Evening Star Newspaper, January 16, 1923, Page 2

re— - w “BOARD GIRDS LOINS " FOR FINKSH FIGHT {To Meet. Commissioners; i Ready for Court Action if Necessary. DEMAND BEAUTY COURSE But Dispute Involves Question of School Officials’ Right to Di- rect Expenditures. Mandamus proceedings may be in- stituted by the board of education to compel the District Commissioners {o grant the appropriation of $331.25 | for supplies for the girls at the O Street Vocational . School taking the course in manicuring and shampooing. Whether legal action will be taken depends upon the outcome of the conference between a committee of the school board and the Commis- sloners, which will be held in the wpartment of Commissioner Oyster at 2400 16th street this afternoon at 8:30 o'clock. Headed James T. Lloyd, the school board's committee will g0 into the conference sanguine that the con- trove over the appropriation for the supplics for the so-called beauty iture course will be adjusted amica- bly and thereby obviate any ther uction. T committee, howe r, will insist that the board's requlisition for funds for the beauty supplies. already twice flatly turned down by the Com- missioners. be granted. Twe Alternatives Open. If the city heads again refuse to grant the appropriation, it is the intention of the committee to recom- mend to the board that it take one of two steps—compel the .Commis- sioners, through court order, to grant the requisite funds, or have the Cap- per teachers' salary and school-reor- ganization bill amended so as to more clearly define the board's authority to_direct school expenditures. The dispute hangs entirely on the question whether the Commissioners or the school board is vested with the constituted power to direct the ex- penditure of school funds. Both the city heads and the board maintain that the organic act of 1906 gives them authority to direct the school expenditures. Tn a memorandum which the board' committee will submit to the Com- missioners, it will point out that section 2 of the organic act gives them the power to direct the school expenditure 1t reads: “That the control of the public schools of the District of Co- lumbia is hereby vested in the board of education “The board shall determine alll questions of general policy relating to the school, shall appoint the ex- ecutive officers hereinafter provided for, define their duties and direct ex- penditure: Cite Their Authority. The Commissioners cite as their au- thority for turning down the requi- sition, paragraph 3, section 2 of the organic act, which reads: “All expenditures of public funds for such school purchases shall be made and accounted for as now pro- ded by law under the direction and control of the Commissioners of the District of Columbia.” These words, the board's committee will contend, do not vest in the Commissioners the power to veto or prohibit expendi- tures directed by the board. The words, according to the committee, cannot mean that the city heads have authority to prevent such expendi- tures altogether. On the other hand, the committee will emphasize that the power vested in the board by Congress to direct expenditures, undoubtedly means that the school governing body shall de- cide what expenditures are to be made for school purposes and that its au- thority shall be ample and complete in_this regard. 1f the school board is to determine all questions of general policy relat- ing to the school as authorized by Congress in the organic act, the com- mittee will point out that it must have the authority to direct expendi- tures in order to carry out its pro- gram or general policy: and its au- thority in this respect is final, as the court decled in the case of the United States ex rel. Nalle vs. Hoover, 31 Ap- D, C.. 320, where Justice Van speaking for the court, said: o concede it to be the duty of the court to construe this statute (act of June 20, 1906) liberally, go a to glve the board as broad discretion as possible In carrying out its ob- jects. Public policy demands that, in the management and control of the public #chools, final administrative authority shall be somewhere vested. Here, it {8 vested in the board of edu- cation of the District.” Show Their Viewpoint. The board committee takes the position that it is evident that tha' words “all expenditures of public funds shall be made and accounted | for as now provided by law under| the direction and control of the Com- missioners of the District of Colum- bla” mean only that the board of education shall make its expenditures and account for them through the organization, which is “under the di- rection and control of the Commis. sioners of the District of Columbia, and this the board of education does. 1f the words had any other mean- ing, it was pointed out, the statute would be inconsistent with itself be- cause it provides that the board shall direct expenditures of funds for the public schools and in another that the Commissioners shall do so. Besides Mr. Lloyd, the committee consists of Daniel J. Callahan and Willlam L. Houston. The conference be held in Commissioner Oys- apartment because illness pre- vents him from coming to the Dis- trict building, Members of the board's committee made it plain that no spirit of open hostility exists between the board and the Commissioners as a result of their refusal to grant the aprpopria- tion for the beauty course supplies. The controversy, they maintain, is gue to an honest difference of opin- . AMBASSADOR NOT RECALLED. ROME, January 16.—A that the German ambassador to Italy had 'b:s:\ recalled was semi-officlally denled ‘today. Bighty-five thousand people have been murdered in the United State Juring the last ten year: Daring Rescue In Apartment Fire Performs FRANK HELLMUTH, NNEW SCHOOL FOR TAKOMA PARK Town Council May Supply Additional Funds for Building. The mayor and council of Takoma Park, Md., may come to the rescue of the school authorities of Mont- gomery county and aid in securing additional funds with which to erect the new public school on the' tract of land purchased a few months ago. According to a report presented to the council last night the cost of the building will be approximately $50,000. At the last meeting of the Mary- land legislature the county was au- thorized to issue bonds to the ex- tent of $20,000. This has been done and estimates for constructing the school building are nearly $50,000. An appeal has been made to the Ta- koma authorities to secure, if possi- ble, the additional funds, which the council has expressed @ willingness to _do. The Montgomery county school offi- clals have assured the Takoma offi- cials that at the unext meeting of the legislature a year hence, author- ity wil be secured for another bond Issue to cover the additional amount, at which time the money advanced by Takoma Park will be returned, with interest. Under this procedure the construction of the school can be started and the building completed in time for the school year in September. The first report of the newly-ap- pointed electrical inspector. C. Huff, was presented and approved by the councll last night. The report showed that thirty-four residences had been inepected during the past month and fourteen permits granted. Inspector Huft, in his report, invited attention to the marked improvement in the character of electrical work now b ing installed and that the electrical contractors generally are exhibiting a spirit of co-operation with the town authorities and have expressed satis- faction with the new regulations. The council reappointed for thirty days Mr. Huff as electrical inspector, and L A. Cutshaw as plumbing and bullding inspector. The report of Town Treasurer Ben G. Davis for December was presented and approved. It showed receipts from general and speclal taxes, per- mits, “etc., amounting to $6.057.34, which, with the balance on hand of $2,775.22, made a total of $8,832.56. Included in the receipts for the month was the payment by Prince Georges county of a road tax refund amoun ing to 3$326.41. The disbursements during the same period for street work, street lighting, salaries, and general expenses amounted to $2,- 003.70, leaving a net balance on hand of $6,828.86. The announcement was made that within the next few days the town would undergo a clean-up of trash at the expense of the town. House- holders will be given notice when the work is to start. The council authorized the cinder- ing of Garland, Eastern, Woodland, Poplar and EIm avenues in order to put _these thoroughfares in passable condition for the winte The meeting was presided over by Mayor James L. Wilmeth, with Coun- cilmen H. F. Taff, H. E. Rogers, John R. Adams, W. A. Kroll and W. H. Fischer and Town Clerk Ben G. Da- vis present. MRS. MARTHA C. BIGGS DIES AFTER LONG ILLNESS Mrs. Martha Charlotte Biggs, widow of Henry Rozler Biggs, died shortly after 11 o'clock today at the residance of her son, Dr. J. Rozler 218 11th street southwest. Mrs. Biggs, who was seventy-six years ol had been il for about four month Mrs. Biggs had resided in Washing ton since the civil war, coming here from Charles county, Maryland, where she was born. Before her marriage she was Miss Slaven. She is survived by two sons and three daughters: Dr. Biggs, John G. Biggs, Mrs. J. Edward Fraser of Lyncnburg, Va.; Mrs. John W. Slack of Silver Creek, N. Y. and Mrs George M. Griffin of Kensington, Md. She was the mother also of the late Henry Curtis Biggs. Arrangements for the funeral have not been completed. Is is known, however, that the services will be held in St. Dominic’ Catholic Church, 6th and E streets southwest, Interment will be in Mount Olivet cemetery. WILL HEAR DELEGATION. Senate Committee Sets Date for Child Labor Law Opponents. The Senate judiciary subcommittee considering various constitutional amendments and legislation designed to regulate child labor announced yes- terday that it had set aside next Thurs- day afternoon to the hearing of a delegation from North Carolina in opposition to the proposed amend- ment. The subcommittes acted gt the re- guest of Senator Overman. For the Last Word . of the busy day—read The Zoening Hfa2 5:30 Edition The latest financial news; the latest sport news; the Jatest news from all over the world—and the court calendar for tomorrow. b For sale by newsboys and THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C., TUESDAY, JANUARY 16, 1923. BUI_LDING AT 15TH AND K STREETS TO COST $4,500,000. DENIES HE OWNED KIDNAPING TRUCK Klansman Says if His Auto Was Used It Was Without His Permission. DECLARES HE SAW NO ONE Acted as Special Policeman at Bastrop Day Two Men Dis- appeared. By the Associuted Press. BASTROP, La., January 16—My terious and oft repeated references to an auto truck, owned by an ad- mitted member of the Ku Kilux Klan gave added excitement today to the public hearing which is inquiring into the death of Watt Daniel and Thomas Richard., The owner of the truck, so prominent in the morning’s testi- mony, was Smith Stevenson, a speclal police officer i Bastrop on August 24, the date the inquiry centers about the date of the barbecue and of the swift descent of the black masked men and the sudden disappearance of Daniel and Richard until their bodies came from the depths of Lake La Fourche a few weeks ago. s Stevenson had been questioned about his actions, whereabouts and the things he saw the night Daniel and Richard disappeared into the dark- ness, tied and and blindfolded, in the back of a small truck, the line of questioning was suddenly switched. Line of Questions Switched. “You own a truck?’ The question came out of the blue sky. “Yes, I bought it from Harry Neelis 1t was a second-hand. Where is the car now?” “At my house." You can give us some idea as to when you bought the truck?" thirty days before the kid- ou use the truck that day?’ to haul water the the ball players up at the ball game. “Was the car there when you went home that night *I don’t know."” “Was it there next morning?” “I_think so." “Can’t you be positive about it “I think it was. but I don't remem- ber exactly. Harry Neelis kept his car there, but I don’t remember any- thing about it.” Denies Knowing Men. Stevenson denied repeated questions by state’s attorneys as to whether he had seen any one point out the two n prior to the kidnaping. honor s a man you an- George Seth Gulon, assist- rney general, asked. Stevenson said and repeated his denial he had seen any one point out the men. “If your car was seen on the roads out of Bastrop, it was being driven without your permission?” Stevenson was asked. He replied in the afirmative, Stevenson was questioned as to ether he was one of the party of Ku Klux Klan members who it has been testified, gathered in the Thom- as hardware store in Bastrop and armed themselves after news of the kidnaping was received. Andrews’ Mother Told Him. Stevenson said he first learned of the kidnaping when Andrews' mother told him her son had been captured by the black-hooded men “Was the town excited? was asked. “People were going in every direc- tion, but I did not notice any particu- lar excitement,” he said. Stevenson explained that a barbecue and base ball game was held in Bas- trop that day and a number of visitors were here. “Did you see any hooded men come through town?" No." 1f they did pass through Bastrop {from the Mer Rouge-Bastrop road (where the kidnaping occurred on the Mer Rouge-Monroe road) could they have =0 without you seeing Stevenson m Yes, they could have passed with- out me seeing them.’ ‘Could they have gone from the one the other by skirting the N ‘The night of the kidnaping did you make any effort to locate these parties and arrest the kidnapers?” “I don’t know. I was just a _special deputy and it was nothing I could do right then.” “You heard that five men had been kidnaped?” Surprised at Kidnaping. Earl Andrews told me how oy, many.” |‘ ‘“Were you surprised at the kidnap- ng 7" Yes.” 'You had no intimation there was £0ing to be a kidnaping?” Did you know about any other cazes of i(ldknan!n[?l‘" ““Yes, new about Richard and Harry Neeli “Did you know of any bitterness existing between Danlel and Rich- “Did you know of any bitterness in the klan against these men?" “No, 1 don’t think so.” “You know Dr. McKoin? “Yes." “You know of any bitterness that exist between him and the passed by, but 1 did not go in. ‘ou did not go into the rear of the store?” “I believe I did.” “Did you see any guns? “Well, I think 1 did.” “Did you know whether loaded?” “I don't think I did.” “Were you armed?” “Yes, 1 had my gun as an officer of the law.” - f “sghlt did you go to Capt. Skipwilh e s dgn'l'. ren!:emb-‘r. I don't remem- er whether I went or sent Skipwith. forOnpy Has Faint Recollection. ‘You can't remember whether you sent or went for Capt. Skipwith?" “I guess so—I have a faint recollec~ tion something like that happened. Jap Jones sald something about see- ing Capt. Skipwith.” “Do you know whether Capt. Skip- with came to Thomas' store?” 1 think he did. ‘Where did you see Skipwit “I saw him standing on the street near the restaurant.” 'You didn't send for him at his You sent for him while on they were “If you had been there with a bunch of armed men waiting for a riot o the kidnapers, or the men don’t you think you could ng?" “I guess 8o. “Well, can you remember going any where else?" “Yes, I went to Turpin's store.” "Who did you see there?" ; “I think I saw Jim Norsworthy and others. 7 *“Who else?" “1 don’t remember."” “What time did you go home?” “I don't remember." 4 "Where else alddzon §o?" “Well, I went down by the dance Lh%]:l(hl.’ Siai ite. you see Sidney White or Fred Hij inbotham?” 0. +Did you gorinside the dance halit” ing of Investment office bullding, to be erected at the northwest cormer of 15th and K streets northwest. by the City Investment Corporation. AMERICAN IMPRESSIONS. BY EMIL COUE. (Continued from First Pageé.) convince some people that I do not exercise a certain influence over them, When 1 tell them that they must count upon themselves, not upon me, they often reply: “I dow't care what you say, you do wleld power, and when 1 am with you I get better re- sults than when I am alone. that may be true in many cases. But the reason is, as 1 have already indi- cated, that a person who has faith enough to come to me is already halt- cured by that very faith. There {s another aspect of the ques- tion. It 1 possessed any real power, eurely it should have the same effect | upon all. Yet that is not the case. Upon some my influence is absolutely | nil; upon others it may be immense. Nothing Invented. Which proves that it s not and cannot be an essential factor in the efficacy of my system. It merely in the imagination of certain persons, and as I have explained, 1 hope convincingly, in previous arti- cles, the imagination is all-powertul, £0 in such instances it really does aid recovery of health. But it would be a sorry action to allow it to be thought that personal contact Wwith me is necessary. 1 want American citizens all over the continent to un- derstand that all they need 1s proper comprehension of the princi- ples of autosuggestion—that is sim- plicity itself—together with & beliet in its effectiveness. 1 do not claim to have invented any- thing. 1 have merely reduced to a simple formula for everyday use and practice theories which were known to be truths. thousands of years ago. Still less have I invented a new faith, as some would appear to infer. The other day a gentleman interviewed by one of your newspapers described y method of autosuggestion as & ‘direct challenge to the church. 1 fail to see any reiation between religion and autosuggestion Is medicine a challenge to the church? Autosuggestion is only the use of natural forcés and functions of our being and can be practiced by Catholics and Protestants, Islamist or Buddhists, without violating any of the precepts or doctrinal principles of those churches or religions. ~ Did not St. Paul writes of the “faith that moveth mountains”? Surely it cannot be wrong to make use of the facul- ties which the Creator himself has given us! Dentes “Miracles.” Other religious leaders look askance at autosuggestion because it has come to be associated with alleged “mira- cles” which I am supposed to have worked. Now, miracies do not exist. I have never accomplished any and never shall. As a matter of fact, the so-called “miraculous” cures are the simplest and the most easily explain- ed of all. They prove that actually the sufferers only thought they were sick. _ Thought produced or longed the symptoms, and in that te- spect were really sick. But directly they were made to realize that their ills could be overcome by imagina- tion they were cured. It may seem rather unnecessary for me to answer the few criticisms Of which 1 have been the object in the atmosphere of exceptionaily sympa. thetjc Interest in which I find myself. But 1 am anxious to clear the path of my American tour of all misunder- standings. 1 wish to be taken seri- ously by serious-minded people. 1 want every one to be convinced that the theories I advance, reduced as they are to their simplest expression, are, nevertheless, built upon & groundwork of scientific fact. 1923, _United States, s and South America, jpaper Alliance and New York World (Press Publishing Company). All rights reserved. Unlicensed reproduction In full or in part expressly prohibjted.) COUE, IN JOLLY MoOD, ARRIVES WITH WARNING FOR D. C. FOLKS (Continued from First Page.) Great y North of honor at & tea at the home of Dr. Birnie. Perhaps a hundred people greeted M. Coue at Union station this morning, as he came through the gate from the Philadelphia train. He carried a brown traveling , of the design and color which spelled France. He was accom- anied by Mr., and Mrs.. Oliver Smith iytnrd of New York cflt'- Capt. Doyle of the sixth police pre- cinct escorted M. Coue to Dr. Birnie's sutomobile, which was waiting at the west entrance to the station. The crowd of admirers followed deferen- tially in the footsteps of M. Coue, many of them edging close to him to catch what he said in his careful but good English. M, Coue was imme. diately taken to the Pre Club. Tomorrow Prof. Cous will give two lectures here, one at 3 o'clock in the afternoon at the home of Willlam ‘Phelps Eno, 1771 N street northwest. The other lecture will be at 8 o'clock tomorrow l“'k%l Memorial Conti- M. Coue, talkin of The Star, said that he was much pleased with Washington so far as he had been able to see it thus far and said he hoped to get in a brief sight- seeing tour this afternoon. “Your streets are very wide,” he said. Deaths Reported. following deatbs have been reported to m%awlummmm 64, 613 M ot. 60, 15th st. 54, basis, Poto- B. “Voelkner, 69, 5306 8th st. 435 Tean, sve. n.e. ire, 21 days, 409 Vi Oth well, | exists | al Two undergréund floors will be used Dies From Injuries Inflicted by | . UNbERWOOD i MRS, DAVID JAYNE HILL. FIVE STREET CRASH VICTIMS DIE IN DAY; FIVE OTHERS HURT (Continued from First Page.) cause is left to be determined at the inquest of the coroner this atternoon. | ‘ In addition, police received reports of four others, which did not result {as seriously. | Mrs. Benjamin Franklin of 1627 R street was knocked down by an auto- mobile operated by Lewis Bell of 20th street on Pennsylvania ave- nue between 7th and Sth streets yes- terday at 1:25 p.m. Her injuries were not reported as serious. Henry Foster of 1601 V street, but- ler for Secretary of War Weeks, was hit by an automobile operated by Isaac Presley of 1212 Kenyon street at Champlain avenue and V street yesterday at 5:28 pm., sustaining minor Injuries. Presley was arrested by Detectives O'Brien and Living- ston, charged with assault, with Fos- ter ms complainant, and released on $1.000 bond to await a preliminary hearing of the At 12:15 am. today Henry McLeod of Mount Ida, Va. operating an au- otmobile, collided with a Capital Traction Company street car at 19th and G streets, and Roy Tranlock, twenty-eight years old, of 713 19th| street, a passenger in the McLeod car, was cut on the right side. His in- juries are not serious. He was treat- ed at Emergency Hospital. Team Runs Away. About 11 o'clock this morning an automobile truck operated by Charles Shaffer, twenty-two years old, of Park Lave, Va., was struck by a team of runaway horses at 29th and M streets. Shaffer was treated at George- town Hospital for cuts and bruises. His condition is not serious. Spurred on by the number of traf- fic deaths during the past few da. the Commisgioners’ trafic commitiee is making every effort to submit its recommendations to_the city heads at an early date, Willlam P. Eno, chairman of the committee, stated. Mr. Eno said the committee has had several meetings and has gone over carefully the present code of regu- lations. He said that the committee would not discuss its proposed changes until the report is ready to be laid before the Commissioners. RITES FOR MRS. D. J. HILL, VICTIM OF ACCIDENT, TO BE HELD TOMORROW Mrs. David Jayne Hill, who died to- day from the result of an automobile accident, before her marriage, in 1888, was Miss Juliette Lewis Packer. She was widely known in diplomatic and | social circles, both here and in Eu- rope as a prominent hostess, and made herself popular in this country and abroad. For many vears she was known as the best lingulst among the women in diplomatic_life and, being fluent in writing and speaking French and German, she was of in- estimable assistance in a social way to Dr. Hill when he was ambassador to Germany, minister to Switzerland and envoy to The Nethrelands. When Dr. Hill was assistant secre- tary of state, under McKinley, Mrs. Hill entertained extensively here, and her house on K street became a ren- | deavous of official and social per- sonages. She was a great patron of the fine arts and encouraged and aided to a great extent many of the younger artists and musicians (n Washington. She it was who first went in ex- tensively for afternoon entertain- ments and her custom. was to give luncheons and teas at which some musician would be a guest and afterward entertain with a concert in his specialty. This manner of en- tertaining, now quite in vogue here, was inaugurated by Mrs. HilL Funeral services will be held to morrw afternoon at 4:30 o'clock at the Church of the Epiphany, follow. ing which the body will be sent to Williamsport, Pa., where Mrs. Hill rents are buried. Interment will e place Thursday. | SUES FOR' MAINTENANCE. Because she complained of his at- tentions to another woman, Mrs. Juliet O’'Briant . says her husband forcibly ejected her from their home February 10, 1922, glving her only §1. Mrs. O'Briant today sued for main- tenance against John T. O'Briant, who owns, she says, an apartment at 1465 Columbia road, which brings him $1,000 per month. The husband spends his time and money on an, the wife asserts. They ried at Alexandria, Va., A|1 st, 7, 1911, and have no children. A lorn.yl John Murphy the wite, . for parking automobiles. SOVIET PERIL ADDS TO WAR SPECTER (Continued from First Page.) point. The Russian commissioners tarrled at Berlin en route to Italy. Reticence and evasion marked their attitude when questioned as to the | real underlying purpose of their ne- | gotiations in the Wilhelmstrasse. | Formidable Army. If Germany is able to call up “Trotsky’s army” to aid her in de- fying France in the Ruhr, France will be faced by the military establish- ment acknowledged to be, next to her own, the strongest in Europe. Some authorities claim the soviet army is stronger than the army of France. Last year, during the discussion over recognition of soviet Russia by the outside world. Llovd George declared that Lenin and Trotsky marshaled a! force of 1,600,000 men, so formidable lin every way that they were capable of offering resistance and deflance to | all Europe. During the Washington armament conference Briand, Jusu()‘-‘ ing French disinclination to reduce | land forces, painted the soviet mili- | tary menace in graphic terms. The eloquent French premier hinted strongly that the French could not leave out of their political and mili- tary calculations the possibility of a soviet army _sweeping down upon them across Germany with or with- out the co-operation of that revenge- ful and unrepentant people. There can be no doubt that Marshal Foch and Premlier Poincare, in en- visaging the ultimate in the Ruhr, consfdered the danger of a Russian- German combination against a Fran- co-Belgian-Italian phalanx. As to Ttaly, while Mussolini peared to date to co-operate in French military measures in the Ruhr, the Ttallan dictator is a sworn foe of bolshevism. to stand still if he sees a red army advancing westward in Europe. Officered by Germa: 1t is an open secret that “Trotsky's | army” has been officered and to a! large extent organized by ex-German officers. The Krupps, always deeply identified with the Russian armament industry, long since renewed their old-time relations with soviet Russia. At this moment they are engaged in a monumental scheme for exploita- tion of the Valley of the Don for alleged agricultural purposes. Vast quantities of Germany's raw material in recent times, for the amazing revival of her industries, have come from Russia. The Russian railway system has been largely rehabilitated with loco- motives and other rolling stock sup- plied by German manufacturers. American observers recently in Ger- many have returned with detalled accounts of arrangements long per- fectéd for a mighty German-Russian economic relationship, to come into effect the moment the reparations crisis was settled and Germany wal at liberty to go to work “unfettered.” Threatened by such events as the Rubr invasion conjures up. the states- men, eoldlers and industrialists of Germany will hardly hesitate to in- voke the immeasurably powerful aid of Russia. There is little danger that such an alliance would result In the “sovietization” of Germany. Lenin for months has systematically been leaning toward the capitalistic re- gime, conducting what he called “an economic retreat” It may be taken as a certainty that the treaty of Rappallo guarantees Germany agalnst any peril of radical communism of the origina] bolshevist brand. If Ger- many and Russia war together on France, the joint reward of victory— if they attain it—would be a Ger- man-Russian dictatorship on the con- tinent of Europe, with possibilities beyond that which stagger the imagi- nation. For no country more than for Poland are those possibilities more momentous. (Copyright, 1928.) _—— REPARATIONS PLAN BYLLS.CLAWED i By the Associated Pres PARIS, January 16.—An authori- | from American | tative statement quarters here today makes it clear that “the American reparations plan” before the reparations commission was drawn up in an effort to “fit” with the American government's views on the reparations problem. The statement says the plan as drawn here was malled to Secretary of State HugWes for his consideration about November 20 last and that the Secretary was believed to have had the plan before the end of November. Since Secretary Hughes made no changes or suggestions in regard to the plan it has been assumed by the representatives of the State Depart- ment here that it met with his ap- proval. Certaln minor changes were made in the plan ten days ago and Secre- tary Hughes was again notified, the statement declares. This message went by cable, it is stated, and said that the suggestions made by Roland W. Boyden, American unofficial observer with the commission, had been placed on the ocommission's agenda for formal discussion next Ffldfl or early the following week. H: the Secretary of State not approved the plan and had the plan not coincided with the.State Depart- ment's ideas on ::Iunnou. it was further assumed, adds the statement. chat the Secretary would have ordered the withdrawal of the plan before it actually came before the commis- slon for discussion. ‘Washington Position Surprises. Considerable surprise was express- ed that the knowledge of the plan was disclaimed in Washington and it was felt there must have been -some misunderstanding. One suggestion made in American quarters today was that the American government might not take into account the fact it the European ients and pmum“.g 1 fled. has not ap-| He is not likely | Even “Embassy Ligquor’’ Appears To Be Doubtful Something. worse than bootleg liquor found its way into the French emBassy the other day, al- though disguised as good French wine imported direct for the ex- clusive use of the embassy. A high official of the embassy procured two cases o! the wine from t'e customhouse in Balti- more, where it had been unloaded from'a hoat just in from France, afd brought them to Washington. ‘When the time came to make the proper use of the liquid the official discovered, just as he was about to drink, a° peculiar odor emanating from the wine. A good judge of liquor, he immediately knew there was something wrong. He opened another bottle and got the same result; another, and still another, until the entire two cases had been reviewed. A careful examination the corks revealed a tiny hole. Gov- ernment chemists were called in and found that the French wine had been emptied by means of the holes, and a number of snap- up tasting chemicals inserted in s stead. It goes to show,” the comment was, “that you can't be too sure of anything you drink nowadays.” —_————— CITIZENS IN RAIDS, HANG RAIL STRIKER (Continued from First Page.) of rounded up-ves- Arkansas railroad, the road terday from poinis along everal hundred men, who came after announcing that they wouid resort to “armed action” un- less depredations on that line ceased. A number of alleged strikers were driven from town, while others, hear- ing that the citizens were coming, Periodically, bridges on the road have been burned and service com- pletely tied up between some points. Gather From Afar. It is estimated that more than 800 cltizens, some from points as far as 150 miles away, came here yesterday to round up the strikere. A brakeman named Ford was slight- 1y wounded when struck by a shot fired from the home of a man said to be a striker. At another house the invaders were met by gun fire. but no one was injured. ~The occu- pant was held to await action by the citizens' committee. The crowd was. orderly and, although many of them carried weapons, there were no reports of any shots being fired by the citizens. The labor hall was raided and its furniture and fixtures burned in & huge bonfire on the public square. Several of the men reported that & store of guns and ammunition was discovered in one of the homes they entered. Citizens Guard Bridges. According to J. C. Murray, vice president and general manager of the road, the recent bridge fires were of incendiary origin. All of the bridges along the line are being guarded by citizens who have organized. he sald. “We no sooner would get one of the iburned bridges repaired or rebuilt un- {til another would be damaged or de- stroyed,” Mr. Murray added.” The road {discontinued operatfons some time ago and the government made it a loan of $3.000,000 to resume. Word was awaited today from the committee questioning the strikers. The meetings were secret, but it was rumored that the resignations of the mayor, city marshal and two alder- men here would be requested because of alleged union sympathies. SOUGHT TO CUT WAGES. Arbitrary Move Brought Strike Two Years Ago. CHICAGO, January 16.—The Mis- souri and North Arkansas railroad resumed operations about three months ago, having suspended after a labor dispute. The road attempted to reduce wages arbitrarily without consulting em- ployes or the Railroad Labor Board two years ago, and emploves who were members of the sixteen stand- ard railroad unions were called out on strike, after which the line sus- [pended operations, a receiver taking it over. Chiefs of the sixteen standard unions, meeting in Chicago Sunday to consider the strike on that road and one of two years' standing on the Atlanta, Birmingham and Atlan- tic, voted to continue both strikes indefinitely The receiver for the Missouri and North Arkansas several months ago proposed to former employes they return to work at wages about 25 per cent lower than those fixed by the Railroad Labor Board, agreeing to increase wages from earnings until they were up to the Labor Board scale, and not pay anything to stock and bond holders until that was a T1-STORY BUILOING 10 COST §4,900,000 Work to Begin at Once on Proposed Office Structure at 15th and K Streets. TO PARK CARS BELOW Underground Feature an Innova- tion in Operations of Kind in ‘Washington. Announcement that construction wiil be started at once on a $4,500,000 eleven- story office building at 15th and K streets northwest, a novel feature of which will be two underground stories for automobile parking, was made for the first time today by the F. H. Smith Cu!npnny of this city, who have under- written a $2,500,000 first mortgage on the project for the owners, the City In- vestment Corporation, composed of local and New York interests. Razing of the old residence and other bulldings, comprising the former Warder property, now on the site, will be begun 80 that ground for the new bullding may be broken without delay. Plans for the structure, to be known as the Investment building, indicate that the project is one of the large. private enterprises of its kind ever initiated here. The building will be of fireproof, steel frame construction and will contain twenty-four stores on the street floor, @ series of stores on the second floor, facing both 15th and K streets, and about 500 offt rooms on the upper floors, Limestone to Third Floor. Limestone will be used in the con-; struction up to and including the third floor. Light face brick will compose the exterior from the third to the tenth floors and the eleventh floor will be of terra cotta, with an imposing cornice around the entire bullding. The_site, located diagonally oppo- site McPherson square, comprises 32,582 square feet of land, having a frontage on K street of 204.5 feet and’ on 15th street of 171.5 feet, with alleys on_the west and north. The main entrance to the building will be on the K street side and this entrance will lead into a large lobby. The main_ lobby will be connected with the 15th street side by means of an_arcade, along each side of which will be the stores. The two basements will provide parking space for automobiles of the tenants of the building, relieving the parking_congestion in this neighbor- hood. This parking feature, said to exist in no other building in the country, will be a great asset end may result in the incorporation of similar facilities in large office build- ings of the future erected here and elsewhere, it is claimed. The step was adopted in this building in an- ticipation of the police department prohibiting parking of automoblles in the downtown section, the pro moters announced. Loan Ome of Largest. The Smith Company’s loan on the enterprise, consisting of an issue of 61 per cent tax free first mortgage bonds, secured by the land and new buiiding, is said to be one of the largest loans ever made by a local investment house. The structure was designed by J. H. de Sibour, Washington architect The announcement today of this improvement contemplated by the City Investment Corporation ~bears out predictions made some tfme ago by local realtors and builders that the city’s business section would find relief from downtown congestion by spreading along_the streets just to the northwest. This development a! ready has assumed appreciable pro- portions, especially along H, I and K streets and along the numbered streets intersecting from 1ith street west to 17th street and Connecticut avenue. TENNESSEE RETURNS TO DEMOCRATIC FOLD By the Associated Press. NASHVILLE, Tenn., January 16— Tennessee today returned to the democratic household, Austin Peay, democrat, succeeding Alf A. Taylor, republican, as governor. The change in administration took place at the Ryman auditorium and was witnessed by & crowd of several thousand persons. The inauguration was preceded by a parade from @ local hotel to the auditorium, police, guardsmen and R. O. T. C. cadets acting as an escort to the official au- tomobiles. Democrats from all over complished. The union officials re- fused to accept. | The road then resumed operations. the strike still being officailly in ef-| fect. Union officials meeting here, Sunday said considerable pressure: had been brought to have them call} off the strike. i —e e ! tinction between plans submitted or ideas expressed by America’s unofficial observers and the pians or ideas of the American government itself. It is known that Premier Poincare himself, and important officials of the reparations comission have regarded. |{he plan which Mr. Boyden submitted flast November as “essentially the American plan.” A e development of the plan, it is explained, resulted from the reparations Commission visit to Berlin last October and November. Upon the return of the commission to Paris on November 11 a special meeting was called for the ex Change of the impressions which the | delegates had received in Berlin. This meeting was held November 13. Mr. Boyden was called upon after Louis Barthou and Sir John Bradbury, for France and Great Britain, nad given their views, and he expressed opinions and ideas differing from those of either the French or the British. —_— Birds are as sensitive to colors as are human beings, but fish respond most readily to green and yellow Throughout A garment withou ing, Pressing, Dyeing Tennessee were here for the cere mony. —_— MUSSOLINI ADVISES FRANCE TO0 GO SLOW By the Associated Press, ROME, January 16.—Premier Mus- solini told his cabinet yesterday that Italy had never proposed a continen- tal combination against England, but had advised France to limit her mili- tary action in the Ruhr valley to the utmost and not shut the door upon a possible agreement. Births Reported. The following births have been reported to the health department in the last twenty-four ry G. Smailey, g A. Burgess, boy. Milton and Esther Brotman, girl. Mathew H. and Nina Kin girl ‘Albert E. and Clara W. Cherry, boy. Robert B. and Lorraine Robinson, boy. James and Mary Franklin, girl. Robert and Florence Brightbeart, girl. Talmadge and Arsonia McCloud, ‘boy. Philander and Lot shiny girl the Life of Any Garment t our efficient Clean- and Repairing Service is like a home without a family doctor. Consult Us -MAIN By Calling 4724