Evening Star Newspaper, February 17, 1924, Page 1

WEATHER. Incréasing cloudiness, with slowly ris- ing temperature, followed by rain, sleet or snow, this afternoon and night; to- morrow rain and Warmer; temperature for twenty-two ‘hours ended at 10 p.m. last night: Highest, 36, at 4 p.m. yes- terday ; lowest, 20, At 6 ~.m. yesterday. Full report on page 11. “From Press to Home Within the Hour” The Star is delivered ev ing and | B - unday morring to Washington homes at 60 cents per month. Telephone Main 5000 4 ’ and service will start immediately. WITH DAILY EVENING EDITION The (—— —_—————— No. 986.—No. 29,146. SENATE 0. . AFTER LONE, BITER ROV Confirmed by 59 to 13 Vote. Roberts’ Approval on Mon- day Forecast. CAPAEILITY OF SPECIAL COUNSEL IS ASSAILED Both of High Integrity, Foes Ad- mit, But Bigger Men Needed, Is Claim. Over the vigorous opposition of | ‘Walsh. democrat, the Senate confirmed, last night, the Senator Montana, nomination of Atlee Pomerene, a for- mer senator from Ohlo, to be a spe- clal government counsel in the ofl lease cases, The vote was 59 to 13. Conslderation of the nomination of Owen J. Roberts of Philadelphia to be Mr. Pomerene’s assoclate, was defer- red until tomorrow, but confi-mation was forecast Approval of the nomination of Mr. Pomerene came after more than six hours of del For nearly two hours the Senate fought over the que: her the nominations ANATIS 1:-ad 'n executive ses- slon, as is the usual custom, then it \ o 2 to discuss them in the open. Scnators Fess of Ohiv and beck of South Dakota, republicans, voted in the negative. The roll call on Mr. Pomerene's ap- pointment follows: Yeas: Republicans: Borah, Brandegee, Bureum, Cameron, Capper, Couzens, Cummins, Curtis, Dale, Edge, Ernst, Fess, Gooding, Hale, Harreld, Howell, Jones of Washington, Keyes, Len- root, Lodge, McKinley, McNary. | Moses. Norbeck, Pepper, Phipps, Reed of Pennsylvania, Smoot, Spen- cer, Wadsworth, Warren, Watson, Weller and Willls.—34. Democrats: Bayard, Bruce, Caraway, Dial, Fietcher, George, Glass, Harrison, Heflin, Jones of New Mexico, Kendrick, King, MeKellar, Mayiield, Overman, ritt- man Ransdell, Keed of Missouri, Rob- inson, Shields, Stephens, Swanson, Trammell spd Walsh of Massachu- setts—20. Total, 59. Nays: Repubilcans: Brookhart, Fraler, LaFoilette and Norris.—4. Democrats: Adams, Ashurst, Dill, Bheppard, Staniey, Walsh of ~Mon- tana and Wheeter.—7. Farmer-Labor: Johnson and Ship- stead.—2. ‘Total, 13. Broussard, House Adopts Resolution. Before the Senate met the House, without aiscussion or a record vote, adopted the Walsh resolution direct- ing nat proceedings be Instituted for ‘the recovery of sections 16 and 36 within the confines of naval re- serve No. 1 in California, now oper- ated by the Standard Oil Company of California under a grant from the state. These were the only concrete de- velopments today in the.oil matter. The oll committee is in recess until February 25, .d Chairman Lenroot #aid no subpoenas for additional witnesses would be issued in the meantime. Government auditors will continue thelr work, however, on the books of stock brokerage firms in an effort to determine whether govern- ment officials traded in oil stocks) about the time of or subsequent to| the Fall ofl leases. Controversy Sharp. There was a sharp controversy in: the Senate both in open and exccu- tive session, over the proposition as | to whether the nominations of special | counsel should be considered in open executive session, but once that issue had been settled, the Senatej proceeded with little of the fervor that usually characterizes Senate dls- cusston. President Coolldge was assailed irom both the republican and demo- | cratic sides of the chamber for his fallure to consult beforehand with Senator Walsh regarding the counsel he selected, and there were sugges- tions that he also should have con- ferred with Senators LaFollette of ' Wisconsin, leader of the republican insurgents, and Kendrick, democrat, ‘Wyoming, ploneer in the ofl investi- gation. Practlcally the only objection raised to Mr. Pomerene was that he lacked experience and ability ‘to handle the cases at {ssue. All‘senators attested to his honesty and integrity, his courage and fidelity, while a number of senators, republicans as well as democrats, contended that he had ample ability and the necessary ex- perience to handle the cases. ‘Walsh Describes Needs. Senator Walsh, who was praised on 21l sides as the one man who had made possible the disclosures in the oll Inquiry, told the Senate there were Just two qualifications necessary in special counsel—honesty and capa~| bllity. E “Senator Pomerene answers the first,” he declared. “No one questions his honesty. No one dares to qu tion it. 5 “I am opposed to.Senator Pomerene, ‘because I don't think he has had the experience or training’ as a lawyer to fit him for this tremendous task ahead of us. I.venture to say that not one of the ninety-six senators in . this chamber, If this property worth millions had been taken away from him, would select Senator Pomerene to sent him. And I am certain {Continued on Page. 6, Column.2.) POMERENE IS GIVEN IS STOCK-TAKING CHANCE Entered as second-class matter post office Washington, D. C. WASHINGTON, D. C, SUNDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY 17, 1924_NINETY-SIX PAGES. RECESS IN OIL INQUIRY Public Reaction, as Now Seen, Leaves - Coolidge Personally Stronger and McAdoo’s Future in Doubt. BY N. 0. MESSENGER. With the ofl investigating com- mittee in & ten-day recess it is”opportune to appraise the po- litical eftect of the disclosures to date. So swift, startling and sen- sational have been the develop- ments that the country's head may be said to be in a whirl and it may be well to have a ten- day “breathing spell” and get our hat on stralght again. The process of readjustment to normal and emergence from hys- terfa will be facilitated by the complete collupse of the sinlster rumor that would have attached the name of the honored dead to the scandal. Absurd, it was at the same time monstrous in its iniquity. It may serve to admon- ish the public to be more chary OIL COUNSEL MIX-UP IS AIRED [N SENATE Advice Not Sought Until Pomerene Was Chosen, Walsh Declares. Versions of some of the circumstances surrounding the selection of Atlee Pomerene and Owen J. Roberts as spe- clal government counsel in the ofl- leasing cases were given yesterday in the Senate during debate on their nomi- nation. Interrupting Senator Norris, republi- can, Nebraska, while he was assalling the President for his failure to consult Senator Walsh, democrat, Montana, be- forehand, Senator Curtis of Kansas, the assistant republican leader, sald the President had sought unsuccessfully to communicage with Mr. Walsh before Mr. Pomerene was selectad. Senator Cutls explained that at the request of | the White House he had made attempts, but unsuccessfylly, to locate the Mop- tana senator. would like to make a statement of ‘the actual facts sald Senator Walsh, “The sefiator from Arka (Mr. Robinson), and myself went out to play golf on the afternoon of that day. When we were returning we met the Secretary to tho Presldent, who advised me the President had been seeking me all aftrnéon, but had been unable to locate me. Senator Robinson said we would be glad to see the President the next day but Mr. Slemp said ‘the President would like to see you this evening and probably will call you up'” Called by Curtis. Senator Walsh sald that after he reached his apartment Senator Curtis called him on the telephone and told him he had been unable to locate Him during the day and desired a confer- ence. X “He came to my apartment—abott 7:45 o'clock—and we went over a/list of names he had,” Senator Walsh con- tinued. “I expressed my views as to those on the list I knew and men- tioned others I thought would be equal to the task. “Imagine my, ~‘utter astonishient when I picked”up the paper the next morning 2nd read about the appoint- ment. This account said the appoint- ment had been made during the fore- neon of the day while we were en- gaged in trylng to get Mr. Fall to testify. I found out subsequently that this was slightly inaccurate. Mr. Pomerene advised me later that between 12 o'clock and 1 o'clock he had been requested by Mr. Slemp to come to the White House for luncheon with the President. He said that when luncheon was over about 2 o'clock they retired to the Presi- dent's library and the President ask- ed him to take the appointment and he promptly accepted. The Presi- dent then told him that he wanteéd to talk with Senator Walsh. Igvited to White House. “That was the second time -the President had sought to confer with me after his selection had been made. Two days after Mr. Pomerene had been appointed I was invited to the White House,” i Senator Walsh then related how (Continued on Page 2, Column 6.) INITIAL NAVY JUNKING COMPLETED BY JAPAN Final Date Evokes Statement From Tokio on Progress Under > Treaty. By the Associated Press, - TOKIO, February 16.—Today is the specified date for the completion of | the first“stagedof scrapping of naval s in accordance with the Wash- p{::-: Arms Conference treaty, and the occasion evoked from the navy department & statement declaring that Japan has completed the fnitial operations required to renderd the doomed ships “incapable of further warllke service.” 3 The ships slated for destruction are .the Hizen, Mikasa, Kashima, Katorl, Satsuma, Ak, Settsu, Ikoma, Ibuki and Kurama. The Asahi and Shikishima are to be diverted to non- combatant purposes. Operations on the Tosa and the Amagi have been partially completed and the two vessels will be disman- teled during the presént year, the navy department announoment states. in the future about crediting scandalous reports and to apply the policy to some that are even now afloat. The Japanese trinity which suggests, “See not, hear not, speak not evil” is a good thing to keep on the mantelplece. It is believed that the outstand- ing feature of the political effect of the oil scandal investigation has been to enhance the public's approval of President Coolidge and in a way that will be perma- nent, extending to his benefit not only in the contest for the nomi- nation. but later at the polls. There 18 no mistaking the reaction throughout the country to President Coolidge’s course. Any man, on r flection, will assent to this propos! tion by remembering what he has “(Continued on Page 6, Column 4.) §7,000,000 LIBRARY ISGIFT OF MORGAN Collection of 25,000 Books and Manuscripts Is Memo- rial to His Father. By the Associated Presn. NEW YORK, February 16—J. P. Morgan announced tonight that as a memorial to his father, the late J. Plerpont Morgan, he had turned over his magnificent library, its valuable contents and the ground upon which it stands to a board of trustees, who are intrusted with its maintenance in perpetuity for the use of scholars from all parts of the world. The collection, belleved to be the best in private hands in existence, was estimated by Mr. Morgan to be worth In the vicinity of $7,000,000. With 1t he gave an endowment of $1,500,000. In addition, he walved all personal and legal rights to the prop- erty. Cey 25,000 Books. The library, which (s to.be desig- nated “The Plerpont Morgan Library,” was first assembled by the late J. Plerpont Morgan in 1905 and housed m- & bulldi: o) ha fellew! Yeat on- & nl“ tand 'nn:"mfl from Ea#t “38th to East 37th streets, between Madison and Park avenues. ‘With the additions which have been made by Mr. Morgan since the death of his father in 1913, it contains 25,000 books and manuscripts, of which 10,000 are rare or unique,, My father's intense Interest and tisfaction in the library which he left me,” sald Mr. Morgan, “makes it a pecullarly fitting memorial to fim. It is 8 memorial which keeps alive the memory of his love of rare books and manuscripts and his bellet in the ‘educational value of the col- lection which he had gathered.” - Full Power to Trustees. Mr. Morgan made it clear that the trustees would take his place in the ownership with full powers “to di- rect and control the use of the build- ing and contents,” 5o that they may be made “available in every way pos- sible for the advancement of knowl- edge and for the use of learned men of all countries.” He sald the use of the llbrary would have to be confined to scholars and research students and would have to be denied the general public be- cause of the fragility of the books and manuscripts and because, once injured, they could neither be re- stored nor replaced. “A careless thumb,” he said, “could undo the work of 900 years. I be- lieve the interest from the endow- ment should support the library. Jf I want to do more, I shall do so from time to time in the way of additions.” Family on Board There are six trustees, Mr. Morgan, his wife, his sons, Junius Spencer Morgan and Henry Sturgis Morgan; James Gore King and Lewis Cass Ledyard. Whenever a vacancy among the trustees occurs by death or resignation, the remaining trustees will elect another to keep the num- ber six. Mr. Morgan expressed the . hope that if at the time of such an elec- tion, there “should be in existence a direct descendant of my father in the male line,” and iIf he were deemed a “sultable person,” he should be chosen to fill the vacancy. Among the principal collections in the library, there are 530 volumes of 1illuminated manuscripts, dating from the sixth to the sixteenth century. Among holograph manu- scripts of the works and correspond- ence of American, English and con- tinental authors, 905 writers are represented, while there are about 7,000 signed -letters and documents unbound. Vi Indulgence Dated 1453. The extensive collection of incun bula, comprising books printed before 1500, includes the only specimen in America of the earliest dated piece of printing, the “Indulgence,” dated ‘1455, of Pope Nicholaus V, {ssued to “each person as should' contribute money to'ald” the King of Cyprus against the Turks.” Among the Bibles, there -are .the Ashburnham, the so-called Gutenberg printed at 'Mainz before 1455, all the English editions from Coverdale on- ward and dozens in strange tongues © from the . collection of historical personages—thirty shelves in all. Of greater rarity the Great Psal (Continued on Page 11, Column 1.) HOUSE 0 RECENE .. APPROPRIATION BIL FOR 1924 SOON Will Be Introduced When Tax and Legislation Gets Well Under Way. DEFICIENCY MEASURE HEARINGS ‘TOMORROW $418,961 Asked to Meet City Ex- penses to June 30—Klingle Valley Fund Largest. Work will be completed tomorrow on “marking up” the District appro- priation bill for the fiscal year com- mencing July 1 next by the subcom- mittee of the House appropriations committee, of which Representative Charles R. Davis of Minnesota is chalrman. This means that two ap- propriations bills—the District bill and the agricultural appropriation bill—are about ready for the House, to be Introduced as soon as consid- eration of the tax-revision legisla- tlon s well under way. These bil cannot be taken up in the House for two weeks or so, But they probably will be introduced during the coming week. Hearings are to start tomrrow on the District ftems in the deficency ap- propriation bill and supplemental es- timates to provide enough money for various actlvities of the local govern- ment to pay expenses to the close of the present fiscal year, which eads June 30, and the District Commis- sioners will appear before a subcom- mittce of the House appropriations committee tomorrow to testify In thelr support. Cut by Budget Bureau, The supplementals as prepared by the Commissioners totaled $691,371.28, but the bureau of the budget trim- med them to $418,961, and It will be on this latter figure that the testi- mony will be taken tomorrow. One of the most important items on the list is $200,000 for the purchase of land for the Klingle Valley park- way., This was placed in ®he supple- mentals because of a fear In the minds of the Commissioners that bullding operations would block the park project unless immediate ac- tlen was obtained in Congre: Kilngle Valtey from fts junction witn Rock Creek Park to the end of the valley, together witha strip of land on either side of the roadway 8o as to preserve the stream and the virgin forest which are now in the vailey. Applications have been made by own- ers of the land for grading permits preliminary to the constructfon of bulldings on the property which it is deslired to acquire, and unless fmme- dlate action is taken to preserve the Kiingle Valley and the’ stream the property will be lost for @11 time, as grading will destroy the natural beauty of the valley and remove the pald In the future after the Improve- ments were constructed would be pro- hibitive. $100,000 for Sewers. There Is an item for $100,000 for sewers, covering assessment and per- mit work. The appropriation for this work for the fiscal year 1924 is $150,000. The regular appropriation for 1923 was $100,000, with a deficiency appro- priation of $50,000. The appropria- tions for 1922, including a deficiency appropriation, were $157,000. A por- tion of the cost is assessed against the property benefited. During the past three years the amount re- turned by property owners has averaged about 38 per cent. The rapld growth In bullding operations in the District of Columbia, chiefly in residential buildings, necessitates increased expenditure, as the oon- struction of a building must be sus- IDanflod it sewage connectlons can not be furnished. The construction of sewers applied for between July 1, 1938, and December 1, 1923, was over $100,000 in excess of the regular ap- propriation for the fiscal year 1924. jIf applications continue at anything like this rate, the $100,000 requested will be inadequate to furnish sewage sonnections to new residences. For the police and firemen's rellef fund a further appropriation of not to exceed $85,000 is asked, to pay (Continued on Page 12, Column 2.) |Arctic Flight Ban Cheers Air Rivals Of U.S. in Europe Secret preparations for trans- Arctic aerial expeditions are being made in France, Germany and Russia, according to information given Navy Department officlals yesterday by, Hakon H. Hammer, organizer in the United States for Roald Amundsen, Norweglan ex- plorer, who plans a venture of his own this summer into the north polar regions. Explaining that he had just re- turned from Europe, Mr. Ham- mer sald he knew of the keen interest aroused there when it was announced that the American Navy was planning a polar expedi- tion. . % ‘ “The news that the. United States government had postponed _ the naval expedition” -he said, “will be welcomed everywhere im “Europe. r |that fellea him Friday . XiL, has been deemed desirable.. yeugd to présseve a muw-y’;b‘lsh“ trees, and the price which would be'| Consarn 17! \ \I{HERE P S THAT" PART ONE—36 Pages. GREENE WEAKENS | ™Y STAm |GHUNTY POLIGERAID AFTER OPERATION Brain of Senator, Hit by Stray Bullet, Torn by Bone Splinters. Senator Frank L. Greene, shot dur- ing a gun fight between prohibition | enforcement officials and alleged boot- leggers, was reported to be in a se- rious condition early today following an operation at Emergency Hospital. Although the senator seemed to be improving rapidly early vesterday and physiclans hoped he might bLe about In a weck or &0, more thorough investigation showed that the bullet night had caused an inverted fracture and part of hig skull had been forced inta his brain. Dr. Thomas L. Linville and Dr. Dan- 1 -l . Bagsen . , AN Immediate LNt e e S&énator Green, submitted, and the operation | was performed late In the afternon. It was found that not only had the skull been dented so that it pressed upon the brain, but that splinters had actually entered the brain. Ten such bite were removed by the surgeon. Condition Is Serfous. The ineide fibrous material that forms a secondary protection to the braln had been badly lacerated and punctured, and the operation proved to be decldedly delicate. Immediately after the operation Senator Greene seemed to respond satisfactorily, but it was.stated that his condition must be regarded as serfous. Early today physiclans at the hos- pital said he seemed to improve some- what snortly after mldnight and was resting easler. They thought this might be accepted as a good omen but said definite information as to ultimate recovery could not be ex- pected before morning, at least. In the meantime, the reaction from the shooting of Senator Greene was being felt in many quarters. Presi- dent Coolldge directed his secretary to make sure that the local police department took immediate steps to prosecute those responsible. The White House was later informed that the three men implicated had been turned over to the district attorney. Dry Agent Released, Prohibition Enforcement Agent Fisher, whose bullet is believed to have been the one that struck Sen- ator Greene down as he and his wife were walking along Pennsylvania avenue, was charged with assault with a deadly weapon and released from custody on $5,000 bail. It was explained that he submitted to the charge merely to permit him to be admissible to ball. James R. Beavers of Silver Hill, Md., and Benjamin Chesivoir of 318 New York avenue northwest, at whom Fisher was firing, were released on $3,000 bail each, it was stated at detective headquarters. Both of the prisoners were carefully questioned by headquarters detectives and re- iterated their previous statements that they had not fired a shot. President Coolidge evinced his per- sonal interest in the situation by in- quiring at the hospital concerning Mr. Greege's condition. Hundreds of telephone inquiries were recetved from many other persons high in jthe government's service and on ievery hand were heard expressions iof indignation that such a thing should have occurred in Washington and within three or four blocks of the Capitol itself. 8-HOUR-DAY SPURNED. Austria Will Await Ratification by ‘Western European States. By the Associated Press. : ‘VIENNA, February 16.—Ratification of the Washington eight-hour-day con- vention was voted down by the govern- ment ‘party in committee of ‘the na- tional assembly today, but the articles’ concerning the unemployment in night work of women and children and the rights of farm'labor were accepted. It was decided that Austria would fully ratify the treaty only after the industrial states of western Europe, particularly Jugoslavia, Switserland, Hungary -and Poland, have done so. General News—Local, National, Foreign. National Political Survey—Pages 4 and 5. Schools and Colleges—Pages 24 and 25. Radio News and Gossip—Pages 30 and 31. The Civilian Army—Page 31. iSemal, “The Magnificent Adventure'— Page 31. Notes of Art and Artists—Page 32, | District National Guard—Page 32. | Veterans of the Great War—Page 34. { Financial News—Pages 34 and 35. PART TWO—14 Pages. Editorials and Editorial Features. Washington and Other Soclety. : Tales of Well Known Folk—Page 10. | Around the City—Page 11. Parent-Teacher Activities—Page 12. ! D. A. R. Act.vities—Page 12. At the Community Centers—Page 14. ' 1 i PART THREE—11 Pages. |Am‘u|em¢nln—‘rheaten and the Photo- play. Music in Washington—Page 5. Behind the Screen—Page 5. Motors and Motoring—Pages 6 to 11, Fraternities—Pages 11 and 12. Young Folks' Page—Page 13. Girls and Their Affairs—Page 13. Boy and Girl Scoute—Page 13. | PART FOUR—1 Pages. Pink Sports Section. PART FIVE—8 Pages. Magazine Section—Features and Fiction. . PART SIX—8 Pages. Classified Advertisements. Army and Navy News—Page 7. | News of the Clubs—Page 8. | Reviews of New Books—Page 8. GRAPHIC SECTION—S Pages. World Events in Pictures, COMIC SECTION—1 Pages. Straphanger; Reg'lar Feller: Mutt and Jeff. Mr. mr. and Mrs.; M’ADOO LEAVES D. C. FOR CHICAGO PARLEY| Friends Here Believe Conference Will Urge Him to Con- tinue His Race. v William G. McAdoo left here last night for Chicago, where a confer- ence of his friends will be held at his suggestion tomorrow which may determirie his political future. Most friends of Mr. McAdoo here believe that he will be asked to con- tinue in the race for the democratic presidential nomination. He prob- ably will address the Chicago confer- ence after it has h‘nd a general dis- cussion of the situation. During his visit here Mr. McAdoo conferred with many friends and former associates in a canvass of the political situation. Accompanying him to Chicago are Mrs. McAdoo and a few friends and secretaries. It he continues in the presidential race Mr. McAdoo plans to make ad- dresses soon in Georgia and other southern states where primaries will be held shortly. | COOPERS ARE ACQUITTED. Jury Frees Tarheel Lieutenant Governor and His Brother. WILMINGTON, N. C., February 18. —Lleut. Gov. W. B. Cooper and his brother, T. E. Cooper, were found ! not guilty this afterncon in United States district court of a charge of conspiracy to defraud and violate the national banking laws in connec- tion with the failure of the Com- mercial National Bank of Wilming- ton. The verdict. was returned at 3:45 p.m., after the case had peen in the hands of the jury since 12:45 p.m., and after three ballots had been taken. ) s 'WARREN AGAIN CONFERS. May, Give President Final Decision Today on Mexican Post. Charles B. Warren of Detroit, who is being urged to. reconsider - his declination to become ambassador to Mexico, had another conference yes- terday with President Coolidge. After the conference Mr. Warren described the situation as unchanged It is belteved he will give the Presi- dent a definite answer today. BIE GAMIBLING CLUB Surprise More Than 100 at Conduit Road Resort—Con- fiscate About $5,000. Smashing their way through three carefully guarded doors, Montgomery county police last night ralded the Riverside Club, a resort on the Con- duit road about a mile beyond the District line, and captured enough gambling devices to equip a small Monte Carlo. More than a hundred men were in the midst of “games” when the police surprised them, and besides the gam- bling paraphernalia the authorities conflscated between $4.000 and §5,000 they found scattered around tables. Habitues declared had the raiding squad come later they would have found twidé as many patrons &nd many timés 8s much money. Presented Card. Led by Chief Charles T. Cooley, six privates of the Montgomery county force gathered at the Riverside Club about 10 o'clock. One had a card entitling him to admission. Present- ing this at the first door he was ad- mitted, and before the surprise guard could slam the door again the other policemen had forced their way in. It was necessary for them to break down the two remaining doors. The fact that the Riverside Club backs off down the steep palisades of the Potomac river, however, pre- vented the escape of any of the men inside, the front being well guarded by the police. All promptly surren- dered and 2 man who described him- self of Joe Hoffstetter of Washington, and ten assistants were arrested on 2 charge of permitting gaming on the premises. Paraphernalia Taken. Several roulette wheels, a number of dice tables, card tables where poker and blackjack had been In progress, according to the statement of several prisoners, and tables where hazard was played were seized. The house was well placarded, large signs over doorways designating the kind of gambling that might be enjoyed in each room. . . When three or four reporters pocketed their notes and pencils and started to leave the scene of the raid they were surprised to find a score of “newspaper men” following them. All were assiduously engaged in making detailed notes. But the cops were wise and separated the sheep from the goats, those In the latter class being held as witnesses. The same idea had struck too many at the same time, and the number of “reporters” was out of proportion to the importance of the story. SINCLAIR’S RETAINER REJECTED BY COLBY By the Associated Press. NEW YORK, February 16.—Bain- bridge Colby, former Secretary of State and law partner of former Pres- tdent Woodrow Wilson, rejected a re- talner offered by Harry F. Sinclair to obtain the services of the law firm in the Teapot Dome oll lease investi- gatlon, it was revealed today in a Washington dispatch to the Evening ‘Warld, which obtained confirmation of the story from Mr. Colby. “It is true that Mr. Sinclair offered me a retainer to represent him in the Teapot Dome Investigation, and T re- jected the employment,” he was quoted as saying. 8ce no reason to discuss the matter further.” When . first shown the dispatch, which asserted when the proposal first was made it was referred to Mr. Wilson, who immediately rejected it, Mr, Colby declared he had no com- ment to make. * Mr. Sinclair's offer, the dispatch added, was made in the spring of 1922 and was on condition that the firm represent the Sinclalr interest in any litigation that might result from the Teapot Dome lease. The offer was made, the dispatch said, after Sena- tors _Kendick and La Follette had oftered resolutions for an investiga- tion into the lgase, (3 FIVE CENTS. INSURGENTS OFFER 10 GOMPROMISE ON - SURTAX AT 40 P, One-Half Cut in Normal In- come Rates Also Demanded of G. 0. P. Leaders. PROPOSALS REJECTED, BUT WILL CONFER AGAIN Frear Sees Public Support of Sub- stitute for Mellon Plan—Night Session Held. Republican insurgents, who hold the balance of power in the House tax fight, offered yesterday to com- promise with organization leaders on a 40 per cent surtax maximum pro- vided normal income tax rates are cut in half. The offer, which remained unace cepted after two conferences, was acs companied by a threat that if turned down the insurgent bloc would supe port the democratic platform for a 44 per cent surtax maximum. This, leaders agreed, would give the Garner plan a majority wnen a vore comes this week on the incoms tax provisions of the Mellon bill. Renew Efforts Tomorrow. Efforts of the republican organiza- tion to reach a compromise with the insurgents will be resumed tomor row, although some of thoss who took part in yesterday's negotiations see little prospect of an agreement. The stumbling block appears to be the insistence of the Insurgents that the present normal income tax rate of 8 and 4 per cent be cut in half, a provision also carried in- the Garner plan. Representative Longworth, the re- publican leader, who initiated yester- day's get-together with the insur- gents, declared later he was flatly opposed to such a decrease. He con- tended it would alter fundamental principles of the Melion bill, which calls for a 25 per cent reduction in normal rates and a maximum surtax of 25 per cent. Debate Revenue Bill. As the negotiations between the two republican groups proceeded the House devoted a third day to gen- eral debate on the revepue bill. After seven hours' discussion, marked at times by sharp exchanges between democrats and republicans, & dinner recess was taken, after which the House plunged Into a night meeting— the first of the session. Decision of tepublican organization leaders to bid for Insurgent aid was prompted, it was admitted, by a real- ization that without such assistance enough votes might not be mustered to Insure success of the 35 per cent surtax compromise agreed upon as a substitute for the Mellon figure, which, it Is generally belleved, would have no chance in a House vote. At the first of the conferences Representative Frear of Wisconsin, an insurgent on the ways and means ‘committee, who has proposed a tax plan of his own, which provides for no reduction in surtaxes, was not present. He attended the second meeting, however, and advanced the offer of his group, which several weeks ago was rejected by the re- publican members of the ways and means committee. Frear Issues Statement. Last night Mr Frear issued this statement: “Mr. Longworth invited to an in- formal conference several members of the republican group that com- pelled a modification of the rules which will now enable us to amend the tax bill reported by the com- mittee, “Notwithstanding the last Congress repealed the excess profits tax and reduced the high surtaxes from $5 per cent to 50 per cent, with an annual reductlon of $500,000,000 largely to favored interests, wa en- deavored to effect a compromise in tax rates when the bill' was before the committee. A proposal to cut normal taxes one-half and to reduce surtaxes from 50 per cent to 40 per cent was then urged by me as a plan that would help small taxpayers far more than the Mellon plan and would not deplete the Treasury surplus so as to create a deficit. That offer was summarily - refused by eleven members of the committee, who then reported the Mellon bill as submitted by the Treasury. Expects Public Approval. “Ninety-four republicans of the House voted. for the 60 per cent sur- tax last eession. In the interest of compromise 1 submitted the same plan _today as that offered the com (Continued on Page 2, Column 6.) et v AUTONOMY MOVE ENDED, IS PALATINATE REPORT Rhineland Commission Negotiating ‘With Officials Regarding Defi- nite Form of Government. By the Associsted Press. BERLIN, February 16.—According to reports from the Palatinate the “gutonomous government” is com. pletely ended now and all the gove ernment officials have been released from separatist prisons and rein- stated. The withdrawal of all separatist troops is expected within & few hours and a special committee appointed by the Rhineland commission is nego- tlating with Palatinate officials and members of the diet regarding a defi- nite form of government. The com- mittee has promised to disarm the separatists, sfrike the separatist col- ors and sbolish all restriction on traffic in the Palatinate. 4