Evening Star Newspaper, February 10, 1922, Page 1

tonlght edl temperatul enty-four hours Hllhnl..ll. at il eport on Pag: Closing New York Stocks, Page 25. - Entered as second-class matter Jost offce Washington, D. C. PRESIDENT PRE . TREATIES TO SENATE, URGING RATIFICATION " Says U.S.Should F[LM LAND RAKED Keep Faith in Arms Pacts. GOESTOCAPITOL AFTER 3 O’CLOCK Cites Great Work of Parley and Our Duties. The treaties negotiated during, {he ‘Washington conference were lafd be- fore the Senate by President Harding with a request that they be ratified “as guarantees of peace.” Appearing in person before the Sen- the President de- clared that the new agreements would ‘serve to put an end to contradictions, to remove ambiguities and establish clear understandings.” Seven treaties, the President. Temperature INTATLORNQURY Twelve Witnesses Heard and as Many More Summoned in Murder Case. By the Assoclated Press. LOS ANGELES, Calif.,, February 10. —After a beginning pronounced isfactory,” -the district attorney’s in- vestigatjen of the murder of William Desmond Taylor was expected to be contihued today with the possibility that a number of persons prominent jin the motion picture world would be summoned as witnesses. persons, both men and believed to have tion of value to the have already investigators been questioned by Thomas Lee Woolwine, district attor- ney, or by William C. Doran, his chief membership, information already obtained ‘was desired, it was said, for ground- work upon which to base the exam- ination of persons known to have were submitted by|been closely associated with the dead The first was the five- i director. Before District Attorney. Those wio appeared at the district attorney's office so far in connection investigation centralized included Charles Eyton, eral manager of the Famous Players’ where Taylor was second, the submarine and poison gas treaty: the third, the four-power Pa- cific treaty; the fourth and fifth were to the four- power nact, and the others related re- spectively to the general far eastern situation and to the Chinese tariff. engagements, were interwoven scheme of peace, and contained noth- ing which “commits the United States or any other power to any kind of an alliance, ‘entanglement or involve- | supplemental Laskey studios, under a two-year contract. Others were Douglas MacLean, film actor, a neighbor of Taylor, and his wife and their maid; Henry Peavey, lows, Taylor's chauffeur; Harry Fel- lows, Taylor's chaueffeur; Harry Fel- lows, the latter’s brother and former- ly Taylor's chauffeur and more re- cently his assistant director; Verne Dumas and Neil Harrington, oil op- erators and neighbors of Taylor; Charles Maigne, a film director; Ar- an actor and a close and Capt. R. A. the President in a general Referring to the unratified treaty of Versailles, Mr. Harding said “to a manifest better relation: ship, and that the treaties submitted today were drawn in response to the same desire, but without any provi- sion except “to promote peace.” Starts for Capitol. The President left the White House o'clock for the world hunger” thur Hoyt, friend of Taylor, Robertson, who, as an officer in the American Army, said he had an over- seas acquaintance with Taylor when an officer in the British army. Rumor has it that Mary Miles Min- ter, for whom Taylor formerly was a director, also was closeted with the district attorney for two hours last before 3:30 The treaties were carried by President in a large manila envelope { under his arm. g ST The President reached the Capitol at exactly 3:30 and went to his room off the Senate chamber to await the usual committee to escort him officially took charge of the inquiry, but there has been no confirmation T ¢ Actresbes to Be Called. - There has been no intimation as to who would be summoned before the disgrict attorney today, but previous inquiries by the police into the case indicate that among the witnesses to be summoned eventually before the district attorney will be included Miss Mabel Normand, whose let- ters to the dead director are now in the possession of the district attor- ney; Neva Gerber, sald to have been engaged to marry Taylor at one time; Claire Windsor, who had recently dined and motored with him; Edna Purviancs, formerly leading woman for Charles Chaplin, and a neighbor of Taylor, who was sald to have tele- phoned the news of the director murder to Miss Normand, and a num- ber of others more or less prominent in the motion picture colony, Meantime the police search for Ed- ward F. Sands, formerly butler-secre- tary for Taylor, continues, while the sherift’'s deputies maintain their po- sition that Sands had nothing to do with the crime. Both joined in declaring their dis- belief that Walter F. Underwood,. under arrest in Topeka, Kan., misappropriation of funds of a Los Angeles company, had any connection | with the murder of Taylor. is wanted on a complaint ‘sworn out by a bonding company, charging misappropriation In anticipation of the President’s ar- rival, a quorum of the Senate was called at 3:20 o'clock. No special arrangements for spec- tators in the gallerfes were made. ‘The usual custom of having special cards of admission was not followed. But the gallerfes were crowded, ex- cept that for members of the sena- Many members of the House, including Speaker Gillett, sat or stood about the Senate chamber, Attorney General Daugherty océu- pied one of the senators’ seats. To receive the President the Sen- « ate suspended consideration of an ap- propriation bill with the item for re- storing the Leviathan umder discus- tors’ families. The text of the President's ad- dress follows: Mr. President and Gentlemen of the Senate: I have come to make report to you of the conclusions of what has been termed “the Washington confer-; ence on the limitation of armament, v before you the series of treaties which the United States and th other powers participating in the signed, and have announced to the Apart from the very great satisfaction in reporting to the Sen- is a privilege as well as a ¢ to ask that advice and consent Coustitution _ requires to make these covenants effective. Accompanying the treaties I bring u the complete minuts Miss Normand in Seclusion. Miss Normand, one of the last per- sons to see Taylor alive, remained in seclusion at her home yesterday, re- covering from the collapse she suf- fered at the director’s funeral Tues- day. At her home, however, a denial was issued of the reports she had stated that she had an altercation with Taylor on the night he was mur- dered. Her letters were the reported subject of the altercation. \Attorneys for Miss Minter declined to comment on her purported visit to the district attorney. ‘was quoted as having said: “I can only say that Mary Miles Minter is co-operating with the of- ficials and is willing and ready to co- operate fully with the: The police are credited in a news- | paper_story published today as stat- ing they had learned the origin of istol with which Taylor was -No details are given. DEFENDS MOVIE INDUSTRY. meetings, and a copy of the official yeport made to me by the American delegation to the conference, the complete minutes and the official the American delegation pew accompaniments to the ex ecutive report of a treaty or treatiel but they ar fitting tstimonials toe that open and simpler diplomacy for which the world has asked, and the practice of which contributed largely to the success of the conference S0 1 trust they will recently adjourned. facilitate that ample and helpful un- derstanding which is desirable in the Senate, and reflect that understand- ing_which was the keynote of the vonference itself. Tranaction Out of Ordinary. The whole transaction is quite out of the ordinary. Iam not thinking of which I hope the Senate will come to appraise highly as 1 do, and as the world seems to do. am not thinking of the commendable processes by which agreements were wrought, though this was a confer- énce wholly of free nations, exercis- ing every national right and autho in which every agreement Ws stamped with unanimity. was a conference. of friends, proceed- ing in deliberation and sympathy, ap- praising their friéndly and peaceful relations and resolved to maintain them. and give to the world new as- surances of peace and actual relief the burdens of excessive and competitive armament. of-the-ordinary phases which I have in mind are that the Senate—indeed, the Congress—has already advised in favor of one—and inferentially of two «—of the treaties laid before you today, and the naval pact negotiated and signed is in accordance with your ex- It calls & halt in the competitive construction of capital ships in the great navies of the world, and affords the first ‘actual relief from naval burdens which peoples have been able to acclaim since steam and combined to add strength In warfare. , But, though the treaty recommend- ed by the Congress marks the be- ginning of & naval iday limitation of naval armament which accords with a world aspiration, the particular justification of this gressive and highly gratifying step was the settlement of tional problems of the % ed by 3ew understand! disagreem: .+ lished ::nuu instead ties which easily One of them the achievement, ‘Will Rogers Says Notoriety of Few Should Not Affect Rest. Deploring the recent traged: Hollywood, Calif., and nk‘l‘n‘t yth:: the people of the United States do not But the out- regular weekly luncheon at the Harrington yesterday afternoon. Mr. Rogers said there are hundreds of screen actors, “like myself, who have their own famili ir f enj chie! it families. And while there are wi ones in the business, you must into consideration that some o power in any other find themselves naturally turns their and who find pressed wish. ically no earn- ke in_the highest (Continued on Page 2, Column 4.) TAGUE TO HEAD FIREMEN. BOSTON, February ative Peter F. Tagu —Rt¢ e has been to be Boston’s next fire eo.n‘: this announcoment W»A it of u-zgwna . Yesterday's Net Circalation, 95,354 WASHINGTON, D. C., FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1922—THIiRTY-SIX PAGES. ENTS PAN SUBSTITUTED FOR THEATER ROOF WAS DISAPPROVED Engineer Designing Original Framework Believes In- adequate Beams Used. MR. CRANDALL DECLARES HE RELIED ON INSPECTORS Question as to Whether Rivets or Bolts Were Used Pressed at Coroner’s Inquest. Use of double I beams under all trusses and heavy beams in the roof framing of the Knickerbocker Thea- ter apparently was not carried out, as suggested by him, Melvin S. Rich, engineer, testified today at the cor- oner's inquest into the collapse of | the roof of the theater, in the board room of the District building. Mr. Rich designed the original roof sup- port, for which the one that collapsed was substituted. o He did not agree with the substi- tuted plans for the roof framing, he told the jury, but identified a note on substituted plans as being his. This note was to the effect that double I beams should be placed under all trusses and heavy beams. . Examined After Crash. Mr. Rich testified that he visited the theater after the accident, and that while he did not climb up and examine the bearings, it appeared to him, from his engineer! r knowlr1ge, that double I beams « ‘ot used: He sald that the builaing code called for “separators” between the beams. He could not see any, and therefore came to the conclusion that they were not used. John L. McDonald, contractor for erecting the steel roof framing, couldn’t remember whether double I beams were used. He sald that if they were provided for they were probably . put in. Considerable testimony at the morn. ing session was around the point as to whether rivets were as strong as bolts. The opinions seemed to agree that bolts were as strong rivets, depending, of course, on the kind of work they were used on. Relied on Inspectors. Harry M. Crandall, president of the Knickerbocker Theater Company, said that he relled on the architect and the bullding Inspection departs ment to insure safety of the build- ing. He sald that the District bulld- ing department was supreme in the- ater matters, and he assumed that if the architect —missed = something wrong, the building inspectors woul !find it. He had no other assurance regarding the safety of the building. When it was finished the company paid for it. he sald. Frank L. Wagner. the general contractor for the building, had a bad memory regarding ‘many points asked him as to letting the sub- contracts and prices. He was direct- ed to go through his files and bring to the inquest on Monday papers bearing on points about which he had no recollection. - Coroner Nevitt ordered a recess at Following the recess Richard G. etcher, contractor for the fire- proofing, was put on the stand. He was the only witness heard this aft- ernoon, the inquest adjourning again at 2:30 o'clock to permit the use of the board room for another meeting. There will not be a session tomor- row, Coroner Nevitt announced, the inquiry going over untll Monday morning. It looked this afternoon, the coroner stated, that it would be possible to conclude the taking of evidence Monday morning, when the case will §o to the jury. Architect Resumes Testimony. Reginald W. Geare, the architect of the Knickerbocker, resumed his tes- timony when the inguest was con- vened this morning. Producing the original steel plan, Mr. Geare under- took further to expound his theory of how the failure occurred. He said he had found the beam over.the stage had pushed through the wall, and in turn pushed the wall out. Asked by Maj. Gordon if he had read Col. Kelly's testimony, the re- ply was in_the affirmative. He dis- agreed with Col. Kelly’s statement that beam 21 failed first by dropping off the wall. Mr. Geare stuck to his theory that the failure of truss 12, at the top chord, pulled beam 21 off. 'By a plece of cardboard he explained how the top chord tore or broke when beam 21 broke. . “When did you first see the break?’ asked Maj. Gordon. “Within a half hour after the acci- nt.” “Wasn't it covered with plaster?” Belleves Steel Defective. “No, I saw it and rubbed it off and saw it was a break. I asked Maj. Brown to let me cut it out and send it to the bureau of standards. I be- lieve that if it was examined micro- scopically it would he seen that it is defective. . 5 “How long did you examine it at the time?” asked the coroner. “About three or four minute: He id he was up in the ceiling at the time of the erection of the roof and suggested the extra beam between columns 2 and 3. Mr. Geare then read his instructions in his contract, which included gen- eral supervision and “necessary con- ferences.” The. supervision means “~(Contlnued on Page 3, Column 3.) STORM BADLY DAMAGES THE WIRELESS PHON SIDENT SEES CRISIS PASSING General Industrial and Busi- o ness Situation Better, Says Mr. Harding. By the Associated Press. CROOKSTON, Minn., February 10.— “The general industrial and business situation now is such as to justify confidence that we are well past the agricultural declared President Harding In a letter read today to farmers at- tending the annual Red River valley farm crop and live stock show here. “The improvement and will continue steadily from this time forward,” said the letter, which wedaddressed to C. G. Selvig, intefident of the Northwest School of Agriculture and chairman of the board of managers of the mid-winter show held in conjunction with the farmers’ meeting. > After expressing regret that he was unable to deliver personally his mes- sage, President Harding's letter re- ferred to the recent rational agricul- tural conference in Washington, and BEATS THE “EAR TO THE GROUND” ALL HOLLOW. CALVERT BRIDGE PRONOUNGED SAFE Engineer Examinin/g Struc- ture Over Rock Creek Finds No Faults. The Calvert Street bridge over Rock creek is as safe today as it was ten in the opinion of John bridge engineer, brought from Baltimore by the Capi- tal Traction Company to examine the BILL FIXING SALARIES IN SCHOOLS INTRODUCED Measure in Interest of Teachers and Other Employes Presented by Senator Capper. A bill fixing the salaries of teachers, flicers and other employes of the pub- lis school system of the District was in- troduced in the Senate today by Sena- tor Capper.of Kansas, and referred to the District committee. Tne bill was largely upon the suggestion f the Senate District committee, Superintendent Ballou.and has bee proved by the board of education and the teachers’ council. The details of tae bill were recently published in The Star. Senator Capper regards the measure as of much importance, and will en- deavor to have early consideration of it. The measure wias completed and formerly approved by board at a special meeting yester- Coples of it wera the school| Mr. Greiner will not complete his investigation { personal conversation, John B Hanna, vice president of the ny, the engineer d, ac- cording to Mr. Hanna, that he found day afternoon. sent to the District Commissionuis y Supt, 0! r L - - D B_qy__o their ap- pro The chief feature of the bill lies in its increases in maximum salaries for however, with is well begun Annual inereases for- merly raaging over a long period providing a comparatively small in- crease each year, larger annual increments extending over a shorter period. SWEEPING CUT DUE IN ARMY OFFICERS |Secretary Weeks Steps to ‘Materially Reduce’ | Personnel in This City. Secretary Weeks exploded a bomb- b shell in local Army circles today by it for the company a decade ago. New Stracture 10 Be Pressed. These facts, It was indicated today, will not deter citizens'_ associations hat vicipity and other eivic or- from working vigorously for a new structure. Hanna said that when Mr. Greiner completes his task his find- ings will be submitted to the Com- missioners and made available for any one interested in them. Although the collapse of the Knick- erbocker Theater served to give new life to the movement for a new Cal- residents of the large territory north and west of the tridge have been endeavoring for sev- eral years to impress upon the Com- missioners and Congress the need for a new structure at that point. { While the proposed reflooring of the bridge to be made this spring will tend to reduce the bumping and vibration caused by ve- hicles, it will constitute only porary relief, in the opinion of those ho believe a new bridge should be t. re replaced by Sets Mark for Aspirations. “I am glad to say that my utmost anticipations of useful results from that gathering were more than realiz- I belleve it had set a new mark in the aspirations, not only of the agricultural community, but, indeed, [of the entire country, in behalf of a better understanding of our agricul- { tural problem, and of more effective measures for dealing with it. “The fine spirit of co-operation street bridge, —_— SECRETARY DAVIS BACK. Resumes His Duties With Reports of Mine Inquirers. Secretary of Labor Davis, returning to his duties today, after a period of business left over by the world, war | tWo weeks spent at a Battle Creek, has progressed to a point where it|Mich., sanitarium_ recovering from an will be possible to reduce materially | indisposition, had before him the re- the number of officers now on duty | Port of two special investigators into the conditions in the New River and Pocahontas coal flelds in West Vir- investigators were sent into the coal fields at the request of a. committee of miners and their wives who “called on the President several weeks ago asking for a stay of evic- tion from their homes which was threatened by the mine owners. Mr. Davis said the report was still but that as soon as he had conferred further with Dr. Fred G. Davis and Harry B. Dynes, the two investigators, he would transmit the document to the President, probably < In the meantime, he added, That | the Department of Labor does not contemplate any action in connection with the report. Today’s News In Brief Filmland raked in Inquiry into death of Willlam De!mondq'l'lr:’lor« Page 1 Walter Reed ambulance and E. Hughes’ car collide, injuring four. among the farmers and the disposi-|announcing that there are too many Army officers in this city and that he had directed the inspector general of the Army to make a study of the per- tion on their part to unite their ef- forts in every possible way with those of the government augurs par- ticularly well for our hope of ac- complishment. The conference * * * gave serious and thorough consider- ation to the problems.before it and presented practicable proposals for and worth while things. It avoided all extremism and adopted the wise course of making no excessive demands for favors or class treatment. I am very sure that the wisdom of this course will be demonstrated hereafter. * Past Worst Phase. the general business situation there is much to justify confidence that we are well past the worst phases of the agri- cultural crisis, that improvement is well begun and that it will continue steadily from This is not only a source of satisfac- tion to every friend of the farmer, but also to whoever is interested, in any phase of American business, for We have all come to recognize the Interdependence of all departments of the national industrial establish- sonnel and activities of every b of the War Department, T o view 0 deciding whether the number ma; not be reduced.” His own opinion, ha is that settlement of “‘with a view said today, doing practical in this city.” Every Branch Affected. Practically every branch and b of the Army In this city will be af- fected by the proposed reduction, but the cuts naturally will be greatest in the Quartermaster Corp: nance bureau, the adjutant gene: department, the medical department and the Engineer Corps, beca greater number of officers of those departments on duty here. At the adjutant general's office it is stated that there are now approxi- mately 1,100 officers of the Army sta- tioned in this city and vicinity. number includes all at the Army War College, Walter Reed General Hos- rt gt Hunt, Va.; Washington barradks, Fo Myer, Va.; the Army Medle:‘llkScho;fi the War Department and branches, the general intermediate ent. - “No one of them can prosper per- manently if any other great branch national activity Therefore, in_expressing my convic- tion, based on a wide array of in- formation, that the worst is past, as concerns agricultui my firm belief that an era of better business and more prosperous times for the entire commercial establish- ment of the country lies just ahead 1 teel, therefore, that we are ed to loak with much satisfac- enttled o what we have accomplish- ed in the last year, a fidence to the futur BONOMI CABINET STAYS. King of Italy Has Not Yet Accept- ed Resignation. Assoclated Press. ,yn'(’;.un, February 10.—King Victor Emmanuel has not accepted the resig- nation of the cabinet of Prémier Bo- a8 fication board, the - list board and ‘t‘ifie‘ bo‘p::m:n Exact Reduction Uncertain. ‘While there has been a decrease of about a thousand in the total number since the close of the world war, a increase oceut the establishment of . the’ new offices of chiefs of fleld artillery, infantry and All of these activities have drafts on the commissioned ' el of all branches of the Army and is said to have impaired the effi- elam{ ‘t“l’!fll):' dl:ie to the resultant of fleld and company officers. | Former Secre! “ = How many officers will M’lfl.cled o ol be mamer s ks’ policy of reduc- nown positively un- til after Inspector General Helmick has submitted the results of his inves- tigation and the S how many and which officers, no= in ity 1 am recording Changes in Virginia divorce law held uncertain at present. gt Britain strongly opposes any delay in Genoa parley. Page-2 More anel; slain/ in ralds on_Ulster nd el ‘Wirth b“nl" general strike as Ger- Leldedl'! at odds over Irish republic 4 er or later” U. S. will be mq Teague of nations. Pagy Arrest of Gandhi, Indian leader, has lered, says report. P foreign minister believes his government should have accept- ed invitation to Washington parley. 2 'age 4 by Secretary Wi tion will not be this city lmlmhl:dtflnl!en‘ed reserves and Jaties outside of the National Capitar. | D g Sy i SHIP ON WESTERN COAST [Bessie Dollar Loses Steward and Captain Is Hurt—Two Other Steamers Standing By.. By the Associated Press. 2 SAN FRANCISCO, -Calif,, February 10.—The steamship Bessie Dollar, 790 miles from Cape Flattery, Washing- ton, is badly damaged in a storm. Her e Bon attacks “legends” of French intentions. . Page 4 esented February 2, i ::,;':L‘:m.,&"e..u,n" o e e place ‘when the parliament :fll vllnbg' t:o majest o he chamber, wi! f the cabine! 55 im, for & vote the chambe February 16. HOTEL BILL FAVORED. oé? ::-1:. 5?“:“;2 ;‘:lll:e{;:lll'd war Military Committee Would Permit wi; ::&.m.@m ;u:.'oi Eld Japan sone, Structure at Fort Monroe. Fage Senator Swanson & corporation to erect a new haltlzl on reservation was_ordered re favorably today by the smum tary committee. O hursday Peassembles. Col. Rogsevelt to -at twelfth anniv Boy Scouts m'_ Revised teachers’ pay schedul p;ov.d by board. - 'i’:c: ll’; British committee favors uul.“blr cuts, with single Plans under way for Victory Memo- exercises y; February m : the members. bill to authorize fidence ~ Whe sembled on m., navy try of wi — * FALL NOT TO RESIGN. Secretary Unable to Account for Rumor of His Retirement. Secretary of the Interior Fall took no- tice today of widespread rumors that he was planning to resign soon from the cabinet, and made the following state- ment: “Although I have received telegrams from newspapers tn my own state and elsewhere inquiring as to these rumors, I am at loss to account for them. I am not resigning, 1 have not the matter in contemplation, and my official relation- ship, so far as I know, is entirely satis- factory. Nor have I received any offers from oil companies.” APPEALS FOR EIGHT SCHOOL REFORMS Board of Trade President Ap- pears Before Committee of Congress. Drastic changes in the District school system were urged this afternoon be- fore the joint committee of Congress in- vestigating the public schools, by Presi- dent Thomas Bradley of the Washing- ton Board of Trade, in his appeal, on behalf of the board, for better support of the public schools. Eight recom- mendations, which were adopted yester- day at a meeting of the school com- mittee of the board, were cited by Mr. Bradley, who urged speedy action to make the schools of the capital the| best and most efficient of any city. The recommendations are that the best and most modern school equipment should be made available; that teachers should be well trained and devoted to their work and compensated as become the nature, professional character and importance’ of their work; that better provision be made for proper attention to the physical well being and develop- ment of pupils, giving the intellect free play by removing the handicap of an unsound body; that laws relating to labor be revised; that free text books be supplied for all pupils attending the public schools; that increasing useful- ness of vacation and evening schools Justify much larger appropriations; tat far greater consideration than hereto- fore be given in support of voca- tional and trade schools, and that as an essential aid in administration, pro- vision be made for the appointment of a business manager. Urges Business Manage. The appointment of a business man- agir, as recommended by Mr. Bradley, has been urged at various times by different civic organizations. This manager would assume full charge of the business affairs of the school sys- tem under the direction of the super- intendent of schools, thereby freeing the superintendent of these responsi- bilitles in order that he may devote his attention to strictly educational matters. Mr. Bradley also urged the appointment of an additional assistant superintendent to take charge of edu- resedreh to the end that there may be a continuous survey of the or- ganization and operation of the school system in order that its efficiency may be determined and increased from time to time. In giving his reason for urging these recommendations Mr. Bradley pointed out to the committee that it is highly desirable that the per- centage of illiterates be reduced at an_early date. Other arguments of Mr. Bradley, as outlined by the report of the school committee were: That the state, as its first duty, provides, free, a common school education for all children of school age and compels attendance to acquire a measure of essential and useful knowledge; that the facilities for the acquirement of knowledge in school should be the best and instruc- tion given under the most favorable conditions to promote the mental, moral and physical wellbeing of the pupils; that teaching should he effi- cient and effective and related prin- cipally to essential and useful knowl- edge; that fundamentals should be first 'in importance and acquired as quickly as possible according to each pupil’s capacity; that the school sys tem provide for pupils with superior natural aptitude to pass from one grade to another as soon as they can | meet the standard requirements of each grade, having due regard to the! pupil's physical _wellbeing; that teachers of the highest character and trained to professional proficiency be provided so that the precious time | and opportunity of puplls be not wast- ed, and that pupils shall realize that the only way to the acquisition of knowledge is by concentration and| work. Board Backs Improvements. | Mr. Bradley pointed out to the com- mittee that the Board of Trade stands back of every well considered move- ment for the improvement of the edu- cational system of the District of Co- lumbia. The board, he said, has here- tofore given expression to the belief that the educational program, as out- lined by the board of education and the superintendent of schools, is es- | sential in the development of the kind of a school system which the nation's capital should have. There appears no doubt. asserted Mr. Bradley, that the citizens of Washington stand ready to do their part in the development and extension of that program. “Lest we forget,” said Mr. Bradley, that next to public hygiene or public health, the common school has always been regarded as an essential institu- tion in this republic. Fine streets and avenues, numerous parks and reservations and other municipal im- provements appeal to esthetic taste and lend themselves to making a city beautiful, but a republican form of government cannot be long maintain- ed without the effective ®id of the public school to prepare ffectively The youth of the land for the duties of citizenship and self-helpfulness. “Citizens may well feel proud of their city because of material gran- deur,” continued Mr. Bradley, “but 1d be far more concerned | d;;eh}pfll}entuol ent: and physical @ e Mg all ‘the children of all of today, into whose hands the de tiny of the country will be given to- MOrrow. ‘Would Neglect Civic Neods First. : . easure of civic bettermen b."fi‘. boned, if it must be, and thus avoid neglect in the slightest degree that will result in lack of prepara- tion of boys and girls to meet the tents of trying times ahead of us and them. > steadfast, wholesome life of a nl;ruh.communlq is a better safeguard than that of a monumental city, but compulsory school attendance and child | Portioned by the government to pi TWO CENTS. UNIONS TO APPEAL T0PRESIDENT OVER NAVY YARD LAYOFF U. S. Letting Out Private Contracts, Yet Drops Own Men, It Is Charged. $300,000,000 IN SUCH WORK NOW BEING DONE All Could Be Handled at Yard, Is Claim—Gompers and Others Ar- range to See Mr. Denby. Direct appeal to the President and +to the Secretary of the Navy by in- ternational officials of the unions to which the 1,350 men who were dropped from the rolls of the navy yard yes- terday are aflilisted 1s planned as a measure for relief of the situation created by the cut in force. President William H. Johnston of the International Association of Ma- chinists announced today he would write to President Harding within the next forty-eight hours and lay before him data which is now being collected by members of his organiza- tion regarding the contract work which he says the government is let- ting out to private concerns while it is discharging its own employes. Private Concerns Do Work. From representatives of District 44 of the International Association of Machinists it was learned today that estimates were being compiled by them which thus far show that $300,- 000,000 in contract work has beel‘l ap- i vate concerns doing virtually . the same work that the government navy yards throughout the country could do. A force "is busy reviewing and analyzing statistics of the govern- ment, including the budget, and gleaning from these sources statistics supporting their repeated claims that if the government would give to its own shops the work which is being farmed out” to private industries the navy yards throughout the country would be able to continue work for at least three years. It takes about $100,000,000 worth of work per year to keep the force 100 per eent em- ployed, it is estimated by officials of District 44, which has jurisdiction over government yards, arsenals and shop employes, and the contrac ready estimated to have been “farmed out” are said to be treble what would be necessary to keep the yards going. Navy Department officials declined to comtent today on the orders is- sued furloughing employes of va- rious navy yards ughout the country, but intimated that an offi- cial statement on this metter might be issued later on. It was unofficially understood that naval officers held the view that the removal of em- ployes from the navy yards is & natural consequence of the agree- ments resulting from the conference on the limitation of armaments and that no further amplifications on the furlough orders are necessary. See Expenses Increased. No protest is made by the unions against the cutting down of offensive armament. Their plea consists in the fact that submarines, and defensive armament must continue to be manu- factured and that tae layoff of gov- ernment employes will hamper and increase the expenses of that program. The disruption of the force, it was stated, probably would mean the ex- penditure of at least $250,000 through- out the country in reorganization steps and this sum was declared to be a direct loss, caused by what was termed “false economy President_Samuel Gompers of the American Federation of Labor, Pre: dent Johnston of the Machinist Chairman J. O'Connell of the metal trades department of the federation, President Janson of the Columbia Lodge of Machinists, N. P. Alifas of District 44 of the Machinists, and a number of other officials have ar- ranged an interview with Secretary of Navy Denby Wednesua: The navy yard now has about 3,650 workmen. Consideration is being given at the navy vard today to closing a number of shops. Officials declined to make an announcement beforehand, however. “You're furloughed until June 30" was the greeting that surprised the 1,350 who were “laid off” yesterday. Scarcely one of the entire force until the long line of furlough men had passed out knew whether they had escaped the layoff ticket. The men were aligned by the numbers on the pay roll whether they would con- tinue at work or take a furlough. They'd walk up to the window of the clerk. He would ask their num- ber. And after looking up a card index he'd say: “You're furloughed until June 30. Without pa In biting sarcasm he'd occasionally receive the repl: “Thank, you,” or “Much oblige: Many of the men—scores of them— started their careers in the Wash- ington navy yard. That's what hit so many of them so hard. Gave Thirty Years® Service. Take the case of E. H. Bailey of the gun shop of 325 13th street south- east. Next August he would havi completed thirty years in the service of Uncle Sam at the Washington navy yard. He started in there when he Was little more than a boy and served his apprenticeship there. He Went to work as usual, yesterday morning, and at 10:15 a whistle blew. The line marched up to the window. “What's your number?” he was asked. Tt's 721" he replied. You're furloughed till June 30 without pay,” was the rejoinder. He didn't go home for several hours. He had a wife and two chil- dren to break the news to, and the first of the month, with its bills and house rent, was not o fir off. Then there was William Flood, more than sixty-three years old, and an employe of the navy yard for forty-two years. He spent the best part of his youth and his energy in the navy yard. It was exactly & year and seven days yesterday until he would reach retirement age, and he was looking forward comfortably to the return which Uncle Sam would give him for faithful service. the public school at its best :h‘am:::m&l ;:u of rural community jife may not always neutralize the less wholesome life of great centers ulation. °!“£o°2 their own and the state’s wel- fare youth In the ctiles never before needed 80 rnnu{ the environment of the best type ol 0ol and contact ‘the moral and intellectual force of teachers.” o; mr civic organizations before the. committee oon at the' invitation of r,” chairman of the this afternoon ‘prob-| 18t & The message he got yesterday was: “You're lurlo;lxhed untjl June 30. ithout pay, of course. wAnd““v.hr.cuuuon he is asking to- day ix: “Where In the world ean I job now, at my age? I've given up the best part of my life to the gov- ernment. And now, at my age, people don’t war:;clr‘n.er. r men, Q! Y ymou:n”" of machinist that I was in the days of my younger years. of Other Pitiful Cases. _There .are many others. Samuel’ filles one of them. He was had becn o0ld_and