Evening Star Newspaper, January 13, 1923, Page 2

SHORTAGE OF COAL FELTINGERMANY Berlin and Other Cities Hit by Slump in Ruhr Production. MAY SEEK ENGLISH FUEL Policy of Passive Resinnnc; to French Is Crippling Output. BY GEORGE WITTE, | By Wireless o The Star and Chicago Daily News. Copyright, 1923, BERLIN, January 13.—The city of Berlin and other German industrial centers are already beginning to feel the coal shortage, which is attributed 10 the occupation of the Ruhr region by the French. The country’s coal producers, who have shifted their headquarters from sen to Hamburg, much to the per-} turbation of the French, are consider- = the importation of English coal “@t @ cost of 40 per cent higher than| that of coal from the Rubr merely to ] il the Freneh plan of getting more { parations in kind than they received ore the present invasion. Passive resistatice is the policy Which the mine owners and iron and steel industrialists are following. Their aim is to see to it that France gets less in the way of reparations than she had been getting. Kloeck- ner, Thyssen and other industrial leaders. “who, until two weeks ago ending every effort toward ing the eight-hour work d: now " encouraging the Ruhr 1 orers to insist on the eight-hour day. Messages of Sympathy. Stinnes, and it suid also the Krupps. aré opposed to this attitude ©On the part of their fellow capitalists, but they do not think the time has Yet come to offer resistance to the jority of the industriaiists From every state ifi Germany, par- ticular messages of sym path) agement are being sent to newly occupied cities, which are assured that they will be given all the support the rest of Ger- many is of giving should there be tro The two political parties whic most opposed to each other, the nationalist and com- munist, both hope to profit by the prevailing spirit of antagonism not only toward the invaders, but also toward the government, which both partics blame for the present crisis because it was too weak. The nationalists have opened their offensive by offering resistance to the authorities in Bavaria, where demon- strations, inspired and led by Gen. Ludendorff and Crown Prince Rup- precht, are taking place daily against the Berlin government and the “Jew- ish regime.” in Berlin the communists are plan- ning anti-government demonstrations | because they blame the Cuno minis- iry with being purely capitalistic. If either of these anti-government forces gains enough strength in the next fow dayvs 8erious trouble may be expected in Bavaria or Berlin, Reprisals Against French. Teprisals against everything French and Belgian are in full swing, The German government has placed a ban on the public sale of absinthe and has forbidden French and Belgian boxers from appearing in German _rings. against German boxers. Third on the St were the French and Belgian newspaper correspondents, who were told to keep away from public hyild- ings like the reichstag and foreign office. The general feeling of bitterness inst the two countries named has E used nervousness among their diplomatic representatives and among French and Belgian civilians in Ger- many. Both the French ambassador and Belgian minister have asked for special police protection from possi- ble demonstrations, especially on Sun- day, when mass meetings will be held in the center of Berlin. GERMANY GRANTED 16-DAY RESPITE IN DEBT PAYMENT from First Page.) is ism or intentional agitation, as forci- =ble opposition would only mean further hardships. It calls attention to the promise by the occupational forces that the German social laws, cluding the eight-hour law, would continue effective and that the normal life of the inhabitants would not be disturbed. Formal protests against the oecu- pation are being made by the German authorities at all places where troops appear to which the military aythori- ties invariably reply that they are in o position to deal with the protests and can merely note them, Conversations with _industrialists and laborers aliko show there is a strong current of bitterness against the occupation under the surface, but the belief is generally expressed that as long as the workers can continue their labors, draw their wages and live normally therc will be no serious out 3 Up to the present there has been virtually no evidence of active oppo- sition, except such minor incidents as tho tearing down of the military proclamations posted in the streets. The outcome of the present dead- lock in negotiations between the oc- cupational authorities and the mining and industrial operators, caused by the refusal of the more important in- dustrial leaders to meet the “invad- ers’ Is uncertain, and the suggestion is advanced that the French may ulti- mately decide to operate the mines and pay the workmen themselves .ih order to obtain the deliveries of coal which are the chief object of the ex- pedition. Additional engineers, mostly Frénch- | men are continually arriving,| and | every effort is being made to gef into { active touch with the members of the § Rhenish-Westphalian coal syndicate, the headquarters of which, was re- moved to Hamburg before the arrivat of the occupational forces. TThe report from Bochum of the dls- solution of the Ammonia Association, now is denled. FRENCH CABINET MEETS. ! | ! | Statement Says Officials Are Satis- fled ‘With Ruhr Situation. By the Asoctated Press. . PARIS, January 13.—The French cabinet, with Premier Poincare pre- slding, met today to consider the reparations situation. An official com- munication regarding the meeting sald: ‘Premier Poincare, M. Maginot, the minister of war, and M. Le Trocquer, the minister of public works, reported on very satisfactory information they had received as regards the installa- tion of our engineers in the Ruhr and the first conversations held with the manufacturers of the district.” Troops in Schoolhouses, DUISBURG, January 13.—Twenty- #wo public school buildings have been requisitioned by the French as bar- racks for the troops of occupation, and the city has been forced to dis- continue el As other quar-r ters not available. The eh are also oteupying all the publie s - . . b Press. Offers Building Inspectors Use Of Automobile An offer to turn his automobile over to the building inspector's office one day a week to assit that office In handling its increasing volume of work was made to the commissioners today atthew G. Lepley, an archi- tect. Mr. Lepley concluded his letter with a suggestion that other members of his profession to do likewise In order to afford adepuate transportation facilities for inspectors. ‘The archi- tect called attention in his letter to the fact that the House, in passing the new appropriation bill, reduced from $26 to $20 a month the allow- ance for maintenance of automobiles used by building inspectors. “l herewith offer to the District government, for the use of the build- ing division, an antomobile one day each week, to be elected by the in- spector of buildings, for the purpos of traneporting inspectors on their daily rounds.” wrote Mr. Lepley é The commissioners probably will discuss the offer at their next board meeting. HALTS PUBLIC PROTEST OF FRENCH OCCUPATION Berlin Police Edict Based on Fear of Possible Disturbance Over Ruhr Seizure. By the Associated Press. BERLIN, January 13—In the fear of possible disturbances, the police bave prohibited the holding of an open-alr demonstration of protest against occupation on Sunday in Ber- lin. They will, however, allow demo: strations to be held in'inclosed places, such as gardens, schools and play- grounds. Disturbing reports emanate from Munich. A crowd is said to have made a demonstration at the hotel where the entente control commission is lodged. and Herr Zittler, leader of the Bavarian fascisti, addressed a mass meeting, in which he denounced the French and the socialists. The Deutsche Zeitung’s Munich cor- respondent declares Bavaria is on the eve of a great national movement. RUHR STAND APPROVED BY GERMAN PREMIERS Bavarians Ready to Support Ber- lin Against “Insults and Rapacity of France.” By the Associated Press. BERLIN, January 13.—The confer- ence of premiers of the federal states here unanimously approved the cen- tral government's atitude on repara- tions and occupation of the Ruhr. Dr.- von Knilling, premier of Ba- varfa, said the Bavarian people were ready to support the central govern- ment to the last against the “insults nad rapacity of France,” and declared unity of the states was essential to & solution of the difficulties. —_— 1902 RECRUITS CALLED. Italy’s Summons Gges Out to All European Counties Save Russia. By the Associated Press. ROME, Jauuary 13.—The mi of war has ecalled to the. colo: recruits of the second class of 1902 residing in_ all the countries of Europe and along the Mediterranean, excepting Russia. 4 ASKS MINERS TO BE CALM Union Appeals to Ruhr Workers to Commit No Excesses. BERLIN, January 13.—The miners’ unfon has issued ‘an appeal to the Ruhr miners urging them to keep calm and to commit no excesses against the occupying troops. The statement adds that the union expects the French to keep their promise regarding maintenance to the eight- hour day. NO ADVICE ON NEW PARIS PARLEY PLAN (Continued from First Page.) nister re the tained in Parls—to be on the spot when the psychological moment ar- rives. Until then the United States will wateh closely developments in the European theater, but will take no official action, not even to formally acknowledge Tecelpt of the German protest, it is thought. France pre- ferred to try her own plan in place of the peaceful plan suggested by America. The former is now under- going the acid test and the near fu- ture will determine whether or not it was the correct formula for solv- ing the economic problem of Kurope, and, in fact, the whole world. That is the view of the American govern- ment. An authoritative interpretation of French governmental opinion was obtained ~here by the Associated It wus stated that there was no doubt, in the event that occupa- tion of the Ruhr failed to produce the results French expert opinion had forecast, further conference with Germany might be expected and prob- ably would lead to such alterations in ‘reparation schedules as experi- ence had demonstrated to be neces- sary, ‘Twe Freach Aims. The determination of France to pros ceed with the occupation, it was ex- g‘ll.lned. had two underlying purposes he first was that experts in whose judgment the French authorities had confidence had held that the desired payments could be produced in that way. The second purpose, it was added, was to make it very plain to Germany that she could not escape the role of vanquished in the war by trickery or diplomatic evasions. The French authorities are convinced, it was said, that the Germans can un- derstand only lessons backed by force, It was admitted, however, that French economic experts might bs wrong and British opinion right as to the situation in Germany. If it should be proven that Germany has been honestly endeavoring to meet her treaty obligations and not to dodge them, the French spokesman thought it wholly probable that there could and would be & readjustment. P. 0. HOLIDAY OMITTED. Half-Saturday Vacation Awaits Further Arrangements. There was no half-heliday at the Washington city post office today, al- though Postmaster General Work be- fore Christmas authorized the grant. ing of such holidays the vear ‘round, effective today. City Postmaster Chance has taken the matter up with supervisers, and shortly will confer with various groups of emploves, in an effort to determine which employes may secure the privilege. Large amounts of incoming mail prevented the order being put into effect here today, Employes also were 80 busy fixing Up the corridor of the office, in preparation for the ball thers ton! : ¢! there would have been ne hall-holiday, in all prob. ability, i¢ it had been granted, HE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, D. ¢, SATURDAY, JANUARY 13, 1923. OTUENS RESENT [ =vomxe 0L KELLER'S VIEW | Reply to His Criticism of Sug- gested Abolition of Utili- ties Commission. REGARDED AS “REBUKE” Northeast Association Says Reten- tion of Board Is “Waste of | Time and Money.” Voicing the belief that is is “a waste of time and money” to continue the existence of the Public Utilities Commis- sion, the Northeast Washington Citizens' Association today addressed a long let- ter on utility matters to Col, Charles Keller, chairman. The communication is in reply to one Col. Keller recently addressed to Evan H. Tucker, president of the association, in which he took issue with resolutions adopted by the association on the ques- tion of motor bus development and the abolition of the commission. In concluding his letter Col. Keller complained that the commissioners do | not get the proper kind of co-operation | from the citizens. ] The letter sent today is from the | committee on utilities of the associa- tion, headed by Roscoe Jenkins, and starts out by explaining that the views which prompted Col. Keller's letter were resolutions of the North- east Association and not Mr. Tucker's personal opinions. Extract From Letter. The letter reads in part as follows: “In making this reply the com- mittee is mindful of the fact that the resolutions of which you complain were adopted by the assoclation and not by Mr. Tucker, or at any insti- gation or suggestion from him, and is at a loss to understand why he should be rebuked for the action of the association. This is « democratic organization and holds itself, and not its” president, responsible for action taken in open session, “The committee aiso is mindful of the fact that the members of this assoclation have resided in Wash- ington since before you became a member of the Public Utilities Com- mission, some of them all thefr lives, and are quite familiar with the con- ditions surrounding the public utili- ties of the District of Columbna both prior to and since the enactment of the public utilities law in 1913, and congratulates you on having famil- iarized yourself so thoroughly with those conditions in the short duration of vour incumbency as a Commis- sioner, “This association has members who can remember when Congress char- tered the first street railway com- pany in Washington, and in doing S0 it took no cognizance of the fact that the establishment of street rail- ways would compete with the bus lines then operating and, as you are well aware, forced them to discon- tinue. No Reason for Monopely. “It is very doubtful if under the| public utilities act, or the existing charters of the street railway com- panies, whether they have any right ! or can be given any right by the Public Utilities Commission to law- fully operate bus lines and there can be no good reason why a monopoly should be given them, It would ap- {pear that any such policy. adopted {by the commission would be sub- Iservient to the street railway com- | panies.” Continuing, the committes declares that very little trackage had been added to the street railways during the last twenty years; that the popu- {lation of the District and rons has increased nearly 200 per cent; that the rate of fare has been increased 60 per cent since the com- mission took supervision, and that the skip-stop Sysiem ‘“was thrust upon | the riding public. | Parther on the letter reads as fol- i lows: | “The committee Is also mindful of {the fact that the standard of gas has been changed from a light to @ heat standard by the commission; that the price was raised from 75 cents per 1,000 feet to $1.32, from which it has since been reduced to $1.05, which still makes an increase of 40 per cent. 7 “The committee is also mindful of the fact that the Public Utilities Com- mission is virtually acting s the fi cal managers of the public utilities corporations, aud thereby leaving the companies free of responsibility to manage thefr own properties ef- its envi- i {keys to Rhine fish. Beiently and economically; that it is an added responsibility, as you state, which is imposed upon the Commis- sioners of the District of Columbia, and often of a disagreeable nature, for which vou get no thanks, and ' for which the residents of the District of Columbis gre taxed and derive no ma- terial benefit. Therefore, this asso- clation, in view of all the facts, be- lieves it is a waste of time and money to continue the existence of the com- mission. Clatm No Such Statement Made. “You question the ocorrectness of the statement made In the resolution lopted by this association atos Wave been reduced by the Public Utilities Commission.” 1f you will carefully read the resolutions again you will find no such statement made therein. The statement you refer to reads as follows: ‘There Is no appar- ent improvement in the service pro- vided by the public service corpora- tions or any rhaterial benefit in rates been secured under the supervision and regulation of the Public Utilities Commission.” This statement, we be, lieve, to be absolutely correct an: cannot be successfully contradicted, “This committee {s mindful of the fact that the public service corporations of the District of Columbia which are founded on monopoly and special priv- ilege cannot be justly compared with the ordinary retall mercantile enter- prises which are founded on compet!- tion and which if they succeed or fail i8 No concern of yours or ours. Addressing Public Servants. “In conclusion this committee wishes to state that this assoclation is com- posed of members who are citizens of the United States, residents and tax- payers of the District of Columbia and in’ communicating its gricvances and complaints to the Public Utilities Com- mission and other officials of the Dls- trict of Columbia it is addressing the public servants of the residents of the District and not to private individuals, and regrets that you should tuke per- sonal offense at what is belleved to be not only the Pfivflo‘e but the duty of every assoclation of citizens in the Dis- trict of Columbia, “Mr. Tucker, the president of this assoclation, 18 in no way conneeted with any public utility corporation in the District of Columbia, financial- 1y or otherwise, and only has the in. terest of the fare of the residents of the District in general, and of the northeast section in partfcular, to gein by the establishment of bus lines or other improved hods of trans- portation. e TWELVE TAKEN IN RAID. Police last night raided 1212 I street and took twelve persons into custody, charging a woman, giving her name as Dorothy Wilson, with conducting a disorderly house. |She was released on 3100 collateral. Five others were charged with a statutory offense and thwllwr'p.l'lffll l: ;;l::llea. ut. Davis rgt. MoQuade of the lmudm with Police- man Bsur of precinot and Preainct Dett Jackson and Wor- rell of the first precinct, cemprised « St NATL FHOT E ALLEGING VOLSTEAD "ACT. IS BEING VIOLATED BY HIGH OFFICIALS Representative Upshaw of Georgia (left), photographed jcsterday, when he turned over his findings in writing to J. J. Jomew, assistant prohibition commisxioner, who ix shown perusing the document. RHINE TROOP SHIP 10 RESEMBLE ARK That Is, if Officers and Men Are Allowed to Bring Back All Curious Pets. By the Associated Press. COBLENZ, January 13.—The Amer- ican transport St. Mihiel will look good deal like Noah's ark when she sails from Antwerp with the last of the American forces in Germany, if the officers and men are allowed to carry all the queer animals and mer- chandise they have accumulated in the idle and fanciful hours of the last four years. The extent and variety of these pos- | sessions only began to dawn upon them during their hurried prepara- tions for the homeward voyage, and some are expressing the fear that their menagerie will have to be left on the Rhine. The men have acquired many strange creatures, ranging from mon- The exact num- ber of German police dogs in the out- fit_is unknown, but they are a multi- tude, and, in addition, there are nu- merous dachshunds, turtles, monkeys and song birds. Of the inanimate objects there are queer little music boxes fixed in the bottom of beer steins that, when properly worked, make mnoises like birds; there are weird collections of post cards, antique pictures and all varfeties of carved pipes, and great supplies of carpets and civilian clothes, the latter including quey shaped hats and silk underwear, bought at ridiculously low prices in Cologne, together with furs and other odds and ends. Fifty Remain Behind. There will remain for a time fifty officers and men to straighten out the records, dispose of property and settle claims. Maj. Gen. Allen and Col. Willlam W. Harts, chief of staff of the army of occupation, probably will head this rear guard. They will close down the model farm, where cattle, hogs, chickens. rabbits, fruits | and vegetables have been raised and to which was attached a large dairy. | Then, too, there are a number of Army schools, tennis courts, golf clubs and an athletic field near Fort Alex- andria where polo matches were held and where American horsemanship frequently prevailed over that of the allied soldiers in high jumping com- petition. One place which officers and men will abandon with great regret is Carnival Island, the scene of many horse shows and base ball and foot ball matches. JUDGE J. A. LACY DIES; 33D DEGREE MASON Virginian, Retired From Interior Department, Expires in Roanoke, Va. Judge John A. Lacy, for many years connected with the solicitor's ‘office in the Interior Department, died at the home of his daughter, in Roanoke, Va., today, according to advices re- cefved here. Judge Lacy was a native of Vir- ginia, where he was born November 18, 1850. Later he went to Sedalia, Mo., where he practiced law and later became & probate judge in that town. Subsequently he came to Washing- ton and entered the government serv- ice in the Interior Department. He was a member, and one-time chair- man, of the board of pension appeals until it was abolished in 1910. When this board went out of existence he was appointed an assistant attorney in the solieitor's office, which posi- tion he held until he retired in August last year, when he went to Roanoke. He wasa member of Potomac Lodge, No. 5, F. A. A. M., Georgetown, and was appointed a 33d degree Mason October 25, 1901. He is survived by two sons and two daughters. He was an elder in the Georgetown Presby- terian Church. CARAVAN CLUB HEAD VICTIM OF “FRAME-UP” Chilly Reception on Return From Southern Vacation Explained Amid Hearty Greetings. A typical “Shrine stunt” was given at a luncheon of the Caravan Club yesterday at the City Club. Rufus Pearson, president of the Caravan Club, which is made up of members of Almas Temple, was the “goat.” He had just returned from a two- week_vacation in the south, and at the luncheon expected the usual hearty welcome. When he entered the room a hush feil upon the crowd. Tn dismay Mr. Pearson called upon Rev, David Covell to say grace, but the clergyman respectfully declined. The situation became tense. The accustom- ed gayety of the luncheon had changed to_gloom. en Harry Kimball rose and stated that while the president had been away storles had been circulating that he was mixed up with the Ku Kluxers, and even some of the reports, he stated, had put it that he had been in confercnce with Capt. Shipwith at Mer Rouge. Then Clifford Grant, chief of the detective bureau, stated that the re- ports were untrue. He had investi- gated the matter and Mr. Pearson was In no way connected with the klan. All the members of the club rushed upon the president and gave glad hand and a Jolly greet- ing. The whole affair was & frame- up. Addresses were made by Repre- sentatives R: d.rud Ocu'll.y“‘ol -:dt and Texas, of the session "i he E&:wmm:m 'POST OFFICE IN ARRAY FOR DANCING TONIGHT Receiving Line to Be Headed by | Postmaster General and Mrs. Work. In readiness for the “postage stamp ball” tonight, the main corridor of the Washington city post office has become a bower of beauty, in which usual post office bust was transacted. The ball 1 to begin at 9 o'clock, under auspices of Postal Spirit, the magazine published by the Welfare Council of the Post Office Department. American flags, flowers and ferns decorate the corridor. It will be the first time that any such function bas becn held at the post | office. Postmaster General and Mrs, Work will head the recelving line at 9 o'clock. Others in the line will be First As- sistant Postmaster General Bartlett and Mrs. Bartlett, ond Assistant Henderson and Mrs. Henderson, Third Assistant Glover and Mrs. Glover, Fourth Assistant Billany and Mrs. Billany, the solicitor, Mr. W. Mooney, chief clerk; Cf Kram, auditor, and Miss Kram Postmaster Chance and Mrs. Chance and C. T. M. Cutcheon and Mrs Cutcheon. Winners in the recent popularity contest in the department will be Euests of honor of the evening. They fare: liss Sarah Thrift, Miss Alice | Murphy, Miss Elizabeth Voight and jMrs. 1 V. Johnson Guests will be condu | through the activities o ted in groups £ the city post office, which will continue “business as usual” Patrons of the post office may transaet |as Is handled by the pc { night. CHARGES FLY FAST IN PROBE OF JERSEY COAST RUM DELUGE (Continued from First Page.) t office at smail rum-running eraft clustering around the great ficet of three steam- ers and nineteen schooners which lay outside the three-mile limit near Am- | brose light had given that stretch of water an appearance similar to that which obtained during the last international yacht races. An experienced observer on shore with « powerful marine glass declared he had counted “at least 300 small boats” jockeying for position about the liquor-laden mother ships. Some of the boats probably were counted | twice, he sald. as many made several iirips to the rum fleet. The correspondent at Highlands re- { ported that he had personally checked up on ten boats from that port, most of which made several trips. During ja twenty-four-hour period. before !the land enforcement agents got busy, the water-front streets of the town were crowded with motor ve- hicles of every description, from huge piano vans to costly limousines. Each truck, as it moved out, was convoyed by one or more of the passenger ve- hicles. The correspondent declared that “one determined enforcement jagent, stationed on the bridge across | the Shrewsbury river from Highlands to Sandy Hook, “could have made a liquor haul worth at least $100,000.” But there was nobody on the bridge, and the motor procession crossed without a single mishap or incident of molestution. Active in Other Places. And Highlands is but one of & half dozen or more coast points where the rum runners were active. Atlantic Highlands, Belford, Port Monmouth, Keansburg, ~ Seabright, Galilee, as well as points on the Long Island shore, were reported to have teemed with bootlegger activities. The only land capture reported so far was the seizure by Nassau county officials yesterday of a truck und limousine carrying liquor valued at $10,000. The machines were loaded at Great South bay, but the authori- ties missed the boatmen who had brought it ashore, despite am &all- night patrol. Liquor was so plentiful at the fisat center off the Hook that skippers of the various mother ships cut prices and—according to several rum run- ners at Highlands, interviewed sepa- rately at various places and times— hung great signs over the sides of their ships advertising their - wares at prices as low as $40 for a case of rve and $45 for a case of Scotch. Champagne, they added, was offered as low as §50 a case. - BRAND REPORT ‘ERRONEOUS. Rum Landing Accounts Hit by Dry Officials. Press dispatches describing the landing of large quantities of illicit beverages by a fleet of rum runners on the New Jersey coast were de- clared to be “absolutely erroneous’” in an official report received today by Federal _Prohibition Commissioner Haynes from the New Jersey dry headquarters. The report to Mr. Haynes came from_ Acting Director Yellowley of New York, who was instructed yester- day to_ co-operate with Acting Di~ rector Moss of New Jersey in inves- tigating the situation described by the newspaper reports. Mr. Yellow~ ley, according to the commissioner, based his report on a personal inves- tigation, In which be was joined by Mr. Moss and Fleld Supervisor How- ard, in charge of the prohibition land forces in New Jersey. Mr. Haynes sald the Investigators attributed the dispatches printed widely during the last two days to “wet propaganda.” The only recent attempt to land liquor on the New Jersey coast was made Thursday, the report said, by four small craft carry- ing an aggregate of 1,000 cases, all of hich was declared to have been cap- tured by the dry navy. Commissioner Haynes made public the report from Director Yellowley, which read as follows: “Report ip morning Pape ye{lrd. ing landing large quantities of whisky coast of New Jersey erroneous in ex- trome. Held conference with App Moss and Howard tod Al r’r%%ltnu A!l-u::‘n to land 1,000 cases In four tl‘vlfl were captured RY coast guard. = usual such business | CLAIMS NKOIN “SHOT UP” SELF W. B. Stuckey, Former Louis- iana Legislator, Testifies at Hooded-Band Hearing. BASTROP, La., January 13.—Wil- liam B. Stuckey, Mer Rouge lawyer and a former member of the Louisiana legislature, testifying today in the state’s open hearing inquiry into masked and hooded band activities in Morehouse parish, d ared the theory had been advanced in Mer Rouge, in connection with an alleged attempt to kill Dr. B. 3. McKoin, for- mer mayor of Mer Rouge, that Dr McKoin “shot up” his own car to gain the support of members of the Ku Klux | Klan. Mr. Stuckey deseribed himself as an opponent of the klan. Mr. Stuckey also declared Dr. Mc- Koin had incurred the enmity of man people in and about Mer Rouge be- cause of what he termed “bull-in-the- china-shop” methods of McKoin while he was mayor. Met in Courthouse. He told of a conference held in the courthouse between klan members and citizens who were not members relative to the deaths of Richard and Daniel and quoted Capt. Skipwith as | saying that “every man in Morehouse parish who did not quit talking about the klan would be whipped.” Mr. Stuckey did not give the exact language said to have been used by Capt. Skipwith, but handed to Judge Odom a slip of paper on which he had written the words. Mr. Coco stated that arrangements for his conference with Capt. J. K. Skipwith. were completed last night in a conversation between Judge Bar- nett, attorney for Capt. Skipwith, and himself. Mr. Stuckey was asked about the anonymous letters and the Tounding up of people believed to have been connected with the plot to assassinate Dr. McKoin. “I have learned Dr. McKoin wrote them himself. They were written on his typewriter.” Al Smith, another witness, told of eqorts undertaken by himself and others to restore harmonious con- ditions in Morehouse and to adjust differences among certain factions which developed as a result of the|{ attack on Dr. McKoin and the kid- naping and disappearance of Rich- ards and Daniel. “We wanted to provide ways and means to cope with the trouble with- out nay assistance” said Mr. Smith. “Martial law was threatened and the government was reported to have sent detectives here. We wanted to call the governor off and handle the situation ourselves.” Applause from the galleries greeted Mr. Smith’s declaration that he “was @ klansman and proud of it.” Judge Fred L. Odom, before whom the inquiry was being held, warned the spectators against a repetition of such a demonstration. George Seth Guion, assistant at- torney general, and Howard Warren, special state's’ attorney, who talked with Capt. Skipwith, stated that he had stopped them on the streets early vesterday and made a request for a conference in order to clear the name of the Ku Klux Klan. The assistant attorney general said that Capt. Skip- with desired to lay before the attorney goneral all of the operations of the Morehouse klan during the last year in order to prove that it was not offiliated with the black masked band sald to have been responsible for the deaths of Watt Daniel and Thomas F. Richard. Capt. Skipwith from early in the morning until after nightfall is the center of attention as he walks from one group of men to another in front of the Bastrop ourtho: He has a ready answer for every question put to him and alwaye comes out in defense of the klan whenever the occasion arises Thirteen on Lisi Thirteen names were on the Jist of prospective witnesses for today. Among these is Marshall Mott, a student of Mississippi College, who was named by Conrad MeDufty as being his companion when he saw an automobile truck, driven by a masked man, returning from the di- rection of Lake La Wourche on the night of August 24, the date on which Daniel and Richard are reported to bave disappeared. W. B. Stuckey, Mer Rouge attorney; W. F. Campbeil, town marshal of Mer Rouge; W. L Pugh and Fred Cobb of Bastrop; F. E. Mason of Monroe; A. L. Smith, Flodd Madison and A.'N. Williams are on the wit- ness list. Campbell was one of three men sald to have been designated by Capt. Skipwith to leave Mer Rouge. Pugh was the one who vouched for Campbell and allowed him to remain. Smith, Madison and Williams, local men, were named by witnesses as members of the committee who con- ferred with klan leaders on a plan to qulet conditions in Morehouse. e PRAISES SUPT. BALLOU. Superintendent of Schools Frank W. Baliou was described i vous of the most progressive, sympathetic an - Visioned ‘men 1% “education today." by Dr. Frank P. Graves, New York state commissioner of education, at the con- cluding session of the Teachers Insti- tute yusterday afternoon in the Central High School auditorlum. Dr. Graves also lauded the systematic mannsr in which Washington is adopting the junior high school unit, 4 C. W. Price, safety expert, told tiie teachers that’ the safety instructions which have been introduced into the school eurriculum would not only teach the children to be careful, but would be WIND, HILL, AUTO GONE; POLICE FIND IT “STOLE ITSELF” At 10 o'clock last night, police of the eighth precinct recelved a re- Port of the theft of an automobile from William Randolph, 1704 Ver- mont avenue. Half an hour later, it was learned by the police, that :f theft was committed, it would have to be ascribed to the automobile it- self. 1t had run away. The machine was parked on 13th Street, near the top of the steep hill that flanks Central High School, be- tween Florida avenue and Clifton strect. Wind was sweeping over tho brow of the hill. Whether this started the automobile is not known, but the car went careening down the hill. Curbing didn't stop it. It Jumped to the sidewalk and tore into tree “box, ricocheted off, and i cement railing at_the Florida avenue entrance to the Cen- tral Stadium. There it was found, looking very sick. The theft report wi atel 5 Booke: Po! as scratched off RAP BLUE PLAINS AS ASYLUM SITE Tract Too Small for Feeble- Minded Home, Senators Are Informed. WOULD BE LIKE PRISON Witnesses Say Only Fifty Acres Are Available—Influential Civic Bodies Oppose Plan. A strong plea was made today to the Senate appropriations subcom- mittee handling the District appro- priation bill to repeal the law which would place the proposed home for the feeble-minded of the District on the tract now owned by the govern- ment at Blue Plains. The board of charities, the District Commissjoners, the Monday Evening Club and other civic and trade organizations are {strongly opposed to the location of this home at Blue Plains. The witnesses appearing before the subcommittee called attention that only about fifty acres would be avail- able at the Blue Plains tract, although in 1916, according to the children's bureau, there were 798 mental de- fectives in the District for whom in- stitutional care was deemed desir- able, and the number undoubtedly has increased within the last six years. Tract Crowded Now. On this tract the Industrial Home {for Colored and the Home for the Aged are already located. To place the home for the feeble-minded on the eame property would be merely to provide a house of detention for them. There would be inadequate opportu- nity for outdoor life and inadequate employment for the feeble-minded. The witnesses insisted that the home and school for feeble-minded should not be looked upon in any sense as a iprison. The unfortunate inmates would be entitled to_the tenderest care and treatment. It was pointed out that the District purchased 2,500 acres of land to aceommodate prison- £rs. and that ffty acres seem pitiable a8 home and school for the feeble-minded, b Last year the Senate inserted in the District appropriation bill an item of 1840,000 to purchase a site for the jhome of the feeble minded. When the bill went to Congress, this pro- vislon was rewritien, so that the Commissioners were 'directed to lo- cate the home on the Blue Plains tract, and some $125.000 was appro- priated for constructing the building. Look to Next Comgress. The opponents of this site believ- ing as they do that it s entirely in- adequate, are seeking the repeal of the provision locating it at Blue ! Plains. They would like an amend- ment placed in the District bill pro- viding $35,000 or $40,000 to purchase a new site, but if this cannot be ha they prefer to have the law repea ed and take & chance of getting some relief in the next Congress. Today was the second on which hearings on the District bill were condueted. The Distriot Commission- ers attended the hearing as well as some of the other officials of the District government. Among the re- quests made by the Commissioners was @ plea for restoration of $95,000 cut from the refuse disposal appro- priation by the House. The health oicer, Dr. William C. Fowler, rec- ommended that the committee fn- crease the appropriation for the dairy farm inspection service. The bureau of the budget allowed $8,000 for this purpose, but the House cut it to $6.000. ' Dr. Fowler contended that the effect of this cut would be seri- ous so far as the milk supply of the District was concerned. {FIRE, SMOKE AND WATER DAMAGE STOCK OF FURS Children and Man Rescued From Upper Floors of | ‘Burning Building. Fire, smoke and water damaged a stock of furs to an indeterminate ex- tent last night at the New England Fur Shop, 618 12th street. Three chil- dren and & man were taken from the building from upper floors, aithough at no time were they in serious dan- ger, according_ to police reports. The orlgin of the fire has not been deter- mine The children—Olive, Russell and Frank Oldham, four, seven and eleven years of age, respectively—were on the upper floors when the fire started. | George Lynch, a local attorney, and George Yeager, secretary to Repr sentative Ward, who were in the im- mediate neighborhood when the fire was discovered, brought the children out. Capt. B. W. Howard of No. 2 engine assisted Joseph Sammons, fift: who had been confined to bed, to safet Benjamin Sherman, of 4501 Con- necticut avenue, proprietor of the shop, said that he had_a stock of $30,000 in furs there. Fire depart- ment officials have not yet reported on the damage. ——— GETS EIGHT YEARS MORE. Long Sentence for Colored Man Follows 7-Year Term Already Given. Dick Dashington, colored, who was ‘ Three sentenced vesterday in Criminal Di- | vision 2 by Justice Bailey to serve seven vears in the penitentiary for housebreaking, today received an ad- { ditiona) sentence of eight years from Justice Stafford in Criminal Division 1 for robbery. Dashington claimed the police worked the “fifth de- gree” on him at headquarters by burning papers under his bare feet in an -nemg& to force a confession. Justioe ord deferred sentence last muru‘.'hflc an inquiry was t! against the B o S B8 R INSPECTION OFFICE NEGLECT FLAGRANT Force Twenty Years Behind Numerically and Far Under- paid, Trade Board View. BLOW TO EFFICIENCY | Committee Reaches “Irrefutable Conclusion” on Conditions in Report of Inquiry. “Irrefutable conclusion” that the office of the municipal building in- spector, charged with the examina- tion and approval of Washington's tremendous construction program, ix “flagrantly undermanned &nd its staft niggardly paid for the services ren- dered” has been reached by the Board of Trade’s committee on public and private buildings, following an ex- tensive investigation into the build- ing inspection situation in the Ni tional Capital. Detailed results of this investiga tion, with the rccommendations of the committee, were made public to day. The committee quotes figure in tabulated form exposing the ser ous proportions of the problem whic has arisen in Washington as a - sult of the unprecedented mmm;\ of the city and the correspondin:* deluge of work which has swampe¥ the building inspector's devision of the District government. Behind Building Advance. The fact is cited that less than 10 per cent increase In number employes on the permanent roll of the building office has been afforded during the paet twelve vears, where- as the duties of the office, based on the valuation of construction opera- tions passed on, have jumped 145 per cent. Total salary increases throughout this span of years have amounted to but 24 per cent, not taking into ac- count temporary appropriations. A comparison between the amount of work done and the number of em- ploves and the salaries paid then tells its own lesson, the committee points out. In 1815, for instance, the summary shows that twenty-four emplo. making up the inspection staff passed on $8,575,057 worth of building. In 1922 approximately the same sized force, viz, twenty-five employes, ap- proved plans for more than four times the amount of building done in 1915. Salary expenses for this worl totaled in 1915 $31,330, while last year the salary budget was $37,090. Four-Fold Burden. In other words, the spectacle was presented of heaping a four-fold burden on an already overworked staff at a salary cost to the govern ment only 18 per ce fore the imposition. The tabulation follow Work Performed (Based on Val- Em ployes The twelve-year period covers the progress made in the use of concrete, steel and terra cotta as major mater- ials in construction work. With each succeeding year new features of bulld- ing and new combinations of materials have developed, all of which tend to in- crease the labors of the inspectors, who must_familigrize themselves with the specifications and qualities of the new processes and materials. Greater Eficlency Needed. According to the civic commitree’s findings, admiesion is “frequent and without equivocation” that there should be maintained a “greater degree of efficiency in the dispatch of business than now prevails.” “How is this facllitation to be ac- complished when the number of em- ploses permanently engaged in the worl: s pratically the same as twenty years ago, and the salaries paid—except for increases of $100 or 3200 in two cr three cases—remain unchanged, cave for the so-called $240 bonus, which 1s admittedly a ‘mere sop' that is not pro- vided for beyond the present fiscal year?” the committee inquires. The salary budget of the present inspection force is given as follows: | The inspector (chief) receives $3,000 a year. One of his assistants re- celves $2,000, two assistants receive $1.500 each, a third receives $1,400 and the remainder get 31,360 each. The inspector of fire escapes is paid $1.400; the engineers, $2,000, $1.800 and $1.500, respectivelv: the chiel clerk, $1,800, and the other clerks, on an average, $1,000 each. A messenger gets $600 a year. There has been appropriated $20 000 for the employment of tempora: assistant inspeotors of buildings f the current fiscal year. An @ppropri- ation of $15,000 will be sought for the next fiscal vear, it is said. How- over, s Building Inspector Hea! remarks In his aunual report: Called Makeshift Policy. “Such appropriations censtitute merely a makeshift policy that can only result in an uncertain and un- satisfactory method of administra- tiox The committee concludes that the buflding inspection office should be enlarged to comprise the following personnel: Inspector, deputy in- spector, chief clerk, orie permit elerk two file clerks, two stenographers. two zoning clerks, a messenger and | technical employes as follows: Chigf civil engineer, four civil engineers, two assistant ‘inspectors of buildings assigned to fire escape work, a chief field inspector, thirteen assistant field inspectors, three assistant inspectors assigned to elevator . examination and, finally, & soning draftsman, The point was stressed that ade- quate salaries to maintain the pro- posed force at full strength and at tull efMciency should be provided. DRY AGENTS PROBE UPSHAW RUM TIPS (Continued from First Page.) tive Upshaw’s charges, the question of what prohibition agents' au- thority would be was discussed hyvothetically today by officials. Lawmakers Amenable. Members of Congress, it was said, theoretically have no Ymmunity from the provisions of the Volstead act. The only exemptions provided by law for consumption of liquor, it was pointed out, with the exception of that used for medicinal and religlous pur- poses, were those gocorded to the iplomatic corps in Washington, who were allowed their liquor under what is_known as “diplomatic immunity.” Of course, it was pointed out, & member of Congress would hardly be taken from the floor of the Benato or House by prohibition agents in case he were wanted in_connection {with any investigation, but it wus |made clear that the prohibition unit had full aythority to enforce the pro- visions of the Volstead act upon mem- bers of Congre other officials o ment. Federal Prohibition Commissione! Haynes, Clol. Nutt and Dr. Robert O. Matthews, special asslstant to the commissioner, will | ‘Washington tonight for a tour of pection and investigation in the wi Dr. Mat- | "?". will proceed to Alasks on pro- | nibition work, personally or upon the federal govern-