Evening Star Newspaper, February 28, 1924, Page 1

WEATHER. Fair tonight and’tomorrow: change in temperature; night slightly below freez Temperature for twenty-four hours o at y—Highest, 14, day; lowest, 31, at . Kull report on’page 19. ended at toda: at 3 pm. Late N. Y. Stocks and Boi 1ittle lowest to- ing. nds, Page 28 29,157, poomee Wan Entered as second-class matter hington, D. C. ch WASHINGTON, NEW NANES ENTER 0L PROBE N LATER LEAN NESSAGES, o PALVER 1S CALLED ¥Underwood, Curtis, Willis, Eyes and The Duck,” Re- ferred to in Publisher’s Ex- changes With Employes. NEW FIGURES’ IDENTITY DEFERRED BY COMMITTEE Walsh Denies Underwood Tried to Influence Him in McLean's Be- half in Inquiry—New Probe of | Doheny and Sinclair Part in Deal to Be Started by Senators, While the oil committee was un- cov several new clements of mystery in the affairs of Edward B. n, @ groundwork was laid in ate today for a further ex- on into the operations of E. L. Doheny, Harry F. and | Sinclair listened to the| I another batch of tele-| exchanged betwe McLean | and h employes in ngton, and d =d to summon Leiore it A. Mitchell Palmer, who was Attorney General under Wilson and who acted for McLean in the oil inquir Many of the telegrams contained code words and mysterious refer- ences to unidentified persons who | moved behind the screen of events | Lere as they related to the interests | of McLean. Two of the names men- | tioned were “Underwood” and “Wil- 1is." Senator Walsh, democrat, Mon- immediately told the commit- tee that Senator Underwood, a can- | didate for the democratic presiden- tial nomination, never had sought to usc his influence on behalf of Mc- Lean, and Senator Willis of Ohio is- sued a statement saying he had no idea as to the identity of the man mentioned in the telegrams “Willis.” ‘ Tax Return Probe Asked. On the Senate floor, meantime, Senator McKellar, demoerat, Tennessee, intro- duce a resolution asking President Coolidge to forward to the ofl com- mittec the income tax returns ot Doheny and Sinclalr, for examina- tion as to possible further payments to A B. Fall. Action went over. Another resolution, also 1ald on the table temporarily, was presented by nator King, democrat, Utah, and called for information as to claims filed with the Treusury for tax re- coverles. The move is a part of the ort to uncover the complete story | € the employmont of former govern- ment oficials in casc: argued before the goverumental partments, In “addition to examining the Me- 1 telegrams, the ofl committee leara imony from Carl Schuyler of Denver, who related again the detalls of Sinclai’s agreement to | b $1,000,000 to the Denver group | lolding conflicting claims in Teapot | Dome. i A frequent mention of “Curtls” in the McLean telegrams today led Sen- wtor Curtls of Kansas, the assistant republican leader, to explain that two of McLean's men called on him one morning and sald that because of the illness of the publisher he preferred to make u statement in- stead of appearing before the oll mittee. committee of tana, 2 as that I se Senator rtis said, “and see if Mr. McLean could be excused from being subpoenaed. I suggested that they get some one on the democratic side and to my best recollection sug- | gested that they see Senator Robinson or, Sepator Underwood. | “That's all there is about it, except | at afterward I saw Senator Under- “wood and he told me the subpoena had | wiready been fssued. I never saw Sen- | ator Walsh zbout the matter.” Named in Telegram. “Underwood,” “Curtis,” “Willis." | and “Lyes” were among those who | were said by McLean employers here | to be among the persons that the Mec- l.san representatives had sought to in- erest in the matter. The committee made mno effort for time being to identify these per- 0N After some discussion, how- ver, it announced it wouid asx A. fitchell Palmer, who Attorney seneral in the ‘'Wilson administration | und who has acted for McLean in con- nection with the ofl inquiry, to come before it. Messages Put in Record. The reading of the telegrams then was resumed. The first, from John | Major, one of Mr. McLean's confi- ientlal agents In Washington, to Mr. ficLean at Palm Beach, sald the| writer had “arranged with Smithers | at the White House to have our end of the private wire opcned at 6 o'clock.” ~ This message \aws dated January 3, and on the same date Major again telegraphed McLean, saying: “Just finished talking with Palmer. He said that he told Lenroot this morning that you were ill. He sald that he pointed out that part of your letter that you had gone to Palm Beach for your own health and that of your wife. “1 did not see him this morning, as I was busy with Bennett, Underwood, Curtis and Zev. But I talked with him over the telephone last night. and he thoroughly understood what was expected of him. After leaving the Senate office building this mornp- ing I talked with Palmer over phone, d he said_he had recelved a mes- ge from Walsh which he would firansmit to you.” Senator Walsh interrupted the eading to say that Palmer had tele- iphoned him this morning, asking if the gommitte desired his appearance. ‘The Montana senator added that, “As _(Continued on Page 4, Column 2.) | noon looking toward a defi { chassis costing $1,000 or less. Willis Denies Aid To McLean in Oil Investigation Case nator Willis, republican, Ohlo, U TE a formal statement today declaring he had no idea who was referred to in telegrams placed be- fore the oil committee, saying that “Willis" was concerning himself fn the ofl inquiry on behalf of ldward B. McLean. “T have been handed what pur- In 1s mude to a Willls.” said the far as I can recall I John or Johus ‘n't the slightest idea to w cither of these telegrams refe G.0..COMPROMISE ON SURTAX RATES NS INSURGENTS Leaders Will Accept 37 1- Per Cent Figure if Normal Charge Is Lowered. Ifouse republican insurgents agreed today to the Longworth compromi on surtax rates, and If the republican organization yields to a slightly low- er normal rate, leaders of the group Indicated they would vote to ellmi- nate democrat income schedules from the revenue bill. Further conferences will be held between the Insurgents and republi- an ation leaders this after- nite agree- 3 ment on the compromise. Seventeen Insurgents the democrats for the Garner plan when it was substituted for the Mel- | lon rates. The vote was 222 to 195. The Insurgent’votes, leaders on both s say, will swing the decision on al passage of the bill. Resuming consideration of the bill, the House voted to cut in half the 5 per cent tax on automobile tire: accessories and parts and exempt au. tomobile trucks and wagons with a Those with chassls costing more would be taxed at 3 per cent. The changes In the automobile ex- clse taxes were proposed by Repr sentative McLaughlin, republican, Michigan, ana approvea by a viva voce vote. An amendment by Representative Hayden, democrat, Arizona, to require that all money collected In automo- bile taxes be devoted to construction ment of highways after . was thrown out on & boint of order. An attempt to restore the 3 per cent tax on chewing gum was re- jected, 152 to 129, _ Representative engel, democrat, New York, pro- posed the amendment. Normal income rates proposed by the insurgents on which the agre: ment to compromise on the surtax rate now hinges are 2 per cent on in- comes under $4,000, 5 per cent on incomes between $4,000 and $8,000 and 6 per cent above that amount. Re resentative Longworth, Ohio, the r publican leader, has proposed rates of 2 and 6 per cent with 34,000 the dividing line. Democratic rates in the bill are 2 per cent on incomes under $5,000, 4 per cent on incomes between $5.000 and $8,000 and 6 per cent on incomes above that amount. The Longworth surtax rates ac- ceptable to the insurgents provide for a stralght 25 per cent cut on the present surtaxes, retaining the same brackets, which would make the maximum 32 per cent on incomes (Continued on Page 2, Coluran 3.) INCOME TAX FACTS OF O1L MEN ASKED McKellar Resolution Seeks to Show if Payments to Fall Were Recorded. Inquiry by the oil committee into the income tax returns of E. L Doheny and Harry F. Sinclair and their oil companies was proposed in a resolution today by Senator McKel- lar, democrat, Tennessee. The resolution would request the | President to have the tax returns of the two oll operators and also that of E. L. Doheny, jr., turned over to the ofl committee, which would examine them for additional Information re- garding any payments to former Sec- retary Fall. Jmmediate consideration was block- cd by Senator Moses, republican, New Hampshire, who said he desired to fnclude names in the resolution. Senator King, democrat, Utah, in- troduced a similar resolution, cailing upon the Treasury for a full report of tax refunds clalmed under the “discovery act decision.” It was laid on the table at the request of the author, who sald he would demand aciion tomorrow. ‘ voted with | DAUGHERTY TAKES HELM IN CHICAGO - VETERANS'INQUIRY Probe Linked With Appear- ance of Sawyer. REFUSES TO AMPLIFY STAND ON RESIGNATION Wife—Wheeler Pushes Investi- gation Plans. y the Assoclated Pross CHICAGO, 111, ¥ebrual M. Daugherty, Attorney General of the United States, arrived herc today ostensibly in connection with the fed- eral grand jury Investigation of the v * Burcau. He refused to add to his previous statements relative to the oll inquiry at Washington. The Attorney General sald he had {no public statement to make and did not know that he would have any be- fore noon, or possibly late in the day. That hie expects to continue to hold his place in the cabinent was in- | dicated when he stated that hé was here on-government business, and ex- pected to remain until that business | was completed. Will Go to Florida. Mr. Daugherty sald he hoped to complete the government business promptly so that he might go dircct to Miumi, Flu, to join his wife, who Is there for her heulth. What he might ay lut erty indicated, pro 1 3! tion with nt_action Veterans' Bureau case, but he | indicated that what the Senate oil com- { mittee ht do, or announce, would : bearing on wi by himself. The Aftorn, confer h Department of Justice prosecutors handling the Veterans' Bu- reau proceedings and then to go to th federal building, wherc witnesses ar being examined. i Sawyer on Same Train, | Brig. Gen. Charles E. Sawyer, in ! charge of hospitalization work in the Veterans' Bureau under formre Director { Charles R. Forbes, and formerly per- sonal: physician to the late President | Harding, arrived on the same train {with the Attorney General. Dr. Sawyer, whode testimony before the Senate veterans committer last year was fmportant in establishing the cause for legal action, was expected to be a witness before the grand jury. Investigation of the administration of the Veteran's Bureau under Direc- { tor Forbes began here on February 6 | Assistant Attorney General John W. H. Crim, placed {n charge of the gov- {ernment’s case by Mr. Daugherty, ex- pressed the opinion when the special grand jury was impanelled that the investigation would require three or four weeks. Today the action went into the second day of the fourth weel. Wil Tell of Sales. Brig. Gen. Sawyer is understood to be the only important witness in the Senate investigation who has not yet | appeared before the grand jury. The i government prosecutors were unable to confirm the opinion that the mis- sion of the Attorney General was to direct the examination of Dr. Sawyer. Sawyer's testimony before the Sen- ate committee had to do with the sale of supplies from the Veterans' Bureau supply depot at Perryville, Md., and was considered by commiftee fmem- |bers the most damaging presented against the Forbes. administration. Approximately $3,000,000 in supplies were sold to a Boston firm for $600,- 000, according to the testimony. ‘WHEELER PUSHES PROBE. Resignation May Come After In- vestigation Is Completed. Attorney General Daugherty’s an- nounced determination to remain in the cabinet for the presen* at least, spurred Senator Wheeler, democrat, Montana, to press for quick action in the Senate today on his resolution calling for an Investigation of Mr. Daugherty’s administration. As soon as this investigation is completed, and regardless of its out- come, Mr. Daugherty will be expected to quit the cabinet. He refused yes- terday to retire voluntarily while the inquiry is pending, and President Goolidge decided not to force him to o s0. Mr. Daugherty was fully advised at yesterday's succession of confer- ences regarding the conclusions reached by the Fresident, but he took the position that he would not re- sign unless Mr. Coolldge was willing to make a formal imperative demand for his retirement. Tells Deelsion to Stay. The Attorney General left for Chi- cago yesterday after a last-minute conference with President Cool- idge. Strict secrecy was malntained about his plan to leave, and it was not until three hours later that a astatement he had prepared previously with reference to his retention of office was made public. = “It {8 _not my purpose” he de- (Continued on Page 4, Column 7.) Medium’s Mysterious Luminosity Baffles Tests of Parisian Scientists By the Associated Press. PARIS, February 28.—Interest- ing tests of a medium claimed to possess a mysterious luminosity— the emission of blue light rays with radiographlc properties—are announced by Dr. Gustave Geley of the Metaphysical Institute here. The medium is an Itallan named Erto of Castellammare di Estradia, brought to Paris recently for a more searching examination after experiments in Italy had falled to solve the question whether the subject’s peculiar properties were natural or produced by some hrti- . Geley clatms that ho sub- Jected Erto to the most rigorous tests. The medlum was stripped and examined and_then clad in seamless trunks and hose and put under the X-ray to make sure he had taken nothing Internally which might act as a source of luminosity. Dr. Geley was alded in his experiments by Dr. Charles Richet, noted member of the Academy of Medicine. The examiners declare that Erto, when placed in & darkened rodm, appears to be surrounded by a kind of halo, while every now and then & clearly defined fan-shaped ray of light is projected from the left “side. Occasionally, also, a cone of light appears above 'the head. It is claimed that this light passes through opaque objects and that photographic plates in sealed boxes had ' images registered on them when developed as if they been exposed in a camera in daylight, ¢ Foening Star. |Presence at Grand Jury, Trip to Florida Later to See Illi at he might | General planned first to | WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION D. C., THURSDAY, { FIND 2 STUDENTS, Note Hints Suicide Pact, But ; Positions of Bodies Cause Police Inquiry. By thie Assoctated Pres. i POTTSTOWN, Thomas Shenton and James Warm- | kessel, students =zt the Wharton School of Finance, University of Penn- sylvania, were found dead from bullet | wounds, in Shenton's room at the Y. M. C. A. today. A note found in the room indicated a suicidal pact, but the positions of the bodies caused the police to investigate the theory of murder and suiclde Warmkessel's Lhody was found at the door of the room elad in his over- cout. His hat was on the head and o scarf lay across the face. There was & bullet wound in the chest and the { temple. The powder marks on the t. ple indicated that the shot wus fired at close range. Shenton's hody, fully dressed, lay on the bed. There was & bullet wound in the chest. A pistol lay beside the body he notes saild that neither had anything in him to be proud of and that both were tired of living. Warm- kessel, it is sald, tried to kill himself with overwork, but could not suc- ceed. separately, the note 40 N HOUSE JON February 28.— aid. Each to Introduce Bill Next Week to Legalize Manufacture. Forty members of the House joined today in an announcement that next week they each will introduce a bill to legalize the manufacture and sale of beverages with an alcoholic con- tent of 2.75 per cent by volume. The announcement was made in a letter sent to all other House mem- bers, calling on them to join in the movement to- modify the Volstead act.. The lotter was signed by Repre- sentatives _Britten, Browne of New Jersey, Brumm, Celler, Clancy, Connolly 'of Penn- sylvania, Doyle, Dyer, Fd- monds, Hill, Kahn, Kindred, Kunz, La Guardia, Lampert, Lehibach, Linthi- cum, MacGregor, McNulty, Mead, Minahan, Morin, Newton of Missouri, O'Brien of New Jersey, O'Connor of Louisiana, O'Sullivan, Perlman, Rans- ley, Rosenbloom, Sabath, Schafer, Sherwood, Stephens, Tague, Tydings, Voligt, Wolff. “WILKINS” IN McLEAN’S MESSAGES IDENTIFIED Is Private Detective Employed ‘to Guard Publisher’s Children Against Kidnaping. By the Associated Press, LOUISVILLE, Ky., February 28.— Dispatches . from Hopkinsville, Ky., identified the “Wilkins” menticned in telegrams from Washington to Ed- vard McLean in Florida, and which are expected to be read into the rec- ord of the Senate oil investigation, as E. P. Wilkins, private detective In McLean’s -employ. Wilkins’ special assignment, according to Hopkins- iville relatives, is-to guard the Mc- Lean children against kidnaping. JOHNSON OFFICIALLY FILES NAME IN OHIO Takes Legal Step to Declare Can- dacy for Republican Nomination. 1 I i | i i By the Ascccin‘ed Pres COLUMBUS, Ohlo, February 28— Senator Hiram Johnson of California today, filed with Secretary of State Brown his official declaration of can- didacy for the republican nomination for President, ® FEBRUARY PALS, EADINRODN Both were too good pals to die | FORZ7a PCT. BEER 28, 1924—F0 RTY-TWO PAGES. The only man who knows every name, date and sum of money mentioned in the 1 %B.EI.GIAN PREMIER | SPURNS NEW OFFER 11 Not Form Another Cabinet, Theumis Tells King, Follow- ing Resignation. iw:‘ i | ted Pres. , February Theunis, who resigned the chamber of deputies had voted| ilack of confidence in the governnient, {today refused King Albert’s invitation | {to form other cabinet. The vote in the chamber on the | question of the Franco-Belgian eco- |nomic convention was 95 to 78 against ratification, the socialists and extreme | Flemizh Catholics voting in opposi- SHPBOADISKS - NEW BIDS ON FLEET 28 —Premier sterday after I will Fix Basic Ton Price on| | Result of Appraisals of | i All Boats. i Bids on the entire Shipping Lioard fleet of 1,335 vessels under slightly | changed contract terms were asked | for today by the board. { Ofters received on or before March 14 will be considered, and no award will be made before that date. The jaction was taken through the 1 Emergency Fleet Corporation. { Approximately 425 of the v !are in operation, according to records of February 1 the remainder being tied up at varicus ports of the United States. The total includes 844 steel | cargo els, 324 steel freight ships | for lake trade, 43 steel tank ships, 27 steel passenger ships, 14 steel 1 frigerator vessels, 20 steel tugs, 13 | wooden tugs, 32 ldunches, 4 steel and |4 wooden barges, 7 concrete tank i vessels and one concrete cargo ship, ‘Will Make Appraisals. In lieu of the old terms stipulating 2 $30 & ton basic price, the board will fix this figure after appraisals have been made which will take into con- sideration the relative value of the ships as to design, physical condition and other pertinent factors. The board, under the terms of sale, may prescribe that purchasers oper- ate the ships on specific trade routes deemed to be desirable and neces- sary; reconditioning to approved de- slgns or such other terms as may be considered essential. Blds will be on a lump sum basls and offers may be made for one or more vessels or for the entire fleet. Offered “As In” The ships will be sold “as is, where | 1s,” exclusive of stores, fuel and 'leased equipment and without war- ranty or guaranty as to seaworthi- | ness, condition, description, capacity the right of bottom insbection on dry idock at their own risk and expense | fand the board may allow for cost of repairs to bottoms that are found to_be of an insurable nature. The advertisement covers all pas- | senger ships operated by the United States Lines, including the Leviathan and her big sister ships, and the six- teen passenger vessels of the 535- foot class, ten of which operate to the orient from Pagific coast ports The Dollar interests and the Pacific! Mail ‘Steamship Company are known | to be interested in the sale of these | ten vessels, which they operate for the board. —_— PEARL WHITE WINS SUIT. Jury Returns Verdict in Favor of Film Actress. NEW YORK, February 28.—A jury in Brooklyn today returned a verdict in favor of Pearl White, movie act- ress, and the Fox Film Corporation, who ‘were being sued for $50,000 by John F. Beatty, an actor. Beatty sought the $50,000 as com- pensation for injurles recaived in filmiing a picture at Bayside, Long Island, in 1921. He and Miss White were mounted, he set forth. He al- leged the actress so mismanaged her horse as to cause Beatty's mount to ;l:row him, permanently disabling m. LAST SEPARATISTS LEAVE. BERLIN, February 28.—According to the correspondent of the Berliner Tagesblatt at Speyer, capital of the Bavarian palatinate, ‘the last of the separtists Rave 'evacuated the gov- iernment bullding there, which will be occupied by representatives of the “old legitimate” goverpment forth- with, | | | wh | to the front. aval oil inquiry. SACRED AMERICAN RELCS ENSHRINED Constitution and Declaration Put in Sanctuary While President Watches. In reverent silence, while President Coolidge and high dignitaries of the overnment looked on, six sheets of original parchment, bearing the Dec- laration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States, were enshrined t a permanent sanc- tuary on the second floor of the Con- gressional Library this afternoon. Two huge American flags veiled the cuse in which the documents upon the reposed, when President Coolidge, a1 companied by Mrs. Coolidge and ai tended by a delegation from the House and Senate, as well as by Sec- retzry of Stute Hughes, entered. Motion plcture cameras lined up in | battery formation, clicked off a rec- ord of the unve! while two librar ans of the service, drew back the fiage and displayed the shrine await- ing its sacred documents, Placed in Shrine. Herbert Putnam, librarian, ing for the public, alked Charles Moore, head of the manuscript division of the Li- brary of Congress, handed him a large sheet of parchment on which the Declaration of Independence was written in 1 He placed it in the upright section of the marble cahi- net. Then followed the presentation in a similar manner of the five sheets of parchment containing the original gunsxilu{:un of the United States. One ¥ one Mr. Putnam placed the sheet. in °'the selfitke sioptg < a which juts off at an angle to the tiront of the uprigh Mr. Putnam walked back, attend- ants closed the case and the chorus of employes of the library ensconsed on the small staircase beneath the mosale reproduction of Minerva on the second floor started the chorus Amerie: President Views Documents. When the song had come to an impressive close, President Coolidge was escorted within the marble rail- ing inclosing the shrin by Mr. Put- nam for a close view of the docu- ments. 1In line, according to prece- dents, House, the Secretary of State and members of the House of Repre- sentatives and the Senate, speclally appointed to represent the legisla- tive branch at this simple ceremonial, ‘Approximately 500 sightseers and hundreds of employes of the lilrary were on the ground staircase and on the balcony to view the exercises. There was no speaking and an {m- ipressive silence was the outstanding characteristic of the institution of a permanent shrine for the two most im- portant documents of the Amerlcan public. Gives Effect of Altar, The shrine gives the effect of small, © exquisite altar. The back ground is of graylsh black York fo sil marble, quarried near Plattsburg, N. Y., and it bears at the top In gold letters the legend: ‘“Declaration of Independence and Constitution of the United States of America.” Beneath this lettering is an up- right frame. It has bronze doors, Inside this frame is the same Decl ration of Independence on which pa- triots subscribed their names on July 4, 1775. The document will usually Dbe exposed to view, with the doors open. d Sloping Exhibition Case. Under the upright case a sloping exhibition case has been built. It gives the appearance of an old co- Tonial secretary. In this case, which would be the writing space of a desk, the five sheets of the original Constitution of the United States will be exhibited. In_front of the desk is a small Sontinued on Page 2, Column 2.) All-American Bible, republic is founded were | policemen, veter- | section followed the Speaker of 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 Washington homes as fast as the papers are printed. Yesterday’s Circulation, 103,536 TWO CENTS. Titian Madonna, Bought for $150, Sold for $100,000 By the Associated Press. LOS ANGELES, February 28.— An authentic Titian, owned for thirty-three years by an artist who never suspected its worth, has been purchased by Linwood M. Andrews, Los Angeles art col- lector, for $100,000, the Los Angeles Times stated today. Adolph Brugler of Santa Bar- bara, who owned the painting, the Times says, bought it at an auc- tion in Florence, Italy, while he was studying art there in his youth, paying for it the equivalent of $150 in American money. Experts have pronounced it genuine and !dentified it a madonna. long believed to have been lost with other works of art in o fire that swept Madrid. 'SENATOR CLAINS COMBINE CONTROLS RENTS IN CAPITAL Robinson Declares Group Sets Charges on Practical- ly Every Apartment. i | Rentals in the District of Colum- bla are fixed by a combination of property owners and dealers, Senator Robinson of Arkansas, democratic leader of the Senate, charged on the floor of the Senate today during con- sideration of the Ball resolution pro- viding for an inquiry by the Senate District committee into the rental and housing situation in Washington. Senator Robinson declared that prices are arbitrarily fixed by such a combination on practically _every apartment that {s for rent in the city of Washington. He declared his will- ingness to go before the committee to" testify in connection with his charge. The purpose of the combina- tion, he insisted, was to keep up rents. After this combination deter- | mines upon a rental price, he said, the owner or lessor of the property is in- formed what rates he can charge. “If he lowers the rates fixed by the combination,” said Senator Robinson, “then he must face the resentment of tiie others, and he 't do it Senator Ball, chairman of the Dis- committee, urged the adoption of his resolution, which is designed to provide the' Senate with all necessary information to determine whether” the present rent act should {Le continuad or not. The resolution | provides that tho District committee | shall make the investigation and shall make use of tha services of the { District Commissioners and of the District Rent Commisslon in carry- ing on the inquiry. The resolution jauthorizes the expenditure of $2,500 out of the contingent fund of the Senate to conduct the Investigation. Argue Over Coat. | Senator Couzens of Michigan sug- ti |gcsted that the investigation should ot cost more than §1,000 if the Rent Commisslon and the District Commis- isioners are to ald. He sald, Indeed, that he thought the Rent Commission could well furnish all the informa- tion necessary. Senator Robinson re- plied, that, If the investigation is to Le worth anvthing at all it will cer- tainly be worth $2,500, and added, “if Jt does cost $2,500 it will be the icheapest investigation ever made by the Senate.” Senator Robinson offered an amend- ment to the resolution directing the committee to ascertain if there is an jorganization of real estate owners land dealers in Washington attempt- iIng to control rentals in the District, |and, it so, what methods are_used by the combination. Senator Ball _ac- cepted the amendment offered by Sen- ator Robinson and offered an amend- ment of his own, extending to March 31 the time in which the committee may make its final report to the fenate. | Senator Ball sald it might be jcharged if the Rent Commission alene was relled upon to furnish in- formation that only one side was being given. He urged that the in- vestigation must be independent and isaid that he thought $2,500 was little enough to expend on it. Senator Robinson declared that there were a large number of apart- ment houses in Washington; that many new ones had been constructed recently and that many apartments now unoccupied could be filled if it were not for the exorbitant rate: charged. He said that on account of the ar- bitrary fixing of rentals by a combi- nation these apartments remain va- cant month after month. He referred to one new apartment house on 16th | street south of U street and said that one five-room apartment had been of- fered for rent at $225. A prospective tenant, he said, offered $150 for it and was Informed that his offer could not be accepted, because the rates charged for apartments “had been fixed by agreement.” Says Rates Extortionate. “The rates charged are so extor- tionate,” declared Senator Robinson, “that persons of limited means are unable to avall themselves of the apartments now vacant.” Senator Stanley of Kentucky declared that i the committee should .establish the fact that a combination exists in Washington to fix rental charges it would be the most important finding of the inquiry. - Senator Jones of New Mexico sug- gested that the resolution be further amended so that the committee should inquire as to whether a combination exists aiso to fix prices of property for_sale and the cost of construction in_Washington. Senator Heflin of Alabama announced himself in favor of the resolution, say- ing “The people in the District of Co- lumbla certainly need some relief. The Teal estate sharks are eating them wuj It is expected that the resolution will be adopted by the Senate. Putting Lincoln In Place of Jesus, Is Modernist’s Plea By the Associated Prees. NEW YORK, February 28.—An all-American Bible is proposed by the Rev. Charles Francis Potter, pastor of the West Side Unitarian Church. He sald today that his modernist Bible class would hear the detalls at its first meeting next Sunday. - Br. Potter cltes Abraham Lin- coln ‘as having fully as great a spiritual appeal as Jesus of Naa« areth to the average American; June Addams iu the new American Bible would replace Deborah as a leader in the warfare against social wrongs; the writings of Washington, Adams and Jefferson, he declares, could be preserved as the American pentateuch; Wood row Wilson, he says, is the mod- ern “prince of peace,” and sacri- ficed his life in an attempt to in- duce this country to enter the league of nations. Finally, Mr. Potter asserts there are many American social reform- ers whose teachings and writings can be formed into books of an American Holy Writ, AUTO RECIPROCITY EXTENDED 30 DAYS BY GOV, RITCHIE Senator Ball Informs Execu- tive Gas Tax Bill Wwill Eass. ANXIOUS TO REACH FINAL AGREEMENT ON ISSUE Statement to Be Issued Later Will Explain Position of Maryland. Dispateh to The Star. ANNAPULIS, Md, February 28— Gov. Ritchie today extended the temporary auto reciprocity agreemen: between Maryland and the District of Columbla thirty days. The governor's announcement fol lowed the receipt of a letter from Senator Ball, chalrman of the Senatc District committee, stating that he thought the gas tax bill pending in Congress could be passed 1f this additional period of time was allowed Gov. Ritchie sald he would iss statement later in the day. Last night the governor ordered fifteen-day extension and he Intim that he would consent to a lor period if nmecessary. When the gover: nor made this announcement he yi.: was without a reply from Senator Bill from whom he had requested infc mation s to the status of the g tax bill. In granting this extensfon to 3 15_Gov. Ritchie declared that he w- nxious that the period of unc tainty regarding a final agre should be as limited as possibi ISSUE TO BE EXPLAINED. Campaign to Be Launched in Faver of Reciprocity. The entire situation concerr automobile reciprocity between ti District and Maryland will be laid be- fore the Washington public by & con'- mittee of speakers with the object ¢ making District resldents thorough familiar with the facts from which they can draw their own conclusions in the matter, the District of Columbi« division of the American Automobile Assoclation announced today. Edward F. Colladay, president the Washington Board of Trade, chairman, and the other members & E. C. Brandenburg, James T. Lloyd, | Charies W. Darr, George Offutt j Charles J. Columbus, W. Pearce Ray- inmer, Chester Warrington, Charles A Baker, William S. Torbert, Paul B. Lum and Walter B. Guy. These men will attend every and all gatherings of civic organizations hetween now and March §, g0, as M. O. Eldridge, manager of the local division of ‘the association, said to- {day, the public will know the com- ipléte story of reciprocity when the mass meeting of citizens Is held be- fore the Senate District committee. No attempt will be made, Mr. El- dridge added, to sway the opinions of the public on any legisiation in this matter of reclprocity, but to bring the story from its beginning up to date, from which residents ca: form théir own opinlons on the que tion. BANDITS GET $1,700 IN ROADHOUSE HOLD-UP Florida Gang Orders Orchestra to Play Favorite and Chef to Fry Chickens. Dy the Assoclated Press. MIAMI. Fla, February 18.—The Plantation Inn, 2 roadhouse near this city, was robbed at an early hour this morning by eight men armed with revolvers and sawed-off shot- guns, who surrounded the place and entered at the front and rear doors while the orchestra was playing. It is estimated that cash to tha amount of $1,700 was taken. together with & considerable quantity of jew- elry, mostly from the thirty-five gueste in the place at the time. A man and a woman guest were hit over the head with blackfacks when they remonstrated, and Jack Young, 2 waiter, was struck on the head with a_Tevolver. One of the man | guests had to be taken to the hos- ipital. The searching concluded, the men ordered the orchestra {“That Old Gang of Mine,” and the chet was ordered to fry four chickens, which the gang took away with the To offset pursuit, keys to auto- moblles were taken from guests and attaches, who were lined up against the wall of the dining room while tho search was in progress. FRENCH RAILROAD RATES GO UP 10 TO 50 PER CENT Passenger and Freight Tariffs Af- fected by Increase Operative on March 10. PARIS, February 25.—First second class rallroad passenger farcs will be increased G0 per cent and third class 15 per cent, beginning |March 10, it was announced today At the same time freight rates wili jump from 10 to 20 per cent, The increased tariffs will be ap lied to all the railroads in Fran. oth government and private owncd The government has been paying the deficlts of the roads, which amounted last year to nearly 750,000,000 francs —a WIFE SHOUTS “LIAR!” AT HARRIS IN COURT Ire Drawn by Banker’s Statement He Never Had $50,000, and Judge Delivers Rebuke. By the Associated Press. NEW YORK, February 28.—Mrs. Eleanor Blaine Lee Harris jumped to her feet and shoted ‘u'Liar!” at her husband, Beverly D. Harris, banker, today when he testified in his annul- ment suit that $50,000 was more than he had ever made in his life, Justice Wasservogel rapped a dozen times on his desk and she sat down. “Do that once more, madame, and you will leave this court” he ad- monished; “understand that distinet- 1y.” . to “play and =