Evening Star Newspaper, February 23, 1922, Page 1

Rain, probably followed tomorrow ; much colder tomorrow. ended at 3 p.m. t Closing New York Stocks, Page 26 No. 28424, Toi"omes Wamnineron Ttter ' WASHINGTON, D. C., THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1922—THIRTY-SIX PAGES. * TWO CENTS. ROMA DEATHS DU T0 HITTING WIRES, PATRICK REPORTS Air Chief, Says Ship Could Have ianded Safely in Marsh Nearby. REPORT CRAFT BEHAVED BADLY HERE IS DENIED General Absolves Congress From Blame—Says Helium Would Not Have Avoided Disaster. Temporary disablement of th mechanism of the rudder of the Roma was the cause of the wrecking of that airship on the high-tension electric WEATHER. somewhat colder tonight; Temperature \ for twenty-four hours oda Highest, 7i, at noon today; lowest, 51, at 7 a.m. today. wires at the Army base near Nor- folk, in the opinion of Maj. Gen. M. M. Patrick, chief of the Army air service. = He returned today from Langley Field and the scene of the wreck, and reported verbally the results of his personal investigation of the disaster to Secretary Weeks and Gen. Har- bord, deputy chief of staff. He told them, in substance, that trouble with the rudder caused the fall of the ship and expressed the belief that if it had not been for the interference of the high-tension wires the ship could have been landed in the soft marsh ground a short distance b yond without the loss of a single life among the ‘crew or passengers. Nothing to Be Overlooked. Gen. Patrick said that a thorough investigation of the accident is under way and that no circumstance that may have a bearing on it will be over- looked. There were many eye-witnesses to the destruction of the ship, he said, and the personal examination of each and all of them will take some time .and may delay the preparation of the final report of the official investigating board. That board was appointed by Gen. Patrick immediately following the accident, and already has accumulated a mass of important evidence. The board consists of Majs. Davenport Johnson, John H. Jouett and John T. McNarney of the air service. President Is Informed. After hearing Gen. Patrick's pre- liminary_report on the disaster, Sec- Tetary Weeks went to the White House and informed the President of the latest developments. The Secretary of War has written personal letters of condolence to the next of kin of the officers, enlisted men and civilians ‘who Yost their lives in the wreck of the Roma and has approved plans for the transportation and burial of the Bodies. ¥ Blime for the disaster which over- took the giant Army,airehip Roma does not rest with Congress, Maj. | Gen. Patrick, chief of the air service, declared in a formal statement today upon his return from Langley Field where he conducted a personal in-| vestigation of the accident. No Blame ngress. “Despite public reports to the con- trary.” Gen. Patrick sald, “there Is no disposition on the part of any one in the Army alr service to place the blame for the Roma accident at the doors of Congress. tatements that failure of Con- gress to appropriate funds for helium production and that the lack of he- lium caused the accident are not based on fact. Congress appropriat- ed liberally for development of the processes of extracting helium dur- ing the war, and has since given all funds requested for further experi- mental work looking to perfecting the processes. Loases Might Have Been Leas. *“The Roma disaster would have hap- pened just the same had the ship been filled with helium instead of hydro- gen. It is true, however, that in all probability the loss of life might not have been so great. “A rigid investigation is now under way to determine the exact cause of the accident. As soon as the board | completes its work public announce- ment will be made of its findings.” DENIES SHIP WAS UNSAFE. Colonel Does Not Believe Officer ‘Was Correctly Quoted. By the Associated Press. NEWPORT NEWS, Va., February 23 —“Knowing Lieut. Clifford E.} Smythe as I did, I cannot ¥elieve that he has been correctly quoted in Chicago relative to his letter to his father, in_which he is said to have declared the Roma unsafe.” This statement- was officlally made this morning by Loeut. Col. A. S. Fisher, chief of the lighter-than-air service at Langley Field. “Relative to the Washington trip of the Roma I desire to say that she behaved very nicely under most try. ing weather conditions. There was nothing wrong _escept our speed, which was a little slow at times on account of the Italian engines not working well in this climate. These motors were replaced, and there was rothing wrong with the craft when she left here Tuesday on what proved to be her last flight. Ordered to Return on Boat. “Lieut. Smythe returned from ‘Washington by steamer after mak-! ing the flight from Langley Field to the capital on the Roma, because he ‘was ordered to do so. Several higher officers wanted to make the return flight for experimental purposes and Lieut. Smythe and others were sent back to Langley Field by steamer to make room for them. “There must be some mistake somewhere, for I am certain there ‘was no criminal negligence ana don't believe Lieut. Smythe would have made such a charge, even to his father. y “The Roma disaster has cast a pall of gloom not only over Langley Field and vicinity, but also the whole n tion, and charges reflecting on the men who went to their death Tues- day should not be lightly made. “The air service is making a thor- ough and searching investigation of the Roma disaster and thus far there has been nothing found to indicate criminal negligence recently or at any other time—the machine was in first-class shape.” Flags at Half Mast. Flags are at half mast in this cith and vicinity today'as the grim work of reparation for the funmeral of the oma victims slowly progresses. The cify and every civic and commer- cial organization on the peninsula have expressed tneir sympathy in resolutions anl police are making regulations 10 care for thousands of people at the funeral tomorrow. The funeral of Capt. Allen P. McFar- land and Lieut. Hine will be held this afterncon in Hampton. Capt. McFarland’s body will be sent to his home in Illinois and Lieut. Hine's to Dbis home in Bridgeport, Conn. . The remains of Maj. Vautsmeler and Capt. Mabry will be sent to Arlington national cemetery tomorrow for inter-' (Continu \ b7 clearing ROMA DISASTER CAUSES PRESIDENT TO POSTPONE ARMY-NAVY RECEPTION The Army and Navy reception, which was to have been held at the White House this evening, for which 4,000 invitations have been out, was postponed today by Presi- dent Harding because of the feel- ing that such a reception at this time, following so closely on the disaster to the Army dirigible Roma, would be incompatible with the sorrow felt throughout the service at the deplorable loss of life. In a statement to the press today President Harding said: “On_account of the deplorable loss of life in the Roma accident, the Army and Navy reception. to have been given at the White House tonight has been postponed to Wednesday, April 19. President and Mrs. Harding feel that a re- ception to the Army and Navy at a time when there is such deep grief over the bereavements at- tending the explosion of the Roma would not be in accord with the feeling of themselves or their in- vited guests. It is impossible to give other than newspaper notice of the postponement.” GRAND JURY PROBE IN THEATER CRASH 15 STARTED TODAY Inquiry Into Roof Collapse Ex- pected to Consume About Five Days. . The District grand jury today began its probe into the guestion of respon- sibility for the fall of the roof of the Knickerbocker Theater, which caused the death of ninety-eight persons. The inquiry, it is expected, will be before the grand jurors for four or five days. Col. William Kelly, U. S. A, was the first witness to testify. He will be followed, United States Attorney Gor- don announced, by Commander George A. McKay, U. S.’N. These officers, with three other government engin- rfirs, made an inspection of the build- ng. Model of Theater. Commander Ggorge A. McKay, U. S. N, this afternoon brought to the office of Uniter States Attorney Gordon for use in the grand jury room a model of the Knickerbocker Theater prepared in the office of yards and docks of the Navy Department. The model shows all the details of the bullding, with the location of the iron girders and beams which supported the roof. The model will be used to illustrate the testimony of Com- mander McKay, and Maj. Gordon will probably have the representation—ef the building before the grand jurors throughout the session of the probe into the cause of the collapse of the rqof of the theater. Col. Kelly testified before the coro- ner's jury, and it .was expected his evidence before the grand jury would be substantially the same as given before the coroner’s jury, with prob- ably more minute detail. Commander McKay was’ expected to give similar evidence, as the report of the five en- gineers is signed by all, showing they are in accord as to the gause of the disaster. The engineers have submitted a supplemental report to Maj. Gordon, which covers thirty-one typewritten pages, and which is replete with pho- tographs and drawings supporting the theory of these experts. The details of the supplemental report were not in possession of Maj. Gordon when the coroner’s inquest was held. Maj. Gordon aiso has received '5;- ports from the bureau of standarlls, showing the results of examination by the experts of the bureau as to the tiling and cement work, of which samples were submitted by the pros These will be read to the grand jury. The prosecutor expects also to 11 witnesses who did not testify befor the coroner's jury. These witnesses are understood to be persons whose attention was attracted to the work on the theater at the time of its con- struction and who will tell the grand jurors what they noticed and com- mented on at the time. Neot to !!e Called. None of the nine” persons held by the coroner’s jury as responsjple for the disaster will be called before the grand jury unless they or their coun- | sel should request the privilege under waiver of immunity. Maj. Gordo: said it had been suggested to him that one or two of the accused might want_this privilege, but he has not yet determined whether or not he Would grant a specific request which has not yet been made, he declared. The prosecutor wants the grand jury to have all available information, but questions the desirability of having persons accused of crime appear be- fore the grand jurors. Martin McQuade is foreman of the grand jury and his associates are: W. E. McReynolds, Herbert Herch- berger, Edward W. Mintee, Snowden Keys, Paul B. Lum, George C. Di vall, I. Henry Henderson. Sol Min- ster, John Millard, Henry E. Stringer, J. E. Ferguson, George T. Harper, L. Lipscomb. John Donnelly, Philip J. Medley, William D. Leetch, Fred . Kneessi, C. E. Langley, W. B. Miller, John T. Jones, James E. Con- roy and R. W. Ballard. As the sessions of the grand jury are secret, the details of the testi- mony will not be available for pub- lication. The management of Poli's Theater announced today that the playhouse will not be ready to open on March & a3 stated yesterday. The openini probably will take place a we later. ‘@he APPROVED BY FULL No Opposition Develops Thus Far as Measure Is Order- ed Reported. EARLY ENACTMENT SEEN EXTENDING PRESENT ACT Important Amendments Tend to In- ness of the Commission. The life of the Ball rent act for the District of Columbia is extended until May 22, 1924, under a bill ordered reported to the Senate today by the Senate District committee. The report will be made formally within a day or two by Senator Pom- erene of Ohio. It is expected that the bill will be passed by the Senate. Practically no opposition to the meas- -ure has been voiced by members of the Senate. In fact, there has been strong approval by senators for the continuation of the act. As soon as the bill has been placed on the calen- dar, its supporters will seek the first opportunity to get it up for considera- tion. The present Fent act is due to expire May 22, 1922. There is ample time in which to put through the bill extend- ing the life of the act, it was pointed out today. Amendments Made. The bill ordered reported by the : District committee makes a number of important amendments to the existing act. In the first place, it places busi- ness properties under the jurisdiction of the District rent commission, as in the original Ball reng act. The first extention of the original act, put through last year, exempted business properties from the operation of the law. But the great increases in rent demanded for those properties has roused members of the committee. The Merchants and Manufacturers’ Asso- ciation is on record as favoring the inclusjon of business properties in the Jurisdiction of the rent commission. Hotels are to be exempt from' the operation of the law. But the bill will be 50 worded that the owner or man- ager of an apartment house will not be able to claim that he is operating a hotel and so ayoid the act. The bill calls for an increase in the sizse of the rent comsissioa from t| members to five. They are to be &p- pointed by the President and con- firmed by the Senate. The existing commission is to continue in opera- tion until-the five are appointed and confirmed. In the future the commis- sion is to elect its own chairman. Inspectors Provided For. Provision is made in the bill for the appointment by the commission of two inspectors—outside of the civil service—at salaries not in excess of $2,0004 It is also provided that any member of the commission may con- duct hearings. The rent comm ssion | is given wide authority to call for pa- ! pers and summon witnesses, and any violatfon of these provisions of the law are punishable by fines not ex- ceeding $1,000, or imprisonment not exceeding a year, or both. In fact, the whole plan,of the bill is i to increase the efficiency of the Rent Commission and to prevent any delay !in its determinations. Appeal Only to One Court. The bill especially provides that appeals may be taken from the de- cisions of the rent compnission only to the Supreme Court of the District, and no case involving matters de- termined by the rent commission may be taken up in any of the courts, except on appeal, and in the manner indicated, to the District Supreme Court. Unless ‘within ten days' after \the filling of the commission's de- i termination in a case any party to i the complaint appeals therefrom to; ! the District Supreme Court, the de- | cision of the tommission shall be nal. ‘The bill declares that the emergency n-the housing situation in the Dis- i trict of Columbia, to meet which the original rent act was passed, still continues to exist, and that the pres- ent housing and remtal conditions in the District require further extensiop of the act. The bill, in form, re-enacts, extends and amends the original act and t act of last year extenging the rent act to May 22, 1922. i S e IMILLS OPEN UNDER GUARD No Disturbances Reported Tédfly From Pawtucket. PAWTUCKET. R. I, February 23.— ; Under military guard, the mills here af- fected by the strike of textile workers opened today without disturbing inci- dent. Comparatively- few pickets were on duty. Those who did appear were obliged to keep moving. At the Jenckes Spinning Company’s cotton plant, where Monday's fatal riot- ing occurred, no attempt was made by the strikers or their sympathizers to or- ganize the usual demonstration. ' PYTHON IS FED ANTELOPE’S BODY AT ZOO AND The worst of the worries and troubles of attendants of the big animals at the National Zoological Park are over, for the present at least. Zoo attendants, under the direction of Dr. Hollister, director, and under the supervision of W. H. Blackburne, head keeper, suc- ceeded last Tuesday in feeding the newly - acquired regal python, brought from the jungles of the Malay peninsula to Washington. The python, which is believed by Dr. Hollister to be the largest liv- ing specimen in the United States, devoured a whole young antelope at one meal. This meal, animal authorities say, will last him for six or eight months. The snake has been in the pgs- session of the National Zoological Park since September 30, 1921. His meal early this week was the first . since he landed ‘in this country from 'the ‘jungles, Zoo attendants . é say. The snake now weighs 135 pounds and is practically full grown. He is expected to gain-in ‘weight from the date of his meal and’ will probably attain a weight of between 200 and 300 pounds,-Dr. Hollister said today. He has been steadily improving in color and condition in the last few months, shedding his old skin and growing a new one to replace it. = Dr. Hollister said-the snake took his meal of young antelope with- out forcing,'a measure the Zoo au- thorities had thought they would have to gesort to, and one which they did Rot wish to-take. The an- telope was dead when put in the snake's cage, and the big python, after attemptng to swallow the animal tail first, turned it around and .swallowed it head first, in what is said to be the natural way for a snake to swallow four-footed prey. The antelope had complete- Krdlupnenred “down the python’s oat within fifteen minutes. - The big snake is housed in a spe- cjal.cage in the lion house, where } Te les lira'!‘amx“-ér'nn day long.’ i NEW D. . RENTBILL | crease the Efficiency and Eff¥ctive- l hening WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION MAY ASK CHANGE. INELEGTRIC RATES Potomac Power Company Woulq Raise Some and De- | crease Others. Several changes in the present rates for electric current may be asked for by the Potomac Electric Power Company when the utilities commis- sion takes up that company's rates on March 1, it was learned today. Just what adjustments the com- pany has in mind are not known, but it was intimated from an authori- tative source that the company may seek a decrease in the rates for some oclasses of-service and inereases for others. If this is done it will be because officials of the company find that{ the schedule as a whole is not as; well balanced as it might be under present conditions. In its rate decision jast summer the utilities commissfon voiced the be- lief that the schedule then in effect was fairly well balanced as between | different classes of users. Since that time, however, the volume of busi- ness under different classes of serv-| ice may have changed to suc.. an ex-! tent as to justify the company in asking for a revision, it was pointed out today. Awalt Day of Hearing. The power company does not ekpectl to file a petition until the morning of the hearing fixed for electric rates.! The utilities commission is expect- | ed to announce its decision on street car rates before the end of the pres- ent week. The proposal made last summer that street carfare be substantially reduced on both systems, and the loss thus sustained by the Washington Railway and lectric Company made up | through an increase in electric light ! rates, again is under discussion as the street car case comes to a head. Adoption of this plan would tend to | equalize the earning power of the two railway companies, because the Washington Railway and Electric | Company owns all of the stock of the electric light company and would reap the benefit of better electric light earn- ings. Plan Is Rejected. The commission rejected this plan Jest summer on the ground that each class . of utility service should be| regulated without reference to other utilities. X 1If the commission should decide to seriously consider the proposition this time it probably would continue the; present rates for street car service for another month until the electric light case has been heard. 3 The Capital Traction Company is earning considerably more than the commission regards as a fair return, Yet, to reduce the uniform rate of faré to the point that the Capital Traction Company could stand would work hardship on the Washington Railway and Electric Company, which is now earning slightly less than 6 per cent. The utilities commission today au- thorized the Washington Railway and’ Electric Company to establish a new stop for icars in both directions at Butternut and 8th streets on the Ta- koma Park line. SEES OVERTHROW - FOR SOVIET SoON Moscow Economist Pictures Bankruptcy of Lenin . Regime. By the Associated Press. WORCESTER, Mass., February 3. —The prediction that it would not be long before the Russian soviet gov-|' ernment . “would be bankrupt and overthrown” was made by Dr. Jo- seph M. Goldstein in an address a: a conference on ‘Russian _affairs at| Clark University today. Dr. Gold- stein was formerly director of the Seminary of Political Eonomy at the University of Moscow, and for many years economic adviser ‘to ministers under the imperial government. The faulty economic policy of the imperia] governmen:, together with political oppression and the steadily increasing nga‘rlnm of the ,Rusyian soldiers, created the basis s, :%lvm ‘coup d’etat, he said. X o5 2 P EET L. o B hol-d « THE FACTORY. NAVY REFUSES TO TAKE EPPELIN BEING BUILT IN GERMANY FOR U. S. The Navy Department, it was learned from officials today, has notified the State Department that it does not want the German Zep- pelin. now being constructed for the Unjted States by Germany, under the reparations clause of the Versailles treaty, unless it comes to America without cost. The question has arisen, it was stated, as to whether the amount of money allotted for this pir- Posé by the allies under the repa- rations agreement to the United States was sufficient to complete. the Zeppelin. And there is a pes- sibility that the United Statgs may be required to make up the difference If she cares to have the ship. This, Secretary Denby, it was said, is not willing to do. At the headquarters of the ®ir sexvice, it was said that the Navy refused to take the un tional cost that would not preclude the:Army from taking her, and consider: tion would be given to the mai ter by the air service if it doe: not turn out that more would be required for its completion. 1t was also said that it was pos- sible or even probable that the Army would want the Zeppelin. i DEATHTHREATENED TOSOGETY WOMEN Letters Demanding $15,000 and $25,000 Received. " One Clue Fails. Local police and Department of Justice forces were investigating the authorship today of four “black hand” letters which have been re- ceived in the past few days by as many Dprominent Washington wesi- dents. ‘While Chief W. S. Burns of the bu- reau of investigation of the Depart- ment of Justice declined to add to his statement that “the Department of Justice knows nothing abous this,” it was learned from authentic but un- official sources that an arrest is ex- pected within a few hours. Those reported to have received let- ters threatening their lives unless certain sums of money were left at designated spots are Mrs. Thomas F. Walsh, Henry White, former ambas- sador; Mrs. Mary Scott Townsend, 2121 Massachusetts avenue, and Mme. Christian Hauge, 2349 Massachusetts avenue. ERE In the letters, it is said, demands for athat he was convinced by the nti-l sums, ranging between $15,000 and $25.000, were made, upon pain of threatened death to the: recipients. The letters instructed the recipients of the threats to leave the money in lonely places around the city. One of them was told to put a sum of money in a tin can and drop it out of her automo- bile at a certain place on Tunlaw roadlpose was to obtain evidence or infor- yesterday. Trying to ‘Trace Writers. Police and Department of Justice investigators were extremely loath today totalk of the letters, or what action has been taken by officials in the matter to prevent annoying of local women in such threatening manner. Every effort is being made, it is derstood, to trace the writer or Writers of the communications. Tn one case police officials dropped a can out of an automobile window at 2 Epot designated in one of the let- fers, and had operatives stationed T atby to apprehend who ever might pick up the can, presumably filled with Ploney. But no one picked up the can, O cer Warins Dog . With Own Overcoat, Then Arrests Autoist By the Associated Press. e CHICAGO, Ft‘_fllr] 23.—W. H. | Clarkson took his three mh- wolf hounds for their daily a * todr, but - suddenly i one of the dogs took a chill and began to tremble violently. Pollceman Robert McCaull haited Rim, and, when Clarkson gave his reasom. 1 the policeman it BAGKS UP CHARGES IN'WAR ON DIVORCE| Attorney Stuart Declares He Got Facts Which Bared Alexandria Scandal. From a Staff Correspondent. 2 ALEXANDRIA, Va., February 23— Frank Stuart, local attorney, while appearing today as a witness before the committee of- seven lawyers in- vestigating the divorce evil alleged to exist here, stated that it was hel who furnished the information which | has formed the basis of the articles appearing in a Washington news- paper condicting a campaign against conditions here, and that he would readily assume his share of the re- sponsibility as to their truthfulness. ‘Cuarges Based on Facts. Mr. Stuart, who was the only witness examined by the committee up to 1 o'clock, when it recessed, explained that the charges he had made had been based upon the facts contained in the rec- ords of the corporation court and upon his own personal observation and knowl- edge. He explained thet he had noted, as far back as two yerrs ago, when he came to Alexandria to practice, that there was a big divorce business here and that he made it his business to con- sult th¥ records and to make inquiry to determine the cause. * He stated that he thought the time had come when the evil should be stopped, and it was then that he sup- plied the information to the Washing- ton paper to make what he termed an “expose.” He declared that from his observation he considered the respon- sibilittes for the evil rested almost en- tirely with Judge Robinson Moncure, who presides over the corporation court, in which_the majority of the ! divorce cases had been tried within the past eighteen months. Attorney Stuart then proceeded to cite instances in cases in which he personally was represented or was familiar with to show, as he termed it, the laxity on the part of Judge Moncure and of the existence of ir- regularities in such cases. Mrs. Baggett Often Witness. He said that examination of the: records of the court prior to the time Judge Moncure headed the bench showed he frequently used Mrs. Mary L. Baggett, whose name has appeared so frequently recently as a witness to the residence requirements of di- vorce applicants; that the judge was familiar with Mrs. Baggett's activi- ties then and after he assumed the bench and that he should have taken it upon himself to have prevented these acticities. He declared further | tude of Judge Moncure in certain] divorce cases in which he (Mr. Stuart) represented one or another of the pxr-] ties that he encouraged divorces rather than discouraged them. When the hearing was opened to- day Howard W. Smith, chairman of the committee, explained that its pur- mation from any person who wished to testify before it. He stated that any_information thus volunteered ‘would be helpful to the committes in) reaching its conclusions. 1 Three Decline to Appear. J. Randall Caton, secretary to the committee, reported that Mrs. Bag- gett, Mrs. Stella Bensel and Robert Lucket, whose names have appeared' most frequently as witnesses for ap- plicants for divorce, had been invited | to appear before the comniittee, but failed to present themselves. He re- ported also that the writer of the articles in the Washington newspaper ! in question had written a letter de- clining to appear. SEES U. S. CAPITAL WORLD BASIS, BUT ROCKS AHEAD FOR TREASURY By ‘the Associated Press. ' BOSTON,. February 23.—Ameri- ca’s position as a creditor nation/ probably will result in the use of American capital wherever busi- ness is done, Eliot Wadsworth, as- sistant_secretary of the treasury, ' said in an address before the Bos- #ton Chamber of Commerce today. ‘This expansion depended, however, he-added, on the maintaining of a - “pay-as<we-go” policy by the United States Treasury. - “We owe today twentysthree and one-half billion dollars, of which £ billion. is due in ighteen months,” Mr. ?.‘ {chairman of the conference of bar | Yesterday’s Net Circulation, 81,947 PLYMOUTH MOB CHASES MORMON MISSIONARIES, BARELY SAVED BY POLICE By the Assoctated Press. PLYMOUTH, England, February 23.—A number of Mormon mission- aries were pursued through the streets yesterday by a mob because of their utterances in Market Square. The police rescued the Mormons with difficulty. LONDON, February 23.—Some of the newspapers recently have been conducting a campaign against Mormon activities throughout the country, alleging that the mission- aries were trying to obtain wom- an converts, who would proceed to Utah and embrace polygamy. This statement is denied by the Mormon elders, but_-their meetings have been broken up in some of the thickly populated suburban dis- tricts. The authorities have heen urged from various sources to take ac- tion with a view to expelling the members of the sect. Home Sec- retary Shortt yesterday inter - +d two of the Mormon leaders, but the result of their conversation was not divulged. URGES MORE RIGID BARREQUIREMENTS| Root Tells Convention Inef- ficient Lawyers Cause Too Many Delays. Improvement of the standards of the incoming bar of the country was asked by former Senator Elihu Root in an address at the opening session today of the conference of bar associations meeting at the Memorial Continental Hall. Mr. Root asked the 400 delegates at- tending the two-day conference from various bar associations throughout the country to range themselves on the side of the American Bar Association, which has recommended that hereafter two years of college work and three years in a recognized law school shgll be required as a condition of admission to the bar. Mr. Root was given a tremendous ovation when he was called to the platform shortly after noon by Judge g,!:l;:nce .\f' hGoodwln of Chicago, hairman of t - chni e conference, who pre: “There is trouble in so large a part of the bar that it affects ulrlel." l;aifl r. Root. “You can’t have too many rotten spots in an apple v rest of 1t good.” 7 aoferee Teo Many New Trials. Mr. Root pointed to the continued [delays in the law and the sending | back of cases for new trials, whlch! are brought about by the inefficiency | of the bar, he said. These matters have blackened the name of the bar, Mr. Root continued. He stressed con- ditions existing wherein the rich man and the man of moderate means do | not get exactly th o y the same lre’lmenlg “That is the charge against you and me, against the profession of law, against law itself, against your de: creed institutions, which_is sappin; the faith of the’pcople” Mr. "Root aid. “A wilderness of laws and_ adjudi- cations which no man can follow re- quire more learning and training than were required in the old days,” he| said. “Somebody has got to solve these problems. or we will suffer as the poor creatures in Russia are suf- fering.” Asks for A Mr. Root asked for the sympathy and assistance of the various bar as- sociations in the recommendations of the American Bar Association, and at the conclusion of his address was again given an ovation. Besides outlining the condition of eollege and law school requirements Mr. Root pointed out that the Amer- ican Bar Association recommends that there be published, from time to . the names of those law schools which comply with the advanced | standards and of those which do not, and to make such publications avail- able, so far as possible, to intending | students. The American Bar| officers of the association should co- operate with state and local bar a: sociations to urge upon the duly con- stituted authorjties of the several states the adoption of these require- ments for admission to the bar. Proposition Outlined. ! Judge Clarence N. Goodwin, former | justice of the Iilinois appellaté court, associations, presiding at the opening meeting, outlined the proposition to | be discussed by the conference as fol- | lows: “That hereafter two years in college and the equivalent of three years in a full-time law school shall | required as a condition of admis- | sion to the bar.” | Giving an outline of the conference | created in 1915 at the suggestion of Senator Elihu Root, Judge Goodwin, in part: ‘Not all that was accomplished at Versallles was good; but all that was | ccomplished there that was good | came from the acceptance of those| great doctrines laid down in our Dec- | laration of Independence, of the equal | rights of all mankind. { “Not_everything that was desired ! was accomplished at the great confer- ence so recently held here in this his- toric hall, but all the good that was | here accomplished was made possible by the.influence of those in every na- tion who believed in the common kin- dred and equal rights of men in every station and in every part of the world. Equality Threatened. “It occurred to me then that this same principle of human equality must be a decisive factor in all our deliberations. - We affirm that we be- lleve in equality before the law. But how can_equality before the law be (Continued on Page 2, Column 4.) Wadsworth saild. “This is too large a proportion of floating debt ‘or any business institution. “Our federal budget so far has balanced, but next year we face a deficit. We are considering fur- ther expenditures for a bonus, for ship subsidles, for new federal activities. To meet the deficit, to pay for theseh new expenditures. | the money euld be provided from income, not by further bor- Towing. “We have debts enough for fu- ture generations to care for. ‘Pay as we go’ must be the principle of the financial management of this country or soon we will not be talking of lending money ab: will really have . Xhout the tutnra’ cause to worry~ for Wt IHARDING OPPOSES RESERVATIONS 10 FOUR-POWER PACT Tells Senate Leaders of His View That They Would Prove Handicap. FIGHT MAY BE STUBBORN, LIKE THAT WILSON FACED Johnson and Brandegee Believed Unyielding, and May Receive Democratic Support. President Harding, it was reported in well informed senatorial circles to- day, is opposed to reservations to.the four-power Pacific treaty. It is sald he has indicated to senators that he cannot look with favor upon the reservations that have been offered and others understood to be in com- templation. As late as last Sunday he was un- derstood to be complaisant to their acceptance, regarding them as su- perfluous, but, if their acceptance would expedite ratification of the treaty, willing to let them in. Since then, however, the President is re- ported as having become more of the mind that the reservations would handicap the treaty and to have com- municated this view to administra- tion leaders in the Senate. Senators Stick to Views. Senators Johnson of California and Brandegee are understood to be tena- cious of tieir views in support of the reservations, which are shared by some democrats on the committee. Indications, therefor®, today appeared to point to the approach of a stubborn contest in the Senate committee on for- eign relations, and later in the Senate, over reservations pending und to be pro- posed to the four-power Pacific treaty now before that committee. Senator Lodge, the chairman, after a talk today with President Harding. voiced the nope that the situation may yet be cleared by negotiation, but at tending circumstances warranted the ap prehension in other quarters that th situation is delicate and that contentio may arise. Must Have Two-Thirds. While a majority vote in commit tee would suffice to report the treaty with or without reserv ns, its rat ification would require a twe-third vote in the Senate. There is know: to be democratic sentimen: in un Senate both for and against th. treaty in its original form, and, o1 course, there is division of republican thought on the question. As the vista of the future before the treaty unfolds mow ‘i discloses an impending situation similar in many respects to the conditions at- tending the progress of the Versailles treaty with the league of nations pact It will be recalled that Presiden: W. son strongly resisted reservations, re- sulting in ultimate failure to ratify. NEW BLANKET RESERVATION Modified Form Offered by Lodge Stirs Committee Opposition. B the Assoclated Press. A modified blanket reservation to the four-power Pacific treaty, laid be- fore the Senate foreign relations com- mittee today by Chairman Lodge, after a conference with President Harding, met with immediate oppo- sition from several republican as well as democratic comsnittee members. The new reservation. intended as a* substitute for that proposed seyeral days ago by Senator Brandegee, re- publicar, Connecticut, provides that nothing in the treaty shall be con- strued as committing the United States to an exercise of armed force without the consent of Congress. After more than an hour's debate, which failed to win over to the new t | proposal any of the senators who had supported the Brandegee reservation, the committee adjourned until tomor- row without action. Advice of President Harding as to acceptance of reservations to the four- power Pacific treaty was sought at con- ferences, with the executive today by Senators Lodge of Massachusetts and New of Indiana, the former chairman and the latter a leading republican member of the foreign relations com- mittee. The conferences generally were re- garded as having an important bearing on the progress of the Pacific pact to- ward Senate ratification, action of the foreizn relations committee havi been held up pending ascertainment the President’s views. Foremost among the proposed reser- vations discussed by the two senators was that of Senator Brandegee, provid- ing that every adjustment reached un- der the treaty shall be subject to the review of Congress. This has been op- posed in committee by the Indiana sen- ator, while Chairman Lodge has not committed himself. Mr. New reiterated his opposition again today, after seein; Mr. Harding, but gave no indication of she President’s views. 45, BUT WEDS BOY 19. Preceptress of High School‘!n‘- ried to Young Student. AVON, N. Y. February 23.—Mrs. Laura Butler, preceptress of the high school here, was married several days ago to Neil Cushing, nineteen years old, a pupil in, one of her classes, it became known today. Mrs. Butler is forty-five years old and the mother of five grown children. Cushing s _continuing with his studies and walks to school each day with his_wife. Mrs. Cushing’s Prof. Amos B. Butler of Rochester, former president of the New York State Teaclers' Assoclation, who died about a year ago. PERU PICKS DELEGATES. Three Chosen for Conferenze om Ancon Treaty Dispute. i LIMA, Peru, February 23.—The fors elign office anaounces that the Peruvian delegation to the Ancon treaty confer- ence in Washington will consist of Dr. Meliton_Porras, former minister of for- eign and- Dr. Hernan Velarde, minister to Argentina, with Dr. Solen Palo as counselor. ~They will leave ‘ashington about the middie of next first husband wag-