Evening Star Newspaper, February 18, 1924, Page 1

WEATHER. proba Fair tonight and row; colder tonight: low ture about 20; mode northeast winds. Tempe end 8:15 a.m. toda ull report o e »d at 2 p.m. today vesterduy; lowest, 28, 1 bly tomor- st tempera- north and ~ ature for 24 Highest, n_page 7. Closing N. Y. Stocks and Bonds, Page 22 Entered No. 29,147, post _office Washington, second-class matter D. C. WASHINGTON, D. C WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION DENBY RESIGNS TO GIVE COOLIDGE FREE HAND IN OIL PROSECUTIONS; NEW SENSATIONS SEEN IN PROBE President Accepts Resignation. Navy Head Saw to Party in Keeping Post. ROOSEVELT DENIES REPORTS HE WILL FOLLOW SECRETARY Confers at White House—Immediate; Steps to Enjoin Reserves Secretary Denby has resigned and will retire from the cabinet on March 10. " He informed President Coo! tion with the oil leases he did nc administration by remaining a n Embarrassment | | Lessors of Naval Predicted. ¢ | lidge that in vi~w of his connec- )t desire to further embarrass the | rember of it. | « The President, in a letter accepting the resignation, praised lhc: of to the request with regret. Denby, had a part in drafting naval reserves from the Nav jerred with the President and a to resign. There was no indicatior Theodore Rbosevelt, who, as assistant secretary under Mr. | { the order which transferred the | to the Interior Departnient. con- nnounced later he did not expect to a successor to Mr. Denby, but it appeared likely that one would | be selected without much delay. FRIENDS URGE Secretary Denby’s decision political friends had advised hiw defiance he adopted when the Senate passed its resolution as that he step out of the cabinet. The Senate attack was not directed aguinst any suspected) moral wrong doing on the part charges that he had not been a sufficiently di in his connections with the oil reserves. signation was coincident with the completion of Senate confirmation of the government’s special oil counsel, and Mr. Denby’s advisers had urged that in the courts for cancellation c with Albert B. Fall, his position in the administration would be- come untenable. Mr. Denby's resignation wis sub- mitted on his fifty-fourth birthda: just after he had gone to the Navy Department to find his office filled with flowers from ais friends. When his letter had been sent to the Pre dent he turned cheerfully to official duties awaiting I those about him that a great load of Fvorry had been lifted from his shoul- ders Inconxistency Seen. It has been pointed out to the ident that it might appear incon ent to have a member of the admini: tration holding these views, remain in office while the administration it- Pres t self. through its counsel, was moving | on made in the courts to annul the lease the ground that they were without _authority of law. The first step in these ceedings, injunction suits Turther work on the Teapo. and Cal- ffornia reserves, is expe fmmedi- tely after the Senate completes con- «firmation of the oil counsel, probably 1oday. Reports current dore Roosevelt would shortly lifs resignation as assistant seere- tary of the Navy were flutly contra- dicted by Col. Rooevelt himself. Col. Roosevelt, following a confer- ence- this afternoon with -sident ‘oolidge at the White House, said, in nswer to questions resarding the possibility of h of Sccretary Denby. just seen the Pro Tot resigning.” While Col. Roosevelt did not say what the nature of his confer- ence with the Executive. he did say that_up until 10:30 o'clock this ‘mo; sng he had not the slightest knowl- pdge of the reported resignation of SIr. Denby. Mr. Roosevelt used the word “reported.” The retirement of the N. wry also revived rumors resignation of Attorney Gene erty’ would follow withil legal pro o prevent tender T said: dent 1 and 1 have few Navy Head’s Retire;nent, In Cabinet, Comes on 54th Birthday| cretary’s retirement makes first break in the official ily Mr. Coolidge took over Intact from the Harding administration. Nr. Denby was one of the original members of Mr. Harding’s cabinet, naving taken office on March 4, 1921. His selection brought to that de. partment for the first time in many Years a man who knew by personal experience the viewpoint of enlisted men both in the Navy and in the larine Corps. He had served as ‘izunner's mate aboard ‘the converted cruiser Yosemite during the watr with Spain and through all ranks and grades from private to major in the Marine Corps during the world war. _ Mr. Denby also had a background of personal information as to the situation in China and in the orient generally, which he drew from ten Years employmént in the interna- tional customs service in China when that service was directed by Sir Robert Hart. The service of Mr. Denby began during the time that Bis father, Charles Denby of Evans- ville, Ind., was American minister 1o Peking. Through this personal . knowledge 4f the Chinese customs situation, the Sacretary of the Navy was able to ho helpful to the special committee ssembled at the time of the Wash- ngton arms conference, which dealt with the Chinese abstracts of the ‘The he fam- attention and told | following the action | am | - D RETIREMENT. reached after personal and;| 1 not to continue the attitude of | ing was of Mr. Denby. but was based on | gent public servant ! once the government had moved i the oil leases he signed along duys. A resolution relating to him, | and somewhat similar that adopt- | ed some day ago asking for the resignation of Mr. Denby, is pending in the Senate and its sponsors are pressing for quick action on it. The resolution in which the Presi- dent was advised to ask Secretary Denby to leave the cabinet wa: adopted Februa 11. with the re {"publican organi: ion leaders oppos- | fng 1t but with ten republicans vot- | ing in its support. The vote was 47 | to 34 Immediately after it was sent to the White House Mr. Coolidge issued | a statement declaring that such ques- tions lay wholly within the province of the Executive, but adding: “The President is responsible to the | people for his conduct relative to the | retention or d al of public of- ! ficials. 1 assume that responsibility, | and the people may be assured that as soon as 1 can be advised so that I may act with entire justice to all | pa s concerned and fully protect the publie interests, 1 shall act. | %10 not propose to sacrifice any innocent man for my own welfare. Nor do I prop to retain in office any unfit man for my own welfare. |7 hall try to maintain the functions of the government unimpalred, to act upon the evidence and the law as [ find it and to deal thoroughly and | summarily with every kind of wrong- | many conferences nave | ¥ resident with other; of his administration, Senate nd personal friends of Mr. Two of those most frequently White House have been Secre- ks and Charles B. Warren of 1. both old personal and po- litical friends of the Navy Secretary. The declsgion in favor of a resigna- tic ntly wa reached soon after Mr. Coolfge went to his office this morninzy but a formal announce- ment wa® deterred. £. T. Clark. one |of Mr. Coolidge's secretarles, visited | 31r” Denby's consuit as to | s _office to | what form the announcement should | take. Mr. Denby soon afterward left {the Navy Department by a private entrance, eluding newspaper men, and {left word that for the present he { would have nothing to say. First Break supplementary treaties. His tive functions at the Navy Depart- ment were such, however, that the task of directing the deliberations of American naval experts who helped frame the technical clauses of ‘the naval limitation treaty de- volved mnpon Assistant Secretary Roosevelt. Toduy Fifty-fourth Birthday. Mr. Denby was born in Ivansville | [fifty-four years ago today. He passed through the public schools of that city. His alma mater, however, Is the University of Michigan, from which he graduated with the degree of LL. B. When he entered the cabinet he was connected with the legal firm of Denby, Kennedy and O'Brien of Detroit and was chief pro- bation officer of the recorder's court of Detroit and of the circult court of Wayne county, Mich, After his return from China Mr. Denby began his political career when he was elected, in 1903, to the Michigan house of representatives. He was chosen to the Fifty-ninth Congress as a member of the House from Michigan and served there from 11905 to 1911. He later was a mem- jber of the Detroit charter commis- sion, and when the United States entered the world war in April, 1917, he promptly enlisted as a private in the Marine Corps and was sent to the Marine Corps training camp at Parls Island, S. C. where virtually all of his war service was rendered, the only exception being a trip to “(Continued on Page 4, Column 3.) execu- i ! chinery to handle the oil lease suits| . . L Brookhart, that Mr. Coolidge had given tlmught1 5. ana ! braska, SENATE CONFIRMS ROBERTS FOR OI LEASE PROSECUTOR Vote Is 68 to 8 in Favor of Philadelphian—Pepper De- fends His Nomination. Organization of the legal m completed today by Senate con- ation of Owen J. Roberts of| Philadelphia as special government | counsel Mr. Roberts will serve with Atlee Pomerene of Ohio, whose nomination | was confirmed Saturday. It is ex-| pected that legal proceedings to stop further work on the Teapot und California oll reserves will be taken in the near future, while prepara- tions go forward for separate civil and criminal actions to permanently | cial record of his retiring Navy Secretary and said he acceded jset the leases aside and punish any one guilty negotiation. The vote on Mr. Roberts was 68 to £ Both he and Mr. Pomercne had been opposed by Senator Walsh, democrat, Montana, the dominant fig- | ure in the oil inquir; but both re- publican and democritic party lead-| ers voted for confirmation. Those recorded in opposition were Senators | Towa; Frazier, North Da- | kota, and La Woilette, Wisconsin: re- | republicans; Ashurst, Arizona; Shep- ! pard, Texas, and Wheeler, Montana, | democrats, and Shipstead and John- | son, Minnesota, rarmer- Sen- | absent. Backed By Pepper, Senator Pepper, republican, P Ivania, who recommended Mr. Rob- | erts to President Coolidge, deseribe the nominee as a “fighting Welsh- man,” eminently qualified by training and the intensive experience twenty-five y " practice. “He is in n representutive f large interest said the senator. As a case in point, I will say he con recently the largest verdict eyve recorded against a railroad. It was for $55,000, and came in a personal injury case.” Inquiry on Speech. Senator Norris, republican, Ne- inquired about a statement made by Mr. Roberts a year ago In | New York which, he said, “appeared to criticize the Senate ofl committee and to ridicule the idea of the Senate investigating Standard OiL" “Not b (I. widest stretch of the | imagination.” replied Senator Pepper, | “can that speech be interpreted as ' critical of the present inguliry. | Will Ask Injunctions. i The first move in what has come to be regarded as one of the most ! important legal battles to which the! iederal government ever has been a varty will be applications in Wyo- . ming and California for temporar injunctions to stop further extrac-: tion of oll from the naval reserves in those siates operated by the Sinclair and Doheny interests, 1espectively. Prompt action toward this pre-| liminary step in what must neces. sarily be a long-drawn-out court fight is expected. Counsel has an enormous work ahead in studying! the record in the case as developed by the Senate oil committee, and it is unlikely that the annulment suits and criminal prosecutions will be in- stituted until this has been com- pleted and some independent inves- tigations made. H Money for Counwsel. Having disposed of the nomination of Mr. Roberts, the Senate will adopt the House resolution appropriating $100.000 for speclal counsel. This measure was approved by the House more than two weeks ago and has been reported favorably by the Senate appropriations committee. ‘Acountants of the Federal Trade Commission will continue their work on the books of W. B. Hibbs & Co. and other Washington stock broker- age firms in an effort to ascentain whether there were dealing by pub- lic officials in ofl stocks of the Sin- clair and Doheny companies subse- quent to the granting of the leases by Albert B. Fall, as Secretary of the Interior. The o0il committee desires alsc to Bo into the records of firm members of the New York Stock Exchange, but as yet it has taken no action on the letter of President Cromwell in which he proposed an examination of the records in the same manner as was adopted at the time of the “leak” investigation. At that time the board of governors of the exchange adopted ; of wrongdoing in their of |a resolution asking the members to submit transcripts of their books for the period determied upon by the in- vestigating committee. KT BREWER EVIDENCE IN HANDS OF COURT Surrenders Bonds, Securities and Other Papers Into Custody of Clerk. Charles’ B. Brewer, special assist- ant to Attorney General Daugherty, today surrendered into the custody of Morgan H. Beach, clerk of the Supreme Court of the District of Co- lumbia, all the bonds, securities and other “evidence” on which he bases his claim of irregularity in the bu- reau of engraving and printing. Jus- tice Stafford at the request of the clerk today signed an order requiring the delivery forthwith of the docu- ments in the presence of representa- tives of the Department of Justice. The order of the court also author- ized the clerk to rent a safe deposit box in the Riggs National Bank for the storage of the securities and di- rected him to make a schedule or in- '\.'rnlory of all the papers delivered to m. Attorney W. Gwynn Gardiner, rep- resenting Brewer, stated that he ex- pected the transfer to be made today and declared that Representative King of Illinols, who had the keys to Brewer’'s safe deposit box, had com- sented to surrender. them, ! mons from the | mittee H. P. Whitney 'and Other Brok- ers Face Grill. WILL BE CALLED, WHEELER AVERS McLean’s Attorney Gives Information to Senators. Despite the ten-day recess oi the investigating committee, develop- ments in the oil scandal whirled along today at their customary break- i neck speed. Coincident with the resignation oi ecretary Denby, there were predic- | tions among senators that impor- tant disclosures of a new and sen- sational character were imminent. These predictions revolved for the most part about the inquiry that committee experts are making into the books of various brokerage firms in search of evidence oil stock speculation by government officials. Senator W tana, who h quiry in the s ton of his colle eclared tl and men demoerat. Mon- from Waushing- . Senator Walsh, ew York. undoubt be summoned before th result of information reached the Capital MeLean In Capital, 1 that “im- had been gi J. Lambert, B, Mcl Washingts to Wast in response commitiee, indications were that action would be sought on Senator Wheeler resolution for an investigation of th administration of Attorney Gene that Mr. Wh portant Senators torney 1o lisher of the MeLean ca Palm RBeach ler also as \formation by Wilten Edward at- pub- Mr. from sum- to i | Daugherty. There were reports that those men bers of the ofl committee who are in Washington might confer during the duy behind closed doors with resard to the latest developments. Chairman Lenroot, however, suid that no meeting had been called, and that there had been no chan the plan to delay further hearings until next Monday. When went into recess the com- large imber of wite nes: under subpoena. Among them, it had been announc were a large number of brokers who have branch offices in Washington The list of those summoned never as made public. DENBY RESIGNATION FAILS T0 SURPRISE Statement Left Loophole for Action—Sympathy Found for Secretary. The resignation of Secretary Denby was not a “complete surprise” to re- publican leaders at the Capitol. It was pointed out that when Secretary Denby announced some time ago that he did not intend to resign, he quali- fied the statement by saying “at this | time.” The resignation, it was said, un- doubtedly would relieve the adminis- tration of considerable embarrass- ment, and for that reason this latest move on the part of the Secretary was viewed with both interest and ap- proval. In some quarters sympathy was expressed for Secretary Denby on the ground that he had been! placed in an unfortunate position largely through no fault of his own. Senator Pat Harrison of Mississip- Di, one of the democratic leaders of the Senate, when his attention was called to Secretary Denby's resigna- tion, said that he had not been in- formed at to the exact reason of Secretary Denby's handing in his res- ignation today, but he added: “As 1 recall, President Coolidge said after the Senate passed its res- olution requesting him to call for Mr. Denby's' resignation that he did| not intend to sacrifice any innocent persons. I am wondering what has transpired_to change the situation since the President issued that state- ment."” On’the other hand, republican sen- ators were saving that naturally the President could not continue to keep in his cabinet any member who in- sisted upon leaving. SR HEFLIN CHARGES UP. Subcommittee to Probe Senntor‘sj Land Fraud Cases. The subcommittee to investigate Senator Heflin's charge of land frauds in Texas, appointed todayfl includes Senator Moses, New Hampshire, chair- man, and Senators Edge, New Jersey, and Oddie, Nevada, republicans, and Heflin, Alabama, and Trammell, Flor- ida, democrats. ST SMITH DENIES CANDIDACY ALBANY, N. Y., February 18.—Gov. Alfred E. Smith, democrat, at today's conference with newspaper men, was asked: “Are you a candidate for the presi- dency?” “T am a candidate for nothing,” he answered emphatically, taken a hand in the in- | MILLER CITES DATA . INBONUS DISPUTE Figures of Cost of Pro- , posed Legislation. i d w. who Mellon and Col. Thomas alien property custod prominent n mber of i Legion, today lined up at or the soldiers’ bonus. by Col. Miller 1 night in a speech bef ing in New York explafned by him fmade pullic here to [vd to “diserepancies” in flgures | the Treasury concerning the cos | the bonus and government deficits. ! Secretary Mellon, when confronted fwith report Col. Mille speech 1189t night, declared that any charges cretury Miller, an. ads ¥ were further a which poi city, in ¥ stutement t- of ot in [that the Treasury had “juggled fin-; nd jures were “absolutely unfounded juntrue.” The Treasury “amazed” at ller-and th aid he was nts of Mr. ial could not be made too emphatic. There were indications that the Treasury might Eive out a formal statement on the | bonus this afternoon. Charges Wide Varianee, Col. Miller, in his statement, the Treasury estimates of the co the bonus had varled from $3.800 000,000 to $5,100,000.000. He charged that when President Harding had vetoed the bonus bill in Septembes 1922, “he stated in his veto message that the country was face to face with a great emergency, in that it was confronted with a deficit of $613.000,000 of the government debt, and still the Treasury ended the fiscal year 192 3 with a balance to f{ redit of $375,000,000, showing a dis crepanc in these figures of over $1.000,000,000 within the space of a few months. This set of figures,” continued Col. | Miller, “was commented on by the editor of the World's Work, a vigor- ous opponent of the adjusted compen- sation bill, in the January number of that review, that “the Treasu perts on bonus measures were bad guessers or t misled the public.” * This was not the first tinre that the discrepancies in these figures have been called to the attention of the public. not only on the floors of Congress, but elsewhere. Sayx Former Soldiers Wrathful. The figures given out by the Treas- ury Department from time to time vary as to the estimated total cost of this measure. For instance, in Senate report 736, Sixty-seventh Con- grss, second session, before the Senate committee on finance, on this bill, the Treasury estimates that the bonus cost $3.800,000,000, and later on Presi- dent Harding in his veto message of September 20. 1922, using figures {supplied him .by the Treasury De- partment, states that it will cost in excess of $4,000,000,000, and further on, on January 1, 1924, the Treasury gave out figures that the adjusted compensation measure would cost $5,- 100,000,000. “It merely takes a comparison of these figures, if any one will read them, to slfow that there were wide discrepancies with regard to the ad- justed compensation measure, stretch- ing over a_period from the &pring of 1922 until January 1, 1924. “T also stated that a large body of the service men were rightfully wrought up about these discrepancies land have caused the fight to develop {into a bitter one. This is a question { before the country today, and it should be decided once and for all at this time. This question was before the people when they went to the polls in 1920-22 and elected senators and representa- | tives to come to Washington, and if the question is not settled before the 1924 election, they will have the opportunity again. I am calling atten- tion to these figures in my capacity as an individual former service man and as a member of the American Legion, and if this action will tend to (Continued on Page 2, Column 7.) either had deliberately b Mellon Denies Any Juggling of the the pro-bonus meet- | 103, _ Yesterday’s circulation of The Sunday Star was 103,857, of which 96,727 was in Washington and suburbs. ¢ Toening Star. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1924—THIRTY PAGES. GO TODAY. Private Sleuths Trailing Butler, General Reveals By the Associated Press. PHILADELPHIA, February 1 Brig. Gen. Smedley D. Butler, director of public safety, and Mavor Kendrick are constantly shadowed by pri dete accor to the general, £ 1 ever take one drink T'm goner,” the general d d. ‘And if the mayor ever touches a drop, he's a goner, the whole administration.’ He said the det Ly men who “with whos interferi “They the polic e xaid DAUGHERTY SENDS WAR FRAUDS DATA stives were hired respected, but business we are daily the 1aen who thought never could touch them,” !Anorney General Tells Sen- {ate Names of Accused Should Be Kept Secret. { Responding to a resolution spon- sored by Senator Kinz, democrat, of Utah, Attorney General Daugherty to- day forwarded to the Senate detailed ccount of “war fraud” activities of the Department of Justice. In a statement accompanying the | report Mr. Daugherty said he was re- luctant to make many of the names contained in the information public i because of injury it might cause in- nocent persons. “The Attorney General. notwith- standing the great and continuous demands. since the work on war transactions began early in his ad- ministration, for a detailed statement showing who were under investiga- { tion, what cases were in progress of examination, and what accounts were being audited, has insisted, and still insists, that it is inimical to the wel- fare of the government to make such names, transactions and investiga- tions public. “He has taken the position that it is not treating fairly those who conduct- ed business honorably with the gov- ernment, or men and concerns who are now co-operating with the government for new audits in order that falr and honorable adjustments may be made. “To make this information public may affect the credit of many concerns and uitimately result in loss to the government. However, the Senate hav- ing fow demanded such a report, he feels that he should respond to that | Gemand, confident that the Senate will protect the interests of the govern- ment.” ELEVEN WOMEN KILLED IN MUNITIONS EXPLOSION in British Blast One Man Also Victim Cartridge Factory After Fire. By the Associated Press. ERITH, Kent, England, February 18.—Eleven women and one man were killed today in an explosion which followed the outbreak of fire in a cartridge-filling factory. COAL COMPANY HEAD DIES. SCRANTO! Pa., February 18— william L. Allen,” president of the Scranton Coal Company and con- sidered as one of the best mining experts in the anthracite regions, died at his home yesterday. He was also president of the Price-Pancoast Coal Company and the West End Coal Company 857 AUTO RECRROCTY BELEVED ASSIRED Maryland Officials Confident Temporary Status Will Become Permanent. Murylund officials are contident that the present temporary autotmobile reciprocity arrangement will continue permanently, judging from a letter received by Commissioner today from Austin Baughman, Mary land commissioner of motor vehicles. The communication was intended to be an invitation to the District gov crnment to become affiliated with the conference of motor vehicle administrators. But in pointing to the advantages to be derived from such atfiliation, Commissioner Baughman made this significant reference to the tag situation: “Especially is this the case, In view f the present certainty of full reci- procity between the state of Mar; |land and the District of Columbia. The existing agreement under which Maryland is recognizing ‘Dis | trict tags expires February 29, less han two weeks hence. It was en into for sixty days to enable ongress to enact the gasoline tax bill for the District, and under that Lill reciprocity would become per. manent. ! Although that eastern tered measure has paseed j the House, it was adopted in such {form as fo arouse almost general local opposition, and organization are planning to fight for a different bill in the Senate. Wil Aet This Week. | Consideration of the biil by the Sen- ate committee will probably begin the middle of the week. Senator Bal of Delaware, chairman of the Dis- trict committee and of the subcom- ware because of the death of his brother, Dr. John Ball, and is ex- pected to return here Wednesday. M. ©. Eldridge, representing th joint committee of trade and civ organizations on the gasoline bill, called at the office Ball today. It is joint committee to obtain a hearing before the Senate subcommittec at the earliest possible date. Mr. El- dridge pointed out that the period of temporary reciprocity between Mary- land and the District in the matter of automobile licenses would expire at the end of this month and for that reason it Was necessary to ob- tain action on the proposed legis- lation as soon as possible. He said, { however, that with the assurances of | congressional action he thought the { present reciprocity period might well be extended for another thirty days in order to permit Congress to com- plete the pending légisiation. If the legislation is still pending Tnext week the District of Columbia | Commissioners will request Gov. Ritchie to extend the temporary agreement until both houses of Con gress can act. Text of Letter. Commissioner Rudolph announced the District would accept the invita- tion to join in the eastern confer- ence of motor vehicle officials in At- llantic City April 18. Wade H. | Coombs, superintendent of will represent the local government, Commissioner Baughman's follows: “At the meeting of the eastern conference of motor vehicle adminis- trators, held in New York clty Janu- ary 25, 1924, 1 was instructed to ex- tend a cordial invitation to the Dis- | trict of Columbia to be represented at the conference and to also urge upon the Commissioners the many advantages to be derived from such membership. - “We feel that the' utmost satisfac- tion and co-operation has been de- rived since the organization of this tax of Senato mutual advantages to be obtained will more than repay your efforts in this_direction. Especially is this the case, in view of the present certainty of full reciprocity between the state of Maryland and the District of Co- lumbia, “I' trust we may have the pleasure of a representation from the District of Coiumbia at our next meeting which will be held in Atlantic City, 1 April 18, and if you will advise me of your wishes in the matter I shall be very glad to forward you full par- ticulars concerning the meeting and also to make the necessary hotel res- ervations for you,” Rudolph | mittee handling the bill, is in Dela- | { the desire of the license, | letter | conference, and we are sure that the' “From Press to Home Within the Hour” The Star’s carrier system covers every city block and the regular edi- tion is delivered to W as fast as the papers are printed. Saturday’s_Circulation, Sunday’s Circulation, shington homes 98,550 103,857 TWO CENTS. COMMITTE 0.K'S SENATE PROPOSAL FOR RENT SURVEY Approves Ball Resolution for- Investigation of Situa- tion Here. EXPENDITURE OF $2,500 FOR WORK AUTHORIZED Probe Will Determine Need for Continuing Life of Local Commission. { Senator Ball's resolution author 11zing the Senate District committee to investigate the rental situation I'Washington in order to determine. {whether the life of the Rent Commis- sion should be extended beyond ne May will be reported favorably to the {Senate from the committee on control lof the contingent expenses of the |Senate, Senator Keyes of New Hamp- ishire, chairman of that committee |said today. | The rcsolution wuthor inm of not more than $2 in s expend 500 from the of <he Senate to stigation, and for that olution had to Ko to s’ committee. Senator s will not make the report un the return of Senator Ball to Was jington, probably on Wednesday. I | was intimated today that there might be some opposition in the Senate tu the adoption of the resolution. { Plan for Investigation. Tiie resolution as introduced by ator Ball authorizes the Senate Di trict committee or any subcommittes { thereof to conduct tie investigation jand to make use of the services of the | District Commissioners and of ! Rent Commission. The committee would ascertain how many apartments for rent are vacant at this time and how many houses for rent are vacant; what rental is asked for thesc vacant apartments and houses, and whether they are vacant { because the rentals usked are exces- sive. ontingent fund make this inv. reason the re the Houwes Being Built. It proposed also to ascertain how many apartments and houses for ntal purposes are now in the proc- ess of construction which may tend | to relleve further housing conditions iin Washington nator Ball has already introduced bill to make permanent the Dis- ict Rent Commission as an inde- pendent federal establishment. Under i his bill it _would he possible to con- tinue in office the same rent commis- | sioners now serving. | Under existing law the Rent Com- | mission goes out of business May 2 OWNERS PRESENT CASE. Offer Evidence at Rent Board Hearing. | Washington real estate dealers to- | day began the presentation of their | side of the housing case in the Dis- trict, arguing that the interests of | the people do not require Indefinite extension of the life of the rent com- mission. John F. Bowie, vice president of the H. L. Rust Company, gave the cofn- | mittee more than a score of specific { instances of houses for rent in the i District of Columbla at moderate | charges which have had to be adver- tised for tenants and which have lain idle for months. | "He compared the rentals in the { District with those in other eities showing that of fifty-two cities re- ported Ly the Department of Labor, the Increase from 1913 to 1923 showed an average of 663% per cent, while the increase in Washington was 34.3 per cent, or about one-half the normal increase. He told the subcommittee of the House District committee [ which is conducting the hearings that j only two cities had a smaller increase | | | | than Washington. These were Portland, Me., 3215 per cent, and Jacksonville. Fla., 33.1 per | cent. These two citles have no rent egislation, he pointed out, while in New York state, where there is rent legislation, Buffalo showed 71 per cent. increase and New York city 62 per cent. Quotes From Decision. He quoted from the opinion of the Court of Appeals in the Meridian Mansion case, which showed in favor of the landlords on the ground that the rent fixed by the Rent Commission amounted to practically confiscation of property. He called attention of the committee to the fact that the rents were fixed on the basis of 100 per cent occupaney. While he was quoting specific in- stances of apartments and houses which have been idle for months, al- though the rent asked was relativels small, he was interrupted with ques- tions by Oliver Metzerott and Mrs Clara Sears Taylor, members of the | Rent Commission, Representative Thomas L. Blanton of Texas, objected to the questloning of the witness until he had finished his statement. jand the committee supported Mr. Blanton's protest. Mr, Bowie called attention that the population of the District of Columbia is at its height at this season, and what accommodations now are avail- able will be doubled or tripled dur- ing the summer, he said. Competition for tenants has been so great, Mr. Bowle said, that real es- tate interests have to keep the prop- {erties in the best of shape and do liberal advertising and would proba- bly have to offer one month's rent free to secure tenants under con- | tract. Under such conditions no tenant is obliged to pay an unreasonable rent, he argued. The supply of quarters in the_ District, he said, now is adequate and rents are coming down. He denied that Jandlords are Intimi- dating tenants. The shoe is on the other foot, he said, and recalled many cases where threats of tenants to go to the rent commission had resulted n voluntary reduction by the land- lords because they knew that the rent commission had, as fllustrated above, fixed rentals that were practically confiscatory or rendered no adequate return on the property investment. Rents will be advanced on about one-fourth of the properties renting - at $30 a month or under, Mr. Bowie “(Contlnued on Page 2, Column 4y