Evening Star Newspaper, December 17, 1923, Page 1

WEATHER. Falr tonight and tomorrow; colder tonight, lowent temperature about 30. Temperaturs for twenty-four hours ended at 2 p. today: Highest, 52, at 4 p.m. yesterday; lowest, 37, at 1 am. today. “From Press to Home Within the Hour” The Star’s carrier system covers every city block and the regular edi- tion is delivered to Washington homes A Full report op page 7. Closing N. Y. Stocks and Bonds, Page 26 ————————— No. 29,084, 50 Gince Was Entered as second-class matter hington, D. C. he Foening Star. WASHINGTON, D. C, BONUS WILL PASS OVER VETO, SMOOT SAYS AFTER POLL Passage Would Necessitate Complete Revision of Tax Reduction Plan. FEAR OF VETERANS’ ANGER AT POLLS GREAT FACTOR ' Winancing of Compensation Meas- ure Seen Problem Congress Must Solve. BY DAVID LAWRENC! Senator Smoot, chairman of the Senate finance committee, sald on Jeaving the White House today that m soldier bonus bill would be passed ®over the President’s veto and that so #ar the Senate is concerned, the yneasure would have at least two votes more than the necessary two- hirds. The natural inquiry is whether the assage of the bonus will kill a tax evision. The present indications are hat the soldier bonus bill will be dopted without providing a plan to nance it and that once the expendi- pure is authorized it will be the task Wt Congress to find out how the money an be raised. Secretary Mellon's plan for tax re- . #uction 1s predicated on the theory }xm( there will be no bonus bill Should a bonus be adopted, it may be |niecessary to rewrite the entire plan or at least hold it in abeyance until ihe exact cost of the bonus is deter- {mined. Efforts thus far to get an ac- jeurate estimate have failed, because "3t could not be learned in advance whether the ex-service men would mccept cash or some of the other fea- “ures of the plan. May Pass Luxury Tax. Faced with the problem of finding the money to meet the bonus, and at the same time give the country a more equitably distributed tax burden than under present laws, the chances are that the taxes on luxuries will be re- tained and that many of the consump- tion taxes in the present law will not abandoned. In other words, instead lling it a sales tax, the “luxury may be imposed. There is a ment on foot. too, to find out just how the country Wwould stand a tax on | sales of one-eighth of 1 per cent. It will be recalled that the late President Harding was in favor of paying for the bonus by a sales tax, but the proposal failed largely because of the fact that he bonus itself did not have the neces- two-thirds to get it passed over a dential veto. Resentment Feared. With many new members in both thouses of Congress and a congression- el campaign coming on which means that the members fear the resentmerit ©f the ex-service men, the passage of #ome kind of a bonus bill would seem 10 be assured, together with some kind | of a tax hil H On the satisfaction which both measures give the electorate will de- pend to no small extent the verdict at polls next November, but the out- standing fact today is the determina- of Congress to attempt both tax fon and the payment of a seol- diers’ bonus. nator Smoot is hepeful that when various plans are examined for the handling of the bonus the nation will | | »r s approve his paid-up insurance scheme hereby the ex-service men would he assured of certificates that would en- able them and their dependents to borrow certain amounts if necessary 10 meet thelr needs. In this way It is hoped that extravagance would be avoided and the ex-service men re- mwarded. To Be Gampaign Issue. The fact that Senator Hiram John- | ®on and William Gibbs McAdoo have | oth come out in favor of tax revi- =lon and the payment of a bonus is| regarded here as evidence of the part | the bonus question will play in the | forthcoming campaign, and members of Congress seem to be uncouvinced | thus far that the Treasury is unable 1o stand both. Unless more figures are forthcoming as to the true costs | the Treasury argument is n 10 be effective, for every time s cusses the bonus with a member (){‘ Congress who favors it he is ready with a_definite opinion that it can | and will be financed. The fight is| by no means begun amd votes that appear to be committed now may be changed later, but on the present look of things the bonus will be rdopted and it will be up to Congress to find a way to pay for it 1 (Copzright, 1923.) I TAX CUT REDRAFT READY. Mellon Submits Reduction Measure to House Committee. ‘The House ways and means com- Wiittee, when it begins consideration of tax revision legislation tomorrow, will have before it in definite form the re- duction proposals and other changes, | chiefly designed to clarify the revenue | act, recommended by Secretary Mellon. | A complete redraft of the act has| been forwarded to the committee by the | Secretary, with a statement to Acting Chairman Green that Treasury officials are ready at any time to present their ‘arguments in favor of the proposed re- visions. Mr. Mellon, in a summary of his sug- gestions published today, emphasizes that the proposed reduction in the tax on earned incomes of $4,000 or less mrmounts to 44 per cent, a 25 per cent reduction being recommended for all incomes below $4,000, with an addi- tional 25 per cent off for those derived from wages, salaries and professional Yees. The Treasury Secretary, in a letter sccompanying the redrafted measure, noted that the reduction program “ap- {pears to have met with a most favor- “able public reception.” Analysis' Changes. Mr. Mellon's analysis of the changes wproposed follows: “1. Earned income, defined as wages, - ries and professional fees, |is &iven a credit of 25 per cent of the amount of the tax attributable to the + earned income. “2. The normal tax on the first iContinusd on Page 4, Column 2.) Police Save Man From Hanging at Hands of Women NEW YORK, December 17.— Adam Kramer, an ex-convict, al- leged to have stolen electric light bills from apartment house mail boxes and collected them, today was attacked by a number of Brooklyn women he had victim- ized, severely beaten and taken to 2 lamp post for hanging, when he was rescued by poiicemen. One woman had Kramer by the neck, another by the hair and a third was trying to slip a noosed clothesiine over his head. BERLIN ASKS REAT FOR FREIG LOAN Says Food Fund Can Be Raised if Priority Claim Is Dropped. l By the Assoclated Press PARL December —Germany’s request that the reparation commis- slon agree to release its priority claim on Germany's resources to an extent necessary to permit Germany to borrow money abroad with which to buy needed food was dellvered to the reparation commission today by the German war burdens commis- ston. The request probably will be con- sidered at Wednesday’s meeting, but the present attitude of the French, it is stated semiofflcially, Is against| granting the application. H The French and German govern- ments are to discuss the question of the Ruhr and Rhineland occupation. Premiere Polncare, in a statement made public last night accepted, with limitations, the proposals of Herr von | Hoesch, charge d'affaires, regarding conversations which Germany wishes to conduct with France and with Belglum on matters connected with the occupation of German territory by_French forces. M. Poincare stated that his govern- ment was always wlilling to confer with a representative of Germany, but at the same time he pointed out | that as certain topics woud be of in-| terest to other allied nations as well as to France, he would reserve the right to confer with them before making any definite reply to German | proposals. To avoid any misunderstanding, however, the premier reiterated his statement that France would never consent to take the question of rep- araticns out of the hands of the com- mission Instituted by the treaty, nor would it consider any change or regu- lation not in strict conformance Wi(ll' the treaty. The commission will con- tinue to function as previously, re- gardless of the outcome of the pro- posed conversations, he declared. Resistance Ended. Admitting that passive resistance in the Ruhr had apparently ended, M. Poineare steted that nevertheless, as the Interallfed commissions of mili. tary control have not yet been able to resume their regular duties, Ger- many cannct claim to be loyally exe- cuting the treaty of Versailles. | The fact that Germany has so far | been successful in at least bringing | about a discussion of the relations of | the two nations In the occupied terri- tory Is regarded by the more opti- mistic portion of the public as a sign that some definite footing for fur- ther successful negotiation may be established. The majority of the French people, however, refuse to show any enthusiasm before ship- ments of German gold or forelgn se- curities actually are received in Paris. “The country as a whole has seen | too many conferences prove fruitless| to welcome with joy any new at- tempt. When Germany starts paying, they feel, then will be time enough to negotiate. “The exchange of ideas proposed | by Germany, to which the French | government does not refuse to lend itselt,” continues the Poincare reply, cannot, therefore, have for its ob- ject infringement of the prerogative of this commission, nor can it be a preparatory step, direct or indirect, for revision of the treaty.” Concerning the Rhine and the Ruhr, the reply says, the French govern- ment has nothing to change in the views already set forth; it cannot agree to take matlers out of the| 1ds of the Franco-Belgian authori- ties in the Ruhr or the interallied high commission in the other occu- pied territories. | To Hear Berlin Plan, As to the establishment of a modus | ivendl in either of these regions M. | 'oincare is fully disposed to listen to | uggestions from the Berlin govern- | ment and communicate them, if cir-| cumstances admit, with his opinion to competent authority. He will, notably, | | accept any discussion on proiongation | of the agreements with the indus-| trialists, the re-establishment of eco- | nomic life and administrative ques- | tions, it being understood that France | maintains her full right not to ac- cept the reintegration of those per- (Continued on Page 2, Column 4.) NEW MERGER BILL | AWAITS APPROVAL Bureau of Budget Must Accept Measure Before It Goes to Congress. The bureau of the budget is ex- pected to approve' within the next few days the revised street railway merger bill, drafted recently by the Public Utilities Commission. In antici- pation of the bureau's approval, the utllities commission is now preparing to go before Congress to defend the | measure. The new bill eliminates the excess | profits tax feature which was incor- | porated in the merger legislation which failed of passage at the last session of Congress, by providing a direct tax of 20 per cent on the oper- ating income of the street raillways. The commission believes that the new bill will increase the taxes pald by the Capital Traction Company and reduce the taxes paid by the Wash- ington Railway and_Electric Com pany. As a result the total taxes paid to the Discrict will be increased, The commission pointed out that had the bill been in effect in 1922 the two traction companies would have paid $599.967.45 In taxes, while under the present 4 per cent tax on gross revenue the companles last year paid $422,546.92. The new bill, there- fore, would have increased the total taxes by $168,420.63 %] { ment TCHITCHERIN ASKS U. 5. TONEGOTIATE RECOGNITION PAGT Note Sent President Says Soviet Will Go Far to Meet American Terms. RUSSIAN MOVE BASED ON COOLIDGE MESSAGE Foreign Minister Hints Debt Claims Can Be Settled on Reciprocal Basis. By the Associated Press. NEW YORK, Decembfr 17.—The Rus sian soviet government “is ready to do | all in its power, so far as the dignity | and interests of its country permit, to | bring about friend- | ship with the Unit- ed States,” George | Tchitcherin, soviet commissary for forelgn affairs, de. clared in an offi- clal note to Presi- dent Coolldge, made | public by the Rus- sian Telegraph Agency. The note, based on part of Presi- dent Coolidge's message to Con- gress, Tead: | “It has been the | constant of the soviet gov- | ernment to bring about resumption of | friend] relatfons with the United | Stat based upon mutual trust. With this end in view, it has repeatedly an- | nounced its udiness to enter into ne- gotlations with the American govern- ment and to remove all misunderstand- | ing and differes between the two c After reading your message | ‘ongress, the soviet government, sin- | anxious to establish at last firm | friendship with the people and govern- of the United States, informs i of its complete readiness to dis- ss with vour government all prob- lems mentioned in your message, these | negotiations being based on the prin- | i) »f mutual non-intervention in in- | affiirs. The soviet government | will conti whole-heartedly to adhere to this principle, expecting the same at- titude from the American government. _“'As to the question of claims men- | tioned in your message, the soviet gov- ernment is fully prepared to negotlate with a view toward its satisfactory settlement on the assumption that the principle of reciprocity will be recog- nized all around. On its part, the soviet government is ready to do all | in its power, 'so far as the dignity | and interests of its country permit, to bring about the desired end of re- newal of friendship with the United States of America." p RUSSIAN NOTE BECEIV!"IIL @eorge Tehitcherin. Paper Referred to State Depnrt-; ment for Study. The note from the Russian foreign | office making a new bid for recog- nition of the soviet government by the United States reached the White House today and was referred to the | State Department for consideration. | The “only comment made in official circles was that the communication, like all others filed with the Wash- ington government, would be studied carefully before a' decision was an- nounced. It was added that any de- cision would be made in the light of the well understood view of officlals here as go the necessity of complete guardntees of stability and or-| derly government in Russia. President Coolidge in his message to Congress, which Foreign Minister Tchitcherin plainly asserts was the inspiration of his note, declared he was “willing to make very large con- cessions for the purpose of rescuing the people of Russia.” That state- ment has been interpreted variously, but no light has been thrown on it from any official quarter. The President laid down four pri- mary conditions to recognition: First, (Continued on Page 2, Column 3.) ATHENS FORESEES GREEK KNGS FALL Monarch Reported Likely to Flee—Liberals Gain in Elections._ By the Associated Press. ATHENS, December 17.—The be- | lief that a dynastic crisis is imminent in Greece is expressed in some quar- ters here, and the departure of King George is regarded as among the possibilities of the situation. The republicans are busily arrang- ing demonstrations in Athens and throughout Macedonia and Thrace in favor of removing the dynasty. Col. Plastiras, one of the heads of the military government, is quoted as declaring that a new cabinet will be formed after the national assem- bly is convoked. Liberals gained .over republicans in vesterday's election, in which it is estimated 70 per cent of the elec- torate of Athens and Piraeus voted. Returns from Macedonia and other provinces indicate a large proportion of the royalists voted. The number of provincial voters is said to exceed that in the election of 1920, when the Turks were included. FOUND DEAD IN HOME. Officials Mystified by Death of Candy Manufacturer. NEW YORK, December 17.—The body of Henry Janzer, a candy man- ufacturer, with several abrasions on the forehead, was found early today in his West 37th street apartment by friends. There were no signs of a struggle. Ambulance surgeons sald the abrasions could have been suf- fered in a fall or inflicted by a blunt instrument. A small device for distilling whisky was fourd in the kitchen, | time disclosed in almost its full pro- {tion wall, when the correspondent | of his western forces in their drive WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION T MONDAY, DECEMBER 17, 192 HE SPIRIT OF Tutankhamen’s Dazzling Coffin Dwarfs Dreams of Excavators Gigantic Golden Receptacle, Incredibly Bizarre in Tone, Bewilders Carter By the Associated Pr LUXOR. Egypt, December 17—All | preconceived ideas of Tutankhamen's | golden shrine were upset by the sight of this impressive coffin, for the first portions by the removal of the parti- | visited the tomb this morning. The first impression of this gigantic receptacle for the dead, its sides re- splendent with decorations of blue and gold, set against a background of brightly colored paintings on yellow, was almost overwhelming. The feel- ing was of something incredibly bizarre—something that seemed ut- ferly to banish the presence of death in this casket of wonderful artistry. One of the first details to catch the eye was the fact that the golden 1ld of the canopy does not, as one imag- ined from the view obtained from the opening In the wall, slope down from one end to the other. It rises again at the other end, giving a graceful curved effect which is declared by competent authority to be unique in Egyptology. The 1 is not solid, but holiowed out, roofing over a space of about four feet between the first and second shrines. OBREGON 70 PARRY THRUST AT CAPITAL Mexican President Turns to East, Where Rebel Force Prepares to Attack. By the Associated Press. President Obregon, according to the meager dispatches received from Mex- ico, has completed the organization against the rebel stronghold of Guad- alajara and has turned his attention to the east, where the rebel thrust trom Vera Cruz is apparently threat- ening the capital. Advices from the government side as to its military movements are al- most completely lacking, but the rebel headquarters at Vera Cruz continues actively to claim successes. The reb- els now say they hold Puebla City and Cuautla, the two lower points of an irregular triangle which has Mex- ico City as its apex. Cuautla is only forty-six miles southeast of the capi- tal. The rebels also claim further defections from the government forces in Guerrero, Yucatan and Ta- basco. Sees Rebels Falling Out. Gen. Obregon’s private secretary, in a message received at the Ameri- can border, says the president is con- fident his troops will remain loyal and that the uprising will quickly be quelled. He is encouraged, the message says, not only by expressions of loy- alty from the farmers and workers, but by reports of differences among the rebel leaders, some of whom are declared to be seeking the elimina- tion of Adolfe de la Huerta, the presi- dential candidate, who has headed the movement from the start, REBELS TAKE CUAUTLA. With Puebla Captured, Move on Party. In this space the correspondent Was able to see—for the doors of the first shrine had been removed—a remark- able species of wooden rack or scaffold- g, erected to carry the immense goiden spangled linen pall resting over the second shrine. Painted Glistening Black. It is very like open wooden cage wcrk and is painted a glistening black, with heavily gilded carved feet. In the front where ihe removal of the doos of the first shrine rendewg it clearly visible. it is scen to be made of two parts, rather awkwardly bolted together with two large, boits, probably wooden. From the top hangs the ragged edge of the pall, turned blackih Brown by ag=, showiug where the part which concealed the doors of the second shrine had Lroken away. This part of the pall, except for a small piece crumbling on the ground, has already been removed to the nearby laboratory The golden rosettes, about the size of a_ half dollar, with which the pall is abundantly still sparki> in the r powerful arc Iizhts vsed by the excavators. Thede rosettes cer- tainly are metal, but probubly not gold —more likel gilded copper. Behind the rack the golden doors 3—THIRTY-EIGHT - PAGES. CHRISTMAS. RITCHIE PROCLAIMS AUTO RECIPROCITY Agreement Between District and Maryland Effective Two Months. | Special Dispateh to The Star ANNAPOLIS, Md, December 17.— Gov. Ritchie of Maryland this after- noon signed a proclamation which es- tablished reciprocal arrangements as to automobile and operators’ licenses between the District of Columbia and Maryland. The agreement will from January 1 until 1924, Under the agreement the District owner of an automobile will be re- | quired to take out-a District license only. .Fhis.will be honored in Mary- land, just as it is in Virginia and other states. Although the agreement gives Gov. Ritchie power to renew the agree- ment from time to time, the governor {has indicated that it will not be re- newed unless Congress passes a gaso- be in February 29, case it will become permanent. PLANS GAS TAX ACTION. (Continued on Page 2, Column 6.) ALLEGED SLAYER _- DECLARED INSANE Tompkins, Who Admitted Killing ‘Wife, to Be Committed to Asylum. By the Associated Press. MILWAUKEE, Wis., December 17.— E. Ray Tompkins, held on a charge of first degree murder, is insane, ac- cording to the findings of a lunacy | made | commission of five allenists, public today. The commission de- clares that Tompkins' condition is such that he “is unable to confer in- telligently with counsel or conduct his own defense.” Tompkins was arrested following the disappearance of his wife, Ora Belle Tompkins, on December 6. Two days later a nude and headless body, identified as Mrs. Tompkins, was found in a shallow grave about eleven miles from Milwaukee. Tompkins ‘contessed to killing his wife. He sald he strangled her Into unconsciousness and then removed her head, which he destroyed in a furnace. It is expected Tompkins will be im- mediately committed to a hospital for the criminal insane, and if a cure is effected he will be returned here to be tried on the charge against him. Tompkins, a former instructor at the Milwaukee Normal School, entered the real estate business several years ago. During the erection of a large apar ment house he suffered a breakdown | and since that time his condition has been such that efforts were made to confine him for mental observation. House District Committee to Meet Tomorrow. The House District committee is to hold its first meeting tomorrow morn- ing at 10:30 o'clock, Chairman Reed with Representative Frederick Zihlman. The gasoline tax bill prerequisite to automobile reciprocity with Maryland probably will be the only legisiation considered and It is expected that a favorabe report will be ordered on the bill introduced by Chairman Reed at the request of the District Commis- sioners. s NEW YORK CHURCH PLANS FOR $4,000,000 BUILDING Worship, Apartment House and Community Center. NEW YORK, December bined church, apartment house and community center building of twenty- four stories, situated on ground high enough to rear its thirty-two-foot cross above every other structure in the city, will be built by the Chelsea Methodist Episcopal Church, Rev. Reisner, pastor, has announced. It will be named the Broadway Tem- ple, situated on Broadway, in the Washington Heights section, It will cost $4,000,000. Several neighboring churches may merge with the Chelsea church to aid the financing. With its dormitory ac- commodations for 500 young men and its apartments, it is expected to be self- e ohareh’s portion will embrace an rooms, a gymnasium, clubrooms, swim- ming pool and cafetéria. Stll Going Up Circulation, 100,863 The circulation of The 100,863, an increase of 6,146 day a year ago. % Sunday Star yesterday was over the corresponding Sun: Have over 6,000 homes been added to Washington and its environs during the past year, or is The Sunday Star, by reaching 6,146 new families, growing faster than the Capital Expected Soon. By the Associated Press. VERA CRUZ, December 17.—With the reported capture of Puebla and Cuautla revolutionary headquarters here today claimed they held the two lower points of a triangle which has Mexico City, their goal, as its apex. Cuautla, which was taken yesterday, according to an insurgent communi- cation, is within sixty miles of the capital. Generals in command of the occupy- ing _forces im the two cities are in ~ (Continued on Page 2, Column 6.) population of the city? If five persons are considered an average family, or five readers to each copy of the paper, the population, ac- cording to these figures, would have increased over 30,000 during the past year. Advertising, 555 Columns That Washington merchants are aware of how thor- oughly The Sunday Star covers Washington is attested by their advertising in yesterday’s paper to the extent of 555 columns, an increase of 100 columns of advertising over The Sunday Star of a year ago. effect | line tax law for the District, in which | announced today after a conference | Methodists to Combine House of| .—A com- | Dr. Charles F. | auditorium seating 2,000, Sunday school | * as fast as the papers are printed. Saturday’s Sunday’s Circulation, et Circulation, TWO CENTS, FIVE MORE BALLOTS UNABLE TO' BREAK MELLON TO CLEAR ENGRAVING BUREAU SENATE DEADLOCK, WORKERS OF GUILT Adjournment Finds Insurgents Threatening to Join Demo- crats Tomorrow. HOUSE READY TO WORK, COMMITTEES APPROVED Organization Affected by Victory of Progressives in Demand for Posts. After five fruitless ballots on the chairmanship of the Senate inter- | state commerce committee—the rail- road committee—the Senate ad- Jjourned shortly after the noon recess today with the intention of resuming the balloting tomorrow. The balloting ended with Senators Cummins and Smith tied with thirty- elght votes each, and Senator Couzins twelve, Following this ballot the republican leader, Senator Lodge. moved to go into executive session, and, following the noon recess, the | Senate adjourned. On the first ballot, Senator Cum- mins of Jowa recelved 43 votes; Sen- ator Smith of South Carolina, the democratic nominee, received 39 votes; Senator Howell of Nebraska, supported by the progressive group, 6 votes, and Senator Couzens of Michigan, 1 vote. One democrat—Senator Maryland—voted for mi; Senator Howell Couzens. At the conclusion of the ballot, Senator Jones of Washington, regu- lar republican addressing the Senate, | sald that it was clear Senator Cum- mins could not be re-clected chairman jof the Interstate commerce commit- tee. “I have been glad to vote for Sen- ator Cummins and I consider him one of the abiest and wisest senators and as well qualified as any one for this position. 1 would gladly vote for Senator La Follette for the office, but he too cannot be elected. I under- stand that overtures have been made by representatives of the republican | majority for the selection of some | other senator and I therefore feel at liberty to follow the course I now intend to take.” To Vote for Couzens. Bruce fot Senator Cum- voted for Senator Senator Jones then announced that he intended to vote for Senmator Couzens of Michigan on the next bal- lot. The second ballot resulted as fol- lows: Cummings, 41; Smith, 39; Couzens, 9; Howell, 1. Senators Jones of Washington. | Gooding of Idaho and Cummins of the regular group voted for Senator Couzens, along with six of the pro- gressives. On the third ballot Senator Couzens gained two_votes, recelving a total of eleven, Senator Cummins received thirty-nine and Senator Smith thirty eight votes. The two senators voting for Sena- tor Couzens for the first time were Senator Borah of Idaho and Senator Norris of Nebraska. The fourth ballot in the Senate re- |sulted as follows: Senator Cummins, | 39; Senator Smith, 39; Senator Couz- [ ens. 11. On the fifth ballot—the last taken | today—Senator Norbeck, republican, | South Dakota, joined those support {ing Couzens.' 'Cummins and Smith were tied with 38 each, and Couzens {had 12. The republican insurgent bloc, whose revolt against the republican party lead- ers has delayed for two weeks complete organization of the Sixty-eighth Con- gress, stood its ground today in the | Senate and consolidated the gains al- | ready made in the House. | A four-day truce in the deadlock over election of a chairman of the Senate interstate commerce commit- tee ended with the insurgent group still holding out against the re-elec- tion of Chairman Cummins, the reg- ular republican choice, and threaten- {ing to throw their entire strength tomorrow to Senator Smith of South Carolina, A democrat, in the beliet that it would elect him. In the House formal approval was given at last to the amended repub- lican committee slate, on which the leader of the House insurgents, | Representative Nelson of Wisconsin, | had been given a place at the last minute, under pressure of a threaten- and Capitol. Mr. Nélson will serve as a member of the rules committee, which shapes the legislative program. House Ready for Business. By Its action today the House technically made itself ready to pro- ceed with the legislative business of the session. Actually, however, the leaders expect to accomplish little except committee work until after the holidays. The ways and means com- mittee Is to meet tomorrow to begin consideration of Secretary Mellos tax revision proposal, and other committees are wrestling with appropriation measures the House it- self probably will stand in recess most of the time for the next month, ! The machinery of the Senate is but {partially blocked by the commerce committee deadlock, but there is no | present prospect that the more serle { ous legislatives issues of the session | will come up for action before the | new year. Senate Names Officers. Laying aside temporarily the con- test over the election of a chairman of the Senate interstate commerce committee, the Senate proceeded to the election of its officers, including secretary, sergeant-at-armsand chap- lain. The request to proceed to the elec- tion of these officers was magde by Senator Lodge, ~republican leader. Senator Walsh of Montana, democrat, suggested that the Senate should also proceed to the election of a President pro tempore. Senator Lodge and Sen- ator Curtis of Kansas, However, re- plied that Senator Cummins, = the President pro tempore, had been elected under the terms of a resolu- tion adopted in 1880, and that he hold office until the 'Senate should proceed to the election of another as President pro tempore. For that reason, they insisted, it was not necessary at this time to elect the president pro tempore. Senator Robinson, the democratic leader, of Arkansas, announced that he was entirely willing to proceed to the election of secretary, sergeant-at- arms_and other officers. The Senate (Continued on Page 2, Column 7.) ed coalition between the democrats | insurgents at that end of the ! while | Treasury Head Also Will Re- store Positions Lost by Dismissals. CARAWAY DROPS PLAN TO QUERY PRESIDENT Gradual Reinstatement Said to Be Agreed Upon—Hill Denies He Will Resign. Upon assurances from republica leaders that Secretary Mellon will is sue a statement completely clearing officials of the bureau of engraving and printing dismissed by executive order in March, 1922, and that these employes will be gradually restored to their old positions, Senator Cara way of Arkansas today agreed not 1 press for action on his resolutfor calling on the President for full ir formation regarding the dismissals Senator Caraway, it is understoo is not satisfied with the suggesti that the employes be gradually re- stored to their old places. In his opinion they should all be restorad without loss of time and at the same time. However, he indicated hi- willlngness today to await the state- ment which it is understood wil forthcoming from Mr. Mellon. tor Caraway had planned to ca his resolution for action today. Early Action Expected. Senator Caraway said his infor: tion was that the Secretary of Treasury would issue his statem upon his return to Washington Secretary returned today. Secretary Mellon, it is known given serious study to the buren of engraving situation ever since th sudden dismissals by the Preside but the issue had been somewh dormant during the recess of Co gress. During T the past week, however members of Congress revived th matter, bringing it to a head la- Thureday with.a conference at th Treasury between Secretary Mellc and Senators Sterling, republica South Dakota, and Wadsworth, 1 publican, New York. Hill Denfes Resignation. Following this conference, Treas | officials were silent, but it w learned at the Capitol that belle that the dismissed employes woul: be reinstated had been strengthene: as a result of the conference. - Rumors that Director Louls Hill, who supplanted former Directo James L. Wilmeth, would resig: shortly have been current since ti. |attion of members of Congress. Mr { Hill today denied that he would re | sign. Undersecretary of the Treas: jury Winston, in charge of the bu reau of engraving, when asked | Mr. Hill had resigned, replied: “Noth ing of the kind has come to my desk | _Mr. Hill £aid further he would nc | discuss the matter of the propose: | reinstatement of the dismissed em | ployes. |~ The impression has been given ou |at the Capitol that should the Treas- jury reinstate all the dismissed em- i ployes. the action could not be tak jas a criticism of President Harding who 18 now believed by many re. |publican members of Congress to have been misinformed concernin:z conditions at the bureau. JOHNSON T0 FILE IN PRIVIARY TODAY Formally Enters South Da- kota Race for Presiden- tial Nomination. Papers to place the name of Sen ator Hiram Johnson before the re- publicans of South Dakota as & can- didate for the republican presidential nomination are to be filed today in the senator's behalf with the South Dakota secretary of state at Plerre A power of attorney has been forward- ed by Senator Johnson, together with a formal application for a place onfthe primary ballot. The Californian senator believes that injunction proceedings which have been begun to keep minority nominations off the South Dakotd ballot will not interfere with the fii- \ing of his papers. There remalns some question re- garding the caption and platforn principles. Cofncidentally, it was learned to- day that friends of President Coolidge have advised him to postpone, for the time being at least, the formality of filing his candidacy in that state. This was learned following a con- ference between the President and Charles H. Burke, commissioner of Indian affairs and a republican lead- er in South Dakota, durlng which time Mr. Burke made known the pres- ent involved situation in his state, as well as endeavoring to explain soma of the complexities of the South Dakota primary laws. The President has until January 1 to formally declare his intention, and it is thought likely that he will fol- low the advice ~of Commissionef Burke and other political advisers and wait until the last minute. VEILED WOMAN AS BANDIT Toledo Police Seeking Mysterious Abettor of Robbery. TOLEDO, Ohlo, December 17 Police are seeking a veiled woman bandit who sometimes, with a male companion and sometimes with another woman, has been preying on Toledo pedestrians. Saturday night | she added James Smith to her list of victims. While she threatened him with a pistol, her male companion went through Smith's pockets took $29. Twice within a week she h participated in other street holdup: obtaining small amounts each time.