Evening Star Newspaper, July 7, 1923, Page 1

- : o . WEATHER. ! - o] me rostly cloudy tonlght and tomor- i ¢ - - g ' TYeor Fhote o i v, Pro : - o g s MTchl:": b1y local thundezshowers; / ; ' Within the Hour” emperature for twenty-two hours || r A The Star’s carrier system covers today. = Full report on page 7. tion is delivered to Washington homes : . as fast as the papers are printed. R i . s — . . 3 Closing N. Y. Stocks and Bonds, Page 18 WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION' Yesterday’s Net Circulation, 88,124 Entered as 8econd-class matter post_office Washington, D. C. D. C, SATURDAY, JULY 7, 1923 -TWENTY-EIGHT PAGES. Pope Again Tak?s Hand in Rflh'? ‘ U S m KEEP NAW Opposes the Duisburg Reprisals A-l- I:Ul.l. S-I-R[NG]'H ' No. 28921 — - REGALL0F 7000 | TROCPS REPORTED . PARS RUBR OFFER WASHINGTO TWO CENTS. CUT IN INSURANCE CERTAIN- IF WATER SOUND. S GOQ, e T Envoys at Paris and Brussels to Protest New Restrictions, Proposal Hangs on. Ending - Resistance, British Inform- ed, It Is Believed. ' FRENCH WON'T AGREE T0 KEEP FORCE REDUCED Hold Sabotage Must Cease in Fact. Belgium Threatens to Break Off With Berlin. By the Assoclated Press. PARIS, July France has promised with Great Britain on the Jatter’'s desire for a written answer to the British questionnaire on repa- rations and the Ruhr occupation, it Swas learned in official quarters today. , Count De St. Aulaire, French ambas- * mador in London, has been instructed to deliver to the rBitish foreign office & copy of the French government's instructions to the ambassador on the weparation conversations he has Yiad with Lord Curzon. This copy was left with the Brit- #sh secretary for foreign affairs y terday by the French ambassador, it §s stated. BY PAUL SCOTT MOWRER. B Cable to The Star and Chicago Daily News. Coprright, 1923, PARIS, July 7.—It is reported here on good authority that the French government has informed the British that it would be willing to withdraw 70,000 troops of the present garrison of 90,000 from the Ruhr if Germany ceases her passive resistance. The \French would not guarantee, however, 0 keep the occupational forces at the reduced figure unless the resistance ceased in fact as well as in name. Bound by Treaty. While taking quite seriously the British threat of a separate under- standing with Germany, persons in s inner French circles declare that they are unable to see how the British can carry it out effectively. Great Britaln, as well as France, is bound by the treaty of Versailles and the procedure demanded by that instrument. Ger- iany's only reparations debt is in the form of three categories of bonds held not by the allied nations, but by the reparations commission, and any pay- ments made by Germany must pass ihrough the commission’s hands for distribution, -according to existing agreements. Thus, it is declared, all funds col- Jected by France and Belglum in the Ruhr are being deposited with the commission. and France and Belgium % have stated repeatedly that they are acting in the Ruhr not for themselves alone, but for the benefit of the al- lies 1f the British decide to make a separate agreement with Germany, they must first, the French de- nounce the treaty of Versallles” As the German indebtedness devolves wholly upon this treaty, the British in denouncing it would virtually re- Jease Germany from responsibility for Great Britain's share of the debt. May Prolong Occupation. Moreover, if the British take sepa- rate action, say the French, the prob- abilitles are that the French occupa- tion of the Ruhr will be prolonged ra- ther than shortened, and France and Belglum will feel free to collect what they can for themselves and the other eignatories in the occupled region, without regard to Great Britain. It is considered that separate action Dby the British will tend to prolong those conditions of-tension and un- certainty in Europe which underlie British persistence in_ Britain's most urgent economic problems. For all thess reasons it is belleved here that, while the situation is serious, no de- cisions inimical to France are immi- nent. Lioyd George made same threat of “reversing allianc at the Genoa conterence, but the only con- crete result of the threat was the Russ-German_ treaty. France and Beiglum, despite all forms of diplomatic pressure and all forms of passive resistance to which they may be submitted, feel that they need only to stand firm to win suc- cess with thelr Ruhr policy as a § means of forcing reparations pay- ments. DISAVOWAL DEMANDED. com- [ By the Associated Press. PARIS, July 7.—Belgium has made what is characterized as a veiled | threat to withdraw her minister from | Berlin unless Germany publicly dis- avows the Duisburg bombing and other violence in the Ruhr. The de- | livery in Berlin by the Belgian min- ister of such a threat was confirmed in French official quarters today, but 0 far as is known the French am- bassador has not yet joined in these representations. The French government, however, in view of the close accord with Bel- glum, is deemed certain to support the Helgian attitude. The Belgian demand was not in the gorm of an ultimatum, but it never- theless conveyed the idea that unless Germany complied the situation would be likely to result in the withdrawal of the Belgian minister. The French, while standing with the Belgians, stiil hope no necessity will arise for the carrying out of the Bel- glan threat, which would be followed by France. 70,000 PERSONS EXPELLED. Cable to The Star and Ch! Daily N By Cable to The Star and Ghicago Dally News. COLOGNE, July 7.—French and Bel- #lan pressure on the Ruhr is proceed- ing at such a terrific rate that the entire social and economic structure may collapse under it. Nearly 70,000 ersons—government employes and thelr familles—have been expelled from the Rubr and the Rhineland and 10,000 more have been:driven from their homes. Duesseldorf now has its third substitute mayor, his predeces- sors having been arrested or expelled. Still there are men in reserve ready to step into that unpleasant office. Every day brings news of new traf- Aic_blockades, seizures of money, ex- ‘pulsionss arrests, shootings and the fmposition or execution of death sen- tences. The transaction of business l‘; bmln( llinnn: impossible, and o supply is seriously en- eaagerods 3 4 By the Associated Press. BERLIN, July 7.—The semi-official news agency today publishes the fol- lowing: “It is learned from Rome that upon the receipt of the news that vigorous measures had beca taken in the occupied German ter='tories as the result of the Duisburg rallway accident, the Curia has sent tele- graphic instructions to the nunci- atures in Paris and Brussels to make representations to the French and Belglan governments and to state expects no meas- that his holiness ures i1l further e: with pondingly painful 1 statement issued ay's conference between Cuno and Mgr. Pacelli papal nuncio discussed the Ruhr, after ¥ Chancellor says the sabotage in the views and wishes of the holy see in this eonnection. The statement add 2 i “Chancellor Cuno decided that it was a _question of incide: from the excitement of an harassed people who in desperation endeavored to act in self-defense. The German government 5, however, at one with the holy see In condemning all criminal use of force” Adjournment of the reichstag for the summer recess is ¢xpected today. POINCARE IS UPHELD. ciated P By the A PARIS, June 7.—The French parlia- ment now stands behind Premier Poincare in declaring that the papal ations letter can have no effect WIFE SLAYS RIVAL, Grabs Woman by. Hair, Kills Her While Chicago Crowd Looks On. By the Associated Pre: CHICAGO, July Nine months ago Mrs. Minnie Bernatowicz, thirty- eight years old, and the mother of four children, is alleged to have threatened to slay Mrs. Annie An- draski, thirty-nine years old, whom she accused of stealing her husband. corner awaited Mrs. Andraski.and shet and Kkilled her. In view of scores of persons, Mrs. Bernatowicz, revolver in hand, rushed upon her victim as Mrs. Andraski was about to board a street car to go to work, seized her by the hair and screamed her hatred. and as the woman writhed and sought to es- cape and several men approached, in- tent on preventing a tragedy, Mrs. { Bernatowicz shot her twice. Son Pleads for Gun. Bernatowicz, nineteen-year- of the slayer, was with his and according to the police, with her to give him ‘the re- that he might kill Mrs. He was arrested with his John old son mother, pleaded volver Andraski. mother. “At the happlest moment of your life I will kiil the woman who has made you happy and brought this suffering on me,” Mrs. Bernatowicz 18 alleged to have told her husband, Joseph Bernatowicz, an organizer for the Brotherhood of Railway Car- men of America, from whom she was separated nine months ago. Mrs. Andraski’'s son, Bruno, six- teen years old, heard the shots and ran to the corner as his mother fell mortally wounded. Her husband is a laborer. Mre. Bernatowicz's mother charged that Bernatowicz had threatened to kill his wife if she interfered with his friendehip for Mrs. Andraski. U. 5. COURT VIEWS Members of Council Feel America Should Be Induced _ to Join Moves. By the Assoclated Press. GENEVA, July 7.—Whether the United States will adhere to the In- ternational Court of Justice continues to be a favorite topic of discussion | here among the members of the league of nations council, which is now meeting. Some prominent Europeans;.recent- ly returned from the United States, informed the members of the council that they were deeply impressed by the strength of spirit of the American people, that they wished to show a wider interest in international affairs and, wherever possible, without drag- i ging the United Statés Into foreign political quarrels, to co-operate more extensively in ‘the settlement of world problems. The whole trend of opinion here is that evervthing possible must be done to induce the United States to join concrete international move- ments, like the World Court, though the, representatives of the league have made known their feelings that it will be exceedingly difficult to in- corporate President Harding's sug- gestions for reframing the court foundations. . Prof. Manley O. Hudson of Harvard University, who 1s in Geneva, con- tinues like other authorities to em- phasize the immense value of . the World Court as a constructive ‘in- ternational institution, describing its power for good as immeasurable, especially if the United States can be induced to adhere 10 it, and the hope | Is varnestly expressed in league olr- cles generally that America may join the court irrespective or anything it may do to the league of natjons it 2 A shall be taken which might lead | bitterment of feel- | setting forth | ts arising | today Mrs. Bernatowicz at a street ENCOURAGE LEAGUE| Following Parlia- ment O. K. of Poincare Course. lon France's decision to stay in the | Rubr until Germany pays. | The senate's recent Indorsement of | the premler's indirect slap at the Vatican’s commentary was followed last evening by a similar expression {of approval from the chamber of deputies, which, by a vote of 388 to, 190, agreed with M. Poincare that the | government would never admit papal { interference In elther her domestic or | foreign policies. The premier's address to the dep- utles also was marked by a brief but | pointed reference to those who op- pose her coercive poliey. Appears as Hindrance. “Today,” France appears he said, to certain peoples who did not have | | part of their territory devastated in | the war and who did not advance & | hundred billion In-behalf of Germany as a hindrance to financiers, who are in a hurry to form trusts” . As to the Pope's letter, M. Poincare asserted that it should have no po- litical effect and that French Cath- olics need not be influenced by it, for | the Vatican could not deprive France 'of what was due her under the peace treaty. To those who demanded that the | French embassy at the Vatican be | discontinued because it had not acted ment in connection with the publi | tion of the letter, Premier Polncare id: “We don’t suppress our embassies | to the governments of our allies or | those of neutrals when they ask that Germany's capacity to puy be exam- ined by a so-called impartial com- mission.” GURB ON DOGTORS § SHE PROMISED NEXT DRY LAWISSUE Appeal to Highest Court Like- ly From Decision on Pre- scriptions Clause. With the smoke of the ship liquor battle clearing away, there are grow- of the prohibition law to be brought into the Supreme Court may be the limitation it places on the right of | physiclans to prescribe lauor for i medicinal purposes. A decision handed down vesterday by Judge Bourquin at Helena, Mont., |is the second in recent weeks in which federal courts have'held the | physicians' limitation section of the |law unconstitutional. Judge Knox, in a case brought as a test and. although Department of Justice of- ficials have not yet taken an appeal to the highest court, there is evi- dence that the question is under serious consideration at the office of the Attorney General Opinion Based on Amendment. The position of those who have at- tacked the seotion limiting the amount of liquor physiclans can pre- scribe as medicine has been based on the wording of the eighteenth amend- ment itself, which says that manu- gress when the subject was under | debate that the amendment did not deal in any semse with medicinal liquors, and that any attempt by law to go that length In regulating liquor consumption would be without constitutional sanction. ‘ In some other cases lower courts have disagreed with the Montana and New York decisions, and law enforce- ment officials here appear to regard an ultimate ruling by the Supreme Court as necessary to clear away con- fusfon and insure a uniform practice throughout the country. COURT SETS ASIDE CHARGE. ed of Excess Prescription. By the Assoclated Press. HELENA, Mont., July 7.—So long as it has decided that alcohol may be used for medicinal purposes, Con- j §ress cannot dictate to physiclans the number of whisky prescriptions they may write or the quantity prescribed, according to a decision hére yester- day by Federal Judge George M. Bourquin. The ruling of Judge Bour- quin was similar to that of Federal Judge. Knox of New York, who on May 9 granted an_order restraining prohibition authorities from Inter- fering with the practice of Dr. Samuel W. Lambert as to the amount of whisky that might be prescribed to one patient. Judge Bourquin's decision invali- dated the prosecution of Dr. J. B. Freund of Butte, charged with hav- ing issued more_than one hundred prescriptions within ninety days, and with prescribing more than one-half pint of alcohol to one patient in ten days. The court held in substance that Congress cannot substitute its judg- ment _for that of the physician and ((Continued on Page 2, Column 6.) MAUGHAN DELAYS FLIGHT ACROSS U. S. TO MONDAY ‘Will Take Off Then in Dawn-to- Dusk Trip if Weather Is Favorable. By the Associated Press. MITCHEL FIELD, N. Y., July 7.— Lieut. Russell L. Maughan, whose contemplated dawn:-to-dusk flight from coast to’ coast with four stops, =:lv been postponed several times, to- Mo if“ weather conditions “were |in the best interests of the govern- | ing indications that the next feature | {in New York, made the same finding, Dispisses Case of Physician Accus- announced he would take off|the Mennonite col questioned 0F 5 POVER PAE] Denby Approves Decisior Held Significant in View of French Approval Delay. 18 FIRST-LINE SHIPS WILL BE MAINTAINEC i 14 Cruisers and 84 Submarines tc Be Kept in Fighting Trim, | Officials Announce. | The United States will maintain at | full efficiency during the next fiscal vear “a minimum naval force at sea” |0t eighteen first-line battleships, four- | teen cruisers and elghty-four sub- marines, under a decision by the gen- eral board, formally approved by Secretary Denby. The decision ix viewed as significant in view of the uncertain status of naval treaty resulting from the con- tinued delay of France to ratify. An analysis of the complete program shows tie Navy will keep at fighting trim and at sea the full strength allotted to the United States under that treaty. While the government was said to view as certain the adherence of France, it developed today that the cabinet has frequently discussed the situation which would ensue If the Quay D'Orsay failed to take formal action. These discussions were gen- eral in character, it was sald, and resulted In no specific conclusion. New Ships to Be Ready. JThe practical strength of the force to be maintained will be aug- mented from time to time during .he year by the replacement of old ships with ones which will be completed and commissioned. Prominent among these are the tleships Colorado and West Virginia which will re- { place the Delaware and North Da- kota, the latter being due for de- commissioning and scrapping. Other new ships to be added in- clude seven light cruisers of the Omaha class, several of which al- rcady have been dellvered, and eight {to ten “S" submarines. DEPUTIES OPEN DEBATE, France Realizes Delay Is Annoy- ing to United States. By the Assoctated Press. PARTS, July 7.—Open debate in the French chamber of deputies on the fratification of the Washington naval treaties was begun this afternoon, with discussion of those parts of the treaties dealing with the limitation of naval armament and capital ships. | By Cable to The Star and Chicago Daily News. Copyright, 1023. PARIS, July The Washington treaty on naval limitation’ and the four-power pact will be formally | submitted by the government to the |chamber of deputies late today with |the urgent recommendation that the |discussion be brief and ratification prompt. This action is the result of representation by the government of the United Stats which, admittedly, 1s facture and sale of Intoxicating ([embarrassed and annoyed by the de- liquors “for beverage purposes” Is|lay caused by French procrastination forbidden. It was argued in Con- |In putting the treaties into effect. Vaeation Due July 14. Normally the French parllament be- gins a six-week vacation about July 14. Unless the treaty can be discussed and ratified by both eham- bers before that date, or unless the government decrees a prolongation of the parliamentary session, there can be no hope of making the treaties ef- {fective before next August. Premier Polncare is sald to be thoroughly In sympathy with the American desire for the ratification of the treaties. Early Ratification Expected. * While a certain amount of opposi- tion Is expected from the royalists and from deputies representing French naval ports, it is expected that the treaties may be ratified by the chamber tonight or Monday and by the senate within the following week. 3 Only the naval limitation treaty and the four-power pact are now under consideration. “The other two Wash- ington ugreements will not be con- sidered until next fall. FIANCE IS SOUGHT NGIRL'S MURDER Suitor Left Behind in Mary- land Mennonite Colony Sus- pected in Brutal Crime. By the Associated Press. SCARSDALE, N, Y., July 7.—An in- quiry was begun today by the’police to discover whéther Dorothy Kaut- man, twenty-one-year-old governess who was killed in the home of Magruder Craighead on Tiesday, left a suitor or flance behind her in the Mennonite colony in Westover, Md., where she spent most of her early lite before she came north last Sep- tember. Police Captain McQuillan expressed the opinion that some man might have followed he? from the south a; ¥ll|cd .hr h'lh.n ]l‘lle "!“‘.I‘ to re. urn _wi m. It was pointed out that Miss Kaufman had nothing to do with any men here but that she fre- uently received. letters couched -in levout religious terms from men in t was Ay Was the five-power | ‘were _'ml' Im'vqr_trrnoqo‘l_n 1L FLEETARRNES TOINPRESS CHIA Will Join Britain and Japan in| Demonstration Off Coast. BY JUNIUS B. WOOD. By Cable to The Star and Chicago Dally News. Copyright, 1923, PEKING, June 7.—The arrival here of Rear Admiral Edwin A. Anderson, commanding the American Asiatic fleet, simultaneously with an an- nouncement from London that the United States intends to participate with Great Britaln and Japan in a naval demonstration off the Chinese Goast. has thrown thelf Peking cab- inet into a flutter of apprehension. Accorling to dispatches from Len- dof; Great Hritdin propobed the dis- play of international naval strength, to which the United States has as- sented. Japan is said to be withe nolding her approval, pending more detalle regarding the plan. Though unofficially notified of the naval move, Chinese officialdom here considers it of secrious import. The first announcement of the American government's willingness to partici- pate came from the British foreign office in London and later was an nounced through the Portuguese le- gation. BANDITS CAPTURE 90. 5 | Carry Off Upper-Class Chinese for | Ransom. By the Associated Press. HONGKONG, July 7.—Bandlts to- day held up a train on the Canton- Kowloon rallway, fifteen miles from Canton, killing a Chinese military officer and one soldler, and carrying off about ninety upper-class Chinese, who are being - held for ‘ransom. Booty valued at $50,000 was also taken. PLAN RAILWAY POLICE. China Seeks to Prevent More Train ‘Hold-Ups. By the Associated Press. PEKING, .July 6.—Chinese govern- ment officlals are rushing plans for the organization of raflway police units a8 8 measure to prevent repeti- tion of the Suchow bandit rald of May 6, In which more than-a score of foreigners were kidnaped. REPUBLIC HELPLESS. By the Assoclated Press. PEKING, July 7.—China’s ship of state, more than three weeks with- out a president, the cabinet crippled by the lack of two of its most im- portant portfolios, foreign affairs and- finance,’ and the members .of parliament scattered, still is drifting in the political doldrums with fio prospect of escape. Conflicting ‘and inspired rumors add fog to the out- look, which is complicated ‘well by the brand- of politi¢s played by the parliamentarians In. Peking, Tientsin and Shanghali. Despite the confusion in govern- ment circles. the social and business life of the capital continues usual. Latest reports tell of attempts to reconciliate Tsao Kun, military power of the north, ahd Sun Yat Sen, political leader of the south, each of whom, it is said, realizes that the other cannot be eliminated, The cholce of a president to succeed It Yuan-Hung, who fled to Tientsin hearly a month ago with the northern militariste on his heels, ‘still ‘is & problem w’:flld w.hlch made no headway. have been called to.consider ‘thie maf ter and eleven m:vumh 0 get & qu B sy “l‘!v’: llm- 'u, nfiltx_ry sponsor_of -the Li Yuan-Hung regime, hag written to his friends here urging -that. V. K. Wellington Koo, whose appof ment foreign minis! i b itin rliament’s Brany weeke, be installed in the ost for the good of the country. £ NAVY PLANE FALLS IN NEW YORK HARBOR NEW YORK, July 7.—A Navy air- plarie; Iffi charge of Lieut. Duffy, fell into New York ‘harbor, near-Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, today. N and tivo'Navy men who, GREEK SHIP SUNK | IN FIGHT ON TURKS | | S | Attempt to Land Regiment Mar-| mora Cape Blamed in Con- | stantinople Repdrts. | . By the Associated Press. | | 'SOFIA, July 7.—Verification of report from Constantinople of fight- !fng between Greek ” and Turkish troops at Kara-Burun, a cape on the Asiatic side of the Sea of Marmora, was awaited here today. / In the course of the conflict, which the telegram said started when the! Greeks made an attempt to land a regiment on the cape, a Turkish tor- pedo boat is reported to have sunk a Greek vessel, with a loss of many lves. After an engagement on the coast with Turkish troops, the message added, the Greeks sought refuge abonrd their ship, which was fired upon and sent to the hottom by the destroyer Kemal Pasha. The trouble is said to have occurred Wednesday night. The Turkish ;l;onlh-r has been closed for several ¥S. SAYSFRANCEHAS SAME AIMS AS U.S. Gouraud Likens Army to Training Activities in Camp ! ,Meade Address. | | By a Staff Corregpondent. CAMP MEADE, Md., July 7.—In- apired by the spectacle of a brigade of citizen soldiers passing in review with the confidence of grizzled vet- erans, Gen. Eugene Gouraud declared, in a public address here today, that France maintains its present stand- ing army only for the same reasons that prompted America to establish training camps for its citizen youths —natlonal safety and defense. Surrounded by high officers of the: Regular Army, the famous French general addressed his remarks to the students of the citizens’ military trainipg camp and the reserve offi- cers' training camp here, whom he had just finished reviewing. Several times he banged the scabbard of his sword upon the flooring of the stand to emphasize his remarks. Lauds Youth and Idenl. “Comrades,” he said, “I saw yester- day in the Marine camp two old mili- tary organizations with glorious records. Today I have had the pleas- ure of seeing a group of younger American soldlers—men so valiant in appearance that I can not help com- paring you with the others who have years of trainiffg and tradition be- hind them. “Brig. Gen. Fiske, your cdmmander, has told me that among your num- bers Are only a few men of the regu- iar Army; the others are youths and college students, gathered here. to prepare themsélves to defend their country in the time of need. I con- gratulate you also upon your ideal, because it is the duty of a free peo- ple to prepare. themselves to de- fend their native land should the oc- casion arise. Desire for Security. “It {s just'this same sentiment and desire for national security that actu- ates France today. But we have cut in two the length of time our youths must: serve in the army. Now thelr time of service is only a year and a half; it used to be three years. But Dbecause ' France keeps a standing army with -only a year and a half of training, it Is accused of militar- ism. Such statements are lles, broad- inted out to Ger- many’s failure to Keep her promises in the past and to the fact that it is a nation still strong, with a_citizenry hardened: by a long war. For those reasons, too, he asserted, France must train its youths so that they will be ready, as their predecessors were in 1914, to filn,t:nf _to arms on the Marne and save Paris from capture. ~.“Webelleve it is better to die than 'to ive without honory’ Gen. Gouraud concluded, “You boys are getting ‘ready to answer the call of your Presi- dentand your Congress, should it ever come. - -That is your motive for being here. ‘You do not try to hide it. The tactics -of - warfare have changed, and today ‘the nations must train “their armies so- thoroughly that they would be able to continue a fight even if their ofMcers were ail killed, “During the war 1‘never gave more ‘worthy cltations than those which read) something like this: ‘after his commanding officers had been killed | ia- | he. ued to advance under fire {immediate delivery. INDUSTRIES URGED 10 LAY IN COAL U. S. Distributor Wadleigh Sees Winter Tie-Up if De- mand Is Delayed. Industrial consumers were urged today by F. R. Wadleigh, federal fuel distributor, to lay in stocks of coal immediately. The American Railway Association, Mr. Wadleigh said, and officials of the:government in contact with coal production consider that there will be grave danger of a transportation tie-up during winter months if coal demand is held off until fall, when crops and other gommodities reach the peak of movement. “If industrial consumers hold off from purchasing coal during the summer and enter fall months with insuffictent stocks,” Mr. Wadleigh's warning declared, “they are then likely to find themselves in a difficult position, and the country’s rail tran portation facilities overburdened with consequent delay In movement of traffic, shortage of equipment, and congestion at yards and terminals. Benefit in Early Move. “Industrial consumers can, by pur- chasing and storing to capacity as much as possible of their fall and winter coal requirements, aid the rail- roads, industry generally and the in- terests of the whole country.” Mr. Wadlelgh noted that railroad traffic had been at a record breaking volume ror several months, and point- ed out that Secretary Hoover had urged trade associations to move to bring about coal storage by their members. The Commerce Department. he added, would again appeal to trade interests to facilitate and extend stor- age of coal during the present sum- mer. Soft Coal Prices Low. In the opinion of several Washing- ton dealers, the present prices of soft coal are at a low mark, and they urge that purchases be made now instead of late fall. They have ample stocks of coal on ! hand and are in a position to supply any quantity with the possible excep- tion of a grade or two of anthracite coal. . Prices of the various large con- cerns compare favorably, a slight in- crease or decrease being due in the main to the special grade of coal con- sidered. Bituminous, with the New River, Georges Creek, Valley Smokeless, rice and white oak grades, sell from $7.50 to $9 a ton, immediate delivery. Anthracite averages about $14.40 for the various grades. Egg coal was priced today at $14.50, pea at $12 and chestnut, $15.26. These prices are for Stove coal, with some firms, is rather scarce, but quan- tities are available for purchase now, it was sald, $100 BOND FOR BOY IN CONTEMPT CASE Huri;:g Tuesday on Charge of Failing to Appear as Witness in Juvenile Court. Chief Justice McCoy of the Dis- trict Supreme Court today ordered the release from custody of Laurance Alston, ten years old, of 107 D street southwest on a bond of $100 for a hearing next Tuesday on a writ of habeas corpus. The boy was arrest- ed late yesterday afternoon on a warrant issued out of the Juvenile Court on a charge of. contempt of court: According to the petition of Sam- uel Alstog. father of the boy, through Attorneys T. Morris Wampler and Robert E. Lynch, a summons for the boy to appear in the Juvenile Court as a witness in a case was left at his home July 2. . There was no date ecified for his appearance, the space for the date of appearance on the summons being blank. The boy, however, was taken .to court last Tuesday by his aunt, who waited for more than two hours and, being un- accustomed to ‘court procedure, re- turned the child to his home on the supposition that he was not wanted. he father tells the court he .is informed that the child is to' be held in custody until July 17 to await the pleasure of Judge Kathryn Sellers of the Juvenile' Court to dispose of the charges PRESSUREIS HIGHER, D. M. Lea Says City Pays for Lack of Adequate Fire Protection Now. TRADE BOARD READY TO PRESS HARD FIGHT Holds Half Million Cost Low if U. S. Buildings and Others Are Made Safe. Lines are being drawn by commit- tees of the Washington Board of Trade for pressing of a fight before the District Commissioners to have included in their estimates this year one for the installation of a high- pressure water system for firefighting in the business District, it was learn- ed today. The argument, which came from the District building that the Commi: sioners would not recommend such a system because there was no assur- ance fhat the fire insurance compa nies would reduce the insurance rate following its installation, was ploded today by.David M. Lea. pr dent of the rating board of the D trict fire underwriters, which sets the rate for fire insurance here. Mr. Lea is today seeking to learn the sourc ex- i of this misinformation, he says. fc certainly no official of the rating board would have informed the Com- missioners or their aides that there would be no rate reduction. He flatl denied that such a statement v true. Assures Reduction. Mr. Lea, who also is chairman the insurance and fire protection com- mittee of the Washington Board of Trade, sald that there would be reduction in the rate following the installation of the system. He point- ed out that at the present time Wash- ington is paying a deficiency because of the lack of sufficient water for fire fighting in the case of a serious blaze. He pointed out further in the course of a conference with Richard Connor, assistant secretary of the board, that Washington was getting a credit for the efficiency of its fire fighting ap- paratus and personnel. This, he add- ed, should indicate to the Commis- sioners that attention should be focused in getting money for the in- stallation of- the high-pressure fight- ing system as against an increase in apparatus, for apparatus without wa- ter would be of no yuse. As an indication of the Insufficiency of the water supply here in the event of a serious fire, Mr. Lea said that five vears ago the underwriters, by arrangement with the District au- thorities. and at a given minute and second in the day turned on all fire plugs in the business area. The re- sult, he said, was that from cach plug there was not enough water coming out to put out a fire in a box of safety matches. There has been no change in pressure since that time. Delay Proves Costly. Mr. Lea pointed out that insurance rates are based on a “standard city Washington has everything in its favor for a standard city rate, he said, except the one item of deliver- ing water to street plugs. The longer the installation of such a system it put off, the more it will cost. The additlonal water supply will help but little when it comes to fire protection, owing to the antiquated system of delivery pipes, which are virtually "what they were thirty years ago, in spite of the tremendous growth of the city. These pipes, however, would not have to be touched to put in the high-pressure system. To lay new. mains in place of these pipes would make the cost prohibitive, but to lay an entirely new system in the down- town area with water drawn direct- Iy from the river nearby would not be costly, compared with the eco- nomic saving in rates and the fire pro- tection provided. At the same time, be added, the District authorities should consider the matter from the standard of protection to the com- muaity alone, and fire insurance rate reduction, which will come anyway, should not enter into it. Supply Is Low. There is hardly enough water now in the District mains, he went on, for drinking and cleansing purposes, and yet from that narrow-margined sup- ply must come in the emergencies of conflagration the water necessary to quench flame. He pointed to the fire several months ago in a lumber yard, when jt was necessary to cut off the home “Supply of water from the mains so the engines could suck enough water to put on the fire. “Continued dependence upon this supply for fire fighting,” said Mr. Lea, “is an invitation to disaster. At a comparatively small expense pumps may be established at the edge of the river and water in indefinite quanti- ties pumped into mains specially laid through the business area, where the fire risk is greatest and where values are more concentrated, and especially the area of government buildings, and with numerous outlets the city would be so well protected that its fire losses would be kept to a record minimum. For the conditions for fire fighting here are perhaps the best in the country. The streets are broad, there are no overhead wires to impede the work of the -firemen. An excellent, though not yet suffi- clent, equipment is established and the personnel of the fire department is exceptionally high in efficiency. Cost Half Million. “When the high-pressure service was first proposed the cost was esti- mated at $100,000. It would now probably cost half a million. It would be cheap at that or at twice that amount as an insurance agalnst big fires. When Congress reconvenes this matter should be laid before it for consideration, perhaps outside of the budget estimates. It is a ques- tion of more than local municipal concern. It Is really a government question, for the public buildings and all the archives of the federal admin- istration are involved in the local fire risk. For its own sake to increase the protection of its plant of build- ings \and papers the government should be greatly concerned in the installation of every possible means reducing risk of loss by fire in ‘ashington.”