Evening Star Newspaper, December 13, 1924, Page 1

WEATHER. (U. S. Weather Bureau Forecast.) Partly cloudy tonight and tomor- row; lowest temperature, 25 to 30 de- grees tonight; much colder tomorrow. Temperature for 24 hours ended at 2 p.m. today: Highest, 56, at lowest, 42, at 7:30 a.m. Closing N. Y. Stocks and Bonds, Page 14 Entered us sec post oifice, Wau No. 29,446, GOMPERS EXPIRES, | ENDING 43 YEARS SAFOFL HEAD Passes Peacefully Today After Brave Fight Against Heart Attack. AIDES IN NOTABLE LIFE AT BEDSIDE TO LAST Grief-Stricken ~ Group Praises Leader's Work to Raise American Labor. By thie Associated Press AN ANTONIO, Tex.. December 13. he grand old leader of American labor is dead. Samuel Gompers was granted his last wish. He died on American soil at 4:10 o'clock this morning, 11 hours after his arrival from Mexico City, where he was stricken last week. Death was close on his Leels as he border of his own country. time he eluded the finai enemy, dog- gedly fighting off the issue, but death overtook the exhausted labor leader as he lay on his bed in a San An- tonio hotel. Mr. Gompers did not evade the challenge when it came to him face to face; neither did he give| up the figh At the annual meeting of the Ameri- can Federation of Labor, in El last month he was elected president for the forty-third time. Friends Present at End. Surrounding Mr. Gompers in his last moments were the whom he had fought many of la-| bor's battles through a generation of | American union labor development. | At his bedside and holding his_hand was James Duncan of Quincy, Mass., | vice president of the Federation, who | has stood shoulder to shoulder with his leader for forty-four vears. Their parting was pathetic. Holding his other hand liam D. Mahon of Detroit, of the Amalgamated Association of Street and Electric Railway Em-| ployes, whom the dying Federation | president affectionately called “Bil and whom he had told several days ago that he wished to shake by the| hand just before he went | here were others no less close to| Mr. Gompers. John E. Giles, treas-| urer of the Federation: Martin Ryan | of Kansas City and Matthew Woll of | Chicago, ll members of the exec-| utive committee, were there. Frank | Morrison, secretary of the Federa- | tion, also was at the deathbed. There also was his nurse, Miss Ma- | thilda May of New York C who | had been with him since his ulnu&nq August. She remained kneeling at the foot of his bed as the shadow of | death crept over the stricken leader! Death found Sam Gompers as life | found him—a fighting man. He never | gave up. When told by his physician | was Wil-| president | that he was passing, his jaw clenched | conditions and maintain high standards | am tightly as feeble strength would | per: He breathed heavier, but he | never said “I give up.” | Mr. Gompers' last thought was of | the American institutions he had la- | bored so long to maintain. When he | was convinced he could not win, he |and actual president pro tempore. | | But the council not only controls dur- | said to his nurse: “Nurse, this is the end. our American institutions! &row better day by day! These words took his last strength | and after that he was unable to utter | a syllable. The great heart pulsed feebly and | =oon it ceased its wearfed work. | Until the moment when he slipped | into unconsciousness, about one hour before his death, he was able to look | into the future and was master of his | own situation. He gave a few simple directions for his funeral, should the end come before morning. He talked | to his followers. He called for life- Jong friends, whose hands he wanted to_clasp before slipping away. 1 With all the energy that his worn, 74-year-old body could muster, he grappled with the enemy that had come to claim him. In life he had| made both friends and enemies. In | death he had only one enemy. Against | that he could not prevail, and he gave his soul with the vigorous protest that was characteristic of him. Last Wish Granted. When Mr. Gompers took i1l in Mex- ico City a few days ago, he expressed the wish that if he was to die he wanted to pass away on American | xoll. His physicians would not let him rise from his sick bed to go to the train, but had him taken on a stretcher and placed him in a special coach, the stretcher being passed through a window. This was said to have given rise to the report that he was dead, sent out from some town in Mexico along the route which Mr. Gompers’ car traveled to Laredo, Tex. His wish to reach his own country before death could overtake him al- most was defeated, for he sank very low on the journey from Mexico City. Dr. W. S. Cockrell, his physician and friend for 25 vears, a resident of the Mexican capital, who_ accompanied him north, said that had Mr. Gompers remained 'in the high altitude of Mexico City six hours longer he could not have reached the homeland alive. The complications which combined to end the career of the famous labor leader have beset his aging. body for several years, according to his physicians, but the final acute at- tack was brought on by a change of weather in Mexico City, which re- sulted in a cold and congestion of the lungs, and the body worn by in- tense labor at the recent American Federation of Labor convention in El Paso could offer little resistance. His mind and will, however, resisted Wwith all their might, and the deter- mination to live, if only a few hours longer, enabled him to go to his final rest in the country of the laboring men he had championed and defended through a whole lifetime. God bless May they men with | _noon today; today. na el shinglon. D. matter e ear Reign Ends ‘ [ o SAMUEL GOMPERS. (Copyright by Clinedinst.) FOUR IN RUNNING | Duncan, Woll, Rickert and| Green Regarded as ! Race Leaders. Paso, | {UNION COUNCIL TO ACT Morrison in Charge Until New Leader Is Chosen to Suc- ceed Gompers. While a flag dropped at half-staff over the A. F. of L. Building here to- day, and labor chieftains throughout th country turned their minds to variegated conjectures as to the most suitable figure to fill the breach in or- ganized labor's structure created by the death Samuel Gompers, there was one point on which all factions agreed —the progressively conservative policies of the deceased president are so firmly rooted in the fabric of organized labor that no matter who succeeds to the presidency these policies will prevail. “Gompers’ ideals and_policl will live after him” was the substantial concen- sus of opinion Tn High labor ranks. Aldes of Same Type. . This was as he had planned. On the executive councll of the American Fed- eration of Labor are men known to be of the Gompers' type of progressive con- servatism, enemies of child labor, radi- calism and bolshevism; friends of legis- lation and policles to better working of living for wage earners. This executive councll, which has run virtually in line with the Gom- pers’ dortrine, today is the controlling element in the American Federation of Labor. Frank Morrison is titular ing the hiatus between the death of the former president, but also in the election of the future president. Section 5 of article VI of the con- stitution of the American Federation of Labor, adopted in 1922, provides for such control. Tt says: “In case of a vacancy in the office of president, by death, resignation, or other cause, the secretary shall perform the duties of the president until his successor is elected. In that event, it shall be the duty of the secretary, to issue within six days from the date of the vacancy a call for a meeting of the executive council at headquarters for the purpose of electing a president to flll sald vacancy.” Gunrantees Pollcies. There’s the section. Tt was the fed- eration's guaranty during the life- time of Gompers that the organiza- tion should not be thrown into new channels at his death, and its promi- nence stands out in bold refief today. It is agreed in the speculation on the successor to Gompers that his mantle may, fall on any one of the eight vice presidents now constitut- ing, with the secretary and treasurer, the executive council. Four Names Stand Out. 1t is believed in some circles close to the core of the federation that four of these vice presidents stand out in the present hazy consideration. They are: First Vice President James Dun- can, former leader of the Granite Cut- ters, veteran next in point of service to Gompers himself; Third Vice Pre: dent Willlam Green of the Miners, a strong figure; T. A. Rickert, fourth vice president, who, as a member of the Garment Workers draws wide support in the East and New Eng- land, and Matthew Woll, sixth vice president of the Photoengravers' Union, who is regarded as a strong possibility, but whose connection with a numerically small organiza- tion is believed to mitigate against him. John L. Lewis has been mentioned. It is contended in labor circles here that he probably would not want the presidency of the A. F. of L. Heisa member of the miners’ organization, which already has Willlam Green representing it on the executive council of the A. F. of L., ‘With the exception of Lewis, it is contended, the election of any one of the above will mean nothing more than an extension and continuation of the Gompers' policies. All speculation -and conjecture, ~ (Cohtinued on Page 2, Column 8.) “The Lt In his dying moments Mr. Gompers had an opportunity to witness the af- fection in which he was held by his own people and the public as well As his cot was being lowered from the special car in the railroad yards here at 5 o’'clock yesterday afternoon, reat throng gathered. Its tempe: indicated when the pe: near- est him_preventéd photographs being taken. * “It is no 'way to treat a sick man,” they shouted. Mr. Gompers wore his familiar cap and spectacles as he was lowered from the-train. He pulled the cap IContinued oa Page 4, Column 2.) Rotogravure Section Ever Published By a Washington Newspaper Will be n'?m of Tomorrow's Star Order your cppyl from your newsdealer - today WASHINGTON, D. C, [WANING STRENGTH OF NAVY DENIED BY HOUSE COMMITTEE “Self-Styled Experts” Talk Without Knowledge, Report Says. DECLARES 5-5-3 RATIO OF TREATY IS HELD Claims Money Has Been Available All Along to Equip Battle- ship Florida. The House subcommittee framed the annual naval supply bill declared in its report today that there is no ground for alarm that “our naval prestige is rapldly wan- ing.” “Self-styled experts and others who cannot possibly be in @ position to speak authoritatively,” the report said, “seemingly, with little difficulty, get into the public prints with ar- ticles depicting us as retrcgrading in varying degrees, and the effect has been to create quite generally the im- pression that our naval prestige is rapidly waning. The committee does not' feel that the country need be alarmed. “The 5-5-3, or treaty ratio, as to tonnage and numbers, applies ex- K(‘lusl\‘nl_\‘ to capital ships and to air- craft carriers of more than 10,000 tons displacement. With the possible | exception of the Florid, no one can | say that as to capital ships the 5-5-3 does not prevail. The Navy Depart- ment reported to the House of Repre- sentatives on May 21 last that our treaty ratio had fallen from G6-5-3 | to 5-4-3 because of the impaired con- ! dition of the boilers on certain of | our older battleships, a condition | which since has been remedied on all but the Florida, and the money has been avallable right along for plac- ing the Florida in condition to go into the battle line. It has not been spent because the department felt that it would be a waste of money if later the vessel were converted from a coal to an oil burner. which Qualifications to Statements. | “When the Navy Department an- nounced that our treaty ratio had fallen to 5-4-3 for the reason indicated, it had to assume, and assume only, that the capital ships of the other powers were wholly fit in all respects, whereas it is only possiblbe to gause relative conditions where there is a free interchange of Information. “With respect to aircraft carriers, | our Government admittedly is at a di advantage, as it was when the con- ference -on the limitation of naval |armament was concluded. We are proceeding with the conversion of two battle cruisers into aircraft car- riers, permissible under the treaty, |and these will give us when com- pleted a greater tonnage of carriers of most recent design and capacity |than any of the other powers. Our total carrler tonnage, however, still will be below that of Great Britain. The question is, since these vessels are more or less of an experimental | character, evidenced by the many changes that have been made as the work progressed, whether or not we should go ahead at this time with additional carriers before these two |have been commissioned and tried jout. Questions Authors’ Knowledge. “The naval ratio is a different meas- urement leading into channels so broad and varfed in their ramifications that only those who are in a position to possess knowledge of every phase of naval actlvity and who have ac- cess, In the extent of its avaflability, to data, widely diversified in its scope, touching foreign navies, programs and policies, can speak at all authorita- tively regarding naval ratios. The committee, therefore, suggests that the authorship of such reports be consid- | erea when forming an opinion. “A bill has just passed .the Senate authorizing the modernization of our caplital ships to the extent fhat the treaty permits, and also authorizing the construction of eight 10,000-ton cruisers. The bill reported today car- ries the money to commence two addi- tional fleet submarines, and it carries all that it will be practicable to ex- pend during the ensuing fiscal year for making repairs and effecting desir- able improvements on vessels of the fleet. “The program of modernization of certain battleships and of new con- struction of cruisers and gunboats, carried in the so-called moderniza- tion bill, just passed by the Senate, obviously should not be appropriated for in advance of budget estimates and thorough hearings. It might be added that the department is advocat- ing the commencement of four 10,000- ton cruisers in addition to the eight covered in the modernization bill. “In the meantime the committee feels, looking at the situation from many influencing angles, that there need be no misgivings as to our naval forces generally in an hour of need.” DESPERATE FIGHTING RAGING IN ALBANIA Insurgent Forces in Liouma and Malasia Regions Increase Daily, Dispatches State. Bthe Associated Press. BELGRADE, December 13.—Further dispatches reporting desperate fight- ing in the Liouma and Malesia re- gions of Albania are taken here as confirming the gravity of the move- ment in that country. The insurgent forces under Baryat- tar Nezir are growing daily, the dis- patches say, and the government has intrusted to Bairan Tsour tl task of quelling the insurrection and rais- ing fresh.volunteer legions. The Albanian legation in Rome yes- terday denied reports of an insurrec- tion in northern Albania, saying per- fect tranquillity prevalled. Radio' Programs—Page 8. ¢ DRILS INPAGE, COME AT BAD TIVE Official Japan Probably Fa- vors U. S. Naval Maneuvers Near Hawaii. i i | This is the second of a series of two articles describing the exact status of the relations between the United States and Japan with es- pecial relationship to the maneuvers of the American Navy in the Pacific. BY DAVID LAWRENCE. If the maneuvers of the United States Navy had been planned for any other year or occasion they would not have made a ripple on the surface of America’s relations with Japan. Com- ing as they do after Japanese puplic opinfon has been estranged over the action of Congress in passing restric- tive immigration legislation, the Navy's plans are being. twisted and distorted into a significance that they do not have. The Japanese press. or at least that section of it which is keeping alive the friction between the United States and Japan, sees in the maneuvers only a practice for an eventual conflict with Nippon. Even some of the peace socleties with a membership of Amer- icans and Japanese are asking that the maneuvers be canceled as an evi- dence of friendship and mutual trust. | Position of Japan. But the United States Government has no intention of giving up the maneuvers. Japan has not asked it— in fact, there s every reason to be- leve the Tokio government would not view with favor a voluntary cancel- lation of the plans by the American Government. For one thing, the Jap- anese have just finished their ma- neuvers, which have been held in the Pacific, and they do not wish to see a precedent established which would interfere with the right of any coun- try to exercise its military or naval forces in home waters. The American maneuvers will be held, it is true, at a considerable distance from the con- tinental shores of the United States, but Hawail is an American possession and is by no means close to the Far East, The only point on which criticism has been ralsed by some Japanese who admit America’s right to ma- neuver in the vicinity of Hawaii is the talked-of plgn to have the United States fleet visit Australia. For what purpose, it is asked, does the Amer- ican Navy go clear across the Pacific to Australia? The answer is that the Japanese fleet recently visited Aus- tralia, and that the Australlan gov- ernment, through its commissioner in the United States, indicated a desire to have a visit from the American tars, Discusaion Not Sanctioned. The discussion in Japan of the American maneuvers has not been sanctioned by the Japanese govern- ment; in fact, the navy department at Toklo, through its admiral, has com- mended the American plan, and has declared preposterous the idea that the maneuvers were anything but the ugual practice operations of & big fleet. President Coolidge has been aware of the agitation in Japan, and took ccasion therefore, in his recent mes- sage, to Insert a paragraph which, while not mentioning Japan, now is understood to have been designed especially for the Japanese people. He sald: “While we propose to maintain de- fensive and supplementary police forces by land and sea, and to train them through inspections and maneu- vers upon appropriate occaslons in order to maintain their efficfency, I wish every other nation to understand that this does not express any un- friendliness or convey any hostile intent. I want the armed forces of America to be considered by all peoples not as enemies, but as friends as the contribution which is made by this country for the maintenance of the peace and security of the world.” Had Excellent Effect. The foregoing had an excellent effect in Japan, according to official advices recelved in Washington. It ends the talk of abandoning the maneuvers. The incident {llustrates how delicate is the situation today, as compared with two years ago, when the Washington conference limiting naval armament together with the generosity .of - America after Japanese earthquake placed J. American relations on the best plane they had, attained in 26 years. Mwnfl(mu-olmt«l— ing vanished. it was not because the Japanese would deny any. nation the immigrations—the Jap- anese do it themselves—bnt America refused to treat Japan as an Ut on 3 WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION g SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13, SANTA—THANK GOODNESS, 1924--TW T EIGHT SEAMEN KILLED. | S | 40 Persons Periled as Storm Hits Japanese Ship. B the Associated Press. TOKTO, December 13 have been washed ashore and about 40 pergons are in peril aboard the special service ship Kwanto, wrecked in a blizzard off Tsuruga, western Japan s A destroyer resciied 5 officers and 50 men and 40 others reached shore. The Kwanto carried a crew of 150 men RECREATION GROUP ht bodies Views Project Here as Stim- ulus for Healthful Out- door Activities. When the next National. Qenfer- ence on Outdoor Recreation convenes here some time in May, it will have placed before it for consideration a definite program for the inauguration of steps to bring healthful outdoor recreation within the reach of Ameri- cans in every walk of life. This was assured yesterday the advisory council. appointed by the President’s Conference on Out- door Recreation here a year ago, con- cluded a two-day session at the American Red Cross building with the adoption of a plan that clothed the executive committee with broad powers to work during the Winter. A striking example of what the council hopes to see accomplished from one end of the country to the other was found in the unanimous adoption of a resolution “fully and unreservedly” approving. the estab- lishment of a “national arboretum” here for the propagation of trees and plants. It is such parks as this, Municipal, State and National, that the members of the council and the National Conference, representing 128 prominent organizations, want created. The resolution folows: Stimulant for Recreation. “The advisory council of the Na- tional Conference on Outdoor Recre- ation fully and unreservedly approves the proposal that there be established at the National Capital, under the au- thority of the Secretary of Agricul- ture, a national arboretum for the propagation of trees and plants. With the proper amount of space and un- der competent scientific direction, such an arboretum will not only con- tribute enormously to the progress of agriculture and horticulture, but it will render service of importance in public education and in the stimula- tlon of healthful outdoor recreation. This council especially approves the proposal of a former Secretary of Agriculture that one of the features of the arboretum be the preservation of an island of the original wild rice marsh of the Anacostia River, on which rice birds and other migratory birds can find the same safe refuge and satisfactory feeding ground in future years as in the past. This council also urges that when the na- tional arboretum is established spe- clal consideration be given to the protection of our native plants and to the development of an adequate | knowledge of their care and propaga- tion.” The varlous phases of the research and fact-finding operations that are to be carried out between now and next May were placed in the hands of five committees, as follows: Com- mittee on education, committee on human relations, committee on pldy- grounds and athletic activities, com- mittee on Jand policies and committee on wild life. Must Survey Resources. when { ‘Both Secretary of Commerce Hoover, a member of the President's commit- tee on outdoor recreation, and Col. ‘Theodore Roosevelt, executive secre- tary, told the advisory council during its sessions that before it can hope to accomplish the work President Coolidge set for it—that of bringing outdoor recreation to every American community—it must take stock of the country's natural outdoor resources. Secretary Hoover pointed out that in order to make these resources, tremendous once they are accumu- lated and known, useful to the citizen, the conference must thoroughly un- derstand the manner in which it ‘wish to make use of these lands. It wi to determine these facts that the advisory council named the above committee, which Will present their reports to the national conference next May. ‘The chairman of each of thesé com- mittees is to be a member of the ex ecutive committee, and the person nel of each is to be appointed by (Continued on Page_, Column 5. _ BACKS ARBORETU Star. ENTY-EIGHT PAGES. HASN'T GOT TO BE SETTLED THIS CHRISTMAS! 266,389,378 ASKED FORNAVY'S UPKEEP Appropriations for Mainte- nance, 12-Month Period, Carried in House Bill. Appropriations totaling $286,385,578 for maintenance of the Navy during the month period, b.eginning | next July 1, are carried in the an- nual Naval bill as reported today to the House. The aggregate is $8,210,117 more than the amount provided for expen- diture during the current fiscal year and approximately $1,000,000 less than budget estimates. The bill, drafted by an appropria- tions subcommittee headed by Repre- sentative French, Republican, Idaho, will be taken up by the House next week, with leaders planning to send it to the Senate before Christmas. It provides only for Navy activities and construction” already authorized by law,. ard_is distinct from measures proposing expenditures for new fight- ing craft and modernization of ves- sels. 2 Maintains Enlisted Strength. Provision is made in the bill for continued maintenance of the enlisted strength of the Navy at 86,000 men and for 6,895 line and staff officers— an increase sufficient to take care of the next graduating class from the Naval Academy. The enlisted strength of the Marine Corps would be reduced from 19,500 to 18,000, the committee explaining that hdrawal of ma- rines from Santo Domingo makes this decrease possible. The officer strength of the Marine Corps would be left at 1,007, Accepting recommendations of the President and Budget Bureau, cemmittee placed in the bill a direct appropriation of $14,800,000 for naval aviation and a provision which would authorize negotiation of contracts for production and purchase of new air- planes and equipment to an amount of not more than $4,100,000. ° Planes Under Construction. Pointing out that the Navy has un- der construction two airplane car- riers, one scout cruiser, one subma- rine tender and nine submarines, in- cluding three fleet submarines, the committee’s report said current funds would finish all these. vessels, with the exception of the two aircraft car- riers and the three fleet submarines. The bill proposes $4,894,000 for fur- ther work on these vessels, $50,000 (Continued on Page 2, Column 4.) e SIXSMITH’S DRIVER ASSESSED $300 FINE Gillan Gets Limit in Reckless Driv- ing Case—Judge Assails Chauffeur. Declaring that the case against Charles Gillan, colored chauffeur of Ar- thur S, Sixsmith, private secretary to Andrew Mellon, was the worst charge of reckless driving ever brought before him, Judge Gus A. Schuldt in Police Court today gave the maximum sen- tence of $300. Gillan was tried by |jury and found guilty last Tuesday. The motion for a new trial made after the verdict was waived by the defense attorney, T. A. Hughes, who stated to the court that it was in every way a fair trial. In reviewing the case after a plea of mercy had been made by the de- fense, Judge Schuldt said he had gone over the case and testimony very thoroughly and was convinced of its seriousness. He brought out that dur- ing the testimony it was stated that the defendant admitted at a speed of 45 miles an hour and that there was school children daily crossing the street at the scene of the accldent, Connecticut avenue and Ashmead place. He also stated that in previous cases of reckless driving brought before him he had given fines of $100 and $200, but in his estimation none of the previous cases were half as bad as_this one. The accident occurred November 18, when the machine driven by Glllan crashed into a truck occupied by J. D. Matthews, and Wilbur Smith, car- penters. As a result of the accldent the two men were taken to Garfleld Hospital, where both recetved treat- ment, The charge of colliding that was made out was consolidated in the Teckless driving charge. Efforts will be made by the corporation counsel to e the policeman, R. F. Willlams, to ask the Police Department to re- yoke Gillan’s permit, = “From Press to Home Within the Hour” The Star’s carrier system covers every city block and the regular edi- tion is delivered to Washington homes the | as fast as th * Destroyer Chases Bandit Gang After $40,000 Bank Theft By the Associated Press. VICTORIA, B. December 13.— The Canadian destroyer Patrician was dispatched from Esquimalt, B. C, tonight for the Gulf of Geor- gia in an attempt to overtake a band of bandits who escaped with $40,000 from a branch of the Royal Bank of Canada at Nanaimo late yesterday befove they reach the American shore. NANAIMO, B. C, December 13.— A band of robbers who escaped after taking approximately $40,000 from the local branch of the Royal Bank of Canada yesterday, over- looked 2 $100,000 pay roll which is to be paid to miners of the dis- trict tomorrow, bank officials an- nounced. SCHOOL PROGRAM 1S SENT T0 BALL Five-Year Building Project, Forced Attendance and Free Books Urged. PROMPT PASSAGE ASKED Ballou Tells Senator Most Pressing Needs Should Get Imme- diate Attention. Aacomprehensive program of school legislation, including a building pro- gram, compulsory school attendance, reorganization of the power and re- sponsibilities of the Board of Educa- tion and the administrative staff, and free texg books, has been submitted by Supt. Ballou of the public schools, at the request of the legislative com- mittee of the board, to Senator Ball, chairman of the Senate District com- mittee. The Board of Education, Dr. Ballou | says in his letter to Senator Ball, has directed the legislative committee to { urge the enactment of some of these measures at the present short session of Congress. ‘With reference building program says: Entails Five-Year Program. “This bill carries no appropriations, but does carry legislative authoriza- tion for schoolhouse construction ex- tending over a period of five years. This is such an important matter that it will undoubtedly take considerable attention. It may be that it should be discussed at this session, even though there may be little hope of se- curing its passage. It may be that it should be introduced and allowed to g0 over until the next Congress.” Such a measure, however, will re- ceive strong support among members of the Senate District committee, who haveé given careful attention to the problem of the public schools and are determined, if possible, to make pro- vision for adequate buildings for the school children of the District. Sena- tor Ball, Senator Capper, chairman of a subcommittee which investigated the school situation here, and Senator King, ranking Democra the committee, are all greatly inter- ested in getting such a measure through. Compulsory Atten The compulsory to the bill, proposed Dr. Ballou nce Urged. _ school attendance | bill is already before both houses of | Congress. Senator Capper is intent upon having it enacted into law. Dr. | Ballou says of it: “This bill is not| likely to provoke any material oppo- | sition, and, in the judgment of the | school officials, should be passed at this session.” The so-called reorganization bill has been prepared on the basis of | the report prepared by a joint con- gressional committee, headed by Sen- ator Capper. “It has to do with the | power and responsibilities of the] Board of Education,” says Dr. Ballou, “and also proposes’ a gradual reor ganization of the administrative and | supervisory staft of the " (Continued on Page 2, Column 1.) . LEAGUE CONFERENCE IN ROME ADJOURNS | Failure to Discuss Protocol in No- wise Has Weakened Confidence, Franco Says. By the Associated Press. ROME, December 13.—The Rome session of the Council of the League of Nations adjourned today after a valedictory address by President Afranio Mello Franco summarizing the work of the session. Although the questions involved in the Geneva peace protocol were not discussed at this session, the post- ponement of the discussion, “imposed by reasonable and just motives,” had in no wise weakened the confidence| awakened among the people by that protocal, declared Senor Mello Franco. In the name of the King and the government of Spain, Senor Quinones de Leon, Spanish member of the coun- | cil, invited that body to hold in Madrid the next meeting of the coun- cil, which might take place outside of Geneva, the league headquarters. The council has established the prege- dent of convening once every year in one of the European capitals. The Swedish representative opposed acceptance of the invitation, urging that all the meetings be held in Geneva unless some extraordinary circumstance might compel the coun- cil to sit elsewhere. The council, however, accepted the Spanish invitation in principle. Great News Kids! The Star has sent an Arctic exploring EXPEDITION TO SANTA CLAUS LAND! There's news of it today on page 2. And every day. Will Captain Squint find Santa Claus? member of | | Senate then to e papers are printed. Yesterday’s Circulation, 98,753 TWO CENTS 0 “LANE DICKS CALSE REVVAL MOVEFORREFORY Congress Likely at Present Session to Act Against Repudiated Regimes. WOULD PLACE NEW MEN IN OFFICE IN JANUARY Amendment to Constitution Neces- sary to Change Prevailing Practice. BY WILL P. KENNEDY. The present “lame-duck’ session of Congress, with exactly 80 seats in the House to be occupied by new men in the next Congress, is likely to take progres- sive steps to end this often-deplored continuance of men in the legislative chambers after they have been repudi- ated by the voters. Legislation has reached such a etage in Congress that it seems likely to pass at this session, which would put a new Congress on the job in January imme- diately following its election in Novem- ber, instead of delaying i‘s control of Government for an entire year, or un- til the following December, in the event that a session of Congress is not called after March 4 Under the pending resolution the term of the President would also begin in January instead of on March 4. Amendment Necessary. The idea behind the whole legislation is that an administration or Congress repudiated in the elections by the peo- ple should not continue to hold office contrary to the expressed will of the people. But an amendment to the Con- stitution is necessary to change this condition, and that is what Congress is now well on the way toward doing. Of course, even after Congress acts this proposed constitutional amend- ment must be submitted to the States for ratification. This will delay the reform from becoming effective for perhaps two years or more, and in that event we may have another “lame duck” session The Senate, on March 14 last, pass- ed, by an overwhelming vote, a reso- lution introduced by Senator George W. Norris of Nebraska. Meanwhile the House committee on election of President, Vice President and Repre- sentatives in Congress had favorably reported a somewhat similar resolu- tion on February 19, 1924. Then thc House committee, after considering | the Norris resolution, which had pass- ed the Senate and was, therefore, fur- { ther along legislatively, voted to sub- stitute the House resolution for the Senate resolution and again made a favotable report to the House, and the proposal to amend the Constitu- tion is now on the House calendar, awaiting action. Early Vote Seen. Representative Hays B. White of Kansas, chairman of the committee, has been in conference with the rules { committee and with House Leader Longworth and h assurances from them that early action will be allow- ed; that, if necessary, privileged status will be given this piece of legislation, so that an early vote can be had upon it. Chairman White is very optimistic that the resolution will pass and that the differences between the House and Senate resolutions can be amicably adjusted in conference between the two houses, £o that the State legislatures will be given abundant opportunity during the {next year to act upon this proposed constitutional amendment. Seeks Stronger Rights. The House seeks to preserve, and even to strengthen, its right to elect a President in case the popular vote | through the electoral college fails to do so, and is reluctant to'have that right limited to the arrival of March 4, the Vice President elected by the assume office. There are three essential differences between the Senate and the House rsolutions. First—The House resolution pro- vides that the terms of the newly elected President and Vice President shall begin on the 24th day of Janu- ary and the terms of newly elected members of Congress shall begin on the 4th day of January. The Senate resolution fixed the third Monday in January and the first Monday in Jan- uary, Trespectively, as the dates on which the terms should begin Second. The House resolution spe- cifically provides that the power of the House to choose a President con- tinued beyond the 4th day of March. The Senate resolution terminated this power on the 4th day of March, and provided that on that date the Vice President shall become President during the remainder of the term. Third. The House resolution pro- vides that sections 2 and 3 (covering the assemblage of Congress and the rights of the Housg to elect the Pres- ident) should become effective im- | mediately upon the ratification of the amendment, and that the first sec- tion (covering the terms of the Pres- ident and Vice President) should be- come effective on the 15th day of December following the ratification of the amendment. The Senate reso- lution provides that the entire amendment should take effect on the 15th day of October after its ratifica- tion. Fear of Confusion. Under the Senate resolution the President will not be elected for four years, Senators will not be elected for six years and members of the House of Representatives will not be elected for two years. They will be elected for varying terms, commencing on a Monday and ending on a Monday. The House committee belleves that con- siderable confusion will be occasioned thereby, and for that reason has fixed definive dates. Under the Senate resolution there would be but two weeks for Congress to count the electoral vcies; for the House of eRpresentatives to elect a House of Representatives to elect a majority, and’ for the Senate to elect & Vice President in a similar case. Under the House resolution a period of 20 days Is provided. The House committee belleves that a 20-day period is preferable, and in many in- stances may be necessary. The constitutional amendment as proposed in the House resolution would accomplish the following: 1. The newly elected Congress will count the electoral votes and in case a mojority has not been received the newly-elected House of Representa- tives will choose the President, and the Sena (including - the (Continued on Page 2, Column