Evening Star Newspaper, June 4, 1922, Page 1

WEATHER. Fair today &nd.tomorrow; some- what warmer tomorrow. Temperature for twenty-two hours Member of lhe Associated Press Jnecxciuively entitied to diepatehes The Associated e use for repu soiication¥of st mews 0 it or not otherwise credited In. this paper aud alao the local uews published bereis. A 53 ended at 10 p.m. last night: Highest, All rights of publieation of special i S 813; lowest, 611 ¢ Gispatches herein are aiso reserved. Il = report on page 5. = —No. 28,525. U. 5. ACCEPTS PART IN ALLIED PROBE OF TURKISH ATROCITIES Reu iv to Britain Limits Ac- tivity to Search for True Facts. HUGHES’"REPLY ASSUMES NO FURTHER OBLIGATION 7 { Would Assign Officers to Greece, if Permitted to Watch for Retaliation. The‘American government has ac- cepted the invitation of~Great Brit- ain to be representéd on the com- mission which is to investigate al- leged Turkish atrocities in Anatolia. In announcing the decision yester- day, however, the State Department emphasized that, as understood here, the commission's duties are to be limited to making an inquiry into conditions purely for the information of the governments parfcipating. The United States,’it was said, does not by its participation assume any further obligation or enter into any commitment. The American government's de- cision was announced in the follow- ing_statement by Secretary Hughes: “On May 15, 1922, a note was re- ceived from the British ambassador referring to reports of the renewal of the deportation of Christians by the Turkish authorities at Angora and the alleged atrocities connected therewith and communicating a pro- posal of the British government that the American, British, French and Italian governments should at once depute carefully selected officers to proceed to such places in Anatolia as might best enable them to con- duct an appropriate investigation. Fear Retaliation. “In a subsequent memorandum of May-19 the British ambassador indl- cated that the Turkish deportations and outrages might lead to retalia- tory action In territory held by the Greek forces and suggested that the government of the United States should join in requesting the author- ities functioning in Greece to per- mit the dispatch of officers to regions under Greek occuffiftiomn. “In answering these communica- tions the Secretary of State has said that the situation of the Christian.mi- norities in Turkey had enlisted to a marked degree the sympathies of the American people, ‘and it has been noted with deep concern that the work of benevolence and educational institutions in Turkey has steadily been hampered, that the rights which American citizens have long enjoyed in Turkey in common with the na- tionals of other powers have often been disregarded, and the property rights and Interests of Americansand | other foreigners placed in jeopardy. Seek Accurate Data. “In view of the humanitarian con- siderations which are Involyed and of the desire of this government to have adequate information througha thorough and impartial investigation . of the actual conditions prevailing in Anatolia, in order that this govern- ment may determine its future policy in relation to the authorities concern- ed, the President is prepared to des- ignate an officer or officers to take Part in the proposed inquiry. “In Informing the British govern- ment of the foregoing the govern- ment of the United States has made 1t clear that the proposed action is lim- ited in scope to an inquiry to obtain accurate data as to the situation in Anatolia, for the information of the governments participating therein, and has stated that this government assumes no further obligation and en- ters into no commitments. “In order to expedite the inquiry it was at the same time suggested by this government that officers should be designated by the respective gov- ernments to institute inquiries con- currently in the districts respectively under Greek and Turkish occupation, and that these two-commissions, upon the completion of their investigation should unite in a comprehensive re- port.” Aie s e STUDENTS PLAN STRIKE. College Boys Demand Reinstate- ment of Suspended Class Officers. HURNELL, N. Y., June 3.—The sty- dent senate of Alfred University has served notice on the university heads that a general strike will be called next Monday morning at 8 o'clock unless suspended officers of the class of 1925 are reinstated. The class officers were suspended by Dean Paul Titsworth after disorders attendant upon the an- nual “moving up” day program, when the freshmen became sophomores. - The dean holds the class officers responsible for the conduct of the classes. A demand was made that Harry Hoehn of Cleveland, president, and Ray Horton of Elmira. treasurer of the class, be reinstated. Dr. Titsworth re- fused, and the student body then’voted to walk out unless ‘the order is re- ecinded. The students take the atti- tude that the class officers, elected only four days ago, cannot be held responsi- ble for the acts of the rest of the class. ' TOKIO CABINET MAY QUIT. Préemier W Suggests Joint nulmfi-n eau-nu. TF the Assoclated Press. . - TOKIO, Jube,3.—Premier Takahashi {Pgain suln-m‘ to his colleagues to- {Gay the advisability of the joint f sdanation of the cabinet, Entered as second-class mal post office Washington, D. C./ TEXAS TO BOLLING FIELD IN FOUR DAYS, RECORD -OF MARINE CORPS FLYER Maj. E. H. Brainerd of the Ma- rine Corps, fiying from Houston, Tex., in a service plane, arrived at Bolling Field here yesterday; covering the 1,500 milées in four days. At Marine .Corps head- quarters the flight was described as an experimegt in long distance cross country “fying. Leaving Ellington Field ea-ly the morning of May 3., Maj.~ Brainerd made four stops. HUSBAND GRUCIFIED ! PRINCESS ASSERTS Labor Department‘ -Hears Thrilling Story of Sovie@ Background. W\AS BORN IN KENTUCKY Flights, Reconciliations, Tragedies, Involve Fight to Stay in America. Prineess Ivan Tschernitschew of the former Russlan aristocracy, wha claims American citizenship and wh Bas boen. denied - admizsioR Ao i | United States by the poft authorities jot \ew Orleans, has succeeded in ucl« ting her case before Secret: Labor Davis, who is expected lu ren- des- a decision within a few daya. The story told by the princess to the Labor Department authorities was said to deal with “the murder and crucifixion of her husband by the bolsheviki, the disappearance of her eight-year-old son, a black dis- patch box containing secrets of the lost royalist cause In Russia, a flight across Europe on foot to evade the secret agents of the soviet, and a trip across the Atlantie, partly as a stow- away, and partly as a stewrdess. Bora_in Kentucky. The Labor Department’s statement said: “The Drlm,esa claims that she is a native American, born in Louisville, Ky.. August 13, 1881. She says her mother was Countess Potempkin of the Russian aristocracy, closely conm- nected with the Russian royal family, who renounced her rank to wed her tather, Frederick Schlich, a TIAn naturalized as an American citizen. She says her father vanished when she was two years old. The princess s she lived with her mother in New York, at 36 West 34th street, until ¥896, when she was fifteen years old. Then her mother took her to Europe, and in Berlin, in 1902, she says, she was married to Prince Ivan )Tschernitschew, a Russian. She spent but one day with the prince, return- ing to her mother in Beglin. Mother and daughter returned to New York in 1902 and lived there until 1909. In that year, the princess says, her mother, ill in health, returned to Riga to visit her relatives, taking her. Reconciliation Effected. “At Riga the mother effected, a recongiliation between her daughter and hugband and died. At Riga, the princess claims, her son was born, and the family lived in peace until the bolshevik uprising. During the early days of the revolution, she says, her father sent her son away to a place of safety and she has not seen him since. In 1819, her husband was_ taken by the bolsheviki, and she tells a harrowing tale of his *death by crucifixion. Before his death she says her husband, with the strictest injunctions of secrecy, Intrusted to her a black iron dispatch box which he told her contained papers of vital importance.to the royalist reg|me in Russia. “With her dispatch box the princess says she fled to the estate of a Count Dusterlohe, where she remained until in 1912 the bolshevik forces attacked the estate. She says she fled, leaving behind all of her possessions, including the mysterious dispateh. box, which she believes contained pa- pers relating to the secret diplomatic dealings of various European and Asiatic nations with Russian royalty. She left Dusterlohe on foot, she says, and made her way across Germany, followed every foot of the way, she says, by agents of the Russian reds, who were under orders to kill her| rather than permit her °‘to reach America with the Becrets ef the lost dispatch box. She made her way to Massayck, Belglum, and reached Ant- werp November 9, 1921, “The princess says that in -her de- (Continued on Page 2, Column 3.) | | ! l T SUNDAY ™ MORNING, JUNE. 4, THE AMATEUR GARDENER’S WAIL. i HUSBAND SLAYER SENTENGED T0 DIE Widow of Atlanta Doctor to i Hang. July 28—Prosecu- I tor Asked Life Term. By the Associated Press. TA, Jure 3.—Mrs. Cora Lau n was convicted by a jury in superior court here tonight of the murder of her husband, Dr. W. D. Vinson, and sentenced to be hanged July 28. s The verdict without a recommen- dation fo mercy was more than even { Solicitor General Boykin had asked, Iu he had urged the jury to comvict the woman and fix her sentence at life imprisonment, saying he h: never asked that a woman be hang- ed. Under Georgla law a murfer verdlct witHout a recommendation carries the death penalty, which the presiding judge formally imposes. Mrs. Vinson shot her husband jn a drug store here in March whije divorce proceedings were pending. He had filed a petition for divoree, claiming she Had threatened to kil him, but she told the jury she thought he was about to shoot her when she fired. She was recéntly declared sane in court of ordinary and later at a special hearing in su- perior gourt. Only one white woman has ever been legally hanged in Georgia, ac- cording to S. G. McLendon, secretary of state, and he added that he thought Mrs. Vinson was the only other white woman to be sentenced to hang in this state. The jury trying Mrs. Vinson took two hours to reach a verdict after having heard Solicitor Boykin picture her as having “carefully planned in advance” to kill her husband. Samuel Hewlett, counsel for the defense de: | clared the evidence showed she, fired lin self defense and he asserted she had been “hounded” by her husband for years and deprived of the neces- sities of life. Mrs. Vinson heard the verdict calm- 1y and listehed in silence to the pro- nouncement of the death sentenve. Her counsel filed notice of an appeal for a new trial. Solicitor Boykin de- clined to say whether he would op- pose it. e NO TURKO-GREEK PARLEY Athens Minister Says Asie Minor Massacres Must Stop First. | ROME, June 3.—Emphatic denial was given today by Demetre Metaxa, the Greek minister, to reports that con- versations in Rome between Greek and Turkish nationalist representa- tives to bring about direct peace ne- gasiations between the Athens and Angora governments had terminated satisfactorily. Such pourparlers, clared, were impossible until powers guaranteed = protection Christian minorities in Alll‘Minor the minister de- the DOG KEEPS DAILY VIGIL AT CAR STOP WHERE MASTER FORSOOK HIM | Special Dispatch to The star. ROCKVILLE, Md., June 3.—The fidelity of a dog to his . master ' and others to ' whom: he might be attached s~ being hourly ex- emplified here in & rnolt touching manner._ ‘Phe morning of l(emorhl day a splendid ‘black and whité speci- " men, presumably part newfound- land and part setter or collle, . followed his “folks” to Rockville and saw_them depart on an' elec- tric car bound for Washington. As the car proceeded on its way to the city, the deserted animal start- ed in pursuit, but soon gave up the chase as hopeless and returned to the point where he car bhad picked up his loved ones. Select- ing a spot opposite:the- “car stop,” 3 “ ful ‘creatyre started his long vigil, and there at any hour of the day or night he gan be seen waiting and watching. As each car arrives from the city the dog runs’ out wagging his tall expectdntly and as he fails to recognize In those who alight the one for whom he is wait- ing he returns to his post of, duty, plainly showing his disap- pointment. . - \ e Persons living in the neighbor- the man who has become a symbol of the two sergeants. | The. first inst lacs_of Eberbach, closed abont the t recounts the futile astory down to date. BY CHARLES B. FEHRLIN, Formerly of Corps ot Intelligence Police, American Forces In Germany. “The great European conflagration is ever, but the memories of the glorious American participation still linger in the minds of the millions of stal- wart sons of this republic who so unflinchingly and - unanimously re- sponded to*the call of their nation to follow its flag destiwed to bring tyran- nic gutocracy to a dismal end and to safeguard these principles of liberty and democracy for which our fore- fathers so nobly sacrificed their lives. Only too well do we know that the rank ang file of our Army showed men from all walks and stations of life. There was the millionaire fight- ing beside the ordinary laborer, shar- ing with him the same discomforts and dangers of the front-line trenches. I need not dwell upon this point at length, for we know that the great American Army knew no distinction of class. We were all one body, in- | stilled with the same idedls and pur- poses. It is a true but sad fact, however, that there were men in America who, imbued with & spirit of supeiority by reason of their wealth and social standing, cowardly fatled to heed the |call of their country—the very land to which they owe their gratitude for all they possessed. Embodiment of Cowardice, Above all thsse traitors to the grand 0ld flag looms the-name of the Phila- Qelphia arch-slacker, Grover Cléve- land Bergdoll. There is not a-single true-blooded American to whom this traitdr of traitors is not the embadi- ment of cowardice and hyphenism in its highest degree. FOUR DIE AS TRAIN HITS: /| AUTO ON ROAD CRUSSING ‘GERMANS ARE SHIELDING BERGDOLL, SAYS OFFICER Former U. S. Army Intelligence Agent Tells Inside Story of Arch-Slacker, Now a King Among His Own People. The pursuit of Grover Clqueland Bergdoll atill goes ‘on, although very uttte has been said about it since the unsuccessful adventure of two A. E. F. sergeants who invaded Germany last year on their own initiative and attempted to kidnap all slackers. The Star is mow able tos publish the story of an Atherican Army maw who was gngaged at that time in @n_attempt to capture Bergdoll by less direct but more diplomatic methods than He was sent by the commanding general of the American Army of Ocou- pation to observe the trial of the two sergeants in Mosbach and to report what took place. The Star publishes his story just as he wrote it, without undertaking o modify the vigor of Ma own cxpressions. It will appear in four installments. ¥ cdrries the story to the time when the ipfuriated popu- | missioners’ Germany, where Bergdoll had become a local potentate, 0 American sergeants to lynch. them. The second inatallment | to tHe Copmissioners. ttempts of even the Berlin foreign office to procure the release of the two Americans j’:am ,Bzrncofl'c local Guthorities and the Jpening of the |the full committee will have bemra.“"f* ‘Washington, the whisky taken and trial The third installment describes Bergdoll’s appearance in court and the insults Ae Murled at the Americans present. And the final instaliment brings the How he evaded the draft and fled to Mexico, his apprehension by the military authorities and subsequent conviction by court-martial and sen- tence to five years' imprisonment at Fort Jay, N. Y., is undoubtedly well known by everybody here, and my time does not permit me to go into details on these incidents. His escape trom Fort Jay, N. Y., and the journey to Germany will be described later, in Bergdoll's own words from his testimony as given at the trial by a German court of the ,two American detectives who made an attempt to kidnap the arch-slacker inhis refuge at. Eberbach, state of Baden, Ger- many. Not long after the arch-slacker had effected his sensational getaway from the military guards placed over him on his way to the Virginian mountains, where he was said to have hid $100,- 000, werd reached the headquarters of the Ameritan Army of occupation on the Rhifie that Bergdoll had made his way inte Germany, the country of his ancestors, and subsequent in- vestigation revealed the fact that he had taken up his abode at the Crown Hotel in Eberbach, province of Ba- den, the birthplace of his grand-. father. . Germans Welcome Bergdoll. Never did any other American make ‘such a’triumphal entry into a Ger- man community as was the case with this fugitive from justice and his chauffeur, Stecher, also an American of German extraction. They were Wwelcomed by every German, though' descendants of Germans who had bee: lln A;n'rk;- for two generations, as being fAco batriotism, pan-Germantem sad 1ooe (Continiied on Pags 14, Column 3.) 1922.—EIGHTY-EIGHT PAGES. SHOWS ONLY 373 VACANT ABODES Houses and Apartments Chiefly for People of . Some Means. '|HOUSING COMMITTEE WILL DRAFT REPORT Inadeguate Accommodations for Poorer People Given . Attention, A canvass of the city by the police department, at the request of the Commissioners’ housing committee, revealed a total of 373 houses and apartments vacant for rent and for sale. Of the total, 106 were one- family houses for sale. There were 119 one-family houses for rent. The survey disclosed twenty two-family houses, all of which~were for rent. The report showed 122 apartments vacant, 5 After cqmparing thls survey with one made by the post office authori- ties. last fall, the subcommittee on housing survey of Commissioners’ committee concludes that there are fewer than 500 vacant habitations. Few for Poorer People. “And of this small number the greater part are available only for people of some means,” reads the re- port of the subcommittee. “Seventy- three of the 106 single-family houses listed for sale are estimated to cost $7.000 or more and forty of them $10,000 or more, while of the apart- ments and houses for rent 181 out of 261 are rated at more than $50 a month._ “This classification according to price your committee wishes to in- vestigate further, but it believes the figures accurate enough to be fairly indicative of the situation—that is, that the available accommodations for people of small means is totally inadequate.” Report to Be Drafted. With practically all of the sub- committee reports now in, the Com- committes probably will begin this week to draft its repon In dfawing up its recommendations ; it a guggestion from Dr. John M. on supplies, that an investigation be sought into the prices of building materials in the District. —— LENIN ILLNESS DOUBTED. Riga Report Seouts Rumor He Has Suffered Stroke. By the Associated Press. RIGA, June 3—Soviet representa- tives in Riga said today they had | heard nothing of the report that Pre- mier Lenin of Russia had suffered a stroke. With reference tq the report that Maxim Litvinoff and Karl Radek left Berlin for Moscow immediately upon hearing the news that Lenin | was stricken, the soviet agents de- clared that Litvinoff passed through Riga Thursday, going to Reval, and that Radek passed here Friday, en route to Moscow. HUNGER STRIKE IN SPAIN. Foreigners Held for Small Offenses Demand Release. BARCELONA, June 3.—A hunger strike was declared today by seventy citizens of forglgn countries who have been Incarcerated for several months awaifing disposition by the | government in consequence of small misdemeanors committed during the suspensiop of constitutional guar- antees. When arrested they did not | posgess identification papers. The prisoners demand their release under custody, as was done in the case of Spanish citizens since guar- antees had been restored. Most of the prisoners are sailors landed from Itallan and American vessels. WHITE HOUSE 'IS Gries, chairman of the subcommittee | D. C. AUTO DRIVERS INCREASED BY 2,005, IN THE MONTH OF MAY A new record for 1922 in the is- suance of permits to drive auto- moblles was made by the traffic bureau during May, when a total of 2,005 new afivers were licensed That Inspector Headley's squad of examiners are.not issuing driv- ing cards as freely as rainchecks is indicated by the fact that 505 applications were disapproved during the mbnth. In meny of these cases the persons were un- familiar with the traffic regula- tions and must study them before applying again. Some idea of how automobiles are increasing in the District can be gained by cofiparing 2,006 new permits m.u.y with 611 issued in February, 1248 ih March and 1,727 in Anrfl The trafic bureau also reported to Commissioner Oyster yester- day that arrests for traffic viola- tions during May numbered 3,041. Of this to'al 1,091 were charged with #peraing. The -ecord accidents during May shwws fowr killed, seven seri- ously injured and 1% who sus- tained minor injuries. ARREST BAILIFFS Hyattsville Men Held as Po- liceman Dempsey Is Exonerated. W. H. TOBIN IN PRISON Peace Officer Called Ringleader of Bandits by State’s Attorney. William H. Tobin, town bailiff of | Hyattsville, Prince Georges county, Md., and James Vincent, his underbailiff. were brought into the investigation of a hold-up of alleged bootle; following the arrest of Tobin, Constable Garrison directed the release of Edgar Raymond Démpsey, Washington cross- ing policeman, who was drrested yesterday. . Four men, two of them negroes, halted | from Baltimore on the Marylind road ‘Thursday night, after firing a number of shots. Wells' car, containing seventeen | lcartons of corn whisky, was driven the car abandoned. Two other autos were held up near Ram's Horn and liquor taken. Dempsey Exonerated. Policeman Dempsey’s release means his complete exoneration. Bailiff Tobin was given a hearing at Hyattsville last night and held in bond of $8,000 for action of the grand jury in October. witness and testified against Tobin, waived an examination and was ad- mitted to bail in the sum of $1,000. Similar action zlso was taken in the case of Muhrl Taylor, 2 South Wash- ington colored man, who also testi- jfied. Three Warrants Filed. Deputy Sherifft Everett Pumphrey and Constables Thomas H. Garrison late yesterday. Three warrants were theft of an automobile and 100 gal- lons of whisky valued at $1,500, the property of Edwawd Blackwell, while the others alleged assault with intent to commit robbery. + State’s ‘Attorney J. Wilson Ryan appeared for the state, while J. Frank Lillard represented Tobin. The state did not contendthat Tobin actually took part in the hoid-ups, but that it was due to him that Washington col- ored men, accompanied by Under- bailiff Vincent did®take part. . Vin- cent and Taylor were charged as ac- cessories to the 'tdking of the au‘o- mobile and whisky. - Taylor teld briefly the story of the hold-up. ’ Tobin left the car in which they were riging shortly before the hold-up, he sald, and,went home to change his clothes. He met him later (Continued on Page 2, Column 7.) OPENED TO 300 GUVERNURUF gHm ASKS RAIN-DRENCHED CHILD SERENADERS D. C. TO RETURN DURBIN | Two Victims Carried on hlot ‘Un- Man Ammd Her# on Hml' til Engine Comes to stop " at Unmon, 8. C. | i ! By the Associated Press. UNION, S. C., June 3.—FRour peop iwere killed and two others possibl i fatally’ injured-when a Southern rafl- way passenger. train crashed into. an autgmobile where a community reéad crosses_ the. railroad. The dead are: James Vaughan, B. J. Vaughan, Miss|! Laura Austin and Miss Minnie Austin. John ‘McKeown and Ben Alton” Whit lock are thought to be fathlly. injured. Two of the occupants of the car were pinned to the loenmt.\u by parts of the Wrecked automobile and Were(on the hood have taken ap interest i |pilot ‘when the engine’ ‘was ‘brought to the dog and are seeing that he does not want for food gr water. He ehows his' appreciation of. every friendly word: or kind act. Should the owner mot turn .up. . within a rerz3rable time, it is ht . micrs than- likely - the ‘Wil be adopt a stop. ‘The parties in the wreck range ‘|in age from nlnew-n to Mfl" years. < GREEEK WOMEN GAII ‘RIGHTS. - ATHENS, Jun. added an artiels Complaint ‘Wanted on Bad (!lmk_ Charges. By the Assoclated Press, ™ COLUMBUS, Ohio, June *3.—Gov. Harry L. Davis of. Ohio {ssued requisition May 31 for return to Ohlo of Andrew T. Durbin, son of W. W. Durbin, democratic state chairman of Ohio, "under Test in Washington, n C., on the charge of writing worth- lese checks, The extradition Tequest was based on similar charges against him in Cleveland, but the action of ‘the gavernor was not made known at When Mrs. Harding learned yes- ma-y afternoon that more than hundred little Washington lchool children had been icenched to the skin In their eagerness to G2 their part in the annual serenade to the President of the United States, which was to have been held 2t the ' Lincoln Memorial, she opgned, wide the ‘White House doors and bade all to'enter, togather with the other Music week artists who ‘were listed on the program. ‘While the full program wis en- joyed by the President aad Mrs. Harding, it was the singing of the litele -children .whizh sssmed to plnu them most. . Finest Music in World, “I. have been a lover.of music all my lite,” said the Prestlent. “I ‘have always enjoyed trainel musi- the tim: bmun Durhmm not-been | cians, and have had reverence for arrested.” ll. 13 belgig held in Wash- ington op”the District of Columbla “umpbs, charge.. & Andrew T. Duhln was M here | . can last Saturday by local detectives on complaint of a Washiagton hotel. He ~the_artists who hnu attained tri- in rmusic, but' the finest c in the world to my ears is "the rollicking laughter of Amuri and théir songs.” Then beckoning a score or more the * ‘bright-faced' youngsters - the M &mflw. influence to persuade the sun to shine or the .rain to stay away, but you Bave brought'a lot of sunshine to the White House. Since Mrs: ‘Hardjng 3nd I have been here we haveshad a-good many parties; but we' have never had a happler perty than this, ne."” Miss Hamlin ‘Praised. Referring to the “Gettysburg Ad- dress” delivered by Miss “Sallie Hamlin, who is a granddaughter .of Hannibal Hamiin, Vice Presi- dent’ during President fincoln's first -administration, = President Harding noted that she had “ex- pressed the thought of equality 4nd freedom. ‘And as 1 was looMing - abaut at you boys and girls that thought was borne in upon me. I don’t "know which of you come froms palatial houses, which come from Inpble horles, ‘m- can't_tell here. It'matters not, yuu bave brought' me the sweetest music n’ the world.” At ithe conclusien of the Presi- dent’s talk he and Mrs. Harding were showered with fowers from the children, af en im- promptu roe‘uon ‘was held, when |PROPOSES A PROGRAM {N LIQUOR HOLD-UP , and, | Edgar Wells, 2528 P street, on Aie way | before Magistrate W. Brooke Hunter | Vincent, who was offered as a state | and William Connors arrested Tobin | filed against him, one charging the | FIVE CENTS. \OFFICE BUILDINGS, /U15. OWNED, URGED. . FOR DEPARTMENTS Public - Buildings Commis- sion in Report Cites Need of New Structures. - P [FOR THEIR CONSTRUCTION 1 Puts Necessity for Archives Structure First—Department of Agriculture Next. The housing of all government ac- tivities in government-owned per- manent, fireproof structures of mod- ern office type, according to a definite building program, is urged upon Congress as an imperative need in the report ,of the public buildings com- mission, submitted to the Senate yes- terday by Senator Reed Smoot of Utah, chairman. “After three ~years' experience in dealing ‘with the housing of the gov- €rnment departments in this city,” the report says, “this commission is unanimously of the opinion that at the earliest practicable date Congress should adopt a building program which will lehd to the housing of all government departments in perma- nent fire-proof structures.” Composed of Best Informed. The public buildings commission | composed of men who, through year, of experience as chairmen of the pub- lic buildings committees of the House and Senate, or through official duties, are best informed regarding the housing of governmental activities. The members are: Senators Smoot and Claude A. Swanson, Virginia: Representatives John W. Langley, Kentucky, and Frank Clark, Florida; Elliott Woods, architect of the Capitol; James A. Wetmore, super- vising architect of the Treasury, and { Lieuts Col. Clarnce O. Sherrill of the | Engineer Corps, officer in charge pf public buildings and grounds “That the great government of the | United States should be a temant in | its own Capltal city is certainly food | tor serious refiection.” the report con- tinues, “probably no other farge gov- ernment in the world has given so little thought to an adequate housing {ef its activities as this” Gives Expert Advice. The report gives expert advice as lm the most urgent need of the gov- | ernment for new buildings, emphasiz- ing that priceless records and official documents are now subject to fire hazard’ and that one government d partment is now scattered in twenty- five buildings in Washington | As the most pressing need. the re- port insists that an grehivies building, lfor which legislation is now pend- ing in Congress, should be built. It | says: “The erection of a building for {the storage of the records and jarcmucs of the government is prob- |ably the most urgent need. Be- sides the protection it would af- {fora these records from fire, it would make -available for office | purposes many thousands of square I feet of office space, now being used for storage in the various public { buildings Worst Housed Institation. Regarding the needs of the De- { partment of Agriculture the report | says: “This department is probably | the, worst housed institution in the city of Washington, It is now ‘oc- cupying twenty-five' buildings tered over the'city, and many of them are poorly adapted for office pur- poses.” The installation of the federal budget sysfem has made necessary 2 general accounting office. In dis- cussing this meed, fhe report say “The various divisions of this activ- ity should by all means be housed under ome roof. They are compelied to occupy several rented buildings at this time, in order to obtain fireproq space, which is very necessary | view of ‘the character of their wor A separate bill for such a structu | is now awaiting congressional actiod I Treasury Bureau in Need. The report also recommends for early construction a building for the bureau of internal revenue and other outlying bureaus of the Treasury De« partment, “& most urgent need.” The kind of building best adapted { to the needs of the government also is discussed in the report. It strong- ly recommends that they be of “the modern office-type structure, designed with due Pegard for the safety, heaith and comfort of the people who are to use them.” It explains that “to embark upon a program. of building Greek tem- ples for housing the government de- partments it both foolish and un- necessary. These buildings are ex- ceedingly expensive and wasteful of space, A very illuminating example of a bullding of this- type is thes Tressury ¥ Annex No. 1, located on Pennsylfania avenue and Madison place,” across the street from the main Treasury building. RENT- CUT $689,524. Reduced Bill Expected to Be Un- der $400,000 Soon. The United States government rent bill has been reduced $638,524.28 an- nually, bringing it down to $496,373 anpually as of September 1, this vear. Before the end of the calendar year, it is confidently predicted, it will be well under $400,000. This is shown in the report of the. public building commission laid be- fore Congress today’ by Senator mmfinrmum%f