Evening Star Newspaper, March 22, 1924, Page 1

WEATHER. Cloudy tonight and tomorrow: change in temperature; perature tonight about 3 Temperature for twenty-four hours ended at 2 pm. today at noon today; No. 29,180, lowest, 36, at 2 a.m. today. Fuil report on page 2. Closing N. Y. Stocks and Bonds, Page 14 no lowest tem- 4 degrees. Highest, 45, Entered as second-class matter post office Washington, .D. C. SNCLAR REFUSAL 70 TESTIFY BRINGS CONTEMPT ACTION VOTE BY SENATORS Will H. Hays, on Stand,_De nies Teapot Lessee Gave! 75,000 Shares of Stock to Make Up Party Deficit. WILL RESERVE EVIDENCE, OPERATOR DECLARES Denies Fearing Testimony Befcrel Committee Would Incriminate| Him, But Stands on I.awyer's% Contention That Committee! Lacks Jurisdiction in Case. The oil committee voted mously today to certify Harry F. Sinclair to the Senate for contempt | as a result of his refusal to testify further beiore the committee. The decision as to the exact pro- cedure will be held in abeyance un- til the return of Atlee Pomerene and Uwen J. Roberts, special government in the oil lease cases. said two courses were empt proceeding beiore e itself or certification of , unani- | cnators Sena ¢ to the district attorney of | strict of Columbia for grand | ing. 1k the Di ¥ proceed After failing to induce Sinclair to testify, the oil committee today | received from Will H. Hays a flat] Genial of the story that Sinclair had | contributed a large batch of ml! AU Hope for Rescue of 18 Men Trapped In Submarine Lost Iy the Associated Press. TOKI0. March 2Z—Hope for the rewcue of eighteen men trapped in the after compart- ment of the submarine’ forty- three, lying on the ocean bottom off Saxebo, was abandoned this afternoon. Efforts to raise the eraft or drag it to a position where it would .be possible to liberute the imprisoned ' have failed, Twenty-nix men were drowned when the vessel sank, foll ing a collision ith a warship Wednesday and- the eightecn other members of the ecrew probably have died of saffoca- tion. An fnquiry will be held next week, WORK IN CONGRESS ch WASHIN SHE WA FRANED" INHOTEL INCIDENT Tells Daugherty Committee Fink Registered Names Without Her Knowledge. | | CLAIMS JAIL THREATS FOLLOWED PROTESTS Told She Must Be Silent on Daugh- erty to Escape Arrest, Wit- ness Declares. Roxie Stinson, divorced wite of the D. C, IS STINSON SAYS { the { to complete their prog: | paign | ate enterprise to give sound economic AT IPTOSEMTE, ™= | ! | House Leaders Tell Coolidge | Davsherts investisating compittec | | her version of the affair in a Cleve- Necessary Legislation Rests |1and 1ot which the Attorney & General charged sie was registered With Upper Chamber. 1 in {with A. L. Fink of Buftalo, N. Y. as {man and wife, and made an attempt! {to blackmail him (the Attorney gen- eral) for $150,000 Miss Stinson’s reply to the Attor- ney General's charies in that regard was that it was a “frame up.” The ability of Congress to dispose of its most urgent work in time to adjourn for the June conventions rests largely with the Senate, in the pinion of republican House leaders | who conferred last night with Presi-| dent Coolidge. The Executive plans | ‘leveland to meet Fink alk | to hold a similar conference shortly | CleVeland to meet Fink. to “talk with party chiefs i (o Senate, and | ©¥¢T @ big deal” and had him to din- House leader: {mer in ner room. There, said. pressed dence that Congres Dinner in Her Room. Her version was that she went to she confi- | : Fink told he: he ha egis od would be: able! Eink . v he had register ineluding | them “under a fictitious name.” Miss e WORE | Stinson said she was incensed when ' I ghe learned of it. Later, she said,| Fink came and told her they both Hanna of} . re under arrest for “registerin North Dakota, manager of his cam-|7¢ URder arrest fo s Fias - |under fictitious names” and they in ‘that state, In which kel ("t o0 "k the bark unless she| promised “to advocate legislation, | W¢T® "Nea eyl s e all the administrative forces of |Promised to say nothing damaging to the government and organize priv- | Harry Daugherty Miss Stinson testified that one Lyle relief where it is needed. “impressed | Johnson, who represented himself as upon his guests last night bis de-|coming from the Columbus Citizen sire for enactment of some form of |and (he Assoclated Press offered ner | farm relief legislation. thousand dollars for “a lead” on Lougwerth Promises Speed: v tu get some information about Representative Longworth, the re- | floor leader, outlined the | is not employed by and the Colum- WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION SATURDAY, MARCH 99 24, 1924 —_TWENTY-EIGHT ¢ Foening Star. PAGES. The Star'’s delivered to “From Press to Home Within the Hour” carrier system covers every city block an? the regular edition is " ‘Washington homes as fast as the papers are printed. Yesterday’s Circulation, 101,500 * TWO CENTS. THREE Lerre MAILED To oufg JAMES FROM KENTUCKY ON MARCH, 6,19 14. _ RAVE JusT Begn DEUVERED A SOUTHWESTERN SOLILOQUY. NAVY SUPPLY BL PASSEDBY HOLGE {Amendment Would Prohibit | Enlistment of Boys Under 21 Years Old. The naval appropriation bill, carrying $272,000,000, was passed today by the GREEK PREMIER READY | TO PUT END TO DYNASTY Tells Press He Will Act if Unable to Reach Agreement With Royalis By the Asssciated Press. LONDON. March from Athens the Greek legation here today announce that the Greek premier has informed the press that | if he is unabie to reach an agreement | with the royalists, the end of | dynasty will ‘be proclaimed. In this event, it is pointed out. King orge would lose the perquisites of —Telegrams to the | SENATED K 0FCITY HEADS IS FORESEEN Oyster and Rudolph Is Assured. The nominations of District Com- missioners Rudolph and Oyster to suc- Ball Believes Confirmation of | $42.750A DAY PAID TO AUCTIONEERS BY 1.5, REPORTS SHOW {Johnson of Kentucky Cites Commissions From War De- partment of $1,000 Up. TOTAL COMPENSATION PASSES MILLION MARK IPereenlxge Basis for Selling Sur- l plus Supplies Started in Wilson Administration, BY WILL P. KENNEDY. Amazing disclosure of how auc- | tioneers were pald all the way from 131,000 & day to $42,750 a day for cry- | ing sales of surplus war, supplies, as | sathered from oftictal reports by the | War Department to the House ap- propriations committee, were laid before Congrese today by Represent- | ative Ben Joknson, democrat, of Ken- | tucky, a member of the subcommit- tee which drafted the Army appro- priation bill. Mentioning thess auctioneers by {name and address in many of the {large cities of the country, Repre- | sentative Johnson compares these |sigantic stipends with the annual isalaries paid the President, a justice jof the Supreme Court, cabinet offi- cers, governors of states and ad- ministrative officers of the largest government establishments. Citew Stupendous Pay. He shows that for less than one- | third of a year one auctioneer was paid more than the President’s salary | for three years; that for eighteen days one auctioneer received nearly cnough to pay the annual salaries of the nie members of the Supreme Court for almost two years, and for each one of those days nearly as much as a cabinet officer for an en- tire year; that for one day's service another autcoineer receive: MAIORBELL URGES 2 MORE NEMBER * ONUTIITES BOD Suggests Naming of Lawyer and Engineer to Devote Full Time to Issues. CONFERS WITH BALL; WILL PUT PLAN IN BILL | Commissioners Believe Problems Require More Attention Than Present Group Can Give. A plan for the reorganization «f the Public Ttilities Commission with ja view to increasing its efliciency | being worked out by Engineer Com- | missioner J. Franklin Bell, it beca. { known today. Maj. Bell's program would call fo: the appointment of two additicnal members of the commission, who would devote all of their time utility problems, Both new men would be appointe by the President as the District Co. missioners are now selected, serve for four years. It is the opinion of the Engineer Commissioner that one of these new men should be a lawyer who would be chairman of the Utilities Commie- sion and direct the conducz of a hearings and investigations Institut e The other new man, Maj. Bell be- lieves, should be a qualified engineer hose duty it would be to keep in ose touch with the operating con tions of the various corporatio Confers With Ball The engineer commissioner had an informal conference this morning with Senator Ball, chairman of the District committee, at which he out- lined his proposed plan for putting the utilities board on a more thorough going basis. Following his talk with Senator Ball, Maj. Bell said he would put the el |ai ocks to wipe out the deficit in the | publican [ bae e sepublican party treasury after the | Program worked out in the last ["‘;\'ihnu. 920 ays with a view to expediting pend- {not a 1920 campaign. i and the legislative sit- | Press.) Sinclair refused to testify after the ! e committee had voted unanimously to | 7 ¥ for which he is court- | oy reporter in Columbu member of the ceed themselves, received by the Sen- ate late yesterday, have been refer- red to the Senate District committee. | Senator Bail, chairman of the commit- House. Immediately after the measure was { sent to the Senate by a viva voce vote { the House began consideration of the 11, a enough to pay the governor of his|Scheme into the shape of a bill and, state for four years if approved by the full board of com- Commenting that “the atmosphere | missioners, will transmit it to Con- around our National Capital is laden | BTess for enactment. with scandal,” Representative John-| Since the utilities law was enacted Assos ing measures, uation was dis HUERTA IN FLIGHT Reads Daugherty Statement. will be speeded up, the President w overrule the objections of his attor-| 1o1q, on the regular appropriation | neys. Despite the committes’s posi- tion, he said, he must reserve what- ever evidenco he has for the courts. | Hays followed the oil operator and Teapot Dome lessee immediately on the witness stand. “Do vou know the witness who has just left the Walsh, the committes prosecutor. “Yes, sir, replied Hays. “It has been another committec,” went on Senator Walsh, “that Mr. Sinclair gave cer- tain stock to wipe out a deficit of | the republican national committee. Tell us about it." I can't tell you about it,” returned Hays. “It is not true.” “You saw a statement in the New York Times that you would testify to such a donation?”’ Calls Stery False. “Yes, but that story is untrue. It is false.” Hays said he had no idea as to the source of the Times statement. ‘Would it surprise you to know at information came from your " asked Senator Walsh. t could not have come from there,” the reply, “as it is not a fact.” Hays identifled Joe O'Neil, a former newspaper man, as an employe of his office. Asked if O'Neil had not given the statement to the Times, Hays said Lic could net have done so, as there was no basis for the story. Asked About Defieit. “Please tell us what Mr. Sinclair bad to do with making up the defi- cit?" said Senator Walsh. 1 assume it is not the purpose of the committee to go into campaign contributions,” Hays returned. "I as- sume the committee considers that ir- vant as 1 do. Besides, the source of information now." The witness then began a long statement about the general subject | campaign contributions. Senator anfield, republican, Oregon, object- ¢d, saying that “(his question is im- material and irrelevant,” but Senator IWalsh insisted the question he had put_was relevant, and there was a long wrangle. Senator Stanfield’s motion finally voted down, 6 to 4. Places Gift at $75,000, Senator Stanfield then called Hays' attention to the law of contempt to| indicate to him that he did not have o answer irrelevant questions. The former Postmaster General and re- publican national chairman said he «id not desire to decline to answer any questions; that he would state ain that the story about Sinclair ving 75.000 shares of stock was Zalse. “1 ‘eould only give my best judg- auent,” Hays said, as to Sinclair's con- iribution. “My judgment is that it did not exceed $75,000.” iay. d from the cabinet, in 1922, he sted to Sinclair that he up the party deficit. must_have been two years the 1920 election.” he said. es—it must have been a year and « half after I left the cabinet.” "t “I may say in passing, that I never . heard of any lease on any naval re- serve to anybody, directly or indi- Tectly, until I read about them in the newspapers a month or two months after I left the cabinet.” o am trying to fix the time you sosv ted Mr. Sinclair,” Senator Walsh waid. “i think it was in tho summer of said Hays. ° could not recall where the con- ation took place. " as the contribution paid to you?" 0, not paid to me. 1 helped to handie the funds. 1 asked Mr. Sin- clair and others to contribute. As I recollect, Sinclair told » he would be responsible for a .®.ximum of 376,000. I think that 3i5,000 went To & part payment on a note at the Jmpire Trust. The details of this 1l have to ask to get from the com- “Mr. Upham (Fred Upham, the party treasurer), 1 should think. Together, wo can furnish it" “Is it not true that you had a fund in the north separate from these other funds’ ‘No, that's not true.” Asked about the testimony of G.D. ‘Wahlberg, former private secretary to Sinclair, that he had given §25,000 “n liberty bonds to a “Mr. Hayes, the witness said he had no facts on the subject. He added that the ref- erence -might be to Hinkle Hays of TContinued on Page 4, Colummm 5.) stand?” asked Senator | & { taxes payable this year wouid be au. for cight or ten years,” | | testified to befors | dent I am not | said that some time after he ! help | bills, the Johnson immigration meas- ! | ure ‘and the child labor, amendment proposal, with action alst planned on readjustment of postal salaries. Mr. | Longworth, predicting that the re enue bill would be-disposed of before | June, declareg hat, in any event, per ocent reduetion In_income thorized. Those who- dined with the Pres nd then discussed legislation | witW'him and Secretary Slemp were | Representative Longworth, Repre- séntative Tilson of Connecticut, act Ang Speaker; Chairmen Madden of the appropriations committee and Sneil of | the rules committee, and Representa- | tives Darrow of Pénnsylvania, San | ders of Indisna, Magee of New York, Sinnot! of Oregon, Graham of Illinols and Tincher of Kansas, members of the republican steering committee. ¥ Farm Relfef. Although President Coolidge em- phasized the desirability of Congress providing some measure of relief for the farmers, he is understood to have | expressed no opinion as to the exact | form the legislation should take. | Various provosals pending before the | House agriculture committee were | discussed, and Mr. Tincher, who is a member of the committee, assured ithe President that a relief measure | will be reported shortly. | "'The committee has been holding | hearings on both the McNary-Haugen and Norris-Sinclair bills, as well as the Norbeck-Burtness bill, rejected | by the Senate, and in executive ses- | sion is now going over the McNary- | Haugen measure with a view to re- | porting it, probably with material amendment. No Rail or Coal Laws. The House legislative program, Mr. | Coolidge was told, does not contem- iplate enactment at this session of {any drastic railroad or coal legisla- i tion, As to salary -elief for postal em- ployes, the belief was expressed by the House leaders that the Kelly- Edge bill, on .which joint congres- |sional hearings are now being held, would entail too great a drain on the Treasury. The congressional delegation was informed that Postmaster General New was working out a scale of | salaries, which probably would be | ready for submission to Congress within ten days, which would nec- essitate & smaliler increase in appro. (Continued on Page 2, Column 3.) COUPLE GIVEN LIFE TERMS FOR MURDER John A. and Eugenia Rogers Ad- | mit Killing Husband of Latter in Love Triangle. Y By the Associmted Press. DOUGLAS, Ga., March 22.—John £. | Rogers and Eugenia Rogers were con- { victed of murder by a jury in Coffee { county superior court yesterday, the verdict carrying with it.a recom- | mendation of mercy. Judge J. I Sum- Imerall Immediately sentenced the cou- ! ple to life-imprisonment, and it is an- | nounced they will begin their sen- | tence immediately. { The Rogers killing attracted wide attention. The victim was Love S. Rogers, a brother of John Alton Rog- ers and the husband of Eugenia Rog- ers. The case went on trial this morn- ing, both of the defendants being tried jointly. They pleaded not guil- ty, but after the presentation of the evidence and a two-hours' argument on each side by the lawyers in ‘the case the plea of not guilty was with- drawn and a consent plea of guilty was entered. s ‘The evidence presented to the jury told the story of the killing of Love Rogers so that the brother John could have the undivided affection of Lov Rogers’ wife. The body was buried in a cornfield, nearly two years ago, at the rear of the Rogers home her | | FLANES ENDANGER | Chairman Brookhart read the state- ment issued by Attorney General| Daugherty last night on the commit- tee's hearing of yesterday and em phasized its comment upon the com- mittee “burying” the department's record of liquor prosecutions. “I got the record from the depart- ment last night after the statement was. Jsgued,” Chairman Breokhart sald. 4 “Has Mr. Daugherty seen fit to ex- pain what official position Jess W. Smith had in the Department of Jus- tie Senator Ashurst, democrat, Arizona, asked. “He has not,”” Chairman Brookhart responded. “In fairness, we ought to let that be explained by the Attorney General. who has not yet come to the stand, Senator Jones, republican, Washing- ton, put in. Mrs. Willebrandt on Hand. Mrs. Mabel Willebrandt, assistant attorney gencral in charge of prohi- bition violation prosecutions, was on hand, seated behind ex-Senator Cham- berlain, the attorney for Mr. Daugh- erty. enator Chamberlain went into a_discurslion over the committee action. Mr. Daugherty’s counsel had not been allowed to cross-examine witnesses. he said, naming Miss Roxic | Stinson and Gaston B. Means, “Miss Stinson is here, you'll have your opportunity today,’ Senator Wheeler, democrat, Montana, ex- claimed.” “She has been sick—and the reason is that the Attorney Gen- eral has stooped to the unmanly and indecent thing of attacking her character.” Miss Stinson, on the stand. was weeping quietly while the colloquy went on. Chamberiain Protests. Senator Chamberlain protested the Attorney General was being placed in an unfair position. “We have the whole power of the Department of Justice directed against us and this hearing,” Senator Wheeler broke out, “with' his agencies intimidating our witnesses Dby threats of prosecution if they ap- pear. “I will criticise the President of (Continued on Page 4, Column 2.) Army supply bill. Proposes “ew Conference. As proposed the bill carried a pro- | vision requesting the President to call | another armament conference. It pro- vides for expenditure of thigty million dollars for completing the following sbips now under construction: One battleshin, two airplans carriors, six scout cruisers, thirteen submarines, two destroyer tenders, one submarine tender and ons repair ship. Construction of three fleet subma- rimes authorized in 1916 is to be de- layed until a satisfactory engine can be perfected. An allotment of $600,- 000 for developing eatisfactory mc tive power Is provided. Just before passage of the bill the House voted down a motion by Rep- resentative Blanton, democrat, Texas, to strike out a provisioh barring stop watches or other time-measuring de- viees within Navy yards and arsenals. Among amendments added by the the enlistment of boys under twenty- one years of age without the written consent of their parents or guardians. Pending when the Houso convened to- day was a motion by Representative Blanton, democrat, Texas, to recom- mit the biil for an amendment strik- ing out a provision that no stop watches or other time-measuring Stop watches or other time-measuring devices be used in any navy yard or arsenals. Arms Parley Amendment. The amendment for an arms parley oftered by Representative James F. Byrnes, democrat, South Carolina, was adopted by a viva voce vote. The modification, which was rejected, 64 to 44, was proposed by Representative French, republican, Idaho, in charge of the bill. Great Britain, France, Italy and amendment, to participate in the con- ference which would discuss limita- tion of submarine and surface craft of less than 10,000 tons and aircraft The Washington conference, Mr. Byrnes declared, had not lessened in- ternational competition in these phases of naval construction. Conference Desfred. Mr. French, in offering his proviso, | said that both President Coolidge and Secretary Hughes had indicated @ desire to have another conference as suggested in last year's naval bill, \ tee, said today that the nominations son sald he trusted that this matter was a decade ago the three District Com- would be considered by the committee “merely bad judgment, or, at|missioners have filled the dual role ‘thrwe. fiset Mobmarines, one gunbodt, ! House is one which would prohibit! Japan would be requested, under the | FOR TEXAS PORT Mexican Rebellion in Final Collapse, Say Officials, In- tercepting Wireless: By the Associated Preas. | NEW ORLEAN | sunboat Zaragosa, with Adoifo de la Huerta and other Mexican revolu- tionists, is headed for Galveston, Tex., | it was belfeved today in official Mex- ican clrcles. This was based on in- tércepted radio messages. The flecing of hte rebel leaders indi- cated the collapse of the revolution, it was said. The Mexican government made no offort to apprehend de la Huerta, but welcomed his departure to foreign soil. It further understood that March —The | veston, will come by rail to New Orleans to join his wife and family, who reached here several days ago. In event the rebel chieftain selects New Orleans as a place of exile b will be the second unsuceessful Mex- lican presidential aspirant to reside here. Gen. Felix Diaz, nephew of the great dictator, has resided continu- ously In New Orleans since he was exiled from Mexicc by Victoriano jHuerta. Diaz and Huerta jointly overthrew Madero, and it was orig- inally agreed that Diaz should be- come president. Later Huerta re- pudiated this promise and Diaz was exiled. Gunboat Under Sealed Orders. The gunboat Bravo, crack ship of the Mexican navy on the eastern coast of the republic, was on its way south- ward from New Orleans last night under sealed orders, which Mexican officials here say direct her to attack |ports and vessels still held by the rebels. The Bravo came to New Orleans in September for overhauling, and when she steamed, shortly before daybreak, it was the first move she had made since Adolfo de la Huerta launched his revolution in December. Commanded by Otho Blanco, admiral of the Mexican navy, the ship is ex- i | but were convinced that the time was [Pected to confine hér effort for the { time being to driving revolutionists EXPI.USIVE STURES not now opportune for one. out of the states on the peninsula, i Firemen Confine Damage to One Building at American U. Loss, $20,000. Fighting desperately to prevent flames from reaching buildings with- in fitteen feet which housed explo- sives, firemen under the leadership of Battalion Chief Charles F. Beers extinguished today a fire that did more than $20,000 damage to a large one-story frame structure on the grounds of the American University, Nebraska avenue and Newark street. Just as the firemen reached the building about 7 a.m. there was a loud explosion, thought to have been caused by gasoline. The explosion oc- curred at the far end of the building, and flames had gained such headway that the firemen devoted their atten- tion to saving three nearby buildings, one of which contained explosives and had been used during the war by the chemical warfare service. Uncertaiaty as to Origin. Watchmen made their rounds at 6 a.m. and reported all well. The ori- A final vote was blocked late yes- terday by the demand of Represen tive Blanton for a_record vote on his motion to recommit the bill. A vote on this motion, to be followed by a vote on passage, was made the first order of business for today. The measr-e will go to the Senate carrying both the Byrnes amend- ment and one offered by Representa- tive Connally, democrat, Texas, to pro- hibit the enlistment in the Navy of boys under twenty-one years of age without written "consent of their parents or guardians. A record vote could have been demanded on both, but no effort was made to bring od a roll call. ‘The bill carries $600,000, to be used in developing a satisfactorv engine for fleet submarines, but stipulates that until tests are completed, no more money is to be expended on construction of such craft. Repre- sentative Black, democrat, New York, made an unsuccessful attempt 1o have the bill amended to provide $2,850,000 for the beginning of work on three fleet submarines, authorized in 1916, during the coming fiscal year. year. GEN. NIVELLE DIES. Commanded French Forces at Bat- tle of Verdun. By the Associated Press. PARIS, March 22—Gen. Robert de la Huerta's present stronghold. REBELS LOSE OAXACA CITY. Dispatches Say Puebla Chief Also Yields to Federals. MEXICO CITY, March 22—Dis- patches from Puebla sav that Oaxaca | City was evacuated three days ago by rebels under Enrique Brena and For- tunato Maycotte, The dispatches add that the rebel chieftain, Salavor Vega Bernal, sur- j rendered’ at Puebla. Tampico advices report a victory for the federals at Hacienda, San Miguel, near Villa Aldama. The rebels lost fifteen dead and twent wounded. Denial was made today of rumors that Alberto J. Pani, finance minis- ter, might be appointed ambassador to ‘the United States. It is said he will resume his post of minister to { France after the present economic crisis Is passed. Gen. Plutarco Ellas Galles has withdrawn from the army for the purpose of resuming his pres- idential campaign. Several Hurt in Berlin Riot. BERLIN, March 22.—Several per- sons have been injured in a collision ! between the police and communist | demonstrators at Hamburg, say dis- | patches received here early today. o ': trouble arose when the police y-five 3 de la Huerta, after landing zt Gal-j probably on Wednesday, if not earlier. when the next regular meeting of the committee takes place. Confidence was expressed by Sena- tor Ball that the Senate would con- firm the nominations. Senator Capper of Kansas, anether member of the District committee, also expressed the elief that the Comypissioners would confirmed. 7 Kiag Favers Open Hearingn. Senator King of Utah, the ranking democratic member of the committee, has said that he would ask the com- mittee to grant open hearings on the Commissioners’ numinations if he were requested to do so by the citi- zens of the District. It is understood, however, that other members of the committee desire to have the nomi- nations considered in the regular way, in executive session of the committee, as other nominations are considered. Senator King sald that in his judg- ment the Commissioners probably would bo confirmed by the Senate. He said, however, that he belicved there should be one executive officer at the head of District affairs, a_masor or city direc- tor. Such an executive officer, he said, should be a man of the highest type and ability, and should receive a salary of from $15,000 to $20,000 a year. Un- der him, Senator King said. ‘he would 1 | duties assigned them which are now | assigned the three Commissioners. Sena- tor King said that he probably would introduce & bill for that purpose. Opposition to the reappointment of Commissioners Rudolph and Oyster has been expressed by Senator Mc- Kellar of Tennessee, author of the 5-cent street car fare bill, who has taken the position that the Commis- sioners werc at fault as members of the Public Utilities Commission in permitting the street car companies here to charge an $-cent fare with six tokens for 40 cents. Fare Reduction Ctted. { It was brought out at the hear- | ings on the b-cent street car fare bill, however, that the only changes in fare made since Commissioners Rudolph_and Oyster took office have been slight reductions. Request for open hearings on the nomination of the Commissioners be- fore they are confirmed for another term was made to Senator Ball, chair- man of the District commitice, by Capt. Julius I Peyser in a letter to- ay. Capt. Peyser wrote the senator that he had been requested by citizens to ask for public hearings, and added that within a day or two the commit- tee would be furnished with a. list of witnesses to be called to testify at such hearing. Commissioners Rudolph and Oyster (Continued on Page 2, Column 7.) WIDOW, 30, DAUGHTER, 16, Virginia Beauties Become Brides in Ceremony Which Is Held in Page County. Special Dispatch to The Star. ‘WINCHESTER, Va, March 22.— Mrs. Virginia V. Housden, attractive widow, not quite thirty, and her daughter, Miss Myrtle Housden, six- {teen, became brides at a double wed- ding in Page county a few days ago, the former wedding Irwin W. Camp- bell and the girl becoming the wife of Herbert S. Alger. P e T WAHLBERG, IN HAVANA, MISSED BY REPORTER By the Associated Press. 7 I HAVANA, March 22.—G. D. Wahlberg, for whom a subpoena has been issued by the Senate oil investigating commit- tee in Washington, is in Havana, it ‘was learned today. He left a request at his hotel that the names of all callers be announced in gin of the fire was in doubt. The|George Nivelle, who commanded in~#iadgivored to prevent the communists advance, but he was not at the hotel burned building was used as & ma- chine and carpenter shop. French troops at Verdun during the European war, is dead. I= marching to the center of the today when newspaper men called to see him ¢ have three subordinate officials, with the | IN DOUBLE WEDDING ! worst, a reckless expenditure of pub- 1 money rather than a corrupt one. Whether it be bad judgment, reck- lessmess or corruption the fact re- mains that more than a million dol- lars have been spent for a purpose for which a few thousands would have sufficed, even if the money had been uaed liberally.” By way of contrast Representative Johnson reminded his colleagues of general an bitter public censure when salf of railroad - bfietals, members of Congress and oven the Preaident were increased a few thou- gand dollars a year, which, compared with the prices paid these auctioneers, was “infinitesimal,” he said, Trailed by Remark Overbeard. | While hearings were in progress |on the Army appropriation bill Rep- resentative Joknson overheard a side remark that an auctioneer had been paid $1,000 a day—“or, rather, for thirty or forty minutes of a day'— for merely orying the sale of some surplus Army goods. By question- ing, he learned that many thousands of dollars a day had been so paid. Then he had the committee call upon the War Department for a detailed (Continued on Page 8, Columu 4.) LONDON CAR STRIKE AFFECTS MILLIONS Tramway and Omnibus Lines Tied Up in Walkout Carried 7,000,000 Daily. i | 7 the Arsociated Press. { LONDON, March 22.—Omnibus and |tramway service ceased last mid- {night as a result of a strike of tram- | way employes for higher wages, and a sympathetic walkout by omnibus men. The first sufferers were hundreds of nlght workers employed by news- papers, hotels and central markets, who depend on the trams to reach their homes, as the railroads here shut down soon after midnight for some hours. ‘The biggest tramway system affect- ed is that run by the London County Council, which has 163 miles of track, but several privately owned systems also are involved, an? these are spread over a wide area, serving dis- tricts far beyond the immediate suburbs. | About 3,500 omnibuses are tied up, ! depriving not only London itself, but many rural and semi-rural areas of cheap transportation, as many of the bus routes extend to places twenty or_thirty miles outside the city. It is estimated that the trams an buses together carry nearly 7,000,000 persons daily, many of whom espe- cially among the must otherwise walk. possibility that subway will join" the strike. DOZEN PUPILS ARRESTED SPEEDING TO CLASSES Winchester High School Boys and Girls Are Fined for Violations. Special Dispatel to The Star. WINCHESTER, Va., March 23— Some of the high school boys and girls of Winchester appear so eager to attend school that nearly a dozen were lined up last evening in police court and fined on charges of ex- ceeding the speed limit in automo- biles. Supt, H. 8. Duffey personally had some of the warrants sworn out after complaints had been made by numer- ous citizens living in the vicinitw of the Handley School that they were becoming weary of dodging automo- biles in charge of boys and girls on their way to school. Arrests were made, it was sald, after several warn ings had been given. f employes poorer workers | There is a of & public utilities commission. Un- der existing conditions, the engineer commissioner serves as chairman and director of the Utilities Commission Requires Mach Time. In the short period of time he ha been chairman of the commission, Maj. Bell has found, e Indicated todar-. that the probism ef BEiiity vegulation is such a compligated apd far-reach- ing one that it s diMeult for the three District Commissioners to keep up with that work and with th numerous other daties as city father. and zoning commissioners. On the other hand, the major feels that the regulation of utilities is so related to the duties of the District Commissioners that the lat- ter officials should be on the utilities commission. Following this line of thought, he has outlined a plan under which there would be five public utility commis- sioners, two of whom would dig into the legal and technical phases of the work and bave the judgment and aid of the three city Commissioners in deciding matters. Depreciation Issne Clted. The responsibility placed upor them as Public Utility Commission members has been brought forcefully to the attention of the city heads within the past few weeks in tbe matter of fixing rules of depreciation for the several companies. Depreciation of the property of the corporations is one of the most tech- nical and involved phases of regu- lation, and is one that has been be- fore the commission for a long time For nearly two years it was delayed by a dispute as to whether the Inter- | state Commerce Commission had an jurisdiction over the local companie: When that commission decided few months ago that it had no such urisdiction over depreciation, Maj. U and his colleagues tackled the task of drafting rules to be followed by the companies in thelr deprecic- tion accounts. Takes Middle Course. Maj. Bell believes the District Com- missioners have done their best in solving utility problems throughour the past ten years, but he indicated today that a larger commission, as outlined, would function to better ad- vantage for all concerned. From time to time in the past citi- zens’ organizations have advocated a utilities commission separate from the board of Commissioners, on the the- ory that there was too much work o the two boards for one set of men handle. Maj. Bell's plan presents a middl. course between the present syste: and the proposal to create another i1 | dependent commission. 'WORLD FLYERS PLAN T0 GO ON MARCH 30 ‘Will Make 650-Mile Jump to Prince Rupert, B. C., if ‘Weather Permits. By the Associated Press, SEATTLE, Maroh 22.—On March 30 ‘weather conditions permitting, the four Ugited States aviators who em- |barked Monday from Santa Monica, i Calif, on a 25,000-mile flight around | the world will take off on the next {1¢g, & 630-mile trip to Prince Ruper: British Columbia. In the meantime a new motor wil! be installed in one of the planes and pontoons and new propellers fitted on all Various local organizations have {arranged a program of entertainment for the flyers next week, included in which will be a Purdue University | alumni dinner given in honor of Maj. | Frederick L. Martin, commander of ‘lhe squadron. On Thursday evenini the city of Seattle will hold a formal reception for the airmen.