Evening Star Newspaper, March 2, 1925, Page 1

WEATHER (U. 8. We Fair and minimum grees; tomorrow temperature. 42, at 11 p.m. at noon today. slightly cold fair, Temperatur vesterday; her Bureau Forecast.) temperature about 20 de- with Full report on page 7. er tonight; rising & — Highest, lowest, 30, Closing N. Y. Stocks and Bonds, Page 26 No. 29,525. post office, Was Entered as second class matter shington, D. C. GATHERING TROOPS STIR CAPITAL AS INAUGURAL NEARS Excitement Grows With Fes- tivities Less Than 48 Hours Away. FIRST STATE DELEGATION WILL ARRIVE TONIGHT Lieut. Gov. Denhardt of Illinois to Lead Official Parties Coming for Ceremonies. ess than 48 hours more and Wash- again will be in the midst its quadrennial inaugural turmoil the sincere desire of the House to make the inaugura- of President Coolidge and Vice President Dawes a model of simplic- ity, all of the nervous enthusiasm and expectant tension that accompanies ®uch occasions began to manifest it- Eelf to the Nation's thirty-fourth fon prepared to give way e thirty-fifth dy the principals in the formal ceremony that is to take place at the Capitol on Wednesday have arrived in the city, and the martial tread of ar- riving troops, the rumble of as- semblying artillery and the clatter ©f cavalry on the march added noisy evidence of the nearness of the hour for the Nation to receive its new chiefs. Vice President Dawes and his fam- ily arrived in Washington last night. President Coolidge remained at his desk in the executive offices. where the order of the day was “business as usual” Tonight the first of the offi- clal parties from the States will ar- rive in the person of Lieut. Gov. Fred terling of Tllinois. Tomorrow he will be follower by a score or more other State representatives. ton once Despite w tlon Plans Are Complete. the ural meantime the Washington committee, the committee e the charity inaugural be given at the Mayflower Wednesday night, and the 3 t sional committee in charge of ceremony at the Capi- tol, having completed their work, be- 8an to look around and make sure that none of their well laid plans should fail at the eleventh hour and detract from the dignity befitting the inauguration of a President of the United States. President Coolidge early today made an inspection of the ipaugural stands on each side of PemmeyIvimin &venue, in front of the White House. Accompanied by two secret service men, the President left the White House at 8 o'clock and instead of taking his customary morning’s “con- stitutional,” he walked about the stands in their unfinished state, ex- amining carefully the framework, fizuring their seating capacity anpd lookin over other featur: The President was at his desk at the customary hour, apparently very Jittle concerned about the rapidly ap- proack inauguration. ~ With his ual calm and quiet he went about his daily routine. His engagement sct however, had been arranged 8O to eliminate conferences that might consume any great amount of time The engagements for the most Part were with those wishing merely toe pay their respects and to extend greetings and congratulations. Station Is Crowded. Slowly but surely the streams of h nity pouring through the gates Union Station from every part of the country have been increasing for the past few days until now the big terminal is a scene of confused ex- citement, as inaugural visitors, dis- tinguished guests and political aspi- rants begin to descend upon the wait- ing National Capital in endless swarms. Tomorrow the big rush will begin in ernest. in: in ball to Hotel on Program For Ceremonies. The program for the exercises at : Capitol were announced today by ator Curtis, chairman of the joint sional committee, as follows: The President and Vice President- elcct, escorted by the committee on arrangements, will arrive at the Capitol at 11 o'clock, the President going to the Pre ent’s room and the Vice President-elect to the Vice Fresident’s room Proceedings in the Senate chamber: The Senators will occupy seats on the t side of the chamber. The FPresident of the Senate pro tempore will assume the chalr. The House of tepresentatives, headed by the Speak- er. will enter the chamber by the south door, be announced and seated on the west and east sides. The dip- lomatic corps will enter the chamber by the south door, be announced, and seated on the west side. The mem- bers of the President's cabinet will . the chamber by the south door, be announced and seated on the west side. The chief of staff of the Army, the chief of naval operations and the commandant of the Marine Corps, ac- companied by their aides, will enter the chamber by the south door, be announced separately and seated on the east side. The Supreme Court will enter the chamber by the south door, be announced and seated on the Column §.) (Continued on Page Gen. Dawes Revisits Old Office Where He Established Budget| Sees Mellon, Lord and Other Old Friends .of Silence on Con- —Preserves Policy ferences Before Actual Inauguration. Vice Dawes, President-elect Charles G. having arrived in the Na- tional Capital yesterday morning, ready for the ceremonies of inaug- uration week, this morning spent more than an hour in the Treasury Building, where much of his previous public service was rendered. Gen. Dawes shortly after 10 o'clock called upon Secretary of the Treasury Mellon, with’ whom hé spent about a half an hour. He then went to the third floor, in an unpretentious office, where he had established the budget system in the Federal G ernment as first director of the Bu- reau of the Budget, and spent about a half an hour with his successor, Brig. Gen. Herbert M. Lord. Conferences Not Discussed. The nature of these conferences were not disclosed, as Gen, Dawes has taken the position of not discussing matters of policy prior to his formal installation as Vice President of the United States. It was discernable, however, that Gen. Dawes took great pleasure in the conferences this morning with his old friends, with whom he was associated” 80 closely in the early days of the Harding administration. Gen. Dawes also served many years prior in the Treasury bullding as controller of the currency. The program of the Vice Presi- dent-elact between now and the in STONE TAKES SEAT ON SUPREVEBENCH Given Oath of Office and at Once Starts Duties as Associate Justice. Harlan Fiske Stone of New York, former Attorney General, today took the office of associate justice of the Supreme Court and assumed his seat on the bench. The simple but impressive cere- mony occupied only & few minutes and the Supreme Court then im- mediately began the business of handing down opinions. The courtroom was filled to over- flowing long before noon, when the Supreme-Court entered, led by Chiet Justice Taft. High officials of the Governmient, 1éaders of the American bar and visitors brought here by the approaching inauguration of the President helped to swell the throng. Among the distinguished visitors were John W. Davis, recently a Dem- ocratic candidate for President, and Frank B. Kellogg, who is to become Secretary of State. Announcement by Taft. As soon as the members of the court were seated Chief Justice Taft announced formally that the Presi- dent had appointed Harlan Fiske Stone to be an associate justice of the Supreme Court, to succeed Justice McKenna, retired, and called upon the clerk to read Mr. Stone's commission signed by the President. This was done. The Chief Justice then asked that Mr. Stone present himself to take the oath of office. The new justice came immediately to the bench and the Chief Justice administered the oath of office. Associate Justice Stone took his seat at the end of the bench next to Associate Justice Butler. Fills Supreme Bench. The swearing in of Justice Stone to- day fills again the membership of the Supreme Court. The nomination of Justice Stone was before the Senate Judiciary committee for several weeks and during its consideration he ap- peared before the committee and an- swered a long series of questions, particularly with regard to the' pro- posed Indictment of Senator Wheeler of Montana in the District of Co- lumbia. Later his nomination was reported favorably to the Senate and was confirmed in open executive ses- sion. Just before going to the Capitol to his place on the bench, Mr. Stone submitted to President Coolidge his formal resignation as Attorney Gen- eral. Assoclate Justice Stone is the third Attorney General in recent years to §o upon the bench of the highest court, filling the vacancy caused by the voluntary retirement of Justice McKenna, a former Attorney General, and Jjoining Justice McReynolds, likewise promoted from the Depart- ment of Justice. With the induction into office of Justice Stone, five of the nine members of the court will have been placed there during the last four years. Four of them, including Chief Justice Taft, were appointed by Presi- dent Harding. The first cases which Justice Stone will hear as a member of the court are three set for reargument and an anti-trust case, in which John. W. Davis, the Democratic presidential candlate last November, will appear as counsel. Following these will come 30-odd cases from the ninth, or Pacific coast, circuit. Borglum Prepares for ‘Fight of Life’ In Defense of Stone Mountain Stand By the Associated Press, NEW YORK, March 2.—Ready to “rot in jall” in defense of his ideals, Gutzon Borglum, sculptor, is preparing for “the fight of his lite” in connection with the Stone Mountain Confederate Memorial, which, he says, should be com- pleted because it is the greatest project of the sort ever conceived. He admitted last night on his return from Atlanta that he had destroyed his models, and plans after his dismissal by the officials of the Stone Mountain Memorial Assoclation. For this he had been arrested at Greénsboro, N. C., on a warrant charging vandalism and malicious mischief. “I _destroyed the temporary models for the greatest piece of sculpture im She world's history,” he said, “because I believe in the right of an artist to his own creations. I am ready to rot in jail rather than yield this prin- ciple. Let the smail, provincial minds of my enemies contemplate the work of stonecutters—or shoe- makers, if they wish. I am ready for a fight. # ‘Why. they are trying to cruclfy me Think of their impudence! They fired me a fortnight after I had served notice on them that I intended to ask for an accounting of their stewardship of the asso- clation’s funds. They were spend- ing about as much for office over- head as I was on my staff working on_the mountainside.” Borglum said that he would con- fer with wealthy friends who had promised to back him to the limig. Radio Program?—;.ge 2. @h |on its way from Maryland late Satur- WASHINGTON, auguration ceremonies will be en- tirely informal. He was visited at his apartment, in the Willard Hotel, this morning before leaving for the Treasury, by Senator Bingham of Connecticut, George A. Sanderson, secretary of the Senate, and David Barry, sergeant-at-arms of the Sen- ate. During his absence from the apartment this morning a number of his political and business assoclates calleq to pay their respects, and it was thought that the general's time between the present and his installa- tion would be occupied largely with informal conferences ~with such triends. Mrs. Dawes also was hostess to a number of her personal friends in this city. | With characteristic simplicity, and | met only by the official® inaugural committee of three, a few friends and associates, Mr. Dawes slipped into the National Capital yesterday morning, ready to assume the Vice Presidency of the United States March 4 Accompanied by his family, the general went directly to the New Wil- lard Hotel, where they plan to remain until after the special session of the Senate, estimated by some Republican leaders to be ten days after Inaugu- ration. They will then return to their home at Evanston, Ill, where the general expects to spend much of his time until the first session of the new Congress opens in December. He " (Continued on Page 3, Column 2.) DISTRICT FUNDBILL GOES 70 COOLIDGE Measure Carries $31,827,- 797 for Coming Year—Two , Extra Judges Provided. Final action was taken by Congress today on the District appropriation bill for the next fiscal year, beginning July 1, when the House adopted the conference report on the supply bill which had been approved in the Senate Saturday night. The final total of the bill is $31,827, 797, out of which the Federal Gov- ernment pays $9,000,000 and there is approximately $500,000 from miscel- laneous revenues which would other- wise revert to the Federal Treasury: The bill goes forward to the Whity house foday for the President' signature, which is expected to be. placed upon it without delay. As passed today the bill represents a compromise on several polnts that came up In conference. Originally the Senate had proposed $11,000,000 as the lump sum contribu- tion of the District of Columbia, but the House declined to yleld on this proposal and the Senate conferees fin- ally allowed the $9,000,000 plan to re- main. House conferees, in turn, agreed to yield on the House proposal known as section 7, that provided that estimates of appropriations for the District next year should be submitted by the Bud- get Bureau on the $9,000,000 lump sum basis of Federal contribution, as pro- vided in the bill. The Senate con- ferees would not give In on this mat- ter and the section was stricken from the bill. The question of whether the Police Court items should provide not only for two additional judges but for a change in court procedure was set- tled Saturday night in conference, and, as adopted today, the bill makes no mention of procedure. It provides merely for two additional judges for the Police Court and for other neces- sary emplyes. The House originally had inserted the provisions for a change in Police Court procedure and, after they had been stricken out by the Senate, the conferees threshed the matter out into its preesnt form. Largest D. C. Appropriation. The two new judges were author- ized {n the new trafic bill, which is awaiting signature by the President. District officlals long have sought for the additional judges because of the serious congestion that exists on the dockets of the police courts. It was claimed that justice was being im- peded because of the fact that law violators, especially in traffic cases, demanded trials by jury, which re- quired taking their turn on the al- ready overflowing docket. The District bill as sent to the President today carries a larger ap- propriation for Washington than any previous measure and will enable the Capitol to “carry on” with renewed energy. SUSPECT CAPTURED AFTER WILD CHASE Negro Accused of Liquor and Traffic Violations When Seized in Woods. Alphonzo Willlams, colored, one of two occupants of an alleged rum car day afternoon, was arrested near Hyattsville, Md., on mumerous traffic and liquor charges following & pur- suit by Detectives Ogle and Berry and Revenue Agents Tutt, King and Hart. Recelving information of the prob- able arrival of the alleged rum car from Baltimore, the officers were on hand to meet it. Sighting the police squad, the driver of the car made a quick turn, opened a smoke screen, and proceeded to speed off in Prince Georges County. It was when the alleged rum car was driven in an effort to ditch the pursuing car that a collison occur- red that resulted in both cars being damaged and Willlams injured. After being injured Willlams scaled a fence and was pursued through a field to a ‘wooded section before being captured. Charges of traffic violations were lodged against the prisoner before Justice of the Peace Herbert A. Motf- fat, and the prisoner, automobile and 120 gallons of whisky were taken to Baltimore. He will be tried there for the alleged liquor violations. |methods of retirement WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION D. C,, MONDAY, HOUSE CHALLENGED T00.K. RETIREMENT AGT T0 KEEP FAITH Representative Woodrum As- serts Measure Is Being Strangled by G. 0. P. SAYS PASSAGE ASSURED IF VOTE IS PERMITTED Majority Anxious to Pass Bill Promised by Republicans, Virginian Says. While the House leaders were still reluctant today to allow the civil service retirement bill, which has passed the Senate, to be called up for action, Representative Woodrum of Virginia, challenged the Republican majority that they must keep faith ‘with the 400,000 Government em- ployes” to whom that party promised relief in this Congress and are now denying relief. Representative Woodrum empha- size@ that “1,000,000 hands are out- stretched to the American Congress asking the Republican party to keep faith with them in the Federal re- tirement act. A year ago,” he re- minded, “the civil service committee unanimously reported out the civil service retirement bill liberalizing the for Federal employes. That bill was placed on the calen- dar of this House, and the distin- guished chairman of the committee on rules, Mr. Snell of New York, who is now temporarily presiding over this House, I am told, promised, as did the majority leader to the chair- man of the committee on civil serv- ice, that opportunity would be given that committee to bring that legislation before this House early in this sesslon of Congress. What has happened? We have been camping on the doorsteps of the rules committee since the bill was reported here. o opportunity will be given to this Congress to consider the civil service retirement act. Let me call the attention of the House to this let- ter, and I shall insert it in full in the Record: " Gives Text of Letter. “On January 26 there came out of the office of the Secretary of the In- terior a deliberate prepared state- ment, as follows: % “'I am authorized to state for the members of the President's cabinet that they favor increased annuities for retired Government employes and hope that Congress at the present session will comsa to the assistance of thousands of retired employes by in- creasing the annuity under the retire- ment law." “A month ago the President's cab- inet, and that includes the Prestdent, sald to the American Congress that this legislation ought to pass. It has passed the Senate. The Civil Service committee reported it out without amendment and if the steering com- mittee of this House would allow it to come on the floor of the House it would pass here in 10 minutes. Denies Opposition. “I have yet to find a man on the floor who is opposed to the legisla- tion. The newspapers tell us that this bill is dying of neglect, but although I admit that it Is dving, 1 beg to dif- fer with the newspapers as to the cause of its death. It is being strangled to death by the men who are in honor bound to succor and bring It to life. “I want to say to you that 450,000 Government employes will not hold you blameless for this. Let me call your attention to this. This legisla- tion does not call for a present ap- propriation of a single red cent. The Government employes have amassed a sum, more than $37,000,000, which they have deducted from their sal- arles and put into a fund that this Government now holds for them and they simply ask you to permit their annuities to be increased and I ask gentlemen of the House not to treat them in such fashion.” Vigorous and emphatic applause punctuated Representative Wood- rum’s showing that a big majority in the House is anxious to put through this legislation. MILK BOTTLE BILL FAILS. Effort to Get Flealth Measure op Calendar Unsuccessful. Last minute effort was made to get action in the House District commit- tee today to put the milk bottle bill on the calendar so that it might stand a chance of passage before the close of the present session. Although a score or more persons particuraly Interested in this measure, which is said to be essential administration of the new pure milk bill by the Dis- trict health office, were present in the committee room it was found im- Ppossible to get & quorum of committee members, so no action could be taken. MARCH 2, CHLEAN PROVIGES N STATE OF SEGE Most . Populous Section of Country Under Military Law as Result of Plot. By the Assoclated Press. SANTIAGO, Chile, March 2.—A state of siege has been declared in the Chilean provinces of Santiago, Val- paraiso and Aconcagua (the most thickly populated sections of the country.) The measure was dedi- cated by incidents occurring Satur- day held to indicate the existence of a plot on the part of the Unionists with the object of overturning the present government. The principal Unionist leaders, including Manuel Rivas Vicona and Ladislao Errazuris, have been arrested. The authorities count upon the state of slege permitting them to maintain order in the most populous areas of the country and thereby prevent any successful reaction. Foes of Alessandri. Among the Chilean Unionists is found the element opposed to the re- gime of President Alessandri, over- turned last Fall, and re-established recently with the result that the ex- iled president is returning from abroad to resume his office. Press dispatches through Buenos Aires Saturday stated that the Chilean govern- ment had re-established a censorship throughout the country. A dispatch to La Nacion of Buenos Aires from San- tlago on Sunday reported a revoit by the Valdivia regiment in the Santiago gar- rison, In which it was reported that two non-commissioned officers had been killed. The message added that a num- ber of politicians had been arrested and questioned, some of them befng subse- quently liberated, but that the general impression was that the disturbagce was due to the activities of excited poli- ticians, that further trouble was not like- Iy and that absolute tranquillity pre- vailed in Santiago, although the censor- ship was being maintained. A B RENT BILL HOPES DEAD, HOUSE ACTION REFUSED Gillett Denies Right to Bring Measure Up Under Suspen- sion of Rules. All hope was abandoned today by proponents of rent legislation in the House when Speaker Gillett definite- ly refused to recognize any one under suspension of the rules to call up this measure. Announcément was made by Chair- man Reed of the House District com- mittee that it would be impossible to get consideration of the rent measure. “The real estate men in Washington will be put on trial this Summer, and if there is any general attempt to raise rents in consequence of the omission to pass this legisla- tion drastic steps will be taken when Congress convenes,” said Representa- tive Reed. He declared that al- though he will not be a member of the next Congress, he will still be a friend of the District and will per- sonally interest himself in rent legis- lation if it then seems to be needed. New and hitherto unpublished photographs of the Vice Presldent and their wives. President, Send list of names and addresses (accompanied by Inaugural' Editions The Eoering FHtar March 3, Mailed, postage prepaid, 10c (Anywhere in the United Stat, In addition to all the current news in each issue, the edition of March 4 will contain a special rotogravure section of the inauguration ceremonies from the first President to the present day. Pictures of the various brilliant processions, the Presidents taking the oath at the Capitol, and special incidents connected with historic inaugurations. -4.vand 5 and Canada.) the 10 centn for emch) to Star Office, Eleventh street and Penn- sylvania avenue, promptly mafled. and the three inaugural issues will be ¢ Foening Star. 1925—-THIRTY-EIGHT PAGES. The Star’s Sundey's Saturday” “From Press to Home Within the Hour” carrier system covers every city block and the regular edi- tion is delivered to Washington homes as fast as the papers are printed. irculation, 100,587 109,094 s Circulation, TWO CENTS. WADING. Nobles Must Yield AUl Their Holdings In Russia January 1 By the Assoclated Press. MOSCOW, March 2.—The nobles and landlords are given notice in & decree just issued by the council of the people’s commissars that they must vacate all their land holdings by January 1, 1926. This extinguishes completely the few remaining rights of the members of the old regime and places all property entirely in the hands of the proletariat. At the same time it removes from the community a class of people whom the Bolsheviks have long regarded as inimical to their regime. The eviction order does not include those who served in the Red army or who helped the Rus- slan revolution or the Soviet gov- ernment. The decree stipulates that per- sons expelled under the order are entitled to receive small allot- ments of land in distant coloniza- tion areas an the same conditions 33 the fésentry and that they shall be glven asslstance by the emigra- thon department within prescribed mits. FOCH SEES GERMAN WARPREPARATIONS Says Armament Report Shows Nation Has Eye on Future Hostilities. By the Associated Press. PARIS, March 2—The conclusions drawn by Marshal Foch as head of the allied military committee from the report of the allied military con- trol mission on Germany's state of disarmament insists particularly on the significance of Germany's atti- tude in maintaining an army de- clared to be equipped and trained for war. The marshal's comment on the report, distributed to the allied governments today in which all the other members of the war committee concurred is brief but extremely pointed. Marshal Foch calls attention to the svidence submitted to show that the organization and training of the Ger- man police suggests war rather than measures for internal order. He ex- presses the view that the mass of evidence gathered by the control mis- sion s more alarming as showing the determination of the Germans to keep up the. war spirit than as ex- posing detailed instances of treaty violations. First on Schedule. The Foch report is the first thing on the order of the day for the meeting of the council of ambassa- dors here tomorrow. It is expected in political circles that the report will bring the ques- tion of security of France and Bel- glum into an active phase. Feelers put out by Germany in London have aroused some suspicion. Some argye that Germany has nothing to lose by agreeing to a pact with Great Britain, France and Bel- glum with respect to the frontiers of her western neighbors and has much to gain if let off with a free hand as concerns Poland. It is understood that all through the tentative nego- tlations in London the Germans have held that their eastern frontier ought to be revised, and that they Intend to reserve the right to pursue -the effort for such revision by “pacific means” while ready to enter into a pact to guarantee France and B glum. CITY WITHOUT CARS. Strike Completely. Stops Mexican Traction Service. By Cable to The Star and Chicago Daily News. MEXICO CITY, February 2.—Last night ended the first day of the latest strike of street employes, the city being absolutely Without running cars. All stations were well picketed by troops and police, but nothing un- toward was reported. A thousand jit- ney drivers, who anticipated = fine haul in the absence of the street cars, ‘were disappointed, as ‘the major por- tion of the residents kept themselves indoors s0 a8 to avold. clashes, which in some quarters were expected be- tween those workmen favoring the strike and the workmen nst it. Conferences for & sttlement of the strike are being held. "y ¥, (Copyright, 1925, by tgo Daily News Co.) WEEKS EXPELTED TORESIGN N JAE Secretary Anxious to Spend Some Time in Travel—Hilles Probable Successor. ; I BY FREDERIC WILLIAM WILE. Massachusetts political friends here for Inauguration day bring word that John W. Weeks is expected to retire from the secretaryship of War some time in June, 1925. There is not the slightest connection between Mr. Weeks' reputed intentions and the Mitchell aircraft = controversy, in which he has latterly figured =o con- spicuously. The Secretary is credited with an ardent desire to spend part of the next year or two in leisured travel, while he is still in robust health and at a vigorous age. He is said especially to wish to inspect American battlefields in France, over which his son, a’captain in the Yan- kee Division, fought gallantly in 1918, Politicians hear that in the event Secretary Weeks carries out plans attributed to him his successor will be Charles D. Hilles of New York. The former chairman of the Repub- lican national committee was an im- portant cog in the Coolidge campaign machine in 1924. His \admirers say he was the commander-in-chief of the forces that raised most of Chair- man Butler's sinews of war. Mr. Hilles, dating from his intimate con- nection with the Taft administration, has long been a factor in Republican national affairs. Coolldge Looks to West. If the one Massachusetts man In the Coolidge cabinet leaves it and is not succeeded by another appointee from the President's own neck of the national woods, it will be additional evidence of a policy upon which Mr. Coolidge has embarked. That policy, quietly Initiated and carried out with- out attracting any particular public attention, may be described as the “de-New-Englandizing” of the ad- ministration. It may also be de- scribed as the “westernization” of the administration. Through recent cab- inet shifts not less than four-fifths of the Coolidge executive household on Mafch 4—barring surprises, the President may have up his sleeve that day—will be Western. The line-up Is impressive, as it is also unprecedented. It reveals the following geographical situation. Kellogg of Minnesota, Secretary State. ‘Wilbur of California, Secretary the Navy. Hoover of California, Secretary Commerce. ‘Work of Colorado, the Interior. New of Indiana, Postmaster Gen- eral. ‘Warren of Michigan, Attorney Gen- eral. ' Davis of Pennsylvania, Secretary of Labor. Jardine of Kansas, Agriculture. At present the once almost all- dominant East is represented in the cabinet by Mr. Mellon, Secretary of the Treasury; Mr. Weeks, Secretary of War, and Mr. Davis, Secretary of Labor. Cholce of Secretary. President Coolidge, although he hes of ot of Secretary of Secretary of MITCHELL DISPUTES CHARGE HE IGNORED Cites President’s Letter of Permission to Write Maga- zine Articles. PATRICK GAVE ASSENT, COMMITTEE IS INFORMED Question of Violation Never Raised Until Present Row With ‘Weeks, He Says. Brig. Gen. William Mitchell ant chief of the Army Air Serv who was charged before the House aircraft investigating committee by Secretary of War Weeks that he vio- tructions and those of by publishing a serfes of magazine articles, declared in a letter to the committee today he had “in no way disobeyed or transgressed any known order or instruction that 1 am familiar with.” Gen. Mitchell's letter said President Coolidge had told him verbally and in writing to “obtain permission of my superior officer, the chlef of air service.” The chief of air service, he said, “gave me permission to writc them. No mention was made at all about submitting copies.” the Presiden Read to Committee. The letter, addressed to Chairman Florian Lampert of the committee was read by Mr. Lampert when the committee was called to order and as Read Admiral Bradley A. Fiske, U. S. N., retired, was waiting to tes- ti The letter follows: “According to press reports, I am informed that evidence has been given that I disobeyed the orders of the War Department and the Pres! dent, or both, in writing some ar- ticles on air power, which were pub. lished in the Saturday Evening Post. 1, therefore, desire to acquaint you with the facts in the case. “In_the month of November, 1924 an editor of the Saturday Evening Post called on me and desired that I write a series of articles on alr power. This, I informed him, I would be very happy to do, but that it would be necessary for the magasine to obtain permission for me to do so. Several days after this I received a message from Philadelphia that one of the editors had received an ap- pointment with the President to dis- cuss this subject. Upon reaching the White House the editor called my office and asked if I had any objec- tion to accompanying him in his in- terview with the President. I pro- ceeded at once. The President re- iterated his great Interest in aero- nauties which he has always shown and said he considered a series of ar- ticles on this subject to be beneficial and that I should obtain the permis- sion of my superior officer, the chief of the Air Service. The editor of the Saturday Evening Post and I return- ed to my office. I immediately re- ported to the chief of the Air Service what had occurred and requested permission to write the articles. He gave permission then for me to write them. No mention was made at all about submitting copies. Got Letter Later. “Following this conversation with the chief of the Air Service, I re- celved the following letter from the President: “ ‘November 12, 1924. “‘My Dear Gen. Mitchell: “‘Confirming my conversation with you this morning, I do not know of any objection to your preparing some articles on aviation, so far as I am concerned. But, of course, I cannot speak for your superior officers. The matter should be taken up with them and their decision in relation to the articles followed. “'With kindest regards, I am “‘Very truly yours, “‘CALVIN COOLIDG “I therefore complied with both the President's verbal and written instructions. Point Never Before Raised. “The point of my violating orders was never raised, to my knowledge, until the testimony given to your committee on February 28, 1925. “Jt would seem that if T had vio- lated orders my attention should have been drawn to them long before the present time and action taken ac- cordingly. These articles appeared periodically and could have been stopped had the War Department de- sired. 1 have in no way disobeyed -or transgressed any known order or instruction that I am familiar with.” At the conclusion of the morning session Representative Frank R. Reid, Republican, Illinois, asked that Gen.' Mitchell be recalled before the committee and “given a chance to an- swer the Secretary of War in pub- lie.” Representative Prall, Democrat, New York, declared “Gen. Mitcheli ‘was in my office this morning and told me he didn’t care to be heard by the committee.” said that capacity, and not geograph- ical quality, is the thing that dictates his cabinet choives, has undoubtedly intended to give the middle West and West unusual recognition. He has long been aware of the prejudice Vote on Question Is Tie. “This is a bigger question than Mitchell's feelings on the matter,” replied Mr. Reid. “My constituents are writing in and saying the com- mittee ought to see that Gen. Mitch- (Continued on Page 5, Column 2.) Naval Armada Is Moving (Continued on Page 2, Column 3. to Attack Pacific Coast in Great Maneuvers By the Associated Press. NAVAL BASE, SAN PEDRO, Calif,, March 2.—Fifty-two vessels of the battle fleet today move to a mobilization point off the Coro- nado Islands, from where will start one of the greatest games of naval strategy ever staged in the Pacific Ocean, as the first step in a series of spectacular fleet maneu- vers lasting two months. More than 100 fighting ships will par- ticipate. Under the 10-day maneuver problem the great naval force ‘based here will move off shore in the role of an enemy fleet. It will become . the Black fleet, and its . mission will be to invade the Pa- -cific comst and establish a base of operations. . The strategic base point which this mission will seek has been set in the Pacific Ocean at a point off the “coast: of Lower 'California. The Black fleet’s function will be to convoy a great train of supply ships to capture this point and establish there in a stronghold for operations against the United States. The backbone of the Navy's major power, nine battleships, forms the striking power of the Black fleet. These first-line dread- naughts are supported by 30 de- stroyers under the flag of a first- line cruiser, the Omaha, three air- craft tenders and nine of the slow- moving. train of supply ships. Meanwhiie, the defensive forces of the Pacific, the scouting fleet which has come from the Atlantle, is wheeling into position from the Panama Canal, with orders to seek out and destroy the Black fleet. It is known as the Blue fleet. There are some 58 craft in this defense fleet, its first-line strength resting on 8 speedy first-lime cruisers.