Evening Star Newspaper, February 14, 1922, Page 1

Tergperature for t ended at 2 p.m. toda 4 Yesterda: teda. WEATHER. Snow oy rain late tonight or tomor- row: slowly rising temperature; low- est topight about 28 degrees. Full report on Page T. , at 7 a.m. Closing New York Stocks, Page 24 No. 28415. BLAME FOR CRASH OF KNICKERBOCKER Testimony Completed at Coroner’s Inquest—Ver- dict Expected Today. WALLS DECLARED FRAIL; DESCRIBED AS DANGEROUS Ironworker Tells of Cracking of Tiling When Beam Over Stage Was Set. Indications of flimsy construction of the Knickerbocker Theater were developed during the course of testi- mony at the coroner’s inquest into the collapse of the roof of that theater in the boardroom of the District building today. ¢ When the jury was given the case at 12:25 this afternoon they had fresh on their minds the testimony of the last witness, Charles E. Wardell, structural ironworker, who assisted in placing the beams and trusses of the roof framing. s Afraid of Comstructi Wardell testified directly and em- phatically that he and the men who worked with him on this particular job had protested against going on the wall at the time to place the beams, because of its frail construe- tion. He said he was informed by the foremen that the walls were all right, and “they knew what they were doing.” He testified to im- proper or insufficient wall bearings for the beams, and asserted that at the time he and his co-workers set the beams they had no plates on the wall on which to rest them. If tiey were put’in, he said, they were placed after the beams were in place and after he left the job. This witness also asserted that whenm he got his money he hurried away, making the remark at the time that he was afraid the building would fall in on all of them. Declares Tiling Cracked. Before him another iron worker, Harvey Sheetz, told the jury that in setting a beam over the stage the tiling cracked, because it would not hold the load. He raised it, and held it until he informed the foreman. who told him it would be all right; they would put concrete in later. " He said that concrete could not be put in.the. tiling after .the beam. was set. A long report of R. H. Davis, pres- ent computing engineer in the build- ing department, was read by J. P. Healy, District building inspector. The report found fauit in many de- tails with the theater construction from the method of presenting the plans for the steel work to improper construction of the trusses and in- sufficient bolting. This report contained the inform tion, not previously testified to by Mr. Davis, that the reinforcing wire found in the concrete slab of the roof was a substitute for three- ghths-of-an-inch steel rods, pro- Vil for in the specifications in the building inspector’s office. Lacked Required Strength. Beam 41. Mr: Davis reported. was Jess than half the strength required by the regulations: trusses were shorter than the aled” plans called for; plans submitted contained no dimensions: the trusses fell short in the number of bolts required by the building regulations to make ‘them secure by from 5 7 per cent, and ranging principally around 50 per 5 cent for each comnection: the trusses were all overstressed, he reported, and did not have a sufficient safety margin to carry the load. Mr. Healy, who was assistant in- spector at the time of the accident, read his report. He found no fault with the walls, but recommended a revision of the building code in the Jight of the testimony adduced at this inquest, and presented a strong recommendation that all builders. be- fore having permits issued ‘to them. should be required to submit to an examination to show their wbilities. *" He could not say. when questioned, whose duty it w to see that all of the defects poi were corrected. the inspector’s duty “if he saw them. When the case was given to the Sury at 12:25 p.m. the members went out to lunch. with instructions to re- port back at 1:30. Deelares Tile Cracked. Harvey Sheetz, 115 H street north-; west, structural iron worker employ- ed on the theater, was the first wit- ness today. “Did you see anything wunusual about a beam over the stage?” Cor- oner Nevitt asked. “We set it on a terra cotta wall over the stage. “How long was it?" Coroner Nevitt cantinued. “It may have been thirty feet.” ‘What unusual experience did you have in setting it?" “While setting it on the tile it (the tile) started to crack. I told the foreman, it was too heavy. He said it would be filled th concrete. “ould that be done afterward? ‘William Carpenter. “What did he say?’ “He said it wdpld be fllled with concrete.” ‘Could that be done?” No. It couldn’t be done.” 3 He testified that the beam he spok of was “under the roof at the stage. He was excused and Joseph Young- er. 1430, Perry place, an architect, was called. He has been an architect twelve years. He was in the theater January 28, with his wife, he testi- fled. and was seated- on the main floor next to the center aisle. Crash Without Warning. “The crash came with practically no_warning at all,” he said. “I noticed a crack. Then the ceil- ing came down almost intact, and finally broke up. The crack started in the ceiling up near the stage, and moved back toward the balcony. ‘How long béfore it fell, after you moticed it?" Maj. Gordon asked. “That is hard t probably &bout a few second: He testified that he was_in-the ho pital twelve days and that his wife is now there. and probably will be an invalid for about four months. John P..Healy, who was assistant building _inspector at the time the theater. was built, next was ‘called. He testified that he had mafle an investigation ‘of tie disaster and had subnritied his.report to Maj, Brown. * Umpble (& Fix Cauees © < -“Did you fix-the ‘cause of ‘the: dis- astor 7" Maj, Gbrdon asked . o ol . “No. 1 have bgen unabie to do so. My ~ investigation dealt’ with 'the: buflding uull: ,l““n:kh qw’:oel w&rx. “I found no evidence d&f"weakness n the foundstion, - 0o Jinlerent: “The wall is leaning say, Entered as second-class Dost offtice Washington, m’:ug ~ JURY 00T TO FIX $240 BONUS WILL NOT REACH DEFICIENCY BILL Will Be Taken Care of Before July 1, However, Chairman Madden Says. The $240 bonus for government em- loyes, from each of the departmental appro- priation bills, will not be included in the second deficiency bill on which hearings started today. This was positively stated by Chairman Mad- ° mittee. « Chairman Madden has been assured by Senator Sterling that the reclassi- fication bill, which classifies the work and pay of government employes, will be passed before Julx 1 next. 4 however, the reclassification bill is not passed. Chairman Madden says that a separate bonus bill will be put through after all of the regular| appropriation bills have been passed This will give all the time necessary | for the s ficazion employe: cut off on July 1. even if the re- classification bill fails of passage. LOWER CAR FARE MAY BE ORDERED BY UTILITIES BODY !Four Tokens for 25 Cents Is Likely to Be New Rate. i A reduction in care fare may be ordered by the Public Utilities Com- mission, to take effect March 1, it | building today. ‘Although the members of the com- mission are still turning over in their minds the difficult problem of fixing rates for two companies that have widely different earning power, the best information available is that the fare will be kept uniform for both roads, but cut slightly. Unless the situation takes an unex- pected change, the commission's fcrthcoming order probably will fix a rate of four tokens for 25. cents. with the cash fare at'$ cents. as at present. Cut of Three-fourths Cent. The token raté is now five for 35 cents, or 7 cents each. Four tokens for 25 cents would make one ride 6! cents, or a reduction of three-fourths of a cent per ride. While such a cut might seem in- significant at first glance to the av- erage car rider, it must be borne in imind that with each road carrying | approximately 75.000,000 passengers ia year a reduction even of a fra | fion of & cent In the rate of fare makes a substantial difference in the | annual income of the companies. !"Willlam F. Ham. president of the | Washington = Railway and Electric Company, told the commission at ‘the hearing that if the present fare on the lines of the Capital Traction Company should be reduced his com- ! pany would be forced to ask for the same rate in the city proper. with a gecond fare in the outlying sections. H Return of 10 Per Cent. | Testimony at the hearing showed Ilhal continuation of the present fare would give the Capital Traction Com | rany a return for 1922 of close to | er cent on the commission’s valua- tion of the property, and would' yield the Washington Railway and Electric only : cent. er cent. N e this wide difference 1n the earn- ling power of the two roads that | mekes the commission's task so diffi- cult. Although the Capital Traction Company did not ask directly for a re- ! uction in fare, its petition specified | four tokens for 25 cents as the lowest | rate which should be considered for ! that company Mr. Ham' testimony l|:.'"t.l"xc f::tt. - 1 opens up the possibility 2 ’:-:Elvg\’ of u‘:o request for a zone system should the existing fare be cut, as is now indicated. Only two Capital Traction lines— { on Connecticut avenue and 14th street —would run into the second zone as proposed by Mr. Ham, while half a dozen of the W. R. & E. lines Would operate in the second fare area. This is because nearly all of the W. R. & E. lines extend much farther Into the suburbs than do the Capital Traction lines. § LOOT MAY BE $100,000. St. Louis Hotel Safety Boxes Rob- { bed by Bandits Are Checked. ST. LOUIS, Mo., February 14—A check of the contents of fifteen of twenty-four safety boxes of the &i.mnmn Hotel, in the western section of this city, showed that the four bandits who held up the night clerk and night watchman, obtained jewelry, money and bonds valued at $17.000. $ All but one 0: the boxes conuln‘e: rty belonging to woman guest %l;:’epetol)ll value of the bandits' loot will not be known until guests have checked over -their losse: It was estimated by the hotel man- agement that the value of the ban- dits' loot would reach $100,000. SCORE OF SHIPS MAN ADRIFT IN OCEAN 7 DA By the Associated Press. NEW YORK, February 14—A score of ships of all kinds, from battered tramp steamers of the seven seas to graceful, pleasure- frelghted passenger liners, were leaving for ocean routes today on a mission of mercy. They were continuing the search.for John Birkner, twenty-four, the sailor who was. cast adrift from the steamship Gaffney last Wednesday, 700 miles' from New York, in an untrequented part of the Atlantic. It Birkner's frail craft is still afloat, today’s dawn marks the be- <ginning of his seventh day adrift on the waters. The master of the Gaffney, Capt. Walter Beckwith, advised every craft carrying wire. to seek the drifting sailor. ¢ Latitude and longitude of the life- boat and its solitai Ppassenger ‘when last seen have bsen supplied _ all_inbound muaunom vcn“u'.l, r e which has been eliminated | den of tne House appropriations com- | that the bonus will not be | was reliably indicated at the District | out 6 per cent, or slightly less| The Fo WASHINGTON, D. C., TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1922—THIRTY-TWO PAGES. PRESIDENT FIRM AGAINST TAX FOR SOLDIERS' BONUS Mr. Harding Also Doubts Wis- dom of Resorting to Great Bond Issue. FINANCIAL TRANQUILLITY, MIGHT BE HAZARDED —_— Favorable to Aiding Men in War, But Wants Sane and Sensible Way to Do It. President Harding is unalterably opposed to the enactment of the spe- cial taxes suggested to finance the soldier bonus or to the return to taxes which have been repealed, it was stated officially today at the ‘White House. 1t also was indicated that the execu- tive was very much in doubt If it j.Would be possible to raise the re- ‘quired sum to finance the cash fea- ture of the bonus under an issue.of bonds without appreciably advancing interest rates and destroying the financial tranquility which is sought. Favorable to Bonus. The President, it was said, was dis- posed to be favorable to the bonus, ybut his attitude had to be that of finding sane and sensible conditions for the fulfillment of promises made without disturbing the desired return to financial stabili It was stated that Mr. Harding's attitude on the bonus question would be made clear to Congress in a com- munication expected to be sent the Senate and House subcommittees dealing "with the bonus subject. Whether this letter would go forward today was not disclosed. Sentiment on Note Issue. | At the Capitol today it appeared that sentiment was steadily growing in favor of an fssue of short time Treasury notes to cover the estimated cash payments of about $800,000,000 ‘which, under the terms of ihe bill as now considered by the House ways and means committee would be made over the thirty months’ period, begin- ning January 1, 1923. Some congressional leaders were opposed to depending directly upon any part of the refunded foreign debt as a means of financing the bDonus. But they said that when the debt bonds had been obtained part of the interest or principal could be used in retiring the Treasury notes. It is un- derstood that the suggested lifg of s five-years. o the note Watnon Cites Precedents. Statematts that - Georgé Was ton and Gen. Laf c !'porl of ‘bonus legislation. Senator Watson renewed Senate dis- cussion of the bonus in a Speech re- plying to that yesterday by Senator !Borah, republican, ldaho, Who .con- itended that the government should have first concern for disabled: Sol- alers. | Taking issue with Senator Borah's position, Senator Watson said he de- plored the effort to “tack odium to the ward bonus,” and added: “Washington took his bonus from the French and Indian wars, and go did all of his soldiers, in grants of land. Washington, too, got his bonus for service in the revolutionary war. And he didn’t get disabled and didn't get a | single scratch. But he-took the bonus. A prouder man never lived. -Surely he couldn’t have.degraded himself in his own eyes by taking a bonus he didn’t 10| feel himzelf entitled t: Senator Watson sald that Congress ! granted La Fayette a bonus of $200,000 cash and 20,000 acres of land in Flor- ida. BONUS BILL SPEECHES. [Senators Borah and Edge Outline Views on Measure. While President Harding and Secre- tary Mellon were discussing the pro- gram for ralsing funds to pay the sol- diers’ bonus yesterday the question iwas discussed in both the Senate and House. 1™ Senator Borah of 1daho addressed the | Senate late yesterday afternoon in op- | position to (he soldiers’ adjusted com- pensation, discussing it in its econom- ic feature. He voiced the fear that the passage of the bill would hamper the government in the primar duty of taking care of the disabled soldiers of the world war.. He predicted that with- in a few years the cost of taking care of the disabled would amount to one and one-half million dollars a year. Sees Crippled Goverament. “Does any one doubt,” he said, “that 1f we impose upon the taxpayers of this country an additional burden of from three and & half to five billion dollars it will have its effect, and its tremendous effect, in the way of crip. pling the government In taking care of those who have every right to be taken care of at the hands of the gov- ernment? Can any one doubt for & moment that in the years which are to come, during the next four or five lor even ten years, as we are called upon to meet this obligation to the dis- abled soldiers, we shall be embarrassed by the fact that we have distributed, or agreed to distribute, some five bil- lions of dollars to those who are not disabled? With this bonus of five bil- lon resting upon us many dollars will be denied to the disabled.” Senator Borah called attention to ~—(Continued.on Page 2, Column 6.) RUSH- TO SAVE leved to have an excellent chance of early rescue. Capt. Beckwith sald Birkner was ‘warmly clothed at the time the ac- cident sent him on his lonely ad- venture. His bodt was well stock- ed with food, and the Gaffney’s master announces himself certain the sailor can survive the elements in the event he is still afloa: Birkner was one of four sailors ordered to lash a lifeboat in a ter- rific storm, when a ‘glant wave heeled the Gaffney over. The life- boat was swept into the sea, and Birkner with it. He clambered into the boat, but the Gaffney was already too far away to throw him a line. For sifteen hours Capt. Beckwith cruised about, trfing to get close_enough, td. put s ‘lnt .aboard. RBut the high seas frus. trated each attempt. ice swirl- lv.:‘ nown&m- hld‘.hlm t;o,:: ew, only to pass and: leave - sigh th hid "Menorial bridge plan encou FRANCE AGREES 10 GENOA EXPERTS With Britain, Will Make Pre- liminary Examination of Agenda. By the Associated Press. . LONDON, February 14.—France has agreed to the appointment of Anglo- | French experts as a commission to make a preliminary examination ,of the agenda of the Genoa economic conference, Reuter's says it has learned. She suggests, however. the inclu- sion of the little entenie counttles via, Cszechoslovakia and Rug mania), together with Poland, in these conversations. ‘- CHAMBER TO CO-OPERATE. By the Associated Pre PARIS, February 14—The In- ternational Chamber of Commerce. through former Minister of Com- merce Clementel, will co-operate wit French experts in preparing ground for discussions at the Genoa economic conference, it was an- nounced today. The experts for France will comprise representatives of mining and manufacturing inter- ests, with members from all the va- rious ministries. Their work will be begun tomorrow and will proceed pending a settlement with the allies on the question of an interallied meeting of experts to consider the Genoa agenda. France is insisting that the little entente nations ought to be present at this interallied meeting. ~ Great Britain, however, is declared to be still of the opinion that the repre- sentation should be confined to the principal allies. Unless the London government rees with France on a mdre repre- sentative meeting than it now favors, opinion here points to the probability of the Genoa conference itself being split up into three groups. The allies and the little entente nations have arranged their plans separately, while a third group would be formed by the Russians and the Germans. STILL UNDECIDED AS TO GENOA Following the cabinet' meeting held today at the White House it was understood that the question as to whether or not the United States would be represented at the eco- nomic and financial conference to be held at Genoa is still undecided, ac- cording to authoritative information obtained from those in close touch with- the President. His feeling is that it would be highly improper for the administration to make any fore- cast ag to whether America would participate at the parley until mofe definite imformation has been re- ceived concerning the agenda and purposes of the conference. It is understood that the adminis- tration believes that the invitation to the conference has not been put in proper shape as yet; that the gov- ernment does mot know enough about the purposes of the confer- ence and until such information is gained further developments will be awaited. 'Today’s News In Brief Final drive today for $100,000 for Jewlish relief fund. " 'Page Baptist mission managers oppose re- duced budget. Y Page.2 Secretary Hughes thanks Boy Scouts, -Page -2 Auditorium_drive to cloge Monday: has strong support. " Page & Col. Keller orders more. thorough in- vestigation of one of Washington's theaters. 3 ‘ . Page 2 for cut of Army to 75,000 men. ’ Page 3 Miss Robertson, Oklahoma M. C.,-de- clares opposition to soldler bonut Page 5 Becretary Fall says Alaska’s riches ‘would enabie U. S. to-pay bonus-and war debts. Page 11 Union of unemployed formed on viet em. Page 13 Citizens' Association asked to help improve Maryland school ; Page 16' Northeast citizens’ ask for work for pavy yard empioyes. Page 16 .ged by ‘Representative Mann. - - Page 17 Council of soclal agencies recom- mends registration - with health board of ‘all children havi tube: culosis. 8 :_orydov. ‘used in scho ls." Takoma Park r- Page 17 enit WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION i the | Organized bloc in House to contend 80 RISKS LIFE FOR DOG. Canine Had Once Protected Woman Rescuer Against Attack. SILVER CREEK, N. Y., 14—Lydia Harris, a maid employed in the home of C. D. Livermore, lawyer, risked her life to save a dog which recently had protected her from attacks. The Livermore house caught fire. | and the family and the maid escaped | in night clothing. After they had ar- | rived at a neighbor's house Miss | Harris thought about the dog and | rushed back to the burning building | to bring the animal out in safety. | A few months ago two men tried !to kidnap Miss Harris while she Wls-l on her way home late at night, but the dog she saved drove them away. February IAdmiral Coontz | Ships, Crippled by Short Crews, Lie in Many Ports. i More fhan 200 destrovers of the | United States Navy now are lying in | various ports with depleted crews. barely sufficient in number to keep up their intricate mechanism, Admiral il(ahert.fi. Goontz, chief of naval op- erations testified today Pefom the | House naval committee. Only sixty- five ships of this class are in “operating | commission,” the admiral said, and the !crews of these are being maintained | at 80 per cent of normal strength. ! Supporting Secretary Denby’s recom- mendation that the enlisted strength of the Navy be not reduced below 90,000, the witness said that the 100 destroyers which wouid be placed wholly out of commission to make possible the reduction of ten thousand men in the naval personnel suggested by Secretary Denby “will deterforate to a greater or less extent” while laid up. Onus on Each Nation. I As to the cffect of the naval lim ttation treaty, Admiral Coontz said he result of the limitation of armament conference will be to place upon each signatory power the onus | of keeping its tonnage allotments up he razor edge of efficiency. Should ::')elr‘:ducb below the minimum stated by the Secretary of the Navy, it will be a reduction by example, not by reement. A8 he measure of the ratio of 5-5-3 will be the eficiency and sufficiency of the personnel of the fleet. No oth- er nation has taken any actual step rd reducing its pérsonnel.” o apporting Secretary Denby's re- uest for a naval appropriation nex(‘ Jear of $350,000.000, Admiral Coontz Jaid that except for the action of the arms conference the Navy within a| fow years would have cost around $600,000,000 annually. May Be Cut Slightly. «You think you will need $350,000, 0007 Chairman Butler asked. w“Yes, the admiral replied, “but with the probabillty that the amount may be slightly reduced. I know Secre- tary Denby will ask the appropria- tions committee for a thorough-hear- ing on every item, and if a dollar can be lopped off. it will be lopped off. ‘Admiral” Coontz estimated that it would -cost $50,000,000 to scrap the battleships designated by the confer- nce. » “'The battleship fleet ought to be kept up to a proper state of efficiency and ®11 haval expenditures should be shaped to that end,” he declared. “All of ' our battleshi should have at least a 95-per cent complement. FIGHT IS BREWING. Some Ultra-Economists Prepared to “S'cnp" Below Ratio. f That some ultra-economists in Con- gress are prepared to “scrap” thie naval establishment' even below the: ratio figures fixed by the arms conference was, w was_explaining his estimate of $350, 000,000 needed for the Navy duringth next fiscal iur to the House navak af fairs comnittee yesterday. In a fiank and detalled statement’ to acdotpitsh, Mr. Denby told the com- ! mittee thut his estimate called for a reduction of ten thousand in enlisted personnel; ' which was made possible only by putting about one hundred de- Stroyers eut of commission, and by sharp ocuts in shore auuonm 7 1o W UESTRONERS 2 FURTHERNAVYYARD " CUTSNOW FEARED n Staf. i {Number Likely to Lose Jobs Not Stated—Labor Leaders Push Relief Plans. he administration feels {Navy Department has given every consideration poss l yard workers, it was aa the White House. 3 Tnment, it was declared, | could mot justify continnanee of work | costing $100,000,000 = The which n Washington arms comferemce. Sepa- | work nt the le of the action of th ers in the mavy yardw Navy Secretary took dis- ¥he work- ers every consideration possible. Labor leaders will present to Secre- tary of the Navy Denby tomorrow morning & suggested concrete pro- TeStifi@S[xum designed to relieve the imme- diate unemployment crisis attending the wholesale lay-offs of navy workers and to prevent re-currence of the personnel cuts in the future. Simultaneously Efforts to obi yard the mavy | by today I(j Member of the Assoclated Press The Associated Press is exclusively éntiiled to the use for republication of all mews dispatches credited to it or pot otherwisé credited io this paper and aiso the local nmews published betels. Al rights of publication of special Gispatches herein are also reserved. | | Yesterday's Net Circalation, 94,946 * GREEKS AND BULGARS ARE REPORTED AT WAR;- BLOWING' UP BRIDGES BY CONSTANTINE BROWN. By Cable to The Star and Chicago Dai'y News 92 b Copyright, 1f CONSTAN February 14—It is persistently reported here that war between Greece and Bulgaria kas broken out. On account of a heavy storm no boats are going out or coming in here. Railway communication with Bulgaria has been interrupted through the blowing up of bridges. DEATH BLOW DEALT 10 EASY DIVORCES Alexandria Judge Agrees to| Put Bar Association’s Sug- gestions Into Effect. From a Staff Correspondent. ALEXANDRIA, Va., February 14.— What is generally conceded to be a death blow, temporarily, at least, to the so-called “easy divorce” practice was dealt today by the committee ap- pointed by the Bar Association of this city to investigate the alleged evils. Judge Robinson Moncure, who pre- sides over the corporation court, which handles more than 90 per cent of the divorce cases while here, was today presented with a request from | | TWO CENTS. 19 DEAD, 30 INJURED IN BELFAST DURING RECENT OUTBREAKS Kidnaped Unionists Request Craig to Free Foot Ball Men to Get Own Release. FOUR CHILDREN WOUNDED BY BOMB DIE LATER Violent Street Firing Resumed Today—Many Shops Closed. Ulster Cabinet Meets. By the Associuted P ernment regard it mecessary Pend the evacuation of British troops from southern Ireland was made by Winston Churchill, the colonial secretary, in the house of commons today. The sole reasom for the suspemsion, ke sal the disturbed morthern border of anything that has happened in the southern part of Irelan BELFAST, 14 February nipers the investigating committee that he | continued their grim work in the dis- issul e as a rule of his court an order | turbed sections of Belfast this morn- containing substantially the spirit and | ing and by midday the death roll since substance of the provisions in the ’dl\'orce bill drafted by the committee | and nd last week introduced in the State legislature by Delegate Hall of Lou- @oun county.” It is intended that this rule of the court be enforced at feast for that period pending the enactment of the bill in question. Willia gtoCo mply. The request of the investigating committee was presented formally by J. Randall Caton as secretary of the committee, and according to mem- bers of the latter, Judge Moncure has indicated his willingness to com- ply with the request. The announce- the corporation court is an- morrow and those who have been seeking a remedy for what many in this city have charged as being an existing divorce evil ook for instant relief. The spirit and cubstance of the bill which Judge Moncure has been asked to make the rule of his court are briefly: Every attorney insti- tuting_a Buit a"statement on - the complainant or defendant had Virginia _for a period of onc yea preceding the commencement of the sult. Another provision is that the court snall a guardian vton, at all proceedings and shall have the privilege of cross-examination and on behaif of the commonwealth: also, no final decree shall be entered in t of the Washington navy | time of the institution of the suit. yard, that a further reduction in the force at the local yard was contem. plated “about the end of this month. tain from the com- mandant an estimate of the number of men to be laid off were fruitless. Gompers Works on Plan. The Samuel “concrete proposals” Gompers, president of which the American Federation of Labor, and officials of the machinists’ and other unions will submit to Secretary Denby were drawn up this morning at a meeting of a special committee ap- pointed yesterday during a conference of local, national and international union leaders in the federation build- ing. This committee is composed of A. J. Berres Of the metal trades de- partment of the federation; John F.' the event of Anderson, vice president of ths In ternational Association of Machinists: NP Alifas, i chinists also, and J. M the ma- Davis of the representing Internaticnal Brotherhood of Boiler- worker! Following the meeting of the com-! mittee ¢oday, Vice President Anderso: announced that the program of sug: gestions outlined will be sound and practicable and, most important of all; will not entail the expenditure of any government funds not already available. drastic Un situation der the in program _the iabor circles through the dropping of hundred: navy vard workers will be ;m:"gg rated and insurance will be provided against future lay-offs. Hope to Provide Work. While the program as drawn up by the committee was not made public, it is understood that it was based on arguments presented- at the labor conference yesterday headquarters. At this meeting it was pointed out that approximately $200,- 000,000 of the naval appropriations authorized for the at federation Dpresent fiscal year Wwill be-saved through the arms Jimi- tation treaties, in additon to $30,- 000,000 of appropriations unexpended since 1916. proval It of is planned to seek ap- means . for making this money available for carryl the auxiliary building program pro. vided in the treaties. This would pro vide work for the normal the various navy yards, llt ot clared. as de. It was pointed out at the depart- ment that the work warcraft is confined almost ent! of scrapping rely to the cutting up of the ships- the moving of heavy welglltl.pwh‘l:g (Continued on Page 2, Column 8.) less than three months from the Wil Cut Down Decrees. One member, of the investigating committee said today that the local courts will courage the fiing of suits, especially by those alleged to be seeking “eas: of them. Inasmuch as the majority of the members of the local bar point to the present divorce code of the state as being mainly responsible for the ex- isting conditions, they naturally place code as a positive cure. garding passage of its bill. but its prolonged del. in Alexandria rule of the corporation court. J. BALFOUR AND LORD LEE — Reaching Agreements at Con- ference Here. By the Assoclated Press. SOUTHAMPTON, February conference, and Lord Lee of Fareham, States. irepresented. would fall into line. satiefactory way naval problems had been reached. TELEPATHY, LANGUAGE OF ANGELS IN TALKING TO MAN, SAYS STUDENT - By the Associated Press, PHILADELPHIA, February 14.— diclosed ' while Secretary Denby| Angels communtcate with each other by telepathy and converse with men by the same means, Dr. Horace C. Stanton, secretary of the Presbyterian Ministerial Associa- as to what the Navy Department hoped | tion, and a student of psychic phe- nomena, declared last night in an + address before the assoctation. “Telepathy is the court language of. he three Vel omnisci he sald; “it is used by lent, o'.-.l.llg ;om be- he Father “For "centuries scientists have noticed the marvels of telepathy and clairvoyance. By telepathy ail the details of 2 complex event are transmitted to a distant mind. By clairvoyance ' all the features of such a scene would be read from some far-off mind. These occur- rences were deemed occult and su- pernatural. But within a genera- tion psychologists have proved that they are caused by certain higher powers in the human soul, usually | | for divorce shall file | ‘honar reasonable inquiry he is satisfied that) ad | hospital treatment. sentative of the state shall be present | James Craig, the premier. with the drawing|may suntmon and examine witnesses | up of this relief program’'came an ad mission today by Capt. J. H. Da command: T in his|Orange Hall, opinion the adoption of this rule by |shot in the neck today and is in a not only dis- | serious condition. | A divorces” but it will mean that of | O the 300 cases now pending decrees;ong will be issued in less than 10 per cent | driver. wounding him in the Abdomer | He is 'in a_critical condi 3 Saturday had been increased to nine- teen by the deaths of two men, who were victims to flying bullets in the streets during the noon hour. The number wounded at the same hour had reached the total of approximate- 1y fifey. In the main thoroughfares of the city business proceeded apparently as usual, but in the storm centers the sniping was frequent and dangerous. Forty-two of the kidnaped Ulster unionists, it was stated today, have requested Premier Craig of Ulster te liberate immediately the Monaghan ment of the adoption of this order | 00t ball players held priscner in Ul- ster, the unionists declaring they ticipated either late today or to- |themselves would be held captive un- til the foot ball prisoners were re- leased. Shooting broke out again in the North Howard street area at 8§ o'clock this morning. ¥our Wounded Children Die. Four of the children who wers wounded-in yesterfiy's bomb attack in Weaver street died in the hospital bona fide residence in the state of GUring the night Twenty-two per- sons were wounded by the but thirteen were sent misslie, home after A meeting of the cabinet - ern Treiand, presided over e Sir 2 was pel this morninf. the prineipal maiter e cussed. it was understood, beinz the situation in connection with the kid- napings from Tyrone und Fermanagh It was expected a statement dealing with the situation would be issued during the afternoon. Shops Suspend B: William Waring, eus. & caretaker of in Clifton street. was truckman, leading a o1 nrough Clifton strect, near the seene f the Waring shooting. was stopped ¥ a man who produced a revolver fired point blank at the truck 7 ion. The majority of the shops along | North Queen sireet have becn oblipes WELCOMED IN ENGLAND | T Both Praise Zeal of Nations in| 14— Arthur J. Balfour, head of the British delegation to the Washington arms ifirst lord of the admiralty, were wel- comed by the mayor when they de- barked today from the liner Aqui- tania on their return fpom the United Mr. Balfour expressed gratification | at the accomplishments of the Wash- ington conference and said he had been impressed by the incessant zeal and desire to arrive at settlements of Ithe problems displayed by the nations He had no doubt the intreaties would be ratified in this " |country and hoped the other countries dormant, -but at times becoming - “l;Jr"';u‘ ted many e % nton gquoted m: sages from Scripture to show how: 10 suspend business. Truckman Youth Siain. The two men killed at noon were a | great faith in the amendment of the ' truckman, who was shot in the back The com- | While driving a lorry, mittee generally feels optimistic re- | Harper. and George aged sixteen, who was hit { by a bullet while standing at a street it is pointed out, be | corner. fortunate in having substantially the | provision# of the bill enforced by the | noon hea: hortly before 2 o'clock this after- ¥ bursts of fire occurred in | the Falls road district. the shots com- ing from the unionist section Northumberland _street the Sinn {Fein quarter. Gunmen in the latier quarter immediately retaliated and a ferce revolver duel continued for a considerable period. Previously a man had been found ead in Little York street—the nine- | teenth victim of the fighting. Girl Tells of Bomb Outrage. Martha O. Hanlon, aged thirteen, who was wounded in the neck and arm by the bomb which exploded in Weaver street last night, said at the hospital this morning that she and a number { of companions were skipping rope on the sidewalk wWhen the bomb was thrown -among them. She and most of her companions were wounded by splinters. One of these wounded was the O'Hanlon girl's sister, who died shortly afterward from her injuries. In Beachfield street, in East Belfast, a girl was struck in the breast by a bullet which pierced her body. She was still alive this afternoon. The Society of Friends in Belfast announced that they would hold & meeting tonight to pray for peace. Spurns Churchill Plan. The efforts announced in the house of commons yesterday by Winswn Churchill, secretary for the colonies, to arrange & meeting between Sir Lord Lee expressed similar senti-|James Craig and Michael Collins, as ments and declared he believed a of dealing * with suggested by the provisional govern- ‘ment, are not likely to succeed, it is understood. The Ulster premier, replying to the British government's invitation to such a conference, is said to have ignored the proposals and to have re- iterated his demand for the imme- diate release of the kidnaped Union- ists. ULSTER MEN STILL HELD. Belief Victims Will Be Kept Until Foot Ball Players Are Freed. By the Associated Press. DUBLIN, February 14. —The belief growing here tWat t-» kidnaped Vlster men will not be released uutil the foot ball players seized in Ulster last month whlle on their way frim Monaghan to Londonderry for game are set free. These prisoners include high officers of the Irich re- publican army, who' were accused of weapons contrary to the i l Ulster -