Evening Star Newspaper, February 17, 1925, Page 2

THE _EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, D. €, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1925 W MERCHANT, MISSING 25 YEARS, ANSWERS GREETING “HELLO, DAD” Philadelphia Shoe Manufacturer Who Disappeared and Changed Name Is Identified by His Sons in Memphis Hospital. SCHOOL BUILDING PROGRAM PASSED Move Pressed to Get Action in Senate on Other Essen- tial District Measures. With the public school bullding program bill safely passed at a ses- sion of the Senate last night, Chair- man Ball of the Senate District com- mittee and others Interested In the District will seek action on the pub- le welfare bill, the traffic regula- tion, the street rallway merger bl and the rent bill Whether or not it will be possible to obtain another night session of the Senate set aside strictly for Dis- trict business Is problematical. But it fs hoped that time will be given at some of the evening sessions, and perhaps during the day, for consid- eration of these fmportant measures. School BIll Unchanged. The Dbill setting up a five-year school bullding program, which is es- timated to cost $19.000,000, was put through without change, except for l:e u:undmenlx recommended by the Senate District committee. The meas- ure now goes to the House. A similar bill, which has been reported to the House from the District committee, is one of those slated to come up in the House next Monday, District day, in that body. Sentiment in favor of providing adequate schools for the District {s so strong as to give much hope that this bill will become a law before the close of the session. Debate on Trafic Bill. The trafic regulation bill occupied 2 hours and 45 minutes of the 3 hours allotted to the consideration of Dis- trict business at the Senate session last night. As on Friday night the bill met with strong oppesition on the part of Senators who hold that it is entirely too drastic. A number of tmportant amendments were adopt- ed and others were still pending when the measure was lald astde In order to glve opportunity for the consider- ation of less controversial biils. Senator Curtis of Kansas, Republican leader, declaring that {t was apparent that the traffic bill could not pass last night, asked that it be laid aside to go ahead with the school bill and others. This action was taken at the suggestion of Senator Ball. The Senate then proceeded without debate to put through a bill author- izing the closing of Thirty-fourth place northwest north of Garfleld street. The land embraced therein reverts to the Protestant Episcopal Cathedral Foundation of the District, the owners of the abutting property. The measure now goes to the House. Debate Is Avolded. An effort was made next to con- ider the public welfare bill, which already has been passed by the House. Senator King of Utah, how- ever, declared that the bill woul lead to considerable debate, and f{t ‘was not pressed. The school bill was then taken up, seemingly with the approval of ali the Senators present, and was put through as rapldly as the clerk could read the committee amendments. The bill gives authorization for a program of schoolhouse construc- tion which, if carried out, will pro- vide in the District of Columbia * sufficient number of school bulldings to make it possible to abandon all portables; to eliminate the use of rented buildings; to abandon the use of undesirable rooms; to reduce elementary school classes to a stand- ard of not more than 40 puplls per class; to provide a five-hour day of instruction for elementary school pupils, thereby eliminating part- time classes; to abandon ail school bulldings recommended for immedi- ate or early abandonment in 1908; to abandon other school bufldings which have become unfit for further use since 1908; to provide a full day of instruction for high sch ° puplls, thereby eliminating the ‘double shift’ program in the high schools; to pro- Vide for the annual increase in en- rollment of puplls during sald five- year period; and, in general, to pro- vide in the District of Columbla a program of schoolhouse construction which shall exemplify the best in schoolhouse planning, schoothouse con- struction and educational accommoda- tions.” Several Changes Made. Although consideration of all the provisions of the traffic bill was not completed, the Senate only reaching as far in the measure as the clause relating to leaving the scene of an ac- cident without making identity known, several important amendments were 2dopted. These amendments were: Ralsing of the speed limit to 30 mlies an hour; zlving the right to appezal to the Su- preme Court of the District from rev- ocation of permit, reducing the pen- alty the trafic director mey inflict from a year to 10 days in jail; reducing the authority of the traffc director in revocation of permits and changing the director of trafc from a separate officlal to an officlal under the chief of police. In increasing the speed limit from 25 to 30 miles an hour the Senate also agreed to eliminate from the bill a definition of reckless driving. The increase in the limit is designed to give the director of traffic and the Commissioners more leeway In the making of speed and parking regu- lations than would have been possible if the limit had been set arbitrarily st 25 miles per hour. Redress for Motorist. The amendment relating to th right of appeal to the court from & decision of the director of traffic in premit revocation was one of Sen: tor McKellar's many amendments. He told the Senate that he did not thiak it wise to give such wide powers to the dirgctor and’ that some form of redress should be provided for the /motorlst. . The new clause reads: “The right to appeal to the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia is hereby given to any operator depriv- ed of his license hereinunder, and the Supreme Court of the District of Co- lumbia shall bave jurisdiction to hear and determine such appeals.” The powers of the new director were curtailed by many chenges made in the original bill. As the measure now stands he will be stripped of much of his authority. - In the committee traffic bill he could inflict punishment up to one year in Jail, deprive a motorist of his permit for cause, and would bq a separate and distinct officlal on an equal foot- ing with the Commissioners. Under Police Chief. An amendment to the bill now pro- vides that he can only prescribe pen- alties of 10 days, he cannot take & permit away from a motorist unle for violation and conviction of a traf. fio law, and the motorist may appe: from his decision, and he is to be a subordinate official to the chief of policy Senator Walsh of Massachusetts, in introducing the amendment to put the new official under the police depart- ment, sald that he did not bell hat there should be a separate division created to handle traffic, “This Dbill, he sald, “seeks to ufit:lllh another bureau in.the seat of ‘the Government here in the Dis- trict. It proposes the creation of a separate office and a separate bureau ARBITRATION OF CLAIM REFUSED BY RUMANIA Declines to Let Reparations Com- mission Decide on Alleged German Debt. By the Associated Press, BUCHAREST, Rumania, February 17.—The Rumanian government, re- plying to the German note, declines to accede to Germany's suggestion that the reparation commission de- clde regarding the unsetlled financial differences arising out of the Ger- man occupation of Rumania in 1917- 18. The differences Include 2,000,000 lel (normally about $400,000,000) for cur- rency redemption, which Rumania clalms is outside the scope of the Dawes plan, and a separate labllity, for which Germany refuses to assume responsibility. DEFENDS WARREN N SUGAR ISSUE Company Declares He Was in Mexico When Deal Was Made. A general denfal of the complaint recently made against It by the Fed- eral Trade Commission has been filed with the commission by the Michigan Sugar Company, of which Charles B. Warren was an official when he was nominated by President Coolldge to be Attorney General. The company declared that its con- tract with the Larrowe Milling Com- pany, which was the basis of the com- plaint, was made in the course of routine business when Mr. Warren was in Mexico, and never came before the board of directors. It expressed a perfect willingness to cancel the arrangement if the commission de- sires. ‘The commission’s complaint, which charged a conspiracy to suppress campetition in the marketing of beet pulp, has been the reason advanced for some of the opposition to Mr. Warren's confirmation as Attorney General. In its reply the Michigan company daclares its contract with the Lar- rowe company was for one year only, contained nothing of an improper character and is about to expire. It was asserted that the agreement was made in the course of ordinary busi- ness, and that no great significance was attached by the Michigan com- pany to the arrangement. The Toledo Sugar Co., which s owned by the Michigan company, and which also was named in the com- mission’s complaint, has filed a re- ply, saying it has no contract with the Larrowe company. Both the Michigan and Teledo concerns ad- vised the commission they would not contest any decree the commission might care to make in the premises. COfiLECTIONé ARE HALTED Hagerstown Mayor Acts Against Volunteers of America. Spectal Dispatch to The Btar. HAGERSTOWN, February 17. claring that investigations he ducted in conjunction with the authorities had convinced him funds collected here for charitable purposes had not been used to help the needy, Mayor Charles E. Bowman today ordered representatives of the Volunteers of America to discontinue sollciting funds here. —_— under a director of traffic. It is my conviction thgt the business of the regulation of traflic is a police busi- ness, and that the regulation of traf- fic of vehicles should not be separated from the regulation of the traffic of pedestrians; that you should not have one department regulating vehicles going through the streets and another department regulating the manner in which pedestrians use the streets. So my amendment proposes that there shall be a director of traffic, just as the bill provides: that he shall have all the duties the bill provides, but that he shall be subject to the au- thority of the chief of police, that he shall be an assistant chief of po- lice, and shall be named by the Com- missioners.’ Whittiing Down BflL When discussion of the bill reached the clause which provides that if an operator's permit is revoked it can- not be returned for six mopths, there was an attempt on the part of some Senators to qualify the clause 20 that the director could restore the permit at an earller date. Senator Ashurst of Arizona then obtalned the floor and asserted that the bill was slowly being “whittled” down until it would be no bill at all. “I was not here the other night and I am glad I was not. The attempt is apparently to whittle, whittle, whit- tle, whittle away on this bill until these wild-eyed automobillsts can continue to slay our fellow-citizens. We have been striking them with the velvet hand. Now is the time to strike them with the malled fist. “I am in favor of making this law s0 rigid that men will respect it rather than setting up a lot of tech- nicalities so that a man who goes and slays his fellow citizen may go to & complaisant official and obtain a permit. A man who has misused his auto ought to have no permit there- after. No law of humanity, no law of decency, not even the safety of their own families will restrain these speed-mad bugs. Let us seo how se- vere we can make this bill, not how Ineffective.” PLEASED AT PASSAGE. Ballou Expects House to Follow Steps of Senate. Dr. Frank W. Ballou, superintendent of schools, today described as ‘“‘very sratifying” the action of the Senate last night {n authorising the five-year school building program, making possible the expenditure of approximately $19,000,- 000 for the physical improvement of the school system. The superintendent hopes that the House will take similar action Monday. ‘Whether or not the five-year program passes this session of Congress, Dr. Bal- lou feels that the virtual unanimity of approval given it by the pudlic, as well as congressional commitment, is in it- molf a matter for rejoicing. The superin- tendent, however, confidently anticipates its pagssge in the House, pointing out that the sentiment in this body is equai- Iy as strong in favor of it as it is in the Senate. Dr. Ballou sees in the five-year bullding program the foundation of the survey of school needs made by him in December, 192 becoming head of the District lic educational system. “The buil- ing program,” he sald, “wlill give us something definite to start on to- ward meeting the accumulated shortages in schoolhouse accomme- dations.” The bullding program, he peinted out, will not wipe o#t completely all of the undesirable conditions existing in the school system, but will be a big step In that directiom, TRAFFIC RELIEF DEMAND IS URGED Shannahan Says 43,000,000 Who Ride Street Cars Are Delayed by Minority. The 43,000,000 persons who daily ride on the electric rallways of the United Statos should rise up and demand traf- fic congestion rellet, J. N. Shannahan, president of the American Electric Railway Assocfation, declared In an address before the closing session of the convention of the assoclation at the Chamber of Commerce of the United States today. Failure to limit and prohibit parking and to restrict trafic to certaln channels was de- clared by Mr. Shannahan to be play- ing havoc with electric railway and bus schedules. Four-fifths of all per- sons who ride are patrons of electric rallway company owned cars or busses, he said, and are being delayed by a small minority of riders In other vehitles. The 800 delegates were received at the White House at noon today by President Coolidge. They were taken to the executive offices by Luclus S. Storrs of New Haven, Conn., who was appointed managing director of the assoclation yesterday. Mr. Shannahan sald he was not secking to array persons not owning motor cars against owners. adding that many car riders are motor own- ers, who, beset by traffic congestion troubles, are using electric cars and busses. Use of Fixed Fare. Turning te other problems of street car companies, Mr. Shannahan de- clared that within the last six years the old fixed fare, “which was a mill- stone around the neck of electric rall- ways,” has been abandoned as un- scientific and unfair. Busses have come, he sald, to supplement instead of compete with electric rallway serv- ice. and electric rallway managements throughout the country are making use of the various forms of local transportation to enable them to give a complete service, while, in turn, the regulatory bodles and forward-look- ing municipalities are turning to the electric raflways to supply the local transportation. “As a result primarily of better fares and the elimination of unfair bus competition, electric rallways generally have gotten on their feet. Where one-sixth of the industry was in bankruptcy when the public was invited in to help solve the transpor- tation problem, today few rallways in the United States are In the hands of receivers, Congestion Unapeakable. “Traffic congestion is unspeakable. Despite the best efforts of local transportation companies to provide service, it is virtually Impossidble nowadays, by reason of traffic con- gestion, to maintain any respectable schedules in our city streets. The average running time of an eleotric car or bus should be from 10 to 12 miles an hour, and yet in some cities it is impossible, in the downtown sections, to move at a greater rate of speed than 2 miles an hour In any sort of vehicle.” Mr, Shannahan suggested two major steps which would help very much. Pre- vention of the use of streets for park- ing of automoblles would heip, he said, while the “unscrambling” of traffe, with establishment of regular lanes of travel for the separate lanes of traffic, would aid very materially. Mr. Shannahan announced that in eo- operation with Secretary Hoovers ac- cident prevention movement the electric rallway industry s starting a nation- wide advertising poster campaign. He said that accidents to passengers on cars were being reduced, but that accl dents due to other vehicles striking street cars and alighting passengers were increasing. Urging officlals of street rallway companies to get acquainted with conditions on the lines they operate, Peter Witt of Cleveland, describing himself as a car rider among car- owners, which he sald was “as rare as a statesman in Washington,” called on the electric raflway men to sell their service to the public through better public relations. “Get acquainted with your own product. Ride in your own street ' Mr. Witt told the street rail- way executives, “and you will get & better slant on the operating side of your properties from the viewpoint of the car rider. The electric rallway men were urged to take the public into thelr confidence and “advertise what they have to sell” by Commissianer Esch of the Interstate Commerce Comml sion. Mr, Esch, one of the men chlef- 1y responsible for the formation and passage of the traneportation act of 1920, and now a member of the Fed- eral regulatory body, sald the street rallways have a right to tell the patronizing public they owe the rall- ways something. He pointed to the development of new suburban areas around citles, great industrial developments and other developments which were great- 1y aided by street car service. “Ad- vertise what you have to sell,” Mr. Esch added. Mr. Esch reviewed the history of the various measures designed to reg- ulate commerce and touched briefly on the several Federal agencles which have to do with commerce. He sald the day of the universal G-cent fare for street car riding is now past, and that 7 cents is now regarded as the “sacred” figur The session was opened by Col. J. Franklin Bell, engineer Commissioner of the District of Columbia, who wel- comed the delegates to Washington. George E. Hamilton, president of the Capital Traction Company, will speak at the annual banquet of the association tonight. ASKS FOR INJUNCTION. Joseph Dorf Says Sigmund’s, Inc., Broke Agreement. Joseph Dort, who operates the bar- gain basement of Sigmund's, Inc. 736-8 Beventh street, has asked the District SBupreme Court for an in- junction against the corporation to prevent it from purchasing for sale in the upper store goods of the qual- ity sold In the basement. Under his agreement with the firm it was not to sell goods of the quality displayed in the basement, he states. Dort claims that he has suffered the loss of $20,000 by reason of alleged viola- tions of the agreement.- Attorneys James 8. Easby-Smith and F. W. Hill, jr., appear for the plaintiff. e KLAN ENTERS CANADA. Makes Formal Application for In- . eorporation. TORONTO, Ontario, February 17— Representatives of the Ku Klux Klan have made formal application for in- corporation in Canada, but have been asked for further Information as to their aims and objects, Lincoln Goldte, provincial secretary, sald yesterday. Registration 'papers granted to J. R. Code, an attorney, were issued to the Invisible Empire, Knights of the Ku' Klux Klan, of the Dominion of Canads, and the Hidden Knights of the Midnight Sun of the Dominion of Canada. Code said he was asting for C. Raymend Larson, an en; . and Cariton B. McGowan, By the Associated Press. MEMPHIS, Tenn, February 17.— ‘Why Henry C, Koenemann, 67, for- merly a shoe manufacturer, walked away from his home in Philadelphia one morning 26 years ago, changed his name to Henry C. Schwenk and came to Memphis, leaving no clue behind through which an army of de- teotives could pick his trail, still re- mains an {mpenetrable, profound family secret. But the man was happy today— probably happler than he has been for a quarter of a century. He heard the cheery greeting of his two boys as they bent over his bed at a local hospital last night with a “Hello, dad!" and smiled back at them with & mutual recognition. He had been mourned as dead after a search of more than a year when the pollce and constabulary of the country had falled to strike a trail. Henry C. Koenemann, jr., asso- clated with a Philadelphia cotton firm, and Joseph G. Koenemann, a sales representative, the sons, ar- rived In Memphis from the Quaker City yesterday. Is Sufferer From Paralysis. The father, suffering from an at- tack of paralysis since last February 2, was in a semi-stupor when the sons reached the hospital. He didn't quite understand. They did not press the effort of recognition en the fa- ther's part. It was late In the after- noon when they resurned. “Hello, dad!" they cried, bending over his bed. He peered first into the face of Henry, 44, the older of the two boys. Joe, the other son, bent still lower. The sick man scrutinized him closely. And then a smile broke across his features. . “You young scoundrels EXPERTS JUSTIFY GAS PRICE BOOSTS House D. C. Committee De- cides, However, to Call on Federal Trade Body. " he sald After experts of the United States Bureau of Mines had given thelir opin- fon unoffictally that the increase of 5 cents in the price of gasoline in the District since the first of the year was warranted, the House District committee decided today that what it really wanted was to hear from the Federal Trade Commission Father than the Bureau of Mines. F. B. Tough and G. R. Hopkins rep- resented the Bureau of Mines at the hearing today. Mr. Tough told the committee that between eight and nine billion dollars is invested by oll companies In refineries and tank lines and that the price is based on the production of crude ofl. He intro- duced charts showing that the price in Washington had increased from 16 cents in October to 21 cents on Feb- ruary 3. Condition of Gas. He pointed out the relationship between the cost of crude ofl and gasoline, and quoted statistics show- ing that a balance is always main- tained. He emphasized that the in- crease in cost of crude ofl in the last few years has been apparently justi- fled. " It costs more now to produce oll on aocount of the necessity for deeper wells, higher drilling costs, the price of additional pipe and pumping, all of which enter into the equation. He also explained to the committes that the percentage of gusoline from ofl by better refining methods has been increased from 10 to 15 per cent a few years ago to bout 30 per cent today. The pre- sent gas is not so volatile, and does not start so easily but goes more miles per gallon, he said. Sells Below Worth. In reply to a question from Repre- sentative O. E. Keller of Minnesota as to whether the prices of gasoline and crude ofl in the District of Co- lumbia today are justified, Mr. Tough answered as an individual, saying: “I do not have any information which leads me to think the price unfair. In fact, gasoline is selling below its true worth. If we have an increase in production of crude ofl, then we ‘may expect a decrease In the price of gasoline. Otherwise there will be no_decrease in the price of gasoline.” When Representative Zihlman called attention to figures of the De- partment of the Interior which showed the largest rate of produc- tion in gasoline in December, at which time the Increase in price to consumers started, Mr. Tough ex- plained that formerly stocks started to increase in October and November, but that this year they could not begin to stock up until December, TEACHER IS HONORED FOR PART IN PAY FIGHT Services of Mrs. Edith C. Paul in Protest Against Rate for Sub- stitutes Are Recognized. In recognition of her services in the interest of the District public school teachers, especlally the fight now being made against the new scale of salaries adopted by the board of edu- cation for substitutes, teachers of the colored schools yesterday presented Mrs. Edith C. Paul, president of the Teachers' Unions, with a testimonial of flowers. A letter signed by Marie Madre Marshall, Dorothy Pelham and 8 E. Compton accompanied the flowers. SHOWS AT PRESS CLUB. Movie Production of Passion Play Will Be Given. The famous Freiburg Passion Play, in a screen production just as it has been rendered for more than three centuries, will be presented at tI National Press Club tomorrow night at 9 o'clock. This production was recently given a private showing at the White House. For many years efforts wers made to prevail upon the Passion Players to have their work presented in movie form. It was not until re- cently that the consent was forth- coming. . Other attractions will include M Camille Martin, Parisian pianist. The evening will be ‘ladies’ night” at the club, with dinner from § to 7:3¢ o'clock, _— In fromt of the apartment houses in Spanish cities it is no unusual thing to three young men standing sl by_side in the street, looking up and pouring out impassioned protesta- ;lnu. ach to & girl on » different loor. 3 affectionately, first patting Henry's hand, “you bet I know you. “My boys,” he said, proudly, turn- Ing to a nurse at his side. “I am just like your stubborn old grand- dad.” he told the bovs, and he at- tempted to relate a reminiscence, but his strength failed him. Attendants at the hospital sald they noted an improvement in his condition last night and the hope prevailed that within a few weeks his gtrength may permit his return to Philadelphia. “Stubborn old man,” say rallroad men with whom he has worked for the past 12 or 15 years. “I'll say he's stubborn,” agreed his nurse. “Probably so,” admitted the boys. And In this tralt probably lies the secret of his mysterious disappear- ance from his business, his home and his family. Insurance Agent Solves Mystery. E. L. Stidman, investigator for an insurance company, is the man who brought about a solution of the mys- tery. As Henry C. Schwenk, the missing man, carried a $5,000 policy with a nationally known insurance company, when Schwenk, he was known then, was believed to be dying at the hospital, Mr. Stidman instituted search for the man's kin. He went through all the old man’s effects at his home and found a tattered en- velope with a mourning border in his trunk. On the back was scrib- bled: “Henry C. “Joseph G, ——.! There were two Philadelphla street addresses opposite each name. Mr. Stidman communicated with a representative of his company in Philadelphia, who Investigated the addresses and djscovered the sons. INTENSE INTEREST INCONTEST FOUND Ruth Newburn Cites Interest in Coming Oratorical Event in Capital. The mere information that the na- tlonal oratorical contest on the Con- stitution would be repeated this spring created Intense interest among high school pu- pils weeks before the formal publi- catlon of the de- tails of the second according to Ruth Newburn, who in the 1924 contest represent- ed the District of Columbla and The Star and won the $1,000 second prize. Miss Newburn is now attending George Washing- ton University, and Is -;:ecl:u:- UTE NEWBURN, (N in English. - ° _She is on the staft of the Hatchet, the weekly student publication of that institution, and is a member of the team which is soon to represent the university in a triangular debate with Willlam and Mary College and the University of West Virginia. She recently revisited the Central High School, which she represented last spring in the competitions to de- termine the champlon of the District and from which she graduated last June, and has described the situation there, as well as her thoughts on the broader aspects of the contest, in the following letter to the director of the contes Interest in Tryouts. “I am very much interested to hear that a second national oratorical con- test is to be held this year. Several weeks before the formal announce- ment of details concerning the repe- titlon of the contest I visited Central High School and found enthusiasm over the tryouts already very strong. It is a splendid thing that the Con- stitution will again be the subject of discussion. Last year I remember that at the outset the subject sounded hopelessly dry and uninteresting to me. But after I had begun reading about it I found it to be just the op- posite. 1 am sure that this year both those people who take part in the contest and those who hear the speeches will have the same experience of finding the ‘Constitution’ to be a subject al- ways full of interest and appeal. Did Much Good. “I feel convinced that the contest did a great deal last year toward in- creasing Interest in and respect for the Constitution, and unquestionably it will have the same effect a second time. “I know that the finishing touch to the happiness of the contestants in the finals will be added to by the de- lightful entertainment such as that which The Star provided for us last year.” During the period of the national oratorical contest the Public Library 1s holding in the reference room copies of books on the United States Consti- tution. It s thought that by thus keeping in the library one copy of each book a grester number of stu- dents will be able to use them. Cop- les are also available for circulation, The books are those contained in a annotated list compiled by the refer- ence department, and will be of great practical assistance to students gath- ering material for their orations, STINNES MARKED TO DIE, COMMUNIST TESTIFIES ‘ells of Plots in Trial of 16 for Bolshevist Conspiracy Held at Leipzig. LEIPZIG, -Germany, February 17.— At the continuation of the trial of the 16 communists, alleged members of the German “Cheka,” Felix Neumann, one of the defendants, testified that the late Hugo Stinnes, Germany's pre- mier industrialist, and Herr von Bor- sig, president of the Metal Indus- trialists’ Federation, were to have been assassinated by the communist terror group after they had put awa; Gen, von Seeckt, head of the Reich- swehr. The plans wi not carried out, Neumann sald, because he and his associates received new orders to kill alleged stool pigeons. —_— In Scotland originated the fancy that & bride should be lifted over the threshold of her husband's home. Otherwise some mishap would befall her, either the evil eye or other witoh's charm. This . custom was widespread, for it survived until com- paratively recent ti: in the merth of England, s RAILWAY EMPLOYES! SCORE EXECUTIVES Declare Companies Have Blocked Legislation Design- ed for Industrial Peace. BY DAVID LAWRENCE. The organized railway employes have answered what they construe to be a declaration of war on them by the raliroad executly A “common program of defense” is announced, by the employes simul- taneously ' with a confession that the rallroads have succeeded for the time being in blocking legislation that was designed to bring peace in the transportation world. Donald Richberg, counsel for the employes, has made public a state. ment by a subcommittee of 20 r way labor organizations which is to be submitted for consideration at a meeting of chief executives of these organizations in Chicago on Friday. ves Labor Viewpoint. This statement discloses from the labor viewpoint what has been going on for several weeks, Mr. Richberg say: “Blessed are the peace The organized rallway sought to establish on the raflroads. “They sought the ald of public of- ficlals to protect the public interes: in transportation service. “They sought the ald of raflway presidents to promote continuous and efficient operation of the roads. “The highest Government officlals welcomed the peace maker. “The President and his cabinet, leaders of both Houses of Congre gave their time generously and sym- pathetically to the work of peace. Hits Raflway Presidents. ‘“The rallway presidents did not want peace. They hired a gang of publicity agents to throw mud at the Deacemakers and their friends. “The highest public officials of the Nation asked the railway presidents to attend a peace conference—to end industrial warfare on the rallways— to join | nwriting a law of peace. “The rallway presidents refused even to attend a conference to dlscuss peace. ““The rallway presidents are making ‘war upon their employes. They do not want the war stopped. “The rallway presidents want to go on fighting, no matter how much the public suffers. “They want the public to help them fight. They do not want the public to help them make peace. Blessed are the peacemakers, but not on the rafl- ways. Howell-Barkley Bill Cited. There follows a story of what hap- pened to the Howell-Barkley bill. It is revealed that Secretary Hoover asked the railway presidents to join the employes in conference on the bill before it was Introduced, that the raflroads refused, and that the war has continued ever since. Back of the fight between the rafl- ways and their employes is a politi- makers. employes industrial peace cal strugle. Unquestionably the rallroad employes were led to sup- port the La Follette movement be- cause they thought their power would be increased. President Cool- idge has not been hostile to these labor elements, but has in his mes- sage to Congress used language which they construe as an indorse- ment of their efforts for collective bargaining and voluntary meditation. It is significant that Mr. Richberg sketches the future with a denfal of any political motives or plans for Government ownership. Mr. Richberg adds: Position of Employes Outlined. “The proper position to be taken by the organization of raflway employes seems clear. They are and will re- main independent, self-governing or- Banizations, but, as they have co- operated in the matter of the Howell- Barkley -bill, so they can co-operate in protection of thelr common in- teres against the organized hos- tility of the rallway presidents. In order to prevent misunderstanding of the cause and purpose of any common action of these organizations, it may be well to state clearly what their intentions are not, as well as what their intentions are. “The railway organizations have no program of attack upon the rail- roads. Despite malicious propaganda to the contrary, they have no common program except that all are seeking through collective bargaining and through honest representation of ém- ploye Interests to protect and ad- vance the interests of the men who work upon the railroads, with due regard for the public and private in- terests involved. They are not try- Ing to bring about Government own- ership, They are not seeking to con- trol the operation of the rallroads They have no common political policy or common political theories to ad- vanoe exocept that they all belleve in democracy and that they are all op- posed to autocracy altke in govern- ment and industry. They all belleve in the right of representation and government by consent of ths governed allke in government and industry. They be- lieve that honest collective bargain- ing 1s necessary for industrial peace. They have a common program of peace, but If the railroad presidents are determined to make war upon them day in and day out these or- ganizations will seek a common pro- gram of defens. Fail to State Method of Defense. Nothing further is said as to what the weapons of defense will be, a strike or a counter attack through political channels on, for instance, the famous earning clause of the transportation act, or other things dear to the railroads. Mr. Richberg’s pronouncement is the first since last Summer, when he accused many newspapers and news agencies of suppressing or misrepre- senting the labor side of the comtro- versy over the Howell-Barkley bill, The foregoing excerpt contains the ential points in the argument of the ratlway employes. (Copyright, 1925.) INVESTIGATING BLASTS. State Troops Probe Dynamiting in West Virginia Mine Fields. PHILIPPI, W. Va., February 17.—| ! Two dypamitings last night at the Morral mine of the Bar-J Coal Co. were being investigated today by State troopers on duty in this fleld since & number of companies an- nounced they would operate non- unjon. One explosion damaged the home of George Austin, general manager snd part owner of the company. Later a blast rocked the home of a non-union minor, Occupants of the house were uninjured but suffered trom shock. Medical Officers Shifted. Medical officers under instruction at Carlisle Barracks, Pa, and this city have been assigned to stations as follows: Maj. Roy ‘T. Morris and Capts. Leroy D. Soper, Cleve C, Odom and Martin P. Hamrick, to Walter Reed Hospital; Capt. Henry 8. Cole, to Fort Eustis, Va.; Capt.' James G. g A E Wye., m Fort Ogtatterpe, Gu. D. P. Will Address Rail Men EN. GUY E. TRIPP, airman of the board, Westinghouxe cctric & Manufacturing Co., who will nddress the members and repre- sentatives of the American Electric Raflway Association tonight at the annual dinner in the main ballroom of the New Willard Hotel, in con- nectfon with the association’s Mid- winter convention mnow in session here. Gen. Tripp will discuss the place of the bus in transportation, mass trans- portation versus de luxe service and will urge single control of transpor- tation facilities. MAN BEATEN ON HEAD WITH REVOLVER BUTT J. A. Brown Attacked by Stranger in Railway Station—As- sailant Escapes. J. A. Brown, 25 years old, of 228 Thirteenth street southwest, was beaten over the head with the butt of a revolver by a man in the lava- tory of the W., B. & A. walting room at Twelfth street and New York ave- nue shortly before noon today. A man about 25 Years of age, en- tered and, without a word, hit him over the head with the butt end of a revolver and then struck him twice again as he turned to face him, Brown said. Brown chased the man into the walting room and out into the street, where Crossing Policeman Jackson, on duty at Eleventh and New York ave- nue, joined the pursuit. After chas- ing the man down Eleventh street to Eighth street and into an alley, the fugitive disappeared and police are now looking for him. Brown went to George Washington Hospital for treatment. Physicians sald he had severe cuts about the head. Brown told the police that at one point the man shoved the re- volver into his chest, but that he re- treated immediately thereafter, fear- ing discovery, and at that juncture Brown took up the chase. A description of the assailant Is given as a man about 25 years of age, 5 feet 8 Inches In height, light- complexioned, and wearing a light suit and overcoat. THE WEATHER Distrct—Fair and much colder to- night and tomorrow; lowest temper- ature tonight about 25 degrees; mod- erate to fresh northwest winds. Maryland and Virginia—Generally falr and much colder tonight and tomorrow; fresh north and northwest winds. West Virginla—Generally fair and much colder tonight; tomorrow fair, colder in extreme east portion. Records for 24 Hours. Thermometer—4 pm., § 47; 12 midnight, 45; 4 a.m,, 4. 45; noon, 55. Barometer—é pam., 30.19; 8 pm., 30.18; 12 midnight, 30.14; 4 am., 30.02; 8 am., 30.01; noon, 29.98. Highest temperature, 55, oocurred at noon today. Lowest temperature, at 2:10 am. today. 8 pm., 8 am, 42, oocurred NATIONAL PARKEBILL . READY FOR SIGNING House Passes Senate Meas- ure for Fixing Boundaries of Two Sites. The bill authorizing Secretary of the Interfor Work to determine the bound- arfes of a national par kin the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia and 2 second one {n the Great Smoky Moun- tains of Tennessee and North Caro- lina passed the House yesterday, and, having passed the Senate several days Ago, now needs only the signature of President Coolidge to make it a law. Already President Coolidge has ex- pressed his approval of the project to establish a great national park in Vir- ginia, within less than 100 miles of Washington and accessible to 40,000,- 000 persons in the East, and it is re- garded as certain that the measure will recelve White House approval at once. The bill that passed the House was Introduced in the Senate by Senator Swanson of Virginia and Senator Mc- Kellar of Tennessee, and was substi- tuted in the House for a duplicate measure introduced by Representative Temple of Tennessee. $20,000 for Commission. The bill authorizes the appropria- tion of $20.000 to pay the expenses of a commission, to be composed of one member from the Department of the Interfor and four national park ex- pert: that is to examine the tenta- tively laid out sites in Virginia and Tennesseo and determine the definite boundaries. Upon receiving the re- port of this commission, the Secre- tary of the Interfor is to report, in turn, to Congress. The bill further authorizes the com- mission to examine sites in the Mam- moth Cave regions of Kentucky and “such other lands In the southern Ap- palachian Mountains” as in the judg- ment of the Secretary of the Interior “should be acquired and administered as national parks.” The commission may take options on whatever land In the Blue Ridge and Great Smoky mountains {t may deem reasonable and Just within the boundaries of the two proposed parks. Passage Is Celebrated. An informal celebration of the passage of the bill through Congress was held in the Willard Hotel at noon today, when those who have been fighting for the park in Vir- ginla met as the guests of George Freeman Pollock. Mr. Pollock first began the campaign to make a na- tional park of the Stony Man Moun- tain section of the Blue Ridge, which is included in the area. Among those invited to be Mr. Pollock’s guests were Engineer Com- missioner Bell, Harold Allen of the Department of the Interior, Edward Droop, W. J. Showalter, assoclate editor of the National Geographic Magazine; Representative Harrison of Virginia, Representative Temple, chairman of the commission that recommended the site for the East's first great national park, and other prominent proponents of the project. U. S. UNIVERSITIES PLAN FOR BRITISH GRADUATES Twenty Annual Fellowships Estab- lished for Students by Directors of the Awards. By the Associated Press. NEW YORK, February 17.—Estab- lishment of 20 annual fellowships for British graduate students at American universities was announced here y: terday by directors of the common- wealth fund, the organization admin- istering the awards. ‘These fellowships will be to Brit- ish students what Rhodes scholar- ships are to American students, the announcement said. adding that th Prince of Wales had consented to be, come honorary chairman of the: Brif- ish committee of award. of which Sfir Walter Robert Buchanan-Riddefl, principal of Hartford College, Oxfofea will be chairman, > Fellowships will be availableraf 26 universities. Each fellowshlp Isf for two years, with at least three mofiths travel in the United States. | The Temperature same date last year— Highest, 33; lowest, 25. Condition of the Water. Temperature and condition of the water at 8 am.: Great Fall—Tem- perature, 36; condition very muddy. Tide Tables. (Furnished by United States Coast and Geodetic Survey.) Today—Low tide, 8:¢6 am. and amount of a fellowship is to be ap- proximately $3,000. Directors of the commonwealth fund are Edward S. Harkness, presi- dent; Otto T. Bannard, treasurer, and Samuel Fisher, George Welwood Mur- ray and Willlam Kingsley. WOMAN BANK OFFICIAL 9:47 pm.; Mgh tide, 2:04 am. and 2:45 p.m. Tomorrow—Low tide, 9:56 a.m. 10:62 pm.; high tide, 3:10 am. 3:50 p.m. The Sun and Moon. Today—Sun rose, 6.58 a.m.; sun sets, 6:47 p.m. Tomorrow—Sun ris sets, 5:48 pm. Moon rises, and and 6:57 am.; sun 1:65 am.; sets, 12:16 pm. Automobile lamps to be lighted one-half hour after sunset. ‘Weather in Various Cities. ¥ Temperature, o +*£wproeak WwNIH *++qusie e onc] Abilene, Tex. 30.38 Albany 0. Atlanta 80.08 ‘Adantic Oity 30.04 Baltimore .. 80. Birmingham. $0.08 3034 2 3 g3EsspsezusEss BRI BRSNS NI REARE AN BSASNBREBSEARNE SERERRRaNEEREEERRE 236 New York.. 30. Okla, City.. 30.38 3032 Cloudy Cloudy Cloudy BES.Ne S8 RBRRAEE R38R 8BLENBLERRLZRRERT (8 s.m., Greenwich time, today.) Temperature. Weather. 38 Part cloudy Fart cloudy Biockboltn, Bweden..... Horta (Fayal), Asores.. Hamiltoo, Bermuda 8a Porto Rice. So greatly does Switzerland depend on its visitors that the revival last season of tourist traffic brought a glow of pi ity to the entire coun- try. K ( HELD IN $20,000 THEFT Actual Losses of Rhode Island In- stitution May Reach as High as $100,000. By the Associated Press. KINGSTON, R. I, February 17.— Miss Maude E. Tefft, 38, secretary and treasurer of the Kingston Trust Co., was arrested last night, charged with the embeszlement of the nominal sum of $20,000. Complete examination of the ac- counts of the bank has not yet been made, but it is thought that the amount of her alleged thefts may mount as high as $100,000. The doors of the bank will remain closed this morning for the first time in more than a century, it was an- nounced. REV. F. B. SAPP CALLED. Former Capital Pastor Goes to Cum- berland, Md., Church. OUMBERLAND, Md., February 17.— Rev. Finley B. Sapp accepted the call to the First Christian Church of this city, tendered in co-operation with the board of Maryland, Dela- ware and the Distriot of Columbla and the national board at St. Louls. Mr. Sapp 18 an alumnus of Bethany College of West Virginia and has served as pastor at Pine Bluff, Ark.; San Jose, Callf.; Greenfleld and Win- chester, Ind., and Washington, D. C. He has served as State superintend- ent of missions In Washington and 1daho and was for & number of years superintendent of the Dakotas on b, half of the national board. Mr. Sapp has Masonic connections at Washing- ton, D. C., and Fargo, N. Dak, TRIBUTE TO DEAD MINERS. 380,000 Persons Attend Rites for 138 Explosion Victims. DORTMUND, Westphalia, February 17.—A throng estimated at 30,000 at- tended the final obsequies today of the 136 workers who lost their lives in the Stein mine explosion here last week. Crowds lined the streets and the bells in all the churches of the city were tolled as the funeral pro- cession passed to the cemetery. Dele- gations of foreign miners' unions fol- lowed the hearses, which were cov- ered with flowers. The public busi- ness ofoes of the city and most of the private homes displayed signs of mourning. —_— If you need work, read the want columns of The Star.