Evening Star Newspaper, February 25, 1924, Page 1

WEATHER. Snow or rain tonight row; little change in lowest tonight, slightiy ing. Temperature for at 2 pm. today: Highe today Fuil report on page 7. 1 Closing N. Y. Stoc!u and Bonds, Page 24 temperature; below freez- . 86, at noon lowest, 28, at 4:30 am. today. and tomor- hours ended Entered a second-class matter Washington, D. C. McL S FINANCES, SLEMP’S FLORIDA TRIP PROBED BY OIL BODY D. C. Bankers Say Publisher Had Deposits of $20,000 at Time of $100,000 Loan to Fall. PRESIDENT’S SECRETARY DENIES PALM BEACH VISIT OFFICIAL Refuses to Reveal Communication With Those Involved in Inquiry; Never Met Sinclair or Doheny. The Senate oil committee opened another bag of surprises today when it resumed hearings Taking up the trail of the $100,000 loan made to A. B. Fall| after a ten-day recess. by Edward B. McLean, publisher of the Washington Post, the committec was told by officials of two Washington banks that AIr. McLean's checking balance in neither of them was more than $10,000 during the late months of 1921. informed the committee he gave The publisher has Fall checks aggregating $100,000 on the two banks during that period, but that they were returned uncashed. C. Bascom Slemp, secretary to President Coolidge, was ques- tioned about a visit he made to Palm Beach while McLean and Fall were there last December and January. The secretary de- clared he talked with Fall several times, asked him for the truth about the oil charges and advised him to tell everything. Mr. Fall replied, he said, that he had nothing more to tell. The witness said he would have to “treat as confidential” any reports he made to the White House on McLean’s testimony at Palm Beach. Never Met OIl Operators. e sald he never had met Harry F. Sinclair or E. L. Doheny and never had any communication, directly or indirectly, with either of them. Mr. Slemp asserted that he had not taiked to any member of the oil com- mittee “about this case.” Director ¥L Foster Bain of the bureau of mines told the oil commit- tee today that Secretary Fall in- formed him the plan to build storage tunks at Pearl Harbor in return for royalty oil was discussed at a cabinet -ménting and that Attorney General Daugherty “raised no objections to it. Banker Takes Stand. Edward B. McLean had « balance of less than $10,000 in the Federal- American National Bank during No- vember and December, 1921, Charles B. Lyddane, vice president of that bank, testified before the oil commit- tee. McLean has testified it was during that period he gave Albert B. Fall checks aggrégating $100,000 on the Federal-American and_the Commer- al National Bank of Washington, it that the checks were returned to unused. James H. Baden, vice president of the Commercial National, produced records showing that McLean's net bulance in that bank was $55.438 on ber 1, 1921, and that this was d by checks to less than $10,- the middle of December. Raden said his bank would have honored an overdraft by MeLein, but -"could not recall that the Wash rgton publisher ever had overdrawn ccount. vddane was called as the first ingzing_with him deposit cLean, during the hi gccounts of Mr. late months of 1921, November 16 Balance $2,002.40. ator Walsh, democrat, Montana, took the records. They showed de- posits and withdrawals during No- vember and December, the senator commented, and also figures for earlier months, and others for Au- 1922, The balance in the acount ovember 16, 1921, the senator $2,002.40. us the ba 1921," he dir nce from October Mr. Lyddane 1 tigures, showing the account to in October, 1921, It ran becoming stationary 2 figure in November and at that level until August, 1ld you have honored his check .00 on that balance?” Senator ve called him and 1 it he desired to arrange ¢ its payment,” Mr. Lyddane said. »id you learn of a check tor §50, 000 drawn on your bank by Mr. Mc n against this or Walsh asked. r did,” the witness replied, excused. Baden presented records of Mr. an’s personal sccount in that The record showed the check- unts for October and Novem- Ler, 1921, and other months. At the end vember Mr. Mclean had §11,000 approximately on deposit. Account December 24, §8,000, -“On December 17 the account be- game $2,011," Senator Walsh #and on December 24 it was $8,000.” “Huad Mr. McLean made any ar- rangements for over drafts? ho was asked. Not to my knowledge." fad Mr. McLean drawn a check for $50,000 against this account would It have been paid?” “I think it would after consulta- tion with the officers, and he would huve been asked to cover it.” Mr. McLean's account, the witness never had been overdrawn. He excused and C. Bascom Slemp, ctary to the President, went on stand. Slemp on the Stand. . Bascom Slemp, secretary of President Coolldge, then was called. Through him the committee sought <0 develop whether administration of- #icials here had any communication with Albert B. Fall and others in- volved in the ofl scandal. Slemp told the committee he met Fall only at lunch or dinner “some three or four times” before Senator Walsh, democrat, Montana, arrived at Palm Beach to examine Edward B. Mc- Lean, publisher of the Washington Post. “1 want the committee to know." wid, “that T was not down there A read, ; on any mission for anybody, but for my health and recreation. The President’s secretary sald Mr. at the time wh December and January, and that he had conversations with them, but they were not “private, confidential” talks, Slemp seid that after Senator Walsh was at Palm Beach he advised Fall to_tell the committee “all.” Sidnp testified that the ofl matter was not discussed general t_his (Continued on Page 4, Column 5.) TREATY REVISION he was there, British Home Secretary’s At- tack on Versailles Pact Seen Aiding Berlin. BY HAL O'FLAHERTY. By Cable to The Star and Chicago Daily News. Copyright, 1924, LONDON, February 25.—A thorough revision of the treaty of Versailles, urged by Home Secretary Henderson in a speech Saturday, caused unusual alarm in foreign diplomatic circles, where any .mention of tampering with the sacred document heretofore has been confined to mere whisperings. Those who have followed Ramsay Macdonald's progress as foreign min- ister have known for the past fort- night that he is working up an at mosphere of friendliness between Great Britaln and France with the idea of eventually suggesting radical changes in the treaty. His patfent, slow-going methods have made little appeal to some members of his cabi- net, who are fired by a zeal for changes long advocated by the soclal- ist labor party, and Henderson. among others, frets at the deliberate meth- ods of his chieftain. BOARD OF TRADE - HTSBASTAXBILL Reciprocity Under Proposed Measures Scored by Execu- tive Committee. Better no automobile reciprocity be- {tween the District of Columbia and IMBr)‘and at all than under the term: of the two pendin; ) Substitute, because they do not provide , that the funds collected shall be used | for street improvement on the basis of 50-40, was the stand taken by the ex- | Board of Trade this afternoon. It was the contention of the com- mittee that the passage of any such : measures as those proposed would mark an entering wedge for the destruction of the 60-40 fiscal relationship be- tween the District of Columbia and ) the federal government. |, The committee in a formal reso- lution announced its opposition to the |a<:uuve committee of the Washington pending measures, and particularly | on the substitute proposed by Sen- ator Ball said that it would Drefer to have no reciprocity rather than 'lhl! substitute, because it is an in- fringement upon the principle of fixed proportional contribution be- tween the federal and District gov- ernments. The delegates of the Board of Trade on the joint citizens’ commit- tee having this legislation in charge were instructed to present this stand to the joint committee and to empha- size it as the stand of the Board of Trade. The following were elected to mem- bership: Charles R. Allen, Ben. in Carow, Edward M. Cornell, Waliter Donaldson, Ira L. Ewers, J. §. G. Gal- Jagher, Roger P. Hollingsworth, Cur- tis W. Handley, Charles E. Jones, George A. Rosg, John H. Thompson, Ralph E.' Walker, Willlam J. Wallis, James ‘'C. Wilkes and J. C. Weedon. ch WASHINGTON, D. C, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1924 -THIRTY-TWO :$2,500 a Year Left to McLean and Fall were at Palm Beach | in: AIM ALARMS PARIS | portion of the estate remaining *“un- ! son.” ! such bills or the Ball| \JSE MY WWE: For PRESIDENT WIDOW GETS BULK OF WILSON ESTATE, Daughter While She Re- mains Unmarrieg. ' The will of Woodrow Wilson, fiied’ for probate today, leaves the estate to‘ his widow, Mrs. Edith Bolling W on, with the exception that his daughter, Margaret Wilson, shall receive $2,500 in annual income as long as she re- mains unmarried. The document was dated May 31, 1917, and consists of a single type- written page. It was witnessed byv Mrs. Helen Woodrow Bones, a cousin | of the testator, and by I H. Hoover, | chief usher at the White House, .'mdl Ralph M. Rogers, formerly an usher | there. Mrs. Bones and Mr. Hoover teday before Theodore Cogswell, chief | deputy register of wills, identified | the signature of Mr. Wilson and; wore that at the time of making his will he was of “sound and disposin mind.” - i On the widow the death of the Sxpended or undispersed” shall re- Vert to the chilaren of Mr. Wilson, Share and share alike. Mrs. Wilson is named a# executrix. Value of Estate Not Given. value of the estate Is ot given. Attorney E. L. White, who filed the paper, said it would be several days before the petition for | probate would be filed and he de- clined to place an estimate on the estate prior to the Aling of the paper. The cnvelope which contained the | will bears the Indorsement in the handwriting of Mr. Wilson—"Last will and testament of Woodrow Wil- /mother notation on the en-! velope discloses that the document | was opened February 13 at a family | gathering. The notation reads: “This | will was opened at § p.m. February : 12, 1924, in the presence of the un- dersigned” and bears the signatures’ of Edith Bolling Wllson, Margaret W. Wilson, Eleanor Wiison McAdoo, ; W. G. McAdoo and E. L. White. : The Mrs. Bones and Mr. Hoover ex- plained that the third witness to the will was outside the jurisdiction. Mr. Hoover made oath that he knew the handwriting of Mr. Rogers and identified his signature. Property of Mother, In granting the entire estate for her lifetime to the widow, Mr. Wil- son requeste in his will that she may distribute among his daughters such articles of clothing, jewelry, personal | ornaments -or art materfal as may | have been the personal belongings of | their mother, the first wife of the; former Chief Executive. H The will of Mr. Wilson reads: “I} will and devise all my property, real and personal, after the payment of any just debts that may constitute o claim upon it at the time of my | th, to my beloved wife, Edith, for Pent i ime, with the request that she distribute among my daughters articles of clothing. jewelry. personal ornaments or art material ! as may have been the personal be- longings of their mother, and with | the direction that my daughter, Mar- | garet, shall receive out of the Inco.me of my estate so long as ghe remains unmarried the sum of $2,500 annually, Hnleas that amount should at any time exceed one-ihird of the entire annual income of my estate; in which case she shall recelve one-third of. he income. M upon the death of my beloved wife, Edith, it is my will and di- rection, should she die without issue, that the whole of my estate, real and personal, or g0 much of it as £hall remain unexpended or undis- persed, shall revert to my children, share ' and share alike, “and that Should she die leaving issue her child shall inherit share and share alike|} daughters. M il ‘then appoints the widow | as executrix. ITALIAN KING IMPROVES. I | Influenze Symptoms Subside as | Temperature Grows Normal. l ROME, February 25.—The health of | King Victor Emmanuel, who has been | | Il with influenza, was greatly im- proved today. . His temperature has been restored to normal. Crown Prince Humbert, also an jn- fluenza victim, was able to leave his hed today and is expected shortly to resume his usual activitles, DAWES COMMITTEE Ithat one of the experts recently told| |sults were you not in the Ruhr.” |Daw WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION ONE CANDIDATE LESS! British Fear U. S. May Get Control Of German Pool BY EDGAR ANSEL MOWRER. By radio to The Star und the Chicago Dally News. Copyright, 1923, BERLIN, February 25.—The French intention to raise a loan for their share of German repara- tions which is to be allowed to re- main in Germany Is causing fear among the British that Americans will follow the example and thus secure control over German repa- rations and consequently German industry. The British believe the Ameri- cagsywoulll control the reyaeations | pool and consequently form an al- lance with German industry. It is considered that a combination of American methods and German | patience and energy would prove an irrisistable industrial combine. ‘| Hence John Bradbury has sent a telegramto _ Berlin protesiing against the repurations pool plan and declaring himself favorable for taking certain speclfic Ger- man revenues only for reparations. TAX AMENDMENT MAY BRING VETO Administration Opposes Pro- vision for Congressional | Viewing of Income Returns. BY DAVID LAWRENCE. The Coolldge administration wwill never consent to the provision insert- ed by the House In the pending tax | bl making income tax returns avail- able to a special committee of Con- ress. The appositlon to the move from i the Treasury fs so emphatic that this, | toether with other objectionable fea- yures {n the tax bill, may be the basis for a { House. | _Should Congress have tne right to jthrow open €o the public gaze the {ple? Should one business concern |engaged in_sharp competltion with 1another and possessed of Influence {in Congress sufficient to get at the iincome tax returns be enabled to iget facts and flgures on rival con- jeerns? Should members of Con- | gress be glven new ammunition with Wwhich to attack private business? ‘These questions are answered in . the negative by adminfstration offi- icials, who think that income tax | returns should be kept secret. In- jdeed, the Treasury Department has $ heretofore ~ refused point-blank to furnish the income tax returns to any { other branch of the fedcral movern- | ment itself, even the Department of { Justice. Time and again the latter jhas fe't that without sufficient evi- -~ idence to catch hootleggers under the By the “;‘M“"fl P"?"n " ‘ provisions of the Volstead act, a PARIS, February 25.—The commit-, frayqulent Income tax return might tee of reparation experts, headed by land the v'»lumdlmr:v;- - Jndll. 'hu n.ng G G ;i - been witl culty " an roug! q i es, . be TG e oundabout court proceedings that gan today its final task—the prepara- ... ynformation has been obtained, tion of its report to the reparation and usually the Treasury Department commission. The experts are anxious {ms m;cll!rr;d to do l'.‘,?ofi“}'r‘.r'."i?f\ifl'&; v ng of such cases to frame a plan which will require no, (1€ of Sueh coded, BOCH ht of Jus- revision. i tice. The secret of the conclusions reached by the committee, with the! exception of the few fundamentalj !Years that the thought of making points already revealed, is still being T Jviijaple to @ committee of well kept. All the guesses thus far (Congress goes against the grain here. hazarded are declared by members of There is some reason to believe that the committee to be well beyond the the Senate will throw out the amend- mark, especially the estimates as to ment and that it will be lost in con- the amount of German capital abroad, ference between the two houses. It One of the greatest surprises the STARTS ON REPORT Experts Say All Guesses on Their Conclusions Are Far Short of Mark. Veto May Be Forced, So jealously guarded have income ax returns become in the last ten a French colleague “We should have been unable to reach our present re- While there are men on_Capitol the amount of foreign money inside tax bill that comes before him, they tions of the experts and to have con- knows that the argument can work Germany was far better able to pay more than can the Chief Executive Gen. Dawes was asked yesterday by features be eliminated, Congress will whether the objections are supported On the issue of publicity of private {people. The business interests of were not in the Ruhr we experm]ml returns are made available to & I repeated it to my colleagues on the | & osen different in it stays in the bill, it may force a experts met with in Germany, it is Veio: understood on the best authority, was j; While, there are men on Capitol that country. The total is said to Coolidge will not dare to veto any have gone far beyond the expecta-. ... jikely to be surprised when they tributed not a little to the individual Fecelve a veto message. Mr. Coolldge conclusions of some members that KNOWS that the argument can work than any one had expected. . not afford to kill tax legislation any Dawes Backs Statement. and that if he sends back a bill to Congress, urging that objectionable the correspondent whether Premier change the bill or stand pat on the Poincare referred to him in the cham- | measure passed depending upon ber of deputies Saturday. in saying'py public opinion. See Fight on Plan. affairs, the administration has no doubt. of the ultimate support of the Certainly, I said it sald Gen.|the country will fight the proposal ves. "I repeat it, ‘It the French ! tootn and nail, for, It the. ineome would not be here." congressional committee, it will mean “I said it as early as February, 1923, fllflz\l!e of the same Information committee and 1 am tellin now, because 1 believe it.” channels entirely 8 it to you apart from the income tax. The in- ome of corporations, partnerships and all business concerns migh have 0 undergo some day the scrutiny of ariff experts anxious to prove that certain tariff duties should be raised or lowered, and other controversies may be stirred up by the use or mis- ‘use of information obtained from in- come tax returns. On the whole, the administration 'is opposed to letting go of the con- | idential Information given by the jtaxpayer to his government. (Copyright, 1024.) "BRITISH DOCK STRIKE IS FORMALLY ENDED By the Awsociated Press, LONDON. February 25.—The confer- ience of dock workers today called off the dockmen’s strike, which has been |in progress since February 16, serious- 1y Interfering with commercé and in- Work will be resumed at all ports at 0 o'clock tomorrow morning. The empioyers and representatives of the men reached an agreement I week for an advance of a shilling | day. effective immediately and an ad- ditional advance of a llke amount next June. Mass meetings of men were held all over . the British Isles yesterday, at which the terms of settlement were generally approved. Two BigF eatures | Begin Today The True Story of Woodrow Wilson By David Lawrence | Page 3 i i Can Your Taxes Be Cut? By John F. Sinclair Page 6 To Be Continued Daily in The Evening Star. | The Sunday Star veto message from the White! {private affairs of the American peo-| ¢ Foening Star. PAGES., RESIGNATION DATED AHEAD MAY SOLVE DAUGHERTY PUZZLE Coolidge Gets Plan to Allow Official to Present Case and Then Retire. SENATE IS UNLIKELY TO VOTE PROBE TODAY Restatement of Position Expected From Attorney General—Borah Sees President. Some definite pronouncement from administration quarters regarding the controversy over Attorney General Daugherty was forecast today as the Senate assembled to consider the res- olution for a sweeping inquiry into Mr. Daugherty’s administration of the Department of Justice, President Coolidge was represented by those in his confidence as still without a definite decision regarding the demands for the Attorney Gen- eral's resignation. An adjustment of the situation without great delay, however, was sald to be believed by the President to be possible. With Leaders. The Executive is continulng to take counsel from republican leaders in and out of Congress. Last night { he had another conference with Sen- ator Borah, republican, Idaho, who in the Senate last week openly urged {me resignation of Mr. Daugherty as a personal sacrifice In the public In- terest. Senator Borah today declined to discuss his conference with the President beyond indicating that it | referred again to Mr. Daugherty. In other quarters it was sald the President might work out some solu- tion which would not make a sacri- fice of Mr. Daugherty and yet would meet the situatlon which some of his party leaders say requires substitu- tion’ of an Attorney General who would meet with u greater share of public confidence, Among measures reported under consideration was a suggestion that Mr. Daugherty might present his resignation effective a month or two fn the future, and meantime presen his case befo Investigating committee. This would allow him to answer all charges prior { to his leaving the cabinet and, some | republican leaders believe, relieve him of retiring “under fire.” Renew Senate Fight. The report of the Senate audit committee on the resolution providing for an investigution of his adminis- tration of the Department of Justice {was the signal for a renewal today i Connultx Action on the resolution was pre- vented last week because of the pro- vision Incorporated in it naming the special committes to conduct the in- quiry, and Senator Wheeler, demo- crat, Montana, who Introduced it, was prepared when the Senate convened today to modify this feature in such a way as to permit election of the in- quiry personnel by the chambe He was determined to make a fight, however, to have Senator Brookhart of Towa, republican insurgent, selec led as chairman, despite the opposi tion of organization republican lead- ers. His other suggestions for the com mittee membership—Senators Jones |of Washington and McLean of Con- necticut, republicans, and Ashurst of Arizona, and himself, democrats— have aroused no serfous opposition. A large volume of reports have come to Senator Wheeler since he take him some time to sort and as- similate these before he will be ready for the Inquiry to begin. He will present his side of the case first, and will Insist that the Attorney General appear in person when given an op- portunity to reply. Another public statement from Mr. Daugherty, as a part of his plan to v his fight to the country, may tomorrow. It was sald to- day that he was preparing to again reply to his Senate critics and publicly reiterate his willingness to submit to a complete Investigation by Congress. It appeared likely that Senate ac- tion on the_investigation resolution of Senator Wheeler, democrat, Mon- tana, would be impossible at today’s session. A number of Senators wanted to speak on the resolution and Sena. itor Wheeler meantime continued hls di cussions with republican leaders over the personnel of the investi- gating committee. Adams Hits at Wheeler. Describing Senator Wheeler of Mon- tana as a ‘“blatherskite,” John T. Adams, chairman of the republican national committee, at .the White House today said that there would be no suggestion at this time of Attor- ney General Daugherty resigning were it not for the riiculous charges of such men as Senator Wheeler. | _“If we'let men be forced from of- |fice,” Chairman Adams said,_ “by jsheer accusation, blackmail and hlack- | guardism will become the most popu- {lar occupation in the country, until {every decent man has been driven from public office.” (GOX ENTERS NAME FOR RACE IN OHIO Files Authorization to Use Name as State’s First Choice for Presidency. By the Associated Press. COLUMBUS, Ohlo, February 25.— | ton, the democratlc candidate for President, in 1920, today filed with { Secretary of State Brown official au- thorization for candidates for dele- | Bate to the democratic national con- i vention to use his name as their firgt cholce for President. At the same time former Gov. James E. Campbell of Ohio filed authoriza- tion for candidates to name him as their second choice for President, which is to conform to Ohlo law, the proposed Senate | of the fight on the Attorney General. | introduced his resolution, and it will | & ']oseph M. Dixon | Being Considered To Succeed Denby | JOSEPH . M. DIXON. Joseph M. Dixon, Governor of Montana, and &t one time a leader in the Roosevelt progressive party movement, is belng seriously con- sidered for Secretary of the Navy, to succeed Edwin Denby. Mr. Dixon's selection is known to have strong backing In some administration quarters. He is a former United States senator, and became governor in 1921. His term expires next year. Secretary Denby’s resignation is effective March 10. . & P.FORESEES - PRORTS IN RADID Berry Says Broadcasting Now Is Public Service, But Will Pay Well in Time. Radlo is destined to become a reg- ular part of the business of wire telephony, officials of the Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone Company told the Pyblic Utilitles Commission at the rate hearing at the District buiid- ing today. The testimony developed that. the company has spent $66,229.85 in cap- ital expenditures to establish its broadcasting station, and that the cost of operating the station last year was §33,952. # “Would you care to state why the company has gone In for this with apparently no return derived from it?>” Engineer Commissioner Bell asked the company. D. A. De Vane, an attorney for the company, made the following answer: “We are in it because we belleve it i1s an undeveloped field of telephony, and that' we should keep up in the art of radio just as we do in the art of telephony. We are in it because { we belleve it Is necessary. There may be a time, and I personally believe there will, when wireless telephony will be a vegular adjunct of wire telephon: An Business Venture. Maj. Bell then inquired if the com- pany was not looking at radio as a than something merely for the pub- lic good. Answering this question, A. E. Berry, president of the company pointed out that there are many im- portant events taking place in Wash- ington that are of nation-wide in- terest and which should be broad- cast for that reason. He said that if the telephone company did not per- form this service it probably would |not be done. He cited the action of the telephone company in making it possible for several hundred thou- address of the late President Harding on the Capitol steps by means of the loud speaker. Could Make Money. Mr. Berry said that radio broad- casting undoubtedly would become a !profitable venture for the telephone { company and added that the company {could make it so now if they were | willing to rent. their studio for ad- vertising purposes. “We are not so sure yet whether i that is a wise thing to do,” said Mr. {Berry, “and for that reason we are trying to keep away from it." The hearing. today was called on the petition of the Federation of Cit- |izens' Associations for a reduction in { telephone rates. They claimed that | T"(Continued on Page 2, Column 5.) {PLAN DISTRICT DAY IN HOUSE SATURDAY Longworth Agrees to. Proposal . if " fTax Bill Discussion I out of Way. Next Saturday will be given over by the House to consideration of District legislation if the.tax bill.is out of the way by that time. This was agreed to when the House met today. According to the House, cal- endar this should have been District day, but the tax-revision legislation has the right of way. Representative Charles L. Under- hill of Massachusetts, 'republican, asked .unanimous consent that’ Dis- ‘mci of Columbia business be taken are a number of .tive proposals of great cohcern to the {people living in the National Capital that should be di d of. House Leader Longworth sald he would have no objection if he were certain that the tax bill would be out of the way. Representative Underhill said: “My object is to get District business be- fore Congress. Last session we were deprived of nearly every Distriot day. The people of . the District of: Colnin- bia are entitled to have thelr day.” | possible good business venture rather ! | sands of people to hear the inaugural | “From Press to Home Within the Hour” The Star’s carrier system covers every city block and the regular edi- tion is delivered to Washington homes as fast as the papers are printed. Saturday’s Circulation, 99,495 SHn_dqy’s Circulation, 105,190 TWO CENTS. PERSONNEL BOARD IGNORED CONGRESS, CHARGES LEHLBACH Declares Members Failed to Follow Intent of Bill in Reclassifying Work. | ASKS CHANCE TO AIR EMPLOYES’ GRIEVANCES Witness Cites Many Inequalities and Declares Workers Should Be Quizzed as to Conditions. Charges that the personnel classi- fication board had failed to follow the plain intent of the classification bill, and had followed a school of thought in regard to classification problems rejected by Congress, were made b; Representative Lehlbach of New Jer- sey, presiding at the opening of hear- ings today on his bill to abolish tk board and vest Its functions in the Civil Service Commission. Subjecting F. J. Balley, chairman of the classification board, to & ze- vere cross-examination, at the first session of the hearings In the com= mittee room of the House committee on civil service, Representatives Leh!- bach read section 3 from the reclassi- fication act, and sald: “Congress gave the board free rein to make class specification and sub- divisions. Now wouldn't it have been better to have carried out thes functions and, if that were found { impossible, to have sald so, rathe | than, because, forsooth, you couldn {do what Congress told you to do, have followed a school of thou that Congress voted down? Likened to Defeated Plan. “You were created to follow a dii- ferent school of thought” R sentative Lehlbach continued. you dectded you would refect the school of thought written into lav- by Congress and set up the schoo: of thought disallowed by Congress. | _The chairman of the House con | mittee on civil service declared t the Smoot-Wood reclassification bili. which was voted dawn in the Hous {and never reported out in the Senate. contained eighteen classes of p tions and only about 200 specimen positions, to which hundreds of others were to be allocated “by analogy,” he said. aud continued: “This classification is, in effect i the sort of classification which is be- ing put into effect n the District of Columbia. The endeavor of the cross-exam!- ! nation of Mr. Bailey was to show th. the classification board had fafled make the gradations and allocations specified by the reclassification a; before attempting to allocate _ti {federal employes, and had, in effec jadopted the cl ecifled In th rejected Smoot- Says Time Was Lacking. Chairman Bailey of the board clared at the outset of his testimon !that there have been two schools | thought, as he phrased it, in rega; | to the carrying out of the classifica- jtion act, and that his own view | ithat the truth in respect to the mat- {ter “is about half way between th i two schools.” Mr. Bailey admitted that he agr ‘\\'llh Mr. Moffett on the Civil Servic Commissl a bher of the board, | that the *class specification !s th {most tmportant thing in classification fHe sald that, holding this view, if was found impossible to first build class specifications, and put the into grades. in the District, becaus of section 14 of the classification a which specifically asked, he con- tended, for esti s to be transmit- ted te Congres: the December session. The Civil Service Commission, Mr. Bailey continued, contended for the building of the class specifications | first, and the bureau of efclency representative on the board cox- tended the reverse Mr. Lehlbach asked why there was not time to do what the act plainly called for, when the 835-page report of the old reclas .ification commis- {sion. with its allocations, accordin to classes, cross departmentally, w | available. H Differs With Lehlbach. “I differ with you in the matter of that classification being suitable to put into effect,” said Mr. Bailey. “I don't entertain the high opinion of that classification that you prob- |ably do,” continued Mr. Balley. Mr. Lehlbach, continuing his cross { examination, brought out that Mr. { Balley considered it Impossible to | have made the class specifications ifor the District, yet the board went !ahead with an attempt to make cla ees for the numerically larger list of fleld employes oufside the District. Mr. Balley replied that Mr. Lehl- bach’s summing up of the matter “was not a falr statement, if you will permit me,” and said that the field es- timates would only be a lump sum. He admitted that the full estimates for the cost of reclassifying the field icould not have been prepared by De- |cember. Mr. Bailey said that the chairman lof the classification board had been compelled to take the whole program !of either one or the other school.of thought, and that he had taken one, he admitted, under examination from Representative Johnson of Texas, 'u member of the civil service commit- tee: Mr. Bailey sald that the spirit of ,secllon 3 of the classification act re- !quired the making of complete class specifications first of all, but that jthe letter of the act did not, “and i the letter of section 14 made it im- | posaible.” " The session was adjourned at 12:15 o'clock until 10 o'clock tomorrow morning, when Chairman Balley of the . personnel classification board will re. sume his testimony before the com- mittee. H Employes Ask Hearing, | 'The House committee on the civil {service was asked today to listen to ithe “employes' .side” in hearings on j Former Gov. James M. Cox of Day-|yp on Saturday. He stated-that there!a bill to abolish the personnel clas- ! {mportant legisla- | sification board. ’ | The departmental classification pro- test committee, Loren H. Witiner | chatrman, addressed a i Chalrman Lehlback letter to in which _the committee asked to be heard as rep- resenting the government workers in.many departments. “Regardiess of the suggestion by many individuals that a public he: ing of the employes’ grievances is unnecesgary in the congideration of T (Continusd on Page 2, Column 6.3