Evening Star Newspaper, January 27, 1923, Page 2

3PRISONERS BREAK JALATLA PLATA H Conduit: Road Control Vested - In U. S., War Officials Claim Depa rtment 'Men ‘Cannot-Believe Mary- NOCHANCEFORLS. T0 AN ELROPE Posse on' Trail of Colored land Authorities Are Sincerein Attempl Deadlock in Ruhr Situation * to Regulate Traffic. *, Men Who Sawed Way to : Freedom. From a Staff Correspondent. LA PLATA, Md., January 27.—Three ©olored men awaiting: trial on serious charges, ranging from criminal as- sault 8o housebreaking, sawed. their way out of the Charles county prison here early today and headed toward ‘Washington. A score of farmers, all heavily frmed, and aided by a pack of hunt- ing dogs, are beating the brush of the sirrounding countryside, under, the direction of Sheriff John N. Simms. The authorities belleve the refugees #re hiding in a wood near Waldort, &leven miles from here, waiting to Make their final break for liberty under cover of night, One of the fugitives is John Dean, ho attacked Miss Emily Wink, af white girl, at Brentland, near here, | veral weeks ago, and feeling gainst the prisoner is running high e narrowly eseaped being lynched y a mob of farmers at that time. : Dug Hole in Wall ;The other men who Bugene Butler and Frank Stevens. The mos serious charge lodged against Butler is that of robbing the pest office at Dentaville. He is al- leged to have broken into the place about six weeks ago and stolen $20 in currency. Stevens is accused of having robbed an oyster packing plant at Rock Point. The men probably tolled several days and nights in the absence of their guards for freedom. Dean oc- cupled a cell directly next to the one in which Butler and Stevens had been placed. Some time during the night Dean dug a hole through the wall that separated him from the other prison- ers. Squirming through this small aperture, he joined his fellow-cap- tives, and the three succeeded in forcing the heavy steel door of the cell from its hinges. It was found several yards away, Whether or not a friend on the cut- de was cutting away the bars of a Second-story window has not been de- termined, but it is believed unlikely that the men in jail could have accom- plished so much’in such a short space of time without assistance. The win- dow selected for the escage was di- rectly above a small shed over the entrance to the jail, where a person outside could have worked quickly and In comparative comfort. Once the wire was cut, the prisoners smashed a window without losing time to ralse it, wiggled their way through an incredibly small opening and disappeared into the darkness of the early morning. Their delivery was not discovered until a jaller attempted to serve breakfast. The alarm was sounded immediately and brought ready re- sponse from the citizens of La Plata. Sherift Simms quickly organized a posse and picked up the trail of the fugitives just this side of Waldorf. At first it was believed they had made efforts to reach Washington on the early morning bus from that town. Detective headquarters in the| Capital was notified and all roads leading into the city from this sec- tion were sealed by uniformed police- men. The first bus to arrive at the Dis- trict line reported that it did not have any suspicious looking passengers aboard, but the chauffeur said that he had seen three colored men near| Waldorf. (. R, CRANER QUITS VETERANS' BUREAU General Counsel * Resigns. Maj. William W. Smith Named to Place. aped are Director Forbes of the Veterans' Bureau last night announced that he had accepted the resignation of Charles R Cramer as general coun- sel of the Veterans' Bureau, effective February 1. Maj. Willlam W. Smith, a former Mewspaperman, who has been asso- clate counsel, was appointed to suc- ceed Mr. Cramer. Maj. Smith during the war was In the office of the surgeon general of the Army, as chlef of the section of publications. He served in posts of responsibility gmqefiners of the Quartermaster Attacked by Legion. Mr. Cramer had been the ‘obje attack by the American Lesion‘o:tflsg charges of having been unjust in re- fusing to employ vererans in his dlvision. statements from the Vet- Officlal erane’ Bureau today disclaimed the leglon's attack was the couse of Mr, Cramer’s retirement, but that Mr, Cramer had intended to return to pr. vate life. Director Forbes in his jet- ter accepting the resignation declared Mr. Cramer's services had been “of the highest order,” regretted the sepa- ration of the general counsel from the service, and_expressed a personal wish for Mr. Cramer's “future suc- cess in whatever may be your under- taking.” Named 11 Ex-Service Men. Attention was also called by officials of the bureau that out of twelve ap- Dointments made by Mr. Cramer, elev- en had gone to ex-service men. Maj. Smith, in taking up his duties, declared his policy would be to givi the ex-service man all that was pos. sible under a generous law. pas o NEW D. C. DELEGATE BILL TO BE OFFERED Changes Proposed in Reed Measure Considered at Informal Conferences Today. Plans for the introduction of a new District delegate bill in the House are being considered in in- formal conferences today. If every- thing works out satisfactorily this bill probably will be introduced on Monday by Representative Reed of ‘West Virginia or Sproul of Illinois. ‘The negotiations are being conducted by Representative Thomas L. Blan- ton of Texas at the Instigation of Representative Reed. Mr. Blanton Is consulting with members of the House District com- mittes who supported the Reed Dis- trict delegate bill, which was laid on the table by a six-to-five vote in the committes 2 week ago. Representa- tive Blanton is proposing some cl in this measure which hopes will moet the objections made Dy several members of the committes, Among the propoSed changes are that the citizens of the District shall elect the civillan Commissioners, one of whom shall be chairman ex-officio of the board. The bill also provide: that.the citizsens are_to.elect.a.de: gate’in Congress ’ ’ 5 ele- | in July, 1907, gave the Secretary Officlals of the War Department re- gard- the question of federal juris- diction over the Conduit road so well established that they cannot belleve that Maryland officials are sincere in claiming the right to regulate traffic on the section of that road in M land. It was stated that State's At- torney Dawson and his associates it Rockville are by no means the first to claim_Maryland's jurisdiction over the road, but it is added, if they get legal support of their claim, they will break a long and unbroken record against that contention.. Maryland officials, it is pointed out, not only have been permitted, but they have been encouraged by the federal offi- cials In charge, to use the road tree- 1y in the enforcement of criminal and other state laws, in state territory on botk sides of the road. It is admitted al'uo that in the early history of th2 Washington aqueduct the federal au. thorities made no special offort to regulate traflic on the Conduit road, and that certain Maryland officials exercised a degree.of control. " Traffic Fines Reecalled. The records of the War Dapartment show that it was not until 1916 that the government itself undertook to regulate trafic on Conduit road by special authorization from Congress. It was led to that course, it Is stat- ed, by the heavy increase of sych traf- fic, and incidentally by the alleged unauthorized action of the mayor of Glen Echo, Md., in exacting fees, large and small, from person using the federal road at that point, for alleged speeding and other violations of the Maryland traffic regulations. Many members of the diplomatic corps, including the Austrain ambas- sador, it was reported, had been held up and subjected to indignities by the agents of the mayor of Glen Echo, en the flimiest pretext, and official com plaints were filed with the State D partment. The matter was consi ered by “Congre and an_act was passed authorizing the chief of engi- neers of the Army to establish and enforce suitable regulations for the protection of the Washington aque- duct and its accessories, including the Conduit road. That was in 1916, and since then the traffic on the Conduit road has been regulated exclusively by federal officers. At the request of Secretary Weeks, Maj. M. C. Tyler, the Unjted States engineer in charge of the Washington aqueduct; has prepared a_memoran- dum for him as to the jurisdiction of the War Department over Conduit road. “The Washington aqueduct” says Maj. Tyler, “was constructed by the War Department with federal funds between 1853 and 1863. The strip of land on which the aqueduct is Jocated | was acquired by the War Department by purchase and condemnation about 1853, The Condult road was built generally directly over the condult and within the said government- owned strip, for the primary purpose of giving reasonably easy access to all aqueduct structures by employes of the War Department, charged with the maintenance of -the aqueduct Prior to 1916 the War Department confined its regulations of traffic over the road to such action ae would safeguard the government property and structures. The traffic over the road became €o heavy that, on the recommendation of the department, Congress, in the District of Columbia appropriation act approved Septem- ber ‘1, 1916, enacted the following {glation: % s o e chiet of engineers of the War Department is authorizéd and em- powered to enforce the following regulations of trafiic for the protec- tion of the Washington Aqueduct and fitration plant and their aceessories, including Conduit road: “No vehicle shall on the Conduit road exceed a speed of twenty miles | per hour within the District of Co Jumbia and, in the state of Mary- land, the speed laws of that state. | No reckless or careless driving shall be pormitted and drivers of all ve- hicles shall conform to the generally accepted rules for the use of public roads as to-passing to the right, sig- naling desire to pass, and s0 and all vehicles using this road shall carry and display the lights specified by municipal regulations for vehicles within the District of Columbfa, and all such lights shall be so dimmed or masked as to obviate 'any blinding eftect upon travelers on the road, and any violation of the above regula- tions shall constitute an offense upon conviction ' for which the party’ or parties offending shall be punished by a fine of not less than $1 or more than $40: Provided, that for viola- tion of said regulations committed within the District of Columbia pros- ecutions shall be maintainable in the Tnited States branch of the Police Court of the District of Columbia and for such violations committed in the state of Maryland prosecutions ! shall be maintainable before the nearest United States commissioner for the district of Maryland, and said Police Court and said commissioner are severally vested with jurisdic- tion for this purpose. Special Patrol Provided. “ “The United States district court for he district of Maryland is directed to ppoigt such additional United States commissioner or commissioners, for service at convenient points -adjacent to the Condulit road as may be requisite to carry out the,above provisions of this act; schedule of fees for such services to be fixed by said court. Officers au- thorized to make arrests. under the provisions of this act are also au- thorized, in the exercise of a sound dis- cretion, to parole the person or per- sons arrested for attendance at trial." “The policing of the Conduit road is now effected under the authority .of this law by special officers paid ‘from appropriations made annually by C?x: gress. . The epecial officers on duty. tween the District line and Great Falls are legally appointed United -States deputy marshals. The on2 on duty be- tween the Georgetown reservoir’ and the District line is a speclal District of Columbia officer. Cases of viola- tions of the regulations committed on the road.west of the District of Co- lumbia line are tried before a United States commissioner, who has been ap- pointed for that purpose, as contem- plated by law. ses of violation of the regulations committed within the District of Columbia are tried in the District of Columbla Police Court. “The maintenance and operations of the Washington aqueduct and the Conduit rpad is by law under the Secretary of War and the chief of Engineers, U. S. The funds there- fore are annually appropriated by Congress from the revenues of the Dlst{lcl of Columbla_water depart- e A A B, BTy The acting judge advocate' general of the Army also has submitted a memorandum to the Secretary of War on the subject of jurisdiction, in which he says, in part: “By article 1, section 8 of the Con- stitution of the United States, the United States is vested with exclusive jurisdiction over all places purchased Wwith the consent of the states 1 which they le, ‘for the erection o forts, magazines,” arsenals, dockyards and other needful bufldings.” = The title of the lands covered by the Con- duit road was acquired as a part of the Washington acqueduct by con- demnation . proceedings pursuant to the act of the legislature of Mary- land, of May 3, 1853, which provided: “That -consent is hereby given to the United States to purggase such lande and to construdt such- dams, reser- voirs, bulldings and other works, and to exercise - concurrently with the state of Maryland, such jurisdiction over the same as be necessary for the said purpose.’ The United States Attorney General of . Clinton Bell, administrator of was under the complete jurisdiction of the United States Congress. In construing the consent given by the state of Maryland to acquisition of lands for the Washington aqueduct and its appurtenances in connection with the general provision of the Constitution referred to, the Attorney General sald: “In.my opinion this provision of the Constitution contemplates the pur- chase of land ‘needful’ for any reason, to the discharge of any constitutionai duties or the exercise of any constitu- tional powers of the United States. In this case the consent of Maryland was clearly given to the purchase of land, and If the land was acquired for a ‘needful’ purpose, as thus con- templated by article 1, sectlon 8, of the Constitution, it seems clear that {the power of legislation over such land is vested in Congress as soon a8 it _was acquired with such consent. When the title is acquired by pur chase with the consent of the legisla ture of the states, the federal juris- digtion {s_exclusive of all state au- thority. It is immaterial to_inquire whether the legislature of Maryland meant to impose any restriction or limitation upon its cessfon of juris- dictioh by the act of 1853, for the consent of the state to the purchase being once given, the cession takes place, by virtue of the Con- stitution itself; and any attempt to impose a restriction by the legislature would be unconstitutional, and there- fore, void. 1 do not think there is any room for doubt that, in this case, the consent to the purchase was given. * * * Aqn abundant supply of pure water being a necessity of life, I think it is clear that the reservoirs and aqueducts and other construc- tions appurtenant to such water sup- ply are to be consldered ‘needful buildings' within the terms of article 1, section S, of the Constitution; and, since a roadway is an appropriate and necessary appurtenance to such works, being acquired to afford access to them on the part of those intrusted with _their management, superin- tendence and repair, I think the Conduit road constitutes _territory within the exclusive jurisdiction - of the Congress and that the legislature of the state of Maryland has no Jurisdiction over any part of | Law on Violations. Regarding the exercise by the government of jurisdiction and con- trol over the Conduit road, the At- torney General sald further: “I think the legal incidents of this roadway are similar to those of a so- called ‘street’ in a navy yard or arsenal. It was constructed for the benefit of the government and not of the public generally, and the fact that its use by many of the public may have been tolerated for a long time does not prevent the govern- ment from restricting or even forbid- ding such ude, should that course seem advisible. While the use is per- mitted. however, it would seem that it ought to be permitted under rea- sonable regulations, and I see no reason to doubt that the officer, under whose superintendence and control the r has been placed by the President in pursuance of the act of Congress of 1859, may prescribe such regulations in the absence of any federal statute regulating the subject matter. : “He has, indeed, no power to fine or imprison or 'otherwise punish those who may violate these regula- tions, but he can exclude them from { the use of the road if they are dis orderly or refuse to recognize his authority, and such military force may be appropriately placed under his command as will insure obedience to his orders. COUPLE ARE JAILED [0 YEARS FORTHEFT The “usual sentence of ten years” was {mposed today by Justice Staf- ford, In Criminal Division 1, on one man and one woman, both colored. Joseph A. Turner and Ella Moore, who received the term of ten years' imprisonment, robbed Caleb Adams, colored, an old man living at 34 Jack- son street northeast, December 23 last. The couple were in the homs of Adams, and attacked him, Turner kneeling on him as he lay on the floor, while the Moore woman rified his 'pockets, which ~contained $65. Turner made a plea for clemency, which the court stated the enormity of the crime forbade. The Moore woman had a previous criminal rec- ord. Sentences of five years each were imposed on James S. Chapman and Albert Cutler, both colored. Chapman broke into the store of Henry Rosem- berg, 1314 I street northwest, No- vember 9 last, and Cutler entered the home of Edward K. Rawson Decem- ber 24 last, Samuel Smith, colored, got three years in the penitentiary for cutting Elizabeth F. Golden, December 11 last, with a knife. Benjamin I Royer re- ceived a term of two years for pass- ing a worthless check. Sentences of elghteen months each in the peni- tentiary were given Emanuel Berry, colored; Richard Clinton, colored, and James 'Cummings, all convicted of larceny. | H Other Sentences. ~ One-year terms at Occoquan were imposed on Ralph Truner and Wyckliff Grifiin, joy-riding; Raymond Stewart, colored, larceny; Willle Collins, .col ored, assault; Willlam F. Pietsch, larcenys Harrison Brown, non-sup, port, and Maurice Lee, joy-riding. 112 MORE SUITS FILED INKNICKERBOCKER CASE Twelve more suits for damages against the Knlckerbocker Theater Company resulting from the death of the victims that perished with the collapse of the roof of the building; January 28° last were flled today. The perfod of one year in whioh suit must be. instituted, under the law. to recover for those who died instantly or before midnight January ox- pired. today, A total of fifty-eight death cases have been fils in which damages are placed at $580,000. Four its have been brotght as the re- sult of personal injuries, in which a totd] 'of $175,000 damages is asked, making a grand total of $755,000 damages sought from the company. Those having claims for personal in- jury may sue at any time within three years from the date of the dis- aster. g Among the suits flled today are, Louis H. Warren,” administrator of the estate of James F. Shea; M. Le) Gough brought two suits, one as administrator of G. Eldridge and the other as representative of Harriet E. Eldridge; Oscar W. Underwood, ir., administra- tor of Gwfl; 8. Freeman; Esther M. Burrows, * inistrator of Daf M. Bowden; Nicholas Apfelbaum, adminis- of Rose Urdong: Edwin R. O’Donnell; administrator of Adeline B, O'Donnell; Edwin R. O’'Donnell, admin- trator of Dominick F. O'Donnell ; Ethel L. Emst, administratix of ' Fred H. Ernst; J. Hannor Schol adminis- trator of Willlam L. Sch ”:n.n' G. -B. ‘War ah opinion-that-ths Conduit road Bell Held to Leave No Basis of Adjustment. The deadlock in the Ruhr district situation caused by French occupa- tion of the district by forcible means, and the German refusal to discuss the matter with France as long as that country occupl German torritory, leaves no basis on which to seek an adjustment, it was pointed out by administration officials here yester- day. Emphasis was laid at the Whitk House and the State Department on the tenseness of thg situation. Officials See mo Opening. Thus far administration officials see no opening at this time which would permit the United States to become helpful, and, it was asserted, the American government has no inten- tion of becoming Involved in any project that is doomed to failure from the start. The President and his ad- visers take the view that if it had been possible for any conference project to relieve the reparations crisis the league of nations long ago would have been invoked to that end. But the first requirement of league action, it was pointed out, is un mous agreement to take up a ject, and there has been no hope of obtaining French agreement. . Distinction Is Drawn. While it was pointed out that in- dividual members of Congress may sponsor any conference or other action they please, their action has little effect on International matters, but if administration officials speak on one side or the other the voice of the government has been raised and other pations will so interpret it. It is the bellef here that the government is bound by international practice and must stand aloof until a reason- able opportunity for helpfuln pre- sents itself. . CURZON ASSAILS TURKISH DEMAND Scores Plan to” Reduce Size of Cemeteries Containing British Bodies. By the Associated Press. LAUSANNE, January 27.—Marquis Curzon, British foreign secretary, speaking at this morning’s session of the near east conference, delivered a scathing criticism of the Turks be- cause of their demand that the ceme- teries containing the bodies of British soldiers slain in the Gallipoll cam- paign be reduced in size. The Turks, however, adhered to their stand. - Never Will Yie Ismet Pasha sald Turkey was sec- ond to none in respect for the dead, but that the British cemeteries were unnecessarily large. What England really desired, he charged, was consecration of a battle- field. Moreover she was asking for a beach which once served’ for mill- tary operations and might be used agaln for the same purpose. During the discussion Lord Curzon said that Great Britain would never give way on this question. “You cannot haggle over our soldier dead,” he exlalmed. “You can haggle over everything else, as you have, but over dead, never! “We are only too anxious to with- draw our troops from Constantinople and Gallipoll, but I solemnly declare that not a man shall be moved until this question is settled fn a spirit of decency, equity and honor.” By the Associated Press. ATHENS, January 27.—The Turks have abruptly resumed deportations in Anatolia despite the Greek govern- ment's decision not to admit more refugees to this country, while epi- demics of cholera, typhus and small- pox are raging, according to advices received by the Near East Relief. A telegram from Constantinople said that the Turkish authorities had sud- denly ordered 3,000 Greeks at Trebi- zond to leave immediately aboard three foreign ships. The message ad- ded that the refugees were being sent to Greece from Constantinople aboard the steamship Ionia. Arrangements have been made for the vessel to proceed to the hospital camp on the island Macronisi. LONDON, January 27.—A _Con- stantinople méssage to the Exchange Telegraph reports that the Angora government has recalled Ferid Bey, its representative at Paeis on ac- count of the turn of aftairs at Lausanne. ——— FRENCH DOUBLE RUHR - FORCES . TO GUARD EVERY. EXIT (Continued from First Page.) French and Belglan governments have abandoned the idea of proposing a guaranteed moratorfum to Ger- many. The Belgian’ theory is that it ‘would be foolish to make such a pro- long as Germany continues PR sist the application of the treaty of Versallles in every way possible. Belgium, therefore, asks the repara- tions commission to reject the mora- torlum demand and notify Germany that the old scale of payments ($773,600,000 a year) will -g.ln enter into force early in February. More Furnaces Close. ling to receive any German coke lnFl‘hls. l‘llt fortnight eleven French blast furnaces have shut down in Lor- raine, five in the Longwy-Nancy basin and five in Luxemberg, with conse- uent partial unemployment. The §rench steel magnates are not great- 1y dlnlurh"ehd hyt(‘“":’!'i‘l“l:‘ao:'e“ they sider that time cessary :3“reerl‘lnue the. Ruhr _administra-. tion in such a way that.coke ship- ments can be resumed regularly. The French government intends soon to ask parliament for a credit of 45,000,000 francs for the expenses of the Ruhr occupation in January and February. The radicals are expected to make this demand an occasion for an attack on the occupation. policy, but there is every reason to believe that the majority will quickly grant the credit, the general ch belief being that it is quite proper to spend whatever money may be necessary now to break German resistance, as this expense will ultimately be more than compensated for by ‘increased reparations, and especially, by in- creased security against war. —_— TO ATTEND FRAT PARLEY. " Jarvis Butler of this city will be ohe of the representatives of Sigma Nu Phi Legal Fraternity at the first interfraternity conference in Chicago next Thursday and Friday, it was announced today. & conference has been called to effect & means of co-operation to advance.the.common roo‘vaL jembers of all h{l.l pro- ession to. influence-high stand.. ards at the bar, ¢ E _EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON! D. C! 'SATURDAY!' J. Czechoslovakia Ready to Mediate In Ruhr Invasion PARIS, January 27.—In the name of the little entente Cszechoslovakia 1s about to offer mediation between France and Germany in settlement of the reparation question, according to the newspaper Pravda, says the Matin today. The dispatch, which comes before Belgrade, adds that the Caechoslovakian minister to Ger- many has just arrived Jn that city in connection with the plan. URGESU. 5. STOP INVASION OF RUHR The reparations question again was brought up today in the Senate, Senator Owen, democrat, Oklahoma, criticising the French invasion of the Rubr, and declaring the United States, “before it is too late,” should join in guaranteeing. France from invasion, and in guaranteeing also the rights of the German people. “The world should use economic ARY 27, 1923 (AFLIGHT PLUNGE NOT TO BE FATAL Miss Elizabeth Rhodes Ex- pected to Recover—Not Being “Investigated.” Miss Elizabeth Rhodes, twenty- year-old girl, who jumped to the ground from the fourth floor apart- ment of John 8. Larcombe, ir., at the Roydon, 1619 'R street, Thursday night, probably will recover, it was said at Emergency Hospital today. She passed last night comfortably and was resting quietly today, although her condition ie still serious. An X-ray examination revealed . there were no bones- broken. A statement, understood to have been made by her to the police yes- terday, to the effect that her presence in the apartment of Larcombe Thurs- day night wi for the purpose of meeting & senator who might straighten out alleged entanglements with the woman’s bureau of the police !pressure on the German people,” he |department, was confirmed in prin- |said, “to enforce reparations to the|ciple today by Larcombe in an in- 1 extent a world tribunal shall ascer- tain such reparations payable.” , “The invasion of Germany by French military forces will not meet the moral approval of America, first, because they see in this invasion the sowing of dragon’s teeth, the building up of a more intense hatred between the German and French people, and the bullding up of greater hostilities between those who will symipathize with Germany on the one hand and' the French and the Bel- gians on the other, dividing the world again into two contending camps, where the ultimate attitude may be another appeal to organized military force. Mediation Only Solution. “Second, because the French lead- ership seems to be indisposed to al- low cdntroverted questions as to the amount of the reparations and the means of collecting reparations to be settled by economic methods. They have dictated the amount, the terms and are collecting or trying to collect by military force, and will break down the productive power of the German people. “If France and Belgium should show a disposition to permit the in- termediation of friendly nations on these questiong and to Invite such mediation before it s too late, there would be an outburst of enthusiastic n'pm&ovll in Anerica of such an at- titude.” BALDWIN BLAMES DEBT DELAY ON POLITICIANS; U. S. PLAN IS REVEALED (Continued from First Page.) are due and Great Britaln would have £31,000,000 vearly, which might be relieved to 'a certain extent by an improved position of the sovereign in exchange. “All the best opinion in New York,"” he sald, “belleves that the pound and the dollar will go to parity pretty soon. The way in which the pound has been going up is very remarkable but there are good judges who think it is not so much the appreciation of ‘li:fiagqpnd as the depreciation of the Five Per Cent Too Much. Mr. Baldwin expressed the beilet that the strain of paying § per cent interest on the whole debt would be greater than this ‘country could car- ry. This was. a “ghastly thought,” he added, but there was no doubt about It “I should ‘llke to point out,” the chancellor continued, “that what America has offered represents an immense advance in American opin- ion in a very short time. It was not thought possible that Congress would be willing to ‘eat’ its own leglislation and give terms subsequently reduc- ing the percentage to be paid to 3% per cent over a series of years. The original terms of Congress, with the sinking fund, really represented about § per cent.” Mr. Baldwin thought there could be no more opportune time than the present to offer terms in order to change opinion in Britain's favor. he debt has got on the nerves of the American people, and the word ‘cancellation’ akes them shy all along the lip he added. The chancelior hinted that any re- duction in the British budget would depend entirely upon whether a set- tlement with America was effected, and the state of official opinion gen- erally. Too much could not be said about’ the cordial reception of the mission in. America, he concluded. The kindness there had been extraor- dinary, an atmosphere of good will prevalled throughout, and every one assured them the visit would do an immense amount of good in further- ing the relations between the two countrie Views on Interest Rate. The return of Mr. Baldwin is the signal for a number of newspaper ticles on the funding of the British debt. Generally, they argue that the rate of interest on the debt ought to be on the basis of the value of money in_England, not in the United States. Had Mr.. Baldwin accepted the American terms, declares the Weekly Outlook, it is possible the govern- g}ent would have had to repudiate im or leave office. The paper con- siders there is no hurry and that, as there is good- will on both sides, it is better to ‘walt for a time when the American public is better able to appreciate England's position and difficulties. It contends that Great Britain is so overtaxed she cannot afford to pay- more than 2 per cent, that being the rate at which the British treasury able to borrow nowadays. ‘The Times prints an article con- tributed by “a colonial correspond- ent” It takes lines similar, though {en}r extreme, to those of the Out- ook. The article argues that if, as re- ported, the Baldwin mission agreed to fund at 3 per cent, the British government was taking a responsi- bility, the extent of which could hardly be realized at present, be- cause it would mean additional tax- ation for every man, woman and child in the kingdom. This would not fall short of & pound sterling per head annually for & period of two genera- tions. Moreover, the obligation would be in American currency, and nobody is able to foresee the future rate of exchange. : The article points out th the present is the very worst time to fund the debt, owing to the deveiop- ments in the Ruhr, making it ex- ceedingly - uncertain whether -~ any- thing whatever can be bbtained from Germany. Therefore, it argues, the British government is not entitled to undertake such obligation and ought to refuse to fund until conditions change. It suggests that the government should simply pay the interest yearly. The writer says he cannot believe that any' American ~government “wouyld demand that the rate should be higher than that at which they themselves can borrow,” and con- cludes: “The American people are as fair- minded and ungrasping as any people in the world, and when they once understand the position, they would refuse to make such demands as they are making now.” GAFF ESTATE OVER $400,000. Thoma# T. Gaft, who died in Boston, Mass., .V#II\I&I'! 17, left an estate valued “In excess of $400,000,” ac- cording to the ition of his widow, Mrs. Zaldee Ellis Gaff, for the pro- bats of his will. El\a widow, is aamed sole. Shs i3 to pay Irepresented by Attorney Arthur Peter, 3 terview. Not Under Investigation. However, Sergt. Rhoda Milliken, in charge of the women's bureau during the absence of Lieut. Mina Van Win- kle, who is in Europe, eaid that Miss Rhodes was a witness in a case being investigated by the bureau, but was not herself the subject of any investi- gation at the present time. More than a year ago, continued Sergt. Milliken, at the request of Mrs. Agnes Rhodes of 1466 Rhode Island avenue, mother of the injured girl, an investigation was made, but since an lliness of Miss Rhodes about two months ago the investigation had been dropped. She knows that she is not the subject of an investigation, Miss Milliken stated, adding that she could not account for a statement such as reported. Larcombe, when seen today, cussed the episode frankly. “I am just as innocent of any blame for her actual jump as you are” he sald to be a reporter. “We were sitting in a room talking when some one rapped on the door. As I went to an- swer the knock she went into the bed- room and turned the key in the door. To Meet Semator. “It was probably half an hour before the person who called and I had fin- ished our conversation. Then 1 went to the bedroom door and rapped on it. There was no ans: » 1 asked the elevator boy for a key to get into the bedroom and when 1 met him he told me that a girl had been picked up out- side. " She Was then taken to the hos- pital. “She came to the apartment that night for the first time in six months, s far as I can recollect. I had told her on the phone that I'd give her the opportunity of meeting a senator. You've seen the report regarding policewomen. It had something to do with that.” This was as far as Larcombe would %o in a statement. He seemed greatly concerned as to the girl's condition, and said that he calied up the hospitai last night to learn how she was faring. He has been released on 35,000 bond to awalt preliminary hearing on a charge of assault, having been arrested ye terday afternoon. dis- . 1. FAY AGAIN IN TON.S ON BAD CHECK CHARGE Man Convicted Here Held by Po- lice of Tampa, Fla., as Fugitive From Justice. —_— By the Associated Press. TAMPA, Fla., January 27.—Dr. J. W. Fay, jr. allas Walter Nold, said by the police to be wanted in Washing- ton, Baltimore, Md., and Oakland, Callf., for passing worthless checks and being a fugitive from justice, is in jail here awalting instructions. Police sald he made a partial con- fession last night, admitting he had passed a worthless check here, vio- lated a parole in California and passed several worthless checks in Jackson- ville. According to the police Fay is want- ed by the Department of Justice and polige In Washington, where he is al- leged to have fllegally obtained an automobile and sold it in New York. Willlam Judson Fay, jr, was ar- rested in Washington last year and sentenced to three years' imprison- ment on a bad-check charge. Execu. tion of sentence was suspended. and he was paroled. Later he entered the employ of the Charles Rubel Com- pany, automobile dealers, at 1621 L street. It is alleged that he drove from this city in an automoblile belonging to his employer about a month ago, leaving a trail of bad checks behind. Detective Keck investigated his dls- appearance and learned that Fay drove to Baltimore and Philadelphia. The detectives learned that checks were alleged to have been given by him in Gaithersburg, Rising Sun, and Baltimore, Md., and other places. The automobile in which he drove from this city, it is stated, has not been located. ' Fay, 1t {s stated, traveled as an agent of the local automobile firm, and the firm, it is said, made some of the checks good. It is al- leged that checks he had cashed represented sums aggregating more than $500. The police also were told that he had passed a check in Rich- mond, Va., LACK OF RUHR COKE CLOSES FRENCH PLANTS 20 Blast Furnaces Already Out of Commission—Others to End Work. PARIS, January 27.—Blast furnaces 1o France have begun shutting down fromi lack of coke, for which they have been largely dependent upon the Ger- man reparation deliveries, halted since the occupation of the Ruhr. Fifteen furnaces in the principal metallurgical centers had their fires drawn Wednesday and Thursday, and more are expected to cease operation today. Five furnaces were shut down in Luxembourg yesterday. The lack of coke has affected the biggest plants, such as De Wendel in Lorraine, and others in Thionville, Longwy and Rehon, and those still operating are working at reduced ca- pacity in order to economize on fuel. POLISH CLUB ELECTS. The Polish Club of Washington, D. C., elected the following officers a recent meeting: Josep! Stanls gewski, president; Miss Mary Chod: niewics, vice president; Stanley Zwier- 2 treasurer; I ttus ~Jawney. lanrlu%; Mrs. F. Haindrich and Mrs. J. T. Stanissewski, trustees, and Felix Ssczepanik, marshal. REPORT BOY OF 14 MISSING. John C. Russell, fourteen years old. s reported missing from his home, 119 Massichusetts avenue. Police of the sixth precinct, 'who were asked to earch for -him, ' were told -that he bably went away with an Jtalian 0y, companions | Hardings Going To Florida for Rest in March Although the exact date of de- parture and the ultimate destina- tion have not been made known, it has been announced officially at the White House that Presi- dewt and Mrs. Harding will go to Florida for a two or three week rest in March. In making this known it was stated that Mrs. Harding has suf- ficlently improved to permit her to make the journey and that she is exceptionally enthusiastic over the contemplated trip. It was made known also that the executive, who is just recovering from a severe attack of grip, is looking forward to the rest. — SENATE MAY PROBE BUREAU OUSTINGS (Continued from First Page.) which w: founded action by the a ministration in dismissing employ last spring was not revealsd today although various reports have located the beginning of the suspicion at the office of the register of the Treasury and the Department of Justice. Completely Vindicated, Although unofficial pronouncements from high- sources in the adminis- tration had sevéral months ago tend- ed to relieve the dismissed employes of the shadow of doubt which was cast upon their reputations by dis- missal, the official announcement withih' the past twenty-four hours from the White House and the Treas- try were taken today as blowing away all the clouds and vindlcating the character of those dlsmissed. At the Treasury it was said that it President Harding restores the civil service of the dismissed . em- ploves everything will be done for them that under the present circum- stances is possible, No definite plans have been made for glving employment to any of those dis- missed, except for the fact that three women are already employed in the Treasury, and one man has made defi- nite appiication, which is said to be pending. There s understood; both from Treas- ury and bureau of engraving sources, to be little, if any, opportunity for the Te- installetion of former employes at their old positions at the bureau. Situation Summarised. Secretary Mellon sent to Presfdent Harding some time ago a list of the entire twenty-eight dismissed em- ployes, transmitting their appeal for restoration of civil service status. A summary of the situation as it affects the twenty-eight at present would be as_follows: Three have been taken back into the Treasury, one application for em- ployment is pending, one is dead, Seven applications for retirement are on file, leaving a remainder of six- teen who are either employes in posi- tions outside the government or are awaiting action by the President. Ten persons originally applied for retirement under the amendments to the retirement act of September 22 last, but two of these have been re- _employed and one, Eugene L. Beach, died, leaving seven now on the list still asking for retirement. President Must Act. Before these persons can receive retirement status, it is understood, the President must act. The Civil Service Commission, it is understood, has held it is without authority under the act of last September to grant retirement pay. In line with the President's attitude, as announc- ed at the White House in considering restoration of civil service status to all twenty-eight, it is believed that eventually those who have applied for retirement will obtain i The three persons who have been re-employed by the government are all women. They are: Miss Eliza- Dbeth Scott, former chief of the pack- ing division of the bureau, at a salary of $2,000, re-emploved at $1,100; Mrs Margaret S. Kerfoot, former chief of the numbering division, at $2,500, now receiving $1,200 and a bonus, ‘and Miss Nellie Wilding, former chief of the stamp-perforating division, now re- ceiving $1,200. Whether a considerable number of the sixteen out of the twenty-eight who have not declared themselves will apply for reinstatement in gov- ernment positions was uncertain to- day. Some of them have taken em- ployment as civilians at positions with substantial pay, and a few are un- derstood to be so well satisfied that they would rot care to re-enter the governmentservice. Gets $10,000 Job, George U. Rose, jr., has gone the farthest of any of the dismissed bureau chiefs, having obtained a posi- tion in London at what is understood to be considerably in excess of $10.- 000 a year, James L. Wilmeth, former director, today expressed much gratification over the announcement from the hite House. Speaking not only for himself but for the others who were dismissed, Mr. Wilmeth said, all of them knew there was nothing wrong in the bureau which would implicate the honesty or integrity of emplsyes or chiefs. Now, he added, it would be a great satisfaction to have all their friends know it, as coming officially from the White House. ‘It pleases us greatly,” he said. As to his personal plans, Mr. Wil- meth had no statement to make, Wwhether or not he would accept a position with the government if of- fered. He is at present located with the Cleveland Discount Company, Plans Still Incomplete. Although plans may be in prepara- tion for the reinstallation of the per- sons taken from the bureau of en- graving by the President's order, Di. rector Louts A. Hill today indicated that none of them would, in all prob- ability, be taken back into the bureau itself. Mr. Hill indicated he did not know what the administration planned to do, but that he had no in- formation that it would affect the present situation at the bureau. “Our present organization here,” said Director Hill, ubstantial, and efficient. It is running smoothly, and to consider changing it at the pre: ent time with addition of more pe sons would be a mistake.” The place- ment of former employes expected to be restored to their clvil service stat will be the responsibility of other branches of the administration, Mr. Hill indicated. Feared Financial Panfe. In announcing that practically all of the dismissed bureau employes would be reinstated, the White House made public for the first time since the issuance of the President's sum- mary order ousting these men an ‘women “for the good of the service, the reasons for withholding an ex- planation of this drastic action. ‘The White House spokesman who made the announcement said that the situation at the bureau, as a result of the wholesale duplications of bonds, wasg 50 serious then that the President and his advisers deemed it unwise to make any public statement at the time. Mlillions of dollars’ worth of government bonds had been duplicat- ed, and it was feared that a financial panic might follow immediately on the heels of a public announcement to that effect. $10,000 Bonds Involved. It was explained that so extensive were the duplications, especially of the $10,000 bonds, that announcement of the true situation would have sgiven rise to great apprehension throughout the country, all of which would have been most unfortunate, nd would very likely have had dls- astrous and costly results. It stated that it was not de- termined at the time whether these vast duplications were dus to me- chanical errors or dishonesty, and as 2 means of getting at the very bot- tom of the affair it was deemed best to dismiss” those officlals who were ither directly or indirectly respon- sible for the condition, in order that a thoroell:h investigation could be conduct. At this that the oint it was made clear smissals were not made WINTER COAL BAN MAY BE RETAINED U. S. Officials Believe Short- age Will Keep 60 Per Cent Order in Force. NO RELIEF IS IN SIGHT Production Not Expected to Reach » Point Insuring Full Supply. The 60 per cent anthracite coal quota under which dealers through- out the country have been operating for the last four months will proba- bly not be changed during the pres- ent winter, and consumers will have to do throughout the winter with 60 per cent of their normal requirements, using substitutes to make up the difterence, it was learned officially today. The agreement under which retail dealers are supplied with only 60 per cent of consumers’ requirements will be carried on throughout the winter, ac cording to Chairman Hammofd of the United States Fuel Commission and F. R. Wadleigh, federal fuel dis- tributor. Any hope that the 60 per cent maximum might be raised was dispelled today, when both these gov- ernment officials declared they could see no chance of productlon attain- ing a mark which would justify rais- ing the ban. Anthracite production, while it has | been marked for the past two months by unusually heavy mining, has only reached the point, these officials agreed. where consumption can be supplied on a 60 per cent basie. Reserve stocks of anthracite, which were reduced aimos to the vanishing point during the coal strike last summer, have not been ma- terially increased. The effect of the 60 per cent maximum agreement has been to force consumers, in Washington and elsewhere, to receive coal rationed out in small lots. The rest of thelr requirements have been met by use of substitutes, such as coke, lump bituminous, or briquettes. . Mr. Hammond and Mr. Wadleigh sald federal agencies are working on a plan whereby coal can be stored either above ground or under water in quantities suf- ficient to lay up a large reserve. This plan has been considered practicable as a means of offsetting shortages caused by strikes. LEVIATHAN ALLOCATED TO UNITED STATES LINES Largest Ship Flying American Flag to Ply Between New York and Southampton. NEW YORK, January 27.—The Le- viathan, largest ship flying the Ameri- can flag, and the second biggest vessel in service. has been allocated to the United States lines and will be put on the New York-Southampton run next June, local officials of the Emer- gency Fleet Corporation have an- nounced. P The Leviathan is now being recon- ditioned at Newport News at an ap- groximate cost of $6,000,000. Shipping oard officials expect the vessel to be ready for service by June 15, Southampton dock space for the Le- viathan already has been contracted for, William J. Love, vice president and general manager of the Emergency Fleet Corporation, said. The vessel will compete for trade with the Ma- jestic, world’s largest ship; with her sister ship, the former Imperator, now the Berengaria; the Aquitania, Maure- tania, Olympic and Homerlc. The Leviathan, formerly the Vater- land, was sejzed from the Germans during the war. i because of politics nor to make room for favorites of the new administra- tion. While this was the common impression throughout the country at the time, the White House called attention to the fact that more than 75 per cent of those dismissed were republicans. This alone should cor- rect the public Impression concerning the implication of partisanship. This. administration spokesman made no attempt to hide or minimize the administration’'s alarm when the first report of conditions at the bu- reau was received. However, after a long and exhaustive investigation, the administration is now convinced that what first suggested the ex- istence of a conspiracy to defraud the government was only the result of wholesale inefficiency on the part of the employes handling the machines that numbered the bonds. Inexperience Blamed. Many hundreds of inexperlenced men and women had been put to work at the bureau during the rush and tur- moil during the war and it was due almost entirely, the White House be- lievep, to their carelessness and crude- ness that the many duplications were made. It was intimated that those officlals who were dismissed would have been held responsible by any private buii- ness establishment for permitting such repeated errors. Now that the White House Is con- vinced that there was no conspiracy in- connection with the many dupli- cations, the President is not satisfled yet that he was wrong in issuing that summary order, calling for the dis- missals. Justice will, however, be done to such as deserve it. Those will be restored to their old status if the individual Investigation now being concluded shows no direct contribu- tory carelessness. It was stated w much emphasis that the executive has no desire to do an injustice to any one. Few Due to Fraud. While the White House has for the first time made public a brief ex- planation of its action, it was stated that the whole story will be made public by the President as some fu- ture date. Every fact in connetion with the episode will then be given to the country. The White House feels that publication of the facts will not now cause any alarm, especiaily since there is absolutely no danger of the government being a loser financially to any considerable length. ’Although the White House is con- vinced that the great majority of the duplications was due to mechanical errors, there were some cases of duplications due to fraud and forgery. These were few, however. Range From 850 to $10,000. In making known that the White House would reinstate practically all of the dismissed bureau officials, it Was made public for the first time that the first information regarding the conditions at the bureau a year ago came from the register of the Treasury. It was further stated that the administration feels that it did the best it knew how at the time to get at the bottom of what it looked upon as a most menacing and alarm- ing_condition. ‘Without oing - into detalls, the White House stated that in one case there Were 400 duplications of $10.- 000 bonds, which in itself was suffi- clent to cause apprehension. It sald further that the duplicated bonds ranged in amounts from $50 t0.§10,000. Following the announcement that the reinstatenients would be made probably within three or four days, Phts, White House spokesman would not mention any individual employe by name. He did make it very clear, however, that, while these -dismisged officials would be restored to the rolls, it . was very improbable that they would be given their old official posi= tions.