Evening Star Newspaper, April 18, 1921, Page 1

WEATHER. Fair and continyed cold tonight, with heavy frost: lowest temperature tonight near freezing; tomorrow fair. Temperature for twenty-four hours ended at 2 p.m. today: Highest, 78, at p.m. yesterday: lowest, 40 at 9 a.m. today. Full report on page 7. Closing New York Stocks, Page 20. ~ Che hend WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION Member of the Associsted Press The Associated Press is exriusively enmtitled to the use for republication of all mews dispatches credited to It or not otherwise ciedited in this ngy Star. An rights dispatches Paper and also the local news published herels. of publication of speeial berein are also reserved. Saturday’s\ Sunday’s Net Circulation, 93,070 Net Circulation, 94577 A No. 28,113. Tatered as second-class matter Post office Washington, D. C. RENT LAW OF DISTRICT SUSTAINED IN DECISION BY HIGHEST U. S. COURT Property Owners and Real Estate Dealers Lose By Majority Opinion Handed Down Today. TENANTS’ RIGHTS ARE UPHELD UNDER WAR-TIME PROVISION Dissenting Opinion of 3,000 Words, by Chief Justice White and‘ Associate Justices McKenna, McReynolds and Vandevanter, Declares Act Impairs Obligations of Contracts. The District of Columbia rent act, often referred to as the Ball act, a war-time law permitting tenants to remain in posses- sion of rented property at pre-war rates and setting up a rent commission to pass on the questions of fair rentals, was upheld to- day by the Supreme Court of the United States. It had been at- tacked by property owners and real estate dealers in what is known ts the Hirsh-Block case. Chief Justice White and Associate Justices McKenna, Mc Reynolds and Vandevanter dissented from the majority opinion read by Justice Holmes. The Constitution bars such a statute in specific terms, the dissenting opinion said, in its prohibition against any state adopting a law “impairing the obligations of contract: “It is contrary to the mecani ng of contract and leases as ac- cepted all over the world,” Mr. McKenna declared. CASES OF PUBL IC EMERGENCY. Justice Holmes, for the majority, declared that the laws of eminent domain and those conveying police powers justified re- striction of property rights without compensation in cases of pub- lic emergency. Justice McKenna, in rendering the dissenting opinion, de- clared that the attack on “constit act “struck at the very root_of ou: utional liberties” contained in the r civilization.” “What concern of the people is it who occupies a cellar in ‘Washington for business purpose: s or an apartment in New York?” asked Justice McKenna. - “The answer is, to supply homes for the homeless. That answer ‘will not satisfy. If this legislation is legal, what will be illegal” Foree of Declaration. After reviewing the history of the case, Mr. Justice Holmes continued: “No doubt it is true that a legis- lative declaration of facts that are material only as the ground for en- acting a rule of law, for instance, that a certain use is a public one, may not be held conclusive by the courts, but a declaration by a legis- lature concerning public conditions, as by necessity and duty it must know, is entitled at least to great re- spect. ps;n this instance Congress stated a publicly notorious and aiso world-wide fact. That the emergency declared by the statute did exist must be assumed, and the question is whether Congress ‘was incompetent to meet it in the way in which it has been met by most of the civilized countries of the world. “The general proposition to be main- tained is that circumstances have clothed the renting of buildings in the District of Columbia with a public interest so great as to justify regulation by law. Plainly circumstances made no change in time or difference in space as to clothe with such an interest what at other times or in other places would be a mat- ter of purely private concern. Extent of Public Interest. “It is enough to refer to the de- cisions as to insurance, as to_irriga- tion and mining. They sufficiently illustrate what hardly would be de- nied. They illustrate also that the use by the public generally of each specific thing affected cannot be made the test of public interest and that the public interest may extend 10 the use of the land. They dispel the notion that what in its aspect; be onl a private transaction T3y mot e’ raised by its class or character to a public affair. 5 The fact that tangible property is also visible tends to give a rigidity to our conception of our rights in it that we do not attach to other less concretely clothed. But the notion that the former are exempt from the “legislative modification required from time to time in civilized life is con- tradicted not only by the doctrine| of eminent domain, under which what is taken is paid for, but by that of the police power in its proper sense, under which property rights may be cut down and to that extent taken i L pay. '”@::er’”{e police power the right «o erect buildings in a certain quar- ter of a city may be limfted from 80 10 100 feet. Safe pillars may be quired in coal mines, billboards cities may be reguiated, w in ersheds in the country may be kept clear. “These cases are enough to estab- lish that a public exigency will. jus- tify the legislature in restricting property_rights in land to a certain extent without compensation. to answer one need the legislature may limit height, to_answer another | it may limit rent. We do not per- ceive any reason for denying the jus- tification held good in the foregoing cases to a law limiting the property right. now in question if the public exigency requir that. The reasons are of a different na- ture. but they are certainly not less yressing. Congress has stated the un- questionable embarrassment of Eov- ernment and danger to the ‘Dubh(' health in_ the existing condition of things. The space in Washington is necessarily monopolized in _compara- tively few hands, and letting portions of it is as much a business as any Housing is a neccessary of life. All the elements of public terest justifying some degree of pub- lic control are present. The only mat- ter that seems 1o us open to debate is whether the statute goes too far. Might Become Confiscation. “For just as there comes which police power s eminent domain, it m: be conced that regulations of the present sort pressed to a certain height might imount to a taking without due process of law. g deal with this case as concerning the ‘Parhaps it would be too strict to requirement of thirty days' notice For. although plaintiff alleged that he wanted the premises for his own use, the defendant denied it and might liuve prevailed upon that issue under act. The general question to h we have adverted must be de- -d. if not in this, then in the next and it should be d:sposed of now. « main point agai the law is ants are allowed to remain n at the same rent that been paying unless modi- other. at wh crde ficd by the commission established by « adt, and that thus the use of the id and the right of the owner to do what he will with his own and to mike what contract he pleases are «ut_down “But if the public interest be mblished the regulation of rates A o of the first forme But if | in- | Which ¢ 5] T (Continued 4 Bn asserted and the validity of such reg- ulation has been settled since Mun vs. Illinois. 94 U. S, 113. Only as Temporary. “It is said that a grain elevator may g0 out of business, whereas here the use is fastemed upon the land. The power to g0 out of business when it exists is an elusive answer to gas companies and water works, but we need not stop at that. The regulation is put and justified only as a tempo- rary measure. A limit in time to tide over a passing trouble may well justify a law that could not be up- held as a permanent change. “Machinery is provided to secure to the landlord a reasonable rent. It may be assumed that the interpreta- tion of reasonable will deprive him in part at least of the power of profit- ing by the sudden influx of people to Washington caused by the needs of government and the war, and thus of a right usually incident to for- tunately situated property of a part of the value of his property. But while it is unjust to pursue such profits from a national misfortune with sweeping denunciation, the policy of i restricting them had been embodied ‘in taxation and is accepted. Cites Usury Laws. “It goes little, if at all, farther than the restriction put upon the rights of the owner of money by the more debatable usury laws The preference given to the tenant in possession is an almost | necessary incident of the policy, and is b aditional in English law. If the tenant ained subject to the landlord's power |0 evict, the attempt to limit the land- lords’ demands would fail. ; ‘“Assuming that the end in view jotherwise Justifies the means adopted !by Congress, we have no concern, of course, with the question whether those means were the wisest, whether they +may not cost more than they come to or will effect the results desired. It is {enough that we are not warranted in saying that legislation that has been resored to for the same purpose all over the world is futile or has no reasonable relations to the relief sought. “The statute is objected to on the further ground that landlords and | tenants are deprived by it of a trial [by jury on the right to possession of {the land. 1f the power of the commis- Ision established by the statutes to {regulate the relations is established. as we think it is, by what we have | said, this objection amounts to little. Courts Have Last Word. | icide the facts affecting it are hardly | separable. While the act is in force { there is little to decide except whether {the rent allowed is reasonable., and jupon that question the courts are {given the last word. £ “A part of the exigencies is to se- cure a speedy and summary adminis- tration of the law, and we are not prepared to say that the suspension of ordinary remedies was not a rea- isonable provision of a statute reason- able in its aim and intent. | % The plaintiff ‘obtained judgment on the ground that the statute was void, root and branch. That judgment must be_reversed.” The case decided was that of Julius Block against Louis Hirsh, in error to the Court of Appeals of the District of Columbia. Justice McKenna, in his dissenting opinion concurred in by the Chi Justice and Associate Justices Van De- ter and McReynolds, said: The grounds of dissént are the ex- {plicit provisions of the Constitution {of the United States; the specifica- {tions of the grounds are the irresist- {ible deductions from those provis- jions. and, we think, would require no expression but for the opposition of those whose judgments challenge attention he national government, by the fifth amendment to the Constitution, and the states, by the fourteenth, are forbidden to deprive any person of ‘life, liberty or property, without due process of law.’ A further provision of the fifth amendment is that pri- vate property cannot be taken for public use, without just compensa- tion. And there is a special security to contracts in paragraph 10 of arti. cle T in the provision that ‘no state shall ® * ® pass any * o e law impairing the obligations of con. tracts.’ These provisions are limita- tions upon the national legislation, with which this case is concerned. and limitations upon state Iegislation, with which Marcus Brown Holding Com anyfive Feldman et al. is con- ntinuing, Justice McKenna said: “The statute in the present case fs denominated ‘the rent law,’ and its purpose is 1o permit a lessee to con- tinue in possesslon of leased premises “To regulate the relations and to de- | PROVEU. S. STAND AND COUNCIL VOTE ONYAP, SAYS TOKI0 {League Cannot Take Away | America’s Island Rights, United States Reply. {JAPAN’S FOREIGN OFFICE TALKS OF “BAD FAITH” IState Department Makes Public Its Correspondence Covering Con- troversy in Pacific. To maintain its position with re- gard to the Pacific Island of Yap the American government would have “to prove not merely the fact” that Pres- ident Wilson made reservations con- cerning it, but also that the supreme council *“decided in favor of those views,” the - Japanese government made public today by the ruary 22, made public today by the | State Department along with the other correspondence between the | two governments regarding Y. It must also be remembered,” Japan ays, “that if a decision in favor of the exclusion of the Island of Yap—a question of grave concern to Japan ;and one on which the Japanese dele- | gation invariably maintained a firm }attitude—had really been made, as is |implied by the argument of the | United States government, at the | meeting of (the -supreme council) May 7 (1919), at which Japan was not i represented, it could not but have been regarded as an act of entirely bad faith.” Mr. Hughes’ Reply. It was to this note that Secretary Hughes replied last April 5, at the | same time sending similar notes to | the governments of Great Britain, | France and Italy. He declared that { the United States was unable to agree { with Japan's contention that iu order to maintain its position it would have “to prove” not only that President Wilson made reservations regarding Yap, but also that the supreme coun- { cil adopted those views. “As no treaty has ever been con- cluded with the United States relat- ing to the Island of Yap,” Mr. Hughes added, “and as no one has ever been authorized to cede or surrender the right or interest of the United States in the island, this government must insist that it has not lost its right or interest as it existed prior to any attion of the supreme council or of the league of nations, and cannot recognize the allocation’ of the island or the validity of the mandate to Japan.” Japan has not as yet replied to this communication, so that to date the correspondence consists of the two notes quoted above, another formal note sent by Acting Secrétary Davis last December 6 by direction of Presi- dent Wilson, and two memoranda with which the exchanges were in- itiated last November after some | question had arisen at the meetings here of the 4nternational communica- tions conference concerning the ac- tion of the supreme council with re- gard to Yap. " Reserved for Future Action. In the first memorandum, dated No- vember 9, the Secretary of State said it was “the clear understanding” of the American government that the supreme council at the previous re- quest of President Wiison had re- served for future consideration the | final disposition of the island, in the { i reached to place it under interna- tional control and thus rendr it available as an international cable station. The Japanese foreign office replied in a memorandum under date of No- | vember 19 that it was “the definite un- derstanding” of the Japanese govern- ment that the supreme council on May 17 came to a final decision to place un- { der mandate to dapan all of the former German islands north of the equator; that the decision involved “no reserva- tions whatever in regard to the Island of Yap,” and that therefore the Jap- anese government “would not be able to consent to any proposition which, reversing the decision of the supreme council, would exclude the Island of Yap from the territory committed to their charge.” In response to this memorandum, Act- ing Secretary Davis dispatched a long formal note to Tokio, setting forth that the American government could not agree that Yap was included in the de- sion of the supreme council of May 1919, as claimed, and that even on the assumption that the island had been included in the mandate “all other { powers should have free access to the jisland for the landing and operation of cables.” Japan's Interpretation. The Japanese reply on February 26 | | American government with regard to cables was put forth irrespective of Ithe fact that the island was within {the mandatory territory, “then the | question seems to be one which should be freely settled by the nation which has charge of the place, namely, Japan.” observation was made owing to the July 19, 1919, Col. E. M. House, one ! the same equal opportunities for com- merce and trade should be guaranteed in territories of the “C' class (such as the Pacific islands) as in thos: be- longing to the “B” class of territories under mandate. { “In view of the position thus |taken by the American delegates,” the note add he imperial gov- eroment feels obliged to state that }in their opinion the American gov {ernment cannot with * justice con- {tend for the open door in the C class {territories as against Japan and to inform the United States government at the same time that they cannot consider themselves bound in any |way to recognize the freedom of jother nations in the manner insisted upon by the American government in regard to the landing and the operation of cables, even in places where the principle of the ‘open door’_is to be guaranteed.” i Quotes British Government. | Reverting to its claim to the award {of the mandate over Yap by the |supreme council, the Japanese gov- | ernment said the British government had placed the same interpretation jon the action of the supreme council jon May 7. It also declared that it was unable to understand why the | United States had waited for more {than_a year and a half to question !the “decision” of the council, partic- jularly in view of the publication of !the text of the “decision” at Paris on ¢ 1t observed that the Ameri- government did not protest at time of publication, although such a course would naturally h; &3 “(Continued on Iage 2, Column 7.3 — jhope that some agreement might be; !said that if the observation of the | The note went on to say that if the | i | i of the American peace commissioriers, | Sembla; opposed Viscount Chinda’s claim that | Creed,” and | i ADDRESS THRILLS D.A. R. CONGRESS Patriotic Words of the Presi- dent General, Mrs. Minor, Greeted With Applause. MRS. GEORGE MAYNARD MINOR. Never before in the history of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution was its course and objective so clearly charted as today in the speech of Mrs. George Maynard Minor, president general, in her first annual message, it was de- clared at the opening session of the thirtieth congress today. So thrilled with the fire of patriot- ism which ran throughout the mes- sage were the delegates, that a motion to have it printed and distributed to every chapter throughout the country was made and sent to the resolutions committee. But not content to wait for a formal report from the resolutions commit- tee, Miss Janet Richards of this city, just as the gavel was about to fall calling a recess for luncheon, asked how a motion could be acted upon at once without going through the formalities. “Suspend the rules,” said Mrs. Minor. They were suspended, when Miss Richards took the platform and gave high praise to the address of Mrs. Minor. “Never before in the history of this society,” she said, “has there been such an address delivered here. There never has been an address which so clearly de- fined the fullest and highest mission which we can perform as daughters, and 1 want to ask the delegates to stand and repeat the last words of that address with me.” The delegates arose and repeated after her “In the name of God. Amen.” Assembling of the Congress. Promptly &t 16:30 o'clock Arthur S. Witcomb of the karine Band sound- ed assembly, and the pages, acting as official escort for Mrs. Minor, pro- ceeded to the platform. The national colors were raised in the center of the hall as a part of this ceremony. Following _the formal convening, nature of the mandate. Japan would | Mrs. Selden P. Spencer, chaplain gen- draw attention that at the meeting | eral, had the audience recite the 23d lof the commission on mandates on | P: salm. William Tyler Page led the as- blage in reciting his “America’s the salute .to the flag 1lowed. Lo hen Mrs. Minor took the platform to deliver her annual address she was given an ovation. The entire assem- blage arose. Appeal to Members. Appea}ing to the members to teach the Tesfons bequeathed by the Bil- " (Continued on P: The Evening and Sunday Star Full reports of the D. A. R. Convention, April 17 to 24, in- clusive. Mail, postage prepaid United States — Twenty-five cents (25¢). Canada — Thirty-five cents (35¢). Foreign — Forty-five cents (45¢). Leave order with Star repre- sentative at Memorial Con- tinental Hall, or at Star Office, 11th and Pennsylvania Avenue. ASHINGTON, D. C., MONDAY, APRIL 18, 1921 -TWENTY-SIX PAGES. TWO CENTS. \, \ AN \\\ \ ) A QNN \{\‘ RNRRW BN N RN Last oj\ Kearsarge Fighters Is Dead In Omaha, Neb. Aged 83 By the Associated Press. ! OMAHA, Neb, April 18— Daniel Bartlett Sargent, eighty- three, Iast surviving member of the crew of the Kearmarge, Union frigate. which engaged and sunk the Confederate block- ade runner Alabama in the his- toric encounter off the port of Cherbourg, FKrance, June 19, 1864, died at his home here Yesterday afternoon. He was one of the oldest ploneer Nebraskans, ai a veteran employe of the Union Pacific railrond, having retired ax axwistant paymaster genmeral of the road in 1! Two brothers live in Maine. | IBOOM IN BUSINESS |5 PRESIDENT'S AIM Every Federal Agency Busy Searching for Ways to Stabilize Conditions. President Harding has virtually every department of the government studying’ the problem of federal aid to business. The President himself does not know just what the gov- ernment can do at this time to stab- ilize business,” but he feels that it | there is a way in which the govern- {ment can help he wants that help extended. Mr. Harding holds the view, that some of the ills of today are the result of too much government in- tervention in business and industry during the last administration. He does not want that charge to lie against his own conduct of affairs. At the same time, if there is any agency of the government which can be employed in a helpful and be- coming way to hasten reconstruc- tion, Mr. Harding is desirous of bringing that agency to bear. Two Reasons for Action. “Prosperity” was one of the battle | | cries of the republicans in the last | campaign, and leaders of the party feel that prosperity is essential to their remaining in power. Prosper- ity has peen discussed from this angle as well as the general desire of administration officials to be help- ful. The business and industrial sit- uation has been a subject of consid- eration at several cabinet meetings already. and President Harding has asked several members of his official family to submit, at the meeting next Friday, whatever definite suggestions they have been able to formulate. Herbert Hoover, Secretary of Com- merce, naturally is giving the great- est share of his time to the business situation. The ramifications of the situation, however, touch virtually all branches of the government, not even excepting the ~State Department, where “dollar diplomacy” is a phrese not yet forgotten. + Raliroads {Vtal Factor. ‘There i8 a feeling in administration circles that the railroads are the con- trolling, if not the dominant, factor in many phases of the business gitua- tion, and they are being studied with great care. The departments of Com- merce and of Labor, the Interstate }Commerce Commission, the Depart- ment of Agriculture, the Post Office Department and several other govern- ment agencies are at work on it. Mr. Harding believes the Federal Trade Board is right in holding that the retailers of the country can do much toward restoring public confi- dence and wiping out the last vestige of - the so-called buyers' strike. The President has figures before him to | show that costs of production have come down sharply in the last few months and that wholesalers and job- bers have been given the benefit of the decrease. The wholesalers “claim to have passed the decrease along to- the retailers. So Mr. Harding feels it is distinctly up to' the 'retailer "to prove that his present position- in the ‘market is justified. Claim Rent “Hold-Upa.” The problem has many aspeqts. Retailers claim with good reason that they are still being “held up"” for enormous rents. They further claim they have not reduced ,the { wages of their help to any appre- | clable extent, and that costs of fe- livery still are high. So many items of cost enter into the retailer's busi- ness, government officials are finding it dificult to figure just how quickly a reduction in . wholesale prices should be passed along by the re- tager to the ultimate consumer, | ll]N D. C. COMMITTEE House Members—All Anx- ious to Boom City. Representative James P. Woods of Virginia, father of the bill to force a merger of the street car lines in the District, is to be the democratic lead- ‘jer on the House District committee. Representative Thomas L. Blanton of Texas is the only member of the last Congress who has been transfer- red to the District committee in the democratic slate of committee assign- ments. Christopher D. Sullivan of New York, who under the seniority rule would be the democratic leader, comes third on_the list, according to. the assignments announced by Minor- ity Lesder Kitchin today. 6 - new democratic members of Congress who have been assigned to gn:lp:!om District committee are: C. Hammer, of North Carolina, Charles F. X. O'Brien of New Jersey and Stanley H. Kunz of Illinofs. Eager-to Ald Distriet. The new democratic members of the House District committee are eager to co-operate in plans for develop- ment of the Natighal Capital to be maintained as the finest city in the world, and expressed particular in- terest in building up the school sys- tem in the District. Representative Hammer of North Carolina said today: “I will be very glad indeed to do anything in the world consistent with economic ad- ministration of public affairs to de- velop the National Capital.”. Repre- sentative Hammer has been identified with school promotion work for more than a quarter of a century and is an enthusiast i with progressive ideas on the subject of public maintenance of the best possible school facilities. He' points out that this idea is one on which North Carolina, his home ! state, has made ‘wonderful progress during the last twenty-five years. Representative Hammer has been making a study of the school and school building needs in Washington, and is particularly interested in see- ing that all children of school age are properly housed. ‘I will be glad to support any reas- onable measure for new school build- ings,” said Mr. Hammer. “Under the present conditions of the.country we must all do what we can for.an eco- nomic administration of public affairs, but we cannot be niggardly in regard to education. I believe I am going to get a great deal of pleasure out, of |my work on tne District commitéee, and will be especially interested in studying the needs of this wonderful city, which has grown so remarkably during the war.” Wants Capital Developed. Representative Kunz of Illinois is also eager to assist in giving the Na- tional Capital the best administration that Congress can exercise. He says that he is ambitious to see the Na- tional Capital properly developed and will do all that he can te advance the tnlletreltu of the residents of the Dis- rict. Representative Kunz pledges his support to the school building cam- paign and says he will give earnest study, especially to the problems of education. “Mentally as well as phys- ically, I intend to give my best efforts for proper legislation for the resi- dents of our great National Capital,” he said._ i Because of extensive experience with the street car problem in Chi- 1cago, Representative Kunz intends to co-operate with Representative Woods of Virginia, the democratic leader on the District committee, to have the street merger bill passed as soon as possible.. DEMOGRATS NAMED Gilbert of Kentucky, William | by Favors Voluntary Merger. Representative Kunz says he be- lieves Congress should do all it can to induce a voluntary merger and failing in that to effect a compulsory meas- ure in order that one prosperous line may not longer fatten by advance fares rendered by the Public Utilities Commission in order that the less prosperous line may continue to exist. He realizes that the problem here is serious and that it has a direct bear- ing on public business, because the great majority of Uncle Sam's em- ployes here are the principal patrons of the street car lines. o “WET” SHIP TO SAIL. Ample Alcoholic Beverage Supply Ordered Aboard Liner for N. Y. BUENOS AIRES, ' April 18.—The American Shipping Board steamer Huron, managed by the Munson line, which will .sail from Montevideo, Uruguay, Wednesday for New York, will be a “wet” ship, it was an- | nounced at the offices of the lifle here today. S Orders have been received to stock the vessel with sufficient alcoholic beverages for its passengers for a sound FREEZING TOMORROW. ‘Weather Man Says Spring Will Return by Middle of Week. Freezing temperature by tomorrow morning was the prediction for the District by the weather bureau today. Early today the official thermometer registered 42 degrees above zero Tomorrow and Wednesday are to! see slowly rising temperatures. with a resumption of normal spring | wedther about the middle of the week. | according to the weather bureau. | Freezing temperatures were report- | ed this morning as far south as Ashe- | ville, N. C., with light frost to the Alabama coast, central Louisiana and central Texas RECLASSIFICATION STIRS UP SENATE| Jurisdiction Over Bill Starts | Heated Debate, Which Sen- ator Lodge Halts. The contest in the Senate for juris- diction over reclassification legisla- tion between the committee on civil service and the appropriations com- mites. broke out again in the Senate today, when Senator Sterling, chair- man of the committee on civil service, moved to refer his bill for reclassi- fication of government employes to his committee. Chairman Warren of the appropria- tions committee immediately took is- sue with Senator Sterling, and offered ! 2 substitute motion to refer the Sterl- ing bill to the appropriations com- mittee. Senator Warren said that the appointment of the joint commission on reclassification bad originated in an appropriations bill a couple of years ago handled by the appropria- tions committee. He contended that the appropriations committee can more readily act on the appropriations proposed for the various empjoyes. Denfes Warren'’s Claim. Senator Sterling argued that the bill is a legislative matter, not an ap- propriation bill, and that therefore it should go to the legislative com- mittee. “If any bill should be re- ferred to the civil service commit- tee, it is this," said Senator Sterling. “It’ contains no appropriation what-! ever.” Senator Sterling said that when the joint committee on reclassification | made it'’s report it was referred to| the appropriations committee improp- erly. He said that he had not been present at the time the report was made. | [ Refers to Other Billa. Senator Sterling also called atten- tion to the fact that the Lehlbach bill, for reclassification of the govern- ment employes, and also the bill in- troduced by Representative Wood of Indiana had gone to the House civil service committee and not to the com- mittee on appropriations. He said that if the Senate rule was disregard- ed in connection with this bill there as no reason why an appropriation bill should not be referred to the in- terstate commerce commiftee or the judiciary committee. Senator Smoot of Utah, who has of- fered a reclassification bill, took the floor in support of the contention that the reclassification measures should go to the appropriations committee. ‘ Lodge Stops Debate. At _this point Senator Lodge, republican leader, objected to furt] consideration of this matter at this time, pointing out that under the unanimous consent agreement the Colombian treaty is to be voted on on ‘Wednesday and that the time of the Senate should be devoted to it. The reference of the Sterling bill went over. | RAILWAY OFFICIAL DIES. Zebulon Vance Taylor Away on Train. CHARLOTTE. N. C., April 18.—Zeb- ulon Vance Taylor, president and general manager of the Southern Public Utilitles Company, with head- quarters here, died suddenly at 10 o’clock this morning of acute indiges- tion near Fredericksburg, Va., when en route to New York with J. B. Duke, president of the American Tobacco Company and the Southern Power Company, on Mr. Duke's private car. according to information received here. Mr. Taylor's wife dropped dead here about three months ago while at- tending a reception. Today’s News in Paragraphs Secretary Hughes tells Japan league | cannot destroy ¥. S. rights in Yap. Page 1 The thirtieth congress of the D. A. R. ‘assembled today. Page 1 President Harding has every federal agency seeking ways to stabilize business. Page 1 Representative Woods heads democrats cl;maen today to House District com- mittee. Page 1 eated debate in Senate on reclassifica- Ht.lon is halted by Senator Lodge. Page 1 Washington and Cumberland business ‘men plan to continue operation of C. & O. canal. Ex-emperor not at station as train !lA.r!.rfor Potsdam with wife’s body. Page 2 the her Passes lroad wage hearing opens in Chicago R‘fi‘mld protests by union leaders. o i Page 2 British government anxious to reopen negotiations with striking miners to adjust difficulties. Page 2 Vatican denies it will act as interme- diary between Germany and U. S. Page Young man shot to death in Maryland hecgule of alleged jealousy over girls. Page 2 President Rea says Pennsylvania rail- road has not lost money through out- side repair work. Page 3 Tornado-wrecked areas recovering from storm which swept six southern and ‘western states. Page 3 600 wet arrests in New York cause plea for volunteer lawyers. e 4 Buildings are sacked in Italian electoral campaign. | st Page. 4 ork of distributing relief in famished wChlnl described. Page 5 . Gomes prefers defeat for presi- Ged';ncy in Cuba rather than to endanger safety of republic. Page 13 Trade with Russia_impossible at pres- ent, Secretary Hughes tells Samuel Gompers. Page 13 1 Trade Commission charges e emopolics are cause of high prises and recommends sharing of cost bur- den. “Quick-mail collection™ service proves, success as Postmaster Chance 2 | District. FEDERAL POSITIONS CLASSIFIED IN BILL PRESENTED TODAY Measure by Senator Smoot Provides for Grades of Service in Capital. PRESIDENT MAY INCLUDE CITY AND OUTSIDE WORK Salaries, With Bonus Eliminated, Effective Third Month After Date Act Is Approved. The Smoot bi sification of government Wwas offered in the Senate today by Senator Smoot of Utah. The bill has been drafted by Senator Smaot after a conference with other members of the Senate appropriations committee and with efficiency experts of the Bovernment. Senator Sterling of South Dakota ob- Jected to the formal Introduction of the bill and under the rules it laid over for a day. The bill applies to all civilian em- Ployes of the federal government in the District of Columbia except me- chanics, machine operators and skilied tradesmer™n the government printing office and the bureau of engraving and and the commissioned and enlisted personnel of the United & coast and geodetic survey. the comet 8uard and the public health service. The President, however, by exec- utive order is authorized to extend the application of the proposed law to all civilian employes of the govern- ment, including persons employed outside the District and the employes of the municipal government of the 11 providing for reclas- employes Provides for Eighteen Grades. The bill provides eighteen grades in the government service, with salaries Tanging from $360 to those above $7.500. It is' provided that the head of each department and i shall, under rules and re i scribed by the President, allocate t DD:."n:::.': ‘1“ e-rc-):, department or a:u:? © grades in accordance the schedule contained in the hu}‘,’mI The head estigyfiead of each department and erage efficiency of all emplo; - other employes are engaged upon the Same or comparable work, by com- paring the effici e with the emele:cl;?w.-‘nm m’lflfi' should be expected. x ‘The sal laries of all empl in each ent or el'.lllllhm:’n.l. fixed in accordance with the Pproposed law shall become effective on the firat day of the third month following the date of approval of the act, and no employes shall thereafter be paid a salary exceeding the maximum rate or less than t Scribed for the: gragumum rate pre- l’ol:lllion is lllmw P s provided, however, that dur the probational employment g!]n: new emplove or during the first six months’ service of any employe on new work. the head of a department or establishment may, in his discre- tion, fix the salary of the appointee or employe in the next grade below lht.eldto which his position is departm, Provision for Payment. The head of each department and establishment is authorized to spend g:flng the fiscal year ending June ), 1922, from priated for personal servises buch Sums as may be required to pay the pensation fixed in accord- rate of com; ance with this act. The President, all submit esti- from time to time, sh: mates of such additional amounts as may be necessary during that fiscal year. This means the repeal of the sal provisions of the executive, legisla. tive and judicial appropriation bill containing” the $240 bonus, passed at the last session of Congress for the fiscal vear 1922, as soon as the re- classification act becomes effective. Provision is made that nothing in the proposed law shall be construed to affect the limitations placed by existing law upon the total number of persons to be employed in any department or establishment. It is provided that the bureau of efficiency shall aid the President as he may request in the preparation of amendments and supplements to the schedule of grades, and in pre- paring rules and regulations for car- rying the law into effect. The bureau of efficiency is to investigate and re- port to the President upon all mat- ters touching the enforcement and effect of these rules and regulations. Grades and Salary Ranges. The grades and salary ranges pro- vided in the bill are as follows: Grade 1—Salary range, per annum, $360 to $660; per hour, not to exceed 30 cents. Light janitorial work, char- ‘women. Grade 2—Salary range, per annum, $540 to $720. Running errands with- in an office and doing light tasks. Grade 3—Salary range, per annum, $900 to $1,080. Supervising a small group of persons doing light jani-* torial work; handling heavy objects, such as desks, mail sacks and other work usually required of unskilled labor. Grade 4—Salary range, $900 to $1,260. There are nine classes of employment in this grade, including messenger work, operating elevators, and guard- ing office and storage buildings. Grade 5—Salary range, $1,140 to $1,500. Classes of employment in this grade are twenty-six, running from supervision of a small force of un- skilled laborers to work of a pri- mary character in an engraving es- tablishment. Grade 6—Salary range, $1,680. The classes of employment are twenty-four, running from the operating of a small heating plant to receiving and treating emergency cases of illness in the departmental relief room. Ordinary stenographic work,* typing from plain copy, etc., also included. Grade 7—Salary range, $1,500 to $1,860. Thirty classes in this grade, the character of work renging from supervision of a large force of un- skilled laborers to engraving on copper plates, topographic maps and nauti- cal charts, and including wvarious kinds of responsible clerical work. Grade 8—$1.680 to $2,040. There are twenty-two classes of employment in this grade, ranging from the work of . foremen of skilled mechanics to translating work involving a knowl- edge of two or three of the less diffi- cult foreign languages. and including supervl over work of a group records engai time the preparation Grade 9—Sala: $1.320 to