Evening Star Newspaper, December 27, 1924, Page 1

WEATHER. (D. €. Weather Bureau Forecast.) Fair tonight and tomorrow: tonight; cold wave tomorro ture near 10 degrees Highest, 29, at noon today at 6 a.m. today. Full report on page . Closing N. Y. Stocks and Bonds, Page 16 Temperature— colder w; tempera- lowest, 21, Entered as secol post No. 29,459. PRESIDENT 10 URCE RENT BOARD WITH JUDIGAL POWERS Would Continue Commission With Full Authority Over Situation Here. MEASURE IS DESIGNED TO PASS COURT TESTS| | Proposed Legislation Drafted by Whaley Gives Body Greater | Scope. President Cool 11 urge Congr: to en at law for the District of Col which will jcontinue the Rent Com- mission for an definite period and which will give the latter full power: 1o fix rentals and inflict punishment for violatiof The President now has the draft such a bill before him, and after! giving further study he will forward | it to the llouse and Senate with i request its immediate enactment. | So interested the Executive in| the local rent situation and he has! manifested such determination to use he power of his office to institute al emedy t thought likely he will uccompany these copies of the bill} With a written explanation of the lo- cal situation and an urgent appeal] for the le lation shortly a umbi w new Whaley Drafts Measare. was d frmar the The W hal mission, at President, following the White House la the former described here to the Preside nlorable and the rentals highly exhorbitant Chairman Whaley's tood to not only meet but is flaw-proof and removes any doubt about the constitutionality of | the Rent Commission and its au- thority. With the exception of somé | modification the bill is pra-tically the one prepa ¥ Chairman Whaley last year an troduced the Senate by Senator 11 of Delaware, chairman of the| nate District committee. and author | of the Ball rent act. It was not con- | sidered seriously at the time. inas-| much as all attention was then given ! to th extendinz the life of the bill ch Richard Com- | tion the | nference at Tuesday, when | the conditions | as being de-| as being ratted P sugge of bill is under-! the situation, same as the commission | Lmergency Not Toucked. The bill the President will mit to Congress does not tcuch the question of an emergency still| existing in the District, but it in-| vests in the Rent Commission the po- | lice powers of the Federal Govern ment to fix rentals and to enforce its rulings. This step, whieh may be looked upon by many, as a radical departure, will quickly bring an end to the boosting of rentals and th pyramiding of property valuations. To apply the police poweérs of the vernment to the fixing of rentals and the punishing of violations the President is understood to consider &s possible under the law as a means of protecting public health and morals. This wil be the ba rent regulation instead of the gressional declaration of an exist- ing emergency upon which the pres- ent law is founded and which has Leen the subject of conflicting court decisions, The bill will stand all tests in the courts. in the opinion of Chair- ! man Whaley, after his conference | with the President today It is un- derstood that the President himself | has given considerable thought to the! questions involved, and when its it to Congress he will} satisfied in his own mind that there will be no question about its| constitutionality. | trans- upon | | i Keep Commission. The Rent Commission, which would expire under the present law, May 22,1925, will be continued indefinitely. Fhis commission will be reorganized | and it will function in the future as @ judicial body and not as an arbi- trary body. It will be empowered with an engineer, who will be able to furnish the commission with expe: advice as to rents and property valu ations. | law will provide a penalty of | a day for violatlon of regula-| ons. One of the interesting features ot the proposed legislation provides or the posting in the lobby of every | apartment house of a price list of | each apartment in the building i In drafting the law Chairman Whaley | feels convinced that the situation has been met and that the provisions of his bill are necessitated by conditior here. He looks upon this proposed leg- | islation as a progressive udvancement | of the administrative law of the country. | He believes that the enactment of this | law will stabilize property values in the District and that it will prove one of the best things possible for the real estate and investment business generally in the city. Coolidge Keenly Interested. side from a general interest in the | tizens of the Capltal City, President | Coolidge’s activity regarding the rent | situation here has been due principally | 1o providing decent homes for the many thousands of employes of the Federal Government at rental and selling prices within their means. He is represented as contending that it is | up to the Executive to see to it that | the servants of the Government are | entitled to the protection of the Gov- ernment in the matter of their hous- ing. Senator Ball, chairman of the Sen- ate District committee, is expected to | handle this legislation in that body when the time comes. He has con- ferred with the President several times recently regarding the rent situation here, and, like Chairman ‘Whaley, is convinced that rentals in ‘Washington have been advanced to a| Jevel where, generally speaking, they are far bevond the reach of the aver- | correspondent of the Giornale d'Ttalia | Their ragged uniforms showed | dent ud class matter ~ffice Washington, D. C. Deposed Albanian Head EX-PREMIER FAN TIRANA GIVES Z0GU ALBANIAN CONTROL Fan Noli. Deoosed Premier, Reported in Flight by Ship From Durazzo. NOLIL 1 thie. Associated Press. BELGRADE, December his occupation of Tirana Ex-Premier | Ahmed Zogu, leader of the Albanian| insurrectionists, has become master of e situation in the entire country; and has summoned the members of | his former government to the capital | 1 ~With | ty, according to press dispatches troops supporting the govern- Fan Noli are said to have d Scutari and El Basan, and serfous resistance is expected in | Bairum Tsour is holding | with a few scattered bands | rents the region west ment of evacuat no the his of south own adh Noli is | he hopes patch, reproted at Duraszo, to get a ship. (A] quoting newspaper ces received last night, sald the| Noii cabinet had embarked at! Durazzo for Avlona.) | Numerous tribes hitherto indifferent; (o the outcome are reported to be re- ceiving Ahmed Zogu as a liberator. ENTERS IN TRIUMPH. Ahmed Zogu Welcomed by l’eople, of Tirana. By the Associated Press. ROME, December = i —The members |of the Albanian cabinet, headed by |evacuation would have on the German Premier Fan Noli, fled the night be- | fore the capital was occupled by the rebellious forces of Ahmed Zogu, for- mer premier, according to the special at Tirana. The Fan Noli cabinet em- barked at Durazzo for Avlona. The correspondent learns that Ah- med Zogu's government will install itself at Scutarl. Describing the entry into Tirana of the Zogu forces, the correspondent says: Implore Peaceful Entry. 'he first detachment, strong, sturdy mountaineers from the Dibra region, arrived at 10 o'clock in the morning, commanded by a lieutenant. the | hardships they had experienced. The population of Tirana sent special del- egates imploring the commander of | the rebellious toops to enter the city | without causing bloodshed. “As the contingent of troops ar- ved city, which only (Continued on Page 4, Column 3.) H 2 | | STEAMER IN DISTRESS IN GALE ASKS HELP British Boat Bound for South| America Sends SOS—One Lost on Foundered Eoat. the Associated Press. i LANDS END, England. December | 27.—The Royal Mail steamship Sarthe, beund from Southampton for South America, wirelessed this morning that she was disabled in a gale southwest of Scilly Islands and was in need of immediate assistance. Two vessels were dispatched to her aid A distress signal from the_ Sarthe was picked up at 1 a.m., Eastern standard time, by the East Moriches, Long Island, station of the Indepen- Wireless Telegraph Co. The | call did not state the nature of the | ship's distress. ! Ship Founders; One Lost. k HRISTIANA, Norway, December | 27.—The Norwegian steamship Sort- land, a steel freighter of 633 tons gross, has foundered north of Trond- hjem. All the members of her crew with the exception of one seaman who is missing, were rescued. Nine of the men were taken from one lifeboat and shortly afterward a second lifeboat with 12 men in it, Which it had been feared was lost, was picked up. et AMBAéSADOR AD INTERIM IS NAMED HERE BY JAPAN Chorge Yoshida Gets Designation Pending Arrival of age Government employe. ———e Bomb Suspects Freed. MEXICO CITY, December 27.— | Matsudaira. By the Associated Press. TOKIO, December 27.—Setsuzo Saw- ata, at present a secretary in the for- ch | session. [French member of the council of am- |the allied front eaders of the Labor party;|eign office, has been appointed coun- ’arr‘;:;‘l,:dlln Queretaro City in con-|selor in the embassy at Washingtnon, nection with an outrage late Thurs-[while Isaburo Yoshida, the present day night, when a bomb was exploded | counstlor and charge d’affaires since in the window of the mayor’s house. | the departure of Ambassador Hani- were set free by the prosecuting at- | hara, has been appointed acting am- torney last evening. One Labor leader | bassador pending the earrival of is still under custody, press dispatches | Tsuneo Matsudaira, the newly ap- say, pending further investigation. pointed ambassador, WASHINGTON, COLOGNE RELEASE ON JAN. 10 FLATLY REFUSED BY ALLIES Reasons for Action to Be Given to Germany in Note Next Week. ALTERNATE DATE LEFT FOR COUNCIL VOTE LATER German Envoy Sees Bad Effect, Following Decision to Ignore Treaty Terms. By the As: PARIS, council lated Press December 27-—The allied| of ambassadors today agreed upon the terms of a letter to Ger- many announcing that the Colognc| area will not be evacuated on Janu-| ary 10. This was the date stipulated for the evacuation in the treaty of Versailles, provided Germany had fulfilled her obligations under the treaty. The text of the letter prob- ably will not be published until it has had time to reach Berlin The note will be presented by the five allied ambassadors in Berlin imultaneously, it is stated, the allie thus presenting a solid front to Ger- ma Will Be Signed. Although the outlines of the mnote were drawn today. the document needs some finishing touches, so it was decided that the ambassadors would not sign it until Wednesday next, when they wiil hold another| The fact that the phrasing is seen to require so much time is taken to mean that Germany will be given the reasons why the evacuation is to be postponed instead of merely the| blunt announcement of the allied de- cision to remain in the Cologne| bridgehead. | The ambassadors decided it was un- necessary to settle definitely now the question of the possible date of the evacuation or to choose between the French and British viewpoints as to the advisability of withdrawing, the British being reported inclined to favor evacuation after the receipt of the military mission’s complete re- port. The essential thing for the mo- ment, it was agreed, was to notify Germany that the evacuation could not take place on January 10. The question as to what may properly be done when the final report of the mission is submitted remains open for discussion when the time comes. Sees Bad Effect. Herr von Hoesch, the German Am- bassador, who saw Jules Cambon, bassadors, before the meeting; is un- derstood to have reiterated the Ger- man views as to the bad effect non- domestic political situation. M. Cam- bon. who is president of the council, replied that he took note of the ob- servations, but was unable to Eive any assurances as to the decisions of the council, since the question was not one of domestic politics alone, but of security to the allies as provided for in the treaty of Versailles. The ambassadors decided that the note which will be finally passed upon at another meeting Wednesday shall be presented collectively by the Ambassadors of France, Great Brit- ain, Italy, Japan and Belgium, 50 as to make it clear to the German gov- ernment that there are no breaches in on the guestion of disarmament. Marshal Foch was on hand early today ready to appear before the council to give any explanations de- sired. All the members arrived promptly, M. Cambon for France, Lord Crewe for Great Britain, Vis- count Ishii for Japan, Baron Avez- zano for Italy and Baron de Gaiffier d'Hestroy for Belgium. Myron T. Herrick, the American Ambassador, attended as unofficial observer. Herr von Hoesch called the foreign office just before the Ambassadors met and left as they were arriving. He was received in the premier's of- fice, although he did not see M. Her- riot or speak with any of the Ambas- sadors. REVOLT MANIFESTO OUT. Gets Circulation in Mexico—Pro= tests Calles’ Election. MEXICO CITY, December T.—A revolutionary manifesto protesting the validity of the last presidential election and purporting to be signed by the defeated candidate, Gen. Angel Flores, has been surreptitious- ly circulated here. Officlal circles believe it to be a maneuver by ene- mies of the government designed to involve Gen. Flores and force him to revolt. 10 Above Zero Due Tomorrow As New Cold Wave Heads Here Washington is due tonight to be knocked cold by an abnormal wave of frigidity which should succeed in shov- ! ing the mercury down to about 10 de- grees above zero by tomorrow, accord- ing to the weather man’s deductions today. The city will remain congealed prob- ably until the middle of next week, when a slight rise in temperature may produce some snow, Another cold spell soon will ensue, however. Skating at the Lincoln Memorial pool today was pronounced excellent by inspectors from the office of Lieut. Col. C. O. Sherrill. The surface is hard and smooth, and hundreds of skaters are expected during the next 24 hours. ‘The surface was flooded last night with enough water to make a new sur- face, which froze hard and smooth. COLD WAVE RECURS. Middle West to Suffer—21 Die in United States. By the Associated Press. CHICAGO, December 27.—Another cold wave, the third of a series, was driving from western Canada into D. DEPUTIES UPHOLD WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION ., FRENCH LOAN PLAN Vote Approval of Exchange of $100,000,000 Into Francs. By the Associated Press. PARIS, December The Cham- ber of Deputies today voted unani- mously, without roll call, the govern- ment's convention with the Bank of France regarding the use to be made of the $100,000,000 Morgan loan The agreement provides that “the state will pay to the account of the Bank of France in New York the pro- ceeds of the $100,000.000 loan cor tracted on the American market, and the Bank of France will credit the state in francs with a sum corre- sponding to this deposit on the bas of 5 francs 18 centimes to the dollar. | The credit in francs will be applied to reduction of the advances of the Bank of France toward the amount of the mext repayment, which is fixed at 1,200,000,000 france. Criticisms were made by speakers in the chamber, chiefly because of the complicated bookkeeping Involved, but all agreed to support the govern- ment. A number took advantage of the debate to urge that the govern- ment return to a gold basis within a year or two by providing that after a certain date all payments on new contracts must be made on that basis, while existing obligations would be payable in the present depreciated paper franos. Complete Harmony Exists. _Deputy Violette, in reporting the bill favorably, said it had “not been easy” for the government to get the consent of the Bank of France to the arrangement because the bank want- ed the mount of credit open to the government held down, while Finance Minister Clementel, on behalf of the government, sought to have a certain leeway for emergencies. M. Clementel, in referring later to this and to the rumors that Georges Robineau, governor of the Bank of France, might leave that institution, said there was complete harmony be- tween the bank and the government, and he reiterated his support of M. Robineau’s hostility to inflation. nks “American Friends. The finance minister expressed his “thanks to our American friends for the very happy manner in which they conducted the loan operation.” He called attention to the treasury’s dif- ficulties, and urged the use of checks to relieve the tendency toward infla- tion. During the debate it developed that one reason for keeping the Morgan credit in dollars was that if it had been converted into francs and paid to the Bank of France the bank would have insisted on reducing its line of credit to the government by the full amount, leaving the finance minister ! no margin for borrowing in emergen- | cles. Under the present arrangement the government repays the bank 1,200,- 00,000 francs instead of 2,000,000,000 francs, and has a big fund in dollars available for stock exchange opera- tions to stabilize the franc, “the de- fense of which is now certain,” the minister said. the Rocky Mountain States today, with forecasts that it would spread zero and underzero temperatures into the Middle West by tonight. The Middle West just had breathed a sigh of relief as thermometer read- ings got into double figures above zero when the cold wave of the last few days drove eastward with dimin- ished energy, when the reports of the renewed onslaught were received. Twenty-one deaths followed in the ‘wake of the Christmas cold, a nation- wide check indicated, four in Illinois, three in Ohio, three in Colorado, three in Pennsylvania, two in Oregon and one each in California, Texas, Utah, Montana, New Jersey and Kentucky. In the near Northwest the effects of the new cold spell were felt early today, a strong wind adding to the intense cold. Below-zero tempera- tures were prevalent in Minnesot: ‘Wisconsin and the Dakotas. It w: 10 below zero in St. Paul early today. Grand Forks, N. Dak., had 13 below late last night. Fargo had 12 below. At Eau Claire, Wis., it was 6 below. Nevada continued to lay claim to the United States cold record, however, Halleck reporting 60 degrees below zero last night and Deeth 5! Globe, Ariz., had the coldest weather ~{Continued on Page 5, Column 1) SATURDAY, DECEMBER MUCK IS COMBED 27, LAN’ SAKES* Hundreds Injured In Powder Cargo Explosion in Japan By the Associated Press. TOKIO, hundre, when aboard a Otaru, the Hokkaido forms the Japan. A from the reports received December casualties powder cargo exploded ship in the harbor at business center of the Island group, which northeastern part of disastrous fire resulted explosion, according to here, | ~Several reported were | | | FOR 8 MORE BODIES 14 Already Recovered to Be| Buried Today—Blindness Threatened. By the Associated Press SALTVILLE, Va Dec 1ber With 14 bodies now recovered, search of the muck-lime deposit that over- spreads a score of acres in the Hol- ston River valley, near here, was con- tinued today to account for eight per- sons still missing after the di trous dam break of Christmas eve. More than 200 nen Kept up the search today while Saltville completed plans for the burlal of its dead. Half| of the army of searchers are employves of the Mathieson Alkal Works, the plant at which the dam break occur- red, to release a great wall of lime- laden water and mud on the little set- tlement of workers below. Six bodies recovered in yesterday's search brought the total of known dead to 14, and it was believed the final death list would reach more than a score. It appeared there were some bodies buried under the deposit | of lime refuse that might never be| recovered. In addition to the body burns from which most of the more than 20 in- jured are suffering as a result of lime in the flood waters, a number have received injury to the eves that threatens bllndness in several cases. The emergency hospital for the in- jured, set up over a drug store, con- tinued to be besieged today by anx- fous relatives and friends"of the vic- tims. BILLBOARD BOOSTING FOR DRY LAW SOUGHT Prohibition Unit Will Ask $50,000 Grant to Appeal for Observance. A billboard appeal to the public | conscience, through which it is hoped to bring home to every citizen the virtues of law observance, will be in- augurated by the prohibition unit if Congress supplies the necessary funds. Enforcement officials believe a $50,- 000 appropriation spent on posters would have a more beneficial effect than a like sum applied to the de- tection and pursuit of lawbreakers, Details are incomplete, but the cam- paign probably will take on the as- pects of war-time poster advertising, and it is possible that the poster campaign will be handled by the prohibition unit itself, although pri- | vate concerns already have made offers. 50 COMMIT SUICIDE IN BERLIN ON CHRISTMAS | By Radio to The Star and Chicago Daily News. BERLIN, December 27.—Some 50 cases of suicide on Christmas day have been reported to the police of Berlin alone. Most of those who took their own lives were victims of un- happy marriages and seem to have killed themselves through a mixture of spite and desire to be dramatic. Practically no Berliners left the city Thursday and Friday. The usually crowded Paris-Warsaw ex- press was practically empty. The theaters and movies, however, were crammed. Even the burglars took a rest. The usual robberies were lacking and the police had a respite. The only losers were the vendors of Christmas trees. During the last days before Christmas the number of trees in the market was so great the merchants prac- tically had to give them away. (Copyright, 1924, by Chicago Daily News Co.) fiadio Programs—Page 8. | I | Declares He Will | ¢ Foening Star. 1924 _TWENTY-TWO PAGES. CLINTOCK'S HER ASKS EXONERATION Demand Name Be Cleared of “Accu- sations” Made Against Him. tiie Associated Preas. CHICAGO, December 27.—William Shepherd arrived in Chicago to- from Albuguerque, N. M. to pro- investigation of er son, William ‘millionaire or- D day ject himself into the the death of his fos McClintock. the phan.” public exoneration of the publicity which has been directed against him. “I have come voluntarily from Al- buquerque,” said Mr. Shepherd, “to answer such questions as may be ask- { | ed me and also to ask some questions myself. I will seek a public exon- eration as widespread as the public. ity given tha accusations against me. State's attorneys wished to question him particularly regarding statements of Y. T. Breidigan of Battle Creek, Mich., formerly in charge of clinical routine of the Illinois Research Lab- oratories here, who told of visits in 1919 to the laboratory of a Mr. Shep- herd, who expressed interest in bac- teria cultures and discussed typhoid | germs with him. The autopsy over tha exhumed body of McClintock disclosed the presence of typhoid germs, but has not deter- mined the cause of death, according | to Coroner Oscar Wolff. Further re- ports of the examination will be made. | Blames Probe on Relatives. En route to Chicago last night, Shep- herd, in Kansas City, declared he “never had seen a typhoid germ.” He said he had gone to the laboratory for treatments after an operation. The entire investigation, he sald, resulted from efforts of distant relatives, be- cause they had not been included in the bequest, Breidigan's statement was mad public by George E. Gorman, assist- ant State’s attorney, at the same time that the prosecutor's office announced it was investigating all possibilities of the case, not excluding typhoid inoculation and improper feeding of the patient to hasten or aggravate his illness. Examination of Dr. Rupert Stolp, who signed the death certificate giv- ing typhoid as the cause of McClin- tock’s death, failed to elfcit any con- firmation of those possibilities, Joseph Savage, assistant State’s attorney, sald. Dr. Stolp disclosed, however, the prosecutor said, that when he was first called, November 23, McClintock seemed to be suffering from an af- fection of the nose and throat, and, while he seemed very ill, showed no symptoms of typhoid fever until a few days later. Chemists Continue Study. Robert Shepherd, H. Stoll, yesterday law partner of submitted sev- |eral letters from young McClintock to Mr. and Mrs. Shepherd, in which he addressed them in affectionate terms. His last words before his death were an expression of love to Mrs. Shepherd, whom he called “mother,” the attorney said. The coroner’s chemists said it would take two or three more days‘to com- plete the analysis of the necropsy and determine the exact cause of death. Harry Olson, chief justica of the Municipal Court and friend of the McClintock family, who instigated the inquiry said he did not expect that anything else except an indication that McClintock died of typhoid fever would develop from the autopsy. Much remained to be cleared up, how- ever, he said. FAILUE?&HEAT ROOMS BASIS OF $5,000 SUIT George F. Snyder Alleges Wife Was Made Il by Discomfort of Their Apartment. Alleging that the owner of his apartment failed to furnish necessary coal and properly to heat his apart- ment and as a result his wife became 111, George F. Snyder, a lawyer, today sued Margaret J. Calvin, owner of the Portsmouth Apartment at 1735 New Hampshire avenue, for $5,000 dam- ages. The lawyer says his wife was in good health when he rented Apart- ment 501 in the Portsmouth October 1, 1923, and during the following Win- ter was rendered ill as a result of the place being not sufficiently heated. He moved out April 31, 1924, he says and has been put to great expense for doctor’s bills and_medicines. Mrs. Stella R. Snyder, wife of the lawyer, alsp sued the owner of the apartment for $5,000 damages for her iliness, which she blames on the al- leged faflure to heat the building. He declared he would seek a | that of | The Star’ “From Press to Home Within the Hour” s carrier system covers every city block and the regular edi- tion is delivered to Washington homes as fast as the papers are printed. Yesterday’s Circulation, 95,258 ADDITIONAL RED Nearly An immediate reduction in cents to 774 cents per kilowaitt | a compromise reached today The reduction in rate will be after February 2. Refund to Take Year. In the compromise agreement ap- proximately $500,000 is to be taken from the impounded fund for taxes, both Federal and local, leaving $5,- 500,000 to be divided equally bitween the company and the consumers. The company will immediately em- ploy an additional staff of employes to carry out the enormous job of re- funding to thousands of consumers approximately $2,800,000 coming to them as a result of the settlement Maj. Covell urged users of electric- ity to have patience in waiting for the return of their money, pointing out that it will take almost a vear to settle all of the accounts the com- pany has had to keep with consumers during the seven years of litigation. is an agreement on the part of the company to establish a sinking fund for depreciation amounting proximately $4,000,000, the interest on which will act as a credit to the people in that it will be an item of earning power on the company books. This arrangement makes the actual fair value for rate making purposes, $28,500,000. Further Reduction Seen. Maj. Covell explained that as the sinking fund for depreciation in- creases it will have the effect of re- ducing rates. The major said that ifrom his study of the plan agreed | upon, there probably would be a | further reduction in rates in 192. He explained that when the sink- ing fund for depreciation reaches 1 per cent of the value it will result in a deduction of two-tenths of 1 per ent in the amount which the com- pany charges consumers annually for the item of expense known as de- preciation The compromise agreement allows the company to earn a return of 71 pér cent on the fair value agreed upon. A further ipulation, however, is that if the earnings of the company exceed in a year 713 per cent of the value, the amount in excess is to be {divided equally between the company {and consumers. For example: Should |the_company earn $100.000 in excess LABORER INHERITS ESAYS Virginian Tells of Bequest Here—Court Records Fail to Support Story. i | | | Special Dispatch to The Star. Va., December Glowing with the effulgence which only the immediate prospect of $900,000 can produce, Emmett L. Griffin, 33- year-old factory hand here, returned from Washington yesterday with the glad tidings to his friends and Inti- mates that he is going to set them all up in business after January 26, when the Flora estate passes into his hands He took a little run down to Green- ville, N. C, today and selected an automobile. on the strength of his future affluence, touring back to Dan- ville to turn the eyes of his friends into saucer-size optics. Makes Promises to Friends. Yesterday and today have been fill- ed with little private chats with friends by Griffin, the subject matter of which constituted what sort of and their preferences as to site, build- ings, locations and what-not. On December § Griffin says he was in- Va., that he was heir to the estate. Since the information came to him, however, he journeyved up to Wash- ington and consulted, he said, with lthe administrators of the estate— | whose names, by the way, he could informed him that the property would be conveyed to him January 26. Ac- cordingly, on his return home, big- hearted Emmett immediately started a survey of his friendships and ac- quaintances, with the object of re- warding those close to him during the lean days with various sorts of bene- fits during the oncoming period of his prosperity. At the courthouse in Washington, it was learned today, search had been made for a record of the Floras estate will. But the search thus far has been fruitless. Power Co. and the Public Utilities Comm tion dispute that has been before the courts for seven years. In making the announcement, Maj. W. E. R. Covell, assistant to Chairman Bell of the Utilities Commission, revealed that the valuation agreed upon is $32,500,000. The impounded fund amounts to appr representing the difference between the 10 cents the company has collected since 1917 and the rate of approximately 8 cents the commission has been allowing the company to keep. Another feature of the compromise | to ap-| business he should provide for them | formed by C. P. Kadison of Richmond, | not remember when asked—and they | * TWO CENTS. LIGHT RATE REDUCED TO 7.5 CENTS; USERS TO GET BACK $3,000,000 vHalf of Impounded Fund 1 Ordered Returned in Ruling in Valuation Fight. UCTION IN 1926 TO COME FROM SINKING FUND Compromise Agreement to Take Effect in January—Refund to Require a Year. the rate for electricity from 10 1our and the return to the people iof approximately $3,000,000 of impounded funds will result from between the Potomac Electric ission, settling a valua- effective on bills rendered on and imately $6,000,000, of 713 per cent return, the rate fixe for the next vear would be ranged as to give the company $50,000 less in earnings so a Announcement Is Sensation. Announcement at the Distric Building today came as a bombshell to persons who have been following the long legal battle that began in 1917 and which has gone on through the District Supreme Court, the Dis- trict Court of Appeals and to the United States Supreme Court and then back to the District Supreme Court Although members of the commis sion and officials of the power com pany have been engaged in mysteri ous’ conferences for the past few days, so closely did they guard the proceedings that no one but them- selves were aware of the fact that a settlement was actually impending Those present at the meeting this morning, at which the final agree ment was reached, were: Commis- sioners Rudolph and Oyster; Acting Engineer Commissioner Raymond Wheeler, Maj. Covell, William F. Ham, president of the power com pany; S. R. Bowen, vice president and general counsel; A. G. Neal, cor | troller of the company, and Charles J. Bell and Eugene Thompson, mem bers of the board of directors. Coi- poration Counsel Francis H. Steph ens was present as legal adviser the commission. Agreement Seemed Remote. About a month ago Maj. Covell co ferred with Mr. Ham on the poss bility of reaching a compromise tha Wwould stop the impounding of mones pending a final disposition of the case but without resuit. No one though at that time that a permanent settle ment would soon be reached. On= week ago Justice Wendell P. Stafforc of the District Supreme Court, who for several months has had before him the task of adjusting the valua tion, called together counsel for the company and the commission an gave them an outline of what his { forthcoming decision probably would be With this information in hand, Ma Covell and Corporation Counsel Ste phens began the series of consulta tions which culminated in today's se tlement. District officials did not cor ceal their gratification over the se tlement arrived at, indicating that | they regarded it as fair and beneficia | to the public. After several days of preliminar, bartering, the representatives of th: company were closeted with the com mission in several long conferences The final meeting this morning was a brief one, following which the ar nouncement was made. Litigation of Long Standing. Although Engineer Commissioner Bell, chairman of the commission was not in the city today for the fina | settlement, it is known that he play ed an important part in seeking to | bring the long fight to an end The litigation began in 1917, wher the Utilitles Commission announced that it had fixed the fair value of the Potomac Electric Power Company at slightly more than $11,000,000, as of December 31, 1916. The value as of 1914, when the proceedings started was in round numbers, $10,250,000 Two years elapsed befors the valua- tion was completed and the commis sion added net additions to the plant during those two years of about $380 000, making the value slightly more than $11,000,000. On the basis of this valuation the commission ordered the rate for elec- tricity reduced from 10 cents, which had been in effect for a number of years, to § cents. Company Files Two Suits. The company went to the District Suprems Court and filed two suits one attacking the valuation as being too low, the other asking that the 8-cent rate be set aside because it was based on the alleged erroneous valuation, The District Supreme Court granted | the company an Injunction under | which it continued down to the pres- | ent day to collect the old 10-cent rate | but required it to set aside the ad which has accumu \ditfonal 2 cents, {lated to the amount of $6,000,000. In the first court decision the late | Justice Ashley M. Gould declded -in | favor of the commission. The com- | pany went to the Court of Appeals | which after deliberation reversed the {lower court, holding in effect. that | the commission failed to make proper | allowance for high prices which pre- | vailed during the interim between | 1914, when the valuation was started, and the date it was announced, In 1916, |, The commission then took an appeal to the United States Supreme Court, which ordered the litigation returned to the District Supreme Court with- out passing on the merits of the case. (Continued on Page 2, Column 1.y