Evening Star Newspaper, August 17, 1923, Page 1

— WEATHER. Showers this afternoon and tonight; Saturday cloudy; moderate tempera- ture Temperature for twenty-four hours ended at 2 p.m. today: Highest, 80, “From Press to Home Within the Hour” Thke Star’s carrier system covers at 4:15 p.m. vesterday lowest, 66, at 6:30 a.m. today. Cloting_N. Y. Stocks and Bonds, Page 1; e No. 28,962. Entered as sec post _office Washington, ond-class matter D. C. HARD COAL PEACE SEEN: BOTH PARTIES MEETU.S.DEMAND . Miners and Operators Agree ' to Reopen Wage Parley at Fuel Body Request. LEADERS APPEAR WILLING TO MAKE CONCESSIONS Conciliatory Statements Indicate Government Action May Result in Settlement. By the Assoclated Press. NEW YORK, August 17— Miners and anthracite operators, meeting today in a joint confer- ence at the behest of the United States Coal Commission to avert a suspension of operations Sep- tember 1, reached an agreement to renew wage-contract negotia- tions at Atlantic City next Mon- day. The second joint meeting of the miners and operators, which was scheduled to begin imme- diately this afternoon, would re- sult, it was said, in the drafting of a letter for presentation to the Coal Commission formally an- nouncing this decision. The miners’ and operators’ represen- tatives, it was understood, would unite in a declaration in the let- ter that the renewed wage nego- tiations would give good prospect of uninterrupted operation of the anthracite mines after September 1, when the present wage agree= ment expires. By the Associated Pross NEW YORK, August 17.—At the be- hest of the United States Coal Com- mission committees representing miners and anthracite operators to- day went into a joint on in a final effort to prevent a st in the hard coal fields September The joint conference met aftes the commission had called bet L. Lewls, president of the United Mine Workers of America, and S. D. Warriner, chairman of the general policy commit- tee of the anthracite operatars, them a letter demanding a con swer from both parties as to wh would do to prevent a suspension of operations. The joint coaference is scheduled to report to the commlitee by 8 pm, The commission assertod that the public was becoming alarmel at the prospect of another coal shortage cud declared it was imperative that un- certainty be quickly remdved. Peace Efforts Halted. “The committees appointed respec- tively by the anthracite operators and the anthracite mine workers to ne- gotlate new contracts to replace the existing one which expires on August 31, have been in complete deadlock since July the letter said “and from that date up to August 14, not even one meeting was held in an ef- fort to negotiate a new agreement. More than two days have now been spent in a fruitless effort to find a basis upon which to bring about a resumption of negotiations and in the exchange of notes between the parties thereto, through the medium of com- mission, it has been found impossible o have the language of these notes construed to mean the same thing by both of the parties “There now remain only fourteen days before the present contract ex- pires. he public mind, with a keen realization of the suffering of last winter, because of an inadequate sup- ply of anthracit. is beginning to be seriously alarmed over the question of whether there is to be another spension of anthrac mining on eptember 1 of this year. It is im- perative that this uncertainty be cleared off at once. - therefore urge that the repre- sentatives of the two sides imme- diately enter into a conterence to consider and report to us: “1. Whether you can reach an agreement over the matters now in dispute and negotiate the new agree- ment by September 1. “2. Whether, in the event of your inability by September 1 to reach an agreement upon the matter in con- trpversy, you can agree upon a plan that will assure a continuance of mining after September and until you have reached an agreement, “3. Whether in the event that you find yourselves unable to reach a complete agreement upon the matters in controversy, you can agree upon some plan for an orderly and peace- able settlement of the matters in “ontroversy upon which an agree- Ment cannot be reached by contract negotiations, and thus prevent a sus- pension of mining as a result of the Present controversy. Demand Reply at Once. “The commission asks that you go into joint session immediately and reply in writing to the inquiry by 8 o'clock tonight.” Both Mr. Warriner and Mr. Lewis ,Bgreed to the joint meeting which $the commission asks and sent for their assoclates to participate. The operators’ committee before going into the joint conference gave out the coples of two letters addressed to the commission and explaining their position over the “check-off” contro- versy. uUperators were now willing to arbi- trate all issues, not even excepting the closed shop with the “check-off,” one of the letters said. “Further, the operators have repeatedly sought a oint plan that no suspension take lace’ September 1, upon the under- atanding that if no wage contract is éxecuted by that date the contract when executed shall be retroactive to that date.” The miners’ union was declared to ‘e unwilling to join in such an agree- ment to avert the danger of stoppage ©f production. econd letter restated the oper- ators’ position, and declared that th operators now were willing to elim: inate the twelve-hour day from in- dustry, provide for speedier adjust- ment of local grievances before the anthracite board of conclliation and put in the new contract “a provision for the discontinuance of the present practice of extending credit to em- loyeé and deducting the indebted- $lens 80 inturred from their wages. The operators now offer to extend the present contract until March 31, Unued on_Page 7, Ci ) 4 - re it John | BRITAININFORMED 1.5, STANDS PAT ON REPARATION VIEW Hughes Denies Coolidge Ac- cession Will Change At- titude on Issue. MORE ACTIVE INTEREST | WAS FALSELY REPORTED Administration Moves Hastily to Dissipate False Rumor Effect Abroad. By the Associated Pre LONDON, August 17.—Acting upon cable advices from Secretary of State Hughes, the American embassy offi- clals in London have made it clear to the British foreign office that the United States contemplated no de- parture on its attitude on reparations as taken before President Harding's death and as announced by Secretary Hughes in his New Haven speech, This disposes of any hopes on this side that President Coolidge's acces- sion to office might result in a more active Interest by the United States in Europe's problems. The reiteration of America’s policy was conveyed verbally and informally to the British government and not through a note. CORRECTS BRITISH VIEW. Hughes Says U. £. Attitude Is Not Changed. Py the Associated Press. To clear away any misunderstand- ing in London regarding the attitude of the Coolidge administration on reparations, Secretary Hughes has ca- bled to the American embassy there the substance of from Washington by the Associated Press on August 15, with a aotification | that the declarations it contained rep- resented the precise position of the ! United States government. | The message to London was in- {tended to correct a misapprehension |evident in London dispatches, which |had_indicated that it was felt the | Coolidge administration had modified to sume extent the previous policy of | Washington relative to participation in any attempt to _settle the repara- tions difficulty. it was reaffirmed that there had heen no change what- ever in policy as a result of the change in the presidency. Deny Reported Charge. This disclosure was made today as a result of the wide publication of untrue reports that the State Depart- ment had sent to foreign govern- | ments, through the American em- bassies abroad, a new note on repara- | tions. The informatory message to |the embassy in London is the only communleation on reparations which Ihas been sent abroad by the depart- | ment. The Associated Press story referred to, the substance of which was re- peated in the dispatch to the London embassy, set forth the position of the United States as follows “Reports from London reflecting a | feeling that there had been & welcome | change in the attitude of the Wash- ington government toward repara. tions were sald on highest authority |here today to appear altogether too optimistic. L Nothing has been saild in Washing- ton on behalf of the Coolldge adminis- | tration, 1t was pointed out, which in- dicates the slightest departure from |the statement_made by Secretary | Hughes in his New Haven speech last December. % “The American viewpoint will not | be determined until plans abroad have | been matured. Any suggestions to | the contrary are characterized here as | wholly without foundation. ¥ This outline of the government's po- sition, which had been obtained on the highest authority, was communicated by the Assoclated Press and by the foreign news agencies with whom it co-operates to all parts of Europe, to the British dominions and to the far least. It is assumed here that the wide | distribution of this authoritative dis- | Datch led to the erroneous report that the government itself had sent out a reparations circular to the forelgn powers. The effect of this reaffirmation of | policy is that the United States is prepared to consider any matured proposal with relations to the repara- tions problem, provided that pro- posal is of such a character that all legitimate American interests will be adequately protected. Reafirmed by Coolidge. That policy characterized the han- dling of the reparations matter in Washington under President Harding, land was disclosed originally in Sec- | retary Hughes' speech at New Haven. | It was reaffirmed at the White House | Tuesday on behalf of President | Coolidge. i FRENCH REPLY READY. Probably Will Be Sent to London Early Next Week. By the Associated Press. PARIS, August 17.—The - French reply to the British reparation note will be sent this evening to Brussels for the information of the Belglan government, and probably will be de- _@h the story carried] WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION ¢ Toening Star. WASHINGTON, D. C, FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 1923 —TWENTY-FOUR PAGES. PRESIDENT FAVORS ARCHIVES BUILDING Mr. Coolidge, However, Is Represented as Opposing Large Program Just Now. While strongly in favor of the early construction of a federal archives building as well as new structures {to house the Department of Justice and the State Department in the Mall, south of Pennsylvania avenue near 15th street, President Coolidge will not approve the passage at the next session of .Congress of a general public buildings bill. At least this is the opinion of those who have dis- cussed the matter with the President since he assumed office. President Coolidge is known to.be jespecially well acquainted with the pubfie baflidiniss daedtion: #nd. those close to him feel certain that he does not regard the need great enough at présent to warrant a large expend- iture of public money. Intimation to this effect was given by the President during a long con- ference today with Chalrman Lang- ley of the House public bulldings committee and Representative Clark, the ranking democratic member of that committee. At the same time the President received the intim: tion from these oallers that unle: there is a general public bulldings bill put through at the next session there will be no change for the en- actment of bills providing for the archives building and for any other individual government building. Great Demand Seen. Chairman Langley told the Presi- dent that there is a great demand for public buildings throughout the country, and that to'frame a bill to adequately answer the needs would re- quire an appropriation probably as large as $150,000,000 or $200,000,000. He explained to the Executive that there had been practically no public bulldings constructed since before the war, and that many of the buildings now being used are not only inads quate to properly house the govern- ment's workers, but in many cases are unsafe and insanitary. He ex- plained further that the government is spending large sums of money an- nually in excessive rentals in an en- deavor to meet this bullding short- age. 5 Representative Langley sald that he is greatly pleased to see the Presi- dent’'s familiarity with the building subject and also with his deep in- terest in the matter. Arlington Bridge Discussed. During the conference today the matter of the Arlington memorial bridge, for which designs are now being prepared, was touched upon briefly. Mr. Coolidge, as President, is honorary president of the Arlington Memorial Bridge Commission and during the progress of its material- izatlon will necessarily be closely identified with its developments. The President is holding confer- | ences daily with departmental heads and chiefs of the several independent agencies of the government to be- come more familiar with the work- ings of these branches of the govern- ment as well as to give assurance that the snliclel lnproved by Pre dent Harding will have his sanction. The President yesterday and today conferred with members of the Civil Service Commission regarding a num ber of matters, the more important of which being in connection with o ders which the commission has .de- sired issued by him extending the provisions of the retirement act of May 20, 1920, to certain employes and officers’ serving . permanently in_the (Continued on Page 3, Column 4.) By the Associated Pre CHICAGO, August 17.—When an in- junction which encroaches upon the personal liberty guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States. is granted the injunction should be dis- regarded,' Samuel Gompers, president of the American Federation of Labor, declared at a called meeting of rep- resentatives of local labor unlons composing the Chicago Federation of Labor lust night. The meeting was to discuss the re- cent injunction granted in Chicago by Federal Judge Carpenter restrain- ing the International Ladles Garment Workers' Union from attempting to organize dressmakers in the shops of Mitchell Brothers Company. Stating that he would be in Chicago. " common Paopl (Continued on Page 3, Column 5.) Gompers Tells Strikers to Defy All “Encroaching” Injunctions for a little time yet, Mr. Gompers said that If there i a garment worker at Mitchell Brothers Company who wishes_to enter a union he would advise him not to go to work there in spite of the injunction. ““The. whole world is a prison if ou_can't express your honest opin- on,! Mr. Gompers said. 'He declared that he had shown his attitude to- ward, the injunction in the past not only by his words, but by his and related how he had been sen- tenced to one year for violation of an_Injunction, had been granted new trial, after which he was re- sentenced, but had never gone to prison. oThe federal and state judiciary has gone injunction mad, r. Gompers said. “It {s time for American labor and American citizens to put a stop to the invasio n the rights of the ‘oug country,” ts, | TwougHr [ HEARD You SHUT THE $104 Week Pay Turns Ministers Into Plasterers By the Assoclated Press. | CHICAGO, August 17.—Plaster- ers’ wages of $104 and a week are causing student min- isters and members of other pro- fessions to take up the trowel in Evanston, where work on a new hotel is in progress. Until recently Re mins was a member of the plast- ering gang. George Sellick of Portland, Ore., graduate _ of Washington University, a civil en- gineer and a holder of several de- grees, recently turned down the offer of a professorship to join the i plasterer; NEGRO IS HANGED, THEN BODY RIDDLED Georgia Mob Takes Mafi From Officers After At- tacks on Woman. more Frank Cum- By the Assaciated Press. MACON, Ga., August 17.—Lee Green, negro, wanted for an attack upon a prominent white woman of Wellston, Ga., in Houston county, little more than a month ago, was taken from two Macon plain clothes officers this morning and lynched in the front yard of the woman's home. The body was swung from a big tree and was rid- dled with bullets. The negro is said to have confessed. One of the officers in ¢harge of the negro phoned police headquarters here from Houston county, stating that the negro had been taken by a mob. From Wellston it was learned over long-distance telephone that a number of shots were heard in that vieinity and that the negro was re- ported there as having been shot to death. ‘WILL PROBE LYNCHING. Walker to Take Action on Macon Affair. ATLANTA, August 17.—Gov. Walker said today that he would investigate the Iynching of Lee Green, a negro, in Houston county early today. The governor had not receivéd any report of the affair from the sheriff or other officers of the county, he said. PLUNGE SIX STORIES ! IN SUICIDE PACT 35, Gov. Widow, 60, and Daughter, Had Been Inseparable Com- panions in New York. By the Associated Press. NEW YORK, August 17.—Mrs. A. M. Stern, sixty-year-old widow, and her daughter, thirty-five vears old, today jumped from a window of their sixth floor apartment in West 78th street to the pavement below. They were instantly killed. Mrs. Stern and her daughter had been inseparable companio The ‘mother 'had been acting strangely for some time, it was said. A note found on Mrs. Stern's body read: _“Please take our bodies to apart- ment 62. The key is on me.” The police expressed the opinion that the mother and daughter had taken their plunge after carefully planning a suicide pact. W. W. Payne, a neighbor, told the police that Miss Sten had acted strangely since her flance was killed in the war. ‘Two other suicides and an attempt at self-destruction were reported to- day. X man, 1dentified by papets In his pockets as Isador Ginsberg of Brook- lyn, leaped into East river from the Brooklyn bridge. Williams Hohl, elghteen, who re- cently came to America from Ger- many, shot himself dead in the home of his sister, Mrs. Louis Halma, after swallowing poison. He had been out of work and despondent. A well dressed young woman, who sald she was Mrs. Ruby Reed, swal- lowed poison on West 46th street, near Broadway. . It was reported that e probably woild recover. She told she had tried'to die because her usband bad left her and heg babys | IFOUR-YEAR NORTH POLE SURVEY NEAR ACTUALITY Capt. Robert A. Bartlett, Peary’s Com- WENCOLEF FREE, BREGON DECLAES Says No Obligations Were Contracted in Agreement With United States. The Mexican embassy today made Public a statement by President Obre- gon saying that should diplomatic relations between the United States and Mexico be resumed as a result of the Mexico City conferences it “will not be due to any obligations con- tracted, nor to any agreements which have been entered into for the pur- pose of resuming diplomatic relations, nor to anything that might contra- vene our laws or the rules of inter- national law. In the, event the Mexican govern- ment s recognized by the United States, President Obkegod’s statement aGds, “such a happy event should be attributed, as far as these confer- ences are concerned, to the ability and patriotism of our own commis- stoners to explain, and to the gener- ous broad-mindedness, free from any unwise prejudices, of the eminent Amerfcan commissioners to under- stand the fundamental problem that Mexico is now facing, namely, the economic and moral betterment of the people in harmony with the develop- ment of foreign interests invested in the country.” The full text of President Obregon's statement follows: “The work of the Mexican-Ameri- can commission, constituted by Hons. Mr. Charles B. Warren and Mr. John B. Payne, as representatives of the President of the United States, and Mr. Ramon Ross and Mr. Fernando Gonzales Roa, as my own representa- tives in my capacity of President of Mexico, having been concluded, it is now my duty to inform the country regarding the manner in which that work was carrled out; and its sig- nificance. To that end I wish to make the following statements: “First. The work of the Mexican- American commission, which was be- gun on the 14th of May last and end- ed the 1I5th ultimo, was con- fined, in accordance with the pre- liminary negotlations, to a direct exchange of views and information re- garding the difficulties which up to the present time have been an ob- stacle to the resumption of diplomatic relations between the two govern- ments. 2. The Mexican commissioners, after hearing the American point of view In every case, but without enter- ing_into any discussion intended to modify our present laws, offered ex- planations of those parts of our laws relating to American jnterests in Mexico in connection with the oil and the agrarian questions only, and then also explained the manner which the present government, in pursuance of its original policy, has been en- deavoring to conciliate with the principles of international law the revolutionary ileals now embodied in our laws. Sent Invitation. 3. In addition, the Mexican com- missioners confirmed the intention of the government to conclude two con- ventions for the creation of mixed claims commissions. This intention was communicated to the embassy of the United States by our chancellory in an informal note dated November 19, 1921, and to Congress in my mes- sage of September 1, 1922. Re- garding the first of these conventions, our chancellory, on July 12, 1921, ad- dressed an invitation to all' the governments whose nationals had suffered damage in their persons or in their properties through the last revolution in Mexico, and that invita- tion was based on 'article 5 of the decree of May 10, 1912, issued by the first chief of the constitutionalist army, Mr. Venustiano Carranza, and on article 13 amended, of the law of December 24, 1917. The object of that first convention woull be to create a mixed commission to ex- amihe, from the point of view of equity, all the claims, which citizens of the United States might have against the Mexican government for damages arising out of the revolu- tion. WATER-LOGGED SUITCASE MAY HOLD $600,000 Contents Believed to: Be Part of $700,000 in Securitiés Stolen Last Winter. By the Associated Press. LOS ANGELES, Calif., August 17.— !A mass of mud, ofl and paper in a j decayed suitcase found under a bridge near here may prove to be securities worth $600,000 which fofmed part of the loot of bandits who on February 18, last, held up employes of the Firs National Bank, killed Sam McGee, ne- gro messenger, and escaped with val- uables: sald -to-total §700,000, mander, io Drift Greenland for Scientific Data. A plan, formulated In the far north, hundreds and hundreds of miles from civilization at the time when Ad- miral Peary planted the American flag at the north pole, and which was Interrupted by the entrance of the United States into the war, is to be carried out in June or July of next year by Capt. Robert A. Bartlett, commander of the famous ship Roosevelt, that carried the admiral to within a short distance of his goal. It is a plan to survey the entire arctic reglons, lying in a semicircle from Behring straits to Spitzbergen and Greenland. It is an endeavor to find out what there is In that appar- ently barren area that can further civilization in the temperate and tropic zones. "In short, it s a mam- moth scientific expedition that prom- ' ises to reveal things that the world had little dreomed of. Seated In a hotel here today, Cap: DAVIS TELLS BRITISH HOW THEY CAN HELP CLEAN ELLIS ISLAND Holds Immigrants Them- selves Responsible for Trou- bles Geddes Cited. Replying to the latest British at- tack on conditions at the immigrant station at Ellls Island, Secretary Davis of the Department of Labor declared today that “the immigrants themselves” were responsible for most of the troubles complained of. This fact, Mr. Davls sald, was per- | fectly apparent from the report of Sir Auckland Geddes, the British am- bassador, recently submitted at Lon- don. It must be kept in mind, the Secre- tary added, that those whg are de- tained at Ellis Island are held be- cause they are in one way or another in this-country in. “xfolation of the law.” while those who aré clearly admissible are passed through rap- idly. Urges Britain to Ald. “It is plain,” he said, “that the com- forts of British natlonals coming to this country could be improved if the British government would undertake to insist that only individuals who are admissible under our laws were allowed to leave for America. Brit- ish officials ares generally familiar with our immigration laws, and it would be a simple matter for them to determine before a British na- tional starts for this country wheth- er he s admissible.” Secretary Davis sald he was con- vinced that conditions at Ellis Island are superior generally to the “condi- tions in the steerage of the great majority of the vessels which bring the immigrants to America. “It is clear to me that the remedy for congestion at Ellls Island,” he added, “with all of its attending evils, lies across the Atlantic, in the control of immigration at its source.” PRESS BACKS COMPLAINT. London’rrnpers Disgusted at Fea- tures of Geddes’ Statement. By the Associated Press. LONDON, August 17.—Ambassador Geddes’ report on conditions at Ellis Island is the subject of lengthy com- ment in today's morning newspapers. Editorial writers expressed horror and disgust at the worst features of the ambassador’s statement and say they are convinced that Americah public opinion would hotly resent it if “thelr own decent, clean-living and respectable nationals” were obliged to seek entry into a foreign country un- der such conditions. The difficulties confronting the New York immigration officials are recog- nized by some of the commentators, but the unpleasant picture drawn by the statement overwhelms this con- sideration in most instances. There is complete unanimity that the selection of immigrants should be made on this side of the Atlantic. Justified, Press Says. The British government has beer justified in making complaints on behalf of many Englishmen against conditions at Ellis Island in the opin- fon' of most of the aftermoon news’ papers, which comment today on Am: every city block and the regular edi- tion is delivered to Washington homes {To%have those engaged in the con- as fast as the papers are printed. Yesterday’s Net Circulation, 89,087— * TWO CENTS From Alaska to Barelett, possessor of numerous medals and awards for his extraordi- nary explorations covering: a perivd of more than twenty years, related to a reporter of The Star the hoped- for consummation of plans_ und dreams originated by Admiral Peary and the master of the Roosevelt. The undertaking is almost a reality; pre- liminary arrangements are more t 50 per cent completed, and the ar: tic explorer, became more and more animated ax he delved into his plans. It must be mentioned that Capt. Bartlett Is a type of ship master that you read ahout in sea stories. He is not eloquent in speech. e ewears admirably. He could command a gang of mutineers and walk into the fa of machine gun fire, but se2ms to be scared of reporters. “We will leave, in a wooden ship driven with a Diesel engine, from Seattle next June or July,” said the captain. “Three months "drifting up the coast of Alaska will bring us to the Bering straits and then we will get into the ice, and drift—drift T don’t know how, but we hope to end up at Spitzbergen or Greenland about (Continued on Page 2, Column 5.) President Walks . 2 Miles in Rain At Break of Day The steady downfall of rain early thi morning did not pre- vent President Coolidge from tak- ing his customary stroll. He left the Willard Hotel shortly after 6:30 o’clock and walked a distance of nearly two miles without um- brella or raincoat. He walked briskly and seemed to enjoy him- self in spite of the rain. The President changed his route today. He walked out 14th street to Thomas Circlé, turned east on Massachusetts avenue, thence south on 11th street to New York ave- nue, then to 15th street to Penne sylvania avenue and to the Wil- lard Two secret service men followed the Executive and one of them, whe has been attached to the White House for a number of vears, sald that President Cool- idge's’ gait frequently assumes the speed of the late President Roose- velt. INSPECTOR URGES TEST FOR BUILDERS Healy Would Make Each Con- tractor Pass Rigid Ex- amination. Declaring that any one can obtain a building permit in Washington regardless of competen: Building In- sgector John P. Healy, in his annual report today recommends a law for the examination of contractors. At present builders are required to obtain an annual license from the District government, but it calls merely for the payment of a stated fee, and is {ssued without inquiry into the qualificatfons of the appli- cant. ; “It has been the practice during | the year,” said Inspector Healy, “as | {navy yards wil far as practicable to issue permits to bulld to licensed builders only. In this connection, I submit for the | apecial consgideration of the Commis- | sioners the suggestion that permits | 2o build be issued to licensed builders only whose competency has been de- | termined by examination before a| qualified board appointed by the Commissioners. In the determination of competency full weight should be given to practical knowledge as we as téchnical training and experience.” Approved by Engineers. “This {s a matter that has recently been given consideration by the American Society of Civil Engineers. struction of bulldings demonstrate thelr fitness for conducting a business in which the life and limb of the pub- lic is involved is believed to be a proper and necessary requirement. “As a safeguard to the health of the public, those who wish to practice medicine must have a certificate from duly qualified authority before they may legally engage in the profession. To secure a chauffeurs’ license the applicant is required to pass an ex- amination to show qualifications to op- erate an automobile. Competence Not Consldered. “Under existing conditions here and everywhere In the country, permits to build are issued to any one, regard- less of competentence. In connection (Continued on Page 2, Column 7.) Secretary Hughes has received a message protesting against “the ab- sence of the Bible in the swearing in of Calvin Coolidge as President of the United States” when he subscribed to the oath of office administered by his father, John Coolidge, in his c pacity as a notary public. The pro- test was made by R. L. Edmiston, act- ing for the Synod of Washington. of the Presbyterian Church in the| Upited States and for the Fellowship of Citizens of Washington State. In his message to the Secretary of State Mr. Edmiston says: “We sincerely question the ade-. quacy and fitness of the administra- tion of the presidential oath by a no- ry public and without public Bible salutation. Ofice of Notary. “National soverelgnty is exercised only through the presidential office, the powsers and duties of which sov- ereignty. aud -ofice comprehiend na< Lack of Bible When Coolidge Took Oath of Office Protested (Continued on Page 2, Column 4.) , tion-wide things, both spiritual and material. The office and powers of a notary public are only local and ma- terial,” Mr. Edmiston is described as a lawyer and Presbyterlan layman who “is seeking to establish Bible reading in public schools throughout the United States and to securo recog- nition of the Bible officlally as a basis_of the national government of the United States.” Bible Not Required. It was sald today, on behalf of Secretary Hughes, that he had no comment to make on the protest. In other quarters it was stated that while the Bible generally was used when Presidents were formally sworn into office at the Capitol, therc ap- peared to be no specific constitu- tlonal or statutory requirement to that effect. Several public notaries this city sald that the Bible never as used by.them in ‘administering the oath of office to officials, either Jedera)’ state-or- municipal, U.-DROPS 28 SHIPS AS NAVY LINIT PACT GOES INTO EFFECT Ratifications Formally Ex- changed Here by Repre- sentatives of 4 Powers. ORDERS GO OUT AT ONCE TO SCRAP BATTLE CRAFT Secretary Hughes Presides at Meet- ing of Diplomats—Pacific Treaty Also Effective. The naval limitation treaty and the four-power Pacific pact negotiated at the Washington arms conference finally became effective today when representatives of all the signatory powers gathered- at the State De- partment and formally exchanged ratifications. The formality took place shortly after noon, and was unaccompanied by any public ceremony. The actual scrapping of first-line ships under the naval treaty will begin immediately, and by the terms of the four-power pact the Anglo- Japanese alliance is terminated auto- matically by today's deposit of ratifi- cations, Secretary Hughes Presides. Secretary Hughes presided at the meeting of the diplomats, which took place in the diplomatic reception room at the State Department. The Secretary sat at the head of the ta- ble, with Counselor Chilton, charge of the British embassy, on his_right jhand and Andre de la Boulaye, French arge, at his left. Augusto Rosso, Italian charge, sat beside Mr. Chilton and Amba: dor Hanihara of Japan beside the French charge. Machinery already set up by Navy Department for demolition of a stated amount of tonnage under the naval treaty wae placed in motion as soon as the exchange had been com- pleted. the Orders Go Out at Once. Arrangement had been made by Acting Secretary Roosevelt whereby the State Department notified naval officials the moment the treaty was considered in full force, and orders were sent at once to the various bullders and to_principal metal deal- ers setting forth the procedure under which reduction of the American Navy would be accomplished. Twenty-eight capital ships, with an aggregate tonnage of approximately 750.000, are to be dropped from the American Navy tnder the treaty. They were divided by the department, for “scrapping purposes, into three classes: Ships under constfuction at private vards, ships under construc- tion at navy yards and old ships. In the case of ships in the first class | builders were requested today by the department to submit estimates for purchase of the hulk on the stocks for reduction to gcrap metal, and a separate estimate for breaking the ships up so that the Navy might offer the scrap to other bidders. The con- tractors were notified at the same time to submit a final estimate of all charges and claims against the gov- ernment arising out of the abrogation of their contracts. To Be Advertised for Sale. Ships the second class at the be advertised for sale within a few days to the highest bidder, who will be required to re- duce them to “metal of scrap sizes. Most of the old ships will be disposed of by sale on the same terms as were required in the recent cases of the Maine, Missour!, Ohio and Kentucky, which were transferred to scrap dealers. Four exceptions among the older ships have been made by the depart- ment, the Washington and South Carolina being marked for use in ex- periments in submarine and air_at- tacks, and the New Jersey and Vir- ginia having been set aside for use by Army air bombers in practice man- euvers to be held next month. In case any of these four ships are not sunk during the experiments, they will be disposed of by sale for scrap- ping, or demolished by the govern- ment. in Scrapping Starts at Onmce. “The Navy starts at once to scrap all ships, other than those to be re- tained under provisions of the treaty for the limitation of armaments,” said an official statement by Acting Secretary Roosevelt. “Of these, eleven ships are under construction, seven of which are battleships lo- cated as follows: The Indiana and South Dakota, navy yard, New York; Montana, ‘navy yard, Mare Island: North Carolina, navy yard, Norfolk: Michigan, Bethlehem~ _Shipbuilding Corporation, Quiney, Mass.; Iowa, Newport News Shipbuilding Com- pany, Newport News, Va., and Wash- ington, New York Shipbuilding Cor- poration, Camden, N. J. Two to Become Alrplane Carriers. “The battle cruisers Lexington and Saratoga, under provisions of the treaty are being converted into air- plane carriers. The other fou- battle cruisers, the Constitution and United States at Philadelphia, and the Con- stellation and Ranger at Newport News, will be scrapped at once. o action is being taken at the present time for the digposition of the Delaware and North - Dakota, now abroad on the midshipmen's practice cruise, as the treaty does not require that these be scrapped until the Col- orado and West Virginia arc placed u commission. It is the oresent inten- tion of the department to then pose of the Delaware by sale for scrapping and to convert the North Dakota into a target ship.” _— PRESIDENT ACCEPTS SCOUT LEADERSHIP By the Assoclated Press. NEW YORK, August 17.—The Boy Scouts of America today announced receipt of a letter from President Coolidge _accepting the honorary presidency of the organization, which has been held by the President of the United States since tho scouts were organized. “I have always been deeply inter- ested in the work of the scouts, which I regard as an ideal mode of citizen- ship development and character con- struction,” the President wrote. “Both my sons are scouts and my observa- tion of the benefits they have derived from their affiliation has strengthened my conviction of the orzanization's usefulness.”