continuing for five months the present street car and electrio light and power rates. It developed that the commission gave serious consideration to a com- promise proposal to establish a 7- cent fare, but restore the charge for electrio service to the pre-war figure {of 10 cents per kilowatt hour. Solu- tion of the traction fare puzzle by |some such method is indicated as a | possibility unless plans for a merger take definite_shape within the mext five months. * Oyster to Push Proposal. Another fact that came to light to- |day is that Commissioner Oyster is preparing to push actively his sug- gestion for a compromise on the trac- tion and power companies’ valua- tions, with the object of establishing a basis for a merger. He has gone | sufficiently far with a prelimina: and informal inquiry to become con: vinced that the plan is feasible. The Commissioner's idea is that | there should be a commlssion of six | members — two representing the | Washington Railway and Electric system, two the Capital Traction Company and two the public utilities board—to consider the points in dis- pute between the board and the com- panies and, if possible, adjust the val- uations so that they would be ac- ceptable to the interests involved and to the public. The differences in the valuation _ratings involve several millions of dollars and arise princi- pally through claims for intangible values. The court fight over the re- spective claims is just beginning and is expected to last two or three years |Il least. Companies Welcome Effort. If this litigation could be taken from the courts by a compromise | agreement, it is the belief of Commis- ! sioner Oyster and others with whom be has discussed the matter that a merger_ col in a Or! time. Both 'fl&’!“’f’l! companies have expressed a desire for a merger. and both have gone on record to the | effect that they would welcome an ef- fort to adjust the valuations outside of legal processes. The Oyster plan has been discussed informally by the utilities board. and will be taken up again during the week. That the heads of the railway interests will be invited to an in- formal conference with the members of the commission to consider the merits of the plan is considered likely. The commission’s action, back in 1917, in establishing the rate of 8 cents per kilowatt hour for electric’ light sold in the District. had a great deal to do with its determination yes- terday to continue existing street car fares. This charge subsequently was increased by the commission to 81 cents, but consumers are still paying the old rate of 10 cents, because the Potomac Electric Power Company took the case to court. Of 10 cents collected, the company, by direction of the court, impounds 1; cents, so that. if the case eventually goes against the company the overcharge can be returned to the subscribers. Greater N ber to Benefit. One member of the commission, it is understood, favored restoring the electric rate to 10 cents and reducing the street car fare to 7 cents, because he estimated it would save the tax- payers of the District approximately haif a million dollars. He showed that an increase in the electric rate would affect about 41.000 subscribers, whereas a reduction in street car fare would benefit about 160,000,000 riders in the course of a year. Under this plan, taxpayers would pay $392,944 more for lighting and electric power annually, but $876.75¢ less for street car rides, which would be a saving to them of $483,810. This plan might have been adopted | by the commission but for the fact the valution placed upon the property of the Potomac Electric Power Com- pany is involved in the commission’s 81;-cent electric light and power order which is to be reviewed shortly by the Court of Appeals. The commission felt that the valuation situation might be muddled if it put the electric rate back to the 1917 figure before the Court of Appeals has acted in the Po- temac case. Different Views Held. All three members of the commis- sion approached the street car and electric rate problems with different suggestions for their solution. At their first meeting they were widely separated in their views. The gaps between them gradually lessened, how- ever, as other conferences were held, and the decision finally reached repre- Sented their unanimous opinion that it Was the best plan that could be adopt- ed for the present. The commission had before it the claims_of the Washington Railway and Electric Company that at the present rate of fare it was earning less than 5 per cent. It was contend- ed by _the company it could not oper- ate efficiently and market its secur- ities for the purpose of financing im- provements and extensions if the ra: of fare were reduced. A seven-cent Tate would produce a return of less than 3 per cent, it was claimed. The broad position was taken by ‘the commission in its findings that to expect and require local utilities to operate efficiently they must be per- mitted to charge & raie which wif give them a fair return on the in- Vestment. Notice was served per- sonally by the commission on the offi- | | cials of the Washington Railway and Electric that they would be expected to show improvement in service by the time the new rate order expires, August 31 Side Signs Ordered. The order directs the Washington Railway and Electric Compeny to equip its cars wide side signs_similar to those on Capital Traction Company cars. The commis- sion also tells the companies that it believes income taxes should be borne by the corporations and not passed on to the public in the form of an operat- ing expense. Reference is made in the order to the desirability of a merger. It is stated the merger question has arieen in every street car fare case thut had (Continued on Page 2, Column 5.) B . ~(Continued on Ay