Evening Star Newspaper, January 1, 1924, Page 1

- WEATHER. Falr tonight and tomorrow; colder tonight, with lowest temperaturs about 20 degrees. Temperature for twenty-two hours 'ended at noon today: Highest, §8, at 2 am. today; lowest, 34, at 8 am. today. New York Stock Market No. 29,099. BREWER REPORTED ' NEXT 70 LOSE 0B IN BUREAU SCANDAL Man Alleged to Have Present- ed Charges May Be Qusted in Vindication. TREASURY PROPOSES TO MAKE CLEAN SWEEP post office Tawyer Failed to Support Case When Grilled by Harding, Is Report. Charles B. Brewer, an attorney of e Department of Justice, {s understood o be the next man on the administra- tlon’s list of those to “go” on account of thelr connection with the dismissal ©f former Director Wilmeth and twenty- seven chiefs of the bureau of engraving and printing. His resignation is expected to follow ®oon the announcement yesterday at the Treasury that Director Louls A. il of the bureau, who succeeded Wil- #meth, had resigned. Brewer’s anticipated resignation was ®aid in responsible quarters today, to be the next step in the announced policy ©of the administration of making full and complete amends to the twenty- eight employes, who were thrown out summarily overnight, with a cloud of suspicion over their characters. Collected Evidence. Brewer, it was rdvealed shortly after the dismissals, had been highly nfluential in collecting material and drawing up charges against Wilmeth and his administration of the bureau. Brewer was given the freedom of the bureau of engraving and print- ing, and was sald by those who knew why the employes were dismissed to be one of the principals in laying charges against Wilmeth and hig men before high administration of- ficials. it later developed that after the dismissals had been made Brewer was called in by President Harding, and at a conference at the White House one Sunday was asked, in the presence of certain secret service operatives who knew actual condi- tions at the bureau, to explain and justify the charges he had made. Brewer, it is stated, failed to make good in this trial in the presence of Treasury officials, who knew what actual conditions were at the bureau. -Often at Bureau. Erewer has been seen frequently at the bureau of engraving and printing ecently. He has not appeared-at-the Treasury, at the offices of Undersee- retary Winston, in charge of the bu- reau, nor has he shawn up at the White House in a long time. He ha= repeatedly refused to submit to ques- tioning of any kind by inquirers as to his part in the bureau affair. The resignation of Director Hill, announced yesterday, provided a cli- max to the serics of bureau develop- ments since Congress adjourned. Mr. Hill's resignation has not as yet been accepted, but it is under- stood, Secretary Melion will accept it &5 soon as he can find the proper man to head the plant. This s a_difficult task for the Secretary, as he must d a man suited to be head of the money .naking plant of the government, and one who will fit in with his scheme for replacing in the bureau as many of the old employes as wish to be restored, Former Di- xector Wilmeth was offered the po- sition of director, but refused ft. The resignation of Assistant Di- rector Perry also is. expected shortly. DUDDING FHRASHES ROBBER WITH GUN "Priconer Relief Head, Held Up on Street, Puts Assailant to Flight. E. E. Dudding, who has dedicated his life to reforming criminals and is founder and president of the Pr oners’ Relief Soclety, gave a hold up man who stopped him on the street early today a sound thrashing and ascaped with a bad gash over his eye, although the bandit had a pistol and Dudding was unarmed. Mr. Dudding was walking along E retween 2d and 3d streets a little be- ore § o'clock this morning when . young man accosted him, demand- *ng money and jamming a revolver in ‘s face. Dudding grabbed for the an and during the battle that fol- wed knocked the highwayman down ter he had received a bad cut over s own eye. The highwayman jump- up and ran away. Dudding has ked police to investigate the mat- r. He claims he was ‘similarly held not long ago, but never reported affalr to the polige. ‘OMAN, 60, IS ARRESTED JN POISON-PEN CHARGES stters Saild to Cover Period of Twenty Years in Same Hand- ‘writing, But Unsigned. iy the Associated Press. BINGHAMTON, N. Y., January 1.— Receipt of poison pen letters over a period of twenty years by residents of Binghamton and Whitney Point has resulted in the arrest of Mrs. Mary A. Sherwood, sixty, of Lisle, on charges of criminal libel preferred by Assemblyman Edmund Jenks and others. Mrs. Sherwood, arraigned ‘hefore a justice, was released on $200 bail last night. The letters all were in the same Pandwriting, but were unsigned. —_—_— QUAKE FELT IN VIRGINIA. Epecial Dispatch to The Star. WINCHESTER, Va., January 1.— ‘Three distinct earthquake shocks re felt about midnight in the Boyce fsection of Clarke county, according o residents of that community, many f whom ledqped from their beds. . . Houses ook and dishes rattled, ut no property damage occurred. - 3 Entered as second-cl: Closed Today matter hingt D. C. Right of Woman To“Pop Question” New Year Plea By the Assoclated Press. SPOKANE, Wash., January 1 Woman's right to propose mar- riage, theoretically here, during 1924 should be accorded her n fact, not only during leap year, but at all times, Mrs. W. E. Barn- hart, president of the Spokane “’omep'l Club, declared. “The reason many girls who would build up wonderful homes 80 through life without marrying is that they are not able to make their love known to the right man,” Mrs. Barnhart said. In many cases, through lack of finances, or because of bashful- ness, the ‘right’ man has hcld back, when, if the way were made easy’ or clear to him, he would Joytully welcome matrimony. “Glive. the woman the right to propose marriage to the man she belleves can make her hapoviest.” DPLONATICLIQU CUSTONS STUDED Davis Seeks Procedure of Other Nations in Immunity for Envoys. Reproflentative Edwin L. Davis of Tennessee, democrat, is making a close study of the amount of tax-free liquors that other countries allow a foreign diplomat to bring in under diplomatic courtesy. He has been advised that certain countries, in- cluding Great Britain, place a limit on the amount that a foreign diplo- matic representative should reason- ably use for his own family and bone fide guests, and that on all liquors above that limit customs duties must be paid. Representative Davis thinks the United States is altogether too squeamish about fearing to offend representatives of a forelgn govern- ment by placing a limit on the amount brought into this country dutles-free, even while the home government of those diplomats charge the foreign representatives of this country duties on all goods they carry in above a certaln amount. . Wants List Revealed. This is one angle of the careful in- vestigation that Representative Davis is making of the rum scandal in Washington, in which he is Interest- ing himsclf “as an American citizen, Jjealous of the fair name of our tional Capital.” When he has the facts carefully digeated he wil] declde what action Congress should take. Inti- dentally, he feels that if a lst of rum purchaSers exists, sald to con- tain the names of prominent officials and members of Congress, It is an aspersion on the reputations of 21l members of Congress until the few gullty ones, who now seem to be protected, are exposed. Thus far Representative Davis has been interesting himself particularly in the “diplomatic immunity” phase of the rum scandal. His attention was particularly directed to the customs duties aspect by a supplemental let- ter late yesterday from Internal Rev- enue Commissioner Blair, explaining | the procedure with reference to. exemption of customs dutles allowed to official representatives of other governments and their entourage. Thirteen Detectives on List. It developed today that there were thirteen headquarters detectives list- ed on the bootleggers list which led to the questioning of several head- quarters men at the Treasury De- partment Saturday. The list was made up, according to statements, by a bootlegger who intended to pre- sent the detectives with a bottle or two of whisky on Christmas. After each name, it is stated, was entered the amount of liquor to be given. One detective, for Instance, was questioned about what he had done with “a bottle of Scotch and a bottle of rye” delivered to his home. The detective denied any liquor had been delivered there. “One quart of Scoteh and quart of rye’ had been entered on the list after his name. New_Year day brought a tempo- rary halt n the Investigation of Washington's alleged rum syndicate, marking, however, the prelude to the girding of opposing forces for the legal battle in Justice Siddone’ court on Friday, when a rule to show cause why the defense should not see the warrant and information on which the warant was sworn for the raid of the offices of the alleged rum syndicate at 404 Continental Trust bullding, will be heard. On January 4, Attorney James A. O'Shea, representing thé ~ defendants, wil demand as his right of counsel to see the original warrant and its information affidavits. ~United States Commissioner George H. McDonald Will probably not object to showing the warrant, it was stated today, but a fight will ‘e put up by counsel for the special intelligence unit of the Treasury Department, in charge of the investigation, when It comes to disclosing the information on which of liquors or other goods that can be | | the warant was sworn. MOVE IN CONGRESS NOT EXPEGTED T0 STOPMEXICO DEAL War Department Going Ahead With Sale of Munitions, Despite Opposition. U. S. MUST AID OBREGON TO KEEP ORDER, IS VIEW Protest of Rebel Leader 'Age W Delivery of War Supplies Is Ignored. The Washington government, In its decision to furnish “a limited quan- tity” of surplus war material to the Mexican government, is declared by an official spokesman to be acting “in the interest of stability and orderly procedure.” Final details of the sale are veing considered at the War Departmen:. and it is regarded as doabtrul that objections expressed in congressioaal circles will block its completion. A resolution to forbid the sale hy the government of war equipment to any foreign power, as planned by Repre- sentative Fairchild, republican, New York, cannot be put through Con- gress, it is thought, in time to affect the transaction. The State Depart- ment meanwhile has given no indi- cation that any action will be taken on the protest transmitted to it ves- terday by representatives of the de la Huerta revolutionary group. Sees Harding Policy Upheld. Relteratipg that the decision “is in no sense of reversal of the policy re- garding the sale of arms as an- mounced by President Harding.” the official “outline” of the government’s position asserts that the “material is being made available to the Mexican government in conditions of actual rebellion for the’ purpose of dis- ccuraging warfare and supporting established law and order” The United States, it says, “cannot be in- sersible” to an appeal for aid from a “government that has made a zeal- ocus effort to meet its obligations at home and abroad” when an “attempt is being made to overthrow it by violence." Reports recelved here from Mex- fco are said by military observers to show that the revolutionary move- ment has drawn support from only about 30 per cemt of the Mexican army and from no considerable num- ber of clvillans. The revolutionary group’s protest to the State Depart. ment, which was signed by Enriqu Seldner as “consul genes of the provisional government of Mexico, in New York, said the major:paft of the national military and naval forces “were sustaining the movement.” Protest I Received. The formal protest against the plan of the United States to sell war ma- terials to the government of Gen. Obregon_in Mexico was transmitted to the State Department yesterday. Apparently the communication was | doomed to be lost in departmental | files, as there was no indication that | its receipt would even be acknowl- edged. The protest of the, De la Huerta taction was addressed to Secretary Hughes and signed by Enrique Seld- ner, the stationery used being headed “Confidential Agency of the Provi- sional Government of Mexico.” The text as made public by the agency follows: “The undersigned, consul general of the provisional government of Mexico in New York and in charge for the time being of the interests of that government in the United States, has the homor to inform the Department of State that his govern- ment, as a result of its operations, now controls the greater part of the Mexican republic, including all ports on the gulf coast, save one, as well as all ports on the Pacifi those in Sonora and Sinaloa. The major part of the national military and naval forces are sustaining the provisional government, which ex- pects within a brief period completely to exercise dominion over the entire country. Views With Grave Concern. “In the midst of the campaign now in progress the government of the undersigned views with grave concern reports in the press that the govern- ment of the United States has deter- mined to extend active and material aid to the administration of President Alvaro Obregon by supplying him with rifles, ammunition and possibly alrplanes ‘on a deferred payment basis, amounting practically to a do- nation, for use against the revolu- tionary movement, of which ex-Pres- ident Adolfo de_la Huerta is the chief, and the purpose of which Is to resist the unconstitutional imposition of Gen. Plutarco Ellas Calles as presi- dent of the republic by Gen. Obregon, | in deflance of all law and the free right of suffrage. “In event the-reports in the press described above are true, and muni- tions of war are to be delivered as proposed, the undersigned is instruct- ed by his government to inform the Department of State that such will (Continued on Page 2, Column 2.) Record Number of False Alarms Keeps Firemen on Constant Run WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION WASHINGTON, D. C, TUESDAY, JANUARY 1, 1924—THIRTY-TWO ‘PAGES. “BLOCK SYSTEN" MAY BE USED HERE Chairman of Traffic Board to Study Plan to Speed Up Travel. Desirability of establishing block system to enable policemen at several intersections to move traffic simulta- neously in the same direction will be considered by Maj. W. H. Holcombe, chairman of the District's new traf- fic board. B The major said he does not believe Washington needs a block system as elaborate as the one in operation on 5th avenue, New York, but that he has been giving thought to the possi- bility of working out some method by which traffic officers at adjacent cor- ners could move traffic in unison. Block miovement of vehicles might off‘a street itke Tith ecause of the car tracks, the chair- man sald. He belleves, however, that it is worth looking into for such thoroughfares as 12th and 13th streets, Where tracks do not exist. Prepares Huge Ma Such a system would mean that when northbound trafic was given the “go” signal at 12th and F streets{of the new year in quiet fashion. | the northbound vehicles at 12th and G also would move, producing a more | regular flow of traffic. Maj. Holcombe made it plain that the 1dea s merely personal with him thus far, since the newly created trafic board has not been formally organized. The chalrman also revealed the fact today that he has already been at work several weeks on the prepa- ration of a huge map that will show the width of every street in the area, Capt. John E. Wood, assistant ergi- from 20th street to the vicinity of Unlon station. In drawing this map he has had the ald of Maj. Raymond Wheeler and Capt. John E. Wood, assistant engi- neer commissioners. This map, Maj. Holcombe observed, will enable the new traffic board to determine upon the streets that should be widened to provide more parking space and leave ample road- way free for passing vehicles. Consider Parking Pockets. In connection with the widening of streets, Maj. Holcombe and Engineer Commissioner Bell are studying a scheme to move back the curbstones on wide streets between tree spaces only, thereby creating “Parking pockets” in which machines could be left standing out of the path of traffic. This could only be done where there is a surplus of sidewalk. Maj. Holcombe realises that the question of parking is one of th most puazling phases of the so-call. ed traffic problem and he indicated that the new board will give careful consideration to proposals for better- ing condition: That Chairman Holcombe will go deeply into all traffic matters calling for attention was forecast ster- day when Engineer Commissioner Bell said that his assistant would be relieved of some of his routine work if necessary. - ROME REVELS IN SNOW. People Turn Out to Play in Un- ‘wonted Situation. ROME, January 1—The storm which has been sweeping the Alps and tying up raflroad and telegraph Companies Are Split in Half to Answer 24 Calls, Some Being Sent From One Box to Next to Save Time. The gongs and sirens of. the Dis- trict’s fire department added to the clamor of Washington's celebration of the advent of the new year last night when, through the overseal- ous efforts of some revelers, the fire department answered the unprece- dented number of twenty-four false alarms between 11 p.m. and 3:50 a.m. Beginning with a false alarm at Anacostia at 11 o'clock, the depart- ment was on the constant run, each time finding that the. alarm was the result of some ocelebrator's ' distorted sense: of humor. So fast did these alarms come in that the fire author- itles, realizing what was being done, cut the usual number of fire pleces that answered the calls in half. Realizing that the alarms had to be answered, false or mot, some of them were eent from one box to another before return- ing’to their station. Never before in ‘Washington on a New Year eve has the fire peril of the District been so increased. The num: ber of false alarms during the celebra- never reached more than five to wven. Most of the calls came from 3 t.rflm? covered by the second inct and within a radius bounded y Florida avenue northwest and K street northwest, and from 1st street to 15th street northwest. Only two minor fires, 1448 Girard’ street north- ‘west and 1072 30th street northwest, really required the attention of the fire department. The false alarms consist- ed of seven box calls and seventeen local The penaltyiin the District for send- 100 faiss siamm 18 $100 or stx tmgatha In Jail or Doth. for inf leading alarm $36 is offered communications 'in northern Italy reached Rome this morning. ,When the city awakened it found every- thing heavily blanketed with snow, a most unusual gccurrence. The unwonted chance for now frolic was indulged in by & large pro- portion of the population, but the fun was _short liv for by noon the steadily rising temperature had caused the fleecy covering to disap- pear completely. : TWO PRISONERS ESCAP! Ex-Auto Racer, at Wheel of'Car, Leads Posse in Another. RENO, Nev., January 1.—Two pris- oners, Edward Cole and Jimmy Clark, escaped from the Nevada state prison yesterday in & prison automobile. Cole, who said he was an automcbile race | driver and that hehas driven in the eedway R TR ?J'x’-c'm men in another machine. The uurr.nl the two_men is the ‘second within two weeks. v A \\ JANUARY 1, 1924. i PROSPEROUS Looking forward into 1924, officfal Washington today bespoke for the nation a continuance of the pros- | perity which marked the year just closed. z President Coolldge issued ~from the White House the following New Year greeting to the Americgn people: “At the end of the old year and the boginning of the new it is well to take account of our spir- itual, moral and material re- sources and seriously appraise the progress of the past twelve months and the prospect of ad- vancement in the coming year. The nation has made a record of gratifying accomplishment. There is every reason to belteve ad- vancement will continue In the coming memths. “It is a nléasure to extend the heartiest of New Year greetings to the American people and ex- press the hope and confidence that 1924 will brifig them a full meas- ure of prosperity and happiness. Five cabinet offiof Sccretaries Mellon, Hoover, Work and Davis and Attorn statements forecasting for tlie coun- try a more stable and prosperous business vear in 1924, while they and their chief—the President of United States—celebrated the advent DIESAFTER ATTACK ON WIFE OF FRIEND New Yorker Lures Her to Manicurist’s Apartment on Pretext of “Party.” By the Associated Press. NEW YORK, January 1.—A wife's story to her husband led police last night to the apartment of Miss Lo- raine Hall,‘a manicurist, where they found the body of Jerome B. Scofield, a woolen merchant. He had been dead several hours, it was belleved, and Medical Examiner Charles Norris, after a superficial examination, said he thought Scofield had dled of heart disease, although an sutopsy will-be held today. Scofleld, who lived with his wife and two children, was a close friend of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Arnold. Ar- nold is an insurance broker. Last eve- ning, he told police, Scofield called Mrs. Arnold on the telephone, asking her to come to his friend’s apartment was alone when she reached the apartment and he offered her a drink of champagne. She said she refused, and, after waiting in vain for other guests to the party, tried to leave. Scofield, she charged, then tried to attack her, and she sald she strug- gled with him, and, as she pushed him away, he fell to the floor. Mrs. Arnold ran from the apart- ment and told her husband what had happened. He, in turn, told the police, who sent for his wife for questioning. About the time she arrived at the po- lice station Miss Hall also Teached there. Miss Hall sald she had returned-to her apartment in the evening and found Scofield’s body. She said she rushed out to tell friends what had happened, upon_ their advice, me to the Police. Miss Hall said s d known Scofield for-a long time and she gave him the key to her apartment when he told her he want- od -to meet some business acquaint- ances there. 10,000 TO TAKE PART IN MUMMERS’ PARADE Months of Effort.Précede Annual New Year Celebration in Philadelphia. By the Assoclated Press, PHILADELPHIA, January 1.—-Kings and clowns march today in the annual Mummers', parade, the climax of Phila- than 10,000 persons are to be in line, on ot or in flcats. was at | the v General Daugherty, Issued | the | to a party. Mrs, Arnold sald Scofield ! OFFICIAL WASHINGTON SEES MONTHS AHEAD Cabinet Members Issue Statements Full of Optimism ‘for 1924—Trade Good, Labor Employed. Living Scale High. While In many a crowded ballroom and cafe in the Capital a demonstra- tive spirit ruled into the late hours, refasing to be quelled” by persistent rumors of a wholesale liquor clean- up within a few days, President Cool- idge and his family passed a quiet New Year eve, broken only at 10 o'clock, when the President went to his study and touched a telegraph key opening a new filtration plant in "Sacramento, Calif. New Year Reception. To social Washington the new year opened in auspicious fashion, for the President and Mrs. Coolidge held their first New Year reception at the White House today, while politi- cal Washington looked forward to a | red letter year, for it will witness the unfolding of another presidential campaign. Leaders in Congress were faced with many and varied problems for the new year. Equaled only in im- portance by the presidential cam- paigm; on in full swing, are mingled legislativé matters, including the fol- lowing: A tax-reduction program, a bonus for world war veterans, relief for the farmers of the nation and possibility of overthrow of the trans- portation act. Secretary Mellon's statement on the | prospect for the new year declared that, although confident of a prosper- | ous one, much depended on continued (Continued on Page 2, Column 7.) HIH WIND BRINGS SNAPPY WEATHER Mercury Drops to New Low for Winter After Gale Rages in Early Morning. Winds that at times reached a ve- locity of fifty-thres miles per hour last night and this morning brought to Washington the coldest weather it has experienced this season and ef- fected a drop in the mercury of about 23 degrees. Today, tonight and to- morrow the weather will be fair, but the thermometer will register a tem- perature of about 20 throughout that time. Uncertaln conditions In the west that have a bearing on Wash- ington’s climate possibly will result in snow within the next few days, or at least unpleasant weather, the fore- caster said today. The coldest spots on the map of the United States today were Miles City and Havre, Mont,, each of which had 32 degrees below zero. White | River, Ontario, on the rorth of Lake Superior, recorded 42 degrees below. It was 26 beloW in Duluth, 18 below in St. Paul, 10 below in Omaha, 6 be- low in Denver and 2 below in Chicago, Washington's temperature averaged about 35, while New York had 28 above. Miami, Fla., was the hottest place today—72 degrees. MIDDLE WEST SHIVERS. People Stay Indoors as Mercury Flirts With Zero. By the Assoclated Press. CHICAGO, January New Year day was ushered in on a shivering middle west und central United States, with temperatures hovering close to the zero mark and in some cases dropping below it. Chicago celebrated the advent of 1924 indoors, while the mercury steadily " dropped to 3 degrees above zero early today. The first blizzard of the season, covering streets and sidewalks with a slippery “From Press to Home" -+ Within the Hour™ The Star’s carrier system covers every city block and the-regular edi- STREET ACCIDENTS coat of snow and ice, made firesides attractive. Northern Illinols was covered with several inches of snow. In St. Louls the mercury fell 40 degrees in fif- teen hours and zero weather was to- day’s order.. Throughout Kansas and Missouri thermometer readings were reported within a few degrees of aero. Coldest New Year weather was re- po from the Rocky mountain sec- tion. Fellowstone Park the ther- mormeters began to choke at 34 de- grees below zero. Billings, Mont., registered 36 below and Cheyenns, Wyoming, 28 degrees below. Omaha, Neb., saw a drop to 2 degrees below zero. : The cold wave extended southward through: the Mississippi valley to New Orleans, which reported overcoat weather, into Texas, which was gripped by coldest breests of the season. tion is delivered to Washington homes as fast as the papers are printed. Yesterday’s Net Circulation, 92,557 President Seeks To Work as Year Opens, Finds None This is how President Coolidge started the New Year: Arose about 6:30 o'clock, his | usual hour. Took a walk around the White House grounds and then had his breakfast. Went to his office to do some work, but found there had been no mail delivery because of the holi- day and that none of the White House attaches except Edward T. Clarke, his personal secretary, had reported. Signed some papers and cleared his desk, then returned to the Ex- ecutive Mansion. Began receiving at 11 o'clock the first of the thousands of New Year callers. MAR CITY'S REVELS Festive Parties, Watch- Night Services and Noise Usher in 1924. Ringing of bells, blare of whistlés, cracking of pistol shots, snapping of firecrackers, shouts and cheers from many thousand throats, greeted the New Year last night when the Na- tional Capital gave noisy welcome to 1924, leap year. It was judged by many as the most strenuous welcome given a New Year here for many a long year, and was marked by numerous awto- mobile accidents and shooting af- frays. Pistols and revolvers were used throughout the city to help wel- come in the infant year. As midnight approached stray shouts and other sounds began to | break on the air. When 1923 official- ly gave way to 1924 the entire city seemed bent upon outdoing any other city in the country in the volume of its_greeting. Over all moaned the hoarse blare of great whistles from the outskirts of the city, while blended together be- hind this great bass sounded a con- fusion of other noises, issuing from human throats and noise-making in- struments. Family Parties Participate. Throughout the city family parties weng to front doors and porches, fiinging doors wide open, greeting the star-sprinkled sky with a veritable din. Those who had gome to bed early had to listen to the mnoise, whether or no, for nothing could have slept through it. Watch parties in churches through- out the city sang trjumphant hymns. In hotels and cafés merry parties showered each other with confetti and danced until a late hour this morning. - The list of accidents, due to auto- mobiles and pistols, was a long one. One of three bullets fired from a pis- tol by an unidentified occupant of an automobile at 12:15 o‘clock struck the ground, richocheted and passed through a_ window at 69 P street northeast, lodging in the left shoul- der of Marie Farrell, fourteen, mem- ber of o family, New Year party. The wounded child was taken to Sibley Hospital in the automobile of a neighbor and given surgical aid. It is thought her condition is not serious. Police report that the shot was fired by one of a party of six or eight men who used the pistol as part of the night's celebration. Colored Man Hurt. Willlam Wiggins, colored, twenty- eight, 2612 P street northwest, was also the victim of an unidentified in- aividual who violated the law by dis- charging flearms on the street. Wil- llam had participated in a watch night service at Mount Zion Church, 28th street between O street and Dumbarton avenue, and was shot in the leg while leaving the church about 10 minutes after the .midnight hour. He was given surgical ald at 1 cy Hospital. e Siratos, thirty-four, 204 43 street southwest, sustained a slight bullet wound in the region of the abdomen this morning about §:15 o'clcck as a result of the accidental discharge of a pistol. The weapon, an automatic, was discharged while he was hammering on it police reported. He was not seriously wounded. Tt is believed by the police that a| New Year record Tor traffic accidents was estabiished. Wet streets were blamed for a number of accidents, while others are reported to have re- sulted from other causes. No fa- talitles were reported. Knocked Down by Auto. Rev. Stephen G. Lampkins, colored, Tuxedo, Md., crossing at 3d and L streets northwest about 1 o'clock after having attended a watch-night service, was knocked down by an au- tomobile belonging to Greenwood Washington, 437 O street northwest, and painfully hurt. He was treated at Emergency Hospital by Dr. Cud- ney. Clarence Cooper, colored, Bethesda, Md., walking along Belt road on his way home from a watch night service, was knocked down by an automobile, the wheels passing over his head and right leg. He was treated at George- town University Hospital by Dr. Chung, who reported his condition as favorable. Four colored occupants of a taxl- cab were injured about 3 o'clock as a result of a collision between the taxi- cab and an automobile at New Jersey avenue and F street. They are: Hel en Payne, 41 Jackson street north- east; Lawrence White, 16 Dingman place northwest; Eldridge Jackson, 40% Jackson street northeast, and Mabel Batson, 61 Jackson street northeast. , None of them was seri- ly hurt. D“.:: automobile driven by an uni- dentified colored man last night about 11:30 o'clock left the roadway at Howison place and N street south- west, struck a tree and then knocked down Lillian White, colored, 9 Pierce court southwest. She refused hos pital treatment for dnjuries. . TWO CENTS. | NATION WELCOMED. ¢ ATWHITE HOUSE § NEW YEAR RITES Brilliant, Yet Democratic, Reception Follows Along Lines Tradition Sets. THOUSANDS WAIT IN LINE * TO GREET PRESIDENT High Officials, Diplomats, Officers _of Armed Forces and Just Plain Folks Among Visitors. Carrying out the traditional Ameri- can custom, the White House tod threw wide its gates and welcom: the people of the nation—its resident diplomats, high government officials and men and women from every walk of private life—on the occasion of the Presidential New Year reception. = Surrounded by members of the cabi- net and their wives, the President and Mre. Coolidge stood for weary hours in the blue room, giving and recelv- ing the season's greetings from thous- ands of visitors, who, forming a line blocks long, passed slowly through the executive mansion. It s, perhaps, the most gruelling or- deal the President and tne First Lady of the nation go through. The recep- tion began at 11 o'clock and it prob- ably will be close to 4 o'clock before the last visitor has shaken the hands of the White House family, and per- mitted the distinguished hosts to take a much needed rest. Brilliant Affair. The President’s New Year reception, however, is at once the most brilliant and yet most democratic event of the year at the Executive Mansion. The visitor immediately upon entering was escorted down a lane banked on either side by divisions of the Ma-- rine Band, the organization that has furnished the music for the recep- tions for many years. The President, Mrs, Coolidge #nd the cabinet stood in a room directly 'opposite the main entrance. On either side stood a sallor from the May- flower holding the President's four- starred flag and a soldier from Fort Myer bearing the national emblem. Standing at attention, resplendent in their gold lace-trimmed dress uni- forms, a group of naval and military aides were scattered about the lobby. It was just exactly 11 o'clock when a fanfare of trumpets announced the approach of the President and Mrs. Coolidge. As the procession walked across the lobby the band played “Hail to the Chief” and the receiving line immediately formed in the blue room: Adhering striotly to_precedent, the resldent and visiting diplomats were received \Crst, entering the re- ception chamber in the order of their standing. Uniforms Lend Color. Accompanied by their entire suites and, the ladies of the embassies, the accredited representatives from abroad appeared in the full dress uni- forms of their high office. With a gold- mounted and ivory-trimed swords flashing beneath the shining chan- deliers of the epacious halls, they passed slowly down the presidential (Continued on Page 2, Column £.) MOVES T0 PROTECT Moore Resolution Would Prevent Setting Date Aside. Action by the House District com- mittes in support of the recommenda~ tion before the rules committes by Representative R, Walton Moors of Virginia that the Capital city be pro- tected in the two days a month it is supposed to have for consideration in the House of District legislation will be urged when the committee meets on Friday. Chairman Reed of the District com- mittee has been urged by many friends of the District to bring this matter up for action at the next meeting of the committee. Set Aside Business. The usual custom has been to off- handedly set aside District business on District days, and the injustice of this was emphasized by Representa- tive Moore, who was tho first speaker before the rules committee, opening up the whole question of amending the rules of procedure in the Houwse, 1In advocating before the rules com- v mittes various modifications of the House procedure, Representative Moore included the suggestion thal the second and fourth Mondays of each month, which are set aside for t! sideration of District business, should be protected, s0 as to avold the com- mon practice of other business belng substituted on those days. ‘Wants Four-fitths Vote. Representative Moore urged that more than a majority vote should b§ required to displace District business fair to require at least a four-ffths yote. He was atked by one member of the committee whketner it would ‘Mrs. R. H. Hayes and Miss Mar- garet Hayes, 1726 M street, and Charles H. Tyson, 1310 L street north- west, aboiit 11:45 o'clock were struck by an automobile while crossing at Connecticut avenue and M street rorthwest. They “rfleused hospital treatment for painful injuries. Two Cars Collide. A colliston between automobil driven by James K. Murphy, 308 K street northwest, and’ Frank D. Feeney, 45 U street northeast, oc- ourred at Rhode Isl avenue and 18t street northwest about 1 o'clock. Murphy and - Robert Bosw. 3 not be better “0 mans sertain of ons day a mont% instead of naving twe . days uncertain. He replied that, of ' course, -1t '{:,',“',‘ r;odb-tlur uv.=n !e: % t me! 0 BN g Bavs and then shunting both of them ide. S his opinion, he told the commit- tee, ~two days a month are iu ° enough for the consideration o many legislative matters in which the District of Columbia is inters D. C. DAY IN HOUSE and that it would be no more than ]