Evening Star Newspaper, January 4, 1924, Page 2

STOCK DVDENDS: Bainey Amendment Voted " Down, 12 to-11, by, House' i “*Committee. ‘The House ways and means com- mittee today rejected an amendment to the administration, tax bill, under which gains from sales of stock divi- dends would be subject to normal and surtax rates. The amendment, oftered by Representative Ralney, democrat, Illinols, was voted down, 12 to 11. : The bill as submitted by the Treas- ury provides that for the first two years after the declaration of stock dividends incomes derived from thelr sale shall be taxed .under the nof- mal and surtax schedule, but after that time the maximum tax shall be 1212 per cent. = Three Members Absent. Three members of the committee— Hull, democrat, Tennessee; Frear, Wisconsin, and Kearns, Ohio, repub- licans—were absent'and were not re- corded In the vote. Ten democrats and Representative Young, North Dakota, a republican, supported the amendment, while th: twelve opposing it were all republi- cans. Mr. Rainey obtained permission to bring up the question again, and he announced later that he would pro- pose another vote on the amendment, probably changed somewhat, “to put more teeth in { The text of the amendment, which was drafted by a Treasury expert at Mr. Rainey’s request, follows: ‘The term ‘capital assets’ means progerty held by the taxpayer for profit or investment for more than two years (whether or not connected with his trade or business), but does not include property held for the per- sonal use or consumption of the tax- payer or his famlily of stock received as & stock dividend by the taxpayer or by the donor, if the taxpayer ac- quired the stock by gift, or stock in trade of the taxpayer or other Drn?- erty held by the taxpayer primarily for sale.” Redraft Is Requested, The committee instructed the expert assisting it In the redrafting of the bill to redraft a provision, contained also In existing law, which exempts trom taxation contributions -to the American Legion and its auxiliaries. The committee was of the apinion the exemption should be broadened to in- clude organizations of veterans of all wars and their auxillaries, Including those of Confederate veterans. A movement to postpone the pro- posed conference of House repub- licans on the bonus question planned Thursday night ned Representative ng- the nepublican leader, who it inadvissble to press a ng to have the conferénce called were being urged to suspend circulations of petitions for that purpose. Mr. Longworth said he thought the nd means committee should bundant opportunity” to con- sider tax reduction without belng em- harrassed by Instryctions from the re- publican membership of the House to report a bonus bill before acting on proposed changes In tax schedules. The committee - decided yesterday to postpone discussion of provisions of the tax bill, involving chnr:,(el in polley as well as those amending tax rates, until a decision has been reached on the question of reporting & soldiers’ bonus bill. Among the proposals thus postponed are those defining earned income and providing a community property tax. It was décided, how- ever, to take up at once the Treasury Secretary's recommendation for limit- ing capital loss exemptions to 123 DeF cent, the maximum now fixed for Gomputing taxes gn capital’ gains. Frear Plass Tnx BM Representative F'rear, - republican, Wisconsin, a member of the commit- tee and a leader of the insurgent group, announced in a lettér to Sec- retary Mellon yesferday that 'he in- tends to introducea bill designed to “reach tax-free spcurities” and he 80 is pllnnln; tgiaddress the House, Monday on obangés he advocates in. the revenue law. Discussion ‘of ‘the question of stock dividends resulted in the committee, at the suggestion of Representative Ratney, asking A. W. Gregg, an as ant to Becretary Melion who s advising the committee, to draft an amendment designed * to _exclide stock dividends from the capital-gain provision of the proposed bill. Mr. Gregg drew up the amendment yesterday, action on which went over. Amendment Ineftective. “The amendment,” he advised the: committee, “so far as future transac- tions are concerned, would be entirely ineffective since it could very easily be avoided. If such an amendment ‘were enacted, corporations, instead of declaring stock dividends could re- organize, the sole effect of the reor- ganjzation being an incresse in_the capital stock of the corporation. Such reorganization, since it would in- crease the capital stock of the cor- potation, would accomplish the same result, in substance, as a stock divi- dend.” 'The amendment, however, would not exclude from 'the capital gaiu section the gain realized from the sale of stock in the new corpora- tion. Declaring that the proposed amend- ment would discriminate unfairly be- tween those corporations which have capitalizsed their earnings by means of stock dividends and those which have not, Mr. Gregg said that “if it is desired to tax the n sale of stock received as a stock divi-' dend at the full rates, it would only seem logical to tax 1l h nie manner,” sale of slock n “Such action,” he added, “however, would be entirely inconsistent with the theory and principle of the cap- ital gain section, would penalize and would materially discourage iInvest- Delay Naming Committee, Decislon as to appointment of ‘a subcommittee to investigate the Rus. slan situation was deferred today by the Senate foreign relations commit- tee pending the address of Senator Lodge Monday. The postponement was at the suggestion of Senator Berah, who probably will head any committee named, and who is expect- afi;n reply to Mr. Lodge at Monday’ sewslon. Héarings on the general agricultural sitaation will be started next week by the Senate agricultural committee under a decision reached today. Wit- nesses from various sections of’the country will be presen CALIFORNIA’S FEDERAL JUDGES ILL; CLOG FEARED State Had 150 More U. S. Cases }in 1923 Than New York. By the Associated. Press. SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., 4.—California had 150 from_the | Quits “Human Fly” Thrills for Son And Bellboy Job By the Assoclated Press. PITTSBURGH, Pa., January 4.— “Fearless Phil” Phillips, interna- tionally known “human fly,” who also performs acrobatic stunts with' narrow ledges of skyscrap- ers for his stage and occaslonally taks .a fling ‘at airplane wing walking, now +has quit the thrill ‘business, “Fearless bellboy Phil” this week became a in ‘a_Pittsburgh hotel, because his five-year-old boy Glenn pleaded’ with him to give up the dangerous lify “Please daddy, don't do that any more; you'll get killed,” the little fellow “sobl 5 in New cently. Phillips, accordingly can- eled all his contracts for dare- evid “stunts” and has returned to Jhis former. professio: RECIPROCITY BILL AGAIN UNDER FIRE Automotive Trade Associa- tion Sees “Profiteering” in Property Tax. Another protest against the Mary- land-District ~reciprocity bill as amended to include the personal-prop- erty tax has been recorded. The latest opponent of the measure is the Washington Automotive Trade Asso- ciation, representing nearly 100" per cent of the National Capital trade in automobiles and ‘motor .car acces- sories : 3 The stand of the trade body was takén at a’ gpécial meéting held mte lest night following the annual ban- ‘quet of the association. The decision to gppose the amend- ed bill was unanimous. Feeling ran high against “the at- tempt to switch the basis of reciproc- ity upon which practically all the District had agreed,” and which, it was pointed out, meant no pecuniary advantage to District motorists, Lut 2ctually meant increased cost to many, without the personal-prop-rty tax. “If Congress passes the reciprocity bill as amended to include the per- sonal property tax, such action would be nothing more nor less than pure profiteering on the voteless citizens of the District of Columbia and the present national -legislative body might well be pointed out and would o down in history as a profiteering ongress,” was the declaration ~of Rudolph Jose In advocating organized opposition to the measure. ‘ Prefer Old Basia. “The old distasteful basis and no reciprocity at all rather than passage of the biil as amended” sums up the consensus of the dealers, according to Paul Lum, president of the Wash- ington Automotive Trade Association. In a formal statement issued after the meeting, President Lum sald: VAt & ufluclll meeting of the mem- bers of the Washington Automotive Trade Assoclation held last night it was unanimously decided to protest the passage of the Maryland-District reciprocity bill as amended to include the personal property tax. “We believe that reciprocity be- tween the District and Maryland should have been established long 2go on the basis of the free highways communication to which ail classes of people of the United States are rightfully _entitled. and a provision without which there never would have been any federation of the states. z “We belleve that in reiching any ‘agreement’ in regard to the right of District motorists to travel freely over the roads of Maryland, or vice versa, a high Amerjcan principle’ is being ignored. Plan as Favored. “But the two-cents-a-gallon gas- clifie tax in lleu of a Maryland tag and the - District personal property tax seemed to hold no great advan- tage. for either side in = pecuniary way, while it femoved an annoyance and augured to engender a better feeling between the .two communities. Therefore our organization favored the Idea, especially since It seemed to have such a wide general appeal in the District and since many car owners who do not buy Maryland tags were agreeable, even though such a plan would increase their motor taxes.: © i f. iy “8, two-cents-a-gallon tex plus the personal. property tax, tion ‘to all other t would inerea¥e-the cost ip to a high degree of un- Also it would turn into the Treasury moneys not needed and gen- Gally, Seevs ho Burpuse except to glve Congress another opportunity to shows the neoflle of the District what t can do to them when it wishes. 'We shall oppose passage of the amended bill, with ail the strength our wide interests can commund. but, after all, we do not bel e that it will be necessary for us to make any great fight, for we are confident that in the final analysis the Co gress will recognize the Imjustice that would be manifest in the pas- sage of the bill and provide us with our reciprocity on the original basis.” TROTSKY UNLIKELY /. T0 QUIT POLITICS o |Seems Due for Defeat in Confer- ‘ence, But Continues Popular. BY F. A. MACKENZIE. Star and C! Daily N By Calrle to The Star, ~1”k‘>lp aily MOSCOW, January 4.—Reports pub- lished in Riga newspapers that Leon Trotsky is about to resign from the central bedy of the communist party and withdraw wholly from politics are premature and improbable. Each day makes it more likely that the “old gang” will succeed in holding their own, temporarily defeating Trotsky's supporters at the coming party conference. Their Fold on the political, machine is so strong that pothing but an earthquake could shake them off. But each day also in- creasingly proves Trotsky's personal popularity. People everywhere re- gard him as the man, who, by per- sonal Ty and military skill, both in the Yudenitch Set at of & respon- sible plan of a leader does not neces- mean . his retirement. ve no such thing as i \y flight, OBSERVES 45 YEARS AS FIREMAN AT WORK Deputy Chief Andrew Sullivan Celebrates Occasion }Watching Ticker at Eea.diurten. —_— p After forty-five years of continuous service as a fireman, Deputy Chief Andrew 4. Sullivan celebpated thé an- niversary today sittingj at thé ticker at -_headquarters, readyt for the stroké ¢ of ' the gong. The brawny vet- eran is acting head; of ‘the de- partment today in place of Chlet atson, who s (Army Alr Service Photo.) MORGENTHAU TO STAY ABROAD UNTIL JULY Ex-Envoy Denies Bank of England Ever Agreed to Loan for Greece. By the Associated Press. ATHENS, January 4.—Henry Mor- genthau, former American ambassa- dor to Turkey and now head of the international loan commission for the aid of Greek refugees. will not re- turn to the United States before July. Regarding the report that the Bank f England had declined to under- write a Greek refugee loan, he ex- plained: “There never was any ques- tion of the Bank of England floating, or even indorsing. a loan. The Ban of England merely made a provisional advance of £1,000,000 in anticipation of a loan being floated, at a time when political and financial condi- tions in Greece and Europe justified the success of a loan, in the opinion of the finance committee of the| league of nation: sk on < MBS BERGDOLL MAY Chief Sullivan has helped subdue every big blaze in Washington since hisappointment as a private In Jan- Andrew J, Sullivan. UAry, in 1879, At that time the Dix- trict had a board of fire comm. ers, composed of Thomas L. Samuel F. Bacon and Wil ns. The acting chief has served under every board of commissioners since the commission form of government was estabished and under five chicl engineer: ONE-CROP PRACTICE SCORED AT HEARING Railroads Striving for Diversified Farming in West and South. [ By the Associated Press. ATLANTA, January 4.—Speculation fs. the greai trouble with the farm- g methods of farmers in both the west and south, F. R. Pldcock of the Georgla railroad.told the Interstate Commerce Commission yesterday at a hearing being conducted here on the advisability of establishing lower grain rates from the west. In reply to questions, Mr. Pidcock testified that the raliroads of the south are conducting campaigns for diversified farming in this section. The production of grain to the ex- clusion of other crops in the west nd a similar practice relating to cot- ton in the south is highly speculative farming, he declared, adding that farmers of both sections must turn to A more stable system of agricul- ture. e e CHRISTIAN SCIENCE CARE OF BOY CALLED NEGLECT By the Associated Press. o FRAMINGTON, . Mass., January 4.— 8 hearing in the district court ‘The a w in barn of his father, Hatry Moyse, ago. He was’in:bed since then. he has with the ald of PRESENT PLEA HERE Mother to Seck Audience With President in Behalf of Draft Evader. Special Dispatch to The Star. PHILADELPHIA, January 4.—Mrs. Emmg, C. Bergdoll, mother of Grover Cleveland Bergdoll, will seek an au- dience with President Coolidge ‘soon in an attempt to gain her son immu- nity on a new plan which he has just proposed by mail. In two letters to his mother, Berg- doll, who is in Germany, offers to do his utmost for the release of the men who attempted to kidnap him if he gets assurances that he will not be molested in the future. 'l am going to Washington {; diately,” sald ' Mrs. Bergdoll, “and I'm going to show those letters to government men. I am going to try to see President Coolidge. I {no' he will be_more lenient than the rest be- cause he two of his own. Why, he already has freed the re. maining prisoners taken during the war, 80 why shouldn’t .he let my Grover go.” . “If the United Stat jovernment will promise to let me alone in th future I will do all T can to have the three prisoners released as soon as possible, Grover wrote his mother. Asks for Eary Reply: “Pléase let me Rnow at once what the government thinks about it In one of the letters Grover described the al at Mos ‘whe Hooven Griffith and two who tried to capture Bergdol sentenced. “I suj T 'were npose you, ba trial at Mosbach,” Grover wrote. German public is all worked up el send any more Germans Rnejoar. quota. la. flled 7 — ‘quot .1 will send over th you want just as soon as it is pos- health and wishing you a )y DOW Year, were not heavy 1 am sorry June. for this consul will not any more visas to be made on German sible. Hoping that you are all in the ‘Dest ' of " One of the letters, days bef siness. I am .ollg to put the ‘whole thing up to the public opinion 584 lat It decide what my sl 0. She revealed that she 1o petan to Americn; With Grover, a ~ had gotten Daasports, HRAEE ahs el made,: and. she . - to change rover pper: Route o be followed by four Army air service pllots. Bottom, left to rights Those who will make the Lieut. Lowell H. Smith, Lieut. Erik H. Nelton, Maj. F. L. Martin (commanding) and Lieut. Leigh Wade. 99 PER CENT CLAIMS OF RAILROADS CLOSED Total Cost of Taking Over Lines by Government in War Esti- mated at $1,696,000,000. All claims arising out of govern- ment war time raflroad control over 99 per cent of the railroad mileage involved have been settled, James C. Davis, director general of railroads, reported today in a communication transmitted to Congress by President Coolidge. The last cent of direct government expenditure was paid out before Jan- uary 1, Mr. Davis said, and from now on there will be a steady income to the government from the railroad se- curities held in the. Treasury, evidenc- ing government investment 'made in the roads during and after control. He ecalculated that the total cost of the taking over of the roads was 1,696,000,000. L e net remult of the settlement in- vestigations made during the last three years, Mr. Davis' report continued, had bee reduce the amount of expendi- tures which the government had e: pected to be called upon to meet as a result of raflroad control. ‘When the railoads were turned back to their owners, claims filed against the government amounted to $1,014,397.- 000. On December 31, Mr. Davis had adjusted $763,106,000 of these claims, by the method of paying in cash to creditor roads $242,828,000, but he had also demanded and received in cash and Interest bearing obligations from the same roads $192,946,000. The aoctusl net cost to the govern- ment in the settlement of this total of damage and compensation claims from,the raflroads was §$49,882,000, or 6.5 per oent of the face value of the claims as presented. There are only five rallroad com- panies which have claims outstand- ing, and of these are In the hends of receivers. So far the rail- road. administration has avolded litigation, but there will be a num- ber of court actions arising m the remaining claims. Balance in Treasury. There is In the Treasury '§326,- 923,865 of unexpended appropriations made for the rallroad administrasion liquidations, Mr. Davis sald, and in addition $303,237,000 of rallroad ge- curitles paying 6 per cent and of par cash market value. “There can be stated with reason- able accuracy,” the report sald, “the cost to the government growing out ot federal control and the six months' guaranty period immediately following the end of federal control, which is as follow: “‘Congress appropriated to pay cost of operation and to provide funds for liquidation a total of $1,750,000,- 000. The expenditure in payment of fp Commerce Commission 1 ":‘.d at $40,000,000. - This m.-‘x-: propriation by. {lroad Administra- return to the Treasury in unexpected appropriations, cash and definite cb- ligations of ‘the carriers in round fig. Uros 645,000,000, which leaves tie coat of federal control axid liquidation of_liabilities at 31,145,000, “To this should be -Am. unaun"t claims - undy guaran :rlofl Mlnf the six months imme- diately following federal contral, which _the Interstate Commerce Com- mission estimates to cost $536,000,000. “There is &lso & commerce ct slon estimate of $18, bursements of short line ficits, making the final total. the government of twelity-six of £ commiis- 000,000 for reim- rallroad de- cost. to ths mo! i ccontrol -and. six .months of ‘her Wn B onths. CHAUFFEUR USED ~ ACTRESS' PISTO Greer Got Gun at Normand -~ Home, He Says—Films of Star Barred. By the Associated Press. 108 ANGELES, January 4.—Court- land S. Dines of Denver, shot New Year evening by Mabel Normand's chauffeur when the latter interrupted & visit of the motion picture star and Edna Purviance, another .movie actre: to Dines' bungalow, Is resting very comfortably” at the Good Bamuaritan Hospital, where Miss Normand also is a patient after an operation for appendicitis. How, why and when a .26-caliber pistol belonging to Miss Normand Interest in the wi vived when Greer told Ed‘:h Bkurnl. Mies panion, knew that when He ‘went o Dines' apaciment o him to be Both Mrs. mand _fnsisted had no idea how obtained the pistol Mentioned Gun, He Says, “Why I mentioned the pistol to Mrs. Burns at least three weeks be- for New Year,” Greer asserted. “She told me she was afraid Mi; s Normand might use it and I asked her to get it for me and told her I would put it away where I could &et It if they needed it in the house.” When Mrs. Burns after t 3 el partment shortly turned to Greer and said he won't let her come home, the chauffeur thought that that was a time when they needed the pistol, and thereupon ran into Miss Nor- mand’s bedroom and took it, he told the police. When Mrs. Burns was on the stand again last night she at first denied positively having made such a remark, but later admitted that she might have sald A oy sald something to pon was re- ice that Mra. iormand’'s com- rtment and ‘careful Burns and Miss Nor- Wednesday that they Greer could have MEMPHIS TO BAR FILMS. Sees Miss Normand Having Bad Effect on Youth. MEMPHIS, Tenn., January 4.—Johr. M. Dean. chalrman of the Memphis board of motion picture censors, states that fiims in which Mabel Nor- mand appears will be barred here permanently as a result of the con- nection of her name with the shoot- ing Tuesday night of Courtland S. Dines. The ban, Mr. Dean sald, will be ordered at the next regular meeting of the board. The chairman said other members of the board were agreed that the Normand films would have a disastrous effect upon the youth of the community. Exhibition of fiims in which Edna Purviance appear will until the Dines case is r. Dean stated. be suspended “cleared up,” KANSAS BOARD MAY ACT. Attorney General Asks Normand Films Be Banned. TOPEKA, Kai January 4.—The Kansas motion picture censor board had been requested by Attorney Gen- eral C. B. Griffith to bar all films in which Mabel Normand appe: The attorney general in a letter to the board stated that his action was taken as a ult of the shi Courtidna’s e shooting of ines at Los Angeles by ffeur and also mention of her name in connec‘ion with the case of Willlam Desmond Taylor, who was s| in at Los Angeles two vears ago. and used In the shooting found its Way into the hands of Horace Greer, the chauffeur, continues to occupy the attention of the detectives IN MID-PACIFIC STORM Kyosei Maru and Harold Dollar Reported Drifting With Broken Steering Geer. By the Associated Press. SEATTLE, Wash, January 4.—A message reporting the sending vessel to be sinking, but giving no clue to the identity of the vessel, was pic up by the Seattle harbor radio sta. tion ‘today. The message was be. lieved to have come from the Kyosel Maru or the steamship Harold Dollar. SAN FRANCISCO, January 4.—Each with a broken steeris the Japanese steel eighter Kyosel Maru, 3,728 net tons, and the Harold Dollar, 2,826 net tons, of the Dollar Steamship Line, are driftin, in a storm raging in the mid-Pacific, ac- cording to radiograms to the ral Telegraph Company early today from the steamship President Cileveland. Neither carries passengers, The Japanese vessel gave its posi- tion as latitude 49.41 north and lon- gitude 171.15 east. The Harold Dol lar is_in the same vicinity. The liner Empress of Russia is rushing to the assistance of the Kyosei Maru. SMALLPOX VICTIMS GIVES CITY SCARE Man st Iarge in Rithmond Did Not Enow What Ailment ‘Was. TWO SHIPS ASK HELP 1 Special Dispateh to The Star. . RICHMOND, Va, January 4.—Thec- dore Stroud, a colored man, who came here during the holidays from Dan- ville, walked into the city hospital and asked to be examined yesterday. The physicians looked at the man and found that he had a fine case of genuine smallpox. He had been rid- ing around in the street cars for sev- eral days and began to feel sick y terday. He has been In contact with many persons since coming here, efforts are being made to locate the and to have them vacoinated at once. "The man has been sent to the pest- house. FAVERSHAM SATISFIES MOTHER-IN-LAW’S CLAIM Actor Settles Judgment for $11,- 160 for Debts She Declared He Owed Her. By the Associated Press. NEW YORK, Jlmhllry 4.—William settled the n-law, Mary Opp, summer for the payment of debts which she claimed -he owed her for numerous personal loans, it was di closed by “satistaction” papers files here. Mrs, ogp, who won the judgment by defsult, at about the same time 1ast summer filed & suit in which she charged her_son-in-law and his wite, Julle kS "esen 01 ":1‘!:‘ 'l. her ough fraud ,” induced her er rights zsumdnflmfihl«- ork. ity. HER NEWS PRINT PAPER: FREIGHTS SCORED Rates to Washington and Balti- ntore Users Unreasonable s Charge Made. Users of news print paper in Wash- ington and Bajtimore have been pay- ing unreasonable frelght rates on news print since January, 1915, T. D. Geoghegan, trafic manager for the Washington Publishers’ Assoclation, declared today before an examiner for the Interstate Commerce Commis- slon. Mr. Geoghegan continued his testimony from yesterday in hearings on & complaint brought before the commission by The Evening Star Newspaper Company, In which more than a dozen important publications in Washington and Baltimore inter- vened, becoming parties to the pro- ceedings. Reductions in the news print T rates to a more reasona- ble level and reparation for charges claimed to be unjustly made are ked. Asks Lower Rates. Dealing with rates from New Eng- land producing points, Mr. Geoghegan asked the commisefon to prescribe rates from mill points in New Eng- land territory to points of consump- tion here and in Baltimore not greater than 80 per cent of the class B rates. He analyzed the rate structure on news print paper from northern points to points of consumption here and in Central Frelght Association territory, declaring 2 high plateau of rates on news print existed west of Buffalo, which he said he intended to attack in_a later proceeding. The witness read into the record rates on copper bars with a loaded car value, he sald, of about $15,000, which take a lower rate in central freight association territory _than news print paper. He sald he would like to know why copper, a com modity easy to steal and very valua ble, should take a lower rate than news print paper in rolls, practicaly impossibe to steal and not compara- ble in intrinsic value with copper Cites Damage in Transit. Referring to his testimony of'ves- terday regarding damage bn ship- ments of paper resulting from Jjos- tling of the rolls about as the car is bumped, Mr. Geoghegan said crating of rolls of news print paper is not practical. In reply to a question from an at- torney for one of the defending car- riers he sald users of news print had not noticed any great decrease in the net cost of thelr paper, as news print is billed from mill points and not from delivery points. W. R. Evitt of the Whitaker Paper Company of Baltimore took the stand early this afternoon. COMMITTEE HOLDS GAS TAX BILL OVER TO JAN. 9 MEETING (Continued from First Page) constitutionality can be applied to the District. The reservations al- lowed in the Constitution to the states, which are the basis of uncon- stitutionality claims, do not apply at all in the District, where Congress has always retained absolute and complete authority. This applies par- ticularly to questions of taxation, Representative Fitzgerald explained. epresentative Fitzgerald _then urged the committee that it should be as helpful as possible toward ¢nding the disagreeable condition of ill feeling between Maryland and the District of Columbia regarding auto- mobile licenses. He said that the proponents of the bill can show that owners of cars in the District are charged sufficlently in any form in lieu of a personal property tax and that the passage of a measure reconciiing the long standing and ill feeling would be a blessing. It was on hix suggestion that an exemption on small cars up to 31, granted. . Representative Underhili declared himself opposed to any exemption of the personal property tax, but said he would sooner vote for the bill as it _originally came -before the com- mittee than to eiminate by exemp- tion any part of the personal prop- erty tax. Columbus Makes ftequest. Mr. Columbus asked the committee to grant his organization and other business organizations at least a month's time in which to make a close study of the bill. This is a very serious matter for the people of the District, he said, and is “a two- edged proposition He declared that it is imposing an additional burden on District citizens for the advantage of Maryland. Many owners of autos in Washington do not drive in Maryland and do not want to buy a Maryland tag, but un- der this legislation they are forced to pay for something that they do not want, Mr. Columbus sald. The entire discussion demonstrates a lack of good neighborly feeling between Maryland and the District, he told the committee. Representative Blanton said that “reciprocity” is a misnomer for this measure. “All that Maryland asks is the two-cent gasoline tax, “While the framers of this measu: put on other benefits for District au- tomobile owners, which include re- ducing the license fee to only $1, ex- empting all personal property tax, and so forth. He sald that Virgin could come In and say “If you witht reciprocity with us you must match our three-cent tax” and the District would have to meet the whims of various states. Mr. Columbus argued that the mea- pure involves three questions: reci- procity, taxation and regulation. The big reason why the Merchants and Manufacturers' Association is oppos- d to this legislation, he said, is on account of discrimination. e pro- posal, he said, “to do to our people what has never been done in any other community.” “Willing to Pay Way.” “The people of the District are will- ing to pay their way In the world, the same as other people,” sald Mr. Col- umbus. “But let that be based on our needs and our wishes and not those that people in other jurisdictions try to force upon us." Representative Rathbone, in mak- ing & motlon' for & month’s delay, said that the request of the local business association is reasonable. “We ought to have all the light that we can have on this subject. The vote is going to be very close, either way. we go befors the House as & divided committee, which has been the evil In the past, we dis- credit our own standing and fail to achieve any good for the people of the District. Let ‘us stiok together and put through some of the things that are needed for the District of cvlumbu."umpromml e Rathbone m;{\d his cblleagues. fnunnlt Blanton said that he was in favor of a delay. He declared himself as agalnst’ the bill for another reason. He sald “the trouble with our commfittes has been that we have crowded ‘Bill after bill onto the floor v ‘slaughtered. This wints to regain its stand ng ‘on the floor of the House. 1A e wants to see a reci- ed and said this could in°a ten-line bill. He favors genersl legislation as proposed by Representative Aswell of Louls- tana, denying any federal funds fo: road buildiag to any state which di inates apainst the auto license of any other state. D Hammer sald he jwanted to seé this form. 2 Bill passed in some CODLGETOJON DSTRGT . 0F President Accepts Honorary Membership in Local Trade Body. President Coolldge is to become an | honorary member of the Washington {Chamber of Commerce. Isaac Gans, president of this/ prominent loca trade ‘body, and a speclal committee will call at the White House tomor- row to present to the President a handsomely engraved certificate of membership. Presidentt Gans was at the- Wh House today to arrange the prelim- inary for the presentation. He said the chamber at a recent meeting adopted a resolution extending this honorary membership to the execu- tive !And that it was readily accepted. { Mr. Gans sald that Chief Justice T while at the White House was an honorary member of the chamber, and that President Harding had signified his intention ‘and probably would ave uccepted membership had he lived. Kentucky will send an instructed delegation to the republican national convention next summer for dent Coolid, diction of Robison, republi, who was a caller tod: Mr. bis was practically no tucky for Hiram Johnson and that' those of the republican fa are probably behind the i full term. After telling the dent this cheering news the Kentucky repre. sentative urged the appointment of Flem D. Sampson as justice of the circult court of appeals, which has Jurisdiction in Ohio, Kentucky, Michi- gan and Tennessee. He said that his candidate is now ehief justice of the court of appeals of Kentucky and that he has the united support of the bar of that state as well as the party, leaders. R. E. Breed of New York, president of the American Gas and Electric Company, said after seeing the Presi- dent today that he took up several personal matters, one or two of them pertaining to pending legislation. President met with his cabinet today, and it is understood that among the more important matters discussed were the decision to divorce the Emergency Fleet Corporation from the Shipping Board and the sale of munitions h!y this government to the Republio of Mexico. Others who saw the President today were: Karl D. Bickel, president of the United Press; R 'W. Stewart, presi= dend of the Standard Oil Company of Louisiana; R, A. Cooper of the Farm Loan Board and Senator Spencer of Missouri. that thers, sentiment in Ken- From Yesterday's 5:30 Edition of The Star. CRAMTON DEFENDANT IN SUIT FOR $50,000 Libel Is Charged by Former Candi- date for Governor of Oregon. Louis C. Cramton, representative from Michigan, is named as defend- ant in a suit to recover £50,000 dam- ages for alleged Jibel filed vesterday in the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia by Francis Clay Harley, chairman of the National Liberal Al- liance and one time candidate for governor of Oregon. Mr. Harley has sued Wayne B. Wheeler and nine other dry leaders for $100.000 dam- ages' for alleged . slander and libel in_connection with the making and writing of statements reflecting on the integrity of a ballot conducted by him to asceftain the wet and dry sentiment of America. Through Attorney James B. Archer, Mr. Harley charges that Represent tive Cramton January 23, pub- lished of and concerning deroga- tory statements as to his political affiliations and to his loyalty during the war. Mr. Harley asserts that hiy loyalty was shown by the devoting, of his entire salary as mayor to the purchase of comforts for the soldie and that he had the support of many of the most prominent citizens of Oregon in his campaign for the gubernatorial nomination From Yesterday's POLICE HOLD GIRL IN INFANT’S DEATH Louise Colburn Is Under Guard at Emergency Hospital Pend- ing Probe. :80 Edition of The St Miss Louise Colburn, twenty, 2217 14th street, was arrested vesterday aft- ernoon by Sergt. Allen and Policeman Ashley in connectlon with the dis- covery of the body of an infant in the rear of that address. She is held, at Emergency Hospital under guard pending an investigation. L Miss Colburn lives at the Oliver Apartments, at the 14th street ad- dress, with her ter, and is said_ & be a teacher. The body of the ohi which is said to have been throwp from a third story window, was taken %o, the District morgue, where .afs ficlals declared they believed it had not been alive at birth. v From Yesterday's 5:30 Edition of The Star. SHIP BOARD QUIZZED ON SLIGHT BY BAR The Shipping Board was asked by the Senate vesterday what steps had peen taken to forestall recent decisions of the American Bar Assoclation and the Chamber of Commerce of the United States to send delegations to Europe on foreign instead of Amer1- can ships. . The resolution of inquiry, presented by Chairman Jones of the commerce committee, asks what facilities the board offered the Bar Association for its pilgrimage to London, Which is to be made this summer on the Cun- arder Berengaria, and the chamber for its trip to Rome last year. FEDERAL JUDGE NAMED. ., Nominations sent to the Senate by President Coolidge vesterday included Charles ‘H. Moorman of Loulsville, to be federal judge for the western dis- triot of Kentucky; Clarence F. Buck ot Monmouth, 1.’ to be collector of customs at Chicago, and Col. William P. Burnham to be a brigadier general, ASKS LIMITED DIVORCE. Margaret E. Minor today filed suit in the District Supreme Court for a liniited divorce from Layton W. Mi nor, charging desertion and nonZsup- port. They were married at Balti- more, Md., September 13, 1916, and have one chile Attorney. Alfred, D, Smith represents the wife, {