Evening Star Newspaper, March 7, 1924, Page 1

- WEATHER. Fuir tonight and tomorrow; colder temperature, slightly below the freezing point tonight. Temperature for twenty-four hours ended st 3 p.m. today: “Highest, 47, terday; lowest, 38, at No. 29,165. CHARGES INTERESTS: 1l report on page 17. Closing N. Y. Stocks and Bonds, Page 28 Entered as second-class matter post office Washington, D. C. ASSUREDVIGTORY McLEAN AID; PRINCIPAL? JAE HANON GIEN CURITIS, BENNETT SAYS INTERIOR PORTFOLI0 Telts Committee Attorney Gen General's Brueque Refusal Cost Him Support of_ . Enough Delegates to Nom- inate, Statement Says. CLARA SMITH HAMON ! SAYS STORY IS TRUE! Woman Freed as Slayer of Op- erator, Declares He Told Her Wood Was Promised Nomina- tion—General Refuses to Dis- cuss Allegations in Manila. That certain oil interests, through the late Jake Hamon, republican national committeeman of Oklaho- ma, offered votes oi delegates to Gen. Leonard Wood when the latter was deadlocked in the lead of the republican convention at Chicago in 1920 if Wood would agree to appoint Hamon Secretary of the Interior, is| the sensational allegation of Leonard Wood, jr, in the latter's signed statement disclosed today by the North American Newspaper Al- liance, of which The Star is a mem- ber. His father's rejection of this offer, voung Wood claims, lost Gen. ‘Wood the nomination. Clara Smith Hamon, now Mrs. John W. Gorman of Beverly Hills, Calif., who was charged with killing Hamon and subsequently acquitted, swhen asked to comment on Leon- ard Wood, jr.'s statement pro- nounced it undoubtedly true. Claim- ing that Hamon had never kept any personal secrets from her, said that Hamon had fofd her | H eral Helped Publisher in Fight Against Testifying. DENIES PRESIDENT CONNECTED IN ANY WAY WITH MESSAGES 'Explains Reference to “Rocking Boat” Phrase in Heated Grilling Marked by Tilts With Democrats on Committee. The oil committee was told today that Attorney General Daugherty sent a reassuring message to Edward B. McLean in Florida on the day the publisher was summoned here to testify in the oil inquiry. ’ Ira B. Bennett, an editorial writer on McLean’s Washington Post, testified that such a message was conveyed in a telegram he sent to McLean after a conference with the Attorney General. The message as placed before the committee included such phrases as “All that is possible to be done will be done by us” and “You know what to depend on.” | Bennett then declared that a similar assurance had been con- veyed through him to McLean on January 29 in the famous “principal” message. : PRINCIPAL WAS CURTIS. The “principal” referred to in that message, the witness said, was not President Coolidge, as some democratic senators have guessed, but Senator Curtis. - He testified that Curtis had told him the publisher should not be disturbed ; that it would be “all right.” As partially decoded and placed in U that he had offered the¢ nimination to Wood. When quotations from the statements of his son .and the former Clara Smith Hamon were 1 before Gen. Wood, now gov- erncr general of the Philippine Islands, in Manila yesterday by a correspondent the general stated that he declined to discuss in any way at this time ‘incidents of the 1920 campaign or statements of Leonard Wood, jr. Leonard Wood, jr's signed statement, made to Ed- gar Mels, special correspondent of the North American Newspaper Allfance and the Star, follows: Offer Flatly Refused. “I have known ever since I attend- ed the republican convention in 1920 that certain oil Interests made an offer to my father, Gen. Leonard Wood, which he refused flatly. This!| offer probably would have assured him the republican nomination for President, had he accepted. I am in- tensely proud that my father rejected 2 proposition which - might have forced him to turn traitor to his| country—had he accepted. : “Before relating events occurring | during the convention- itself I must . recite those®which lead up to the! proffer of the nomination. I had besn | in servicé in France, having gone there from the New York World, on which I worked as reporter during my absence, in the early fall of 1919, I am told Jake Hamon, the Oklahoma oil man, come way or other obtained a1 introduction to my father. At any rate, when I returned from France Hamon suggested to my father that I might like to try 'my hand at some- thing more exciting and lucrative than reporting. Hamon invited me to Texas and gave me a job. “Travel with me, he sald, Fou'll be rich. “I went to work and, to be frank, did not see the idea of selling things. 1 objected to the publicity Hamon was getting through me and struck out for myself. Here I want to say a brief word for myself. Certain members of Congress, secking to hit at my father, besmirch me, alleging that I did crooked work selling stock in a fake company. That is a lle. If they want the truth, let them in- vestigate me. However, time passed and my father became the principal candidate for the republican nomina- tion for President. “I was at Chicago during the con- vention. While I was not in the inner circle, I knew, of course, fairly well what was gofng on. I know posi- tively that Jake Hamon made an offer to my father on the afternoon before Harding was nominated, to which my father refused flatly. Seasion Adjourned. “The convention was deadlocked, with ny father easily in the lead. Every- thing pointed to his eventual nomina- tion. Suddenly, out of a clear sky, some one moved for an adjournment. An ‘aye’ and ‘no' vote was demand- ed. Senator Henry Cabot Lodge was in the chair. “The vocal vote as I saw it in fa- voring of continuing the session was overwhelming, yet Senator Lodge, apparently in the‘face of the will of the delegates, gave the “noes” the up- per hand and the convention adjourns and el “Tt was then that Hamon—and per- + thought at the guns. All that is possible to be done will be done by us so you should worry delay selection of pros- ecutor. “Give Evelyn (Mrs. McLean) my love. I don’t want Evelyn to be dis- turbed as long as I am on the job. You know what to depend on. The fight is on me and I am ready for them and feeling fine.” Principal Message Cited. The “principal” telegram of Janu- ary 29, in which Bennett said he meant to convey assurances from Senator Curtls, sald: “Saw principal delivered message he says greatly appreclates and send regards to you and Mrs. McLean. There will be no rocking of the boat and no resignations. He expects re- actlon from political attacks.” At a conference that morning, Ben- nett said, Senator Curtis had told Rim to tell McLean that he need not worry, as he had done nothing wrong except to stand by Albert B. Fall. The sec- ond sentence of the telegram, the witness declared, related to impres- sions he had received from President Coolidge's general conference with the Washington correspondents that day at the White House. The February 14 message, he con- tinued, “contains substantlally what Mr. Daugherty told me.” “Mr. Daugherty as concerned about Mrs. McLean,” Bennett con- tinued. "I think the telegram didn't use his words. He said something like ‘love to Evelyn.’ " Referred to Ofl Coumsel. The expressich about delay In se- lecting a prosecutor, he said, ap- peared to refer to the President's selection of counsel In the oil cases. At first the witness had sald he the assurance came from ‘Wilton J. Lambert, McLean’s attor- ney, and that he was the man re- ferred to in the message as “X.” “But this message says ‘the fight Is on me,’” sald Senator Walsh. “What does that mean? There was no fight on Mr. Lambert, was there?" “I don’t know.” “This doesn’'t hook up,” Senator ‘Walsh went on. “Mightn't ‘X' have been somebody else? There's a good portion of this message whicfl doesn't mean anything at all, if it is Lam- bert.” “I can't help that.” Think ‘H, D’ Was Daugherty. “On February 14 you sent a mes- age mentloning ‘H. D.’'"” Senator ‘Walsh sald, “sbout a conference.” “That, I think, refers to Mr. Daugh- erty,” Bennett said. “I don't think 1 saw him that day, but finally saw hior the same day or ‘the next.” “If we should assumé that the code message of yours referred to Mr., Daugherty,” Senator Walsh said, “that would connect up?” “Strange as it may seem, that mes- sage contains substantially what M Daugherty told me, as well as Mr. mbert. Senator Walsh then read the “Prin- cipal” telegram of January 29. “I'd like to explain,” Bennett be- “The second part of that mes- sage refers to my own opinion, which 1 got from attending the White House newspaper conference. The first part, “the principal’ refers to Senator Curtis.” McLean, Bennett continued, had given him & message to deliver to T Senato: s. “I was to tell Curtis that McLes was all right,” he continued. *“I wa to say McLean understood the attack ‘was more or less of a political mat- ABOUT RESIGNATION INCABINET SESSION Daugherty had-semt:through him to McLean was as follows: “I am at Y's elbow and standing Attorney General Shows No Sign of Weakening in De- cision to Hold Office. Harry M. Daugherty returned from his Florida trip today, went from the Union station direct to a cabinet meeting, where he spent forty minutes, and emerged without giving any indication whatever that he had weakened In the determination not to be forced to resign as Attorney General. Asked the direct question whether the situation hers had undergone any ch:;:e in respect to his position, he sald: answer. I don't know whether the situation in Washington_has under- gone any change while I have been away.” . Not Discussed by Cabimet. Although the Attorney -General de- clined to say whether the gquestion of his retirement came up for dis cussion in the cabinet meeting, oth- ers who attended said it had nqt. “I'm feeling better than I have for five years,” said the Attorney Gen- eral, “although I notice by the newse papers that I am reported to a very sick man.” The Attorney General was met at the station by two secret agents of tre Department of Justice, who ac- companied him as_he drove away from the station. He declined to be stopped by questioners as he hur- ried through the lobby of the execu- tive offices and into the cabinet room, where some of his colleagues already were waiting. Meecfing Lasts Half Hour. The meeting of the complete cabi- net lasted only a little over half an hour. The first members to ledve said the question of Mr. Daugherty’'s retirement had not been discussed. Leaving after Secretaries New and Denby had departed, but before the other members had left, he declined to discuss the renewed move too bring about his retirement, declaring he had been out of touch with all Wash- ington matters except those relating -to the Department ct Justice. Mr. Daugherty’s return to Washing- ton brought him personally into the midst of the new crisis in his cabi- net status. Situation More Temse. The suddenness of his return from Miami, where his wife is ill, has not been explained from any official source, nor has any light been shed on the coincidence of the time of his arrival and the semi-weekly cabinet meeting. He came back to a situation even more tense than it had been pust before he rushed from the White House, a little more than a week ago, to catch his train for Chicago, en route to Miami, after apparently hav- ing convinced President Coolidge that ter. “And the rest of the 4nessage about (Coutinued on Fage 2, Columa 1) (Continued on Page 4.v Column 29 (Continued on Page 4, Column 1) WASHINGTON, D. “That sl a question I hardly can| | ! | i (HUSSEINACCEPTS CALIPHATE OFFER King of Hedjaz Proclaimed by Moslems of Three Arab Countries. i By the Associated Press. JERUSALEM, March 7.—King Hus- sein of the Hedjaz has accepted an offer of the Callphate from the Mos- lems of Mesopotamia, Transjordania and the Hedjag, who have proclatmed nim Caliph, the Transjordanis gov- ernment states. . It is expected, adds the statement, that other - Arsb:Mo#lsm ~ countries will follow their lead in selecting Hussein &8 head of the Islamia world. INDIA RESENTS DEPOSITION. Meetings Called to Consider Action of Turkey. LONDON, March 7.—Meetings of the Islamic associations are being hur- riedly summoned throughout India, says the Calcutta correspondent of the Dally Telegraph, to consider the action of the Turkish government in abolishing the caliphate at Constanti.’ nople. | Those bodies which have met made ]tmflgnam protest at what they con- slder an outrage of their faith. Is- ' Jam, they say, is faced with a serious crisis, which ¢an only be solved by a Dlebiscite of the entire Moslem world. :” The correspondent quotes the Ben- gal Minister Ghuznavi as saying that Turkey hhs wounded Moslem senti- ment and violated Moslem tradition iand consequently forfeited the sym- pathy of Mohammedans throughout | the world. -Ghuznavi looks to King Husslen of the Hedjas to maintain the institution and ,dignity of the caliphate. berino WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION ITALY MAY BE HAVEN. i Government Urged to Offer Hos- pitality to Caliph. ROME, March 7.—Italy desires to act as host to the deposed caliph, ban- {ished from Turkey by the Angora |government, according to the Mes- |saggero today. It urges the Italian government to offer the former caliph !a palace, its protection and its hos- pitality. . : “The caliph, expelled from Turkey, 1s a man without a country,” says the newspaper, “Italy should offer her hospitality to him immediately. Quick- ly proferred to the wanderer, th would accord with the national tra. dition and would also be an act of po- litical wisdom. Italy is the natural gateway between the east and the ‘west, between Islam and Christianity, and ' hospitality oftered the caliph would create a Mussiman nucleus in contact with Latin culture, as well as initiate that rapprochement of the Medite nean races which Italy need: an ever to fulfill her national aimi FOUR SPANISH PLANES WRECKED BY MOROCCANS By the Associated Press. LONDON, March 7.—Reports that the Spanish forces in Morocco have met with disaster in their campalgn against the rebels continue to arrive from Tangier. The correspondent there of the Daily Mail says Rifffan tribesmen operating from Tizziazza toward Melilla, the Spanish base, have brought down four Spanish airplane: time in America, whence he returned & year ago. The Tangler correspondent of the Daily Express r&poru that the ral way station at Melilla was set afir by rebel aviators. . Majestic Delays Sailing. - LONDON, March 7.—The White Star Company announces that owing to uncertain industrial conditions sailing of the Majestic has been post- poned from March 19 to April 9. The service, however, will be adequately maintained by other White Star bogts, {u h Thy The tribesmen are commanded by dorsed Wednesday by the commit- Kald All Benamor, who lived some |tes of five democrats named by the v V;F‘_ CHEER UP’ * SUNSHINE! DEFENSE APOLOGIZING, ‘PUTSCH’ CASE RESUMED Counsel Makes Amends for Attack on Frosecutors of Ludendorff. By the Associated Press. MUNICH, Bavaria, March 7.—The public prosecutors reappeared in court today to continuexthe trial for treason of former Field Marshal Lu- dendorff, Adolph Hitler and others accused in connection with last No- vember’s nationalist *“putsch.” Counsel for the defendants, whose remarks caused the withdrawal of :h: prosecutors yesterday, apologized oday. PAID-UP INSURANCE BONUS PLAN-0.K-Bi= House Committee Approves Proposal—Cash Option Still Pending. Pald-up insurance policies were de- clded upon as a provision of the sol- dlers’ bonus bill today by the House ways and means committee. A mo- tion to include an alternative option of full cash payment is pending. Provisions of the bill passed last session and vetoed by President Hard- ing for vocational training and farm or home ald were definitely eliminat- ed, but an offer of cash payments still s pending. Representative Bacharach, republi- can, New Jersey, stood firmly for a bill providing only for pald-up insur- ance policy payment, but several members of both parties were equally determined that an option of full cash payments be incorporated. Chairman Green had planned to have the bill whipped into shape so that it might be reported to the House by tomorrow, but the dissen- sion over its form is expected to re- sult in a delay of a day or two at least. Row Is Averted. After 8 heated discussion yesterday of the proposals, marked by a spirited verbal battle between Representa- tives Treadway of Massachusetts and Crowther of New York, republicans, further consideration was postponed until today. Representative Treadway was one of those voting against any form of a bonus and when Mr. Crowther later charged the committee with dilatory tactics, which, he sald, were aimed to delay progress of the legislation, Mr. Treadway took issue. One word led to another and Representative Bacharach, republican, New Jersey, stepped between the two members when they started toward each A reconciliation was quickly other three who opposed the bonus were" Re‘a“;;l’l‘l““;le. ngi:‘&. onnecticut, an 8, ow e o i 'y and Colller, democrat, - Representative Bacharach advanced the pald-up insurance scheme and was Instructed to prepare data on it. ‘Several proponents of the full cash ‘payment option spoke for it, including memibers of both parties, and Chairtnan Green, who is opposed to such & scheme, admitted tonight gained considerable stremgth. two-fold proposition was in- House . democratic conference to confer with the committes on a bonus ° legislation. Representative Jefters of Alabama, chairman, de- clared its cost would not exceed 1 $1,400,000,000 and suggested it be financed by a bond issue. The . insurasce proposal of Mr. ‘Bacharach would. provide policies with values based on the number. of days of service of veterans, allow- ing_ $2.65 for each day of" service. Such & bonus would cost in all about $2,000,000,000, he estimated, and not more than §78,000,000 in any one year, 2 s in West End avenue today. i C, FRIDAY, MARCH 7, 1924—FORTY-SIX PAGES. 2 e EXPECTS D.C.HEADS Prescott. Makes Prediction After 09nferring With * President. President Coolidge will reappoint Cuno H. Rudolph and James F. Oys- ter, whose terms as Commissioners of the District expire March 17, accord- {ing to the opinion expressed today by Samuel J. Prescott, chairman of the republican atate committes in snd for the District, following a confer- > _at_the White- Houss. with the dent. ' Prescott told newspaper men that his conference with the Presi- dent had to do entirely with this local patronage. He sald that the state committee and the republican national committeeman for the Dis- trict had previously indorsed these two men for reappointment and that they were still for them. Mentioned in Mensage. Mr. Prescott was mentioned In one of the telegrams from President Coolidge to Edward B. McLean made public yesterday by the Senate ofl investigating committee, which, the Pll'a:ldent. explained, had to do solely Wwith the District Commission District matters. e * It was explained by Mr. P Mr. Prescott today that he left Florida, where he has been spending the wint terday morn; s |momy"°m ng in answer to & sum- He sald, al e White House. , that durin with the President :odxygtg‘:z t:}.‘: telegram episode was' naturally brought up, but the real purpose of the interview was regarding the local patronage. He said that the Presi- dent has always Indicated more than an ordinary interest in the welfare of the National Capital, and that he | 1s especially anxious to see that the residents of this city are given the asible best pos adminiatration of gov- Believes in Candidates, In this connegtlon Mr. Prescott luxd, with much emphasis, that his organization, which is the credited republican organization of the Dis- trict, had this in mind when they in- dorsed Commissioners Rudolph and Oyster for anafler term as the clvil- fan heads of the local government. He sald these organizations are still of that opinion and that he personal- 1y always favored the appointment of the best men possible for positions in Washingtor.. He declared that he personally only opposes a candidate for local office when he is satisned at he is unfitted for th vllfich ll; unlrel.‘ Bl r. Prescott indicated th President would shortly annoance decision regarding the Commissioner- ships. He said though that the Pres- ident would be glad to hear from any of the local civic or trade bodles re- garding the making of these two ap- ointments, but Mr. Prescott did not hink this attitude on the President would unneces: the matter. It Rresident Coolidge should reap- point Commissioners Rudolph and ter, a fight will be made against their confirmation in the Senate, it was leartied yesterday. The apglnlflon will center largely around the charge that as members of the Public Utllities Commission the Commissioners have permitted the street railway companies to co Ject “excessive fares.” In some qua ters it was predicted that the fight against thelr confirmation would be strenuous. NOTED MUSIC COMPOSER "DROPS TO HIS DEATH Dr. Carlos de Mandel, Orchestra Leader, Leaps or Falls From 9 Fifteen-Story Roof. By the Amociated Press. NEW YORK, March 7.—Dr. Carlos de Mandel, composer and orchestra leader, formerly of San Francisco, fell or jumped to his death from the roof of a fifteen-story apartment building | . shall be punished by a fine., “From Press to Home Within the Hour” The Star’s carrier system covers every city block and- the regular edi- tion is delivered to Washington homes o Sfar. e e e TOBE REAPPOINTED Yesterday’s % Heflin Gets Threat Against Life for Speeches in Senate Senator Heflin of Alabama ex- hibited to other democratic senators today an anonymous letter bear- ing a New York postmark which declared “a committee would ar- range to put the senator out of the way"” unless he ceased his at- tacks on republicans in Senate | speeches. . Since he began making speeches attacking republicans in connet- tion with the Teapot Dome in- quiry, Senator Heflin explained, he had been recelving many letters, but he sald this was the first which actually threatened his life. Senator Heflin told his col- leagues, however, that he was un- | afrald of the anonymous threat, but had forwarded it to the chief post office inspector, with a re- quest that the writer be appre- hended and punished. H o | LANGLEY DEMANDS PROBE ON BRIBERY: | CHEEREDBY HOUSE Appeals for “Square Deal” in Speech—2Zihiman Also Pleads Innocence. i ——— i Representative Langley, republican, Kentucky, on the floor of the House today demanded an investigation of published charges that he had re-| celved money for exerting official 1n-' fluence. In a five-minute speech Mr. Lang- ley emphatically denfed that he had been guilty of any wrong doing. He was cheered by the House when hej concluded his appeal for a square deal.” Representative Langley, who is chair- | man of the House committee on public bufldings and grounds, and author of ‘th'- veterans' hospitalization bills had joined Kapl’enr:én(ve Zihlman, chair- man of the committee on labor I.l’ld] acting chairman of the House Dis- trict committee, In admitting that their names have been whispered about for several days as the mem- bers of Congress referred to by the federal grand jury in Chicago which investigated bribery charges. Both Deelare Inmocence. Both previously had asserted that they had heard only rumors and had discussed the matter with newspaper men, but they declared they had re- ceived no official information that they were involved. They wero emphatic in asserting they couid prove their m-i i nocence beyond any doubt if charges | were preferred. Mr. Langley represents the tenth Kentucky district. His home is in | Pikesville. Mr. Zihtman represents the sixth Maryland district and lives | in Cumberland. ! Had Hesrd Rumors. | Representative Langley said: “For some days it has come to my knowl- edge in one way or another that| my name was being connected with the report recently given out by the Chicago grand jury. My own Inclina- tion was to immediately rise and tell my fellow members that it was not true. The reason I did not do so was that no specific charge had been | made against mc. had _assumed that in response to the resclution of of vesterday by this Itime we would know who of this | House is accused of violating the lew and his official trust. But that infor- mation has not been received. How- ever, a reputable morning paper con- fained my name and, in substance, the statement that 1 was one of those who would be accused. “My fellow members, I am going, (Continued on Page 2, Column 5.) I RADIO AERIAL TAX DROPPED BY DISTRICT| New Regulations Adopted by Commissioners Provide Safeguards Only. | A new police regulation to govern the erection of radio aerials was adopted and promulgated by the Com- missioners today. - . The only purpose of the ordinance is to make sure that all antennae are placed a safe distance from electric power wires, that they are kept on private property and securely fas- tened. No license fees or permits are re- quired. When the pole of an aeridl is to exceed twenty feet in height, how- ever, it must be approved by the building inspector. The text of the regulation follows: “No part of any radlo equipment shall be erected in, on, along or across any public etreet, avenue, road, highway, alley or other public space. and no wire in connection with, used or intended for radio reception, shall be, when erected or in course of erection, either over or under or within ten feet of any electric light or_power wire. “No wire, mast, guy or support Yor any wireless aerial shall be attached to or strung over any fire escape or fire ladder, nor shall any radio au- tenna which crosses the roof of any building be at an elevation less than seven feet above the sald roof. *No roh, mast, guy or support for any wireless aerial shall be placed in any soil plumbing appurtenance. mast or support exceeding twenty feet in height, shall be erected with- out the eapproval of the inspector of bufldings. When deemed necessary by the inspector of buildings, & sketch showing the dimensions and proposed method of securing such, pole or mast, shall be submitted. “All vtolations of thesc regulations D& stack, vent pipe or other !d fast as the papers are printed. Circulation, 103,225 TWO CENTS. Son Says Gen. Wood Was Offered Presidency as 0il Bribe DAUGHERTY PROMISED| GEN. BEACH URGES SPEEDY ACTION ON WATER SUPPLY Chief of Army Engineers Ad- vises Coolidge City Sys- tem May Break Down. 42,500,000 IS REQUESTED OF CONGRESS THIS YEAR Completion of Project in Three Years Predicted if Appro- priations Increased. Describing the existing water sup- ply system of the District of Colum- bia as Inadequate and seriously de- fective, Maj. Gen. Lansing H. Beach, chief of engineers of the Army, has officially advised President Coolidge and Secretary Weeks that it s es- sential that the new conduit from Great Falls, now under construction, be completed and made available at the earliest possible date, “in order that the supply of water may not be entirely cut off, with attendant sani- tary and fire hazards.” The time of the completion of the project under way for increasing the water supply will be seriously af- fected, he said, by the amount of money appropriated this year, “with @ corresponding danger to the con- venience and health of the Inhabitants of the District and to the safety of their property from fire.” Tunnel Needs Repairs. In his report to the President, Gew. Beach szid that the tunnel conveying the water from the Georgetown reservoir to the filtration plant at Ist and Douglas streets, has not been repaired since 1908 and that it is now considered unsafe to unwater it for repair work, for fear that.its walis would collapse and shut off the sup- ply completely. He estimated that the new conduit system could be completed in three years by appropriations aggregating $6.000,000, at the rate of $2,500,000 for 1825, $2,800,000 for 1926 and §700,000 for 1927. With annual appropriations of $500,000—the amount allowed By the budget for the mext fiseal year— the new project, he declared, cannor be completed befors January, 1933—e period of eight years. He therefore recommends strongly that the appropriation for 1925 be in- creased from $800,000 to $2,600,000, on the ground that “any less sum may seriously imperil the th_and - erty of the people of the District of Columbia.” Weeks Favors Iserease. Secretary Weeks agrees entirely with Gen. Beach as to the seriousness of the water supply situaticn and for- warded the letter to the.President, with his approval of the recommen- datlon’ that next year's appropriation | be increased to $2,500,000. Gen, Beach's letter to the Presi- dent follows: “The present water supply for ths ity of Washington is obtained from the Potomac river at Great Falls, from which point it flows through conduits to Georgetown and thence by tunnel under the city to the filtra- tion plant at 1st and Douglas streets northwest. The system was designed in 1882, when Washington had 2 pop- ulation’ of 75,000, and no attempt was made to furnish water to the District of Columbia generally, and such a thing as supplying localities beyond the District had not been thought of. “Today the city has a population of 450,000, and Congress has authorized supplying certain outlying sections in Maryland and directed that certain localities in_Virginia also_be given (Continued on Page 10, Column 1.) CARMERGER BILL GIVEN TOCONGRESS Commissioners’ Measure Re- quires Consent of 75 Per Cent of Owners. The District Commissioners’ street car merger bill was Introduced simul- taneously in both houses of Congress today. The bill would authorize the Capital Traction Company, the Wash- ington Railway and Electric Com- pany, the Georgetown and Tenleytown Rallway Company, the Washington In- terurban Rallroad Company and the City and Suburban Railway of Wash- ington to merge all of thelr corporate rights and properties, both real and personal, tangible and intangible, into one corporation for ownership, man- agement, control and operation. These corporations, the bill pro- vides, by agreement in writing a: 'sented to by owners of at 1 per cent of the capital stock of each, must agree to merge, subject to the approval in Wwriting of the Public Utilities Commission. Upon the exe- cution of such agreement aud ap- proval, it is to be made a matter of ecord in the office of the recorder of eeds. The bill was introduced in the Sen- ate by Senator Ball, chairman of the. District_committee, ‘and in the House by Representative Reed, chairman of the House District committee. The hearing on the McKellar 5-cent street car fare bill, set for today, was postponed until Monday at 10 a.n. At that time the Capital Traction ofiicials Will continue ‘tieir state- ments to the committee.