Evening Star Newspaper, March 5, 1924, Page 1

WEATHER. afternoon; tomorrow fair and Temperature for twenty-four Showers thi cooler tonight; cooles hours ended at 2 p.m. tod yesterday; lowest, est, 63, at 2 . 52, at 10 p.m. yesterday. Full report on page 2. fair and High- Closing N. Y. Stocks and Bonds, Page 24 No. 29,163. Entered as second-cl: post office Washingto n, D. C. . CHARGES OFFICIALS SPECULATED, USING SECRET REPORTS, 10 G0 TO GRAND JURY Stir Created by Evidence in Connection With Veterans’ Bureau Case Rivals That of Recent 0il Disclosures | U. S. GRAND JURY TO GET CHICAGO INQUIRY FACTS Frandulent Liquor Permits Issu- ance and Misuse of U. S. Files Indicated by Evidence—Presi- dent Orders Prompt Prosecution by Department of Justice. Not only the charges against two | members of Congress, but evidence relating to other suggestions of wrongdoing by officials in Washing- ton as well, will be laid before a federal grand jury here immediately. The subjects expected to come under inquiry involve charges that one or more high officials used offi- cial information for purposes of| speculation; - that liquor permits were wrongly procured through use of money, and that official govern- ment files were turned over to per- sons not entitled to them. Creates Stir In Capital, For the present, no offical will dis- cuss details of these charges nor disclose in what direction the inquiry may lead. The development has ereated a stir In offictal circles, how- ever, second only to that which fol- lowed the ofl disclosures. President Coolldge announced last night that the charges against the two members of the House involving acceptance of money in connection with the release of federal prisoners would be thoroughly investigated by a grand jury. Prior to that the Sen- e veterans' committee had held two Sesslons to consider the charges and & resolution for an investigation had been introduced in the House. John W. H. Crim, who was in charge of the Chicago investigation, has conferred with members of both Benate and House, but has declined to furnish them the names of those involved or any detalls, taking the position that the evidence requires!| further development before any of i can be divulged. It was developed incidentally at Chicago, in connection with the Veterans' Bureau inquiry that resulted in the indictment of Charles R. Forbes, Reports to President. Mr. Crim also has reported the facts to the White House, leaving to President Coolldge the decision as to what action should be taken. To- day's announcement was interpreted as an indication that the executive was prepared to demand a complete sifting of the evidence, regardless of who might be involved. The investigation resolution intro- duced yesterday In_the House. by Democratic Leader Garrett. was re-' ferred to the rules committee, -but Chairman Snell said today that no action would be taken on it for the present. He reached this_decision after a conference with Mr. Crim, who told him no information could be furnished a congressional com imittee without embarrassing the Justic Department in jts presentation of the case to a grand jury. White House Statement. ‘The President’s position in the mat- ter was revealed in a statement made ublic at the White House last night y C. Bascom Slemp, his secretary, as follows: Acted With Promptness. “The President, immediately on noting the newspaper reports this morning that evidence before the grand jury at Chicago implicated two members of Congress, gave immedi- ate instructions to Mr. Seymour, act- ing attorney general, and reiterated the instructions again this evening to Mr. Seymour that prompt and im- mediate steps be taken to place the evidence before a grand jury and that he proceed with every diligence in_the prosecution of the cases.’ Mr, Crim made public 1 night a section of the Chicago grand jury’s report relating to the alleged activ- ities of the two members of Congress as follows: Detalls Withheld. “Incidental. to the investigation of matters of “which this grand jury had jurisdiction certain other facts not directly pertaining to the Vet- erans’ Bureau were developed by counsel for the government, which we regard. of great importance. There is no jurisdiction of them in the northern district of Illinofs, but wo are assured by Mr. Crim that he will lay them before the Attorney General and President for considera- tion. We do not feel that it would subserve the best interests of the gov- ernment for this jury to make public at this time the detalls of these transactions. * “This jury feels it will suffice to report fo your honor that they in- wolve (1) speculation by one or more officials of the government wherein it has been asserted that officlal in- formation was used for purposes of speculation; (2) that certain sums of money were paid to two mem- bers of Congress; (Y that posses- sion of a fille of one =) the depart- ments for about 2 monih was had by persons having no offizinl connection with such departments; (4) that money was aoccepted by certain’ indi- viduals (not attorneys) for the pur- pose of obtaining clemency for pris- oners through their intimaoy with officials; (5) that money was col- Jected by certain ' individuals (not sttorneye) for obtaining through such intimacy permits for intoxi- Probe Requires Time. cating liquor. Mr. Crim also made public this statement as to his attitude: “I am working on all of these mat- ters; I can't finish them in a day. Jt may require many days for me to N tinued on Page 4, Column 3.) {Sheldon Whitehouse, WEEKS ORDERS NIXON BLAST INVESTIGATED War Secretary Would Establish Whether Army or U. S. Had Any Responsibility. An investigation of the recent ex- plosion at Nixon, N. J.,, was ordered today by Secretary Weeks to estab- lish whether the Army or the federal government was in any way respon- sible. The War Secretary acted at the suggestion of Senator Edge, re- publican, New Jersey. The investigation will be directed ! by Maj. Gen. Helmick, inspector gen- eral of the Army. 2 It has been the policy of the War Department to store explosives at places remote from population cen- ters, but lack of funds for transpor- tation sometimes prevented it. Ry 2 WLEAN EMPLOYES HEARING DELAYED 0il Committee Adjourns Un- til Tomorrow—Court Ac- tion Seen This Week. The Senate ofl committee again sus- pended its public hearings today to examine a new batch of telegrams bearing on the subjects it has under investigation. After a two-hour executive sesslon adjournment was taken for the day Additional employes of E. B. McLean, publisher of the Washington Post who had been summoned to testify were notificd they probably would be heard tomorrow. The telegrams examined today in clude messages found in the records of the telegraph companies at Palm Beach relating to the affairs of Me- Lean and of Albert B. Fall, who spent a part of January in Florida. Detalls will be held in confidence until the committee places in the public record those of the messages it decides are pertinent to the oll inquiry. A delay In preparation of the neces- sary papers prevented the initlation of court action today by the special government counsel designgted to bring proceedings In the Sinclair- Doheny annulment cases. Clvil actions probably will b estarted tomorrow or Members of some missing gaps in the first batches of telegrams had been filled In, and that Interesting additional informa- tion had been obtalned. Some men- tion was made In the messages of C. Bascom Slemp, secretary to Presi- dent Coolidge, and also of Willlam J. Burns, director of the bureau of avestigation, In the Department of Justice. Senators declared that the refer- ences to Slemp were about his trip to Florida, where, he has testified, he urged both McLean and Fall to tell the committee all they knew about the oil matter and the §100.- 000 loan which Fall obtained while Interior Secretary. In the Palm Beach sheaf of mes- sages was the one to Francis H. Mc- Adoo of New York, son of Willlam G. McAdoo, about which he testified yesterday. Senators said the message sent by McLean stated that the p lisher did -not- know at the time he engaged A. Mitchell Palmer to rep- resent him before the ofl committee that the former Democratic Attorney General s counsel for Fall and Harry F. Sinclalr. Mr. Palmer denied there was any such’ relationship when he was be- fore the committee last week, and some members said he probably would not be recalled for question- ing, as apparently McLean had been misinformed. “Willis” Name Mentioned. The name “Willis” appears in sev- eral of the newly produced telegrams, senators sald, but they added that there was nothing to indicate that the reference was to Senator Willls, republican, Ohlo, who iscued a state- ment last week saylng that he knew nothing about the telegrams in which the name “Willis” appeared and which were made public some days ago. ‘Commltleemen sald there was no record of any telegraphic communi- cation between Fall and E. L. Do- heny while the former Interior Sec- retary was in Florida. The tele- grams received later by Fall at New (Continued on Page 2, Column 1.) MILITARY CHECK-UP ONTEUTONS TOEND Allies to Substitute Civilians on Mission Supervising German Armaments. By the Assoctated Press. PARIS, March 5—The demilitari- sation of the allled Amilitary control mission in Germany was practically decided upon by the allled council of ambassadors today. At & session at tended by Marshal Foch and with the United States represented:' by counselor of the American embassy, the ambas- sador recelved a favorable opinion from the interallied military -com- mittee as to the suggestion made’ by Prime Minister Macdonald of Great Britain that the present military mission be ultimately succeeded by the allled committee on guarantees. Considerable significance is attached to this decision, apart from its bear- Inf upon_the relations between the allies and Germany. It is the first suggestion of the new British labor cabinet to be acceptéd and acted upen by the allied body. -The decision means that the control ot Germany's militai reparations will be exercised by civilians instead of by -army officers, although the in- tention {s not by any means to re- linguish the control. ‘he ambassadors adopted the text of a letter on this subject, which will be forwarded to the ment .tonight or tomorrow, the committee sald sras WASHINGTO! TEACHER PAY BILL GIVEN UNAN:1AQUS C. K BY HOUSE BODY ,Kgller Measure Reported to D. C. Committee—Action Set for Saturday. PARK SITE PURCHASES ARE URGED BY CITIZENS “ &= { | Special Subcommittee Named After Hearing to Inspect Tracts Tomorrow. Tnanimous report in favor of the Keller teachers' pay bill was made |to the House District committee to- day by the subcommittee conducting hearings on the Keller and Reed bills. It will be taken up by the committee on Saturday. After the committee had been told | by representatives of the Washing- ton Board of Trade and a number of | | citizens' associgtions of the urgent| necessity for registering the inten- tlon of Congress to purchase the Klingle Valley, Piney Branch and Patterson tracts, a special subcom- mittee was appointed to Inspect these tracts. Arrangements were made for lsiting these properties tomorrow iand the sabcommittee s to report | back 'to the special meeting Saturday. I In view ¢f this action, Harrv i“’nrdmnn agreed not to begin the cutting down of trees and removal ¢ earth on this tract until he had een advised before next Monday of he determination of the District { Commissioners. The resolution for investigation of the sale and carrying of dangerous | weapons in the District and of the traffic in_prohibited liquors in the i District, fathered by Representative | Rathbone of Illinols, which was sug- I gested to the committee last week | and action deferred, was presented in revised form today and a subcom- mittee appointed. This committee consists of Representatives Rathbone, Iinols. Gibson, Vermont; Beers, Pennsyivania: Blanton, Texas, and Gasque, South Carolina. Baned on Greeme Shooting. Emphasis was laid on the fact that | this resolution and proposea tnvesti- | jgation is a direct result of the shoot- ing of Senator Frank Greene, by & prohibition officer, during a running battle with alleged bootleggers. F. S. Westbrook. by invitation of Acting Chalrman Zihlman, came be- fore the committee with a proposi- tion to take care of alley conditions by davelopment of a colored settle- ment at Capitol View. When it was Jearned that the backbone of his scheme s to have the government loan money for first mertgages om property he was given scant en- couragement. Representative Lampert of Wiscon- sin, chairman of the subcommittee which has been conducting hearings of teachers' salaries, made a unani- mous report in favor of the Keller bill, which Is the original schedule of malaries agreed to in conference be tween the teachers and the board of education. He said that this measure ! has the indorsement of every civic or- | ganization, labor organization and the | teachers' organization. Amendments to be Heard. Representative Blanton has several minor amendments which will be con- sidered Saturday. He declared him- self emphatically in favor of the teachers’ salary bill. Most of the time of the committee was taken up with consideration of the urgent necessity for a determina- (Continued on Page 2, Column 7.) CRIN IS SUMMONED: INDAUGHERTY CASE Senate Probers Want Light on Veteran Bureau Hear- ing in Chicago. The special Senate committee appoint- ed to investigate Attorney General Daugherty today called into private con- ference John W. H. Crim, in charge of the Veterans' Bureau grand jury pro- ceedings at Chicago. Mr. Crim’s advice was sought as to procedure toward obtaining’ informa- tion from the Department of Justice and elsewhere. Committee members also want in- formation about two House mem- bers sald to have taken money for obtaining pardons. This evidence was developed before the grand jury of Chicago. It was suggested that Mr. Crim might be in & position to throw some light on the reason for Mr. Daugh- erty's appearance beforc the grand jury just before it reported. Plans for the investigation of At- torney General Daugherty have ad- vanced sufficlently to indicate that the committee wiil take up first the charges of fallure to press anti-trust law cases transmitted to the Depart- ment of Justice by the Federal Trade Commiission. ‘The anti-trust law cases, which number about fifty, were emphasized in_ the ~impeachment =proceedings gainst Mr. Daugherty about a year ago, and Senator Wheeler, democrat, Montans, prime mover in the inquiry, is assembling papers and complaints dealing with them ry to the expected_opening of the-inquiry next week. Mr. Wheeler, who has been assigned to the task of determining procedure, also has decided in his un- official role of “prosecutor” to employ an attorney to assist him as law clerk. The Federal Trade Commission cases, about fifty in all, figured prominently in . the impeachment case against Mr. Daugherty in the House & Year age Onl 2go, in Tesponse to resolutions by Senators King, democrat, Utah, and Norris, republicin, Nebraska, re- rts . regarding ~Depertment of 'ustioe action on them were trans- mitted to the Senate. Much of the material, however, has been -with involving pending prosecutions, . D. C, CAPITAL TRACTION REIECTS PAY PLEA Motormen, Conductors and Bus Operators Ask 70 Cents Hourly—Will Arbitrate. Tnion motormen, conductors and bus operators of the Capital Traction Company have asked for and have been denied a wage increase from 66 to 70 cents an hour, it became known today, when the correspondence be- tween them was made public. A plea for a 25 per cent advance for all other employes also was rejected. “There s nothing left for the men to do but ask for arbitration,” was the comment of John H. Cookman, secretary of the unlon, after George E. Hamilton, president of Capital Traction, had made public the com- pany’s rejection of the request. The agreement between the em- ployes and the company specifies that wne arbitrator shall be selected by the men, one by the company and a third by the first two to represent the pubflc in wage disputes. Arbitrator's Decree Binds. The agreement stipulates also that the decision of a majority of such board of arbitration shall be final and binding. The application for an increase as made public by Mr. Cookman follows: “In compllance with sectlon 27 of agreement between your company and its employes, members of Division No. 689 of the Amalg=mated Assocla- tion of Street and Electric Rallway means of notifying you that in com- pliance with the provisions of this sectoin, which states that either party to the contract may, by giving writ- ten notice thirty days prior to the 30th day of March, open up the agree- ment so far as the subject of wage is concerned, and therefore we re- quest that sections 18 and 26, which cover the wage, be opened up and changed to read as follows: Section 18. —The wages of motermen, conductors and bus operators on and after March 30, 1924, shall be (70 cents) per_hour. “Section 26. Employes other than motormen, conductors and bus oper- ators shall, on and after March 30, 1924, receive a 25 per cent increase over and above their present rate of wage. Cite Cost of Living. “We feel that it is scarcely neces- sary for us to argue with you the necessity of this increase, since the last wage was adopted, which at that time was hardly sufficlent to meet the cost of living then prevailing. Since that time, the cost of living has so increased that it is not pos: ble for us to maintain the standard of American living as now prevails tinue to work for the wage we are now recelving. “We would ask that you give this matter consideration at.your earliest convenlence, and notify us when our committee can meet with you for the purpose of conferring on thi: ject as the sgreement provides.’ ‘After Mr. Cookman had made pub- lic the application, Mr. Hamilton gave out this reply: “We have recelved your letter of February 28, requesting on behalf of Division 689 of the Amalgamated As- sociation of Street and Electric Rail- way Employes of America the re- opening of the wage question, as pro- vided in section 27 of the agreement bétween the sald division and the Capital Traction Company, and re- questing that sections 18 and 26 be changed so as to provide a flat rate of 10 cents per hour for motormen, conductors and bus operators, and an (Continued on Page 2, Column 6.) bl FIVE IN AUSTRIAN ALPS KILLED BY AVALANCHES Warm Woeather Brings Renewed Disasters—Twelve Miners Saved. Cable to The Star and Uhicago Daily Ne By Cable to The Star 4ad Lhlc ews. VIENNA, March 5.—Warm weather has brought & renewal of avalanches in the Austrian_ Alps, with more casualties. < On Monday & party of miners was caught between Fusch'and Ferleiten. FunrunnT m-nn:‘om dug from the snow. Two had been . suffocated. Another was carried down the moun- tain side and presumably: killed. Two boys were killed. by another avalanche on Untersberg. Many other avalanches weré caused by the rman govern- | held from publidation as confidential, | warm weather, but no' further . loss reported. of life has been Employes of America, we take this| the in the District of Columbia, and con- i ROBBER LEAVES VICTIM | UNIFORM OF MARINE | Walter Reed Orderly Says He Was | Deprived of Clothes and Money in Baltimore. Special Dispatch to The Star. EALTIMORE, Md., March exchange may be no robbery. erick L. Thomason, a civillan orderly at Walter Reed Hespital, Washing- ton, D, C., came here yesterday morn- ing. He met a marine on the street, whom he invited to his hotel. After a short t'me Thomason went to sleep, to awake later and find him- self stripped of his clothing in addi- tion to $25. He found a complete marine uni- form in place of his clothes, and don- ning the same went to the detective bureau, where he reported his los: VAILE BILL MADE WIDERINScoPE Commission_Gains Point in Controversy With Controller General McCarl. i The first round In the bitter fight between Controller General McCarl and the Employes’ Compensation Com- mission, was won today by the com- pensation commission when the House judiclary committee ordered a favorable report on the Vaile bill and also directed that a speclal rule be asked from the House rules com- mittee. Although McCarl's name was not mentioned, the scope of the Vaile bill was widened so that the controller general might not be granted any re- view over the decisions of the com- pensation commission. The bill pro- vided that no administrative officer should exercise such review. It was amended to include also “or any ac- counting officer.” Committee Favors Commission. During the hearing it was made plain that the committee proposes now to give in specific language full authority to the compensation com- mission. which the judiclary commit- tee supposed that commission had under the law, to make its own de- cislons without any regard to the controller general. T In other words, the employes' com- pensation commission is to be Jeft entirely nidependent, as was intended ifn the act which created the com- mission. Controller General McCarl has con- tended that he had the right to re- view the actions of the commission in regard to personal injury cases and that the law does not authorize compensation commission to grant compensation in other kinds of Cases, such as vocational diseases. 1"'The favorable report was ordered jon motion of Representative Dyer of * Missouri ! The committee also decided to seek a special rule because this matter irequires special urgency, due to the jaction of the controller general in cutting off all funds from _the Treasury commission after a fixed date. This threatened to hold up the claims of many persons all over the Icountry. & considerable number of ‘whom have little or no other income. Mrs. Bessle Bruggeman, chairman of the compensation commission, ap- peared before the judiciary commit- tee and made a strong argument re- garding the purposes of the commlis: sion and its rights under the law. COOLIDGE RECEIVES - NEW BRITISH ENVOY Sir Esme Howard Presents .Omlen. tials at White House—Hopes for Friendship. Sir Esme Howard, the newly appoint- ed ambassador from Great Britaln to the United States, was formally re- celved by Pregident Coolidge at the ‘White House this afternoon. The re- ception took place in the east room, and following" the’ presentation by the new ambassador of his letters of credit there was an exchange of felicitations, during which Sir Esme expressed his desire to cogtinue the frieridship and good will that now exists between Great Britain and’ the United ‘States. ‘The ambassador was presented to the President by Butler Wright, third as- sistant secrétary of state. “The new am- bassador was accompanied by Henry G. Chilton, counselor of the British em- bassy, and milltary and naval attaches and eecretaries of the embassy. . WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5, 1924—-THIRTY-SIX PAGES. C ik DUALBONUS PLAN OFFEREDGONGRESS House Democrats for Full “From Press to Home Within the Hour” The Star’s carrier system covers city block and th regular tion is delivered to Washington homes as fast as the papers are printed. Yesterday's TARIFF COMMISSION REPORTS ON WHEAT President Expeeted to Raise Duties as Result of Board's The Tarift Commission today deliv- eted to President Coolidge a report on fts wheat inquiry and the Presi- dent {s expected soon to proclaim an increase in the present dutles on wheat and wheat products. It has been indicated that the com- mission’s findings warranted such an increase, but Chairman Marvin and other members of the commission de- olined to discuss any phase of their report. * Submission of the report had been i held up for two weeks by a row in | the commission as to its exact form. President Coolidge had urged sev- eral times that action be expedited. BAMBLING HOUSES 'NEAR LINE CLOSED Alleged Proprietors of Three in Prince Georges County Arrested. The click of dice at the “Hardwa: and the alluring cry of the faro deal- er at “Fontaines” place will be heard no more if the Maryland authorities have their way. Maryland has de- clared war to the finish against ! gambling houses located within a few iminutes’ ride of the Capitol, just over the District line. Alleged proprietors of three gam- ing houses, to which hundreds of Washingtonians journey nightly to return empty of pocket and remorse- ful of mind, have been arrested, the Cash Payments or Paid- Up Insurance. A two-fold soldier bonus plan pro- viding options of full cash payments or paid-up insurance was proposed to today by a committee of veterans representing House democrate. Representative Jeffers, Alabama, chalrman of the democratic commit- tee, who presented the plan, argued the government owed former service men adjusted compensatilon Wwhich should be offered in the “coin of the reaim.” Full cash payments would elim- fnate administration difficulties and cost involved in other bonus pro- grams, Mr. Jeffers sald, and would enable the government to settle the whole question in & year. Bén&-isiue Propened. It all veterans elécted the cash pay- ments, Mr. Jeffers sald, it would cost $1,319,500,000, which could be met by a bond Issue. He favored compensa- tion for Army officers up to the rank of captain. The same basis of figuring adjust- ed compensation used in the bill passed last session—$1 a day for home service and $1.25 a day for overseas service, would be applied in the plan. Under the McKenzie bill, now be- fore the committee, which is similar to that vetoed by President Harding, cash payments would go only to those not entitled to more than $50. Mr. Jeffers said he belleved officers up to the rank of captain in the Army, and at least lleutenants, should be included in the provisions of the measure. Other members of the committee are Representatives Rankin, Missis- sippl; Milligan, Montana; Connery, Massachusetts, and Browning, Ten- nessee. Amti-Bonus Activities Probed. Before recelving the democratic plan, the committee inquired into the activittes of the Ex-Service Men's Anti-Bonus League. Knowlton Dur- ham, president of the organization, presented a list of contributors to the league and explained that it was operated on contributions, the $1 dues of members being optional. The league now has about 20,000 members, Durham said, and $96,000 has been’ spent in its operations, the expenses now running about $2,000 a month. The variety of proposals laid be- fore the committee in the three days of the hearing are expected to occupy the committee for a longer time than it had planned to devote to the draft- ing of a measure. Chairman Green had planned to have a bill ready to report to the House by Saturday, but now it is feared this may not be_possible. Emphasis has been placed during the hearing on a pald-up insurance (Continued on Page 2, Column 5.) ACTRESS WOUNDED IN RICHMOND HOTEL Policeman Suspended Pending In- vestigation of Shot Both Call Accidental. By the Assoclated Press, RICHMOND, Va., March §.—Miss Bessle Sorrell, twenty-two-year-old actress, known on the stage as “Bllly” Carrell, was gravely wound- ed here early today with a revolver belonging to Policeman Harry Tay- lor. Taylor has been suspended from. the police force pending & complete investigation. He and the girl declared the shot was fired accldentally ‘while she was examining the policeman's pistol in her room at a local hotel at 3:30 o'clock this _morning. ' Miss Sorrell’s holAna l:dl“ !?M""“ W.IVQ. ccording to the story told by Ml Sorrell_at the hospital, whers she was rushed immediately after the shoot- ing, she and lor had been golng together for several years. She sald she stopped off in Richmond while en route to flll-a stage engagement and that Taylor went to her room when he got off duty at midnight. She was examining the revolver, the actress - declared, when it exploded. Miss Sorrell was shot through the abdomen, and her condition was so serious that an fmmediate operation Was deemed necessary. the House ways and means committee | ! gambling houses closed, and the men summoned to appear for a hearing Friday before Justice of the Peace Harry W. Gore at Upper Marlboro. |They are: James A. La Fontalne, i Phillp J. Steubner and Elmer Pum- phrey. The men were arrested a week ag0 by Sherift Fink and Deputy Sherift H. |G. Machen of Prince Georges county after they had been warned by the inew sheriff that they must close their 'doors. They appeared yesterday at {Upper Marlboro before Justice Gore and gave bond in the sum of $500 each ifor their appearance in court Friday. Will Pusk Charges. Alan Bowle of Brandywine, Md., newly elected prosecuting attorney |for Prince Georges county, is squarely behind the movement to abolish gambling houses. He will push the present charges to the limit, he de- clared today, in an effort to purge Prince Georges county of openly run gambling housés. “The state's attorney s going to do Circulation, 103,076 TWO CENTS. COOLIDGE (OPPOSES FILIPING FREEDOM, HE TELLS MISSION; LAUDS WOOD POLICY Declares Islands Not Yet Ready for Autonomy Which, if Granted, Might Easily Become Disaster. ASSURES INDEPENDENCE WILL FOLLOW PROGRESS Letter to Roxas Expresses Candid Opinion That People Have Not Attained Capacity for Self-Rule Despite Cultural Growth of Last Few Years. President Coolidge informed thc Philippine independence mission to- day the time has not arrived when the United States government should grant national independence to the Philippine Islands. The President made this view known in a letter to Manuel Roxas, who is in Washington as the head of the Philippine mission, and in ex- pressing his adverse opinion regard- ing independence President Cool- idge declared “that the government of the United States would not feel that it had performed its full du by the Filipino people, or discharged all of its obligations to civilization if it should yield at this time to your aspiration for national inde- pendence.” Several days ago the House in- sular affairs committee, by a'vote oi seven to five, voted to report to the House a resolution that would grant independence. The letter of the President today, however, is taken to serve notice that the administra- tion will not approve the enactment of such legislation, Confidence in Wood. The President in his letter express- ed “full confidence in the ability, good intentions and sincerity of the present gavernor general of the islands, and sald further that the President has been unable to find evidence that Gen. Wood as governor general had ex- ceeded his proper authority. In attempting to make clear the everything in his power to put these gambling houses out of existence,” Mr. Bowle said today. “We are deter- mined to wipe out gambling in Prince Georges county, and will stop at no measures within the law to close down forever the gambling houses which have taken thousands of dol- lars from the pockets of residents of the county and of Washington.” Spite work some residents of the county declare to be responsible for the arresting of the proprietors of the gambling houses. Justice others term it. Just Across Line. La Fontaine is alleged to be the proprietor of “Jimmy's Place,” or “Fontaine’s Place,” on the Bladens- burg road, not more than 100 feet beyond the District line and just across the road from Fort Lincoln cemetery. Pumphrey is charged with running the “Hardway,” located on the Sultland road, in Spaulding dis- trict, a mile off the Washington- Marlboro turnpike. Steubener, for- merly proprietor of a saloon in Mary- 1and, is alleged to operate a place on the Bladensburg road only a mile beyond the District line. Warrants for their arrest were sworn out by Frank P. Hurd, a former deputy sherift of the county, who lives in Beltaville, Md., and the actual arrests were made a week ago and the places closed. They have been closed ever since, according to Deputy Sherift Machen of Hyattsville. The men sub- mitted to arrest without altercation or trouble, according to Machen. Men Have Counsel. M., Hampton Magruder, formerly prosecuting officer for Prince Georges county, appeared as counsel for La Fontaine at the hearing yesterday, while State Senator Lansdale G. Sass- cer appeared for Pumphrey and Steubener. Nightly, for many months, automo- bllee opersted by ~the ‘gambling houses, have solicited patrons in ‘Washington and have carried those who succumbed to the lure of the green table out into Maryland, us- ually to return lighter of pocket. The houses are claimed to be “on the square,” but the house takes a out and the house always has the edge in the betting. Once in a while a gambler returned with some of the house money by & lucky turn of the dice or the fortunate fiip of a card, but usually the evening concluded the other way about. Houses All Guarded. Strong-arm men, ostentatiously armed with “gats” carried in promi- nent places, handy for use, patrolled the gaming hou ready to take care of any disturbance among the hard-eyed gamblers gathered about the green tables. It was not easy to get in the gaming houses. One had to come vouched for, because the pro- prietors feared the publicity of a dis turbance. There was virtually no limit to the amounts played for with the dice or with the cards. Thousands of dol- lars changed hands each night at all the places. “Fontaine’s,” the largest of the three houses, did the largest business. It was not unusual fro 500 or §00 men to visit this place nightly. All these activiites will cease, accord- ing to Mr. Bowie, and the gambling houses closed once and for all. Ad- ditional information linking up the bling houses with {llegal :lnd- 00k operation over leased . wires ogerltln‘ through a handbook ex- change in Baltimore is expected to b presented to the state's attorney to- MOrToN, - relationship between the United States and the Filipino people and to remove any doubts as to his reasons for not approving independence at this time the President said, “in my judgment the strongest argument that has been used in the United States to support immediate inde- pendence of the Philippines is not the argument that it would benefit the Filipinos, but would be of advantage to the United States. Text of Letter. The President's letter in full fol- lows: “February 21, 1924 “My dear Mr. Roxas: “The resolutions adopted by the senate and house of representatives of the Philippines, touching upon th= relations between the Filipino peo- ple and the government of the Unit ed States, have been received. I hav noted carefully all that you hav: sald regarding the history of these relations. 1 have sought to inform myself so thoroughly as might be as to the occasions of current irritation between the legislature of the Philip- pines and the executive authority of the islands. “In your presentment you have set forth more or less definitely a series of grievances, the gravamen of which is that the present executive author- ity of the Islands, designated by the United States government, is in your opinion out of sympathy with the reasonable national aspirations of the Filipino people. If I do not misin- terpret your protest, you are disposed to doubt whether your people may reasonably expect, if the present ex- ecutive policy shall continue, that the government of the United States will ‘In reasonable time justify the hopes which your people entertain of ultimate independence. Reviews Charges. “The declaration of the commission of independence charges the govern- or general with illegal, arbitrary and undemocratic policies, In_consequence of which the leaders of Filipino par- ticipation in the government have re- signed and their resignations have been accepted by the governor gen- eral. “The commission of independence declares that it is necessary ‘to take 211 needful steps and to make use of all Jawful means within our power o obtain the complete vindication of the liberties of the country now Vlolated and invaded’ Tt proceeds: "And we declare, finally, event, grave and serious as once more demonstrates that th fmmediate and absolute independence of the Philippines, which the whole Sountry demands, is the only com- plete_and satisfactory settlement of the Philippine problem.” “It is occasion for satisfaction to all concerned that this declaration Is Souched in terms of moderation, and that it goes no farther than to evoke ‘all 1awful means within our power.’ So long as such discussions as this shall be confined to the consideration of lawful means there will be no reason to anticipate mutually benefi- cent conclusions. It {s therefore a matter of congratulation, which 1 herewith extend, that you have chosen to carry 'on this discusslon Within the bounds of lawful claims and means, That you have thus de- Clared the purpose to resist your modes of appeal and methods of en- forcing it is gratitying_evidence of the progress which the Filipino peo- ple under American auspices have made towa-d = demonstrated capacity for self-government. Grievances Not Gemeral. “The extent to which the griev- ances which you suggest are shared by the Filipino people has been a subject of some disagreement. The American _government has informa- tion which justifies it in the con- fidence that @ very large proportion at any rate, and possibly a majority of the substantial citizenry of the (Continued on. Page 2,