Evening Star Newspaper, May 19, 1925, Page 1

{ N WEATHER. (U. 8. Weather Bureau Forecast.) Fair tonight and tomorrow; slightly warmer tomorrow; gentle west and northwest wind. Temperature, high- est. 71, at noon today; lowdst, 44, at 5:15 a.m. today. Full report on page Closing N. Y. Stocks and Bonds, Page 30 No. 29,603. Entered as second class matter post_office, Washingto: BELGIUN TACKLES DEBT SETTLEMENT RAISING U. . HOPE Treasury Cheered by Inde- pendent Action of Brussels on Payment. ENVOY WILL GO HOME FOR NEW INSTRUCTIONS Paris Press Sees British Hand Be- hind Request of America for Payment. By the Associated Prese. The first break in the tangle of in. terallied debts was seen by high Gov- ernment officials here today in the de- | termination of Belgium to take inde- pendent steps in negotiating a refund- ing settlement with the United States. In official quarters the information conveyed from the Belgian foreign of- fice in last night's dispatches was ac- cepted as being highly significant, | since Belgium must be classed as one of the major debtors to whom the United States extended financial aid. The Belgian statement to the Asso-| ciated Press created a feeling of op- timism at the Treasur Envoy to Sail June 9. At the Belgian embassy it was said today = Ambassador de ~Marchienne | would sail for home June 9. The Whole Belgian debt situation is expect- | ed to be taken up by him with his government at that time. It was believed here that Belgium's plans had been held back somewhat by the recent ministerial crisis, but Undersecretary Winston of the Treas- ury observed on his recent visit to Brussels that the feeling was evident emong the government leaders that definite moves toward laying out a debt-paying program shouid be made. The undersecretary believes that with a balance budget such as has been accomplished, Belgium will take rapid strides toward a sound economic basis. The statement that Ambassador Cartier de Marchienne was sailing for Brussels is believed to indicate that the officials in Belgium now see a more or less clear economic sky and | are ready to tie up their government | to definite commitments. Belgian Action Explained. There is no_doubt in the minds of officials here that the present Belgian ministry recognizes benefits derived by those powers which have funded their obligations to America and are de- Birous therefore of accomplishing the Bame arrangement for their own na- tion, Announcement of Belgium's inten- tions has come in the midst of con- sations between Minister Piip of | Esthonia and Secretary Mellon on means of arranging a funding settle- ment for Esthonia’s debt of approxi- mately $18,000,000. The determination of Belgium is in- jected, likewise, while discussion is ving on in Paris on the French debt. “This” situation must be accepted, it | was said, as highly significant, since, | should any one of the three mature their plans, the way would be quickly | opened for frank talks on terms with all other debtors. Officials reiterated that the conver- sations between Ambassador Phillips and the Belgian foreign office were a part of the program of this Govern- ment to hasten action on the part of its European debtors. It was declared that Mr. Phillips talked with the Bel- gian officials regarding their intentians on the whole obligation to the United States and did not confine his conver- sation to the loans extended after the armistice. Dispatches from Paris appear to in-| dicate a misunderstanding in certain | quarters as to the exact method of the United States in pushing the debt question. There is no division in the American Government or the Debt Commission over the question, and the fact that the State Department, rather than the Debt Funding Commission, is raising the question of repayment has no significance whatever. Kellogg has spoken for the ment, and it manifestly is absurd to suppose that as Secretary of State he is opposing his own views as a member of the Debt Commission. iovern- Offers Debt Program. A proposal for settling the foreign debt problem of this Nation and the debtor nations of Europe by consoli- dating the debt of the latter and funding it on a payment basis of 100 vears at a 212 per cent interest rate was made to President Coolidge tcday by B. F. Yoakum, railroad executive and financier, during a conference at the White House today. Payment would start two years after the date of obligation. Mr. Yoakum assured the President that such a plan no doubt would meet with general approval, not only country, but also in those S . By "effecting such an a ment the President would have an opportunity to set the troubled world on the path of peace and prosperity, he declared, explaining that a social condition inconsistent with American life and history has been provoked already as a result of a tax burden, which, he contends, s quite as heavy us that being carried by the people of Furope. His belief is that a satis- factory settlement of the foreign debt question would accomplish much of vital and world-wide importance. Sees Taxes Reduced. funding in the The plan United would reduce taxes States, Mr. | Yoakum contends. Besides this the people of Europe would then know | where they stood and there would be & better and more healthy condition prevalling throughout. 1f Uncle Sam were a hard creditor,” Mr. Yoakum said he told the Presi- dent, “Europe long ago would have been thrown into bankruptcy or the quarrels_over her obligations to the United States would have led to re- gults that would have inflamed the whole Christian world _against us. There can be no doubt, of course, that had the United States refused to be- ome identified with the cause of the \llies and thereby beem unable to 1ake the loans, thé central powers ould have won the war and Ger- iny today would be mistress of the 1. This momentous fact does not \Wpear to” enter into the thoughts of e Europeans.” Mr. Yoakum went on to say that | the dry “navy’ | coctions in the bootlegging market. 110 years, BY WILLIAM Bribes offered the Coast Guard! The news echoes down the ranks ans with records as clean as the salt organized bootleggers of the Atlantic row. Six attempts at bribery of Coast old guard don't lik their integrity. A and his subtle pois Six bribes tota was offered a man In each case it w been, without doub offer was made to New Jersey coast. made more than §. In making the offe W. P. HELM, Jr. a crew that had been active in block! the station by a well known smuggler. “I am a_bootlegger, Organized Bootleggers Ready to«Pay Untold Sunms to Smash Coast Guard Cordon Set Against Liquor Tides. Editor’s Note—"Blockading Rum Rou ten for The Star by William P. Helm, jr., noted correspondent, which will portray graphically various features of the titanic struggle now being waged on land and sea frontiers of the United States. first of the series, which will appear daily until completed. the dishonoring word should be linked with the service they love. in untold sums awaits such Coast Guard officers and men as will help the of sums totaling $154,000, have been uncovered by this orrespondent in an investigation of conditions along the ew Jersey and Long Island shores. wrung from unwilling witnesses. The largest bribe disclosed was an offer of $60.000 in cash and an interest in the bootlegger’'s business. This ment is less than $2,400 a year, but he turned the offer down hard and ordered the bootlegger off the premises. The bootlegger making the offer is reputed to have 18 months. He is known the length of the Jersey coast. and made his proposition on Government owned property, e keeper whom he sought to bribe was in command of | Th pe! | chorused their farewell, In another New Jersey case a Coast Guard keeper was approached at | ' he announced by way of introduction. to land som2 liquor here, just below your station. he #p WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION ening Star. WASHINGTON, D. C., TUESDAY, MAY 19, is the subject of siz articles writ- The following article is the P. HELM, Jr. with a sting in every syllable. Veter- winds of the sea are humiliated that Yet money seaboard break the blockade of rum Guard employes. involving the offer These stories were Officers and men of the | e to mention these frontal attacks on | flash of contempt for the new enemy | on lightens the telling of the tale. ling $154,000. In each case the bribe arning not more than $200 a month. | s refused. Other bribes there have t a Coast Guard station keeper on the | The keeper's salary from the Govern- | 1,000,000 at his trade during the past r, he went to the Coast Guard station ing the bootlegger's shipments. “I want | FLOOD OF POISONED LIQUOR IS FEARED U. S. Guards Against Do- mestic Production as Rum Row Smuggling Is Curbed. By the Associated Press. The prohibition “army” is prepar- ing to follow up the advance made by in its initial offensive to drive the lquor smugglers from American shores. With the reduction by the Coast Guard of smuggling operations on the Atlantic coast, long a stumbling block in efforts to bottle up the chief source of palatable wet goods, officers of the land forces are leaving no stone unturned in their plans to pre- vent a reappearance of poisonous con- These officers foresee, it was said today at prohibition headquarters, that with the scattering of the rum runners the supply of smuggled wet goods will soon fall below the demand in centers which have been getting regular shipments and, therefore, a return to old practices of manufac- turing bad liquor is to be expected. Concentrating on Wet Spots. Of the 1,900 dry agents operating throughout the country, approximate- Iy 1,500 are said to be concentrated in known wet spots, with 200 in the Long Island district, 100 at the Ca- nadian border and large battalions in Maryland, Pennsylvania and New Jersey Unceasing vigilance has beén made the watchword of these forces from now on. Continuation of the Coast Guard's blockade, Secretary Mellon believes, will do much to stem the flow of liquor into this country. The Secre- tary has received reports that many of the rum shigh are striking their colors because of the difficulty of evading the dry navy sentinels, and he believes that the more persistent skippers on the row will weigh anchor before long. Guard vessels are compiling com- plete information as to the character and movements of the rum ships when they leave the row and officials at likely landing points are being kept advised of their operations. Check on Withdrawals. A new method to provide a further precaution against fraudulent with- drawal of liquor from Government warehouses has been mapped out as another step in the land drive, but de- tails of the plan are withheld pending its approval by Mr. Mellon. Additional steps are to be taken to prevent robberies at the warehouses, which have been reduced n number from 300 to 60, all heavily guarded. Officials see a ray of hope in the fact that it will not be necessary to permit further legal manufacture of whisky for medicinal use for about since stocks on hand now total 20,000,000 gallons, with with- drawals amounting to about 1,500,000 a year. “Mountain Dew” Makers Dangerous. Although periodic raids are con- tinuing against moonshiners, prohibi- tion officials believe their operations are on too small a scale to be impor- tant. The moonshiner’s product gen- erally, they say, is of an inferior qual- ity, and seldom reaches beyond his immediate section. The “mountain dew” type of moonshiner, however, has proved to be the most dangerous of his kind, a majority of the 42 dry agents killed since prohibition became effective having fallen in raids on such stills. SUMr." Mellon holds that destruction of rum row off New York was the greatest blow to the -fllicit liquor frade that could have been dealt by the Coast Guard, since proximity to a big and well organized market is( necessary to the life of such trade and no such organization for dis- tributing the liquor, once landed, ex- ists anywhere else along the Atlantic seaboard. TWO POINTS WATCHED. Lawrence and Lakes Runners Face Attack. NEW YORK, May 19 (P).—With Rum Row dwindling day by day, en- forcement sponges are getting busier and busier on land. St. the’ taxpayer of Europe is patient and long-suffering, byt he may become The whole general situation in New York State is indicative of greater (Continued om Page 4, Column 2) (Continued on Page 5, Column 4.) (Continued on Page 5, Column I were compelled to feel thelr way. COOLIDGE ADAMANT INWAR UPON RUM If United States Does Not‘ Like Enforcement, Then | Law Change Is in Order. The administration, from President Coolidge down, is determined to en- force prohibition to the limit, Sen- ator Watson, Republican of Indiana, has informed the Couzens committee, and then, he said, if the people do not want to stand for it, it is for them to say so. Tremendous efforts are to be made, the Indiana Senator said, to make the law absolutely effective. “If after the law is enforced to the | limit,” he asserted, “the people do| not want to stand for it, it is for the people to say so, and it can be mod- ified.” All the agentsat the command of the Government are to be used, Senator Watson said, in impressing the force of the law. While declaring everybody knew that prohibition was not being en- forced now, and that it was being de- liberately violated by the wholesale, Senator Watson ‘said inefficiency was | being corrected and enforcement strengthened. Although expressing the belief that matters yould improve, Senator Wat- son said, “the whole thing is prob- lematical.” A tremendous task faced the Government agents, he declared, | reaching into thousands of homes. | Under the circumstances, officers #rohibition enforcement as now di- rected is not satisfying several mem- bers of the special Senate committee investigating the subject. Transcript of secret hearings by the committee made public today con- tained the information that political influence had not held up the work. It was the opinion of several mem- bers of the committee that the laws were not being effectively enforced, but others, notably Senator Watson of Indiana, insisted that much progress was being made. Chairman Couzens was particularly critical of what he termed the failure | of the prohibition enforcement unit | to follow up cases to completion. He produced reports to show that cases which should have been prosecuted had been abandoned. The fact that Assistant Secretary An- drews had been given complete super- vision of prohibition enforcement was approved by members of the commit- tee, but they were unable to agree upon the wisdom of transferring en- forcement to the Department of Jus- tice. New regulations in connection with prohibition enforcement, especially with reference to alcohol distilling, | are now in_the hands of Secretary | Mellon, Mr. Britt said, who also stated | agents are following up all cases once | started. PERSHING NOT ELIGIBLE FOR SENATE, BAKER SAYS| By the Associated Press. & KANSAS CITY, Mo, May'19.—A special dispatch to the Kansas City Star last night from Jefferson City quotes Gov. S. A. Baker as definitely announcing he is not considering Gen. John J. Pershing for the vacancy caused by the death of Seldon P. Spencer, junior United States Senator from Missouri. “Gen. Pershing never has been con- sidered by me. He is not even a citi- zen of Missouri; he is a citizen of Nebraska,” the dispatch quoted Gov. Baker as saying. Mr. Baker reiterated that he already had decided upon an appointee, but would not announce the selection until after the Spencer fu- neral in St. Louis Wednesday. Mercury’s Antics. By the Assoclated Pre: CHICAGO, May 19.—Frosts and hot waves contested for attention in yesterday’s weather chronicle. No sooner had wires carried reports of low temperatures from Nebraska to Ohio, with Killing frosts in some places, than Tucson, Ariz., took some of the chill out of the atmosphere by recording an unsea- sonable climb in the thermometer to 101 degrees, and only eight hours earlier the highest mark to which the Arizona sun could push the mercury was 461 degrees, ! honor. Six Bribes Totaling $154,000 Spurned by Foes of Rum Row H GEN M"'ES I.AIU INARLIETON TONB ASNATIONOURNS President Leads in Final Tribute to Veteran War- rior’s Memory. SIMPLE BUT IMPRESSIVE BURIAL RITES OBSERVED Guns Boom Farewell, But No Spoken Eulogy Is Pronounced Over Fallen Commander. Close beside faithful comrades of vgone days, Lieut. Gen. Nelson A Miles sleeps this afternoon in his eternal bivouac on the peaceful slopes of Arlington. Escorted by faltering remnants of the valiant legions that followed him through three epochs of warfare and tenderly guarded by the stalwart vouth of a new Army, the veteran hero of Chancellorsville went on his | 1ast journey through a city bowed in sorrow at his passing. While the measured boom of artil- lery and the sharp rattle of rifles Gen. Miles was laid at rest in his family sepul- cher in Arlington National Cemetery while the President of the United States, high officials of the Govern- ment and battalions representing every branch of the Nation's fighting arms paid him silent tribute. Grouped around the unadorned mausoleum that received his mortal remains were bowed details of his own old command—veterans of the Civil War, the Spanish-American War and the 'Indian campaigns—and repre- sentatives of every military and pa triotic society in the country, besides hundreds of men and women in the roles of private citizens. Large Military Escort. The procession that accompanied Gen. Miles to his tomb constituted the greatest funeral cortege Washington has seen since the burial of the Un- known Soldier. Regulars of the Army, the Navy and the Marine Corps were paraded in his In the column alse rode Presi. dent_Coolidge, members of the Miles " (Continued on Page 4, Column 3.) DROPS SHIP SEARCH FRON ARMS PACT American Delegate Wins Fight Against Granting This Right. By the Associated Press. GENEVA, May 19.—The amend. ment to establish the right to search | ships suspected of improperly con- veying arms was today eliminated trom the proposed convention of the international conference for the con- trol of traffic in arms and munitions. The American delegation led the op- position to the amendment. Representative Theodore E. bur- ton, head of the American delegation, said the United States objected par- ticularly to the indiscriminate search of ships which was implied under the provision. He asserted that the pro- pesed searching of ships probably would result in misunderstandings and abuse, Representative Burton said it was undesirable to modify existing inter- national law, but later he agreed to a proposal that jurists draft a declara- tion expressing the determination of the signers of the convention to pre- vent clandestine traffic in arms. Great Britain, Spain, India, Greece and Austria were the only countries voting in favor of the search of ships | suspected of carrying arms in viola- tion of the proposed convention. The arms conference also voted to- day to abandon the proposed plan of a central board under the League of Natlons to regulate traffic in arms and munitions. The American delegation had opposed such a board also. Leon Jouhaux, French labor leader and delegate to the conference, said the world is being led into another race of armaments construction and that this conference has an opportuni- ity to protest against it. Despite this appeal the conference voted to abandon the idea of establish- ing a central board to regulate arms traffic, and left the publication of arms statistics to the various States. The Amperican delegation gave notice of its objection to the article in the draft convention making preliminary recognition of any belligerent neces- sary by any arms manufacturing country before it can unrestrictedly ship arms to that belligerent. This problem now goes to the judiciary committee for report. The American delegation also asked the conference to delete another arti- cle which asks the League of Nations to publish an annual report on the op- eration of the proposed arms conven- tion. France lost a bitter fight last night to keep armaments of warships within the scope of the proposed convention which will control by publicity inter- national trade in armaments. After a heated discussion, the military com- mission of the arms conference by a vote of 16 to 8 decided to accept the British amendment whereby guns, am- munition and all other equipment of warships are dropped from the draft convention, and hence not subjected to supervision. The United States voted with the majority. The British idea is that a warship is like a fort and that the details of a warship's strength should be no more divulged than the actual caliber and position of guns in a particular land fortress. League circles admit that the scope of the proposed convention is grow- ing smaller and smaller, but recog- nize that the only way of making the conference successful is to produce by common consent a document which stands a chance of being ratified as an initial step in the control of the traf- fic In armaments. | Twenty-four hundred | 00 HURT, 2 MAY DIE INGOTHAM SUBWAY | Blown-Out Fuse and Explod- ! ing Light Bulbs Start Mad Stampede. NEW YORK, May | persons were injured, two of them probably fatally, in the panic which swept a crowded East Side subway train as it was about to leave the Grand Central terminal station at the jpeak of the morning rush today. Eighty-six persons received medical attention. a police check shows. A blown fuse, followed by a series of electric lamp bulb explosions, was re- ported to have caused the stampede. The train, literally jammed with hu- manity, came to a sharp stop a block from the terminal. Men, women-and children, packed tight in every one of the cars, were swept from their feet in the confusion, which grew to panic proportions when the cars began to fill with stifing smoke caused by burning insulation. A short-circuit had occurred, causing the motorman to halt the long string of cars. Immediately after he at- tempted to start it up again, and every light bulb in the train exploded. This was the signal for the panic which sent screaming, fighting men, women and children “surging toward exits and seeking to escape from their cagelike imprisonment by smashing windows. Scores were knocked to the car floors and trampled. The confusion was added to when guards prevented the opening of emergency doors. Hotels Become Hospitals. The lounge and several salons of the nearby Hotel Vanderbilt were convert- ed into emergency hospital where 5 persons received treatment. Thirty others were removed to Bellevue Hos- pital. It later developed that 51 persons re- ceived treatment in the Vanderbilt Hotel, a block from a subway entrance through which many of the passen. gers fled to safety.“Of these, 40 were able to proceed to their homes after having received first aid treatment. The entire personnel of the Vander- bilt went into service, carrying the injured to lounges, salons and into the big dining room, where all was done for their comfort. Dr. Francis Murray, house physician. took charge. Some of the hotel employes lowered a ladder down an emergency exit and assisted a score of frightened persons to the street. ‘When Policeman George Deno ar- rived at the Thirty-fourth street sub- way exits he saw burly men knock- ing half-hysterical women aside in their mad plunges for freedom. The officer tore off his uniform coat and waded into the crowd, knocking down (Continued on Page 5, Column 5.) SEES AMERICAN HUSTLE AS PRINCIPALLY “POSE” 19.—About 100 Dean Inge Tells Landowners U. S. Is in Advance of Britain in Spiritual Way. By the Associated Press. LIVERPOOL, England, May 19.— The Very Rev. William Ralph Inge, dean of St. Paul's, who returned here today from his visit to the United States, said his visit had convinced him that America, both materially and spiritually, is far in advance of Great Britain. American ‘“hustle,” which tends to irritate some Britishers, the dean found to be “mostly pose. He de- scribed the American pronunciation of the English language to be ‘“very much like our own, when spoken by educated classes.” The dean said that he had “stuck to prohibition for three weeks” and Was not sorry to return to his own cellar. “I told them that in America,” he added. —_— Lightning Kills Four. HEDDESTORF, Germany, May 19 (P —Lightning yesterday killed four men at an anniversary celebration of a local Catholic Church choir.. The bolt tore through a large tent and | struck a group of people, two girls being Injured besides the fatalities. Film Merger ;maunced‘ MELBOURNE, Australia, May 19 | UP).—A merger of Australian-New Zea- | 1and moving picture interests was an- nounced today. The organization is capitalized at £3,000,000. It will con- trol 130 theaters and produce as well as import pictures. . 1925 —-FORTY-TWO PAGES. “From Press to Home Within the Hour” The Star’s carrier system covers every city block and the regular edi- tion is delivered to Washington homes as fast as the papers are printed. Yesterday’s Circulation, 100,342 ociated Pri TWO CENTS. N, THERES ONE \NOLPaRTY /M N\ SWNANKIOUS To Arrested Evolutionist Sees Right to Learn in Jeopardy Tennessee Teacher Fighting Law Says Freedom to Seek Truth Is at Stake. Christianity Needs No Prop. Editor's Note—The imagination of the entire country is intrigued by the peculiar dilemma of Prof. Scopes, who has been bound over to the grand jury in Dayton, Tenn., for teaching the evolutionary the- ory in defiance to State law. Prof. Scopes herewith reveals the views which have stirred officials to wrath and over which some of the biggest minds of the country will battle when the case comes to trial. BY JOHN THOMAS SCOPES, Professor of Science, Dayton High School. DAYTON, Tenn., May 19.—The evo- lution law of Tennessee, which I have been arrested for violating, seems to be a-good ple of a species revert- ing to its origi- nal form. It is evidence of a throw-back, or, better, an f{llus- tration that our veneer of civill- zation is thin, sure enough. If there ever ‘were a reversion to the way our ancestors did things, this law is a demonstra- tion of it. Back in the dawn of our prs- ent civilization, scientists were persecuted for advocating the 3. T. SCOPES. truth. Some died in prison. Some were forced to keep the facts they had discovered a secret for fear they would be thrown into prison. Today WEEKS' OPERATION a State places a penalty on teaching a theory. ‘We seemed to be proud that this country, more than any other country, fostered freedom of though and advo- cated the truth. We boasted over the fact that the church and the State were separate. These things are im- pressed upon the minds of every boy and girl in our schools. It is right that such is the case. But here is a law that, to me, seems to violate the things that we so fervently advocate. Strikes at Basis of Republic. How does this law violate the princi- ples of our Government? We all admit that this Government, in its founding, abjured all religious discrimination and set up solely upon the princi- ples of democracy. Every one will ad- mit that it {s wrong to legislate in favor of one particular sect of the Christian religion. This law gives pro- tection to all branches of the Christian religion. To the ordinary person that would seem all right. But what about, all the other religions that are represented in this country? This may be a Christian Nation in point of numbers, but the other religions are with us. Their ~children attend the public schools. They are American citizens, and this law discriminates against them. A State that gives protection to one religlon is diseriminating against the others. Teach anything you want to that may conflict with Confucianism, but do not disturb Genesis. The law is a legislation against other re- ligions, because it gives protection to one. . This brings us to the question: Does the Christian religion need protection? (Continued on Page Column ORLD COURT WINS NEED I AVERTED Medicinal Treatments Are Conquering Disorders Satisfactorily. Fears that an operation might be necessary in order to relieve Secre- tary Weeks from pains resulting from gall bladder complications which have developed during his iliness were said today to have been dissipated, at least for the present. The disorders are vielding satisfac- torily to medicinal treatment, it was said, and bladder interference has been overcome. Secretary Weeks rested comfortably last night and was free from pain. He devoted several hours today at- tending to personal correspondence. It is planned to remove Secretary Weeks to his Summer home, in the mountains of New Hampshire, as soon as his condition and the weather will permit. He now spends his entire time in his room, but is able to sit up several hours each day. Before his recent setback he had taken several short automobile rides. MEXICO PROPOSES CURB ON BORDER SMUGGLING i United States Representatives Con- sidering Suggestions for Welfare Along Rio Grande. By the Associated Press. EL PASO, Tex., May 19.—Proposals of Mexican representatives to the con- ference between the United States and Mexican governments fér lessening smuggling and other infractions along the border were under consideration by committees today. The first busi- ness session was held yesterday, but no further general meeting was in prospect until the committees report. Although the specific proposals of the Mexican delegates were not dis- closed, it was indicated they covered the following subjects: General matter of smuggling, includ- ing narcotics, and questions relating to public health. Migration and related matters. Fishing and hunting. Extradition measures and interna- Radio Programs—Page 24. x C. OF C. APPROVAL U. S. Should Enter on Terms Laid Down by Coolidge, Report Asserts. American adherence to the World Court on terms proposed by President Coolidge and favorable treatment in the tariffs of the world for American manufactured products were urged to- day in reports of the foreign affairs committee of the Chamber of Com- merce of the United States, which opens its annual meeting here tomor- row. . Declaring that “the American peo- ple are clearly in, favor of a Court of International Justice,” the committee declared the chamber had taken a ref- erendum on the subject, and was com- mitted in principle to such a body. “The court did not originate in the League of Nations, nor_in the Ver- sailles peace conference,” it asserted. Rather, it added, it was born in the proposal of the United States at the first peace conference at The Hague in 1899, The German-American commercial treaty, the committee held, is “‘a model for further treaties and the proposed bases for a revision of our commercial treaty structure.” Need of New Markets. “Our situations is analogous to Ger- many’s pre-war position as our export trade will be increasingly dependent on finding markets for manufactured goods,” it said. “What we want and what we will increasingly need is not only equal, but ravorable treatment in the tariffs of the world for our manufactured products.” The report recommends that “the general principle of unqualified most- favored-nation treatment be retained as the basic principle of our commer- cial treaty structure’; and that “provi- sions be inserted in future commer- clal treaties protecting American products from discrimination through tariff classifications and import and export restriction: “Constant effort” was urged “to in- duce foreign countries to modify pro- hibitive duties and to secure for our products favorable treatment in the tariffs of the world.” As an “ald in securing favorable tariff treatment” a policy of tariff bar- gaining was advocated. Althogh the formal opening is scheduled for tomorrow, a thousand (Continueq on Bage 3, Column 2. [ INES . VSRR DEAD AFTER LONG SERVCE FOR Y Commissioner Was Identified With Development of Na- tional Capital 50 Years. HEALTH BEGAN TO FAIL AFTER DEATH OF WIFE Highly Praised by Associates. Rites Will Be Held Thursday at Calvary Baptist. Having given his best to the city he loved and for which he labored many years, Commissioner James F. Oyster passed away early this morn- ing at his apartment, 2400 Sixteenth street, at the age of 74. All Washington today is mourning the loss of a stalwart citizen and an able public official, for Commissioner Oyster numbered among his friends those in the humble walks of life as well as Government officials and lead- ers in the commercial life of the Caplital. Although he had been one of Wash- ington's three governing heads for the past four yvears, his untiring activity for the upbuilding and betterment of the Nation's Capital dated back many years, to the time when, as a leader in local trade and civic organizations, he helped bring about the Washing- ton of today Failing for Year. Displaying that same courage which marked his long career, Commissioner Oyster fought bravely against the ill- ness which finally overtook him. His health began to fail following the death of Mrs. Oyster in January, 1924, but he went on for nearly a year working Incessantly for his commu- nity as a member of the Board of Commissioners. About five months ago his strength began to ebb, but his remarkable spirit kept up, and he continued to transact the business of the depart- ments under his guidance until a few days ago. The end came at 12:15 o'clock this morning, with the Commissioner's daughter, Miss Helene Oyster; his son, Norman Oyster, and a business associate, Clark Diamond, at bis bed- side. Commissioners Rudolph and Bell met in special board session at 9:30 o'clock this morning and, after pass- Ing resolutions of regret over the loss of their associate, adjourned out of respect for his memory. Flags at Half Staff. Commissioner Rudolph announced that flags on all District Institutions will be at half staff for 30 days. Announcement also was made that during the funeral services work at the Distrtct Building will be suspended as a further mark of respect. Funeral services will be conducted at 2 o'clock Thursday afternoon at Calvary Baptist Church, Eighth and H streets, and burial will be at Oak Hill Cemetery. ‘While the “services will be simple, in compliance of the wishes of the Commissioner, it was deemed fitting that the uniformed members of the Police and Fire Departments should pay official tribute of respect to their deceased superior. Guard of Honor Designated. Commissioner Rudolph announced that a detachment of eight mounted police will escort the cortege. After the church service 50 members of the Police Department and the same number from the Fire Department will form a guard of honor. A captain, lieutenant, sergeant and pri- vate from the Police Department and a_similar group of officers of the Fire Department will be active pall- bearers. Honorary pallbearers will be announced later. The officiating clergymen will be Rev. A. Freeman Anderson and Rev. S. Abernethy. Dr. Anderson was a personal friend of Commissioner Oyster and is coming from East Or- ange, N. J., for the funeral service. Dr. Abernethy is pastor of the Cal- vary Baptist Church. ‘While Commissioner Oyster had al- ways been an active worker in ax undertaking for the improvement of his city, his true devotion to Wash- ington was apparent to those who came in contact with him during his four years as a Commissioner. Veteran employes of the city gov- ernment say that seldom has a Com- missioner taken a deeper interest in the affairs of the department intrust- ed to him. It became his duty following ap- pointment in March, 1921, to super- vise the police, fire, health and play- grounds departments and the office of weights and measures. And while ever alert to see that all of his agen- cies gave the public the best service | possible, he took a special interest in the activities of those two important agencies—the Police and Fire Depart- | ments. } Backed Up Departments. He held conferences daily with the heads of Police and Fire Departments, and when he thought they were right in anything they undertook to do backed them to the limit. Commissioner Oyster seldom refused an interview to the thousands who came to him during his four years in office, to lay before him problems re- lating to his departments. The Commissioner never took an extended vacation during his entire term, confining his periods of relaxa- tion to short outings of one or two days at a time. In addition to the constant atten- tion he gave to the everyday problems of his departments, Capt. Oyster, as he was more familiarly known, was vigorous in his advocacy of many pleces of legislation needed for the growth and w-lfare of the city. Favored Fiscal Equality. He firmly believed in the half-and- half plan, under which the Federal Government bore an equal share of the expense of Capital maintenance for so many vears. A few years ago Congress changed the ratio to 60-40, and more recently the lawmakers tem- porarily departed entirely from the fixed percentage basis and appro- priated a lump-sum of $9,000,000 as Uncle Sam's part of District main- tenance. Commissioner Oyster was opposed to this departure from a long- standing fiscal policy between the Fed- eral and District governments, and frequently reiterated his support of the fixed-ratio basis. The Commissioner was one of those " (Continued on Page %, Column I /