Evening Star Newspaper, February 18, 1922, Page 1

Cloudy tonight end warfer tonighty temperature above freesing. ‘Temperature fo:d tvanty-&mr hours ended at 3 2 p.m. p.m. t 2 No. 28,419. JUDGE LANDIS QUITS . BENCH TO BEVOTE TIMETOBASE BALL Declares He Is Unable to Properly Take Care of Both Positions. POST AS ARBITER DREW FIRE OF SENATOR DIAL Presided Over Court 17 Years. ‘Widely Known for Fearless Decisions as. Jurist. JUDGE K. M. LANDIS, By the Assoclated Press. CHICAGO, February 18.—Federal Judge Kenesaw M. Landis today an- nounced that he had resigned from the bench and would devote his en- tire time to his position of base ball commissioner. The resignation is effective March 1. Announcement of it was made form- ally by the judge today as he took his place in court. There was not enough hours in the day for all of my activities,” said the Jjudge. “Therefore, I have forwarded my resignation as federal judge to ‘Washington, effective March 1.” The judge then called the first case on his docket and refused to discuss the matter until court recess. Judge for Seventeen Years. Judge Landis will have virtually completed seventeen years as judge for the northern district of Illinols when his resignation becomes ef- fective. B Rumors of the resignation hava been current for months and intimate friends have known for some time that the actign was imminent. It has been generally understood that Judge Landis would have re- signed some time ago but for the at- tacks made on him by Senator Dial of South Carolina and the notoriety brought through his handling of the case of Willie Dalton, seventeen-year- ©0ld bank robber. On the verge of re-' signing when these things came up, the judge changed his plans, inform- ing friends that he would “never re- sign under fire.” Senator Dial had attacked the judge because of the latter's statement that bank officials sometimes were partly responsible for robberies by boys be- cause they did not pay adequate sal aries. Senator Dial and Representa- tive Welty of Ohio later proposed im- peachment proceedings against the Jjudge, the representative basing his case on_the holding of two positions by the judge. Both cases were drop- Des Heads Organized Base Ball. The judge became -head of organ- ized base ball shortly after the grand Jury investigation into the 1919 world series scandal. He was offered $50,- | 000 a year to take the position and after several refusals,. finally agreed under condition that he remamn on the bench. He insisted that his sal- ary be only $42,500, explamning that his judicial income would bring tne total to $50,000. Although Arty-six years old, Judge Landis has always been known as a boy a: heart, and a lover of all forms of sport. The base ball magnates urged him to reorganize base ball “for the sake of the American boy” and it was this plea which finally won over the jurist. The resignation of Judge Landis takes from the federal bench one of 1he most feared and at the same time the most respected judges in the country. His unique conduct in court, Where he frequently took the cases out of the lawyers’ hands and took over the examination of witness himself, caused him to be feared by| all lawbreakers. At the same time his reputation of administering jus tice, regardless of the technicalitie of the law, brought him universal respect. Denounces Un-Americanism. He was vigorous in his attitude Bgainst anti-Americans during the war. His son, Reed Landis, was serving with the British air service, and the judge weveral times tried to obtain war work which would séna him across, but failed. In every war case brought be- fore him where the defendant was found guilty, the judge imposed drastic sentences and scathingly denounced any one who seemed un-American., This was particularly true in the trials of I. W. Y''s, socialists and pacifists. In one speech during the war he ad- vocated that the German kaiser and his six sons be executed by allied firing squads, “out of justice to humanity.” Judge Landis was one of the thirty persons to whom bombs were mailed on May day, in 1919, and during the 1911 Blackhand trials here, he received many death threats. Against the wishes of his friends, he insisted on witting through the trials. Judge Landis first became nation- ‘ ally famous when he fined the Standard (Continued on Page 2; Column 1) today; ‘lowest, 19, at 10 p.m. yesterday. Full report on Page 9. Closing New York Stocks, Page 16. Entered as second-class matter post office Washington, D. tomorrows; est, 34. at C. Fhoenin m SUNDAY MORNING EDITION WASHINGTON, D. C, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1922_TWENTY-TWO PAGES. | GERMANS NEGOTIATING TARIFF REWRITING BY GEORGE WITTE. By Wireless to The Star and Chicago Daily News. Copyright, 1922, BERLIN, Germany, February 18.— The German government will take of- ficial steps before March 8, the present date for the opening of the Genoa conference, to negotiate a loan from the United States government, the amount of which has not yet been definitely decided, according to in- formation the writer received from a Kigh diplomatic source. Unoffiotal discussions have already taken place and are still going on. Ready to Offer Security. s The new angle to the old subject of an American loan to Germany is that Germany’s biggest business men have forgotten their political differences and agreed to underwrite any secur- ity Germany may have to give for such a loan. Thus, if the loan project material- izes, Hugo Stinnes will sign his name next to that of Walter Rathenau, his arch-enemy, on the agreement that will secure repayment to the United States in ten or twenty years. Chan- nels other than diplomatic are being PRESIDENT SIGNS MARKETING BILL Capper - Volstead Measure Legalizes Farmers’ Co-Op- erative Associations. The Capper-Volstead co-operative marketing bill, w\hlch legalizes co-op- erative associations of farmers and prodiicers for marketing purposes and exempts them from the Sherman anti- trust law, was signed today by Presi- dent Harding. The signing of the bill, one of the measures especially sponsored by the agricultural bloc, was witnessed by Senator Capper and Representative Volstead, its authors; Senators Mc- Nary of Oregonm, Lenroot of Wisconsin ind Kellogg of Minnesota; Charles S. Barrett, president of the National Farmers’ Union, and other heads of farm organizations. The pen with which the President signed the bill was presented to Mr. Volstead. ‘The act limits the profits of co-op- erative associations to 8 per cent, and stockholders to one vote each, no mat- ter how much stock they may hold in such organization. The administration is under the Secretary of Agriculture. NEW TROLLEY FARE ORDER NEXT WEEK Public Utilities Commission Expected to Make An- nouncement Soon. The decision of the Public Utilities Commission in the street car rate case will be made public next week, it was indicated at the District build-. ing today. The individual members of the commission have given considerable thought to the street car problem since the hearing, but they have been too busy to meet and agree upon the rate which must go into effect March 1. Commissioner Oyster, it became known today, has not given up his belief that an equitable solution of the question would be to order a substantial reduction in fare on both street raflway systems and give the Washington Rallway and Electric Company the additional revenue it would -then need by adjusting the electric light rate. 10 Per Cent Earning. The Capital Traction Company will earn about 10 per cent on its fair value this year if the present fare is continued, while the same fare will yield the Washington Railway and, Elec- tric only about 6 per cent. The commission has allowed this wide difference in earning power to. continue for more than a year in the expectation that Congress would enact legislation either to bring about a merger or to re- quire the Capital Traction Company to pay back in the form of excess profits tax nearly all of its earnings in excess of 7 per cent on the value of the prop- erty. ‘There is apparently little hope of such legislation being- enacted at this time, however, and for that reason it is pos- sible that the commission will hesi- tate to continue a rate of fare that per- mits one company to earn 10 per cent while the other gets only about € per cent. A flat reduction in the uniform rate of fare would bring down the earnings of the Capital Traction Company to what the commission regards as rea- FOR LOAN FROM U. S. used in_the effort to: convince the United States government that the loan should be made. Qne argument, which Forelgn Secretary Rathenau and others conducting the negotia- tion are using, is this: “The coming into the war of the United States was the chief cause of a Germany's becoming epublic. When the United Stat iberated Cuba and made her a republic she extended a loan to her in order to tide her over the first few stormy years under tha new form of govern- ment. Why should the United States hesitate to do the same thing for Germany?" / May Be Effective. It is expected that an argument of this nature will be far more effective in creating popular sentiment in the United States for giving Germany a “lift,” than long winded statements of the economic and other more or less technical reasons for the step. If these negotiations should be suc- cessful by the time that the Genba conference opens it is thought here that Germany would have a good chance of improving her position in dealing with her former enemles, especially France, and of finding some solution of the re ROl reparations WOUNDED BY ASSASSIN. Attempt Made on Life of Head Official in Cario. By the Assoclated Press. CAIRO, February 18.—An attempt was made today upon the life of R. Aldred Brown, controller-general of the Egyptian ministry of education. He was struck by a revolved bullet and seriously wounded. LABOR PESSIVISTIC ONNAVY OUTLOCK Secretary Denby Soon to Re- ply to 15-Point Program for Yard Unemployed. Hecent developments at the Navy Department have caused organized labor leaders to assume a pessimistic attitude over the forthcoming reply of Secretary Denby to their fifteen- point program of relief for the 10,- 000 unemployed navy yard workers. According to reports in labor cir- cles today, Mr. Denby is expected to respond t6 the proposals' submitted to him Wednesday by Samuel Gom- pers, president of the American Federation of Labor, and a committee of union officfals the early ‘part of next week. Machinists union officers anticipate a flat rejection of the entire program. Told Is Was Necessary. Labor leaders have: recetved word that Secretary Denby contends that the wholesale furloughing of navy vard employes was necessary®in order to avoid unwarranted extravagance. Gradual release of the employes, Mr. Denby is attributed as saying, would have been more humanitarian, but it would have involved expenditure of from $100.000 to $200,000 a day on useless work. On the other hand, naval officials hold that any plan of general relief for the furloughed navy yard workers will have to come through congressional ac- tion. Thirty-one More Furloughed. Other plans for relief of the navy yard employes which labor leaders have In the process of formation will not be carried out until a reply is re- celved from Secretary Denby. Mean- time, the machinists’ union officials are making an effort to determine the amount of government work turned over to private establishments which, they claim, can be done. in the navy yards. The furloughing of thirty-one addi- tional employes at the navy yard yes- terday afternoon was the last of & gen- eral reduction in the force, it was said today by officials of ‘the yard. A few more workers, according to the offi- cials, will be weeded out before the end of the month when it is ascer- tained they are nou needed. LAY-OFF T0 BE DISCUSSED Representative Hull Will Take Up Navy Yard Situation. The recent furlough of more than a thousand Washington navy yard employes will be discussed by Repre- sentative Harry E. Hull of Iowa be- fore the Anacostia Citizens’ Associa- tion and Board of Trade at Masonic Hall, 14th and U streets southeast, at 8 o'clock tonight. e ‘The public is invited. . J. - mer, president of the -luvcz:t{ouurt:- questa that every one who plans to attend he present at 7:45 p.m., for, on account of another epgagement, Hep> Tesentative Hull will begin his ad- k. sonable, but it also would reduce the |dress promptly at 8 o'clocl return of the Washington Railway and Electric Company where it would be handicapped in rendering service and maintaining its property. Cut on Both Systems. Since the Washington Railway ana electric owns the stock of the Po- tomac Electric Power Company and gets whatever return the latter com- pany makes, Commissioner Oyster contends that the fairest. solution of the problem ‘is to cut street car fares on both gystems and adjust the elec- tric light rate so as to_give the ‘Washington Rallway and Electric & reasonable return on its valuation. Although the commission reduced the electric light rate in 1917 from 10 to 8 ceants per kilowatt hour, the public has never felt the benefit of the reduction. The legal battle over that reduction has been in the courts for five years, during which time the people have .continued to pay 10 cents, the company keeping 8 cents and impounding the balance. Commissioner Oyster probably will lay his plan before the commission once more when it meets early next week to settle the street car question. LOCAL OPTION LOST BY ONE. THE HAGUE, February 17.—The first chamber of parliment today fe- jected by a vote of 18 to 17 g bill providing local option on the question of the regulation’ of ‘the liquor traflic, & i Today’s News In Brief Publi® Utilities Commissio; t} announce new trolley ’i;fi’.‘?fii‘! week. age 1 President signs co-operative market- ing bill. Page 1 800 get divorces in Alexand: elghteen montha. A Judge Landis resigns bencl faft time to bass balno" {0 Eive Citizens ask ‘utilities board for reduc- tion in gas price. Fage 2 age Mexican omflu #ays U. 8. border fears are absu e 2 New delay faced in openin; orn High SchooL o0 E DO Basts Better - education urged of - taineers. 2 é.:::ng U. 8. trade balance shows great in- crease. Page 3 Gen. Harbord urges Army pro fit funds. & g-u'n. "? Ku Klux Klan initiates large class in snow-covered fleld. Page 8 Cafeterias in vernment - ments denlmd‘!% ofter nnn;lte‘;::- petition. Page 8 U. 8. declared to have surrendered rights in Pacific by !our—po.'ur : Page 9 pact. Crane’s former wife defends right to custody of thelr Jmua. e llfl‘-n g Italian cabinet decides to _res again. : S Puo‘ltl‘ Food show closes tonight, Page3a. ON FOREIGN VALUE PLAN UNDER WAY :Smoot Scheme of Fixing Du- ties Adopted by Senate Republicans.’ INCREASES BEING MADE ON MANY COMMODITIES Would Provide for Flexible Rates and Depreciated Cur- rency Basis. By the Associated Press. The adoption of the Smoot plan of assessing tariff duties on the basis of the foreign value of the imported articles is understood to have been practicaally agreed upon by repub- lican members of the Senate finance committee. The rewriting of the ad valorem rates in the Fordney byl on the basis of this plan was started today, sena- tors said, and since the original rates were predicated upon American val- uation, it was sald that increases ‘were being made in many instances. - Contains Flexible Rates. The Smoot plan would provide for proclaimed American valuation and flexible rates and also contains a depreciated currency provision. Sen- ators said a final vote on the plan awaited more specific information from the State Department as to whether the currency _provisions would be in violation of the “fa- vored nation” clauses of existing commercial treaties. Under the Smoot plan the Presi- dent would have' authority to pro- claim American valuation if this were deemed necessary to protect American industry, and to increase or decrease rates within the radius of 50 per cent of the ad valorem duties fixed ifi the bill, but no proclamation coutd issue until there had been an investigation and opportunity for both those favoring and opposing the changes to present arguments. Other Plan on U. S. Basis, ‘Thq other plan which the commit- tee had under consideration would have provided for the assessing of duties on the basis of the wholesale selling price of the imported article in the American market. It carries with it all of the other provisions in the Smoot plan. Customs officials opposed the so-called American val- uation principle on the ground that its_administration would be -difficult and that the wholesaie selling prices would vary in the different markets of this country. The uu?r plan was drawn by members of thé tariff com- mission ‘and the customs court o appeals: RIOTS THREATENED * INFLORIDA TOWN By the Associated Press. JACKSONVILLE, Fla.,, February 18. —The' sheriff of Baker county ap- pealed shortly before noon today to the Duval county authorities for help in coping with a situation at McClenny, thirty miles west of here, which he sald threatens to develop Into civil warfare as the culmination of the shooting to death there this morning of Jake Wilkinson, the kidnaping last week of a man named Williams and the recent mysterious disap- pearance of T. R. Henderson, former banker and wealthy naval stores operator. One citizen of MacClenny stated over the telephone shortly after 1 o'clock that “Hell will break loose here tonight,” and that he was pre- paring to move his wife and chil- dren to a place of safety. Gov. Hardee at Tallahassee said he had heard nothing trom the Baker county authorities, but declared if troops were ‘requested he was prepared to act immediately. & Must Await Orders. Sherift Merritt gf this (Duval) county said it wodld be impossible for him to send deputies into another county without orders from the gov- ernor. \ Reports from MacClenny state that the trouble apparently is an out- break of a feud which has existed be- tween two pioneer Baker county families for twenty years. . Henderson pppeared ten days 'ago and & reward of $1,000 offered by his wife for the discovery of his body, it he is dead, prompted a thorough search of the country within a wide radius of MacClenny. v His automobile was found Wednes- day in the bottom of the St. Marys river, which forms the Florida-Geor- gin boundary, and since that time searohing parties have dragged the river, in the hope that his ‘body might be_recovered. Residents of MacClenny telephoned for details of the trouble were reti: cent, but several %tated it was be- lleved that kidnaping of Robinson and the shooting of Wilkinson were the work of friends of Henderson, who acted in the belief that Wilki son and Robinson knew something of his disappearance. Sheriff Rowe could not be reached, it being stdted that he was conducting a search for Robin- son. R THERE'S EXCELLENT SKATING IN WASHINGTON (QUIET NOW REIGNS INNORTH IRELAND Peace Descends for the Moment—Only Two Shot During Day at Belfast. By the Associated Press. LONDON, February 18.—Peace seems for the moment to have again de- scended over northern Ireland, the release of the remaining kidnaped unionists, announced yesterday, tend- Ing to ease the tension. Nevertheless both sides still hold prisoners, and it is understood the south is determined not to release the special comstables captured at Clones until the Mona- ghan foot ball plafers are freed by the Ulster authorities, the south con- tending that if the latter are guilty because they carried arms, the Clones u&tlvel { orébver, s the four Sinn Feiners held at Rath fryland, charged with “tumultuo assembly,” this growing out of disol ders in connection with a republie: funeral two weeks ago, and also that of the arrest of the three Irish repul licam army officers at Newry. De pite repeated northern assertions that the footballers will bé held un- |less they apply for bail, there is a rumor that they may be freed an “act of grace” within a few hours. A Joint liaison commission is expected to function over the week end and to prevent a clash between rival forces lined up along the Ulster border. Canada Suggested as Neutral. Resumption of the British evacua- tion has not been officially declared, but & number of troops left Dublin yesterday, others left Limerick and some are at Cork stations ready for embarkation. Regarding reference to the chair- manship of the boundary adjustment commission provided under the treaty, by J. Austen Chamberlain in the house of commons yesterday, the Times says the government seeks a neutral whose impartiality and judgment shall be universally recognized. It declares this search is now directed toward Canada, and suggests that Sir Robert Borden, former Canadian premier, may be asked to accept the place. Dispatches indicate that last night 'was the quletest in Belfast'for nearly a week. Only two men, named Duffin and Donnelly, were shot and wounded before the curfew. ‘Winston Spencer Churchill, secre- tary for the colonies, in acknowledg- ing a message from Michael Collins, head of the provisional government in Ireland, admits that the bombing of several children in Belfast “is the worst thing that has happened in Ire- land for three years.” The secretary says he has sent another telegram to Sir James Craig, the Ulster premler, who already has denounced She inci- dent as “a dastardly outrage. ONLY THREE SHOTS FIRED: —_— Belfast Reports All Quiet Along Border—Civilians Released. By the Associated Press. BELFAST; February 18.—Only three shots were fired in Belfast yesterday and no disorders were reported on the border. A quiet week end is expected. The official view is that the situation generally has improved. All the kidnaped civilians have been released, but a score of specials are still- detained. There are sald to be 20,000 well armed specials on the northern side of | the border and an uncertain number | of republican soldiers on the southern lsldo. with British troops at Newry, Enniskillen and elsewhere. - Hence it (Continued on Page 2, Colunin 3.) written and will appear Europe and America. of the central powers. ‘ “Spies in the World War” The first authentic and exclusive story of the ~ Military Intelligence Service in the war has been Tomorrow’s Star' . How'the German secret service was conducted || and who headed it. 'Amount of money spent in Organization of the U.*S. Military Intelligence, and how jt combated that in the ine of’ |PRESS Profiteering in Wives Hard Blow for Sudan; Price Now Seven Cows By the Associated Press. / LONDON, February 18—~Lord De War, at a meeting of the Leysian mission hepe, sald that ‘ofiteering had spread every- where since the war, even into the Sudan, where it had extend- ed to the price of wives. “In the Sudan before the war,” he said, “a wife could be country it used to be four cows; now the price is seven.” TELL COMMITTEE OF BUILDING PROBE mmissioners Report to Senators on Steps to Pre- vent Other Disasters. The District Commissioners today ®ave members of the Senate District committee a detailed account of what they have been and are doing to im- prove the building regulations and to prevent further disasters similar to the Knickerbocker Theater. The Commissioners gave the sena- tors informatidn regarding the spe- cial report on the theaters in Wash- ington which has been prepared by a committee of five outside engineers. They also told the senators that, in their opinion, the Commissioners had full autnority to close any places of amusement which were deemed unsafe. They are preparing a special regulation dealing with this matter. The details of the report on the conditions of the theaters are still closely guarded. Phe understanding has been, however, that the report |would recommend closing of one or two threaters until additional safe- s for the protection of the public could be made. The senators and_Commissioners refused to afiirm or deny this report. 3 ~ Fire Protection an Issue. The question of proper fire protection as well as structural safety has been dealt with in the report, it is understood. The Commissioners informed the sen- ators that they have been going over tae bullding regulations for the purpose of revising them, and as far as possible to make it impossible for the collapse of any buildings authorized. Rudoiph Miller, the New York city expert on bullding regulations, it is understood. has been requested to give advice in the matter of the District building regu- lations. ‘The Commissioners said that the Dis- #rich has been greatly handicapped in the matter of obtaining proper building inspection, because of tae number of in- spectors authorized by Congress. ‘The office of the building inspector has been handicapped. It is in- this connection that Congress will be called upon particularly to help out. Adequate appropriations for the of- fice of the building inspector will be urged. The District Commissioners also took up with the senators several bills upon which they are anxious to have action. The question of a merger of the street railways was discussed at . considerable length. Senator Ball, chairman of the Dis- trict committee, following the meet- ing, said that as soon as the District Supreme Court had finally fixed the valuation of these street railway companies legislation will be nr;!sued to bring about the merger. o l merger and, in the évent the com- | panies fail to take advantage of this position, the imposition of certain taxes, which would make it a busi- ness necessity to merge. Other bills discussed provide for a blue sky law and also make it necessary for any corporation seeking to engage in banking business in the District to obtain the approval and consent of the controller of the currency. Attending the meeting this morn- ing were Commissioners Rudolph and 'ster and Engineering Gommission- er Keller. The meeting-was held in the office of Senator Ball. Senator Gooding of Idaho and Senator Calder of New York were present also. Sena~- tor Calder is no longer a member of the District,committee, but is keenly interested i the estabilshment of an adequate code of building regula- tlonl‘. = ; AGENT FOR BOSTON BOSTON, of Boston is to have a press agent. Mayor Curley hes announced the ap- February. 18—The ocity i ipolnment’ of Willlam H. McMasters as publicity agent for Boston com- oo Et.”flmmkw\nbownn- New England Member of The Associated An rights dispatches the use for republication of all mews dispatches credited to it or not otherwise credited in this paper and also the local mews published berels. the Associated Press Press is exciusively entitied to of publication of special herein are also reserved. Yesterday’s Net Circulation, 93,370 NOW. OLD CIVIL SERVIGE HOME CONDEMNED Building on Northwest Corner of 8th and E Streets De- clared Unsafe. The former civil service building, on the northwest corner of Sth and E streets northwest, now in course of reconstruction, was condemned as be- | ing unsafe by Building Inspector Healy today. The building inspector's office served the following notice on Ru- dolph B. Behrend, owner of the building: “An examination made this morn- ing of the building being remodeled at the northwest corner of 8th and E streets northwest showed that a dangerous condition has arisen due to breaking of brick piers on the first floor and supporting this structure. These piers are slowly disintegrating and breaking apart due to the ex- cessive loads and are considered in imminent danger of falling. “You are hereby notified that this| structure has been condemned as un-| safe under the provisions of section | 15" of the building regulations of the District of Columbia, the same being an act of Congress authorizing the Commissioners to remove dangerous | or unsafe buildings or parts thereof. | “Proper and sufficient shoring sh be immediately provided to relieve the brick piers of the dangerous load pending the final disposition of the building under the provisions of the above section.” Under _the building regulations the owner of a_buiiding that has been de- clared unsafe by the building inspector's office is entitled to ask for the appoint- ment of a board of survey, one member of which board the owner may select, another to be appointed by the Commis- sioners and those two to select the third. The report of such a board settles the final disposition of the building. 1t is understood that the building spector’s office has been closely observ- ing work on this building since the re- modeling was started, several months ago. Arter the condemnation notice was is- sued the police de irtment roped off the sidewalk in fronc of the building. D. . HEADS TAKE UP DATA ON THEATERS The Commissioners have before them for action this afternoon the completed report of the committee of experts which carefully inspected the approximately seventy-five theaters and motion picture houses ®f the clity. - Engineer Commissioner Keller stated before going into conference with the committee at 10 o'clock this morning that the Commissioners might have something to make pub- lic on the theater situation later in the day. Proposed “First Step.” The first step of the city fathers will be to adopt the new building regulation drafted yesterday by Cor- poration Counsel Stephens, which gives them the right to revoke im-4 favors a bill permitting the | Mediately the license of any theater found to be unsafe or a fire menace until such conditions are corrected. ‘With this regulation to work under, | the Commissioners then will decide | TWO CENTS. OVORGEGRST &) D LASES PEND N ALEYANDRI COURT Report of Probers Shows Wholesale Separations in Past 18 Months. ROOMING HOUSE OWNER FIGURES IN 140 CASES One Law Firm Said to Have Handled 210 Suits—Sensational Disclosures Made. From a Staff Correspondent. ALEXANDRIA, Va., February 18.— Approximately 800 divorce decrecs were granted in the corporation court of this city during the past eighteen months, and at the present tima there are more than 250 suits pending in the court. That the divorce practice of his eity bas assumed such large proportions during this period will oe shown when the committee of lawyers in- vestigating the alleged divorce evil here meets,late this afternoon ard receives the final report from the sub= committee which ha made a com- plete tabulation of every divorce case in the files of the court from May, 1920. It was during this period that Judge Robinson Moncure presided over the corporation court and when, it is charged, the divorce prauctics in Alexandriz had its greatest boomn. The report and tab ation will con- tain the figures above mentioned, as well as many others of more or less detailed nature, but of a significant bearing upon the subject. Woman in 140 Cases. For instance, the fizures will show that the name of Mrs. Mary L. Bag- gett, who conducts 2 rooming house at 119% Royal street, and for whom a warrant was issued by Judge Duvall of the police court, charging the making of a false affidavit in connection with a divorce suit, appears in 140 of the total number of cases granted. In other words, 140 applicants for divorces during the past eizhteen months lived at Mrs. Bazgett's house, according to rn testimony as shown by the The name of Mrs. Stella Bensel, who conducts a rooming house on South Pitt etreet, appears in twenty. en cases as swearing to the residence require- ment of that many applicants, and that . Robert Luckett appears on iwenty- one aflidavits. . Many Have Same Lawyers. It will be shown further by the subcommittee’s tabulations that Davis and Budwesky, local attorneys with offices in South Roval street, represented more than one-fourth of the total number of applicants in the cases examined by the committee, In the tabulation, accerding to the re- port, this law firm is shown to have appeared in 210 cases. R. B. Wash- ington, another attorney. appeared in 132 cases and Charls ienry Smith, still another attorne: egate from this dis of delegates in Ri in sixty-cight ca Another interestir by the tabulation i mittee will call spe: the facts in at whick th fage * ther inv Al and also a del- rict to the house hmond, appeared feature divulged that the subcom- 1 attention to thirty cases, ing on their cious and des€rving of fur- stigation.” S it will be shown that of the total number of suits granted, more than 55 per cent were to non-residents of the State of Virginia and that a large percentage of these non-resi- dents were residents of Washington, D. C. Besides these facts the tabula- tion will set forth that approximately 37 per cent of those persons being sued for divorce, never received any notice or publication that the suit was being filed and that the latter was necessarily uncontested. Few Cases Dismissed. It will be shown also that of the total number of suits filed only 5% per cent were dismissed by the court. There are some attorneys and others in this community who are ready to dispute Judge Moncure's authority and judgment in ordering the recent rule for his court regarding divorce practice, but in this connections ‘t is pointed out by others that no one can dispute the effectiveness and good results whick are being experienced as a result of this ruling. That the court'’s rule placing certain barviers about the court has tended to”check the practice is shown by the fact that during the four days the rule has been in effect not one single divorce suit has been filed. Divorce Evil Checked. According to one old attorney who has kept abrezst with the divorce sit- uation and who is watching keenly its developments, the divorce evil has been checked beyond any doubt, and will continue o just so long as Judge Moncure's rule remains the order of his court. Judge Moncure yesterday afternoon appointed R. W. Stumpna local attor- ney, as guardian ad litem to represent the' commonwealth in the case of Campbell vs. Campbell, which soon is to be heard, on a motion for tempo- rary alimony and counsel fees, This is the first appointment of such a representative of the commonwealth by Judge Moncure since-he adopted, early this week, the stringent rule of his court providing a guardian to represent the commonwealth in all divorce suits. However, the suit in question is an old one and was pend- ing wifen the court’s recent rule went J R Y. whether any of the. conditions found | into effect. by the investigating commitiee war- rant the closing of any playhouse or movie theater. Realizing that it is in the interest of the public and the theater owners to settle’ the question as quickly as possible, the Commissioners will lose no time in deciding what action is mnecessary on the report of the inspec- tion committee. * Reports ot Ventilation. Health Officer Willlam C. Fowlef an- nounced today that his chemists who have been testing the air in Washing- ton’s ‘theaters report that as fa- as they have gone the air is “exception- ally good.” This survey has not been finished, but up to this time only 1wo movie theaters have been found in which the health officer found it necessary to request the-managers to improve ventilation. And in those .two in- stances, Dr. Fowler said, the venti- lating _apparatus was available. Dr. Fowler expressed gratification at conditions found in regard 10 ven- silation of theatars, < NUNS RESCUE CHILDREN. Ona Hundred Removed to Safety as Sisters Fight Fire in Home. CHICAGO, February 18.—Nuns at St. Joseph’s Home for the Friendless here early today fought a fire under direction * of the mother superior, while others took out one hundred children, ranging from two to four- teen years. Many of the children were carried out sleeping and the older oncs were awakened and marched out in order- ly lines. The mother superior detailed twelve nuns to work the chemical apparatus and a hose from a bath- room faucet, while the remainder looked after the removal of the children. The fire was confined to tha attig, o