Evening Star Newspaper, March 4, 1924, Page 1

WEATHER. Rain tonight and tomorrow; warmer tonight; cooler tomorro ‘und night. Temperature for twent ended et & p.m. today: Hi noon today: lowest, 32, today. . Closing N. Y. Stocks and Bonds, Page 22 Entered as sécond-class matter st office Washington, . C. No. 29,162, 'w _afternoon y-four hours ighest, 66, at at 6:30 a.m. DOHENY OVERTURE ~ T0 WALSH TO TAKE - SHARE IN 0L DEAL REVEALED IN PROBE Chief Prosecutor Rejected Offer on Ground Official Position Barred Business Relations With Government MCLEAN ON U. S. ROLLS AS AGENT, SAYS BURNS Appointed Before Latter Entered Bureau—Obsolete Code Used in Telegrams to Publisher—Me- Adoo’s Son Refuses to Reveal Messages to Committee. Surprises tumbled over one an- other again today when the oil com- mittee resumed its public hearings. Senator Walsh of Montana, the committee’s chief prosecutor, pre- sented correspondence showing that E. L. Doheny sought last December to interest him in an oil enterprise, and that he promptly refused to have anything to do with any ven- ture that might make him appear in a wrong light in view of his official position. McLean Secret Agent. William J. Burns, chiei of the bureau of investigation at the Justice Department, testified that E. B. Mc- Lean had been placed on the roll of secret agents of the department soon after Inauguration day in 1921; that he still retained that connec- tion, and that the famous “Mary” message was sent to Florida in an effort to suggest that he should re- sign in order not to embarrass At- torney General Daugherty. Francis H. McAdoo, son of Wil- liam G. McAdoo, told the commit- dee that McLean had telegraphed him that A. Mitchell Palmer, who v:as Attorney General under Wilson, was acting as attorney for Albert B. Fall and Harry F. Sinclair. Mr. Palmer already has denied any sich connection. Buras Is Witness. The testimony regarding McLean was given by Willlam J. Burns, chiet of the department's secret agents, and Mrs. Mary Ducksteln, former Burns' secretary. They both con- firmed that the publisher had been enrolled on the force of the bureau of investigation. Burns sald McLean was appointed before he became director of the bureau of investigation, but added that he “must have been appointed in this administration.” McLean was placed on the roll as 2 speclal agent because the depart- ment obtained information through him and his newspaper, the Wash- ington Post. Burns testifled his salary was $1 a year. Explains “Mary” Message. Mrs. Ducksteln testified that the famous “Mary” code message she sent to Florida was Intended to convey the infotmation that McLean's con- nection with the department was under investigation. She said it had 10 other connection with oil. Burns told her, Mrs. Ducksteln sald, that McLean might wish to resign if lLie thought his position would be em- barrassing to Attorney General Daugherty. When Burns took the stand he was asked by committee members why he Lad not himself sent the message to McLean. “I have no right to ask Mr. Mc- Lean to resign,” he replied. ‘Walsh Puts In Letters. The evidence regarding Doheny's overtures to Senator Walsh was In an exchange of letters and telegrafns put into the record by the senator himself. He sald he submitted them ‘because word of the correspondence had been “whispered about” in an effort to discredit him and the oll committee. Doheny’s suggestion that the sen- ator or his brother “take Interest” In the Montana project was made before he revealed that he had loaned $100,- 000 to A. B. Fall, but long after the Sense inquiry into the Doheny and Sinclalr contracts had begun. Telegrams Are Decoded. The committee devoted another ses- slon today to the telegrams exchanged between McLean and his employes while he was in Florida in December and January. A War Department code expert gave the committee translations of the cipher messages found among the telegrams, and Willlam J. Burns, chief of the Justice Department's inas vestigation bureau, and Mrs. Mary Duckstein, an agent under him, were summoned to explain how code once used by Justice Department representatives came to be employed in some of the McLean messages. At the beginning of the session the cipher_messages as decoded at the War Department were presented by W, F. Friedman, cipher‘expert of the Army Signal Corps. They follo Puts Hypothetical Question. “January 18, 1924, 3:17 p.m. “Jobn F. Major, care Washington Post, Washington, D, C.: “This is a hypothetical question. John Doe draws a check for $10,000. On the back of the check is written endorsement as follows: ‘John Doe for purchase of house’ Does bank simply keep a record of the amount (Continued on e 4, Column 3.) COSTA RICAN CAPITAL WRECKED h WASHINGTON, BY EARTHQUAKE, LIVES LOST |Half of 4 San Jose Buildings Damaged in Shocks. merican Legation Suffers as Whole Coast Trembles. BY the Associlited P-es | Two severe earthquakes lasting about three hours shook the Central American coast this morning. Cable reports brought information from San Jose, Costa Rica, that fully half the houses of that city were dam- aged. Part of the American legation | there collapsed, and there were some casualties, but none among Americans. San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua, and Port Limon, Costa Rica, also reported hav- ing been shaken. Rev. Francls A. Tondorf, director of Georgetown University seismo- logical observatory here, said the shocks undoubtedly were submarine disturbances which traveled inland to the Central American republics. Last November he predicted that the next catastrophic earthquake would occur in Central or South America. The first disturbance began at 5:13 am. and reached \its maximum in- tensity between 5:23 and 5:26. Its tremors had not died away when the second disturbance began. The inten- sity of this second quake was reached about_6:67 a.m. and the shocks con- tinued until about 8:30 a.m. SAN JOSE, Costa Rica, March 4 A series of earth shocks, the strong- est felt here in twenty-five years, beginning at 4 o'clock this morning, damaged fully half the buildings of Sun Jose and caused a number of casualties. CALIPH, EXPELLED, TAKES DEPARTURE FOR SWITZERLAND Moslem Pontiff Hastens Away While Great Harem Starves in Mourning. By the Assoclated Pres. CONSTANTINOPLE, ‘March 4.—The caliph left today for Switzerland. His departure follows closely upon the action of the natlonal assembly at Angora In passing a bill calling for his deposition and the abolition of the caliphate. With the adoption of the bill the vall of Constantinople was ordered to execute its provisions within ten days. The deposed. caliph, Crown Prince Abdul Effendi, cousin of Sultan Mo- hammed VI, is fifty-two years old and was elected caliph in November, 1922, by the grand national assembly at Angora, which yesterday adopted the deposition measure, FAILS TO SAVE WOMEN, Eemal Would Have Exempter Cal- iphate Family. CONSTANTINOPLE, March 4— Adoption by the national assembly vesterday of the bill calling for depo- sition of the caliph and abolition of the calipbate was attended by lively discussfon in consequence of a pro- posal by President Mustapha Kemal Pasha to exempt the women of the caliphate family from expulsion. His proposal uitimately was rejected, the bill being voted integrally. The vall of Constantinople was commissioned to execute its provisions within ten days. ¢ is reported from Angora that several independent tribunals with unlimited powers are to be appointed immediately, and that their jurisdic- tion will extend to Constantinople and include power to inflict the death penalty. BRITISH FEAR REACTION. Contention in India Certain Over Caliphate. By the Associated Press. LONDON, March 4.—The sponsoring by the Turkish government of the bills calling for the abolition of the caliphate and the suppression of re- ligious instruction in Turkey has been the cause of much speculation on the part of British officlals re- garding what will be the effect of these drastic measures in India and other Mohammedan countries. The British have been unalterably opposed to doing away Wwith the caliphate, because the spiritual juris- diction of the caliph extended, nom: inally at least, over Great Britain' seventy million Moslem subjects in India. With a view to maintaining quietude among this vast multitude, the British government, it became known today, will let Turkey severe- ly alone during the radical transi- (Continued on Page 2, Column 4.) CRACK PENNSYLVANIA TRAIN IS DERAILED Three Cars Leave Tracks During " Forty-Mile-an-Hour Run Near Pittsburgh. ' i By the Assoclated Press. - {» PITTSBURGH. March 4. — The : Broadway-Washington limited, crack extra-fare train on the Pennsylvania lines, was deralled four miles west of here early this morning. Np one has been killed, railroad officlals said, and none has been reported injured. The engine, coal tender, club car and the first sleeping car left the tracks, but did not overturn, although the train was travelling at approximately forty miles an hour at the time. Officials _could. give no explanation for the derallment, declaring that neither broken wheels nor spreading tracks had caused the cars and en- gine to leave the tracks. Three of the four tracks west of the city were blocked by the engine and tender, and but little delay was occasioned to the Broadway limited, which follows the Washington- Broadway limited twenty minutes An hour after the acchlent the re- maining cars of the traln were cou- pled to a .fresh engine, the occu- pants of the sleeper wers transferred to another and all were speeding westward to Chicago. - A part of the American legation building collapsed, but the American minister and his family and the American consul and his family es- caped uninjured. No injurles to any Amerigan residents® have been re- ported. Communication with nelghboring cities i entirely cut off, San Jose. capital of the republic of Costa Rica, has been visited & number of times by Rerious earth quakes and slight earth tremors are frequent. In 1879 the cathedral was destroyed by an earthquake, and again in ‘1888 much damage Wwas caused by an earth shock. The city, which has a population of more than 40,000, lies in a valley in a very rich agricultural region. it has_well paved streets, parks, an electric lighting system, an observa- tory. national museum and institute of physical geography. SAN JUAN DEL SUR, Nicaragua, March 4.—Three distinct earth shocks were felt here shortly after 5:15 o'clock this morning, New York time. No damage has been reported. NEW YORK, March 4. —Earthquakes shook Port Limon and San Jose, Costa Rica, early today, sald a message re- celved here by the All-America cables. The first quake occurred at about 5 a.m., and was followed by others. The tremors were continuing at 8 o‘clock. Many buildings im San Jose were damaged. COOLIDGE REMAING FIRM 1N SUPPORT OF MELLON PLAN Declines to Comment on House Bill—Hopes Senate May Alter Measure. Adherence to the principles and provisions of the Mellon tax plan was reaflirmed today by President Coolidge. A direct inquiry as to whether the President would approve the compro- mise bill brought the reply that he could not say at this time whether he would veto or approve a hypothet- ical measure. Mr. Coolldge’s position relative to tax legislation remalns exactly as outlined in his message to Congress declaring for the Mellon plan. This was made clear at the White House in answer to inquirles about the compromise bill passed by the House. In making the President's position known today, however, a spokesman for him emphasized the fact that he hopes the Senate will not pass a bill such as was passed by the House last week, but which will correspond, at least so far as the fundamental principies are concerned, to the orig- inal administration tax plan drawn up' by Secretary Mellon. ‘The President does not care to give even a hint at this time as to what he might do when the tax bill finally reaches him for action. In other words, he does not think this is the time to say that he would veto a bill that might be termed hypothetical in its construction, nor does he think a President should, this far in advance, say whether he will approve a meas- ure other than the one he had orig- inally recommended. In the event that the tax bill finally passed and agreed to by the conferences of both the House and Senate Is of a nature so far removed from the original administration plan, the President, it was intimated, will ‘give it much thought and study to determine if it is for the best in- terests of the public at large, and if he reaches this conclusion, although it is not what he personally antic- ipated, he probably will sign it. ONE HURT, 7 ESCAPE AS FLOOR CRASHES A One man was Injured and seven others had narrow escapes shortly after noon today, when the second floor of a house at 14th and Q streets collapsed under them. Harry Gray, colored, of 31 F street northwest, was the only man hurt. He was taken to Freedmen's Hospital, where physicians said his injuries were not serious. The men were demolishing the structure, Too many bricks had fall- en on the floor and it crashed through to the cellar, carrying Gray with it. He was able to crawl out alone. The other men jumped to safety. F. E. Middleton, the fore- man, finding himself stranded in a i second-story window, completely iso- llated, he was obliged to climb |arouna, the cornice of an adjoining ouse to safety. The collapse of the floor left the walls without support and _they threatened to topple ove! lines were established to keep traffic Pollce sud pedestrians at a safe distance until_they can be demolished. . Thrills! One of the best detective stories written in years begins ) In Today’s Star “The Mystery of Lynne Court” By J. S. Fletcher —is charmingly written, contains splend’ivd charac- ter studies and will hold the reader to the very last word. Begins in Todaé’s Star, on Page I hming ‘ ;to the Navy Department, WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION D. C, ICOOLIDGE T0 LEARN NAMES OF ACCUSED REPRESENTATIVES Senate Committee Drops In- vestigation of Grand Jury Report on Forbes. GARRETT ASKS PROBE IN HOUSE RESOLUTION Senator Reed Declares Prompt Prosecution, Not Inquiry, Is What Is Needed. Representative Garrett, democratic leader in tha House, today proposed an investigation of the evidence de- veloped before a Chicago grand jury that “two members of Congress had improperly accepted money in con- nection with securing paroles and pardons of persons convicted df crime.” In a resolution Mr. Garrett asked that & special House comimttee of five members determina the basis of the allegations. “The honor and dignity of the Con- gress,” sald the resolution, “requires that the facts be immediately ascer- tained, to the end that such action as is essential for the Congress itself to take, may be promptly taken.” Speclfically the Investigating com- mittee would be authorized to deter- mine whether the “two members of Congress” mentioned are members of the House of Representatives, and “if so to make such further investigation as may be essential to establish the truth or falsity of the allegationi The resolution was referred to the rules committee, of which Mr, Gar- rett {s a member. s Mr. Garrett's resolution was pro- posed a littly while after the Senate committee fAvestigating the Veterans' Bureau decided not to take further action on the allegation contained in the Chicago indictment of Col. Charles R. Forbes. Senator Reed declared that the in- formation furnished the committee concerning two members of the House of Representatives showed that it was not a matter for investigation, but for prompt prosecution. Will Give Coolidge Names. A member of the special Senate com- mittee stated after a conference with John W. H. Crim, government counsel in the case, that it was the under- standing of the committee that Mr. Crim would give to the President the names of the two representatives in- volved in the charges made by the Chlicago grand jury. Although declding not to investigate the charges involved in the grand jury report, the committee urged upon Mr. Crim the prosecution of alleged irreg: Iarities in the Perryville hospital cases. The committee authorized Senator Reed to make this statement: Confer With Crim. “The Veterans' Bureau investiga- ting committee spent more than an hour with Mr. Crim this morning. He declined to tell us the names of the two members of the House of Repre- sentatives who were meant by the Chicago_grand jury in their state- ment. He described in general terms the matters with which they were supposed to have been connected. “Those matters have no_rel whatever to any phase of Vete: Bureau activities and are clearl outside the scope of our committee' authority. ““Any investigation by us into these matters could only impede prompt prosecution. What we need here is less talk and more actlon. It seems to be a matter for prompt prosecu- tion, and we do not intend to delay it or to aid the defense by an investiga- tion that is beyond our function. “The Chicago grand jury, of course, had no authority to act on the Perry- ville matter. I hope that that will soon be presented to a grand jury here in the east. But we do not want to interfere with the Chicago prose- cution by insisting upon that. to the embarrassment of those prosecutions. We want it to be taken, up guickly and not to interfere with"the Chicago prosecutiong by urging it. Daugherty Alded Probe, “Mr. Crim reported to us that he has had the fullest co-operation from the Attorney General and that he has not been impeded by any person in official position.” . The meeting of the Senate com- mittee Wfl\ called by Senator Reed after a discussion of the grand jury report yesterday with President Cool- idge, and the district attorney at Chicago was asked immediately whether the evidence sufficiently in- dicated connection between the al- leged improper payments and_the ‘eterans’ Bureau to give = mitiee Jurisdiotion. . o the com ‘The President and Senator Reed ‘went over the entire special report of the grand jury, it is understood, but no announcement was ma afterward reference to the statement that other indications of graft had been uncovered but not de- veloped for want of jurisdiction dur- ing the inquiry that led to the in- dictment of Forbes. In addition, Representative Britten of Illinols, ranking republican of the House naval committee, which ia about to resume its inquiry_.into the oil reserve matter, sald Secretary Denby would be invited, before he retires March 10, to explain his part In the leasing. He introduced a resolu- !tion putting twenty-three questions “intended fto clarify the atmosphere surrounding the oil scandals and to bring out the really gbod sides of this national and he asserted in a state- !ment that “both Secretary Daniels and Secretary Denby were headed in the same direction for the protec- tion of Navy oil.” R BANKER HARRIS CALLED _AS DIVORCE WITNESS By the Assoclated Press. NEW YORK, March 4.—Beverly D. Harris, the banker, whose suit for annulment of his marriage fo Eleanor Elaine Lee Harris is on tria] in su- preme court, was the last witness called today before counsel began final arguments to the jury. . Harris was on the stand when his wife entered the courtroom, accom- led by her sister, Mrs. Rosha Bonder, who. yesterday was a chief witness for the defense. e case .probably will go to the before night, 1o Th dury News Note: Senator La Follette Withdraws His Name from the North Dakota Presidential | p, Primaries. POLICEMAN BEATEN GANG, HE SAYS Greco in Hospital—Names Woman as Alleged Decoy of Liquor Gang. ‘While Policeman Peter Creco of! the second precinct lies in Emergency Hospital today slowly .recuperating from black eyes, a brulsed jaw and painful injurfes about his head, | brother officers are investigating a| story of how he was assaulted carly jyesterday after o party at the Old Dutch Mill, on 7th street. | According to the story Greco re- lated to Licut. Willlam G. Stott, he and three friends—Mrs Myrtle Phil- lps, Miss Lola Brown and Abe Marks—went to the Old Dutch Mill late Sunday evening for a dance. Greco 18 eald to have given another woman, ‘Mrs. Jeanette Ryan, stop- ping at the Commeércial Hotel, $5 for some whisky. ‘Wanted Liquor Evidence. * Greco sald he wanted the liquor as evidence against the place and when he saw the woman leave he followed her. She ledped Into an automobile occupled by three men, according to the policeman, and was about to drive off when he jumped on the running board. The four passenger: dragged him in, carried him to 19th and I streets, severely beat him and threw him out. Then they dragged him back into the car and the next thing he knew he was being tossed into the muddy flats of the Eastern branch. The policeman asserted he wai abandoned and left to die in the flats, but that between 5 and 6 o'clock yesterday morning ome of the men returned in a small coupe and helped him get to Emergency Hospital. There Pphysiclans found he had, in addition to ‘the injuries recited above, contu- sions of the knee. At first it was feared his skull had been slightly fractured, but it is now thought he escaped £o serious an injury. Search for Woman. Immedlately after the authorities had been told the story they began d search for the woman Greco swears he gave the whisky money to. As a result Mrs. Ryan was taken to police headquarters and questioned. She was to return this afternoon for a further grilling. Although Greco asserted the wom- an directed the men when they ad- ministered the beating and relieved him of his watch and $42 in cash, Mrs. Ryan declared that she, t0o, wa: attacked and thrown from the c. t 20th street and Pennsylvania ave- nue. Officers Investigating the case sald today they doubted Greco's story. They pointed out that once the men had thrown him in the muddy fiats of the Eastern branch it is hardly like- ly they would have returned hours later to rescue him. Mrs. Phillips mitted she, Greco, ,Miss Brown and Marks had gone to the Old Du‘ch Mill for a dance. She did not know anything of the assault, however, for she said Greco suddenly disappeared and the next she heard of alm he was in Emergency Hospital. Amother Version Given. According to Lieut. Stott, Informa- tion has been obtained indicating that Greco, who was off duty, was en route home from the party at the 10ld Dutch Mill when some one men- tioned they would like to have some whisky. One of the men in the car offeged to get it for $5 and the money wu‘ given to Mrs. 'Ryan, also an oc- cupant of the machine. She started | to get the liquor and wi ragged i into another car by three men. When Greco, according to the story, re- monstrated a fight started and re- sulted in his being severely beaten Maj. Sullivan has ordered a thor- ough Investigation of the affair. LA FOLLETTE'S NAME WILL BE WITHDRAWN By the Associated Press. LANBING, ' Mich., March 4.—Secre- tary of State Charles J. Deland de- clded last night to order the names of Senator Robert M. La Follettejand Hiram Johnston, Saginaw coynty farmer, stricken from the list of cer- tified candidates for the Michigan presidential primary April 7 as soon as he hears from Johnston that he does not wish to be a contestant. He ‘expects_a letter from Johnston tomorrow. La Follette had already asked that his candidacy be with- drawsy | | I l Star. TUESDAY, MARCH 4, 1924 _THIRTY-FOUR PAGES. ‘]oseph C.Grew Succeeds Phillips As Aide to Hughes Joseph C. Grew of New Hamp- thire, minister to Switzerland, was named by President Coolidge today to succeed Willlam Phillips as undersecretary of state. Mr. Phillips was last week appointed ambassador to Belgium. Mr. Grew has been in the diplo- matic service for a number of rears and received much promi- nence shortly after the United States entered the world war by the efficient manncr in which he handled diplomatic matters in rope and cared for Americans forced to leave the enemy coun- tries. He also was the American observer at the Lausanne confer- ence. HOUSE VOTES QUIZ OF U. 3. SHIP BOARD Special Committee Provided by Resolution for Sweep- ing Inquiry. A sweeping Investigation of the Shipping Board was authorized today by the House. After brief debate a resolution was adopted providing for appointment of a special committee to conduct the in- quiry. Four republicans and three demo- crats, to be designated by Speaker Gillett, will serve on the committee. The inquiry was proposed by Repre- sentative Davls of Tennessee, a demo- crat, on the merchant marine com- mittee. For Extensive Inquiry. The Davis resolution, adopted by a viva voce vote, authorizes an in- quiry into the Shipping Board, Emer- gency Fleet Corporation and subsid- fary agencies since their creation. While the investigators will have authority to go into the management of the board during the Wilson ad- ministration, House members who have been pressing for the inqul predicted it would be directed chi 1y at the administrations of A. D. Lasker, former chairman of the board, and his successor, Edward P. Far- ley, because operations during and immediately after the war were in- vestigated several years ago by the ‘Walsh committee, Chairman Snell of the rules com- mittee, wko presented the Davis res- olution for House action, declared there was no pronounced opposition to it either among House members or on the part of the Shipping Board. Leaders had planned, after disposi- tion of the Davis proposal, to have the House act on a resolution by Rep- resentative Nelson of Wisconsin, leader of the republican insurgents, proposing an _investigation of the aircraft industry, but it was not brought up. BIG FASCISTI VICTORY. Administration Elections Bring Out 70 Per Cent Vote. * MACERATA, Italy, March 4.—The fascisti gained an overwhelming vic- tory in the administrative elections in the commuhes of Urbisaglia, San Gineslo, Pieve, Bovigliano and Monte Ban Glusto, over 70 per cent of the electors voting. Air Above England NEW BLL SEKS TROLLEY MERCER Commissioners Back Meas- ure to Bring Consolidation of Pepco and Railways. The District Commissioners today sent to Congress for introduction a revised bill, designed to bring about merger of the two street rallway companies and the Potomac Electric Power Company. The bill considered by the last ses- sion of Congress calls for the col- lection of a certain percentage of any moneys earned by the company in excess of a falr return on valu- {ation. The revised measure changes this to a direct tax of 20 per cent on the operating Income without re- gard to valuation. The bill relieves the company of |paying the salaries of crossing po- licemen, which amounts to $38,000 a. year for the Capital Traction Com- pany and $60,000 for the Washington Railway and Electric Company. The Commissioners’ new bill re- quires the companies to continue to pay the cost of paving between tracks, Favor Gas Merger Also. It is further provided that the Washington and Georgetown Gas Light companies may emerge. Al- though the two gas companies main- tain separate corporation entities, the commission etates that all of the stock of the Georgetown concern is owned by the other company. The Commissioners believe the gas compantes should be given as much opportunity to consolidate as the street railway companies. In a letter accompanying the bill the Commissioners say they are strongly of the opinion that the two rallway companles should be re- quired to merge before taking in the electric light company. They say they believe that a preliminary merger of the Washington Railway and Electric Company with the power company would not tend to force a street rallway merger, but on the contrary, would retard such a merger. The Commissioners explained _ that their reason for changing the taxa- tion clause, from based on valuation to a flat levy on the income, is that the valuations are in such dispute that a tax based on them would be difficult to enforce. Approved by Budget Bure; Referring to the situation generally, the Commissioners said: “Until .a merger can be brought about, there appears to be no permanent solution of the present undesirable conditions, whereby one of these principal street rallway companies earns a much larger return than the other, but the Commissioners believe that the exces- sive amount now pald to the Capital Traction Company can be recovered to the public through the imposition of & direct tax upon the earnings of the two companies, to be levied until they are finglly brought together into a unified corporation.” The Commissioners explain that the bill has obtained the approval of the budget bureau, and they express the hope that it will recelve favorable consideration of the District commit- tees of the Senate and House. Will Be “Mined” To 30,000 Feet Against Aerial Raiders Barrage of Bursting Shells W ould Make It Impossible for Planes to Move in Defended Area. Smoke Screens By the Associated Press. LONDON, March 4.—An impor- tant scheme of air defense for Great Britain is being prepared by the air ministry and the war office under direction of Col. Ed- ward B. Ashmore, who command- ed. London's defense during the war, according ~to the Dally Chronicle. The scheme comprises a sky defensive extending to more than 30,000, feet above the ground. spen, “will ta¥s Sent areas of ‘e y and so ‘mine’ and net and ‘Col paper, the 8k to Baffle Flyers. barrage them that from the earth level to an altitude of more than three miles no aerial raiders will find it possible to live and move therein, while above that will be an area of bursting shells and other defensive measures. New squadrons of fleet air fighters will g:uol the air to an altitude never fore attained.in aerial fighting.” The paper indicates that part of the defensive scheme is the for- mation of immense artificial cloud screens to baffle raiding aircraft and says the means for creating such smoke palls now have reached a stage far beyond anything done during_the war, . “From Press to Home Within the Hour” The Star's carrigr 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, 103,073 TWO CENTS. |NEASURE DRAFTED TOGIVED.C. EADS INCREASED POWERS Bill Would Place on Commis- sioners Duties Now Devolv- ing on Congress. COULD NAME JUDGES AND EDUCATION BOARD Changes Proposed on Request From Hill After Study by Three Officials. Sweeping authority to enable the Commissioners to decide many ques- tions which must now be passed upon by a busy Congress of the United States was recommended today by a speclal committee of department heads. The first and most far-reaching of the new powers recommended 18 that the Commissioners héreafter appoint the judges of the -Police, Juvenilo and Municipal Courts, the recorder of deeds, the board of charities and the board of education. Now all of these are named by the resident, with the exception of the school board members, who are se- lected by the justices of the District Supreme Court. In making public the recommenda- tions Commissioner Rudolph made It plain that he and his colleagues had not yet approved them. The report was prepared in the form of a bill for introduction in Congress by Cor- poration Counsel Francis H. Stephens, Auditor Danlel J. Donovan and Danlel E. Garges, secretary to the board of Commissioners. Suggested on “HIIL” Although the Commissioners them- selves have believed for some time that present law requires Congress to Pass on too many local matters, the report made public today was drafted at the suggestion of men on Capitol HilL The Senate District committee sev- eral Weeks ago turned its attention to the advisability of broadening the powers of the Commissioners and ap- pointed a subcommittee to look into the subject. The recommendations compiled by the three officials designated to do so indicate that they made a thorough canvass of all municipal activities wherein they thought the Commis- sioners were not clothed with ample powers. Stand of Commissioners. ‘The present board of Commission- ers has already taken the stand that the District building should appoint the school board and similar agen- cles. Congress took one step last year toward centralizing local authority in the Commissioners when it abolished the board of trustees of the Industrial Home School and transferred to the city heads the power of appointing the board of guardians. New Powers Asked. Among the other new powers asked for in the tentative blll are the fol- lowing: To fix the character and amount of fees for the licensing of automobiles. To name and rename streets, other than avenues and those that are let- tered or numbered. To fix the assessment rates for the laying of water malns, sewer mains, sidewalks and similar improvements. To widen or narrow roadways and sidewalks and to close streets which do not conform with the general high- and William Dondera. New members ers obtain the consent of the abut- ting property owners in the case of closing a street. To Remit Taxes. To remit penalties and interest on overdue taxes and to cancel taxes when deemed in the public interest. To regulate street vending and to prohibit such vending in certain parts of the District. To promulgate special rules and regulations for inaugurations, simi- lar occasions and in emergencies. To purchase material and supplies In the open market. To compromise claims against the District by arbitration, when such & course is in the public interest. To control all public space in the District except property owned by the United States. To sell or lease real estate and per- sonal property owned by the District. To make all necessary eloctric reg- ulations and to require public service companies to disconnect current in houses where wiring or apparatus is held to be dangerous or defective. Could Remove Poles. To order the removal of poles from ithe streets within the fire limits when deemed advisable by the Com- , missioners. ® To carry on public works by day labor when the cost does not exceed $5,000. Above $5,000 the work should be advertised for bids. To extend police authority to civil- fan employes of the District govern- ment for the protection of public property. Power to make amendments from time to time In the general license laws for the conduct of businesses or_professions. The final paragrash in the tentative bill gives the Commissioners power to make all regulations and ordinanc- es deemed necessary for effective ad- ministration of the municipality or { for the protection of life and proper- ty. The Commissioners did not pass on the proposals today, but referred coples of them to heads of the va- rious municipal departments for fur- ther recommendations. e KNIGHT IS NOMINATED FOR U. S. OIL COUNSEL Rresident Coolldge today sent to the Senate the nomination of Samuel Knight of San Francisco as special counsel to prosecute and establish the title of the United States to naval ofl lease lands now held by the Standard il Company in California. Mr. Knight, who was in prominence for a number of years as an attorney pressing the prosecution of land and title cases, was recommended to the President by Senator Shortridge of California.