Evening Star Newspaper, December 25, 1924, Page 2

COOLIDGES MARK - HOLIDAY QUIETLY Numerous-Gifts Received at .- White House—30-Pound Turkey for Dinner. Christmas is being observed quietly by the White House family. This day @’ year ago Young Calvin Coolldge, Wwho dled last July, was with his par- ents, and, with his older brother John, gontributed much to the joy and mer- Fiment of the day, and his loss nat- urally has cast a shadow on the delebration of the day at the White House. “However, despite the tender mem- ories of other years before their little family group had been broken by death, President Coolidge and Mrs Coolidge and their son John -gave dvidence that thev had determined to radiate, as much as possible, the true Yuletide spirit. With the exception that there is no Christmas treec in the White House, the scene there this morning was| about the same as that in an aver- age American home where there are no little children. Christmas greens hang in the various rooms, and in the windows handsome holly wreaths have been hung. In several of the rooms on the second floor three are numerous piles of packages of all sizes—presents for the family from relatives, friends and admirers in all parts of the v, and the greet- mgs of good these_conveyed | greatly impressed the Executive and | 3Mrs. Coolidge. | Only Two House Guests. | Other than Mr. and Mrs. Frank W. Stearns of Boston, old friends of the vho have spent much time House since Mr. Cool- President, there were no liouse gu. They joined the Presi- dent and Mrs. Coolidge during the exchange of personal gifts, and later were with them during the opening of the many other gifts. The President arose at his customary early hour. This was in spite of the Yact that he retired considerably later than usual last night. His schedule for retiring was broken last night by participation in the carol singing at the White liouse. Following this pic- tufesque and impressive festivity he and Mrs. Coolidge entertained the choir and chorus from the First Congrega- h at a buffet.lunch in the state dining room of the White House. The President did not take his cus- tomary morning stroll. He went to the executive office at 9 o'clock, and after attending to a few matters on his desk, he went into the correspond- ence room, which was deserted, and for half an hour personally went through the mail, which formed a pile a foot high. ircets Those on Duty. r this the Executive returned is desk, but, evidently finding lt- to occupy his attention or else not being in the mood for applying elf to routine toils, he made a tour of the executive offices, bowing end wishing “Merry Christmas” to the policemen and Secret Scrvice men on duty at the time. While passing through the main lobby at the en- trance to the main building he no- ticed & bundle of out-of-town news- papers laying upon the table. and, taking a chair near the table, he looked through these papers for nearly a half hour. He then returned to the White House and made ready to accompany his family to the special Christmas sorvices at the First Congregational Church on G strest. The President has no engagements this afternoon, although it is thought likely that he and Mrs. Coolidge ard probably others of the household may take a zhort auto ride later in the evening. The White House Christmas dinner 1s to be 2 most inviting and bounti- ful one, and will be served at the usual hour at 7 o'clock. It is under- stood that other than Mr. and Mrs. Ktearns, there wil be no guests at this meal. The 30-pound turkey sent to the White House from an ad- mirer of the President will be the fea- ture of the meal. 32BURN TO DEATH IN CHRISTMAS TREE BLAZE IN OKLAHOMA ulge becanm to tle tinued from First Page.) tie long row of still figures, looking 76r some familiar mark that would identify a missing loved ome. Mrs. Florence Hill, teacher at the #éhool, among the dead. She was torn from the arms of her husband «:8 he fought to get her to the dvor- ~“ay after he had forcibly dragged her om the front of the room, where she sier little pupils. Mr. Hill escaped. TWO CHILDREN DEAD. Believed to Have Lost Lives in Hotel Blaze. 1y the Associated Press. STAMFORD, Texas, December 25. wo children were belleved to hava been kiiled when fire starting from A Christmas tree placed in a room by 2 guest destroyed the Stamford Inn, one of the oldest hotels in West Texas, and five residences late last njght. RECALLS CAMDEN BLAZE. Hobart Blaze Like That Fatal to 77 in School. By the Associated Press. COLUMBIA, 8. C., December 25.— The fire at Hobart, Okla., calls to mind the Cleveland school fire, near Gamden, May 17, 1923, in which 77 women and children lost their The Cleveland fire came during' a commencement entertainment, while that at Hobart started during a Christmas entertainment. Both were rural schools and frame structures, but the Oklahoma school was.only one story, while the Cleveland scheol was two stories. In both instances the loss of life was due to the crowd- ing of a single exit. The Cleveland site had its origin during the falling of a keresene lamp while a play was in progress, while a candle of a Christmas tree was the origin of by Judge Schuldt. Hotel Staff Takes Employ es’ Places For Holiday Party That colored employes of the hotel might attend the annual Christmas party given by-the man- agement, members of the Grace Dodge Hotel staff took their places Tuesday night and performed their dut! The substitution caused many novel situations and gave the staff members an insight into the duties of the operating personnel. . The storekeeper chose a place in front of the building as head doorman, the carpenter answered elevators and office girls checked wraps, paged guests and answered- calls for ice water. The hotel staff found the jobs were not as casy as they looked when they answered calls. Al- though they did not respond with the aplomb of the regular bellboys and other members of the operat- ing personnel, they got the work done. A Christmas tree has been erect- ed in the garden of the hotel and is illuminated at night. HERRIOT DEFEATED ONAMNESTY BIL Senate Sends Measure Back, Due to Clause on Rail Strikers. By the Associated Press. PARIS, December 25.—The amnesty bill came back from the Chamber of Deputics to the Senate yesterday aft- ernoon and was the cause of Premier Herrlot's government being defeated by 11 votes, a question regarding an amendment bringing out 154 votes against the government's 143. As the government had not made the vote a question of confidence, M. Herrlot's defeat did not presage the resignation of the ministry. The re- maining clauses of the bill were voted and the measure now returns for the second time to the chamber. Due to Rall Clauses. The defeat of the government was brought about by the presentation of an amendment to reinstate the rail- road strikers in their positions. The Sovernment wanted the companies forced to reinstate the men, but the Senate refused to alter its stand that the reinstatement be optional. It is on the question of the railroad men that the two houses are divided. The chamber voted that the employes who were let out in 1920 should be granted amnest to reinstate them. The railroad companies viously promised Premfer Herriot to use their good will in be- half of the dismissed men, and the premier had accepted the promise as sufficient. M. Peytral, minister of public works, however, was unwilling to allow the phra “if reinstatement occurs” to appear in the bill as giving the companies the right to refuse reinstatement. This phrase had been inscrted by the Senate when the bill first came befare it. When the measure went back to the chamber that body decided to eliminate the phrase. Consequently, when the bill came back to the Se: ate yesterday the Senate voted to re- insert the phrase, and thus send the amended bill back to the chamber. FIRST-TIME DRUNKS BET OFF LIGHTLY Court Not So Easy on Others Classed as Repeaters in Dry-Law Violations. had. pre- Twenty “first-timers,” charged with drunkenness or disorderly conduct, were given a Christmas present to- day at a short session of Police Court Charging them to keep the' peace for varylng periods and recommending less liberal cele- bration of Christmas eve, Judge Schuldt took the personal bonds of the score who were arraigned before him today and released them. Twelve -others were not 0 fortu- nate. They were identified as re- peaters, and were sentenced to short jail terms by the judge. Judge Schuldt read them a Christ- mas sermon, adjuring them to take thelr sentences as a warning agalnst repetition of their offenses, and de- claring that although the spirit of Christmas ®ade him let them off, their repeated arrests forbade such pro- Gedure. Liquor Declared Available. Efforts of officlals of the prohibi- tion unit and Pdlice Department to make Washington dry during the holiday season fell -short of a 100 per cent record. It was asserted that cash was the only thing that stood between many persons and a wet celebration last night and today. Twenty-six persons occupled po- lice cells last night because they had been able to obtain liquors, and sev- eral others more seriously affected were taken to hospitals. Arrests for all offenses yesterday totaled 154, number below the average. A majority of them were for traffic violations. Five arrests for drunkenness in South Washing- ton was the largest number in any one precinct. There were four In No. 6 and a similar number in No. 1. Nos. 10 and 12 precincts were the only ones in which arrests for drunkenness were not made. No. 12 precinct had a clean arrest sheet. WOMEN FAINT AS MAN STABS WIFE TO DEATH Electrician Waylays Estranged Spouse—Blames Act on Break- the fire last night. FIRE DESTROYS HOTEL. Guests Forced to Flee Into Streets i in Night Clothing. BY the Assoclated Press. HUNTSVILLE, Ala., December 25.— ‘The McGee Hotel and several busines: houses adjoining were destroyed by Eu this morning, causing an esti- d loss of $200,000, Hotel guests night dress were driven into the streets, with a bitter cold wind blow- ing and the mercury around 290. Besides the hotel these business houses were wiped out: Alexander & Patterson, dry goods; Independent Tire Company, Rodenhouser, florist; Sam Brocato, fruit dealer, and Piggly ‘Wiggly grosery. The burning area eavers one-fourth of a city block in The town district. The hotel was o! . T, Torry, R. E. Smith and A% Murdock, . 1 ing Up of Home. Special Dispatch to The Star, NEW YORK, December 25.—Faced with the prospect o, ending & Christmas without his Wife and small daughter in a comfortable home, Carl Smith, 36 years old, an electrician em- ployed by the Hotel Pennsylvania, yesterday, according to the police, waylald his wife, Elsie, who had left him last Spring, as she was on her way to the delicatessen store where she has worked for the past two months and stabbed her in the abdo- men. She dled within 10 minutes after dragging herself into the store. More than 100 persons witnessed the stabbing. Many women fainted. As Smith fled down the street, Lucien Meyer overtook him in the light truck in which he had been sitting. At the police station Smith confessed the stabbing, police allege, saying he did it “because she was breaking up our home.” He was held without bail, charged with homi el and the companies compelled ; THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C., THURSDAY, DECEMBER 25, 1924. EGYPT WAS HOME OF FIRST MAN, CHICAGO PROFESSOR DECLARES Dr. Breasted Claims That North Africa Was Cradle of Civilization and That It Flourished " There During Stone' Age. REGRETSHNSTER ESCAPEDGALLOWS Mrs. Sweetin’s Love for Partner in Crime Seems Turned to Hate. By the Associated Press. MOUNT VERNON, Ill., December 25. —Bitterness against her co-defend- ant, Lawrence M. Hight, and dissatis- faction with her own sentence were expressed by Mrs. Elsie Sweetin as she was led from the courtroom yes- terday after hearing a jury pronounce her guilty of the murder by polson of her husband, Wilford Sweetin, and sentence her to 35 years in prison. Hight received a life sentence. “If they had only hanged him, cried to Sherift Grant Holcomb as she was led back to jall through the Christmas shoppers, “I wouldn't care.” Love Turned to Hate. “Her alleged infatuation for Hight, El-year-old . preacher and grand- father, d turned to hatred. On the witness stand she had attempted to place the blame on him, telling the jury he had won her love and then betrayed her to the officers. “I would as soon have been hanged year in prison, told my lawyer, Mr. Smith, to tell the jury to send me to the gallows or home to my children and he did. But they would not do it.” Hight Seems Satisfled. Meanwhile Hight was in an evident happy frame of mind. He expressed satisfabtion with the verdict, and said, “I ain't mad at nobody.s' Motions were made for a new trial for Hight and Mrs. Sweetin and a hearing was set for January 3, but it was Indicated that at least as far as Hight was concerhed the motions would not be pressed very vigorously. “Well he didn't hang” was the only comment of Attorney Nelson Layman, who represented Hight. He seemed satisfled, but refused to say more. Attorney Layman did not allow Hight to address the jury, he an- nounced, because of the importance he attached to the insanity plea. Mrs. Sweetin will spend Christmas In jail at Benton, while Hight will re- malin in the Mount Vernon jail, pend- ing the arguing for a new trial. FLEEING MOTORIST CAUGHT BY INJURED VICTIM IN CHASE| (Continued from First Page.) was given first aid at Emergency Hospital. James V. Bergin, Davenport and Forty-elghth streets, was treated at Georgetown Unlversity Hospital last night for an injury to his head. He was injured as a result of being knocked down by a taxicab at Con- necticut avenue and Macomb street. Lionel Allen, 3211 Sherman avenus, was Injured last night about 11:15 o'clock when his bicycle collided with an automobile at Massachusetts ave- nue and Twenty-first street. He was taken to Emergency Hospital. Daniel Farto, 35, 1775 Lanier place, alighted from his automobile in front of his home yesterday afternoon and was knocked down by the automobile of Robert A. Lane, 1971 Biltmore street. He was treated at home for Jowa Circle last -night about 8:30 o'clock, Elizabeth - Wheeler;” 50, 1412 Eighth street, was knocked down by the automobfle of David D. Round- tree, 2206 Thirteenth street. She was treated at Emergency Hospital, for | bruises to her head and arms. Three Cars in Collision. Richard Cunningham, Columbus, Ohio, was driver of an automobile that collided with another automobile in front of 638 Rock Creek Cburch road last night, the impact forcing the latter car against a third machine. Miss E. Weller, 469 I street, passen- ger in one of the cars, was slightly hurt. Dr. Daniel Davls, 1911 N street, alighted from a street car at Connec- ticut avenue and N street yesterday afternoon with his son, John Davis, 4% years old, and narrowly escaped being run over by an automobile be- fore he could reach the sidewalk. He was thrown to the pavement when he tried to prevent being struck. He was only slightly hurt. Robert P. Montague, 60, 222 Second street northeast, was knocked down at Maryland avenue and Second street northeast about 8:30 o'clock last night by the automobile of Ben- jamin C. Okert, Chsstleton apart- ments, and his head injured. He was gliven first aid and taken home. Alexander Hillyard, colored, 1325 Fifth street, was in charge of a horse-drawn vehicle that collided with an automobile at Sixteenth and M streets last night. Hillyard, thrown from the wagon, was taken to Emer- gency Hospital, where physiclans said he was not hurt. He was detained by the police on charge of intoxica- tion. Helen Lansdale, 60, Vendome Ho- tel, sustained injuries to-her face and right hip last night when struck by an automobile near Pennsylvania avenue and Second street northeast. She was treated at Emergency Hos- pital. » Taxi and Street Car Collide. James Gordon, 32, 921 Eleventh street, was driver of a taxicab that collided with a strest car at Eleventh and Kenyon streets about 2 o'clock this morning and overturned. He re- ceived injuries to his face and the taxicab was damaged. His injuries were dressed at Emergency Hospital. A motor vehicle belonging to W. E. Schmidt, mail carrier, Seat Pleasant, Md., parked at Portner place and U street last night, was struck by an automobile and slightly damaged. The driver of the colliding car falled to stop or reveal his identity. Frank Potee, colored, 1019 First street, jumped from s moving taxi- cab near North Capitol and Myrtle streets about 3 o'clock this morning and cut his head. He was treated at Casualty Hospital and held by the nlolll:o to answer a charge of intoxica- tion. A pony driven by Charles D. Reck- ew! 1407 South Carolina avenue southeast, became _frightened last night near Pennsylvania avenue and Eighth street southeast and ran away. The cart struck tree, throwing Reckeweg to the gtrest and injuring him. He was treaf &t home by his family physician. SEMINARY GETS $300,000. $4,000,000 Campaign of New York School Nears Success. NEW YORK, December 25—With a gift of $300,000 to Union Theological Seminary from Miss Emily Ggden Butler of this city, the institution now has raised $3,479,612 in its $4,000,000 campaign, it was announced last night by Dr. Arthur C. Me- Giftert, president. Miss Butler's gift is for the com- pletion of ‘the foundation 'to endow S 3 uZn. and for additions e the professors retiring fumd, i By Consolidated Press. CHICAGO, December 25.—Egypt, not Asia or Europe, was the homs of the first intelligent man—and the cradle of all civilization. Ages upon ages before the “stone age’ men of Europe humans wege hunting in_the forests of North Africa. Thelr civilizatfon grew until it culminated in the cultural perfod of the Pharachs and of Tut-ank-Amen, a few centuries before Christ. These assertions were made in an interview with® Dr. James Henry Breasted, director of the Ori- ental Institute of the University of Chicago and one of the world fore- most Egyptologists. He bused his stand on his personal discoveries in Egvpt. Returning to Egypt. Dr. Breasted, early in January, is returning to Egypt to study heiro- glyphic inscriptions. How long ago that man lived whose spark of thought started the trend that has led up to present-day civili- sation Dr. Breasted is unable to say. “It was hundreds of thousands, may- be a million, years ago,” he said. “At that time, the end of the tertiary period, Europe was in the grip of the ice age. The Sahara plateau, now the greatest of deserts, was a rainy region, densely forested, when these firet intelligent men carried on their hunting. It was an enormously old man who first galned civilization here, older by far than gny man dis- covered in Europe. Find Flint Tes “We have found in rock formation, 50 feet down, in solld rock, fiint in- struments used by these hunters on the Sahara plateau.” Dr. Breasted explained that these men, emigrating to the Nile Valley, found a paradise there. Evidences of their civilization have been found in the black earth, 30 feet below the bed of the river. That man, from hunts- man, tribesman, domesticator of ani- mals, herdsmgn, farmer, craftsman and bullder, through his period of & brilllant oivilization thousands of years before Christ, has been definite- 1y traced. “An indication of the age of this Egyptian civilization, developed by descendants of this man, be found from the fact that in a stone age cave found in England was beautifully made Egyptian necklace, Dr. Breasted declared. “The earllest of the men had finely made imple- ments and weapons. As early years before Christ they were hand plow. First Tree Transplanted. “I have well kept lettuce from the stomach of a person mummified 5.000 years ago, showing to what a degree these people developed the science of preservation. I have the stump of a tree transplanted from the East African coast into Luxor, Egypt, 15 centuries before Christ, probably the first tree ever transplanted. Much earlier men had domesticated animals in this region. “And to show, too, how modern these ancient people were the Assy- rlans in the ninth century before Christ had an armored tank, on wheels, propelled by a gear mecha- nism through capstans on the side. This tank, with a lookout in the top, heavily armored, lacked only a gaso- 1line engine to make it quits modern The clvilization that brought all these things is now definitely trace- able back through ages, Dr. Breasted claims. There is little doudbt in his opinion but that this North African country was the home of the earliest upright man, who roamed the forests and fought the battle for existence until he acquired an Intelligence that developed into one of the most strik- Ing of civilizations. King Tut and his affairs came near the tall end of this evolution of civiliza- tion. Up on the Luxor plateau where he had his home many of the evi- dences of the earller life are still found. It ie there that Prof. Breasted is now going. The Oriental Institute, which he heads, has established a house there, where a wealth of in- scriptions made during the time of the height of Egyptian civillzation are being effaced by the constant windstorms. Dr. Breasted and his staff will photograph and decipher the hieroglyphic writings. If theré fe further investigation of King Tut-ankh-Amen’s tomb, he also will be present for that, since he fig- ured prominently in the work that led up to the discovery and the open- ing of that ancient burial place 'y FREE HAND FOR FLEET DIRECTOR IS OBJECT OF LATEST MOVE| (Continued from First Page.) board after the resolution of 1924 had been adopted and they had stated they wanted him to handle the fleet and they were not going to interfere, but that they would lend every as- sis “This has sactually been the at- titude of some of the commission- ers,” Mr. Palmer told the committee. His subsequent testimony indicated that Commissioner Lissner and Hill had been helpful. It also specified instances when oOther coi ers had sought to Interfére with matters he believed to be wholly within the operating department of the fleet. He declared that commissioners, and sometimes the board by majority votes if not by unanimous votes, had interfered in personnel matters of the Flest Corporation- which should. be left entirely to the operating powe that the board had interfered in, or at least had held of little account, his efforts 10 keep the expenditures of the fleet within the budget allowed by Congress for the present fiscal | year, and that it had Interfered in the consolidation of the services, which was vital to more economical and efficient hahdling of the fleet. Testimony of Plummer. Mr. Palmer called attention to the fact that Commissioner Plummer of the Shipping Board had gone before the House, investigating committee, and declared that if he were president of the Fleet Corporation he could dis- pense with the services of various a: sistants employed by the president of the Fleet Corporation. Mr. Palmer sald to the House committee in this connection; “Certainly this was not a co-oper- ating attitude on the part of the com- missioner. It would appear that the president of acorporation with worl wide activities should at least have & free hand .to choose his assistants, without criticism from within. Such sloner Plummer’'s office” and that he was told then of the letter. tinued Mr. Palmer, “and in addition to taking up a great deal of time! does much to undermine the morale of the organization.” Another case mentioned by Mr. Palmer was a written memorahdum from Chairman O'Connor asking why a subordinate member of the Fleet Corporation's organfBation had been laid off, saying that he didn't know anything about it, but that he should have been informed. “These cases amount to a mnotice to the personnel that the board will handle their cases if they do not like the way the Fieet Corporation is do- ing it said Mr. Palmer. The case mentloned by Mr. Palmer had to do with the separation of Mr. Weems as district agent at Galveston, Tex. = Interferencg With Plans, “Owing to the unsatisfactory con- dition of the accounting methods of the United States lines,” sald Mr. Pal- mer, “I decided to send the general controller to New York as assistant to the general manager of the lines.” He sald he went to ses Chalrman O'Connor about it, and that Mr. O'Connor sald he did not want Mr, Burke to go to New York unless he (Mr. Burke) said he wanted to go, and that he thought the rest of the board would feel that way about it. “It happened that Mr. Burke want- ed-to go,” continued Mr. Palmer. “But whether he wanted to go or not, it was a matter that should have been left entirely to my judgment as head of the Fleet Corporation. Chairman O'Connor, Mr. Palmer said, sent for him and told him that Commissioner Plummer “could see no reason why the district director at Baltimore should be sent abroad and that he wanted to know why he was action tends to hurt the morale of|&0ing. the organization.” Elsewhere in his testimony, Palmer said: “My understanding is that the President intended me to have a free hand in the operation of the fleet. The meat of the whole matter { whether I was to have the usual a thority and responsibility that goes with the President of any large com- mercial organization, or whether I was to be hampered in operating matters so that I would be always in the position of having to explain every action before I could proceed with I® Neither did I wish to be handicapped by an unsympathetic at- titude toward the personnel of the Fleet Corporation and {nterference with any of these details. If such unsatistactory procedure were fol- lowed, it would thoroughly dfs- organize the Fleet Corporation and impede our progre: Mr. continued Mr. testimony, “that the present set up, which includ the Fleet Corporation with admini- strative and executive functions and the Shipping Board with semi-ju- dicial, regulatory and supervisory functions, cannot result in successful operation of the American merchant marine, {f the board by law is in a position to exercise all of the func- tions of both organizations at the same_ time.” Letter of Hoover. At this point there was placed in the record a letter of Secretary Hoover of tl Department 6f Com- merce, under date of April 7, 1934, to the jolnt committee on reorgani- zation of the Government depart- ments, suggesting that the Shipping Board hold only semi-judiclal and regulatory powers, while the Fleet Corporation handle all administra- tive matters, with a president ap- pointed by the President of the United States and a board of directors rep- resenting the various branches of the Government interested in ship- ping. Getting down to matters of person- nel, Mr. Palmer told the committe “Commissioner Plummer on-June 4, sent a letter direct to one of my sub- ordinat. Mr. Rossbottom, insisting in the personnel of the United States Lines. This followed interference on this matter of several months dura- tion and it had to do entirely with operating affairs and not with general policy. Both Mr. O'Connor and Mr. Plummer frequently stated to me that a certain head of the de- partment of the United States Lines should discharged, but on & re- cent audft when the accounts wers gon it was shown that - th! man’'s department was almost t only one that was in an entirely sat- istactory condi 5 . tion.’ . Mr. Palmer said thet the day after mafling the letters to Mr. Rossbot- tom, be “happened to be in Commis- | “This director,” Mr. Palmer sald, “was sent abroad on operating mat- ters of great importance, and there was certainly no reason for interfer- ence or criticism on such a matter by any commissioner of the board.” Question of Budget. Turning to the budget, Mr. Palmer told the committee that “matters in regard to the budget figure of $30,- 000,000 for this year have not been handled by the board through me. Chairman O’Connor sent for one of my subordinates In this matter and took the figures that were furnished by that subordinate. The figures were not such as I would have rec- ommended to the chairman, this hav- ing to do with the ocation of cer- tain parts of the budget figure over the difterent quarters of the year, and 1 cannot too emphaticilly state that matters of such great import should certainly have the recommendation of the head of the Fleet Corporation if he is to be held responsible for them. In this particular case I knew nothin, of the figures until a written request came from the chairman asking if I ‘was living within the amount allotted by thg board, and even this did not come to my attention until recently.” ‘With reference to the consolida- tions effected during the calendar year and Interference with carrying out these consolidations, Mr. Palmer told the committee that in the case of the North Atlantic-Mediterranean consolidations the board had inter- fered, and that when he had sub- mitted his recommendations Chair- man O'Connor sent for him and said that he did not think the board would agre the recommendations and that he ought to send recommenda- tions that the board would agree to. “My stand is that I should submit recommendations I consider for th best interest of the merchant ma. rine and not submit recommendations just because it Is .thought the board ‘would approve them,” com- mented Mr. Palmer. Mr. Palmer called attention in de- tail also to interferenoe by the board in the Black Diamond-Cosmopolitan consolidations from North Atlantic to French, Holland and Belgian ports, and in the South Atlantic-European clonnolidnlonl and Gulf consolida- tlons. . D ——— ORGANIZATION ACTIVITIES. TODAY. Women's Clty Club: A tea dance ‘will be given from 4 to 6:30 o'clock; under auspices of entertainment com- raittee. TONIGHT. The Lonuoml o Cln:nwfll' give a 1ast chance leap year o'clock, Ivate lroom of o pri bal of third floor. Visitors welcome. MFCLINTOCK DEA -PROBEASINSIGHT Will Be Demanded Tomerrow. Traces of Poison Are Sought in Body. By the Associated Press. CHICAGO, December pathoiogists who examined the ex- humed body of Willlam Nelson Mec. Clintock, the “millionaire orphan, today prepared opinions as to-whether typhoid fever caused the death three weeks ago of the helir to the {ll-fated McClintock fortune. Their findings will be reported to- morrow to Coroner Oscar Wolff, pre- liminary to a complete analysis be- fore a coroner’s jury January 20. Regardl post-mortem examination, a grand Jury Investigation will be demanded by Harry Olson of the Municipal Court and friend of the McClintock family, who instigated the inquiry. According to the death certificate McClintock died of hemorrhagic typhold, at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Willlam D. Shepherd, his foster-par- ents. His will, signed at the time he became of age, last April, left his entire estate to Mr. Shepherd, hus- d of his coguardian, with A. F. ichmann, an attorney, anfl provid ed for an $8,000 annuity for Miss Isa- belle Pops, who walted at his death- bed with a marriage license to wed him hed he recovered consclousne: Leok for Pelson. s The pathologists, who began their examination within an hour after the body was exhumed yesterday, made analyses for the possible discovery: of poison traces by order of Coroner Wolft. The experts represented, re- spectively. the corner, State’s attor- ney and the Shepherds, with a deputy coroner in charge. Mr. and Mrs. Shepherd, who have been visiting In Albuquerque, N. M., since the death of McClintock, will be questioned on their return here, State’s attorneys sald. Through thefr attorney, Robert H. Stoll, 8hepherd's law partner, they told prosecutors not only they but any witness under their control would be submitted to examination at the State’s attorney’s request. CAPITAL OBSERVING CHRISTMAS QUIETLY IN CHURCH AND HOME ntinued from First Page. no diplomatio engagements, and close friends sald he had looked forward to devoting the entire day to his family. Although' Secretary of War Weeks remained in Washington, Secretary of the Navy Wilbur has gone to Pitts- burgh to remain for several days at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Fred- erick Palst. Secretary of Agriculture Gore, t0o, 1s out of the city, having returned to his home in Clarksburg, W. Va. Davis Abroad. Secretary of Labor Davis is the only member of the President’s official family who s out of the country on Christmas day. He is on board the steamship Banta Theress, somewhere off the coast of Cuba, en route home from his tour of South American citles to study Latin-American Immi- gration laws. He will reach New York some time Monday. Secretary of the Treasury Mellon has gone to Pittsburgh, and Attorney General Stone to New York, where each will remaln through the holidays with their families. Secretary of the Interfor Work is in Chicago, at the home of his daughter, Mrs. A. W. Bis- sell. Secretary of Commerce Hoover and Postmaster Genéral New both are remaining at home in Washing- ton. While the more fortunate of Wash- ington's citizenry made merry around the verdure of the holiday season in their homes, exchanged gifts and ate sumptuous meals, the poor and needy were welcomed in the missfons for their annual Yuletide “spread.” Oth- ers of the less fortunate group, en- Joyed Christmas dinners in their hum- ble home, made possible early by the charitable institutions, which di: tributed sterday hundreds of bas- kets filfed with foodstuffs. Speoial services in the churches marked the anniversary of a helpless Babe found lying against His mother breast in a secluded spot in Bethl In every denomination the event was ocelebrated. The services at the First Congre- gational Church, which attracted na- tion-wide attention due to the pres- ence of the President and Mrs._ Cool- idge, were conducted by Rev. Charles W pastor of the Church of the Covenant. The subject-of his sermon was: Rev. Dr. Charles Wood, pastor of the Church of the Covenant, preached vested choir of the church sang two anthems and Organist Ferry rendered appropriate selections. The sacred eucharist was adminis- tered at the Resurrection Chapel, Fif- teenth and G streets northeast, at 6 @.m., and at 7:30 a.m. Another com- munion was held at the Chapel of the Nativity, Fourteenth and A streets southeast. A second commun- fon at this chapel took place at 10:30 a.m. In the afternoon at 4 o'clock there will be holy baptiem and even- song at the latter chapel. The serv- ice at the Annunciation Chapel will be held the Sunday after Christmas at 7:30 a.m. A pageant, “The Nativity,” will be given by the clergy and the voung people at Nativity Chapel Monday night for the three church schools. ‘The part of Zacharias will be taken by Rev. C. K. P. Cogswell. Miss Irma ‘Whitworth will take the part of the Annunciation Angel and Miss Marga- retta Berry will be the Bleased Virgin Mary. The vicar, Re Enoch M. ‘Thompson, will recite t! Scriptur descriptive of the events they are presented by the players. Musses at Local Churches. Low mas: were held at Holy Ro- sary.Church, Third and F streets, at 8 and 9 o'clock this morning, and at 10:30 there was a solemn high mass, celebrated by the pastor, Rev. X, Carlo. Vespers, in Gregorian chant, will be sung at 7:30 tonight by Re A. Catania and will be followed by benediction. Low masses at St. Mary's Church took place at 6, 7, 8 and 9 o’clock this morning. Children sang and the masses closed with benediction. The last mass jof the day was ‘at noom, ‘with the senior choir singing. At the Shrine of the Sacred Heart masses were held this morning at 7, 8 and 9 o'clock. Comm: Service, Choral communion was held at 11 o'clock this morning at Holy Com- forter Episcopal Church, Brightwood. The children's Christmas tree enter- tainment will take place December 30. The Church of the Atonement, North Capitol street and Rhode Island avenue, held Christmas services and nging this morning at 6:15 o'clock. Barly morning services were held in Joppa Temple, 4209 Ninth street, by Grace Lutheran Church, at 6:30 a.m. Rev. G. E. Lenski! officiated. In the afternoon at 5 o'clock a Christ- mas entertainment will be staged by the Sunday school. St. John's Episcopal Church %eld 30 Convicts Get Liberty in. Time For Yule at Home Special Dispatch to The Star, RICHMOND, Va., December 26.— Thirty convicts w allowed to leave the State peniteptiary last night for the holigays at home. They had either n pardoned or paroled. The govérnor declined to make known the names of those set free. He denled that these ware Christmas pardons, save that they were jssued just at this time after he had been able to read up the records and consider facts set forth In the petitions for clemency. Today there were religious serv- ices in the prison, and at noon a great dinner was served to all the convicts. BISHOP DEDICATES INCURABLES' HOME Right Rev. James E. Freeman Officiates at Ceremonies at Institution. The new building of the Washing- ton Home for Incurables, Wisconsin venue and Tilden street, was dedi- cated to “the glory of God and the service of suffering humanity” by Rt. Rev. James E. Freeman, Bishop of the Eplscopal Diocese of Washing- ton, at exercises {n the rotunda of the structure vesterday afternoon. The sixty invalids of the institu- tion in their wheel chairs and a group of clergy, city officlals and representa- tives of charitable institutions at- tended the ceremonies. A huge Christmas tree radiating with tiny bulbs of light and sur- rounded by & veritable mountain of gifts for the Invallds made the oc- caslion a colorful gne and served to brighten the hearts of those who make their home at the institution. The choir of St. John's Episcopal Church, Georgetown, sang hymns and carols during the program. Mrs. Coolidge Sends Flowers. The base o? the tree was trimmed with cut poinsettias sent by Mrs. Coolidge and other Christmas flowers were placed about the hall. In his dedicatory address Bishop Freeman spoke of the high character of work performed by the home and praised the board of trustees for its efforts to build up the Institution. The dedication began wwith services conducted by Rev. John S. Moses, pas- tor of St. John's Church. Rabbi Ab- ram Simon also pald tribute to those who direct the affairs of the home and declared that charity transcends religion and binds people together. Balance of Debt $50,000. Mrs. Archibald HOpkins, president of the home and of the board of trus- tees, gave a summary of {ts financial condition, showing that the balance of debt from the erection of the new building is approximately $50,000. Mrs. Hopkins made 4 public ex- pression of gratitude to all who have helped to make the new home a reality, and expressed the hope that others would be moved to- contribute small sums toward the payment of the remaining {indebtedness. Con- tributions may be sent to Mrs. Hop- kins at her residence; 1826 Massachu- setts avenue, or to the institution. Announcement was made by Mrs Hopkins that one wing of the new bullding will be known as the Riggs wing, in bomor of E. Francis Riggs, whose two sons, Col. E. Francls Riggs and Rev. T. Lawrason RIggs, made a large contribution to the new home. The east wing, Mrs. Hopkins eald, will be called the Mary Farr Perry wing, In honor of Mrs. Seaton Perry, who made provision for a trust fund for the fnstitution. i The new home, which cost about $660,000, including land and equip- ment., hae been occupied only since last month. Mrs. Hopkins said that with its endowment fund, a small congressional appropriation and some private assistance, the home is oper- ating on a sound basis. ‘The dedication exercises were fol- lowed by tea. Members of the board of trustees held an informal reception at'which they were individually con- gratulated by the visitors upon the appearance of the buiflding. Mrs. Christmas #pecial Christmas services this morn- ing at 8 and 11 o’clock. Chevy Chase Presbyterian Church held services at 10:30 and 11 a.m. Luther Place Memorlal Church services were at 6:30 and 7 a.m. Foundry Methodist Episcopal Church held 2 service at 7 am. St. Alban’s Episcopal Church was the ecene of Christmas services at 7:30 and 11 a.m. At the city's places of refuge for human down-and-outers there were Christmas dinners this afternoon for those who applied and were found worthy, Free Dinners in Day's Program. ‘The Salvation Army served dinner to men In the Industrial Home, 102 B street, and at 7:30 o'clock tonight 1,000 white children ‘will be given candy and toys at the army's audito- riu 606 E street. This morning al hundred colored children were guests of tfle army at a motion picture theater on Seventh street. - A noomnday dinner was served the needy by the Central Union Mission at their new building, 622 Louisiana avenue, following a brief religious service. ‘The Gospel Mission, 214 John Mar- shall place, served a special dinner to homeless men and boys this after- noon. In addition, representatives of the mission will visit the Home for the Aged at Blue Plains, the District Jail and several hospitals, taking fryit and candy. More than 200 mem- bers of the mission Sunday school, whose parents are in poor clrcum- stances, will.be glven toys and candy. The 42 children In the mission’s home on C street enjoyed one of the big- gost Christmas parties of their lives today, to make up for last year, when Santa forgot them. v Tomorrownight the Neighborhood be the scene of Intermediate Boys' Down Yonder Dancing Club will con- | duct a dance. The Junior Boys' Club party will be held the morning of December 27. Midnight Services. Midnight masses were celebrated in most of the Catholic churches of the city last night and services were held in a number of churches of other denominatio; Community Christmas ceremonies were staged In varifous parts of the city last night. One of th® big out- door celebrations fook place in Georgetown, around an electrically lighted tree erected in the triangle at Twenty-eighth and M streets and Pennsylvania avenue. Christmas car- ole were sung, led by church cho- risters. Carols were sung by residents of Cleveland Park and the En h Vil lage.. up of young women of the Clevdiaad Park Congregational Church Su BSchool led the singing. Detectives afpolice headquarters disported themselves temarkably un- ltke sledths at B.big y. §lven the children living In the meighborhood of the District Buildl: PEED HEARINGS ON WAL PAY BL Senate Committee tc Hear More Publishers’ Rep- i recentatives. Pushing ahead as rapidly as pos- sible with its consideration of the proposed postal rate bill, designed to raise the revenue needed to pay the Increased wages of the postal em- ployes uader the biil vetoed by Presi- dent Coolidge and eiill awaiting final dlsposition in Congress, the Eenate post office, subcommittes will hear representativés of publishers’ organi- zations again tomorrow. Arthur J. Baldwin, president of the National Publishers' Assoclation, ap- pearing yvesterday beforéd the com- mittee, opposed the proposed rate in- creases. He declared thatiin seeking to make the Post Office Department self-sustaining®the Government is un- dertaking to make certain classes of mail users -pay for special privileges granted dby Congress to other classe: The cost ascértainment repert, he charged, had been “framed” with one idea in mind of showing that the ex- pense to the Government of handling second-class mail was very great. Rural free delivery and parcel post costs as outlined In the cost ascer- tainment report were especially at- tacked by Mr. Baldwin. He asserted that the first service had been in- augurated for the specific benefit of the rural population and that Con- gress should tax all the people fo its maintenance instead of attempting to make only certain classes bear the cost. Attacks Pareel Post Figures. Citing computations made from 2 previous survey of the parcel post service by the Government, Mr. Bald- win declared the estimate in the cost report that only 1,001,000,000 pleces of parcel post were handled in the last fiscal year was manifestly erro- neous. A greater increase in the col of handling this service, he contended, should have been proposed when the department computed the rate ad- vances necessary for it to bear its proportionate share of the Increased salary cost. Asserting that rates on magazines are now so high that many of the larger ones deserting the mails o6 a means of distribution, Mr. Baldw told the committee this class of ma! ter already is paying too high & postal rate. He suggested that the Post Office Department arrange a through freight service for handling ths magazines, now being sent by com- mercial freight, and provide deferred delivery In cities as a means of keep- ing them In the malls. Incidentally, the publishers’ asso- clation president called attention to the report of the Bost Office Depar ment that only $4,600,000 was “lo; in handling magasines as naiiing “falsehood” that the magazines are enjoying & large “subsidy,”amounting in the case of the Saturday Evening Post to 325,000,000 a year. He said he had heard this statement with respect to the Post stated on the floor of Congress. Recalls Free Services. Going into details as to spec privileges for certain classes, AL Baldwin sald Government depart ments were permitted to mall their literature free of cost; that special rates are given to sclentific, religlous and educational journals not pub- lished for a profit; free transportation given to literature for the blind and fres county service given to news- papers. Moreover, he pointed out that the Gomernment 18 giving certain. special services, such as registry letter and money order, at a loss in order to maintain the business. gaserting that he would have none of these abol- ished, the witness declared the Gov- erument, should approach the matter from a business amd common-sense viewpolat by making the losses on thess spectal privileges and services a tax on all the peopls and not against certain classes who use the mails. Citing that many magazines, ticularly trade papers, contain cu: information of value, Mr. Baldw protested against a different trea ment for them from that given news- papers oy reason of the charge on th reading matter of the magazin when they are transported througi the malils. Oulls Combination “Vicions.” Finally, the witnesses desc as ‘vicious” the effect to combin: both postal-rate increéases and postal rate advances in one plece of legisla- tion. “The blas for one must warp the sober judgment regarding the oth he said. Asserting then that he was not oy posing the pay increase for pos employes, Mr. Baldwin sald he 1 lisved Congress had mandate make the salary increas “If anybody has & mandate it : the President of the United States. remarked Chalrman Moses. “He is i terpreting that mandate as one to i crease postal rates to meet the p increase. Farm Bureau Opposes. Proposals to increase fourth-cla parcel post rates to bring in $12.000,- 000 annually, although the Post Office Department cost ascertainment report showed a loss of only 04,000 in handling this cl of mall, were de- scribed In a statement last night by the American Farm Bureau Federa- tion as “an effort again to saddle on to the farmers an unjust proportion tional & year, against & loss placed at about $74,000,000 in the report, and for an $18,000,000 Increase on third- class mail to cover & loss put at $16,- 000,000, as evidends Of unreasonable- nees in the proposed raise fn fourth- class rates. “Although we have not had access to the detailed figures of the depart- ment,” the staterfent said, “we belleve that the greatest loss incurrd in han- dling parc packages cannot be charged to the use made of parcel post by the farmers. Even if it could be so charged, there is ample argu- ment for connecting the city and the country even at some eqtual expense.” FOUL PLAY SUSPECTED IN DEATH OF WOMAN By the Associsted Press. SAN FRANCISCO, December Police are investigating the death of Miss Agnes Burke, 30 years old, whose body was found on a beach near this city yesterday morning. At first it was believed the woman had been slain and her body thrown into the water, because of bruises found on her ' body last night; however, the police sald they believed she had taken her own life and, that the bruises may have been gue to the waves washing the body against plers or rocks. A man's unecktle, found near the body, could not be explained. Miss Burke's body , was identified by acquaintances. She had lived here about two months, having come from Los Angeles. She was a telephone operator. Advices from the Bast said her father is John Burke, superintend- ent of & wood-working plant in Cl Ohlo. She has aa uncle, ‘Themas . Burke, living in Mechani=s- ville, N, Y.