Evening Star Newspaper, February 1, 1923, Page 2

9 * Coal Men of Kiel | Boycott Ships of ' Invading Powers By the Associsted Press. BERLIN, February 1.—The coal merchants of Kiel, according to the Vossische Zeitung, have de- cided not to deliver bunker coal to French or Belgian ships passing through the Kiel canal or enterfing the harbor here. U. S. MEDIATION OF RUHR CRISIS, SOCIALIST DEMAND ampaign Begun in New York De- clares Invasion Menace to World. NEW YORK. February 1.—A cialist campaign to “stir up nation- wide popular demand for American Merger of the street railway com-|'mediation in the Ruhr crisis” was in- laugurated last night with a mass Panies, long advocated as a cure fOF i yeating at which Mrs. Harriot Stan- Washington's traction problems, {ton Blatch presided. might not of itself result in a re-i Morris Hilquit said that France's duction in fare, SAYS TAX REVSON WL CUT GARFARE Public Utilities Commission Does Not Believe Merger Is Cure for Traction Woes. SENDS LETTER TO PHIPPS | Maintenance of Pavements and Traffic Policemen Unfair, Board Tells Senator. move in occupying the Ruhr was the Public Utilities | OV6 10 | fecup Commission believes. | Other speakers took the stand that The commission voieed this belief |socialists were acting in the belief ' i letter mailed last!that the French occupation of the § 2 Eolummousilgiter s {Ruhr threatened the peace of Ameri- night to Senator Phipps of Colorado.{ca and the world as much as did the In which the Commissioners replied |German invasion of Belgium in 1914. im detail to attacks made upon them | recently on the floor of the senate; FRENCH TAKE STEPS for the rates they have fixed for: utilities. i TO PROTECT MARKETS Fven without a merger Congress| could bring about a reduction in €arlpe . A ocinted br fire, the letter declared, by changing| PARIS, Februa 1—After a cabi- the method of taxing the car lines.!net meeting today it waldfilnled that wh s g :ated | Measures had been considered to re- sghich leginlation Masiheen ANOCALED s iee dihg Tiropagation 'atiTalbe news. by the commission for several years.|whnjch, it is charged. has been initi- Tie commission told Senator Phipbs | aiad abroad with the object of 1n- that with coal going up and no indi-| Auencing the French financial mar- cation of a break in other operating |y .(c expenses, there is little hope for a cut in fares without the long-pending leg- iglation to change the form of tax- N o feve “ute vompanics | FRENCH STOP COAL from payving the salaries of crossing policemen and paving track spaces. T ER critic.oms voiced in the Senate a few daye ago. the commission wrote: LAST EXIT OF RUHR t_P Replies to Critictsms. is true, as stated by the sena- from Tennessee on January 25. that the Washington Railway Slectric Company claims 0.000,000. but the hed by the Public sion ure not based exorbitant or ficti s. or upon the outatanding steol bonds of that company. Those rates are based upon the fair value of the property of the company de- ! voted to street rallway purposes in the District of Columbia, as estab- lished by the commission. this fair Jalue wmounting to $17.440.150 on | December 31, 1922. Similarly. in the case of the Capital Traction Com- pany, the company claims at least $27.000.000 as the value of its prop- erty. while the commission has estab- lished $15,874.980 as the value (D cember 31, 1922) and has based the street car fares on that figure. Part of Commission’s Letter. The commission's letter acom- panying the data to Senator Phipps in part, as follows. view ‘of the law th Teretibie " that the " public. ming | ccived here have suppressed many of should be beclouded by discussions of | the through trains on their railway public utility problems based on|including the Cologne-Berlin, War- erroneous statements as to the law !a“‘“;"h'_‘n and Rica-Bel;‘nnv ex- and to the theory of regulation. As |presses hese measures have re- shown in the memorandum, regula- |Sulted in the saving of 20 per cent tion depends exclusively upon the |Of the coal normally consumed by the value of the property used in the |railroads. public service. and it is beside the mark to di. capitalization, LONDON SHOWS CONCERN. watered or otherwise, and dividends. large or small. It should also be noted that while, at tha height « the increase in costs of all kind brbught upon the public as well a. the public utility companies by the 1t tor 1923, and of at least of fare Utilities _(Continued from Fi ) probably for the purpose of resisting annexation that a brigade of young men escaped from the Ruhr since the occu- pation, organizing at Hanover under the name, “Hindenburg Brigade.” The French sav that this force already num- i bers several thousand fully armed men STRIKERS ARE PAID. Advance Salary Insures Months’ Tie-Up. By tiie Associated Tress PARIS, February 1.—The French government has received information that the striking German railroad employes in the Rulir and on the west {bank of the Rhine had been paid two months’ wages in advance by the Ger- man government. 1t is expected. therefore, that they may hold out S L O o Two Tn LONDON, February 1.—The tension between the allied troops and the population of TEssen is noticeably conditions following the war, rates|more marked and is causing concern, in accordance with the requirements |says a Reuters’ dispatch from the oc- of the law were regulated upwardoupied city. The feeling has been em Permitted some repulation downward, |bittered by the numerous deporta- o ihat, Just as the price of ordinary | tions which are reliably estimated to commodities has decreased somewhat | €Xceed eighty in number. Neutral since attaining the peak. rates for |Observers, the correspondent adds, carfare, electric light, and gas have | believe that the increased severity of 1 ecline . o e i e Iy due to the fact that not a ton of “It seems also pertinent to say that | Ruhr coal has gone to France since the only chance for a further reduc- |the occupation. fon in public utility rates will come ! f }'fo'v‘n apredutllnn in the operating |fays the French authorities have I costs of these various compantes, |formed the German newspap. which means that the prices which {OrS that all derogatory refe: they are forced to pay for the ma-|the French are prohibited. terials they consume and the labor | OrS are reported to ha: 1hey employ must be reduced before {Nating from their papers their cost of doing business is low- | “France” and “French. ered with corresponding lessening of - Tates charged the public. 1t is, how- u“:" SEpcxistemdcnt: Axreuted. MA ever, well known that the cost of { 3 coal, one of the most important ma- | perintendent of railways here was ar- terlals used by all public utilities, irested today by the Jias notably increased within the | thorities. 1 he words past six months. The price of labor is. 80 far as can be noted. not de- clining; and on the whole, except 8 increased volume of business not mow in sight affords an increased srargin of profit, the future prospect does not seem encouraging to those ~vho feel, and in this the public util- Aties themselves join, that the pres- wnt rates should be’reduced at the marliest moment that the underlying wonditions warrant. Discusnes Proposed Merge “During the recent discussions in #he Senate, some reference was made %o the possibility that a merger be- dween the two street railway com- panies would result in a reduction of dare. In view of the theory upon ~which the Publie Utilities Commission Drescribes the rate of fare, namely, <ombing the valuations of the two «ompanies, treating them as one, and allowing merely a reasonable return wupon this combined valuation, the only advantages that a merger would <onfer would be some reduction of overhead expense, some simplification #nd economy of routing. and poseibly the creation of a system of free uni- ~ersal transfers. The latter advan- 1age would result in an increase in operating expenses, probably neutra- lizing the effect of the two preceding mdvantages: so that. on the whole, merger alone might not afford the basis for a reduction in street car Yares in any significant amount, T CAR FARE (Continued from First Page.) . ran from 38 cents to 50 cents an hour. Mr. Ham said that the expenses of his company within the District, with- out any interest charges, or return upon investment, amounted during the vear, 1922, to 6.26 cents per pay passenger. Vith ‘an eight-cent fare and tickets at the rate of six for 40 cents,” sald Mr. Ham, “the average fare ‘per pay passenger is slightly less than 7 cents, leaving, as you see, a very small margin for return upon investment and, of course, establish- ing beyond peradventure that any re- duction in fare, under existing con- ditions, is out of the question, much less a return to the prewar rates of tare.” Senator McKellar announced that later in the day he would reply to Mr. Ham's letter on the floor of the Senate. He said that he was familiar with the street railway conditions in Memph'e and that the company there was in much the same position as the Wasi- {ington Rallway and Electric Company. Suweiis WewiMeine | He gaid he felt wure that the city au- v deam s ! thor eventually would compel the Even without merger. however. ajcontlf% Sveptualy, would 3 anethod exists today for reducing street | oar amyar SLcr Charge a five-cent fare. car fares, one that has hitherto on sev- | ®ral occasions been brought to the at- | DI With Ham. tention of Congress, and this lies in a - revision of the system of taxation ap-) Senator McKeilar of Tennessee made answer to a statement of Mr. Ham, pub- S {lished yesterda ed to the street railway companie rhis system being a survival of the d -when a five-cent rate of fare was be-, - o5 - Jieved to afford so larga an opportunicy | The senator said. “Mr. William F. for profit as to justify rather he Ham in a statement asserts that the exactions on the part of the chartering | public likes the 8-cent fare. If Mr. body. At that time. regulation was not | Ham had been in my place and had in effect, and emphasis was not 1aid | received the telephone messages and letters from cltizens of Washington Lpon the obvious fact that all taxes, Jevied upon etreet railway companies | commending the amendment I in. troduced for a 5-cent fare and six and other public utilities must in the fivst instance be accumulated from pay- | tickets for a quarter and could have ments made by the matrons of these | heard the almost invariable personal wompanies. Accordingly, when the street | &pproval of my amendment given by rallway companies are’forced to pay a | citizens speaking to me, I am sure he would not have any such opinfon. 4 per cent tax upon their gross receip 3 1he cost of traffic policemen at street in- | “The truth is that outside of those 1ersections, and the cost of paving ap- (interested in the street car companies proximately twenty feet of the width of {as officers, agents, directors or stock- he roadway in which their rails are jholders, and the interests allied to the Jaid, this means that the car rider, who, [street railway companies in some because he rides in the cars and mnot in | way, public opinion is almost unani- automobiles, is obviously least qualified {mous in favor of reduction of the gsinancially to assume any superfluousstreet car fares in this city. These Durden, is forced to pay a sensibly in- 'hlsh fares were permitted during the wreased rate of fare in order that the | War, but it seems to me that a ten- vompany that carries him may be able |year-old child ought to know that to defray these charges. they cannot remain. They are obliged to come down. They will be reduce: ZESEoty Noceseiinte Eoliceman. either at this session of Congress or “Traffic policemen are rendered|the next, the street railway ofcials Tecessary more by the growth of mo-iand the allied predatory interests to tor vehicles than by the existence of ithe contrary notwithstanding.” street and paving between and niear the rails benefits the users of motor vehicles without conferring other than financial injury upon the «trget car rider. Obviously, these two harges are without much equitable basis. Taxation upon gross receipts of the street railway companies, again hurdensome to the car rider. seems contrary {o the policy laid déwn in the various income tax laws, and it would be far more equitable to apply some system of excess profits taxa- tjom such as has been recommended s commission, the effect of ould be, moreover, to help to equalize the financial condition of the two street railway companies and eventually to promote & merger, While the relief to the street car rider would not be great, passage of the bill, a copy of which is herewith, submittgd, would result in an imme. diate rdduction of carfares amounting to one-third of a cent per ride. This bill has recently been considered by the District of Columbia committee of the Senate, but, so far as known, no final action has been taken.” s0- the occupying forces has been large- | A Reuters' dispatch from «ologne | February 1.—The su-| occupying au- DEFENDED BY HAM! TRUE ADVERTISING. | CODE IS ADCPTED iBetter Business Bureau Ap- proves Rules for Preventing Misleading Statements. IN USE BY MERCHANTS Ambigious Description and Price Listings Are Placed Under the Ban. On the basic principle of truth in advertising a code of retail practices has been approved by the Better Bus! ness Bureau of Washington, under which misleading statements in ad- vertisements in newspapers and peri- odicals are stricken out and a general type adopted for the correction of | such practice. Washington merchants, it was announced by the bureau, are following the code. { The code was made public last night [by F. X. Wholley, in charge of the Better Business Bureau. It w ldrl"n up by the retail practices com- | mittee, consisting of members of the | board of trustees of the Better Bus | ness Bureau. The announcement de- clared that the committee, “after care- i ful deliberation and much investiga- tion and research, both in Washing- ton and in other retail centers, re- iported this code of practices, which {was later unanimously approved by | the board of trustees of the Better l Business Bureau, with instructions to turnish copies to all of the Washing- ton retail merchants for their use.” Subjects Taken Up. “The subjects taken up.” it was jadded, “were those various practices which, while in many cases unethical, were not always {llegal, but were the | subject of constant misunderstand- ing between merchants, between merchants and the public, between merchants and the newspapers and between the bureau and its mem- bers."” Among the items considered are advertisements of “seconds,” irregu- tlar, or sub-standard goods; of fur| {and fur advertising; of weight, quan- | tity d measure; of adverti of diamonds and precious stone “free” article advertising and similar {practices. For instance, the code would re-| quire a merchant to desist from ad- vertising “$2.50 hose for $1.59" unless | the §2.50 hose were absolutely up to| {par. ‘and not seconds of $2.50 type. {An ‘advertisement of this sort, when {the hose were not ‘regular qualit would have to rea “Silk hose, $1 seconds of regular $2.50 quality Must Name Furs. fur advertising the code ap- |proves that all imitations of seal wust be qualified in parentheses by the name of the actual fur from which {the imitations are made. When Hudson seal” beckons alluringly {from an ad. the code demands that “dyed muskrat” be placed beside it in parentheses. In the same way, bay seal, French seal. near seal shouid be attended by a parenthesized “dyed jconey” or “dyed rabbit.” And so on | through the fur kingdom. In diamonds and precious stones, {the same integrity must rule. The term ‘“perfect” is prohibited unless the diamond is absolutely fres from flaws. blemishes and carbon spots. The term flawless is preferable in de- scribing a diamond. Things that sound nice and mean nothing are prohibited, The term “eye-perfect” is banned. The term, “perfect cut” is banned. Ap- {proximate weights are banned. {Welght must be given exact and guar- {anteed. ‘The “up to” class also comes in for consideration. For instance, “dresses formerly priced up to $50, for sale at $31.50" shall read, “dresses formerly selling from $40 to $50, for sale at 1831.50. 1 s | 1n Ban on “Free” Articl When articles are advertised ree” with a purchase it would constitute a violation of the code, which says ‘such a sale should be advertised ‘Suit with two pairs of trousers, $35," or ‘A tire and tube, $42.50," instead of ‘Suit 1 an_extra pair of trousers free, 5. or "A tube free with every pur- hase of a tire, $42.50.' " ‘The wind-up subject is ShefMeld sil- On the topic the code declares term ‘Sheffield silver,” in de- scribing any silver-plated hollow i ware. should be avoided. Such mer- { chandise should be advertised as Sheffield silver plate or, preferably, #imply as ‘silver plated.” Seven Washington merchants, mem- bers of the board of trustees of the Better Business Bureau, were ap- pointed a committee to discuss uneth. ical business practices that were con stantly creating disputes in mer- chant circles last spring. For six months or more they worked on the matter and finally submitted to the Better Busine: Bureau a code of ethics for publication. These were unanimously passed by the board, ac- cording to the announcement, and are being ‘used by all of the Washington merchants at this time. The commit- Lee consists of B. B. Burgunder, chair- man: Otto DeMoil, I. L. Goldheim, Ru- dolph Jose, A. C. Case, Clarence Red- man and Ralph W, Lee. —_— ONE KILLED IN CRASH OF WASHINGTON EXPRESS Five Injured When Seaboard Flyer Strikes Another Train at Hagood, Va. By the Ansociated Press. RALEIGH, N. C., February 1.—One person was killed and five slightly injured early today when Seaboard Air Line train No. 1, en route from New York to Jacksonville, crashed Into the rear of train No. 301, near Hagood, Va. J. M. Flelds, Raleigh, engineer of o. 1, was killed, and his fireman, T. E. Feltz, was slightly injured. The others hurt were passengers, cut by fiying sglass. The cause of the wreck appeared to have been due to “mishandling of the block at La Crosse by telegraph operator,” officials stated, but It was added that the investigation had not been completed. Train No. 301 was en route from Washington to Ham- let, N. C. 1 i 1 o e NEW D. C. BILL CONFEREE. Representative Johnson Resigns and Gallivan Is Selected: Represemtative James A. Gallivan, democrat, of Massachusetts today suc- ceeded Representative Ben Johnson of Kentucky as a House conferee ‘on the District appropriation bill. The House acquiesced in this proposal to- cay when Representative Johnson re- signed as a conferee, stating that no conference has yet been held on the District appropriation bil LAW CLASS DINES. The Catholic University Junior Law class held its annual dinner at the New Ebbitt Hotel last night. Senator David 1. Walsh and the faculty of the Law 8chool were guests. George Vincent Dorsey, president of the the class, headed the reception com- mittee, while Raymond A. Willfams officiated as toastmaster. l 1 t Ifranc believed here that such a great in- THE EVENING . STAR, WASHINGTON The general prevalence of 0 D. C. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1923 w A MIDWINTER EMERGENCY Iness has seriously increased the demands upon the District Visitors of the Associated Charities. Even in normal times sickne: compels people to ask for aid. Many fami but self-supporting when all when the wnfe earner is stric Out of 1,346 families {oe iven is a predominating cause which™ ilies of limited resources, s well, quickly become dependent en. care last year by the Associated Charities and Citizens’ Relief Association, 10 per cent of the num- ber were affected by tuberculosis in the family and 64 per cent by other physical disabilities. This is a time when those of independent means, themselves recovering from attacks of grippe or similar sickness, can sympa- thize with others, particularly those who, always living close to the border line of want, are quite unp repared to ‘meet the extra demands of serious illness entailing enforced idleness, It is in this emergency that the Associated Charities and Citi- zens’ Relief Association renew their midwinter appeal for general support at this time of increased financial responsibility. Contributions may be assigned to either society or mades pay- able to the Treasurer of their Reeside, 923 H Street N.W,, and February 1, 1923. GERMANY TO SPURN NEGOTIATIONS WITH INVADERS OF RUHR (Continued from First Page.) into the Ruhr zone, the situation is Just as hopelessly deadlocked as it was when the Paris conference broke up. The balance sheet as seen from the German side may indicate a slight advantage for the French, in view of the fact that no general strike has yet been called, as the Germans threatened, nor has any other serious resistance been offered them. Today the second phase of the French Ruhr expedition hegins, and even now Germdny plans to stick to the present policy of passive resi . According o the German view the developments which will follow the establishment of a customs fron- tier around the Ruhr valley are likely to be these: Inside of a few days all railroad communication in the Ruhr district will be interrupted and not a single passenger or freight train will be run- ning from the occupied territory. either to unoccupied Germany or to France or Belgium. Great Congestion Seen. Possibly the French might be able to operate a few lines for the purpos of getting food supplies and reinforce ment, but the chances are that the congestion will be 8o great that not even these few trains will be able to get through. Germans also emphasize the point that the French will be unable to carry out the plan of introducing new money into the Ruhr district and the Rhineland. If Franc circulate francs into this territory it is claimed that she would have to supply money encugh to meet the needs of 8,000.000 people. With the ready dropping heavily, it is crease in French paper money will cause the rate of exchange to fall still lower and that France will lose far more than she can possibly gain Then, too, it is claimed here that a large part of the population in the occupied area would refuse to accept this currency. In his talk with the newsp. Chancellor Cuno laid great stress on the futllity of the French action. He sald that in order to collect the ridi- culously small sum of 24,000,000 gold marks, which Germany was short in her reparations payments, France had sent an army of 50,000 men into the Ruhr, whose maintenance there would cost 250.000 gold marks daily, or with- in three months as much as the amount in question. —_— MYSTERY AUTO DEPOSITS BODY OF SON AT DOOR Machine Speeds Away After Stranger Talks With Father in Night. OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla, February 1.—Police started a search today for an unidentified man who drove an au- tomobile up to the eurb in front of the residence of J. A. Horner, here early today and threw the body of his son, Revere, twenty-four, o1 the sidewalk after summoning the fatier from his bed. The car then sped away, Horner told the police he was aroused by a knock on his front door. When he answered. & voice from the gutomobile said. “I've got your son ere. Send him in here, T want to talk to him,” Horner replied. “I can’t” the man in the car re- joined, and pushed the body to the sidewalk. I've had bim in here since Sun- day,” the visitor added as he drove aw Horner said the bov had bean in 8t. Joseph, Mo., about a year ago and police expressed the belief that the Poddy had been brought here over- and. AVIATOR COMMITS SUICIDE. By the Assoclated Pre HONOLULU, February 1.—First Lieut. Carl H. Meyers, Army aviator, committed suicide by shooting ve: terday in the Officers’ Club at Luke Field, near here, according to a r port made by brother officers. No motive for the suicide is known. born in Missouri hould try to | oint Finance Committee, Howard S. will be gratefully acknowledged. MILTON E. AILES, Chairman, Joint Finance Committee. DEBT COMMISSION MEETS TO PRESENT l (Continued from First Page.) offect which otherwise would accrue from acceptance of the debt pro- posa Foreign Exchange Better. The more favorable position of the foreign exchange market was re- garded as largely sentimental, and al- though transfers rose to 4.66%. ex- change experts said that business was not large in view of the large amount of the debt payable annually. It was believed that this feature would act 88 a brake to the soaring dollar. The improvement in the pound af- fected the French franc, which rose ito 78.90, while the German mark sold i &t 190,000 to the pound, against yes- terday’s 205,000. “A wise decision” is the w | Times characterizes the acceptance by the British cabinet of the Amer- ican terms for funding Great Britain's debt to the United States. The newspaper still thinks that 2% per cent would have been a fair rate of interest, but adds: “The American comml had made considerable _concession: e Any semblance of hesitation on our Part to meet a definite obligation {might have been interpreted in the {United States to our great disad vantag * * The real question at issue was not the difference of 3 per cent, but the position of Great | Britain. | The Times argues that in the face of the grave situation in Europe it is important to possess American friendship and good will, so_ that Great Britain and the United States may co-operate in defense of civiliza- | tion. "It adds that, therefore, there should be no opportunity for mise understanding on a financial plane. Reltef Felt. The Westminster Gazette says the government's decision will be received i with a sigh of relief by all who ap- preciate the issues involved. “It would indeed have been more satisfactory if the decision had been taken without the unfortunate in view which Mr. Baldwin gave,” con- tinues the paper. “and must Le credited with sufficient common sense to have spoken as he did only nnder the conviction that it was necessary to influence reluctant colleagues. This reluctance, happily, has been over- come and we are prepared to accept the terms which. though onerous, are {not beyond our capacity to bear. The Daily Telegraph says there may be a difference of opinion as to whether the terms are not rather more onerous than there was just reason to expect., but that it was ex- ceedingly unlikely that any other person than Stanley Baldwin would have obtained better terms and the government had done the right thing {in not attempting to renew the bar- gaining. The foregoing represents the very general viewpoint. The papers also realize that the agreement still re- quires the approval of Congress, but hope is expressed that Congress will not reject the terms as agreed to by the American commission. The Dally Chronicle agrees that jthere was no alternative to accept- ance, except a declaration of default, with'all fts {maginable effects on Brit- ish credit, g Similarly, the Morning Post admits that it wae almost impossible to_do otherwise than accept, but says: “The British nation may be excused for feeling that America is only less formidable as an ally than as an en- emy. But at least we shall be able to hold our head high, and may find no unsubstantial recompense besides {in the prospect that the sacrifice we make may help us to maintain those §00d relations with the United States which are at the foundation of our policy. ‘We must hope that our gesture will not be without its reciprocal ef- fects upon the American people.” Declared L imark. Presiding over the annual meeting of the National Provincial and Union Bank of England today, Sir Harry Goschen, in his address, declared that the cabinet's action in accepting the American _terms for the funding of Grent Britain’s war debt “stands out andmark in our financial prog- es: The definite settlement of the debt problen: he termed of the highest im- portance, “For I belleve” he added, “that i+ will have a far-reaching in- fluence on the reorgenization qf the finances of the world, and, indeed, may {nwpire other nations to efforts of a similar nature.’ Thanks were due to the chancellor of the exchequer and the governor of the Bank of England “for the strenu- ous efforts they made in Washington to arrive at an agreement,’ was also appreciation of “the col cillatory and friendly spirit in which thelr suggestions were met by the President of the United States and the American commissioners. the ion T === Commercial National Bank seegy There’s Logic in Saving —with not a single argument against it— Think of the times past—when you have wished you had the ready money to do with— and the opportunities you have been obliged to forego—simply for the lack of funds. You can easily enough prevent such em- barrassment simply by saving your surplus. But place it in our Savings Department, where it’ll be safely out of reach of fleeting temptation. We pay 3% on Savings Deposits—and 4% on Certificates of Deposit. All Departments of the Bank are open this afternoon until 5:30 President HARRINGTON MILLS, JAMES H. BAVE. V. Pres. and Cashier. LAURENCE A. SLAUGHTER, Presid PLAN TO CONGRESS | {ELECTRIC RATE CUT BY APRIL, FORECAST Ham Protests Fractional Tariffs, Saying It Boosts Costs of Bookkeeping A slight reduction in the rates of the Potomac Electric Power Com- pany may be ordered by the Public Utilities Commission as a result of the hearing yesterdsy. It 1s believed likely, however, that if @ change In rates is decided upon it will not be made effective until April 1, which would be one year trom the date of the last reduction. Protests Fractional Rates. Last April the commission ordered 5 per cent reductjon, which made the Irate for current in private house- holds 7.67 cents per kilowatt hour. At yesterday's hearing William F. Ham, president of the power com- pany, protested agalnst the policy of the commission in fixing such frac- tional rates. He pointed out that it forces the Oomfiln)' to spend more money for bookkeeping. Engineer Commissioner Keller said today the commission would give serious consideration to this claim of the company in its forthcoming de- cision. To Decide Involved Question. One of the most {nvolved matters to be decided in connection with the power company's rate case is the question of whether the accrued de- preciation funds should be deducted | from the fair value of the property for rate-making purposes. Even if the commiasion does reduce the rate of 7.67 cents per kilowatt hour at this time the company will continue to collect the old rate of 10 cents per kilowatt hour until the United States Supreme Court passes upon the valuation placed on the power company’s property by the commission in 19 RELY SOON 0 RETHE S OFEAL FRECAST Porto Rico Governor’s Health May Bar Stay on Return to Isle, Says Weeks. | The early retirement from office of E. Mont Reily, whose administra- tion as governor of Porto Rico has been attended by continual con- troversy In and out of the island, was forecast today in official quarters here. Secretary Weeks said that because of the condition of Gov. Reily's ‘helllh he “m not stay” in Porto Rico, although it is still his intention jto return the Injured in Auto Accident. The governor recently was injured in an autornobile acc'dent, and_has placed himself under the care of Brig, sonal physician, who will decide how soon he can return to Porto Rico, It was said today that his strength had not mended as rapldly as had been expected. - - The troubles of the Reily admin- istration were talked over earlier this week at conferences between Mr. Reily, Secretary Weeks and Presi- dent Harding. Since then conidera- tion has been given to selection of & successor to the governor, should he actually present his resignation. It is understood that so far no definite selection has been made. MAY SAIL FEBRUARY 3. Reily's Private Secretary Inform- ed Health Improving. SAN JUAN, Porto Rico, February 1. —Gov. Reily's private secretary said today he had just received a fetter from the governor stating that his health was rapidly improving and that he was planning definitely to sail from New York for Porto Rico February 3. The first session of the Porto Rican legislature under Gov. Reily's re- gime will open February 12. A. J. T. MAURER SUES WIFE. Absolute divorce is asked in a suit filed in the District Supreme Court by A. J. T. Maurer against his wife, Helen B. Maurer. They were married at Co- lumbus. Ohio, March 7, 1913, and have no children. Maurer says his wife de- serted him last September. He is rep- resented by Attorney John Murph: A Convenient Train To Philadelphia You canm leave Washi 4100 P. M. »e 1 delphia at 7100 in ample time for eveming emgagements. Modern stecl conches, Parler Car and = delicious, well- served meal in the Diner will add te the pleasure of your trip. Other Convenient Trains Leave Washington For .Philadelphia— 7:15 A. M. 9:20 A. M. 1:00 P. M. 3:10 P. M. 5:00 P. M. 7:00 P. M. 12:25 A. M. 2:20 A M. Call the “Travel Bureaun,” Main 558, feor travel information. Walter V. Shipley Div. Pass. Agt. 13th & F Sta. N.W, Gen. Sawyer, President Harding's per- | l » l War in 10 Years Seen by Belgian Socialist Deputy By the Associated Pre: BRUSSELS, February 1.—“I am convinced, if things go on as they are 8oing, that within five years, or at the latest ten vears, we shall have war,” said Emile Vandervelde, socia! ist leader in the chamber of deputies, in the course of debate on plans to reorganize the Belgian army. nd what a war!” the speaker con- tinued. “It will not be between ar- mies, but will be a people’s war of burning and asphyxiation.” Vandervelde declared that mili- occupation of Germany would be ruinous both for France and Bei- slum. He advocated six months of military service, such as obtains in Switzerland, declaring this time was ample in which to train a soldier. 50 MORE TRAFFIC ; POLICE DEMANDED BY D.C. AUTOISTS (Continued from First Page.) the courts authority to send offenders to_ prison, _ Persons arrested for excessive speed- ing. experts declared. should b jailed, even for first offenses. Unde existing law the courts cannot im pose such a semtence. Many drivers asked that the regulations be changed to authorize the courts to fine per- s0ns traveling more than to imprison those exceeding thirty miles within the fire limits of Washington. Jall Terms Urged. Prisoners charged with driving while | intoxicated, it was declared, should be shown no mercy and the law should make imprisonment the only sentence permissable for conviction. First of- fenders should be jailed for thirty days, it was stated. The Maryland authori- ties have already abandoned fining per- sons charged with driving while intoxi- cated and reports from Baltimore show that jail sentences have resulted in the number of offenders dropping to almost nothing. ~Second offense should bring a more severe jail sentence and perma- nent revocation of the driver's permit Two other points motorists would like to see the courts enforce rigidly are the law governing the right-of- way and a demand for pedestrians to | use cross-walks and stay out of th middle of blocks in the busy down town section. At present the law gives the man on the right the un- disputable right of way, but this statute is said to have been admin- | enforced istered so Jeniently by the courts that | a vast majority “of drivers fail obey it. to Would Examine Brakes. efghteen | and less than thirty miles an hour and | larticle DENIES U. 3. RIGHT + T0 FIX COAL PRICE D. C. Supreme Court Justice Says Congress Has No Congress has no power Lo regulatr the price and production of coal, ac cording to the view expressed by J tice Jennings Bailey of the Dis Supreme Court in a memoran opinion striking out an amended swer filed by the Federal Trade Cc miselon to the injunction proceedi brought against the commission the Maynard Coal Company. of C 0 enjoin compliance with a requ: of the commission to furnish inforn tion as to cost of mining coal “The question i not whether or a state may regulate the price a: production of coal on the theory th. it is impressed with a public interes but whether such power has bec given to Congress, and 1 find no suc power. The mere fact, if it be tru that coal is {mpressed with a publ interest does not transfer the juri diction of its control from the &tate to_Congress. “The commission seems to confus. articles shipped in commerce witi instrumentalities of commerce. The power to regulate the latter does not include the power to regulate th former. Nor does the fact that a is necessary for the operatio of an instrumentality of inte commerce make It subject to regula ition by Congress. If this were truc ongress would have the power regulate the production of necessary for the construction - locomotives: lumber, for the constru tion of coaches: rubber. for the co struction of springs; food and clothit for the sustenance of the train crew in fact, there s almost no article t not be included in this ms _— STINNES IN RUHR. By the Associated Press. MUELHEIM, February 1.—Hugo Stinnes, who has been resting at Oser- hot, came to the occupied Ruhr area vesterday for his first visit since the arrival of the French. The magnate's colleagues here 2nd elsewhere have |been urging him to remain outside the {occupied zone for the present, but Herr Stinnes has chafed under the absence. His appearance here was entirely unexpected. conditions here. This notice was One well known motorist declared | Eiven following the introduction of he would like to see a regulation compelling the police to take charge of a car that has been in a collision. | A guard, he said, should be stationed beside the vehicle and forbid it be- iLg moved, except a few feet if necessary to permit traffic passing. until an expert mechanic had exam- ined the brakes to determine wheth- er they were in perfect condition. “The man wno runs around with defective brakes.” this motorist de- clared, “should be dealt with severe- 1y. He Is trifling with human life and knows it. If the brakes are found to be faulty he should be charged with manslaughter and held in prison without bail like any other mu if the accident resulted fatally. some one has been injured he shouid be kept in prison until the nature of the victim's injuries is known. Co-operation by the pedestrians regarded as absolutely necessary, They do not oley instructions to use cross-walks, and seldom heed police. men's signals for traffic, it was stated. refused to convict motorists who strike pedestrians wandering about the middle of streets between inter- sections, as is done in other cities, it is believed there would be immediate improvement in that direction also. ‘Would Welcome Probe. The District Commissioners notified Senator Ball, chairman of the Senate District committee, that they would interpose no objection to a congressional investigation of traffic If the courts 605-607 7th St. rderer | jigi the guidance of | today | the Senate, asking The Commissioners’ a resolution in such a probe. reply fi 2 “The Commissioners can see no ob- jection to the passage of the resolu- tion, and, on the contrary, believe that any steps taken to prevent the |loss of life and damage to property reason of the use of the highways v automobile traffic should be of ; great benefit. The Commissioners ihave adopted regulations to govern | this tr and endeavor to enforce them. With the limited personnel of | the police department available for this duty, many of the regulations are «d_without the violators be | ing punished d te Co-Operate, “Last November the Commissioners | set aside a Safety week, and urged an organized community effort to check the causes of the accidents which brought about these deaths and in- juries. They also approved a move- ment organized by citizens for the appointment of a safety committee. ore recently the Commissioners appointed a trafic committee to study traffic conditions in the District and to suggest means to make the streets as safe as possible. “The Commissioners hope, through the efforts that they have thus inau- gurated, to improve the present traf- fic conditions and to minimize acci- dents If in the face of the steps al- ready taken by the Commissioners it 18 ill proposed to enact the above cesolution, the Commissioners will of sourse gladly co-op te with the Tepresentatives of your committes.” Please Note That We are Located Between F & G Sts. $27.50 All-Wool Overcoats In model. trimmed. Besides, wear. the conservative Chesterfield Full lined, finely tailored and Guaranteed all wool Coats like these always look stylish. they give unusually good 15 Sizes 35 to 44. Regular $27.50 Value. varieties. 6 cans Paradise Pine- apple, No. 2. Retail, 50c. 6 cans Red Letter Royal Anne Cherries, No. 2%;. Retail at 50c. 1415 H Street Your Favorite Brands of Canned Fruits Tomorrow we will take orders for 24-can cases of delicious Fruits—in four different It's packing that preserves the natural flavor of the Fruits at their best—and the convenience, as well as the economy, of hav- ing a “case on hand” will be appreciated. Complete $8_'__£ Delivered G. G. Cornwell & Son L T i 6 cans Red Letter Yellow Cling Peaches, No. 2%;. Retail at 40c. 6 cans Red Letter Bartlett Pears. Retail at 40c. i CEELTELLr CRRCEUCEiLL Phone Main 875 CLELLTiee!