Evening Star Newspaper, January 24, 1923, Page 2

ro e U..NOT PRESSING " FOR FRENCH DEBT Treasury Officials Are Dis- - posed to Await Effect of Ruhr Invasion. USING SEIZED PATENTS. . Permits Iswied for «German Pro- ductions Now in Litigation. Although thke Department of Justice is taking court action to recover ap- proximately 51000 selmed enemy pat- { ents sold to tise Chemical Foundation | by the alien property custodian's of- I fice, licenses hiave been issued from the foundation 10 the Navy Depart- | ment to use sofme of these patents, it | was learned to fay. | “The patents have been recorded in the United Stites pmtent office and | officials of that: office admitted today | the Navy Depaitment is using some Ti | Settlement With London Must | Come First, Say Government Experts. e éEEK BRITISH AGREEMEN i BY DAVID LAWRENCE. The United States government, con- trary to published rumors, is making no effort to compel France to pay her war debt or interest to America. There has been an impression circulated that with France showing no leniency to- ward her debtor, Germany, the United States would fecl justified in request- ing France to begin payment of her three-and-a-half-billion-dollar debt to the United States. Officlals are loath to anticipate the effect which France's invasion of the Ruhr will have ou American public opinfon when the time comes to con- sider the funding of the French debt 1o America. The status of the matter us explained to this correspondent by Secretary Mellon, is one of waiting on the French for the next move. The French mission, which left here flast October, acknowledged the French gebt and showed every desire to see it paid | ultimately, but explained that circum- stances made it difficult at this time Yo eay when payments could be made, and that after conferences in Paris further word would be sent to the American government. Wait on British Settiement. No request has been made by the Treasury Department for further word, as it has been felt that the negotiations with Great Britain should be concluded first, and & for- mula could be worked out which might be applied in handling other war debts. The British mis- sion was delayed in getting to Amer- ica, so the whole matter has dragged along without action on the French ebt, flI"or a time the French referred to their war debt as a “political debt’ and members of the American Senate pointed publicly to that phrase as a hint of eventual repudiation. but the attitude of the French mission in its discussion with Treasury officials en- tirely erased such an impression, for the debt has been formally acknowl- edged. The French were at the time absorbed in the intricacies of the rep- aration dispute and felt that they must walt until they could recover funds from Germany before estimat- ing what their own capacity to pay would be. While the United States Zovernment insists that, so far as i is concerned. the capacity of Germany to pay France is one thing and the capacity of France to pay America is quite another, there is no doubt tnat « sympathetic attitude was manifest- ed toward the French because of their troubles in collecting from Germauy. Now that France has sought to exact payment from Germany by seizing economic_ resources, it will be even more difficult to estimate France's adility to pay her external debts. It 15 a source of much disappointment here that France has made no pro- ~vision in her budgets thus far for pay- ment of interest or sinking fund on the principal of the French war debt to America. and that instead large sums are paid out for land armament, but it does not behoove one sovereign power to dictate to another how it shall spend its money. o nothing can be sald by way of criticlam officially of the French financial policy. The hope has prevailed, however, that political stability might come to Eu- rope and make France herself see the tutility of spending any more sums on armament. Rukr Iavasion a Factor. The need for troops in invading the Rubr has changed the whole face of things, and lent color to the French argument that her armies were need- d to handle & recalcitrant debtor. It has even put a damper for the time heing on talk of four and five power pacts to guarantee the peace of Eu- rope. No_poliey will be adopted toward the French debt until after the effects of the Ruhr invasion have been care- fully examined. It may be that France will reach a satisfactory un- derstanding with Germany ultimately and allay Such fecling as has arisen against her in this country. Under such circumstances Congress would probably ratify without much dis- rute any proposal recommended by the President and the American Funding Commission. With the state f opinfon in Congress today, how- over, any agreement which proposed leniency to France in the matter of interest or principal on the war debt would have hard cledding in Con- gress. This may or mav not be vealized in France today, but when the final reckoning comes scars of the Ruhr policy will put in an ap- pearance unless the whole reparation controversy has been amicably ad- jupted by that time. ‘opyright, 19: 28 SUITS ARE FILED AGAINST THEATER (Continued from First Page.) hy: Delia 8. Pitcher, administratrix of Lois Pitcher: Myrtle C. Shaughnessy, executrix of Edward H. Shaughnessy; James E. -Duke, administrater of Kirkland Duke; Robert H. Atkinson, administrator of Mary E. Atkinson; Katherine Feige, executrix of Chris. tian Feige: Grace M. Madert, admin- istratrix of Agnes M. Mellon: Ciar- snce Dodge, administrator of Howard G. Kneessi; Lewis P. Hathaway, ad- ministrator of Virginia B. Feraud; Jo V. Morgan, administrator of Laverne Sproul; Carl W. Dauber. administra- 1or of Vincon W. Dauber; Jo V. Mor- ¥An, a@ministrator of Guy §. Ell- ridge; Wilfred A. Brosseau, sdminis- irator of W. A Bosseau; Mary A. Hughes, executrix of William G. Hughes: John Dutch, administrator of Margaret Dutclf; Ethel L. Murray, ad- ministratrix of James W. Murray; John E. Warner, executor of William E. R. Warner: Eloise A. Crocker, ad- ministratrix of William M. Crocker; Laure B. Morgan. administratrix of McCarthy Farr; Rosa 8. Upshaw, ad- ministratrix of Carolyn Upshaw: Lin- nie M. Bourne. administratrix of John R. Bourne; Oscar A. M. McKimmie. administrator of Wyatt E. McKimmie; Blanche Beal, executrix of Joseph W. Beal: P. Natiello, executrix of Ernest Natiello; Jannette M. Dam- meyver, administratrix of John L. Wfl;u"fi \!"MP. HCEIWAOJE‘. Mmtfl- or len; Alice n, administratrix of Helen C. Thompsen, and Winfrey G. White, administratrix of lvan J. White. All thowe for whose desths suity are brought were either kiled out- right or died within a few days of the disaster. The law requires suits for death to be flled within one year of 1he date of the demise. Counse! have 'wo or three more of these suits to file before the year expires next Sat- urdey. —————e Prineess Mary, Viscountess Lascel- les. has been made 3 member and i the | | of the patemts. Flecording of 'the licenses, it was pointed out. might constitute aa ac- knowledgment on the part of the government of the valldity of the clatin of the Chiemical Foundation to the patents, eren while the legal {brandh of the.government is suing for racuvery. The patents were sold to thes foundation a few years ago, while Ffancis 'P. Garvan was allen property| custodian. Licenses were granted {by the foundation a few | months ldter to the Navy Department | for use Pf the seiged enemy patents. i 1 URGE HEAVIER TAX ON MOTOR TRUCKS Commisstioners Say They Cause Greater Damage to Streets. —e SUGGESTED TO CONGRESS | Also Recommended as Basis for Recipracity With Mary- land. i { { : i The 'Distrlet Commissioners are considering the advisability of plac- {ing additional tax on motor trucks because of the damage they inflict upon roadways, it was learned today. This fact was revealed in a letter |sent to the chairman of the Senate { and House Distnict committees by the Commissioners in connection with the bill te impose & ;gasoline tax on motor vehicles as a Dasis for reciprocity with Maryland. After explaining the provisions of the gasoline tax. as published yesterday, the letter from the District heads follows: Letter From Commissioners. “Thé Commissioners are giving further study aund consideration to the matter of motor vehicles and their effect upon the roads, with the idea that so far as seems feasible without undue hardships to business the use of trucks be regulated, and if wecessary additional taxation be applied to them. It ie the trucks that do the most damage to roads. They should, therefore, pay a greater tax than the passenger vehicles, but not such & tax as would have an in- {jurious effect on business im which trucks are used “Upon the basis of there being 100,000 motor vehicles in the District of Columbia the revenue estimated to be produced by the enactmnent of thi bill would be approximately $1,800 000. The assessor of the District of Columbie estimates that the per- sonal property tax for the year 1923 | upon 'automoblies. will amount to $800,000 and for 1924 under the pres- ent law to $475,000. Wil Produce Revesue. “The revemue from registration tags is estimated for 1923 at $375.000, and for 1924, $400,000. It is evident, there- fore, that the proposed mew form of tax will produce revenue at least equal to the present tax, so that financial consideration indicates that the bill is without objection so far as revenues are concerned. i “The bill will have the effect of re- ! ducing the amount of tax now paid by { some and increastng the tax | now paid by others, but not to an un- fair degree. Jt will place upon those { who do the most damage to the roads, namely, the owners of trucks of vari- ous kinds, a somewhat greater tax {than they now pay: not enough in the | opinion of the Commiesioners to be really compensatory. The Commiesion- ers urge the early enactment of the bill, in order that reciprocal arrange- ments may be mude with the state of Maryland on or before July 1, 1923 {CONSIDER GEN. EDWARDS FOR PORTO RICO PLACE 1. Clarence Edwards, re- been under cousideration for appointment as governor of Porto Rico in the event E. Mont Reily, the present incumbent, should resign, but no decision hae been reached, inas- much _as Mr. Reily has not disclosed any intention of retiring, despite persistent reports that he intends to | do_so. Secretary Weeks said today Mr. Reily wouldsreturn here soon from his home in Kansas City, «nd that it was probable & decigion regarding his resignation would be reached af- ter conferences with President Hard- ing and the War Department Secre- tary. It hes been stated that Mr. Reily intended to return to the island. Gen. Edwards’ military experience in the tropics and as former chief of the War Department’s insular burean, whieh handles Porto Rican affairs, it was said. would make him peculiarly fitted for the post of governeor. FAVOR SHRINE BILL. 1 Senate Committee Approves Lend- ing Army and Navy Equipment. The Senate District committee today ordered a favorable report on & joint resolution intro@uced by Senator Ball authorizing the District Commission- ers, the tary of War and the Secretary of the Navy to aoccord to the Shriners the use of public parks, reservations, flags, tents, ete, st the time of the annual convention of the Shrine bere next June. The Underhill workmen's compensa- tion bill for the District of Columi which was recently passed by the House, was referred by the commit- tee to Senator Bayard of Delaware as the subcommittee of one to examine and report to the full committee. The committee also sutherized Sen- ator Ball to investigate and to report favorably the Elkins' bitl authorizi the closing of so mueh of Grant roas as lies between Reno road and Com- necticut avenue northwest, upon the! sequisition by the District of um] 8- 1 1 | 1 i i i ! | ] | lying within the lines of Daven; street between Reno road and necticat gvenue, and within the lin of 36th strest between Davenport street and Comnecticut aveaue. PLANS BOARD IN U. S. Dr. Clareace J. Owens, president of the Southern Commercial ., who regcently was appointed vice president of the International Univer- sity at Brussels, announced yesterdsy his intention of organising an Amer- jcan board for the iversity in ad- dressing the International Association of Arts and Letters at its [ street clubhouse. Dr., Owens said the American board would be composed of leading edu ! detachment at { catled {Army on July 2. 1219, THE EVENING STAR, 'WASHINGTON TENSE MOMENTS AT ESSEN AS FREN ce gward of French cyclists en. tering Eswen, Germany, ahead of the mein army of eccupation. OLD GLORY HAULED DOWN IN GERMANY (Coutinued from First Page.) when the flag should futter down the staff over ancient Ehrenbreit- stein and the tricolor of France take its place. For the latter part of the ceremony two details of French soldiers, num- bering 100 men, and a French band ‘were prasent. After_completion of the flag cere- mony the order of the day called for the formation of the troops into a column of squads which were to pass in review before Maj. Gen. Allen and march through the postern gate o7 the fortress. Descending the hill. the garrison the remainder of th 8th early in the afternoon, and the regi- ment, creesing the Rhine into Coblenz, passed through the city to the rallroad station ‘to entrain for Antwerp and the transport St. Mihiel. Day Will See All Go. The first of the regiment scheduled to leave the station at 3:45 o'clock, to be followed by the second 30 in the evening. The St. Mihiel sails tomorrow night with the tide. Gen, Allen, receiving last evening a brief letter from Chancellor Cuno conveying the compliments of the German government on the occasion ot e’ Separture of the American forces in Germany and asserting that their conduct had been exemplary, In reply to a letter from Gen. Degoutte, Maj. Gen. Allen said that he would formally turn the American zone over to the French on January or any day thereafter. ‘It is with deep regret.” he wrote, “that I must bring to an end the de- lightful official relations which have always existed harmoniously between us and terminate the services the American troops commenced in the War and continued on the Rhine Other Envoys Call. Lord Kilmarnock, the British Rhine- land commissioner. and Baron Jac- gueny, the Belgian representative, personally upon Maj. Gen. to be excused ceremony at they was Allen and begged from attending the Ehrenbreitstein. They said { were too saddened over the American departure to be present at the lower- {ing of the colors, but that they would be at the railroad station when the troops departed. Gen. Allen a farewell bul last night issued letin to his men, which to them this morning. M roday at noon.” ssys the builetin. “the American flag will be lowered on Ebrenbreitstein, marking the end of the occupation of the Rhine prov- merican troops. = Tour years Jorees of the Am Army have hel u-e"l‘tfi‘n‘n beside their allies, and earnestly striven toward restoring peace under the terms adopted iu the treaties. With deep affection in our hearts for our allies and sympathy for our former foes, our highest am bittion has been to act with such ju tics toward all as to insure the last- ing peace of rope. 2 Z riure of the 3d e Sy 23 the American any have occupied the G‘;':. inycltdlnl’ the Coblenz ch they hi‘-gllign“Anl; ervised and control . SO ¥h thix period thers has been a ocousistent effort on our part to exe- cute the important task with the fmasimum of effectiveness and a min; Poem of hardebip to the population. Wives is Two Battalions. kS women and children of the A;l::ha.l contingent started for Ant- werp today as the advance guard of the departing forces. Sixty-five wives and ehildren of Army officers, es- corted by Capt. W. G. Purdy, en- trained this morging. They were of- fiolally designated as an “irregular confingent” Seventy-six wives and twenty ebildren of non-commissioned officers and privates, ‘(orm:n‘ the contingent,” were Seoms, ezl SR Jer poon. The Arrangements were that all the fumilies should be on their way before the troops themselves started on their last march out of Coblenz. E t. Raymond R. Tourtillott of u%y. Calif., commands the second family group. These contingents are traveling to Antwerp in hospital cars for er comfort. It was expected that probably a dozea more members would be added to the second group ‘before it left, bc?‘\;‘l‘; “ge;’"':n:: ers who can 'y ct ‘:railldl‘b: taken on board the St. Mihiel. A number of these were engaged this forenoon in obtaining the necessary credentials. WILL LAND AT SAVANNAH. forces in American zo! 2. bridgehead, whi By the Associated Press SAVANNAH, Ga., January 24.—Local military officers are advised by the War Department that Maj. Gen. David C..Shank, U. 8. A., has been ordered to Savannah to meet the troops from Ger- many, who, the telegrem says, will ar- rive about ¥February 7. A special com- mittes 18 to meet today to make pre- iiminary plass for reception to the soldibrs. WILL HONOR SOLDIERS. Military Vesper Service Is Planned by Catholic Church. A militery vesper service will be held tonight at St. Aloysius Catholic Church, North Capitol and I streets, at which ex-service men from all parts of the city will be rej nted. Rev. E. J. Sweeney wilt ctate. The colors and celor guards of National Capital Post, No. 121, Veterans of W and the Bureau of Printing and Engraving Post of the American Legion, will be formally presented to those who at- tend. A delegation of colored ex- ervice men, headed by H. A. Walker, natroness of the Grand Antiguity So-{cators from all paris of the American {will present their colors, A delegation ty of Glasgow. She is the first Wwoman to be admitied to membership, {ontinent, including Canada and Seuth mericay e ot soldiers, sailors and marines from $he regulag secvics 3. D. C., WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 24, 1923 3 DR. HORACE COBLENTZ DIES OF HEART ATTACK |Well Known Washington Phy- sician Had Been Ill Only Two Weeks. a place on | BACRRACH DR. HORACE B. COBLENTZ. Horace Benjamin . Coblentz, aged fifty-one years, a well known practicing physician and surgeon, died early today at the family resi- dence, 1432 U street northwest, fol- lowing a two-week - illness from heart troubl The runeral servics will be private at the family home Friday afternoon &t 2 o'clock, Rew. Dr. Waltmyer, pastor of the Luth- eran Church.’ 16th and U streets northwest, officiating. Burial will be in Rock Creek cemetery. ¢ Dr. Coblentz was a native of Mid- dletown, MA., and & son of the late Louis P. Coblentz Coblentz. He graduated from Mary- land University in the class of 1896. Following his graduation as a physi- cian he married Miss Millie R. Rams. burg, a daughter of Thomas Rams- | Political malestrom. burg of Frederick, M4, and came to Washington for the practice of his profession, and for the past twenty- seven years has been an active prac- titioner here. Dr. Coblentz was a member of the District of Celumbia Medical Society, St. John's Lodge, Masons: Royal Arch Chapter, Knights Templar, Almas Shrine, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Wood- FRENCH ARMORED CAR WITH ITS COMPLEM 1 i ' and Charlotte | Of entering politics. e iOnly Woman in Next Congress | Wzll Be Widow of Ex-Membe Mrs. Mae Ella Nolan Wins Seat in California Election. Beats Six Man Oppouents With 4,000 More V otes Than 2d Choice. By the Associated Press. SAN FRAXCISCO, Calif.. January 24 | —The next session of Congress will nciude & woman, although after the November elections it was indicated that body would revert to its old time state of complete male represen- tation. The new feminine member will be Mrs. Mae Ella Nolan, widow of Representative John I. Nolan of the fifth California district (San Francisco). who was elected yester- day to fill her husband's place in the present Congress and also for the next regular term. Mrs. Nolan was victorious over six man opponents having more than four thousand votes more than the man who ran second. Representative Nolan was a labor leader in Congress, and his widow Pplans to carry on his work. Mrs. Nolan, a striking brunette, for years was with her husband in Wash- ington and has familtarized herself with congressional procedure. She also will have the 2id of her sister, Mra. Teresa Glenn, who for four years was private secretary to Representa- tive Nolan. CH TAKE OVER CITY. T OF MEN IN A STREET IN ESSEN IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE ARRIVAL OF THE FRENCH TROOPS IN THAT IMPORTANT INDUSTRIAL CENTER. | i i | ! i 1 i | | MRS. MAE ELLA NOLAN. late husband urged her to run, and after much persuasion she announced her candidacy. Labor rallied around her and that resulted in her election. Has One Child. Mrs. Nolan, who is a native of San Francisco, was married to the rep- resentative on March 24, 1913. There is one child, a girl, Corlts, eight years old. She will accompany her mother to_Washington. There are now three woman repre- sentatives in Congress, the greatest number ever to be seated in that body. Two, Mrs. Winnifred Mason Until Mr. Nolan's death recently | Huch of Illinofs, serving out the un- | the new congresswoman had no idea Mrs. Nolan, described by friends as “warm heart- ed, home loving, plain spoken, amply supplied with ‘horse sense’ " later found herself thrown into a Friends of her MAIL SENT BY WAY OF BERLIN and | sion. expired term of her father, the late William E. Mason, and Miss Alice Robertson of Oklahoma, will retire with adjournment of the present ses- Mrs. Huck, however, is a can- didate for the unexpired term of :l{‘e%ralenll!!ve James R. Mann, who ed. | TO BEAT POSTAGE IN NEW YORKj men of the World and Gunton-Temple { By the Associated Press. Presbyterian Church. He is survived by his widow and one daughter, Mre Bessie Coblentz Stone of this city; a grandson, Thomas Stone; two broth- ers, Joseph D. Coblentz of this city and Philip _Coblentz of Quinton, j NEW YORK, January 24.—I1f it costs two American cents to mail a letter to a next-door neighbor in New York city, how much does it cost to send the let- Okla., and two sisters, Mrs. John D.iter 3,600 miles from Berlin to New ambsurg_ of se City, Idaho, and .)e[rs. Wlfimn Bfi‘l‘xfly of Middletown, ML”rh. pallbearers will be Dr. Francis Minor, Dr. Francis_McGovern, Dr. S. M. Criswell, Dr. S. L. Hilton, Dr. oseph Canine and Paul Coulin EXPLAINS PIPE LINE. Standard Oil Official Says Teapot Dome Lease Was Not Factor. Decision of the Sinclair Pipe Line ympany to build a pipe line to the %nnnn: ofl flelds was made with- out regard to the lease obtained from the government by the Sinclair interests to_the Teapot Dome naval ©oi] reserve, Robert W. Stewart, chair- man of the board of the Standard Oil Company of Indiana, declared today at_the Senate ofl inquiry. Mr. Stewart, who was asked about the proposed pipe line because the Standard of Indiana owns half of the Sinolair Pipe Line Company. explained that the decision to build the line was based on present conditions under which all oil produced in the Wyoming field must be shipped out York? The answer, one-fourth of a cent, is given by a New York business house which has taken advantage of the de- preciation of German currency. An advertising circular received in New York today from the New York concern, sent via Berlin, printed ap- rently on cheap German , Stamped with ‘s German fty mark stamp, cost, at today’s exchange rate of 20,000 marks to the dollar, one- eighth of what it would cost to send 1t directly. Officers of the co y which has discovered how to utilize the vagaries of foreign exchange to maks twe post office departments work for a fraction the wages of one, today refused to discuss their system. ‘The idea §s not new, it was learned from Post Office officials. Some years ago when Austrian currency was de- preciated, Germans ment thelr mail through Austria. About two years ago. when foreign exchange had n to drop, Ameri- can post office complained to foreign post offices that international stamp money orders were being used for profit. When the French foreign letter rate 5 I i 1 was 25 centimes and the Ameérican| 5 cents it was possible to buy an| international stamp order, exchange- able in New York for 5 cents, for 30 centimes in Paris. The American post office lost approximately 3 cents on each international stamp thus ex- changed. RENEWS SUBSIDY FIGHT. Senator Jones to Offer New Plan for Curbing Debate. Another move by republican lead- ers to bring the administration ship- ping bill to a vote In the Senate was made today by Senator Jones, repub- lican, Washington, in charge of the measure. He gave notice that to- morrow he would offer another plan to curb debate by asking unanimous oconsent to bring the discussion grad- wally to & cloge.’ Senator Jones said he would seek to 1imit each senator’s time, begin- ning January 29, to two hours on the BN and thirty minutes on amend- ments. If this did not bring a vote, Senator Jo;e‘l'nid, h.i :‘:ugimubl: that, beginni ‘ebruary 5, the time cut to thirty minutes on the bill and ten minutes on amendments. Opponents of the shipping bill said that adoptiorn: of ‘the Jomes proposal -seemed improbable, SOFT COALPACT - SIENED AT PARLEY DSHISSED WEN | AREREISTATED Bureau of Engraving Em-|Miners and Operators, Rep- ployes Get U. S. Positions, | resenting Third of U. S. Qut- put, Agree on Wages. Is’Treasury Report. Three former officials of the bureau of engraving and printing who went | out during the wholesale discharges there last March, have been ‘given positions in the government service, Another had filed application, and in- quierers were led to believe that it would be favorably acted upon. Efforts 1o get Treasury officials to | talk on the matter failed further than to elicit the confirmation of the reinstatement of three. It was stated that the applications for reinstate- ment were turned over to the White House, and as ¢here was no objection from that source the employes w given their former jobs, two at $2, and one at $2.000 per annum. When the dismissals were announced last March and caused a stir through- out official Washington, the statement was made that they were for the good of the service. Further than that there was nothing forhcoming. There were rumors of sartling disclosures as a result of secret service investi- gations. However, the report of the secret service is in the hands of Sec- retary of the Treasury Mellon and its contents never have been made pub- lic. However, it has been acknowl- edged generally by those who have received information as to the re- port’s contents that the investigatio: did not disclose anything of a seriou: nature. PART OF STRIKERS BACK, BERLIN REPORTS (Continued from First Page.) the Ruhr converge s absolutely nec- essary, they say, to the French lines of communication. They expect no interference from the British and look upon a strike at Cologne as a favorable weapon to drive a wedge between the British and the French. 2 There were about 70.000 workers idle out of the 550,000 in thes Ruhr at noon today Say Not Jail Delinquents. The French continue their re- pressive measures toward state offi- cials refusing to obey their orders, but appear to have abandoned the idea of placing the delinquents in jail, contenting themselves with dis- missal and expulsion. The expuleion of Count Yon Roe- dert from Cologne was carried out today by the French, with the au- thorization of the British authorities, despite the strong protest of von Roedern, whose appeal for British protection failed. In the Rhineland, measures for the collection of the coal tax and taking over the state forests are proceeding slowly, in the face of the resistance of German officials. The customs em- ployes at the Mayence central sta- tion declined to work under French supervision and quit. Herr Fedell- Below, the reich commissary of for- ests, at Wiesbaden. who refused o turn over the records to the ¥rcnch, asserting that the Wiesbaden foress did not belong to the state, but to the municipality, was dismissed from cf- fice and expelled. He is the reich official at Wiesbaden to be ex- peiled in the past five days Service Below Normal. The switchmen and track waikers at the Meiderich and Oberhausen vards in the Belgian zone of occupa- tion aleo quit work after damaging the switch boxes. The train service in the Ruhr is generally a little below normal, but has improved since yes- terday. The output of the coal mines is increasing hourly, accordinz to the French. and a personal invesiiga- tion seemed to bear out :h- statement that there is a 20 per cent improve- ment in_ production. The French have not been able to dispatch to Frauce all the coal requi- sitioned today, and there are nearly 30,000 tons of ‘coal and coke dumped near Ludwigshafen awaiting French crews to take the barges to Stras- burg. . The Duesseldorf Nachrichten. which was suspended, will be permitted to resume publication on February 1, provided the ‘editors enter into an understanding to refrain from print- ing_articles criticizing the French oc- cupying forces. The absolute necessity to transport foodstuffs into the Ruhr to feed their | esi i compatriots is the main cause of the | Mifsionaries failure of the railwaymen's. strike, as the French permitted it to be known that complete isolation of the Ruhr rom the outside world would follow | a general strike, and the railroaders woud be responsible for famine and starvation. Up to the present the French have requisitioned mno food- stuffs and have forbidden the soldiers even to buy provisions in the open market — JOHN T. CLIFT DEAD. Deceased Was Active Member of Carpenters’ Union. JOHN T. CLIFT. John T. Clift, for many vears a resident of the District of Columbia, died last night at his -home, 4115 7th street, following an illness of nearly a year. Mr. Clift was born sixty-nine years ago in Virginia. He came to this city while a young man and took up the trade of carpenter, which work he had continuously carried on up to the time of his ill health. Mr. Clift had been an active member of the United Brotherhood of Carpedters ever since the organization of the local union forty years ago. He was 2 member of the sick committee and had a record of attending every meet- ing. He was a regular visitor 1o the homes of sick members. He was also a member of Calvary Baptist Church, and was a_member of the Order of Maccabees, Brightwood Hive, No. 5. Surviving him are his wife, Mrs. Fanny Latham Clift, and two daughters, Miss Lela Clift and Miss Linda Clift. both of this city. Funeral arrangements - have ' nof been completed. ! thizd | By the Associated Press. | NEW YORK, January 24--Bi- jtuminous coal operators and official« of the United Mine Workers of Amer ica today signed a new wage agree- ment running for one year and cover ing the tri-state competitive field of Ohio, llinois and Indiana. This agree ment will be used as a standard for | ixing wages and working conditions throughout the rest of the bituminous territory. The new agreement, it was an- nounced, was virtually the same as that which expires April 1, based on the Federal Fuel Administration's findings in 1920. Copies were ordered sent immedi- ately to President Harding, Attorne General Daugherty and John Hays Hammond, chairman of the United States Coal Commission. Agreement on the new contract was reached vesterday by a joint subcom mittes of seventeen and submiticd this morning to the whole confer ence. which has been in session h=ia about a week after transfer of the parley from Chicago. The tri-state fleld produces about 26 per cent of the nation’s 500.000,600 annual bitu tonnage. Signing up of the rest he territory was regarded as a n formality The conferees fixed January S as a date for reconvening to draw an agreement to cover the vear ginning April 1. 1924, ‘The agreement calls for $1.50 for eight hours for day work, and $105 per ton for contract miners. The con- tract is for one year instead of two as the union had sought. Cheap Coal Predicted. Coal will be comparatively the cheapest commodity in the United States as soon as the nation’s rail- ways_returm to normal conditions, Phil H. Penna, secretary of the diana Coal Operators Association, de clared today. “Whenever itry shall proximation of clency,” he said, ‘“coal will be cheapest thing in this country as compared with any other labor prod- uct or as compared with the fuel prices in any other commercial nation where coal is used.” Mr. Penna said he did not expect or Wwant & return to the coal prices of 1915 and the year previous, because, he pointed out, such a return would en- 4afl retrogression to the wage condi- tions and poorer living conditions of the coal fleids of that time. But, he added, stupendous produc- tion of the mines. aided by good trans- portation, would keep prices at a mini mum. - Mr. Penna declared that the United States Fact Finding Commission had helped to keep union wages up by cal ing” attention to conditions of livin among the miners. OFFICIALS ARE GRATIFIED. i the rallways recover even their normal of an the Coal Commission and Labor Depart- ment Pleased Over Agreement Members of the United States Coaz Commission and officials of the Labo Department today expressed gratifica tion over the adoption of a wage agree ‘The coal commission has no official representative at the conference. but the bureau of conciliation of the Labo: Department has been receiving almos hourly reports from ome of its me as to the progress of negotiations. }METHODISTS PROPOSE ! TO FORM TITHERS’ GUILD Organization of Those Pledging Tenth of Time and Money Be- ing Urged at Council. By tie Associated Press, CHICAGO. January 24—Proposais ifor the establishment of a tithers iguild for members donating one ltenth of their time and money to {the church, placing of twenty-five in Russia within five ars and a house-to-house solicita |tion for new members today were {before the council of the boards of benevolence of the Methodist Epix {copal Church | Dr. Luther F. Lovejo {of the stewardship division, suggestei the tithers' guild. explaining his de partment was seeking 1,000,000 me {bers of the qurch to form 1 {nucleus of the urganization, Bishop Homer C. Stuntz of Omahx Neb., advocated increasing the mis- soinary force in Russia declaring the 160,000,000 persons in Russia !“craved spiritual leadership.” i A possibility of obtaining mnew { members and new contact with in | different ones was the purpose behind the house-to-house visitation plan Dr. R, J. Wade, corresponding secre- {tary of ‘the committee of cunserva tion and advance, said. GAS PRODUCTION HIGH. Output Keeps Near Record, Ac- cording to Official Figures. Production of gasoline in the United | States_continues at a near-record clip., the November, 1922, output coming within 2,600,000 gallons of the record monthly production figure attained July, 1922, the bureau of mines ar nouriced today. November production amounted to 567.100,921 gallons. which is a million gallons above the October output and 135,000.000 gallons, or 31 | per cent, above production figures for November, 1921. At the same time, the bureau said. { demands of internal combustion engines continue to maintain gasoline consump tion at a high mark. Domestic cou- sumption of gasoline in November amounted to 470,043,173 gallons, an ir crease of 120.000.000 gallons, or 34.09 per { cent, above consumption figures for No- ) vember, 1921. Consumption figures for last November, however, were 19,000,000 gallons below the October consumption { due, probably. to the advance of winte and the consequent curtailment of auto- mobile activities. Stocks of gasoline on hand December 1 amounted to 776.723.619 gallons, an in crease of 53,000,000 gallons during the ‘momh. H i secretar H i i s RATE “DOUBTFUL” PUPILS Final Tests Given Applicants for High School Course. Supervising principals of the sev- eral school divisions are closeted to- day at the Franklin School at 13th and K streets northwest, rating the examinatipn papers which will de- termine whether several scores of eighth grade pupils will be retarded or profhoted at the beginning of the new semester February 1. The ex- aminations were given the pupils on the so-called “doubtful list” yester- day. Those who make a passing mark will be promoted to the high schoole. Superintendent of Schools Ballou today called a conference of high school principals and eighth grade teachers to be held at the Franklin School Friday afternoon at 3 o'clock at which plans will be discussed for familiarizing_parents of the pupils 1o enter the high schools for the first 1ime at the beginning of the second semester with the courses of study offered. = 1 !