Evening Star Newspaper, March 22, 1923, Page 1

WEATHER. Tnsettled, probably rain tonight and tomorrow; mild temperature, followed by_colder tomorrow night. Temperature for twenty-four hours ended at 2 p.m. yesterday: Highest, 68, at noon today: lowest, 50, at 3:30 a.m, today. Full report on’ page 24. Closing N. Y. Stocks and Bonds, Page 28 @t No. 28,815. Entered as second-class matter post office Washington, D. C. GERMANS WILLING T0 ACCEPT LEAGUE " VERDICT ON RUHR Political Elements Bringing Pressure on Cuno to Ap- peal to Geneva. FRENCH REGARD STEPS AS EFFORT AT EVASION Belgians Occupy Krupp Harbor on Rhine—Troops Carefully Guard Canals, BY GEORGE WITTE. By Wireless to The Star and Chicago Daily News. Copyright, 1923. BERLIN, March 22.—Germany is willing to acecpt the intervention ©of the league of nations in the Ruhr question, and in advance will agree to ablde by its ruling, it was report- \ ed today. For some time the pacifists and socialists have been urging Chancellor Cuno to get in touch with the officials in Geneva because no country scemed inclined of its own volition to act as mediator. Opposition to such a move has been strong, especially in nationalistic circles, where the claim is made that Germany has been disappointed too loften by the league to appeal to it again. Now Paul Loebe, president of the reichstag, comes out in favor of having Germany join the league and ask for its intervention. Reconciled to League, “We in Germany have had ample reason to complain about the league's rulings in the past” Herr Loebe writes, “but it is also certain that the feague has been blamed for many #ins which were committed by the su- preme council, reparations commis- sion and other strictly allied bodies. ¥ven the most pronounced reaction- ar; who has any sense left at all should vote for goin because it alone can hope to set- tle international disputes such as the Ruhr question.’ The German Ruhr disput Khakier e T ‘home front” in the seems to be getting day. These are the S¥ympt 2 Veiled talk of a great CGavman plan to settle the Ruhr and reparations questions “after Easter”; secret trips by German politicians adre 1. particularly to London, to sound out the attitude toward inter- Vention of countries not involved in. the Ruhr invasion. and long confer- cnces between cabinet ministers and Lndustrial leade at which Ger- many’s new proposals are thought to be discussed. Mystery at Forelgn Office. Chancellor Cuno's present visit to southern Germany enables him to confer with the governments of Bavarfa and Wurttenburg on the question of negotiations. By the time he gets back the reichstag will have Adjourned for its Easter holidays and there will be a 1ull in politics for two or three wecks. For quite a while there have been mysterious doings be- hind the scenes in Wilhelmstrasse and strange men have been going in and out at the foreign office and the chancellor's palace. So far, however, secret diplomacy has prevailed and no definite information as to the nature of the conferences has leaked out. FRENCH DENY TALK. , Regard Every German Step as At- tempt at Evasion. By the Associated Press. PARIS, March 22.—Every step re- ported as having been made by the Germans or on behalf of Germany looking toward negotlations for a set- tlement on the reparation question is regarded in French offictal circles as a maneuver with the object of strength- ening the German hand, it was said at the French forelgn office today. At ihe same time it was again officially denied that any negotiations were in progress on behalf of the French gov- ernment. A high official reiterated that Berlin | must talk directly, plainly and officially with Paris before any German sugges- tions are taken into consideration by Premier Poincare. No Information Received. The French government, it was kaid, has received no information whatsoever tending to show that the Germans were ready to talk in a way ffering prospects for a settiement. There ix, on the contriry, a feeling that the Berlin government intends 10 exhaust every p sible means o resistance before giving in, and that When it does get ready really to con sider a surrender it will do S0 only after sounding every possible ground for_intervention by neutrals. There is in_evidence now d§fined note of pessimism in the dis- cussion of the Ruhr situation in parliamentary circles, where it is said things are not going so well as they ought to; that the quantity of coal and coke thus far obtained by the allies is ridiculously small, offering no_prospect that the Ruhf occupas into the league | a well| Fire Destroys U. S. Consulate; Records Safe By the Associated Pres: CONSTANTINOPLE, March 22.—The American consulate at Smyrna has been destroyed by fire. The seals and records were TEN ON 1924L1ST OF BRYAN AND GOX Democratic Leaders Give Names of Men Considered Presidential Timber. ved. FIGHT FOR DELEGATES ON None of Possible Contenders Has Declared Himself—Dark Horse May Appear. BY DAVID LAWRENCE., MIAMI, Fla., March 22—Now that Attorney General Daugherty has nominated President Harding as the next republican candidate for the presidency, the writer besought Wil- liam Jennings Bryan and James M. Cox to make a newspaper nomination on the democratic tickes. Both these men who have carried the democratic standard in national campaigns have learned. however, that in the game of politics it is not discreet to discuss personalities. Whatever they might say might be misconstrued. Yet both have well defined ideas on the men who ought not in their judgment to be nomi- jnated. List of Possibilities. mbing the two lists which each man gave the writer, the catalogue of candidates for the democratic nomination would seem to include the following: Samuel Ralston, ana. 1. John W. Davis of W i i . B est Virginia, former ambassador to Great Britain and former solicitor general under the Wilson administration. William Gibbs McAdoo, former Sec- retary of the Treasury and director general of railroads. Senator Oscar W. Alabama. v Governor of In- Underwood Gov. “Al” Smith of New York Gov. A. V. Donahey of Ohio, Gov. Jonathin M. Davis of Kansa Representative Ayres of Kansas k‘;{;nry ¥ord, the Detroit automobile Former President Woodrow Wilson. When William Je 5 i rornen il nnings Bryan and {—for they have many throughout the rank and file of the {democratic party—the roster would |appear to be complete. Out of this &roup, therefore, will the next nomi. nee be picked. That, at least, is the of supporters terviewed here, though the other seems to think the next Congress may develop a leader for democracy Delegate Hunt Ix On. { There are political advantages and | disadvantages which could be re- corded opposite all the names men- tioned, and whether the defects in each case -are really controlling is something which will be determined velops. But this much is certain—the active workers who already are trav- eling around the country corralling delegates are using arguments against practically every one of the men listed except, of course, the fown. i Samuel Ralston is regarded as a zood candidate in the sense that he comes from Indiana and is popular there, but he is relatively unknown to the party as a whole and his sup- porters will have to do some strenu- ous advertsing about him before his merits begin to make an impression. John W. Davis is a man of acknowl- cdged ability. His record as chair- man of the judiciary committee of the House, the fact that he stands for in- ternational co-operation and was Wilson appointee, are expected to w. ponents are saying he is'a lawyer for the J. P. Morgan interests and that the democrats would never nominate a Morgan lawyer. There was a time when such a de- fect would cause a good bit of a stir. but some of the Wilson men in the democratic party who remember that their chief appointed Wall street men like Bernard M. Baruch and Thomas W. Lamont of J. P. Morgan & Co., to important missions in his adminis tration will not eliminate John W. Davis so readily on that account. ome of the democratic scouts are ing that Wall street is “working avis in the north and Underwood in { the south,” and that at the opportune | moment the southern votes in the democratic convention would be thrown to a northern candidate. { The Dry Issue. Mr. Underwood is a conservative and has many friends in the north, but whether the democrats would nominate a man from the south when they have always hoped to carry some pivotal state by choosing a northern- er is a question much more likely to Cox are added to the list | udgment of one of the two men in- | as the pre-convention campalgn de- | him progressive support, but his op- | WASHINGTON, D. C, 2 TORPEDO PLANTS WILL CLOSE JULY 1; o0 10 LOSE 1085 |Lack of Appropriation Causes Layoffs at D. C. Navy Yard and Alexandria. WORKERS LOYAL IN WAR ARE DENIED RETIREMENT {Some Lack Only Few Years of | Age Limit—Seek Other Positions. | The government torpedo manufac- [turing plants at the Washington navy vard and Alexandria, Va.. will be per- manently closed about July 1, when their present contracts expire. it was learned from authoritative sources today. More than 500 men who are employed at the two factories will be | thrown out of work unless unforeseen | contracts are awarded other federal plants hero and room can thus be made for them. A deplorable lack of funds is blamed by Navy officers for the closing of |these two big manufacturing plants around Washington. The recent Con- gress, it is sald, appropriated only $430,000 for the construction of new torpedoes and the repair of old ones. As a result the Navy Department kas found it impossible to maintain plants for this work in Washington and Alexandria, as well as Newport, R. L Seek Jobs for Machinists. In the tuture all torpedo work will Le done at the latter northern base and it is said the small sum allotted to such work will even necessitate ‘3 sharp cut in the personnel of that factory. At least a third of the men | emploved there are to be discharged | and the faint hope of local workers ! that they might be transferred to that station has been definitely crush- ed. The Navy Department, and particu- larly the officers at the navy vard, are bending every effort to find places for at least a few of the 500 machin- ists and assistants employed here and at Alexandria. But those in a position .to know conditions are not very sanguine. At thg present time | the” personnet ‘of the gun factory at the navy vard is filled and ¢nly new contracts will enable the government to_employ additional men there. Standing squarely in the way of |such a move is the arms treaty be- tween the United States. Great Brit- ain, Japan and France, which was ne gotiated here last year. Some Navy officers had hoped the department would arrange for ralsing some of its long-range guns. This would have made it necessary to employ addi- | tional men in the gun factory. Tt is !understood now, however. that the United States cannot well under- i take such a_step without violating its treaty obligations. The officers | hope, however, that work for the | torpedo _factory men will be found {before July 1. ;The Navy Department is especial- 1y ‘anxious to keep these men on its {pay rolls not only because they are | picked for their ability as machin- ists, but because many of them have been in the employ of the govern- ment twenty-five or thirty years. They started as helpers, when they were very young, and have not vet reached the retirement age. although they have served enough time in the government's employ to entitle them to retircment. Some are within a| few years of retirement, but they will Jose the chance for retirement benefits i they are discharged. Were Loyal in War Time. Selection of Newport as the torpedo manufacturing center was absolutely essential, officers declared. Not only is it the Navy's submarine base, but facilities in the northern port ore better than those of Washington ani Alexandria. The latter plant will be the hardest hit of the two that are to be closed. It employs in the neigh- borhood of 400 men, whereas tne Washington navy vard now has only 1127 men in its torpedo factory. “It's pretty tough,” was the charac- teristic reply of one navy vard work- er when told the news. “We heard rumors of it some time ago. The worst part of it all is that most of these men have been working here practically all their lives and had al- most reached the retirement age. When private plants were paying 515 a day for machinists during the war we stuck—for less than $7 a day— because we thought we had a life- time job. This is what we ge: for passing up good money. It's pretiy tough; that's all I can say.” HARDINGS DUE BACK IN CAPITAL APRIL 7 (Continued on Page 2, Column ,Communists Vote World-Wide | Demonstration, April 15 to 22| By the Associated Press. FRANKFORT-ON-THE-MAIN, Ger- many, March 22—Communist demon- trations are to be held in all the , countries of the world from April 15 10 22, as part of an international pro- test week program directed primarily against the occupation of the Ruhr, according to a resolution adopted at the closing session of the interna- tional communist conference here. The week, the resolution says, also shall include demonstrations against the treaty of Versailles, the danger of war and against fascism. The resolution embodies eighteen general points, with supplementary individual programs from the com- munists of the various European countries. It provides for an committee of action, consisting of iwenty-one members. To this com- anittee 1s assigned the task of uniting international (Continued on Page 2, Column 5.) a1l political and economic organiza- tions of laborers for ‘“the ' battle against international impertalist” and the eventual summoning of an in- ternational congress of workers, The German communists are instructed {o work particularly for the downfall of Premier Poincare of France and the overthrow of the Cuno govern- ment In Germany. Clara Zetkin, one of the speakers at the closing session, denounced the fascisti movement and advocated boy- cotting the Itallan fascisti. clared that within a few X workmen had been sent to jail by the fascisti. The mos effective offensive weapon, she argued, would be the prevention of Itallan imports entering the United States and Kng- land, “without which Italy cannot exist.” ¥or the communist, added the speaker, “there is no fatherland, be- cause capitalistic plundering takes away everything, even to the light of the sun, that could make a native land a fatherland.” She laid stress upon the importance of arming laborers against fascism and capitalism, weeks past She de- | COCOA, Fla, March 22.—Tentative plans for the remainder of President Harding’s vacation trip, as disclosed today, contemplate a return to Wash- ington between April 7 and 10. The vacation party today cruised on northward with the houseboat Pion- eer making good progress. It was certain, however, that St. Augustine, the end of the cruise, would hot be {reached before tomorrow evening at the earliest, and possibly not before Saturday morning. On arriving at St. Augustine, presi- dent and Mrs. Harding, with most of the others of the party, will leave the Ploneer and take quarters at the Hotel Ponce de Leon. The visit to St. Augustine, where Mr. and Mrs. Harding have been spending several weeks each year for about eighteen winters, is expected to extend over | next week, and probably until Easter. The tentative plans then provide that the party go to Augusta, Ga., | for a stay of four or five days, after which they will return to Washing- ton, probably to arrive April 7, unless the’ President should decide to_visit Marfon, Ohio, on his way back. When he first began to consider the present trip to Florida, he is understood to have contemplated returning by way of Marion so that he might visit with home folks, but recently he is said virtually to have given up the idea. ¢ ' B THURSDAY, THE MOONEY EXPECTED 10 SUCCEED CHANGE Promotion by Recess Ap- pointment Would Obviate Examinations. HAS APPROVAL OF NEW Procedure Has Precedent Elevation of Post- master Chance. Every ‘indication today nointed to the appointment of William M. Mooney. chlef clerk of the Post Office Department, as postmaster of Washington to succeed Merrit O. Chance, who resigned yesterday aft- er cight years as head of postal af- fairs in the District. Promotion of Mr. Mooney, which would be by way of recess appoint- ment, would obviate the necessity of holding non-assembled examinations by the Civil Service Commission to fill the vacancy. Mr. Chance's resig- nation becomes effective April 30. New to Recommend Course. 1t was understood today on author- ity that Postmaster General New will send a recommendation for the pro- motion of Mr. Mooney from chief clerk, Post Office Department, to post- master of Washington, to President Harding, who will make it a recess appointment. There is already plenty of prece- dent for this course, as Postmaster Chance was promoted in the same way from the same position, he hav- ing been chief clerk of the Post Office Department when he was made post- master eight years ago. Civil service laws on the subject ex- pressly state that the examinations are to be held if the position is not filled by the nomination of some per- son within the competitive classified civil service who has the required qualifications. Will Be Examined Orally. In case Mr. Mooney is recommend- ed for the promotion, the Civil Serv- ice Commission will examine him or- ally and by investigation, as he must be found to meet the minimum re- quirements for the position. He must be found to have occupied for at least five years a position requiring organ- izing ability, and the ability to direct and manage business affairs. Mr. Mooney has had long experience | in the Post Office Department, and for the past several years has been chief clerk of the department, and before that disbursing officer for many years. Procedure of Examination. If not filled by the appointment of one within the classified competi- tive civil service, the Post Office De- partment would find itself under the compulsion of notifying the Civil Ser- vice Commission that there is a va- cancy in_the postmastership of Wash- ington, D. C. Then the commission would an- nounce an examination for the posi- tion, setting the date for the close e WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION ASSOCIATED CHARITIES in; v R ol Star. MARCH A Italian Banker From New York Nabbed at Naples S, March 2 —Francesco Tis- York steamship ticket agent and banker, under indictment that city, with his two brothers, lon grand larceny charges, arrived | here on the steamer Taormina from New York today and was detained, with his wife, on board that vessel. Money to the amount of 60,000 lire was found in his baggage. —_— §250 SHARE FACED i i Saunders to Increase Price | to That Figure From $150 After 3 P.M. Today. TELLS HOW HE WON OUT Desire Not to Be “Boob From ! Tennessee " First in His H $10,000,000 Battle. By the Associated Press, MEMPHIS, Tenn.. March ence Saunders, head of Piggly Wig- gly Stores, Inc.. said he would wait until 3 p.m. today for scttlement by “short-sellers” in Piggly Wiggly stock on a basis of $150 a share, and after that it will cost $250 a share to square accounts with him. “even it it takes the court to decide.” “More than 25,000" was the number of shares the former grocery clerk fixed in a statement last night as sold “short” to him. On the basis of set- tlement at the lower figure he men- tioned an exchange of upward of $3,750,000 would be entaileds Question of Surviv: A strict question of survival of him and his business, and an intense de- sire not to be “licked” and pointed to as the “boob from Tennessee.” led Mr. Saunders to “suddenly, without warning, kick the pegs from under Wall street,” he said in his state- ment. In his statement was read the an- swer to the riddle which came as a sequel to_a hectic day's trading on the New York Stock Exchange which terminated Tuesday in the temporary Piggly Wiggly from the That the discontinuance would be permanent also was indicated by Mr. Saunders, who. referring to “Wall | street and its gang of gamblers and market manipulators,” asserfed “as long as I live 1 will not be‘president of any company again that has ity stock traded in on the New York Stock Exchange.” Rasor to His Throat. “A razor to my throat, figuratively speaking, is why I suddenly without warning kicked-the pegs from under Wall street,” he declared in detailing his fiing in the stock market with Piggly. Wiggly, which, he declared, was his first experience. 2 “It was strictly a question of whether 1 should . survive, and like- wise my business and the fortunes of (Continued on Page 2, Column 4.) Spaicaton ™ 0 1 " | WAR SECRETARY'S WIFE the Postmaster General the names of the three candidates to pass with the highest averages. From the three the Postmaster General would make his selection for recommendation to the President for appointment. Wallace Grants Month Delay in Packers’ C ase By the Associated Prees. OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklad March 22. —A postponement of four weeks in final consideration by the Depart- ment of Agriculture of the merger of Morris & Co. and Armour & Co., packing interests, requested by the packers, has been agreed to by Sec- retary Wallace. His action in telegraphing last night to Washington requesting that the postponement be granted became known today following his departure after a visit here on his tour.of the southwest, REPORTED VERY ILL By the Associated Press. g BRUNSWICK, Ga., March 22.—Mrs. 1John W. Weeks, wife of the Secr: tary of War, is very ill here on board the private yacht Everglades, which was hurried into port shortly after 10 o'clock this morning to secure medi- cal ald for Mrs. Weeks. On_board the private yacht are Mr, and Mrs. R. M. Thompson, owner, and Secretary Weeks. The party was returning to Washington by water, from Florida watérs, where they had been enjoying their vacation with President Harding. = Just how serl. ous Mrs.- Weeks' lilness is could not be learned today. Dr. C. C. Greer, Brunswick physiclan, was called when the yacht docked shortly after 10 o'clock, and” when he completed his examination adviséd newspaper men that at 2:30 o'clock _he would tell the Secretary of War whether -or not to rush Mrs. Weeks to Washing- ton by rail. Efforts were being made to. secure a private car for that purpose. yond this statement, tl attending physiclan would have mothing to 9ay. BY PIGGLY ‘SHORTS' 22.—Clar- | “From Press to Home Within the Hour” The Star’s carrier system covers every city block and the regular edition is delivered to Washington homes as fast as the papers are printed. V Yesterday’s Net Circulation, 95,662 22, 1923—FORTY-SIX PAGES. PPEAL. TREASURY ASSAILS | TAX CASE ADVISERS Sharp Practices by. Some ; Lawyers and Accountants | Are Alleged. {MAKE 50-50 CONTRACTS| New Order Requires Practitioners to File Statement of Fees They Are to Receive. —— Sharp practices by cgrtain lawyers and accountants before the internal revenue bureau, the most flagrant of which included some 50-30 contracts between these men and their clients, | providing for an even split of refund- ed income taxes, were disclosed today. following the issuance of a drastic order which will require all ruch persons practicing before the |bar of the bureau to report to the | overnment the nature of their con- tracts with clients. As a result of such practices, which were branded today by officials of the bureau as “highly unethical.” a few persons who have been caught have been d barred. The growth of “unethical” methods in presentation of cases before the | bureau. it was explained by officials today, has led the government not only to order “strict” enforcement of the new order, but to tightening up on restrictions to admission to the bar of the bureau, operating through the committes of enrollment and disbarment. Get Copy of Contract. The most serious infraction of the ethics of practice before the bureau recently came to the notice of officials, it was explained today, through local channels. A copy of one of the high- ly objectionable *30-30" contracts i in the hands of the authorities and may be made public, it was understood, in order that the people may learn what means have been resorted to in at- tempting to gain profits through re- funded taxes. Accountants and lawyers of high prin- ciples, it was made plain by officials, are believed to be in accord with the spirit of the new position taken by the bureau, as the dealings of the “‘unethical” as a rule operate against the good of their professions. ‘While emphasizing that most of the men in this work were a help instead of a hindrance to the government in bring- | ing about justice between the people and the taX collectors, the suggestion | was advanced that there were some persons in this city who had engaged in irregular dealings. Text of Order. “In order to carry out the provi- sions of the regulations.” said Secre- tary Mellon's order, “all attorneys and agents and others practicing before the Treasury Department or any of its bureaus or offices, including par- ticularly the bureau of internal reve- nue, are required, from this date and until further notice, to file with the chief clerk of the Treasury Depart- ment, in duplicate, a signed declara- tion in writing, stating whether or not the business in which the attor- ney or agent appears before the de- partment is being handled on a con- tingent basis, and, if so, on what basis and under what arrangements regarding compensation. “Specific declarations, giving the names and descriptions of the cases, must be filed in accordance with this order covering each case now pend- ing or that may hereafter be pend- ing before the Treasury Department, provided, however, that any attorney or agent not practicing before the department on_ a contingent basis may fille with the chief clerk of the Treasury Department, in lleu of these specific declarations, a general affi- davit, in duplicate, stating that he is not handling any business before the Treasury Department on a con- jtingent basis and that he will not handle any business before the Treas- ury * Department on a contingent basis without first giving specific notice to the department and filing a declaration in duplicate as above re- quired. Every such aflidavit must state . the Treasury offices before which the attorney or agent proposes to pradtice, and notice of the filing of the“afMdavit will be, transmitted by the. chief clerk to the heads of ail such offices, as well as to the e * TWO CENTS. Vamps in Divorce Suits Forced to Pay Court Costs Female “vamps” found guilty in divorce cases are placed in the sani: category with male “home wreckers™ by a decision today of Chief Justice McCoy assessing costs and attor- s fees against a woman named as co-respondent in a wife's suit. This is said to be the first time in this District that a judgment of this kind has been rendered against a female co-respondent, although male codefendants are frequently required to bear the cost of divorce litigation In awarding Mrs. Jennie . Stein an interlocutory decree for an abso- lute divorce from George Mitchell Stein, the chief justice ordered the husband and Grace Merry, named as co-respondent, to pay Attorney Leon- ard A. Block. counsel for the wifs $150 and to pay the costs of the suit Tre co-respondent is said to be the owner of an apartment house. Mr: Stein is given the custody of | the children and permanent alimony | of 520 per week. DATATOSAVELS, “HUGE RENTAL SUMS iCo-Operation of Realty Bodies of Country Planned at Joint Conference Here. | {WOULD GIVE APPRAISAL New Federal Board and National Realtors’ Committee Ar- range Plans. Pluns for saving the huge sums of money in federal rent expenditures and realty trans i through co-operation of the National ASSO tion of HKeal Estate Boards Were mapped out vesterday afternoon tat a joint conference between the | federal real estate board, recently | created under the bureau of the bud- | Bet. and the federal co-operation com- { mittee of the realtors’ national asso- governme ctions | ciation, it became known today, | A definite program of procedure |in checking up on government, leases about to be executed in various parts of the country by calling upon the appraisal committees of the local real estate boards for the benefit of their expert advice as to the fairness of the terms of the contract and the | value of the property involved was agreed upon at this conference, which took place at the Veterans' Bureau. Tt was pointed out that with the centralization of the governmental real estate activities in he federal real esate hoard, the advisory committee of realtors would shortly perfect an organization that would make it pos- sible for the government officials to obtain realty appraisals on real es. tate in_ virtually any part of the ! United States with facility Saving in Apprai At the joint conference was brought out, as an indication of the saving of federal funds which might be effected through the appraisal plan, that the real estate board in a large city recently made an appraisal of a post office lease proposal in- volving millions of dollars on the basis of annual rent over a long term of discovery that other property equal- 1y suitable was available at a mark- less cost to the government. Maj. Sidney Glenn Brown, vice chairman of the Federal Real Estate Board, told the conferees that board particularly needed the ass ance of the realtors in determining values of property, to aid it in nego- tiating leases and other realty tran- sactions. The members of the advis- ory committee of the National Asso- ciation of Real Estate Boards in- | formed the government officials of | the character of their organization, | pointing out that the association con- | sists of about 500 local constituent | boards in as many cities, and that | practically “every board has its ap- praisal committée, composed of local realtors who were considered expert i in appraising real estate. Services Formally Offered. Following the conference at the Veteran's Bureau the realtors’ na- tional committee conferred with Brig. Gen. H. M. Lord, director of the bu- reau of the budget, and formally of- fered to him the services of their national ,association in carrying out the plans laid down. Gen. Lord said he heartily indorsed the principle of seeking the advice and co-operation of business and professional men in developing the work of his bureau. Gen. Lord explained to the commit- tee that the government has approxi- mately 9.000 leases, not including leases of less than $500 or for periods of less than one year. These leases, he said. represent an aggregate rental value of $21.000,000. It is expected, the director pointed out, that the co- ordinating work of the federal real estate board will eliminate duplica- tion, utilize waste space and in other ways effect a materlal saving in tie government's rent bill. Representing the government at the Joint conference were the following officials and members of the federal real estate board: James A. Wetmore, chairman; Maj. Brown, vice chair- man; Lieut. Commander C. W. Cairns, secretary; Jacob Metzger, State Depart- ment; John A. Schafer, Treasury De- partment: Maj. H. I’ Moore, War De- partment; Charles F. Trotter, Post- master General Capt. A. L. Willard, U. S. Department; lan. it vears, which resulted in the | 1. . DECLARES WAR ON SUGAR GOUGERS T0 FULLEST EXTENT Hoover Reveals Agencies Al- ready at Work to Curb Higher Prices. PLEDGE SWIFT JUSTICE FOR ALL PROFITEERS | Letter to Basil M. Manly Shows Steps Already Taken in Spectacular Rise. | Agencies of the government will he {used to the full if necessary to pre- | vent gouging of the American public in the prices paid for sugar, it was made clear today. Secretary Hoover of the Depari- ment of Commerce, in a statement re- | plving to a letter written by Basil M. Manly of the People’s Legislative Service to President Harding and made public here, in which Mr. Man- 1y traced the spectacular rise in su- Bar prices to a statement issued by the Department of Commerce Febru- ary 9, said that his department al- ready was investigating the situation in Cuba. He said further that infor ally he had suggested to the cha man of the Federal Trade Comm sion that the domestic situation with jregard to sugar and advancins prices i be investigated by that commission | The trade commission will like'y consider the matter at a mecting io- morrow. Swift Justice Promised. Justic is n | At the Department of jdeclared that if there dence of a combination of trade seeking to incr prices. the department swiftly. Still another agency the gov- ernment is about to investigate the sugar situation—the United States Tariff Commission. Sugar is one the schedules which the commissi |announced this week would be inves- jtigated under the flexible tariff pro- jvisions of the Fordney-McCumber tariff act. It is understood that tic {request for such an investigation ha icome from Americans interested {Cuban sugar propertics, who = | anxious to have the tariff reduccd | Rise Brings Criticism, The rapid increase in the pric in sugar in the last fow weeks has given rise to sharp criticism and charges that speculators are in com- { bination to force prices even to 20 cents a pound. Since February 9 the retail price of sugar has increased 3 cents a pound. Mr. Manly, in a letter to President | public yesterday, urged that the Pres- ident take steps to have a grand jury investigation of the increase in sugar . es. Secretary Hoover, in a formal state- ment issued today. takes sharp issue } with Mr. Manly's attempt to place on the Department of Commerce blame for increases in the sugar prices. Mr. Hoover said: | *“As I have repeatedly stated, there {is no economic justification for the high price of sugar, as there is an estimated world surplus. Month Behind Times. “Mr. Manly is about month behind the times in his proposed investiga- tion into the rise in pri Under authority of Congress to ‘investigate combinations of forelgn producers of import commodities, this department, as soon as appropriations were avail- able on March 4, instituted an in- vestigation into the situation in Cuba. As the department has no jurisdiction in domestic questions, T informally suggested to the chairman of the Federal Trade Commission that it should undertake this end of the matter. 1 wrote to Senator Brookhart on February 26 in this connection, and which was read into the Congres- sional Record, as follows “‘L am in receipt of your letter of February 23. The only laws at all related to the subject to which you refer are the restraint of trade acts, as all price and other war regulation have been long since repealed by Congress. This department neces- sarily has no knowledge of any corner in sugar, as such matters are dealt with by 'the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Com- mission.” Figures on Surplus. “As to the question of sugar sup- plies, a worll survey made by this departime howed that the stocks of sugar on hand from last ¥ear. plus the production of this vear, were estimated at a tota! of 1 1,000 tons whereas the consumption for the year {was estimated at 35,000 tons, leaving a probable surplus at the end of the year of 476.000 tons. Some misconception has arisen because the estimated surplus at the end of the year showed a decrease from the abnormal stocks at the beginning of the year. “There is obviously no shortage in sugar, and, moreover, an undue in- crease in price will decrease con- sumption. “I would be delighted to see any im- partial inquiry into the speculation ‘which has brought about the ri in | the price of sugar, or any phase of it was any evi- rostramt sugar would act ase y telegram and a Harding made (Continued on Page 2, Column 4.) By the Associated Press. LONDON, March 22.—The debate on air defense in the house of lords last evening attracts much notice from the press, most of the morning newspa- pers giving it great prominence, while some comment approvingly upon the concern voiced by various speakers over Great Britain's inferiority in the air. The newspapers point qut that this anxiety does not imply & hostile or suspicious attitude toward France, al- though the extreme vulnerability of Great Britain to an attack by a French air flcet and the great dispar- ity In the respective air forces of the two nations make comparison inevi- table. ‘The general conclusion is that there Column §.) s ample justification for uneasiness “(Continued on Page 2, Cojumn 1. 'British Convinced of Peril In French Superiority in Air over the country's defenselessness and that the inequality is too danger- ous to be allowed to continue. Friend- ship with France, it is pointed out, will not be less sincere if Britain's air strength is put on an equal footing. The Chronicle, one of the severest critics of the French Ruhr policy, goes further than its cotemporaries when it declares that, although there is no British hostility toward France, there® is certainly French hostility toward Great Britain. It cites the “malignant” comments made by some of the French newspapers which, the Chronicle asserts, take their cue from Jermanent officials of the French forelgn office, who “are the abidine force behind the short lives of chang- ing French cabinets.” i The Chronicle asks what party in Great Britain would be content to have the strength of the British navy one-eighth of that of France; why therefore, apply different logic to the air force?