Evening Star Newspaper, July 27, 1923, Page 1

WEATHER. Cloudy tonight and tomorrow; showers probably beginning late to- night; lttle change in temperature. Temperature for twenty-four hours ended &t 2 p.m.: Highest, 82, at noon today; lowest, 60, at 5 a.m, today. Full report on page 7. Closing N. Y. Stocks and Bonds, Page 18 No. 28941. Entered as second-claes matter post office Washington, D. C. * FRANGE STILLFIRM UPON RUHR ISSUES NOTE WILL REVEAL Reply to Britain, Now Ready, Concedes Some English Suggestions, However. LONDON SEES PROSPECT OF LONG NEGOTIATIONS NAVY IS ASSURANGE WHILE OTHERS ARM, PRESIDENT AVERS Reviews Virtually Entire Bat- tle Fleet of Pacific in Seattle Harhor. HOLDS NAVAL EQUALITY | SHOULD BE MAINTAINED Germany Sinking to Chaos Amid | Mr. Harding Spends Busy Day in - Shallow Conventions of Diplo- macy, Is One View. By the Associnted Press PARIS, July the British delivered in L 1t accepts suggestions 27.—The French reply reparation note will ondon tomorrow or of the RBritish and asks for fulther light on others. 1t maintains the of the Franco-Belgian dec effect that passive se before negotia- Tlons with « ¢ are undertaken. Premier Poincare’s note accepting some of the British suggestions and expressing the wish to have further light on the British view concerning rded in French official neiliatory to he Y some principle aration to the resistance must others is 1 circles as ¢ S d on Principles. It is proposed, on the best author- nevertheless, maintain abso- the principles laid down by rench and Belgians in January. occupation of the Ruhr will by sintained until the payment of ration and that the Ruhr will be evacuated only in pro- \ents made, and no with r- resistance ty to lute the that th is assured portion to the pay entered her negotiations into many until The ¥ willingne when this resis what t < the nece nd the objects of the occu- mit Belgl pectation is that the to be sent to G ctly with though ng passive expresses a occupation making it ach premier s to modify the ance ends as e British call visibl tion arly to Agree. official circles separate Belgian at Britain will the French on it vary in some ques- The here repls accord e the in may other e points details regar tions Premier Poincare left Paris late last evening for his country home at | ampigny for a few days' rest after| iving the finishing touches to the| reply to the Brith communication. | The document, however, will be com- ed to London only after the| Bal government has recelved a oy nd had time to examine As xoon as M. Herbette, the -Fren ambassador in [ 5. reports that Premicr Theunis the copy in 1d. Count de 1 “rench ambassador in London, noti- fied to deliver the response the British foreign office GLOOM IN ENGLAND. munic an will be to French Attitudée Routes Optimism of Press. » recent tend- here to take the progress of in the arations situ- appearing under the influ- st reports from Paris, that France and Bel- are immovable from points of their policy differ from Great nguine view of Ation gium 3 the ntial which they ritain The situation i by the Times in an editorial to saying that the British government «x attempted with sincerity and good “to bring the whole problem into that re m of economic calcu- lation In which common sense may have some chanc but that the pur- IS behind this attempt s being frittered away amid the shallow con- | ventions of diplomatic delays.” Fears Slow Progress. The prospect of negotlations drag- | ging on until autumn is seen by the Times, which adds that in the mean- time the symptoms in Germany are disquieting, and it regards “the crazy movements” of the mark as of less consequence than indications of growing disorder in Germany. “The conspicuous fact thout Ger- many,"- the Times that she i sinking.into sure chaos.” The new paper admits that it is quite conceiv able that Germany passive resist- ance m break “down under the economic strain, but it asks: “Is there any guarantee that this moment may ot coincide 1 the moment of gen- eral collapse? “If 80" it continues, “how will the allies cope with the problem?” Will not Europe then be in an entirely dif- ferent condition from anything con- cetved in the hour of victory?" The liberal press suggests that if the Franco-Belgian replies are along the lines forecast from Paris and Brussels the time will have come for Great Britain to follow her own policy toward Germany and either send her answer to Berlin or submit the whole question to the league of nations. Upholds French Policy. The Daily Mail charges the British government with being the cause of Germany's stubborn refusal to meet her liabilities * * * What France is doing §s the right thing and must succeed. She is quite capable of set- tling with the Germans without our aid and she won't abandon her plans at the very moment they are on the es reviewed gloomil . if it ever existed. in prese @ in_abeyance. md it is said that the same secrecy will be observed over the French and Belgiun replies as over the British overtures. Th absolute silence on Both Sides of the channel is quite a “in- | ties of the sit-| Coast City—Goes to Cali- fornia Tonight. By the Associated Press. SEATTLE, Wash., July 27.— The Navy transport Henderson, carrying President Harding and his party, returning from a tour of Alaska, rammed the destroyer Zeilin in Puget sound, forty miles north of here, according to a wireless message received here from the Henderson. This message stated that both engine fooms of the Zeilin had been flooded, but that all aboard her had been safely taken off. The destroyer Nicholas, at the time the message was sent, was attempting to tow the Zei into shallow water. Previous reports had stated that the Zeilin ran onto rocks at the point where the latter mes- sage said that she had been rammed. SEATTLE, dent Harding, Wash., July 27.—Presi- appearing before the Seattle Press Club after his review today in the harbor here of virtually the entire United States battle fleet, declared that until the day comes when nations abandon use of armed forces, America shall find her assur- ance in a navy of the first rank. “We were building two years ago at rate that would have placed our armed sea power in excess of any other power, but in conviction that armament cost and competition was leading acing national bur- dens, an international conference to fix limitations,” the President added. “We asked equal- ity with che first rank for ourselves, and were accorded it. our Congress, with the cordial sanc- tion of the American people, will con- tinue that first rank. 1 believe our obligation to the world means the most e & __restriction _of _our (Continued on Page 9, Column 2.) KEPNER MANAGES OFFICE FROM JAIL Depression Leaves Frederick Man Charged With Murder of His Wife. a to m we invited Special Dispatch to The Star. FREDERICK., Md., July 27.—Much less depressed than when he spent his first night in jail, B. Evard Kepner, charged with the murder of his wife, Mrs. Grace Simmons Kepner, today took up the management of his archi- tect's offic. Kepner went through his mail in his cell, noted the nature of the re- plies to be made. States Attorney Aaron R. Anders this morning mailed the testimony taken at the coroner's inquest two weeks ago to Assistant Attorney Gen- eral Lindsey Spencer, Baltimore, who will assist him when Kepner is placed on trial here August 7. Friend Sees Kepner. George B. McCleary, lifelong friend of Kepner, has been a visitor at the county jail. It was learned today for the first time that the grand jury members stood nineteen to three to Indict Kep- ner for the murder of his wife. There was but one ballot. Dr. T. J. Gaehr, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, of which Kep- ner is a trustee, visited Kepner at the jail yesterday afternoon. The minister was received in the cell that Kepner had shared the night before with Milton Banks of Brunswick, in jail charged with housebreaking. Kepner brightened when the minister was announced. They talked spirit- edly for ten minutes. Before leaving Dr. Gaehr knelt with Kepner beside the cell cot and prayed. |Acute Food Shortage in Berlin Caused by Collapse of Marks: By the Associated Press. BERLIN, July 27.—One of the most new thing in the protracted negotia- tions arising out of the Versailles treaty and is in strong contrast with ihe system prevailing under the Lloyd George administration. There will likely be no opportunity for the British parliament to discuss the negotiations, for no date has vet been set for the receipt of the Franco- Belgian notes, and parliament rises August 2 until November. Looking at the fact that the British draft reply to Germany was consider- ably watered down from Lord Curzon's original draft during its discussion In he cabinet, in order to meet the views of the pro-French members of the cabinet, it may be supposed that the British government will not unduly press the French government. § menacing effects of the collapse of the mark is asserting itself in the grow- ing derangement of the food situation in Greater Berlin. This is ascribed directly to the depleted stocks, the withdrawal of available stores and price Juggling by merchants, who are seeking to protect themselves agalnst the complete extinction of the mark as currency and their resultant in- abllity to procure fresh stocks. Tea,* coffee, rice and other products of the tropics are already disappear- ing from the markets, and there is also a_pronounced shortage of. toes, due to the belated harve the fact that the government has been | A | cluded by adjournment tonight and a Let us hope | IDAY, JULY 27, NEXT STEP ¢ WILL REIGN OF TERROR CHARGED AT TRIAL Fight Between Virginia Clans Bared in Cumberland Court House Affidavits. I Dispatch to The Star TBERLAND COURT HOUSE, Va., ~—All affidavits had been pre- sented and the docket cleared for final arguments on the state’s motion for a change of venue in the trial of | the Garrett brothers for the murder of Rev. E. S. Pierce when Judze White recessed court at noon tod The arguments are expected to be con- July decision will be rendered at once. The ond day of the trial opened this morning, with Milton P. Boni- fant, chief prosecutor, resuming the reading of affidavits, Garretts Feared. The affidavits alleged fear of the Garretts. tThe affidants stated they were afrald to express their bellef in the Impossibility of an impartial trial because the Garretts could not be punished here and revenge would be certain. Attorney Smith of the de-| fense read forceful affidavits of nu- merous citizens to the effect that! the people who think an impartial trial impossible are the avowed o ponents of the Garretts—that many of them are republicans, the G, retts being democrats—that the: in many cases the business rivals| of the Garretts—and that some of them have had personal encounters with the accused brother. R. O. Garrett, through a (Continued on Page 2 BRITAIN TO SETTLE U. S. RUM ISSUE SOON Reports of Agreement to Extend Territorial Waters to Twelve Miles Denied. lengthy Column 2.) By the Associated Press. LONDON, July 27.—Some sort of announcement regarding what Great | Britain will do to assist the United | States to solve the rum running problem is expected before parlia- ment adjourns on August 2. Reports of British agreement, under | certain conditions, to the American proposal to extend territorial waters to a distance of twelve miles were semi-officlally denied today. The parliamentary committee having the subject in hand, is continuing its | sympathetic consideration of the Ameri- | can proposition. The snvestigators, however, are still unconvinced that even | the most drastic action of the British government would end the smuggling. While the illicit cargoes, which leave | Belfast and Glasgow, could be stopped, it was pointed out no control could be exercised over the Irish Free State, while similar conditions exist as regards the West Indies. In the absence of a gen- eral international agreement regarding rum running it is considered inevitable that as soon as clearance papers were refused by the British authorities the smugglers would immediately transfer their base from the British islands to those under the suzerainty of other nations. sending heavy shipments of the tubers into the Ruhr and the Rhineland. These conditions have resulted in housewives and their maids scheming to procure food through irregular channels, since the market stalls have been unable to supply even the most ordinary commoditles. The political aspects of the situa- tion are such that the municipality of Greater Berlin has officially petitioned the federal government to take imme- diate steps to safeguard and reorgan- ize the city's food supply and inaugu- rate a system of Drlcefon(ro]. ‘The heads of the municipaiity and the labor leaders aryanged to discuss, tije’ situation with Chai = BE To Red Flag Stirs Hoboken; Legion T hreatens Action Ry the Assoclated Press W YORK, July 27.—A flag predominantly red flew today over Hoboken headquarters of the Ma- rine Transport Workers' Division of the L. W. W. Indignant citizens protested that. fiving it affronted the en- tire country. 1. W. W. headquar- te \ de d t the “red flag” had been raised and asserted that it was merely the house flag of the Hob local, bearing on it's backgr , white let- ters, reading arine_Transport Work Industrial Workers of the World, Hoboken Branch, No. 510 I. W. W. officlals asserted it had been on display three months. In connection with the criticism that Ame flag also not They explained that ad only on “ommander Jackson of the Ho- boken Post of the American Legion declared his post would take im- mediate action. Faul A. Vaccarelli, former vice president of the International Longshoremen's Union_and once the “head --of New York city's bullding laborers, announced yes- terday he would be the guiding force in the United Cargo Work- ers of Greater New York and vi- cinity, a new organization com- posed’ of .International longshore- men .and 1. W. W. GUARD FOR TOMB howeve OF HERD LIKELY | conditions wherever Secretary Weeks Considers Remedy for Lack of Re- spect by Public. An apparent lack of appreciation of the reverence and respect due the memorial to the unknown dead of the world war, in Arlington national cemetery, has aroused the war depart- ! ment and steps are to be taken to cor- rect this condition. Secretary of War Weeks has matter under consideration it Is considered likely that he will soon order the placing, throughout the daylight hours, of @ guard of regular army soldiers and the erec- tion of an Inclosure some distance away from the memorial itself, which would prevent entrance when the guard is not present. This matter was brought to the at- tention of the secretary of war and the Arlington Memorial Amphithea- ter Commission by Col. Clarence O. Sherrill, officer in charge of public buildings and grounds and executive officer of the commission mentioned. The latter said that because of the frequency with which his attention has been called to the lack of respect and reverence by the American pub- lic when visiting this shrine, he deems it necessary to take some cor- rective step. Contrast in England. Attention has been called to the contrast between the treatment of this memorial by Americans and_that accorded similiar ‘memorials in Eng- land, France and other European countries. It was pointed out that in those countries no one ever under any circumstances approaches the vicinity of the memorial to the un- known dead except when uncovered, and then with the greatest rever- ence and the full significance of the religlous character of the memorial. Also that in those foreign countries it is not only the procedure to ap- proach the memorial uncovered and with due reverence. but invariably that those approaching kneel to do homage at the shrine. Lack of Comprehension. ‘Those protesting against the lack of respect on the part of Americans con- fend that the latter too frequently fail to comprehend the significance of this memorial in front of the Lee mansion in the national cemetery, some going 80 far as to strike matches on {ts sur- face, others sitting upon it and others frequently standing and sitting around with covered heads and with no thought of any necessary respect or reverence. * Besides the placing of a the erection of a fen about_the memorial, it gested that some pro D) the topof v a). TiKely that the guards for this ington will be selected from as a means of rewarding K n for having shown exception- al merit in the Dl!b d the now and Foen { 1 J | rector | preliminary e |at a figure $20,000,000 below that for m SUNDAY MORNING EDITION ny Star. 1923 —_TWENTY-EIGHT ¢ PAGES. levery cit: “From Press to Home Within the Hour” The Star’s carrier system covers block ard the regular edie tion is delivered t> Washington homesn as fast as the papers are printed. Yesterday’s Net Circulation, 87,254, * —]|Anacostia Park to Be Opened VETS BUREAU UTS C0STS 20 LI |Hines Estimates Reorganiza- tion Will Save Government Huge Sum Next Year. Having reorganized the Veterans' Bureau to give more benefit to vet- erans at a reduced expense of admin- istration, Director Frank T. Hines estimated today that the bureau could be run for the next year at an ex- Pense of $20,000.000 less than the ap- propriations for the present year. Director Hines in this conmection announced he would submit to the di- of the budget next week his timate for the year 1925 1924. This means that the greatest single expense to the federal govern- ment has passed over the peak, for the present at least. For the year ended June 30, 1923, the bureau spent $461,719,433.83. While admitting that the previous administration of the bureau, headed by Director Charles R. Forbes, had had a difficult task in co-ordinating three agencles into the | Veterans' Bureau, and had been con- {fronted with other large problems, | Direcor Hines admitted that he had | found evidence of poor business man- agement of the bureau. Corrected Faults. Working in co-operation with the Senate committee investigating the bureau, Director Hines sald he had attempted to correct unsatisfactory he had found them. One of the greatest savings noted, he said in reviewing the accom- plishments of the new administration of the bureau, was in rentals, the annual cost of which has been curtailed by the sum of more than $800,000. Another great saving to the gov- ernment, Director Hines sald, was the rehabilitation of about 11,000 vet- erans and placement of 97 per cent of them in positions since March. These men had been costing the gov- ernment more than $150 each per month. Briefly stated, the most important of the reorganization shifts made by Director Hines were sald today by "him to be: Cutting down overhead expenses, including the elimination of thirty- three subdistrict offices. Reduction of personnel crease of many salaries. o Increase Speed of Work. Increase of speed in rehablilitation of veterans and placement of an in- creased number of them in paying positions. Rushing the hospitalization pro- gram and clearing up projects which and in- { were pending. Opening of hospitals which had been built, but which had no patients. Elimination of unnecessary supply deppts. cutting these down from twelve to only three at present. Making a complete inventory of all supplies, so as to utilize those on hand instead of purchasing new ma- terials where not needed. Establishment of a supply division, with accurate records of all supplies throughout the country. Bringing the veterans' relfef busi- ness in district and central office up to date. For the first time.in the history of the bureau, Director Hines said, the central board of appeals is now practically current, Reduce Divisionw, Elimination of unnecessary.’ divi- sions in the central office and con- solidation of duties into fewer re- sponsible heads. Establishment of an inspection divi- sion originally authorized, but never established. Authorizing commanding officers of all hospitals with more power com- mensurate with their responsibiifty. Placing the affairs of the bureau on a budget system. Closing out of contracts in institu- tions which had been closed, but where no settlement hac heen reached. Establishment of a policy of plac- ing men with permanent disability on a permanent status, eliminating unnecessary travel, unfiecessary ex- aminations and worry on the part of the veterans. ~orosE B breo on Roland W. Boyden. upon the occasion of his retirement as un- official representative of the United States on the reparations commis- sion. Mr. Boyden's resignation was announced July 1, to take effect August 1. ~ In October for Use of Public Work Will Begin Next Week on First Sec- tion of 31 Acres in Proposed $1,000,000 Development. Within the next three months a section of the proposed milllon-dol- lar development of Anacostia Park will be in readiness for the use of the public. In making this known today Col. Clarence O. Sherrill, officer in charge of public buildings and grounds, who will supervise this extensive park de- velopment, announced that work is to be commencel next week on thirty- one acres of the possible 500 acres of the proposed park, and the citizens of Anacostia and the adjacent territory will be enjoying the beautles of this open space along the eastern shore of the Anacostla river early in Octo- ber. Break Ground Thursday. The actual construction work will immediately follow the elaborate ex- ercises planned for next Thursday to Bed Set on Fire To Awaken Girl; Mother Accused Ruth Washington, seventeen- vear-old colored girl, residing with her mother, Rose Catherine Mc- Pherson, at 615 Blair court north- east, was sleeping the sleep of the just, vesterday and all the calls and shakings of her mother to arouse her were unavailing, Ruth slept on. 10:30 came, and still Ruth slept. Her mother according to the . lice, got out her kerosene can and liberally sprinkled her sleeping daughter and the bed upon which she was lying. A match was ap- plied, and the flames leaped up- ward. Then Ruth got up, and got up_quickly. ‘With the aid of a few chemicals from a nearby fire department, which rushed to the scene, the blaze was quickly put out. Ruth was only scorched. Policeman Robert F. Langdon of the ninth precinct arrested the mother and sent her to Gallinger Hospital. A charge of arson was placed against her. OYSTER SEES NINE BOND ISSUE NEEDS Will Place Project Before Board as Soon as Definite ““Plan Is.Formed. A bond issue, advocated by Com- missioner Oyster to provide for ur- gent and necessary improvements which cannot be met in the District's ever-increasing budget, will be offi; clally placed before the entire board of Commissioners for action as soo! as a definite plan for such a project is completed. Meantime Commissioner Oyster, with District Auditor Daniel Donovan and other financial experts, will work out a scheme for inaugurating the emer- gency money ralsing campaign. Mr. Oyster also is anxious to sound out public sentiment on the plan before going .much deeper into the question. Commissioner Oyster said today he had in mind the floating of a bond issue amounting to approximately $15,000,000, which will be increased to $20.000,000. providing the surplus revenues credited to the District In the Treasury are turned over. The tentative plan, the Commissioner sald, contemplates selling the bonds over a period of years as the money is needed, and not in a lump sum. He believes that the future genera- tion should contribute to some of the permanent improvements which it will enjoy. Nine of the outstanding improve- ments which would result from a bond issue the Commissioner pointed out, would be: Installation of the high-pressure water system for fire fighting. Beautification of the water front. The paving of every suburban sidewalk and street in the District and the improvements f the main arteries of traffic. Completion of the sewerage sys- tem. Completion of the parking plan, which proposes a chain of parks around the city. Erection of & new central police headquarters near the District build- ng. Better street lighting. Complete motorization of the fire department, with a reserve force of motor equipment. An adequate -school building pro- gram. SUICIDE ATTEMPT FAILS. TORONTO, July 27.—Florence Smith today attempted suicide by throwing herself from a bridge in Rosedale. But her leg caught in the girders, and she hung head downward fifty feet above the road beneath until passers- by lassoed her and dragged her to safety. % Faith in Miracle By the Assoclated Pres: LITTLE ROCK, Ark, July 27.— Herbert Sease, Baxter county man, convicted of the murdef of Rk Devidson, was elédtrocuted- at the: te penitentiary ¥ fifl‘y_jv'elge'k;w- . Sease had “HMigintain u}_,umz he last minute thn-'\nTck ot Gb 01d prevent his execution. Nt “atraps were being adjusted declared that he “was the hap- plest in the walls,” and laughed. On the way from the death cell to e SR o el netio faith. by the tholle gzv. }\n L. .hotchor of Little Rock College. 4 commemorate the ground breaking for this extensive project. These ceremonies, which have been ar- ranged by Col. Sherrill in co-opera- tion with the Anacostia Citizens’ As- soctation, include addresses by Sec- retary of War Weeks, Commissioner Cuno H. Rudolph and Maj. Gen. Lan- sing Beach, chief of engineers, U. S. A., as well as a varlety of entertain- ment and athletic contests, The thirty-one acres to be tackled first by the engineer department in this development lles between the Pennsylvania avenue and the 11th street bridges spanning the Anacostia river. Inasmuch as the major por- tion of this territory is reclaimed ground, little grading will be neces- sary and the work of laying the road- way, the walks and the pathways, the playground and the spaces for various athletic games can be carried on rapldly. Col. Sherril sald much thought has been given to making (Continued on Page 2, Column MINE STRIKE CRISIS LOOMS AS PARLEY REACHES DEADLOCK Anthracite Operators and Miners Split Over Closed Shop and Check-0ff. By the Associated Press. ATLANTIC CITY, N. J, July 27.— The strike cloud which has hovered over anthracite wage conferences at the Hotel Ambassador since July 6 appeared sootw black today as opera- tors and miners, having parted last night in utter disagreement over the closed shop and the check-off, met again to decide whether it would be of any use to continue peaceful nego- tiations. Neither side could see any rift in the cloud, each declaring it was steadfast in the attitude which led to the break in the conference. Both declined to comment on the possi- bility of federal intervention. miners already have announced they do not propose to arbitrate. The present crisis was reported when John L. Lewis, president of the United Mine Workers of America, em- bodied the check-off and “complete recognition of the union,” Interpreted | as tne closed shop, in a resolution on | which the joint committee voted four to four. Mr. Lewis announced that, inasmuch as the operators were ar- | bitrarily rejecting the proposition, | “the conferences might as well ad-| Journ.” The operators asked an overnight truce and the miners agreed to at- tend another session on the chance that in the meantime there might be a weakening somewhere. The atti- tude of the miners, expressed by Mr. Lewls today, was: “We are insistent on this point and will continue to be.” And S. D. Warriner, the operators’ spokesman, replied, when asked if their stand was final: “We presume it is.” The ultimatum demanding _estab- (Continued on Page 2, Column 8.) STREETWIDENING UP 10 CONGRESS Commissioners Without Au-| thority to Act on 13th, They Say. The District Commissioners in- formed the board of governors of the | Merchants and Manufacturers’ Asso- clation today that they are without | authority to widen 13th street be- tween F and 1 streets without spe- | cific authorization by Congress. “The Commissioners realized that | there are some streets in the down- town section of the city which even- tually must be widened,” sald the letter to, the assoclation, “and their recent action in declaring 13th street between Pennsylvania avenue and K street a one-way street for north- | Ibound trafic was taken with a view toward relleving traffic congestion until such time as Congress author- izes a physical widening of the road- way."” The board of governors of the asso- clation at a meeting June 26 unani- mously adopted a resolution petition- inig ‘the Commissioners to proceed at once to the widening of 13th street between F and 1 streets. It was held In the resolution that the Com- missioners had full and complete au- thority to proceed in this matter. Fails to Save “You came heére to see me die, but T am not going to die,”” he.lold nearly seventy-five .perad, ™ wit- | ness the exeoution, «."THE ¥rmre-God | that- saved Daglel™ will save me.” This Wwas followed Lk allaugh. “Asi-the leather mmskm wus atYosy Bis face he muttered, “Have you got.it on all*right boys?" The attendants stepped back and in a mo- ment Sease was dead. Sease, charged with having shot Davidson from ambush following a quarrel, was found guilty after wit- nesses testified that he had borrowed a shotgun from a nelghbor saying he wanted to “kill Davidson.” “and that he had returned it later with the comment that he had killed the man. pulled | The | { printed and | members of the post. TWO CENTS." D.C.LEGIONPOSTS DRIVE FACES FIRE OF HIGH OFFIGIALS Veterans’ Fund Would Be Shared by Promoters of Campaign, Reports Say. DEPARTMENT HEADS SAY PERMISSION NOT GIVEN Rules of National Veterans’ Body Require Approval of All Money Raising. Persistent reports that a profes- sional promoter is to recelve as com- pensation a large share of the $100,- 000 the Vincent B. Costello Post of the American Leglon is attempting to raise by public subscription with which to bulld a large club house, have caused both the national and District of Columbia departments of that organization to initiate an inv, tigation which may result in the post being ordered to discontinue its cam- paign. It was learned today that the atten- tion of the local department of the Legion was called to the campaign at the last meeting of the executive committee, At that time a resolution was passed ordering an investigation to determine whether or not the Vin- cent B. Costello Post had ever ap- plied for and received permission to conduct a campaign in the name of the American Legion, a precedent all posts are obliged to follow. Permission Refused. When of the minutes of previous sessions executive committee were read it was learned that the adju- tant of the Costello Post had asked for that permission in March, 1922, but it has never been granted, Wat- son B. Miller, who was then com- mander of the District department, requesting more information. He dld, however, grant permission for the post to conduct a lawn fete at Camp Meigs and it is believed the members of the post misinterpreted that communication to include the campaign. Rules of both the District of Col- umbia and the national organizations of the American Legion forbld mem- ber posts from conducting campaigns in the name of the legion if a pro- fessional promoter is to share any {part of the proceeds, or if the cam- paigners are to use any of the pro- ceeds except enough to pay Dare expenses. Investigation has revealed that Winfleld Jones, with offices in the Southern building, was retained by the Vincent B. Costello Post to superintend their drive. Information a8 to the amount Mr. Jones will receive as compensation differs. Mr. Jones very frankly told a reporter for The Star that it was none of his business, nor the public business. Dr. Walter F. Sullivan, commander of the Vincent B. Costello Post, said he did not know how much the promoter would be paid, but said he was working on a salary basis. Other reports had it that Mr. Jones has been promised a large per cent- age—as much as 50 per cent—of the money collected. Meeting to Be Held. The executive committee of the District department will hold another meeting, and it is understood the campaign is certain to be the subject of warm discussion. They sald the campaign was a violation of organ- ization rules. There is no attempt in legion cir- cles, however, to impugn the motives of 'the members of Costello Post Rather, most members believed they had innocentiy violated the rules and would discontinue the drive the minute the executive committee lssues the necessary instructions. In the meantime, however, the campaign is proceeding apace @#nd Mr. Jones is preparing to start the drive in earnest once the summer vacations are over. Many Indorse Drive. Many of the most prominent people in Washington have indorsed the movement. ~Among _them are M Jusserand, the ambassador from France, and Baron de Cartier_ de Marchienne, the ambassador from Bel- slum. It _is understood words of praise by Presldent Harding have aiso been weekly bulletins from the post campaign headquarters add new names to the list of indorsers. The plans of the Costello Post were to erect the clubhouse out on the Conduit road. Asked what it would be used for, Dr. Sullivan said today the bullding would be for the use of Other District posts, he added, would be permitted to hold their meetings in the club, A nominal charge, enough to cover the expense for light, heat and other necessaries, would be made, he con- cluded. “AERIAL MOSQUIT! PUT THROUGH TEST Smallest Seaplane in the World Designed to Be Used by U. §. Submarine. The “Aerial Mosquito,” smallest sea- plane in the world, built from specifica- tions submitted by the bureau of aero- nautics, was put through a series of tests at the naval air station, Anacos- itia, D. C, by Lieut. George R. Pond, U. 8. N. R F., this afternoon: The mechanical hummingbird, as of- the Cox=K City, Long ISland; amdis- ta-be used as a scout with submarines— It is so tiny that-£ull¥ equipped and Teady to fly it can bé piaced in an ordinary sized 1iving room, while its construction per. mits to to be knocked down and stored in a submarine in remarkably small space. It could serve as a periscope several thousand feet high. The little ship measures elghteen feet over all and weighs a little less than 1,000 pounds. It is powered with a three-cylinder, sixty-horsepower mo- tor, which, officers say, is greater than the German engines can register under the treaty of Versailles. The plane will be put through severe tests here at the official testing station, and if it proves satisfactry will be put into production. P