Evening Star Newspaper, February 29, 1924, Page 1

WEATHER. Cloudy tonight and tomorrow, prob- ably light raln or snow tomorrow; low- est temperature tonight about freezing. Temperature_for 24 hours ended at :15 p.m. yes- p.m. today: Highest, 45, 3 terday; lowest, 29, 1:30 a.m. today. Full report on page 11. Closing N. Y. Stocks and Bonds, Page 28 No. 29,158. Entered as second-class matter post_officeWashington, D. C. MLEAN EMPLOYES ASSERTIONS FLATLY DENED BY PALNER * ONDILPROBESTAND Never Looked After Fall In- terests or Brought Pres- sure on Walsh, as Mes- sages Asserted, He Says. DEFENDS HIS DECISION IN LAND GRANT FIGHT Stack’s Attorney Says Fight on Teapot Lease to Sinclair Was Based on Theory That “Con- spiracy” Existed—Senate Reso- lution Asks Income Tax Returns Several of the sensational asser- tions made In telegrams sent to Ed- ward B. McLean in Florida by his employes here were flatly denied to- day in testimony before the oil com- mittee. A. Mitchell Palmer, a former dem- ocratic Attorney General, who acted as counsel for the publisher, testified that he was not a “partner” of J. W. Zevely, atiorney for Harry F. Sin- clair; that he was not looking aiter the interests of Albert B. Fall, and that he did not, as stated in the telegrams, ask Senator Underwood ©r any one else to bring pressure to bear on Senator Walsh to keep Mc- Lean off the witness stand. The witness then added that he was not at present employed by any oil company, and defended, under a severe cross-examination, his de- tision while he was Attorney Gen- eral to dismiss prosecution of the famous Southern Pacific land ca s in California. Schuyler Takes Stand. The committee also cross-examined Kurl C. Schuyler, a Denver sttorney, Wwho declared the Denver group that intervened in the Teapot Dome nego- tiations and were bought out by Harry F. Sinclalr had acted on the theory that there was a “conspiracy between Sinclair and the Ploneer Ofl Company. The Senate itsclf, meantime, open- ed up another possible avenue of in- vestigation by asking President Coolidge, in a resolution adopted without debate, to throw open to the committee the Income tax returns of Fall, Sincisir, E. L. Doheny and the Sinclair and Doheny oil corpora- tions. On the Senate %oor Chairman Len- root was challenged later by Senator Heflin, democrat, Alabama, to sum- Imon Willlam Boyce Thompson, 2 New York banker, for questioning about a Joan of $3,500,000 which the Alabama senator said Thompson obtained In on a “dummy” note for use in the republican presidential campaign, Villiam Boyce Thompson is a stockholder and director in the Sin- clair oil companies, Senator Heflin said, “and Sinclair stock was used &s_colluteral for that ‘dummy’ note.” The Alabama senator sald he had obtained “these facts from a former Bovernment offiefal who is as honest &s Paul. Remnrks Challenged. Senator Wadsworth, republican, New York, challenged a statement by Senator Heflin that Thompson was treasurer of the republican national committes {n 1920, “Well, he had some connection with the committee,” Senator Hefiln re- plied,” and I believe the money he borrowed was used in that cam- paign. Called to the stand 2¢ soon as the committee met, Mr. Palmer, as a Quaker, “affirnied” his intention of telling the truth instead of swearing, and Senator Dill, democrat, Washing: ton, took up his examination. He denied that J. W. Zevely, coun- sel for Harry F. Sinclair, 1s his law purtner, as suggested in the McLean telegrams. He added, however, that “Zevely i3 an old friend of mine” and ' had outlined to him a_couple of months ago the sallent facts in the oll inquiry. Zevely had asked his opinion, he said, 4s to whether Sinclair and Fall could be compelled to answer ques- tions before the committee. Palmer gave it as his opinion that they could. ‘ve been a friend or acquaintance of E. B. McLean for some years,” Mr. A Palmer said. “But in this case I be- came his attorn, John Major, an employe of McLean, came to mé on December 26 or December 27, show- ing me a telegram from Mr. McLean s his authority for retaining me.” The telegrama and Major's reply, previously put Into the public record, were produced. Zevely Not Partmer. “Major refers to Zevely In the tele- gram as your law partner,” Senator Dill said. “Is that true.” “It is not,” Mr. Palmer sald. @enled in reply to other questions that he was attorney for Fall or Sin- clair. “I think Major got the impression that I was connected with the matter from conversations with Zevely,” Mr. Palmer went on. “Col. Zevely 'ts an old personal friend of mine and on December 23, he called at my house and talked with me about the in- vestigation. I didn’t know hardly' the snvestigation was on. I had been out of the country, so Mr. Zeyely sketched the situation out for me.” Said Fall In Doubt. Fall, Zevely sald, was in doubt as certain money. “I told him I thought the law would sllow the committee to compel both @inclair and Fall to answer.any ques- tions pertinent to the inquiry. That was on December 23." Senator DIll read another Major tolegram to McLean, which sald - Palmer had warned McLean to re- frain from communicating with Chairman Lenroot. “I've_told you all that transpired + ~(Continued on Page 4, Column 1.) o | BY FREDERIC WILLIAM WILE. Calvin Coolidge within a compara- tively few weeks will take action in connection with current events at Washington designed to justify the confidence which he feels the country has in him. It will be a dramatic, and perhaps even a drastic, stroke. To noltody, not even his most inti- mate advisers, has the President thus far confided the nature of the step he will take. Only so much can be said— jand it is stated on high authority— that before May 1, ang perhaps much sooner than that, Mr. Coolidge will resort to measures of a positive Kind. They will go so stralght to the point that there will be no doubt of their meaning. Their meaning will be that the P’resident wants his po- litical supporters and his friends gen- erally to understand that they do not repose trust in him without full rea- son. He is determined, by demon. stratlon, to measure up to thelr ex: LIQUOR SMUGGLERS FLOUTU. 3. DIGNITY, Rear Admiral Billard Reveals “Open, Organized Warfare on Constitution.” BY WILL P. KENNEDY. The up-to-the-minute story of how the “dignity of the United States Is openly flouted” by rum runners and liquor smuggINg on the high seas, as prepared for Congress by the United States coast guard, which has gath- ered Information from Innumerable secret sources, {s as lurid and sensa- tional as any tale of fiction. This report was made to justify an appropriation of $13,833,989, which the House appropriations committee recommends In the first deficiency ap- Ppropriation bill, to carry out the rec- ommendations of President Coolidge to make the coast guard adequately fitted to cope with this startling sit- uation. Of this amount $12,194,800 Is for boats and equipment; $1,645.622 for operating expenses, and this pro- gram requires 75 commissioned offl- cers, 261 warrant officers and 2,025 enlisted men. Twenty Destroyers Requested. New legislation 15 involved to au- thorize the additional commissioned officers and to transfer twenty de- stroyers from the Navy. This new legislation would be subject to a point of order. However, a bill has been favorably reported by Chairman Winslow of the committee on Inter- state and forelgn commerce which carries this authority. It is clalmed that under this Winslow bill the whole United States Navy could be turned over to the coast guard for prohibition enforcement, because the bill does not authorize a specified number, but merely says “such ships" as may be needed. The appropriations recommended in the deficlency bill provide for pro- curement by transfer from the Navy Department of twenty torpedoboat .destroyers of the second line, the conditioning and equipment of which would cost $2,000,000; similar transfer of two mine sweepers or other suit- able type of vessels, the conditioning and equipment of which would cost $110,000; the construction of 223 “cabin crulser” type motor boats at a cost of $8,362,600 with equipment, including radio -outfits at a cost of $909,900; the construction of 100 “Sea- bright dory” type motor boats to cost $800,000, with equipment costing $1 500, the opening of nineteen life-sav ing stations now on the inactive list at a cost of $24,775; the organization of twenty-four section bases for su- pervising the activities of the vessels and boats engaged In the prevention of liguor smuggling, and the estab- lishment of three receiving stations for the equipment and training of recruits, “Dignity of U. §. Flouted.” Rear Admiral Frederick C. Billard, commandant of the coast guard, told the appropriations committee that with {nadequate equipment the coast guard could do little to prevent liquor smuggling, “so there has grown up a condition where the dignity of the United States is openly flouted by forelgn shipping.” He continued: “The coast guard, through a cen- tury and a quarter of its history, has firmly crystallized its standards of doing its duty and carrying out the orders that Congress or the President or the Secretary of the Treasury glves it. The service properly does not consider the wisdom of the law or of the order, but intends to the fullest extent of its ability to carry out that law or that order. Some months ago the coast guard was | directed by higher authority to pre- page an estimate of what funds would | be necessary to enable it to cope with | this situation. After exhaustive in- !quiry by the bureau of the budget, the estimates were transmitted to Congress by the President. Explaining that the coast guard has “no concern, as a service, with the amount of liquor that there is ashore or within the confines of the United States,” but its duty as a service is to prevent liquor being landed on our shores, Admiral Billard advised the appropriations committee that he had delegated Commander C. 8. Root “to obtain all the information he could with respect to these rum vessels, where they were located and the gen- eral extent of their operation.” a de- tailed report on which was lald before the committee by Commander Root. Information Confidential. Representative James A. Galliven of Massachusetts asked. with what de- partments Commander Root co-operat- ed in making this study, and was told that “it is all from confidential sources und should I reveal these it might stop the flow of mecessary in- formation.” Both Commander Root and Admiral Billard assured Representa- tive Gallivan that there had been no (Continued on Page 2, Column 4.) f PRESIDENT WILL STRIKE SOON FOR CLEAN REGIME Decisive Action to Justify Confidence of Nation in Qil Crisis Predicted by Intimates. CONGRESSISTOLD, N BUSINESS AREA £ WASHINGTON,, D. C, pectations. They will not have long to walt. Calvin Coolidge's intimate circle of republican leaders and counselors has represented to him that, when all is | sald and done, he will be the para- | mount issue in the 1924 presidential cumpalgn. Two months ago it looked as if the issue would be tax reduc- tion, or prosperity. Now the Coolldge camp is convinced the issue will be “Coolidge.” They see the electorate, during the coming summer and autumn and on election day in November, passing judgment on Calvin Coolldge; on the manner in which he conducted him- self in the present and supreme crisis of his malden year in office; on Whether he revealed courage and de clsion; on whether he exhibited & ca- paclty to gauge public sentiment and react to it. The President's adher- ents indicate that Mr. Coolidge views the situation in this light and is ~(Contluued on Page 2, Column 7.) LIMIT ON PARKING 1S RAISED T0 HOUR .Drive on “Space Hogs” to, Begin With More Lenient Regulation. The District Commlssioners today | amended the trafiic regulations to permit automobillsts to park for one hour In the congested section. This allows double the time permitted at present, which is only thirty minute: Under the law thirty days must elapse before a person can be prose- cuted for violating a new regulation. Inspector Headley, chief of the trafiic bureau, explained that motorists| could take advantage immediately of the one-hour rule, but if they stay longer than an hour they would be prosecuted during the nest thirty days for violating the thirty-minute rule, In Ubcralizing the parking regula- tions the Commissioners made it known that the trafic bureau will strictly enforce the new regulation permitting one hour. Ask Sherrill to Help. The city hands also decided to wi™e to Col. C. O. Sherrill, officer in chi ge of public bulldings and grounds, ask- ing his co-operation in solving tml ! parking problem by permitting “loug- | time parking” on roadways In gov- ernment reservations surrounding the congested sections, They further invited Col. Sherrill to designate a representative of his of- | fice to scrve as e member of the! newly-created traffic board of the District, which is composed of Ma. W. H. Holcomb, Inspector Albert J. Headley and Assistant Corporation Counsel Ringgold Hart. It was upon the recommendation of this board that the parking time limit was in- creased. “Both the Commissioners and the trafic board feel that close co-opera- tion with your office will aid the Dis- trict authorities very materially in their efforts to solve the traffic prob- lem.” reads the Commissioners’ letter to Col. Sherrill. “In order therefore that the Commissioners may have the Dbenefit of your views on traffic mat- ters, the Commissioners extend to you'a cordial invitation to appoint a Tepresentative to confer with the traffic board and to assist the bourd | in framing _all _recommendations | which affect matters under your jur- isaiction. ¥or All-dny Parking. “Tle Commissioners believe that the problem of parking cars in the congested section of town is one of the most serlous trafiic problems con- fronting us today. ! “They feel that parking in this/ section should be restricted to rela- tively short periods of time in order that the limited space available may | be utilized by the greatest number of peoplo possible. “In order, however, to provide rea- sonably accessible space for all-day parking, it is felt that all available Ftreets ~and roadways Immediately surrounding the congested section should be made available for long- time parking. With this idea in mind, the Commissioners, therefore, request that you permit all-day parking on the roadways surround- Ing the Elipse and on other available roadways in the public ground con- | tiguous to the congested section of own. T The traffic bureau is about to un- dertake a campaign against long- timo parking in_the downtown sec- tion, and it 18 believed that public co-operation with the efforts of the traflic bureau will be greater and the | Tosults of the campaign will be more | effective If the additional parking | space in the public grounds can be made available at an early date Two-Hour Spaces Remain. In changing the time limit on park- ing downtown to one hour, the Com- missioners did not disturb that sec- tion of the regulations which allows two-hour parking around small parks| and reservations within the congest- ed area with the following excep- tions: In that portion of the congested section. bounded by the south curb of Pennsylvania avenue, the west curb of 13th street, the south of D street, and the west curb of 15th strest parking time is reduced from two hours to one hour. At_the board meeting this morn- ing. the Commissioners approved the proposal that Congress be asked for a supplemental appropriation of $7,- 500 to continue the work of painting white lines on the streets for the guidance of pedestria: Jack Norworth Divorced. JERSEY CITY, N. J,, February 29.— Mrs. Mary Johnson Norworth of Boundbrook has been granted a di- vorce from Jack Norworth, actor. | the reduction to 3400 to any jcent red | present “'schedule being entirely elimi- Foen WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION HOUSE APPROVES IMMEDIATE CUT ININCOME TAXES Votes 25 Per Cent Reduction in All Levies Payable This Year. INSURGENTS ACCEPT COMPROMISE SCHEDULE Will Back Regulars in Effort to Reject Garner Plan—Coolidge May Issue Statement. A one-fourth reduction in all per- sonal Income taxes payable this year was aproved today by the House. A proposal to eliminate the entire scction of the revenue blll carrying this provision was defeated, 181 to 145. Changes in personal and corpora- tion taxes carried in other sections of the bill would not become effective until payments are made in 1925 on| Incomes and profits of this year. ] The 25 per cent flat reduction onl personal taxes would apply on in-| comes of last year. Representative Crisp, democrat, Georgla, made the motion and argued the funds lost by the proposed re- duction should be used for a soldlers’ bonus. Other amendments aimed to 1imit the reduction were defeated. Bonus advocates gave some support to the Crisp motion. The cut would mean a saving to taxpayers of $223,000,000, Mr. Crisp sald, and he insisted this would go largely to the “rich taxpayers.” Representative Denison, republican, Illinois, supported the proposal. Effort to Limit Defeated. An amendment proposing to :Xr:'\l:l Al vidual was defeated, 153 to 102. An amendment to limit the reduc- tion to taxes pald on the normal rate was rejected, 140 to 120. As the House neared a final vote on the bill republicans demanded new votes on a number of amendments previously adopted on motion of the democrats. A vo by roll call came first on the Garner amendment to make the 25 per ction In taxes on earned in- carried in the bill apply spe- y to farmers and small mer- House republican Insurgents for- mally agreed at a meeting today to support the republican compromlise for the democratic Income rates In the revenue bill. Representative Nelson, Wisconsin, leader of tha group. sald practlcally all of the seventeen Insurgents who voted for the Garner plan would sup- port the substitute to be offered by Representative Longworth, Ohio, re- publican leader. Reunfon of the republican forces, leaders mald, would force a rejection of the Garner rates on a final vote this afternoon. Coolldge May Give Views. While the House leaders were tn consultation there were Indications at the White House that President Coolidge might bo preparing to set forth publicly his attitude toward the compromise. Some weeks ago some of those close to the President predicted that he might veto & compromise meas- ure which departed materlaily from the schedules of the Mellon plan. Reports of the latest compromise negotlations were carried to the White Houre yesterday, but the rep- resentatives who talked with the| President on the subject received no ' definite assurance that the Long- worth plan would be acceptable to him. The compromise provides for a flat | per cent reduction on the present ! surtax rates with the same brackets retained. It would make the maximum 3714 Der cent on incomes over $200.- | 000, Minimum rates would be 1% per cent on incomes between $10,000 and £12,000, the first bracket of lhn" nated. G. 0. P. Expects Enough Votes. The Garner rates were substituted for the Mellon schedule by a vote of 222 to 196. Democrats will vote as 2 unit again today for these rates, party leaders sald, and 200 of the 206 democratic meinbers are expect- €d to be present. Ropresentative Vestal, Indiana, re- publican whip, sald he expected a larger turnout of republicans than on the previous vote when eleven were absent. The same number, however, coupled with the swing of the insurgents would insure victory for the republicans. Acceptance of the compromise fol- lowed the plea of leaders of the In- surgent group, who sald it would raise more reyenue than the Garner plan and would make more likely a soldiers’ bonus, and would grant & fairer reduction all along the line. Representative Woodruff, Michigan, one of the group, sald the compromise would make a reduction of 62% per cent on incomes below $4,000; 59 per! cent on_incomes between $4,000 and | $5,000; G5 per cent on incomes be- tween $5,000 and $6,000; 40 per cent on incomes between $6,000 and $9,000, and a flat 25 per cent reduction on all incomes above that amount. ‘Representative Mills, New York, o republican member of the ways and means committee, issued a statement today declaring he would not vote| for the bill even with the Longworth compromise. He did not, however, say he would vote against acceptance of the compromise Itself. wThe bill will, in all probability, produce a deficit,” Mr. Mills sald, “a smaller deficit than under the Garner rates, but still & deficit.” 11 not acquired at once.” . ——— —— MYSTERIOUS FIRE RAGES IN NORTH DAKOTA MINE By the Assoclated Press. HAYNES, N. D., February 29.—State officials are directing forces fighting 2 fire of mysterious origin raging in the mine of the Haynes Coal Mining Company here. Attempts are being made to keep the blaze from spread- ing to adjoining lignite coal mines owned by the ‘states of North and South Dakota. Huge clouds of d gas from the Haynes mine naie’ the work of fire fighters Qi. ke two states have been asked to advance $5,000 each to ald in battling The decree was awarded yesterday by Vice Chancellor Bentley on grounds of desertion. Custody of two children was given to the mother. The mar- rlage was in Oakland, Calify in’1913. the flames, and the Haynes company has sgreed to put up similar ouB! The Haynes mine was damaged last year by a fire.set by & crased miner. MILE, LITTLE ONE; YOU SMOPARKSTE PURCHASES URGED D. C. Heads Forward Substi- tute Bill to Senator Ball, Pointing Needs. The District Commissio: forwarded to Secnator Ball & tute bill authorizing the Commi: ers to purchase several of the pro- posed park are: that are llkely to be lost if not soon acquired. The price Iimit placed on the several projects in the bill total $612,000. They fol- low: Klingle road valley, $200,000; Piney Branch valley, $155,000; territory to| widen Pincy Branch valley, west of 16th strect, $107,000, and a portion of the Patterson tract, $150,000. In the letter of transmittal the Commiusioners explained that th measure being, submitted I3 a substi tute for two other bills now pend- ing, and, they say, it embodies the destrable features of both. . Klingle Site Held, Referring to the urgent need of ac- quiring the Kiingle Road Park. the! Commissioners say: “The Commissioners desire to call especial attention to the fact that the Klingle road park area has re- cently been acquired by Mr. Harry Wardman for development. In def- erence to suggestions made by the Commissioners ~ Mr. Wardman has very generously agreed not to dis- turb any part of the park area for the present, but it cannot be expect- ed that he will delay his operation | for any extended length of time. The | situation, therefore, is critical, and if action is not taken at onocs this beautiful park area and the link con- necting Rock Creek Park with Po- tomac Park will be lost forever. The Commissioners desire also to invite | attention to the urgency of acquir- ing Piney branch valley east of 16th | street, for this area also will be lost { | | | I The Commissioners told Senator Ball that the authority to purchase these parks should be placed in the | Commissioners for the reason that they are charged with the extension and development in an orderly man- { ner of the permanent system of high- ways. WIDE SEARCH FAILS | TO FIND SCHOOLGIRL Police Doubt She Took Own Life or Was Victim of Attack. | ' By the Associated Press. BINGHAMTON, N. Y., February 29. —The mysterious disappearance of Eleanor Aylesworth, sixteen-year-old high school girl, and ward of Harry E. Harkness, secretary of the Bing- hamton Automobile Club, remained unsolved today after police, firemen and state troopers had searched the Susquehanna river during the night under the glare of searchlights. A cltizen passing over one of the city’'s bridges noticed an object flating in tho river and Boy Scouts found & handkerchief, footprints and a small blood spot on the river bank near the bridge. After the search, however, the police doubted that the girl ended her life by drowning or was the victim of an attack. The girl disappeared last Tuesday while on her way to school. She had made her home with Mr. and Drs. Harkness _after the -death of her mother. Her father, Winsor Ayles- worth of Forksville, Pa., is aiding in the search. The girl was happy in her new home, it is sald, cared little for the soclety of boy friends and had made no preparations to leave. SNOW ISOLATES MADRID. Trains Halted and Mail Service Stopped by Heavy Fall. MADRID, February 29.—Madrid is cut oft from the north of Spain and from | Barcelona by & heavy enowfall Trains: leaving here yesterday were compelled to return and mall seased altogether. At Barcelona the snow was so heavy that street car service was stopped and ! telegraph and telephone traffic inter- rupted. At Bilboa traffic of all kinds ceased. Reports from the provinces report a severp cold wave and say that many ships’ are having difficulty in port em- trances. Ol ! tast ny Star. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 1924—FIFTY-TWO PAGES. KNOW YOU Eminent Doctors FightDuel; OneCut, Both Badly Winded By the Associated Press CHANTILLY, ary 29.—Gen. Me: » former minister of war, presided over a duel yesterday between two lead- ing lights of the French medical world, Profs. Bernard Cuneo, a surgeon, and Elic Broca, a phys!- clan. As soon as the general gave the signal the two eminent special- ists fell upon each other with rare ferocity. They lunged, thrust and parried for a good half hour. Both o pretty well winded when In e seventh bout Prof, Cuneo was run through the sword arm, and this ended the encounter. The quarrel was not of a sci- entific, but of a private charac- ter. 4,000 GIVEN LAST OF COMPENSATION Congressional Action Requir- ed to Resume Payments to Dependents of U. S. Febru- The employes' compensation come mission today put into the malls about 4,000 checks, which will be the last to be malled to benefictaries, be- cause the disbursing officer of the commission has been shut off from further funds by Controller General McCarl. The commission at the same time made public a letter from the chairman, Mrs. Bessie P. Bruegge- man, In which she explains that the check Inclosed “will therefore be the which can be paid you until some. action is taken by Congress authorizing payments in spite of this recent decision of the controller gen- misslon’s expenditure of 600 a month in compensa- tion to these 4,000 men and women, widows und orphans in all part the United Sta therefore ceases with_ toda It was under- stood the ad hoped that Congress would amend the law suffi- gmnny 1o satisfy the position of the ontroller general, The stoppare of funds was the re- sult of a long drawn-out controversy in which the Attorney General of the United States, the President and the controller general were involved. The commission held that it could !pay compensation to persons suffer- ing from vocational diseases con- tracted in the course of employment with the government, such as tuber- culosis, etc. Controlier General Me- Carl, on the other hand, held that such payments could not be made un- der the law and that the law was specific in restricting the payments only to persons whose injuries could be traced to the day and houtr. Funds Are Cut, Off. Appealing to the President, the commission obtained an opinion from the Attorney General which they clalm upheld their position that they could pay such claims. The controller, upon receiving cer- tain vouchers of the payment of money to employes, called upon the disbursing officer of the commission to explain further.evidence as to why this money had been paid and as to the condition of the claimant. The disbursing officer refused this infor- mation, whereupon the controller gen- eral cut off his access to Treasury funds by refusing to order any fur- ther requisitions upon the Treasury. The commission not.only is without funds to pay compensation, but can draw no money from the Treasury even for the pay of the clerical and administrative force. The disbursing officer, A. H. Gardes, was understood to have a sum of money to his credit which might be suificient to meet the next pay day of the administrative and clerical force. It was_ understood, however, that further than this his funds would hardly go. Letter Explains. The letter to claimants, in which the chairman of the commission ex- plains the situation, Is as follows: “The commission regrets to have to notify you that the controller gen- eral, by a decislon of February 11, 1924, has refused to permit its dis- bursing officer to draw any more money from the employes' compen- satlon fund. The controller general's reason for this refusal is that the commission has declined to submit to him the evidence upon which awards and payments had been made in caSes which he desired to review. Upon (Continued on Page 2, Column 8.) every cit: Ld | REALLY LIKE IT.” WROTE PAPER “13, - GRAVES DECLARES Authorship of Reclassifica- tion Statement Is Discov- ered at Last. H. Graves, bureau of efliciency representative on the personnel clas- sification board, admitted today that he was the author of the mysterious statement, commonly known as *No. 13" concerning the classification of the field service of the government, at the hearing being held In the Capitol on Representative Lehlbach's bill to abolish the classification board and vest its functions in the Clvil Service Commission. “Where d!d the statement of No- vember 12 come from?” asked Chalr- man Lehlbach of the House commit- tec on the civil service, presiding at the sessions, referring to “No. 13,” following the presentation by Mr. Graves of an opinion from the De- Vvartment of Justice, dated February the board have been in accordance with the classification act. Graves, leaning dramatically forward over tho hearing table. “Senator Smoot of Utah sent for me late in October and sald that Gen. Lord, di- rector of the budget, had asked him to give his views. He asked me if I J3uld prepare & statement, which I id. Authorship Is Bared. “Then you wrote the statement of November 122" asked Mr. Lehlbach. “That statement is it, not verbatim, but sulstantlally it admitted Mr. Graves, thus bringlng to the light for the first time to date the author- ship of the much discussed statement in which the personnel classincation board announced & change of policy as to the method of classifying the field service. The board had first started to draw up class specifica- tions for the varlous classes, but in this statement announced that classi- fication of the field service would be made on the basis of the bureau of efliciency schedules of grades, much in the same fashion as was belng done in classifying employes in the District. Mr. Graves, speaking directly to eompleted his prepared statement de- nying charges of violating the classi- ficstion law. sald that he was the author of the schedules in the classi- fication law itself, having taken the schedules in the Wood-Smoot bill, re- jected by Congress, and incorporated them into the blll finally adopted, generally called the Lehlbach bill. He said that the “content” of the schedules {s the old Wood-Smoot bill, but that the “mechanical” part, or arrangement, was written by the House. Calls Charge Frivolous. Admitting that the classification board could have utilized the old-class | specifications of the reclassification commission, Mr. Graves charged that the work of the body of economic en- gineers which made those specifica- tions for the committee had been a reason he as a member of the classi- fication board did not adopt them. Mr. Graves sald that the classifica- tion act is ambiguous In certain sec- tions, and said the charge of ignoring the act made against the board “rests in a technicality” and is, in his opin- ion, “entirely frivolous.” The board felt it had full liberty of action, he said, as to when it should establish class specifications, and never had or has any Intentions of ignoring class specificatfon fixing. At this point he read an opinion, given by A. F. Seymour, acting attor- ney General, as of Kebruary last, which ended by declaring, “I find nothing in the program ot the classi- fication board which contravenes i any particular the classification act. “Do you know how the opinion of the Afttorney General was asked?”" inquired Mr. Lehlbach. Graves Questioned Closely “The President was beselged by many individuals who claimed that the board had violated the law, and I understood he told them that there |would be an investigation. I pre- isume this opinion was asked as part of that investigation,” answered Mr. Graves. “Do you know to what office the letter asking. an opinion was Te- ferred?” asked the chairman. “No/* retorted the witness. “Did you consult with any one in the Department of Justice?® “Yes, and no,” replied Mr. Graves. I had repeated consultations with Caldwell of the Department of Jus- tice staff, who was assigned to our taft. B “Has he no first name?” asked Mr. hibach. L s bavia—Davia Calawell,” an- swered Mr. Graves. 1, to the effect that the actions of | “‘Well, T'll tell you,” declared Mr.| Representative LeRlbach, after he had | failure in Canada, and that was the | “From Press to Home Within the Hour” The Star’s carrier system covers very 7 block and the regular edi- tion is delivered to Washington homes as fast as the papers are printed. Yesterday’s Circulation, 103,645 TWO CENTS. BITTER ONSLAUGHT BY DEMOCRATS ON DAUGHERTY MARKS DEBATE IN' SENATE Willis Sole Defender of At- torney General in Wrangle Over Selection of Inquiry Committee Members. MOVE TO “PACK” PROBE BODY SEEN BY ROBINSON Wheeler Charges Attempt by Cab- inet Officer to Intimidate Sena- tors—Ohioan Admits Discussing Personnel of Investigators With Accused Official. Attorney General Daugherty to- day became the center of one of the bitterest Senate debates in recent years. When the resolution for an in- quiry into the Department of Justice was brought up for action demo- cratic senators let loose against the Attorney General an attack bristling with accusations against his per- sonal and official acts since he en- tered the cabinet. Willls Lone Defender. Single-handed. Senator Willls of Ohto, Mr. Daugherty’s home state, at- tempted to stem the tide of criticism while republican party leaders looked silently on. The Ohlo senator conceded he had discussed the make-up of the inves tigating committee with the Attorn General, but insisted there was nothi- ing_improper in his conduct. Charges of efforts to select “packed ju flew back and forth | across the chamber as the debate on the make-up of the committes gressed, and the galleries were st red to repeated demonstrations, de- spite reitcrated warnings from the chair. May Vote Before Night. ‘Tre resolution for Investigation of the administration of Harry AL Daugherty as Attorney General is ex- pected to be adopted before tonight and the inquiry will begin next weelk. Senator Lodge of Massachusetts, the republican leader, countered with a proposal for appolutment of the committee In the customary manner by the Senate's presiding officer. Senator Wheeler, democrat, Montana, suthor of the resolution, proposed that five senators, three republicans and two democrats, be elected by the Senate The “traditions of the Senate” Senator Lodge argued, required that the presiding officer “should recelve from the Senate every mark of per- sonal respect” and should mnot be curtailed in his customary privilegs of naming the members of special committees. Senator Robinson of Arkaneas, the democratio leader. supported the plan for election of the special committee by the Senate, deciaring “it had be openly declared that efforts were con: templated to pack the committee. He added that he had season to be- lieve that Senator Cummins of lowa. the President pro tem, did not de- sire to name the committee. Sees Coolidge Intimidated. Declaring that all he wanted was falr and impartial investigation, Sen- ator Wheeler charged that Attorne | General Daugherty had sought to “in- timidate” senators by saying that if some of them did not resign he would have an important statement to make. | Senator Wheeler also declared the At | torney General “already apparently h: | intimidated the man at the White Houss | because we all know that his resignat ld be acceptable to the Presid Wo all know,” added Senato Wheeler, “that the President for som | unknown reason hasn't the stamina to | ask for that resignation. ‘Wants Fair Inquiry. Declaring there were “pecullar cir- {cumstances” demanding that the Sen- late itself choose the investigating |committee, Senator Wheeler said th {Senator Willls, republican, Ohio, re lognized as the Senate spokesman for |Mr. Daugherty, had gone to Presiden: {Cummins and asked him to appoint tcertain senators. “All I am asking,” sald Senator | Wheeler, “is that we have a commit- Il {nvestigate the Attorne: General In & fair and impartial inves tigation. All [ want is to see that w. have a real investigation and that wo will not have men on the committe. {who will bo constantly consulti | with the man we are investigating. Resent Resignation Stand. The agreement reached late yos- {teraay for a voto today was con strued by somo as a reflection of the dissatistaction in certain quarters over the stand taken by the Attorney General agalnst resigning until after the Investigation has been completed. | Although it Is generally understood {that he will retire at the conclusion iof the inquiry, regardless of its out- come, some of his critics have ex- pressed the opinfon that he should not be permitted to retain office with the accompanying opportunity to in- fluence the course of the investiga- tion. | The Waquiry Is expected to begin® inext week, but those who are seek- |ing the immediate retirement of the Attorney General point out that it may continue much longer than they are willing to seo him hold office. It has been made clear that Mr. Daugherty’s absence from the Capi- tal will not delay the inquiry. Reads Alleged Interview. After Senator Wheeler had read a newspaper article quoting Mr. Daugh- erty as declaring “if certain senators have not resigned by tonight,” he would have an importint statement to publish, Senator Wiills submitted a telegram from the Attorney General disclaiming _responsibility for any statement attributed to him. “I have made no statement and (Continued on Page 2, Column 3.) 4 (Continued on Page 2, Columa 3) /