Evening Star Newspaper, February 7, 1922, Page 1

== WEATHER. tonight gnd tomorrow : colder tonight. Lowesy’ temperature about 20 Member of the Associated Press The Assoclated Press is exclusively entitled to the usc for republication of all news dispatches credited to it or not otherwise credited in this degrees. 'Temy >rature for hours ended 3 2 p.m. toda; . *yesterday; lowest, 3: twenty-four y: Higaest, at 7 | | Closing New York Stocks, Page 20. No. 28408. Dost offce Wasl Entered as second-class matter hington, D. C. PLANS DISREGARDED IN BUILDING THEATER, INQUEST DISCLOSES Disaster Could Have Been Avoid- ed Through Proper Inspec- tion, Witness Declares. IRONWORKER 1S WHEN HE POINTS OUT WEAKNESS/ LAUGHED AT . . \ Sensations Sprung Before Coroner’s Jury. prung ) Numerous Persons on Stand Reticent. Hundreds Crowd Into Hearing Room. Steel construction which s be ipported the roof of the Knicker- ker Theater was weak in points. it did not come up to the building plans and the Minsufficiency of the construction should have been discovered by proper engineer and computer in the D told the jury today at the coroner’s inquest into the disaster. This testimony came like_a 1 ination of witnesses, principally parently could give no informat Davis frankly told the jury that the plans for the building. from. which the permit was issued. cor inspection, Robert Henry Davis istrict building inspector’s offi bomb. after a morning of exam officials of the District, who ap- ion on the disaster. \When Mr. 1itained no dimensions there was a noticeable movement of every one in the room, straining to get every word of his statement. He said that the plans speci steel in some instances. but they steel. Mr. Davis told the jury, i ton Gordon, United States Dist understand why plans should be i without a full knowledge of the used. Information Through Computation. The witness had been working on the plans ever since the collapse, he told the jury, and what information | he had obtained was through compu- tation. Examination of the plans and later of the steel work on the site of the ruins showed, he testified, that in the case of the main truss it was nine inches shorter than the plans would indicate by computation. The weight of the steel was not specified, he_log: tified. 1 the building when it was under con- struction, testified that he noticed the shortn of the beams over the etage when they were put in place, and said that he would never go into the building again. He reported the fact to the superintendent on the building, he testified, and was laughed at. Others with him at the time heard him make the statement. he said. He was on the end of the beam over the stage, where, he said. it lapped over the tile work by only one or two inches. Maj. Brown, a tant District en- gineer commissioner. could not tell what caused the accident, and neither could Building Inspector Healy, both of whom were on the Stand The inquest was specifically over the body of Mi Mary Fthel Atkin-} son, and the result will determine the cause in the s of the ninety-seven other dead hree Hundred Present. Six men, their faces showing plain- 1y the responsibility they feel. sat be- | fore a crowd of three hundred per- sons in the boardroom of the District! ding and listened with knitted | < to the testimony upon which | s must_render a verdict in the Knickerbocker disaster. There was a_notigeable absence of women from the room, and the men | who made up the audience leaned for- ward with grave attention to catch the words of the witnesses as they unfolded their stories. mosphere of gravity pery Coroner J. Ramsay N and District Attorney Gordon q tioned witnesses to bring out salient points. Although every seat in the spacious chamber was taken and many stood in the open spaces around the walls, there was not the rushufor seats early in the morning that had been anti ed. end of the stage sat the ttention riveted on the wit- Thirty Witneases Subpoenaed. Reside the jury on the platform seated District Attorney Gor- t and Corporation Stephens_and Hart. Com- missioners Rudolph and Oyster also attended the morning session as in- dividu Pressure of other work kept Commissioner Keller busy office. Approximately thirty witnesses, who had been subpoenaed by the cor- oner to testify, were in thé office of «<ommissioner Oyster, from which they were called one by one by the coroner. Officials of the coroner’s office said the inquiry now being conducted into the Knickerbocker catastrophe is by far the most important and elaborate} inquest that a District coroner has ever been called upon to hold. In the Terra Cotta railroad wreck, which was the nearest approach to the Knickerbocker case, only half as many persons were killed. The inquest_in that appalling accident was held in the fire engine house on the water front, but was not attended by as large a throng as filled the boardroom of the building _today. . present indications the inquest ntinue at least until tomorrow evening. 5 Describes Falling Roof. Dr. H. D. Martin, deputy coroner, read his report of the examination of the body of Miss Atkinson. saying it showed bruises, and that death was due to a fractured skull. R. T. McCord of the internal revenue bureau said he entered the Kuicker- bocker Theater about 8 o'clock and remained until the roof fell. He was sitting in_a section of the. balcony seats,”on the 18th street_side, about the center of the row. He was with his wife and daughter. Coroner Nevitt told him to detail his story. He said he noticed a movement in the roof to the left of the screen. 1t seemed that plaster was giving away, he said, and he saw a haze, like fine plaster falling. Then it hung down about seven or eight feet square. That occupied about five seconds, he estimated. Then the movement spread to the left, toward the wall. then ‘The roof seemed to hang down at almost ngle of thirty degrees. The move- ment was then toward the balcony. Then the whole roof came down with a crash. The whole movement was goward the balcony. He said he closed fied the gencral measure of the did not specify the weight of the ollowing questions by Maj. Pey- rict attorney, that he could not ssued for a building of that kind strength of the materials to be his eyes and. of dourse. didn't see any more of the falling roof. Crawled From Under Debri Then he described to the jury how he and his family crawled out from under the concrete. Asked by Coroner Nevitt as to any warning, the witness said he heard no noise. “Was their auy_sensation prior to the fall?” asked Coroner Nevitt. “None ‘that 1 heard.” said the wit- ness. He said the crack was about ten to fifteen feet to the left of the )} screen, and in the corner. His gen E. Donaldson. an ironworker on!eral impression was that it was to} the left of the screen. Maj. Peyton Gordon, district attor- 5V, questioned the witness to fix in he crash started. to his griginal statement. Saw Roof Wavering. He was followed by John MeEvily, 2424 1Sth street, a chauffeur. who said he entered the theater about 7:45 on the night of the accident, and was on the first floor when the crash came. For a second. he said, just before the crash, he noticed a waver of the roof just in front of the stage. What did you see in that flash of cond?” asked the coroner. t was hard to tell.” Vhat time did you get out?”" asked he coroner. _ “About a quarter of 2 Sanday morn- ing.” was the reply. He was not able to get out unassisted. Wilton J. Lambert. attorney for Harry Crandall, asked that witnesses be instructed to tell whether they meant ceiling when speaking, or if roof. and vice versa. Maj. Cary H. Brown, assistant en Kineer commissioner of the District next was called. He testified thaf he made an investigation, and was instructed to tell the results. He received first information about 3:30 o'clock Sunday morning, and ar rived on the scene about 5:30, and remained to assist in the work of ue. He told the jury he had ited the building several times e to determine what caused the failure. Cause Held Problematical. “In my mind there is no definite conclusion as what caused failure,” he testified. “Thereis considerable doubt as to what caused (failure. There is no doubt that the main truss fell early. The unseating of the north end of the main truss would cause failure. What caused that un- seating is. to my mind, problemati- cal ¥ “Did it have sufficient space upon?” asked the coroner. _“ILam of the opinion that the bear- ing of that truss should have been more adequately provided for on the Columbia road wall. Other precau- tions could have -been taken which would have made that adequate,” he answered. Maj. Brown said he had not com- puted the stresses. The weakness, he said. was a matter of detail, rather than the main portions of the roof. Maj. Gordon then interrogated the witness- as to the wall construction. At the top the wall was twelve inehes thick, said the witness. The point where the main_truss bore was eighteen inches, made of a double row of tiles, he testified. “What was on the outside asked Maj. Gordon, “A single row of bricks, ness replied. Attributes Fallure of Truss. “The wreckage indicates the north end _nf the main truss caused fail- ure.” he said. “I do not know what caused the unseating. That was to the-left and south of the stage.” No investigation to determine the gradi of concrete under the lintel which supported the truss was made, he said. The trusses all rested on lintels, but there were no wall bear- ings or lintels for the beam, he added, Maj. Brown did not make an in- vestigation, he sald, of the bearings on the wall. He couldn't say how much bearing the beams had in the wall. The thickness of the cement roof was about two and three- quarter inches, witness testified. Maj. Gordon’ sought to get details of the witness’ investigation, but Maj. Brown said that no_detailed_invest| gation was made. He’did, however, estimate the weight of the fan on the roof at two tons. Examined by Maj. Gordon as to the position of _the trusses, Maj. Brown sald that the main trusses rested at right-angles. The pilasters were not made to bear any weight, he said. Former Inspector Testifies. Morris Hacker, building inspector in 1916, now supervisor of removal of cify refuse, was then called. He _said he knew that the building was being built while he was in office, (Continued on Page 2, Column 4.) . PERRe to of that?" D the wit- mind as to just where and when | The witness stuck 1 he WASHI GTON, D. C., TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1922—TWENTY-SIX PAGES. WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION WELCOME. i | ! Party Conferences to Be Held Previous to Considera- _tion on Floor. By the Associnted Prexs. President Harding will order sux- pended alf work on Navy vessels now building which are destined for the scrap heap under the naval treaty, but will insue no final order for dixcontinuance of the work un- til the treaty in actually ratified, it wan =aid today at the White House. . it was stated, al- ion of work on additional fortifications on the Island of Guam, and likewise further developments under way in the Philippine Islands, taking this action in view of the clause of the maval treaty_Sxing the status quo for the Pacific islands of the United States. The President wax represented as of the bellef that xome reduc- tionx in the personnel of the Army and Navy would resuit from the arms conference argreements, but of “reasonable relativity.” The Army in his opinion, it was snid, hould not go beyond 80,000 men, the minimum for safety. Senate leaders of both parties got {actividly to work today on plans ifor the receipt and consideration of ithe international agreements evolv- |ing from the arms conference, which adjourned sine die yesterday. Party conferences of senators for consideration of the treaties prior to the time they are taken up on the oor have been virtually determined upon by both republican and demo- cratic leaders. No dates have been et, but it wos understood the meet- ngs “to talk over’ the internationa! greements likely would come early |next week. Senator Lodge of Massachusetts and { members of the American delegation and leaders in the Senate of their respective parties, have been in- formed of the almost unanimous de- sire of senators for the meetings and are said to have expressed the feel- ing that full and free discussion should be had. Among the demo- crats, the statement was made today that democratic senators should know how far their leader had gone-‘ in supporting the treaties and what b position had been when the actions finally taken went beyond or fell short of his propositions. The whole thought appeared to be that the American delegates should not be embarrassed by what one sen- ator described as “the slipping of cogs” when the treaties are taken up formally on the floor of the Sen. ate. Party policy obviously figures in the situation, but representative senators from both parties evidenced Fa desire to have harmonious consid- eration of the subjects and to have all senators in possession of full facts. ! Caucus Action Uncertain. There was no hint given by lead- ers of either party of an intent to | have the parties take caucus action, or attempt to bind senators to. a given proposition or stand. Senator Underwood asserted that he thought a caucus action on the treaties would be improper. but added that a con- ference involving a free and frank discussion would be helpful. The next step in the handling of the arms conference matters was said to ibe a report to the President by the American - delegates. This report, it | was understood, will be made prob- | ably by the end of the week, and at which, it was said, the “whole story without reserve” would be laid before the President. Indications were that the Senate meeténgs then would be next in order before the President formally pre- sents the agreements and a request for their ratification. N — BODY IN RIVER BELIEVED EVELYN NESBIT THAW The body of a woman found float- ing in the Potomac river yesterday bears a “striking resemblance” to Evelyn Nesbit Thaw, Detective Sand- berg, ‘identification expert at police headquarters, said todiy when shown a picture of Mrs. Thaw who disap- p‘e"red not 1ong ago from New York city. Two employes of Keith’s Theater, one of whom said he knew Mrs. Thaw, stated that a picture of the dead woman was very much like Mrs. Thaw. The Washington police have been asked 'to communicate with New York ‘authorities for information concerning Mrs. Thaw's - disappear- ance,. - TREATIESONARNS 1 Senator Underwood of Alabama, both|—! |'M GLAD YOUVE DISCOVERED WHAT A ‘WONDERFUL. RBY the Assor ROME, today began to resume it liance. eclipsed by the death of Bene- dict XV, in preparation for the coro- nation of the n Pope, Pius I, on February 12, The pontifical house- hold was being set in order, and the rooms used by the conclave during the election will soon assume their normal appearance All Italy, judging from suges received at the Holy See, full of joy that Pius XI sits on the throne of St. Peter. All predict from Lis first apostolic benediction that the breach between the church and the state will be healed during the pre: ent pontificate, Milan Speech Quoted. The pontiff's position in this regard as summed up in-a speech which he delivered when installed last summer as Archbishop of Milan, is now being widely quoted. He then said: “It is. above all, abroad that one sees and feels how the Pope cons tutes the greatest dignity and pres- tige for Italy. Through him all the millions of Catholics in the whole world turn to Italy as a_second fatherland. Through him ~Rome is truly the capital of the world. “One would have to close his eyes not to see the prestige and advantages ted Press. bruary The Vatican usual bri the seems iMary Miles Minter’s Note to Taylor Found—Sands May Be in Nevada. By the Associated Press, LOS ANGELES, Cal, February Police annqunced today that { warrant on a murder charge has been issued against Edward F. Sands, | former butler-secretary, .and declar- ed to be the most, important witness sought in connection with the mys- terious murder Wednesday night of William Desmond Taylor, noted mo- tion picture director, known also as William Cunningham Deane-Tanner, art connoisseur. The Los Angeles i 1 Examiner had {stated a telegraphic warrant charg- i ing Sands, alias Edward Fitz’Strath- more, former butler to Taylor, with the murder, was issued by the Los Angeles police department late last night and wired to Constable A. B. Berning at Carlin, Nev. The police acted, it was stated, fol- lowing the receipt of a telegram earlier in the evening from Constable Berning that he had under surveillance there a man whose description was said to answer to that of Sands. £ A complete description of Sands was telegraphed to Constable Berning wita instructions to take the suspect there into custody, provided he answered the details pictured by the local police. Planned to Board Traln. The suspicions of Constable Berning at Carlin were aroused when he learned that the man under surveillance at that point planned to board the train todday at Elko. He communicated with the Tos Angeles police and the latter sent (Continued on Page 2, Column 1.) noj Fhoen mes- | :post_as 4 POPE PIUS XI CHOOSING HIS OFFICIAL FAMILY our country derives by his presence When international weight is con- sidered. he is supernationally sover- eign. All nations recognize in him a of in the divipe institutio We Catholics Italy, who by divine ordination ha the care of him, are responstble honor before the Catholics of whole world.” sparri to Retain Post . Pius XI is occupied with the pre ration of long lists of the prelates who will surround him as the spiritual head of 300,000,000 persons. There are very unlikely to be any radical changes in the pontifical household. since Cardinal Gasparri retains his cretasl of state. and many of Benedict's appointees are certain to_be reinstated. An_army of workmen was busy in the Vatican today. re-estabiishing the oftices, anterooms ‘and audience cham- bers, and the beds, tables. chairs and washstands used for the conclave were being returned to' the hospita in . and colleges from which they were | usual: the | ing theis secured. Within a day or two all will be as mbassadors will be mak- calls on the new pontiff, and the flowing robes of the prelates and uniforms of the diplomats again will be in evidenc w Pope's Policy Indicated. the ke: “Universal pacification” note of the new Pope’s policy, as i dicated in a statement issued by igl, the marshal of the con- made reference jo the (Continued on Page 2. Column LOVEOF GIRLSTAR ~ FINEST TECH HIgH RECTEDINLETTER INU.S. IS URGED Representative Pleads for Adequate Site for McKinley Manual Training School. Vigorous plea for the finest man- val training school i the United Sitate—site, plant, course of study and all else—was made on the floor of the House toda: by Representative Ketcham of Michigan while the Dis- trict of Columbia’ appropriation bill was under consideration. In a debate with Chairman Davis of the subcommittee in charge of the bill, Representative Ketcham brought out that there was some talk of pro- viding a new and adequate site for a {manual training school and turning over the present McKinley Manual Training School to colored children. The present site of the McKinley Manual Training School, Representative Ketcham' said, is nothing short of a re- proach to this great capital city. He and Chairman Davis both emphasized | that it was generally recognized that the McKinley Manual Training School is turning out exceptionally well equipped young men, who are taking high rank in other institutions of learn- ing, particularly at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Representative Ketcham_criticized the short-sightedness which prevent- ed a sufficient appropriation new site and a_thoroughly up-to-date plant being authorized and appro- priated for at this time. He said that he would persist in his efforts to have such an_appropriation put through before the next District budget .is framed. _ With dn,attendance of only from fifteen to thirty members, the House in committee of the whole this after- : noon is continuing its consideration paragraph by paragraph, of the Di trict appropriation bill. Begins in Thursday’s Issue ACH story will be completed in three install- ments, the last installment appearing on Saturday of each week. The three-part tales are written by one of the outstanding authors of the day—Arthur B. Reeve, known as “The American Conan Doyle.” The first story will be “The Scientific Cracksman” for aj Stae, KING LAUDS WORK 0F COFERENCEAS PARLIANENT 0EN \British Monarch Sees New | and Closer Friendship With United States. COALITION GOVERNMENT DECLARED NEAR END Administration Cudgeled for Many | Alleged Delinquencies—Irish Questions to Come Forward. By the Asso LONDON, February 7.—Prime Minister Lloyd George, speaking at the opening session of the house of commons this afternoon, termed the Washington confer- ence one of the greatest achieve- ments ever registered in the his- | tory of the world. | | ! 7.—The impe- paper and also ANl rights dispateies | | the local news published berein. of publication of special bLerein are also reserved. | Y;nerday’s Net Circu!ntion, 94,895 TWO CENTS. Heir to $12,000.000, Frenchman Lives in ! Poverty at Newport . | NEWPORT, R. L, February { Ohenri, who sayws i he is a lecturer, and who for | [ the last t years hax IHiving here in seeming po: n heir to an estate | $12,000,000 In France and ing I | | —George S, here yewterd: Judge Robert M. Franki | this eity. 'he message, from a tirm of H | New York lawyers, declured | Ohenri 1o be the direct des- ¢onéant of an aristocratic | | French family. Through private | | | wettlement of an old family | quarrel he automatically be- comes heir to lands and dia | mond mines in South Afrien, it adds. Ohenri xald that he wax one of the heirs to an extate such | an deseribed, but had not ex- | rected the family dispute to be wettled in time to benefit him. He was unablc to mate | the size of the fortun SEE 2500000 . COSTTOUNCLE SAM THREE KNOWN DEAD MANY ARE MISSING INRICHMOND FIRE Thirty Injured at Lexington Hotel When Exit Is Cut Off. LEAP FROM WINDOWS WITH CLOTHES AFLAME Property Loss Estimnfed at $150,- 00—Firemen Now Digging'in Ruins for Bodies. od Press ICHMOND, Ya, Fobruary 7. —At least three persons dead and thirty fnjured, and a property loss estimated AU F150.000. according to | rec- a from hortly fire before novn. resulted r carly tod ton Hotel, 12th 4 gutted a which nd four royed the Lexin streets. a ent buildings, Seventy-two po hotel. ons were guests in and it was believed by the LONDON, February 5 iRy o v rial parliament, which was prorogued | EStimate Prepared for HOUSe‘:'“'J,, :I';“ eath oIl Will reach be- | December 19 to await action on the | ; [eeen ffteen and twenty. A search | Irish treaty by the dail eireann, was | Committee by Service e ned hotel began at 10 {reopencd today with the reading of / B S A e the speech from nnf throne by King Offlcers. e e e s e ons s, w it was believe ¢ | Rezarding the Ir aty, the king | The soldiers’ bonus would cost n.l.,:“'“ h h::. B ‘\«“: .:A :Id 3) J:l of aid pariiament wouid be called upon fwl‘ al government appro Sisie 198N Heroet. ot “'h'f ‘r...‘l;',“:‘ to consider “such measures as may | $%:300.000.000 on the basix | fall sy Iomen T be pecessary® to give effect to the | MAtes prepared-for the House ways| heilE made to dizin e the foun- ag ent He zlso touched upon | #nd means committee by fiseal officers | crumble, after which ot e the negotiations for a pact with ©f the Army, Navy and Marine Corps. | the bod will begin, ¥ Chief ! France to guarantee action in the! This total is predicated upon theJOYICS ared cvent of “an unprovoked attack by | umption that 30 per cent of the Known Dead and Injured. | Germany,” and paid high tribute to:Mn Who served with the Army and The k n dead are | the accomplishments of the Wash- |73 PEr cent of those who saw service | Hiram Fa ke ks !ington conference. | wath:the 3 d Marine Corps will | who died in a hospital of internal stim hat not more than | M. J. Fox. Williamsport, Pa., who In his speech the king said: “During the last three months the | Washingtlon coriference on the ques | tions of disarmament and the far| | east continued its sessions. A treaty {designed to maintain peace in the | Pacific has been signed by repre-| sentatives of the British empire, the i | | United States. France and japan, and | | aw | its ratification. “While this treaty represents the Anglo-Japanese alliance, 1 am happy ' to feel that the long-standing con- cord between the two countries will remain as cordial as ever under the arrangements thus concluded. At the me time our relations with the | United States of America enter a new | and even closer phase of friendship. | “An agrecment aiSo Was reacucu on the question -of disarmament and 4| treaty has been signed providing large measure of reiiet from the bur- den of armaments. In all these Fe- spects great 'results have been at- i tained, and the success of the confer-| ence, for which the world will owe; a deep debt of gratitude to the ini- tiative of the President of the United States of Ame! will be the hap- piest augury for futurc international relations. Reparations Constant Problem. sceuring payment the | “The problem of of reparations by Germany in | manner most comfortable to the gen- |eral interest engages the continuous | consideration of my ministers and of our allies. “The German government. at the! request of the allies, have themselves submitted proposals which now are| under consideration. “Discussions recently initiated are | now proceeding between my govern-| nent and France and Belgium With a; view to conclusion of agreements for { common action in the event of an un- provoked attack by Germany “The situation in the near eas tinues to engage the anxious atter tion of my government, and it is m earnest hope that the forthcoming | alliea discussions in Paris may re-| sult in an early solution which will terminate the conflict in a manner honorable to all parties concerned.” ! Effort to Reduce Budget. ! To the house of commons the king | | said that the estimates for services i for the coming vear would be sub- { mitted and that every effort had been Imade to reduce the expenditures to !the lowest possible total in order to | relieve the people as much as pos-: isible from their heavy burdens. Ke- | trenchment on a great scale would be hard on individuals, he said, “but in a time of great industrial depression such as that through which the world 1at present is passing it is the neces- | sity of the situation that economy be | practiced by all, and in every direc- ition, and.I look for your support in ! securing essential economies.” To both the house of lords and the ! commons he said: : “The -articles of agreement signed | by my ministers and the Irish delega- | tion, to whigh you already have signi- | fied 'assent, have now been approved {in Ireland, and the provisional go' ernment contemplated in that instru- ment is at present engaged in taking over the administration of the coun- try | nal establishment of the Irish e State as a partner in the British ! commonwealth is anxiously awaited throughout the world. You will, there- fore, be invited at an early date to consider such measures as may be nec- | essary to give effect to the agreement. A bill of indemnity will also be sub- | mitted to you. Praises Gemoa Parley. «“The great, continued volume of un- | employment among my people causes me deepest concern and will continue | to receive the earnest attention of my ministers. _The only remedy for this (Continued on. Page 2, Column 7.) ST HEARING ON SCHOOLS. Senator Capper, Committee Head, Invites Views of Civic Bodies. Senator Capper of Kansas, chair- man of the joint committee on schools of the District, today sent letters to the heads of the important civic and trade organizations in Washington ex- tending invitations to appear before the committee at a meeting Friday afternoon at 2 o'clock. In his letter, Senator Capper said he heads-of these organizations would be asked to give the committee what- ever information or suggestions they might have in mind regarding school: of the District. : Fre: l le | liams and | means of financing the bonus. i sources to defray the co: half of the Army men would elect the sh_ provis and they took issue today before the committee with Navy and Marine Corps offic who figured that 75 per cent o ¢ men who | ved in those services would clect | take money Probable Division of Funds. Capt. Philip Williams of the Navy burcau of navigation, and Maj. R. B Putnam, assistant paymaster of the Marine Corps, estimated that only 2 per cent of the and Marine Corps veterans would elect to take vocational training: that 10 per cent would take the insurance cates; 6l per cent the farm and home aid, and 6% per cent the land settlement. On this division, Capt. Williams imated the cost of the bonus for n who scrved with the Navy at 699.142. Maj. Putnam placed the ott_for Marine Corps veterans at $35,8 Brig. Gen. Lord, budge officer of the War Department, viously had estimated that the c in the case of me Army would be 52, Bonus Hearings Ended. With the examination of Capt Maj. Putnam and several other witnesses the committee brought' the bonus hearings to a close. The committee will meet to- morrow to consider the provisions of the bill and the majority members soon will begin conferences with the republican members of the Senate finance committee on the question of to Wit The problem of selecting revenuc diers’ bonus measure the hands of the majo: ed today in ty members of the House ways and means com- | mittee and the Senate finance mittee. Take President's Advice. Informing the majority members of the two committees at a White House conference late yesterday that what- ever bonus bill i carry a revenue pro com- ion, President Harding joined in an agreement that | they should confer jointly on the question of how the revenue should be raised, with the unders that when a decision was reached it should be submitted to the President with a view to his concurrence. Discussion at the conferenc various means of raising the sary money was said lo have re sulted in no conclusions. It Was be- lieved today that intercommittee conferences would begin probably a day or two after the apprroaching conclusion of the bonus hearings be- fore the House committee. of MAY GET ROYAL MEDAL. LONDON, February 6.—The name of Thomas Hastings, New York archi tect, is to be submitted to King George with the suggestion that he would be a fit recipient of the Roval gold medal for architecture for the current_year. This decision was an- nounced after a_meeting of = th Council of the Royal Institute of British Architects. Today’s News In Brief King lauds work of arms parley in opening British parley. Page 1 Soldier bonus estimated to cost gov- ernment $1,900,000,000. Page 1 Mary Miles Minter's note to William | Desmond Tayler is found. Senate leaders prepare way for treaties. Page 1 Pope Pius XI begins choosing_official family. Page 1 Alexandria lawyers' committee to make further disclosures in divorce scandal. Page 2 Railmen accept miners’ plan to confer on wages. Page 3 Paris newspapers regard U. S. pro- posal for refunding foreign debt as blow at France. Page 3 PBritish arms delegates sail for home, those of other nations to leave later. Page 1 S 3 Page 3 Southern ball one of most brilliant in series. Page 4 A. C. Moses, in appeal for funds for Travelers’ Aid Society, cites work accomplished. Page § Senate judiciary committee votes in- crease of thirteen in federal judge- ships. Page 13 Committee heads of Board of Trade confer on city improvements. Page 13 Jewish relief ' committee reports steady gain in subscriptions. Page 16 Citizens’ association discusses boycott of North Capitol railway line as pro- ¢ test against one-man cars. PagelT7 certifi- | of a sol- | nding | died on the way to a hospital. Thomas, sheriff of Albemarie Vi, who died of internal d a broken back. vised list of the injured is follows A. H. Harrison. St. Lou Mo ractured les and lacerations on head W, E L n ba P. K. Va. com pound fract leg. hn R hmond, broken -k and injured chest. Mrs. John hran, ! shock and bruis Harivall, Portland, Me., broke:. nd broken ankle. Richmon: | Andrew Gall Buffalo, NY |broken back. | "H. Dodd, New York city, broke . Flemington. broken back. F ankle and leg broken. zht, b y¥ . bruised abou ankle fractured. shock and lacera a ok ined back. James Hager. sy — Benton. shock. B. H. T Virginia, fractured lez laceratios Rocky Mount, N. C. crations. William Bailey, New York city, bruises about body. i A." Einford, Richmond; foot Story of Hotel Clerk, i at the desk when 1 saw the and fire creeping up ti fire escape from the basement.” said | R. D. Frey, clerk of the Lexington Hotel. who was on duty when the |blaze Lroke out. “1 grabbed the tel- phone, but it was out of order. Men had been working on the switchboard and the connection was severed. 1 {was therefore delaved slightly in | sending in the ‘m. 1 told the boy to get upstairs and notify as many of the guests as had not been awakened. | The heat was intense, and I do not {know how many he was able to {arouse. When 1 got back from turn- ling in the alarm, the flames were roar- Ving up the elevator shaft. It seems that few sought the fire ape with which the building was rm. equipped. Most of the women appear- ed at the windows and several of the guests started jumping down. I do ! 1ot know how many were injured, but 1 think there were a great many. | “There were seventy-two guests in | the hotel last night. 1 had just fin- ished counting up when I discovered | the fire. It was just a few minutes | after 4 o'clock. Several people jump- ied down from the third floor and, I be- lieve, fatally injured themselves. My lungs soon filled with smoke and I | could do nothing but get out into the {air or faint.” | 1. B. Pettus, the proprietor of the hotel, was overcome by smoke and had | to be taken to his home, Mr. Frey said. | Early this morning an automobile drove up to the hotel, containing a man who said he was from Yonkers, N. Y., | the license number of his automobile being 563254. The machine was still tanding in front of the hotel when the fire was extinguished this morning and lit is believed that he lost Lis life in |the fire. His name was said to be | Barick. Police Search for Dead. The police began a_search for the dead in the building about 9 o'clock this morning. Progress was very slow as the interior was filled with smoke from the fallen wreckage and the heat was still intense. A man giving the name of Paul Bri- | goni, who said he was from New York, jumped_into a Tire net from the third floor. His back was splotched in many places with solder from the roof, which i had dripped down, scalding and burning him. He said that he had left his cousin, Joe Martin, on the third floor and did not know what had become of him. One spectacular scene was furnished by a sailor coming down a water spout. On his back he had another man, and he was shouting as_he came down: “Don’t crowd me!” Many people were seen to jump from the windows. The Lexington Hotel and the plant of the Pearl laundry, which is lo- cated on the 12th street side of the hotel, were practically destroyéd. The printing plant’ of Clyde W. Saunders, that of the Anderson-Wil- son Paper Company and the offices of the Savings Bank of Richmond and the offices of Branch Cabell & Co., lo- cated on the west side of the hotel, were damaged by smoke, water and fire. Coming to Richmond to see another man die, one man lost his own life before the other, was sent into an- other world. It is said tkat Hiram & , {Continued on Page 2, c\olumn 3a 4 . i |