Evening Star Newspaper, April 10, 1923, Page 1

WEATHER. Fair tonight and tomorrow; slowly temperature. ‘Tem| ended at 3 p.m. today: Hi noon today; lowest, 37, today. Full report on page 27. Closing N. Y. Stocks and Bonds, Page 22 No. 28,834 perature for t'enl{-!uur hours [ghest, 63, at at 5:30 am. Entered as second-class matter post office Washington, D. C. 3. INTERESTS WI 20-YEAR FIGHT FOR TURKISH OIL RIGHTS Grant Ratified by Angora Provides for Development of Entire New Turkey. 3,200 MILES OF RAILROAD, DOCKS, CITIES IN PLANS Admiral Chester of Washington Heads Project—Russia Al- ready Aroused by Failure. By the Assoclated Press. ANGORA, April 10.—The Turkish nationalist assembly has ratified the so-called Chester railway and mining concession. [Negotiations for the “Chester con- cession” in Turkey, which includes the development of the Mosul ofl region and the construction of 1,200 miles of raflroad in the' Mesopotamian fields, were first instituted by President Roosevelt. It takes its name from Rear Admiral C. Chester, now retired, of Washington, who was Turkey in 1908 to obtain for United States interests certain valuable pri- ority rights in the Turkish ofl pro- ducing district. The former Turkish government some tnme ago approved the grant, but action by the national- ist government at Angora has been waited. American capital would be used, under the agreement, to ex- tend the Bagdag rallway to the borders of Persia, while rafl nections would be afforded to the chief cities of Turkey. The Mosul oll field has been a bone of contention between Great Britain and United States for some time, and at the Lausanne conference the British delegation was especlally insistent that its claim to the territory be rec- ognized.] WORK TO TAKE YEARS. Gen. Goethals and Kermit Roose- velt Among Those Interested. By the Associnted Press. LONDON, April 10.—Approval the Angora government of the Ches ter project marks the termination of twenty years of effort by American interests headed by Rear Admiral Colby Mitchel Chesteér, retired, of Washington to obtain commercial, railway and mining concessions in the interior of Turkey. The maln proposals of Admiral Chester and his assoclates, who in- clude Gen. George W. Goethals, build er of the Panama canal; Roosevelt and other influentfal m, are for the construction in Anatolia of more than 2,000 miles of new rail- ways, the reconstruction of Angora upon the lines of a modern American city, the building of ports and grays and'the exploitation of mineral rights throughout those portions of .Asia Minor still undeveloped. = Payment for this extensive development and rebuilding is to be given by the Turks in the form of mineral, oil and other | concessions. It is expected the American cor- poration, called the American Develop- ment Company, will be occupied for many years in this work, giving em- ployment to thousands of natives as well as to many American technicians. Opposed by Three Nations. The project met with determined op- positidn from the start from Russian, British and French interests, to all of whom similar concessions are de- clared to have been successively promised by the Turks, and it is fore- seen here that today's action by the grand national assembly of Turkey at Angora must inevitably react upon the prospects of concessionaires and promoters of other nationalities. It is even said that the huge grant by the Kemalists to the Americans is | partly responsible for the present tension between Angora and Moscow. | support of all the Caribbean. repube a8 the Russians are declared to have been promised a similar monopoly. The soviet government last vear made a formal protest to An- gora against the granting of these concessions to the Americans with- out Moscow’s prior rights being con- sidered, but the protest went un- heeded. Worrled French and British. The likelihood of tire United States earrying off whatever economic spoils the new Turkey has to offer as the result of her recent victory in Ana- tolia has given the British and French interests much worry. Their cham- bers of commerce have been urging their nationals at home to attempt to halt the progressive commerclal penetration of the enterprising Amer- jcan business men. The French have been as vehement in thelr protest as the Russians against the granting of these widspread economic advantages to the Americans, asserting that such commitments by the Angora govern- ment violate the spirit and letter of the treaty concluded by Franklin-Bouil- lon for France. BOMBINGS CAUSE TERROR WHEN TWO ARE KILLED Attribute Chicago plosions and Shooting to “Blackhanders.” By the Assoclated Press. CHICAGO, April 10.—A series of three bombings and an assassination by shooting last night and early to- day cost the lives of two men. Two of the bombs caused little or no dam- age and no one was' Injured. Soon after & bomb exploded near an apartment bullding, killing Stanley iing, a musician, wno was passing on his way to his home from a theater, where he was employed, a fusillade of shots in the North Side Italian dis- trict, not far from “Death corner, killed Cosimo Polumba. Five bullets passed through his body. Two other bombs were exploded in widely sepa- rated localities. While the police attributed the ‘bombings to “Blackhanders,” there was no evidence to show a connection be- iween the outrages. The missile which killed King was supposed to have been aimed at the apartment building and to have been thrown from an automobile. King was killed only a few doors from his Lome. Police Ex- sent to| con- | the | by | economic | | direct representative as a member of To Americans Admiral Chester Sent to Turkey by Rooseveli. International Row May Result From Concessions. BY WILL P. KENNEDY. Oil deposits worth at least $500,- 000,000 and other mineral deposits in Turkey of inestimable value are se- cured to American interests by the Chester Railway and Mining Conces- slon, which has been ratified by the Turkish national assembly, according to press dispatches recelved here to- day. The real purpose sought by Rea sent to Turkey in 1908 by President Roosevelt to negotiate these conces- slons, was to gain a foothold in the | near east for the promotion of Amer- ican commerce. From this standpoint the dispatches today are of great im- portance to this government. This decision by the Turks that they offer to have their natural re sources developed by American capi DELAY AT SANTAGD OVER ARMAMENTS |Rumors Afloat That Pan- American Conference Has Struck a Snag. | By the Associated Press, | SANTIAGO, Chile, April 10.— An- {nouncement that the meeting of the {armaments committee of the pan- | American conference, which had been | subjected for this afternoon, had been | postponed until tomorrow gave rise to rumors that the plan for appoint- ment of a special committee to con- | sider the armament question and re- i port at the next conference had been abandoned. Vo explanation of the postponement {was given officially except that “a { foreign delegation’ had asked for a delay in order to “insure agreement jon some propositions that have been {formulated.” " The identity of this | delegation was not made public, but {50 far as could be learned none of {the “A.'B. C." natlons was responsi- i ble. ‘The Chilean delegation, it is nounced, will consider what is de- scribed ‘as a sudden change in the | | situation, which will require a re- ldrafting of the armament report |that was to have been presented to| {the committee by Antonio Huenus of | Chile. Emphatically denying reports that | Argentina had been responsible for | | the postponement, Senor Montes de | Oca asid: | ~“I have not the slightest idea what the change in the situation may be. All T know is that Argentina is most anxious to have this question settled here. We came prepared to discuss the concrete proposition to limit armament expenditures. If nothing is accomplished at this conference the Argentine people will be great- ly disappointed.” { Want Method Revised. An interesting debate is promised in the political committee tomorrow when the members take up the Costa Rican plan for revision of the method of choosing the governing_board of the Pan-American Unfon. This proj- ect has unexpectedly brought to_the front what is described in some Lat- in American quarters as “the ques- tion of North American control” over this pan-American agency, and se eral countries, including Chile, A gentina and Brazil, are holding dele- gation meetings today to determine what attitude to take, Costa Rica is reported to have the an- lics and to have gained the sympathy | of Individual delegates of some of the other nations represented here. Persons who asked the Central Amer- icans the import of their plan were frankly informed that it is designed to glve Latin Americans more inde- pendence In managing the affairs of the union, To End Diplomatic Influence. The Central Americans announced that the plan for choosing a private, b N|Oil Worth $500,000,000 Secured;| Admiral Colby M. Chester, who was | by Turk Grant REAR ADMIRAL CHESTER. tal. coming on the eve of the Lau- sanne conference, when the repre- sentatives of Great Britain have per- sistently contended that the claims | of Great Britain in Messopotamia must be recognized. is apt to result in_grave intérnational complications. The victory secured for the United (Continued on Page 2, Column 2.) WIFE'S KIN SLAYS SALT LAKE BANKER Mariner F. Browning, Nephew of Gun Inventor, Surrenders to Police. By the Associated Press. SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, April 10— Benjamin F. Ballantyne, formerly teller of a local bank, was shot and | fatally wounded in his home here ves- | terday, after Mariner F. inephew of John M. Browning, famous gun inventor, and John Browning, jr, called to take Mrs. Ballantyne, who the inventor's | daughter, away after alleg= tic difficulties. Mr. Ballant in a hospital_several hour was shot ne died after he Police said Mariner Browniag ad- mitted he shot Mr. Ballantyne -n self- placed in the city jail pending the outcome of the police investigation of the killing. They wers booked ‘for investigation.” When they %ot to the Ballantyne home in a fashionable residentigl sec- tion, the police said, Mariner handed one of the officers a pistol, saying: “I'm the man who did the shoot- ing; here's the gun.’ “I also had a gun,” asserted John Browning, jr., according to the'police, as he handed them a pistol. “He beat me to it.” aid he shot Mr. Ballantyne Mariner when the latter drew a pistol from a bookcase. Fired Over Shoulder. John told the police he was stand- ing between Mariner and Ballantyne when Ma: er fired one shot. “Ballantyne had a gun and drew it forward when my cousin shot,” said John, jr. “He fired over my shoulder.” In a dying statement to police of- ficers, Mr. Ballantyne declared he wag unarmed and had no revolver in reacn at the time he was shot. Asked whether he had been drinking, he re- plied “Yes,” but shook his head in the negative to the question “Were you drunk The Brownings went to the Ballan- tyne home with W. H. Reeder, jr., at- torney, of Ogden, shortly after arriv- ing in ‘Salt Lake, according to the po- lice. Both John and Mariner, the police said, maintained that they went to take Mrs. Ballantyne to her father’s home in Ogden after domestic trouble in the Ballantyne family. Was Trouble. A family statement was issued last night by James E. Ballantyne, father of the slain man, in which he denied that there had been any trouble be- tween his son and Mrs. Ballantyne. Denies There the governing board instead of beins obliged to name a diplomat accredited to Washington would free the Latin- American representatives from what |1s described as the diplomatic infu- ence of the American Secretary of State. This feature is emphasized as more important for the interests of Latin Americans than the fact that the scheme allows an American coun- try unrecognized by the United States to be a member of the governing board. The Central Americans have re- marked that they belleve the United States delegation would not object to the plan, but the impression is gained that they are mistaken. Unless in- structions to the contrary are receiv- ed from Washington, Dr. Rowe s ex- pected to oppose the proposal on the ground that it would mais the union a less effective agency. Advised of U. S. Plan for Canal In Nicaragua By the Associated Press. MANAGUA, Nicaragua,” April 10.— The Nicaraguan minister in Wash- ington, Senor Emiliano Chamorro, is known to have been advised by the American State Department of the contemplated construction of a canal through Nicaragua, according to a dispatch received here. State Department officials said to- day there was no record in their possession of any communication to the Nicaraguan minister referring to the possible construction of a canal in Nicaragua. Those familiar with Nicaraguan affairs said also that so far as could be recalled no oral state- gation would be demanded and that the slayer would be prosecuted. The slain man resigned two weeks ago as teller of the Utah State National Bank. He is survived by three children. Ballantyne served two years as an enlisted man during the world war. After. the shooting Mrs. Ballantyne left for Ogden and was not questioned by the police, Mr. Reeder also return- ing: to his'home in Ogden. The father and a brother, William E. Ballantyne, .took charge of .the body, and announced that funeral services would be held at Ogden. GIVES SHOOTING DETAILS. OGDEN, Utah, April 10.—Details of the shooting of Benjamin F. Ballan- here early today by William H. Reed- er, attorney, who was in the’ Ballan- tyne home when the shooting oc- curred. Mr. Reeder upon his arrival late Browning, | the | domes- | defense.” Both the Browniags were ! s | He declared that a complete investi- | tyne at his home in Salt Lake City | { last night were given in a statement ¢ Foenin WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION WASHINGTON, D. C., TUESDAY, APRIL 10, 1923—THIRTY-TWO PAGES. PLOTS AGAINST U. 5. (CHARGED AND 7ME ARRESTEDN D. C. Raids Net Papers Tebing of Plan to Disrupt De- - partments. ANARCHY CALLED IDEAL IN SEIZED DOCUMENTS Lenin and Trotsky Pictured as Fools for Stopping at Communism. Prisoner Defiant. Plans for striking at the heart of the system of American government by propaganda to convert govern- mental department workers in Wash- ington to revolutionary ideals, are believed to have been uncovered in documents selzed by police and De- partment of Justice operatives in raids last night, which netted the arrest and detention of seven be- | Heved to be radicals. | The men being held are: Edward Irvine, 2113 14th street, a twenty- | five-year-old solicitor, who s at the second precinct, believed by the po- lice to be one of the leaders of the clique arrested; Louis Brown, forty- four years old, of 621 L street, a Pole; Isadore Jackerson of 620 N street, twenty-eight years old; Lud- | wig Engelhart of 1248 Morse street (northeast, a native of Germany; | Clarence "Rosenberger, a_carpenter, of Ballston, Va., twenty-five years old; Esa Handleman of 1014 1st sireet, nineteen years old and a stu- dent at the Americanization School, and William_ Carl Smelzer of 1318 35th street, thirty-one years old. Letter Is Seized. Probably the most illuminating document seized in connection with the arrests was a letter found among the belongings of Irvine. It was dated March 22, and dispatched from the workers' party of America, with a Broadway, N. Y., headquarters, and signed by “William W. Wemstone, assistant executive secretary.” It discloses plans in a formulative stage for bringing propaganda into the government departments here, and speaks for itself, as to the ulti- mate object of the efforts outlined. | It _follows. (| “Edward J. Irvine, 2113 14th street, March 1"am in' agreement with you about the possibilities of build- ing up a strong organization in | Washington, D. 1 have requested { of our research department to let | us have material on its political pos- sibilitics and shall write you with- in several days on the importance of Washington in the revolutionary strug&le. L.would say that any ter- ritory which contains 400,000 people, { which is the population of Wash- | ington, D. C., and containing many tens of thousands of government workers whose lot becomes annually, if not monthly more difficult, is fruit- ful soll for our propaganda.” Stage Two Raids. The letter, according to experts on radical movements, clearly indicates a move toward “boring from within” against the government. Detective Sergts. Lawrence A. O'Dea and Dennis Cullinane, with operatives from the Department of Justice, struck the first blow last night by rounding up a group who were going to Typographical Temple in the be- lief that a meeting for the defense of William Z. Foster was to be con- ducted there. After that a book store at 1303 7th street was raided while an alleged radical meeting was in progress. —All taken during both raids were brought to headquarters for questioning. Police endeavored | to sift things down to a point where only the leaders were held for in- vestigation, resulting in the seven above mentioned being detained. | Planned May Day Celebration. | Alding the detectives and Depart- nent of Justice operatives were Capt | Robert E. Doyle of the sixth pre- jcinct and the following policemen \hum that precinct: Sergt. J. L. Mc- |Lucas and Privates C. W, Reid, J. F. | Murphy, C. C. Coontz and J. R. Mil- sted. | Plans for bringing together vast crowds of workers in celebration of | May day also were outlined in pencil | on a number of sheets of paper found among the documents selzed. | The local police, through Inspector of Detectives Grant, today turned {over all of the data to the Depart- ment of Justice and left the develop- ment of the case in the hands of the federal agency. John B. Flournoy, expert in radical movements of the Department of Justice bureau of in- | vestigation staff, took all of the data to his office from police headquarters today to go over it carefully and analyze various statements contained therein. Flournoy stated today that he had obtained an admission in the pres- ence of witnesses from Irvine that the latter was in favor of having the communist government supersede the government of the United States, and that in event peaceful means cBuld not be employed force would be feasi- ble in obtaining that objective. i Anarchy Pictured Ideal. 1 “An address, written in pencil, con- taining some of the “warmest stuff” yet uncovered, according to the po- lice, was among the documents seized. This even went so far as to say that the future may find that Lenin and (Continued on Page 2, Column 4.) Rum Orgies and By the Associated P BLOOMINGTON, Til, April 10.—Chil- dren's rum parties and pajama frolics of boys and girls from Bloomington's leading famililes in homes from which the parents were absent for the evening will not be aired in court, it was pre- dicted today as Lester Martin, state's attorney, continued his /investigation of alleged moonshine liquor orgles in the ment had been made to the minister on the subject. Sy The ‘project of a second inter- oceanic canal has been discussed spo- radically here for several years, but recently administration offictals let it be known that they regarded any definite step In that direction as ly- Jing far in the future. high schtol eet. =~ Sons and daughters of prominent familics poured through Mr. Martin's office yesterday in a_ steady stream to explain what they knew about the revels laid bare in reports turned over to the State’s attorney by two federal investi- (Continued on Page 2, Column 6. Pajama Frolics Bring Only W arning to Children gators who have *been working here for several weeks. As a result of the investigation Mr. Martin ordered a series of raids which have netted thirty- five arrests. s The carnival of juvehile delinquency reported by the government investiga- tors led to raids on two small' hotels where, they charged, girls of high school age had registered and entertained men at liquor parties in their rooms. One of the investigators, in one re- port, told of a girl, apparently about Seventeen years of age, registering at one of the hotels and being ejected later in an intoxicated condition after entertaining another girl and a man with & bottle of liquor. County authorities indicate tnat the |high school children involved will be warned and released on probation. “From Press to Home Within the Hour” The Star’s carrier system covers every city block a: tion is delivered to nd the regular edi- ashington homes as fast as the papers are printed. Ifleflhy's Net Circulation, 95,681. Hugo Stinnes Seized by French, Later Freed,; Cabinet Officer Held | Magnate and Wife| Prisoners on Train | in Ruhr. Secretary Hamm | Arrested for 1g- noring Ban. By the Associated Press. DORTMUND, April 10.—Hugo Stinnes and his wife arrived in this city today after having been fletnln!d‘ at Scharnhorst by French railway guards, who took them from their berths in a night train. They were released after the officials had search- ea their baggage. The sieeper in which Herr Stinnes | and his wife were traveling was at- tached to the train from Berlin to Essen, on which they had left Berlin last night on their way to Muelheim. Scharnhorst is the frontier station for the occupled zone, and it was here that the magnate and his wife were | routed out of their berths by the| French guards who Invaded the | sleeper. Herr Stinnes, who had just arrived PRESBYTERY PLANS TOTRY MINISTER May Unfrock Rev. J. H. De| Pue—Rev. M. S. White to ! Leave Sixth Presbyterian. Action looking to the unfrocking of | Rev. James H. De Pue, now under in- | | dictment in connection with charges | growing out_of his operation of a| civil service " correspondence course, | and retired pastor of the Westmin- | ster Presbyterian Church, on 6th street southeast, was taken today at the spring meeting of the Pres- bytery of Washington City in the| Eastern Presbyterian Church, 6th street and Maryland avenue north- east. The step consisted in adopting the recommendation of the judicial com- | mittee of the presbytery, of which | Rev, Dr. Robert Atkinson of the Kensington Presbyterian Church is chairman, that the committee be in- structed go prefer charges, if war- ranted, against Mr. De Pue, and that “he be cited for trial before the presbytery as soon ay possible, and that he be directed not to exercise the duties of a minister pending his rial.” i The recommendation of the commit- tee, as adopted, differed from its in- itial report presented earlier in the (Continued on Page 2, Column 3.) PRESIDENT TO TAKE TRIPTO ALASKA President Harding hopes to visit Alaska this summer when he goes. to the Pacific coast on his speechmaking trip. Although definite arrangement: have not been made, it was sald at the White House today that he prob- ably would be able to leave for the trip about June 20 and reach Alaska about July 15, . Since the President's Florida, it was learned,® several in- formal conferences have been held concerning the date for the trip. At _the same time it was declared that the President would not make the trip as a political candidate. It was assert- ed. that he wanted to avold in every way possible the appearance of going into the west as a political figure. Much of the political discussion now going on, it was intimated by the White House spokesman, is regarded by Mr. Harding as very premature. The Presi dent was described as unable to under- stand why a man elevated to the high- est office In the gift of the nation can- not serve at least three years of his term without being made the subject of politieal’ discussions. \ Feturn from l HUGO STINSES. i CE. in Berlin from his coun the might train for M: his chief industries When the train reached Scharnhorst, which is the first rail point under French control, four French railway guards_entered the sleeper and de- (Continued on Page 2, Column 5.) y home, took Theim, where re situated. BOARD OF CHILOREN auestion and let the Utilities Com- | GUARDIANS MANED Commissioners Draw Lots for Selecting One, Two and ‘Three Year Terms. The new board of children’'s guardi- ans was appointed by the Commis- sloners at their board meeting today. The members are: For one vear—Dr. William A. War- field, Judge C.:Aukam and Mrs. Thomas R. Marshall. For two years—Mrs. Gilbert Gros- venor, W. W. Millan and Frederick ‘W. McReynolds. For three years—Former Judge Milton Strasburger of the Municipal Court, former Judge Michael M> Doyle of the Municipal Court and Mrs. Frank B. Noyes. Mr, McReynolds and Mrs. Noyes were members of the hoard of trustees of the Industrial Hofe School, which was abolishel by Con- gress ‘when it transferred manage- ment_of the school to the board of guarlians. Former Judge Strasburger is a new appointee " and the remaining _six were members of the old board of guardians, who resigned a few days ago at the suggestion of the Com- missioners. * The three ‘members of the old board of guardians who were not reappoint- ed are Mrs. Walter 8. Ufford, Mrs. 1;homu H. Carter and Norton M. Lit- tle. Mrs. Carter Declines. Commissioner Rudolph, chairman of the Board of Commissioners, stated to- day that reappointment was offered Mrs. Carter, but that she desired to be left off the new board, having served for twelye years. The Commissioners let it be known that they wanted to appoint all nine for three-year terms, but the law re- quired that the appointments be made so that only three members would re- tire at a time. Probably for the first time in the history of the city goverriment, the terms of the several members were determined by drawing slips of paper from a box, The Commissioners fol- lowed this unusual course to avoid necessity of decideding arbitrarily who should receive the one, two and three year terms. The new board will meet at its of- fices in the District building at 4 o'clock April 12 to select a chalr- man and effect an organization. Plan Opening School. The first action of the new board will be to arrange for the reopening of the Industrial Home school, which was closed last fall following the dif- ference of opinion which arose be- tween the guardians and the trustees over the relative merits of institu- tions and private boarding homes in caring for wards of the court. s ~ THe guardians favored placing the ‘wards in private boarding homes and, in pursuit of that policy, gradually removed all of the chjldren from the home school. S 55 { i | preme Court’s decision yesterday di; {preme Court the right to review pro- | ceedings of this kind were seen today PEPCO VALUATION NEXT STEPINFIEHT Both Sides Exvect Court to| Decide Upon Revision or Reference to Commission. Results of the United States Su- missing the appeal of the Public Util- | ities Commission in the Potomac Elec- | tric Power Company case on the | ground that the act creating the com- mission did not confer on the Su- i by attorneys for both sides, as follows: 1. Conrad H. Syme, special counsel | for the utilities commission, said that | the long-drawn-out battle between | the commission and the power com- pany had: “just begun.” 2. S. R. Bowen, counsel for the! power company, took the position | that the utilities commission must make a complete revaluation of the | property as of the present time,.and the impounding will continue until this new valuation is finally deter- mined. 3. The impounded fund of nearly $4,000,000 will not go to he com- pany immediately, lawyers'on both | sides agreed. i Next Step in Doubt. 1t was apparent from the views expressed by the lawyers today that | the mext step is for the District Su-| preme Court to decide whether it should now set out to revise the old | valuation of 1918 or drop the whole mission place a new proberty as of 1923. If it is left to the commission make a new valuation that body all probability will have to go Congress for an appropriation employ the experts needed. The propriation act for the next year allows the commission only §5,000 for incidental expenses over and above the salaries of the pres- ent corps of accountants. value on the N to in to to ap- fiscal Power Company's View. The effect of the decision of the| United States Supreme Court, as seen by Attorney Bowen for the power cempany, follows: “From a reading of the opinion of the court it appears that the dismis- | sal of the appeal of the commission | leaves the action of the Court of Ap- | peals in reversing the Supreme Court of the District as final. That the ef- | fect of such dismissal would leave the lower court nothing to.do under the decision of the Court of Appeals but to declare void the valuation order of the commission. “The provisions of the utilities act expressly require a valuation to be | made as of the date thereof. That is to say, a reinventory to which pres- ent-day prices should be applied.” Impounding Continues. It should be remembered that the injunction under which the gcompany has been getting aside the difference between the 10-cent light rate and the 7.6-cent rate was issued by the District Supreme Court in a rate case entirely independent of the valua- tion litigation. On this phase of the case Mr. Bowen said: “Until the valuation question is disposed of the action in the rate case, which has not been taken up, remains as at present and the im- pounding of the difference between the old rate and the billing rate continues.” The statement of Attorney Syme for the commission follows: “It appears to me that the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia, having before it the entire record before the commis®ion, which includ- ed costs as of a period approximating the, date of the valuation of Decem- ber 31, 1916, and having the right under the law to modify the findings of the commission, may hold that the case is now before it in such a situation that it may exercise its judgment as to the weight of the testimony and give such consider: tion to the higher costs of 1916 as element of value in reproduction cost as it may deem proper. Difterence in Reproduction. “It was evident that the Court of Appeals did not consider that the commission would have been justi- fled in allowing the high prices of 1916 as a basis of value, because it says in its opinio: “‘There is a very substantial dif- ference between the present cost of reproduction as one of the essential and important elements in determin- ing the present value and the ac- fvealed in | the event that seven memb | cerned principally today with the TWO CENTS. LITTLE REDUCTION IN WOMAN'S PAY TOFOLLOWRULING Merchants See No Effect on Present Scale—Women Plan Meeting Here. SENATOR BORAH SEES NEED OF AMENDMENT Legislation to Prevent Close De- cisions on Constitutionality Declared Necessary. A national conference of women's organizations to be held in Washing- ton to study the effects of the deci- ;sion yesterday by the United States Supreme Court declaring unconstitu- tional the law fixing minimum wages of women and girls employed in t District was seen today as one | the first resuits of this decision. The plan for the conference was rc- 4 statement from Ethel 2 mith, legislative secretary of the National Women's Trade Union League. The proposal for an amendment to the Constitution making it possible for Congress and the states to legis- late for minimum wages was foreseen today by Senator Borah of Idaho, re- publican, chairman of the Senate com- mittee on education and labor, as a result of the Supreme Court decision Y erday. Senator Borah is author a bill providing that a law enacted by Congress and approved by the President shall be held unconstitu= tional by the Supreme Court only in s of the court concurred in the decision that the act is unconstitutional. The decision yesterday, Senator Borah said, undoubtedly will strength | en his contention that there is a de- mand for such legislation. ‘Wages Not to Be Lowered. Meantime, local interest was = mediate effects in Washington on the wages paid women and girls. Brig. Gen. Anton Stephan, president of ths Merchants' and Manufacturers’ As- sociation, under which the majority of local estabjishments effected by ther decision cbme, said that wages of women and girls will not be low- ered here and that the decision was what the merchants had expected from the beginning. He contined his |comment to this statement. At _the same time T. A. McKee of the Metropolitan Hotel, president of the Hotel Men's Association of Wash- ington, and S. A. Manuel, chairm of this body's legislative committee, expressed similar sentiments—that no general reduction of wages among female help in looal hotels is expected to follow the Supreme Court's deci- sion. Future Status in Doubt. The future status of the minfmum wage board, which enforced the law, appeared to be somewhat in doubt to- day. The Commissioners considered the question at their board meeting and decided to ask Corporation Coun- sel Stephens for an opinion as to whether any part of the law remains in effect, or whether yvesterday's de- cision renders the entire statute in- wvalid. Members of the wage board stated today that they had not seen a copy of the court's decision and were not certain whether the verdict relleves the board of the duty of regulating the pay of minor girls. The litiga- tion on_which the United States Su- preme Court acted, they pointed out, involves only the question of fixing wages for adult women. Few Are Minors. However, only a_very small centage of those for whom wages have been fixed by the board are minors. The total number of women and minors in the four industries for which minimum rates have been fixed is 12,500 Of this number only 500 are minors. Aside from the status of the minors all agreed today that it is certain the board no longer can fix wages for women. . Among the organizations that will be communicated with by the Wom- en’s Trade Union League on the sub- ject of a national conference, are the National Consumers’ League, the National League of Women YVoters, the ¥ WG A the W € T, U, the Girls' Friendly Society, the Na- tional Council of Jewish Wome the National Council of Catholic Women, the General Federation of Women's Clubs, the American Association of University Women, the ~National Congress’ of Mothers and Parent- Teacher Associations, the National Council of Women, the National Fed- eration of Business and Professional Women and others, In the statement she issued today Miss Ethel Smith said: _*Something (Continued on Page 2, Column 1.) PRESOENT HOPING FORRENTPEAC Takes Position, However, of Organizing Commission if It Is Necessary. President Harding had been hoping that the rent situation in the District of Columbia might eventually cure itself, with a possibility that the present rent commission might not have to be reorganized, it was re- vealed at the White House today. The President, however, it was add- ed, has not received latest reports as to whether the commission i3 overburdened with work, and takes the position that, if necessary. the new commission will be adpointed, perhaps in the near future. Great care will be taken in the selections. Owing to the great burden upon the chief executive since the reor- ganization of the rent commission ‘was authorized by Congress, the Presi- dent, it was learned, had little op- portunity to study the situation with sufficient care to appoint a commis- jon. The President has always felt, it was said by an administration ceptance as conclusive evidence of such value of mere expert estimates of present cost of reproduction’ (Continued on Page 2, Column 7.) spokesman, that if the rent situation in the District actually became so bad a commission should be selected with the utmost care, since it might become a model.