Evening Star Newspaper, February 23, 1923, Page 2

] < . T HE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C., FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1923. SEES RAILWAY RUIN - INFIVE-CENT FARE President of W. R. & E. Co. Tells Senators Cut Would Mean Destruction. D. C. FARE NOW 6.91 CENTS Average Here Is Lower Than for Country as Whole, He Declares. A 5-cent fare, with six 25 cents. would mean “disintegration and destruction” for the Washington | Railway and Electric Company, Wil- liam F. Ham, president. told members of the Senate in letters to them today. After setting forth briefly the facts | com- Ham which he belleves show how th pany would be destroyed. Mr. concluded with this appeal “The company urges upon Congre that no legislation so maunifestly un- Just as that proposed be passed with- out careful and thorough investiga- tion and without affording the com- pany an opportunity to be heard.’ iven. Prescnt Earnings The letter of the Washington R way and Electric Company is in line with a similar one addressed to Sen- ator Ball a few days ago by John H Hanna. vice president of the Capital Traction Company. That company followed up its letter with an adver- tieement in newspapers yesterdas telling the public what harmful ef- fects a 5-cent fare would produc Mr. Ham tells the senators that the old rate of six tickets for cents had been in effect last vear his company would have fallen $1.287 016.54 short of operating expenses and taxes, with no allowance for intere: on_bonds. Bven with the present rate of § ents cash and six tokens for 40 cents. he savs, the company earned & return of only 4.1 per cent on the value of the property as fixed by the utilities commission at $17.579,893.11 s connection the letter points the capitalization of the in mo way affects the rate of fare, since rates are fixed on the physical value of the property used n the public service, and that value s determined by the Public Utilities Commission Cites Other Citle The appeais being made to Congress by both companies are prompted by the efforts of certain members. no- Senator McKellar, to obtain leg- islation restoring the five-cent fare. Mr. Ham says the average fare in hington today is 6.91 cents, or slightly less than the average of 6.96 cents for the country as a whole, as computed by Prof. Albert S. Richey »¢ the Massachusetts Polytechnic In- stitute. Accompanylng the letter of rates of fare in cities vopulation and over UNDERHILL BILL IS FACING DEFEAT Opposed by organized iabor and by the representative of the Merchants and Manufacturers' Association, C. J. Columbus, the Underhill workmen! compensation bill for the District of Columbia has practically no chance of passing the Senate at the present messton. Duripg a five-hour hearing before the Senate District committee yesterday afternoon organized labor continued its attack upon the Under- hill bill John J. Schmidt. representing the Central Labor Union of the District, declared that his organization pre- ferred to see no workmen's compen- satlon legislation enacted now rather Tn t| out that company Rates. s a table £ 100.000 than have the Underhill bill go through. Mr. -Columbus told the committee that his organization had not had an opportunity to study the Underhill bill fully, and that it would wish to be heard further, if the committee was going ahead now with this pro- posed legislation. He said that h did not believe that & workmen's compensation law was needed in Washington, which was not an indus- | trial eity. Prefer Fitzgerald Bill. The representatives arganized Jabor told the committee t the passage of the Fitzgerald bill, for which the T'nderhill bill had been substituted in the House, because t Fitzgerald bill provided for a go srnment Insurance fund. while “the Tinderhill bill provided for insurance in private companies. They contend- ed that the employes would not get as fair a deal in compensation cases under the Underhill bill as under the Fitzgerald James M. Proctor. who said he rep- resented the Board of Trade, favored the Underhill bill in preference to the Fitzgerald bill Senator Stanley of Kentuck democrat, cited that insurance men are members of the Board of Trade and that in favoring the Underhill bill the business men of Washing- n may have adopted the policy, You tickle me and I'll tickle vou. ‘Washington business men are as smart as whips, and I admire them for it." said Senator Stanley. Senator Capper of Kansas suggest- d that since organized labor was opposed to the Underhill bill and the employers. us represented by the Merchants snd Manufacturers’ Asso- ciation, also opposed it. ‘apparently the only people who did favor it were the insurance men Reasons for Opposition. B. Andrew, representing John 5 American Association for Labor Legis- the lation, sald that his organization had made a thorough study of the opera tn this country, and that it was strong ly opposed to the plan carried in th Tnderhill bill of having private insur- ance companies carry the insurance. James C. Waters, jr. who said he spoke for the ereat unorganized group of colored people in Washington, many tickets for | | | |auarters to the store last night just in time -k sava her husband from being robhed of $120. Two colored 1 i i { | ey desired | B¥ 1 i [the evening ishooting, | possession of the pistol. and stressed tion of workmen's compensation acts | the test | vening of of whom would be affected by the pro- ' posed workmen's compensation legisla- tion, told the committee he would pre- fer to see the Underhill bill go throush with some amendments than not to see | o qut any legislation at this time. He said that the insurance companies should be ellminated from participating in contests over claimx for compensation, however. RUSSIA SENDS GERMANY 15,000 CARLOADS GRAIN the Associated Press. BERLIN, February :b—It is r ported from Hamburg that the Ger man federal grain bureau has con tracted for 35,000 tons of Russian grain to be loaded at several Black sea ports, including Odessa. No record can be found here of any arrivals of Ru; by 15,0 an grain sea, Lut about Mi. Moran was born in Limerick. | Ireland. fifty-nine vears ago. Heleft | there in early childhood and with hisl parents came to Washington, where {change and later became a director | {Commerce. {Miss Annie O'Donnell, and six chil- POLLARD CASE MAY WIFE THWARTS BANDITS. | Men Flee With $20, $120 in Grocery. Mrs. Samuel Deckelbaum, wife of a grocer at 1521 5th street, opened the door leading from the family’s living Two Lose men, one displaving a pistol and the other starting to search the grocer's pockete for cash, were frightened from the store when the wife opened the door They had already taken $20 of the merchant’s cash. = Deckeibaum was alone in the store when the bandits entered, P. T. MORAN DIES; 30 YEARS RESIDENT, i Was Formerly Head of the Chamber of Commerce and Prominent Catholic. PATRICK T. MORAN. busi- Patrick Moran, prominent ness man and former president of the Washington Chamber of Commierce, died last night at a hospital in Balti- more. Md. His home was at 1869 Mintwood place, in this city, where he had lived for more than half a cen- he had lived continuously since,. He wag educated in the local schools and later was identifled with several of the business houses of the city. About thirty years ago he started in the flour, feed and hay business for him self at 3259 M street. Within the last fifteen years he took an active part in the commer- cial life of the city. He was presi- dent of the Washington Grain Ex-| and president of the local Chamber of | He was also vice presi- | dent of the Lincoln National Bank for | a number of years. Member of K. of (. Mr. Moran was one of the first mem- bers of the Washington Council, Knights of Columbus. He was one of the founders of the Ancient Order of Hibernians of Washington and took an active interest in its local and na- tional organization. He was national treasurer for several years and later became national director. Mr. Moran was also a member of the Washing- ton Lodge of Elks During the past thre vears his kealth was so feeble that able to take ac®ve part in any of former associations. He was Intense interested in the cause of Irish inde- | pendence and for more than thirty years was a leader in that movement in Washington Surviving him are his wife, formerly dren—Mre. Oswald Schuette, Mrs. ward J. Kyle, Robert Emmett Moran, Miss Helen ' Moran, Miss Kathryn Moran and Miss Jane Moran Funeral arrangements have not yet | been made. : GO T JURY TODAY e Associated Press { RICHMOND, Va February Closing arguments were all that re-| mained at the opening of court this morning before the case of Thoma Pollard. charged with the murder of Mrs. Thelma Ham Richardson, former | stenographer in his real estate and insurance office, was given to the Jury Harry M. Smith. jr. was to_close for the defense and char Eve Byrd for the prosecution. Thair guments, it was indicated, would take several hours nd the se was not ex: ted to be turned over to the jury until early afterncon. 7 Case Summed Up. Summing up of the case was started yesterday afternoon after Judge David C. Richardson had instructed the jury Commonwealth's Attorney Dave Satterfield, jr. opened for the state and during Lis argument of almost two hours reviewed tha rela- tions between Pollard and Mrs. Richardson and the events leading up to her death at the Pollard home on of December 11. The contended, was ot a claimed by the defense. | h. chief of counsel for | he cidental,” as Hiram Sm the defen: He insi shot ac e, followed Mr. Satterfleld. ted that Mrs. Richardson was identally in a scuffie for mony of witnesses who told f threats the pretty voung divorcee was alleged to have made against her former employer. Police Force Strengthened. Long before the hour set for con- ourt this morning, thronged the halls and s ouiside the room where the fate of the prominent voung Virginiy husiness 1an probably will be des cided today. Extra policemen were to maintain order, and pre- cautions were being taken to prevent a repetition of the rush of vesterday When the doors were opened and ses eral persons bruised and some women fainted. i of persons stairwa Origin of Polka-Dot. From the Detroit News. ‘0 the polka-dot is ascribed an odd ancestry. Its name. of course, is de- ived from the polka, an old-fashion- ed round dance with three steps to the measure. This dance, introduced in Europe by Bohemian round about 1835, spread to the United States at the time that olk was a candidate for the presi- ency. The polka-dot was bracketed with Polk’s name Ly political admirers, carloads of barley and vetchiand polka-this and polka-that, from have come by railroad through Libau |shirts to shoes, became a bit of furore and Riga in merchants’ windows. { the | House COUNTERFEITNET TRAPSNEARLY 1,100 U.S. to Séek 45-Year Terms for Persons Held in Dozen Countries. MURDERS ARE REVEALED IP-ssage of Bogus Money and Dou- ble-Crossing Bared as Motives. NEW YORK, February 23 With the international counterfeiting sys- tem wrecked by secret service agents who laid its workings bare, gnd with almost 1,100 persons connected with the ring in a dozen countries under . federal authorities are pre- for a court fight to send the counterfeiters to jail for the maxi- mum term of forty-five years While court evidence was being set in order the dragnet of the sacret service was extended to most of the large cities of the United States to catch hundreds of passers of counter- feit money implicated by clues cap- tured in Tuesday's raids here. Arrests Extend to Fgypt. Joseph A. Palma. chief of the special ret service squad which for eight months tracked the makers and di tributers of spurious mone den. . gave evi- - of the widespread international ation of the plot by announc- g that fifteen persons had been ar- sted in England, France, FEgypt, Giermany, Cuba, Austria and the Bahamas, as a result of information furnished by the American secret service. . New York police, who began an independent investigation, professed to find a direct connection between the counterfeit plot and many hitner- to unsolved gang murders of the past few years. Murders Are Scented. Several of the murders were be- lieved to have resulted from passage of bogus money and from double- Crossing in the ranks of the counter- feiters. ' A number of crimes, it was said, had been committed in or near Broome street cafe owned by John DI Rosa, arrested vesterday as one of the ring's large wholesalers of counterfeits. Palma agreed that scores of fmpor- tant criminals were in the ranks of the counterfeiters. Immigrants, un- familiar with American money, he d, were the easiest victims,' but the gang also hunted out small stores kept by aged women and stores left at times in charge of children SIXMUST SERVE; WRITS DISMISSED Attempts to Evade Prison by Habeas Corpus Route Are Futile. Two white and four colored men sought to evade serving sen- tences passed on them by judges of the Police Court, through habeas corpus petitions attacking the right of the Police Court to try them, were returned to jail today by Justice Hoehling of the District Supreme Court, who dismissed the writs who The men had been sentenced to varying terms the Washington asylum and jail and the evidence showed they were incarcerated when released on the writs. The sentence did not contajn a provision for hard labor nor were they confined in an institution where hard labor is required. The court pointed out that the recent decision of the Court of Appeals in the Cleve- land case was controlling and the writs had to be dismissed. Counsel for the men noted appeals, but the court declined to permit them to supersede the judgment and the clients went to jail Walter Wade Davis had been sen- tenced for making a handbook, Ivory Selis for violating the prohibition law Thomas and Chester Jefferson for larceny, and George Hill and Jack Diamond violating the Volstead act. Assistant United States Attorney Baker conducted the prosecution FOCHT ASKS AID OF PRESIDENT FOR D. C. LEGISLATION ontinued from First Page.) sist should be given to consideration of the teachers’ pay bill. Dosen Groups Active. About a dozen groups. each con- sisting of ten to twenty women, have been calling upon the prominent men in the House today, especially upon members of the steering com- mittee. demanding that the special rule for the teachers' salary bill be brought out They say they have been told by friends in Congress that there is no intention of using that rule or of giving the teachers’ pay bill a chance to be voted upon As an llustration of the discour- agement which these groups of wom- en are meeting today, a committee of fifteen school teachers, headed by Mrs. Edith Compton Paul, represent- ing all grades, interviewed House Leader Mondell. After this confer- ence they sald that they had received the startling information that the teachers' salary bill is being opposed by school oflicials after they had re- ceived and Chairman Focht of the District committee had re- ceived-a letter from Dr. Frank W. Daliou, superintendent of schools, in which he declared that he himself and the school authorities are urging the passage of the teachers' pay bill, Mondell Sympathetic. Representative Mondell told this committee of teachers that he himsel? is in sympathy with the legislation and is not originating the objections, but that his office is « “listening ear.’ where those opposed to the bill, as well as those in favor of it, are voic. ing their opinions, and that in the jam of legislation he must consider this serious disagreement. Mr. Mon- dell gave the teachers little encour- agement regarding when a vote may be eanecl;d. i As another ustration a group of twenty women, headed by Mrs Gilos cott Rafter, called on Representa- tive Dzrrow of Pennsylvania, a mem- ber of the steering committee. They sald their interview was “very dig. couraging. Representative Darrow told them that Chairman Campbell of the rules committee has sixteen special rul and in his opinion, viewing the mas; of legislation before the House, It is practically impossible to get the teachers' salary bill passed if they annot get it up on Monday. “I'm surprised that Black should lend himself to any such scheme,” “He didn't bought.”—Boston Transcript. JOAN; OF ARC BUST ‘AT SMITHSONIAN Bronze bust of Joan of Arc, by Mme. Bertha Girardet of Neuilly, France, presented this morning by the artist to the American people through the Smithwonian Institution. Burns With -Husband’s Body, Reviving Hindu Suttee Rite By the Ansociated Press CALCUTTA, February 25.—A case of suttee, reported from a village called Italy in Etawah district, indicates that the ancient Hindu custom of widow sui- cide has not yet entirely disappeared Suttee fs the name given to a Hindu widow who. to avoid the social stigma of widowhood, throws herself upon the ftuneral pyre of her husband and dies by the fire which consumes his remains. A British law making the abettor of a &uttee liable to conviction for abetment of suicide or murder has tended to cause the rite to die out, but it is till practiced occasionally In some parts of India. In the case reported from Etawah one Ganga Din Ahir, aged twenty-eight, died after a brief iliness. His wife, Musammat Rukka, three years younger, KU KLUX ISSUE UP INTHEU. 5. SENATE Mayfield’s Title to Seat At- tacked on Grounds of Al- leged Ballot Frauds. i | { ! The controversy over the Ku Klux Klan was brought into the United States Senate yesterday with the fil- ing of proceedings contesting the right of Earle B. Mayfield to become a senator from Texas The contest was brought by George E. B. Peddy. republican and “inde- pendent democratic” candidate for senator in the election last Novem- ber. who declared himself elected, de- spite the majority credited by elec- tion offifficials to Mayfleld, the regu- lar democratic nominee. A scathing indictment of the klan, of which it was charged that Mayfield was a member, was included in the petition and was placed on file with Mayfeld's credentials to be considered when the new Congress meets next fall Charged With Frauds. Klan officials were charged wit “fllegal and fraudulent” acts in the pe- tition, which also alleged fraud in count- ing the ballots, illegal expenditures of more than $150,000 in Mayfield's behalf and numerous other irregularities, { Among the charges laid at the door of the Kklan were that it had attempted to erect a supergovernment, to_“seduce and defile the public conscience,” to gain commercial and other dominion, to ac- ;cflmp”sh “prostitution of the Christian religion.” to exercise “brutal and tyran- nhic control and discipline,” and to en- gage in “illegal and immoral practices.” The Senate was asked to preserve and recount the Texas ballots, to investi- gate the Texas primary and election, and to prohibit Mayfleld from taking the oath when the next Congress con- venes. His credentials having been re. felved. however, the whole matter, un- | @er usual Senate procedure, would be referred to the privileges and elections committes when Congress reassembles, and, pending the committee's investiga- tion, the oath would be administered. Title to Seat Attacked. The contestant's petition declared that Mayfleld “was not honestly or Jawfully elected” by virtue of the fact that Peddy’'s name was kept off the printed ballot because of the al- for other reasons. The document comprised about 25,000 words and was accompanied by many exhibits, in- cluding, alleged copies of letters be- to_support him. In Support of a charge that Nav- field abused his power as state rail- road commissioner to further his cam- paign, one of the papers accompany- ing the case quoted him as threiten- ing oil and other interests in seek- ing campaign contributions. “You tell those —— that if T am not elected to the Senate I will be rail- road commissioner four years more and they hod better kick in or they will be sorryv.,” Mayfield was quoted as having Informed Mike McNamara, deputy oil commissioner. It was charged also that McNamara was told to get $30,000 in contributions, and did turn over some of the receipts. —_— COCKFIGHT RAIDED. NORFOLK, Va., February 23.—A\More than 100 men were arrested in a raid on a downtown business building, on the third floor of which, detectives charged, cockfights were being staged. Eight cocks _were dead in the pit, the officers stated, and others, spurred and ready for action, were seized as evidence, Patrol wagons made many trips with the prisoners, and extra help had to be called on to aid in register- ing the men on charges of witnessing a cockfight and aiding and abetting such a violation of the state laws. ‘WOULD STRIKE RUM SHIPS. Use of naval craft to break up the smuggling of intoxicants, narcotics and allens into this country is pro- posed in a bill introduced by Repre- sentative Summers, republican, Wash- ington. [ prohibition and customs laws. | | | { | | | | ! leged “conspiracy” of the klan and|By the Associated Pres i The vesseis 80 used would be | sai under the supervision and control of | to Baltimore. the civil officers of the government |th: lend himself, he was|charged with the enforcement of the | the ship yard, stating that there is immediately after death. announced her intention to become a suttee. Mem- bers of the family attempted to dissuade her from this intention, but she did not yield. [ Sacrifice in Flames. On the following morning, when the body of Ganga Din was taken for cre- mation, the widow dressed as a bride and followed. carrying several lighted candles. When the body was arranged for burning she walked around the pyTe as a token of respect, then mounted it and sat with her husband's head in her lap while the fire was applied to the wood. As a result of the woman's death. a criminal case was started against six men of the village. Three of the de- fendants were acquitted, and the others sentenced to four years' imprisonment They claimed they had no knowledge of the woman's Intention. ADMITS SLAYING AN GIVES SELF P Declares He Wishes to See Aged Mother Before She Dies. P the Associatd Press. BALTIMORE, February harles F. McCandless, sixty-two vears, of Hurst, Tex., who confessed, according to the police, he killed four men in Texas and New Mexico, between 1900 and 1910, and who claims there is a $10.000 reward for his arrest, has surrendered to the police here. His motive for surrendering. he is alleged to have told authorities, was that he tired of living under assumed names and that he wants to visit his eighty-four-year-old mother in Hurst, Tex.. who wants him to atone for his misdeeds before she dies. Admits Fifth Killing. McCandless, according to his sign- ed confession to the police, had served as guard at_various military camps throughout the west under the names of Jack and Richard W. Miller. Two years ago, he states. which serving under the name of Richard Miller, he was chief guard of the Newport News Shipbullding and Dry Dock Company. Elmer G. Barnes was another of his many aliases, he says. McCandless also claims to have killed a fifth man, whose name he does mot know. This killing, his con fession states, occurred at a millt camp in Arizona in 1915, from which he deserted after killing a guard List of Supposed Victims. The list of men killed, as given in his confession, follows: A. Hill Walton, at Tex.. in 1900. Cull Woods, at Hico, Tex., in 1908. An unnamed “highwayman,” at Ste- phansville, Tex., in 1908. “Bill”_Tuck, allas “Ike” Dupree, at Clovis, N. M., 'in 1810. It was for the murder of Woods, McCandless Is alleged to have told t police, that the $10,000 rewar was offer- ed for his arrest. NOT WANTED IN TEXAS. Turnersville, One of Men Declared Shot Did Not Die. WACO, Tex., February 23.—Charles F. McCandless, who is reported to have confessed in Baltimore to five tween klan officers, naming Mayfleld | murders in Texas between 1900 and | as a klansman, and urging klansmen | 1908, jnade a mistake in one of his confessions, according to Constable Williams at Hico, a small town near here. “McCandless shot and wounded Cull Woods here about 1908 said Con- stable Willlams, “but Woods never died. Woods has moved away from here and we do not know where he lives. There is no reward of $10.000 for Woods’ murderer, for he never was murdered.” Sheriff Hollingsworth of Coryell county, in telephone conversation from Gatesville, verified the report that a man was killed at Turnersville, near Hurst, Corvell county. between 1900 and 1908 and that McCandless was tried for the killing. McCandless, however, was acquitted, he said. Asked if he wanted McCandless, the sheriff sald: to keep him in Maryland.” WORKED IN NEWPORT NEWS. Member of Shipyard Police Force Under Alias. By the Associated Pres NEWPORT NEWS, Va, February 23—R. W. Miller was a member. of the ship yard police force here from July 1, 1920 to Fébruary 5, 1921, Chief Hunter F. Grimes declared. He was known here as “the mysterious Mr. Miller” and assisted state authorities in the preparation of the case against Tom Fetters, former member of the Newport News police force, who was convicted of murder in connection with the killing of Horace Lee Bell. Upon leaving here Chief Grimes , Miller went to Norfolk and later The chief explained Miller was not “chief guard” at no such position. “No, you tell Baltimore | i | { | | | expression_ exactly JOAN OF ARG BUST PRESENTEDTOU.§. Work of French Sculpturess Received at Smithsonian Is Tribute to Doughboys. The formal presentation of a bronze bust of Joan of Arc, by Mme. Berthe Girardet of France, was made in the regents’ room of the Smithsonian In- stitution today and is regarded by many 48 an event of international importance The bust, which is a replica of a well known work in stone by the same ar- tist, was the gift of the artist to America in appreciation of what the boys of the American Army did for Franc In offering this bust Mme. Girardet wrote as follows: “During the long war struggle I often met at the front and in the American canteens your gallant American boys all singing their favorite song ‘Joan of Arc' and facing death with their smiling, boyish and beauti- ful courage. * * ¢ This gift is a small token of the high respect we have for them.” Praises Sculptress. In the presentation speech, which was made by Mrs. Grave Whitney Hoff of Paris and Detroit, Mme. Girardet's close friend, who happens at this time to be revisiting the United States, of which she is a citizen, mention was made not only of Mme. Girardet's accomplishment as an artist (her works being included in the leading museums of France), but of her work during the war at the front and in the hospitals and of the way in which she, with her exceptional gift of sympathy, ministers sympath ered to the boys of the As Mrs. Huff said, the choice of Joan of Arc was most happy, and doubly significant, both of the courage and character of the service rendered by the American soldier boys and of the giver. The gift was accepted by Charles D. Walcott. secretary of the Smith- sonian Institution, in whose custody the work of art has been placed. Mr. Walcatt spoke with appreciation of the spirit which prompted the gift and the value of the gift itself, both a8 8 work of art and as a continuing meyigrial of friendliness between France Notables at Ceremony. Among those in attendance at the ceremony were F. A. Delano, Irwin Laughlin and other members of the board of regents, Charies Moore, chairman of the Fine Arts Commis- sion; representatives of the French embassy, Willlam H. Holmes, director Xonrut")ur; ational Gallery of ‘Art, and e aiet e Smithsonian’ and € bust will be placed perma: 1 on exhibition In the NauupnnlmMK;:\::;‘) with the national gallery collections. BEST LEGAL MINDS OPEN SESSIONS TO SOLVE LAW TANGLE inued from First Page.) {ceived an ovation when he arrived, and remained throughout the session. W. Davis. president of the American Bar Association and former ambassador to Great Britain, also was cordially re- celved. Among the others present were lSolchu:rs(Gene}'nJ Beck, former Secre- ary of State Lansing and mem the United States Senate. besior Would Eliminate Delays. Speedy improvement of the Ameri- can law codes to give “justice to all alike,” unhampered by the delaying technicalities, is most essential if the regnancy of law is to be pre- served. Attorney General Daugherty sald in a letter read by Mr. Root. The Attorney General had hoped to attend, but was prevented by illness. The universal application of justice John to all classes. even including those who do not believe in the law, was advocated in Mr. Daugherty's ietter. He declared that those who tempo- rarily rebel are. in most instances, those who, in the end. would suffer most if universal application and an forcement were swept aside, Should Receive Approval. “May I say, then, the efforts that are being made to establish an Amer- ican law institute, having for its pri- mary purpose the clarification and simplification of the law,” the Attor- ney General's letter stated, “demands and should receive the hearty ap- proval and support of the entire legal profession. So intricate have become the complexities and 8o great the un- certainties of the law that relief must be obtained from such source. “The decisions that are now being pro- duced by forty-elght separate and dis- tinct soverelgnties, supplemented by the ever increasing volume of decisions that are being rendered by the federal courts, have produced a condition of uncertain- ty that, unchecked, must eventually de- stroy or render impotent, the whole system of American jurisprudence. It it the instruction of experience that laws to be effective must be certain in their meaning and uniform in their ap- plication. Through unlimited judicial the opposite situa- tion prevails. "ainful as the admission may be, it is none the less true that under existing conditions the law as a science has lost the element of ac- curacy, the virtue of simplicity and the perfection of reason. The tend- ency of some courts, yearly grow- ing more pronounced, to ignore fun- damentals and to render opinions based on inclination rather than prin- ciple has contributed in no small de- gree to the present complexities of the_situation. “With a learned judiciary, relieved of the embarrassment of irreconcil- able inconsistencies. which a restate- ment of the law will effect, a scholar- ly and scientific administration of justice must be the inevitable result.” —— Blackstone—Why did you fire that young bookkeeper? Couldn’t he balance his_accounts? Webster—Yes! but he started to jug- {gle them!—Exchange. Body of Philippine Hero Brought Here for Burial The body of Lieut. Col Ferguson, retired, who more than a score of years ago was known to the world as the corporal who risked his life in order to save the lives of the men in Col. Frederick Funston's com- mand during the Philippine Insurrec- tion, and for which deed he received the congressional medal of honor, will arrive in Washington tomorrow after- noon for interment in Arlington na- tional cemetery. Col. Ferguson died Tuesday in Fort Leavenworth, Kan., where he was secretary of the gen- eral service schools, and through this work was one of the most widely known offieers in the regular service. Stripped of his clothing and in the dead of night, Corp. Ferguson of the 20th Kansas Infantry, fighting in the Philippines, crawled along a slippery and dangerous bridge, the ties and girders of which had 'been removed by insurgents who had established a fortification at the end aof it. He had folunteered to find out for Col. Fredgrick Funston the feasibility of BILL FAVORS REFUGEES. Gen. Wood Recommends Philip- pine Luw Extending Trade. By thie Aesociated Press. MANILA February 23 —Governor General Leonard Wood today recom- mended to the Philippine legislature the passage of a bill authorizing the Russian refugee ships under Admiral Stark to engage temporarily in the interisland trade. In his opinion “such an attitude on the part of the Philippine govern- ment and representatives of the Fil- ipino people is of paramount impor- tance and would be looked on favor- ably by the whole world from the standpoint of humanity." MAY BE SUICIDE 10°AID CREDITORS in-Law, Indicates He Would Help With Life Insurance. By the Associated Press. CHICAGO, February 23.—While au- thorities in various parts of the United States today continued check- ing up the operations of Joseph M. Mareino, alias Joseph Biata, who rose trom immigrant barber to buyer of banks and whose financial deals were reported to have caused losses ap- proximating $591,000, reports here in- dicated that he might have committed suicide. That theory found its inception in a letter written by Marcino from some point in Texas or Mexico to Abraham Gol#man of Chicago, his father-in-law, and who, according to 1investigators’ supplied the missing man with funds in a greater or lesser amount. Recounts His Career. The letter, said to contain a minute account of the fugitives' mmancial ca- reer since its beginning here, was re- ported to indicate that Marcino might end his life so that creditors could realize on his life Insurance policies totaling $100,000. * “The only thing that remains for me to do,” he was reported to have written, “is to disapp from the face of this earth into oblivion, or endure a life of suffering in the wil- derness. 1 only hope within a_few years, through the proceeds of my insurance, to repay creditors.” Brakeman Bank President. Today Frank L. Taylor, a former railroad fireman finally advanced to president of the First National Bank of Warren, Mass., by the fugitive at a salary of $50 a week, faced arraign- ment in the federal court here, after the reported discovery of a $213,000 shortage in accounts of the Warren institution. Marcin as he was known in Buf- Ifalo, N. Y., where he acquired the controlling interest in the Bison Holding Corporation, the holding con- cern of the Niagara Insurance Com- pany, the accounts of which Investi- gators have declared are short $248, 000, is the son of an Italian baker of Chicago. While in Buffalo Marcino extended his holdings, buying_the controlling interests in the Merchants and Mechanics' Bank of Philadelphia, Pa., which failed last week, and the First National Bank of Warren, Mass, where the discovery of an alleged shortage of $213,000 caused the of- ficers to start a search for Marcino and brought about the arrest of Tay- lor here. “I have always helped him,” Mr. Goldman said. in referring to the spectacular rise of the barber. “1 got him out of trouble. He ran away with my daughter four yeare ago. When they eloped I had to make the best of i About three vears ago the Bank of Perris, _ Calif. near Los Angeles, failed #nd Marcino's name was men- tioned in connection with the col- lapse. After that he disappeared with his wife, going first to South America and thence to Italy, where he was a purchasing agent for the Italian government during the war. Returned 18 Months Ago. Of his return Mr. Goldman said: “They returned (o this country about sighteen months ago and came to m: hous Then 1 discovered about thi California trouble. He begged me to help him, and for my daughter's suke T did. Mrs. Goldman, my wife, went to California. She paid $5.000 In_cash and made motes for $6,000 more to i get him out of trouble. Then Mr. Goldman told of his son- in-law's connection with the Warren institution and the Buffalo Insurance company. 1 thought he was on the foad to success; and whea he asked e to be honorary vice president of the Warren Bank I accepted the po- sition and signed some papers for him,” he said HAD PLENTY OF MONEY. { By the Asociated Press { | BUFFALO. N. Y. February 23—| {State and federal officials inquiring | into the affairs of Joseph B. Marcino said today that if the barber-banker | | contemplated suicide, as hinted in a Jetter to his father-in-law, Abraham | Goldman of Chicago, it would not be because he lacked funds. " While the amount that Marcino may | have had in his possession after the | collapse of the Niagara Life Insurance | Company and _the closing of his Phila- | | delphia and Warren banks has been | | scaled down by the elimination of | duplicate transactions. there is a tota] of more than $200,000 in cash that cannot be accounted for. The finan- cial loss caused by his manipulations is placed at more than double this amount When Marcino left here for Phila- delphia on February 9 in an effort to save the Mechanics and Merchants' Bank there from being taken over by the state banking department, he had with him _between $150.000 and $200.000. realized chiefly from the sale | of securities alleged to have been ab- | stracted from the First National Bank !'of Warren. 9y 1t is known that upon reaching Philadelphia Marcino showed the cash to the state banking officials and promised to call the next day to take Up notes which had been classed as worthless paper. He failed to appear at the bank, however. and has not Since been seen, so far as investi- gators have been able to learn, by any one connected with his financial affairs. position. | A misstep meant death in the wa. |ters of the river below and the | slightest noise meant death from an insurgent bullet. Slowly he mada his | way closer and closer to the enemy | tortifications until within twenty feet of their position and then he re- urned, k% 5 The assault would be impracticable, |he reported, and the project was abandoned. His entire outfit would have suffered untold losses if it had attempted to carry this position with- out the knowledge gained by Corp. Ferguson at his own peril. ; Corp. Ferguson, besides receiving the medal of honor for this conspic- uous daring in front of the enemy, was given a commission in the 36th Infantry. He was also honored by the War Department for his services in the Philippines by being awarded a distinguished service cross. During the world war Col. Fergu- | Marcino, in Letter to Father- | ROUT COMMUNISTS INREICHSTAG ROW Gessler Disposes of Charge of “Winking” at Secret Armed Opposition. |BRANDS IDEA AS FOLLY | Stand Against Invaders Would Throw Nation Back 100 Years, He Says. B the Associated Press BERLIN. February munists the reichstag suffered « complete rout yesterday when Mh ister of Defense Gessler effective! disposed of a charge made by ti reds” that the government was wink ing at the alleged activities of secre nationalist organizations suspectes of arranging armed opposition agains the Ruhr invaders. After branding the accusations of the communists as inventions, Her Gessler told the deputies that the internal politcal situation of Ger many, nevertheless, was one of th utmost gravity. He added, however that there were “ennugh crazy people in Germany who believed armed re sistance still possible” and said tha |such a condition was bound to cor tinue for a long time, as German was obliged to battle for her exis ence. The treaty of Versailles, the mini« ter continued, did not stipulate tha a defenseless people should meek submit to attacks and blows from a force armed to the teeth. “The Ger man people, too, has a soul” sald Herr Gessler, “and it is unreasonable to expect that a nation which daily i« subjected to brutalities and bully ragging can remain calm and reason able in all tis component parts™ Herr Gessler branded as the sheeres: folly the mere suggestion that Ger many could undertake physically tc oppose the French or any other power as the inevitable result would be tha! the most prosperous section of Ger many would be converted into a thea ter of war which would throw bach German development 100 year Attempts by the communists to heckle Herr Gessler as he was speak ing were drowned out by the approva volced by the majority m 34 kel Jjority members o KEENEY IS FREED ONSTATE'S MOTION West Virginia Drops Miners’ Chief Case, Charging Tam- pering With Witnesses. 23 —The o in By the Associated Press. BERKELEY SPRINGS, W. Va, Fen ruary 23.—The case against C. Frank Keeney. president of the West Vir ginia United Mine Workers, who was brought to trial here as an accessor to murder in the Logan county indus trial disturbances, ended abruptly to day, when Judge J. M. Woods threw out the indictment on motions by the prosecution. It was alleged that ther had been tampering with witnesses. T. C. Townsend, for the defense jumped up with a’ statement that he was not at all surprised, as these witnesses also were defense wit nesses. and they were now in a hote nearby. Judge Woods ordered tha the witnesses be produced at once. Asks Dismissal of Indictments. Declaring that four of the princips witnesses for ths prosecution har been mysteriously spirited away from Berkeley Springs and that eclren'ars designed to influence prospective Jurors had been widely distributed 1: Morgan county. Prosecuting Attorne H. D. Allen filed the motion asking that the indictment as an accessor to murder be nolle prossed. He sal: the prosecution would not attempt t continue its case without them _Judge Woods indicated that in suc circumstances nothing remained bu for him to grant the motion. To this T. C. Townsend of counsel fo Keeney objected, declaring that tie witnesses in question were also wi nesses for the defense, and three of them had come to him a day or two ago asking protection from deputs sheriffs from a “foreign county.” They told him, he said. that they had been compelled to make statements whic were untrue. He had sent them to another hotel and there they were at present, he added. not far from the courthouse. Judge Woods ordered the witnesses brought into the courtroom, sa “we have nothing to conceal here The men. T. C. Hickey, Willian Arms and Walter Arms, all of Kana wha county, were brought into cour and were taken to the prosecution's desk After a brief conference Mr. Alle told the court the men would not dis cuss the case with him and it would be useless for him to proceed with out them. Judge Woods agreed with him and Keeney was freed. In his opening statement on motion Mr. Allen filed with the co a number of papers, which, he said was “propaganda” sent into Morgar county by Joseph D. Cannon of New York city, whom he described as « socialist ‘supported by the United Mine Worker: Judge Woods, after examining papers, sald he would order an inves tigation to deiermine whether the law had been violated so far as i might have influenced _prospective jurors, and also ordered the thres witnesses, Hickey and the Arms boys held for further investigation SAILOR’S CLAIM TESTED. Alleges Epilepsy, Due to Worlu War, in Insurance Plea. NEW ORLEANS, February 2 the the Arthur M. |an attack by American troops on this | question of whether a former sailo who alleges he contracted epileps: while in the service of the United States during the world war, is en titled to collect the full amount o nis war risk insurance policy unde the total disability clause will be decided by Judge Rufus E. Foster m federal district court, on March 7 John W. Bourdet, who served as a third-class fireman on bpard the battleship Kentucky during the period of his enlistment, filed sult in fed eral district court several months ago agalnst the United States Veterans Bureau, seeking to collect $8.000, the amount of his insurance policy, de claring that as a result of his alleged contraction of the disease, he was permanently disabled and rendered unable to perform any lucrative work Counsel representing the Veterans Bureau assert that the claim was not allowed because Bourdet had son served in Washington as an as- stant adjutant general and also was chief Instructor at the second officers’ camp at Fort Snelling. never been treated in a Veterans Bureau hospital and that he refused to enter one in order to allow bureau physicians to observe him. {