Evening Star Newspaper, January 22, 1923, Page 1

WEATHER. Cloudy and unsettled tonight and tomorrow; colder tonight, with freez- ing temperature. Temperature for twenty-four hours endéd at 2 p.m. today—Highest, 55, at 2:30 p.m. yesterday; lowest, 33, at 8 am. today. Full report on page 7. “From Press to Home Within the Hour” ‘The Star’s carrier covers, WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION e et Circaation; (95178 Closing N. Y. Stocks and Bonds, Page 26 Entered as seconé-cliss matier post oifice Washington, No. 28,756. D. C. WASHINGTON, D. C., MONDAY, JANUARY 22, 1923—THIRTY-TWC PAGES. GENERAI_ SIRlKE []N War Rumblings Increasing - AS GERMANS OFFER NEW PEACE PLAN Some Ruhr Plants Only Par- tially Affected by . Walkout. AEPARATIONS PROPOSAL TO BE MADE TO ENGLAND .Berlin Delegutior_n Now on Way to London With Request for Allied Action. s the Associated Press. ESSEN, January 22.—An order recelved from the central govern- ment in Berlin forbids the ca employes in the occupied territory 10 tow any coal barges seized by the French, or to open sluices for 1heir passage. 1 n delegation which left Ber- aturday is embarking today at Hamburg with definite pro- posals from Chancellor Cuno to Premier Bonar Law with regard 10 a new German reparations plan which the British government is to be asked to submit to France and the other allies. The names of the delegates and the nature of the new German offer are being kept secret. By the Associated Pres: I January —Strikes, either partial or complete, were in progress today in all the Ruhr valley mines whose directors had been arrested by the French. The state mines resumed operations, the troops having been re- moved from them Warned by Berlin that they would be imprisoned if they brought coal to the surfac the iners added their coh- tribution to the nation's policy of pas- sive resistance by voting to put down their picks. Their railway comrades, already on strike in the Bochum-Dort- mund district, laid plans for a repre- sentative meeting at Elberfeld today to decide whether they, too, should re- fuse to assist in transpofting German coal to France. More Arrests Expected. The Germans expected more ar- rests among the industrial leaders to- ay. The average Ruhr miner appears to have food to keep his family for three days. His savings are_ small, but it is reported that the German government will guarantee financial assistance to tide him over the pres- ent crisis. Tt was_generally believed today that the French resources would be inadequate to maintain production in the Ruhr valley if the region should be paralyzed by strikes. Banks to Reopen, Manager Ahrens of the state mines at Buer and his shipping. superin- tendent, who were arrested by French last Friday, have been balled out by the mine employes, The Essen branch of the Reichs- bank and all the other banks in the city, it was announced shortly after noon today, will be reopened for busi- ness between 3 and 5 o'clock this afternoon. FRENCH OPERATE TRAINS. Invaders Replace Strikers, But XKeep Poor Schedules. By the Associated Press. region were run- ning ¢ this morning, operated by French WS, The service was about 10 per cent of the normal schedule. The Dusseldorf branch of the Reichs- | bank, the directorate of whick refused 1o continue business last week whiie troops were on the premises, was re- \ was lifted, but the bank failed 1o reopen. CONSCRIPTION IS DENIED. Germans Say They Will Not Make Service Compulsory. Br the Associated Press. BERLIN, January, 22—The report that the German government was contemplating the reintroduction of compulsory military service, which is forbidden under the treaty of Ver- sailles, w 11y denied today. The of many counter- ing future claims of France and Bel- gium with an_indemnity bill of her own for the Ruhr occupation is al- ready being sketched in political eir- cles here. In these quarters it is con- fidently Dbelieved that the reich will 1ot hesitate to model her own statement after the pattern afforded by her obligations to the allies. ‘A long list of claims against France and Belgium by German nationals is expected, and to these will probably be added the nation’s estimate of the damage to its sovereignty by the armed occupation. As precedents for such a course of action, reichstag leaders have already turned to the Passau and Ingold ~Stadt _incidents, when the relch was fined 1,000,000 marks because German clvilians in- sulted members of the entente con- trol commision. A suggestion for an American pro- tectorate over the Ruhr is meeting with considerable favor in _bourse circles, where it originated. Such a step, it is believed, would prevent the French from permanently control- ling the Rhenish industrial area, and would therefore be in the interest of Americ#n and British trade. Coal Famine Not Feared. An immediate coal famine in un. occupled Germany is not generally feared here, if the Ruhr coal mines can maintain_the output of the last ten days. Only one-half of the Reich's supply comes from that quarter and with British importa- tions and stimulated production in other domestic flelds a_shortage does not_seem imminent. It is admitted that considerable depends upon the 0 By the Associated Press. 'With'Europe Fearing 'Cl:as LONDON, January 22—The critical situation in the Ruhr is a subject of much anxious comment by the morning newspapers, which regard the outlook as so dangerous that it is imperative that some way of relieving the deadlock be found. Fear is expressed in some quarters lest Great Britain be forced into some form of active intervention against her will. Some cir- cles also are fearful that if France pursues the present line of her policy she will be obliged to increase her forces greatly in the oc- cupied district, with the result that Germany may follow with mili- tary action which would mean war. There already has been a report that Germany was arranging to reinstitute conscription. Another report, this from Paris, said that Gen. Ludendorff had been recently at Muenster, where he wit- nessed maneuvers by troops gathered at that point. The first re- port was officially denied by the German government. Some commentators entertain the belief that France is con- vinced she has miscalculated the German temper, and, finding the results of the occupation not what she expected, secks a means of withdrawing, f possible, without loss of her prestige. To this end, it is stated here, France is re-examining the Brit- ish and Italian proposals which ence. t she rejected at tlie Paris confer- Meanwhile, today’s developments in the Ruhr are awaited in Great Britain with much anxiety. ENGLISH ATTACKED BY GERMAN MOBS British Embassy Warns of Reprisals If Outrages Continue. MAY SEVER RELATIONS Berlin Newspaper Urges Monarch- ists to Seize Hidden Rifies and Fight French. BY GEORGE WITTE. By Wireless to The Star and Chicago Daily News, Copyright, 1923. BERLIN, January 22.—War psycho- sis and spy fever are at their worst in Berlin today. Even in the earli- est stages of the great war the ani- mosity displayed toward all uuspecledl of being foreigners never was so pro- nounced nor the feeling so vicious s it has been since the arrest of Fritz Thyssen in the Ruhr district.| More than a score of Englishmen were attacked by a mob on Sunday and badly beaten, the crowds having resurrected their “Gott strafe Eng- land” slogan on account of Great Britaini's tailure to use force to pre- vent France from carrying out her plans. So unsafe has the German capital become for . British subjects that official steps have been taken by the diplomatic representatives of their country in Wilhemstrasse to warn the German government that if such un- warranted attacks are continued Great Britain will be compelled to retaliate in some way. Britisk Quit Berlin. However, as the result of the at- tacks many Englishmen, especially those with familles, already have left Berlin. So far few Amerlcans have been molested, although many bitter words agalnst the United States have been uttered, and many bitter anti- American editorials written. Most of the French and Belgians left the German capital last week, knowing only too well how. unsafe the city is for them at present. Those compelled to remain have either been expelled from or have voluntarily left the big hotels, which refuse to give them rooms. Most of them are living in the suburbs, where the mob spirit does not yet prevail. From the present state of affairs to the actual severance of diplomatic relations is a short step, according to opinion here, and if German mobs continue their indis- criminate attacks on foreigners the result may cause an outbreak of open hostilities Cabinet Is Lenient. Students of the reparations ques- tion and its most recent develop- ments regret the attitude of the cabinet and marvel at its leniency in dealing with the anti-republican leaders, who are doing their best to stir up the feelings of the masses in favor of new war of revenge against France. Only yesterday the nation- alistic Deutsche Zeitung published a direct appeal to the monarchists. “Now is the time to get your rifles and ammunition out of hiding places (Continued on Page 2, Column 7.) GERMANY RESIGNS FROM WAR COURT “Political Circumstances” Given as Reason for With- drawal‘From Tribunal. FRENCH FRAME PROTEST League Council Will Be Asked to Name Neutral Substitute. | By the Associated Press. PARIS, January 22.—The German government has formally ceased par- ticipation in the Franco-German arbi- tration tribunal, because of “the present political circumstances.” No- tice to this effect was served today as the hearing was about to open In a banking case handled by a Franco- Atnerican legal firm. The mixed Franco-German arbitra- tion tribunal is a court established under the treaty of Versailles to set- tle the various business controversies arising out of the war and to deter- mine the applicatiun of the treaty to the settlement of claims. Letter From- Arbitrator. When the tribunal convened today under the presidency of M. Botella, with the French arbitrator, M. Gan- delphe, present, a letter was received from the German arbitrator, Dr. Johannes, giving notice that it was impossible for him to collaborate. M. Botella took formal note of the German attitude in abstaining from a part in the operation of the treaty tribunal, ahd it was announced that the French government would notify the German government to appoint a member of the court. If this were not done within a month, it was add- ed, the council of the league of na- tions would, under the treaty, be asked to name a neutral substitute. Premler Poincare today began his twice-a-day conferences with cabinet ministers and Marshal Foch. These frequent meetings, it has been de- cided, are necessitated by the de- velopments in the Ruhr situation. Hope to Win Workmen. The ministers today heard a report by M. Guillaume, director of mines, who returned from the Ruhr to bring the latest information. The officials continue to express a hopeful view of the outcome of the French occupation despite increasing opposition. It was indicated they in- tend to continue their policy of mod- eration toward the German workmen, believing this course will eventually win over the industrial population and break down the passive resistance of the industrial leaders and the gov- ernment. According to the latest reports reaching the foreign office, the tele- phone and telegraph system is func- tioning in the Ruhr, but there was no information avallable on the strike in that region set for this morning. German’s Secret Military Forces May Strike Soon BY OLIVER OWEN KUMN, The hour of great decision fast ap- proaches for thé German people. “Shall we truckle to the French, continuing only a policy of indus- trial and economic resistance to edicts of the invaders, or shall we fight?’ This is the question mooted throughout Germany. According to advices which have been received in Washington, the ac- tions of the French in furthering their grip upon the regions of the Ruhr, their selzure of coal pits, in- dustrial and mining leaders, their general tendency to eradicate every Germah influence in a German terri- ebility of the Ruhr mines to operate. The arrest of the Ruhr magnates has served to _crystallize further public opinion. The government has ordered the German charge d'affaires ut Paris to protest the arrests. COURT-MARTIAL TRIAL SET. By the Associated Press. MAYENCE, January 22+—~The trial by court-martial of Fritz Thyssen and the other industrial leaders arrested in the Ruhr valley, who were brought here last week, will be held in this city Wednesday. “The French authori- ties annoynce that the trial will last only une @y, tory, has fired the German mind to a point of military contention. Every- where this hatred is a thing to be reckoned with in discussion of pro- posed settlements and the likelihood of the French accomplishing all their purposes in the Ruhr. Situation More Menacing. The eituation is growing increas- ingly mengring, not by virtue of the edicts of the Berlin government, which has only preached the gospel of economic resistance to French edicts, but through the solidified hatred and renewal of patriotic fervor in the hearts and minds of the Ger- man masses as the result of French action. Right or wrong from the standpoint of other nations, the Ger- mans feel that they are being trodden beneath the foot of thoroughly self- nationalistic French militarism and this is sufficient pretext from their standpoint for resistance of grave ch: r. Already’ the mines have been re- duced to. insignificant output through attempted French measures of con- trol. Wheels of the great and in- tricate industrial system built throughout ‘the Ruhr are turning slower and slower. The very arteries of the complex industrial and financial systems, the rallways,.are operating :t :eu"!‘l!:' l;:r‘:enttof their efficiency. rike at any mo: be ushered in. . s o Germans in the Ruhr are not pre- pared for any long period of idleness and certainly not for.any period that will bring with it those sufferings usually entailed by such action. Were the French able to assist the miners and ward off the tribulations usually accruing with industrial paralysis there would be hape. There would be further hope if the Gernra government could assist the strikers to any great extent, but there is no likelihood that the German govern- ment_would be permitted to aid the . (Continued on Page 4, Column 2.) HARVEY DENIES LACK OF ACCORD Radios From Ship Declaring Reports of Disagreement With Hughes Are False. Secretary Hughes received today a copy of a radiogram sent by Ambassador Harvey to the North American Review, denying published reports that he and the Secretary are not in accord on im portant questions of forelgn policy. The inessage, sent in response to a query, was transmitted from the steamer on post. ‘The ambassador’'s message said: information that reports have been published to the effect that sharp dis- agre t with respect to forelgn poli- clos exta and myself, and that I indicated such diversion of opinion while in the United Btates. “l wish to deny in my name any such statements or intimations. They are absolutely false. I am in full and complete accord with Secretary Hughes and I have not uttered a word that could by the wildest stretch of the imagination be construed to the con- trary. A similar denial was authorized v Secretary Hughes, PLAN AMUSEMENT PARK ON THE DECATUR FARM Offer of $100,000 Made to Trustees for Purchase of Fifty- Acre Estate. The Admiral Decatur farm at 18th street and Benning road northeast. cently the home of the late Rev. George G. Markham, containing about fifty acres, is to become an amuse- ment park for white people. The proj- ect is to be made ready by the time of the Shriners’ convention next June, it is reported. s This became known today when Attorneys Leon Tobriner, William A. Lee and Earl P. Ready, trustees of the Markham estate, submitted to the District Supreme Court an offer of purchase for the land. The price agreed on is $100,000, and the offer is made by J. A. McGowan and Arthur J. Brosseau, representing the persons interested In the amusement park proposition. One-third of the pur- chase price s to be paid within sixty days, it is stated. The trustees offered the property at auction shortly after the death of Dr. Markham, but did not get a satisfactory bid and it was with Qrawn from sale to awalt a more favorable offer. The trustees tell the court they consider the present offer advantageous to the estate, and ask permission to close the sale. FIVE BURNED TODEATH WHEN FIRE RAZES HOTE Mothier and Three Children and Proprietor Victims of Blaze in Homestead, Pa. PITTSBURGH, Pa., January 22— Five persons were ‘burned" to death In. a fire which destroyed the Davies Hotel in Homestead, near here, today. The was $16,000. "Z’.’.fi"i..’fi" are Mrs. John 'Winnle, her twin sons, aged six years, K and he daughter Catherine, thirteen years, ant Thomas W. Davies, proprietor of the hotel. - ned by the cracklin, MD:rn:.u':l;';‘ehdlyybumqfl 'm): trying to save others that he died in 2 hospital & few hours after the fire. Winnie and his family were JOn™ on the third floor when the fire | n|broke out. He was carried down = 1adds firemen, Who, Wwhen they e 23 save Mis. Wikinle and the children, _were drlv-a‘.:u:;. by :I’: Tbp cause of the:fire. has ot a:‘%ntonnhied. . [REPORTS ON SURPLUS BY REPRESENTATIVES OF TWO DEPARTMENTS |Findings From Treasury and Justice Offices Filed With Joint Committee. Consideration of the question of the surplus of District tax which Mr. Harvey Is returning to his | reventies lying in the Treasury is now in progress, the joint select 4 committee of Congress named undér the act of Jur€ 29, 1922, *A radlo dispatch conveys to me the | having received all the reports called for upon the subject. First to be filed with the committee was the report of the official ac- countants, Haskins and Sells, whose representative, B. F. Hill, pre- ts between Secretary Hughes|sented the results of a detailed examination of the records. Last Thursday other briefs and reports were filed with the committee. Daniel J. Donovan, auditor of the District, submitted a report| anlayzing that of the accountants. The citizens’ joint committee on brief, consisting of Theodore \W. Noyes, Edward F. Colla- day, E. C. Brandenburg, James T. Lloyd and William L. Beale, filed its brief, incorporated in which was a report by Alonzo Tweedale, former auditor of the District and chairman of the subcommittee on accounting and auditing, likewise analyz- ing the report of the official accountants. Additional reports were filed with the joint committee by representatives of the Treasury and Department of Justice. The Treasury’s findings upon the surplus question were pre- pared by Earl Taggart of the division for the State and other de- partments of the general accounting office. The Department of Justice was represented in the inquiry by Herman J. Galloway, special assistant to the Attorney General. These documents, which have heretofore been briefly summarized in The Star, re flect a deep study of the matter and complete the case in its pres- ent aspect. They are herewith giverr in full as part of the record. RECOMMENDS DIVISION OF COURT FEES ON BASIS OF SHARING OF EXPENSES GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE, ‘WASHINGTON. State and Other Departments Di- vision. January 17, 1923, Honorable Lawrence C. Phipps, Chairman, Joint Select Committee on D. C. Fiscal Relations, Unjted States Senate. sir: In compliance with your request of the 11th instant, the following com- ments are submitted with reference to the report of Messrs. Haskins and Sells, on their examination of mat- ters affecting the fiscal relations be- tween the United States and the Dis- trict of Columbia. Pursuant to instructions given me by your committee last summer, 1 have endeavored to follow the work done by your accountants through daily conferences with Mr. B. F. Hill, in charge of the audit. I believe the work was done in a 10gical and thor- ough manner, and am pleased to note that_the .balance found to the credit JUSTICE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL FINDS SPIRIT OF PLAN WAS VIOLATED DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, Washington. D. C., January 18, 1923, Honorable Lawrence C. Phipps, Chalr- man of the Joint Select Committee Investigating the Fiscal Relations Between the District of Columbia and the United States. My Dear Senator: 1onghave your letter of . enclosing a copy of the Re; of Messrs, Haskins & Sells. auditors employed by your committee in the investigation of the fiscal relations between the District of Columbia and the United States, and nofe your re- luest that you wish my comments not ater than January 18th. I h: reply thersto. aete o doubt that you realize th; time available for & careful exumine tion and analyzation of this report 1s far too short and the comments made. herein can be but the result of a pre- liminary study and examination of such report. I feel that very prob- ably your committee will experience the same thing in your consideration of this report, as under the act creat. ing your committee your work must January 11, (Continued on Page 10, Column 1.) (Continued on Page 10, Col If you are interested inaCourtCase The Foening Htar, .. 5:30 Edifion Prints tomorrow’s Court Cilendar-so you will know just what’s on the docket. Also the late news'ofv the..money, market—the sports and athletic events—as well as the last happen- ings from all over the world. For sale by newsboys and newsdealers all over the city 2! 4 ening Slar. == Sunday’s Circulation, 95,944 * California Feels Quake Recorded Here as Severe By the Assoclated Pres: SACRAMENTO, Calif., January 22—An earthquake which lasted for several seconds shook Sacra- mento and towns in the Sacra- mento valley early today. At Sac- ramento, according to N. A. Taylor, meteorologist of the United States weather bureau, the tremor stop- ped the clock in the weather bu- reau office. A report here said the shock damaged a gas tank at Wil- lows, Callf. . The quake was felt in Sacra- mento between 1:05 and 1:08 a.m. Quake Record Here. An earthquake of “very severe” intensity and lasting more than three hours was recorded on the seismograph at the Georgetown University observatory here early today. The first shocks occurred at 3:55 a.m., the disturbance reach- ing its greatest intensity at 4:09 ,and continuing until 5:20. Director Tondorf of the observatory esti- mated that the disturbance was s 00 miles distant from Washing= n. READY 0 ORDER UP D.C.BILLIN SENATE Committee Head Says Meas- ure Will Be Called at “Earliest Opportunity.” EXPECTS CHANCE TODAY L] Senator States Committee Members Are Solidly Behind the Added Items, Totaling $2,200,000. The District appropriation bill will be called up for consideration in the Senate by Senator Phipps, in charge of the measure, at the “earliest op- portunity,” the genator said today. | The Senate is to vote on the inde- | | pendent officers’ appropriation bill by {4 o'clock this afternoon. Senator Phipps may seek to have the District I bill taken up immediately unless it | appears that some of the senators de- sire further time to study the amend- ments which the Senate committee is recommending. Solld for Amendments. Senator Phipps said that the ap- propriations committee is solidly be- hind the amendments which it will offer from the floor, approximating $2,200,000. The joint congressional committee on the surplus revenues of the Dis- trict, of which Senator Phipps is chairman, probably will not be called together until after the District ap- propriation bill has been disposed of | by the Senate. Senator Phipps, it is sald, will prepare the draft of a re- port to be submitted by the commit- tee to Congress, showing what has been done up to date and asking Con- gress to extend the time in which the committee may make its final report. No Opinion Regarding Surplus. The report will express no con- clusions as to the District's surplus, Under the existing law the Jjoint committee is directed to report on or before the first Monday in February. —_— AGENT OF AMERICANS IS HANGED BY TURKS Appeals by State Department in Behalf of Thomas Joannides Reported Disregarded. ATHENS, January 22.—The execu- itlon of Thomas Joannides, for ten years a representative in the near east of large American milling con- cerns, is reported in messages from Smyrna. Joannides is said to have been hanged by the Turks with seven prominent Greeks after being con- victed of giving mon to Greek patriotic societies in Smyrna. American official and unofficial agencies have been making urgent appeals to the Turks in Joannides’ behalf for the past fortnight. — e DR. REINSCH REPORTED NEAR DEATH IN SHANGHAI ‘Washingtonian, Former Minister to China, From Broncho-Pneumonia Attack. By the Kswociated Press. SHANGHAI, January 22—Dr. Paul Reinsch of Washington, former Unit- ed States minister to China, is be- lieved to be dying from bronco-pneu- monia, which set in as a complica- tion to encephalitis. ' He is uncon- sclous. - Dr. Reinsch came here from the in- terfor of China some time ago suf- fering from a complete breakdown. Cable to The Star and Chicago Daily News. i Copyright, 1923. X SHANGHAL January 22.—Two spe- clalists are rushing here from Pe- king to pefform a grave.cranial op- eration tonight on Paul S. Reinsch, former United States minister to China. Reinsch for several months has been suffering from a blood clot on the brain. Untll recently his con- dition showed some improvement but, following a relapse, he is almost en- tirely paralyzed and is believed to have little chance to recover. OIL OPERATORS KILLED. Two Die of Broken Necks After Auto Turns Over. IOLA, Kan, January 22—Tim Pen- well, and Frank Blackburn, leading ol operators of El Dorado, Kansas, Unconscious | passed. |ers' assemblage here next June. died in an Jola hospital yesterday afternoon, after both had suffered broken necks, when an automobile in which they were riding turned over sast of here. They ere on their way to_an ofl lease at the time. Mr. Penwell was owner of a large machine, tool and supply house in Kl Dorado. Both men leave famllies. Penwell {s saidto have come to-the Kansas oil fields from West Virginia. 1 TWO CENTS. BILLS ARE HELD UP IN HOUSE ON FIRST D.C. DAY IN MONTHS Workmen’s . Compensation Measure Is Again Center of Contention. POLICE ARE PROVIDED FOR SHRINE CONVENTION Pass Resolution for $54,000, In- creasing Senate Meas- ; ure.$29,0004 This is District day in the House for the first time in many months. A mass of important District meas- ures has been held back because the Fitzgerald workmen's compensation bill, providing compulsory industriai insurance for all kinds of workers in the National Capital, from the kitchen to the pulpit, has stood as a stone wall in the way of all other measures Compensation Again Contended. The workmen's compensation bill which is a bone of bitter contention between Representative Fitzgerald of Ohio, whose measure calls for the i dustrial insurance to be handled by a governmental agency, and Rep- resentative Underhill of Massachu- setts, who favors industrial insurance handled by private concerns, has been unfinished business on District day in the House. Effort is being made today to bring this legislation to a final vote, so that when another day is granted. probably next Monday, other impor- tant District legislaiion may be including the teachers' pay and school reorganization bill, and the proposed extension of 14th street through the Walter Reed Hospital grounds, and the so-called pure mi bill urged by the District health o fice, which requires all milk for hom -onsumption to come from tuberculin- tested herd: On all matters of legislation ex- tensive hearings have been held. The House committee is anxious to get these measures passed by the House and House Leader Mondell has given assurance that another day will be granted for their consideration. Police for Convention. Privileged consideration was give today to the joint resolution prov fug funds for police protection and public convenience during the Shrin- After brief debate and amendments, this measure was passed, due largely to the insistence of Representative El- liott W. Sproul of Illinois. As it passed the Senate this resolu- tion called for an appropriation of $25,000. Amendments offered in the House ' increased ~ this amount to $54,000, making all the funds available out of revenues of the District. House amendments also changed this from a direct appropriation to an authorization for the District Commissioners to spend this amount for the purposes designated. Focht Offers Amendments. The amendments were offered by Chairman Focht of the House Dis- trict committee. The proposal to make this money payable entire! from the funds of the District wa offered to meet objection made y Representative Garrett of Tennessee, acting democratic leader, and the change from a direct appropriation to authorization was made at the in- stance of Representative Cramton of Michigan. The Fitzgerald workmen's compen- sation bill was then taken up. Representative Underhill of Ma: chusetts took the floor in oppos: tion to the Fitzgerald bill, and ir tends to try to have his own bill substituted for the Fitzgerald bill. Bill Denounced. Bitter denunciation of the Fitzger- ald industrial insurance bill wa voiced by Representativ W. R. Wood of Indiana, who sald- it means social- ism and nothing else. “Such soclalism as has undermined Russia and destroyed her: such as is now undermining and will destroy Germany; such, if we listen to the insidious’ demands, as will destroy this country. “We are tending toward soclalism today faster than Germany was five years ago.” he sald. Declaring that this is an opening wedgo for government interference in all kinds of business, Representa- tive Wood sald: “Why take over this business, unless you are going to take over all kinds of insuranc?’ “Can it be that we are asked have this country, which is t to hold up all that is left of stal in the world, now embrace those policies followed by the tottering and crumbling countries of tho old world?" Charges Soap Box Oratory. “The same kind of arguments that are being made in favor of this leg- islation T have heard from soap box orators in Patterson, N. J., in St. Louis, and now in the Congress of the United States. In arguing for the substitution of his bill to have workmen's compen- sation administered to private en- terprise Representative Underhill of Massachusetts said that the Fitzger- ald bill would produce a monopoly. in view of the fact that employers must take out insurance and em ployes must accept it. He said th: too great power is given by the Fitz- gerald bill to the government com- mission to make rates for premiums and collections. Representative Underhill argued that the employes’ compensation com- mission already has its hands full now and would have to call on the Civil Service Commission for as- sistance to administer the Fitzgerald Dill if it is passed. Representative Roy C. Fitzgerald of Ohio, author of the measure, com- plained _that the propaganda which is now flooding the offices of all mem- bers of Congress is instituted by foreign insurance companies, which, he said, are getting a great return out of this country on such business. Representative Fitzgerald claims that the Underhill bill would sub- sidize the private insurance com- panies of the country up to 30 and 40 per cent. Intended as Remedy. Representative Fitzgerald pointed out that his bill 1s intended to remedy tpe situation arising from the fallu of Congress thus far to provide a workmen‘s compensation law for up- ward of 100,000 private employes in the District of Columbia. He claims that forty-three states, in_addition to Alaska, Hawali and Porto Rico. have now substituted enlightcned workmen's compensation law for the outgrown theory of employers' lia ability to the mutual benefit of padg )