Evening Star Newspaper, July 15, 1921, Page 1

WEATHER. Thundershowers this afternoon or fonight, not quite so warm tonight; tomorrow, fair. Temperature for twenty-four hours ended at 2 p.m. today: Highest, 88, at 1 p.m. today; lowest, 74, at 5 am. to- \ . N\ \ N day. Full report on page 7. Closing New York Stocks, Page 13. Entered as second-class matt post ofice Washington, Bl No. 28701 MR. HAYS HAS PLAN TOPARE §15,000,00 FROM EXPENDITURE Tells Cabinet of Great Re- ductions Possible in De- partment in 1922. ONE AND A HALF PER CENT MAY BE CUT FROM FORCE Muil Service Expected to Be Strengthened Without Taking on More Carriers. Postmaster General Hays today placed before the cabinet plans to save $15,000,000, or about 3 per cent, from the approximately $575,000,000 appropriations for the postal service of the United States for the fiscal year 1922. It is likely that in effecting these savings a cut of about 1}z per cent in the working force of 300,000 postal employes of the country may have to be put into effect. It is understood that the estimated cuts, as prepared by the Post Office Department in line with the plea of Director Dawes of the budget, in- clude approximately $2,000,000 to be saved on city letter carrier service and $2,000,000 more on temporary glrriers, making a total of $4,000,000 n carrier service alone. Cuts of approximately $2.000,000 are called for in the railway mail service, and perhaps an equally large sum on ail bag equipment throughout the pation. ‘Reduction Spread Thin. ‘While these reductions may mean some reduction in force throughout the postal service, it is likely that the cut will not total more than stated above, with perhaps the greatest re- ductions to be made by refraining from filling more positions. * The is in the postal appropria- tions & sum not to exceed $75,000,000, which it is within the power of the various officiald of the department to spend at their own discretion, and it {8 from this sum that the estimated g@Yings are to be made. In effecting the proposed saving it 1s understood to be the intention of the Post Office Department not to weaken the mail service of the coun- try in any sense, but to strengthen it. Service to Keep Standard. None of the proposed cuts, it is be- Yieved, will have any effect on the total Service rendered thre country by the postal service, the reductions to be made on the basis of efficiency and not theoretically. The reductions may mean a tighten- ing up on the employes to _some ex- tent, only the thoroughly efficient be- ing retained. This does go{ mean, of eourse, that the great“bulk of em- ployes throughout the country are in any danger of losing their jobs. But if the savings are to be effected on city carrier service, sither through the reduction of forces, spread thin throughout the cfities and towns of the country, or by refusal to take on any more carriers, it is believed that every man must give his best to the service, and, in the phrase of Post- master General Hays, “better his best. \ EFFICIENCY MOVE HERE. City Heads to Confer Tomorrow With Department Chiefs. . The first step toward carrying out in the District government the plans of Gen. Dawes for more efficiency and economy in government operations will be taken by the Commissioners tomorrow. The city heads will confer at noon with the heads of all departments for »_general discussion of the question of more efficiency in municipal affairs. Simultaneously with this confer- ence, Victor G. Croissant of the United States bureau of efficiency will begin his survey of the District of- fices. Mr. Crolssant arrived at the Dis- frict building today and was given eadquarters in the auditor's office. He spent the day becoming familiar with the numerous agencies and de- partments that make up the District government, how they are supervised and what their functions are. It is probable that the first step of the efficiency expert will be to Send & questionnaire to the heads of de- partments, asking for a detailed state- ment of the number of employes, thelr salaries and duties performed. Commissioner Rudolph, discussing tomorrow’s meeting with the depart- ment heads, sald the possibility of re- ducing the number of city employes is not likely to come up. Whether a curtailment in force is necessary or possible will depend on the report of the bureau of efficiency after it has surveved the District service, the Commissioner indicated. CHIEFS SEEM OVERWILLING. Propose Cuts Thought More Waste- ful Than Saving. Cabinet officers and their assistants are being compelled to stand as watchtul sentries over the bureau chiefs and subofficials to prevent a stampede in cutting of federal appro- priations to the point of crippleness and waste. Bureau officials now are working on figures of the appropria- tions_for the current fiscal year, in an effort to show the bureau ofgthe budget just how much they can save for this period. There have been a few bureau offi- cials, it has become known, who, in| their eagerness to make a showing| when their reports go to the director of the budget July 30. have made slashes in their appropriations with- out taking into consideration that their cuts will result in waste. are instances which have come to light where bureau officials have sug- gested cessation of building now in progress and just leaving the money appropriated by Congress for con- “Unuance of structures in the reserve fund. Cuts Not Economieal. 1t has been pointed out to them in ro uncertain terms by their chiefs that such cuts are not economical and not in line with the whole purpose of the government's effort to put economy und efficiency In government, but amounted to absolute waste, as the pert of the building or buildings al- ready up. and which Congress intenddd to be finished, would deterforate from the elements and would become a total Joss, and when the time came to finish the building the preliminary work done would be found to be useless. Bureau chiefs in practically all of the departments must show that cuts they suggest are real economies, and not just plain cuts without regard to future consequence. When the figures yeach the bureau of the budget and are tabulated, after July 30, it is expected that _there will be some very mterest- (Continued on Page 3, colum' 7) There | ICE DEALERS ARRESTED. Five Men Charged With Giving Short Weight to Customers. Five ice dealers were arrested to- day by George A. Howe, an inspector of the weights and. measures depart- ment, on charges of selling short- Wwelght ice. They forfeited $5 col- lateral each when their cases were called in Police Court. The dealers are Louis De Atley, 2 12th street southwest; Charles H. Johnson, 244-A Bryan street; Willlam C. Wilkinson, 776 Lamont street; Richard Marshall, 1113 S street, and John J. O'Leary, 1143 New Hampshire avenue, URGED TO ABANDON POWER PLANT PLAN Mr. Mellon Asks Congress to Act and Suggests Two Other Moves. Abandonmeni of the central power plant project for supplying light, heat and power to government establish- ments, on the ground that to proceed with this project and complete it at this time would cost $4,000,000, or $3,100,000 in excess of the available balance, is recommended by Secre- tary Mellon of the Treasury in’a letter received today by Speaker Gillett. In the event that Congress should not want to abandon the power project, the Secretary submits two plans .for a modified power plant which he asks the lawmakers to con- sider. These plans follow: Secretary’s Plana. Erection on a suitable site near the bureau of engraving and printing of a powerhouse of sufficient size and equipment to serve with heat, light and power, the following buildings only: Liberty loan building, bureau of engraving and printing, auditors’ building, Municipal building, Post Office Department building, old and new National Museum buildings, Agr cultural Department, Freer Art build- ing, Smithsonian building and Treas- ury buildings. It is also proposed to serve the following buildings with electricity only for power and lizht: State, War and Navy building, White House, Civil Service building, Winder building, Johnson-Walker building, Red Cross building, pan-American bullding, Interior Department offices, Army Medical Museum, fish commis- sion and Washington Mdnument. Secretary Mellon's letter explains that this would utilize all the tunnels and ducts now in place without the necessity of any further extension, thus avoiding the incidental tearing up of streets. Cost Would Be $3,400,000. He explains that the cost would be approximately $3,400,000 and the an- ticipated savings would pay only & bare 4 per cent on the Investment, leaving nothing for depreciation d obsoleacent charges. If the above outlined -scheme is adopted, Secre- tary Mellon says, legislation to pers mit all park lights in the vicinity of the power plant to be served thers. from would be desirable so as to fill up the deep valley which would occur in the light load of the plant by reason of the activities of the buildings served being confined mainly to eight hours of daylight. 2. The use of the balance, $837,802.01, of the appropriation for the central heating, lighting and power plant. to construct the much-needed power plant for the bureau of engraving and printing and the auditors’ build- ing adjoining same. Favors Latter Project. Secretary Mellon says that the Treasury Department considers that this project is probably the best in the circumstances. If Congress sees fit to authorize it, the suggestion is offered that the legislation should include permission to sell such ma- terial now stored on the site as can- not be used in the bureau plant and to use the proceeds to augment the balance above referred to. The es timated value is $200,000. To keep within this estimate only a small parcel of land would be pur- chased and the power house bullding woull be extremely simple in désign. This plant would contain four 800- horsepcwer boilers with stokers, etc., and- two 2,000-kilowatt turbo-gen- erators, with condensers, with a pumping plant for the same, located :I'; the river front of the power plant e. If the available balance could be augmented by an additional appro- priation of $600.000 it would provide a power plant bullding, etc.. of dig- nifled design, in harmony with the views of the Fine Arts Commission, and containing sufficient space to make it posgible to serve all the pub- lic buildings adjacent to the bureau when their {isolated plan become obsolete and require renew If Congress Abandons. If Congress decides to abandon the entire project for the present Secre- tary Mellon recommends that authori- zation either to sell in whoie or in part the materials forming part of the project now stored on the site of the power plant building, or to turn over the same or any part thereof to any other department or branch of the government service which may be in need of such apparatus. Although the major portion of this material is of special design. it is believed that the price paid could be realized by ad- vertisement and sale, provided it is not long deferred. The underground tunnels and ducts already constructed will not deterio- rate, Secretary Mellon said, and will undoubtedly be found useful In some! other project, such as the proposed hydro-electric development of the Po. tomac river or the suggested enlarge- ment of the power plant in the navy yard to serve all federal buildings with electricity for power and light. Secretary Mellon calls attention to the fact that the Fine Arts Commission has opposed the power house site se- lected by Congress. In order to meet the objectlons of the Fine Arts Com- mission to the use of tall smoke- stacks, Secretary Mellon also points out that it would be necessary to sac- rifice economy of operation to a cer- tain extent and use economizers, in- cluding draft stands and short steel stacks. z TRAFFIC LAWS APPROVED. Staunton Revises Rules for Motor Users in Town. Special Dispatch to The Star. STAUNTON. Va:, July 15.—Staun- ton's recently revised and re-enacted traffic ordinances have received final approval in the city gouncil. The laws governing motor travel through the Rown's streets will be printed in pamphlet form at once and be posted and distributed. There was considerable discussion as to the use of dimmers. Several councilmen held there should be a city law requiring the use of dimmed headiights, but in view of the fact that the state of Virginia has never The | ot beni! WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION 0 WASHINGTON, D. C., FRIDAY, JULY 15, 1921-TWENTY PAGES. | BRITISH PREMIER SEES CRAIG AFTER DE VALERA VISIT Two Vital Conferences Today _in Renewed Efforts for Peace in Ireland. NO SERIOUS HITCHES YET, LONDON REPORTS SAY Lloyd George to Meet De Valera Again Monday—TUlster Pre- mier “Hopeful.” By the Associated Press. LONDON, July 15.—Another meeting between Eamon de Valera and Pre- { mier Lloyd George took place today, this discussion of the preliminaries of the hoped-for Irish peace settlement lasting about an hour and a half. At its conclusion it was announced the conversation would be resumed later, i probably next Monday. The conference was again a two- man talk. In an adjoining room, how- ever, Sir Hamar Greenwood, the chief secretary for Ireland; Lord Curzon, the foreign secretary: Art O'Brien, president of the. Gaelic League in London, and Robert C. Barton of the Irish delegation were on hand should their presence be desired. Craig Also Sees Lloyd George. With his interviews with the Irish | republican leader concluded for the | time being, Mr. Lloyd George this | afternoon received Sir James Craig. | the Ulster premier, who arrived from | Belfast this morning.. Sir James went !to Downing street at 3 o'clock this ! afternoon. going directly to the cabi- {net room to confer with the prime min- Vister. { A member of Mr. de Valera’s party gave definite assurances that nothing | in the nature of a deadlock or a breakdown of the conferences threat- ened at any time. Asked for an expression of opinion on the Irish situation, Sir James Craig, on his arrival from Belfast, re- plied: “The less said now He added, however, hopeful. | At the Whitehal] entrance to Down- ing street scenes similar to those of yesterday were witnessed as the meeting between the British prime | minister and the republican leader | was in progress. | Crowds Again Cheer eD Valera. | A large crowd awaited Mr. de Va-; lera and cheered him as he entered Downing street, repeating the ovation | as he and his companions left at the close of the talk with Mr. Lloyd George. As the conference proceed- | ed prayers for its success were said | by the crowd in Whitehall, the men and women kneeling and reciting the rosary, The fact that no immediate resump- | tion of the talk between Lloyd George and De Valera was contemplated was not interpreted to mean anything like ! a breakdown of the conference or a deadlock in the preliminary negotia tions. Those in close touch with the situa- | tion, Indeed. believe the preliminaries | between the prime minister and the | republican_leader have been worked out and that the next step will be| | consuitations between Mr. Lloyd | George and Sir James Craig, the Tlster premier. Official News of Conference, The official communique on today's conference issued shortly before 2| o'clock this afternoor read: “A further conversation between Mr. Liloyd George and Mr. de Valera took place this morning in Downing street | land will be resumed at a later date, | probably Monday. | At the close of yesterday's conver- sation, which lasted almost three hours, Mr. Lloyd George and Mr. De Valera gave evidence that some prog- ress had been made, and that today's discussion would ‘be resumed under favorable circumstances. ‘When Mr. de Valera left his hotel on his way to Downing street, where he was to meet the prime minister, a member of his party told the Asso- ! ciated Press it was “extremely un- likely” that he would come in con- tact today with Sir James Craig, the Ulster premier, who was summoned to London in connection with the con- the better. that he was ference. A small crowd cheered Mr. | de Valera as he departed from his hotel. Mr. de Valera arrived at the prime minister's official residence at 11:30 o'clock and departed at 12:50. MORE RIOTS IN BELFAST. | Military Forced to Resume Control of Part of City. BELFAST, July 15—The military resumed control of the North Queen street area in Belfast this morning and armored cars patrolled the streets. At the city hall a conference was | held attended by officers of the police and the military by leading towns- people to discuss the situation here in view of the disorders that had occur- red during the week. Acute trouble developed early last evening in the York street and North Queen street | districts, several civillans being wounded in fighting in which the po- lice and the military were forced to intervene. The rioting stopped ab- ruptly at the curfew hour, but it was announced that reinforcement of the military in Belfast from adjoining areas today was contemplated. When the reports from last night's rioting were made public this morn- |ing it developed that two persons { were killed during the disorders and that between thirty and forty others were wounded. During the disturbances the mob looteg a'number of public houses. HEADLESS BODY FOUND UNDER WRECKED AUTO Police Think Owner Dllg;hed Mur- dered Man as Self for Insurance. By the Associated Press ROSEBURG, Ore., July 15.—Officers today were seeking Dr. R. M. Brum- field, a dentist, who is missing, fol- lowing the finding of 2 headless body under Brumfield's wrecked and burned automobile. Two identifica- tions of the body were made, one by the dentist's wife and another by friends of Dennis Russell, a laborer. Sheriff Stamer said the warrant was issued on the theory that Brumfleld, who_was_insured for $26.000 against death and accident, was heavily in. volved financially and had slain Rus. sell and hauled the body to the place yet adopted such 4 law, it was deemed | where it was found and then blown useless to provide such a regulation | off the head with a stick of dynamite, Very little trouble | after placing his own ring and other identifying articles.on the.body, here at this time. is experienced here in this respect, {this section, ON THE DISARMAMENT CONFERENCE LINKS. ALLEGES SHOOTING BYMINE OWNERS Witness Tells Senators of Efforts to Break Strike in West Virginia. R. H. Kirkpatrick, former mine fore- man for the Burnwell Coal and Coke Company, operating in the Mingo, W. Va., coal district, testified today before the Senate committee investigating con- ditions there that mine owners had “framed up"” false shooting episodes to procure proclamation of martial law by | the governor and *'so they would break the strike.” Kirkpatrick told a circumstantial story of how he and his superior officers had arranged to go out in’the hills around the mine entrance and” shoot back and forth to impress new mine workers brought in the fleld and to stify calls for troops. B erons-examination by §. R. Avis, counsel for the operators, Kirkpatrick #aid that his son was an official of the United Mine Workers and that he him. self had been “done dirt” by the employ- ing company. Tells of Mine Wages. Miners in the Mingo coal flelds of West Virginia were earning from $20 o $60 a week in 1920, at the outbreak of labor troubles. union witnesses told | the committee at the opening of the hearing. W. E. district, fied “because Hutchison, 2 miner in the d the men were dissatis- we didn’t get all the government grants made to miners during the war. and because 'the company Stores system required them to pay higher prices than independent establishments. . i “Ninety per cent of the miners wanted the union to come in” Hutch- ison said, “so we could get the gov- ernment grants. If a man didn’t buy at the company stores he was put in the bad places in the mines where he couldn’t make any money. Hutchison said he took an active part in organizing the union, and that his wage in 1916 was $2 a day and $7 in 1919 and 1920. 'All miners who came into the union locals were immediately discharged by employers, Hutchison said, and or- dered to vacate company houses in which they resided. Unionism Real Is: “It was an open and known fact that union men will not be employed in then?’ Chairman Ken- yon asked, “and this is the real issue in West Virginia?” “It is," Hutchison said. “The mine owners tell us the moss can grow in ithe tunnels and the mines lay idle forever before they can be unionized.” Mine guards “with high-powered rifies” had been hired by the operators, Hutchison went on: miners brought In from the outside and the residents in the company houses evicted. The Bald- win-Felts Detective Agency furnished the guards, he said, and he told of the bloody encounter at Matewan, when a number of the detectives were killed While serving the eviction orders from the courts. i Hutchison agreed, during cross- examination by S. B. Avis, counsel for the operators, that he had been “hired by the United Mine Workers to or- ganize one local In the field. “"And when you got very active the coal company served you a politic notice to vacate its house?’ Mr. s asked. AV Was betore” satd Hutchi- son. o witness said he “got $8 a day for Jooking after the Interests of the United Mine Workers,” in the Mingo strict and had earned in the mines 14 a day at the highest,” although his average was lower. Admits Carrying Pistols. Under cross-examination at yester- day afternoon’s session, Fred Mooney, secretary-treasurer of- Ristrict 17 of the United Mine Workers, denied that any part of the $2,400.000 which has been spent by the union in Mingo county “for telief” went for the pur- chase of arms or ammunition. Mooney VAGRANCY BILL CHANGE. I Commissioners to. Recommend Less Drastic Provision. Believing that Senator Bail's bill to define vagrancy in the District is too drastic, the Commissioners today de- cided to recommend a number of changes. At the suggestion of Corporation Counsel Stephens and Maj. Gessford, the Commissioners will advise that the first paragraph be stricken from the bill. The corporation counsel is of the opinion that this section would prevent any persons from returning ito the District after having served j @ sentence, no matter how short, at | Occoquan’ or any other penal insti- tution. SAYSNTERESTS OPPOSEBONUS BL Senator Walsh Also Declares | President Was Misinformed in Senate Talk. Declaring that big moneyed inter- lests are combating the soldiers’ ad- {justed compensation bill, but that labor, the farmers and the small busi- |ness interests of “the country have imade no complaint against it, Senator David I. Walsh of Massachusetts to- {day vigorously opposed the recom-; {mittal of the bill to the Senate finance | | committee. When the Senate met today it was with the agreement for a vote at 3 o'clock on the motion of Senator Pen- rose, chairman of the finance commit- tee. to recommit the adjusted com- pensation bill, or the soldiers’ bonus Dill, as it has come to be known. Pre. dictions were freely made by admin- | istration leaders that the wish of the | President would be acceded to, and the bill would be recommited and ac- tion on it deferred. Says President Was Wrong. Senator Walsh denied emphatically that President Harding had been cor- rect when he told the eSnate a few days ago that there were 6,000 vleanl, beds in the hospitals awaiting for- mer service men. The President, he said, had been misinformed. Mr. Walsh is a member of the special committee now investigating the treatment of former service men by government agencies, including the hospitalization of the veterans. Referring to the high wages paid men who remained at home during the war, Mr. Walsh insisted thai the payment of the proposed adjusted compensation to the veterans of the 1war, in view ‘of the economic bene- fits derived by the stay homes dur- ing the war, was only a matter of simple justice. In conclusion, Senator Walsh said: “It seems pertinent to inquire Whether the members of the finance committee were really in possession of sufficilent information about the status of the United States Treasury to make them capable of determining whether the passage of this bill at this time would break the Treasury. It seems pertinent-also to ask if the Secretary of the Treasury alone hfid in his possession the facts about the financial condition of the United States Treasury, and if men who have served here for a decade or more as Mmembers of the finance committee Weore mot as well informed about the financial status of the Treasury as a man who has been in office only a few months" 5 . Amendment Offered. In preparation for final action on the 1I‘:olllz'm to recommit the bonus bill, Senator Kenyon of Iowa yester- day oftered an amendment which would instruct the finance committee to report the bill back to the Senate early in January. Opposition wes im- medfately voiced - from both sides, Senator _Borah, _republican. Idaho, (Continued on Page 2, Column 8.) (Continued on Page 2, Column 6. “Unecle Sam’s Read this intensely lems of war. Now they hand. cerning a remarkable group of workers in one of the government bureaus In The Sunday Star These “Miracle Men” helped solve the prob- .of peace. The story of a government bureau where science and common sense go hand-in- Miracle Men” interesting article con- are solving the problems NEED FOR JUDGES INDISTRIGT T0LD House Judiciary Committee Hears Arguments for Ad- ditional Justices. The Associated Press is exclusively entitled to the use for republication of all news dispatches credited to it or mot otherwise credited in this Daper and also tbe local news published herein. Al rights of publication of special dispatches berein are also reserved. Member of the Associated Press ] Yesterday’s I Baby Given Up as Lost, ' Kidnaped by Gypsies, ‘ Was Asleep Under Bed | By the Associated Press. MIAMI, Okla., July 15—Ex- ted and hysterical after a fruitiess search for'her misxing MR, HOOVER STATES HARDING PROGRAM Federal Assistance in Recov- ery of Commerce and Industry Outlined. By the Associated Press. CHICAGO, July 15.—Points in Presi- dent Harding's program for govern- mental assistance in the recovery of commerce and industry were outlined | by Secretary Hoover in an address here today before the National Asso- ciation of Real Estate Boards. “This great economic program of our President includes,” Mr. Hoover duction of ®governmental _expendi- tures, settlement of the tariff, reor- ganization of the federal machinery for more efficient service, reorganiza- tion of our mercantile marine, re- funding of foreign loans, relief of the i world from, armament. assistance to exporters of our commodities, upbuild- ing and safeguarding of our foreign commerce, assistance to our farmers by mobilization of private credit, ex- pedilious settlement of the obliga- tions of the government to the rail- ways, encouragement to development Of our gredt power resources, the sys- | tematic’ elimination of wastes in pro- {duction, and research and education upon improvements in our jol production and distrioution.” Nationajization Danger. “The question of thc purpose and | Place of the government in expediting { economic recovery is raised in Wash- ington every hour of the day,” Mr. Hoover continued. “We are tlooded with economic patent medicines that would evade the stern laws of eco- nomic hygiene. The question of what the government can do becomes in part a question of our whole attitude said, “revision of our tax system, re-| processes | Net Circulation, 87,758 TWO CENTS. U. 5. GIVES JAPAN ITS IDEAS ON SCOPE OF COMING PARLEY Tokio Desires to Know Ex- tent Far East Issues Will Come Up. FEARFUL OF PLAYING LONE HAND IN SESSIONS Cannot Understand Why World Powers Take Part in Settling Pacific Problems. The United States has informed Ja- pan of its ideas on the scope of the | disarmament conference. This action is intended to meet Ja- pan’'s desire to know the extent to wkich far eastern affairs are to be discussed before she goes further in | considering an invitation to partici- pate. It is not now possible to state the extent to which the American gov- ernment has gone into details, but it is understood the communication ix sufficient to afford material for a close study of the proposal by the i Japanese foreizn office. Official circles here continue to e dence great confidence that a eom- plete acceptance of the Amcrican in- ation eventually will come from | Tokio. Japan's reply vesterday to the pre- liminary invitation was to the effect that while she would ept an in- vitation to a disarmament conference she was not wiili i An.erican gov- t 1o Tokio gives erial for making : information the ernment has now e the foreign office m: its next decision SENTIMENT IN JAPAN. | Desired That There Be Clearer Un- | derstanding as to Parley. Members of the House judiciary|toward social and economic questions, | B the Associated Press. committee were impressed today “-nhil‘:‘-llexs_ we would destroy individual| TOKIO, July 14{-—Japan’s answer to the fact that the Di 4 initiatives and driv ovurselves | preside: i s HpOsal or 5 District Supreme | giraieh:into” nationalization or pa- | L oo icnt Harding's proposal for a ourt is clogged with business, while | ternalism, the government cannot un- | CORference on limitation of arma- e staff of justices, the same today as forty vears ago, is entirely inadequate to perform the work, different in this jurisdiction from anywhere else in the country. Members of the bench and bar of the District” testified today in support of the Dyer bill, which would provide two ' additional justices of the Su- reme Court in the District. This meadure has been under consideration for more than six years and has pre- viously passed both the House and Senate. gress and at hearings emphasize the need for this legislation, Represent: tive Dyer sald in opening the hearing today. He pointed out that in his home city they have nineteen judges, whose jurisdiction is not as broad a: that of the District judges. His home city {s approximately twice the size of Washington and they have nine- teen judges as against six justices here. mittee a comparative statement sho ing the hours of work here given by the Supreme Court justices to be much more than in other places. . Prominent Witnesses. Among those who appeared as wit- nesses were Chief Justice Walter L MoCoy, Associate Justice A. A. Hoehl- ing, J. Spaulding Flannery, chairman of the bar association committee; Col. J. 8. Easby-Smith, a member of the bar committee; Chapin Brown, chair- man of the legislative committee of the Chamber of Commerce; McWhar- ton Lester and former Representative James P. Lioyd, both members of the ar. Mr. Flannery filed a comparative statement of the size of the city and the amount of court business in 1880 and-1920 with the same number of judges. He told of personal e periences before the bar since 1889 Mr. Flannery said that the District court is extraordinary in many ways. | Chief Justice McCoy really sits as a governor, he said. The breadth of Jurisdiction is as broad as any state or federal court and in addition there is the extraordinary jurisdic- tion due to the fact that this is the capital of the nation, and the court has to consider cases affecting the Fresident, members of his cabinet, Congress and the various government establishments. The important part of its jurisdic- | tion is of concern to every official and resident from the President down. He explained the history of the court's establishment by President Lincoln, who had had trouble with the circuit court in 1863. Important Cases. Mr. Flannery reviewed historic cases, such as the trial of Surratt and Gui- teau and others, showing how the seat of government has brought im- portant cases before the District court. Every government establish- ment, he said, attracts cases here, which add to the District Supreme Court’s burden and make it neces- sary for the judges to have extra- ordinary knowledge of the federal statutes. The statistics he laid before the committee showed that in forty years the population has grown from 177,000 to 437,000. The value of property ap- praised. in settlements of estates in- creased from $272,177 ‘to $12,365,5636. The number of law suits flled in- creased from 1,103 to 2,073. Equity cases. from 422 to 1,132. Lunacy cases from 4 to 519, District court, which is important because it covers cases in- volving condemnation of land for gov- ernment, from 10 to 71 cases. The ‘i:rfil’r:“t;l suits llul:l" ed from 475 to ,676, -the naturalization case: ’:u‘o flF’ll % s from r.. Flannery also emphasized that dufing. the last year justices of the Dlltflct'Sn?reme Court bench lost forty-five trial days because they had to substitutetin the Court of Appeals. He also emphasized, in reply to' ques- tions, that the increased jurisdiction giyen to the Munitipal Court does not ‘mean afly substantial relief to the Su- prems:Court. 3 Justice MeCoy Testifies. Chief Justice .McCoy. in reply to questions, put into the record a state- ment showing the length of time that the District Supreme Court justices devote to .court business. He said that as a conservative estimate thev give more time to the busiriess of the court outside of the regulae hours of sitting than is actually consumed at trial. ° They work evenings, holidays and Sundays. / In reply té questions by Represent: tive Yeates of Illinois, who was sur- prised that the percentage of lunacy cases was 50 much gréater than he himself experienced on the bench in Chicago. it was brought out that the (Continued on. .3, Column 8.), He also laid before the com- { dertake to reduce or raise wages, to deal in commodities, no matter how it is camouflaged.” | " One of the most difficult problems, |the Secretary declared, is that of {housing. Estimating that nearly 60 | per cent of the population are living as tenants. he asserted that “nothing lis worse than an increased tenantry | | and landlordism in the country © Chanmels for Federal Ald. There are, he contended, three fields in which the government can be of assistance in remedying the housing it I} he said. “the government | must, as a matter of primary duty, drive every combination out of bus | Second, the government, to some de- gree, directly or indirectly, controls or obstructs the flow of credits, and it, therefore, has a responsibility toward this part of the problem. Third, the ! government can and should interest | itself in dissemination of information, { in scientific study of certain problems in materials and methods and in co- {operation with the industries to ceive voluntary reduction in waste that the costs of homes may be de- creased.” | BROKER SHOT T0 DEATH. 1Slayer, Caretaker of Wife's Estate, ! Kills Self Also. NORTHPORT. July 15.—Word came | today from Buck island in Long Is- land sound. of a mysterious double | tragedy at_the country home of Mrs. {Harry G. Hemming. wife of a New | York stock broker. Mr. Hemming | was shot and killed there last night by Frank Eberhart, caretaker of the estate and a deputy sheriff, who then | shot and killed himself. | _Employes of the estate said that Mr. { Hemming was seeking an interview with his wife in an endeavor to ef fect a reconciliation. They were mar- ried about two months ago, it is re- ported, but separated soon after mar- riage. | BLACKMAILED IN JAPAN. | Americans and English Threatened | ‘With Death in Letters. YOKOHAMA. July 13.—Some Amer- icans here, but more Englishmen, have | recelved letters written in English | threatening them and their families ! with death unless they pay the writ- iers of the letters large sums of mone. The police are investigating. 'Today’s News in Paragraphs Witness charges West Virginia mine owner with attempt to spread terror in order to end strike. Page 1 Japan fearful of lone hand rule in dis- armament conference. Page 1 House judiciary committee hears argu ments for additional District judges. Page 1 Secretary Mellon asks Congress to abandon power plant plan and makes two suggestions. Page 1 Senator Walsh says moneyed interests are combating soldiers’ bonus. Page 1 Secretary Hoover outlines President’s program to aid business recovery. Page 1 Lloyd George again meets de Valera and then Premier Craig in Irish peace move. Page 1 Graft ring bared at Ellis Island. Page Strikers attempt seizure of Kobe dock yards in Japan, and many gre wound- &d; troops are called. Page 2 Mexican troops sent to put down revo- lutionary movements in two states. Page 2 Mr. Mellon says prompt interest pay- ment by allies is expected. Page 2 Dr. Frankel advises first-ald room for post office workers. Page President Ham hints at W. R. & E. wage cut If car fares are lowered. Page 3 Cafeteria and photo-engraving quarters to be made at printing office. Page 7 D. C. Commissioners confident they did ot violatq law In hiring architects. Page § peakers at Arts Club meeting explain 8 ‘proposition to convert Mount Weather into a school for wounded war vete- rans. Page 9 Civic bodies form committee to ald in procuring increased playgrounds for 10 h ha: p forwarded to fment | Washington, whi the sug- | gestion for an armament conference. | says the Jiji Shimpo to makes | reservations concerning general far | castern concerns until more has been learned as to the scope andmature of the questions 1o be considered. ! What the significance is of Presi- | dent Harding's call for a far eastern conference and how such a conference | would affect Japan’s future position in world affairs are the queries dominating public discussion. The trend of this discussion creates the Reports made to both houses in Con-! ness that aftempts to restrain trade. |impression that while Japan anticipat- ed the call for a conference with | Great Britain and the United States {and is particularly desirous of reach- |ing 4 workable understanding with America she is surprised at the in- iclusion of other powers in the in- vitation. and looks with trepidation on an international examination of a magnitude promising to exceed pre- conerived ideas into far eastern ques- ns. Lo nd Feared. Generally speaking, the fear is voiced that Japan may be forced to piay a lone hand and have another diplomatic batt her hunds similar to that at the Paris peace conference. | besides Dbeing placed constantly on the defensive as regards her far east- ern rights, | Inan article which seems to reflect {the representative view, the Nichi Nichi Shimbun declares that so long as the powers practice racial discrime ination against Japanese in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zea= [1and and elsewhere, while demanding | the enforcement of equal privileges {and equal opportunities in the faf | east, Japan should carefully consider before joining in such a conference 1f, however, says the newspaper, the powers intend to abolish the existing limitation on the Japanese, establish a world-wide open-door principle and recognize the equality of the Japa- nese with other peoples. then the in- vitation sheuld be accepted. American Aims Suspected. must regard as a menace, 3 ichi Nichi, America's gradual | concentration of warships in the Pa- | cific, while the increasing of the { American fortifications in the Pacific, {including those at Guam, near the { coast of Japan. argues the newspaper, shows that an agreement must be reached for the cessation of fortifica- tions works on the Pacific coust aud ‘at the naval bases in Hawaii and Ma- a. The invitation will have a bearing on the future history of Japan.” con- tinues the article. “We believe the idea, in part, represents Great Brit- ain's tactful method of extracting { herself from her far eastern entangle: { ments and also of preventing America |and Japan increasing their navies | against Great Britain's." | The militarist journal, the Kokumin ! Shimbun. doubts the sincerity of the { American invitation, and it urges the | Japanese to remember how America | “duped the world" concerning the | league of nations. The power, it | says, should make sure whether the | United States intends to adhere to the ! agreements which may be, reached at i the forthcoming conference. ! Conference Welcomed. | 1n welcoming_the idea of the con- iference Baron Yoshiro Sakatani, for- mer.finance minister, said the extent of the limitation of armaments was so closely connected with considera- tions of the balance of power in the Pacific, as well as with the industrial capacities of the different powers, that the conclusion of a practical agree- { ment would. in his view, be attended ! with difficulties. | President Fujiyama of the Tokio 2| Chamber of Commerce said that Pres- !ident Harding's call met the ideas of Ithe Japanese bysiness world, which ifayored an international agreement |such as would permit the reduction of Japan's big army, now deemed necessary to cope with possible dan- | gers in Asia, and that it would pre- | sent a good opportunity for Japan to | prove to the world that she was sin- | cerely ambitious to promote peace. 3, From a representative of the army authorities came this expression: “[f the conference touches upon army matters, the Japanese army will be ready to co-operate.” Mentioned as Delegate. e campaign of Yukio Ozaki, for- m’{:‘ mlnll?er of justice, in favor of armament limitation, which made him one of the leading liberals of Japan, has caused him to be prominently Mmentioned as one of Japan's delegates to the Washington conference. Ad- miral Kato, minister of marine, and | H. Tjuin, former Japanese minister to —%Continued on Page oma 33 . "