Evening Star Newspaper, May 21, 1924, Page 1

WEATHER. Showers this night: tomorrow, probably tinued cool. Temperature for twenty cnded at 2 p.m. today 5 pm. vesterday: a.m. today. lowest, Full report on Closing N. Y. Stocks and Bonds, Page 28 No. 29,240, Dost_office Was| afternoon Highest, 62 at and fair; to- con= -four Rours 52 at 6:15 page 7. Entered as second-class matter hington. D. C. CONFEREES AGREE UPON HIGH SURTAX; PUBLICITY BANNED Reduction of 50 Per Cent on Incomes Under $8,000 Is | Also Adopted. ‘ ESTATE RATES RAISED; | GIFTS TO BE ASSESSED Senate Democrats Yield on Cor- | Poration Provision to Prevent | Coolidge Veto. ! Unanimous day by the reduetion bill The Simmons Democratic income rate chedule, providing for « 40 per cent maximum surtax rate and a 50 per cent | Teduction in normal taxes on incomes | under $5.000 was accepted. Senate amendments providing for full publicity of tax returns and a tax on undistributed corporation profits were rejected | agreement conferees was reached on the tax- Extate Tax Increases The eent House provisions for a 40 per | increase existing estate tax | rates and for the imposition of a gift | tex with rates similar to the estate tax | vites were accepted | Senate Democrats in vielding their proposal for & substitute corporation | t4x and full publicity of tax returns explained that they did so in expec Gation that the bill would not be ol Jectionable to President Coolidge. | Would Block Veto. was expressed by Senate Re- organization leaders that | the bill framed would the approval President Who has declared opposition to both | the publicity and corporation pro- posals. which were eliminated. Although the Democratic income tux schedule was pted, Republi- cans said it varied but little from the Longworth compromise, approved by House Republicans The report was not expected to get before either the Senate or Hous 1or approval today. Republican in- surgents have indicated they will de- mand separate votes on the full pub- licity and corporation tax amend- ments which were cast out Hope publican as now meet of Coolidge, re Earned Income Rate Cut. The provision for a 25 per cent re- ducti earned incomes was re-| tained, but the Senate amendment restricting the amount to which thi eut could be applied to $10.000 was accented. A compromise was reached on i eut in the jewelry tax. All articles gelling for $30 or less were excmpted | from the 5 per cent tax. The House | had set this limit at $40 and the| Senate at $25. | Senate proposa's to cxempt prod- | and merchandise bre from the tax and to restore the full lev. rd and pool tables and bowling | s were approved | Deduetion Limit Rextored. | The treasury proposal to limit i ctions on account of capital loss 121; per cent was restor bitl by demand of House Seeretary Mellon has would increase return $25,000.000 annually. Chairman Smoot finance committee estimated the bill went $100,000.000 below the Treasury surplus available for tax reduction. | This did not take into” account the | vost of the bonus bill which it has lieen estimated will require an appro- | priation of $150.000.000 for the next scal year or other pending measures | calling for special appropriations. Senator Smoot estimated. however, that the deficit could be met through increasing returns which would re- sult from the stimulus to business which tax reduction would bring. As compared with the present law. ! Mr. Smoot said the bill as framed 1y the House would have cut revenue by $445.720,000 In the next calendar | year. The measure framed by the Senate, he explained. cut returns 120,000, s finally framed | Ly -onference it would reduce government revenue by $472.620,000. | Income Tax Cut Remains. | The provision for a 25 per cent cut | fn income taxes payable this year re- mains in the bill." Likewise, repeal and reduction of many of the excise ! and miscellaneous taxes was not be- fore the conference, since both bodies | liad agreed to the changes, slimination of the Senate corpora- tion tax substitute leaves the present <orporation tax unchanged—a fat ' cent corporation earnings | v of $1 for each $1,000 of | capital stock. No change had been proposed in this tax by either Secre- tary Mellon or the House. The House provision opening tax returns to inspection by certain con- gressional committees was automati- cally retained upon elimination of | the proposal for full publicity of the | returns as approved by the Senate. However, an amendment was accept- «d, requiring the internal revenue hureau to post in addition to the names and addresses of all taxpayers, as now, the amount of tax paid. 'An amendment offered by Senator Jones, Democrat, New Mexico, to open all hearings before the proposed hoard of tax appeals was accepted. Agreement was reached to exempt srom the 3 per cent tax all automo- | bile, trucks, the chassis of which sel for $1,000 or less and the bodies of which ' sell for $200 or less. The 5 ber cent tax on automobile tires, barts and accessories was cut in half. The Senate had proposed to repeal entirely the tax on parts and acces- e Senate amendment imposing a 10 per cent tax on mah-jong sets was approved. % - '\ proposal by Senator McKinley, Republican, 1llinois, to cut newspaper nailing rates to the scale applying in 1919, approved by the Senate, Wwas turned down. Likewise, the Senate proposal to increase from 5 to 10 per lent the fax on all coin-operated slot- machines was rejected. ‘Approve Higher Eexemption. The Senate amendment proposed by Senator Simmons increasing from £2,000 to $2,500 the exemptions for heads of families with incomes of more than $5,000 was approved. Heads )7 families with incomes of less than 3,000 now receive such an exemption \» change was made in the exemp- ‘ions for single persons. The House amendments, turned jown by the Senate. relating to stock vidend taxes were definitely thrown sut. One proposed that gains from ihe sale of stock dividends held for more than a period of two vears “hould be taxed upder the higher sur- {ax rates rather than the capital as- (Continued on Page 2, Column 2.) n on timated it in revenue by of ihe Senate MEXICAN REBEL LEADER ORDERED TO SURRENDER Caraveo Issues Ultimatum Threatening Band With Extermination. By the Associated Press. EL PASO, Tex.. May 21.—Gen. Manuel Chao, rebel leader and bandit chieftain in northern Mexico, Chihuahua and Durango, has been sent an ultimatum from Gen. Marcelo Caraveo to surrender in three days or he and his band will be ex- terminated. according to a bulletin issued by Mexican Consul E. D. Ruiz. A general reduction in the Mexican army is_now under way, Mr. Ruiz stated. Three months ago there were 100,000 soldiers in the army, today there are only 78,000. The army will be reduced to 60,000 within the next forty days. June 15 has been definite- Iy set us the opening date for free ports. Gen. U.S. FLYERS, DELAYED, 70 GO ON TOMORROW Halted by Foggy Weather. Storms General Through- _out Japan. U. S. DESTROYER IS FETED Japanese School Children Board Ships Singing National Airs. By the Assoriated Press. ABOARD THE DESTROYER JOHN D. FORD, KUSHIRO, Japan, May 21. The American around-the-world fliers hope to start from Hitokappu Bay. Kurile Islands. Thursday morning at daylight, and fiy to Kasumigaura. fifty miles fiorthwest of Tokio, in one day. stopping either at Kushiro or Minato. Japan, to refuel. The Ford, which arrived 12:30 this afternoon. made the 200- mile trip from Hitokappu Bay in a heavy fog, which prevented the fliers from starting today. At noon, ho ever. Lieut. Commander H. P. Fro of the Ford advised the fiyers to try to fly far us Kushiro today. but they replied that the attempt would made tomorrow The flight from Hitokappu Bay to Kasumigaura is expected to occupy twelve hours, with only a brief stop at_either Minato or Kushiro. The Ford received a great recep- tion here. Almost the entire ciiy turned out, probably the first foreign war vessel that has ever visited this port. The mayor. councilmen and leading citizens boarded the ship to extend un official welcome and pre- sent the keys of the city. Countless school children visited the ship. lustily singing the national anthems of America and Japan. Entertain- ments are being arranged for tonight. Lieut. Lowell gmith, acting com- mander of the flight, received a con- gratulatory cable from Secretary of War Weeks. Storms are Gemeral. By the Associatesd Press. TOKIO, May 21.—The American Army aviators flying around the world are being delayed at Hittokappu Bay, Island of Yetorofu, in the Kuriles, by bad weather. An official dispatch to the Japanese navy department, sent from a Japanese destroyer on duty with the flyers at 11 a.m. today, said that the Americans were waiting until the foggy weather clears Botli the embassy and the Tokio central observatory sent warnings to the fivers to expect bad weather today and Thursday. Storms are reported all ong the eastern and northern coast of Japan. here at a MacLaren Reaches By tie Associuted Press SHANGHAL May 21—A. Stuart MacLaren, British aviator flying around the world, arrived at Akyab, Burma. today, from Calcutta. said a dispatch from the former point re- ceived here tonight. Doiny May Continue. By the Associated Press. SHANGHAIL, May 21—Capt. letier Doisy. French aviator, who damaged his _plane yesterday in landing here, has overcome his dis- appointment at the interruption to his projected flight from Paris to Tokio and_is considering seriously the offer of a Chinese plane for con- tinuation of his flight. The offer was made yesterday by Gen. Ho Feng-Ling, military gov- ernor_of Shanghai. If Doisy accepts he will proceed toward Tokio within a week. Akyah. Pel- ch £ FAVORABLE REPORT ONWORLD COURT 1S BELIEVED CERTAIN Early Approval of Plan, With‘ Reservations Against League, Predicted. ACTION BY SENATORS THIS SESSION DOUBTED Foreign Relations Committee Con- tinues Consideration of Four Plans for U. S. Participation. Following a two-hour cussion WASHINGTON, - Foening M WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION D. €, THEY'RE NOT WoR" TAKINY To THE X | | | today by the Senate foreign relations | comm of the United States to the world court, Senator Lodge, chairman of the com- mittee, that a resolution would be tee of the proposed adherence the opinion was expresed by ! reported to the Senmate by the com- | mittee looking to the adherence of this country to the court, with res- ervations which would effectually disassociate the court from the league of nations While it was expected that such a resolution will be reported favora- bly from the committee at the pres- ent session, and before the Repub- lican national convention in Cleve- land, it is very doubtful that any action can be had on it in the Sen- ate in' view of the short time re- maining and the great amount of legislation pressing for consideration. The foreign relations committee will meet again tomorrow morning to continue its consideration of the world court proposal. The Swanson resolution proposing adherence to the world court, in accordance with the recommendations made by the late President Harding and by President Coolidge, was before the committec for consideration at its meeting today and it was to that resolution that the discussion was directed. The committee has befgre it also resolu- tions offered by ator Lenroot of Wisconsin, Senator Pepper of Penn- svlvania and the resolution r. introduced by Senator Lodge sug- gesting that a new international tri- bunal be created. Amendments Propewed. The disposition of many of the com- mittee members, it was said follow- Ing the meeting, was to dratt a reso- lution which would allow the exist- ing tribunal to stand with such amendments as would disassociate it from the league of nations, with the understanding that in that event the United States would join in the court. Two matters which must be given careful consideration, it was sald. relate to the method of appointment of the judges of the world court and to the payment of the expenses of the court Woule Require Werld 0. K. Senator Moses of New Hampshire, another member of the forelgn rela- tions committee, also expects a res- olution regarding the world court to be reported to the Senate prior to the Republican national convention. Senator Pepper of Pennsylvania, was learned, was authorized to draft a plan for dissociation of the world court from the league. If the Senate works out such a plan and the United States nroposes to join in the world court, provided the court and the league are legally divorced, it will then be up to tne nations 'taking part the world court {o agree to such divorcement and probably to amend the act creating the world court if they desire to have this country a member of the court. Whether the Democratic members of the foreign relations committee and of the Senate will look with favor upon such a drastic resolution remains to be seen. Many of them in the past supported the proposal that the United States should enter the league of nations itself, and the fact that the existing world court is connected wtih the league of nations is not considered a drawback by them. Position Is Unchanged Republican members of the Senate foreign relations committee were told by the’ President at a White House conference last night that his posi- tion with reference to the world court question was the same as indicated in his message on the subject and in various statements since made. The committee members, who were headed by Chairman Lodge, it was said, would attempt to formulate a plan which would be in harmony with the President’s position. The conference was described as (Continued on Page 2, Column Major General and Rear Admiral Deadlocked - Over Who Ranks First McDonald Has Precedence—Sea Fighter Also Stands Pat. 0ld fumily troubles are brewing away out in the Pacific ocean between two American officers of rival services, and two great government departments in ‘Washington have been asked to decide a matter of precedence in rank between the officers commanding the military and naval establishments in Hawaii. The question of precedence will prob- ably be given to the Attorney Gemeral for settlement, and may go to the Presi- dent of the United States. The two officers concerned in the mat- ter are Maj. Gen. Charles P. Summerall, military commander of the Hawaiian department, and Rear Admiral John D. McDonald, commanding the fourteenth naval district, at Honolulu. The contest over precedence has again become acute, after an apparent cessation, with the forthcoming visit of the British fleet commanded by Vice Admiral Field. May Refuse Invitations. Chiefs of staff of the respective officers have advised Gov. W. R. Far- rington of Hawaii ‘that their chiefs will refuse to accept invitations whete the priority in rank of one over the other iz not recognized. So the matter stands today while Secretary of the Navy Wilbur and Secretary of War Weeks are mulling over the matter in advance of a decision. Gov. Farrington has ddvised his chief, Secretary Work of the Interior De- partment, that if no agreement is reached ‘before the coming of the British fleet, and he hears ndthing to the contrary, he will follow the prec- edent set on former Secretary Denby’'s visit and recognize Rear Admiral McDonald, who represents a branch of the service correspond- ing to that of the guests—the offi- cers and men of the British flect. Both Men Stand Pat. Secretary Wilbur was asked more than a month ago to decide the ques- tion of priority, but said that in view of the recent changes in the heads of the Navy and Justice departments he did not deem it an opportune time to reopen the case. Now the matter has again been brought to his atten- tion foreibly, with both officers stand- ing pat. - The “family differences” between the two officers would prove espe- clally embarrassing to the guests| when returning courtesies, Gov. Far- rington wired Secretary Work, and added. that it would be unfortunate if_the trouble could not be cleared up before the arrival of the British fleet. He sald the position of the two offi- cers is that they have received orders that cannot change without advice from the heads of their respective de- partments. Honolulu is the first American port of call for the British fleet, and Gov. Farrington said it would be unfor- tunate if the honored guests found : e officers engaged in family dif- ences, . ently | it | 'ACTION ON ALIEN BILL | EXPECTED THIS WEEK “Coo]idge May Sign With Concilia- ! tory Statement or Return, Ask- ing Changes. | TALKS WITH SENATOR REED | President Has Report From Hughes i on Measure. | Action by President Coolidge on the mmigratian bill before the end the week was forecast today after a con- | ference between the Executive and | Senator Reed, Republican, Pennsyl- | vania, who had charge of the legis- lation in the Senate | signing of the bill with an accom- | panying statement designed to soften any affront to Japan arising from the I‘ Japanese exclusion section or return | of the measure to Congress with re- | {quest for some change in the exclu- sion provision were suggested as possibilities by some persons close to the President. Precedent at Hand. | The first possibility is known to |have been considered by the President | from the first. The second would be in accordance with a precedent set by President Wilson in returning the | Jones merchant marine act to Con- | gress with a statement that he would sign it if a provision which he held to be in violation of certain commer- cial treaties was slightly changed as to its language. In the case of the Jones act Congress made the change within forty-eight hours and Mr. Wil- son signed it. Knows Hughes' Stand. The immigration bill still is before the State Department. but the report to be made on it by that department is understood to have been conveyed informally to the President late y terday by Seeretary Hughes. Senator Reed was called to th: Woite Honse today for a discussioa of the bill and his visit was preceded by a confer- { ence between the Presldent and Rep- resentatives Longworth of Ohio, Ke- publican House floor leader. and Madden, Republican, of Illinois. Al- though this conference dealt largel with the legislative situation in th House, the immigration bill also was discussed. Senator Reed said he could not make a statement as to the action contemplated by the President, but adde “You will notice that I am leaving | with a smile on my face.” | " The Pennsylvania senator has held | from the first that the bill finally | would be approved by the Pres:dent., | |AUTO CRASH FATAL | Summerall Will Not Go to Honolulu Reception i!i TO FEDERAL WORKER | iJtneph L. Cline, 70, Arlington! Farm Employe, Fatally | Hurt in Collision. Joseph L. Cline, scventy vears old, of 117 Tennessee avenue northeast, an employe of the Arlington experimen- | tal farm, was killed this morning when the automobile in which he was a passenger collided with a taxicab driven by James C. Puffen- berger at 3d and F streets. Cline was on his way to the govern- ment farms with Charles Just of Landover, Md., owncr and operator of the car in which he was a passenger, and J. L. Bondmer, 310 I street, when the accident occurred. He was rush- ed to Casualty Hospital, but was pronounced dead on arrival. Death was caused by a fracture of the skull. Puffenberger is being held at- No. 6 police station, awaliting the verdict of the coroner. AVIATOR KILLED IN AUTO. Capt. Andrew Lang Hits Fence in Fog in Test Run. By the Associated Press. MELBOURNE, Australia, May 21.— Capt. Andrew Lang,.a former holder of the world airplane aititude record, was killed this morning when an au- tomobile which he was driving crash- ed into & fence during a dense fog. Lang was driving in a twerity-four- nour fest. He was a nephew of An- drew Lang, English author. WEDNESDAY, | Taft 2 MAY 21, Star. 1924 —FORTY PAGES. The Star Yesterday * “THE OPEN DOOR. Pledge to Fight Traffic in Liquor Taken at Coffin e Associated Press NEW YORK. May 21 residents of Suffolk county, N virtually were pledged today to “war against hootleggers and liquor runners after such action was urged at the funeral of @erdi- nand J. Downs of Southampton, slain in a fight while hunting liquor carriers last Friday At the funeral of Downs. which took place vesterday under the direction of the Ku Klux Klan more than 5.000 persons assented when the four ministers present spoke the pledge to carry on the fight which cost Downs his life. Two of the ministers were in Klan regalia, as were 200 of the 5.000 Klansmen there. Neither the ministers nor the Klansmen wore masks. Floral offerings were banked around the grave. and a blazing cross flamed at the head. $300 ORATORY PRIZE IS GIVEN TO WINNER Central High Students Acclaim Miss Ruth Newburn on Receiv- ing The Star's Check. Many ¥ COOLIDGE AT FINAL MEET Seven National Contestants to Ap- pear Here on June 6. ns of the continental sweep iational oratorical contest, to be held here June 6, were caught at the assembly held today at the Cen- tral High School, The grand prize of $200 was presented to Miss Ruth Newburn, sixteen-year-old senior. winner in the local zone. In the presence of the entire stu- dent body Miss Newburn received from the hands of G. A. Lyon, asso- ciate editor of The Star, a check for $300, the grand award in the oratori- cal contest conducted amofig the local high schools. Student Body Impreased. Every student present was made to feel the national aspects of the con- test, and cheered the winner with tremendous enthusiasm as speakers brought home the fact that Central's prize orator will compete with seven other national representatives chosen out of more than a million contest ants, from 13,281 high schools, with an aggregate audience in their com- petition of more than 12,000,000 per- sons Assembling at 9 o'clock at the reg- ular Wednesday morning meeting of the student body, the students gath- ered to pay honor to Miss Newburn, seleTted last week by Justices S dons, Robb and McCoy as the best of the more than 4,000 local competi- tors. In the audience, as especially invited guests. were the seven other competitors, representing the West- ern. Bastern, Business and Dunbar High Schools, the McKinley Manual Training School, Armstrong Munual Training School and the Holy Academy. Other Vietories Cited. Principal Stephen E. Kramer of the Central High School opened the meet- ing with a reading from Proverbs, after which the assembly recited the Lord's Prayer. Mr. Kramer said that “we are met for rather a glorious occasion,” and told of recent victories by Central students in tennis, track and other athletic events, pointing out that four old Central men are on the Olympic rifie team. Randolph Leigh, national director of the contest, outlined briefly the national aspects of the competition. He impressed the students by declar- ing that one high school alone in New York City placed more than 8.000 pupils in the contest. He announced that Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court will be among the judges at the national contest to be held on the night of June 6 at Memorial Con- tinental Hall, when the representa- tive of the District, Miss Newburn, will meet the six other national win- ners, only one of whom is a girl. Largest Event of Kind. The meaning, value and signifi- cance of the form of government of the United States has been indelibly stamped upon millions of minds, Mr. Leigh declared. “The oratorical meet will be one of the finest competitions (Continued on Page 2, Column 8.) when a Cross | Wwilh. IITITRALI VI T WA |MANY D. C. MEASURES | 0. KD BY COMMITTEE. Senate Group Orders Favorable Re- | port on Capper Compulsory School Bill. | | PARKWAY | e | Regulation of Milk Bottle Traffic Is Favored. WINS APPROVAL 1 The Capper bill for compulsory ed- | veation ana a school census in the | District of Columbia was ordered | favorably reported to the Senate to- | | day by the Senate District commit- tee, along with eight other District | bills. The compulsory sehool educa- | tion bill is similar to a | vorably reported to the Senate ing the last Congress. . Another important bill ordered re- iport(-vl to the Senate proposes to reg- dur- ulate the traffic in and the use of |expects to include the estimates in | SUICIDE WAVE SWEEPS SOVIET UNIVERSITIES Bourgeois Students, Fearing Ex- clusion Under New Decree, Com- mit Self-Destruction. By Radio to The Star and Chicago Daily News. Copyright, 1524 LENINGRAD, May 21.—A wave of suicide is sweeping over the bour- geois students of Leningrad Uni- versity, who fear exclusion under the new decree. | Krasnaya Gazette prints lists of | the suicides which sometimes num- ber nine names a day. | Actual decisions | pulsions will not be made until next week. but many undergraduates are in despair. among the students. Suicides are | reported from other universities also and grave fears are entertained that they will become epidemic. this being the method of Russian students for registering a protest when ail else has failed. Meanwhile, professors and others are petitioning the government modify or postpone the decree, $6,500,000 NEEDED |TO ADMINISTER BONUS Estimates of Operation Cost First Year Given Budget Bureau by Three Departments. RUSH WORK ON FIGURES Officials Hope to Have Total Cost | Ready for Action This Week. 1 It will cost nearly six and a haif | million dollars to administer the | soldiers’ Lonus during the firs the budget bureau was Lold today The War Department, Navy De- partment and Veterans’ Bureau, which will handle the bonus. have submit- ted to the budget bureau their first estimates on administrative cost for the fiscal year beginning July 1 next. totaling $6,488,500. It is divided as follows: War Department, $4,500,- 000; Navy Department, $800.000, and | Veterans' Bureau. $1.188.500. | These fizures do not inciude any payments of bonus money to veteran beneficiaries. Further estimates will | be recessary to determine the amount vhich will be paid out through th Veterans' Dureau in bonus cash of $50 or less and in compensation to rel tives of soldiers already dead Rush Work on Estimate. | Director Lord of the budget bureau said today the estimates would be | thoroughly gone over as rapidly as possible, revised. if necessary, ap- | proved by the President, and sent measure fa- | to Congress, he thought, by Friday | | or Saturday of this week | be in time for inclusion of the item (in the deficiency Dbill. now before | the House appropriations committee. | Chairman Madden of that committee This would milk bottles and other containers of j the deficiency bill. | milk and cream in the District of Co- lumbia. The bill such container must carry the name of the distributor of the {cr-am and that no one else shall fill any such container for sale and dis- tribution of milk. The District Com- missioners. in recommending favor- | able action on this bill, point out | that it will aid the health department in tracing diseases sometimes carried in milk Parkway Bill Approved. A third bill ordered favorably re- ! ported authorizes the necessary sur- Ver ‘and preparation of a plan of a | proposed parkway to connect the old c¢ivil war forts in the District of Co- | Tumbia, including Fort Grebls, ¥ | Lincoln, Fort Carroll, Batter: - | etts, Fort Stanton, Fort Wagner, Fort | Baker, Fort Davi “ort Dupont, Fort Shaplin, “A” Battery, Fort Ma n, Fort Bunker Hill, Fort Totten, Fo Slo- cum. Fort Stevens, Fort De Russey, Fort Byard. Battery Kemble, Battery Vermont 1d Battery Parrott. An es- timate is to be made of the cost of the acquirement of the necessary prop- erty for such & parkway and also the cost of the old forts that are not now owned by the United States. Street Closing Approved. Another bill ordered favorably re- ported would authorize the District Commissioners to close certain streets, roads or highways in the District ren- dered useless or unnece: ry b ing or straightening of other streets, roads or highways. The bill author. izes the Commissioners to close spe- cifically Broad Branch road, between Jocelyn and 31st streets: Piney Branch road. between Spring road and Blair road; Pierce Mill road, be- tween Tilden street and Wisconsin |avenue: Belt road, between Wisconsin | avenue ‘and Chevy Chase Circle. Col- |fax street. through square 712 Queens Chapel road, between Bla densburg road and Irving street: | Grand road, between Wisconsin av [nue and Connecticut avenue. Th | bill authorizes the Commissioners to close such other streets, roads or highways or parts thereof as may in the judgment of the Com oners become useless or unnecessary by reason of the opening of other streets. It is provided, however, that the ti- tle to parts of the streets so closed | shall revert to the abutting property | owners. and that the consent of the | owners of all the property abutting | on the street or road proposed to be | closed shall first be obtained. Two bills relating to the office of the recorder of deeds were ordered | favorably reported, one authorizing the appointment of a second deputy recorder of deeds at a salary of $2,000 a year, and the other amending the act relating to the recording of chat- | tel trusts, so as to dispense with the | present requirement that these in- struments shall be copied. Howard University Bill Carried. The committee also ordered g fa- vorable report on a bill to enable the trustees of Howard University to develop an athletic field. They would be authorized to acquire ko much of square 3059 as is not now owned by the university, also 4.500 square feet in square 3057 The bill provides that portions of Fairmont and Girard streets may be closed and that the Secretary of War shall reconvey to the university included in McMillan Park, at the same price that was paid by the gov- ernment for the land. Under the terms of another bill re- ported favorably, the act-regulating height of buildings in the District ‘would be amended so as to permit the erection of an addition to the Har- rington Hotel at a height which ex- ceeds that now authorized by law. | 0IL TANKS ABLAZE. ‘ HOUSTON, Tex. May tanks of the Humble Oil and Refining Company, at Webster, struck by lehmln gdmxml.' conlllnue:’ to urn te ma estimated at $600,00 - provides that each | | rei- son of the opening. extension. widen- | trustees a triangular plot of land now | | 21.—Four | The Navy Department was the first to submit its estimate on the cost of | administering the bonus. It reported | yesterday afternoon, the first day fol- milk Or}lowln: the Senate action overriding | with my wife,”" the President's veto. Hearings were | held over the Navy estimates yester- |day afternoon, and completed. Fur- | ther consideration will be given them, however, after the others have been gone over and the honus administra- tive cost considered as a whole. The budget bureau planned to hear |both_the War Department and. the Veterans' Bureau today. Explain Factor List. Veterans' Bureau actuaries inform- | ed members of Congress for the first |time that the list of “factors” pre-| made | |pared by them and recently | public for computing the amounts of insurance due under the bonus law took into account the extra cent of adjusted service compens allowed by the bill on insurance ¢ tificates, 5 This ‘means that a veteran. computing the value of the ins policy he will receive simply will multiply his credits at $1.25 a day for foreign service and $1 a day for home service by his factor, previously has been made public. | The extra 25 per cent is not to be | added as heretofore announced. As an_example. if the veteran has the maximum_amount of home service cre $500. the insurance polic: | would amount to about two and one | half times that amount. or $1:250, according to the age of the veteran. H. P. Brown, Veterans Bureau actuary, explained the table of factors | recently made public had been based lon values of $1.25 instead of $1, as usual, and thus took into account the extra 25 per cent allowed by the bill {and saved a double computation. This will result in lower values for insurance policies all along the line than had been figured by Congress Brown said, but woud make no differ- ence in the estimated total cost of the bill, since all these facts have been taken into copsideration by the actuaries of both' the Veterans' Bureau and the Treasury Department who figured on the expense. Bonus Money Provision. To consider the problem of how to in Congress an estimate to provide bonus money which will be paid out to the veterans themselves or their dependents for the first year, Di- rector Hines of the Veterans Bu- reau held an extended conference this afternoon with Director Lord of the budget bureau. The first money necessary minister the bill is to be asked of Congress as an amendment to the deficiency bill. but the cash bonus to veterans or their dependents, which is to be paid out by the Veterans' Bureau, is another matter. No de- cision had been reached early this afternoon, nor had there been any official estimate given out as to how much bureau °ficials think will be necessary to méwt this demand for the firstyyear. Cash bonuses will be paid by the Veterans’ Bureau to all whose ad- justed service compensation is $50 or less, and there will be a large amount’ dus to relatives or depend- ents of veterans who have died. e McADOO FOR BRYAN. Hopes Friends Will Support Him in Florida Meeting. NEW YORK, May 21.—William G. McAdoo. candidate for the Demo- cratic presidential nomination, said in a statement made public here today: “It would be presumptuous for me to offer advices to the people of Florida. but 1 hope sincerely that they may send Willlam Jennings Bryan as a delegate to the Demo- cratic national convention and that my friends will support him.” to ad- 'S every city block and the regular edi- tion is delivered to Washington homes as fast as the papers are printed. ’s Circulation, 98,152 concerning ex- | There is a great ferment | to| which | handle the matter of presening to| “From Press to Home Within the Hour” carrier system covers TWO CENTS. EFFORT T0“FRAME WHEELER AND FOIL PROBE DESCRIBED | Daugherty Inquiry Witnesses Tell of Alleged Elaborate Espionage System Used. CHARGE SHADOW CREW ‘ TOOK MEANS’ DIARIES I =i Duckstein and U. S. Agents Say Probers and Witnesses Care- fully Watched. | | The Senate Daugherts commitiea was told today that representatives | of the Department of Justice not onix |had sought to “frame Wheeler,” its prosecutor. but had spied on its membersfand its wi |nesses and had spirited away (i | famous diaries of Gaston B. Meaus { working with it as an investigator | _One of the witnesses was W. ¢ Duckstein, who said he knew about | the whole proceedings because his | wife is a secret agent of the depart ment. It was she. said. who { identified in his presence the records lof Means after they haa | tained by a ruse. | Duckstein Senator he been deseribed an espionuge great proportions, whi id had been thrown about the ommittee’s operations under the di- rection of H. C. Todd, special assizt- |ant to Attorney General Daugherts He said the * ¢ of detectives” used in the case had come largely from New York. under the direction of two men named Petitt and O'Brien. Their activities included wire-tapping and many other methods of obtaining in formation Describes Frame-Lp P ‘The purpose of the “crew,” the wi ness declared, had been described by :wun and O'Brien including the | “framing” enator Wheeler. who has been indicted in Montano. and the | “railroading™ Means 1o e peni- tentiary. Another witness. R. P. Bur- rus, a special Department of Jus agent. testified that he and five a | sistants had constituted the force a=- signed to “shadow™ Means. | Duckstein said it was Pettit O'Brien who got the Means diaries which the famous detective had de clared would substantiate his s about money payments to Jess Smith ! The two men. he said, called hift and his wife out of their home at night. took them inte an automoblle nd opened three suitcases fu of “little black booke,” which Mrs. Duckstein identified as the diaries and files of Means. The committee pressed the witness to say why he had not reported the | incident. “I considered us of and ories them as Duckstein said Brien said they were to Todd in co-worker goinz New | tit and o [ to take | York: | g Why did you finally | asked Senator Wheeler. “I had to.” Duckstein replied, ex | plaining that Means had got some | of the facts, and was “getting m: | wite into it |~ Mrs. Duckstein. ! directly under W head of the bureau | did not report the paper enterprise to her chief. he said. “considering it a matter coming directly under the Attorfley Generai.” George Chamberlain, attorney H. M. Daugherty, asked the witness for details of his conversations with Pettit and O'Brien about getting evi- dence against committee members. i Admits Drinking. | “Were 1 drinking when {talked about that?' he asked | “We were,” said Duckstein “Did you think they |ing you™ | “No. I can't say 1 did.” Mr. Chamberlain ggested the stories might hav ecome more |vivid with the liquor.” but Duckstein said_that on the contrary the liquor would result in more freedom of | talk | Under further questioning Duck | stein _was more specific about the Means' papers. He said that Pettit and O'Brien, on the night of March 31, took the witness and his wife ove a secluded road in a Washington park. With a flashlight they made . hurried inspection of several cases f diaries and documents in the autom; bile. Since that date, Duckstein <a he “hadn’t seen hide nor hair’ of | ther man, but had a telephone versation on April § with Pettit Told of “Framing” Plot. “You told me on one occasion 1| I was going to be framed, didn’t yun Senator Wheeler asked Duckstein “Yes, I did.” Duckstein replied. “And that was & month before | v | indicted in Montana,” the senator . sisted. “I guess aid Duckstein “Didn’t you think there was u 1 sibility O'Brien and Pettit represer ed Mr. Means?"” Chamberlain asked. “Oh, no,” Duckstein said. “‘I thought they represented Todd, the man wh was prosecuting Means.” Mrx. Duckstein Testifiex. | Mrs Duckstein then took | stand, and Senator Wheeler took her first through the process of ident fying persons in the inquiry. includ ing Jess Smith. She said she “took | gictation from Jess Smith in h private office on the sixth fioor of the Department of Justice.” “What was his correspondence’ asked Senator Wheeler. “The chief thing that is in my | mind is that Mr. Smith was writing letters for President Harding about a scurrilous book that was being written about the President.” “Who worked with Smith investigation?” “Mr. Smith s.3* to help him."” “Many of Smith's letters,” she said. “were giving the views of the Attor- ney Genera | “Did he tell you to make copies of | his letters?" Nenator Wheeler de- manded. “He told we make any tore up m from time to time." “Who did he write to about whisk: permits?” “I can’'t remember.” Senator Wheeler put his question in a different form and the witness said “The letters seemed to be arrange- ments about whisky permits, saying he_would see that they got them. or (Continued on Page 4, Column 2.) the papers tell Means? though J employed Burns, former of investigation. fo you were strin in that | for Gaston Means particularly not opies of his letters. | shorthand mnote books