Evening Star Newspaper, March 7, 1922, Page 1

. [y WEATHER. Falr and colder tonight and tomor- row; temperature above freezing. Temperature for twenty-four hours ended 2 p.m. today: Highest, 68, at 6 p.m. yesterday; lowest, 53, at 5 a.m. today. Full report on page 9. ' Closing New York Stocks, Page 22 —_— No. 28,436. Entered as second-class mattsr post office Washington, D G, FINAL AGREEMENT ON SOLDIER BONIS REACHED INHOUSE Compromise Measure Intro- duced for Action by Chair- man Fordney. CARRIES FOUR OPTIONS AND PROVISION FOR CASH Bank Loan Feature Retained. Compensation for Relatives of Late Dead Fails. By the Associated Press. Final agreement on a compromise soldier bonus bill was reached today by House ways and means republi- cans, who authorized Chairman Fordney to present the measure to the House, which he did early this afternoon. Representative Fordney announced that the democrats on the committee would be called in Saturday to pass formally on the bill. He said it was his plan to present the formal report to the House immediately after the measure had been approved by the entire committee. The democrats are not expected to submit a minority report. Carries Four Options. As finally drawn, the measure car- ries four options, with an added pro- vision of immedlate cash payment to those former service men entitled to not more than $30 of adjusted service pay. It was stated that no changes of importance had been made in the new bank loan provision of the adjusted service certificate title or in the other three options which are vocational training, home and farm aid and land settlement. Fordney Predicts Passage. The effort to have included in the measure a provision for the payment of compensation to immediate rela- tives of men who have died since their discharge from the service was un- successful. Chairman Fordney predicted that the measufe would be passed by the Hotse. He said he was undecided whether it would be brought up un- der a suspension of the rules or whether he would seek a special rule for its consideration. Text of Provislon. Here is the text of the bank loan provision of the compromise soldiers’ bonus bill: That a loan may be made to veteran prior to September 30, 1925, upon his adjusted service certifi- cate only in accordance with the pro- visions of this section. “(b) Any national bank, or ' any bank or trust company incorporated under the laws of any state, terri- tory, possession or District of Colum- bia (hereinafter In this section called bank) is authorised to loan to_any | veteran upon his promissory note se- cured by his adjusted service certifi- cate (with or without the consent of the beneficiary -thereof) any amount not in excess of 50 per centum of its (Continued on Page 2, Column 2.) LIMERICK INVADERS ALARMALL IRELAND Republican “Hebels”‘ Take School—Free Staters Stick to Barracks. By the Associated Press. LIMERICK, March 7.—The detach- ments of Irish republican army troops that invaded Limerick last Sunday and commandeered tae principal hotels ex- tended their sphere of occupation today by taking possession of the technical school. The situation early this after- noon was quiet, although some tension was felt last night. With the town oc- cupied by three distinct forces, namely, British troops waich have not yet peer, evacuated, free state republicans and members of the Irish republican army, the situation today was regarded as full of possibilities. Invaders Parade Streets. The British troops here are confined to their barracks. The free state forces are occupying barracks and the police stations. The streets today were being patrolied by the invaders, some of whom wore uniforms and all of whom carried arms. Persistent rumors taat free state forces had been dispatched from Dublin had not been veriied up to this fore noon by the arrival of any such troops. It is considered here that the policy of the provisional government probably will develop an effort to adjust the sit- uation by negotiation before other measures are taken. DUBLIN FEARS TURMOIL. Limerick “Revolt” Causes Great Alarm Among Leaders. By the Associated Press, DUBLIN, March 7.—Reports that Tepublican mutineers have given Free State forces forty-eight hours' notice to surrender Limerick police bar- racks today intensified the situation ! in Limerick and caused genuine anx- iety to free staters. These rumors lack- ed substantiation, but it was agreed that free staters would stubbornly | resist dispossession, and in event of an attack the barracks would be vig- orously defended. No breach of peace, however, had been reported early to- day. Lack of authentic news intensified seriousness of the real situation. Freeman's Journal, undef the head- line, “A Dangerous Game,” declared: “Attempts are being mide to carry on political propaganda and develop mutinous spirit in certain sections of Ireland.” me adherents of document No. 2" it added, “have made up their minds that they cannot prevent by argument, establishment of the Irish Free State and it looks as if they ‘were about to try to see what can be done by turmoil. Incidents at Cloi mel and Limerick already have (Continued on Page 2, Column 7.) | | { SENATE APPROVES - STREET REPAIRS 0. K.’s Amendments of Com- mittee, Increasing Dis- trict Appropriations. The District appropriation bill was taken up in the Senate today at 2 o'clock. The Senate agreed to com- mittee amendments for the repalr and improvement of streets as fol- lows: Northwest—For paving west side { of Connecticut avenue, Ingomar street to Chevy Chase Circle, 60 feet wide, $25,000. Northeast—For paving East Capl- tol street, 15th street to 18th street, 50 feet wide, $37,000. Northeast—For paving Rhode Island avenue, 12th street to 16th street, fifty feet wide, 345,000, Northeast—For paving 12th street, Michigan avenue to Upshur street, forty feet wide, $17,200. Northwest—For paving Randolph street, 13th street to 14th street, thirty feet wide, $10,700. Northwest—For paving 28th street from Woodley road to Cathedral ave- nue, $10,000. The Senate also agreed to a com- mittee amendment increasing from $25.000 to $50,000 an item for grading. For repairs of streets, avenues and alleys the House appropriation of $431,250, was increased to $500,000. Other Amendments Accepted. ‘Without debate the Senate agreed to a committee amendment increas- ing the appropriation for repairs to suburban roads and streets from $200,000 to $250,000. The proposals of the Senate com- mittee increasing sewer items were agreed to. The item for cleaning the streets and removing the snow was increased from $350,000 to $400,000. The Senate agreed to an amendment providing $50,000 for the purchase of a piece of ground to take the place of Columbia 'Heights playground. - The Senate also agreed to a com- mittee amendment . authorizing . the appointment of a business manager for the public schools at a salary of $4,000. School Items Allowed. For equipment of six additional schoolyards for the purposes of play- grounds for the pupils, $2,400 was al- lowed. New school buildings and grounds recommended by the Senate commit- tee were agreed to as follows: For the erection of an eight-room addition to the Lovejoy School, in- cluding additional land, $140,000. For the erection of an eight-room 2ddition to the Phillipr School, im- cluding additional land, $140,000. For the purchase of a new site on which to locate a sixteen.room build- ing to take the place of the Tenley School, $25,000. The 1imit of cost for the two new junior high schools was increased to $400,000 for each under committee amendments adopted. At this point consideration of the bill was interrupted temporarily by discussion of the federal reserve sys- tem by Senator Watson of Georgla. Senator Harrison of Mississippi called attention to the need of addi- tional classrooms at Western High He offered an amendment School, so that they would be in read- iness for the mext appropriation bill. This amendment was agreed to with the approval of Senator Fhipps.- The fares charged for transporta- tion on the street railways in the Dis- trict were attacked by Senator Har- rison. He offered an amendment to the bill to be inserted immediately after the provisions for the salaries of the Public Utilities Commission, { which would provide that no.money to pay these salaries should be avail- able until the Public Utilities Com- mission had compelled the street car companies to provide transportatipn at the rate of 5 cents a cash fare and six tickets for 25 cents. To Fight Jones Rider. - The fight against the Jones rider changing the fiscal refations of the Dis- trict, which was begun in the Senate yesterday afternoon on the ground that general legislation should not be carried in an appropriation bill, promises to continue. Senator Harrison of Mississippl, who led the attack yesterday on the rider, said today that he expected to make the point of order against the rider again when the bill goes from the com- mittee of the whole into the Senate. He sald also that when the rider Is taken up for consideration in the com- mittee of the whole, a full: explanation of it will be demanded and that it probably will lead to considerable de- te. ‘When the District bill was taken up in the Senate late yesterday afternoon Sénator Harrison immediately made a point of order that the first provision of the committee bill, the Jones' rider af- fecting the fiscal relations of the Dis- trict, was new and genetal legisla- tion on an appropriation bill, and that under the new rule just adopted by the Senate a few minutes earlier, placing ali appropriations billg under the _appropriations committee, should be sent back to the appropria- tions committee. This rule rea “The committee on appropriations shall not report an appropriation bill contalning amendments proposing new or gencral legislation, and if an appro- priation bill is reported to the Sen- 2te containing amendments proposing (Continued on Page 2 Column 1.) 089 000N STREET WORK AUTHORIZED Elghty-nine thousand dollars’ worth of street improvements were author- ized by the board of Commissioners 2t a board meeting today. Ten streets will be resurfaced with sheet asphalt under the guthorization. The stre®ts and the costs for each item follow: Seventeenth street, from Massa- chusetts avenue to P street, $9,600. Eighteenth street, from Massa- chusetts avenue to P street, $2,400. E street, 10th and 11th street, $2,500. Massachusetts avenue, from 18th street- to Dupont Circle, $9,000. Massachusetts avenue, from 22d street to Sheridan Circle, $7,200. R street, from New Hamphire avenue to 20th street, $10.800. Ninth street northeast, from Mary- land avenue to Massachusetts avenue, $23,000. Canal street southeast, from South Capital to E street, $2,000. D street (north of park), from 2d to 3d_street southeast, $5,600. North Carolina avenue, from 3d treet to Pennsylvania avenue south- eaet, $17.000. 4 { g t | 7_per cent return, $823,091.13; deduct WASHINGTON, D. Ty PER GENT TAX ASKED OF SENATE 0 FORCE MERGER More Drastic Measure Urged ‘Upon District Committee . by Commissioners. HEAVY LEVY ON INCOME EXCEEDING 7 PER CENT Draft of Bill Submitted Shows in Detail Effect of Plan on Companies. The District Commissioners have recommended a new and more drastic tax measure to force the street rail- way ocompanies of the District to merge, and have transmitted their recommendation to the Senate Dis- trict committee. The new proposal is that a tax of 50 per cent be Imposed upon the operating income of the companies in excess of 6 per cent and not ex- ceeding 7 per cent; That a tax of 75 per cent be levied on that part of their operating in- come in excess of 7 per cent. The original proposal of the Com- missioners provided merely for a tax of 50 per cent on operating income in excess of 6 per cent. Committee Meets Tomorrow. The Senate Distriot committee, when it meets tomorrow afternoon, will have before it this new proposal for consideration, as well as the original plan advanced by the Commissioners. The committee already has a bill on the Senate calendar which authorizes the merger of the street rallways, and Senator Ball, chairman of the com- mittee, a few days ago Introduced an amendment to this bill containing the original tax plan submitted by the| Commissioners. The committee will consider the advisability of adopting the new and more drastic plan. ‘The Commissioners in their letter to Senator Ball propusing the revised plan s Stand of Commissioners. “The return to the Capital Traction Company (under tae original plan) would have been 9.12 per cent per an- num, and to the Washington Rallway and Electric Company, 6.85 per cent, with a return on the combined fair value of their properties of 7.93 per cent.” These figures are for the calendar year 1821, The Commissioners continye: “The earnings of these two companies can be brought still more closely to- gether, Jowever, if this tax provision be modified 50 as to impose & tax of 50 ing income in excess of 6 per cent and not exceeding 7 per cent, and a tax of 75 per cent on that portion of operating income in excess of 7 per cent return. The effect of a tax provision of this nature for the calendar year 1921 would have been to the Capital Traction Com- pany 7.80 per cent and to the Wash- ington Railway and Electric Company 6.67 per cent, a difference of only ap- proximately 1 per cent in their earning wer. “Under the provisions of the bill {already submitted by us (the ori- ginal proposal) the increase In the amount of taxes to be paid by these two companies, on the. basis of operations of 1921, is $177,314.05. If the above suggested modifications are adopted the amount of the t would be increased to $412,975.17. Draft of Bill Submitted. The Commissioners submitted with their letter of recommendation the draft of a new bill dealing with this matter, and also statements showing in detail the effect of their proposal on the companies. The statemerit relating to the Capi- tal Traction Company showing the effect of the proposed new and more drastic tax, when applied to the cal- endar year 1921, is based on the “fair value”” December 31, 1921, using weighted average, $15,734,221.98 The gross revenue for the vear Is given as $5,501,200.35; operating ex- penses and taxes, $3,794,260.48, less taxes on gross receipts, $217,646.79; operating expenses less taxes on gross receipts, $3.676,713.69; operating in- come year ended December 31, 1921, $1.924,486.66; 7 per cent return on falr value, $1,101,395.53; operating in- come im excess of 7 per cent return, $823,091.13, Amount of tax under proposed law; operating income in excess of 6 per cent and more than 7 per cent on fair value, $157,342.21; deduct 50 per cent, $78,671; operating fncome in excess of 25 per cent, or $203,772.18, $617,318.35, maki $695,989.46. Operating Income. Operating income—year ended De- cember 31, 1921, $1,924,456.66 less amount of proposed tax, or $695,989.46, leaves operating income available for return amounting to $1,228,497.20, or a return on the fair valuation of the road of 7.80 per cent. The tax under existing law on the Capital Traction ICompuny is $217,546.79, and the i leaving ing a total tax of :5;!:7! under the new plan is $478,- The statement submitted by the Commissioners with reference to the ‘Washington Railway and Electric :fc-mpany and subsidiaries is as fol- ows: Fair value of the company and sub. sidiaries as of December 31, 1921, using weighted average, $17,236,409.5%. Gross revenue for year ending De- cember 31, 1921, $6,095,136.563. Operat- :nx zxpenlll and taxes, $5,010,349.10, ess taxes on gross receipts amount- {ing to $241,314; operating expenses less_taxes on gross reoeipts, $4,769,- 034.56; operating income year ended December 31, 1921, $1,326,101.97; 7 per cent return on fair value of company, $1.206,648.66; operating income in ex. cess of 7 per cent return, $119,553.81. Proposed Tax Amounts. Amount of tax under proposed law; operating income in excess of 6 per cent and not more than 7 per cent return on fair value, $172,364.09; de- duct 50 per cent, $86,182.04; operating income in excess of .7 per cent re- turn, $119,553.31, deduct 25 per cent, or $29,888.32, leaving $89,664.99, mak- ing a total tax of $175,847.04. Operating income year ended Decem- ber 31, 1921, $1,326,101. less amount of proposed tax, or $175,847.04, leaves operating income available for re< turn of $1,150,264.93, or a return on the fair value of the road of 6.67 per cent. The present 'tax is $241,814, and the proposed tax, $175,848.04, or a re- duction in taxation of § 7.50. : WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION I E———.. y Blar, == Member of the Associated Press The Associated Press is exclusively entitled to the use for republication of all news dispatches credited to it or not otherwise crefited in this paper and also the local news published herein. Al rights of publication of special dispatches Lerein are also reserved. Mme. Fatima to TS A MARVELOUS BUILDER LLSTiek Sail Back Home Minus Her Diamonds and Dignity Special Dispatch to The Star. NEW YORK, March 7.—Her dream of an American paradise ended, Princess Fatima IS going home. Th “mystery” of her visit was cleared today, while the man who introduced her to President Harding languished In a Brooklyn jail. America has been reluctant to de- port Fatima. So thé British govern-| ment is helping her make a graceful though dismal exit. She sails for In- dia Friday, disappointed, disillusioned and deceived. From the splendor of a White House reception and especial audiences with the President and Secretary Hughes to the squalor of East Side poverty the princess has gone in the lhorl{ space of a few months. First her claim to royalty was dis- puted. The United States government looked that up and found she was neither a part of a movie stunt nor a bogus princess. The story, disclosed now for the first time, of how she came from Afghanistan with the curious expectation of a grant of| 1and from President Harding to make a home for her three sons, how she hoped to sell a big diamond for $350,- 000, how she fell into the hands of impostors and finally became a charge per cent on that portion of the Operat:{upon the community. dependent -upon | charity, is one of the dramatic ro- mances of the year. Two governments—Great Britain and the United States—have had to take a hand. The last chapter in the spectacular career of the princess in America became known today with the making of official arrangements for her involuntary departure Friday. DEATH AND INJURY INTORNADO WAKE Six Known Dead in South Carolina Towns—Many Trapped in Ruins. By the Associated Press. AUGUSTA, Ga., March 7.—Six per- sons were killed and scores injured in a ternado whick just before' day- break today swept the mill town of Warrenville, S. C, and the village of Stifieton, S. C. Many of 'the injured are expected to die. Estimates of the numbers in- jured ia both Warrenville and Stifle- ton are conservatively placed at forty. Ald has been rushed from Aiken, S. C., and the Aiken chapter of the Red Cross, in charge of Miss Agnes Campbell, R. G. Terrence and Miss Anna Phelps of Washington, D. C., is rushing relief measures. Search for Possible Victims. Searchers are looking through the debris of the houses for dead and in- jured, many of whom are believed to be yet trapped under the fallen structures. Twenty-two houses were razed at Warrenville and six were razed and blown away at Stifieton. Several persons are said to have been killed at Langley, S. C. Tele- phone and telegraph communication own is cut off. - w%tv';rlrhe;:'on, Ga., several miles from Auguta up_the Georgia railroad, also is reported to be a storm sufferer. Wire communication with that town is also cut off. Charles S. Banghart, general man ager of the Augusta-Aiken rallway, s2id this morning that a considerable portion of his line between here and Alken was reported down. OQther Deaths Reported. Marion S. Symms, manager of the local telephone company, sald his wires between Augusta and Aiken were down, but that a lineman had sent in a message from the top of a pole in which hé reported that nine people had been killed and a large number of houses blown down. The lineman said, according to Mr. Symms, that plans were being made to rush the injured to Alken and Augusta hospitals. Morgue Opened at Alken, 8. C. COLUMBIA, S.'C., March'7.—A spe- clal to the Columbia Record says five persons are dead and fifteen to twenty injured at Warrenville. Houses in the path of the tornado were shattered. A morgue has been opened at Aiken. Several of the in- Jjured are expected to dle. _The tornado_swept down upon the (Continued | . Fatima, “Sultana of Kabul,” landed | in New York eight short months ago, When {urrayed in oriental splendor. he sails vith her, but the family jewels and a good part of the royal wardrobe | will remain behind to be squabbled over by a lot of disappointed cred- | itors, including the managers of some | of New York's most fashionable hoteis, who gladly at first opened their doors |to the dark princess with the sap- phire-studded nose. | Sticks to Nose Gem. | In all her vicissitudes of the last | few months Fatima has never once | thought of parting with the blue | gem that adorns her rather large nostril—the gem that gave right | Broadway and 5th avenue a real thrill last summer. It was a painfully short journey for | the swarthy “sultana” from her brief ! half hour of glory at the White | House in Washington to the shabbiest {of rooms in New York's teeming { East Side. The Salvation Army cared | for her for a time last November, and ! then the Travelers' Aid Soclety took | up the charitable trisk. | At laet, howevcr, the British gov- { ernment was consulted and the inti- ! mation was broadly given both here and in Washington that Inasmuch as Afghanistan was a British protecto- | rate. making Fatima a sort of British bject, it was the duty of Britain once more to take up the white man’s burden and care for the stranded Fatima, until such time as {t would | be “entirely convenient” for the Brit- i ish government to see that she set | sail for India, whence she came. So, during the latter part of her stay in_New York she has been the (Continued on Page 4, Column 7.) KELLOGG DEMANDS - QUICK PACT AGTION Four-Power Treaty Might Be Marred by Reservations, Senator Declares. Advocating ratification of the four- power Pacifio treaty without hesita- tion or qualification, Senator Kellogg, | republican, Minnesota, told the Senate today that the pact was so free from entangling commitments as to make reservations possible sources of em- barrassment rather than of advan- tage. The Minnesota senator said no agreement to employ force or to de- fend any other nation’s rights was contemplated by the instrument, and characterized the ‘“no alllance” reser- vation approved by the foreign rela- ! tions committee as wholly super- I | “It will undoubtedly be said,” he continued, “that this may be so; but what assurance have we that it is 80? There should be stronger ground for the adoption of reservations by the Senate than the argument that they can do no harm. f we are going t> ratify the treaty covered over with unnecessary reservations because they can do no harm, we may find that other countries will do the same, and some of the reserva- tions—theirs or ours—may hinder the ratification or weaken the effect of the treaty.” Refers to Bryan Treaties. Senator Kellogg reviewed the nego- tiations leading up to the treaty,and asserted that one of its most impor- tant provisions was that abrogating the Anglo-Japanese alllance, which e said long had been viewed with ‘suspicion.” ded to the Bryan arbitration treaties and similar inter- national agreements as. furnishing precedent for the four-power pact, and declared there was “no semblance of similarity” between the new treaty and the obligations of article X of the league of nations covenant. The most that the four-power treaty obligated the United States to do, he said, was to respect the rights of ories in the Pacific and to rights “It is tru he continued, “there is no definition as to just what those rights are, and no definition is neces- sary. We have absolute dominion over the Philippine Islands and the other powers agree to respect those rights. The other powers have ab- solute dominion or mandatories over other islands, and we agree to re- spect - their rights. * Denfes Danger of Disagreement. “There is little, if any, chance for di mmumwh.xmmnnu.x But, assume that the title of any coun- try should be questioned, we do not agree ‘to submit that ‘nuuon to arbi- tration or to the decision of any con- !ference, or to'be bound by any finding hut simply_ts ult togetaer, w'th a 2 «Contt Wi the three princely sons go | 'Specuiate as to Effect on I 1 | l | ! | ! t i ; C., TUESDAY, MARCH 7, 1922—THIRTY PAGES. POLITICIANS FEAR STRIKE POSSIBILITY Campaign—Woman Voters Become Factors. BY N. 0. MESSENGER. What effect the threatened strike of the coal miners may have upon political conditions this summer and fall is a subject of anxiety to sena- tors and representatives who are aspirants for renomination and to be candidates for re-election in Novem- ber. The possibilities of paralyzed industries and transportation, with consequent unemployment and un- rest, are being taken into serious consideration. Statistlcs show an improved con- dition in business, agriculture and manufacturing at this time—grad- ual, to be sure, with still a long way to go to reach normal, but pro- gressing with a start that is en- couragigk. A strike at this time could on:y serve, it is apprehended, to _check onward movement and bring abwuf a condition that could not fail 1o register in political fer- mentation. Laber Department at Work. All the press reports of the hour of conditions in the soft-coal-producing states are gloomy and foreboding. The governmental agents at command of | the Department of Labor are known to be active, but working in a mys- terious way their wonders to perform, the Secretary of Labor not being pre- pared to disclose the activiues. ‘The most menacing feature of the situation is appraised to be the seem- ing unwillingnes of some of the opera- tors and miners’ organizations to meet in joint conference to reach an agree- ment which would be binding in the ‘whole competitive fleld. The union and non-union miners are working at cross- urposes, seemingly, and the non-union men getting the best of the bargain in full production at lower wages. A profound disturbance in employ- ment and production, such as the threatoned coal strike would create, might set the whole country by the ears on the eve of an important po- litical campaign, the politicians fear. That it will be a political struggle of far-reaching effect i{s recognized on all sides. If it should result in re- versing the political complexion of the House of Representatives, effec- tive in the very middle of the new administration, it might naturally in- fluence the presidential campaign coming on two_years thereafter. Willlam J. Bryan, faculty of keeping his ear close to the political ground by reason of his constant contact with conditions in many states and meeting with live-wire politicians everywhere, is in Washington to hearten the demo- cratic political managers and demo- crats in Congress to renewed hope and courage, and to stimulate them to increasing activity. He advises them not to try to make political capi- tal out of party oppisition to the treaties growing out of the Wash- ington conference, but to propose the necessary reservations and ratify them. Mr. Bryan’ senses the democratic opportunity to rest in the economic legislation of the majority, and he is also aware of the general unrest in the country and the germ it con- tains of possible dissatisfaction with the dominant party. ‘The top-liner politicians in both parties are said to be keenly alive to the steadying influence of the woman voters in the next elections to offset possible radical movements. The ‘women are counted upon to be con- servative, and they may hold the bal- ance of power in event of a great up- heaval growing out of discontent. —_— U. S. DECIDES ON STAND ON GENOA CONFERENCE The attitude of the United States government toward participation in the forthcoming Genoa conference has been formulated and will shortly be announced, it was learned today at the White House. No intimation was given whether America would actively participate in the proposed conference. Previous intimations by high officlals have been to the effect that the United States could not participate at Genoa until the financial situation in Eu- rope had been brought to a point where constructive discussions could take phace. The close relation between Amer- ican finances and the finances of the rest of the world was discussed at length by the cabinet today, it was said at the White House. That re- lationship is considered to be one of the most important problems of cur- rent discussion, it was added. It was indicated at the White House hat the administration had given no onsideration to some suggestions that the American debt funding com- mixsion sheuld attend the Genoa enn- avonce. . ¥ s TWO CENTS. 'POISONOUS LIQUOR SOLD BY HUNDREDS OF GALLONS HERE Clamping Dow:n of Prohibition Act Cuts Off Nearly All But .Vile Concoctions. ANALYSES REVEAL FUSEL OIL, WOOD ALCOHOL AND FORMALDE- HYDE IN DANGEROUS QUANTITIES Bootleggers’ Poisons Threaten Sight, Life and Reason—Hospitals Treat Scores of Victims. Prohibition forces and the police have clamped down on viola- tors of the prohibition act with such a grip that it has become very difficult for would-be purchasers of liquor in Washington to get genuine products—which is as it should be. But an even greater menace to the imbibing folk of Washing- ton has developed. The closing up and tightening of legal locks on distilleries and warehouses—whence formerly came much of the bootleg product—and the perfection of a checking-up system which makes the forged permit method of withdrawing warehouse | liquor almost impossible has caused the influx of hundreds of gal- lons of poisonous concoctions into the city. It has also boomed the manufacturing of preparations which are deadly poison if taken in sufficient quantity and which bear the outward appear- ance of whisky but have the quality of the proverbial ashen-cored apples of the Dead sea. as well as a who has the| Know Contents Are Polsomous | Many Washington bootleggers are making poison liquor with full knowl- edge of its effects. They know when they put certain polson elements to- gether and sell them as liquor that the drinker is liable to serious in- Jury. i In addition to what is being made here, they are importing much stuff from nearby rural communities of Virginia and Maryland and selling it | From the mountains of Virginia and from outlying territory of Maryland, between 500 and 700 gallons per day: it is_estimated—are being brought into Washington. It is corn liquor, rich in the fusel oil that eventually blinds. Bootleggers who once gave quality products for the high prices charged in most cases now are handling lig- uors which may be up to proof, but which are rich in poisonous or in- jurious content. Facts Are Obtained. | These statements are not rambling insinuations. They are facts. That the public may be advised as to the truth the Star has made a] general survey of the bootlegging field in Washington and finds that, while genuine liquor may be diffi- cult to get, this so-called liquor can be purchased easily in the northwest, the northeast, the southwest and the southeast sections of the city, and that this liquor when analyized is almost invariably found to be poison- thi. -called liquor is disclosed: (1) b‘;’slggntedhle zflecu like that of! “knock-out” drops on many imbibers I ©'The polsonous character of most Ml are taken to the police statior :’rh:re at their homes or in the hos pitals fighting this poison; (2) by re ports from the hospitals, and (3) from analyses of typical samples of thes¢ concoctions. Cases Long in Hospitals. Washington Asylum Hospital, for example, for some time has been al most continually handling virtually its capacity for alcoholic cases caused by the drinking of inferior and pols- liquors. ors\’l‘t‘:ereqformerly the alcoholic case could be gotten into good condltionl and released from the ward in a or two at most, nowadays the ca remains for several days or for weeks until the physicians “are able suc- cessfully to combat the effects of the Poison elements in liquor now being sold. A physician at the hospital said that there was one case there now which had been in the hospital for five weeks as the result of “bad liquor.” Results of Analyses. A general summary of the analyser of typical bootleg liquor made re- cently by the National Vaccine and Antitoxin Institute at 1613 U street lows: Io(l)‘o Mine samples submitted fouiWhad heavy traces of fusel oil; two had a trace of this polsonous element .and one had a faint trace of it. making fusel oil a 77 per cent favorite in the e "ot "ihe nine—one-third—had wood alcohol, which was uncovered in special tests for this substance. One—it was supposed to be Haig & Halg whisky—had bay rum in addi- tion to the wood alcohol and a heavy trace of fusel oil. Formaldehyde Discovered. I In another concoction there were formaidenyde traces found in the test I This substance, it Is believed, is u for the purpose of preserving color- ing matter Intact and preventing set- ing of sediment. R ot the concoctions had artificial coloring matter present. One of the samples—supposedly Itallan vermouth —was found to contain so much sugar that it defied_analysis by the quick test system. It had no alcohol and was heavier than water. But there was 2 large amount of artificial color- |ing matter and sugar, and flavoring oils had been added. The sample labeled No. 1 was sup- posedly Pikesville whisky, which is being sold in the downtown section within three blocks of The Star build- Ing. It was 99 proof with alcoholic volume by weight 49.5. Artificial col- oring matter had been added and there was a large amount of fusel oil present. Fusel Ofl in “Gin” The second sample was gin, which is being sold by a bootlegger who uses an automobile to canvass his patrons. i Its alcoholic volume was 47 per cent and its proof was 94¢. There was nat- urally no sartificial coloring matter, but there was a trace of fusel oil. No ‘wood alcohol, however, was disclosed. ‘The third llmxlo ‘was alleged ver- mouth being sold by the same auto- mobilist bootlegger. No alcoholic eontent could be discovered. although- vert may showid he Toeetoa oils had been added, large amount of artificial coloring matter and a large amount of sugar. The fourth sample was so-called Haig and Haig Scotch whisky sold in a tire shop in the northeast section of the city. It was 104 proof. Artificial coloring matter had been _adde There was a heavy trace of fus oil and the test for wood alcohol reg: istered “Positive.” Polson Sold by Soclety Agenmt. Sample No. 5 was also a masquerad- ing Haig and Haig product from the valise of the bootlegging motorist, also known as the society bootlegge: The only test made for injurio contents which registered negative was for artificlal coloring matter. There was a positive mark for fusel oil; positive for woed alcohol and positive for bay rum. The sixth sample was alleged J: malca rum, from the same source &s the above. It was 78 proof, with 39 per cent alcohol by weight. The test was positive for artificial coloring matter, for wood alcohol and for fusel oil. Corn_whisky from an alley near Sibley Hospital was the seventh sam- ple. It was 96 proof and had no color- ing matter. There was a trace of for- maldehyde present. (Formaldehyde in corn whisky is unusual. The only explanation the chemist analyzing it could bring forth was that it had been doctored with alcohol, which was also being used for caramel col- ored whisky and therefore contained formaldehyde to preserve the color- ing matter). No. 8 sample was also corn whisky, from the vicinity of Jackson City, Va., It was S8 proof and had g.faint trace of fusel oil. A trace of fusel oil also was.in the ninth sample, which was gin, from the vicinity of the government print- ing office. It was 96 proof. These products—poison products— are typical of the liquor which is be- ing sold as genuine to rich and poor, black and white, business men and idlers in Washington today. Bootlegger's Poisons Threaten S| Life and Reason. P According to chemical experts of the prohibition enforcement bureau, fusel oil in sufficient quantities or taken steadily in even small quanti- ties resplts in & super-poweriul stimulation of the organic parts of the body, which causes the reactive speedy ‘decay of these organs. It specializes upon nervous system at- tacks. It eats up the nerve tissues by overstimulating them and- eventually result in a complete nerv- ous collapse, insanity and locomoter ataxia. There’s a list of many other complications for fusel oil users, but the foregoing are the principal ones. Wood alcohol, according to th same authorities, simply " eats away the optic nerves, rendering blind- ness more of a proability than a possi- bility. 1t also gets to work on the gen- eral points of the system, creating suci perilous heart action that speedy death is often the result. Formaldehyde is a special enemy of the blood and a tissue destructive agent. It cuts into the tissues of the throat causing pain and soreness and often results in a loss of speech. It systematically tears down the hu- man system eventually by eating up the structural tissues. eThat's what the poison will do for one. As can be seen from this out- line, the patron of the irresponsible bootlegger is liable to awaken some morning in the future writhing with tetanic convulsions or with the start of eye trouble which will end event- ually in total blindness. The distressing point is the appar- ent ease with which the ingredients work their harm to health. Their work may not be discernible for months—possibly not for a few years. But the progress against health has been going forward stealthily all the while. The poison causes eventual organic: breakdowns, just as serious as if the concoctions had “knocked out” the Imbibing one at the outset. The poison strikes from behind a veil, unseen and unfelt possibly, un- til too late for a remedy. Bootleggers Active Everywhere. Bootleggers do business virtually everywhere In the city. One has headquarters in an_express office in a semi-industrial district. Anather is in a barber shop downtown. Still another has a lunchroom in the heart of the financial district. At a room- ing house. in the business district is another bootlegger. Then there are a nest of them at a downtown point, with fifty peddlers on a single yare of the city. In exclusive . apartment houses, notably one in the ‘White Hot neighborhood; in ho- tels, in residences, in drug stores, in alley dens and in almost the very shadow of the s District Supreme Court house, where the law agal ‘legRing now heing admini ~inu-d on Page 5, Column ws