Evening Star Newspaper, January 16, 1925, Page 1

A - WEATHER (U, 8.-Weather Burea: |-~ Overcast, with: rain tonight morfow;’ .warmér " tonlgh JBinimum temperature tonight atove. freesing’ =~ Temperatures—Highest, p.m. yesterday: today. Full report on page 41, at 3:30 lowest, 29, at 1 a.m. 7, Closing N. Y. Stocks and Bonds, Page 28 Entered as se post_office, No. 29,480. Wa d clas, hington, "B, & BRITISH PROPOSAL ON DEBTS CREATES SCHISM IN FRANGE Balfour Offer Reiterated to Paris by Churchill—$750,- 000,000 Asked. U. S. SEEN AS GETTING BULK OF REPARATIONS London Plan Will Give America 75 Per Cent of Total, Official Says VE BROWN. News. BY CONSTANTI By Radio to The Star and Chicago Daily PARIS, January 16.—Publication of the letters exchanged by Winston Churchill and Finance Minister Clem- entel regarding the settlement of Europe's debts to Great Britain has caused a considerable stir in political circles, particularly among the anti- Herriot elements, who are advocating a “wait-and-see policy” and who were in favor of postponing any financial parleys untll France's financial situ- ation had improved sufficlently so that the nation would be less depend- ent upon American and British finan- cial markets. Mr. Churchill renews the offer made to France by David Balfour and re- fused by former Premier Poincare, by which Great Britain is asking her European debtors, including Germany, to refund only the amount she owes the United States. According to the Spa arrangements, 1f Germany fulfills the obligations she accepted under the Dawes plan, Eng- land will receive from Germany $2,000,000.000, and the other European countries must make up the balance of $1,500,000.000 which she owes the United States. France's share In this refunding scheme will amount to some $750,000.000. This is considered a very substantial reduction, since her actual debt to Great Britain comes close to $3.000.000,000. Method Subject to Parley. The modality of refunding the $750,000,000 will form the subject of an Anglo-French conversation next March. French financial experts sug- gest that France should give up 10 per cent of her reparations annultles to Great Britain, thus receiving only 42 per cent of the reparations, instead of the 52 per cent, agreed upon at Bpa and that the other European creditors should follow the example by Eiving up a proportlonate percentage. It Is estimated that in this manner Great Britain will receive 45 per cent of the German reparations, which will be used for paying the British debt to the United States. It fs belleved that Finance Minister Clementel will shortly make a similar proposition for the settlement of the Qebt-to-thet Amerfcan Government, and if the American debt commission finds the French suggestions acceptable, France and the rest of the European credi- tors will give the United States some 30 per cent of the reparations Say TU. S. Gets Big Sharc. “Thus,” stated an Influential sena- tor Thursday, “the United States, which did not suffer material damages during the war will recelve 75 per- cent of the reparations due to be pald by Germany for the destructions per- petrated upon FEuropean sofl, and countries like France, which were crippled by the war will hardly re- celve 10 or 15 per cent for the re- construction of their devastated re- glons.” The Nationalist journals, taking it for granted that this proposal will be immediately accepted by the United States, writes: “Under pres- sure of the American bankers, sup- ported by their Government, we have reduced our claims against Germany to less than $10,000,000,000. This sum, if it were given to France alone, would be hardly sufficient to pay for the damages she suffered. “We now find that, after having given Germany such enormous reduc- tions, which will enable Germany to fight us economlcally until she can fight us with arms again, almost three-quarters of these sums will go to the United States, and afterward, under various forms, will return to Germany again.” This view, however, by the government, that If a satisfac rangement can be re: and British financlal markets will need outlets for their capital, and will need It under satisfactory condi- is not shared which belfeves refunding ar- ched, American v tions to European countries, helping | them with their development, which at present is handicapped by a lack of credit due to the non-payment of the war debts. (Copyright. 1925, by Chicago Dally News Co.) BUDGET TO BE BALANCED. French Revenue to Exceed Expend- itures This Year. By the Associated Press. PARIS, January 16.—France's rev- enue for 1925 will exceed her ex- penditures by 34,000,000 francs ($1,- 815,600) according to a forecast of the report of the Chamber of Depu- tles budget committee issued by its reporter, M. Viollette. Recelpts are estimated at 33,524,- 000,000 francs ($1,790.181,600) and ex- penditures at 33,490,000,000 francs ($1,788,366,000) The committee has rejected a pro- posed tax on increased values of business enterprises. CUBANTJFFICIALS IN DUEL Diplomat and State Department Of- ficer Fight in Havana. HAVANA, January 16.—A duel with swords was fought here today be- tween Dr. Rafael de la Torre, secre- tary of the Cuban legation in Brus- sels, and Dr. Andres R. Abela of the department of state. Dr. de la Torre was wounded in the forearm. The cause of the encounter is un- known. Fog Halts Desert Flight. BUC, France, January 16.— Do- parture of the French expedition of two airplanes for a flight across North Africa and the Sahara Desert to Lake Tchad, scheduled for this morning, was postponed because of fog. One of the machines is to be commanded by Capt. Georges Pelle- tier Poisy of Paris-to-Toklo flight fame, _ o —_— harges Air Service Wasted Millions and Hampered Army Civilian Experts By the Assoctated Pres NEW YORK, January 16.—The “de- structive policy” of milltary men at McCook Fleld, Dayton, wanted mfl- llons of dollars appropriated for de- velopment of aviation and made it necessary for Amerlcan soldlers to fight under protection of French and British alrcraft, C. M. Keyes, presi- dent of the Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company, today told the con- gressional subcommittee which 1s in- Yestigating the W'nited States Alr Service. This “destructive; policy,” throughout the war and continued until recently, Mr. Keyes sald, con- sisted In the refusal of Army engi- neers to accept the assistance offered by skilled commerclal designers, although planes buflt under Army supervision had proved “futile, impos- sible and wasteful.” Despite the fact that his designers had built 10 planes to 1 designed by the Army, Mr. Keyes added, the Cur- tiss offer of co-operation was peremp- torily refused and the company wa. JOINT POSTAL BILL WILL COME BEFORE SENATE THURSDAY Consideration of Coolidge’s Pay and Rate Measure Voted, 56-10. practiced The Senate voted today to give the administration measure proposing in- creases in postal salaries and rates the right of way Thursday. Keeping a promise made when the Senate sustained President Coolidge’s veto of the postal salary increase bill, Senator Moses, Republican, New Hampshire, asked that a date be set for consideration of the double-bar- reled measure, and the proposal was supported by administration leaders as well as by most Democrats. Vote Was 56 to 10. The vote was 56 to 10, or 16 more than the two-thirds required under the Senate rules. Opposing the motion to take up the bill were Senators Bayard, Fletcher, Gerry, Glass, Harrison, King, Over- | man, Swanson and Underwood, Demo- | crats, and Norbeck. Republican. | _ Senator Moses, after the Senate had agreed to make the bill a special or- {der of business mext Thursday, said that he hoped to bring the bill to a vote, if not Thursday, shortly there- after. He sald that since the Senate has agreed to take up the bill, the chanecs of favorable action on the measure at the present session appear brighter than ever. The comparatively small vote in opposition. to taking up the bill has glven much encouragement to its proponen If the bill is not voted upon Thursday it may still be made the unfinished business of the Senate. But if this is not done the bill will €0 back to the ca'endar and a motion to take it up would have to be made over again. T7YEAR-OLD BOY KILLED BY TRUCK i Vehicle Loaded With Sand Skids Into lce Wagon, Crushing Youth. | | | { George Vansciver, 17, of 2438 Vir- ginia avenue, helper on an ice de- livery wagon was crushed to death | near 2138 Virginia avenue this morn- ing, when his head was caught be- | tween the fce wagon on which he was working and a skidding truck loaded with three tons of sand. Cornelius Morse, colored, 26, 508 | Twenty-fourth street, driver of the truck, who was arrested by Detective | Billman of the third precinct, and | held for the coroners inquest tomor- row morning, clalmed, according to police, that his truck skldded on the ice on the pavement. He had approached the ice wagon, | 1t was sald, and made an effort to pull to one side, when a rear wheel caught | in one of the ruts in the ice, causing |it to swerve against the ice wagon | crushing out the life of the young man. . Vansciver, police say, was standing at the rear of the wagon walting for a plece of ice, when the fatal accident | happened. "His body was taken to Emergency Hospital. The Ice wagon belonged to Richard Chism, 731 Twenty-third street, grand- father of the accident victim. Morse, driver of the truck., was employed by | P. T. McDermott, 3218 K street. EXTENSIVE MANEUVERS PLANNED IN PHILIPPINES Twenty-Five Army Planes to Take Part in Sham Battle—Trans- port to Be Attacked. By the Associated Press. MANILA, January 16.—The most extensive air maneuvers ever sched- uled in the Philippines will be start- ed January 21 and continue for 10 days. Twenty-five planes from various Army posts will fiy to the Island of Mindoro, where a base will be made. From Mindoro Army maneuvers will be carried on to the various island A feature of the program will be an air attack upon the transport Thom- as when the vessel D s through Verde Channel purchase of such small park areas. WASHINGTON, D. C, Curtiss Co. Official Says Advice of in War Flouted With Great Loss. ordered to build a plane called the “Bristol fighter,” which Army engi- neers had adapted from the British “ypad” and the Itallan “Capronic bomber. The first Bristol plane crashed to earth and killed the test pilot, Mr. Keyes recalled, adding that when the company had reported unfavorably on the design, production was ordered stopped by the Army. “The factory we bullt at a cost of $1.000,000 to construct these planes has since been a total loss” Mr. Keyes sald. Specific figures of the amount of money last by the Govern- ment in its “abortive effort” to design planes “would be furnished later,” he asserted. The Curtiss Company, which alone remains of the concerns which at- tempted wartime aviation manufac- would be forced to liquidate if stem of ajd for private concerns recently inaugurated by Maj. Gen. Mason M. Patrick of the Army Alr ervice were abandoned, the witness said. There was no assurance that it would be continued, he declared. Carpet Bearing Dollar Facsimile Held Bogus Money By the Associated Press. CONSTANTINOPLE, January 16. —An importer here recently or- dered a large carpet woven In Greece with a facsimile of the American dollar as Its feature pattern. The Turkish authorities now have refused to allow the car- pet to pass through the customs on the ground that it is “counter- feit money." LUTHER HITS SNAG INFILLING CABINET New Ministry’s Presentation to Reichstag Postponed Until Next Monday. By the Assoctated Preas. BERLIN, January 16.—The presen- tation to the Relchstag of the new cabinet, headed by Dr. Hans Luther as chancellor, and the government's declaration of policy, set for today. have been postponed until Monday afternoon, as Dr. Luther is experi- encing difficulty in finding ministers to take the portfolios of finance and Justice. The Soclalists’ attitude toward the new cabinet formed, with Dr. Hans Luther as chancellor, s summed up by a leading editorfal in the news- paper Vorwaerts today, which de- clares the workers “regard the fact that a government has been offered them consisting of open and secret enemies of the republic as a siap in the face.” Wide Fight Promised. The workers, It adds, are prepar- ing to fight and the fight “will not be confined to the Reichstag.” but will be carried into every field of German life. . Few of the editorial commentators are inclined to cast a horoscope for the new Luther min- istry, which Reichstag circles point to as at the mercy of the Clercal and Democrate partes. “This Is not a one-day masquerade of nationallstic and monarchistic desperados,” adds the Vorwaerts, “but an organized and determined attempt to change the trend of national events in Germany—which makes it an Immediate menace to soclal development in particular.” While Chancellor Luther's cabinet on paper gives the impression of comprising a decorous bourgeols ministry, much like the one headed by Cuneo as chancellor, the circum- stances under which It sprang into existence and the motives which the liberals belleve to have agtuated the men who sabotaged Chancellor rax's efforts to reconstruct a liberal government on a broad parliamentary basis are the reasons for the mistrust with which the liberal parties view its coming into office. —_—— CITY MOVES TO GET FIVE PARK SPACES Corporation Counsel Ordered to Start Condemnation Suits for Plots. The District Commissioners today directed Corporation Counsel Stephens to Institute condemnation proceed- ings for the purchase of five small triangular park spaces in various sections of the city. The locations follow: Plot bounded by New Hampshire avenue, Chillum place and Onelda streets. Plot bounded by Eastern avenue Varnum and Twenty-second streets, Plot bounded by O street, Texas and Massachusetts avenues. Plot bounded by Western avenue, Ellicott and Forty-elghth stree Plot bounded by South Dakota avenue, Douglas and Thirty-first streets. In his report to the Commissioner: Surveyor Melvin } “These triangles are scattered in various parts of the District. It is true some of them are located where there are no improvements at the present time, but they never can be acquired cheaper and should be ac- quired.” The current appropriation act con- tains an allotment of 35,000 for the tavorable | i i { | | duction of costs in our whole distri- | about improvements and stability in |creased by the rising prices. HOOVER DECLINES 10 BE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE Commerce Head Opposes Plan to Change Position in Cabinet. SEES FARM SITUATION AS NATIONAL PROBLEM Believes, However, He Can Serve Best in Effort to Solve Dis- tribution of Products. Secretary of Commerce Hofver has declined to accept the post of Secretary of Agriculture to succeed Secretary Gore, who retires March 4, after the position had been offcred him by Presi- dent Coolidge. The Secretars thia afternoon issued a statement following publication of rumors today that he would be ap- polnted Secretary of Agriculture. Mr. Hoover issued the following statement : “In view of the press reports it seems to me desirable to state that the President did do me the honor to suggest that I consider tranafer to the post of Secretary of Agri- culture. He expressed his bellef that the present need of that department ‘was an administration in which em- phasis should be given to the solu- tion of the farmers’ marketing prob- lems. “To this T fully agree. Neverthe-| less I felt in the future, as In the past, | the greatest contribution that I could | make to the improvement of the| farmers’ position lay in the advance- ment of measures that make for re- butlon system and in helping to bring | the general industrial clal situation both abroad. “The farmers' problem Is a problem of the nation as & whole. “I appreciate deeply the confidince | which the President has shown in me, but I have told him that I believe it would be to the best Interests for me to decide against the suggestion, | which [ have done. i The Commerce Secretary today de- clined to discuss the matter, otherwise than to issue the statement, but his friends pointed out that he now Is engaged in reorganization work with- in the Commerce Department which | he regards as highly important, and that in his relations to business he! always has felt that he could be of | greatest service at his present post. | The President desires to place at| the head of the Agriculture Depart- ment a man familiar with modern | business methods, and It was for that | reason that his attention was turned | to Secretary Hoqver as.a possible suc- censor to Howard M. Gore upon the lat- ter's retirement in March to become Governor of West Virginia. Mr. Hoover, however, two years ago declined a transfer to the Interfor De- partment, when President Harding was seeking a man who would place that Department on a sound business basis. and commer- | at home and PLOT SEEN BEHIND GOLLAPSE OF LIRA All ltaly Tense as Electoral Law Comes Before Chamber. BY HIRAM K. MODERWELL. By Cahle to The Star and Chicago Daily News. ROME, January 16.—The discussion of the electoral law late today will be conducted in a super-heated atmos- phere, not only because all the parties are solidly opposed to the Fascists and | {to the government, but also because | {of the dramatic fall of the lira and the uncomfortable mystery surround- ing the self-dissolution of the Grand Lodge of Masonry. The government will win in Parlia- ment, but the vote probably will be >lose. The popular uneasiness is in- The steady fall of the lira, which today is approaching 25 to the dollar, is regarded officlally as the result of an international plot against the present regime. It Is suggested that the elements which were recently of- fended by Premier Mussolini’s pol- fcles—Masonry and certain banking Interests—have Jjoined the libera and the anti-Italian political groups abroad, as well as the usual Bourse harples, to Institute simultaneous as- saults upon the lira In successive waves. These are alded, according to the official view, by a carefully prepared crop of alarmist stories in which Pep- pino“Garibaldi, who is now living in Nice, France, is supposed to be espe- clally active. Remarkably little precise informe- tion penetrates here concerning the exact character of the lira’s sickness. No one ignores the fact that the sit- uation Is serious and will be difficult to combat. Already a new rise in prices has oc- curred. Neutral business circles con- sider that there is no adequate finan- clal or commercial justification for the present crisis_although the lira might be expected to sink somewhat at this season due to the bad world wheat crop and Italy's delay in cover- ing her wheat needs. (Copyright, 1925, by Chicago Daily News Co.) ASKS $11,500 FOR SCAR. ‘Woman Says She Cannot Wear Thin Hosiery. HOUSTON, Tex., January 16.—A scar on her leg which prevented her from wearing thin hosiery formed the basis | of an $11,500 damage sult filed by Mt Blanch Reneer, 20, against the Inter- national and Great Northern Rallroad. Miss Reneer listed the scar among injuries recelved when she stepped FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, from a tfain at Huntsville in 1923, It is - exceedingly painful and un- sightly, her petition sald, D NO FLEE FOOTED ; FOREIGNERS(~ Sk, CAN SHOW o} "/ \ ETHICS CODE URGED UPON NEWSPAPERS Invasion of Private Affairs Deplored—Grant Case Is Cited as Example. Establishment of a rigid ethical code for newspapers, not to be lald down in fact, but to be borne in the mind of editdrs for their guidance on pubilfeation of semi-public matters and matters affecting the private lives of persons In the public eve, was urged at the opening session of a two-day meeting of the American Soclety of Newspaper Editors at the New Willard Hotel today. Grove Patterson of the Toledo Blade, chalrman of the committee on othics, referred to indiscriminate publication of the details of the re- cent {llness of Dr. Percy Stickney Grant, rector of -the Church of the Ascension in New Yoyk, as “indefen- sible” and an unwarranted prying into private affairs by newspapers. Other Instances Clted. Other cases cited by Mr. Patterson were those of the Indian prince who was connected with a blackmail suit in London recently, and the divorce suit of Leonard K. Rhinelander in New York, both of which, he declared, were of public character, since the materfal from which the stories were written of public record, al- though in the Rhinelander case ef- fort was made by some newspapers to go beyond the record for “news.” Referring to the Grant case, Mr. Patterson said much of the matter published with reference to Dr. Grant's {llness and his resignation from the church was “back-stairs gossip,” not founded in fact and mali- cious in its publication. “There is a tendency,” he added, “among certain newspabers to pan der to a morbld curlosity of the pub- He." Mr. Patterson said he was sure re- sponsible American newspapers would be glad to get an expression from their readers as to the right or wrong of publication of matters of this sort. He also referred to the dificulty be- tween Senator Caraway and Secretary ‘Wilbur in regard to publication of a statement by the Navy Secretary (Continued on Page 3, Column 3.) LORENZ AND SEAMEN FREED BY MEXICANS State Department Advised of Ac- tion—Filibuster Charge Disproved. Dr. W. F. Lorenz, chairman of the Wisconsin State Board of Control, the captain and members of the crew of the wrecked schooner Ruth of Pensacola, Fla, have been released from jail by Mexican authorities at Progreso, Yucatan. ‘Word of the release, which was re- ported to have taken place vester- day, was recelved at the State De- partment today from the American vice consul at Progreso. Previous advices received by the department sald the men had been arrested on order of the port captain at Progreso, charged with filibuster- ing. Investigations showed the charges to be unfounded 1925— FORTY-FOUR PAGES. e Z/, ) /‘IK s Y / INSPIRING EXAMPLE. Banks Are Warned Of Holdups W hile Sun Is in Eclipse By the Assoctated Prey NEW YORK, January 16.—For two minutes New York will be in darknbss during the eclipse of the sun_ Saturday morning., January 24, Prof. Ernest W. Brown of Yale University, sald yesterday. He advised bank messengers and pay roll carriers to keep indoors during the perfod. Some banks, he announced, will not open until after the greator part of the pall is lifted—at about 9:30 o’clock. RUEDIGER DENIES ATTACK ON BALLOU Declares He Was Misinter- preted in Statement Concern- ing “Muzzling of Expert.” An emphatic denial that he made any charge against Supt. of Schools Frank W. Balou or any other school official is made by Dean Willtam C. Ruediger of the Teachers’ College of George Washington Unlversity, In a letter to Ernest Greenwood, vice president of the Board of Education and chairman of its special platoon school investigating committee, made public today. The communication is an answer to Mr. Greenwood's Invitation to him to appear at the committee’s hearing at the Franklin School tomorrow af- ternoon to defend the statement he is said to have made at a joint meet- ing of three committees of the PPub- lic School Assoclation Monday night to the effect that Miss Alice Bar- rows, platoon school expert of the Bureau of FEducation, had been muz- zled as a result of a protest by Supt. Ballou. Dean Ruediger pointed out that his statement apparently was uninten- tionally misinterpreted, and, as he could not add a further explanation than what is contained in his letter, he declined to attend the platoon committee’'s hearing. Gain Wrong Impression. “I fear that you have gained a wrong Iimpression of what I said on Monday evening at the Franklin School, from the published reports of portions of my address,” said Dean Ruediger's letter. “Had it been pos- sible for you to have before you my entire address, I feel confident that you would have gained quite a dif- terent impression. “I appeared at the Franklin School on Invitation to address a group of people interested in the platoon sys- tem of elementary school organiza- tion, and the theme of my discussion was the exposition of this system. Just before going to the Frankiin School I learned that Miss Barrows of the United States Bureau of Educa- tion had been requested by Commis- sioner Tigert not to address audi- ences in the District of Columbia on the subject of platoon schools. As I am an ardent believer in free speech, this disturbed me considerably. The matter, however, left my consclous- ness until in the course of my talk 1 had occasion to refer to a published article on platoon schools by Miss Barrows, which reminded me of the interdict just mentioned. “As an aside I referred to this in- terdict and expressed my disapproval of it. It seems obvious, of course, (Continued on Page 3, Column 6.) Increasing Street Car Passenger Loss, Shown in November, Traced to Auto Reports just filed with the Public Utilities Commission cover- ing operations during November show that both street railway sys- tems sustained losses In pas- sengers carried, as compared with the same month of 1923. The fig- ures show that the Capital Trac- tion Co.-had a heavier loss than the Washington Rallway and Electric Co. The Caplital Traction Co. car- ried in November 5,242,686 pas- songers, a reduction of 277,915 trom November, 1923. The Washington Rallway and Electric Co. carried 5,838,463 pas- sengers and lost 244,849, as com- pared with the same month & yoar ago. g The November reports also indi- cate an Improvement in the finan- clal condition of the Georgetown and Tenleytown line of the Wash- ington Rallway and Electric sys- tem. This line showed a gain of 40,000 passengers in November,' 1924, over the same month of 1923. In November, 1923, the Georgetown and Tenleytown line reported a deficit of $2,724, while in Novem- ber, 1924, the repoft showed a net income of $1,700. The decline in street car pas- sengers has been going on gradu- ally for some time past, and is be- lleved by officlals to be due in large part to the increased use of private automobil Radio Proztjgxpgf—nge 38. ““Eiom-Press to Home The “Star’s Within the-Hour” <arrier system covers every city block and-the regular edi-- tion is deliver ed to Washington homes as fast as the papers are printed. Yesterday’s Circulation, 101,761 TWO CENTS. RECORDS \ AN OnNE DL PLANS BILL TOBAN TRUST PYRAMIDING Senator Ball Seeks Measure | to Prevent Fake Sales With Boosted Values. Senator Ball, chairman of the Dis-| trict committee; Senator Jones of| Washington and H. L. Underwood, special assistant to the Attorney Gen- eral, were In conference today garding the drafting of a bill to pre- vent the pyramiding of values of real estate in the District, as dis-| closed in the investigation of hous-| ing conditions made by the Senate| District committee last session. | Senator Ball said that he contem-| plated offering such a measure, but| that he was not prepared at this time | to say what its provisions would be. He is determined, if possible, to put an end to the pyramiding of values through fake sales and additional | trusts. It is lkely that severe pen- alties will be provided for violations | of the proposed act. It was announced today that not| only would there be a hearing on| the rent bill Monday morning, but that a hearing would be held Mon- day night by the joint congressional committee. 7Each side has been allow- ed elght hours to discuss the Whaley | bill and other measures dealing with the rental situation before the joint committee. The proponents of the bill so far have consumed five hours, | and the opponents, two hours. This | leaves a total of nine hours of hear- ings still to be held. The opponents of the bill will continue on Monday | morning. Bill May Be Speeded. | re-| When the steering committee of the | Senate holds its next meeting, prob- | ably next week, it will consider the| matter of placing the rent bill upon its legislative program. This was in- | timated today by Senator Curtis of Kansas, chairman of the steering | committee, following a brief talk | with the President at the White | | the tax rate in the i per hundred he would co-operate | putting through { posed by LUMP SUM DIVORCE FROMD. €. SURPLUS ASKEDBY CRANTON Representative Would Have Issues Handled Separately on Their Merits. COMMITTEE GETS PLEA FOR FORMER SHARE PLAN | Citizens’ Federation Calls Propor- tionate. Payments by U. S. and D. C. Only Fair Method. Representative Louls C. Cramton of Michigan today asked the House Dis- trict committee to eliminate from his bill the first section, making the four-and-a-half-million-dollar surplus available to the District, and to con- sider separately and on its merits the Cramton proposal to make permanen the lump sum contribution by thf Federal Government toward meeting the expenses of the National Capital The meeting of the committee was called at the request of Representa tive Cramton. The surplus bill s now the unfinished business befor the House for the next District day Petition Before Committee. At the same time the committee ha before 1t a petition from the peopl of the District, through the Federa tlon of Citizens’ Assoclations, asking Congress to grant them as a matter of simple justice the observance of the principle of definite proportionate contributions by the Federal Govern- ment and District of Columbia in ap propriations for the maintenance, up keep and development of the Nationa Capltal. At first Representative Thomas 1 Blanton, Democrat, of Texas made point of crder Inst the extraor dinary meeting of the committee, bu withdrew it when Representative Cramton said he wished to be heard for only 10 minutes. Representative Blanton said that if Mr. Cramton would accept an amendment to his bill that no contribution shall be made from the Federa! Treasury until District is $2.50 in the Cramton bill Representatives Zihlman of Mary- land, who was acting chairman of the committee, and William C. Ham- mer of North Caroiina, Democrat, argued that a lump-sum contribution was not a just and equitable method, and that a definite proportion, det termined by Investigation, as to what was a just sharing in the expenSes should be adhered to, as is provided in existing law. Rate of $2.50 Protested. Representative Hammer also pro- tested that there was no need of a $2.50 tax rate in the District, as pro- Representative Blanton Representative Cramton reviewed the history of his proposal, which was originally introduced on Febru- ary 8, 1923, in the Sixty-Seventh Con- gress. He said that he was induced to make this legislative proposal be- cause h= realized that the National Capital is developing and spreading out rapidly, and he believes these developments are not in the Federal activities, and that, accordingly, it is not fair for the Federal Govern- ment to share in these growing costs. He said he wanted Congress to con- tinue making generous contributions because it local interests in the city and because all of the people of the Untied States have a proper pride in the Federal City. He sald that if the committee wi t upon his lump sum proposal, he hopes to find some way to have it coupled with the dis- posal of the District surplus bill a he endeavored to do at the close of the last session, Sees Principle Approved. Representative Cramton argued that House. Senator Curtls Is of the opinion that that if the rent control bill s al- lotted a place on the program, the | chances of its enactment would be | very good. The fact that President | Coolidge is strongly In favor of such | leglslation is considercd to be suffi- | clent inducement to bring a favor- able response from Senators who are now either indiffercnt or opposed to the proposed legislation. | Foes of Bill Gather. Business men, property owners and realtors are converging upon the Na- tional Capital from all parts of- the country, with the purpose of ex- | pressing to Congress and the sub- committees handling the proposed rental bill their opposition to any | such measure. | This morning Lee Thompson Smith, prosident of the Natlonal Assoclation of Building Owners and Managers, returned to Washington and held a long conference with President Green of the American Federation of Labor. It 1s understood Mr. Smith discussed with the new labor presi- dent the results, as far as labor is concerned, that would be brought about by the enactment of the Whaley bill. Charles Edwards of New York City, president of the National Assoclation of Real Estate Boards; Brig. Gen.| Nathan W. MacChesney, general counsel of the association, and M. R. Brigham, Boston lawyer and housing expert, wired from Dallas, Tex., that they are on their way to| Washington to oppose the bill and| will arrive here Sunday. They were instructed yesterday to leave Imme- diately from the convention of the Natlonal Assoclation of Real Estate Boards. ¥ Many Come From Far, The Baltimore Association of Buliding Owners and Managers has wired Representative Fred Zihlman asking him to arrange for It, to be heard before the full House and Senate committees on the District of Columbia within the next 6 or 6 days. Telegrams have been recelved from Philadelphia and cities as far west | as Milwaukee that members of bulid- ing owner assoclations are leaving for Washington to present ' their views on the proposed legislation. | Finishing touches on the proposed | license-control law to be submitted by the iocal real estate men at the! next hearing Monday are being made | by Roger J. Whiteford, local attor- ney. It is understood the bill will provide that one of the members of the action of both House and Senats fn accepting his lump sum propositio: in the current appropriation bil which was a compromise agreemer in the legislative jam which threate: ed to prevent actlon on this importan supply bill, constituted “an over- whelming indorsement by both branche | of Congress of the principie of his bili on which he now asks the committee approval. Representative Zihlman reminded Representative Cramton that the definite proportion principle was reached after an investigation re- garding what was a fair method of dividing the expense, and Representa- tive Zihlman argued that establishing a lump sum of $9,000,000 with the cost of the Capital constantly grow- ing, would be a ruthless method of piling up the costs against the Dis- trict residents without any attempt to find what would be a falr division Lump Sum Defended. Representative Cramton said that if a lump sum was established the resi dents of the Capital, who wished im- provements which call for larger ap- propriations, would be in a more dignified position because such ap- propriations would be pald from in- creased taxes by themselves. He ex- plained that Representative Blanton's proposal was to put the people of the District in a contrary position, because after they had pald a $2.50 tax rate, the increasing costs would be paid by the Federal Government and not by themselves. Representative Gilbert of Kentucky questioned Mr. Cramton regarding what proportion of the appropriations for the next fiscal year his proposed lump sum of $9,000,000 would be. Rep- resentative Cramton replied that he is convinced there is an actual need for at least $33,000,000 in the next appropriation bill for the District and that under the 60-40 plan the Federal Government's share would be more than $13,000,000, so that under the lump sum the Federal Government would save more than $4,000,000. Representative Gilbert said that he would not approve the establishment of the lump sum unless the $4,500,- 000 surplus was made available to make up the shortage contemplated un- der the Cramton plan. Calls Action Hasty. Representative Hammer told Mr. Cramton that he must not consider the action of the House last year in accepting the lump-sum proposal as indorsement of such a policy. He said it just happened to fit in with the way things were drifting at the time, but that at best it was a haphazard the license commission prescribed in the act shall be Assessor Richards of the District, arrangement, not based on equity; that the old 50-50 and later 60-40 (Continued on Page 3, Columa &)