Evening Star Newspaper, May 13, 1925, Page 4

SN TWO REPARATIONS WORKERS ACCUSED Commission Papers Sold to American Were Stolen, Is Charge. i i By the Associated Prese. PARIS, May 13.—Pierre Michaut and Jean Herbert, former employes of the reparation commission, were tried in a police court yesterday on a charge of stealing confidential docu- ments belonging to the cammh!sum und selling them to an Am was des bed in LS librarian of Harvard University Judgment was postponed until next Tuesday. The missing documents of the repa- ration commission were stenographic reports of the interallied conferences at Spa, Boulogne and Cannes. After the arrest of Michaut, Some time ago, Magistrate Jousselin stated Michaut had confessed that a man named My- ers had paid him between $500 and $600 for the documents. The prisaner alleged that Myers desired the ar chives for an American publishing firm. PURCHASE IS ADMITTED. No Mystery About Documents, Peace Official Says. BOSTON, May 13.—Dennis P. My- ers, corresponding secretary of the World Peace Foundation, said last night that he had purchased the docu- ments of the reparations commission for the theft of which two former commission employes were tried in Paris. Mr. Myers sald there was nothing underhanded or mysterfous in the pur- chase “Michaut and Jean Herbert had collected copies of the reports of four conferen: held by the commissiol he said, “two at Boulogne, one at Spa and one at Cannes. Last June Michaut wrote to Eldon R. James, an of the Harvard Law School offering these papers for sale. 1 was in Paris at the time, and Mr. James wrote asking me to find out V! Michaut had.” Myers said he finally agreed Michaut $500 for the docu- ments, which are now in the Harvard law library. TRICKERY IS DENIED BY RAIL RECEIVER Byram of C., M. & St. P. Says Receivership Was Taken When U. S. Refused Aid. By the Associated Press. CHICAGO, May 13—H. E. Byram, receiver and former president of the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Rail- way, today took exception to charges he said newspapers had published that the receivership of the railway was held back until after Congress ad- journed because bankers wished to handle the proposition that way. “The facts are’ Mr. Byram said, “that we approached the Government last Fall to see about financial assist- ance in the way of a loan, and were told the Government had no money to lend us. “When we found the Government was unable to assist us by new loans, ve felt it could help us in a practical way by reducing the interest on out- standing notes. A petition for reduc- tion in rate of interest charges by the Government on its loans to the rail- roads was before Congress. * * * This proposition was one of the last things considered by Congress, and we could not tell until the session closed whether we would be granted the re- lief sought. When Congress adjourn- ed without favorable action. there was nothing left for the road to do but ap- plv for receivership. “The newspaper articles criticizing the railroad for the action taken also intimate that there is need for an in- vestigation, and insinuate that there may be the makings of a first-class scandal in the affairs of the railroad. * + ¢ It is only fair to give those who are responsible for those un- founded reports advance notice that nothing but what is now known will be developed by an investigation.” DRAMATICS AT G. W. Dionysians Present Two Elizabeth- ian Plays in New Gymnasium. The Dionysians, a George Wash- ington University dramatic club, last evening presented in the new gym- nasium theater two Elizabethan plays as their contribution toward the dramatic festival now in progress at the university. The Dionysians being chiefly inter- ested in the production of plays of history and literary significance, their first offering was the immortal “Duchess of Malfi” in abridged form. Their work in it was most creditable. Katherine Wright put herself whole- heartedly into the role of the duchess and Tom Bentley matched her excel lent performance as Ferdinand, Duke of Calabria. The other roles were well played by Everett Johnston, Robert Pollock, Gertrude Phillips, Roy Dugan and Gertrude Young. The lighting of the play was effective and added much to_the general impression of the play. “Epicoene, or the Silent Woman," the second play, was given in an en- joyable manner. Margaret Cole was particularly clever as Truewit and Judson -Kappen was fine as Morose, the gentleman who hated noise. Ray- mond Weber, as Epicoene, the sup- posedly silent woman; Elizabeth Hal- sey, Joseph Milenky and Ada likewise handled their parts well. The surprise of the evening, how- ever, was a miniature concert by the glee’ club, given at the end of the performance. _Under the excellent direction of Mischa Guterson the club sang "“Where My Caravan Has Rested” and “Follow the Swallow” admirab In Baltimore. Md. Meunt Reyal .Agfilf')tment 100 Rooms, With or Without Bath, for Transients. Rates per day: Single, $2 to $3.50; Double, $4 to $7.00. Also G0 Suites or Apartments, fur- Rlebed or unfurnished, "for permantst smeny Fireproot. THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, D. Petition of Citizens’ Joint Committee on Fiscal Relations Botween United $ For Preservation of Just Principle of Definite Proportionate Contributions by Nation and People of Washington in Capjtal Upbuilding Pntluon to Congress, urging rejection f H. R. 473, which nnlmtltfltenhirlmp- (uln rl) 'ment by Nation for Capital upbu lding i lieu of definite nropnr- tionate contribution ;’ylne :mvg}ed by new organic act of -Vune To the Congress of the United Seates: Your petitions the Citizens’ Joint Comuittee on Fiscal Relations be- tweerd the United States and the Dis- trict of Columbia and the presidents of its constituent organizations re- spectfully represent: The Citizens’ Joint Committee on Fiscal Relations between the United States and District of Columbia, or- ganized in' 1915, is now composed of authorized, representatives of the Board of Trade, Chamber of Com- merce, Merchants and Manufacturers’ Assocfation, Kederation of Citizens® Associations, Gommittee of One Hun- dred, Builders and Manufacturers’ Exchange, Bar , Association, Columbia Heights_ Citizerl' Association, North- east Citizens’ Association, Georgetown Citizens’ Association, the City Club, the District of Columbia Bankers’ As. sociation, the Real Estate Board, the Rotary Club, the Kiwanis Club, the Civitan Club and the Cosmopolitan Club. * X X ok The platform of principles laid down by the joint committee and ad- hered to in the comnmittee’s brief in the hearimgs before the joint select committee in 1915, the House District committee i Decentber, 1919, and the Senate appropriatioms ommittee in April, 1920, is as_follows: ‘We contend: First, that the United States should contribute largely to the expenses of the District. Second, that this contribution should be a fixed and definite proportion. 'Third, that this proportion, should be at least one-hatf. This platform was modified by the District’s new organic act of 1922 which reaffirmed the principle of defi- nite proportianate contribution by local community and Nation toward Capital upbuildng, but changed the 50-50 ratio to 6V-40, imposing the 60 per cent burden upon the local tax- pa | payers. The committee’s platform of prin- ciples, thus modiiied, was announced by the executive committee of the citizens’ joint committee, October 31, 1923, as follows: We contend: First, that the United States should contribute largely to the maintenance and upbuilding of [the National Capital. Second, that this contribution should be a fixed and definite proportien. Third, that this proportion should be 60-40, 60 by the District taxpayers' and 40 by the United States. * ok k¥ H. R. bill 473 provides “that on and after July 1, 1924, the Government of the United States shall not bear any fixed proportion of tiw expenses of the District of Columbia, but shall pay the sum of $8.000,000 annually to- ward defraying such expenses of the District as may be appropriated for by law.” This bill thus destroys ut- terly the definite proportionate re- lated plan of Capital contribution, to protect which practically all of organ- ized Washington has united in the Citizens’ Joint Committee. This bill (H. R. 473) should be re- jected for the following reasons: 1. It destroys the definite propor- tionate contribution system, under the beneficent operation of which the National Capital has wonderfully de- veloped, and which, after seven years of exhaustive investigation and pro- longed discussion, has been vindi- cated by ralen(ion in l:(\e 1922 law. * 2. It dutroys the unrepresented Capital's safeguard against excessive and unjust taxation. The compro- mise law of 1922 coupled with the imposition of new and heavier tax burdens upon the Capital the vitally important loffsetting begefit of re- tention of the principle of definite, proportionate contribution, the Dis- trict’s safeguard against excessive and unjust taxation by a taxing body in which it is not represemted. This bill deprives the District of the only feature of the compromise law of 1922, which is clearly advantageous to the people of the Capital. The vital feature of the act of 1922, carried over from the act of 1878, is that it fixes a definite equitable standard of national particdpation in Capital making, related to the con- tribution exacted in taxes from the Capital community, and does not leave this standard to -the. shiftings of caprice. From 1800 to 1874-8 thel national and local Capital contributions were indefinite and unrelated. Each con- tributed what it pleased toward Cap- ital upbuilding. The Nation meas- ured its own obligations in terms of dollars as next to nothing. The local community raised and disbursed its own taxes at its pleasure. It meas- ured its Capital obligation consider- ably beyond the limits of its meager taxable resources, and twice became practically bankrupt in performing almost unaided the Nation's task of Capital building. In 1878 the Nation confessed its violation or gross neglect of its Capital obligation. It gave practical expression to its revived sense of this obligation in its undertaking to pay one-half the accumulated funded indebtedness of the District and one- half of future expemses. It took from the District the power of self- taxation and assumed completely ex- ercise of the right to fix the local contribution as well as its own. In thus exercising taxation without representation over the District the Nation safeguarded the national com- munity by the pledge that to every dollar ™ collected in taxes from the AMBULANCES, $4.00 to date—Fully equij with rolling cot Petratcher, Dlankets and. pillows. STONE CHAMBERS: BROWNST Parking for -Circus To Drive Direct Into Camp Meigs Use Sixth Street Northeast Parkmg Privilege, 25¢ FOR Square Feet. WILL REMODEL local taxpayers ;should be added a dollar from thei National Treasury, and that the aggregate revenue should be expeided for Capital up- buikiing. This provision protected the District from excessive taxation by causing a taxgatherer, allen to the unrepresented District, to appro- priate from his own Treasury for the District’s benefit; every time he ap- propriated_from, the ~District’s tax revenue. Every ‘dollar he took under the tax power from the local com- munity increased correspondingly his own Capital comtribution. The law of 1922 retains the prin- ciple of definite related Capital con- tributions, in which the law of 1878 was rooted. That the ratio of this relation was changed from 50-50 to 60-40 did not alter the basic prin- e e ition _ dest ‘The pending proposition lestroys all relation between the national lnd local contributions, iyand. leaving all taxing power in the United States, depflvu the unrep sented Capital of its u:e;mrd against excossive taxation by a tax- ing body in* ‘which it is mot repre- sented. * k% k 3. It destroys the fiscal peace set- lle:nem pronaised by the mew organic act. To raise now the issue of a lump- sum paymeng substitute for definite proportionate, contribution by the Na- tion is to rcopen the fiscal relations peace settleraent of June 29, 1922, and to plunge the House and Senate into the old, weurisome wrangle, so hurt- ful to the iDistrict, over the issue of definite or . indefinite proportionate contribution; toward Capital upbuild- ing and over the ratio (50-50 or 60-40) of definite proportionate contribu- tion. The avowied purpose and promised result of the: new law was to bring to House and Senate and people of the District a 'period of wholesome and s | refreshing irest from fiscal relations (‘onlro\'er.!yae If the act of 1922 is left for a flew years to work out its vindication on its merits or its faflure on its desmerits this needed rest will be secured. If the old controversy over definite proportnonate contribu- tion is to be renewed by compulsory discussion of this bill this rest will be denied, one of the avowed main purposes of the act of 1822 will be defeated and the understanding upon which this compromise legislation was based will be flagrantly violated. 4. It teaches a false theory con- cerning the pelation of Nation to Capital. It obtrudes wannually upon the at- tention of Congress the suggestion of a large cash donation to the Capi- tal, as if the primary obligation of National City upbuilding were upon the local taxpayers, and the Nation were only an incidental contributor, a voluntary mnd benevolent donor. Since the Nation in 1878 recognized and assumed its National Capital power and obligation, its responsi- bility in respect to the Capital has been primary and dominating. As late as 1916 tlis relation of Nation to Capital was fully recognized and clearly set forxh in the report of the joint select committee of Congress, which made the most thorough, ex- haustive and able study of the fiscal relations of Nation and Capital that statesmen had given to the subject since 1874-8. As long as all the assets and revenues of the national and local joint contributors toward Capital upbuilding are in the hands of the national joint contributor, end as long as all decisions concerning the amounts to be paid by the joint contributors, respectively, and con- cerning the expenditure of the joint revenues are to be made by the na- tional contributor, the latter must in equity, and will, in fact, bear the primary’ responsibility of Capital up- building, and the local taxpayers will be recognized in their true re- lation as merely incidental contrib- utors of tax money, not fixed in amount by themselves, but exacted at the pleasure of the other joint con- tributor. * K ok ¥ 5. It reduces to a minimum or de- stroys any chance of equitable pro- portionate contribution by the United States in appropriating and spending the District’s accumulated Treasury tax surplus. Another practical effect of destroy- ing the 60-40 ratio will be to reduce COMFORT AND STYLE antilever Shoe.5mm. Ever have a backache? A noted osteopathic physician says: “Ninety per cent of back- aches are due to false mechanics of the foot. It must have flexi- bility.” The CANTILEVER Shoe is fiexible, well made, stylish and comfortable. If you sometimes have backache, try wearing CANTILEVER Shoes for cor- rection of the trouble. Cantilever Shoe Shop 1319 F Street N.W. Second Floor Over Young Men’s-Shop RENT Shops, 901913 18th St. N.W. —ALSO— 3 Brick Buildings in Rear Covering 1858 Wide Entrance From Street TO SUIT TENANT. LEASE SEPARATELY OR AS ENTIRETY. L. W. GROOMES 1416 F ST. to & minimum any chance of equl table proportionate contribution by the United States when our uaccu mulated tax surplus comes to be ex pended. This tax moi lected by authority of half law solely to ply upon the District’s _half of District approprin- tions. Whenever it is expénded it would be equitable to spend it under the half-and-half law, the United States duplicating it. If when the surplus comes to be used the pro- portionate contributions are on the (0-40 ratio, the Nation throukh Congress will either apply, as equity seems to demand, the 50-50 ratio, or will make the existing 60-40 ratio retroactive and add to the District's surplus only 40 per cent from the National Treasury. But if both the 5050 and the 60-40 ratios are de- stroved, and when the surplus comes to be expended there is no definite p onate contribution by Nation and taxpaying Capital, then the chances are 100 to 1 that the Nation will not participate at all under any percentage of obligation to enlarge the surplus fund for the upbuilding of the Capital. * X ok % 6. There are no offsetting benefits to the injuries infticted by the bill. Broadly, Washington is. tempted to surrender its safeguard of national proportionate contribution by the as- surance that through a lump sum payment system the Capital will escape the tender mercies of the Budget Bureau and will win the privilege, not of taxing itself with- out restraint but of being taxed by Congress without limit for the up- building of the Nation's City. It is suggested that there will be immunity from Budget Bureau cut- ting down of Uncle Sam’'s Capital upbuilding outlay if the expenditures are made in a lump sum instead of as a proportionate part of the Dis- trict’s total municipal appropriation. But if Uncle Sam is compelled by any year's fiscal conditions to cut down all of his expenditures, includ- ing his outlay on National Capital up- building, he will obviously make this retrenchment whether in order to do it he reduces a lump sum contribution or holds down the total District out- lay, of which he pays a proportionate part. Indeed, it is easfer to make this direct specific, reduction than indi- rectly by cutting and mutilating the District _appropriations. There is greater fixity to the definite propor- tionate contribution than to that of a lump sum. It is far easier for those who think that the Nation should pay nothing today toward Capital main- tenance and development to reduce or deny entirely the annual lump sum than to change the ratio of propor- tionate contribution. This biil will not cause the Dis- trict to escape supervision and na- tional contribution cutting by the Budget Bureau. It does not increase the certainty of a national contribu- ., WEDNESDAY, s and District of Columbia for what 'r:‘rvowl its tax money shall be expendeod. "o 7. Thin |!II| i " o* I Jug-handled, one- 1t gives back to the Na- pledge of proportionate cop. tribution, which accompanied national elzure of the Capltal's power of self- taxation, without restoring to the Dis- trict this self-taxing power of which it had been deprived. Its practical ef- fect Iy to place n maximum Hmit on the contribution of the United States and to remove the limit entirely from the contribution of the local taxpay- ers. Indeed, the announced purpose of the proposed legislation 18 to enable a taxing body in which the District is not represented to increase the local burden of taxation at its pleasure un- checked by the existing requirement that every such increase be reflected in some measure in national taxation for Capital upbullding. The maximum national contribution is made definite during the time in which Congress refrains from dimin- ishing it; but all limits are declared off in respect to the local contribution, and it remains definite only-in the certainty that the local tax burden will be largely increased, and that the local taxpayers will not partici- pate at any time in the decision of the amount of the increase, the methods of taxation by which the increase is secured and the purposes for which the tax money is spent. For the reasons above stated your petitioners earnestly urge the rejec- tion by Congress of H. R. 473 Theodore W. Noyes, chairman ex ecutive committee citizens’ joint committee on Disf of Columbia fiscal relations; E Colladay, pre: dent Board of Trade; Isaac Gans, pre ident Chamber of Commerce; Anton Stephan, president Merchants and Manufacturers’ Association; Charles A. Baker, president Federation of Citizens' Associations; Stanton C. Peelle, president Bar Association; Herbert L. Davis, president Columbia Helghts Citizens’ Assoclation; Evan H. Tucker, president Northeast Citi- zens' Association; J. A. Oliver, presi- dent Georgetown Citizens’ Associa- ¥ Stringer, president City . V. Haynes, president District of Columbia Bankers' Association C. Weedon, president the Real I Board; Arthur D. Marks, Rotary Club; Harry G. Kimball, pres. ident Kiwanis Club; James M. Proc- tor, president Civitan Club. g Named as District Engineer. Maj. Clarence S. Ridley, Engineers, formerly in charge of | public buildings and grounc in (he District of Columbia, and now at the General Staff School at Fort Leaven- worth, Kans., has been ordered to San Francisco for duty as district engineer, second district, and for duty also with the Organized Reserves of the 9th Corps area. of tate president Corps of h: tion or fixity in the amount of such contribution. It does mot avoid fric- tion-breeding ratio discussion, but on the contrary aggravates it. It does not increase a particle the District’s power to participate in its municipal legislature. Congress still has ex- clusive power to determine how much it shall be taxed, and by whom and CLA We made glases for vour grandparent Qurs is Washington's Oldest ‘Optometricai CLAFLIN OPTICAL CO. 1314 G 922 14th Established 1889 V’ A Wonderful 12-Day Water and Land Tour V Leave Washington by bus to Baltimore—making con- nection with Merchants and Miners Steamship to Jack- sonville, Florida. The water trip includes the 22nd, 23rd, 24th and 25th of May. At Jacksonville the tour con- tinues along the East coast of Florida, affording inspec- R O CK LEDGE, STUART, DAY- INDIAN RIVER ORANGE BELT, MIAMI, CORAL GABLES, COCOA- NUT GROVES and arriv- ing in HOLLYWOOD. The return trip is the same. Reservations Must —Trip Terminates at The center of startled Florida , amazing growth. same BUS trip along the Dixie penses are included. Open Evenings Till 10 P.M. ally and as an investment. climate, marvelous boulevards and harbor. 8DAY RAILROAD SIGHTSEEING TOUR ON MAY 28th or 29th our néxt rail :gd sight-seeing tour starts, offering you the as in the water trip—PULLMAN SERV- ICE substituting the water way. All ex- Of America’s Most Promising State Al Expenses Included First 12-Day Trip on May 22nd Second on May 29th Be in May 17th—and May 24th Respectively progress—socially, industri- A city that has and the South with its Delightful all year ’round Highway MAY 13, 1925. TILT HALTS TRIAL OF EX-GOV. DAV Judge and Defense Attorney Disagree as to Admitting . Collateral Evidence. By the Associated Press. TOPEKA, Kans., May 13.—Disagree- ment between the judge and the de- fense counsel as to the admissibility of collateral evidence late yesterday halted the trial of Jonathan M. Davis, former Kansas governor, on charges of seeking a bribe. The court will rule on_the point today. The State called two witnesses on whose statements is based a large part of another criminal action, in which the former governor is charged with accepting, through his son, Rus- sell Gi. Davis, $1,250 in payment for a pardon for d Pollman, Lacygne banker, convicted for forgery. Mr. Davis is being tried for the al- leged solicitation of a bribe through his bank commissioner, Carl J. Peter- son, for a pardon for Walter Grundy, Hutchinson bank embezzler. The defense moved, immediately after the jury was sworn, that the court exclude all testimony that is clearly to be used in the collateral | case. ward Rooney, assistant county attorney, argued that intro duction of collateral evidence should be permitted. Judge James McClure held that such | evidence would be admissable only to show the “intent” of the former governor. He cautioned the prosecut- ing attorneys against referring to the Pollman charges in their opening statement to the jury. When Glenn Davis, once a life- termer for murder, testified he had taken from Gov. Davis to Pollman a message that the executive would see “in a different light” the pardon pleas of both convicts if $1,250 was delivered to the governor's son Russell, the defense objected to the collateral evi- dence, despite Judge McClure's ruling earlier in the day. Further objection was made when the prosecution attempted to question Pollinan about the messag Glasses _ Fitted McCormick Medical College Eyes Examined Dr. CLAUDE S. SEMONES Eye.iil!hl;nute Efi:cia!int 5"]—15?557 PRINTING ““Small Work Exclusively’” { uain1sie OO 120 srneer : HOWARD S. FISK, MANA INCREASE IN PENSION OF TEACHERS IS ASKED Four With 20 to 26 Years’ Servic¢ Getting Only $480 Yearly, Council Shows. An increase in the scale of pen- sfons paid retired teachers of the public schools of the District was urged by the Teachers’ Council at a meeting last night in the Franklin School. Four teachers with 20 to 26 years of service, it- was pointed out, are recelving annuities of only $480 a year, while the average for the 73 now on the retirement rolls is only $777.33 per annum. Announcement was made that a hearing has been arranged, at which the salary grievances of the kinder- garten and primary teachers will be aired before Supt. Frank W. Ballou the Board of Examiners, the Distric auditor and the school business man- The Velvet Kind ICE CREAM Our Sale in Full Swing You, Too, Must Share the Benefits of This Week’s Offerings on Fme Furmture " Don't pass up this opportunity upward of 35% merchandise lnr M. SEGAL & 1232 14th St. N.W. that has opened the third unit of its Washington. Just Beyond Congressional Here residents and workers investment! No upkeep! Costs use during repairs or family use. special economical per mile rates. veniently located branches. 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