Evening Star Newspaper, May 1, 1922, Page 1

i what warmer tonight. Temperature for twenty: day. Full report on page 7. WEATHER. Fair tonight and tomorrow; some- ended at 2 p.m. today: Highest, 68, at noon today; lowest, 41, at 5 a.m. to- -four hours No. 28491 Closing New York Stocks, Page 25. Entered as second-class matter post office Washington, D. C. PROPERTY OWNERS WIN FIGHT AGAINST GOST OF PAVEMEN Court of Appeals Rules Bor- land Law Applies to City Streets Only. DECISION SETTLES ISSUE. NO APPEAL TO BE MADE Justice Stafford Says Taxpayer Should Be Given, Benefit of All Doubts. ~ The Borland law, assessing half the cost of paving against abutting prop~ erty owners, applies only to city streets and not to country roads in the rural sections of the city, the District Court of Appeals decided to- day in an opinion by Chief Justice Smyth. The finding of the Appellate Court up- lolds the decision rendered some time ago by Justice Stafford in the District Supreme Court, in which he toon the same view of the question. Corporation Counsel Francis H. Stephens, when he learned of the conclusion of the Court of Appeals, said he would not take the issue to the United States Supreme Court. $2,190.53 in Test Case. The case was brought by Anna M. Knox, Cora H. Knox and Nina V. “West, owflers of property abutting on Naylor road southeast. Chief Jus- tice Smyth pointed out in the deci- sion that the property is valued at only $11,300 and that the special as- sessment on it for the paving of Nay- lor road with common macadam came to $2,199.53. The decision means that persons owniug property in rural sections of the District of Columbia will not have to pay the one-half cost assess- went when abutting roags are im- proved. Corporation Counsel Stephens said today, however, that, so far as he knows, there is no well-defined boun- | / dary line that cculd be laid down to distinguish between city Streets and country roads. Each case, he said, will have to be decided upon Iits merits. Wants Wording of Law Followed. The Court of Appeals calls atten- tion to the wording of the law Which provides that a paving, for which there is to be an assessment levied. must not be less than one square in| extent from curb to curb- or gutter| The court takes the view | to gutter. that this was intended to mean city streets, for the reason that it is un- usual to speak of squares or curb when referring to a country road. The chief justice further states in the decision that it is the practice in cases involving taxation or assess- ment that the wording of the law should be followed as nearly as pos- _sible, and any doubt which may arise fshouid go to the taxpayer. FOUR-ALARM FIRE THREATENS HOTEL Portland, at Thomgs Circle, Damaged—Woman, Sick in Bed, Rescued. Fire bregking out in the apartment of Senator McKellar of Tennessee, at | the Portland, facing on Thomas Cir- cle, resulted in four alarms, a great deal of excitement, a general exodus of guests and little damage, except that caused by water. The fire was discovered by E. A. Gavey, who turned in the house fire alarm, which resulted in a general outpouring of guests. When the sec- ond alarm was turned in Fire Chief \ Watson accompanied the apparatus Ysind sent in two additional alarms. ¥he fire, which appeared of greate nroportions than it really was, was "xtinguished within half an hour after the firemen reached the scena. Mrs. Lynn Glover, forty-two vears old. ill in bed and unable to leave her room when the fire broke out. Two firemen brought her down in the elevator and left her-in the reception hall. The great volume of water had flooded the entire hotel, dripping down the stairways and elevator shaft to the first floor. The fire originated in apartment 52, occupied by Senator McKellar of Tennessee. On the same floor was Miss Margaret Cummins, a sister of Sen- ator Cummins of Iowa, who was con- fined to her room in a sick bed. She was one of the last to leave the apartment, having to wait until the| clevator, 'which was occupied in bringing firemen and fire-fighting ap- paratus to the roof, had space to ac- commodate passengers. LORD AND LADY ASTOR LEAVE FOR QUAKER CITY Lord and Lady-Astor left Washing- ton early today for Philadelphla, after what the latter described as the “most wonderful three-day visit ever enjoyed in the Nation's Capital.” lady Astor is to address the Women's Trade Union League at the Academy | of Music in Philadelphla tomorrow afternoon, she announced before her departure. Lord Astor stated that Lady Astor and himself would leave Philadelphia esday evening for Richmond, for a brief visit, after which they would go to Lynchburg, possibly Thursday, visit Danville, and later go to Lady Astor’s old home in Albemarle coun- tv. Lord Astor was unable to say where they would go after the Vir- sinia trip. Yesterday, the last day of the Brit- Ish couple in Washington, was spent in a strictly social way. After at- tending service in a Christion Science Church in the morning, they lunched ! with Gen. Pershing. Their other en- gagements Included a visit to Mount Vernon with Secretary of Commerce Jioover and a Dl!"t, of friends.. Sk HELD AT ELLIS ISLAND, MISSES ENGAGEMENT TO SEE PRESIDENT By the Associated Press. NEW YORK, May 1.—Gertrude Baer was released by a special board ‘of inquiry today. White House officials were in- formed today that one of those on President Harding’s engagement list for the day, Miss Gertrude Baer of Hamburg, Germany, & delegate to the meeting here of the Women's International League for Peace, would be unable to fill - the engagement because of deten- tion at Eilis 1sland. The visit of Miss Baer to the White House, it was sald by ofli- cials_there, had been arranged by the State Department at the re- Quest of the German embassy. Department of Justice officials said they had requested her de- tention upon arrival yesterday at New York pending investigation of alleged communistic beliefs. Delegates to the meeting of the International League for Peace had an engagement today® with Secretary Hughes to present a plea for recognition of Russia. CHANGES PROPOSED INBALL RENT LAW House Opponent and Advo- cate of Extension Agree Amendments Needed. Important changes will be made in the Ball rent act before it is reported to the House by the House District ! committee. This was assured today when the hearings on the bill, which { has already passed the Senate to con- tinue the life of the Rent Commission of the District of Columbia for two more years, was resumed today. Representative Frank C. Millspaugh of Missouri, republican, who is lead- ling the opposition to the bill, em- | phasized the need for certain amend- ments and it was admitted by Repre- sentative Hammer of North Carolina, the leading advocate for passage of the legislation, that certain,. facts brought out at the hearing today stressed the need for amending the act as it now exista One of these points is that a tenant in a case decided by the rent board and taken before the Court of Ap- peals should be required to give bond | pufiicient to cover the difference in iTental until the court has decided. | The rights of the landlord and owner also will be protected In the new bill, giving the landlord as well as the tenant a right to fils camplaint, ‘and also specifically providing how an owner can acquire possession of his property or can_ oust undesirable tenants. 2 o Comments of Members. Several times today Representative Hammer insisted that the rent beard seemed to be on trial before the com- mittee Instead of the merits of the legislation. Representative Keller of Minnesota stated his belief that the committee shculd first -pass upon whether the situation exists which requires extending the life of the i Ball rent act before close inquiry is made into the acts of the commission. Mrs, Clara Sears Taylor and William F. Gude, both members of the rent board, are to be heard tomorrow fmorning at 10 o'clock. This was made the special order of business for tomorrow, for the convenience of tenants, a large number of whom attended the hearing today. Chairman Sinclalr a Witness. A Leftwich Sinclair, chairman of the rent board, was the only wit- ness before the committee today. Over his protest, Representative Mills- paugh read into the hearing an ex- tract from the decision of the Court of Appeals of the District in the case of the Monmouth apartment, in which it was figured that the rate allowed by the board was conflscatory and that the defendant “did not have a fair and impartial hearing,” and which also stated that the rent board had acted in the double capacity of judge and counsel. Mr. Sinclair endeavored to convince the committee that the rent board had not unduly advanced considera- tion of the rents in the Meridian Mansion, it having been previously claimed that dye to the influence of senators, judges and millionaires, fa- voritism had been shown in consid- eration of Meridian Mansion rents. CLAIMS POLITICS NAMED 90 OF 92 POSTMASTERS Civil Service League Says Appoint- ments in Twenty States Ignore Eligible List. NEW YORK, May 1.—Ninety out of ninety-two postmgsterships went to republicans under the present admin- istration, although appointees were not first on the civil service list, the National Civil Service Reform League declared in a statement issued last night. The league denounces. the methods of naming forth-class postmasters and declares that their investigation in twenty states proves that politics is the nominating influence in post- | master appointments. The report is signed by William Dudley Foulke as chairman. Enjoy the Educational and Entertaining Radio Concerts which now fill the air, by using a simple and inexpensive set, which you can make. The Star begins today a series of ten articles, describing in simple de- tail how to construct and “hook up” a good working set. Begin the Series Today on the RADIOPAGE - @he Foeni WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION ~ n Star WASHINGTON, D. C, MONDAY, MAY 1, 1922—THIRTY-SIX PAGES. IFEDERAL WORKERS JOIN IN PROTESTING AGAINST TAX PLAN 5,000 -Bureau of Engraving and Printing Employes Fight Increase. STORM IS INCREASING AS ALL FORCES- UNITE Strong Complaint Made by Real Estate Board and Citi- zens’ Conference. Organized forces of business and real estate men and taxpayers that are fighting the Increased taxation plan proposea by the conferees on the District appropriation bill were considerably strengthened today when the joint conference board of the bureau of engraving and printing lined up with the protestants and re- quested a hearing on the matter, at which-- the District Commissioners would appear. Meantime, the special committee of the Washington Real Estate Board appointed to study the'new tax sys- tem_adopted resolutions protesting to President Harding, members of Congress and the municipal author- ities that the proposed taxation change would work a severe hardship on the District. They also requested a hearing and invited citizens asso- ciations’ representatives to meet to- morrow. Attention of Congress also was called to the opposition to the plan in a resolution sent to the Capitol to- day by Charles A. Baker, president of the Federation of Citizens’ Associa- tions. This resolution was adopted at a mass meeting of citizens and representatives of civic and trade bodies yesterday afternoon in the stadium of Central High School. 5,000 Employes Represented. Representing about 5,000 employes in the twenty-three various trades at the bureau of engraving and print- Ing, the legislative commfllee‘ of the joint conference board today pre- sented to the District Sommissioners, and forwarded to Congress, a request that an attempt be made to obtain a hearing before the conferees of the House and Senate on the propo change in fiscal relations before the report Is submitted to the floors of the respective houses for action. The petition embodied a protest against the insertion in the-confer- ence report of the new provision to increase assessment valuation on real { estate from two-thirds of its value to its full value and presented tife fol- lowing reasons for such & protest: Reasons fer Protest. “It seems to us that the bills that passed the House and Senate do not require a change in assessment valua- tion. “We were wondering whether the District appropriation conference committee has the power to add new legislation and whether it would not be subject to a point of order. “The Commissioners of the District of Columbia should. at least be given an opportunity to be heard on the merits of the proposed legislation.. “In many and, indeed, a great m Jority of cases ‘he employes of the bureau of engtaving and printing haye selected their places of resi- dence with regard to reasonableness of rent and a corresponding decrease of call upon their resources in the matter of the cost of living, and any increase of expenses to them in taxes is @ matter of great importance, espe- clally in view of the prevailing rates of their compensation. Of the 5800 employed, fully one-half are low-sal- aried, and by these even a slight in- credse of expenses is seriously felt. Would Increase Burden. “Referring to the vast numbers of government employes and others of moderate means who have purchased homes within the past few years, many of them making sacrifices in their effort to complete payment on deferred mortgages, their burden would not only be increased by the contemplated boost in real estate taxes, but an Increase in Intangible tax would have a direct effect on them, as holders of mortgages would more than likely transfer this raise in Intangible tax to an increased rate of interest charge to the prop- erty owner. “With a shortage of houses and apartments still existing to asmarked degree, and rents at an abnormal high_point, it would seem particu- larly unfortunate that any legislation should be passed at this time that would give a setback ‘to the efforts that are being made to solve the housing shortage by both the national government and the state authorities. Such legislation means higher rents, higher rates of interest on mortgage loans, and may mean the loss of homes to men of a moderate salary who may be buying on the monthly payment plan and whose salary will not stand any additional burden.” The petition was submitted by Ed- ward R. Williams, the chairman of the board, and Miss Mary Campbell, secretary, who waited on the Com- missioners this morning. District fiscal experts are at work today figuring up in dollars and cents exactly what the new legislatiol would mean to the pocketbooks o! the District. It is expected that com- plications will be presented to the District Commissioners for their in- formation and guidance within the next few days. One statistics shark here today dug up the assessment rate of the state of Minnesota, whence hails Repre- sentative Davis, chairman of ,the House conferees. It was shown that by law in his state the taxes were levied on a 40 per cent property as- sessment. Realty Board Protests. Resolutions notifying President Har- ding and congressional and municipal officials that the proposed tax in- creases in the District of Columblia would work 'severe hardship on ‘Washington and urging Congress to give the' citizens ample time to be heard relative to the recommenda- tions of the conferees on the District appropriation bill were adopted unanimously today at a meeting of the special committee of the Wash- ington Real Estate Board appointed to consider the tax question. At the same time letters were sent out inviting the heads of the various business asd civic D{mlullonx to delegate speclally authorized commit- tees or representatives to meet in Jjoint conference with a realtors’ com- mittee tomorrow afternoon for the (Continued on Page z, Columa s.) IFONE CouLD IROB RISH BANKS OF 100,000 POUNDS Republican Irregulars in New Step to Paralyze Provi- sional Government. By the Associated Press. BELFAST, May 1.—DMore than 100,- 000 pounds sterling have been taken by Irish Republican army irregulars in raids on various branches of the Bank lof Ireland in the south, it was re- ported in Belfast today. The branches at Limerick, Water- ford, Wexford, Clonmel, Sligo, Castle- bar and Tuam were among, those ralded. All the ralders escaped cap- ture. No bther banks were touched. At Limerick the raid was carried out and th&“oney of the bank was rémoved dn motors while a large crowd looked on.- The bank of Ireland has been act- ing as treasurer of the Irish pro- visional govefnment and it was be- lieved here that the seizures were in- tended to embarrass and paralyze the work of provisional government offi- cials. PROTESTANTS ORDERED TO ¢O. Railroad Tracks Also Torn Up and Bridges Destroyed. By, the Assoclated Press. TEMPLEMORE, County Londonder- ry, May 1.—The Protestants of this district and a number of regular Irish republican army troops today were ordered to. leave. Railroad tracks in a number of places have been torn up, bridges have been de- stroyed and-the roads blocked. LONDONDERRY, May 1.— Armed Irish republican army insurgents are active on Londonderry-Donegal bor- der, according to reports received here. They were said to have held up and conflscated a number of mo- tor cars from Londonderry to Free State territory. REBELS GIVE UP WHISKY. Bloodshed at Kilkenny Avoided by Action of Troops. By the Associnted Press. DUBLIN, May 1.—The irregular re- publican troops who seized the bond- ed stores in Kilkenny on Saturday and regoved the whole stock of whisky to the Kilkenny jall sur- rendered the goods ‘to the regulars after intervention by the mayor, says a statement issued from general headquarters in Beggars Bush bar- racks. At the same time they ‘sur- ‘rendered the whisky the irregular forces evacuated the jail. Commander Prout of the regulars reported that the whisky had been shipped to Kilkenny from Dublin, and was not made in Belfast, as supposed. The jail is under guard of regular troops. A royal Irish constabulary automo- bile, bound for Drogheda from the Gormanstown camp, was ambushed yesterday and the driver killed. The slayers seized the car and fled, leav- ing the policeman's body in the road. The car had been sent for a Presby- terian minister who was to conduct the Sunday services at the police camp. WILSON CLUB SMOKES. National University Law Students Have Special Program. The Woodrow Wilson Club of the National University of Law held a smoker in the Marlea Cafeteria Sat- urday evening. Fifty-six students and thelr friends ~attended the moker. Addresses were made by President Henry P. Thomas, Prof. Conrad Syme, the toastmaster of the evening; Representative Garrett of Tennessee, Robert N. Harper, Justice Frederick Siddons and Harold Foulkrod of this city,,a representa- tive of The Wilsonian, a democratic magazine. The evening.was arranged by Mr. Thomas and Hugh H. Framp- '. MEXICO WANTS ALIENS:- Obregon Tells Visitors Foreign Capital Is Welcomed. By the Associated Press. MEXICO CITY, May 1.—In an ad- dress last night to a group of Amer- fcan and European business men who were/visiting him at Chapultepec Cas- tle, President Obregon declared that Mexico welcomed with open arms all foreign capital and was disposed to give all guarantees so long as for- eigners acted within the law. A _representative of the Interna- tional Harvester Company was in the group. He is making a special in- quiry, into the cultivation of hene- quen (sisal hl) in Yucatan - ONLY TELL EXPLOSION KILLS FIVE. Rooming House Blows Up From Some Unknown Cause. YKANSAS CITY, Mo.. May 1—Five negroes were killed and a number of others injured early today in an explosioh in a rooming house. The cause of the explosion has not yet been determined. The building was wrecked. ARAN N SEWATE Unfavorable Reports on Two of Caraway’s Resolutions - . Seeking More Data. The controversy over “the recent dismissals of Director Wilmeth and Other employes of the bureau of en- graving and printing bobbed up again in the Senate today when Senator Sterling, chairman of the civil serv- ice committee, reported adversely !uyo of the Caraway resolutions seek- ing to obtaln information from . the administration in regard to these dis- missals. One of the Caraway resolutions re- ported adversely called upon the ad- ministration for information as to whether former soldiers and sailors had been discharged or demoted in civil service in conflict with an act of 1912, which directed that former service men should not be dismissed or demoted as long as they were rendering satisfactory service. ‘The other resolution reported ad- versely called for the appointment of a select committee of the Senate to investigate the dismissals. Third Report Due Soon. A third resolution introduced by Senator Caraway of Arkansas, demo- crat, calls upon the President to furnish the Senate full information regarding the dismissals, including the reasons why these men and wom- en were dismissed without first giv- ing them an opportunity to reply to any charges that might be made against them. The civil service com- mittee 18 ¢ipected to report on the third resolution at an early date. The expectation is that an adverse report ! will be made on it als The report of these resolutions to the Senate gives the Benate an op- portunity to act on them if it de- sires to. It is expected that Sen- ator Caraway will ask action. The adverse report on the first reso- lution is based on the contention that the provision of the act of 1912,is not enforceable. In that act provigion was _made for the establishment of efficiency ratings in all the depart- ments and bureaus by the Civil Serv- ice Commission. The paragraph relating to former service men, it is held, must be con- sidered in connection with the pro- viso relating to efficlency ratings. The efficlency ratings have never been es- tablished as provided by law. There- fore it is held that the provision re- latiag to the fcrmer service men can- not be applied. 5 A Previous Ruling. As a matter of fact, a case involv- ing this point has already been de- .cided by the courts of the District of Columbia. In 1915 an employe of the navy yard, a former service man, brought actlon to prevent his re- moval or demotion under the- pro- vision of the act of 1912. The Dis- trict Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals both held that, as the ef- ficiency ratings had never been es- tablished, the paragraph relating to former service men was not effective. . As some of the dismissed employes of the bureau of engraving and printing formerly served in the Army and Navy, this Caraway resolution had its bearing on the dismissals in the bureau. The second Caraway resolution was reported adyersely, on the ground that the information sought was t‘;rverefl in the third Cdraway resolu- on. Today’s News in Brief. Pastor kidnaped and cast into ditch. . Page 1 Republican irregulars rob Irish banks of 100,000 pounds sterling. Page,1 Bureau dispute over dismissals again before Senate. Page Soviet bribes here, Gompers charges. Page, 2 Eastlake testifies against Miss Knox. Page Maj. Gen. McAndrews dies’ at Walter Reed. Page 2 o - Opposition in Erance to Ambassador Jusserand of long standing. Page 3 BUREAU DISPUTE | Ihlnd and foot, a gag in his mouth — KIDNAPED PASTOR “[S CHLOROFORMED Gagged and Thrown Into Ditch on Eve of Church Trial. By the Associated Press. LAWTON, Okla.,, May 1.—Plans for the church trial May 9 of the Rev.| Thomas Irwin, pastor of the First Presbyterjan Church here, proceeded today in the Ebsence of any action| to determine who kidnaped the Rev. Mr. Irwin Saturday night, hit him on the head, chloroformed him and threw him in a ditch twelve miles trom the city. ‘The Rev. Mr. Irwin was found by passing motorists after he had laid in she ditch three and one-half hours. Today he repeated that he could identify none of his three assailants. Factions in Congregation. Both factions in the ‘congregation, which has been split for more than a year, when the pastor preached the funeral sermon of Jake L. Hamon, after Hamon was slain by Clara Smith Hamon, were discussing the incident today, but gut of the discus- sion nothing concrete for an investi- gation has come thus far. The Rev. Mr. Irwin also married a couple in a public bathing pool and exhibited motion pictures in his church, things which split the con- gregation anew. Recently the Rev. Mr. Irwin an- nounced that certain persons were trying to intimidate him and force him to leave town, and some time ago. he said. he was approached by three men as he was leaving the church one Sunday night and at the point of guns warned to go to an- yther city. Story of Kidnaping. According to his story of the Sat- urday night incident, he was on his way to the home of a member of his congregation at about § o'clock when | three men stopped him and knocked him unconscious witn 3 blow on the head. When he awoke he said he was in a moving automobile, tied and one of the men sitting upon him. He declared he heard one of the trio urge the other two to “do away with him now,” while another suggested that they give “him one more chanée to_get out of town.” Soon afterward he stated he was thrown from the motor car into & ditch at the side of the road, and al- though he succeedeg in removing the gag sufficiently to hale several pass- ing motorists, none would stop and render him aid when they recognized him, until finally five tourists picked him up and took him to the residence of Senator J. E. Thomas, nearby, where first aid was administered. He had recovered entirely today. ——— PACKERS’ ACT UPHELD. Declared Constitutional by the Su- preme Court. * The packers and stockyards act of 1921 was today declared constitutional by the Supreme Court. The court, in disposing of cages brought by James E. Burton and others representing Chicago traders, and Stafford Brothers, in behalf of Chicago commission merchants, de- clared that commission merchants, traders and dealers who buy and sell live stock after its arrival at Chicago stockyards are engaged in interstate commerce. * D. C. MAY GET SURPLUS. [Jones Resolution for Probe of Funds to Be Favorably Reported. . . The Jones' concurrent resolution, providing for an investigation of the surplus revenues of the District which have accrued in recent years, but which the District has been un- able to use, will be reported favorably from the Senate District committee at an early date, probably Wednesday, according to Senator Ball, chairman of the committee. Senator Ball said that he was con- vinced that some settlement should be made in Tegard to the surplus revenue of the District, as soon as possible. He expressed the opinion that the District was entitled to the use OY the surplus, now amounting to nearly five million dollars. SECRET GERMAN MILITARY TREATY DENIED BY RUSSIA Tchitcherin Says There Were No Political Clauses in Rapallg Pact. PARIS RESENTS LETTER BATTLE FOR PEKING STILL RAGING, WITH WU FORCES GAINING Tide of Conflict Rolling East- ward Toward City’s . Southern Wall. DEFENDERS PLAN STAND. AT HUN RIVER CROSSING Guard About American Legation Increased—Another U. S. Warship Expected. — By the Associated Press. PEKING, May 1.—Thegpattle for the possession of Peking was still con~ tinuing today, with the advantage ap- parently going to the forces'of Gen. Wu Pei-Fu, driving toward the cap- ital from the south. Advices from the center of the fight- ing, twelve miles southwest of the city, were that Gen. Wu was forcing the soldiers of Gen. Chang Tso-Lin from Changsintien, and that the tide of battle was rolling eastward toward the southern walls of Peking. WRITTEN TO BARTHOU | "2y cuntre broke out to the east iewed as Continuation of Soviet Efforts to Gain French Confidence. By the Associnted Press. GENOA, May 1.—Foreign Minister Tchitcherin, head of the Russian dele- gation at the economic conference, has written a letter to Vice Premier Barthou of France, assuring him there are no secret military or political clauses in the Russo-German treaty signed Easter Sunday at Rapallo. He says Russia is not hostlle toward France, notwithstanding France's un- friendly attitude toward Russia. PARIS, May 1.—The full text of the letter from Soviet Foreign Minister Tehitcherin to Vice Premier Barthou, declaring there were no annexes to { the Russo-German treaty of Rapallo| providing for a military combination with Germany,. has been received at the French foreign office. French offi- cials regard the letter as a continua- tion of soviet efforts to gain French confidence in view of soviet Russia’'s financial needs. 1t was remarked today by, foreign office officials that M. Tchitcherin re- ferred only to the treaty signed at Rapallo and omit:ed a categoric denial of eny understanding, political or mili- tary, with Germany. Hostllity Charge Resented. M. Tchitcherin's reference to the hostility of the French to the Rus- sian people was particularly resented. “The French government ard the French people have the greatest sympathy for the Russian people. The soviets will fail to convince the world that the French attitude toward their government implies hostility to their peopl said a high rench official to- day. “We frankly and avowedly dis- trust the Moscow leaders, and sym- pathize all the more with the people because they are not permitted to express their will freely.” Official* advices to the French for- eign office lack information concern- ing the reports that Prime Minister Lloyd George had proposed that the allied supreme eouncil meet at San Remo during the Genoa conference, it was stated today. Meanwhile, the attitude of the French government concerning a su- preme council meeting is unchanged. It remains hostile to any discussion of the measures to be taken against Germany until the reparations com- mission has given notification of a default by Germany, it is declared. Work on Proposals. GENOA, May 1.—The work of com- pleting the allied proposals to Russia was resumed today, with the promise of more rapid headway than hereto- fore. The last few days have brought into evidence a more harmonious spirit between the British and French delegations, desp{té the continuing clashes between Mr. Lloyd George and M. Barthou. Confidence is_felt that the divergence in the British and French views can be adjusted so as tg present a solid front to the soviet delegation. M. Barthou wishes to see the proposals whipped into shape before leaving for his heart-to- heart talk with Premier Poincare, and now plans not, l: start for Paris before tomorrow night. ‘While nothing has been officially communicated to the Russians as to the progress of the work, they have been able to keep familiar with what has already been decided by the pow- ers, through publication of the de- tails in Genoa. The impression also obtains that quiet unofficial confer-; ences are taking place between the allied delegates and soviet leaders in an endeavor to lead them to appre- ciate the standpoint of the powers in their task of gllnnlnk the economic rejuvenation of Russia. Pope's Letter Pleases. Publication of a letter from Pope (Continued on Page 2, Column 2.) VIRGINIA “COOK TRAP” PUZZLES OHIO FOLKS WITH AMAZING RESULTS Special Dispatch to The Star. LEESBURG, Va. May 1—Aris- tocratic Loudoun county, Va., lays . claim today to its first real mod- ern “cook trap” It Is on the country estate of John Y. Bassell, formerly ‘of Columbus, Ohlo, 2nd was exhibited to a party of Mr. Bassell's old Columbus friends Who stopped oft here on a motor trip to New York. The visit wss marked by a luncheon fit for the gods. Vir- ginia ham, chicken a la Maryltnd, diamond-back terrapin, corn frit- ters, waffles and honey carried the visitors, who ‘were no mean epi- cureans themselves, into the elysian flelds of the culinary art. Naturally, they marveled at the ‘manner in which the food was pre- pared and served; marveled that in “these post-slavery days the coun- try ‘roundabout here could boast— and keep—such a master of the A e 3 It's the ‘cook trap' explained Mr, Bassell, with a broad grin. “What in the world——?" The host anticipated the expres- sion of surprise. “Wait and see,” he commanded. And then when the luncheon was over he conducted his guests to the trap. As an integral part of*a mnew brick garage, Mr. Bassell h _ bullt a boudoir which might have been plucked right qut of the Ritz Hotel. Tiled bath, lace curtains, telephone, electric lights with a push button on the wall to snap them on and off; brass bed, fine rugs, a dressing table with three mirrors—these are some of the accouterments of the “cook trap.” “There it is, gentlemen, and it works like a charm,” said the host with a proud sweep of the arm. The old colored mammy now serv- ing as cook Yows no one can get her out of the “trap” until sh dies. But meantime Mr. Bassell is the only “farmer” in Loudoun county with & waiting list' of cooks. (Convrisht. 1922 2 | ; of Changsintien at $ o'clock last night, continuing intermittently all, night. Chang Troops Retreat. Artillery firing in the sector south of Peking became more intense to- ward midnight, and a small part of Gen. Chang Tso-Lin's army retreated toward the southwest walls of Peking. Gen. Wu Pei-Fu's forces appeared to be developing their flanking move- ment on Chang's right wing, while the latter's troops were defending the Marco Polo bridge across the Hun river, commanding the approach to Peking. Observers reported that Chang had @even batteries of three guns each, firing _ simultaneously, with trenches | over the hills along the river 600 yards apart. Gen. Wu has gone from Pao- take charge of the drive on Peking. His forces are using shrapnel and machine guns. (Liuliho is on the Peking-Hankow | railway, about thirty-five miles south of Peking, and twenty miles south of Changsintien, on which Gen. Chang Tso-Lin's right wing rests.) Reaches Telegraph Point. ‘Wu Pei-fu's army this afternoon had arrived at a point on the raiiroad be- tween Peking and Tientsin. The tele- graph staff at the station at Fengtai reported that soldiers were approach- ing. Part of Wu Pei-fu's army wasre- ported marching across the country to attack Chang Tso-Lin south of Tient- sin, Gen. Chang Tso-Lin is personally occupying a special train at Chung- liangchen, midway between Tientsin and Taku. Trafic between Peking and the sea consequently has bheen blocked. The Portuguese = minister here, who is dean of the diplomatic corps, filed a protest, asserting that tocol. He said unless the line was opened immediately the allies would be compelled to guard the railroad. The protocol provides for uninter- rupted traffic between Peking and Shanhaikuan, which is the northeast terminus of the great wall. Flerce Fighting Shown. Fighting around Peking has ditain- ished as a result of the retirement of | Chang Teo-Lin's army from the im- mediate vicinity. Chinese inhabitants said today the wounded and dead found outside the walls of the city indicated the flercest fighting that had taken place in recent history. It develops today that Gen. Feng Yuh Siang, the “Christian general” who commanded Wu Pei-Fu's opera- tions in _the battle of Changsintien, employed effective tactics. He with- drew south of Changsintien for the purpose of drawing Chang Tso-Lin's forces away from their positions. When they pursued, the Christian general's soldiers turned and de- {livered Heavy fire, causing 15,000 of Chang Tso-Lin's men to scatter into the hills. Feng Yuh Siang followed up this retreat, took a bridge and crossed the river. ‘Wu-Pei-Fu's plan is thought to be to drive the Manchurian general toward Tientsin. \ Three Chinese cruisers are reported to have arrived at Shanhaikuan. aim- ing to cut off Chang Tso-Lin's rear. The powers represented here are watching events closely. A French gunboat and a British gunboat have arrived off Baku, and an Italian gupboat is expected. CHANG HOLDS ADVANTAGE. Fails to Fall in Trap Laid by Wu in Retreating. BY WILLIAM R. GILES. By Cable to The Star and Chicago Daily News. Copyright, 1922, PEKING, May '1.—There has been continuous fighting on the whole front for the last thirty-six hours. The line extends from Chang Tsin- tien, a few miles southwest of Péking, southward to Machang, fifty miles south of Tientsin, Gen. Wu Pei-Fu's positions being parallel to the Pek- ing-Mukden rallway. His attempt to secure control of Peking by dislodg- ing the Fengtien forces at Chang Tsintlen failed. Gen. Chang Tso-Lin threw into the engagement a large artillery and cavalry reserve and drove back Wu Pei-Fu beyond his original position. The Fengtien troops refused to pursue, fearing & trap simi- lar to that which made Wu Pei-Fu famous when fighting the Anfuites three years ago. Gen. Chang Tso-Lin is now holding all the approaches to Peking in this direction, his right flank resting on the western® hills. Sunday morning ‘Wu Pei-Fu attempted encircling op- erations, but Chang Tsc-Lin antici- pated this and defeated in a ding- dong struggle, which is still going on. The bombing .of the cannon is heard continuously. Chang Tso-Lin holds a small mile- age of the Peking-Hankow railway nd the whole of the Peking-Mukden railway. ‘Wa Pel-Fu's Treops Wavering. Had Wu _ Pei-Fu captured Chang' Tsintien, which is an-tmportant junc- tion, he would have secured easy ac- cess to Chang Tso Lin's camps out- side the walls of Peking. Vigorous fighting is tdking place between Paotingfu and' Tientsin, where Wu Pel-Fu's troops are giving way. On the Tientsin-Pukow rall' at Machang Chang Tso-Lin - on tinfu, his headquarters, to Liuliho to * this was a violation of the 1901 pro- °