Evening Star Newspaper, August 17, 1921, Page 2

.'2"\ .’ URGE WOMAN FOR RS CONFERENCE National League of Woman i Voters Sends Delegation ] to President. Asking that he recognize women as an integral part of government and a contributing power for the better- ment of humanity, a delegation of four women representing the Na- tional League of Woman Voters call- ed on President Harding today, and urged the appointment of a woman to the delegation to represent this country at the coming disarmament conference. President Harding received delegation cordially and said very anxious to have the influence and intnition of women utilized at this great conference, and it is hoped such an arrangement is worked out satisfactorily.” . A resolution setting forth the wishes of this organization and offering its reasons why a woman should be ap- pointed, not only to this delegation, but on all boards and commissions dealing with_international relations, was presented to the executive. The delegation was headed by Mrs. Maud Wood Park, president of the leagu Mrs. Richard Edwards of Peru. Ind Mrs. Gifford Pinchot of Milford, Pa. and Mrs. Minnie Fisher Cunningham of New Waverly, Tex. This delegation was the first to call personally at the White House to press for the appointment of a woman to the disarmament conference. It was_explained to the President that the League of Woman Voters was the first national women's group to take official action toward reduction of ar- mament and was first also in its re- Qquest for the appointment of a woman member ou the conference commis- sion. “Qur delegation today,” said Mrs. Parks, who acted as spokesman, “is 1he logical development of the resolu- tio by our convention last April, which asked that the President Tecognize women as an integral part of the government and a contribut- ing power for the betterment of hu- manity by the appointment of women on commissions dealing with interna- tional affairs. In_July, after the President’s action in calling the con- ference, the executive board of the League of Women Voters requested that ‘a thoroughly qualified woman, familiar with women s interests and experienced in int-rnational affairs' be appointed a member. We have never asked the impossible. We have waited in making our request, so that the President need not be embar- rassed nor the cause for which we are working be jeopardized. Exception was taken by each mem- ber of the delegation to the remarks made yesterday by Representative Alice Robertson of Oklahoma, when she intimated that it would be difficult to find a woman possessing the qual- ifications necessary to serve on the disarmament delegation. The mem bers of the delegation were unanimous in their belief that there are many women in the United States capable of making a real contribution to the success of the conference. They ex- plained, however, that the National League of Voters is not urging any particular woman for appointment. Further Protests Made Against Woman Delegate to Disarming Meeting Further protests against ths ap- pointment of a woman to sit with the disarmament conference to meet here in November were registered today, the protests coming from Miss Flor- ence King, president of the National Woman’s Association of Commerce, and Miss Mary G. Kilbreth, president of the National Association Opposed to Womap Suffrage. In {is opinion of Miss King there is no place for a woman on the dis- armament commission that will rep- resent the United States. Miss King, ‘who is at the Raleigh Hotel, is one of the few wWoman patent attorneys in the United States. Commerce to Decide “As 1 e the coming conference,” said Miss King, “the results of it will be founded upon a cold business proposition. The commerce of the world will swing the balance. True, the 1 i MISS FLORENCE KING. the mothers of the world have the most at stake. They provide the ‘cannon fodder,’ as some one has called it, for all wars. They are a unit, 1 believe, for disarmament. Their position is known, but I have Yet to see any printed statement giv- ing a reason for the appointment by President Harding of a woman. It would be the height of folly to ap- point a woman just because sh¢ is a_woman. “This organization and that organ- jzation of women have urged a wom- an be appointed, but I have read of no good reason. If the right woman can be found who could bring some great constructive thought to the conference I would say appoint her. There is not a nation in the world that takes issue with the woman's sentimental reasons for stopping war. ‘Then what new thought could she bring to the conference? i “In the last analysis cold, hard-: headed business reasons will bring about disarmament, and nothing else. ientiment will have no place in the onference, in my opinion. Therefore, the place for the women to bring the pressure to bear is upon the indi- vidual men. Were disarmament a TL:allot box proposition with Novem- er 11 for the voting day I believe disarmament would sweep the world. © * Unfortunately, that is not the ma- _chinery by which this great move- ment, o well on its way, thanks to President Harding, can be accom- plished. On the other hand, the men ; the nations participating will send here know the temper of the people as to more war. Not Discussing Tariff. “Ho' many women do you hear discussing the pending tarifft bill? Here is & question of the greatest im- portance to every woman in the land. It will affect her pocketbook as noth- ing else for the next two or three vears, and yet I never hear the sub- { | | 3 ering of wome! I see no women at the hearings I attend. There i8 no sentiment in a tariff bill, just cold, hard ‘business. “The place, then, for the woman is to lead her man and her children into the path President Harding hopes to direct the nations of the world. Ifldisarmament conference.” Couple Will Be Judge, Clerk and Voters at Election PLAINFIELD, Ill, August 7. ——A upecinl election, at which enly twe voters are expected to east ballets, in addition to act- Ing as indge amnd clerk, wilt be held on the farm of L. A. Hart- song, near here, on August 27, Mr. Martsong wiit be the judge and Mrs. Hartsong the clerk. They alse will be the only vot- ern unless & hired man is eHyi- ble. The election was ordered by the superintendeat of sehools of the county to determime ‘whether the imhabitants of the Hartsong farm desire their land anmexed te the Plainfleld sehool distriet. FAVORABLE REPORT ON RALROAD BIL Fundingb Measure = Ordered Sent Back to Senate by Committee. . Favorable report on the adminis- tration’s railroad funding bill was ordered today by the Senate inter- state commerce committee by a vote of 7 to 2 7 2. The bill would authorize the War Finance Corporation to use not to exceed $500,000,000 to purchase rail- road securities from the Railroad Administration and prescribe interest rates upon securities hereafter ac- cepted from the carriers. ¢ A section to permit reopening of settled accounts with the railroads for the funding of securities of those roads went out in committee and a rovision was added to prevent railroad unding from interfering with aid for financing agricultural expor The life of the corporation would be ex- tended to July 1, 1922, under an- other committee provision. Senator La Follette republican, Wis- censin, voted with Senator Stanley, democrat, Kentucky, against reporting the bill, while Senator; Pomerene, dem- ocrat, Ohio, voted for it. Trying to Form Syndicate. It developed during consideration of the bill that the War Finance Corpora- tion is now attempting to form a syn- dicate to purchase government hold- ings of railroad securities and relieve the government of further railroad funding operations. Passage by the House early next week of the funding bill was predicted today by republican leaders. The commerce committee, which has been considering the measure, agreed today to complete hearings tonight. Mem- bers sald the bill would be reported tomorrow, with the expectation that it would be sent to the Senate before Congress recesses, Urges Mr. Mellon Be Heard. Represenative Huddleston, _Ala- bama, a democratic member of the committee, urged that other wit- nesses, particularly Secretary of the Treasury Mellon, and Bert M. Jewell, representing the railroad trade group of the American Federation of Labor, be heard. He charged that the Erie railroad had created a fictitious cor- poration to handle its shops at Ma- rion, Ohio, for the express purpose of evading the labor section of the transportation act. That the car- riers generally had evaded orders of the railroad labor board and that the Pennsylvania railroad particu- larly had refused to comply with findings of the board. PROTEST SENATE ACTION IN ENDING RAIL HEARINGS L. E. Sheppard and W. H. John- ston Charge Procedure Is un- American and Tyrannical. Vigorous protest against the action of the Senate interstate commerce commit- tee in cutting off hearings on the ad- ministration railroad funding bill was made last night by representatives of the railroad workers. E. Sheppard, president of the Order of Railway Conductors, and William H. Johnston, president of the International Association of Machinists, issued the following statement after being denied a hearing by the Senate committee on in- terstate commerce: “The action of the majority of the Senate committee on interstate com- merce in denial of the right of hearing on the Townsend bill to the representa- tives of railroad labor is a procedure of the most un-American, tyrannical and autocratic nature it has ever been -our experience to meet with in appearing before congressional committees. “We wish to protest to the American people against this action of these sena- tors. This is only one more evidence of ‘railroad ownership of government' contrasted with our demand for public ownership of railroads.” ENTIRE FAMILY HELD. Wife, Son and Daughter Charged ‘With Murder. By the Associated Press. COLUMBIA, S. C, August 17.—Mrs. Julia Cook and her daughter Mimie ‘were arrested here yesterday afternoon charged with complicity in the kill- ing of Marcellus Cook, husband and father. They will be removed to the Lexington jail at once, and with Ira Cook, now in jail there, the whole family will be in jail charged with the crime. Mrs. Cook talked freely to officers and said that her husband was slain by his son, who cut his father's throat with a rasor. —_— DEAN-WILLIAMS NUPTIALS. Special Dispatch to The Star. LYNCHBURG, Va., August 17.—Miss Bertha K. Williams of this city Harry Thomas Dean of Madison Heights were married by Rev. P. F. Arthur of Fairview Methodist Church. They will live in Madison Heights, & local suburb. e she will accomplish that in her own ‘ | sphere, disarmament will have been accomplished, for by preponderance of opinion will leaders of the na- tions be swayed. Miss Kilbreth has addressed an ap- peal to President Harding “to safe- guard the American disarmament delegation from control by feminist leaders and inte: tionalist women without a country. Net Seeking Appoimtment. The appeal states that while there are many able, sound, patriotic women who might participate in such a con- erence With honor to their country, ‘such women are not asking such ap- pointments.” The appeal appears in an issue of the Woman Patriot. “The demand for women at the con- ference, like the demand on President Wilson in 1918 for appointment of ‘women at the peace table,’ comes from a very radical, ambitious and daugerous group of feminists, identi- fled with the worst form of interna- tionalism and the kind of pacifism that closely _approaches treason, charges Miss Kilbreth. “The demand for ‘women at the dis- armament conference,’ iike the de- mand for ‘women at the peace table,’ comes from precisely those women whose associations and affiliations render them utterly unfit to represent their country. We most cttully min the name of national se- curity, that no woman In any way'con- nefit:d with the "Wom-n'u Interna- 8 an represent this natipn at the coming ' THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, D. PLAN TO RERLEET | ALLITS OFFIGERS Society of Florists and Hor- ticulturists Hears Techni- cal Talks. S. S. Pennock of Philadelphia wi virtually assured of election as pres! dent of the Soclety of American Flor- ists and Ornamental .Horticulturists at the second inning of the florists’ convention teday by unanimous nomi. nation. Samuel Murray of Kansas City, Kan., where the next convention Wwill be held, received the unanimous nomination for vice president. John Young of New York city will continue as secretary and J. J. Hess of Omaha, Neb. as treasurer. The meeting today was purely a technical horticultural and busine: session. Address by Prof. Corbett, An address on “Providing Stock in Substitution for Material Excluded from Importation Under Quarantine Order 37" was delivered by Prof. L. C. Corbett of the bureau of plant industry of the Department of Agri- uxu‘nire, ussion on ‘Dutch RBulbs” and nloading of Exporters’ Surplus Stocks on the American Market” will be continued this afternoon. _The value of advertising and na- tional publicity will form the topic of giscussion later in the afternoon. The ¢cnference of stdte vice presidents will wind up today's sessions. Elect Oficers Tomorrow. Formal election of officers will take place tomorrow at the morning ses- sion. This will be followed by a re- port of the judges on the trade ex- hibit, which is being held in the west wing of Convention Hall auditorium. More than seventy firms have boaths in the exhibits. The exposition in- cludes virtually everything _from gladiolus displays to greenhouses built on the floor. Crockery, fertilizer, insect exterminators and garden hose are among the items which are fea- tured. Lights were turned on the dome of the Capitol last night for the benefit of the visiting florists. The illumina- tion was similar to that held on public holidays and other special occasions. HOUSE CONSDERS TAY BLL REVIION Adapts Rule, 223 to 115, to Limit Debate and Vote Saturday, 3 P.M. Consideration of the republican tax revision bill was begun in the House today. Immediately after the House met, a rule specifying the coursc which the bill shall follow was laid before the House. It provides for gen- eral debate until tomorrow ‘night, consideration of the bill under the five-minute rule for amendments, and thereafter, and a vote on the bill at 3 p.m. Saturday. The rule was adopted by a vote of 223 to 115. The formal reading of the bill was then begun. Democrats meeting ih ecaucus yes- terday afternoon, last.nhight and this morning failed to reach an agreement on the democratic stand tow the republican tax: bill ,Theyp furned to meet at 8 o'clock tonigh attempt to adjust their differences. It was understood that tbe. chief difference of opinion was as to whether the re: olution stating the democraticyopposi tion shouild be in general térms or contain specific suggestion 3s to sources from which revenué®-should be raised. Mr. Kitchin Protests. Representative Kitchin, democrat on the ways and committee, who is detained home in Scotland Neck, N. C., by Llness, sent a telegram Yo the caucus, urging solid democratic opposition to the republican measure. He has beeu. kept fully informed as to the pro- visions of the bill and events during its ‘preparation and expects %3 re- Panking |vuw it in a message to be Sent to the democrats today. S Ways and means committee demo- crats in preparing their minority re- port, which they have until Eriday to file, will make use, it is under- stood, of especially prepared tables showing comparative taxes under the present law and the republican meas- ure. They will undertake to show that individuals having incomes rang- ing from $5,000 to 366,000 & year will pay the same taxes as at present, whereas those having incomes ex- ceeding $66,000 will get reductions ranging from 1 per cent to 50 per cent. The democratic report also will claim, it is said, that corporations having net profits of from 5 to 10 per cent will pay as much or more under the proposed 123 per cent cor- poration tax as they do under the excess profits and 10 per cent col poration taxes, while corporations making 15 per cent or more will be granted reductions on a graduated scale which will amount in some cases to_as much as 65 per cent. - Representative Frear of Wisconsin, a republican member of the ways and means committee, plans to file a plemental majority report, suggest- ing taxation of the undivided profits of corporations and other sources of wealth as recommended to Congress last year by Secretary Houston. Average Family Cut, $35. Chairman Fordney of the ways and means committee has reckoned that the reductions in taxes proposed by the pending bill will be $7 per capita for the entire population, or about $35 for the average family when the changes become fully operative in Emphasis was laid by the chair- man on sections of the new bill de- signed to prevent tax evasion. He informed the House that under ex- isting law the taxpayer might im: properly his' surtaxes by changing his fiscal year, thus split- ting his annual income in two parts. To prevent such an evasion, he added, the bill provides that in the case of a return for a period of less than one year the net income shall be placed on an annual basi® and the surtax properly computed thereon in accordance with -the number of months in such period. To prevent evasion of tax through the medium of “wash sales,” r. Fordney said a section had been put in the bill to limit deductions for losses by providing that no deduction should be allowed for losses sustained in_the sale of securities where the taxpayer at or about the time of such sale purchased identical securities. Meet Court’s Declsion. The provision of the present law dealing with surtax evasion by cor- poration organization, ‘the report said, was revised to meet the de- cision of the Supreme Court in the stock dividend case. There would be imposed on corporations of this character. a flat additiopal income tax of 25 per cent of the net income, but if the stockholders agree they might be taxed upon their distribu- tive shares in the net income of the corporation in the same manmner members of & ership, such tax to be in lieu of all income taxes u| the corporation. Mr. Fordney said some mortgage and investment compan h en obtaining exemptions allowed by law to building and loan associations by operating under the guise of such associations. To prevent such eva- sion of tax, the chairman arlllnod. the exemption had been limited in the new bill to “domestic g clusively for the pu ly for the losns to nmhrl.z 'DOI: . pon Truant representatives in Congress may soon be punching a time elock iIf Representative Kiasel of New York smeceeds in obtaising passage of his bill introduced reeently providiag for the puyment of sal of Congress om an attendance banix. Mr. Kissel s shown on the steps of the Capitel demomstrating the time c, clock to felow members of the House. PEACE HOPES DIM AS IRISH PREPARE TO REJECT OFFER (Continued from First Page. sions will be held in the meantime, beginning tomorrow. ters here this afternoon thatalthough Mr. de Valera, speaking for his cabi net, had announced definitely that i would not mccept the government' offer of what the British term do- willingness to go a long way to meet Ulster, and to make sacrifices to meet her, not only in her interests, but n her sentiment. Efforts Behind Scenes. Thus, it was commented, he appar- ently indicated that Ulster could come into the negotiations without abandoning any of her principles. All this, it was considered, pointed to continued efforts behind the scenes to get further communication with Sir James Cralg, the Ulster premier. which is generally believed here to be the cause of the long-drawn-out meeting of the dail. At today's session the various minis ters of the republican cabinet submitte reports on their departments. Most of them were long and supple mented by speeches in Gaelic and Eng- lish, but there was no_discussion ex- cept_on the report of Michael Collins, Valera an occasion’ to ask for a vote of thanks to the Americans who had contributed funds to the Sinn Fein. The vote was carried and Frank P. Walsh, American legal adviser to Mr. de Valera, was asked to deliver the ex- pression of gratitude to the American people. Walsh Receives Ovation. Mr. Walsh received an ovation when Mr. de Valera and Mr. Coliins led him to a seat begide the speaker. The lat- ter further eulogized the:work done in the United States in behalf of the re- publican cause in Ireland, and pointed out that when Mr. Walsh attended the first meeting of the dail efreann “the future of Ircland was in the balance, which it is not now.” . Mr. de Valera, speaking of Mr. Walsh, said the generosity of the Americans was_wonderful. Ireland could not give the security other na- tions could for the loan, he declared, but he promised that every penny of the $5.000,000 raised in the United States would be repaid. All the reports and eeches of the republican ministers were full of con-, fidence in the future. Count Plunkett, s foreign minister, spoke of the work of the Sinnt Fein representatives abroad and the establishment of world-wide propaganda departments. He referred especially to Argentina, with which country, he declared, Ire- land was hopeful of establishing mu- tually beneficial trade relations. Hope for an early settlement of the Irish problem by acceptance of the British offer of dominion status seem- ed to be dilm when the Irish repub- lican parliament began its session. Yesterday's events, the pledge of fealty to the Irish republic by mem- bers of the parliament and the ad- dress of Eamon de Valera, chieftain of Sinn Fein, appeared to have re- moved into t indefinite future an agreement that would end the con- troversy that for generations has em- bittered relations between England and Ireland. less. Hopel There were, however, indications that the situation was not hopeless, and that out of the present meeting of the parliament there might come some plan by which negotiations with Eng- 1and might continue. It was pointed out that, while Mr. de Valera had re- iterated Ireland's claim for separation from Great Britain, and had virtually bid deflance to the British govern- ment, he had not closed every avenue for resuming conversations with Pre- George. mllel: ’:Il'loeyatex( of his address there were found by the hopeful numerous passages which were construed as meaning that, under their present mandate, the men who constitute the Irish republican government could not accept the British offer looking to a gettlement. These passages were COn- Sidered as possibly forecasting the calling of a plebiscite, by which the Irish people might express their de- aires, and, themselves, accept or reject the terms laid down by Mr. Lloyd George. Real Discussion Tomorrew. s session, like that of yester- dn';f'd"v‘zl‘axmctefl to be of a routine nature, and it seemed probable that’ iscussion of the British offer T o begin untll tomorrow. when the parliament intends to hold executive sessions. Mr. de Valera was to speak today, but it was believed his address of yesterday, during which he Jaild before the parliament the notes exchanged with the prime min ister, had sufficiently detailed the progress of the peace negotlations and that further statements on his part regarding them would be re- served until the secret sessions began. Interest in the meeting of thas parliament continued unabated today, many people coming in from the country to witness one of the greatest events / in the country’s histor Doublin was as animated as it wa last week, when the horse show wa held, byt today's visitors were of au entirely different class. Last week horsemen and soclety folk were here, while this week priests. farmers, small shopkeepers from villages and Irish poljticians crowd the streets. Yesterday's rain, which lessened the enthusiasm of the people gathered about the Mansion House, ceased dur- ing the night, and throngs crowded the atreets around the historie build- ing. They appeared to be larger than ever, but they were orderly. LONDON PRESS HOPEFUL. Papers View De Valera’s State- ments With Regret. LONDON, August 17.—London news- papers, even those that have most ‘warmly supported Irish aspirations. today viewed with w=lflm%. re- Bt e 2t Y outerday's mashng of o Vale: 1t was pointed out in political quar- minion status, an outstanding feature | of his speech was his expression of the finance minister, which gave Mr. de | —_—m—m——AA——_—_———————— — There was, however, reluctance to regard his speech as expressing Ire- land's last word, and some editorials declared confidently that if the issue were placed before the Irish people the British terms of settlement would be accepted. Assertions _were made, on the strength of Dublin advices, that the Irish, having tasted peace since the establishment of the truce, would never consent to a return to hos- tilities, and that, indeed, few Irish- men believed there was any prob- } ability of a resumption of warfare. Opinions differed as to whether the republican parliament would _itself vote acceptance of the British terms, | or would call a referendum. The predominant view was that accept- ! ance of the British government's of- fer would probably result in any case. clergy of Ireland was using its ut- most influence in favor of acceptanc and it expressed belief that the “vast proportion” of the members of the dail eireann were determined to ac- cept the British terms. The London Times took occasion to warn the ex- i tremists who oppose acceptance, that “Great Britain's mind is finally made up and nothing can shake its deter- mination not to vield upon the car- dinal point of the maintenance of a union between Great Britain and Ire- land.” Considerable prominence was given extracts from editorials appearing in American newspapers, most of them earnestly advising the Irish not to jreject the government's offer. The Daily Telegraph, commenting upon these editorials, sald: “Americans are deeply impressed with the dramatic act of generous renunciation by the | British government in the pursuit of peace. They perceive, if some Irish- men do not, what an immense moral sacrifice the government has made rather than see the ruin of Ireland consummated. and they feel that some yielding should be apparent on the other side.” ALL CONSTABLES CALLED. Leave Canceled for All Members of Royal Force, BELFAST, Ireland, August 17.—AN roya] Irish constabulary leave has been canceled. dating from today, it was announced here this forenoon. LONDON, August 17.—Measures taken to recall British troops on leave to their units in Ireland, announced yesterday, were stated in official cir- Cles here today to be purely of a pr cautionary nature. It was claimed that the move w. not aggressively precautionary, be. cause the last thing the British gov- ernment would do would be to take any steps to break the Irish truce. It was declared it was realized in official quarters that the firing of the first shot on either side wase likely to mean the resumption of sporadic outbursts of fighting throughout southern Ire- land. As evidence of the government’s d sire to offer no provocation, the soenes in Dublin yesterday were cited, it being pointed out that no British or soldiers were in evidence anywhere during the opening of the dall eireann. ‘The belief throughout British oficial circles, it is declared, is that the longer the truce lasts the harder it will be to break it. —_— STARTS CAMPAIGN FOR PARKING SPACE Chief Clerk at Post Office De- partment Wants Place for Employes’ Autos. Chief Clerk W. M. Mooney today started & campaign to secure mearer parking space for the sixty employes [or the Post Ofiice Department who bring their automobiles to work lgaily, and now must park their cars at distances from the building.. He has taken up with the trafic bureau the matter of securing some located on the 12th street side of the Post Office Department, and on the east side of 11th street between Pennsylvamia avenue and C street. Under the new regulations, private automobiles are prohibited from parkiag in this space. The traffic bureau has promised Chiet Clerk Mooney that it will give the matter careful and serious consideration. In the meantime, he orders all employea of the department to strictly comply with the trafic regulations and signs. Parking Places Surveyed. A survey of the parking space around and within one block of the Post Office Department building has been made, and given out for the information of those employes of the department who come to work in their machines. This survey ehows, according to the announcement, the following parking space: 1lth street between Pnnnlxl- vania avenue and C street, east side, six cars; west side, thirty-three cart 11th street between B and C streets, east side, seven cars weat side, six 8 street between C and D t side, no cars, west side, 12th street between B st side, seven cars, ‘west side, nine cars; C t between 10th and 1ith streets, north side, eleven cars, south side, six cars street between 11th and 13th street: north side, eleven ocars south side. six cars; C street between 13th and -u‘ north side, ten cars, cars. ..Egt'nm.l'll rking around and within one Dr:ek o‘ thmt Offige De- t for 137 machia e, g i, b R Soen Totna "Rt ¢ WEDNESDAY, 'AUGUST .17, 1921. ~ GETTING ACQUAINTED WITH CLOCK THEY MAY HAVE TO PUNCH The Daily Mail said the Catholic, other location for hack stands now |shipbuilders were engaged in a cam- 7 W8 ries to members CONTINUE ATTACK AGAINST OVERHEAD AT WAGE HEARING (Contfnued fiom First Page.) machine was finished is another ome which will be looked into with a view to preventing loss of time. H. Bischoff, representing the tor- pedo plant at Alexandria, Va., also protested against the overhead charge at this station and against {loss of time. He said that some- times it takes as long as two hours to get a piece of material to finish a job on the machines. He felt, and the men at the plant felt, that there should not be a reduction of wages at this time. In fact, he said, they were looking for an increase to take the place of the bonus of 3240 a year, which was.taken away from them. “1 wish I thought that they would not bei disappointed,” Capt. Robison remarked. Complain of Favoritism. Many complanits of favoritism in the Philadelphia navy yard were reg- | istered by William E. Comly of the committee from that city, which also included Arthur T. Stigale and Leo Hood. He pointed out that men who | were bartenders before the war now were being carried as machinists in the Philadelphia yard, and that young men who were not machinists were given “soft” clerical jobs, while aged men and trained machinists were given hard work, such as scrubbing shop floors. . “Give' me those instances in wri ing. I'll get action,” fired back Capt. Robison. Mr. Comly also pointed out that the cost of living was increasing there. Even the government-is doing it. He presented in the evidence a letter of a yard employe who lives in a goverament-owned house, who has just had his rent increased 15 1€r cent, which, coupled with a 15 per cent reduction already in_effect at tbat vard, amounts to a 30 per cent.reduction in the case of increased living cost: Private house owners also irpcrca 'd rents on July 1 there, he sald. Mr. Comly expressed the hope that the board would not be influenced by erroneous figures and statements from. outside firms. Not as Pure as Ivory Soa) “Of course,” said Capt. Robison, “I'm not 3s pure as Ivory soap.” “But,” retorted Mr. Comly, “if the captain is 50 per cent as pure a Ivory soap, we will get an increase.’ “I'll ‘be honest with you, “said Cap Robison. “I am going to get every cept into the workmen's pocket that it is possible to get there.” 5 Newport, R. L, sug- | gested that some form of merit s; tem should be provided in the yards | whereby the men who had been here longest should be retained. He 180 suggested a change in the local age board system of fixing wages. ‘He rather liked the system in the Springfleld arsenal, where a man Tepresenting each trade and an Army officer went out together to get fig- ures for wage adjustments. Capt. Robison said this would be quite a task in the case of the navy yards, where there were 1,800 dif- ferent trades. Practically all of the labor men complained that the local wage boards did not have accurate figures on which to base their recommenda- tions. D. D. Shea of Boston said that a check-up of the figures of the local board there showed that they had used figures from firms which did not even employ machinists. J. H. Wilson of Norfolk said that in Norfolk were high- outside wages er than in the yard, and G. Wallace, Brooklyn yard, gave similar testi- mony. Other members of the committee of the Washington yard were William Melntosh, Edward R. Willlams, T. J. Hughes, James Johnson, R. D. Coleman and H. F. Rankin. Says Rates Were Lowered. Arbitrary reduction of wages in the Norfolk navy yard has been prac- ticed by foreing first-class mechanics take a lower rating or suffer dismissal. L. F. Savage, representing the boilermakers of the Norfolk yard, ttestified before the geperal wage board today. He produced cards of several men bearing - the notation, ‘disrated on account of lack of funds™ He also charged that the “money interests” and the Atlantic coast paign to force a reduction of wages in the government yards, and pointed out that the government should not ‘be a party to such methods. Q‘l. Robison made known his op- sitlon to the plan of disrating men n order to get them to work for & lawer wage. He turned to Chief Clerk Curtis, a member of the board, and asked him to get out a circular er to commandants pointing out that this was not economy and mot in conformity with the law. Determined to Force Cut. Mr. Savage pointed out that the ironmasters in the vicinity of Nor- folk, he had found, had agreed as to what wage schedules they would cer- tify to the navy wage board there. He sald that they were determined to force, If possible, a lower wage at the government yards. In order to force lower wages in thelr yards, he said, they had refused work in order to discharge employes, and if smaller yards accepted work, they ‘were boycotted by the big buildes who ‘would refuse to let them have the materials with whieh to perform the work. They are determined to reduce wages and are purposely throwing men out of work, so that they can them to come back on their knees and beg for work at any salary, for, he said, a workman with a family of C |starving children will work for al- most anything to give them food. Element Stirring Up Treuble. But, he pointed out, because these private shipbuilders -are taking ad- van! of an industrial condition, the government should not be a party to it. He sald that if ¢ ral took {nto consideration all of w. b stiering -up- Maj. Besson Says Nuisance Is Recognized, But Cannot Be Helped. The engineer department recognizes the need for keeping the streets and sidwalks of suburban scctions free from high and unsightly weeds, but is without sufficient funds to carry on the work, Maj. F. S. Besson, as- sistant engineer commissioner, ated today. Maj. Besson said his office is being swamped with letters from all parts of the city complaining of thick Browths along roads and sidewalks. The best that his department can do, he said, is to remove them from the gutters on the sides of suburban roads so that they will not inter- fere with drainage. Weeds that spring up in the park- ing space between the sidewalk and curbing should be attended to by the division of trees and parkings, he continued, but that department also is without an appropriation suf- ficient to do this work. He pointed out that the appropriation for trees and parkings for the current fiscal year is $10,000 less than it was last year. » Among the letters received at the District building on this subject was ohe from Edward W. Turner, pre dent of the Brookland Citizens' As- sociation. With the approach of the hay fever season persons in the suburbs be- come fearful of the weeds that are regarded as a contributory cause of the ailment. — ble in this country. You do not it here, but we do. If we cannot carry home sufficient food for our children, you are going to see some- thing in this country that you have never seen before. I do mnot know when it is going to come, but it will- “I will tell you when it is going to come,” said Capt. Robison. “It is go- ing to come this winter, and I do not want to see it.” 5 Capt. Robison agreed with him that plecework should be abolished, and also that there should be monthly meetings between the men and the yard managers to discuss conditions. Capt. Robison also characterjzed the charge of $18,000 a month for naval officers on_duty there as an unjust !overhead charge. 31 Apprentices Overpaid. When the matter of the discharge of apprentices came up Capt. Robison told the committee that they were going to run into a stone wall if they attempted to get more pay for them. He characterized it as evil and a crime to pay apprentices with no re- sponsibilities $3 a day. They are not worth 10 cents an hour, he said. They cost the government money. Only boys, he said, with initiative and a willingness t6 undergo the trials of apprenticeship, not the rewards as in the case of the navy yards—only that class ever amounts to anything any way. They have no_responsibilities. Then,” retorted Mr. Savage, “give his daddy enough money to keep him through the apprenticeship.” Shipfitters in the Norfolk yard re- ceiving 84 cents an hour worked side by side with men in the employ of pri- vate contractors on the same ship who wére receiving $1 an hour. W. {Colein, jr., told the board. He sai {that when the yard men asked that ! they be permitted to bid on the work {they were told by yard officials that the yard could not handle it and could not furnish the materials, but that the private contractors used the yard machinery and yard materials. Advocates Posting Marks. He also advocated the posting of the efficiency marks of the men. and tes- tified as to the use of coercion in re- trou s suffer discharge. A. J. Smith, representing chippers, carpenters and riveters of the Norfolk yard, said that inx the recent dis- charges many of the best men were dismissed, that men without depend- ents were Kept in preference to men with families, and that it was not al- ways the inefficients who were dis- charged. Frank Goodman, representing the boilermakers of the Washington navy yard, said that the award of the local wage board was not in accordance with the law, as boilermakers on the outside were getting a higher wage. Boiler makers in the local yard. he said, perform a higher class of work than outside men, as they perform work on the guns and gun mounts, work that requires much skill and a; curacy. He felt that the board in making its recommendations did not take into consideration the class of work performed. If they had, he said, they should have recommended an in- crease. 3 Friends Favored, He Says. He told the board that the present system of efficiency marking in the Washington vard permits of favorit- ism, and charged that it is practiced by men giving to their friends higher marks than they deserve. J. A. Quinn, representing the chi pers and calkers of the Philadelphia yard, also complained of the methods used in discharging men there. char- acterizing ‘t as just “plain crooked- ress.” That the private employers in the vicinity of the Charleston, S. C.. navy yard, when they became cognizant of the government wage board recom- mendation of 70 cents an hour for boilermakers, locked out their men until they would accept such a low. wage, was charged by J. N. Da representing the International Asso- ciation of Boilermakers. Employers on the outside use present conditions to force men to accept starvation wages. He said he wanted to impr jthe board the absclute disregard the local wage boards of data receive In many cases, he said, there was ev dence that firms had refused to give data because they wanted lower wages anl wanted to take advantage of unemployment conditions to lower them. Fears Lack of Comfidence. The wages of the navy yard men should be adjusted, he told the board, on the purchasing price of the dollar and not by the arbitrary wage ad- Justments of private employers forced on their men. There is no reduction of wages justified at this time. If the Navy Department, he said, uses the methods practiced by pri- vate employers, aided by depression on the outside, it will hurt the yards, cause lack of confidence in t BOV- ernment andf lower the morale of the men. Thomas Nolan, head of the inter- national boilermakers, and John B. Simering, representing the toolmakers of the Washington yard, also testi- fled. Mr. Simering pointed out that the tool makers should be given a wage of $7.20 a day. ‘The hearing is being continued this afternoon, representatives of the blacksmiths going on the stand after the noon recess. ASK PRESIDENT'S AID. on Appeal for Increased Employment at Portsmouth and Newport News. President Harding today was told of the increasing unemployment be- cause of the slack of work at the navy yard at Portsmouth, Va. and also at shipyards at wport News and government activities at Norfolk, Va.. by Representative Bas. com Slemp, Col. Henry Anderson, publican nominee for Governor of V1 ginia, and Republican State Commit- teeman Crupper, who called at the ‘White House today. The President was asked if he would lend his a; sistance in bringing more work to tion. 8 a::t that it would be very beneficial if the United States Shipping Board liner Lemlhnn.::n fo“m to the Port: 8y s’fl‘um presented. it cannot do mou-t'h“.v-y yai : u:«l ro.p:l:l in &: wl '-&. e e 1F 1t g"v'o t.fl- three k?lllhn dollars necessary . E 3 or ‘worl { i ! ! i { | ¢ D.C. LACKS FUNDS {PICTURE TH ST. .12 TO CLEAR WEEDS| ~ AS “WHITE WaY" Business Men’s Association. Would Bar Loafers and ~ Clean Up Street. With the avowed aim of knocking “the Bowery idea” out of 9th street by keeping “undesirable loafers” off the thoroughfare, and the creation of a great “white way® comparable only to New York city’s pretentious Broad- way, the Ninth Street Business Men's Association was formally organized today at & meeting in the Strand Theater. Sidney B. Lust of the Leader Thea- ter champlioned the movement for a general clean-up of the apparent va- grant element on 9th street, after denouncing what he termes the dis- graceful assembly of boys and men on the street corners. He pointed out that the policemen on duty on this thoroughfare are almost powerless to round up the loafers in view of the fact that there is no drastic vagrancy law in the District. He urged that one of the first duties of the new asso- ciation be to make an effort to have Congress enact a strict vagrancy law as soon as possible. Sees Bright Future. ‘With the undesirables kept from eon- gregating on 9th street, Mr. Lust pictured a bright future for the busi- ness men on that throughfare. He proposed that the business men flood their establishments with light at night in order to make the street the nation’s second greatest “white way.” “The business men should have 9th street cleaned up generally,” said M A. Leese, optician. “The authorities should keep the loafers moving. The street should be properly policed. He said that 9th street could be | made a big business street. if the mer- chants co-operated to make it 80. F. M. Pelzman, temporary chairman of the association, also strongly advo- cated a general clean up of the loafers on Sth street, pointing out that such a clean up would result in better busi- ness for the merchants. He said that the street is only in its infancy and is destined to grow. Merchants Are Enthusiastie. Sol Herzog, chairman of the mem- bership committee. who made a survey of the business establis street, said that the merchants he vis- ited are all enthusiastic supporte of the new association. He also de- clared that the associati shouid take active steps ir o knock the Bowery idea out of 9 street.” The association adopted a set of by- laws drafted by the executive com- mittee appointed at the last meeting Mee: will be held the second Tuesday of each month. It was announced that the associa- tion is planning a series of luncheons at which heads of the District govern- ment and members of the District committees of the Senate and House will be invited to make address: The territory of the mew association embraces all of 9th street from Penn- sylvania avenue to New York avenue. Officers will be elected at the Sep- tember meetin; o th RECESS AUGUST 24, SAYS MONDELL President Harding was informed by Representative Mondell of Wyom- quiring men to take lesser ratings or |ing, floor leader of the House, that in his opinion the House will be ready by August 24 to take its proposed recess. During t%3 ecafersuce, which had to do principally witd Yegisiative mat- ters, Mr. Mondell outlined % the executive the situation in the Houss as it actually stands today and he eBe plained his reasons for being s0 posi- tive about the recess date. “The House will have to pass the bill providing for the relief of farmers of the country through the agencs of the War Finance Corporation,” Mr. Mondell said, *“Before the members can lay down their work for & vaca- tion. "We expect to have the tax re- vision measure out of the way by Saturday. The anti-beer bill wiil be acted upon in the meantime. However the road looks clear for ad. journment by next Wednesday. Mr. Roberts at White House. George E. Roberts, former director of the mint and now associated with National City “Bank of New York, who called at the White House today, is of the opinion that eco- nomic conditions, not only in this country, but in Europe as well, wiil not show any material improvement until there is 3 sharp readjustment in prices between the raw and manu- factured products. Mr. Roberts has just returned from an extensive visit to Europe, du: which period he attended the con- ference of international bankers held in London. He declared that Eugope has learned its lesson from the spec- tacle of millions of starving in soviet Ruseia. He stated, however, that conditions in Europe are better at present than at any time since the war. He efplained that unemploy- ment is still extensive in England, but there is evidence of imprové- ment shortly. Z Discusses Clerks’ Bonus., Representative Madden of Tlinois, chairman of the House committeé on appropriations, said there should be no uneasiness on the part of employes of the former war risk bureau which is now a part of the recently created $ol- dier relief bureau, regarding a poasible Joss of their $240 bonus. He said be understood some of the emploves were of the opinion that the. abolishment of the war risk bureau by the creation of the new bureau for relief work would cause them to lose their bonus because the appropriation providing the latter specifies “war risk bureau,” and inas- much as there no longer is such a bu- reau and the fact that the appropii- ation for the new bureau is not specific regarding the bonus. “If there is any difficulty,” Mr. Mad- den said, “it will be only a techmigal one and can easily be corrected. It js plain that the government intended that. they should have bonus and. -he would see to it that no one is deprived of it merely because of some ‘techni- i 22 ASiE GEN. WOOD RELEASED = , BY U. OF P. TRUSTEES By the Associated Press. PHILADELPHIA, August 17.—The board of trustees of the University of Pennsylvania at a special maeuns today in response to the request of Secretary of War Weeks released j. Gen, Leonard Wood until Sep- tember 1, 1922, from his agreement to become head of the umiversity. This action leaves the general free to ac- cept the appointment of President Harding as governor general of the Philippines. Josiah H. Penniman will continue to act @s provost of the university. The following cablegram was sent to Gen. Wood by Dr. Charles C. Har- n, chairman of the board of trustees: “The trustees comply with the re- quest of the government to release you from obligation to report to the university for service before Sep- tember 1, 1922. In holding the head- ship of the institution open for you in the Interval the trustees are act- ing upon the sssumption that you will assume office at that date un- less the President of . the United States then declines to accept your resignation as governor .:c eral Please confirm this understanding by