Evening Star Newspaper, January 13, 1924, Page 2

THE SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C., JANUARY 13 e e R O e e T, FAIR RATING OF U. S. WORKERS DEMANDED ON FLOOR OF HOUSE AL LOAN QuIZ WAITS ON WALSH S,énators Anxious for Ex- planation of Apparent Dis- _orepancies in Testimony. Members of the Senate public lands committee, which has been investi- gating the lease of Teapot Dome, Naval Oil Reserve, No. 3, in Wyoming, to Mammoth Ofl Company, headed by H. F. Sinclair, sald last night they would await the report of Senator Walsh of Montana on the testimony of Edward B. McLean regarding the loan of $100,000 to former Secretary of the Interior Fall before taking any further steps in the Investiga- tion. Senator Walsh is expected to re- turn to Washington early this week from Florida, where he went under instructions of the committee to in- terrogate Mr. McLean regarding the Joan of $100,000 which Mr. Fall said Mr. McLean made to him in 1921. Senators Are Pussled. Senators were at a loss to explain last night the seeming conflict be- tween the testimony reported to have been taken by Senator Walsh in Florida with the statement made in writing to the committee by Mr.Fall on December 27 last. They called atten- tion also to the telegram sent to the mmittee by A. Mitchell Palmer on behalf of Mr. diclean on January 2, in which Mr. McLean spoke of the loan made to Mr. Fall by himself. The language of that telegram seem- ed to indicate that the loan was still alive, they said. In the telegram Mr. Palmer quoted Mr. McLean as caying: *In 1921 T loaned Fall $100,000 on his personal note. I have never met Harry Sinclair nor have I ever met Doheny or any of the so-called ofl crowd. I have never owned any Sin- clair ofl stock nor stock In any of its subsidiary companies. 1 have never owned any stock in Mr. Doheny's company or any company with which he is connected, nor any of his sub- sidlary companies. There is no stock of these oil companies pledged with the note. It is absolutely unsecured. Closed In u Few Days. The reports from Florida are to the effect that Mr. McLean told Senator Walsh that Mr. Fall never cashed his checks for $100,000, but returned them to him a few days after he had given them to Mr. Fall, though Mr. Fall. in his statement to the committee, had asserted that he took the proceeds of cLean loan with him, in cash, to New Mexlco. Following the Mec- Lean statement to Senator Walsh in Florida, according to press reports, Mr. Fall sent a written statement to Kenator Walsh corroborating Mr. Me- Lean's version of the transaction. RECIPROCITY REPORT DENIED BY GOVERNOR Ritchie Refuses to Promise Con- tinuation if Congress De- feats Gas Tax. WANTS EQUITABLE PLAN Says He Must Act in Fairness to Maryland People. A report that Gov. Ritchie of Mary- land is considering making automo- bile reciprocity permanent regardless of what happens to the District gas- oline tax bill in Congress was denied promptly by the governor last night, when reached by long cistance tele- phone at the executive mansion in Annapolis, by The Star. “We were glven positive assur- ances by the District authorities that the gasoline tax measure would be passed,” sald the governor, “and on the strength of that promise I de- clared a sixty-day reciprocity, but I do not feel that I would llke to de- clare a permanent arrangement of this character unless the bill is passed. “I do not say that I won't do it, as Jou can never tell what may occur to make you change your mind, but I feel that it would not be justice to the motorists of Maryland to make them pay the extra two-cent gasoline tax for the upkeep of our roads and then let the Difstrict Motorists use them free of cost. No Attempt to Dictate. Maryland is not attempting to dic- tate to the District of Columbia in asking the passage of a gasoline tax but merely trying to provide an equitable system of taxation that will make each motorist pay his share, ac- cording to the amount of travel he does on the state roads. “A number of other states have sdoptled the gasoline tax as the most equitable way of taxing motorists, and 1 do not gee why the District should object to this form of taxation. “As far as the personal tax proposi- ton 1s concerned Maryland mortorists 11 pay the same In addition to their cense fees and the two-cent gasoline #ax, which makes the tax on Mary- anders higher than what the District. i9f Columbia would pay even with the ipersonal tax and the two-cent gas ax, as the license fees are lower in he' District than in Maryland. Dentes Statemen “I did not say anything yestorday hat could have given the Impressicn hat I intended to declare permanant eciprocity even it Congress did not ass the gasoline tax measure, and I o not see how any paper could have o stated, as I understand one Balti- hore paper did. I sald nosolutely othing that could have in any way een’ 50 construed. “As I said before, personally I am iin favor of reciprocity, between faryland and the District’ of Colum- | | broad Representative Stengle Calls Upon Members to Scru- tinize Classification Plans to See That Merit Gets Due Reward. Interests of the government em- ployes were champloned on the floor of the House during debate on the Interlor Department appropriation bilL in which the appropriations com- mittee declares its policy of support- ing the classification done by the personnel classification board, Representative Charles I. Stengle, democrat, of Brooklyn, N. Y., in ex- plaining his personal interest in the proposed service-rating system for employes of the District of Columbla, and In the welfare of government em- ployes generally, sald: “For years 1 served in the humbls capacity of a civil employe in tne great city of New York, during which time I obtained a pretiy fair idea of the employe’s viewpoint. Then 1 re- signed my position to become one of the editors of a nationally known civil service weekly publication, and there 1 discovered the people's View- point. Finally I became, by political appointment, the secretary and active director of the Munlcipal Civil Service Commisslon of New York city, and then sccured, by experlence, the supervisor's angle of public employ- ment. With this well-rounded and experience behind me, I be- leve you are willing to concede that I approach the subject before us witn knowledge sutficient to fairly discuss matters without being charged with narrow-mindedness.” Dincusses Merlt Syatem. Discussing the proposed merit sys- tem on the floor of the House he sald: If 1t were humanly possible to rate public service, on paper and by schedules, without the personal equa- tion showing its unfriendly and un- just head so frequently, mo man in this country would favor the plan more than I, but, colleagues, 1 know the ‘system.”’ I have seen it in opera- tion. I have witnessed its unfalr re- sults. 1 have seen it used to punish foes and reward friends. “By its shortened yardstick men and women of my acquaintance have been made to appear as unfit for pub- lle tervice, when truth, had it been permitted to operate, would have placed them high in the esteem of thelr fellow citizens and given them wider flelds in which to display their devotion to duty and give to their city, their state or their country a service of which any man may well te proud. But these were not the intimates or the pets of their bureau chiefs. These were honestly endeavor- ing to serve first and last the people whose servants they were and to whom they owed their greatest al- leglance. Sees Fawning Type. “On the other hand, it has fallen to my lot to witness the unnatural rise of those who catered only to some {mmediate ‘bose.’ Disgusting as it has been, 1 have watched them truckle BUTLER NOW PLANS BANDIT-PROOF CITY General Also Attacks Traffic Problems Confronting Philadelphia. By the Associated Press. PHILADELPHIA, January 12.—Per- fection of plans for a bandit-proof cordon of police observation posts in the environs of this city, and conaid- eration of a solution of traffic prob- lems occupied the time today of Brig, Gen. Smediey D Butler, public safety. With characteristic energy, the gentral plunged into the mass of questions on traffic that have baffled city authorities. The terrific pace he has kept up since taking office had no visible effect on his efforts as he worked. Those associated with him, Inspired by his example “carried on' without relaxing. “Are you tired, Mac asked his chauffeur. “If you can stand it, I can!” was the grinning response of the man who has been at the wheel of the general's car for the major part of every day and night this week. The effect of the general's clean- up_drive was shown when most of today's vigorously conducted raids in several sections of the city falled to produce ahy seizures, all illegal liquor and apparatus for its manu- facture having been removed from the places under suspicion, which were closed up tight. Gen. Butler added to his scheme for inclosing the city in an “iron circle” of “police posts covering cvery possible entry and exit by road, by announcing that each post would have a special system of lights installed to flash & warning when a crime had been committed, The director held “a plain talk" with police officials in charge of bandit chasing. “Get 'em dvad or alive was his dictum, as he explained the distri- bution of armored cars, riot guns and high speed motor cycles to the various road posts. Telephone and radio communication, he sald, would sup- plement the flash signals. Turning to traffic problems, the gencral motoring stranger will find his route through the city easily marked. The scheme developed by the general to- day calls for a serles of distinctly colored arrows along the through routes. Red arrows, he stated, would gulde the motorists to the center of the city; blue ones to the northern section, 'green ones to the southern part and yellow ones to the west. Six hundred former marines have applied for positions on the police force, he announced latter In the day, adding that he was generally pleased with the present personnel. The opposition the director has encountered from Magistrate Ed- ward P. Carney, youngest member of the city’s minor judiciary, continued today, when the magistrate dis- charged two men and two. women, captured in ralds that netted sti and other liquor manufacturing par- aphernalla. “General Butler has no right to order the police to break into homes promiscously in search for lquor, even though his men may have search warrants,” said Carney. Magistrate Carney's attitude was upheld by Maglistrate Roberts, who ia_and would like to see it made ermanent, but, in fairness to the otorists of Maryland, I do not see ow I could do so consistently unless ‘ongress passes gasoline tax bill, which ve were glven assurances would be one before the expiration of the pres- nt temporary reciprocity agreement on ebruary 7 GAS KILLS THREE MEN. orkmen Enter Valve Compart- ment and Are Asphyxiated. TOLEDO, Ohlo, January 12.—Three workmen were killed at the plant of the Atlas Chemical Company here to- night by inhaling gas in an under- ground box containing valves regu- lating the flow of artificial gas from one storage tank to another at the firm's plant. The men entered the valve compart- ment early In the evening and when no word was heard from them fel- Jow workers went to investigate. They were found dead. ST R The first bank to be owned and gr rated by a labor organization in e jngland will be opened by the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engin in Boston on Fehruary iy . also freed a man arrested when po- Jice confiscated a quantity of alleged moonshine whisky in his home. “Much as I regret to do this, I have no 1egal right to hold this man,” the magistrate said. director of {sacred waters was the cause of the | the [ fired Into the af genoral went over plans whereby the | to them to sursen ! l to thelr rating officer and found that when the rating sheets were submit- ted they had received their reward in the shape of high marks for efficlent service which they had never ren- dered. Do you wonder then, my col- leagues, that I rise in your presence, & new member of this Hquse though I be, and warn you to keep an eye open to any proposed scheme for the obtaining of Information as to the standing of the thousands of civil emploves in the Capital “I am not attacking any man or 8ot of men, but I am keeping ralsed above my head an ax to mangle any system which deals not fairly with those who are doing their best to give an honest day's work for an honest day's phy. “Let me show you how the thing can be worked. T regret that I have not hefore me the propomed system which it s intended to use in this eity. I tried hard to get it, but was informed that it was not yet ready for distribution. However, knowing some of its details and noting that it is not unlike, in many respects, those plans which I have seen in op- eration, 1 venture the prediction that It can be used for the same purposes that others are frequently used. Chance to Hurt Morale. “The general plan is to divide the rating into four distinct elements, as follows: Quality, quantity. per=onal- ity and punctuality. Quality and personality are frequently used as the bases for elther punishment or reward, just as the rating officer may destre, for these ratings are based .upon his opinion. Quantity may be made dependent upon the amount of work which the rating officer desires to assign. Punctuality s frequently a rating joke, for in the usual rys- tém now in vogue lateness or ab- #ence are excusable factors when- ever the chief of the bureau Is dis- posed to use them. What a wide fleld in which to display one's talents for the destruction of the morale of a great department. “1 make no direct charges at this time. The proposed plan may be let- ter perfect and honestly adminis- tered. It behooves us, however, as the guardians of the public treas- ury and the preparers of ways and means by which the very best pub- | lic service may be obtained to watch | carefully the operation of any new system. ‘Bad as the old spoils system ever | was, I would fap rather return to that method of appointing and pro- moting government employes, where I would always find the enemy in the open, than to ree foifted upon us a system camouflaged with a semblance of decency only to be used in the end to help a favorite and harm those who think more of public duty faith. fully performed than the so-called friendship of an unfit and unworthy bureau chief whose sole aim in pub- lic office is to obtain public funds and render as little real service as possible. SACRED TANK SCENE OF FANATICS’ FURY Emptying of Water by Constabu- lary Starts Mindanao Clash. | 199 ARE KILLED IN BATTLE 300 Colorums Bathing or Drinking at Outbreak. By the Associated Press MANILA, January 12—The destrue- tion of a tank believed to have held | recent clashes the coast of on Bucas Island, off Mindanao, in which jelghty members of the Colorum. a religlous soclety. and nineteen con- stabulary soldfe; were killed last woek, It was announced in officlal quarters today. The tank was known as “miracu- lous tank™ and about 300 members of the society were bathing in it or drinking its waters when the con- stabulary broke its walls and let the water out. The Colorums belleved the ~waters possessed remarkable health-giving properties. Gov. Gen. Leonard Wood said it was possible that the breaking of the tank was carried out because the water in it had become polluted or had become a carrier of Infectious discases. The goyernor general has not de- parted for the region of the clashes as yet to investigate the conditions arising from them, as he had planned to do, but Is holding himself in raaii- ness to make the trip unless con- ditlons become quieter. Greeted With Bullet. A launch with constables, the ad- vices said, steamed up close to the shore of the island and. dropped an- chor where about 500 of the Colorum members were hiding in the bushes. Soon one Colorum appeared from a coconnut grove. He almed a rifie at the constabulary. They fired at him, but missed. The constabulary then landed, divided into two parties. Advancing by separate routes to- ward the houses, the constabulary threatened the Colorums with shots meanwhile shouting der. After the third shot one Colorum sprang into view crying: “Your guns are no good! You are our certain victims! Come out, my comrades: The conatabulary shot and killed this man. Five others who appeared also were shot down instantly. Then 2 large number, estimated ut several hundred of the Colorums, rushed out of the bushes and attacked the con- stabulary with firearms and bolos, The soldiers were overwhelmed, and i | | iven by F RALROAD NERGER ARRUNENTS CLOSE Final Step, Drafting Plan for| 18 to 20 Con’solidations, Awaits Committee. Oral argument in the matter of general consolidation of railroads, the last stage but one in a three- year Inquiry of the Interstate Com- merce Commission into the subject,| was concluded yesterday. The final | step. the reporting to Congress of a plan by which all the major rail- toads of the United States m. be fused info eighteen or twenty great! mergers, will be taken whenever the membership of the commission | reaches conclusions upon the general | project and the series of umlro-; versies arising out of it. H Two boys in the trucl nk Perna, jr.. and & truck driven by Burton C. Barber, colored, collided yexterday at | Leland atreet and Connecticut avenue, Chevy Chase. k were badly hurt. “Contributions to the Harding Memorial Fund are made by mail or in person at the headquarters of the Harding Memiorial As- sociation, 1414 F street northwest, next to the New Willard. The banks of the city are also receiving contributions to the fund. Each contributor of one dollar or more becomes an associate mem- ber of the Harding Memorial A graved certificate of such member: ssociation and w ship.” receive an en- — SPLIT ON TAX PLAN DIVIDES REPUBLICAN LEADERS IN HOUS! (Continued from Fi personality had nothing to do with the situaton. The republican leader declined to predict what surtax makximum finally would be agreed upon by the republi- | cans, aithough he expressed confi- |[PFOPEr course to pursue.” dence that the faction insisting on | modification of the Treasury schedule would show more strength than the group opposed to material changes. “We ought to reduce high sur- taxes” said Mr. Longworth, “to a point where the temptation would _jeuring a decision of the highi |creased revenues, however disap- pointing to the holders of such curities. Such_ decision would alto destroy great agency for tax eva- 15ion Which” we both oppose and the future benefits compared with the slow uncertain constitutional amend- {ment procedurs is beyond question. ‘Again 1 ask for your aid in se- tri- {bunal instead of the opinion @ any awyer, whatever may be his pr conceived opinfon or personal inter- est. if any, in the result. This, I am {sure you 'will understand. s not aptiously urged, but is based on what seems to me to be the only Attack om Proposals | The tax question came up for dis- jcussion in the House vesterday during bate on the Interior Department 1, which at times was shunted into other channeis. Representatives Ran- tkin, Mississippi, and Wingo, Arkan- sas, democrats, 'led an attack on the fellon plan which cncountered little Among the last to appear before!not be irresistible to a rich Man to[opposition from the few republicans the commission in arguments on the! question was the National Industrial’ Traffic League, which urged through | J. S Burchmore, its counsel, that the commission refrain from advising or recommending any further steps by the government In the consolidation enterprise. Tentatively, the commission, wilh' the advice of Prof. W. Z. Ripley o ¥ Harvard, one of its expergs, has laid | out a plan calling for creation of | some twenty mergers, each one of | { which is krouped around onme or two of the existing larger railroad sys tems, except in New England. There, it has been suggested that all rail- roads be placed in one group. | Leaders’ Views Sought. s have been elicited from many railroad executives and finan- | clers, and from representatives of communities and states during pro-| longed hearings, held in all paris| of the country. Railroads conzerned | have indicated sharp opposition to the | tentative plan in two cases, oue in! the northwest, where the Hill group | has objected to severing the G-eat Northern from the Northern Pacific, and the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy. The commission's plan sug- gested that the Great Northern be placed with the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul in a new comsolidation. In the east, the sharpest difference ! has developed by conflicting demands of the Baltimore and Ohio and New York Central for control of the Cen= tral railroad of New Jersey and iden- tical parts of the Philadelphia and Reading. Minor disagreements have also been indicated as to disposition of the Mobile and Ohlo in the south, and a number of other lines, while Missouri valley interests have strongly opposed any consolidation effort. Under the law railroads are not re- quired to take any step to make the plan effective, even after its adop- tion by the commission, but if they desire to do so the transportation act withdraws the ban of the anti- tfust laws against consolidation of parallel and competing roads for the purpose. President Coolidge has also urged that legislation encouraging and facilitating consolidations under the plan be enacted. Argues Against Consolidation. Plans of the government for rail- road consolidation were attacked be- Vie: after thirteen of them had been killed the remainder escaped to the lanuch and headed for Surigao. ITALY SUES PADUCAH. Action Against Kentucky City for Tax Paid on Tobacco. PADUCAH, Ky., January 12—The government 'of italy today sued the city of Paducah for $860.75 with in- terest, which it paid in taxes on pur- chases of tobacco in 1920. The Kentucky court of appeals has held that raw material, property of an important foreign nation, not held for manufacture or sale in the United States, is not subject to ation. But the city, the petition AI®% today says, refuses to refund the tak pay- Beginning in Monday’s Star “The Lighter of Flames” BY WILLIAM S. HART. One of the most thrilling novels of a decade has been written by the famous portrayer of western roles on the stage and the silver screen. It will appear ex- clusively in The Star, beginning tomorrow. Do not miss the first installments of this unusual story. fore the commission yesterday by Clyde M. Reed, chairman of the Kan- sas utilities commission. Speaking not only for,his state, but also as a special representative for -central western cities, he declared the Mis- sourl valley residents were ‘“sub- stantlally unanimously opposed to th wholesale consolidation of rallro “Today the railroads, unconsoli- dated, are more efficient than at any time in their history,” he sald. “Every proposition which Secretary Hoover has lald down as demanding consoli- dation, and every dark prophecy of their first pOSt-War year as to on- coming railroad incapacity has veen absolutely and unqualifiedly disproved by the great section of the country I represent, and indirectly in the in- terest of the people a8 a whole, I urge that before the commission takes the final step and commits itself to what we belleve an impossible program that it develop afirmative ground for the revolutionary procedure pro- s POfembers of the Pennsylvania dele- gation in the House took a hand in the arguments yesterday by adopting a resolution expressing the sense of twenty-four of their number that the Philadelphia and Reading railroad be left independent in the consolidation plan and not joined with either the New York Central or the Baltimore and Ohlo. ACTING MAYOR ILL. NEW YORK, January 12. York's reserve strength in mayors was taxed today when Murray Hul- bert, acting mayor during the con- | val ence of &ayor Hylan, was con- fined to his home with grip. ‘Willlam T. Collins, vice chairman of the board of aldermen, now is temporary head of the city govern- ment, ew jto | Again adv put all his income in tax-exemp securities. Whether the Mellon plan proposes the right maximum, I don't know. It is apparent, however, that thia Congress will not put rates low enough to bring about the result de- sired by the administration in all cases.” Mr. Longworth said he wgs certain resident Coolidge would not veto a ill which carried higher surtax rates than those proposed by Mr. Mellon. This observation was made In the face of announcements at the White House that the President was o] posed to any changes in principle. There were indications that repub. ican leaders, groping about for & surtax maximum which would com- mand the support of a majority of the House, might suggest 35 per cent, as against the 25 per cent limit on incomes in excess of $100,000 pro posed in the Mellon bill and the 44 per cent maximum on incomes ex- ce crats. The present maximum is 50 per cent In incomes of $200,000 or | more. Mr. Green declined views on the surtax schedule, al- though he is known to believe that the Mellon maximum would not have the support of enough republicans to | inclined above insure its adoption, and is increase it considerably the Treasury figure. Seek to Block Fight. As to the likelihood of compromise, the ways and means committee chairman said that all important logisiation was the result of adjust- ments, with the tax bill no exception. From the start, he said, the com- mittee has. “intended to write the bill,” and it was indicated that efforts would be made to make changes for the purpose of meeting the demands from various groups in the republi- can party in committee rather than permit an_inter-party fight to de- velop on the floor. Members of the ways and means committee said yesterday that while ro committee discussion had taken | place recently on the soldiers' bonus question there had been considerable talk of modifying the McKenzie bill in an effort to reduce the cash out- lay, and permit greater tax reduction. The McKenzie draft is substantially the same as the bonus bill vetoed by President Harding. Some House members, it was said, have been urg- ing that its options be restricted and that the borrowing features be elim- inated. Stress on Insurance. Mr. Green said he personally favored laying more stress on the paid-up insurance features of the bill, and announced that he would have some amendments to offer on this point as well as on other sections of the TMr. Green said he believed there were six members of the ways and committee opposed to the bonus, which under the program of the republicans will be taken up by the committee after the tax bill is reported. In his statement of taxa- tion yesterday, Mr. Tilson said he was one of & half dozen committes members who believe a bonus bill should not be enacted. ‘Another member of the committee, Representative Frear, republican, Wisconsin, made public last night another letter to Secretary Mellon on the tax exempt securities question. ocating passage of his bill ks to tax securities now ing taxation through the Six- Soenih amendment, Mr. Frear urged that this method of approaching the question should be submitted to the Supreme Court for a decision as to its constitutionality. Wants Law Tested. “I¢ you are opposed to the entire yoflqypmpund in my bill which is designed to reach $10,000,000,000 or more in outstanding municipal and state securities,” said Mr. Frears letter, “then possibly I cannot look for your hoped for suppot, but in the interest of bringing to the govern- ment Treasury, largely increased revenues and_inforcing existing law irrespective of your own anfl my per- sonal preferences and prejudice in the matter, 1 submit that if any doubt exists as to the law, and as stated it does seem to exist in the mind of many able lawyers, the ques- tion should be squarely tested. For reasons previously set forth it 1s highly probable that under the terms of my bill the court would not 50 divide as to set aside the law and it not, the government would be the immediate gainer In greatly ine which seel ding $92,000, favored by the demo- ! to give his| n_the floor at the time. | “This Mellon scheme,” contended IMr. Rankin, “would desfroy plans to | Pay adjusted compensation to the vet- jerans of the world war, and as things jare drifting here now it looks very {much like it would succeed. -It seeks Ito take from the men who earned | compensation in the bicod, sweat and jbell of war and give to millionaires.” |. Mr. Wingo, pointing to claims of ! “republican” prosperity,” asked why It Was necessary to meduc on business if conditions were reall as pictured. Representative Denison, republican, Tilingls, remarked that 'Mr. Mellon | was “too big a man to fix a tax policy or the nation based only on benefits to himself.” Statement by Tilson. Representative Tilson’s statement lissued following his conference with the President ~follows: “I talked with the President especially in re gard to the compromises that hav been suggested. 1 especially di cussed those compromises propose {by Representative Garner of Texas, jranking democratic member of the ! ways and means committee, and Rep- | resentative Frear of Wisconsin, one of the Insurgents, since the Mellon tax plan has been made public and {made a 'hit' with the entire country. “While I realize all the difficulties and obstacles in the way of enac [Ing the so-calied Mellon plan into law, I am not in favor of any com- promise. I told the President that I think the committee on ways and means should go ahead and report ut a bill in substantial conformity with Mr. Mellon's suggestions and itry to get it through the House. If n account of a combination between the democrats and certain insurgents the bill should be defeated or so mu- tilated as to become unrecognizable or unworkable, then it should be made clear to the country just who is to blame for such a situation. Neither of the plans proposed Mr, Garner or Mr. Frear is really a plan_at all. Neither of them gives relief from taxation where it is most needed, and either plan would leave a deficit in the Treasury. The per- sons who would be relieved most would be those paying the highest surtaxes who would continue to re- lieve themselves entirely by ing In tax-exempet securities. BANKERS TO MEET HERE. by I League Will Be Heard by House Committee on Tax Plan. Representatives of the Bankers' League, who will meet here January 18, to give consideration to the Mellon tax reduction p'an, will be given a hearing by the House ways and means committee at 2 p.m. on that date, Chairman Green announced yesterday. The bankers' league, according to its president, Charles de B. Claiborne, is composed of banks who are interested principally in domestic securities and in financing agricultural and local en- terprises in their communities, and who are, therefore, in position to spealk au- thoritatively on the subject. | the taxes | 8 |Smoot. SCULPTOR JUSTIFIES . MARINE MEMORIAL Tribute to All Types of Seafaring Men Lost in Deep, Says Del Piatta. MOODS OF OCEAN TYPIFIED Gulls Natural Part of Ensemble, Is His Contention. “The sense of the sea, as expressed by waves and winds and gulls in the main central piece, will be the spirit, the background of the whole work,” according to Ernesto Begni del Platta, sculptor of the proposed Navy and Marine memorial here. The memorial is to be dedicated to “Americans lost sculptor has been criticism. A statement issued by the sculptor. setting forth his ideas as to the meaning of the memorial, follows: “In this work I have been inspired by my sense of the sea, by its vast solitude, its colors and motions re flecting,’ symbolically yet so vividl the sorrows and joys of our own life ! Graveyard of Thousand: | “The sca, solemn and mysterious, !gathers to its coral bottom thousands jand thousands of our brothers. { "When the sea s restless and the winds carry the cry of the gulls as {from far bLeyond. the words of the {Bible beat at my heart: ‘There is |sorrow on ‘the sea—it cannot be lquiet.” “These feclings and the thousands {of emotions and visions that they {evoke in -my &pirit have been [source of my inspirations in subject to some this | work. | " “I'have not had in mind the com- memoration of a battle or of a hero Or group of heroes as some appear to think. 1 meant to give expression llu“m}' sense of the sea. | “The women and men of the com- mittees who have honored my work with their appreclation and consid- eration saw in a fit inspiration fcr a national Navy and Marine memorial to Americans lost at sea. Tribute to All Seamen, "I do not think that there is in the mind of the committees any in- iention of erecting it as a memorial to <t individual hero nor to a specific {sroup of heroes. |as merchant marine men, jof the sea in general, representing jall sea activities, are interested {this work, as the names show which lappear on the various committees. It {is typically a national sea memorial. “Is it not befitting that the Ameri- |ean people be brought in closer sym- pathy with the sea? America, whose |destiny is so inevitably linked with |the_services on the sea. “The bronze reliefs which appear jon the four sides of the pedestal, and jthe ornamental and decorative de itails of the base will bear, by sym bolic or rect expression, the var ous activities on the sea. The Na {the merchant marine, the coast guard, traveling, fisheries and all other sea jactivities' of this great country will be properly represented as if by as many submemorials of their own and lorganic parts of the ensemble. “The sense of the sea, however, as expressed by waves and winds and gulls in the main central piece, will ibe the spirit, the background of the {whole work.” IGET HELL’S BOTTOM STILL; 4 ARRESTED Police Stumble Upon Liquor Source When Invited Into Home. While seeking Manuel Cooper, col- ored, in Hell's Bottom, near Relee, va., on a charge of housebreaking, i | yesterday stumbled on a sixty-gallon istill on the first floor of Manuel's {home and made four arrests, in addi- {tion to two previous ones Special Officers Bruce Smoot, and Burke, working under 'super- vision of 'Special Officer Howard had begun an _investigation o the theft of $100 worth of mer- handise from the store of Tom Wise, |Hell's Bottom merchant, Thursday night. They had arrested Hunter Cooper |and Albert Cooper, both colored, and recovered a quantity of merchandise }at the home of the last named. Then they went to look up Manuel. They were invited into his home and en- \tered, finding the still on the first floor. Wise tivities in the neighborhoed, and !after investigation swore out two warrants, arresting Susle Beverly, colored, and Agnes Morris, colored. {on charges of violating the national prohibition act by possessing one-half gallon of liquor each. Fannie Grimes, | colored, also of Heil's Bottom, | arrested on a charge of drunkenness. Charges of housebreaking were while Manuel was charged with pos- session and manufacture of liquir. STOVE CAUSE OF FIRE. {Used for Drying Plaster in New Building, It Becomes Overheated. Fire, believed to have been caused by an overheated stove used for dry- ing plaster on the walls of the par- tially constructed Dent buflding, 1409 X .street, early today caused about $50u damage and a flurry of excite- ment among pedestrians in the vicinity. The camage was caused mostly by smoke and water, fire apparatis ar- riving in time to check the blaze be- fore it made material headway. Smoke_reeping through the walls caused the occupants of 1407 K street 1o vacate the premises while the fire- men worked. Beware of Consumption It is usually not suspected for a long time be checked, and is the: Are Losing Weight A Persistent Light Cough and unless discovered early requires years to n hard to cure entirely. If You Tire Easily or Have Chest Pains or Hoarseness See a doctor or have yourself examined at the free Health Department Clinic 409 15th St. N.W., Tuesday, Thursday or Saturday at 2-4 o'clock. Friday evenings from 7:30-9 o’clock To Prevent Consumption Avoid house dust and impure or close air, day or night. Get all the light and sunshine possible into your home. Avoid raw milk, raw cream and butter made of unpasteur- ized cream Eat plain, nourishing food. Get enough sleep by retiring early enough. Try to avoid worry. Be ch acts on your body. Telephone Main 992. eerful. Think kindly. Your mind Association for the Prevention of Tuberculosis 1022 11th Street N.W. ‘Who have paid for the above Wdletin. (legal notice) at sea,” and the use of gulls by the | the | Navy men as well | and men | in | Meanwhile Burke was watching ac- | was | placed_against each of the Coopers, | \FRAUD IN ELECTION: |15 CHARGED T0 74 Fred Essen, Admitting Self Indicted in St. Louis,Charges “Malicious Plot.” By the Associated Press. ST. LOUIS, Mo., January 12—For- mer Representative a T known as the republican “boss St. Louie county, late today stated he was one of the seventy-four person= indicted this afternoon election irregularities in with the 1922 August primary Essen said his indictment was “malicious plof of his political jenemics and that he would ‘demand | speedy trial to expose the plot.” Names of those {ndicted were with= held, pending arrests, but Mr. Essen volunteered the information that ha was one of the seventy-four. He asserted the indictment “means {nothing” as the jury was selected jat the “behest of political adventur- {ers.” He sald he would ex the 1“malicious plot” at his trial for alleged connection Mr On State Committe 3 Lssen republican | The i said to s a memt state comn election en the cou frauds 08t notorious Ballots Wi aw {in the we e been th ome later were found in a e Non-residents of the county were said to have been stationed at polls as challengers, and repeaters wcre alleged to have kept voting al! day. The report eeverely criticized law enforcement conditions and zdded that as “90 per cent of the dry law | violators in the county are foreigners, it is recommended that they he de- {prived of citizenship and deported 11iTANIC FIGHT SEEN i IN HOUSE AS MONTH RULES TRUCE ENDS (Continued from First.Page. o said to ha mittee prepared the changes which will come to 2 vote tomorrow, voiced similar opinions. No Pact, Says Garrett. Mr. Garrett said that the dem had not agreed what minimum for petitions would be sought. The figure, he added, might range fr 100, favored by the insurgents. to 1 The Underwood rule, which both the democrats and insurgents want repealed. applies to tariff and revenue bills. It restricts amendments by providing that they must apply to the article under consideration,” and has been construed to prevent the transfer of a commodity from th free to the dutiable list, or vice ver 1in tariff_bills | ' Mr. Nelson declared the ryles j committee had fafled to act on a number of important rules amend- monts proposed by the insurgents and that they would make a deter- mined fight on the floor to securs their adoption Tho way has been cleared for un- limited debate on the entire ques- tion, leaders having agreed to defer action on all legislaton until it is disposed of. The sublfct comes to a head as a result of the adoption by the House after it organized of the rules prevailing during the last { Congress, but wiih the understand- {ing that they were to be in effect {for one month only. The month ex- | pires tomorrow Far-Reaching Effects, | Harking back to the Senate, {contest ‘over the interstate commerce { chairmanship. resulting in the elec- {tion of a democratic chairman, ap- to have more far-reaching ef- rats | | 1 i 4 [special officers of Arlington county!fects than was dreamed of by {regular republicans. It has | precedent, as some of the republ | from the middle west and fa | feared it might, for continued joint | ac by the democrats and pro- gressives on measures coming before { the Senate. When the Senate was voting on { chairmanship of the in cor mittee, the regular repul lican group stiff-neck declined to | accept the proposal that Senator Cou- zens of Michigan., who ha i Ing regularly for Senato i { Towa, the republican nominee, ielected chairman “The 0ld Gua | dies, it never surrenders” was the { comment of one progressive, who added that son ancies may_ be | found in after the elec- { tions next ! The democ {elect a chai {merce m were anxlous to 1 of the interstate com- . but they have not {been slow to observe the tactical ad- | vantage which has arisen through the !coalition of the progressives with them {in that vote. The stand maintained by the democrats and the progressives on ithe tax legislat te simi- {lar. The oups think altke to a | considerable extent on transportation {legislatic said, and on other it is the House the republican ership has taken cognizance of {progressive element; it hasx made such concessions as Were necessary Lo bring about the republican organiza- tion of the House, so far us officers and standing commit 0 cerned. When the tax bill is framed in that body it may he expected that ithe republican leaders will yield to {just that extent which may be neces- sary to make it possible to obtain a ajority for the passage of the bill ¥ republican votes But when the meis Senate there is no precedent of agree- ment—in this Congress—between the {republicans and progressive ele- {ment on contested questions. Pre- |diction is made that the progressive {8roup and the democrats will take an aggressive stand from the start on this measure and do all in their power to have it framed to meet their views. At one time it wus belicved that there would be sufficient democrats in favor of the Mellon plan to offset defections from republican ranks. But in the fight over the chairmanship of the interstate commerce committee but one democrat, Senator Bruce of Mary- land, left his party associates to vote with the regular republicans. There was much criticlsm of his action, o much so that it is doubtful that an |appreciable number of democrats would join with the regular repub llcans on contested measures to come before the Senate. Bonus May Be Amendment. The tax bill situation promises to be further complicated in the Senate by a move to have the soldiers’ bonus bill added to it. Some of the sena- fors supporting the bonus say that it the House sends the tax bill over to the Senate first, they will proposs the bonus bill as an amendment, and they say that they can bring about a combination of the two. That such a combination would be embarrassing to the President, wbo has announced his opposition to the soldlers’ bonus may be understood. 1t might well be the better policy to dispose of the bonus measure first, it_was pointeds out. When it comes to railroad leg- islation, the alignments in the Sen- ate may be somewhat different, but there is strong sentiment among the republicans and republican progress- ives from the west and middle west for @ reduction in freight rates, par- ticularly on agricultural products. In this the democrats agree to a very large extent. Senator Smith, the newly elected chairman of the com- mittee which will handle the railroad legislation, has clearly said as much. In his first statement he has urged adoption of a measure to bring aboug freight rate reguctions. 3 reaches the {