Evening Star Newspaper, July 17, 1923, Page 1

WEATHER. Fair tonight and tomorrow: moder- ate temperature; light to gentie north- east winds. Temperature our hours ended at 2 igliest, 88, at 6:30 p.m. Lowest, 69, at 4 a.m. today. Full report on page 7. for twenty- p.m. today . yesterday. Closing N. Y. Stocks and Bonds, Page 24 <h In‘ered as so ¢ No. ‘.’é,QBl. post office Washington, nd ~lats caatrer D. C. WASHINGTON, D. C, JDHNSON PILES UP | £ 000 LEAD TO BEAT FREUS FORSENATE Election Turns Minnesota’s Representation Over to Farm-Labor Party. “WON'T TAKE DICTATION OF ANY ONE IN CONGRESS” Bushes Out to Finish His “Haying" After News—For Recognition of Russia Now. Br the Associated Press. ST. PAUL, Minn, July 17.—Minne- €ota’s representation in the United States Senate has been turned over to the farmer-labor party as the re- sult of another political transition the state went through in the special senatorial electicu yesterday. Magnus Johnson of Kimball, Minn, a “real o farmer, gained the covet- ed post vacated by the recent death of Senator Knute Nelson. When 2,243 of the states 3,520 pre- cincts had reported, including incom- plete returns from every county in the state, Johnson's total had mounted 127, a lead of 53,176 over Gov. s. The count in those precincts . Johnson, 217.427; Preus, 164,251, Carley., 8. Will §it With Shipstead. Senator-eiect Johnson will Henrik Shipstead, who was elected last fall over Frank B. Kellogg. re- publican. Both Johnsen and Ship- Stead are farmer-laborites andl have announced their intention to affiliate with the “followers of Robert M. La Follette” in Congress. ) ¥ Though jubilant over his victory. the “real dirt” senator was more con- cerned today about “getting his hay- ing done” than things political. and he sought to postpone statements incident to his election, but did let drop a few remarks. “Well, Boys, I Put It Over.” ‘Well, bo: he said. “I put it over: 1 'beat ‘Jake' Preus, as I said I would. N 1 can go home and help my sons get the haying done After that I can do some more or- gonizing before I go to Wash- ngton.” He wanted to ignore statements as N political plans—the haying and other harvesting had fallen be- hind during the strenuous campaign he had waged—but now ‘‘the election job” is out of the way and he can turn “to the job back home. Fressed for details of his orgapi- zaticn_plans he repeated an excerpt from his campaign keynote .speech: “T will do this because T believe the farmers and workers and the bus. : men can by united action bet- ter their conditions.” Wants Russia Recognized. or the prespnt. he preferred not to recognition of Russia, though “hetween you and me I am for recog- nition right away.” Prohibition, he passed over. Charles R. Adams. chairman of the renublican state central committee, at- tributed the defeat of Gov. Preus to the fact that “the best efforts of republican workers were unable to overcome the evident feeling of unrest and dissatis- faction with economic conditions which found its vent in a protest vote.against the party in power." Gov. Preus. who had announced his supnort of the policies of the Harding administration, which had lent a “Hard- ing versus Lo Follette flavor to the elec- tion had nothing to add today to his brief statement thanking his supporters for their votes. May Be Candidate Again. He will continue as governor until the expiration of his term, January 1, 1925. He has not indicated whether he will try for the long-term senatorial elec- tion in 1924, for yesterday's election simply was for the unexpired term of the late nator Knute Nelson, or until March, 1925, Johnison expects to be a candidate for the long term, friends said. Senator-elect Johnson, while announc- ing adherences to the principles for which the La Follette group are banded together, has qualified this affliation with the statement that he does not in- tend to accept dictation “from any man™ in Congress. “I am not quite ready to announce my plans,” he said today, “but you can just bet when T want anything done or want to bring anything to the attention of the Senate I can make myself heard.” and New Senator Rus hes His Haying To Prepare for Duties Here Wires Crackle as Johnson Shouts in Joy at News. “I Am the Senator, Think of That,” He Exults. Special Dispateh to The Star. PAUL. July 17.—In a voice so rowerful that it vibrated and crack- led the long distance telephone wire over which he talked. Magnus John- son, the tarmer-laborite senator-elect, sald today he was “back on the farm” helping the Johnson boys with their haying. He v a jubilant Johnson. He had defeated for onc Gov. Preus, republican, for the first time in the latter's long political cz reer, and he was overjoy. prospect of occupying the Senate seat of the late Knute Nelson. “What do you think of that?” added. when “told that his ma would probably go over the 50,000 | mark. “T am the United States sena- tor from Minnesota.” And he is, much to the chagrin of some 200,000 republicans in Minne- sota, and to the joy of the budding farmer-labor party in the Gopher state, the same party that put over Senator Henri K. Shipstead in 1922 “Well,” he continued. “now f; MEPNER APPEALS FOR FULL INQURY TOCLEARHISNANE Tells Judge He Stands Un- justly Accused Before “Bar of Public Opinion.” he | PROSECUTOR DEMANDS | SLAIN WIFE’S LETTER| Gives Attorney 24 Hours to Return Note Written to Minister—Jury Call May Come Today. By & Stalt Correspondent. FREDERICK, Md. July 17.—Sen- sational developments came thick and fast this morning in the Grace Sim- mons Kepner murder mystery. each fairly electrifying this ordinarily | placid little city. and solidly crystal lizing_public opinion for an immedi- ate grand jury investigation The three outstanding ments of the morning were: 1. Evard Kepner, husband of the slain woman, appealed t» Judge Glenn H. Worthington of the circuit court, through his attorneys, to insti- | tute an exhaustive probe without de- lay, declaring that he now stands at | the bar of public opinion unjustly accused of the murder of his Wi h’no opportunity to vindicat: selt.” Kepners Attorney Warned. States Attorney Aaron R. Anders served notice on Leo Wein- berg of counsel for Kepner that un- less he returned within twenty-four hours a letter Mrs. Kepner is sup-| posed to have written to the Rev. Dr. J. T. Gaehr, in which she was alleged to have roferred to her mald- en sister, Eleanor Houxk. as thorn In the flesh,” a court order| compelling return of the document would be served. Judge Edward C. Peter, the third member of the circult court bench here, was requested to come to Fred- erick from Rockville immediately supposedly for the purpose of de- | ciding whether or not that tribunal will authorize the state’s attorney to develop- | Can “Out-bellow” Any One. ‘Making himself heard” might be ®ccepted literally, for the senator- elect has a strong voice and has said that he can “out-bellow” about any one who might care to enter into competition. Some of this ability to make him- ®elf heard he ascribes to the lung de- velopment he was subjected to while learning the glass-blowing trade in Sweden when he was in his 'teens. ¥le was born in Varmland, Sweden, in 1871, and came to the United States and ‘Minnesota when he was 20 years old. Johnson's father was a shipowner fu Sweden, and for some time before emigrating to America young_John- son sailed before the mast. In this country his first experience included work as a millhand and lumberjack. For t our years he has been a farmer at Kimball. Just a Farmer. The senator-elect insists he nothing but a_ plain farmer,” not worried “whether his pants are pressed, so Jong as he is backing the interests of the farmer.” While serv- ing in the Minnesota legislature he followed the practice of scrutinizing every bit of legislation before voting on it. In the Minnesota house and senate—two terms in_the former and one in the latter—Johnson excited considerable comment by his oratori- cal efforts. There never was a com- plaint that some members could not ear him. he said. and he promises to hold to “this reputation in Washing- on.” As a matter of fact, there is little of the dialect In Johnson's English, 2lthough he admits difficulty with an occaslonal word, but not to an extent that understanding is difficult. No Novice in Politics. Mr. Johnson is no novice in Minne- sota politics. He has been well Xnown to the farmers of the state for ten years. He was borfi in Varmland, Sweden, fifty-two years ago, and at ihe age of fourteen was apprenticed as a_glass-blower. He emigrated to the United States when twenty years old and settled in Meeker county, Minnesota. From his savings in Sweden and in Minnesota he purchased a farm at Kimball, near Litchfield. He is mar- ‘Ticd and has a family of three chil- dren, two boys and one girl. First Venture in 1912, Mr. Johnson's first venture in poli- fics was in 1912, when he brought the (Continued on Page 3, Column 2.) convene the grand jury in special session to further 1Investigate the Kepner mystery. Still Believes it Wan Suleide. _Mr. Kepner's statement was Issued after his attorneys, Mr. Weinberg and Guy K..Motter, had remained closeted with Judge Worthington for more than hour. They also saw Chief Judge Hammond Urner. The lawyers | declared Mr. Kepner welcomed al thorough investigation. The state-| ment, the first Mr. Kepner has made since’ the ‘coroner's jury returned a verdict declaring his wife to have been the Victim"of an assassin, fol- ows: “Mr. Kepner, while &till convinced in his own mind that his wife com- mitted suicide. but recognizing the effect of the verdict of the coroner’s jury that she was murdered, wel- comes a thorough investigation to as- certain the identity of the murderer. Judge Delays Action “At the present time, Mr. Kepner stands at the bar of public opinion unjustly accused of the murder of his wife, with no _opportunity to vindi- cate himself of this false charge, that has been circulated broadcast against him through sensaitonal and spec- tacular_newspaper accounts. “Mr. Kepner absolutely denies that he killed his wife and is ready and willlng to co-operate with the authorities to his utmost to establish the identity of the murderer, if any murderer there be, and to bring him to_justice.” Mr. Weinberg said Judge Worthing- ton stated that he would refer this communication to his assoclate, Judge (Continued on Page 2, Column 2.) | the Notre | This information. held little harv st_on my boys' farm, then own farm. Then I'll go organizing for the farmer- labor party, for you see we have another campaign” coming along in 1924 Mr. Johnson was so excited by the news of his victory that he almost, but not quite, forgot the allegations that he cannot speak the KEngzlish ont 1 on 1" lumn 5.) Former Richest Russian Is Held By U.S. Officials By the Associated Press. SAN FRANCISCO. Calif.. July 17.--J. Bret rated before the revolution the richest private individual in Russia, and his mother-in-law. Mrs Klaudine Koshine. widow of the former president of the Russian Imperial State Bank, with 126 other Rus- - held at the immigration ause the July quota migrants has been as in ident of a nghai, said t $40,000 due who s 4 mpany of » had come to colle for supplies furn American relief workers in Russia. He said he had a simiar claim against the French ment for 3,000,000 franes. pr t . go! KIDNAPED NUN'S CLOTHES RETURNED Hunt Renewed for Alleged! Abductors of Sister Ce- cilia in Frederick. Speeial Dispatch to The Star. DERICK. Md. July 17.— Shrouded with the same mystery that irrounded her disappearance from ame convent last Febru- y 12, from Sister Cecilia, wi ha who alleged sh s kidnaped and taken to Baltimore, been returned to the convent. in strict sec- recy by the nuns of the community and_Rev. Father W. J. Kane, rector of St. John's Catholic Church, became known vesterday. Hope that their silence would prompt the alleged kidnapers to return the remaining pieces of clothing caused the reticence maintained by the nuns and the clergyman. Father Kane and a nun for the Catholic community, said Si ter Cecili guimpe_ and headdress had been returned. The guimpe is a white linen tunic covering . the houlders and breast. The headdress a narrow linen band crossing the forehcad and covering the ears, framing the face. speaking Vindication Seen. Father Kane, the nuns and the com- mittee of Catholic laymen, parishioners of St. John's Church, feel that the re- turn of the garments vindicates Sis- ter Cecilia, will quiet many rabld stories that hdve been in circulation and will assist materially the com- mittee which, with the aid of the state police and Charles H. Kahler, Balti- more, detective lieutenant, has been probing the kidnaping since the day Sister Cecilia disappeared, under such strange circumsignces. = Her story also, it seems, is substantiated by the new turn in events. A short time ago a portess at the Notre Dame Convent was summoned to the front door by a slight ring of the bell. on the vestibule floor was a package addressed to the Visitation Convent. The portess, a lay sister, took the package to the mother superior of the Visitation Academy. Sister Cecilia, who told her story following a taxicab ride here from Bai- timore late in the evening of her dis- appearance, said some of her clothing, including the guimpe and headdress, had been taken from her when she awaked in a_hovel in what she belleved was South Baltimore. She used a coat and hat, the property of an unknown woman, 'found in the room on her re- turn trip. Despite the new developments, the committee of laymen will not cease their activitles in running down those who may be guilty of the alleged kid- naping. They have several clues which have been gradually developed. Should the evidence now In hand be corroborated by some expected to be secured in the near may likely resuft. e Kidnaped on Street, Tortured With Acid, Tulsa Woman Says By the Associated Press. OKMULGEE, Okla., July 17.— A story of kidnaping and torture was told by Mrs. George Petropl of Tulsa, who staggered inte police headquarters here late last night. She said she had been forced at the point of a pistol to enter a motor car on & busy street . corner in Tulsa earller in the night. Her abductors, four men and a woman, Mrs. Petropl said. took her to the St. Louls-San Fancisco railroad station In Tulsa, where they placed her on a train and brought her to Okmulgen. Acld was applied to her arms and legs by the kidnapers in an effort to force her to divulga in- formation relative to a law suit in Sapulpa in which her husband was _involved, she tJld local officers. a part of the clothing taken | She found no one there, but | WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION PAGT TOBE SIGNED JULY 25 ASSURES NEAREAST ACCORD Signal Victory Won by U. S. in Agreement at Lau- sanne Parley. ALLIES FEAR FINANCIAL STRENGTH OF AMERICA See Turks Turning to This Side of Atlantic for Capital By the Assoc LAUSA July 17.—The Turkish peace treaty will be signed July 24 . according to present expec The allied and Turkish dele- now at Lausanne will be the signatories of the main treaty and the other documents to be signed, in- cluding the agreement for control of the Turkish straits. The Russian soviet government has been invited by telegraph to take part in the sign- ing of the straits convention. The agreement reached last night on the disputed questions of concessions and the evacuation of Turkish sofl by foreign troops will be adopted at a plenary session of the conference this afternoon, it is expected. The accord represents a victory for the United States, whose representa- | tive, Joseph C. Grew. minister to i Switzerland, was successful in his in- sistence that the policy of the open door and equal opportunmity in_the near east be adopted. Had it not been for his tenacity the tentative agree- ment. made last weel, unfavorable to United States interests. would have been included in the treaty. Grew Wins Polnt. Through _numerous conferences with Ismet Pasha, head of the Turk- ish delegation, who appeared utterly fatigued from the constant pressure from both sides when the final ses- slon began, Mr. Grew won him over |against the pleas of the British and | French plenipotentiaries. And having won their struggle to eliminate from the peace treaty all future preferential concession rights for foreign companies and all officlal confirmation of doubtful existing con- ions. the American representatives now will_devote themselves to com- | pletion of the new Turkish-American i treaty. | The inside story of the meeting yes- terday when the peace made a week ago was “patched up,” as one allied delegate described it, is of a fierce battle waged over the question of the oil fields of Mesopotamia which the English claim under the provisions of the concessions of the Turkish pe- troleum company. L. S. Influence Dominant. Though none of the American dele- gation was present it was apparent that American influence was dominant in thé conference chamber #nd - that the stringent application of Mf. Grew's resistance was strong enough o permit Ismet Pasha to hold until the finish. Ismet Pasha was fore all the allied onslaughts. One by one he turned down every formula pre- | sented. even those modified, which he ;alculated would give any confirmation o the British company's petroleum concession in the treaty. He insisted that there was grave doubt of its validity, and said that the question should be referred to arbitration by the_International Court of Justice. Finally the allies, led by the British, surrendered. But the British an- nounced their intention to make a pub- lic statement at the open conference meeting, setting forth thelr rights to il concessions, just as the French in- end to do regarding their rights con- cerning the Ottoman debt. The Turks previously had won a vic- ltory by keeping all confirmation of their obligations under the debt out |of the Lausanne treaty. The allied agreement to drop their |demands for future preferential right {to Turkish contracts is considered !here an attempt to make the Ameri- |can public feel that Europe respects ! American doctrine and wishes to co- |operate with Amerian capital there. | However, there is a disposition to be- (Continued on Page 2, Column 1.) ted Press. i REPARATION REPLY READY TOMORRDW ! !Curzon Proceeds With Draft of British Answer—U. S. to Get Copy This Week. By the Associated Press, LONDON, July 17.—Foreign Secre- tary Curzon drew up additional sec- tions of the British draft reply to the German reparation note today, and it is hoped to present the full texts, both of the draft and the covering letter, to the cabinet tomorrow. Copies of both documents will probably reach Washington by the end of the week. The draft and the letter are exclu- sively British productions, as neither Italy nor Belgium is being consulted !in their preparation. Features of the proposed reply will be carefully phrased references to Germany's pas- sive resistance and the American sug- gestion for appointment of an inter- national body of experts to audit Ger- many's assets. Great Britain does not iregard such an impartial commission as necessarily incompatible with the Versailles treaty and hopes to win France around to this view. No J it Settlement. | Autnoritative circles regard it as unlikely that the reply will suggest the joint settlement of reparations and interallied debts, which is Regi- nald McKenna's pet solution of Eu- | rope's financial muddle, as it is recog- nized that this would ‘meet with the disapproval of the United States and other countries which consider the two problems as distinct and requir- ing separate settlement. Ro further conversations, it is un- derstood, will . be held with the French, Belgian and Italian premiers prior to submission of the draft reply Yo the cabinet. The draft and the ac- | companying letter, which are entirely | the work of Marquis Curzon, will be of reasonable brevity, but wiil not be unalterable or necessarily final. When the views of all the govern- ments to which the reply is sent are made known to Great Britain. the cabinet will fit the document to meet the situation, unshakable ‘be- | e SHOCK ABSORBERS May Be SECURED ~FROM SERGEANT Y JaTsgms WH AD00 EXPLANS WORKWTHNORSE Tells of His Connection as Counsel at Trial of Con- spiracy Charge. Willlam G. McAdoo, former Secre- tary of the Treasury and prominently | mentioned for the next democratic | presidential nomination, testified today | as a witness for the defense at the Morse conspiracy trial before Justice Stafford and_a jury in Criminal Division 1. Mr. McAdoo had under- taken the task of looking after the lukai business of the Virginla Ship- | buliding Corporation after his retire- | ment from the Wilson cabinet. He | stated that he left the inquiry into| the condlition of the corporation to his ! partner, Thurlow M. Gordon, and acted on the latter’s report when accepting the position of counsel for the com- pany. Mr. Gordon testified last week “’E;‘,‘:."‘."’.’:‘:‘a tentio of ntention “te place tire- former cabinet officlal on the witness stand served to attract a large crowd to the trial and to bring a battery of photographers. Mr. McAdoo, with At- torney Wilton J. Lambert, Leslie C. Garnett, former assistant to Attorney General Palmer. and Oscar E. Price, close friend of McAdoo, arrived at the courthouse about 10,30’ o'clock and to | avoid the camermen stopped in lh!l building of the Court of Appeals, ad- | acent to the courthouse. When Mr. | icAdoo's name was announced as the | next witness there was a delay of five minutes in the progress of the trial. | Court officials scurried in every di- rection to locate the witness. Avolds Cameramen. Mr. McAdoo in the interval | trying to avoid the cameramen and | jentering the building through ‘the | north basement door” was lifted to | the ‘clerk’s office on a small elevator and thence hurried through the cor- | ridor to the courtroom. Garnett and | Price accompanied him into court and took seats in the section reserved for members of the bar. Attorney Lambert began examina- tion at once. Beginning with his re- tirement from the Treasury, Mr. Mc- Adoo sald he caused an Inquiry into the merits of the controversy between the Morse corporation and the Ship- ing Board and into the personnel of %‘e board of directors of tie company. He had no interest in the Virginia company except as counsel, the wit- | ness declared. Mr. McAdoo then told of his efforts t6 adjust the difficulties between the Virginia company and the fleet cor- poration. He first applied to Edwin N. Hurley, head of the corporation, and when he had stressed the finan- | cial difficulties obtained a promlse to advance the company $100.000. This advance was biocked, he stated, by the Fleet Corporation's counsel, in | Philadelphia—a Mr. Hyman—on the claim that the Shipping Board did not owe the Virginia company $1,400,000 | “I was told,” said the witness, “if 1 would come before the Fleet Cor- poration with my hands held up, ex- claiming ‘Kamerad,’ he would make ! the payment as a favor. 1 indignant- | 1y rejected the suggestion, saying we | wanted no favors, only the legal rights of our clients.” On the same day, Mr. McAdoo said, he wrote to Chairman Hurley of the Fleet Corporation telling of What he considered the “offensive and sur- prising suggestion” from Mr. Hyman. Recelved $50,000. Mr. McAdoo admitted that his firm received from the Virginia company compensation of $50,000 fer legal services. The money went through the office of McAdoo, Cotton & Franklin, and the witness was not famillar with the details, although he expressed the view that the money was in two pay- ments. The firm also received from the United States Transport Company in.connection with the shlppln’ of coal to France and Italy, about $33,- 000 in cash. Asked by Attorney Lambert to state what was the position of the govern- ment at the conference with reference to progress payments in August, 1919, the witness said: “I never got clearly what position they took. It is now foir years ago, and my recollection is that the meeting resolved itself into a suggestion that another basis of settlement be sough Tells of Contracts. The witness then went into detail s to the coal-carrying contracts. He | explained that he was first ap- proached by John A. Donald, a mem- ber of the fleet corporation, now. de- ceased, who suggested that, as the government had a mortgage on the Morse boats, it would be financially advantageous both to the fleet cor- poration and the Morses if contracts could be secured at the high prevail- ing freight rates. Mr. McAdoo said he replied that he would aid in any way that he could. Later Charles ‘W. Morse told of the efforts to get the Itallan contract and proposed a commission for the lawyers of $1 per ton on all the coal to be carried un- der the contract. The contract was effected and later a similar agree- ment was made with a group of (Continued on Page 2, Column 3.) was | MEG. ¢ Foening Star. | “From Press to Home The Star’s carrier system covers every city block and the regular edi- tior, is delivered to Washington homes as fast as the papers are printed. . Within the Hour” 1 | | Yesterday’s Net Circulation, 67,397. TUESDAY, JULY 17, 1923_THIRTY-SIX PAGES. MAKE Find Bad Valve On Race Balloon Cost Two Lives LAKEHURST, N. J July 17.—A board of investigation reported to- day that the navy balloon, in which Lieuts. T. B. Nuil and L. J Roth lost their lives during the Indianapolis balloon race July 4. contained a faulty valve on the gas bag. This valve once opened. the re- port said, failed to close properly, releasing the gas in the bag and causing the balloon to fall into Lake Erie. The balloon was received at the naval air station here vesterday and the investigation begun im- mediately. The investigation further showed that a piece of the fabric, of which the gas bag was made, got over the mouth of the valve. When the valve way opened wider than a half inch the fabric became caught inside, preventing its proper closing. It is assumed by officers at the naval air station that when Lieuts. Null and Roth found they had too much “lift" they pulled the valve open. Apparently the balloon con- tinued falling after they had at- tempted to close the valve again. MRS. HARDING NOW RESTORED BY REST Party Speeds South From Fairbanks—Auto Trip Plans Given Up. By the Associated Press. ABOARD PRESIDENT'S SPECIAL TRAIN. Alaska Railroad. July 17.— Rest seemed today to have restored Mrs. Harding from fatigue which yesterday forced Mr. Harding to turn southward over the Alaska railroad from Fairbanks instead of following & plan—cherished by the Alaskans and enthusiastically urged by Mrs. Harding,—to proceed back by auto- mobile. Nearly ‘twenty-four passed by the party in Fairbanks, the northern terminus of the railroad. The President left there last evening greatly impressed by the agriculture and mining. of which that city. often called the Chicago of Alaska, is the center. But he was much disap- pointed at missing the automobile trip. which would have led for 32 milés over the Richardson hishway to Chitina, where a train would have been_taken on the Copper River and Northwestern railway to Cordova. Returning to Seward. At Cordova the party would have boarded the Navy transport Hender- son, on which the President and his party left Tacoma, Wash., July 5. and by means of which they visited the principal points in southeastern Alas- ka. e President expects to g0 upon the Henderson at Seward, where the party left the vessel, and to proceed to Cordova. The President attributed Mrs. Hard Ing’s fatigue to the earnest hospital- ty of the Alaskans and to the long days of the season. This led to many hours of activity, with shortened sleep. The President told the people of Fairbanks that Mrs. Harding had been forced to go to bed worn out. She had received several gifts from the people of that city earlier in the day. hours Gift for Laddle Boy. The Fairbanks folks ever remem- bered Laddie Boy, the President’s dog, with a collar of moose hide decorated with nugget gold and fossil ivory, valued at $400. While at Fairbanks the President complimented W. F. Thompson. pubs lisher of the Fairbanks News-Miner, one of the ploneers of the territory, on a special edition gotten out yes- terday in his honor. TWO CENTS. S HIS MAIDEN SPEECH NAVY YARD UNABLE - TOSCRAPVESSELS ‘ i Little Chance Seen for Work in D. C. Because of Lack of Equipment. Only a small portion of the work of scrapping the naval ships which are to be abandoned under the arms {limitation treaty could be allocated to the Washington navy yard should the Navy Department decide to have the dismantling done in the various yards, it was agreed today by both naval and labor authorities. Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt is in conference today with the navy yard commandants relative navy yards. The outlook for the navy vards obtaining the work was thought 10 be dependent largely on whether it could be done as cheaply in that way or selling the shipe, as they are to be dismantled by private interests, The lack of drydock facilities makes it impossible for the local vard to handle the actual dismantling work, it was pointed out by naval authorities. On the other hand. many of the ships to be scrapped are still uncompleted on the ways and con- siderable work would have to be done on_them to condition them for float- ne. will_have to be cut up and junked in the yards in which they are now located. Could Do Little Here. A. E. Luther of the International Association of Machinists, District No. 44, with which a number of the local navy yard men are affillated, ex- would have to be done at the strictly shipbuilding yards, which have dock- ing facilities” The Washington yard, however, he said, could repair and recondition the guns on the old ships which are to be held in reserve, but this work would not increase the activities at the yard to any con- siderable extent The yard commandants in confer- ence with Mr. Roosevelt were unable to produce exact figures on the cost of the various proposed scrapping schemes They were instructed to present later a plan whereby bids can be asked on alternative methods, So that the Navy Department can determine how the i work can be done at the lowest cost. Unless the yards can bring cost to approximately private bidders, Mr. Roosevelt indi- {cated there is little likelihood that ] they will be awarded the work Assistant Secretary Roosevelt and other exponents of the proposal were said to be doubtful whether it could ibe carried out without excessive cost to the government. Admiral Plunkett, commandant of the New York vard and one of the original proponents of plan, was quoted as having re- vised his views after a preliminary investigation of the ability of the New York yard to do the work. The present overhead cost of the navy yards, officials said. is 75 per cent. "'When it _was proposed to re- condition the Shipping Board vessel President Buchanan at the New York yard, together with other outside work elsewhere, one of the chief ad- vantages put forward was that it would cut the overhead 15 per cent. making the difference available for new work. There is sald to be con- siderable doubt that scrapping the naval ships would thus reduce the overhead, as scrapping does not re- quire the sort of skilled labor now employed at the yards. Tt is true, union officials said. that some of the yards are carrying an excessive overhead, due to the fact that only small portions are being utilized. ~ Put all of the machines to work, they say, and the overhead will be reduced. The union leaders point out, how- ever, that much progress has been made recently by the Navy Depart- ment in reducing the overhead, and that if given the opportunity the yards can compete with private con- cerns. The lack of opportunity, it was_emphasized, has been the prin- cipal handicap. the same as Inside story of buck Beginning tomorrow and THE BILLION DOLLAR SWINDLE moters, and how they have fleeced millions of Ameri- cans out of many hundreds of millions of dollars, told in a series of fifteen articles By R. K. TREVOR. Financial Writer The Eoening Flar etshops and crooked pro- | | running daily in PERMANENT BOARD TOFIX RENTS HERE BEING CONSIDERED Senator Ball, Author of Law, to the scrapping of the ships at the| Consequently, it was said, they | pressed the belief that the scrapping | thelr | ilito_an ad valorem Studies Problem—Present Body Out Next May. THINKS LANDLORD AND TENANT ARE BENEFITED Sees Opportunity to Make Capital Rental Model for Whole Country. The fact that there is now under consideration # move to make the District Rent Commission a perma- nent body was revealed today by Senator Ball of Delaware, chairman of the Senate District committee. Un- der existing law, the rent commission will g0 out of business May 22, 1924 But there is a growing desire, it is said, to make the National Capital a rental model for the country, and the best way to do this is to keep the rent commision on the job perma- I nently. It has been reported that President Harding probably will look with favor on such a plan. For many months after Congress had acted to extend the life of the commission for two years, until next May, the Presi- dent failed to appoint the new com- mission—with two additional mem- bers. But just before leaving for Alaska the appointments to the com- mission were made. It is taken in some quarters that this action by the President bears out the report that he believes the commission should be retained permanently. Plans Indefinit Senator Ball sald that he had not yet made up his mind to offer a bill to ma the rent commission permanent, but admitted he was thinking of it. “I will, of course, be guided by cir- cumstances and conditions which exist here during the next session of Congress,” said Senator Ball. The | present act and the act creating the S ssion bear the name of Senator a _The Supreme Court of the United States having held the act of Con- gress creating the rent commission constitutional. in_the opinion of the Delaware senator there is no lega! reason why the commi n_ should not be made permanent. He has about reached the conclusion, als that landlords and owners of property here, now that the city is catching up with itself in the matter of building, halted so long during war and post. war period, will see the benefit of | continuing the rent commission in of- | fice. so that the tenants and the land- lords may both.be assured a square deal when It comes to the leasing of homes in the Natlonal Capital. U. S, I Interested. The government is vitally interested in seeing that its thousands of em- ployes are properly housed here at fair rental: Senator Ball contends, and this can well be accomplished | through such an agency as a perma- nent rent commission. $300,000 IN LIQUORS SEIZED AT RESORT ‘Whisky, Sherry and Gin in Large Quantities Taken at Lake- wood, N. J. i | { { | } | Bx the Associated Press LAKEWOOD, 1 {Liquors valued at $300,000 were | seized in ralds here early today by | forty federal prohibition agents and county officials. Lakewood is a fashionable resort, ! popular with the wealthy all the year round. At the Hotel Marlon, in Point P! {ant, the agents seized sixty cases of {liquors and at an auto agency at the Point thirty quarts of whisky were { taken. | 'No arrests were made at any of !the seven places raided. The raiders | were busy for three hours. { Breaking in a basement door at { the Bartlett Inn, they found a room fitted like a cafe, behind whose slid- ing wall panels whisky, sherry and gin filled the shelves. Behind a picture on a wall was found a window giving access to a storeroom under a rear porch. Sev- | enty-five cases of liquors were found | here. NATIONAL ROW BLAMED UPON INSANE ENVOY Czech Minister at Warsaw Finally Committed to Lunatic Asylum. By the Associated Press. WARSAW, July 17.—The question is being discussed in diplomatic circles whether recent political controversies between Poland and Czechoslovakla may not have been due to eccentric reports by Prokop Maxa, Czech min- ister to Poland, who is now in an in- sane asylum. M. Maxa, during a performance at the Theater Polski a few evenings ago, insisted upon putting his feet on top of the chairs in front of him and was forcibly removed, in disregard of his diplomatic immunity. Later he entered a_vaudeville theater, where he behaved so extraordinarily that he ! was taken to his legation. Physiciang were called to examine him and de- clared him mentally unsound. ASK COURT FOR REVIEW. $84,474,000 Bingham Estate In- volved in Kentucky Decision. | The Fidelity and Columbia Trust | company yesterday asked the Su- | preme Court to review the decision of | Kentucky oourts holding the estate of Mary Lily Flagler Bingham liabl tax on properf The courts held J. July valued at $84,474,000. Il! that for taxing purposes Mrs. Bing- {ham took the residence of her hus- band, who lives in Kentucky, but the { trust’ company insisted that she had | never resided in Kentucky and that the property had never been within the state for taxing purposes. ’