Evening Star Newspaper, November 19, 1921, Page 1

Rain probable tonight row, much colder. - Temperature for twenty-four hours ended at 2 p.m. today: Highest, 80, at p.m. yesterday; a.m. today. Full report on Towest. WEATHER. and tomor- followed by clearing tomorrow; 62, at € . Page 7. Closing New York Stocks Fasr Jf No. 28,328. Entered as second{class matter post office Washington, D. C. WASHINGTON, D. C, he Foend WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION ] L g e 7 Sta e SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1921-TWENTY-TWO PAGES. The Associated Member of ‘the Associated Press Press is exclusively entitied to the use for republication of all Bgws dispatches credited to it or not otherwies credited in- 1his paper and also the local mews published hereln. All rights of publication of special dispatches hereln are Alsa reserved. * Yesterday’s Net Circulation, 91,015 TWO CENTS. 'ATTITUDE OF IAPAN QUESTION MARK Of - ARMS CONFERENGE Delegates Look to "Tokio’s Representatives for Hint to Show Trend on China. NAVAL EXPERTS STUDYING | REQUEST FOR MORE SHIPS Policy May Be Developed Point by Point—Arms Reduction Out | of Realm. By the Associated Press. A stgtement on behalt of Japan on several questionx relating (o the far eaxt wax made at today's sension of the conference commit- tee on Pacific and far eastern af- fairs. It was arranged that a com- plete public statement would be ivnued later through the State De- partment. . The delegatex were in xexxion two hours. and it wax announced would hold another meeting at 4 p.m. Monday. . Another meeting of the Ameri- delegates to the armament ation conference wax called 3 o'clock today by ghes. Further informat technical committee on limitation program was ex- pected. The ten proposals submitted Thursday by the Chinese delega- tionw, ax was expected, formed the hasix for the dixcusxions at today’s meeting, and all of the delegation hends were understood to have ex- presxed agreement at least in prin- ciple with Chinese viewx. Baron Shidehara, who prexented the Japanese viewpoint, wasx said 1o have shown a friendly attitude toward the Chinese proposals and to have indicated no material ob- Jection that an would . toward ing them n part of the proposed agreement on far eastern and Paeific problems. The precise attitude of Japan is be- coming more and more the big inter- rogation point of the arms confer- ence. c When the delegates of the nine na- tions assembled again today to talk about the far east it was Japan to whom they looked for the hint that would reveal just what trend is to be taken by the negotlations as they affect China. In the same way, and perhaps with |- an interest even more intense, the naval exports of the powers were pondering Japan's request for an in- crease in her proportionate naval strength, and were wondering wheth- er she would rase a direct issue with the United States by proposing ma- terial changes in the ratio fixed in the american plan. Informed From Toklo. Interchanges with Tokio during the two-day recess of committee sessions were said to have provided the Japa- | nese delegation with comprehensive information as to the attitude of their government, but there was no authoritative prediction of how far that attitude would be revealed at the yresent stage of the far eastern mne- Lotiations. Some of the Japanese VOICE OF PEOPLE RULES CONFERENCE, BORAH SAYS Senator Declares Statesmen Must Listen to Public Opinion or Lose Power—States Citizens No Longer Will Be Fooled. BY WILLIAM E. BORAH, United States Semator. The world looks with faith to the disarmament conference now sitting in Washington. Its confidence and hope were measurably Increased by the encouraging beginning the con- Yerence made upon its fask, under the guidance of Secretary of State Hughes. For three years and more, the misery-ridden. tax-burdened people of the world have looked in valn for some leader to point them a pathway out of the chaos and gloom that en- shrouded them. But they have found their leaders engrossed for the most part in that futile game of “welt- politik” which not only brought on the world war, but which made of its settlement a mockery, if not actually a erime. b . Public Opinion Attracted. In the midst of this the proposals of the United States government for a conference to discuss limitation of armament came like a clear light on the pathway of a benighted traveler. The public opinion of the world—I mean of the great toiling, struggling, downtrodden masses of the werld— turned to this hopeful ray upon-the instant. This public opinion forced their governments to acoept the American invitation. We have now observed the begin- nings of the conference. We have yet HUGHES' PRINCIPLES ONARMS FAGE TEST America to Oppose Japan’s Suggestion to Enlarge Her Naval Ratio. BY N. 0. MESSENGER. 1t is recognized in official and diplo- matic circles that in both branches of the jurisdiction of the international ronference. limitation of armament and consideration of far eastern ques- tions, the stage has been reached wherein will be put to the test the ap- plication of principles agreed to. In the.highest authoritative quar- ter it has been declared that Japan's suggestion for enlargement of her naval ratio is antagonistic to the basis of naval limitation set up by the United States at the dpening of the conterence and agreed to “in prin- ciple” by Japan. Acceptance of Ja- wan’s suggestion, it is claimed, would necessitate recasting of the basis. Withdrawal Hopgd Feor. The hope is expressed that Japan will recognize this claim and will withdraw or modify her suggestion. The position of the Japanese delega- tion is recognized as being difficult; on the one side they are amenable to pressure from the Tokio governrment |* urging an enlargement of the ratio and at the same time are cognizant of a backfire~from a large class in Japan insisting upon the fullest pos- sible acquiescence in the American delegates seemed to feel it would be hetter to develop their policy point Ly point. All the other national groups were rceady to make a general declaration of their pesitions, but among them 211 there was apparent a feeling that since China had presented a detailed “bill of ‘rights” the next word be- Jonged to Japan, because she was the ration most interested. ‘The naval question remained mean- time outside the realm of actual ne- zotiation, with the experts of the five powers working independently to develop their national viewpoint. But it was a live ubject in the minds of delegates and technical advisers, all of whom attached grekt Importance to the anmouncement that the United States would stand _determinedly against alteration of the basic ratio of ‘her plan. Only Possible Basis, In the view of the American delega- tion, “the way to reduce is to reduce,” scaling down directly from existing naval strength'without favoring any nation in the process. They insist that present proportionate strength is the uily possible basis for the re- duction, declaring that to open a de- bate on the subject of ‘“national needs” and ‘“natfonal aspirations” rather than existing -facts, would make the negotiations an endless tangle of argument. So, if Japan means to suggest a ma- terial change in the fundamental American principle, so that she will have a different ratio after reduction than before, she is certain to meet with determined opposition from the American delegation. This govern- ment believes the present proportion is a proper one, and the American naval advisers, at least, are counsel- ing that if the ratio cannot be main- tained by agreement. then it must be maintained by a continuation of com- petitive building. SUBMARINES BIG ISSUE. ‘Will Figure Largely in Arms Dis- cussion by Big Five. By the Associated Press. Submarines are certain to figure largely in deliberations of naval ex- perts of the “big five” group now in progress. Th.t is one feature of the American proposals for reduction and limitation of naval strength which the British have indicated a desire\to discuss. It is regarded as virtually cvertain, however, that the experts will find themselves in agree- ment that submersibles have a very definite place in naval warfare, a legitimate, recognized place, and that no serious proposal to abolish under- water craft will be advanced. Size May Be Limited. There may be some effort to limit the size of future submarines. A precedent for such action already is esllbnshedi in Mr. Hughes' plan to limit the size of future capital craft. But the limit agreed upon will not,- unless all signs fail, prevent the use of submarines as (Centlnued on Page 3, Column 1) 4 \ plan of naval limitation. The United States, it Is pointed out, is not taking a position of obstinacy, in any pride of authorship, nor dis- posed to hold out contentiously for rigid adherénce to detail, but most insistent upon following out to logi- cal conclusion the spirit of the basis of limitation agreed upon. Great Britain is expected to be sym- pathetic with this attitude of the United States and while agreement cannot be reached by a majority rule, the preponderance of sentiment it is thought may not be without influence upon the Japanese delegation and operate to an acceptance of the American viewpoint. 2 China's Proposals Basts. Today the other branch of the con- terence's work, far eastern questions, is under consideration by the com- mittee invested with Jjurisdiction, China's memorandum of her desires being the specific topic. * It is expected that Japan will dis- close in detall her attitude toward that propositlon and her official com- ment is awalted with deep interest. There 1s no disposition in officlal American circles to doubt that the difficulties presented by conflicting views will be composed through ne- Botiations. , At no time has it been supposed that the great international meeting would proceed without the develop- ment of conflicts of opinion and inter- ests. The object of a full and free conference of friendly-disposed na- tions gathered in intimate contact around the council board is to settle them and that is what is expected will be done in this case. Expect Sucee n Private. The hope of the American officials is said to be in regard to Japan's re- quest for enlargement of her naval ratio that this question oan be dis- posed of by private exchanges of ar- guments without taking it Into a plenary session of the conference. If necessary, howevér, to establish the record of this government's position on limitation of naval armament, the American delegates are understood as a last resort to-be prepared to present their case in plenary session. But the alternative is not likely to be forced soon, it is thought, as the negotiations have not yet reached an impasse. The question is still being discussed - informally, and without the conference will provide an. op- portunity for Premier Briand to set forth France's attitude on main- tenance of land forces, prior to his return to the exigancies of his official position at home. ‘While expedition is the watchword of the conference, it would be sur- prising If the questien of armament should come up in that session. SCHOONER SINKS IN FOG. BOSTON, November 18.—The five- masted schooner Sintram, a converted Shipping Board steamer, was.ram- med and sunk off Cape Cod by the tanker David McKelvy, in a heavy fog off Cape Cod last night. The Sintram’s crew was rescued by the steamer, s | to see its results; but already certain | definite facts have emerged. We saw | Mr. Hughes, with unparalleled bold- ness and clarity, set forth in concise and definite terms the proposals of the United States government for limiting | the naval armament of the only three world powers that amount to anything in a naval sense. We saw Mr. Ar!hu‘l: Balfour accept “in principle and spirit on behalf of the British empire, and Admiral Baron Kato act likewlse for Japan, “Landmark in History” Speakers at the conference session called it a “landmark in history,” and so it was, but while the events of the first two open sessions form, without doubt, a development of the greatest Importance and significance, a much more significant thing happened out- slde the conference hall. It was the acceptance by the people everywhere of the proffered salvation. Hardly had the words died on the speaker’s lips ere the shout came around the world, from men of all lands, “Accept! Accept!” It was this universal, democratic, spontaneous voice of the people, hailing the Ameri can plan—not because it was an Amer- ican plan, but because it meant rescue, hope, life—that formed the greatest event of the opening days of the con- ference. Dare the assembled statesmen ignore this voice? Reflect upon the situation. We sec a world convulsed by the mgonies which the follles and crimes | of leaders have laid upon the people. Hate seems almost a law of life and “(Continued on Page 3, Column 5.) Developments of Day In Arms Conference Japanewe view of the pro- posals submitted by the Ch nese was lald before the co; ference, meeting in committee of the whole on the problems of the far east. The comml; tee adjourned to meet again on the far eant at 4 o'elock Mon- . experts of the “big continued their dixcun- sion of details of the Ameri- ean proposals for limitation of naval armaments, with fu er study of submarines an a chief tople. N e Grent Britain is on’ record of- ficlally as willing to abandon wpheres of influence and terri- uust aecept the principles of ‘the maval basis set forth the Hughes program or fases race in armament, BRITAIN T0 GIVE P FIGHTS IN' CHINA Officially 'on Record as Will- ing to Abandon Spheres of Influence. By the Associated Press. Great Britain is officially on record now as willing to abandon spheres of influence and exclusive territorial privileges in China. Attention was directed by the Brit- ish delegation spokesmen today to a otatement made ‘in tiie house of com- mons the other day by Undersecre- tary Harmsworth of the foreign of- fice, in the following language: “The policy of spheres of influence in China has been superseded by one of international co-operation, and the further development of this policy will no doubt form one of the sub- jects of discussion at Washington.” Regarded as Important. This formal statement is regarded by the British of the utmost importance in its bearing upon the proceedings of the conference, supplementing 8s it does the expressions of Premier Briand indicat- ing France's willingness to give up ex- clusive territorial privileges in China. America’s favorable position is well known and Japan's one of general ac- ceptance of the prineiple of abandon- ment, though with conditions that may impose some difficulty. Accordingly | prospect of the ultimate”acceptance of this particular Chinese appeal is re- garded as very good. British spokesmen sald today that the general trend of opinion at home was that the Washington conference would be a succees, and that certainly its suc- cess was earnestly and unanimously de- sired. Roports to this effect from Eng- land were highly safisfactory to the British delegates because they coin- cided exactly with thelr own convictions that the success of the conferenco was already assured. Today’s News In Brief Attitude of Japan is question mark of conference, Page 1 London reviews back Hughes pro- Page 2 posal. China’s civil war described as politi- cal struggle. Page Ending Anglo-Japanese alliance finds favor in Tokio. Page 2 British press indorses halt in warship building. Page 2 Canadians take British view on arms cuts. = age 2 American delegates stand firm for de- tails of Hughes pla ~ Page 2 Modifications hit at heart of Hughes plan. Page 3 Commission men open' war on posed rules for buying and selling agencies. Page 4 D, C, residents jailed for auto viola- tlons in Maryland. Page 4 Policewoman charges six men seek wide open city. Page 4 Ford leaves .puddenly\ with Muscle Shoals question undecMed. Page12 Reception for Americanisation stu- dents to be given. Page12 Tax bill conferees expect to finish work today. £ Page 12 Bones of dogs owned by alleged mur- der victim introduced as evidence against “Bluebeard” -accused of /l&vlw women, 12 oo B R R T3 08 SO 0 1 e O AN LU = . SO G- Ol = SR o | TR . O RN %) <14 a ro- 1.5, SUPER WARSHIP DOOMED AS SCRAP GLIDES FROM WAYS West Virginia, Mewest Ad- dition to Navy, Launched at Newport News. GIANT VESSEL IS NOW 65 PER CENT COMPLETE Every Device ot: American Genius Dsed to Make Fighting Craft . Supreme. By the Associated Press. NEWPORT NEWS, Va., ‘November 19.—The superdreadnaught West Vir- ginia, newest addition to the Ameri- can Navy, and scheduled to grace the scrap pile within a few months, un- der the disarmament program, was successfully launched at the plant of the Newport News Shipbuillding and Dry Dock Company, at” 11:20° this morning. Miss Alice Mann of Bram- well, W. Va. christened the ship as she glided from the ways. Miss Mann had as her maids of honor Miss Eleanor ison Williams and Miss Mary Ti llen. ONE OF GREATEST SHIPS. Fighting Machine’s Fate Pathetic to Naval Officers. Launched as one of the proudest and greatest battleships ever designed by the American Navy, only to h: serap- ped within a few months, =ppeared to be the fate of the superdreadnaught West Virginia today when she slipped from the ways of the Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company. The American naval reduction plan as presented to the armament confer- ence provides for the scrapping of the West Virginia. 1If the American plan is agreed to, the dreadnaught, today about 65 per cent complete, will never be finished and never plow the seas bearing the Stars and Stripes. The West Virginia is of the same cluss and power as the Maryland, soon to be commissioned. Some- where among government stores are eight sixteen-inch rifles, made espe- cially to fit her four gun pits. She would he able when completed to torinl privileges in ina, it steam at almost a twenty- - ‘wax pointed out by the DBritish knot speed; she is buein’;ah":.- delegation here. to be almost invulnerable to torpedo American _delegaten stand attack: she carries 2 hulk of the firm thot the other powers hardest armor ever rolled—so thick that a man might walk on its upper edge where it protrudes beyond the skin of the ship well above the wat line. No device that Amerie: genius or war experience has pro- duced has been omitted from the ship's fighting equipment. The spectacle of this giant fighting machine—the product of years of concentrated effort of mind and body by thousands of men—being launch- g. only to be destroyed, is pathetic naval officers. They have a love for and a pride in such & great ship that endows the mass of steel and machinery with almost human qual- ities. . They have watched the West Vir- ginia grow d#y by day on the ways at Newport News, they have seen her put together plate by, plate and heard the riveting machined that ham- mered the steel together. She has grown to be to them a friend and a comrade, and her destruction, with never a chance to know the open road of the deep sea and the far ports where she might have gone will be for them a saddening sight. The West Virginia’s keel was laid in April, 1920, a year and seven months ago. As launched she meas- ures 624 feet from stem to stern, and is ninetyiseven feet wide in beam. Al- though her hull is practically com- plete, and her main deck laid, she lacks her equipment, much of her armor and all her guns. In addition to the eight sixteen-inch rifles she would when completed carry a sec- ondary battery of fourteen five-inch rifles, four three-inch ~anti-aircraft guns and two twenty-one-inch sub- merged torpedo tubes. Designs call for an electric drive of 29,000 horse- p‘?rwgr furnished by oil burners and turbines. The name conferred upon the new dreadnaught at her christening to- ay was once borne by an armored cruisér of the Navy authorized in 1899, built in the same yard and launched in 1903. The name of this forbear was changed in 1916 to the Huntington. after the city of that name in West Virginia. Honorably retired after a service in the world war the Huntington is now at Ports- mouth, N. H., where she is still held by the department, although not in commission. f —_— U-BOAT OFFICER FLEES. Boldt Convicted of Firing on Life- boats of Hospital Ship. HAMBURG, November 19.—Former Lieut. Commander Johanna Boldt, who, with Lieut. Dittmar, jvas con- victed of manslaughter for firing on the lifeboats of the Canadian Hos- pital ship Landovey Castle after the vessel had been torpedoed in the sum- mer of 1918, has escaped from prison here. Boldt was found guilty by the su- preme court at Leipsic in July and sentenced to four years' imprison- ment. The charge against him and Dittmar originally was first degree murder, but was changed on the ground that the officers acted on the impulse of the moment. BEGI HOLDS MICHIGAN | SEAMS_VABANT’ Montana Senator’s Resolu- | tion Declares Neither New- | berry Nor Ford Elected. | A resolution which, if adopted, would seat neither Truman H. Newberry, re- publican, or Henry Ford, democrat, as senator from Michigan, was introduced today by Senator Walsh, democrat, ! Montana, as the Senate went into the fourth day of its consideration of the Michigan senatorial election contest. The resolution was presented as a substitute for the measure reported by the majority of the privileges and elections . committee declaring = Mr. wberry the only elected senator. Mr. Pomerene Continues Attmek: Senator Pomerene, democrat. OHio, continued today his attack on Senator Newberry, deciaring that some of the testimony heard' by the Senate com- mittee in its consideration of the con- test “smelled to high Heaven.” The Senate was to start work at 10 o'clock but It was nearly 11 o'clock ibefore a quorum was obtained. Mr. Pomerene, calling attention to the cituation, declated it appeared to him that senators who failed to attend sessions where the title to the seat of one of their number was at stake were “not altogether blameless.” Substance of Walsh Resolution. The Walsh resolution states that neither Mr. Ford nor Newberry was entitled to the seat, the former by virtue of his “not having received a majority of the votes at the election,” | and the latter, “on account of -acts in gross and flagrant violation of the law of the state of Michigan on the part of the said Truman H. Newberry, his agents and supporters, intended to | encompass his election.” | In concluding his speech, Mr. Pom- | erene declared that Senator Newberry was on trial before the American peo- | ple. He said that with exception of the presidency and the office of Chief Justice, there was no gift of the na- tion which surpassed in dignity that of a senator. Declared High Honor. “When the electorate of the people 80 to their wardrobe,” continued Sen- ator Pomerene, “and take from it the senatorial toga and drape it around the shoulders of one of their favorite sons, he is indeed honored. but when some rich man who aspires to. that honor builds out of gold dollars a stairway leading into that wardrobe, and takes from it the senatorial toga, whether it is done by himself or by his millionaire friends, the toga is no longer a robe of homor; it is a dirty rag that disgraces him that wears it.” Declaration \by Senator Pomerene, democrat. Ohid, that he would, resign if evidence such as that submitted against Senator Newberry were ad- duced ainst him, was made yes- terday. “1t 1 stood here with such evidence against me I would resign from the Senate at once,” said Mr. Pomerene. Asked by Senator Walsh, democrat, Montana, what his action would be if he had violated no laws, the Ohio senator replied: “If I were innocent I'd fight the battle of my life for my rights; I would not remain silent.” TWO KILLED IN COLLISION. SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, Novem- ber 19.—Two persons were killed and seventeen others injured when a Salt Lake and Utah Railroad Company train, bound from Provo to Salt Lake, crashed into a morthbound train on a siding at Taylorsville, ten miles south of here. ARMISTICE DAY EVENTS @i —AND— The Illumination of Washington These Are Beautifully Pictured in dle‘ Rotogravur e Section of Tomorrow’s Star A Pictorial Record of Historical Ceremonies and Views Showing the National Capital in a Blaze of Light. Reproductions Worth Framing. Onde; Your C;)py of Tomorroit's Star From the Newsdealer Today, for the Supply 1s Linu'led.r NING OF THE NAVAL EASTERN HIGH BUILDING AWARD UPHELD BY COURT Justice Bailey Declines to Enjoin | District Commissioners—Appeal to Go to Higher Court. . Justice Bailey of the District Su-| preme Court declined to enmjoin the| District Commissioners from award- | ing to George E. Wyne the contract | for the erection of the Eastern High | School building. The court also dis-! missed the suit for junction brought by George Hyman, who made the lowest bid for the werk. § Former Commissioner W. Gwynn Gardiner, counsel for Hyman, and for James L. Parsons, Henry H. McKee, | John Yost and Lewls Flemer, mx-; pavers, who interyened, will take the se 1o the Court of Appeals. Justice Bailey filed merely a memo- randum opinion, denying the injunc- tion and dismissing the bill, without assigning his reasons. Engineer Commissioner Keller rec- ommended the rejection of the Hyman bid and the acceptance of the Wyne bid at an advance of $9,800, on_ the ground that-he Afd-not consider that Hyman was equipped to complete the | work because of lack of experience in superstructure construction. Wyne also promised to finish the building within a year, it was stated. FIRST COLD WAVE OF YEAR PREDICTED Following Yesterday’s Record Rise, Decided Change Is Expected. Magnetic disturbances traced to spots on the sun, and a November heat record, gave Washington yester- day afternoon and last night the most varied assortment of atmos- pheric conditions probably ever chronkied simultaneously by scien- tists at the weather bureau and the Naval Observatory. As a climax, according to the weath- er prognosticator today, cold winds from the frozen sectrons of the north- west, where the temperature is hov- ering around 26 degrees below zero, are destined to drive the warm wave into the Atlantic ocean within the next twenty-four hours. Yesterday was the warmest No- vember 18 of record in the fifty years of the weather service. The ther- mometer touched %0 degrees at 3 o'clook in the afternoon. This equal- ed the high record for November which. was recorded Novemper 13, 1§79, when the temperature reached 80 degrees. Other warm November days were recorded November 1, 1852; November 21, 1900, and November 4, 1914, when the temperature on each of these days reached the 79 mark. Cold Wave Coming. Strong northwest winds, following rains forecast for this afternoon and to- night, will bring to Washington the first real cold wave of the year, and also break the abmormally warm weather in all the Atlantic and east gulf states, the weather man said. Rains have fallen in the past twenty-four hours. in the gulf ‘states and the Ohio valley, and rains, changing to snows, in the upper lake regions and the upper Mississippi valley. A storm of marked intensity this morning over Lake Huron ‘was reported moving eastward. Storm warnings have been ordered on the Atlantic t;?nst from Hatteras to Eastport, e An {intenge cold wave has over- spread the nerthwestern states and the Regky mpuntain region end is teagdily ggvi g eastward. A tem- perajyye ¢f twenty-six degrees below zero peperted today at Havre, Mont., and temperatures below zero in the Dakotas, Wyoming, Montana and the westerri Canadian,provinces. ‘The heat wave in Washington, ac- coraing to the weéather bureau, is due to & low pressure over the Mississippi valley, and eoutherly winds. Flashes of light in the skies, nearly in line with the moon, were seen last night by surburban residents. Scientists at the Naval Observatory 8#aid the phenomenon probably was due to a magnetic disturbance of some sort caused by sun spots. They scout the theory that the "aurora borealis or northern lights may have caused the disturbance. Profs. A. Peters and Hall at the Naval Observatory said. today. that they have photographed ral spots on the sun, which they attribute to the disturbance of night. One of the ‘spots, quite large, near the center of the sun, while medium spot was discovered on the left of the sun. ‘The latter spot has been visible for two days. HOLIDAY. PLANTOSURVEY EDUCATION'S COST Investigators Will Seek to Estimate Public Funds Available. Investigation of the cost of educs tion in the United States and of pub- lic resources available to support it is to be made by a commission rep- resenting the American Council Edacation, it was announced today. Contributions for defraying the cost of the survey, totaling $170,000, have been made by the commonwealth {fund, the Carnegie Corporation. the general education board and the Mil- bank memorial fund. The pérsonnel of the commission includes Herbert S. Weet,” superintendent of public schools, *Rochester, N. Y.; Dr. George D. Straver of Columbia University, Prof. Henry C. Morrison of the Uni- versity of Chicago, Victor Morawetz. attorney. of New York: Prof. Robert M. Haig_of Columbia University. Thomas E. Finegan. state superi tendent of public_instruction, Harris- burg, Pa.; Prof. Edward C. Elliott of the University of Montana, Prof. El- wood P. Cubberly of Stanford Univer- sity, and Samuel P. Capen, director of the 'American Council of Education, member ex officio. The primary aims of the inquiry will be to study in typical states and communities the existing program of public education, the extent to which this program is carried out, and the present and prospective costs in- volved. EGHTDIEAS TRA HTS BURIL PARTY Parts of Bodies and Frag- GESSFORD APPLIES FORRETRENENTAS 0. POLICE HEAD Formal Request Filed With Commissioner Oyster—Ac- cepted by Board. SULLIVAN WILL ACT - AS SUPERINTEMQSNT Retiring Officer May Be Granted Maximum Pension—Police and Firemen Face Physical Tests. Formal application for retirement from the oftice of superintendent of police was filed with Commissioner ster today by Maj. Harry L. Gess- issioner announced that pending selection of the new super- intendent. Inspector Daniel Sullivan, assistant superintendent, will act as major and superintendent. As soon as they received Maj. Gess- ford’s letter the three Commissioners drafted a reply, in which they accept- ed his plea for retirement and ex- pressed their personal appreciation of the fearless, honest and loval service he rendered the police department for more than forty years. It is expected that Maj. Gessford will be granted the maximum pension allowed by law, half of his salary ax s intendent, which will amount to 50 a year. Survey of Physical Fitness. Simultaneously with the retirement of Maj. Gessford, Commissioner Oyster announced that he has ordered the heads of the police and fire depart- ments to make a survey to dtermine the physical fitness at this time of all men of both branches of the services. The first step in this survey will be to make physical examinations of all men_in both departments who ha reached or ed the age of sixty, the age at which the Commissioners may. in their discretion, retire theh. Commissioner Oyster explained that the order does not necessarily mean that every man in the police and fire of | departments who Ras reached the age of sixty will be retired immediately. The object of the investigation, he explained, is to determine the present physical condition of these men. It may be found, he said, that some of these veteran officers are assigned to duties that are too arduous for them. He said that if any of these men who have reached the age of sixty are in good physical condition and can be as- signed to_work that will not tax their strength “fhey may be retained. The whole purpose of the inqulry, the Commissioner said, is to enable the two departments to go forward in an efficient manner. Cen Isaioner's Order. The order sent by Commissioner Oys- ter to the heads of the police and fire departments follow: “In’ view of the fact that the fire de- partment personnel has already reached its quota and has an eligible waiting list. and that the police department has alho practically filled its allowance, it i« thought desirable that a survey of the department should be made with re- spect to physical efficiency gf the per- sonnel, which includes the officers as well as privates. 'Fhll for the purpose of going forward ’in an efficient way with the functions of both departments. “It is “especially desirable to begin with a list of all men in each deparment who have arrived at or passed the age of sixty vears, and that as rapidly as possible these men shall appear beforé the board of surgeons, who will make 4 careful physical examination and sub- mit at once a report with recommenda- tions as to their physical findings.” Letters Exchanged. Maj. Gessford's letter to Commis- ments of Auto Strewn for Mile Along Tracks. Br the Associated Press. CHICAGO, November 19.—Eight persons were instantly killed and a funeral limousiné in which they were riding was demolishe when a fast Santa Fe train crashed into the ma- chine as it was crossing the tracks between Summit and Lyons this morning. Parts of the victims' bodies and fragments of the machine were strewn along the track for nearly a mile. The accident occurred at a bend in the road, and it was thought the driver was unable to see the ap- proaching train on account of a driv- ing snowstorm. . While Santa Fe officials reported but seven dead, witnesses of the ac- cident said they counted the bodies of eleven victims along the tracks. They said five men. and a boy and girl, supposed to be about eight years old, were among the victims. Not even the license plate could be found in the wreckage to identify the car. The largest piece of the wrecked automobile measured no more than four feet long. The train, which was bound for Chicago, was said to have been rinning at & high rate of speed. Dr. S. S. Fuller of Riverside, who was driving along the road near by, assisted in removihg several injured to the La Grange Hospital. The Lawndale avenue crossing, where ghe accident occurred, is part of a con- crete highway which connects Lyons and Summit. John E. Pettoske, the undertaker in charge, and three men, two women and two children were killed. Seven of the victims, all terribly mangled, have not heen definitely identified, although two (Jf them were believed to be Mr. and'Mrs. John Ciemianim, parents of two-year-old Emily Cle- miantm, whose funeral was being held. Three other passengers in the fu- neral car, a man, woman and child, were severely injured. They were taken to a hospital, where efforts to learn from them the identity of the sioner Oyster follows: “Owing to the report made by the board of police and fire surgeons con- cerning my physical condition, and in view of the statement of Surgegn W. H. R. Brandenburg, president of the said board. I have to request that i be retired from active duty in thé matropolitan police force.” The letter signed by Commissione® Rudolph, Oyster and Keller, to be sent {o Maj. Gessford this-afternoon, fol- ows: “The Commiissioners learn Wwith deep regret that the state of your health makes imperative vour retire- ment’ from the position of superine tendent of the metropolitan police department of the District. : “‘Your record of service with the de+ partment. extending over a period of forty-one vears. is conspicuous as an example of duty conscientiously and efficiently performed; It is a record of which the city you have served sd faithfully may well be proud. “The Commissioners are aware that the impairment to your health has been caused by long hours given un- selfishly to your work. They realize, also, that, in view of the unjust critl- cism which has been directed- upon you from certain quarters, you may have hesitated, to retire at this time lest it appear you were quitting under fire. But, like the true soldier you are, you have subjugated your per- sonal feelings to the District's inter- ests and accepted without gquestbon the verdict of the board of police surgeons that you no longer are able nhysically to discharge the arduoud duties that go with your trying pe- sition “In approving your application for retitni.nt _the Commissioners desire to express their personal appreciation of your qualities of fearless honesty and loyalty to duty, which have eon- tributed to the distinct success of your administration. = You never sought promotion or allowed personal ambition to cause you to neglect the duties of the various posts you har filled since you entered the depart- ment. Always, your first aim has been to give the public the best service of which you were capable and. in your retirement, the public will sustain a real loss. The Commissioners hope that health may be restored to you speedily and wish for you years of health and happiness as a reward for the more than a third of a century dead were *ll(ed because of their serious injurTes. PENALTY, 23 T0 90 YEARS. PARIS, Tenn., November 19.—S. Barton Lasater, former bookkeeper of the Commercial Bank here, pleaded fity to a charge of larceny and r‘h‘;kli' false entries,\n circuit court, and was sentenced to the penitentiary| for twenty-three .to ninety vears Lasater’s shortage was alleged by the bank to amount to $164,328. and efficient service you ?\‘lv‘:el‘{::l‘:ud the District.” " Surgeons’ Report. Comgmissioner Oyster lso made public the following report of the board of surgeons, upon which Maj Gessford based his application for re- tirement: | “The board of police and fire sur- r regpectfully report that me;n’su ntendent of 733