Evening Star Newspaper, November 25, 1921, Page 1

; tared as second-class matter * No. 28,334. i Wan et D WASHINGTON, D. ARMS CONFERENCE FACES CRISIS IN ANGLO-FRENCH CLASH ON ARMY; RIGHTS IN CHINA ARE DISCUSSED Curzon Speech “This Is No Time for Argument,”|Seek Abolition . . 5 ° ~Is Regarded Briand Says of “Warning”| of Territory : . LS o o asWarnmg. keeps three classes_with the colors Prlvfleges‘ actually there are only two. Fur-l thermore, the government has intro- | . TURNING POINT SEEN IN PARLEY WEATHER. Fair tonight; tomorrow unsettled; 0 change in temperature. Temperature for swenty-four hours ended at 2 p.m. today: Highest, 60, at } n | 9:30 p.m. yesterday; lowest, 40, at 7:15 y | am. toda - m. Y. Full report on Page 7. By the Associated Press. NEW YORK, November 25.—Dis- claiming any wish to reply to the ad- dress in London yesterday of Lord Curzon, the British foreign minister, duced a bill in parliament which | reduces the period of service by half,; urging France not to pursue an “iso- | and, In_consequence, the number ot £ ated and individualistic” policy. Pre‘.;““.'};t‘“,‘;“"']:‘m;,“e"’;;';‘e"{,‘;‘;,""{,“L”“;,‘M,JLOD E TO HEAD SUBCOMMITTEE mier Briand of France declared be- | nations will do as regards navies, since fore® | the naval reduction evisaged does e sailing for home today that this | the naval reduction evisaged, does hot| ey lme for argument DetWeen | krance, which has 60,000,000 subjects in a ies. Is seas He assorted that, notwithstanding | SOI00Ies whose coasts are on three ! has scen her fleet of capital ships re- ., - t d which consequently need a navy, . e . the “exceptional” situation of France | jh. [J M | duced bys the effects of the war from | udicial achiner o British Irritated. in Europe, the French government hening WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION C., FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1921—FORTY-TWO PAGES. | | Member of the Associated Press The Associated Press Is exclusively entitled to the use for republication of all news aispatches eredited to It or not otherwice credited in this Paper and also the local news published hercit. All rights of publication of special dispatches bereln are also reserved. Yesterday’s Net Circulation, 74,243 TWO CENTS. PRINE HROHTO 5 DESMTED S REGENTOFJAPAN Announcement Has Been Ex- pected as Emperor’s Health Has Failed. EXCUSE ME, BROTHER , BUT Youd BEFTER CONFERENCE LET oN THE LIMITATION! RECENT TOUR OF EUROPE BELIEVED FORERUNNER Limitation of Arms Would Give New Ruler Opportunity to Carry Out Progressive Ideas. By the Associated Press, TOKIO, November 25.—Crown Prince Delegates Uneasy Over Friction. BY DAVID LAWRENCE. Lord Curzon's speech, warning France that a policy of isolation on her part may constitute a danger to the peace of the world is the sensa- tion of the day here. American officcials were cautious about explaining its significance, though they admitted it may prove a turning point in the history of lhel Washington conference on limitation of armament. Outgrowth of Secret Session. The speech of the British forelgn minister is the direct outgrowth of was proposing to go further in limita- tion of armaments, both on land and sea, than any other nation. “I do not wish to reply to Lord Curzon's statement, for ~the reason that I haven't the official text,” said M. Briand, through an interpreter. “I do not quite see, however, what interest there can be for friends and allies to argue with one another at the very moment when they are try- | ing at Washington 1o assure the | peace of the world. It-is primarily | between them that peace ought to exist. I shall pin my faith on the| words of Mr. Balfour pronounced at the last public sesston of the con- ference, when he solemnly recog- nized, as did all the other delegates, that the situation of France in Europe was exceptional and that she had need to take precautions for her security. Army Reduced One-Third. “As regards disarmament, France will hava gone as far along this road as any other country, without exception. In effoct, cn land, in spite of the dangers which she undergoes, she has already spontaneou re- | | three squadrons to a single squadron. | | She is prepared on this ground to real- | iize an accord with her friends and her. allies for the same proportional re- ductions. German Soldiers Still Exist. “Consequently, in the sum totals of her forces of national defense (land armament and sea) it can be said that France will have made an effort at re- duction superior to that of any other nation and meri cause she is in veritable danger. “Our English friends ought to recog- nize the fact that the German fleet is at the hottom of the sea and that con- sequently it is no longer a menace either for England or for us. But the 7,000,000 men of the German army are still there, very much alive and available. This is a fact that France must realize and consider. “In_conclusion, 1 have observed with the greatest satisfaction that it is suffi- cient for me loyally to explain the situation to the American peopie in order to be understood by the whole world. This permits me to leave for France with ‘a tranquil spirit and a ‘what transpired at the secret sesslon | g ceq her ‘metropolitan army’ by a {peaceful heart.” of the armament committee of five powers last Wednesday, on the day after Premier Briand delivered his impassioned speech to the full con- ference. It develops that Premier Briand, expecting a resolution of in- dorsement of French military policy, turned to the representatives of the other powers, and in a speech that; somewhat dismayed them, proceeded to interpret the remarks of Mr. Balfour and Mr. Hughes in a way that carried a much more thorough approval of French policy than was intended by the carefully qualified words of both the heads of the British and American delegations. To offset any exaggerated impres- sions which the French people might possibly have of the responses made to Premier Briand's speech, the Brit- ish government through Lord Cur-j zon, foreign minister, has now l!nled' a warning in such unequivocal terms as is expected by British officials to prevent any misunderstanding when Prenier Briand gets back to France. y Wfi_ £ Indeed, cy of France to play a lone hand outside the family © { nations, and particularly the inti- mations of an unwillingness to sub- scribe to a definite ratio on naval armament, as well as a refusal to ugree to a reduction of land arma- ent while Germany and Russia are uncertain quantities, has irritated the British very much. . Lord Curzon's warning that the strength ard protection of the French cause doss nc, consist of French arms, dut in the €onscience of the world, in which he included the United States as well as pean powers, was in- terpreted here as a direct contradiction of Premier Briand’s argument last Tuesday that the French army alone was keeping France from an invasion by Germany. Even more significant, however, is the pointed prediction of the Britih foréign minister that “we shall convert Germany into a peace- | iul member of the international court i Europe only if the gréit powers cmbine not merely to enforce the treaty, but to make it clear that no policy of retaliation or revenge will De tolerated by them, and that they | will assist Germany to play her part, ;-rlo;ldad she shows sincerity and good altho” May Invite German Delegate. There is talk of inviting Germany to send a representative to this con- ference or one to be held in Europe at which Germany will have a chance to announce her position. American officials, of course, do not wish to dis- cuss the enforcement of the Versailles treaty, but they would not be averse to a discussion with Germany which might bring out pertinent facts and lead to a better understanding be- tween Germany and the rest of the world. In this connection it is re- called that before the Washington conference began there were intima- tions fror: Wiute House quarters that before the armament sessions were vver the nations represented here might “talk to Germany” in an effort to relieve France of her fears and apprehensions. Premier Briand has sailed for Eu- rope, but he has left behind him a trail of political embarrassments from which the confergnce has not vet re- ‘covered. The Italian delegation at the now famous Wednesday meeting, which was held in secret, Insisted upon seeing something done about Jand disarmament, to which, of course, Premier Briand objected. When the French premier, too, asked, in a rhe- “torical pause, if the United States and Great Britain would give France de- fensive guarantees and his speech was answered by an ominous silence, he promptly faced about and outlined the necessity of a policy of isolation on the part of France, which he hoped the other powers would not disap- prove. First Controversy to Arise. In other words, he indicated that France, unhelped by Great Britain and the United States, must have a frece hand on the continent of Eu- rope. The American - delegation fmade no comment, but the British felt the occasion should not pass thout instant action by their gov- ernment. London cablegrams say flatly that the Curson speech was made with particular reference to # Washington conference, and the assumption here' Is tbat the British binet ‘acted upon advices from this apital after what occurred at the Wednesday .meeting. Incidentally, 1his incident is the first in which a controversy has arisen over the true meaning of an utterance in the con- ential sessions, and that school of I | the meetings were . to which, of course, 1he answer is made that. government has promptly ex A L.cle affair to the air of public opi In ISOLATION CHARGE AROUSES FRENEH Turkish Treaty Blamed for Speech. By the Associated Press. PARIS, November 25.—The Frenchl government is deeply aroused over the warning given to France by Lord Curzon, the British secretary for for-| ; Address In London ves “his criticism of the French policy 'at the Washington armament conference. It was ex- plained in official circles today, how- ! ever, that France regards A. J. Bal four as Great Britain’s official repr: sentative at she Washington confe: ence and that his, and not Lord Cu: zon's opinion, would be accepted as) that of the British government. i Lord Curzon had in mind, all the; time he was speaking. the treaty re- cently negotiated between France and; the Turkish nationalists, to which Great Britain has taken exception, ac- cording to the view in official quar- ters, and merely used the Washing- ton conference and the French army as the means of driving home th resentment which he feels Turkish pact. Never Sought Isolation. France. officials pointed out, has ever sought a policy of isolation from the earliest days of the peace; conference, having urged ar alliance of the United States, G:eat Britain| and France, so inat France could! safely demobilize her army with the | assurance that an attack by Germany | would bring the two countries to her! aid. Failing this alliance, it is! argued, France is forced to maintain | a large army, because the German | menace is a real thing, as Premier | Briand made clear at Washington. England, the contention is, has no| menace at her very door, and it is; unfair to say that the French army| should be reduced in the same pro- portion as Great Britain Is willing to reduce her fleet. ‘Soclalists to Question Briand. Premier Briand will be interpellated by socialists and possibly by radical members of parliament with regard! to the Washington conference as soon | as he returns from America. The soclalists already have given| formal notice that they will ask the| premier to explain the attitude of the | French delegation. ! 1 i CONFERENGE MOOD SHOWING REBOUND {Curzon’s Resentfulness Over{Change Follows Great Initial Progress, But New Ad- vance Expected. BY N. 0. MESSENGER. Conferences, like people, have their moods and respond to reaction. At the moment the atmosphere of the ‘Washington conference ls classed as evidencing -the rebound 3¢ precedented and unexpected progress in the first fortnight of its wession. But as the pendulum swings many be expected that the present state of feeling will give way for a move in the other direction. The machinery of progress to a happy outcome is not t3 be regarded as caught on a dead center. An existing state of disquietude is attributed to the unhappiness of the Chinese delegation, which construed an expression of opinion in British with China's interests. Tite Chinese, it is reported, breathed the fear that if this view should be found to be that of the other powers to the con- fdfi-rence. China might have to with- raw. May “Sit T, “Get up steam on the George Wash- ington,” commanded President Wilson at one-stage of the Paris peace con- gress. The ship did not sail for some time, however, it will be recalled. Hope has not been abandoned in con- ference circles that the Chinese dele- gation may find it possible to “sit tight” for some time to come. It will be remembered that several days ago the proposal of Japan for a ratio of naval strength in excess of that suggested for her in the Amer- an plan of limitation was followed by distinct intimation from high American quarters that it would not be feasible. The Japanese delegation did not engage passage home. On the contrary, the best informa- tion obtainable from Japanese and American. sources of authority gives ground for the expectation that this will be greater be- | in China Not Yet Held Adequate. By the Associated Press.” Abolition of extra territorial rights China, by which various powers maintain their own courts for trial Jof their own nationals, was agreed {to in principle today by jrepresented in the Washington con- | ference on Pacific and far eastern | amrairs. | The Chinese delegation presented to the committee today a statement Istromfly urging the abolishment of {the extraterritorial rights and sym- | pathetic responses were said to have |been voiced by the representatives of the other powers. Belief was generally expressed, how- ever, that the rights could not be i given up immediately, in view of con- ditions in China, but that the abolition should come as promptly as compati- | [ lin j Progress of China. general agreement authorized the ap- pointment of a-subcommittee, headed 1by Senator Lodge of the American delegation, to present the principle in i the concrete form of a resolution. The subcommittee also will work out the details of the surrender by the powers of their rights. will include the consideration of a number of treaties, and for that rea- son the time required for its accom- plishment was problematical. The committee of the nine powers also took up at today's session -the nection until after 1 o'clock, when it was decided that the committee and resume tomorrow morning. No decision was taken respecting Chinese posts. Supported By U. S. the extraterritorial privileges held by other rations was understood to have had the strong support of the American | times before the clock strikes, it may | gefegation. Secretary Hughes declaring that the foreign courts should be aool- ished as soon as China demonstrated her ability to administer justice fairly to all within her borders. The following communique on the meeting was issued: “The committee on Pacific and far eastern questions met in the Pan- American building Friday, November 25, at 11 a.m. All the delegates were present except Signor Meda, Baron Shidehara, M. Sarraut and Lord Lee “At the opening of the session Mr. I o {Quarters of the application of the|pyghes expressed his great regrea over the |{Root four principles as Irreconcilable|at the appearance of a report in a Washington paper this morning of al- leged happenings at the last meeting of the committee. The report of an- tagonism with Mr. Balfour was not only untrue but grotesque, and did him _the grossest injustice; Mr. Hughes could not imagine how such a rumor had got into circulation. Mr. Balfour expressed his great appre- ciation of Mr. Hughes' statement. “He had never doubted that Mr. Hughes would take the view hé had just stated, but the manner and words in which that view had been put be- | fore the committee had deeply moved him, and he wished to express his thanks. Subcommittee Appointed. “After a discussion it was decided to appoint a subcommittee to inves- tigate and report in regard to the question of _extraterritoriality _in China. In regard to this subject Mr. ‘Wang Chung-Hui, chief justice of the supreme court of China made a state- ment, which will appear later. “The committee then discussed the question of foreign post offices in China, the Chinese minister, Mr. Sze, making a statement wnich will sub- sequeéntly be made public. “The committee then adjourned to Deputy - Herriot, | conflict in views i8 now in process|meet at 10:30 Saturday morning, No- leader of the radicals, has expressed !of being ironed out, and the definite ! vember 26.” dissatisfaction with the position of the French delegation regarding land armament, but is awaiting the deci- sion of the party committee before! deciding whether he will interpellate | the premier. The radicals supported the cabinet in the debate in the chamber just before Briand sailed for the United States. —_— CAPT. JUDGE TO RETIRE. Commissioners Act on Application of Police Precinct Head. Favorable action on the application of Capt. Thomas Judge of the tenth police precinct was taken by the board of District Commissioners to- day. His retirement pay was fixed at $100 a month, one-half his salary. Application ‘for retirement was made. after police service of about! thirty years, because-of the impaired| condition of the captain’s health. His successor will not be named until after December 7, when a competitive examination of lieutenants will be held to fill the vacancy. Today’s News In Brief Mood of conference shows rebound from great progress made at begin- ning. . Page 1 Japan’s attitude toward China clar! fied by Japanese delegate. Page 1 W. R. & E. depreciation case briefs filed. Page 1 Briand sails after appeal for guo. « 1 ge 2 France supports American attitude on submarines. Page 3 Chinese question in parley point at issue. Page 3 Shipping magnates praise Hague rule on bills of lading. Page 13 Premlers Lloyd George and Craig seek to avert Irish break. Page 17 Capt. W. C. prominent Wash- ingtonian and formerly on. Gen. Pershing's staff, dles of pncum: N + | conferring powers are prediction is made in both quarters that failure to reach an agreement for material limitation of naval ar- mament is impossible. As to the far eastern situation, the status today is said to be that the intent wpon taking up on tke same basis which has existed of confidence intheir abil- ity to reach common ground for agreement on the troublesome ques- tions that are developing. Secretary Hughes, head of the Ameri- can delegation, conferred with President Harding this morning before the meet- ing on the far eastern agenda, The American delegation is understood to be prepared to take. the ground that the conference must not be allowed to & diverted from the clear and distinct bases of consideration of the far east- ern -questions, to wander off into a mase of details of the principles laid own. 2 Must Be Kept in The American delegation is also said to be firm in its demand that the work of the confe:nce must continue to be kept in the:open to the greatest degree possible with rational and reasonable proceedings. The stand of the'American delegation is that a clean-cut, definite presentation of principles to guide the proceedings on the far eastern questions has been proposed in the Raot program and prac- tically adapted by the conference. If the application to practicality and detail of these principles shows signs of leading into entanglemeants of the-work, the American delegation will then, it is believed, ask that some one of the powers shall step forward with a substitute e?u.lly as definite. The fixed idea of the American dele- gation s said to be that the domi- nant. spirit of the conference shall be presentation in the open of plain and specific propositions and their con- sideration in a spirit of frankness and mutual good will. .- ' - The world-wide mnnnity of re- sponse to the .ini amove -of the American delegation in presenting the naval limitation plan is regarded ab justifieation for demand. that future proceedings” shall continue ‘in tie W i e, e _ Only Session Today. The session of the nine delegations, sitting as a committee of the whole to discuss the extraterritorial prob- lem, was the only meeting of the conference or its subdivisions on to- day’'s program, the question of land and naval armament having again gone into temporary eclipse while ex- perts prepare their opinions as to de- tails. | “Meantime the clash of opinion be- [tween the Chinese and some of the | British spokesmen over the meaning of the fourth Root principle con- tinued a subject of speculation in ! conversations among individual dele- | Kates.~The question of interpreting ! the Root principles has not yet come directly before the. sessions of the | conference, however, and may not be ! raised formally until the discussions { reach a point requiring application of the principles to specific cases. American Purpose. % It was revedled authoritatively to- day that the purpose of the American delegation in bringing forward the Root resolution was to place the en- tire far east negotiations on a foun dation of accepted basic principles from whose lication there would no_escape the conference pro- .ceeded to the consideration of details involved in the Chinese.ten peints and other open issues. __At the same time it was said that the continuance of international supervision = of Chinese customs, finances and even railroads was.not viewed by the American delegation as in any sense inconsistent with the declarations in the Root resolutions in favor of the maintenance' of Chinese integrity and independence. powers; Spoolnicd. to.stidy the powers, appoln \study the qu tion of the Chinese tariff, will be called together by Senator Under- wood, its chairman, In a few days, it ‘was announced today: The committee is awaiting preparation of additional fiscal 2}‘“":“&"‘3 its work. The disposition of the American delsgation seems h’bfl ~in favor of increasing the maximum, to which China has been’ yvestricted, in her customs im-+ POrts: a8 -necessal for “aninteaance . aeds; o = 1 the powers | ble with the present situation and| The committee upon reaching lhe] This task | question of the Chinese postal service | and ‘discussed the details in that con-; should conclude its sitting for the day { i | i { ) Be_un-| “The Chinese request for-abolition of | The .-Japanese | i i 1 | | i | | JAPANESE FIERE NAVAL IFEROR Demonstrate by Six Methods Strength Is But 70 Per Cent of U. S. Sea Force. By the Associated Press. Modifications desired by Japan in the tonnage allotments proposed by the American delegates in its plan for naval armament limitation were understood today to be under discus- !slon by the board of admirals of the five powers! The board was described today &s working very hard—in fact, night and day—in order to expedite its report to the fuli conference. The Japanese position as to tonnage ratio is explafned’ in detail as fol- lows: S contend . that the measurement of their existing naval strength as fixed as the dasis for the, American proposals is erroneous. It points out that there are many meth- ods of computiig actual naval strength. After tabulating the power of the Japanese fleet in six different ways the experts arrive at the con- clusion that the Japanese'navy has a strength of 70.5, estimating the Ameri- can Navy as 100 per cent. Japanese Rank 67 Per Cent. The first classification, which in- cludes pre - dreadnaughts, dread- naughts, super-dreadnaughts and BOMB EXPLOSIONS LAID | T0 ANARCHISTS IN TRIESTE | !v:fious Outrages in Different s«.—q tions of City—Fascisti Also Kill One Victim. | By the Associated Press. | TRIESTE, November 25.—Bomb ex- plosions attributed by the authorities | to anarchistic elements have been re- curring for the last few days in vari- ous parts of the city. One explosion | occurred yesterday in the garden of Senor Uccelli, manager of a large company here, and another bomb ex- ploded in the home of Senor Pollich, manager of the Trieste Navigation Company. In addition, Senor Miller, president { of the Trieste Typographers’ Union, was killed In an attack by the fas. { ciati Miller was blamed by the fas- | cléti for preventing the publication of newspapers.. | | | Preliminary Construction ‘Work Expected to Start in January. Work on the construction of -the UN ERS?EIEM 1 DEPRECIATION CASE BRIEFS ARE FILED Utilities Board Opposes Right to Transfer W. R. & E. Charges. Two briefs upholding the right of the Washington Railway and Electric Company to transfer jurisdiction over iits depreciation charges from the Distriet Public Utilities Commission to the Interstate Commerce Commis- sion and one brief- attacking such iright were flled with the Interstate ommerce Commission toda: The railway company filed a brief Byme, ey o8 AIl" the time and money spent by the Public Utilities Commission in fixing _valuations of street railways of the District will have been wasted if the Interstate Commerce Commis- sion should take jurisdiction over the depreciation accounts of _the com- panies, the brief filed by the Public Utilities Commission argued. Claims Made by Each Side. After devoting several pages to citations from court decisions relat- ships under construction, gives a ra- | New Water system authorized for the |ing to the question, the utilities com- tio to Japan of 67 per cent. according | District by Congress in the current|mission concludes its wrgument by the British ships as numbering 41, with a total tonnage of 967,850 tons. This would make the British ratio 106 per cent, as compared with the American 100 per cent and the Japanese 67. The tonnage of the United States under_this compilation is fixed at {913,125, with the ships numbering 48. The Japanese ships are placed at 29, with a total tonnage of 612,238, In this estimate all capital ships are taken into consideration, including dreadnaughts and the Fuji, Suwo, Iwami and Hizen, which are nearly equal to the strength of the Ameri- can Maine. The second classification gives Great | mitted with the reconvening of Con-|{none Britain 41 ships, the United States| gress will it be known whether Bud- | frel 35 and Japan 17. It includes dread- naughts, superdreadnaughts and ships under construction, the pre-dreadnaughts. The ratio in this case for Japan is estimated at 62 per cent. Great Britain’s tonnage is estimated at 967,850, the United States, 717,385 and Japan at 440,692. England Has Great Lead. A third classification, which is based on the idea that from a tech- nical point of view naval strength should be compared by taking super- dreadnaughts and subsequent ships, fixes Japan's ratio at 70 and Great Britain’s at 132 per cent. British ships fall to 28 in number under this compilation, American to 27 and Japanese to 14, The comparative tonnage falls to, Great Britain, 723,- 650; American, 549,735, and Japanese, 380,742. Under the fourth system of compila- tion predreadnaughts, dreadnaughts and superdrezdnaughts are counted. This gives Great Britain a ratio of 133 per cent and Japan 73 per cent, always estimating the American fleet at 100 per cent. A fifth grouping, basea on dreadnaghts -and super- dreadnaughts, gives Great Britain 41 {Continued on Page 2, Column 7.) probably “in January, it was an- nounced today by the War Depart- ment. Since the passage of the bill, mak- ing $200,000 available for preliminary work, Army engineers, under the di- rection of Maj. Tyler, District en- gineer officer, have been engaged in completing surveys and drawings. It has been decided to commence physi- cal operations on the Dalecarlia res- ervoir site, which is to be graded and improved with a new filtration plant. Not until the District budget is sub- | I 1 get Director Dawes has approved the but leaves out|Commissioners' recommendation that|serves, Mr. $3,000.000 be appropriated this year! for prosecuting work on the new system. The project is to cost $1v,000,000, and Maj. Tyler has recommended that it be completed three years, if possible, to give Washington an assured water supply. Army engineers have stressed the danger of the present obsolete con- duit from Great Falls breaking ul der the strains that are being placed upon it, and it was because of this danger that Congress recognized the need of & new conduit as an emerg- ency measure and provided for it through a rider to the Army bill. Should it develop that the federal budget officer has sliced the estimate for speeding the construction of the new conduit, local organizations, headed by the Board of Trade, urge upon Congress to appropriate $3,000,000 this year, in order that the {improvement may be started in ac- cordance with the suggested three- year building progra: ‘They will take the position that the lives of 4 {to Japanese calculation. They figure|AT™Y appropriation act will start|amrming that it was not the inten- tion of Congress to place the burden of depreciation reserves on the In- terstate Commerce Commission if the road In question did not come within the meaning of the interstate com- merce act or its corollary, the trans- portation act of 1920. The railway company contends that under the transportation act jurisdiction over the depreciation affairs of interstate carriers was given to the Interstate Commerce Commission. All public utilities of the District of Columbia, except the telephone com- pany, are chartered by Congress to do business within the District, the corpo- ration counsel contends, adding taat is chartered fo do a general ght business and none is empowered to do an- interstate business. Trans- ferring of the mater of depreciation re- Stephans, says, to the In- terstate. Commerce Commission would repeal the act of March 3, 1913, which ve the Public Utilitiés Commission jurisdiction over this matter. “It is evident that the Washington Railway and Electric Company is not an interstate carrier,” the brief con- tends. *“It is very clear that it is a street railway company, which trans- ports passengers from street to_ street and from ward ward within the city.” Mr. Stephens concludes by asking, “Can the commission imagine the tracks of the railway company in the District used for transshipment of any freight from different points, or is it the claim of the road that its tracks were ever so used” In its counter brief the company argues that “it is & common carrier by railroad” within the meaning of the interstate commerce act, and that the Interstate Commerce Commission-has exclusive jurisdiction to prescribe rules and rates of depreciation for it and its affiliated companies. ~ e company’'s brief says that the Washingtonians will , be Jeopardized | jurisdiction of the Interstate Com- and goversArent and private property | merce Commission with respect to interests here subjected to fire ards until a dependable water supply is provided. < The ConferenceinPictures In the l_lotogravuré Section of - Next Sunday’s Star A half-page photogfiph of .the conference in session, with accirate dia, arrangem glctures of the delegates, gram showing the seating ent—the first official photograph. Intimate and events in which they ve taken prominent parts while in Washington—a veritable events. _ Order Your Copy of The Sun- souvenir edition of one of the world’s great * day Star From Newsdealer To- _ - day, fior the Supply is Limited. ° regulation of depreciation reserves and decounting, of the Washington Rallway and Electric Company ex- tends to all property of the company used, In rendering transportation service. 1t adds that the inevitable effect of depreciation rules promul- gated by the local commission would be to make it impossible for the Washington Railway and Electric Company to continue to operate some of its lines which now run from points Ig. ‘Washington to points in land. M e -extent that such ‘lines would Kave to be abandon inter- state commerce would be destroygd, the brief contends and argues. *That section 435 of the transpor- tation act of 1920 is applicable to said Washington Railway and Elec- tric Company its afiliated com- rnlu. and thet this commission has jurisdiction over said companies with respect all matters of deprecia- tion allowances and accounting braced in: said -section 435 of th transportation act of 1920, The railway company is. supported in its stand by the American Electric Raillway Assoclation, of which it is a member. The brief of the association cites numerous instances and laws which are claimed to %m the present case, and adds ‘work remains to ‘be done before correct ruh:-“_g,m-h- and pripciples are evolt # Fil of briefs follows a prelim- lnl,“‘flv-wu _held ' October 24 at ‘which the comi thirty days file briefs. lh; e for a full ha-rh!l,l will be set by ararey dias ality of Francis - ¥ Stephens, corporation counsel for the District and CorPT) ¥ Gounsel tor the Utili- Intérsiate Commerce Commission!from 1901 to 1913, Hirohito has been designated regent of Japan. YOUNG REGENT LIBERAL. Appears Frequently in Public and Has Made Many Speeches. By the Associated Press. The announcement from Tokio of th regency of Hirohito was expected in Japanese circles here as the recent tour of the crown prince to Europ generally was understood to have been the first step in the court arrangement to give Hirohito the conduct of the empire because of the continued ill- ness of the emperor. The extensiv tour abroad was arranged in ord : that before taking up the duties of regency the young crown pritce would have an opportunity to study forelgn lands and foreign customs. Representative Japancse today em phasized how much this visit to west- ern countries had meant for Japai. It whs recalled that when the crow prince returned to Tokio he made memorable speech to the people in which be frankly admitted that Japan had much 16 learn from western coun- tries and that a1l the subjects of the empire must strive thelr utmost t bring Japan to the high development in all branches of national activit necessary for her national progress. Aband Ancient Aloofness. The young regent has alrcady complished a great deal in establisi- ing a more liberal understanding be- tween the imperial court and the peo- ple of the empite. He has already abandoned the ancient idea of im- perial aloofness and in striking con- trast to the earlier days, when Japanese were not supposed 10’ gaze upon their emperor, Hirohito has re- cently appeared at various public meetings in quite an informal manner and has made speeches rather frecly. The Japanese point out that the re- nsibility of having Japun emerge from the olden—days to the present liberal movement as regards the gourt Je: imsthe hands of Viscount Makin minister of the imperial household, who was one of Japan's delegates at the Versailles confer ence, and Vigcount Makino has befor him the task of meeting the wishes of modern Japan with its democratic tendencies without offending the old court nobles, who are inclined to re- sist too many innovations. 1t is understood that the immediate reason for the regency is the convic- tion that the emperor is believed to be incurably ill. He is quite unable to carry on the duties of the throne. Delegates Lack News. The Japanese delegation 1o the armament conference said today that it received an intimation that the declaration of regency was imminent declaration of regency was imminent, that it was an accomplished fact. Probably upon receipt of official in- formation the delegation will for- ward some message of congratula- tion and homzge to the new ruler. Some Japanese remarked today upon the curious coincidence that a regency should be established while Prince Tokugawa, present head of shogunate should be in Washington as a delegate. In Japan Tokugawa is often referred to as “the sixteenth shogun." The shoguns, the tem- poral rulers of Japan, were abolished in 1868 with the restoration to actual power of the imperial house. The shogunate was abolished, but Prince Tokugawa was designed as the new head of the famous Tokugawa family, which was the last to hold the power of the shogunate. Members of the delegation also cgm- mented uvpon the coincidence at Hirohito should assume the direction of the empire at a time when a prob- able world agreement as to naval re- duction meant that Japan would be able to do great things for the inter- nal development of the country under the leadership of a young and populas regent who is keenly alive to world tendencies and to the necessity of working out the doctrines of the in- dependence of nations recently pro- claimed by Viscount Makino as the keynote of Japan's world policy. Emperor Seriously Il Early last month a rumor that the emperor was dead was circulated in Tokio. The imperial household, in de- nying it at that time, stated that he was go ill it was feared that he could not recover. The emperor's physical and mental condition had become ag- gravated, it was said, and the diffi- culty he had experienced in walking and holding conversation had been augmented, while his memory and capacity for attention had declined. ‘There were signs that he had Ween suffering from vere disease of the brxln. the imper! household stated. an it was recalled that he was seri- ously ill during his infancy, and that his malady had reoccurred after he had -attained his majority. Since his coron: ing in mind and body had been noted. said the official statement, which con- cluded by saying that the growing wvolume of domestic and internationai business was placing an increased de- mand upon his time. Yoshihito became emperor upon the death of his father, the Emperor Mui- suhito, on July .30, 1912. The formal coronation did not occur until Novem- ber 10, 1915. He was born at Kicto ‘August 31, 1879, and was married “in 1900 to Princess Sadako, daughter of Prince Kujo. There are three other children of the imperial pair besides Prince Hirohito—Prince Yasuhito, born in 1902; Prince Nobuhito, born in 1900, and Prince Takahito, born in December, 1915. ———— FRANK D. CURRIER DEAD. “CAN. , N. H., November 25. Frank D. Currier, former Representa- tive and author of the present federal law, died at his home here today after a lingering illness. Hi term in Congress was continuous He was sixty- drs olde