Evening Star Newspaper, February 21, 1922, Page 13

BAY STATECOURT DUSTS PRLLETER District Attorney Declared Guilty of Using Office to Extort Money. By the Associated Press. ~ BOSTON, February 21.—District Attorney Joseph C. Pelletier of Suf- folk county was removed by the su- vreme court today. The court found him guilty in several counts under charges of malfsssance, misfeasance and nonfeasance in oflice. The court's ruling was on charges brought by State Attorney General Allen that Pelletier had been a party 10 conspiracies to extort money under threats of prosecution and to sup- press indictments. His relations with Daniel H. Coakley and other local at- torneys were characterized by the at- torney general as a “partnership in crime.” Second in State’s History. The trial of the district attorney, which began on December 27 last and ended January 24, was the sec- ond hearing of the kind in the state’s history and involved thirty-two spec- ifications of alleged *‘malfeasance, asance and nonfeasance in of- - formulated by the grievance committee of the Boston Bar Asso- ciation and by Attorney General J. Weston Allen.” Less than a year ago Nathan A. Tufts was removed us district attorney in Middlesex county | in a similar proceeding. Evidence was presented against the district attorney, however, in only twenty-one of the charges. In ten of those he was accused of conspiracy to commit_blackmail. Improper action in handling cases in his office was al- leged in ten others and one specifica- tion attribited “misconduct” in two campaign addresses in which the state quoted Pelletier, while speaking as a, candidate for mayor, as having prom- ised immunity from prosecution to any one who got into trouble through de- fending him from reports that he in- tended to resign as district attorney. Pelletier withdrew from the mayoralty campaign before the election. Attorney General Allen alleged that the acts of Pelletier as district attor-) ney since November 13, 1909, when he took office, down to the date of filing | the charges, as unfolded by witnesses, proved that the accused prosecutor had conducted his office in an “unlawful and reprehensible manner.” None of the charges as originally filed specified that Pelletier had received money in return for his alleged misconduct, but evidence to this effect was presented in five cases. The attorney general of- fered this evidence in connection with & claim that Pelletier had “participated 4n the profits of a partnership of crime.” Assistants Involved. The action of assistants of Pelle- tler in disposing of cases brought to the attention of the district at- torney’s office was the basis of five of the charges. The state maintained that Pelletier should_be removed be- cause he had retainél the assistaits in office knowing their conduct to bave been improper. Among the charges in support of which the state introduced testi- mohy were some to the effect that Pelletier had conspired with Daniel H. Coakley of Boston, a lawyer, and others to commit _blackmail by threatening criminal prosecution. The bank records of Coakley and Pelletier, offered by the state, were excluded as a whole, but were ad- mitted in four cases involving al- leged money transactions. No evidence was offered for the defense. United States Senator James A. Reed of Missouri, chief counsel for Pelletier, declared that the whole proceeding was based on a con- spiracy against his client by po- litical and personal enemies, and also that the prosecution had fallen flat because the state had failed to connect the district attorney with any wrongdoing. Senator Reed said the defense elected to stand on the ANTI-SUICIDE LEAGUE PREVENTS FIFTY-FOUR FROM TAKING OWN LIFE GENEVA, Switzerland, February. 21—Fifty-four men and women Wwere prevented from committing suicide in the last six months through the efforts of an anti-sui- cide league at Zurich, according to a report just isswed. Some of the fitty-four also planned to take lives before their own. Members of the league receive appeals in confidence from desper- ate persons, and each case is han- dled in a kind but firm manner. Moral, and sometimes financial, aid is given until the crisis is past. Most of those thus saved from self-destruction are now ‘doing well, and their secret is carefully guarded by the league. FACE STONE WALL INTAYLOR MURDER Investigators Admit They Are at Standstill in Solving Film Director’s Death. By the Associated Press. LOS ANGELES, Calif., February 21. —The mystery surrounding the slay- ing of William Desmond Taylor, mo- tion picture director, still remains as far from solution as when the body of the director was found in his apart- ments here almost three weeks ago, investigators working on the case said today. With the elimination of Daniel Mc- Shea, a taxicab driver who had been { reported as missing since the night of February 1, the night on which Taylor was murdered, from any possible con- rection with the case, the' investi- gators said, they again Were “facing a jstone wall” in their efforts to solve the crime. McShea yesterday surrendered to Jthe authorities, who released him after a_two-hour examination in the office of Thomas Lee Woolwine, dis- trict attorney. Henry Peavey, housemar® for the slaln film director, also .was quizzed yesterday regarding a statement he was alleged to have made that in his opinion a motion picture actress had shot his employer. Although the.re- sults of this examination were not made public it was reported that the investigators believed it to have no important bearing on the case. —_— case as presented by the state, argu- ing that there was nothing In it to which the district attorney need make defense by testimony. The attorney general, in his closing argument, urged Pelletier's failure to take the stand as a point against him. Judges Are Unanimous. The decision of the court was unani- mous. Five of the seven justices of the supreme bench, including Chief Justice Rugg, sat at the trial. n its conclusion, the court said that very presumption of uprightness, rectitude and innocence .which com- monly characterize the " conduct of men in public affairs” had been in- voked in favor of the respondent, but that the findings made clear “beyond peradventure of doubt” that the re- spondent was unfit to hold longer the office of district attorney. “Official corruption is sufficient cause for the removal of a district attorney,” said the court. “When pri- vate favoritism and personal aggran- dizement are placed above principles of obvicus justice and considerations of the grneral welfare by a district attorney. the public good requires that he be removed.” TAKOMA CHARTER TOBE NCHANGED Corner Lot Assessmefit Plan Arouses Citizens to Make Vigorous Protests. mayor and town council of Takoma Park, Md., held a “corner- lot” meeting, as Wilmeth termed it, last night in the Takoma Presbyterian Church, with The a capacity attendance of property owners, protesting against any change at this time in the - town charter. A number of petitions, bearing the naimes pf several hundred property owners, were Tead by Town Clerk Ben G. Davis at the opening of the meeting protesting against the change as recently recommended by an advisory cun\mfllee appointed by the mayor relating to assessments against corner lots, when street im- provements are made. Text of Recommendation. That part of the recommendation which was to be repealed in a bill to be presented at the predent ses- sion of the Maryland legislature provided N “That in all cases where the prop- erty to be assessed for improve- ments is located at the intersection of two street and what is known as a corner lot, the mayor and coun- cil shall have -the power only to make an assessment for the number of feet in the frontage of such lot, and, in_case the improvements are exténded along the side of the prop- erty, they shall only have the power to make assessment for such im- provements in excess of 100 feet in addition to the assessment made for such improvements along the streets jon which the property fronts. In all such cases in which the question shall arise as to the street upon which the property may front, the decision’ of the council in this gard shall be final and conclusive. Property Owners Protest. J. Bond Smith, corporation counsel, at the request of Mayor Wilmeth out- lined the work of the advisory com- mittee, which was composed of Town Clerk Ben G. Davis, Councilmen H. F. aft and_ H. E. Rogers. Corporation ounsel J. Bond Smith, Dr. Guy Clin- ton and Morris Bien. He also told of the other features of a bill it was proposed to send to Annapolis for in- troductipn at the present session of the Maryland legislature. The speaker was followed by a num- ber of the property owners present who - filed their protests against any chdnge in the charter,and in each in- stance the council was urged to re- scind its action. After recording the various vetes the council took a vole on the question and unanimously re- [scinded its previous action and as a result no change will be made in the town charter. Bond Issue Also Opposed. Another lengthy petition which re- ceived the attention of the mseting was one signed by 230 residents and taxpayers of the town protesting against a bond issue of $40,000 for the erection of a town hall Mayor Wilmeth informed the meet- ing that he knew nothing of such project and ruled the petition out of order and no further action was taken. The_report of the town treasurer, Ben G. Davis, for the month of Jan- uary was_ presented and approved. The meeting was attended by Mayor James L. _Wilmeth, Councilmen H. F. Taff. H. E. Rogers, Prof. L. D. Bliss, Dr. H. W. Miller, J. W. Shadle and John R. Adams,” Town Clerk Ben G. Davis and Superintendent of Public Works E. E. Blodgett. The council approved the re@m: mendation of the civic improvement committee for a base ball field Jn North Takoma and . appropriat funds to assist in the construction of a playground. Mayor James L. i Describing the present system of control of the District public schools as “inexcusably bad,” John J. Tigert, federal ocommissioner of education, has laid before Senator Capper of Kansas, chairman of the joint' con- gressional committee investigating the schools, a remedial program, de- signed to adequately and permanently Ive the difficulty. +\The present system of control, Com- lmls!lonar Tigert said, inevitably causcs inefficiencey and wasto -and is directly ' responsible for failure to p the schools abreast of cur- rent progress in other cities. He em. phasized that it also involves such attenuated lines and devious pathy of { administrative functioning that even the greatest effort and the highest ability on the part of those charged with ‘the responsibility cannot bring about an efficient and economical man- agement. Recommendations Made. Saliént recommendations of the commissioner of education, briefly, are: Appropriation of lump sums by Congress directly to the support of District education; appointment of members of the board by the Presi- dent with confirmation by the Senate independence of the school board re- garding money matters and its re- sponsibility to the people and not to Congress. Commissioner Tigert " pointed ‘out that although the suggestion that the people of Washington shall have a voice in the management of the {schools entails a certain degree of suffrage, which has not yet been de- termined satisfactorily by Coggress, he believes educational suffrage might be made an exception. “The children of the public schools of the District of Columbia,” said the commissioner, “are not in any proper sense wards of the United States, but children of the residents of the Dis- trict. The theory that the parents of these. children are not entitled to a controlling voice in the education of their children, subject to appropriate legislative restrictions, is believed to be untgnable and,inconsistent with the institutions and genius of the American people, s “Certain principles of sound organ- ization and administration of public education, which are being promul- gated as’ basic principles, are spe- cifically violated or nullified by the system of control of the public schools provided for the District of Columbia. Fiseal Independence. In recommending fiscal independ- ence for the board of education, Mr. Tigert said: “The plan of fiscal independence for boards of education having charge of the public schools has been estab- lished as an accepted and successful plan_of administration in many of our large cities, and appears to be growing in favor. By this plan, the board of education is vested with the power to initiate and levy taxes for educatfonal purposes, subject to leg- [islative restrictions, without review by other municipal .authority (such as city coucil, board of estimates, ete.), and without interference by any other authority in the details of ex- penditure of funds.” Detailed Suggestions. Following are the detalled recom- mendations of Commissioner Tigert; “(1) Fiscal independence: The board of education should be given authority and responsibility to main- tain and direct the schools, without interference from any Source in the details of management, subject only to such legislative restrictions as would be analogous to the state legis- lation affecting the school system of a city of similar size located in one of the states. “(2) Responsibility to the people: Provision should be made for sub- mitsing to the people of the District of Columbia from time to time im- portant proposals -affecting the schools, and for securing definite ex- pression of popular approval before certain kinds of action are taken. The board.of education should be | responsible to the people of the Dis- trict and not to Congress. Congress | may properly require reports of ac- BTy % IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIHIIIHIIIHIIIHIIII.IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIllllllIIIIIIlIIIIIIIIIl}'”” “We've Looked Around and Now We’re Back” ‘Was the tired exclamation of a young wife who with her husband was looking for a dining-room suite. “You are right; your prices are lower than we can find anywhere else, and you have a very much larger display.”— “and don’t forget,” said her husband, “that this is better furniture, too.” The Feb;dary Sale of LifeTime Furniture ; And whether it be a taborette or a dining-room suite, we’ye a much better dis- ‘ play from which to select—and“remember, - t00, it’s real guaranteed:’ Life Time Furniture that you're buying at these sale prices that are lower than you would expect to find the ordinary kind marked. . ’We'd like to show you through this beautiful store—soon. Seventh Street .«nlIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIHIIIIIIIIIHHII{IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIlII We hear this every day and while we know that—at the prices that are now on life time furniture—we are very much lower; still, it makes us feel good to see that others know it. MAYER & CO. ! ¥ o= X URNITU Re Between D & E P THE EVENING S'i‘AR, WASHINGTON,‘ P. C, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1922. . . SCHOOL CONTROL HERE CALLED INEXCUSABLY BAD BY TIGERT l | | l!ll!l!!llllllIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII_i!iIIfiIIIIIIilIIiIIlIIIlIlIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIlInn‘.... ll tion taken, policies decided upon, etc., and should provide for audit of the board's finances. _,“(3) Determination by the people of the District as to how they shall be taxed for the support of educa. tion: The people, through their rep- resentatives, the board of education, should Fave the right to determine the rate at which they shall tax them- selves for public education, within minimum and maximum limits set by Congress. “(4) Feoderal participation in the general control and financial subport of public education in the District: “(a) The principle of the joint responsibility of the federal govern- ment with the citizens of the Dis- trict for general control and financial supyport of agencies for public educa- tion in- the' District of Columbia is regarded as incontestable “(b) In both of these essential par- ticulars it is believed thaf the analogy between this relationship and that ex- isting in the several states affords a basis for determining a sound method of legislative and administrative pro- cedure. “(c) According to prevailing prac- tice in the states, the state legisla- ture assumes its share in the general control of education by enacting laws prescribing minimum standards which must be met, and setting up minimum conditions which must be complied with, but leaves the details of admin- istration (such as the number and grades of teachers to be employed, salaries, buildings, equipment, etc.) to be determined by the local boards of education, In conformity with state laws. Similarly, the state legislature assumes its share in the financial sup- port of the schools by providing a state distributable fund, or a flat sum per teacher employed, or per child of school age, or in some other way, but leaves the details of expenditures to the local boards of education, in con- formity with certain general condi- tions prescribed by state law. Boards Devise Ways and Means. “The state legislature, in other words, determines in general terms what ends are to be accomplished by public education in the state, and pro- vides a share of the financial support needed, and then leaves it to the local boards’ of education to‘devise ways and means to achieve the ends in view. “(d) The principle here involved has been established in its application to the sphere of federal government ac- tivities by federal legislation and fed- al appropriations to the states, free from restrictions in regard to details for the land-grant colleBes, for voc tional education, for industrial rehab- ilitation, for construction of good roads and for other purposes. “(e) It is recommended, therefore, that Congress shall pass laws setting up in genera] terms the objects to be gained by public education in the Dis- trict of Columbia, indicating general minimum standards and conditions which should prevail, and specifying the minimum and maximum limits within which the board of education shall have power to levy taxes for schood purposes. Congress should not exercise control over details of school management or procedure. () It is recommended, further, that Congress shall appropriate funds di- rectly to the support of public educa- tion in the District of Columbia. These should be lump-sum appropriations, based on an ascertained and agreed- upon proportion of the per capita cost of the schools. Congress should not specify the objects of such appropria- tions in detail., Selection of Board. “(5) An_appointive, non-salaried l';oard of education of nine lay mem- ers, “(a) Authorities on educational ad- ministration are not in complete agreement as to the best method of creating a board of education. The authorities consulted by the bureau of education seem to be agreed that, while election of members by popular vote may work satisfactorily under certain conditions, the plan does not work’as well in citles of 200,000 pop- ulation of over as some method of / $437,000 PLEDGED CONVENTION HALL Robert N. Harper, Committee Chairman, Sees Hope Real- ; ized in Eight Months. With prompt action on the part of thlng_lon investors there is every reason to believe' that Washington can have its much needed and long desired Convention Hall at the end of eight months, of the Washington Auditorium organiza- tlon committee, said In a statement to- day, outlining progress made in the work and” plans for the future. At the close of the meeting of the organization committee in the gridiron room of the New Willard ‘Hotel last night reports from team captains and a survey of subscriptions to the proj- ect showed that $437,000 in cash and pledges had been reccived. Speed In Important. “It is of extreme importance that the fund should be completed at once,” said Chairman Harper today. “Since the bond and stockholders are to have the first lien upon the land and other assets of the company, it will be neces- sary to pay cash for the land. While the land is to cost $122,000, the com- mittee will immediately require $150,000 in order to proceed with the incorpora- tion of the Washington Auditorium Com pany. The stock and bonds must be subscribed to at once in full, 8o that the erection of the auditorium may be proceeded with right away. Payment on subscriptions to the stock and bonds will cover a period of six months.” I certainly want to congratulate the ladles and gentlemen who have lahored so hard and earnestly in_this cause,” he continucd. “It will be a monument to every one and certainly to each investor because a bronze tablet in the lobby will for all time proclaim the names of the firms and individuals who have invested their dollars that Washingtpn's great need may be met. \ Donation In No Sense. ~I domt think we can reiterate too) often that the convention hall project is in no sense a donation, since every investor will receive half of their in- vestment in first mortgage bonds pay- ing 5 per cent interest and the other 50 per cent in ocmmon stock which | we believe will pay a substantial re- turn on the Vi ment. “Overtures have been made to turn this movement into a theater project. Out-of-town interests have offered to take it off our hands. But, the firs purpose of this building is to ho conventions. If we had it today a handsome revenue could be derived from taking over plaving attractions THREE-YEAR SEARCH FOR RELATIVES ENDED BY EVENING STAR AD “Great is The Washirgton Star, says Charles B Gifford of In- dianapolis, who writes that, after ! searching for relatives of Thomas Pritlove since 1919, he was able to find them as a result of an advertisement placed in _the classified columns of The Star. He received letters of reply from ‘Washington and Philadelphia, let- ters coming from two daughters of Thomas Pritlove, giving him the address of their father and mother. ORDERED TO HOSPITAL. Cool. Colden L. H. Ruggles, ordnance ! department; Col. Harry A. Eaton, in- Robert N. Harper, chairmanicynry; Maj. J. L. Dunsworth, Coast Artillery Corps; Maj. Ral D. Bates, Coast Artillery Corps; Maj. Ralph W. Drury, infantry; Caot. Franklin P. Shaw, judge advocate general's de- partment, and First Lieut. Jerome G Harris, infantry, have been ordered to Walter Reed General Hospital, this city, for treatment. — that are otherwise denied an oppor- tunity to come to Washington. “One of the many high points of as- sured financial return that the audi- torium will have is the staging of great musical and theatrical events. Right now is the time for all Was ingtonians to take an active interest. The convention hall will be an audi- torium for all the people. It should have a long list of bond and stock holders.” - Hotels May Subseribe. M. A. Leese, chairman of the special committee on mercantile interests, told the meeting last night he an- ticipates that a number of the larger business houses will subscribe to $10,000 worth of the auditorium stock and bonds %ach. The Washington hotels are expected to subscribe to $100,000 worth of the issue. Interest of Washingtonians in the movement was shown last night with the reading of several names and let- ters of prominent persons who have made subscriptions. Among _these was one from Miss Mabel T. Board- man to Miss Mary O'Toole, who said: “I am glad to be of a little help to the business world of Washington, as I know that big conventions are a great help to hotels, theaters, trolley cars, stores, banks, etc.” At the regular weekly luncheon held at the City Club yesterday the Typothetae of Washington indorsed the proposed erection of the audi- torium and_pledged themselves to contribute $5,000 towards the suc- cessful termination of the project. Oscar T. Wright was named chairman of the Washington auditorium com- mittee of the Typothetae. Stock_subscription blanks may be ! obtained through application to mem- | bers of the committees in general or 'to Chairman Harper or Secretary Charles J. Columbus. e e appointing. lerally speaking, the men and women Who are bes the board w qualified for service on 11 not, in a large cit; offer to serve and make an active campaign_for election. In the Dis trict of Columbia, all things consid- ered, appointment by the President, subject to confirmation by the United States Senate, seems most likely to insure a regard for the wishes of the citizens and the maintenance of a high_standard ef personnel in the board. “(b) All authorities agree that the members of the board of education should not be professional educators connected with the school system, and that they should serve without compensation. “(c) In accordance with practice whijch has proved successful in many cities, it is suggested that the board | consist of nine_members, and that| the term of office be three vears, three members being appointed each | vear. The President should be given the power of removal from office for cause. £ It is conceded that, gen- | “(6) The superintendent of schéols | the expert adviser and chief execu- | tive officer of the board of education. | “The chief functions of a board of education are deliberative, legislat | and inspectorial, not administrative. The board should determine policies and rely on educationa] experts whom- it employs to carry them out. | The system of control should defi- | nitely provide for recognition of the supcrintendent of schools as the ex- pert adviser and chief executive of- ficer of the board. No member of the board should exercise adminigtrative functions. “I understand that this last-named principle (paragraph 6), relating to the functions of the superintendent of schools, is operative in the present plan of organization of the schools of the District of Columbia. 1 have in- cluded it here in order to summarize what I regard as the essential factors in the situation. 1f I am correctly informed, however, tkis is the onl | one of the basic principles which | actually functioning in this school ' system.” | 13 GEORGETOWN ASKS INIPROVED STREETS Citizens” Association Points Out “Deplorable Condition™ of M Street. INDORSE POLICE CHANGES W. R. & E. Criticised for Not Run- ning More Cars Down Wisconsin Avenue to M. Directing the attention of the Dis- trict Commissioners to “deplorable aving on M street the whole length of Georgetown, the Georgetown Citizens' Association night urged immediate repair of the thoroughfare in resolutions adopled at a meeting in Potomac Savings Bank Hall. President J. A. Oliver, who intro- duced the resolution, declared that the surface of M street from Penn- sylvania aven to Wi nue and farther look L craters on the moon. room left for more holes, he said president pointed out that the Com- missioners needed but one ride ove the street to_convinee them t pairs arc needed at onc Ampeal to Semator. The association also re contention that should be pav chairman of t committee, ann sent a letter Lo Senator P’k man of the subcommittee on appropriations, expiaining 1 sity for this improvement by stating }that the avcnue is the only thorough- ifare leadinz from Guorgetown di- jreetly ipto Montzomery and Freder- jick countie the Wiscon tery no hin the letter s The Commissioners were cong lated on the promotion of | Sullivan to be chief of other police promotio iich were in keeping with the of ‘home rule, ” in a r troduced by J. Hadley Doyl e resolu- of the C 1 the Knicke isaster and in s tion indorsed missioners in bocker Theater « sequently closing other place public amusemene found to be uns. The members voted for this unani- mously W. R. & E. Criticived. The AW a v and Elec- tric Company was cr for not running more: cars down Wisconsin avenue to M street and for the pres- ent method of operating the express cars to suburban points. A fifteen- minute Serv to M street will be asked of the company by the associa- tion, with a suggestion that expre cars to Somerset be limited in Some way to through passengers. Renumbering of houses west of Wisconsin avenue and north of Q street will be requested of the Com- ioners: It w ated that the nation of streets in that vieinity had been changed, without a corres- ponding adustment of house numbe resulting in confusion. Moral and financial backing of the association was again given the com- mittee assisting in_ planning me- morial for the late H. B. F. Maecfar- land. A. R. Shepherd, jr, is chairman of the committ A donation of § the Boy Scouts, are in Georgetowr motion of Walter E. master. 5 to Troep No. 61 of se headquarters was voted on Blount, scout- 5-HOUR ALE ON . WASHINGTON’S BIRTHDAY—FOR WASHINGTON[ANS_ Sale Starts Tomorrow Morning 8 AM., Ends 1 P.M. SHOES HALF SOLED WITH BEST QUALITY WHITE OAK LEATHER ON THIS DATE ONLY AT THIS SPECIAL PRICE ered such a drastic cut like this before. It means the sav- " Never in the history of shoe repairing have we offt E e i nd up all your old shoes and bring them /here tomorrow. ing of dollars—not cents—on your shoe repair bill. Rout A Problem - If a new pair of shoes costs $9.00 and wears 90 days, and can be repaired for 90 cents, so as to wear 90 days more: How much does the wearer, save by having them repaired? S > : BRING THE SHOE REPAIR JOB HERE TOMORROW UALITY- SHOE REPAIR SHOP 417 1lth St. N. 90c The Answer $9.00--90 equals cost of new shoes per day, 10c. 90c=-90 equals cost of repaired shoes per day, lc. Cost per day, new shoes, 10c. Cost per day, repaired shoes, lc. Save per.day on repaired shoes, 9c. - 90X9c equals amount saved on repaired shoes, Sp.u—- PLUS the comfort. « Star Building - Oppoiite ' Evening ¥