Evening Star Newspaper, March 9, 1924, Page 1

- Yo WEATHER. Fair today, becoming unsettled to- tomorrow rain and possibly oh; in temperature; “From Press to Home Within the Hour” ‘The Star is delivered and Sunday unn‘um! to Wum at &0 crmts pey month. Telephome Main 5000 No. GAS BALKS RESCUE OF 175 ENTOMBED WHEN EXPLOSIONS WRECK UTAH MINE Leader of Crew, Attempting to Reach Trapped Men, Is Killed by Fumes—Slight Hope for Survivors. ENTRANCE IS BLOCKED BY 3 TERRIFIC BLASTS Destruction of Fan Hinders Efforts to Save Workmen—Debris Is Blown Mile Across Valley. ‘Wives and Mothers Stand Vigil About Shaft. 989.—No. 29,167. By the Associated Press. CASTLE GATE, Utah, March 8— With one rescue worker dead and gas and smoke thwarting the efforts of relief crews, the fate of approxi- mately 175 men entombed this morn- ing in the triple explosion at the Utah Fuel Company mine known tonight. Rescue teams were able to pene- trate the main drl“ of th! mino l’or 1500 feet, it was ann o'clock tonight. No bodies wen found. Neither was there evidence that any one remained allve. An- other crew penetrated the for over 1,000 feet without dlawvennz bodies. Hope Lies in Barricade. ‘The one hope for the miners is that those not killed by the blast were able to erect a barricade quickly enough to block the deadly fumes permeating the mine. Some hope is held for those fortunate enough to be near the first aid station, 3,000 feet from the mouth of the main tunnel. Most of the men entombed are mar- ried with familles. Two weeks ago the company cut the working force, laying off single men. George Wilson, superintendent of the coal comp: 1y, is the first known victim. leading a rescue crew into the mine. Five of his comrades were overcome but revived. Wilson was picked up 500 feet from the ertrance. No official list of men entombed can be obtained because the records were wrecked by the explosion. Destruction of the mine fan has hindered rescuers, but this probably will be in operation tomorrow to clear away tho gases. Resgge work will then progresa. Three Explosions Occur, The first explosion occurred be- tween 8:15 and 8:30 this morming. it was violent and was immediately followed by another destructive blast. Twenty minutes later a third followed. Rescuers are working to remove debris at the main entrance tonmight, as mothers, wives, sisters and broth- ers of the entombed minhers look on with anxiety. The majority are mak- ing a game battle to maintain hope that their loved ones still live. Telephone and electric light poles, timber, pipes and debris that were near the mainway were blown across tho valley, nearly half a mile wide. The second explosion devastated the fan house. The third completed the destruction by causing a cave-in. BRIDGE SUICIDE’S BODY IDENTIFIED Victim Is Found to Be Patrick J. Sweeney, Chauffeur for Col. C. 0. Sherrill. Police last night dragged from the Potornac river the body of Patrick J. Sweeney, 58 years old, chauffeur for Col. C. V. Sherrill, who leaped to death from the Key Bridge yesterday after- noon. The body was identified by Park Policeman Sheedy at the District morgue. The man jumped from the bridge with-a wave of the hand and a laugh shortly before 1 o'clock yes- terday. The body was found about 6:30 o'clock more than half a mile below the bridge, near the foot.-of 26th street, where the swift current had carried it. The harbor boat crew took it to the morgue. Sweeney is survived by a widow and several children. He was a native of Washington and at one tire was employed by Justice Cox of the District Supreme Court. Later he opened a garage on 17th street, below I street, and )ome time ago became a chauffeur for Col. Sherrill, officer in charge of public buildings and grounds. Police and friends of Sweeney are unable to assign any motive for his act. SETS SEAPLANE RECORD. Navy Flyer Attains Speed of 116.1 Miles an Hour. AMIAMI, Fla, March 8—Lieut. V. . Grant, U. 8. N, broke the Ameri- tan seaplane speed record today when he won the Curtiss marine trophy race, under National Aero- nautical Association auspices, at an average speed of 116.1 miles an hour. The distance was 200 kilometers. He was asphyxiated while ! Entered as second-class matter post office Washington, D. C. ON OIL INQUIRY HYSTERIA Futile Attempt to Coolidge’ he Connect Presid s Name With Scandal Brings Reaction at Capitol. BY N. 0. MESSENGER. “Let’s keep our hats straight™ This admonition is heard fre- quently among public men at the Capitol and elsewhere in offictal life, in connection with the wave of hysteria sweeping over Capitol Hill and the public as result of the oil scandal investigation and disclosures. A disposition to “slow up” and steady up is dis- cernible among all classes as re- alization dawns of the grip which sensationalism and criticism, often unjust and unnecessary, are geiting on the public. The shocking insinuation in the Senate last week which sought to assoclate President Coolidge with the oil case, which was allowed to stand for two days before it was proved to be utterty false, has been followed by a sobering reaction. It ‘was realized that the situation was getting out of hand .and becoming dangerous to puklic morale. Rivalry In seeking political and partisan capital was leading to excesses in that direction, and pri- vate character was becoming en- dangered In reckless partisan gs- sault. “Let's keep our hats on straight™ sounds like a suggestion worthy of favorable considera- tion, many politicians are agree- ing. * k%% Up to this time it is manifest that President Coolidge's prestige has not been successfully assalled in the slightest degree. He still holds the confidence and respect of the country, it is contended, with the people looking to him as their mainstay in the hour when sus- picion grows as to corruption in high places. At the Capitol it is predicted by statesmen that following the unsuccessful attempt in the Sen- ate last week to entangle him, and the resultant {ndignation over the country, more caution will be used by politicians in making insinua- tions and drawing unfounded con- clusions in the wide-open debates over the disclosures of the investi- gation. The first sign of the reaction (Continued on Page 5, Column 4.) WLEAN MAY TAKE |GITIZENS DEMAND { STAND TUESDAY IN SENATE OIL PROBE Wood, Smithers and Mec- Kenna Also Face Summons {When Committee Reconvenes i After a hectic week of sorting and decoding strangely worded telegrams and examining the men who sent them from Washington, the Senate {oil committes prepared last night to call before it on Tuesday Edward B. McLean, Washington publisher, and | the recipient of most of the mes- sages, which so far have proved an jenlightening, if rather baffling, puxsle. | The committee is to hold no public session tomorrow and probably .will spend the duy ltylng its course for the coming week's examination, to | be resumed the following day. While it was not definitely decided last night, it was understood that Mr. Mc- Lean, who has been here under sub- poenae since his return from Florida, would be called. Two Others Face Call. Before he takes the stand, however, there are two men whose names have come prominently into the hear- ing as signers and dispatchers of telegrams who are yet to testify. The first is H. E. McKenna, a door- man at the White House, whose name was signed to a telegram to Mr. McLean notifying him of the de- parture of C. Bascom Slemp, the President’s secvetary, for Florida The other man is E. W. Smithers, ‘White House telegrapher, who man- ned the Washington end of the leased ‘wire which ran from the office of the ‘Washington Post to Mr. McLean's cottage in Florida. ‘When the committee winds up the McLean telegram angle to the oil inquiry it plans to hear Leonard ‘Wood, jr., whose revelations concern- ing an alleged attempt by ofl inter- ests to assure the republican presi- dential nomination to his father al- ready has led to his being subpoened. Tentative plans last night called for Mr. Wood's appearance Wednesday, although it was understood this was conditioned on the committee’s progress Tuesday. Yesterday's three-hour session of the oil committee was devoted largely to retracing its steps over ground al- ready ‘covered. At the outset Senator Curtis of Kansas, assistant republican leader (Continued on Page 7, Column 1.) MAIL PILOT FOUND DEAD IN MOUNTAINS Plane and Contents Burned—Tast Seen Battling Severe Snowstorm. By the Associated Presa, CURWENSVILLE, Pa, March §.— ‘The body of Brooks Hyde Pearson, an airplane mail pilot, was found in the burned wreckage of his plane late to- day on the Porter farm, near here, by M. C. Porter, who had spent the entire day searching for the mimsing plane. He reported that the plane and its contents had been destroyed. The plane was seen above the village late yesterday, in distress, fighting a severe snowstorm. A short time later a crash was heard, and the sound of memo'nrnmed. rter sald he took up the search at mugm and after spending hours ng the hills diacovered the wreck- ... .mulnvmemunu»um-. ngon. His attention was first attracted by the odor from the burning wreck- age. Approaching the plane he saw a man's form underneath, and, after ascertain- ing that Pearson was dead, notified the Bellefonte mail authorities. When the plane left Bellefonte yesterday after- noon for Cleveland it carried a half ton of mail matter. Porter declared that everything in the plane had betn burmed. ORIGINAL GAS TAX MEASURE OR NONE Mass Meeting, by Unanimous Vote, Repudiates House Bill and Ball Proposal. A united Washington yesterday de- livered fts edict of “no reciprocity with Maryland at all, unless by the passage of the Commissioners' orig- inal bill” to the Senate District com- mittee, at a mass meeting held in the Senate caucus room. Civic and business Washington, called on by the committes to state its views of the proposed gas tax at &.meeting unique in the Alstory of | the Nati Capital, rose to_the oc~ taston ind presented = wnited stand, reiterating its determination to ap- prove no memsure but the one orig- inally submitted. Following short addresses dis- cusaion, the following resolution was introduced by G. H. Judd and adopted by an.overwhelming vote: “Resolved, That the citizens of the District of Columbia gdo hereby d clare their approval of the orlzmn bill presented by the Commissioners providing for a 2-cent tax on gaso- line, a $1 registration fee and elimi- nation of personal property tax, but declare themselves opposed to all other proposed bills, including that passed by the House of Representa- tives and thé substitute suggested by Senator Ball, and that we can see no reason for increasing taxes on motorists until such time as the ap- propriations of Congress are insuffi- clent to meet our needs.” Ball Expiains Bills. Senator L. Helsler Ball of Dela- ware, chairman of the committee, in opening the meeting explained to the gathering the various bills prepared which would give the District reci- procity with Maryland. Speaking of the substitute plan which he has suggested in place of that offered dy the Commissioners, he sai “Ithas been claimed that the plan I suggest, providing for a 2-cent tax on gasoline, a $1 rogistration fee and retention of the personal property tax, would increase taxes on District of Columbia motorists and that the plan submitted by the Commissioners would bring in approximately the same revenue as that collected under the present arrangement. I am pre- pared to show you that my plan will increase taxes to only a small degree and that the Commissioners’ plan will reduce taxes to u large degree. Revemue From Plan. “My plan will bring in, according to the best statistics available, about $900,000 from the gas tax, about $100,- 000 from the registration fee and about $500,000 from the personal Pproperty tax, a total of $1,500,000 per year. ‘You are at present paying $500,000 personal property tax and $500.000 horsepower tax, a total of $§1,000,000. Under the Commissioners’ bill for reciprocity you would pay $900,000 in £as tax, and $100,000 in registration fees, a total of $1,000,000, “The difference between my plan, the plan you are operating under now, and the proposed Commissioners’ bill is $500,000. You are now paying Mary- land $338,000 a year for tags and will continue to do so in the future unless you have reciprocity, so the only in- creased taxes you would have to pay under my plan would be the differ- ence between the $333,000 you now pay Maryland and won't have to with reciprocity and the $500,000 increase. ‘The way I have worked it out is that you would pay ax increase of $102,000 & year, a very small amount.” Price of Tags Halved. +The speaker was interrupted at this point by Dr. W, E. Wilson, who pointed out that while these figures sounded very ‘“entrancing, they did rot match up with facts,” because Maryland has cut her tag charge in bhalf this year and instead of the WITE DAILY EVENING EDITION WASHINGTON, D. C., SUNDAY MORNING, MARCH 9, 1924.—112 PAGES. FAVOR CALLING A HALT DAUGHERTY INQUIRY .10 COVER MEXICAN "IREVOLT AD CHARGE Fall, Doheny and Sinclair In- terests Said to Have Sup- ported de la Huerta. WOOD-HARDING CONTEST IN 1920 WILL BE AIRED Witnesses in Many-Sided Probe Summoned for Hearings to Begin Early This Week. While awaiting developments in connection with the expected resig- nation of Attorney General Daugher- 7, the special Senate committee ap- pointed to investigate him yesterday discussed some outlines of the many- sided Inquiry to begin next week. Thése include: Charges that former Secretary Fall and the Doheny and Sinclair oil in- terests aided the de la Huerta revo- lutionists In Mexico through the ship- ment of arms and ammunition from the United States. Charges that Department of Jus- tice secret agents on the Mexican border were “called off by Washing- ton” when attempting to hreuk up gun-running in viclation of neut laws. Prebe 1920 Campaigns. Phases of the Leonard Wood and Harding campalgns in 1920 in con- pection with possible “oil” influence. The charges of attempted bribery of Mr. Daugherty and New York fed- leral authorities {n connection with indictments of Gaston B. Means, a former Department of Justice agent and Thomas B. Felder, associate of Morse pardon case. Witnesses expected to testify along these lines of inquiry already have Dbeen subpoenaed, it was disclosed by Senator Brookhart, republican, Towa, chairman of the committee, and Sen- ator Wheeler, democrat, Montana. active managor of the Daugherty in- quiry. Among those called are Means, Leonard Wood, ir., son of Gen. Wood, Mr. Harding’s opponent for the 1920 republican presidential nomination, and former Department of Justice agents having knowledge ~of the (rEes In connection-4wth the Mex- fean revolution. In addition, Sena- tér Whesler said that a hall dozen prominent Ohio politiclans who orig- inally backed Gen. Wood probably would be subpoenaed later. Will Begin This Week. Taking of testimony by the com- mittes will begin this week, probably on the Mcxian gun-running affair. The committee received word that some of the witnesses had started yesterday for Washington and would arrive tomorrow, but probably not in time to open the hearings before Tuesday or Wednesday. That the Senate investigation is to be pressed whether Mr. Daugherty is in or out of the cabinet, is clear- “(Continued on Page 6, Column 2.) ALFRED H. SMITH RAIL HEAD, KILLED Neck of New York Central President Broken in Fall From His Horse. By the Associated Press. NEW YORK, March S.—Alfred H. Smith, president of the New York Central railroad, was killed late to- day, when he was thrown from a horse in Central Park. The accident occurred shortly after § o'clock and Ar. Smith was taken to the 5th Ave- nue Hospital, where he died of a broken neck. He was sixty-two years old. Mr. Smith was riding along a brida! path. He stopped his horse suddenly to allow other riders to pass him and was pitched over the animal's head to the ground. Physiciana said his neck was broken. The railroad executive lost con- sciousness instantly. A passing mot- orist took him to the hospital, where Dr. C. M. Tenny, medical director, said a superficlal examination showed that Mr. Smith was beyond recovery. Began As Messenger. Mr. Smith lived at the Plaza Hotel. His son Emerson, and other members of his family and business associates immediately were notified and hur- ried to the hospital. Mr. Smith entered the service of the Lake Shore and Michigan South- ern ‘rallroad as messenger boy in 1879. .He continued in the employ of this road until 1902, serving in vari- !oul departments and finally being appointed general superintendent in 1901. In 1902 he resigned his posi- tion with the road with which he had started, to become general super- intendent of the New York. Central and Hudson River railroad. He was promoted to general manager in 1303 and served in that capacity until 1912, He became & vVice president of the road in 1906. Mr. Smith became senior vice pres- ident of the New York Central, in charge of operation, maintenance and construction, in March, 1913, and was elected president of the system Janu- ary 1, 191 W (Continued on Page 2, Column 7.) (W Mr. Daugherty in the Charles W.| SQUASH C PARK BILL GIVEN AVORABLE REPORT Blanton Amendment to Change Fiscal Relations of { District Rejected. ’ The Blanton amendment to the | park-site purchase bill which was de- signed to set up an entirely new s tem of fiscal relatlonship between the federal and District governments, | throwing the fixed proportion of con- | tribution into the discard and in- {creasing the tax rate from 31.20 to 132,50, was stricken from the biil last| night on the point of order raized by | Representative Charles L. Underhill| of Massachusetts, ' and decided by | Representative Fred N. 4thiman of | Maryland, acting chairman. This new actack op the figcal re-| lations came. as 3. lotal surprisc to the House District comniittec at its{ special meeting yesterday morning| and action was deferred until another | meeting last night. After this amendment had been re- jected, the bill authorizing the pur- chase of three park sites—Klingle Valley, Piney Branch and Patterson tracts—was ordered favorably report- ed, with only one vote in opposition, | that of Representative Blanton, who| served notice that he would file a| minority report. i | Promizes Long Fight. | Warning that the tax question 1s| “like Banquo's ghost” and cannot be | downed, and serving Dpotice that he| will “offer it as an amendment on every District measure that comes before Congress.” Representative| Blanton said he would support local suffrage and never question anything the people of the National Capital| want in the way of appropriations when the fiscal relations arc changed | as he proposes. Representative Blanten argued | against the Underhill point of order, | while Representatives Zihlman, Gib-, son, Keller and Gasque spoke in favor of it, contending that as the District committee operates under tac rules| of the House the amendment Was uot | germane to the subject matter of the | bill. Representatives Zihlman, Gibson, | Lampert, Hammer, Kuntz and Keller all stated that the question of fiscal relations was so important, involving many millions of dollars in taxation for the residents of the District, that it ought to be considered in a dis- tinct bill. Several of the membars ~(Conunued on Page 18, Columin PREDICT D. C. HEADS WILL BE CONFIRMED District Committee Members Ex- pect Favorable Action—McKellar I Attacks Fare Record. | Confirmation of the nominations of District Commissioners Rudolph and Oyster, when they are sent to the Sen- zte by the President, was predicted last night by members of the Senate District committee. ' Undoubtedly, it was sald, the nominations would be reported favorably by the committee of the Senate. Senator McKellar of Tennessee, au- thor. of the 5-cent street car fare bill for the District, has indicated that he will oppose the nominations of Mr. Rudolph and Capt. Oyster, on the ground that, as members of the Pub- lic Utilitles Commission, they have permitted excessive fares to be charged by the street railway com- panies. He said last night: “Thety qualifieations and fitness for these positions, ih view of the recent hearings before the District commit- tee on the street car fare bill should be very carefully examined into by the Senate before either one of them is allowed to be confirmed. “If the two representatives of the Public Utilities Commission have stated the facts in these hearings— and I have no reason to doubt this— .nect him with the both the Commissioners have been under the public utilities aet.* Sunday Star 'l StarTs AN 2 TER DISCUSSES THE OIL DISCLOSURES. TODAY’S STAR PART ONE—36 Pages. General News—Local, Nationai, Forelgn. National Political Survey—Page 4. Schools and Colleges—Page 24. i Radio News and Gossip—Pages 230, 31| and 32. Parent-Teacher Activities—Page 33. Seral—“The Mystery of Lynne Court” —Page 34. Financial News—Pages 34 and 25. PART TWO—14 Pages. | Editorials and Editorial Features. Washington and Other Society. Tales of Well Known Folk—Page 10. The Civilian Army—Page 11. District National Guard—Page 12. ! Girls and Their Affairs—Page 13. At the Community Centers—Page 13. D. A. R. Activities—Page 13. Around the City—Page 13. PART THREE—S Pages. Amusements—Theaters and the Photo. | play. Music in Washington—Page &. Notes of Art and Artists—Page G. { Boy and Girt Scouts—Page 6. Veterans of Foreign Wars—Page & Reviews of New Books—Page o. Fraternities—Page 7. Army and Navy News—Page 7. | Spanish War Veterans—Page 7. i PART FOUR— Pages. Pink Sports Section. PART FIVE—S Pages. Magazine Sectlon—Fiction and Features. PART SIX—S8 Pages. Classified Advertising. | News of the Clubs—Page 8. PART SEVEN—22 Pages. Special Automobile Show Section. GRAPHIC SECTION—S Pages. | World Events in Pictures. COMIC SECTION—4 Pages. Mr. Straphanger; Reg'lar Fellers; and Mrs.; Mutt and Jeff. TONES OF EMOTION MARK DENBY ADIEU 200 Officers Give Dinner to| Retiring Navy Head, Called Most Beloved Chief. Secretary of the Navy Denby, in a voice choked with emotion, bade his associates farewell at a dinner given in his honor by more than 200 naval and marine officers last night at the Raleigh liotel. Mr. Denby surrenders his office tomorrow. “I am trying to die with my face to the enemy.” caid Secretary Denby. “I am frying to be brave and go through with this. I am leaving in body, but my spirit will always be with the United States Navy.” The ouly tangible threadleft to con- Navy which he loves so well, Secretary Denby said, will be held by him when he retires from office. “I am going to be sworn in tomorrow as a major in the marine corps reserve, a rank which 1 held before becoming Secretary of the Navy,” he declared. Calls It Finest Wake. Humorously opening his brief ad- dress, Mr. Denby said that never be- fore had be been 2 chief figure at a “wake “But this is the finest wake I've attended,” he added. After recounting his experiences in the Navy in the Spanish-American war, as a major In the Marine Corps, in the world war, Mr. Denby made his only reference to the ofl scandal, which resulted in his resigfmtion from the cabinet. “There's been a third war recently—more bitter than any,” he said. “TI've been in those three wars.” Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt paid a glowing tribute to the character and integrity of bis “chiet,” and expressed the hope that he Is going back to Michigan “merely He served in this capac- | guilty of a gross violation of duty|to: mum next autumn to fight the unued on Mr. | KILLS BABY. FOILS POLICE BY SUICIDE Mother Shoots Self When| Police Learn of Murder Tuesday Night. With detectives en route to arrest her for murder of her infant, Mrs. Miriam L. Wilkinson, twenty-six- vear-old divorcee, cheated the law yesterday afternoon by killing her- self with a bullet from a .25-caliber | automatic in her apartment. at the| | Northbrook Courte. She died on the | | way to Garfield Hospital. The story is one of mother love| fighting vainly against the fear of | scandal; of a baby cousin, born in} | wedlock, playing happily in en |Toom, whils an uafortunate child, born outside the law. was being | Killed in anogher, and of 3 seroner | ™ I\lolng all In his power to safeguard | lflm health of the mother by keep-| |ing her quiet, only to fail in mo’ end when she took her own life. | Killing of Child. Last Tuesday night the Wil ;‘bmb) was born. The story comes !from Dr. Willlam G. S. Thomas of {1529 Columbic. road, attending the | mother, to whom she confessed. He i told it later to Coroner Nevitt. The ! ehild was born ithout medical as- i sistance. No one was with the| mother. She heard a moise at the| ! door. she feared discovery. Scissors | | were handy. ! The body of the bahy was wrapped in an old kimono and placed in al clothes closet, which was used con- {tinually without suspicion of the isecret it held. And in an adjoining {room the infant daughter of Mrs., Wil- | kinson's sister, Mrs. Laura Patrick, was receiving all the care that mother love could give. inson Suspicion Aroused. | On Wednesday Dr. Thomas, who had been attending Mrs. Patrick, was told Mrs. Wilkinson was ill. He sus- | pected nothing. He treated her for ;.I complaint from which she suffered ! i several years ago. On Thursday his | suspicions were aroused. He calied in ‘Coroner Nevitt. It was learned that a child had been born. The| child's body was sent to the S. H. Hines undertaking parlors. Thursday night came, and Dr. Nev- itt puzzled over the situation. Items which he did not consider serfous at the outset grew important under con- sideration. He called up the under- takers and ordered the body sent to the District morgua for examination. He directed Deputy Coroney Martyn to perform an autopsy. Friday morning the autopsy re- 1 vealed two stab wounds in the lett | breast of the child. It established jalso that the wounds were inflicted after the child had lived. Dr. Nevitt called Dr. Thomas into consultation. They decided to proceed with utmost care to protect the fragile health of the mother. They decided ugainst undue excitement of her on the | eTound that it might cause her death. Mre. Wilkinson had not explained the seissor wounds. Yesterday morning she told her| physicoan everything. She told of the fear of discovery of her plight by her | sister, and cited that as her reason for the tragedy. She said she was in the bathroom Tuesday night when she heard a noise and feared some- one upproaching. A pair of scissors 1ay nearby. Coroner Nevitt called headquar- ters. He told Detectives Mansfield and Thompson of the case. They started for the apartment house. Be- fore they arrived a bullet had ended the life of Mrs. Wilkinson. The father of the child is mot in this city, Iis name was not di- vulged. | Three persons are listed by the po- lice as witnesses. They aré Earl Pat- rick, Mrs. Laura Patrick and Mrs. Leslie Daly, the latter a colored nurse who attended Mrs. Wilkinson. All were In an adjoining room when the suicide shot was fired . Mrs. Dajy said that she had heard Mrs. Wilkinson thresten to take her ‘fe earller In the week, but added she did net know of the presence of he pistol s the reom. i the Volatead law. and service will start immediately FIVE CENTS. GOOLIDGE STRESSES PURPOSE OF THREE = | FEDERAL BRANCHES Tells Writers People Want Government Functions Kept Separate. TALKS TO JOURNALISTS 1 COVERING WHITE HOUSE' Defends Economy Policy—Assured of Passage of Satisfactory Conviction that the American pose plc look to the executive, judicial sad legislative branches of the goverme ment to abide by the fundamentsy purposes for which each was ereated was expressed by President Coolidge in an address last night at the ane nual dinner of the White House Cose respondents’ Assoctation. Speaking informally to the mem | who daily report events at the Whita \ House, the President said: “I suppose that the American peoe ple are conscious that we have a Con= stitution of the United States, and § know that they are attached to the defense and maintenance of thag t institution. “They know that we have a goverme ment that is made up of thres branches: The executive, whose duty it 15 to enforce and maintain the laws the judiciary, that interprets the lawi and administers justice between man and man, and the Congress, or the legislative branch, which s supposed under the Constitution to be engaged in legislation. “1 think the American people ape prove heartily of that kind of comw stitutional government, and that they want it maintained in its fundumenw { tals.” Expeets Iair Tax Law. Strong beliof that Congress wifl eventually enact a tax reduction law that will fairly meet the requires ments of the present situation was expressed, by President Coolidge. The President said that he i3 coms vinced that the cfforts of the admine istration to bring about a lowering of the taxes have had a marked ef- feot throughout the country, and that, in his opiniom, the reactiod “has been greater than that in favor of any other propesal that cver came under my observation.” It was annpunced by the Presidenty that' he is still seeking to practics governmental economy, adding “not that I can see a real virtue merely in cutting down expense, but a real virtue in a constructive economy that undertakes to measure the resources of the country, comparing them with the demands that are made for the expenditure of money, and &s wisely as possible making 4 fair adjustment between those two conflicting forcea™ Gets Much Applanse. The President spoke earnestly and his remarks wero greeted ‘with ene thusiastio applause. The gathering' was comparatively small, and less than seventy-five persons were gathe ered about the banquet table. Bew sides the President and Attorndy General Daugherty and less tham half a dozen other guests, the res mainder of the small company wera all newspaper men, the great mae jority of whem are assigned to the White House dally. The Attorney General was cheered ‘Len he rose in response to an ine troduction by the toastmaster. His remarks (o a large extent were conw fined to a light vein, but at one poing he spoke very feelingly. “It isn'§ {much to give up an office; it {sn'y much when you live the span of life men ought to live, to give up yous life. But to give up vour homor i entirely another question.” What was looked upon as a reflese tion of this cabinet officers opiniem of those in Congress who have beem secking his resignation from the cabe inet before giving him a hearing, wag when he said: Attitade to Press. “l am in favor of enforcement of 1 am in favor of retaining it on the statute books. Buf if I were not I would observe and ene force it. 1 think that a law equally, essential and universally to be enw forced would be the law to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. “I have had a great experienfe in Washington,” he continued. “For forty, years 1 have been coming with Preste dents and going with Presidents. ¥ | spent three and a half years as @ newspaper reporter and I see both sides and all sides of these proposte tions, perhaps. Sometimes when I ree fuse to give information T may no@ get credit for so doing. But I cam truthfully say that I never misled ® newspaper man in Washington om anywhere else.” “When I came herc as Attorney General, having to do more than ang, other enforcing efficer in the cabined with the enforcement of the law, X answered all the questions of all the correspondents all the time, as yomw remember. Practically all inquiries made of the Attorney General per tained to crime. Now, recently I have refused to have anything to say foy the reason that I have discovered withy great accuracy that I have been charged with all the crimes ever committed, and 1 am inclined not to be quits s4 communicative. The President’s speech in full fele- lows: % “] am going to reminisce a BEflS out my experien with the presa. I_vecall m aar axperienss g —Ceatmad s Fage T Colne 01—