Evening Star Newspaper, October 30, 1923, Page 1

WEATHER. Rain and colder tonight; tomorrow fair and colder. Temperature for four hours ended at 2 p.m. Highest, 70, at 2 p.m. yes- terday; lowest, 53, at 6 a.m. today. “From Press to Home Within the Hour” The Star is delivered every evening and Sunday morning to Washington homes at 60 cents per month. Telephone Main 5000 Full report on page 12, Closing N. Y. Stocks and Bonds, Page 28 No. 29,036. post office Wash| - ENGLAND ACCEPTS TERNS FOR PARLEY FIAEDBY PONCARE New York Banker Rushes to Paris to Prepare for Rep- arations Conference. U. S. TO NAME EXPERTS ON COMMISSION SOON Hughes, However, to Make Clear Representatives Are Not Official, It Is Stated. By the Associated Iress. LONDON, October 30.—Great Britain has accepted the terms specified by Premier Poincare of France for a con- ference of experts to consider the reparation question. ! The American govermment will be| acquainted with the willingness of | all the countries in the reparation problem to participate in the conference and will be asked immediately to designate its mem- of the committee of experts. BOOTH HURRIES TO PARIS. concerned International Commerce Chamber Head to Plan for Parley. By the Associated Press. W YORK, October 30.—Willis H. Booth, president of the Inter- national Chamber of Commerce and vice president of the Guaranty Trust Company, sailed today on the Maure- tania for Parls to arrange for a con- ference of delegates from thirty-eight nations to make recommendations re- garding the proposed reparations dis- cussion advocated by Secretary of State Hughes. Mr. Booth was hesitant in discussing the Paris session, which begins November 12, but it was reported his hurried trip concerned selection of the committee of financial experts, who, under the Hughes plan, would pass on the amount that Germany might be expected to pay. ‘I think it will be a very important session,” was all Mr. Booth would say of the Paris conference. DELAYS HEARING GERMANS. Reparaiions Commission Awaits Action by Experts. By the Associated Press. PARIS, October 30.—Some hitch in transmission appears to have delayed the queries which, according to.Te- ports from London, the British cabi- net sent to Premler Poincare last night, as to how the committee of ex- perts to examine Germany's capacity to pay would be composed, when it would meet and which powers would be invited to name delegates. It was said that, generally speak- ing, Premier Poincare was willing to accept any decision of the reparation commission on_ those points, so long as any action taken remained within the scope of the treaty of Versailles. The commission would naturally de- cide as to the date of the meeting, while the representatives of the dif- ferent governments on the commis- sion would be supposed to follow the instructions of their governments as 1o _the composition of the committee. The understanding here is that the committee will be made up of repre- sentatives of Great Britain, the United States, France, Belgium and Italy. An understanding has been reached in the reparation commission where- by that body will postpone action on the request of the Berlin government 1hat German representatives be heard regarding the capacity of the reich to pay reparation, until the question of the appointment of an_interna- tional committee of experts is settled. BIRKENHEAD PESSIMISTIC. Former British Lord Chancellor Sees Little Good in Parley. By the Associated Press. NEW YORK, October 30.—The Earl of Birkenhead, former lord chancellor of Great Britain, sailing home today on the Maurctania, after a lecture | tour of Canada and the United States, said he saw little value in the conference of iinancial experts on reparations proposed by Secretary Hughes. “Poincare has thrown cold water on the whole proposition in_ his speech last Sunday,” declared Lord Birkenhead. “He will not admit of fixing any amount of reparations by | a committee of experts, insisting upon the figures as provided by the existing reparations commission. He would turn the conference of experts into a debt-collecting agency, with- out taking into account at all Ger- many's capacity to pay. “I see little value at all in the con- ference, and think that the whole proposition would be to make inade- quate the services of.ithe American expert. France or no one else has ever given a definite figure as to what Germany can pay.” Expects ‘Less From Berlin, Asked what he thought Germany could pay, Lord Birkenhead replied: “I am rather out of these matters at present, and cannot say, but as- suredly it is much less now than it would have been had there been some arrangement before the Ruhr was occupled. Germany should be told in plain figures what she is expected to pay and be held to that amount. She must pay—but how much is another matter. Lord Birkenhead expressed great regret at the death of Bonar Law. “He was one of the most remark- able parliamentary debaters I have ever known,” he said. “A clear and lucid speaker, a man of amiable char- acter, and for many years a dear friend.” STEAL $75,000 IN GEMS. Thieves "Rob Room of Jewelry Agent in Cincinnati. CINCINNATI, Ohio, October 30. ~—Diamonds and jewelry valued at $75,000 were stolen by thieves from a room on the third floor of the Sinton Hotel here late last night, according to a report made today by Ernest F. Straus, Chicago, who said he repre- sents two firms of New York jewelers #ad importers, Entered as second-class matter ington. D. C. Bonar Law Dies he 1 WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION WASHINGTON, D. C, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1923—FORTY PAGES. of Pneumonia British Premier Seven Months Took Office After Breaking With Lloyd George. Malady in Throat Cause of His Retirement. By the Assoclated Press, LONDON, October Bonar Law. for seven months prime minister of Great Britain, died his modest London home at 3 o’clock this morning. Five months ago—on May 20—he resigned the premiership because of a throat malady which for a long time had troubled him. Even then he was reluctant to admit that his career was finished and retained his seat in the house of commons, where he since has made two or three aps pearances. Ten days ago Mr. turned to_ London after a sojourn of several weeks. Hi BAVARIANS READY T0 INVADE BERLIN; STRIKEIN DRESDEN Bonar Law re- Three Brigades Await 8ignal' to Overthrow Republic. Stresemann Helpless. BY HIRAM K. MODERWELL. By Cable to The Star and Chicago Daily News. Copsright, 1923, BERLIN, Ogtober 30.—Several bri- gades of irregular military forma- tlons now are mobilized and fully armed just inside the north Bava- rian border awalting the signal to overthrow the republic and Chan- cellor Stresemann with it. He is unable to protect himself and the republic with his regular military force, which is inferior to the ir- {regulars in numbers and -equipment and which is politically unreliable. The Irregulars were seeking a pre- text to overthrow the Saxon govern- ment as a prellminary to a march on Berlin. Hence, Stresemann had three choices: First, to make. Saxony his ally by accepting volunteer of fers of Saxon defense battalion: ond, passively to protect the Saxon government under Zelgner; third, to do himself what the irregulars pro- posed to do in Saxony, thus robbing them of the excuse for violence— “cleansing red Saxony.” General Strike Begins. Chancellor Stresemann’s coup d'etat| at Dresden has placed the socialist party in a critical position, loaders seeking to deny responsibil- ity, while news comes of an enormous outburst of indignation on the part of the working classes in Saxony, expressed in a general strike, which began in full force at noon. Even the electricity and water supplies were cut off in some cities, contrary to the plans of the leaders. Among the rank and file the de- mand is growing for a sympathetic general strike in Berlin and through- out central Germany. A committee of the party and the trades unions will decide tonight whether such a. strike shall be called. It seems probable, however, that it will be de- cided to'refrain in order to preserve the avallable forces to combat the militarist coup, which is expected here soon. Socialists Embarrassed. Socialist members of the Streso- mann government, trying to explain why they agreed to Chancellor Stressemaun’s procedure against Sax- ony, assert that the chancellor played them false by failing to tell them of the violent measures which were in- tended, and of the appointment of Dr. Karl Heinze as vice dictator. President Ebert, who signed the (Continued on Page 2, Column 3.) MAN KILLED BUMMING RIDE WAS WEALTHY Body of “Tramp” Identified as Frank Fox of Brooklyn, Heir to Large Estate. By the Ausociated Press, LUFKIN, Tex., October 30.—The body of a man killed here Saturday night while “bumming a ride” on a freight train was identified yesterday as that of Frank Fox, sixty, wealthy Brooklyn, N. Y., business man. Positive identification was made by T. C. Murphy of Cuero, Tex., who came here at the request of Fox's sister. According to Murphy's story, a ragged tramp came to his farm about a month ago and asked to stay a few days, saying he was ill and needed rest. His appearance was good and the farmer acceded to his request. The man remained about three ‘weeks, then announced himself as well enough to “travel.” No sooner had the ragged stranger left the Cuero farm, Murphy said, than he be- gan to recelve communications from law firms in Brooklyn and from rela- . These said the “ragged tramp' eir to a large estate. Other than that the guest for three weeks had left on a freight train, Murphy could give little information to these inquiries. Newspaper clippings found on the dead man’s body contained the name of a Mrs, Murray of 9 Belden court, Brighton Beach, N. Y., and officials here sent messages to the address in hopes of identifying the man. Mrs. Murray at once telegraphed $50 to Murphy at Cuero, asking him to come here and view the remains. The body was forwarded to Brook- 1yn Iste today.. q 2 & 30.—Andrew | in | from Brighton | all the| | i | physicians issued a statement to the | effect that he had contracted a severe chill, but the public did not suspect | that'the end was so near until they | read in ¥his ‘morning's mnewspapers that he had developea. septic pheu- (Continued on Page 4, Column 4 COAL MEN CLEARED, AS JUSTICE RULES JURORIN .S, PAY Eleven 1921 Indictments Lifted by Decision—Gordon Will File Appeal. ANDREW BONAR LAW. Justice Hoehling of the District Supreme Court today sustained the plea in abatement filed by the eleven icoal merchants who were indicted in March, 1921, for alleged conspiracy to {violate the Sherman anti-trust law through restraint of the trade and commerce in coal in Washington. The court accordingly quashed the indict- ment and discharged the accused. { Justice Hoehling held that a per- | son recelving disability compensation 1n—om the government is in the em- {Ploye of the Unitea States and a¥ such is disqualified for service either on a petit or a grand jury. The de- |fendants had based their plea in abatement on the fact that George H. Van Kirk, a member of the grand jury which reported the indictment, Wwas in receipt of a monthly allowance for disability from the United States. Gordon to Appeal. United States Attorney Gordon, who had opposed the plea in abatement on the ground that the receipt of compen- sation does not make a person an em- | ploye of the Unitea States and does not {prevent his serving on a jury, will seek a special appeal from the District Court lot Appeals in the hope of reversing the finding of Justice Hoehing. Attorneys John Lewis Smith represented the coal men. A complete resume of the jury sys- tem, from the Assize of Clarendon, in 1166, down to the present day, is incor- porated in_ the opinion of Justice Hoehling. The decision of the court is also based on the Crawford case, in the United States Supreme Court, where a druggist. who had a postal substation in his store was held to be disqualified to sit on a petit jury in a criminal case. Charged Against Payee. Unller an agreed statément of facts it was shown that when Van Kirk received his pay of $165 for grand jury service the entire amount was charged against him by the disability compensation ~comwission, and the juror died still owing the government $19 as a result of this deduction. “Having in mihd the facts” sald Justice Hoehling in his opinion, “that the grand juror, Van Kirk, was an employe of ‘the United States and as such was awarded a monthly com- pensation under the provisions of the federal compensation act and from thence forward to the extent at least of his monthly check was supported by the United States; that the latter reserved the right to itself of reim- bursement from his earnings and also reserved the right at any time of its own motion or on application to re- view the award and on such review to end, diminish or increase the com- pensation previously awarded, can it be serfously contended that the juror named had freedom of mind, or that he stood indifferent as he stood un- sworn, or that his membership on the panel was favorable to an im- partial jury? Fairness of System. “Suppose many or all of the grand jurors sustained the same or similar relations to the United States, or sup- pose one, a number, or all the trial jurors in a criminal case sustained such relations to the United States, is it conceivable that such situation either as to the grand or the petit jury would in the least conduce to respect for or bellef in the fairness of the system of trial by jury? Those relieved of the indictment by the declsion of Justice Hoehling are: Ward W. Grifith, Morris E. Marlow, Samuel M. Frazier, L. Evans White, Otto G. Raymond, Johnston R. Zim merman, J. Edward Chapman, Leon. ard P, Steuart, Guy 'T. Steuart, May nard C. Burrell and William F. Hum- mer. GUN BATTLE WAGED IN MEXICAN HOUSE Political Partisans Among Spec- tators Exchange Shots Dar- ing Debate. By the Assoclated Press, MEXICO CITY, October’ 30.—Shots were exchanged between rival par- tisans in the galleries or the cham- ber of deputies last evening during a political debate involying orators of the Calles and De La Huerta factions. One man was wounded. When the police arrived to clear the public benches they were pre- vented from acting by the deputies, ‘who demanded that the spectators be allowed to remain, | MASINIG HASTERS MAYPAVE WAYFOR 1.5 GRANDLODEE State Chiefs Here for Rites at Alexandria to Meet With Finley. WORLD-WIDE MOVEMENT Leon Tobriner, E. C. Brandenburg and | | stone_ besides the usual articles that iby L. Whiting Estes; IN SAME DIRECTION SEEN If Organization Is Formed, Wash- ington, It Is Conceded, Will Be Seat. The Masonic grand masters of every state in the Union, here to help lay the corner stone of the George Washington Memorial at Alexandria at noon Thursday, will meet as a body tomorrow for the first time in history and discuss matters that may result in the dawn of a new epoch of Masonry in the United States, and possibly the world. The grand masters, each of whom is supreme in his particular jurisdic- tion, will assemble in the House of the Temple at 16th and S streets northwest at the invitation of Dr. Mark F. Finley, grand master of the District of Columbla. They will be In continuous session throughout the day and conclude their meeting with a banquet in the evening. At prosent there is no national or- ganization of blue lodge Masons— that is to say, Masons of the first three degrees. " Each state 18 a sep- arate jurisdiction, supreme in ftself and subject to no suggestions or in- fluence from a central body. It is understood that the question of whether Masonry should have a na- tional organization—a supreme grand lodge—in the United States will be considered. Washington Will Be Seat. Should such an organization later Brow out of tomorrow’'s meeting. it is conceded that Washington, by virtue of its position as the National Capital, will become the seat of the supreme grand lodge of Anclent Free and Accepted Masons. Since such an organization would be the first of its kind in the world, there is a possibility that it eventually would grow into an international supreme” grand lodgo. Such a lodge. it has been pointed | out for years, would take no autonomy | from the state grand lodges, but would give Masonry a central body from which 1o operate. The need of that body Had “been felt for many years, and when Grand Master Finley was authorized by the District Grand Lodge to invite the state grand ma ters to thefr first national conference, it was belleved that the formation of @& permanent national body was the ideal that prompted the action. While such a lodge could not be formed immediately, many prominent Masons expect another national con- ference, at which the supreme body might be raised, to result. he meeting in the House of the Temple will open at 10 o'clock to- morrow morning. At noon the grand masters will have luncheon at the City Club and in the late afternoon will be taken on a tour of the city. The banquet will be held in the House of the Temple at 6 o'clock and immediately afterward the grand masters will be taken to a speclal communication of Hiram Lodge in Ma- sonic Temple. Another precedent in Masonry will be set when Corinthlan ~Lodge, No. 241, of Detroit, Michigan, exemplifies the third degree. The candidates, of course, will be Washington young men. Every State Represented. Plans for the laying of the corner stone of the state memorial to George Washington, the man and the Mason, had been completed today. The occa- fon probably will be the greatest gathering of Masons ever held, delega- tions from every state in the Union being present with their respective grand masters. In the procession to the scene of the dedication more than 14,000 persons will march. The pro- cession will move at 10 o'clock, and it is expected that the corner stone will be dedicated promptly at noon. Every state in the Union will have some memorial to deposit in the are deposited by the grand lodges. Among the various articles to be placed In the stone and sealed for- ever are an American flag, presented the Harding medal, a bronze plaque containing the names of the architects, consult- ing architects, landscape architects, foundation engineer, the contractors and such of the actual builders who were connected with the building of the temple; a Holy Bible, a lamb- skin apron, a copy of the portrait of Washington that hangs in the Alex- andria-Washington Lodge, various books, pamphlets and papers concern- ing the life of Washington; Masonic statistics, and the names of persons connected with the building of the temple. ~ ‘Extraordinary preparations for tak- ing_care of the crowds that will af tend the dedicatory services have been made by the Alexandria authorities. It is expected that more than 30,000 persons will visit the Virginia city, and special trains will: be run to ‘Washington and direct to Alexandria for the occasion. Every branch of the armed eervice of the United States will be represented in the parade, and the giant cruiser U. S. S. Richmond Wit be anchored off Alexandria dur- the day. ‘“ll’zresldent Coolldge will attend the exercises, but he will not speak. It was explained at the White House that he would be present out of re- spect to the memory of George Wash- as will scores of other di tinguished guests. The services will be conducted by the state grand mas- ters and strictly according to Masonic ritual. MCORMICK'S VIEW BRINGS CRITICISM Senator Borah and Others Uphold U. S. Policy in Rep- arations Dispute. BY DAVID LAWRENCE. Senator Medill McCormick of Illi- nois was twitted good-naturedly today as he dropped in at the White House just as the members of the cabinet were filing in for their regular Tues- day meeting with President Coolidge. The senator had issued the first pub- lic statement criticizing the Cool- idge-Hughes policy in the European reparations dispute. #¥ou're behaving like a volcaro,” Secretary Hughes remarked as he met the Illinois senator in the corridor. You made us all get out our dic- tionarles to find out what Lotophagi are,” remarked Bascom Slemp, private secretary to President Coolidge. And a moment later Senator Borah of 1daho came along and was asked what he thought about Medill Me- Cormick’s statement, and he took the position that the Illinois senator was carrying the fight of the so-called irreconcilable” group too far. Sees Effect of Shell Shock. “Some of the senators who were in that fight,” said Mr. Borah with a laugh, “are still suffering from shell shock” Now while we fought the league of nations because we thought it a political alliance, we never in- tended that America should refrain from conferring with other powers about a world situation. Why, we did it in the Morrocan situation, and we have always stood ready to give our advice. But it's one thing to enter a political alliance and quite another to discuss economic ques- tions. There seems to be an idea that we cannot have an international eco- nomic oconference without entering into political alllances or talking about cancellation of debts. That's all wrong. We can always confer and We never need go beyond conference if we do not desire to do so. But we cannot refuse to confer, especial- ly when the situation concerns the markets of the United States so vitally.” Others Volce Objections. Some of the criticism voiced by other senators was that Mr. McCormick should not have issued his statement immedtately after lunching with Pres- ident Coolidge, for persons abroad might have the impression that this intimacy signified a concurrence by the President in what Mr. McCormick sald. Mr. McCormick, on the other hand, prepared his statement last Sunday and wanted Mr. Coolidge to know what he objected to in _the present foreign policy of the admin istration, so that opportunity might be given to modify it. Failing to change the President’s mind, Mr. Mc- Cormick issued his statement of dis- sent. In spite of this explanation, some senators sald today they thought it a mistake for Mr. McCor- mick to say that the four-power pact with Japan had been rendered mean- ingless by a Senate reservation, as that, too, might be regarded in Great Britain, Japan and elsewhere as a re- treat by the United States government from obligations then assumed. Senator Explains His Position, Mr. McCormick was asked by the writer what his objection was to the proposed plan of an international commission of experts if it was as- sured that the experts were not rep- resentatives of the United States government. He said it was his un- derstanding that the experts would be representatives of the American government and would be nominated by it. This, however, is contrary to the impression given at the De- partment of State, where the news- paper men have interpreted remarks made there to mean that the experts will not represent the government of the United States, but will as private citizens be invited by the reparations commihsion itself just as any legal or technical advice might be sought from private persons. Under ide tical circumstances the reparation: (Continued on Page 2, Column 3.) ;Honest Adpvertising its readers, The Star, for years, has carefully censored all advertising submitted for publication and barred all false and fraudulent statéments wherever found. For the protection of -Readers are requested to assist The Star in protect- ing ithe public and all legitimate advertisers by bringing to the attention of the paper any statement that they might find to be untrue or misleading in any advertise- ment at any time. THE LATEST REPUBLICAN Princess Hermine Hurt by Unknown ? DOORN, Holland, October 30.—A stone thrown by an unknown hand inflicted a serious wound in the ear of Princess Hermine while she was walking with her chil- dren last evening in a wood near the ex-kalser's chateau. The police arrested several per- sons, but sald they did not get the culprit. Wilhelm’'s entourage and the entire village of Doorn have been greatly excited by the incident. D.C.MANISKILLED AS CAR HITS BRIDGE Companion Seriously Hurt After Accident at Hal- thorpe, Md. Andrew Carner, 119 G street north- west, lost his life and John H. Best, twenty-one, 14 Jewets street, was hurt seriously when an automobile in which they were riding early today on the Baltimore-Washington boule- vard crashed into the Baltimore and Ohio railroad bridge at Halthorpe, Md. A third man in the car, John H. Strunk, 1242 12th street, escaped un- injured. Carner suffered a concussion of the brain and a compound fracture of the nose and jaw. He was picked up shortly after the aocident, at about 4 o'clock this morning, by Yenks Dob- bin, and taken to the University Hos- pital in Baltimore, where he died. Best is said to be in a serious condi- tion with concussion of the brain. He was taken to the same hospital. Companion Released. Strunk was taken into custody by the Halethrope police, but was re- leased soon afterward. Strunk, ac- cording to the police, said the men had been to a party and had rented the car in Washington and that Best was driving. He said it hit the bridge and then turned over. Strunk said that he was riding on the back seat, while Carner was on the front seat alongside the driver. Mrs. Carner and her mother and Mrs. Best and a son, Roy Best, this morning went to Baitimore. The three men were employed as meter readers by the Potomac Elec- tric Power Company. Failure of the men to appear for work this morning started an investigation, which re- sulted in the receipt of information from the police that they had been in the accident. Leaves Two Children. Carner, thirty-six years old, is sur- vived by his wife and two children, Andrew, six, and Mary, two years old. The deceased had been in the employ of the Potomac Electric Power Com- pany the past five years. Best, twenty-two years, and Strump, twenty-three years old, were unmar- ried. The former resides at 4 Jewett street, Chevy Chase, and the latter at 1242 12th street. Carner resided at 119 G street. Shortly after this accldent an auto- mobile truck, in which were two negroes, came aleng and ran off the road, tumbling down a steep embank- ment and into the home of Michael Reitz. The family was awakened by the movement of the house, the crashing of glass and falling of plas- ter. The truck, Investigation showed, had knocked one corner of the’ hous from its foundation. The truck was en route from Woodridge, N. J., to a point in Vir- ginia. According to the Halthorpe | police, the negroes said that one was asleep and the other could not see ion account of a heavy fog. George Peterson, one of them, was arrested, charged with reckless driving, and ifined $5. The police are holding the ruck for payment of damage to the ihouse, which is said to amount to approximately $300. —_— ;mnv RESTORE OLD NAME. Norway Moves to Change Chris- tiania Back to “Oslo.” LONDON, October 30.—Norway's capital may lose its familiar name of Christiania and be known in the fu- ture by its original name, Oslo. Ten members of the storthing have submitted a proposal to that effect which, according to the Morning Post correspondent in the Norweglan capi- tal, will be adopted by a large major- ity of the national legislature. It is not intended to make the change ef- _fectlv: ’b‘lou 1925. * ening Star. . Stone Thrower By 1) PREDICTED U.S. CLEAR OF DEBT | Treasury Undersecretary De- clares Present Policy Will Wipe Out Huge Total. is pouring back into the investment reservolr ‘nearly half a billion dollars every year,” Un- der-secretary Winston of the Treasury told the Investment Bankers' Associa- tion today at the New Willlard Hotel, explaining that with the gradual re- tirement of the public debt the Treas- ury can expect to continue its pres- ent “sound policy.” until by 1952 the public debt “should be substantially retired. “During this fiscal year,” Maj. Wins- ton continued, “the United States will spend $200,000,000 in purchasing for cash its own securitles for retirement. This means that each month holders of $25,000,000 of securities will have pald back to them their principal and will be looking to you for new invest- ments. “In like manner, $160,000,000 & year of United States securities will be pur- chased by the British government from | holders here and turned in for retire- | ment. The effect of pouring nearly | half a billion dollars every year back | into this reservoir for you to use must | be encouraging to you. It is truly | ‘bread upon the water returned to you.” Expects No Treasury Drain. Maj. Winston, attributed to the| bankers, this query: “Will the Treas—l ury In its operations contribute to or take from the supply of money which, like a great irrigation reser- voir, exists here in America and from which you draw your customers?” Answering this the undersecretary said: “We cannot guarantee the fu-| ture. If new, extraordinary expendi- tures are authorized, new financing may be necessary or debt reduction slowed up or stopped, but under con- ditions as they now exist, I see no future drain by the Treasury. We have drawn, and drawn deeply, from that reservoir in the past, but only during the war. To be able ourselves to draw, we have had to increase the drainage area of the reservoir by the education of the small investor.” Maj. Winston, commending the bankers, said: “During the war you sacrificed your own profits to sell government securities. Now, with normal conditions permitting, you will receive the ultimate reward for your labors in the available investment funds you yourselves have helped to creats Describes Debt Refunding. Maj. Winston outlined the method | of refunding the war debt, saying| that it had been reduced to about| $22,100,000,000 from the peak In August, | 1919, by over four billion. Concerning the retiremen the undersecretary predicted that “eliminating the ques- tion of general foreign debt pay- ment and not relying on surplus rev- enues, which are uncertain, but based | solely on the sinking fund as at pres- ent constituted and the British re- funding scheme as executed, it is be- lleved that the public debt should be substantially retired by 1952, which year happens to be the maturity date of the last maturing funded obliga- tions of the United States, the Treas- ury 4%s. There are many contingen- cles which affect this estimate, but it is safe to assume that a plan of refunding that part of the maturing (Continued on Page 27, Column 4.) The government HEAVY EARTH SHOCKS ARE FELT IN MANILA 0ld Springs Obliterated in Spain by Quake and New Ones Appear. By the Associated Press. MANILA, October 30.—A number of earth shocks, the heaviest since 1906, were felt here last night. No damage, however, resulted. It is re- ported that unusually heavy shocks were felt in the provinces of Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur, although no detalls have yet been received. MADRID, October 30.—An earth- uake lasting only three seconds to- day“Terrinad. the’ population of the village of Villareal and destroyed twenty-eight mineral springs, ac- cording to a dispatch received by the fiovemment from - the governor of uesca. In Barranca and Pinar sev- eral of the springs began to spout sulphurous fumes and new springs, also emitting sulphur gases, made their appearance. and service will start immediately. Yesterday’s Net Circulation, 93,491 TWO CENTS. 173,000 HOSPITAL WORTH BUT HALF, SENATEBODY TOLD Excelsior Springs, Mo., Es- tablishment Valued at $80,- - 000 by Real Estate Man. FORMER OWNER ASKS PROPERTY REAPPRAISAL Morse, Missouri Politician, De- clares Willingness to Refund Any Excess Received. Circumstances surrounding the ac- quisition of a hospital site at Excel- sior Springs. Mo., today came under further scrutiny before the speclal Senate committee investigating the affalrs of the Veterans' Bureau, E. L. Morse, a widely known figure in Missouri republican polltics and manager of the Lowden campalgn in that state in 1920, was questioned fn great detail about the deal by which the £lte, of which he was owner, pass- ed under government control. He wa cross-examined on the basis of testi- mony given yvesterday by government employes, who dec n s tion was' rushed th on the last day of the Wilson ninistration after there had been a last-minute increase in the rental price Under questioning by Maj. Gen. John F. O'Ryan, counsel for the committee Morse went involved explana- tions of the various transactidns con- nected with hosp the result that the left in considerable ator Walsh, democ first undertook to the details; then publican, Pennsyl man, tried his hand, and finally they decided to let Mr. Morse m his explanation in his own way Documents and records from which Gen. O'Ryan read showed that Morse received a final payment from the Veterans' Bureau of $173,000. Among the individual items was the $80,000 agreed price for the Morse homestead, committee was confusion. Sen- Massachusetts, ar up some of cnator Reed, re- nia. the chalir- | $26,100 for the additional land which Morse purchased in agreement with the government, and $66,237 which Morse had expended in additions to the original building. These made a total of $182,337, and after the rental paid by the govern- ment in 1921, Gen. O'Ryan said, the sum due Morse in the final settle- ment apparently was $176,846. He added that there were no records to show how the round sum of $173,000 was arrived at, “They gave me an offer and T took it,” Morse broke in. “They had not notified me that they were going to cancel the lease, and I was anxious to_get the sale closed up.” Morse said that of the total acre- age he originally had purchased for the $26,100 he retained twenty-six or twenty-seven lots which the govern- ment did not need. The value of these lots was not determined, but Morse agreed to furnish the commit- tee with figures showing the tax sessments levied against them. Gen O'Ryan then read into the record an affidavit by J. J. Kendrick, a real es- tate dealer of Kansas City, who a; praised the total value of the orig- Inal plant at $35.000 and the total value of the existing plant at not in excess of $50,000. Asks Reappraising. Morse then proposed to the com- mittee that the plant be reappraised, saying he would be willing to re- fund to the government the differ- ence between the total of the ap- praisement and the net total he re- ceived from the Veterans’ Bureau. His offer contemplated the appoint- ment of one appraiser by the Vet- erans’ Bureau and one by himself, the two thus selected to name a third. Senator Reed questioned Morse with regard to the rush in putting the lease agreement through the Treasury Department. ‘“You are a republican, are you not” asked Senator Reed, ‘“and La Porte (Ewing La Porte, then assistant y of the treasury) is a dem- “Then there was no political con- sideration in the hurry?" Morse recalled during the question- ing that in 1920 he had appeared be- fore the Senate committee investigat- ing expenditures by candidates for the republican presidential nomina- tion, and so had had previous experi- ence with Senate committees. ““Can vou explain, then,” asked Sena- tor Waish, “why a democratic official in view of a memorandum before him from the public health service de- nouncing the location for a hospital was in such a hurry to conclude the agreement?” “I cannot give you any explanation about that,” Morse replied, adding { that he did not know at the time that a memorandum unfavorable to these hospitals was before La Porte. Senator Walsh wanted to know how it was that Morse placed the valua- tion of $90,000 on his homestead when the assessed valuation for taxation was less than $10,000. The witness replied that assessments in Missouri were very low, averaging around 10 per cent of the total valuation. Under further questions Morse con- ceded that he later had used his po- litical influence with Congress to prevent abandonment of the hospital at Excelsior Springs. In the summer of 1922, he said, he was notified by the Veterans' Bureau that it was the purpose to abandon the project. A committee of medical men having recommended against its use as a permanent hospital, Morse declared he asked fifteen senators to call up the Veterans' Bureau and protest. On Verge of Collape. He also called on the late Charles F. Cramer, then general counsel for the Veterans' Bureau, who, he under- stood, had charge of the matter. Ac- cording to his story, he told Cramer the details of how he had had the people of Excelsior Springs assist in financing the project and that unless the government carried out its agree- ment for ultimate purchase there would be a scandal and he would be branded a crook. Senator Reed, republican, Missouri, chairman of the committee, then put to Morse a number of questions sug- gested by counsel for Charles R. Forbes, former director of the Vet. erans’ Bureau. Before he had con- cluded the hearings had to be re- cessed for ten minutes as Morse ap- peared on the verge of a physical col- laps He denled that Forbes ever had ordered him out of his office or that he ever had had any altercation with the former diregtor. The wit- ness said he saw Forbes on_only about four occasions, and told of how frequently he cooled his heels for days outside of the director’s office. “They kicked me around like I was a foot ball,” Morse exclaimed. Immediately he was seized with what appeared to be a nervous at- tack, and_after a minute or two Chairman Reed announced a recess. &