Evening Star Newspaper, February 29, 1924, Page 2

CENT FARE RUIN, DECLARES HANNA Capital Traction Official Says McKellar Bill Would Starve Line. Cstablishment of a five-cent-six- for-a-quarter fare on the lines of the tapital Traction Company, con- emplated by the McKellar bill now vending before the Senate, would tiave & "disastrous effect” on the com- pany and would mean its starvatio Johin H. Hanna, vice president and eneral manager of the company, told the Senute subcommittee on the M- Kellar bill #t & hearing today, Reading from a formal statement which _he sald represehited the pos tion of the Capital Tractlon Compal on the measure, Mr. Hanna declared that with tho fare proposed in the JeKellar bill, an increase in pas- sengers of fully 50 per cent would be required on the lines of the company to give sufficient revenue for operat- ing costs and a minimum return on r viklue. He added that the com- looks forward into 1924:with the assumption that car riding will continue to fall off, as it has done for the past three years. “Fhe hearing was marked by debate hetween George E dent of the company; Mr. Hanna and enutor Copeland of New York, who objected to a statement by Mr. Ham {iton that charges and attacks against the street car ‘company have been nade which, he said, caused misap- prehengjon as to the company's stand. Sinator Copeland also objected to a portion of Mr. Hanna's statement in which he said there has been a dis- position to question the validity and truthtulness of the books, accounts and reports of the company. Monday Morning Effusi Senator Ball, chairman of the Dis- commltte: proposed to_elim thi: portion of nt, but Senator Cope satisflad to allow characterizing it as a morning effusio He added. however, that it was very displeas- tng to him to have cxecutives of the omrany come before the subcommit- d question the motiv of mem- ho, he said, were only actu- motives concerning public and in the protection of the pany Ter tod b polic publ Mr. Hanna gave it as his opinion at the valus of the Capital Trac- n Company, given by the Public {litles Commission in 1919 of $16.. 1s « conser o value and very conslderably increased courts when the matter {s ttled there. He sald he opinion on the Potomac fower Company's decision r valuationscase. oncerning the pending mensure, Mr. Hanna said: “Rate resulation {s the most important function of utility commis ke it out of their bands would be to cripple their regulatory powers to tuch an extent that the loglcal con- clusion must be the abandonment.of commlission regulation and the return to conditions of over a generation sro, when all rallroads and other utilitics were political foot ball 1923 Rate of Returnm. The Capltal Traction Company, he #aid, earned & rate of return for 1923 ou the average weighted falr value during that year of 7.76 per cent. In 1o years 1919, 1920 and 1521 the pany earned returns on its fair © of from 9 to 10.4 per cent. These carnings, he declared, were greater than would ordinarily be allowed un- der commission regulation, but were not excessive and were nowhere near as large as the company had been popularly credited with having made. Increase in operating expenses, de- apite determined and continuous ef- forts to economize wherever possible, Hanna added, since 1914, has been per cent, while the increase in revenue has been 115 per cent and the increase in rate of fare 63 per cent. The present tendency of the price of street railway materials is upward und there is no indication of any re- duction in wages, he said. Mr. Hanna declared that if the pro- posed fare had been In effect during 1523, other conditions remalining the same, the revenue would have falled by nearly $300,000 to meet actual op- erating costs and taxes. In Seattle, he added, under municipal ownershi; when the street car fare Was I duced from 10 cents to 5 cents, an In- roase of dbout 4 per cent in pas- sengers was reported and the ten- cent fare was re-established. Answering a question from Senator Copeland as to possible decrease in Directly om) the company's revenues, due to decline | gianley, in the population of Washington, Mr. Hanna explained the population of this city was estimated in 1923 as 418,619, " The number of federal em- ploves is steadily decreasing, he sald, although tho population as a whole is larger than in 1920, when the fed eral census was taken. Federal em- loyes, however, he added, are street car riders, while those who have made up the difference between the 1920 population—437,671—and the estimated 1923 population are not street car riders. Accountant Questioned. Examination by Senator McKellar, author of the G-cent carfare bill, of V. Fisher, an accountant of the Public Uttlitles Commission, centered on whether an item of more than $800,090 entered on the books of the company for old equipment was used ior fixing fares. During the course of the examination of Mr. Fisher Sena- tor McKeilar sald he did not think the Public Utllities Commission of the District i3 obeying the law in fixing the present rate of fare on the street car companies of Washington, ex- plaining that he was not against reasonable expenditures for upkeep ©f trackage and equipment. Reproduction cost of the street rallway companies of the District. to. day would be greater by about $4, 000,000 than the valuations of 1919, which were based on 1914 prices, Mr. Fisher declared. Walter C. Allen, cxecutive secretary of the Publio Utllities Commission, explained the commisslon takes as a fair value of the ruilway companies the cost price of any additions to equipment. In- creased prices of equipment within the past few years have not been taken into account, he added, al- though Senator Ball declared that the cost of property in Washington has increased greatly since 1914, Mr. Allen was asked by Senator McKollar why members of the Public Ttilittes Commission did not appear at the present hearings without be- ing asked to testify. He sald he be- lleved thelr presence would make them available to questioning in case they were needed. The Tennessee senator sald he could understand hy he has the disapproval of the Capltal Traction Company, in answer to a statement by Mr. Hamiiton, which did not charge him with such disapproval. *I think the fares ought to be lowered,” he declared. The committee adjourned at noon to meet again next Thursday morning at 10 o'clock. DAUGHERTY TO STAY IN DELEGATE RACE Attorney General Daugherty will be retained on the list of Coolldge delegates-at-large from Ohio to the republican national convention re- gardless of the fight upon him in the Senate and regardless of whether he remains In the cabinet. This has been decided at a confe: ence concluded here today by Hoke Monithan, manager of the Coolldge aign in Ohio, with Willlam M. and other of Coolidge leaders. Ponithan belleves Mr. Daugh- 'a cendidacy Is a personal matter the Ohio voters should be to pass in the primary, if Attorney General desires it. The period for filing of candidacies for delegate expires toda¥e ___.._.._ 4 Hamilton, presi- | .{APPOINTED. HEAD OF GIRLS’ SCHOOL Appointment of Miss Lottie R. Richardson to be superintendent of the National ' Training School for Girls was announced following a meeting of the trustees yesterday afternoon. Miss Richardson has been connected with the school in varfous capacities for more than ten years. She succeeds Miss Altona F. Gales, who resigned recently. The board named Mrs. Leola Nel- #on King assistant superintendent in direct charge of white girls. Mrs. O. L. Veerhoff, president of the board of trustee: arrangements are now being mado to transfer the approximately twenty white giris to the new branch of the institution acquired "near Mulrkirk, | Ma. | granted jintention of Out of appropriation of $82,000 Congress last year the 0ard purchased 144 acres of the old Elwood farm, on which several cot- tages and outhouses are avallable for immedlate use. Plans are now be- ing drawn by the municipal architect for the construction of a central ad- ministration bullding on the farm. The colored girls will remain at the quarters on Conduit road. BITTER ONSLAUGHT BY DEMOCRATS IN DAUGHERTY MARKS DEBATE IN SENATE (Continued from First Page.) the 3 authorized none since I left Wash- ington,” the telegram said. Senator Willis explained he had talked with Senator Wheeler about the make-up of the committee and had suggested several republicans as desirable members. mentioned Mr, Borah of Idaho, Jones of Washington, Ernest of Kentucky and Shortridge of Califoraia. he sald, “thers was no purpose to ‘pack the “I submit, s the senator feel he has told e whole story?" asked Senator Wheeler. “Did I not ask you to se- lect one man from the so-called pro- gressives on the republican side and uuTgeclla\pa'!" “The first name mentioned was that of Senator Borah, who is usual- ly considered fairly progressive,” re- turned Senator Willia. He added, however, that Borah had declined to serve. “Did you talk with the Attorney General “about the committee?” Sen- ator Caraway then asked. es said Senator Willls. “It was discussed. I told him what the usual procedure wa: ¢ it customary to let the man on trial select the ‘jury?” pursued the Arkansas senator. gesorainty not: nor was that sug- sted or thou, = gested or thought ot shouted Sena ma tor, if he likes, Galléries Are Warned. Senator Willls asked f there was any {mpropriety In an inquiry by Mr. Daugherty regarding the prospective committee personnel. “And how senators stood?" Senator Caraway. ‘There was no inquiry of that kind,” retorted Senator Willis The questions directed at Senator Willis during numerous interruptions led repeatedly to flery clashes which drew demonstrations from the gai- leries. Spectators were twice warned by the chairman that they must be silent. Senator Wheeler then charged that Senator Willis “wanted to pick the committee. “I aid not,’ “That is fals “Didn’t you suggest names?’ “I suggested the names of several senators who I thought would be efficient and faithful" * Voted for Newberry. “Faithful to the Attorney Gen- eral That statement is false,” Senator Willls thundered. “I repeat that there has been no effort on the part of any one to pack a jury in behalf of the Attorney General." Senator Stanley, democrat, Ken- tucky, recalled that Sehator Willls had voted to seat Newberry of Mich- igan. Senator Willis replied that personal gullt was not proved against Senator Newberry, The Ohio senator then declared hat Mr. Daugherty was & man who fights and does not run away. “Where is he now?" asked Senator and the galleries again broke into laughter. “I supposed that the sense of de- cency of the Senate of the United States would prevent such an in- quiry,” Senator Willis replied. “The senator knows that the good wife of the Attorney General {s an invalid and that the Attorney General has gone to pay her a brief visit. The senator is welcome to any satisfac- tion he may get from that. Senator Stanley then arose to ex- plain that he did not know that Daugherty had gone to Visit his sick wite. “1 did not know that the Attorney General's wife was sick,” h d. T did not know even that he had a wife. I know Mr. Daugherty is sic! and I know that heghas gone to the same health resort as did Doheny, Fall and McLean. “I have never yet struck at a woman. But I want to say that I have no respect for a man who hides Dbehind the skirts of a woman, be she sick or well.” Put in Special Class, Senator Willis described Senator Wheeler as having just entered “the we-all-know class which recently has become so prominent here.” “He says ‘we all know’ that the ‘White House is Intimidated.” sald Senator Wilils. “Perhaps the senator from Montana has the confidence of the White House and knows what s in_the mind of the Executiv Referring to other charges made by Senator Wheeler, the Ohio senator declared that “those relating to Mr. Felder were promptly labeled ‘utte: ly false’ by that person, and those against Mr. Doheny declared equally baseless.” "“What shall be said,” he continued, “of the senator who, forgafting the proprieties, names himself on the committe to inquire into his unsup- ported charges. Was that to make the committee certainly impartial?” Senator Robinson suggested it was the unbroken practice to name th author of such resolutions upon the Inyestigating committes. ut always by the chair,” retu Senator Willls, “In this case the r.ne:fl ator names himself.” Senator Wheeler asked if the Do- heny mentioned waes “$he same man Who has become the spokesman for the republican part: “No,” replied the Ohlo senator. “He is apparently the spokesman for Mc- Adoo. He saild he voted for him forty times at the convention. He also was & member of the resolutions committee which reported the first oil plank in history for & democratic platform. At the request of Semator Wals! said ,said Senator Willle. democrat, Montana, Senator Willis | ¢ ‘Ne th: h read the plank, and then under ques- tiouing conceded that he was not ‘criticizsing that plank at this time.” “Then the senator approves it7” asked Senator Walsh. “Oh, I didn’t say that. You can't get me to approve the democratic platform.” Refers te MeAdoo. Senator Willis sald Mr. McAdoo be- actlve in carrying out came “ver: t plank.’ ‘He got $100,000 in trying to ac- forelgn oil concessions,” e said, “and he would have gotten $1,000,000 if he had put it across.” Senator Harrison, democrat, Mis- sluslam, then read the republican plank in the 1930 platform declaring for “unlocking for the public good the great peat-up resources of the A quire the: announced that | He sald he hadl Senator, udge another’s motives by his | WILLIAM F. HARDING, U. S. OFFICIAL, DIES Associate Editor in Agriculture De- partment Bureau—Prominent in Masonic Order. William Fletcher Harding, associate editor of the bureau of entomology of the Department of Agriculture, a prominent Mason and & resident of this city for the last twenty years, died at his residence, 904 Webster |street northwest, early today. Fu- neral arrangements have not been made. Mr. Harding was born in Indianap lolls, Ind,, September 2, 1868. He was the son ‘of George C. and Mrs. Julla y Bannester Harding of that city. He |graduated from the University of In- diana in 1903 and received the degree of master of philosophy from the 6::- | versity of Chicago In 1906. He ‘was assistant editor of the di- vision of publications of the Depart- ment of Agriculture for nineteen years and for the past year he had been assoclate editor in” the bureau of entomology. Mr. Harding was well known In Ma- sonic circles. He served as worshipful master of The New Jerusalem Lodge, No. 9, F. A. A. M., of this city, in 1917, and secretary of that lodge from | September, 1918, to the time of his death. He also was a member of the Columbia Chapter, No. 1, Royal Arch Masons. of the Adoniram Counct, R «nd 8. M., and of Areme Chapter, O. {E. 8., all of this city. o He is survived by his wife, who was 2 Miss McEnally of Virginia, and two brothers, Samuel B. Harding of Min- neapolls, Ming., and Edwin S. Harding of Indianapolis, Ind. GATEWOOD RITES HELD. Funeral services for Commodors James Duncan Gatewood, M. ¢., U. S, retired, who_died Wiednesday at his restdence. 1708 Q street north- west, were held at the residence yes- terday afternoon at 2 o'clock. Rev. Dr. Wolving of the Church of the Epiphany officlated. Interment, with | military” rites, was at Arlington ce;;\xako’r)'k t a4 uejuckets acted as pallbearer: both &t the residence and at Arling. ton. At the latter place the funeral procession was met.by a caisson, upon which the coffin was placed and carried to the grave. At the grave three volleys were ifired and other military rites, Includ- ing the sounding of taps, held. e honorary pallbearers included: Commodore William R. Du Bose, Medlcal Corps, U. 8. N., retired; Capt. F. L. Pleadwell, Medical Corps, U. S. N.; Lieut. Commander M. E. Higgins, Medical Corps, U. S. N.; Lieut. Com- mander E. L. Woods, Medical Corps, C. 8 Dr. Bertram Gilham, Wil- Uam Page, R. N. Mason, H. L. Rust, J. Harrfs Franklin and Judge L. C Barley of Alexandria, Va. WROTE PAPER “13,” GRAVES DECLARES (Continued from First Page.) “When dld you first see a draft of this oplnion?” ‘I saw a copy about February 6 or replied Mr. Graves, adding that it was glven to Herbert D. Brown, chief of “the Bureau of efciency, at the White House, and by the latter @iven to him. Mr. Brown was present at today's session of the hearing. “Then the similarity of argument in your prepared argument here and from the Department of pure coincidence?” asied Mr. Lehlbach, “1 wouldn’ say that replied Mr. consulted with Judge Caldwell” The witness sald Mr. Cald- well had sald he hed prepared a memorandum on the matter, but de- ned that it was the basis of the opinion in any way. Mr. Graves, in his testimony, de- clared that to delay the allocation until class specifications had been made would have made [mpossible compllance with the classification law, which called for use of esti- mates based on classification for the budget of the fiscal year 1925, ¥ Mr. Lehlbach tried to pin Mr. Graves down to an admission that the word “class” had been left out of certain sectlons of the classification act for the purpose of makin to reduce an employe's salary in classifyinz him. Mr. Graves, how- ever, replied: “No, sir, I have no such recoliection,” and sald he did not regard this statement as a “rational explanation” of the omission. The hearings will be resumed to- morrow morning at 10 o'clock. Miniature Marvel for Queen Mary. Eminent architects, artists and aus thors have combined to present to Queen Mary of England a minfature doll's house that will be & marvel of skill. Ite base will be no larger than 3 biillard table; it will contain_ real grounds with hedges, trees and ‘gar- dens; its room> perfectly furnished and decorated with real materials, and among the furniture pieces will be a grand piano seven inches over all in dimensions, but perfect in mechanism. country.” There was another burst of laughter in the galleri; Referring again to den! he characterl: the * knows stories” of Senator Wheeler, Senator Willis said that “the only statement that the senator was able to get away with was that about a dead man, Jesse Smit] Reads Rochester Message. Senator DIll, democrat, Washing- ton, interrupted to read the telegram sent by E. 8. Rochester, who, he sald, was “Mr. Daugherty's confiden- tial man.” to E. B. McLean, advising him of the oll committee's intention to inquire into his bank account. Sen- ator DIl asked for Senator Willls’ opinion and the Ohlo senator replied that if any Department of Justice employe had sent such a message It was “highly improper and he ought to be_punished. Senater Wheeler then brought up the McLean telegram before the ofl committee referrigs to Wit “The fact that fhe senator is will- ing to glve publicity to a thing like that, 1s & fact proving he is unfit to sit ‘on this jury,” Senator Willls shouted. “I know mothing of that; it is an enigma to me.” He added that any person or news- paper which identified him with any- thing connected with the ofl case ut- tered *“a wickedly, criminally, mali- clous falsehood.” Senator Wheeler replied that he only desired to give Senator Willis an opportunity to show the fécts. Charges Plan te Comnceal Senator Heflin, democrat, Alabama, then made & charge that Attorney General Daugherty had sought to shield from prosecution a republican ntll::nfl committeeman in a western stal “I have seen a letter that wdll be shown in this investigation, written by the Attorney General to a district attorney in the west,” sald Senator Heflin, “that will open the eyes of the nation. The man who showed it to me sald it was only an Incident as what is to come. “In the case I am talking about now, a republican national commit- teeman was involved, and instead of prosecuting him the Attorney Gen- eral writes to the man who is sup- posed to prosecute him and says that any favors will be appreciated, Language is Queted. “In that ter there is this lan- : ‘He is our man.'" Heflin also attacked government counsel for thelr faflure to stop the taking out of ofl from the naval re- serves. “In ten d"‘l’, If an injunction has not been issued,” he sald, “and if the ofl has not been pumping _of the stopped, 1 will favor removing these two attorneys end appointing two country lawyers who will stop it in twenty-four hours.” it impossible ; LIQUOR SMUGGLERS FLOUT U. & DIGNITY, CONGRESS IS TOLD (Continued from First Page.) conférence with the prohibition en- forcement officers as to the extent of rum smuggling. Emphasis was placed on the state- ment, brought out by Chairman Mad- den that the President of the United States has directed that rum smug- gling must be surpressed. Situation Describe Reterring to the rum smuggler and his organization as the ‘“enemy” Commander Root described the situ- ation as follow: “The mission of the enemy Is to make money. His motive is cupldity. |His operations are carried on by a force limited only by opportunities to use it. His legal and technical ad- visers are persons of the highest skill, unhampered by principles of any kind. He employes sca-golng people, some of the desperate char- acter, many of whom served in al- lied armies and navies during the world war. These people are armed and will fight {f there is a chance of advantage by so dolng. Whenever possible, the encmy re- sorts to_bribery to dlsorganize our forces. Our mission, the mission of the government, and the coast guard, is to make his operations profitless in order to deny him capital for fur- ! ther operations, “His Ligh seas’ force at the pres- ent time consists of 34 steamery and 132 sailing vessels, ranging in size from 35 tons to 3,000 tons. Some of these vessels are capable of speeds up to nineteen knots. The majority of them fly foreign flags. “His auxiliary craft for making shore contact consists of geveral hundred gasoline-driven craft, about 30 per cent of which are good for twenty-five knots. Most of _this force filed the American flag. Ooca- slonally he has used alrcraft during the past year. Bribery Fund Maiatained. “He maintains a bribery fund and has a shore organization for obtain- ing supplles, marketing contraband and for tre collection and dissemina~ tion of intelligence. Intelligence is transmitted between his forces afloat and ashore by dis- patches in codes and ciphers, and by couriers when extreme secrecy s nec- essary. Lialson between New York and Europe 1s not believed to be com- plete, but is fairly well established. The so-called ‘Rutn row’ off New York is malntained ostensibly as & good business proposition, but principally as a diversion to hold to that point the attentlon of as many of the coust guard vessels as possible. ““With our present force, during the past twenty-two months we have been able to put out of business, by capture or otherwise, 163 vessels. Be- cause of what I regard to be very serious defects in the laws and in the methods of procedure, a large percentage of these vessels have again fallen into the hands of their {original owners and are now in ac- tive trade. alent of 31,000 cases of liquor and caused to be jettisoned under fire an amount estimated at 20,000 cases, or a grand total of 51,000 cases. Wa have also to our credit a small quantity of narcotics. Enormous Skipments. may eeem, it is but a drop In a bucket when compared with the ac- tual quantitles ltaving foreign ports. “From rellable but very Incom- plete secret sources abroad I have information of the following ship- wments from northern European— i ¥ British—ports since January. -~ The quantities are in round numbers: One hundred and thirty-six thousand six/ hundred equivalent cases of three gallons each taken from manifests. 3 “I gay ‘equivalent cases’ because where the quantities have been re- ported in mallons we have reduced it to the quantity usually contained in a case, 80 that the units will all be the same—1.110,000 equivalent cases, { shipped in thirty-seven ships. Total for twenty-six months, 1,245,600 cases, or practically 48.000 cases per month from northern Eyrope alone, Ot the ubove, during the iast three { months of last year—October, Novem- | ber and December—@2,000 cases were ipped from Scotland and 133,000 ases from Antwerp, or 196,000 In months, which 1s about 63,000 5 & month. | ““In considering thess last figures it chould be remembered that they In- clude only the known shipments,-as- certained by our few scattered agents, and Include but two countries. Ma- ture consideration leads me to believe that the direct shipments from Fu- rope alone to the United States amount to not less than 80,000 caces per month. 724000 Cases Arrive im N. Y. “Since last May, or during the past nine months, 724,000 cases have ar- rived off New York entrance in the steamers Bernard M., Bru, Butetown, Gerbervillier, Istar, Johnstown, L'Auroch, Lutzen, Lynntown, Obernal, Papyrus, Strand HI, Uuv, Wyke Regls and in the German schooner fe Freldrich and the Dutch D soner Zeehond. This amounts to 80,000 cases per month, and does not include the thousands _of cases brought to our shores by British and French l;l“nt vessels from the enemy e bases. 2 here are assembled at the present time off Boston two steamers and five schooners, with cargoes con- servatively estimated at 16,600 cases; off Block Island sound, one steamer and five salling_vessels, with 28500 cases; off New York entrance, thrée steamers and six sailing vessels, with cargoes estimated at 124,000 cases: off the deita of the Mississippl, three salllng ve with cargoes esti- mated at 4,000 cases. I have the names of these ships here, but I will not_take time to read them. “That the actual business of smug- gling and whisky peddling along our coasts is rapldly iIncreasing is shown by the fact that fifty-six new vessels have entered the trade since October 1 of last year and six within the 1 week. “With regard to some of the ad- vanced bases: The steamship New- ton Bay arrived at Halifax from St Johns, Newfoundland, on December 21 1 ‘with a cargo of 19,000 cases of assorted whiskies and 500 cases of wines, and sailed again on December 24, ostensibly for Bermuda. New York Base for Smuggling. Commander Root Iaid before the committee a confidential report show- ing that New York is the real en- gineering base for extensive rum-run- ning from St. Plerre, Miquelon and the Bahamas by an international syndicate, which has & fleet of more than 100 craft. The biggest ships are consigned to New York, with thousands of cases on board, where the smugglers say there is an ever-growing market, and one in which supply can never hope to ch up with the demand. 5a Baragraph in a lengthy report from a secret agent of the United States, stationed at Nassau, Bahamas, Jaid before the committee, read as fol- t Palm Beach, lace known ‘Breakers’ does a big business ng liquors They have their own boats running over to West End, Grand Bahama. jothing 1s ever done. They did théir business wide open 1ast year, or season, and are at it again this year, and:all the other hotels in Filorida are doing the same thing. They fear neither law nor order.” ‘Commander Root quoted from an- other secret communication which id that “from 7,000 to 10,000 cases of alcoholic liquor are sent north weekly from Cuba, concealed in cargoes of sugar for Baltimore and New York.” New Companfes Form. He advised the committee that com- panies are now being formed in Eu- rope and elsewhere to enter the rum smuggling trade and gave detalled 1 | thre | cas as in selli “WWe have alsd captured the equiv-| “Large as the amount captured| v ~RET ohk. : THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 1924 : |Ex plains Business’ To Fitzgerald Repl;aemuee Underhill Asserts Proposed Substi- tute Measure More Fair. Lower Rates and Better Safeguards Provided Werkers Is Claim. The workmen's compensation meas- use favored by the three business or- sanizations in Washington, in prefer- ence to the Fitzgerald exclusive state fund bill, s explained by Represent- atlve Charles L, Underhill of Massa- chusetts, who is fathering this legis- lative effort to leave the industrial insurance fleld in the Natfonal Capital open to competition, while at the {same time affording the workers the best possible safeguards and compen- i satlon protection at the lowest cost. Business and civic leaders in Wash- ington have registered the practically unanimous opposition of the Fitzger- ald bill and in favor of the Underhill measure. The following statement, prepared by Representative Underhill, telling just what this legislation means to the people of Washington, 1s being distributed to its members and interested citizsns by the Mer- chants and Manufacturers' Assocta- fon. Representative Underhill declared: “I am in favor of # workmen's com- pensation law for the District of Co- lumbia, but opposed to the govern- ment going into the insurance busi- ness. The Underhill compensation bill fs drafted along the lines of laws In force in most of the states. It has the approval of the Board of Trade, the Chamber of Commerce, Merchants and Manufacturers’ Asso- clation and all of the business inte ests of the District. The business men and their associations have unanimously opposed the bill, which puts the government into the insur- ance business. I contend that the business men and employers of the District, who are to pay for this in- surance, should have their opinions respected. More Expensive, He Says. Government operation of insurance has been uniformly more expensive than private insurance. This is the uncontroverted evidence beforo the committee of Congress. Mutual com- panies furnish Insurance at a lower net cost to the insured than any state fund. The insurance companies also pay heavy taxes, and were these com- panies barred from doing business the people of the District would bei obliged to pay more for their insur- ance and also more taxes. The Underhill bill permits private insur- ance companles to operate in the Dis- trict. The Fitagerald bill bara private insurance companies and creates a governmental state insurance fund. “Etate Insurance's greatest weak: is that neither the employer nor em- ploye is glven proper service. The private insurance companies are do- ing great accident prevention work, ! This prevention worlk consists .not enly of regular inspections, but of the drafting of safety codes, machine dcsigning and safe plant construction. Cites Preventiom Steps “The state Insurance funds have spent_practically nothing for accl- dent prevention work. It is to the interest of all that accidents be pre- vented rather than paid for after they oceur. “The private insurance companies have established rehabilitation hos- pitals over the country, where injured workmen are sent, free of cost to themselves, and their Injuries are properly treated. Expert services frequently can restore the workmen where ordinary medical attention would fall. Often the medical serv- ices thus given exceed in cost the compensation allowed by law. Dur- ing all the period of treatment no de- duction is made from the compensa- tion allowed to tae worker. The ad- vocates of governmental Insurance sesk to estabilsh the Ohio govern- mental plan in the District. “The official Teports of the United States Department of Labor show that very poor service is given under the Ohio plan. No accident preven- tion work worthwhile ia done, Nttie if any rehabilltation is attempted, claims are long overdue and work- men suffer because they are unable to get thelr compensation. “Wherever _ state insurance has gained & foothold politics has entered in to play havoc with the system. Favoritism in rates, favoritism in claim settiement, ineficiency due to political appointments and all of the other customary weaknesses have crept In. “Under the new insurance code recommended for passage by the Dis- trict committee. all insurance rates Opposition Compensation Bill Representssive C. L. Underhill. charged in the District will be sub- ject to regulation for their reason- ableness. Any person in the District Wwill have the right to complain to the insurance department about the rate charged him and secure an adjust- ment. This assures reasonable rates and fair treatment to the people of the District from the private insur- ance carriers. It s not necessary to piit the government into the insur- ance business to secure reasonable insurance ratee. Regulation will ade- quately accomplish this without any of the drawbacks incident to the gov- ernment going into the business. “The governmental insurance bill will by its operation drive out of em- ployment the wounded war veteran, the partially disabled and aged wor! er. This was clearly proven to the committee and the dfscrimination was admitted by the advocates of the Fitzgerald measure. The Underhill compensation bill does not discrimi- nate against any worker or war vet- eran. “I belleve in workmen's compensation laws. I believe the employers of the District are entitled to place their insurance In private carriers, many of whom give this insurance at a lower net cost than state funds. “I belleve the employes are entitled to secure the services rendered by private insurance companies through accident prevention, rehabilitation of the injured and the prompt payment of ‘thelr claims. I believe it is more in the spirit of workmen's compen- sation insurance to protect the workman and to prevent accidents than it is to simply pay a sum of money after preventable accidents have occurred. I do not belleve that the wounded war veterans, the aged or partially disabled employe should be discriminated against and thrown out of industry. I do not believe in government ownership of the {nsur- ance business. On the contrary, I do belleve in the principle that the ad- vancement of the future must come from private initiative. “There are thousands of men and women employed In the Insurance business, doing an educational work, paying taxes, providing for their fam- 1iles and adding incldentally to the wealth and prosperity of the nation. Ara these peopie to be deprived of their employment, driven into other lines of activity or placed upon the public pay roll, where industry {s stifled, incentive smothered, initiative strangled and discontent encouraged? Many of them are Incapacitated be- cause of their physical condition to engage in other occupations. Insar ance solicitation and service is a lesi- timate field for thelr activities. They are as much entitled to consideration as those who engage in any other line of Industry, and entitled to the pursuit of life, liberty and happiness without the government taking thelr jobs sway from them. Let us have less government in business and more business in government. Woman Commands Ship. The four-masted schooner Ruth Martin, which plies between the New England coast and Florids, is in com- mand of a woman, Capt. Jennle Crocker. She became skipper of the schooner at her husband's sugsestion |after she had gone to €ea with him ,for years. She passed the examina- i tion with flying colors, and at times commanded her husband when he was aboard. Her steward ls her father-in-law, and she is the only woman on record in command of an ocean-going craft. _— information regarding some of these concerns. Advices he received up to as recent & date as February 24 show- ed twenty-three vessels (the names of which he laid betore the committee) then en route for Atlantic and gulf coast ports. Graphic description of the audacity, skill and courage of the rum-runners in open deflance of the customs serv- ice of the ‘United States was given by Commander Root. “There is a trump card which we have not yet played,” Commander Root told the committee. “However, if we are not soon provided with vessels of sufficient speed to run the rum runners close aboard, and make escapes impossible, it will be neces- sary for us to play our full hand. The rum runner can be stopped, if within range. With the area illumi- nated by star shells, with a couple of ranging shots followed at once by shrapnel, the boat will not only be stopped but destroyed. It .is not usual for experienced officres of he law to allow any” person to escape once he is ordered to halt, and we cannot afford to do so if the prestige ‘o:‘ thda government is to be main- ned.” Conclusions Sumstarized. Summarising his conclusions after this most exhaustive study of the real situation, Commander Root told the committee it {s apparent that () The enemy is engaged in open and organised warfare on the Consti- tution. (b) He is practically unhampered in his operations by this or any other government. (c) He is introducing into this country at least 100,000 cases per THE EVENING N The Book That Shows Uscle Sem At Work month by way of the Atlantic and gulf coasts. “Non-enforcement of the law tis bringing the national government and the very Constitution itseif inte con- tempt and, what is almost equally bad, is causing an_ ever-increasing flow of money into the coffers of the underworld,” sald Commander Root. “This money Is being ysed to finance all sorts of criminal ventures, and s, I believe, one of the prime causes of the increase of crime.’ Answering a question by Repre- sentative Gallivan, Commander Root id “that even with the full force ked for, the coast guard, {n order that it might support the Constitu- tion, such force by itself alone will not be sufcient. Old laws must be strengthened and new Representative Gallivan cros: amined Admiral Billard regarding the ility of the coast guard to stop legal landing of liquors, the neces- sity for subsequent annual ppro- priations and whether law enforce- ment by the coast guard will not af- fect its regular work. He also brought out again that the coast guard had been directed “by higher authority” to submit these estimates. Admiral Billard, in answering Repre- sentative Gallivan's inquiry ‘Do you think that we will get law enforcement if we make this appropriation to you of approximately $14,000,000, all these ships and all these men?” said, “Yes, 88 far as the importation of liquor from the sea ia concerned.” Representative Gallivan's line of in- quiry as to whether annual appropria- tions would be necessary brought an ad- mission from Admiral Billard that he could not say how long the expense might continue, and Chairman Madden sald: “I think it is just as well to be frank about it. It looks to me that if ou establish & police foros to enforce & aw or to prevent the commission of a crime you would have to keep up the police force.” STAR COUPON “THE AMERICAN GOVERNMENT” PRESIDENT WILL STRIKE SOON FOR CLEAN REGIME (Continued from First Page.) ready to comport himself accord- ingly. ¥ha White House continues to be assured, from various parts of the country and in a great variety of ways, that Mr. Coolidge’s hold on gflpflllr oconfldence is not only secure, ut has been strengthened as the waves of oll hy: across the continent. Mansion’s advices are, roughly, to the effect that “jumpiness” exists mostly in Washington and in New York. Country at Large Calm. Nearly everywhere else apparently people are keeping their heads and “trusting Cal.” Yet, even friendly and reassuring. messages to that ef- fect are ‘usually accompanied by the thought that soomer or later the Prestdent must do something to show that national confidence in him is Justifled. “Seoing is belleving”—that s what seems to be a widespread fesling. Unless some exceedingly ‘well informed persons now in Wash- ington are misled, Calvin Coolidge presently will do the necessary thing 0 show believers, as well as skeptics, that he recognizes the urgency of strong action. Coolldge s accustomed to crises. hose who have watched him at close range for y declare he thrives on them. He is used to clamor, too, and to hue and cry. They say it never touches him, That doesn’t mean that it doesn't perturb him. Current de- velopments weigh heavily on his mind. But at no juncture has he re- vealed the slightest indication that they could Stampede him into action he might later deplore. Faced Pressure Before. ‘While Governor of Massachusetts Coolldge more than once found him- self in a jam. Such an ocdasion was the one which he, personally, thinks was a bigger achievement than the settlement of the Boston police strike. The Massachusetts legislature had passed a reorganization bill, whereby the state departments were to be cut down from 118 to 20. It meant the lopping off of jobs and jobholders by the hundred. The bill provided that the reorgan- izat{on could be made gradually over a period of two or three years. Gov. Coolidge decided that it should take place, completely, within the first ye: There was a frightened cry against that proposal. Every polit- ical influence in the state was brought to bear to frustrate it. but the taci- turn governor stood pat. He didn get excited. Made Tp Mind Alome, At one period of the crisis Coolidge practically hid himself away from even his closest friends for a period of ten days. He devoted it to calm meditation. Then he mads up his mind. Without telling anybody that he was ready to act or how he was going to act, he caused an announce- ment to be made public through the newspapers. It was short and de- oisively to the point. That is the procedure, this writer is informed, to which President Coolidge is now having recourse. He s going to do something very decisive. But he is keeping his own counsel and will not do it except In his own time and in his own way. H: is running true to the form he has throughout his whole polit (Copyright, 1924.) NAMED ON COMMISSION. Mrs. Amanda Gray-Hilyer Given Post on D. C. Body. The Commissioners today appointed Mrs. Amanda V. Gray-Hilyer to rep- resent the colored people of the city on the commission on public welfare legislation. With the return to Washington to- day of Willlam Hodson, expert con- sultant to the commission, it ls ex- pected that the organization will re- sume consideration of the several new pleces of legislation before it. hysteria have swept The Executive ! The “Prep” | the com FRANK L. SANFORD DIES AT HOME HERE Employe of Census Bureau for 35 Years—Funeral Services To- mozrow Afternoon. Frank L. Sanford, elghty years old, an employe of the census bureau f thirty-fiva years, died at his resi- dence, the California apartments, 1775 California street northwest, yester- day, following an illness of about two weeks. Funeral services will be held at Wrights' funerad parlors, 1337 10th street northwest, tomorrow afternoon at 3 o'clock. Imterment will be in the Fort Lincoln cemetery. Mr. Sanford was born in South Nat- ick, Mass., March 2, 1544. He had & long and an enviable record as u census expert and distinguished him- self as a representagive of the Manu- facturers’ Assoclatian of América. As a representative of the latter or ganization he visited Europe for th purpose of interesting foreign manu- facturere in the centennial eXposition held in Philadelphia, in 1876. At the decennlal censuses of 1880 and 1890 he was connected with the bureau of the census and on completion of that work accepted a position with the Massachusetts state bureau. In 1899 he returned to the ceneus bureau, this city, whero he subse- quently was continuously employed. His work was confined to industriul statistics of which he had made a very thorough study, his work in the pre- vious censuses and also with the Massachusetts state bureau being these lines. He 18 survived by his wife and ona sister, Miss Annabelle Sanford of Bos- ton, Mas 4,000 ARE GIVEN LAST OF COMPENSATION FUND (Continued from First Page.) the opinlon of Acting Attorney Gen- eral Seymour, the commission denied the rlzht of the controller general to review its findings and awards. “The result of this action by tiw controller general wiil be that payments of compensation, including medical and hospital expenses, can be made after the funds now in tho hands of the commission's disbursing officer are exhausted, which will be on_or about February 29. “The next check which vou will re- ceive from the commission ou or about February 29, will, therefore, be the last which can be pald you until some action is taken by Con- gress authorizing payments in spita ! of this recent decision of the control- ler general. “An_amendment to the compensation law in accordance with the construe- tion of the law as made b mission and the Attorney G now before the Senate and Houso committees on the judiciary, and ths senators and representatives will be urged to take action as promptly as possible. It is hoped that Congress may be made to see the importance of speady sction, in view of the very great hardship which beneficiariesof the compensation law will suffer if the compensation payments upon which they are necessarily depending are delayed.” B Before Congress. The payments have been made nission twice a_month, £0 that unless Congress takes_favorable action before the 15th of March the 4,000 beneficiaries of the commission will be without their check »mplica situation b: ding legislation before the two ary committees at the Cap has been introduced by nator Shor ridge o California, repubiican, and Representative Vaile, repubiican, of Colo- rado. The bills are fdentical in both houses and provide for an amend- ment to the compensation act which would broaden the authority of the commission, _among _ other things providing “the term ‘injury’ includes in addition to injury by accident, at s mately caused by U is already the popular Hat It has a snap and style peculiarly its own—with contrasting silk bands. Pearl, Russet and Zinc are the three favored shades. Lined with silk and welt edge— One of the Mode Specials— $5.00 Exclusive with us are the Henry Heath English Hats — Youman, the famous American Hat—Mode specials—our own stocks—and in addition our “picked” Stet- son and Borsalino styles. Arrived Richard Austin English-made Top Coats—in the new Powder Blue Shade; both fly-front and button through. $40 and $55 All Fall and Winter Suits—no mat- ter what they were—now.......... $21.75 (Alterations at cost) The Mode—F at Eleventh f (ove " Z% ¥ c;;'