Evening Star Newspaper, May 7, 1921, Page 14

4 POPULARY.M.C. EXTENDS WELCOME TO 500 DALLY] Entertainment. Mcals and Lodging Fur- nished Soldiers—Needy Aided—Con- genial Secretaries in Charge. ST, A.SERVICE CLUB | Boxer Gets His Own Break- A daily average of 500 service and ex-service men make use of the Y. M. C. A. Service Men's Club at 100¢ E street northwast, successor to the Eagle Hut, which was located at 9th street and Pennsylvania avenue. Those who may think the war is entirely over should drop into the| club some one of these rainy after- noons and see the men, and out of uniform, reading. playing checkers, banging on the piano and otherwise having a good time. They should talk to C. H. Harring- ton, head secretary, or W. T. Beat- son, associate secretary, and learn of | the men from Walter Reed Hospital and the other soldier institutions, and | from out-of-town, from every place and nowhere, who daily flock to this | place of recreation and help. Then perhaps more casual passers- by would realize that the war is not | entirely over, and that the need for | Sunday afternoon speakers and sing- | ers is about as great now as it was| “during the war.” When the Y. M. C. A. Eagle Hut was closed last summer, following the controversy between the post of- fice and the District government as to the location of a postal station In it. the Y. M. C. A. cast around for a| rew home for its popular srrv(ce‘- club. The result was_the Service Men's | Club on E street. Here the wandering in uniform | fast. BY THORNTON W. BURGES He first tastes independence who Waits on himself as others do. There is a counter. as in a hotel, and a register, where the men write down their names. The club opens early. and remains open until 11 p.m. but there is al man on duty all night, so that the| rs. Bear. late comer may find lodgings. A i ik bed, soap, towel and bath are pro-| It seemed to Boxer, the lost little ded for 50 cents a might. During [ Bear, that that dreadful night would the day a shower may be secured for 10 cents. A tub bath m: those who prefer it. ay be had by last rnrevrrv. that it never would end. Of course, it didn't last any longer Then there is “chow.” Here a man|than a night at that season of the can get a “hot dog” sandwich for |y Sl casn’ e & anot Jop sandwich 10r|year usually doss, and it wasmt cents and other commistibles at |dreadful at all. The truth is it was equally low figur For 25 cents a|an unusually fine night, and every- man can secure a real meal. body but Boxer and anxious Mother There are books and magazines for | Bear thought so. the entertainment of the men. as! Perhaps vou can guess just how well as a phonograph and a piano. [glad Boxer was to see the Jolly Lit- The chess and checker men are on|[tle Sunbeams chase the Hlack Shad- (n(-‘ Jjump all the time. ows out of the Green Forest the next But these are but the groundwork |morning. He still felt frightened and of the service given by the club to|very, very lonesome, but things look- the “boys. Behind these stand the |ed very different by daylight and he ready human sympathies of the sec-|felt very much braver and bolder. retaries and other “Y" workers. If! First of all. he took a nap. All a man comes straggling down in the [night he haa been awake, for he had morning, after a good night's sleep. | been too frightened to sleep. That declaring that he has lost his cuff |nap did him a world of good. When buttons. ‘some one is always ready |he awoke he felt quite like another to search through the box behind the | Bear. And the first thing he thought counter, r That's a great box behind the O\ NS NreAKIAsU ok Bear counter. In it are all sorts of odds | pac Tarsisney Bosny with fie bre and ends left and lost by former|fist and with all_his other meals. patrons of the club. They are held | gyt there was no Mother Bear to do or homeless man, as well as the man still in the service, may find some of | the comforts of home, ‘“eats” and lodging at nominal prices, and warm | hearts and_ready minds to help him. | Secretary Harrington had a son in | the service in France, and he knows the soldiers. That is why the patrons | of the club come in augmented num- bers each day. Inviting Quarters. | The clubhouse is a three-story | building, with u comparatively large | room on the first floor. a sort of | combined recreation and dining room ' WAGE BOARD PLAN URGED ONA.F. L, Building Trades Department Would Stabilize Industry. By the Associated Press. CINCINNATI, Ohio, May 7.—Estab- lishment of local wage conference or adjustment boards throughout the country to prevent unnecessary strikes and lockouts in the building indus- try was urged here today by the ex- ecutive council of the building trades department of the American Federa- tion of Labor in gession here. Under the proposed plan announced by John Donlin, president of the building trades department, arbitration of wage disputes is provided, and sym- pathetic strikes In behalf of unions making “unjustified demands are pre- vented.” It has already been success- fully tried out in several cities, cluding Cincinnati, he said. “The new movement,” he added, “will give stability to the industry and inspire confidence in the building and investment public.” Composition of Boards. ‘The proposed boards will be com- posed of representatives of the build- ing contractors and the various unions. Wage scales for the various crafts will be established on an equi- table basis according to the merits of the trade. There will be no uniform scale. The board shall consider the question of advances or decreases in wages as general living conditions ‘will permit. “One of the chief merits of the plan” said Mr. Donlin, “is that no sympathetio strike can be called to uphold the unreasonable or unjustified demands of some particular union. ‘That is one of our troubles today and a situation that must be rectified. Conditions “Are Bad.” Reports received by the council. for weeks for the call of the loser, |t 'ty f . ach w Dt after a Cwhile they “hecome® the | It this morning, and his stomach was property of the man in need. very empty. If anything was - put in it he was the one who would Needs More Bedding. have to put it there. The club needs more bedding, Sec-| Just thinking of breakfast made retary Harrington said, and espe- |Boxer hungrier than ever. He cially more speakers and singers for | couldn't lie still. He must have some- the Sunday afternoon entertainments. | thing to eat and he must have it soon. A uniqué feature of the place is the | He crawled out from under the pile Rainbow Division “dugout” in the |of brush, shook himself and tried to basement, where the rafters give |decide where to go in search of a somewhat the semblance of_a dug- |breakfast. But being lost, of cou out in France. . American flags and | he had no idea which way to turn. the flags of the allies decorate the ] it doesn’t make much walls. 1 guess it ference,” grumbled Boxer. “Which- ever way I go I guess I'll find some- thing to at if 1 keep going longz enough.” So Boxer started out. And because he had something on his mind. something to do, he forgot that he was lonesome and he forgot to be afraid. He just couldn’t think of anye THE WEEK thing but breakfast. .\;ow(.l ‘rqhniihn =D i v : had tc get food for him- Pltome of Events Up to never had® ha get food for bim Boxer before. May 7, 1921. f FOREIGN. Allies will before use of navy to force Ger- consult United States many to pay. England makes new ze-lce offer to Ireland. Allies give iermany until May 12 to yield. - mans blaming United ISal.e:v for t?oel:- bles. Berlin gets ultimatum. Unit- ed States expected to take part in allied councils. Arm, ditional land in Sibeer‘%l.PDlel fieaas NATIONAL. United States Supreme Cou ted rt_or- ders verdict in cases involving New- erry and Dshel’! in election contests set aside. United States tells Pana- ma to give up land to Costa Rica. |Pe2T!S: Col. Edward Clifford made assistant |ver and gold l'ecr':lary of the Treasury to handle |the process. ]e:r for ex-service men. Navy wire- open the box. less 15.%?’5;1 bet'se:n United " States gide. Now shut and lock it.” Obe- orders 15 per cent cut in' shipping |Did: then she stood waiting for fur- T::‘; e House cuts size of |ther instructions. Knox peace resolution William M. |sreat brooding spirit was beginning Steuart named director of census. ke effect. Singing a monotonous. Highway bill introduced In ‘Senate | hareh chant, the Indian knelt on the calls for $200.000,000. President warns |floor, and poured some powder into a Conkress not to encroach on execu- |little brazier. He was still close to tive's powers. = Bergdoll counsel at|the open window, and finally he sat congressional hearing attempts to|down with his elbows on his knees, shift guilt Chairman Benson asks{and his head rocking to and fro in his ex-Navy men to help keep merchant | hands. ships in service in event of marine| ‘Less light—less light!” The words strike. President issues proclamation |seemed to come from a great distance declaring May 30 Memorial day.|—ventriloquism in a mild way was Economy demand may delay estab- |one of Lakington's accomplishments; lishment of proposed new depart- |and as the lights went out a greenish, ments. President warns cabinet mem- | spluttering fame rose from the bra- bers against extravagance. zier. A heavy, odorous smoke filled the room. but framed and motionless LOCAL. in the eerie light sat the Indian, star- ing fixedly in front of him. After a District of Columbia heads favor |time the chant began again: it Erew the daylight saving. War Depart-|and swelled in volume till the singer ment orders Munitions Building Cafe- {grew frenzied and beat his head with teria closed. Extension of Ball rent | his hands. Then abruptly it stopped. act taken up by Senate District of | “Place the box upon the floor.” he Columbia committee. President and |ordered. “in the light of the sacred Vice President favor victory building |fire.” Hugh saw the duchess kneel here. Plan to give District of Colum- |down on the opposite side of the bra- bia Rent Commission an attorney.|zier and place the box on the floor, Schools need eighteen more rooms at |while the faces of the guests—strange once. Washington Railway and Elec- jand ghostly in the green light— A Novel of Mystery, (Cogyright. 1921, by (Continued from Yesterday's Star.) “No hand but yours must touch (pe Wrap them up Inside the sil- Aloofly he watched ‘Now advance alone, and heavy Place the pearls in-| AR, WASHINGTON, that he knew just how to go about it. He found a thoroughly rotted old stump and pulled it apart. It hap- pened that he found nothing there to eat. But a few minutes later he for- £ot all about this disappointment as he pulled over a small log and saw e INTO A HOLE. ants scurving in every direction. He promptly swept them 'into his mouth with his tongue and smacked his lips at the taste of them. He didn't leave that place until not another ant was to be seen. _ By and by he dug out certain tender little roots and ate these. How he knew where to dig for them he couldn’t have told himself. He just knew, that was all. Something inside him prompted him to stop and dig, and he did so. . Once he chased a Wood Mouse into a hole and started to dig him out. But it was exciting and « lot of fun. so he didn't mind much, even when he had to give up. He caught three or fouf beetles, and near the Laughing Brook he surprised a young frog. Altogether he made a very good breakfast. And because he got it all himself, with no help from any one. he enjoyed it more than any breakfast he could remem- ber. And, suddenly, he felt quite a person of the Great World and quite equal to taking care of himself. He forgot who had cried for his mother only the night before. The Grea World wasn't such a bad place, after all. Copyrii 1921, by T. W. Burge: other Bear getting food and felt Bull-Dog Drummond BY CYRIL McNEILE (“Sapper™) Love and Adventure. George H. Dersa Os.) 1f you do they will Watch, in the braszier. disappear—never to return. but do not touch!” Slowly he backed toward the win- dow, unperceived in the general ex- citement; and Hugh dodged rapidly toward the car. It struck him that i the seance was over, and he just had time to see Lakington snatch some- thing which appeared to have been let down by a string from above, be- fore turning into the bushes and rac- ing for the car. As it was he was only a second or two in front of the other, and the last vision he had through a break in the trees. before they were spinning smoothly down the deserted road, was an open window in Laidley Towers from which dense volumes of vapor poured steadily out. Of the house party behind, waiting ! for the light to burn low in the bra- zier, he could see no sign through the opaque wall of green fog. | 1t took five minutes, so he gathered afterward from a member of the house party. before the light had burned sufficiently low for the duchess to consider it safe to touch the pearls. In various stages of asphyxiation the jassembled guests had peered at the i box, while the cynical comments of the men were rightly treated by the ladies with the contempt they de- served. Was the necklace not there, wrapped in its gold and silver tissue, where a few minutes before there had been nothing? “Some trick of that beastly light"” remarked the duke peevishly. “For heaven's sake throw the dam’ thing jout of the window.” “Don’t be a fool, Jim." retorted his spouse. “If you could do this sort of D. C, SATURDAY, INDIVIDUAL TAX PLAN PROPOSED 001 D Representative Would Levy 1 Per Cent on Net Hold- ings of Person. Levying a tax of 1 per cent on the net Rorth of an individual is proposed by Representative Bachrach of New Jersey, 2 member of the House ways and means committee, as an alternative for the final sales tax to make possible the abolition of the excess profits and other burden- some taxes. Representative Bachrach is working on such a bill, and expects to introduce it soon. In a statement issued today he says he agrees with Secretary Mellon in his advocacy of the repeal of the excess profits tax and the so-called “nuisance taxes,” but says a number of the other special excise taxes, such as the freight and express transportation taxes, should be eliminated. “But, frankly, I do not see how these changes can be made unless there Is found some new source which we can tap in order to get revenue to make up for the money lost in the repeal of these taxes,” Mr. Bachrach sa: He thinks customs receipts for the fiscal year 1922 will amount to twice the $300,000,000 estimated by the Secretary of the Treas- ury. Favors Sales Tax. “Personally I am still of the opin- ion.” continued Representative Bach- rach, “that the adoption of a sales tax plan would be the simplest and easiest method of raising additional revenue and at the same time bring a reduction in the cost of living and a return of business prosperity. The claim that such a_tax would add to the cost of living I do not grant; the state of Pennsylvania has had a sales tax in operation for a number of years—it applies to wholesale and re- tail sales only. It is a good revenue producer for the state and that it has not added to the cost of living is con- clusively shown in the report of the United States Labor Department in the Monthly Labor Review for Febru- ary, 1921. This report shows the change in cost of living in nineteen cities from December. 1914, to Decem- ber, 1920. Of the one Pennsylvania city mentioned—Philadelphia—the re- port shows that the increase in the cost of living during that period was higher in the cities of Buffalo, Cleve- land, Detroit, Houston, Jacksonville, New York and Norfolk than in Phila- delphia. Of course, there is some op- position to the adoption of a sales tax, but in my opinion we will have it on our statute books soomer or 1ater. “However, as an alternative propo- sition. T am considering the presenta- Ition of 2 bill which would levy a tax jof 1 per cent on the net worth of the iindividual to take the place of those taxes which 1 feel very strongly should be eliminated. Under the most unfavorable conditions such a tax should bring in more than a billion dollars in revenue. There would be an exemption of $10,000 allowed to each person under this plan so that the person of small means would not be affected by it, and they would not be obliged to pay a tax on their small savings: it would encourage rather than discourage the people to own their homes and it would likewise be an_encouragement of business thrift. he adoption of such a tax would permit of a substantial reduction in the surtax schedule, the elimination of the excess profits tax and prac- tically all of the special excise taxes, and in addition I believe it would permit of a substantial amount being set aside as a sinking fund for the re- demption of outggpnding indebtedness. Suceessful in Europe. ' “In several countries in Europe a tax on the net worth of individuals, as suggested above, has been adopted, and here in our own country we had such a tax during the civil war which was very effective in raising revenue at that time. “Such a law would force those to pay a tax who are now investing their money in federal and municipal tax- exempt securities for the purpose of avoiding the payment of income tax, and it would also force those individ- uals to pay a tax who own unimprov- ed property in growing business sec- tions of the country upon which they pay only local taxes and who refuse to dispose of such property excepting at exorbitant prices; they would have to pay a tax or else dispose of their property at market value. Such a law would primarily affect the person of means, but at the same time, if its adoption would bring a correspond- ing substantial reduction in the sur- tax schedule, as I think it would, the burden of taxes would not be any higher, and, as a matter of fact, would MAY 7, 1921—PART 2. SURVEY OF WEEK'S BUSINESS SHOWS CHANGE FOR BETTER and for Lumber From Many Quarters Indicates Revival in Building. Wage Issue Still a Problem. Today's dispatches from industrial America seem to forecast tomorrow’s continuation of a progress toward pros- perity. There has been a measurable change for the better in business conditions dur- ing the week now ending. advices from the chief centers show, but full return of work waits on the wage-earner. Com- modity prices, with a few notable ex- ceptions, have been deflated generally; wages are now going through the de- flation process. Business everywhere will continke to progress slowly and substantiall the view of scores of varied industries, during the period of labor's come-down from high wage levels, quickening its step as the wage deflation nears com- pleteness. Chief of the industries waiting on the wage-earner are the building trades. Hundreds of thousands of dwellings and other buildings are contemplated—when wages come down still further. At- tempts to put wage cuts into effect have met with strikes in such centers as Cleveland and Philadelphia. where contemplated _construction runs into hundreds of millions of dollars. The men are out, but the firm conviction prevails that they will go back at less wages after a time. Proof of this con- viction is found in the extraordinary demand for lumber, New Orleans re- porting orders during the week for 72,000,000 feet, or 25 per cent more than all the mills in the district can produce. Banks in Better Shape. Detroit, St. Louis, Kan City. Cleveland, Seattle, Chicago, St. Paul, Atlanta—virtually all the south. the west and the middle west—are taking more to heart the splendid showing of their financial institutions. The banks are in better shape, these and other cities report. than they have been for many months. Savings ac- counts are reported from some of the leading population centers to have increased both in number and total deposits since the first of the year— proof, say the bankers, that the buy- ing public still has a tremendous potential power. but has become more frugal and economical. Federal reserve banks without ex- ception are in a stronger position to- day than they have been for more than a vear. Discount rates have been reduced by the New York, At- lanta and Chicago banks during the week. Other reductions, it is be- lieved, will follow soon. Sales Making Records. Westward the star of prosperity seems to wend its way. New England reports her affairs in better shape now than for months past, with the out- look bright for further improvement. Retail stores in Boston have reported to the reserve bank that their sales in_March surpassed those in March, 1920, and were far ahead of those in March, 1919, notwithstanding that more goods have to go over the count- er to get a dollar in the till. New York reports cause for opti- mism in its inventory of the idle, just completed. Many loose and pessimis- tic mouths have been shut by the stocktaking which has simmered down the pay roll reduction among firms employing nearly half a million workers to 17 per cent from last year's figures. Almost astounding is the findi that the wage reduction per person employed now is only 1 cent a week less than it was a year ago, the figures being $30.27 and $30.28, respectively. Steel Trade Looking U The steel business is looking up a bit in Pittsburgh, with indications of| doing “still_better in the near future. Department stores, always an index of business conditions, did more busi- ness there in March than they did in March a year ago. Cleveland reports continuation of the automobile indus- try's prosperity, a report checked as correct by Detroit, the latter city add- in | ing that business conditions in other industrial plants there and elsewhere in the state are improving. Kansas, with its usual prompt way of doing things, has gone to work to determine who has reduced prices and who has not. Her industrial court is going to tell the world, it is announc- ed, whether producer, wholesaler or retailer is lagging in deflation en- deavor. St. Louis reports prospects of a continuation of the good retail buying experienced during the past two weeks. Help for King Cotton through the War Finance Corporation is believed by southern business men to be near. The mere belief has helped stimulate business in a section that is coming back fast, anyhow. Pacific Const Wait Pacific coast cities are wearying of the business of waiting for business to get better. That section of the United States, always last to feel the full effects eith}r of boom or depres- sion, is about threa months behind MOTORS ARE WEAK ONCHEVROLETCUT Higher Rates on Foreign Ex- change—Playing a Game in United States Realty. BY S. P. WEST. NEW YORK. May 7.—There wera’ two opp ng considerations in this morning's stock marke One was the announcement, which came after business hours yesterday, that the federal reserve bank in the {hicago district had followed the example of the banks in Boston, New York and Atlanta, and had reduced its discount rate on commercial loans. . The other was the sharp price cut made public by the Chevrolet Motor Company. Inasmuch as the first piece of news had been cxpected, it did not cut as much figure as the sccond news item, which was quite unexpected. B since the turn came in the motor in- dustry, a little over a month ago. opinion has been divided us to wheth- er it was the beginning of an impor- tant new forward movement or sim- New England in its progress toward prosperity, a dispatch from Seattle says, but feels sure that real pros- perity of a substantial, rather than spectacular, character is on its way to the coast. Meantime, hundreds of picturesque soldiers of fortune pitch camp in Seattle. They are the gold- hunters, bound for Alaska and wai- ing_for tie opening of the ocean lane to Nome. Throughout the nation the railroads are reporting a genuine pickup in traffic. March figures, showing net income approximating $30,000,000, are believed to be harbingers of still bet- ter days in April and May. From Philadelphia, where labor and capital lock unfriendly arms in many strikes, comes light reading of deeper import’ than appears on the surface. The Quaker city says the five-cent cigar is coming back. NOTES. NEW YORK, May 7.—High freight rates on the railroads are driving business to the waterways. The news that the Mississippi river s carrying more traffic than at almost any time in its history is followed by special advertisements here urging merchants to ship their package freight by the New York barge canal. The rates are far below rail charges, and the service includes delivery at the customer's door in Buffalo, and prompt trans- shipment of goods consigned to Cleveland, Detroit, Duluth, Superior, St. Paul, Minneapolis and the north- west. Despite the fact that little encour- agement comes from members of Congress, merchants’ organizations from all over the country are urging a sales tax as a substitute for the ex- cess profits tax and higher income levies of the existing law. The latest advocate of the tax is the National Association of Hosiery and Knit Goods Manufacturers. which has been in session in Philadelphia. The association declares that the re- moval of the super taxes and the ex- cess profits tax will release large sums of capital at present tied up in non-taxable securitie: CHICAGO. May 7.—In the opinion of many economists the retailers are setting themselves a virtually impos- sible task in trying to equal or exceed the sales volume of last year as fig- ured in dollars and cents. A drop in prices of from 25 to 50 per cent has made it necessary, of course, to sell a much greater volume of goods to make anything like an equal money return to corresponding periods of last year. NEW YORK, Mey 7.—Revised price lists covering the fall dellveries of rugs have been sent to the trade by one of the largest wholesale houses here, and while there has been some shading of prices on both rugs and carpets, the mew lists show compara- tively little change. RUSSIA SEENBENT |ARGENTINA BACKS ON OPENING TRADE Representative Tells of Vast Shipments, Orders and STRIKING FIREMEN Proposals to U. S. in Martha Washington Case Embody ply a recovery which would flare up for a while and then die down. The extraordinary rise in Stude- baker. and the ten-point advance in stocks like Chandler and Pierce Ar- row reflected the belief that the up- turn would continue, and it was nat- ural that the announcement of the price reduction by the Chevrolet should have given very much of a jar to this speculative position. Selling the Motors. All the motor shares broke sharp- 1y right at the start, and the selling continued through the first hour, aft- er which there was a moderate ra ly. Stocks of tire companies, whic have been influenced by the cam- paign in the motors, were not as much affected. In fact, they held up remarkably well. The weakness in the motor group unsettled the gen- eral list through the early part of the session. but in the final deal- ings, fresh buying appearingz in some of the railway shares, the oils and one or two specialties brought about a firmer tone Such test as the day's operations imposed was altogether in favor of the conclusion that the general mar- ket position, outside of one or twn groups, has not been weakened by the rise of the last few days After two days of reaction the ad- vance was resumed in sterling ex- change, which went to a new high French francs and Italian lire con- tinued to push ahead. Both grain and cotton lost pretty much all _yesterday's improvements brought about by the unfavorabio summuary of recent crop developments put out by the Department of Agri- culture. United States Realty. The street was willing to give the realty pool full credit for clever handling of the market situation. From its standpoint Thursday's dis- closures regarding the coming an- nual report was quite premature. These things were to have been kept from the public until there had been a chance to work the stock up to higher levels. In order to nullify the effect of this advance information. it was nec- essary to make the market for Real- ty shares vesterday to look as unre- sponsive and unattractive as possi ble. This was done and had the de sired effect of inducing some of th outside following which had two or three points profit to cash in. Then the next move in the busi- ness of discouraging unwelcom: hangers-on was to jump the stock up violently. Accordingly. the open- ing sales of Realty this morning were made at 56 against last night's close of 541, and few people had the te- merity to follow up so sharp and sud- den a rise. It was not until the stock crossed 57 that it was realized what a skiliful piece of handiwork had been put through. Sinclair Ofl Outlook. Reference to dividend action one of the main points of a circular just put out by a Broadway wire house on the Sinclair Consolidated 0Oil Corporation. This circular says that, in view of the increased busi- ness and earnings, there is every rea- son to believe that some sort of cash disbursement will begin in the not distant glure. The writer of creased in 1320 from cdose etaoiC the circular says that the gross business of the Sinclair company in- creased im 1920 from close to $1 000,000 to well over $166.000.000, ‘while net elrnir‘lgs bef]ore deprecia- tion increased from close to $20.- 000,000 to above $30.000.000. ~The company’s production in the United States last year was 8,488.000 bar- rels, an increase of approximatcly ' President Donlin said, showed that! tric Company reduces laborers’ wages, [ peered like specters out of the | thing, the house of lords might be one million barrels over the amount building conditions throughout the country are “very bad.” but there is some slight improvement. The high! cost of building materials is also re- sponsible for the slump in building, the labor leader said. adding that these costs had advanced 140 per cent! during the last few years, but had only declined about 40 per cent up to the present time. i “The council's reports show that; the building trades unions are willing | to co-operate in reducing building costs” added Mr. Donlin, “by accept- ing equitable wage reductions in line with the falling cost of living. The executive council of the Amer- jcan Federation held a brief session today working on its report to the annual convention of the federation. This report, it was learned, will in- clude a recommendation for a general application of the initiative and ref- erendum in_the “political affairs of the United States and of our several states.” ‘Word was received by the council that J. H. Thomas, head of the rail- way workers' unfon in England, will come to the United States soon and| will address the federation's conven- | tion in Denver in June. The council this afternoon partici- pated in the all-American day cele- bration. ENRIGHT HEADS POLICE. National Conference to Promote Co- Operation Throughout Country. NE WYORK, May 7.—The National Police Conference last night became & permanent organization with Po- lice Commissioner Richard E. Enright of this city as president. The object of the organization will be to pro- mote greater co-operation among po- lce throughout the country, to ef- fect standard systems of street traffic rules and to bring about proper lia- ison with police of foreign countries. The organization will also estab- lish a system of information and con- trol over the movements of radicals d criminals. Other officers _elected were: Vice presidents, A. C. Billingham, Nor- folk; Daniel J. O'Brien, San Fran- cisco; treasurer, William Copeland, Cincinnati; secretary, Douglas I. Mc- Kay, New York. A board of manag- ing directors will consist of one dele- gate from each state. A resolution recommending a na- tional department of sociology, head- ed by a secretary with a seat in the President’s cabinet, was considered and referred to the executive com- mittee. KILL MEXICAN DEPUTY. Another Member of Yucatan Leg- islature Wounded. MEXICO CITY, May 7.—Jeronimo Moguel, a member of the legislature of the state of Yucatan, was shot and killed while walking through the main plaza of Yerida yesterday. Ma- kuel Gonmszales, another deputy, was serlously wounded. Four men. riding in an automobile, which hed past the two dcputies, fired a volley at them and then sped away. Both depu- ties were promiment socialists. House subcommittee on in theaters here. H. B. F. Macfarland says District surplus not Burroughs clubs for nature study formed here. Local civic bodies op- pose employes' insurance bill. of Scholx Ballou says crowded schools here deplorable. War Department to dismis 0 employes. Propose new mpulsory education law for Dis- trict. Willlam F. Gude takes oath as member of Rent Commission. Un- employed here on increace. School estimates of only $1,989,000 sent to House. Among those who died in the District were: Henry A. Seymour, Hargreaves Kippax, George F. Kelly, John A. Moss, Mrs. M. R. McNabb, Jo- seph D. Clark, Christian P. Gliem, Mrs. K. O. Elliott and Mrs. Mary Cole. —_— “HOOTCH” IN CANDY. Six School Children Intoxicated. Grocer Turns Over Stock. CHARLOTTE. N. C. May 7.—Six school children here yesterday be- came intoxicated to the point of u consciousness, according to Dr. W. A. McPhaul, city health officer, after eating a grocery store near the school. The children showed every symptom of regular intoxication, according to Dr. McPhaul, but they later recovered. The owner of the store, when he learned of the effects of the candy he had sold, took the entire stock of that brand to the city health offices, where it is held until an analysis is made. The candy was sealed in air- tight waxed paper packages and when opened had an alcoholic aroma, according to the health officer. MOSBY’S MEN GATHER. Annual Reunion on Birthday Anni- versary of Gen. Bee. MANASSAS, Va., May 7.—Col. John S. Mosby's men are holding their annual reunion here today in_commemoration of the birth of Gen. Barnard G. Bee, who fell in one of the battles of Ma- nassas. Survivors of the famous Mosby command today hoisted u_ Confederate flag upon the spot where Gen. Bee fell. The flag is the gift of Bee Chapter, United Daughters of the Confederacy, of San Antonio, Tex. Congressman William D. Upshaw of Georgia delivered the address of the oc- casion. EX-CASHIER INDICTED. Prominent Boston Man Accused of Larceny and Forgery. BOSTON, May 7.—Thomas J. O'Daly, former city cashier, who was arrested on the eve of his promotion to the office of city treasurer, was indicted today on oharges of larceny and forgery. Sums specifically mentioned in the several counts of the larceny indictment as having been taken since January, 1918, totaled about $24,000, while a blanket indictment placed the amount at $40.000. At the time of O'Daly’s arrest Mayor Peters announced that he had confeased thefts to the latter amount. District of | smoke. Columbia takes up control of prices | worth watchini a myth, jrang Supt. { “hootch™ candy purchased at | This was undoubtedly a show “Open the box{ Harshly the throu; the silent r . Fthat trembled a littie the with fingers back the lid. {PuWny, its empty!™ she cried in {amazenent. and the guests craned ward to look. T fot your hand inside.” cried the Indian in sudden warning, “or per- { chance it will remain empty. i The duchess rapidly withdrew her ihand, and stared incredulously through the smoke at his impassive face. “Did T not say that there was pow- er in the box?' he said dreamily. “The power to render invisible—the power to render visible. Thus came protection to the, jewels of the Chow {queens.’ 2 “That's all right. Mr. Ram Dar/ said the duchess a little apprehensive- ly. “There may be power in the box, but my pearls don’t seem to be.” he Indian laughed. None but you has touched the cabi- {net, your grace; none but you must |touch It till the pearls return. They are there now; but not for mortal eyes to see.” Which, incidentally, {than the truth. “Look. oh! sahibs. look: but do not touch. See that to your vision the box is empty. . . ' He waited mo- tionless, while the guests thronged round, with expressions of amaze- ment; ana Hugh, safe from view in the thick, sweet-smelling smoke, came even nearer in his excitement. “It {8 enough.” cried the Indian sud- denly. “Shut the box. your grace, and Jock it as before. Now place it on i was no more the table whence it came. Is it there?” “Yes" The duchess’ voice came out of the green fog. “Go not too near.”” he continued warningly. “The gods must have space—the gods must have space. Again the harsh chant began, at times swelling to a shout, at times dying away to a whisper. And it was during one of these later periods that a low laugh. instantly checked. disturbed the room. It wasa plainly audible, and some one irritably said. “Be quiet!” It was not repeated. which afforded Hugh, at any rate, no surprise. For it had been Trma Pe- terson who had laughed, and it might have been hilarity, or it might have been a signal The chanting grew frenzied and more frenzied; more and more powder was thrown on the brazier till dense clouds of the thick vapor were rolling through the room, com- pletely obscuring everything save the small space round the brazier, and the Indian's tense face poised above it. “Bring the box. your grace” he cried harshly, and once more the duchess knelt in the circle of light, with a row of dimly seen faces above her. “Open; but as you value your pearls —touch’ them Dot~ Excitedly .she threw back the lid, and a chorus of cries greeted the appearance of the gold and silver tissue at the bottom of the box. “They're Here. Mr. Ram Dar. duchess turned the key and threw ) some use to somebody. And_when wo minutes later they stared horror-struck at a row of ordi- nary marbles laboriously unwrapped from a plece of gold and silver tis- isue, the duke’'s pungent agreement with his wife’s sentiment passed un- | contradicted. In fact, it is to be un- | derstood that over the scene which followed it was best to draw a decent veil. nr Drummond, hunched low over the wheel, in his endeavor to conceal his identity from the man behind, knew nothing of that at the time. Every nerve was centered on eluding the pursuit he thought was a certainty: for the thought of Lakington, when everything was prepared for his re- ception, being snatched from his clutches even by the majesty of the law was more than he could bear. And for much the same reason he did not want to have to deal with him untilthe Elms was reached: the staging there was so much more ef- fective. But Lakington was far too busy to bother with the chauffeur. One snarling curse as they had started, for not having done as he had been told, was the total of their conversation during the trip. During the rest of the time the transforma- tion to the normal kept Lakington busy, and Hugh could see him reflected in the wind-screen removing the make-up from his face, and changing his clothes. Even now he was not quite clear how the trick had been worked. That there had been two cabinets, that was clear—one false, the other the real one. That they had been changed at the crucial moment by the girl {Irma was also obvious. the pearls disappeared in the first case, and_then apparently reappeared again? For one thing he was quite certain. Whatever was inside the parcel of gold and silver tissue which, for all he knew, they might be stili staring at, it was not the historic I necklace. ! And he was still puzzling it over |in his mind when the car swung fnto the drive at the Elms. “Change the wheels as usual snapped Lakington as he got out, and Hugh bent forward to conceal his face. “Then report to me in the cen- tral room.” And out of the corner of his eye Hugh watched him enter the house with one of the Chinese cabinets clasped in his hand. . “Toby,” he remarked to that worthy, whom he found mournfully eating ham sandwich in the garage, “T feel sort of sorry for our Henry. He's just had the whole complete ducal outfit guessing, dressed up, as an In- dian; he's come back here with a box containing the duchess’ pearls or Tll eat my hat, and feeling real good with himself: and now instead of en- joying life he's got to have a little chat with me.” In the green light the Indlan’s som-| .Did you drive him back?" demand- br? Syes Biared reund the tress & ¢d_Sinclatr. producing a bottle of dim faces. “Did T not say,” he answered, “that there was power in the hox? But in the name of that power—unknown to you—I warn you: Do not touch those Let' Deazls till he light has burned low Munwnfl | years counting “Owing to the sudden decease of his chauffeur I had to," murmured Hugh, “And he's very angry over something. g0 _on_the roof. - But how had | be less than at present.” THE WEATHER. For the District of Columbia and Maryland—Fair tonight and tomor- row; moderate temperature; gentle variable winds. For Virginia—Fair tonight and to- morrow; somewhat warmer in extreme west portions tonight; gentle to moderate west and northwest winds. For West Virginia, fair tonight and tomorrow; somewhat warmer tonight. Records for Twenty-Four Hours. Thermometer—4 pm., 57; 8 pm., 56; 12 midnight, 52; 4 am., 47; 8 am &4: 12 noon, 69. Highest temperature, 69, ocourred at noon today; lowest temperature, 45, cccurred at 5 a.m. today. Temperature same date last year— Highest, 63; lowest. 50. Barometer—4 p.m., 29.83; 8 pm, 29.84; 12 midnight, 29.83; 4 a.m., 29.84; 8 a.m., 29.84; 12 noon, 29.80. Tide Tables. (Furnished by United States coast and geodetic survey.) Today—Low tide, 1:38 a.m. and 2:19 pm.; high tide, 7:28 a.m. and 7:56 p.m. Tomorrow—Low tide, 2:21 a.m. and 3:05 pm.; high tide, 8:11 am. and $:41 pm. The Sun and Moo Today—Sun rose, 5:04 am.; sun sets, 7:06 p.m. Tomorrow—Sun rises, 5:03 a.m.; sun sets, 7:07 p.m. Moon rises, 4:57 am.; sets, 7:03 p.m. Automobile lamps to be lighted one- half hour after sunset. Weather in Various Citles. = Tem H Taturs. H Stations. *29j3mouuy| Abilene, Tex. .78 60 64 Albany ... 2080 65 46 Atlantic City 29. 48 49 Baltimore .. 2052 60 48 Blsmarck 6 54 50 44 66 48 ot 6 &2 i Cicago ... 60 48 Cincinnati . 70 46 Cleveland o 48 Denver T 42 Detroit 8 52 8 o2 74 70 52 46 72 58 74 56 58 46 70 48 8 56 % 60 54 48 e 58 48 & 30 o 48 54 40 Portiand, Or 0 .. 8. Lake City. & 42 San Antonlo. 29.92 80 64 San_Diego... 30.08 60 50 8. Francisco. 30.04 58 48 gnnle n P P t. Loul eee Glear @t Paul... 3008 72 B2 ar WASH, D.C.208¢ 68 43 ear There are 774,746 words in the Bi- ble, accoring to the figures of Horne, a Bcotch student, who spent three themy, 5 Plans for Commerce. By the Associated Press. . CONSTANTINOPLE, May 7.—Soviet Russia is bent on opening up com- merce with the world, Dr. Koudish, Russian soviet representative in Con- stantinople, said today. He feared, however, that the present time was unpropitious, as, in his opinion, the R sfacturing countries had an over- supply and would be unable to buy and use the raw materials Russia might be able to produce. “I have been instructed constantly to delay in buying, as prices are sure to_go lowe 1 “However, we rapidly are organizing trade exchanges with south Russia. The steamer Lucia has just returned from Novorossisk with a cargo valued at $400,000. Also on April 22 I signed a $3,000,000 contract with a group of French firms for all sorts of merchan- dise, to be delivered at Novorossisk. “We have received an offer from a firm in the United States for mangar nese deposits from soviet Georgia. We expect to satisfy all old claims against such deposits so the new manganese will not be seized on its arrival abroad. “Work has been begun for the re- opening of the oil pipe line between Baku and Batum, and we shall export the oil. Soviet Georgia represents the best features of communism, her peo- ple having benefited by the mistakes of the past two years made by the Moscow government. “Just now communism in Russia is on the retreat. One of the new mea- sures adopted by the Russian authori- ties is a law to encourage spring sow- ing, the government having promised the peasants that it will take only 10 per cent of the crops. The re- mainder they will be free to sell. Regarding renewed rumors in cir- cuation here that soviet Russia in- tended to launch an offensive against Rumania, Dr. Koudish said: “I do not believe the Mogcow gov- ernment intends to attack Rumania this year. However, soviet Russia may insist that the Bessarabians have self-determination resulting in an in- dependence such as the Ukraine, but as a part of federated Russia.” DOCK WORKERS STRIKE. Coaling of Ship Precipitates Trou- ble in Glasgow. GLASGOW, May T7.—A strike of dock workers has been ordered here as a result of the ban placed on for- eign coal by the Transport Work- ers' Federation. The dispute came to a crisis_when the eamer Ka- limba, chartered for America, was being coaled, tI workers alleging that the vessel a8 not taking a full supply and infénd- ed to fill her bunkers abroad. Non- union labor is being employed under police protection. —_— LIBERTY BOND CLOSING PRICES. NEW YORK, closed: May 7—Liberty bonds 3%s, 89.30; first 45, 87.66 bid; 8 first 41(s. 87.6 Demands of Men. By the Associated Press. BUENOS AIRES, May 6.—The pro- posals of the Argentine government for a settlement of the Martha Wash- ington case now reported to be under consideration by the State Depart- ment and the United States Shipping Board, in Washington, are understood to be to the effect that the Argentine government will procure the unload- ing of the steamer, provided the Urited States government consents Dr. Koudish continued. rto authorise that certain concessions be made to the complaining firemen of the Martha Washington. & The concessions are said to com- prise the conditions under which the Dock Workers' Union, boycotting the steamer, informed Foreign Minister Pueyrredon they would be willing to unload the vessel. The conditions are believed to be, in principle, the same as those originally presented to the Munson Line, the operators of the Martha Washington, when the boycott was declared, with some modifications. The Original Demands. ‘The original demands, precipitated by the shooting of a coal trimmer aboard the Martha Washington, were: “1. That members of the crew who 80 wish may leave the vessel and ob- tain payment of the wages due them to date. The company Is also to be obliged to pay the men's expenses while ashore and up to the time they are repatriated, the cost of repatria- tion also being for the account of the company. Wages will be paid up tyo ‘I?a time of embarkation for New ork. “2. All expenses suffered by the trimmer, Antonio Zalbidea, will be for the account of the company. In the event of his death the company must pay the funeral expenses. 3. The imposition of article 1 was due to the ill treatment which the members of the crew complain was meted out to them by their superiors on board ship. They can_ furnish proof of this ill treatment, if such is e Tt tn di “4. Un iese conditions are ac- cepted discharge of the steamer and, in fact, all operations aboard the ves- se} will remain at a standatil).” t is known that during the course of the negotiations le-dhfg up :?,“{m proposals now before the authorities in Washington, the foregoing de- mands have from time to time been altered, due, in part, to the fact that the firemen have since been declared deserters by the United States consu- late here and the alleged illn of some of them. Aeolus Sails Still Loaded. MONTEVIDEO, May 6.—The Amer- ican steamer Aeolus sailed for New York today, with 1,600 tons of cargo ‘which the vessel had been unable to discharge when she touched at Buenos Afres. U. 8. GOLD IN NICARAGUA. MANAGUA, Nicaragua, May 6.— Great quantitles of gold colned in the United States have arrived here. The colns will be put in circulation at a value equal to that o fthe Nicara- guan cordobs, equivalent normally to u.mdu. R produced in 1919. The Mexican pro- duction amounted to 11.250,000 bar- rels, an increase of close to 6,250.000 barfels over the previous year. The company is represented in rtualiv.e every important oil field in this country, while its acreage in Mexico is very large. 2 S SUGAR MARKET FIRM. NEW YORK, May 7.—The local sugar matiet appeared 10 be firmer today and prices were slightly higher with sales reported last night of 10,000 bags of Porto Ricos to an operator at 4.89 for centrifugal, while 25,000 bags of Cubas Were sold io New Orleans by the com- mittee at 3% and freight equal to 4.89 for centrifugal. Raw sugar futures were steadier, with the better feeling in the spot market and closed 7 to 8 points higher, May, 3.88; July, 3.95; September, 4.03; Del cember, 3.77. The market for refined was unsettled and there were no changes in list prices, which ranged from 6.30 to €.50 for fine granulated. Refined futures higher on support by Cuban interests, closing steady at § to 13 points net advances, July, 6.50: Al gust, 6.85; September, 6.90; October, 6. e NEW YORK POLICE PARADE More Than Eight Thousand in An- nual Review. NEW YORK, May 7.—Eight thousand members of New York's police depar:- ment, supplemented by detachments from up-state and New Jersey depart- ments and the state mounted constabu- lary, formed at the Battery today for the annual parade up Broadway and 5th avenue. Leading the procession were Mayor John F. Hylan and Police Commissioner Richard E. Enright and their staffs. All divisions of the department, including machine gun battalions, cavalry, ambu- lance and transport companies, fell in behind them. ’ The column was called to a halt for two minutes in tribute to 2,000 soldier dead returned from France Thursday on the transport Somme and for whom public ceremonies were being held at an Army pier in Hoboken. More than 225 police chiefs and super- intendents from other cities, who have been attending the national police con- ference, reviewed the procession. DUSE RETURNS TO STAGE. Italian Actress Scores Triumph After Fifteen Years’ Retirement. TURIN, May 6.—Fleanora Duse, Italy’s celebrated actress, returned to the stage tonight after fifteen years retirment. She appearsd in TIbsen's “Lady of the Sea,” at the Balbo The- ater, which was crowded with promi- nent personages. The welcome ex- !OI:‘CM the actress was most enthusi- astic. After the second act Capt. Pos! wenturl, acting war minister of the free state of Fiume, who headed & delegation of Flume women, present- ed “The Duse, the actress is popu- larly kmown, with a bouquet of rose from Gabriele d’Annunszio. i A great patriotic demonstration 10}, lowed, with frantio cheers for Ital. Dase and - d' Anacesis,