Evening Star Newspaper, December 21, 1922, Page 1

WEATHER. . Fair tonight &nd tomorrow, . much change in temperature; temperature tonight about 28 d Temperature for twenty-four hours ended at 2 n.m. today: 2 p.m. yesterday. 1l report today; lowest, 31, at 11:30 p.m. on page 7. ighest, 46, at Closing N. Y. Stocks and Bonds, Page 28 No. 28,724. post_office We PROPOSAL T0 SEND HOOVER T0 BERLIN FINDS ALLIED FAVOR Secretary May Head U. S. - Commission to Fix Figure on Reparations. & CHAMBER OF COMMERCE USED AS INTERMEDIARY | i Germany Offered Plan and Ameri- can Government Sounded Out Nations. By the Associated Press. . The move to extend American aid in adjusting the reparations disagree- ment in Europe has reached a stage where a definite plan of action may be decided on in the near future. As it now is under consideration, the proposal contemplates appointment of an American commission to study economic and industrial conditions in Germany and to fix the total of repa- rations which the German govern- ment may reasonably be expected to ray. American State Department officials will not talk about details of the move. While some officlals at the department today denied the story entirely, others indicated that the discussions could not properly be con- sidered to have reached the stage of “negotiations.” and that published re- ports that Great Britain had sent a formal note accepting the commisston plan were in error. By the Associated Press. LONDO! December 21.—The quest made by a German trade com- mission that a committee of American business men, headed by Herbert Hoover, visit Germany to undertake a thorough survey of economic conditions that would be used as the basis of a new reparations treaty was seen here today as perhaps the starting point of the flock of rumors as to American intervention In the reparations prob- tem. Great Britain, it is semi-officially learned, has informed the American State Department of its consent to such a plan. The British government's message, sent in response to an inquiry from the United States, it was said, is expected to be followed by the assent of France, to which the American gov- ernment also communicated the Ger- man suggestion. Progosed by Cunme. The proposal was made by a German commission headed by Chancellor Cuno 10 the United States Chamber of Com- merce, whioh, in turn. is understood to have asked Secretary Hoover to present ghe plan at a cabinet meeting. This was done, and the matter passed f Secretary Hughes. re- ability to pay, and a: ‘would agree to meet this ‘rance and Great Britain end Sec- amount {f approved of the plan. To this retary Hughes opened negotiations with the London and Paris govern- ments. REPLY FROM FRANCE AWAITED FOR NEXT STEP IN U. S. PROGRAM | By the Associated Press. German overtures through informal channels for American intervention 10 obtain & revision of German repa- rations schedules, reported in London dispatches of the Assocfated Press, throw the first definite light on the method by which American influence is being drawn into a new attempt at final adjustment of the vexing repa- rations problem. The next step to be looked for. obviously, is an indication of the French attitude on the German pro- posal that an American economic - commission review Germany’s present situation and estimate her capacity 10 pay as a basis for a new repa- rations treaty. Ome Remaining Obstacle. ‘There i reason to belleve that pre- vious government reports from Ber- 1in are of a character to justify hope that if France should prove agree- able to the proposed plan for repa rations revision no Insurmountable obstacles would remain in the way of an agreement as to the specific amount Germany could and would pay. ?2%" stumbling block to such an agree- ment up to this time, officials here and ‘n Beriin are understood to have felt has been the lack of a channel for in- formal preliminary exchange of views between Berlin Al\d_PlHa British agencles hardly could ‘offer their serv- ices, as Great Britain is too fully com- nitted on mwparations views in opposi- tion to the French position to be effec- tive in negotjations to the Paris govern- nent. U. 8. as Medintor. As the proposal approved by the Cuno | gZovernment Is seen here it represents employment of American commercial and governmental agencies to bring German and French views iInto harmony. it is known that a view taken in offi- ~ial quarters in Berlin is that an un- blared reconsideration of Germany's capacity to pay would show that figure 10 be not as remote as might ex- pected from the lowest estimate of the French authorities as to what reim- ‘bursement they must receive from Ger- iany for damages inflicted during the war. The share of the Chamber of Com- merce of the United States in the shap- ing of the new proposals for adjustment of the European tangle, it learned 10day, dates back to executive discussion of the subject by directors of the cham- her with President Jullus Barnes at the jalveston meeting of the board last month. Conferred With Hughes. Enough promise of success in brin ag about a compromise reparation: yrogram developed at that meeting to warrant & grant of full powers to Mr. Harnes, coupled with & 350,000 appro- priation to meet expenses of the effort. * Whether the board then had before ¢ proposals of similar business o sanizations in Germany is not known; but Mr. Barnes and Elliot Goodwi secretary al conferred at great length with See. ret synchroni: incidents t! that the Washington government had before it some project for settlement of the reparations tangle. ——— Entered as second-class matter on, D. C. Ex-Crown Prince Selling Gems for Christmas Cash BY GEORGE WITTE. (By Cable to The Star and_ Chicago Daily News, Copyright. 1922.) BERLIN, December 21.—Both for- mer Crown Prince Friedrich Wilhelm and former Crown Princess Cecella of Germany are “dead broke" and are trying hard to raise money for ‘Christmas. This fact became known today when Maj. Cart Anker, alde de! camp to the crown prince during the war, and still a frequent visitor to Wieringen, ap- proached several “x-cnnw PRINCE. resident Ameri- cans, and offered 1 for sale a dlamond-studded platinum watch, a pearl necklace, a dlamond brooch and several other articles of jewelry, all bearing Friedrich Wil- helm’s and Cecelia's coat of arms and monograms. Maj. Anker has just returned from Holland, where he saw the ex-crown prince, and also from a visit to the Silesian retreat of the former crown princess and her two youngest chil- dren. It is clear that, while the for- mer kaiser seems to have plenty of money, he is doing nothing for his children, who are not provided for in the settiement of the impertal estates made by the new government. BONDISSUERGED FORNEEDSOF . Oyster Believes Future Gen- eration Should Help Bear Cost of Improvements. | Washington should float a ‘bond issue to meet its accumulated need for school bulldings, street improve- ments .sewer extensions and other urgent municipal projects, Commis- missioner Oyster declared today. The Commissioner indicated he has reached the conclusion that this is the only way in which the city can hope to catch up on: the work that had to be neglected during the war period. “The future generation of Wash- ington will enjoy the benefits of the improvements when they are made, and T believe it is only proper that it should bear part of the cost through the gradual retirement of bonds.” Can Market Them Easily. The Compmissioner does not believe the city government would have any trouble in disposing of a bond issue if approval for the issue could be ob- tained from Congress. Cap. Oyster pointed eut that in less than two years—in August, 1924, to be exact—the National Capital will have wiped out fts present bonded debt, which consists of 3.6 bonds that have been running for nfty yéars. According to the last annual report of Auditor Donovan, the net debt re- maining from that bond isasue is only $156,234.38. “I would not hesitate to advocate 2 bond issue large enough to build the schools we heed, to pave the many streets that heed resurfacing or new paving, to provide adeq and water lines for the y veloping suburbs and bring all other necessary municipal services up to re- quirements.” Bonds Recommended Omce. Two years ago, when former Com- missioners Mabel T. Boardman and J. Thilman Hendrick came Into office, they took up the idea of & bond {ssue to meet accumulated needs and recom- mended it to Congress in their annual report. No action was taken by the legislators. Commissioner Oyster is of the opin- ion Washington hardly can expect to keep pace with its current require- ments each year and at the same time recover the ground lost during the war period without some special plan of financing. Several of the heavily traveled bridges In the District—the Calvert Street, the Pennsylvania Avenue south- east and the Chain bridge—should be replaced, but for the present they are being sidetracked for what the Com- missioners regard as more urgent im- provements. Public school authorities declined to comment on the proposal of Commis- sloner_Oyster for floating a bond sue. They take the position that it is not for them tc iectde how the money shall be raiséd for improving the schools. Discover od by In their search for the gigantic *“dynamo” that, from its power hou somewhere in the heavens, is direct- ing mighty currents of electricity at the earfh, scientists of the Carnes! Imstitution have Invented & remarka- ble instrument that enables them to measure the potential of electrictty in the atmosphere with the same degree of accuracy that an ordinary ther- mometer registers its heat. The definite location of that great dynamo, the scientists say, will be- come almost essential sooner. or later, because its heavily charged rays-are playing havec with our compasses and the magnetic north'pole, upon) which mariners largely depend to gulde their ships safely-across the seas. Dees Not Peint Nerth. Our compasses no longer point true north; the tiny hand of the finest compass now {ndicates a direction that is 30 degrees west of true north. Since 1858 this variation has totaled 20 degrees and only by keeping these | %) mysterious changes in terrestial mag” netism carefully charted on maps can mariners set their courses accurately from port to port. And every m: WASHINGTON, D. C, FASHIONABLE FOLK CAUGHT IN RAID ON ALLEGED RUM DEN Record With Names High in Official and Social Circles Found at Pelham Courts. DEMAND REALTY BOND FROM TWO MEN HELD Irvine and Gray Released—Patrons Indignant When Police Re- fuse Cheoks. The names of persons high in Wash- ington’s official and social circles were found in the records of an leged exclusive “blind tiger” in the Pelham Courts apartment, 2115 P street northwest, which was raided by the police last night. Two men, Ronald H. Irvine and Raymond Gray, were arrested as proprietors of the place and at least a dozen fashionably dressed man and ‘woman patrons were detained by the ralding squad until the names and addresses they gave were confirmed. Five hundred quarts of gin and wh ky and two gallons of alcohol were seized and a completely fitted labo- ratory, where the liquors are alleged to have been mixed, was uncovered. Woman Made Complatnt. The rald was conducted by Lieut. Davis, Sergeant McQuade and Private ‘Bauer of the prohibition enforcement squad from police headquarters and | Revenue Agent Hertzig. hey first learned of the alleged oasis in Pel- ham Courts through the wife of a prominent business man, who is sald to have complained that her hu: nd was obtalning intoxicants in such quantities that their happiness had been jeopardized The raiding squa apartment. which is located on the seventh floor of Pelham Courts, and gained immediate admission by means of a secret code given them by their Informant. Irvine offerrd no resist- ance when he recognized his callers. and the police took complete charge of the place. While they were search- ing for their evidence at least i doz- en men in evening clothes and hand- somely gowned women arc said to have appeared. All were admitted and detained until they hnd been in- vestigated. “We just came to get a little liquor,” one male escort of an at- tractive young woman is remarked. “For God" g0. You wouldn't want to expose u In the laboratory the police found not only test tubes, but the ingredi- ents necessary to make gin. record of supposed patrons also was fouad there. Marked Momey Used. Gray, who 1a o knpwn as “Rasor” Gray, was taken In custody at his home after the police assert he had delivered 8 quantity of whisky to one of their agents in exchange for $18. Gray had accepted marked money, it is sald, and attempted to swallow it wheti the authoritiés arrested him. 1t wag forced from hls mouth, how- ever, and is now part of the evidence. Irvine and Gray were taken to the second precinct police station, where $1,500 bond in real estate was de manded of them. Checks were offered by patrons who had hurried to the station house in their motors to as- sist the alleged bootlegger: A friend finally offered sufficient real estate to cover bond for bot! men and they were released for tria in Police Court at e to be named later. Upon being freed, Gray leged to have remarked: “I don’t mind the money; it is no object. But 1 do hate to disappoint the people for the Christmas holi- days. CONTRACTS ARE AWARDED FOR JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLS Contracts for the erection of the two junior high schools were award- ed to Michael Serretto, Engineer Commissioner Keller announced to- day. Mr. Serretto will begin work within five days and the buildings are scheduled to be completed by Septem- ber. Roland M. Brennan, chief clerk of the engineer department, explained that the contracts as awarded amount to $686,500. substantially less than the $600.000 made available by Congress for the buildings. It was necessary, however, for the Commissioners to revise the original plans by eliminating the assembly halls before any offers were received within _the appropriation. ‘The Macfarland Junior High is to be built on_Jowa avenue between Allison and Upshur streets and the Langley Is to be on T street north- east between Lincoin road and 2d street. appeared at the Power of “Dynamo in Heavens” New Instrument goes “out of date” every ten s because the hand of the compass is swinging westward so sfeadily. The effect of this change upon human progress might be tremendous, the scientists say. For instance, had Christopher Columbus started . from ead of in 1492 and compass now in- dicates to be true north, he would. have discovered South America, i stead of North America. The compass variation has become so great that the difference between true north since 1492 is almost the breadth of the Caribbean sea, Would Have Missed Land. Halley would have had his troubles, too. He Set sail in 1699 and landed on-the east coast of South America. Hadj he started on the same voyage now, however, and followed the true bearings of his compass, instead of discovering the mainland of the southern continent, his ship would have missed it by hundreds of miles. Halley, mariners and scientists have roved, would simply have kept cir- cling the south Atlantic ocean and eventually would have returned to Europe with the report that there was no land on that part of the globe. " (Continued on 4, Column 4. map beni WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION PR q Yesterday's VENIZELOS IN ROW Lausanne Commission Quick- ly Adjourns to Curb Outbreak. ACCUSATIONS RING OUT Ex-Premier Bitterly Assails De- _ portation of Greeks From Anatolia. By the Assoclated Press. LAUSANNE, December 21.—A wordy altercation between ex-Premier Veni- selos of Greece and Riza Nur Bey. | Turkish ~nationalist delegate, caused Signor Montaona, president of the near east conference commission on minorities, tc abruptly end this morn- ing’s session of the commission. The dispute was over thy question of liberty of emigration. M. Venizelos bitterly attacked the Angora govern- ment and protested against the al- leged deportation of Greeks by the thousands from Ahhtolia. Risa Nut teplied in the same vein, charging Venizelos with being re- sponsible for the Turco-Greek war L nd its consequences. The voices of the two delegates rose to a high pitch. both speaking at the samse time and refusing to heed the pleadings of the president that they calm down. -In view of this Signor Montaona declared the session adjourned am!d confusion. U. 8. CAUSES CHANGE. Control of Straits Likely to Be Al- tered Radically: BY A. R. DECKER. (By Cable to 1 nml?‘l ySpicsso Datly LAUSANNE, December 21.—Four days ago Ambassador Child sent through the usual medium of the conference, the general secretary, a memorandum to all the delegations explaining again the position of the United States with re- spect to the freedom of the stratts and suggesting that an International board ‘would be an undesirable agency assur- Ing such freedom as viewed by the au- thorities in Washington.. Avrlnnuy this memorandum has been discussed and has brought & radical change in the situation as regards the control of the atraits. Ultimatums Preve “Duds.” The uitimatums which featured Tues- da; session proved “duds” and Wed- nesday’s meeting, as one delegate said, y was the “most conciliating eince the conference began.” The control of the straits with one important change was accepted by the Turks and the allies. Russia did not speak. The change in the scope of the international board, reducing its power to the regulation of buying and "‘:u.":f and removing from the the control of the dtml?lhl’lld sones, Since _the beginning of the discus- sions Turkey ‘been y to ac- cept aimost any kind of control not permitting forels garrisons on the shores of the straits, as t feared ti control of the demilitarized sones a pretext to permit allled mili- control of the straits and of Con- odified the straits control approaches the American idea : of full freedom, res Turkey of her sovereignty and removes the menace against Russia of having foreign mil- itary control at the gateway of the Black sea ports. Turks Still Raise Objections. ~ Minor objections still are raised by the Turks. They oppose in principle the continuance of the system of (Continued on Page 14, Column 4.} BURSUM PENSION BILL . REPORT 0. K. BY HOUSE The House today adopted the con- ference report on the Bursum bill, which would jncrease pensions of civil and Mexican war veterans from $60 to $73 a month and those of widows of veterans from $30 to $50, with $6 additions! for each dependent child. Nurses who served during either conflict - would receive $50 monthly instead of the present 330 h ary stantinople. As pension. ; Veterans of the Indian wars would receive $36 a nionth ‘under the bill and their widows §$20. The bill also provides graduated compensation up td- $138 per month for veterans of all wars disabled in Jine of duty. WTH TURK ENVDY is [and to the establishment of sound finan- DISTRICT BILL HEARING MAY BE CLOSED TODAY Representatives of Board of Chari- ties Tell of Needs at Afternoon Session. Representative Louis C. Cramton of Michigan, acting chairman of the subcommittee on the District budget, said this afternoon the subcommittee may possibly finish its hearings on the District appropriation bill this afternoon and certainly not later than tomorrow. This afternoon the coni- mittee has before it representatives trom the board of charities and local Institutions, and the officials who will present the needs for parks, militia, vrater system and other minor items in the bill which have not yct been discussed. This morning members of the board When adjournment noon they were still needs of Gallinger Ho: the time this forenocon was given over to consideration of the needs of the National Training School for Girls, where the budget bureau has recom- 1mended 2 new bullding. “What they really want is a new in- stitution 50 they can have separato b“e‘!'ld““.-l {:r white girls and for col- or rls,” said BRepresentative Cramton. NATIONS' PARLEY ASKED N SENATE Borah Offers Amendment to Navy Bill Proposing Conference. A conference of the world powers to conelder economic questions, to be called by President Harding, for dis-| cussion of possible agreements to es- \tablish more stable financial and business conditions and also to bring about a reduction in land and sea armaments, was proposed by Senator | Borah, republican, Idaho, in an amendment offered today to the pending naval appropriation bill. Senator Borah’'s amendment would request the President to invite such governments as he should. choose to participate in the proposed conference. In a statement accompanying his amendment the Idaho senator said such a conference might “break the deadlock” on German reparations. Purpeses of Parley. It would consider *economic problems now obtaining throughout the world, with a view of arriving at such under- standings or arrangements as may seem essenflal to, the restoration -of trade the deadlock on that subject. If there is a_better prog anywhere around I should be glad to waive this | suggestion.” v enator Borah. added that affairs were traveling in “a viclous cirgle.” He referred to the tariff act, and said it had not relieved distress of the farmers, Mv"hllhe fl; admjinistration shipping bill, he , would not open a market or supply a single cargo. The disarmament conference here last year, he said, also appeared futile e measure .to stop naval competi- tio: % The Navy bill as reported to the Senate carries $295,604,878, which is $1,797,840 more than was oarried in the bill as it . Honse. It 00,403. padsed excoods the estimates 3‘ [ cial and business conditions™; and also to consider the subject of “further limitation of armaments with a view of reaching &n understanding or agree- ment upon said matter both by land and by sea, and particularly relative to limiting the construction of all types and sizes and subsurface and surface craft of 10,000 tons standard displace- ment or less, and of alrcraft.” Se: Bo! proposal apparent. 1y was & substituts for the dlearma. ment provision in the bill adopted by the House, which proposed a confer- ence merely to limit naval vessels under 10,000 tons. “No_business man or any one else who has reflected upon the situation dares to look over the next year if the next year milar to the ear which s passing.” said nator Borah. “It seemis to me that there ought to be a heroic effort made, not only to stop this threatened naval race, but also to deal With economio eonditions. “The question of reparations is the key to the Europeansituation. If that cannot be adjusted, nothing can be adjusted. It may be ible in a conference of this kind to break THURSDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1922—FORTY-TWO PAGES. INATION-WIDE G0OD SEEN I SHP BL Senator Calder Declares Every Section Would Reap Benefit. DEADLOCK IS- STILL ON Charggs of “Raid on Treasury” De- nied by New York Law- maker. Government ald to American ship- Ping as contemplated by the admin- istration shipping bill would “tend immeasurably to help every state in the Union, every single city, town, village and farm,” Senator Calder, republican, New York, declared today in the Senate. Intervening with an sddress in be- half gf the bill In the deadlock exist- ing between supporters of the meas- ure and the group desiring to lay it aside for the Norris agriculture financing biil, Senator Calder denied that payment of government aid would be “a rald on the Treasury,” as contended by some of the opponents of the shipping legislation. Weould Furaish Empleyment. “Government all wpuld help ship- building and all its allled industries,” he asserted, “and would give employ- ment to tens of thousands of men. The construction of & ship calis upon every state in the country. We must have steel from Minnesota, copper from the Rocky mountain states, lum- ber from the south and the great northwest, coal from Pennsylvania or ‘West Virginia and oil from Oklahoma or Texas. “The men wha build the shij be clothed; th must be fed; they must be housed; and the food, hous- ing material and clothing come from every little town and hamlet.” So many elements enter into the maintenance of ‘a merchant marine, the New York senator concluded, “that the small amount of govern. ment aid contributed to build and op- erate these vessels i3 insignificant when one comes to consider the great advantages that will flow to all our people.” —_— M HGHWAYBRDGE ASOPEN DRAW BALKS Traffic over the Washington-Vir- ginia Railway Company's lines and by automoblle from many nearby Vir- ginia points was tied up for about shortly "after 9 o'clock ., when the ponderous draw in the highway bridge refused to close after it had been opened to permit passage of an ofl barge. Electric™ trains bringing scores of government employes and other office workers from Alexandria, Clarendon, Falls Church, Fairfax Court House and other towns and automobiles car- rying _other. employes participati in the dally 9 o'clock I'u:h n:';:'vflr! sinia suburbs accumulated at the south end of the bridge with such rapidity that & traffic tangle extend- ing far back from the bridge de- veloped. Police reserves fros the fourth pre- cinct, headed by Capt. Ira Sheets, rushed to the scene to aid in prevent- ing disorder at the end, where Vir- nia-bound street cars and automo- iles also had cluttered up the narrow approach. Help was sent for by Of- ficer Heathcote, stationed on the bridge, when it appeared.that the draw had decided to take a day off, in view of which It was deemed advisable to head off further oncom- ing traffic and untangle, it possible, the jam already created. ' ' Mechanics worked feverishly for over 20 minutés to t the balky bridge to work, fin locating a defect in" the . dlectrical machinery operating the massive span, which re- volves-at the center 50 as to allow headway for tall. river eraft plying Mt'llnwl=. or river and Geo tow! en the draw eventually swung slowly back Into place'it took all the ingenuity ef: c officers to :r“‘v:e-qt a stampede across the ‘_ > 3 The draw Is opened only after rush PR o . no long ago . M."C. Tyler, District Engineer offieér. * | Today, Official | Start of Winter, Shortest in Year ‘This is the “shortest” day in the year, marking the first official day of winter. The sun rose at am., and is scheduled to set at o'clock this afternoon. Overcast skies, however, made the rising and probably will make the setting of the sun merely theory to the average person, since the first phenomenon was not ob- servable to the eye, and the sec- ond probably will not be either. MORE WAR FRAUD SUITS T0 BE FILED IN NEXT 30 DAYS Witnesses at Daugherty Hearing Testify Department Is Ready to Act. Civil or criminal suits, one or both, against the United States Harness Company of Ranson, W. Va., will be j ready for institution by the govern- ment within thirty days, Col. Henry T. Anderson of Richmond, Va., a spe- clal assistant to the Attorney General, testified today before the House ju- diciary committee. Mr. Anderson also stated that the government would bring suit against the Bridgeport Brass Company of Bridgeport, Conn., unless there was an agreement for settlement of the war claim of the government against that company at a conference to be held next month. C. Frank Reavis, another special as- sistant to the Attorney General, told the committee that action, civil or criminal or both, soon would be start- ed against Thomas Roberts & Co., of Philadelphia, which purchased large quantities of government sur- plus canned meat. Announcement of the plans of the government was made at the hearing on the Keller impeachment charges against Attorney General Daugherty. Have “Good Case.” Discussing the prospective action against the United States Harness Company, Anderson, who had been called as a witness, declared that “we believe we have a good Mr. Keller had charged that the Attorney General had “acted in an inefficlient, neglectful manner, preju- dicial to the interests of the govern- ment” in the handling of this case. The harness company was organized largely by former Army officers, to dispose of surplus war harness. The contract between it and the War De- partment was deciared vold by the President, and the War Department undertook to take possession of prop- erty in the han 4 company, but ‘was stopped by an Injunction issued by the state courts. ‘The Department of Justice then took the matter into the federal courts, where it is still pending. Col. Anderson said he could not go into details of the case the govern- ment would bring, prejudicial to the interests of the government. He declared, however, that the case now was in “first-class condition for handling. Gives Out Detalls. Mr. Reavis did not go into details of the government's case. Mr. Keller, in his specifications against Mr. Daugherty, alleged that the Attor- ney General had failed to Imstitute suit to recover from Thomas Roberts & Co. “a large amount of money upon a fraudulent sale of surplus canned meats. x Questioned about the charge of a failure to prosecute claims against the Kenyon company of New York, growing out of the sale of raincoats and slickers to the government, Mr. Reavis said, thorough investigation showed there was no doubt the gov- ernment owed the company $200,000. He added, however, that the govern- ment had some ciaims against the company, and that the whole matter would be taken to the Court of Claims for adjustment. Questioning of a half dozen Depart- ment of Justice officials called as final witnesses. was expected to be com- pleted today. Repert After Holldays. That it has found no evidence on which to base an impeachment pro- ceeding Is expected to consgitute the report of the committee to the House to be submitted after the Christmas holidays. Absence of members from Washington during that time will prevent an earlier report. Before entering upon the examinar tion of department officers yesterday with the appearance of Col. Willlam Hayward, federal district attorney at New York, the committee concluded hearing of Representative Woodruf?, republican, Michigan. Examination of the department offi- cers began late yesterday over the pro- test of several committeemen, who in- sisted that the Attorney Genmeral should not be asked to offer witnesses to tes- tify concerning charges in support of which no evidence had been presented. Chalrman Volstead insisted, however, that the committee ought to go into ali of the charges in an effort to satiafy itself as far as might be possible as to whether there was basis for them. Weeodruft Gives Evidemce. Before this line of inquiry was opened up Representative Woodruft, republican, Michigan, laid before the committee evidence which he con- tended showed “unnecessary delay” by the Department of Justice in bring- ing suit against the Wright-Martin Alrcraft Corporation for the recov- ery of $3,601,715 growing out of al- leged overpayment for war claims. Assistant Attorney Ggneral Seymour announced that sult for the recovery of this amount soon was to be filed, and Col. Guy D. Goft, former assistant attorney general, who has had charge of the case, denied the charge of un- necessary delay. Most of the remaining time of the hearing yesterday was taken up with an inquiry into the bullding trade cases growing out of the Lockwood committee investigation in New York, Col. William Hayward, federal dis- trict attorney at New York, went into details concerning the jous cases, showing which ones had been con- cluded, which now were awaitin, trial and which ones the governmen did not act in because interstate com- merce was not involved. Questioned about the release of the sehooner J. B. Young, seised at New York for an alteged violation of the prohibition laws, Col. Haywara dis closed that order stopping the seizing of ‘rum” sl outside the three-mile limit unless such vessel: had established contact with the shore by means of their own boat: or crews was after “insistent demand” by Secretary Hughes. as it would be | aband Net Circalation, 89,768 TWO CENTS. 'SCHOOLS DISGRACE CHARGES CAPPER, | SCORING CONGRESS Senator Lays Blame Before Legislators for “Miserable” Failure to Provide. | NEARLY ALL BUILDINGS LACK ELECTRIC LIGHTS Playgrounds a Joke and Only 13 Assembly Halls in Entire D. C. System. “Congress has falled miserably in supplying even the physical basis for a healthy and vigorous educa- tional system in the National Cap- 1tal,” Senator Capper of Kansas, chair- man of the joint congressional com- mittee on public schools of the Dis- trict, told the Senate today in an ad- dress in which he placed the blame for school conditions here squarely on the Congress. Senator Capper dis- cussed in detall the school situation as he had found it during the sweep- ing Investigation which his commit- tee conducted in recent months. Not Meeting Obligation. “Congress is not in any sense meet- ing fits obligwntion to the city of Washington,” sald Senator Capper. “The District of Columbia is perhaps the most arbitrarily governed area in the United States. The indifterence and lack of intelligent consideration which the people of the District of Columbia have to meet In their gov- erning body is almost sufficient cause for them to gather in force end march on Congress.” This statement on the part of Sena- tor Capper, coming on the heels of the refusal of the House appropriations subcommittee to hear the citizens’ committee on the needs of the schools in connection with the District, was taken as an indication that a strenu- ous fight will be made in the Senate to provide adequate sghool appropria- tions, whatever actios may be taken by the other body. Urges Cemstructive Pregram. The Kansas senator insisted that the needs of the District schools can- not be met by plecemeal legislation. He strongly urged upon the Eenate the need of a con: rogram of school legisiation. He ul:: *1 do not hesitate té say that the school situation heer is a disgrace to onal Capital. One-third of in Washing- mony to the inefciency of thé Congress that des- 1lgnates the kind of public schools for the city. A large proportion of thes buildings are so poorly adapted for sehool Dllrgo upon l:él"d use. ongre: repes pointed commissions to make edu tional surveys in the District of Co- nd often has failed to act their recommendations. In for instance, a co: ended that mmission rec- bulldings be same viewpoint as Congress proceeded a: forget the recommendations, these ten buildings are still in use. That was fourteen y u* ago. & meanwhile the number of buildings which should be abandoned has in- creased to at least twice that num- ber. Only Thirteen Assembly Hatls. “The mention of playgrounds to the average parent in Washington pro- vokes a smlle. Playgrounds are so few and so small that it is a misuse of the word to call them such. Vir- tually all of the schools are without electric lights and only thirteen out of the entire system have assembly halls. Many of the bulldings have been in use for nearly half a century, yet even with this dilapidated equip- ment it ia necessary to use seventy- eight portable schools. More than 000 children, right here in the capi-. of the nation, are recelvin eir education in these portable schools, buildings which are inferior even to the schools found in the mountainous sections and the thinly settied states of the west. Twenty-Seven Rented Bulldings. “Twenty-seven rented bulldings, in- cluding the back room of a colored church and several second-story apartments are being used for school purposes. At the end of last fiscal yoar there were approximately oversize cl; 1] “Dr. Lt schools, has- informed me that In spite of the new classrooms which have been opened, this number has grown larger since the opening of school this fall, another instance of ort-sightedness on the part of Con- ess. Our subcommittee on schools finds in Washington today more than 7,000 children recelving three-and- 4 a-half hours of instruction In of ! \verage five hours that ro- vided in all adequately financed school systoms. Children are forced to be at schoel at 8:30 in the morning and are sent home at 12 o'clock In order to make room for new groups which’ come at 1 o'clock. This latter group, even with three-and-a-half hours in-~ struction, does not get out until 4.30, or illll In time to get home before dark. 1 am told by the school offi- cl that under present conditions the 70,000 school children are receiv- ln{ only 60 per cent of a normal public school education. ‘Teatimenials of Disgrace. These statistics mean nothing un- less the members of Congress are suf- ficlently Interested to visualize the conditions which they d . But ‘whether or not the Senate is inter- ested, these are testimonials of dis. grace, and the members of Congress cannot escape the disgrace. “In the high schools, conditions are even worse. There are 4,000 more students in the high schools than the bulldings _can adequately accom- modate. This city has one of the highest percentages in the country for high school attendance. It is an admirable tribute to the quality of teaching. But, instead of encouraging this spirit, Congress has withheld the material support which it justly de- Physieal Basis Lacking. “Congress has falled miserably in pplying n the physical basis for healthy and vigorous educational system. And wl has been generous only sions of good intentiors. f model sch