Evening Star Newspaper, June 25, 1925, Page 1

5 WEATHER. w Fair and tomorrow; much change in_temperature. Temperatures: Highest, 83, at noon today; lowest, 62, at 11 p.m. yesterday. Full report on page 7. S. Weather Bureau Forecast.) tonight not Closing N. Y. Stocks and Bonds, Page 28 Entered as second class matter post office, Washington, D. C. No. 29,640. * _@h WASHINGTON, WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION D. C, THURSDAY, JUNE 25, ¢ Foening Star. 1925—FORTY-SIX PAGES. The Star’s as fast as the Yesterday’s UP) Means Associated Pre: “From Press to Home Within the Hour” carrier system covers every city block and the regular edi- tion is delivered to Washington homes papers are printed. Circulation, 97,112 TWO CENTS. BLOODLESS REVOLT IN GREECE ROUTS OLD GOVERNMENT Civil and Military Offices in Hands of Revolutionists A Under Gen. Pangolos. NEW BONB PLOT INSHANGHAIFALS DRAEON DAY CALM Police Nip Plan of Students to Attack Foreigners From Speeding Autos. PREMIER’S RESIGNATION DEMANDED BY REBELS Movement Is Unopposed and Join- ed by Fleet—Press Cen- sorship Declared. ¢ ADMIRAL P. \ Br the Associated Press The, SALONIKIL. Greece, June 235 4 ziewspaper Independent announces the Saloniki garrison decided to de-| mand the immediae resignation of | Premier Michalakopoulos be 1se of | his I inefliciency in office, and | for the purpose of forming a military Bovernment presided over by Gen. | n bl he revolutionary officers occupied | FERL e §ublic buildings and railway stations. ¥ress censorship has been established. A revolutionary proclamation has been issued Revolutionists in Control A military communique e ulutionary mov throu; cet. under Stalg Department Flatly Contradicts Reports Is- sued in Mexico. the | ment is now in con- hout € re. The Greek Admir djikiriakos, | of marine, has joined The State Department today flatly rontradicted predictions by the Mex- ican government's publicity agents “|that American Ambassador Sheffield mer minister evolution iers of the revolution tele; £il the Preaident of the Greek I *{ would not return to Mexico City. - Mr. Sheffield is expected here to ; We proclaim an overthrow of the! - i government. We will hold the cabinet | T®tUrn to his post within a week or onsIbie tor any Blasdshea” {two at most. Whether he will take he communique of the revolution-| With him the note on American 1<is xaid their movement w opposed | clalms, now in progress of prepar: nowhere in Greece. |tion here, has not been determined. Final decision on the method of Admiral P. Coundouriotis is provi- | transmission of the communication ident of the Greek Republic, | will be determined after the Ambass: assumed that office May 1,|dor returns to Washington from New York, where he went for medical treatment. the five members of the Greek revolu- tionary committee appointed in 1922, the activities of which led to the for- mation of the present Greek Republic. Knew of Operation. His purpose to undergo a slight op- eration was made known to the de- Gen. Pa appointed Greek | partment at the time he requested minister of war in June, 1924. He was | Permission to come to the United formerly generalissimo of the Greek |States. Nothing had transpired since army and milit: He ) othe ¢ to_indicate a change in plans. The Mexican publicity department announcement of an impending change in American diplomatic representa- tives at the Mexican capital was is- sued last night in Mexico City. New statements in the matter were in Athens in September, and thereafter be- came minister of war in the Gonatas cabinet. He resigned that office within A _month to join ke Greek army in Thrace, then fighting the Turks. He |in the form of dispatches to officials hecame commander-in-chief during |at border points signed by the go: that campaign and after returning to |ernment's chief of publicity at Mex- Athens there were rumors in 1923 that | These dispatches said it he would attempt to overthrow the assured in diplomatic circles that . Sheffield would not return and that he would ask that George T. Summerlin be appointed in his place. OPERATION SUCCESSFU! government. This plan, if it existed, «id not materialize and in November, | he was appointed military gov- of Athens. On December 20, | he proclaimed a Greek republic, | nded the resignation of the overnment and favored ou for premier. | L4 NEW GOVERNMENT FORMED. | Gonatas | Sheffield fo Be Able to Return in| Two Weeks. NEW YORK, June 2 P).—James R. Sheffield, American Ambassador to Gen. Pangolos’” Rebels Take Over All | Mexico, successfully underwent a mi- e nor operation at St. Luke's Hospital Military and Civil Offices. | today, his physician, Dr. Joseph Blake, | PARIS, June 25 —Dispatches | announced. ; trom Saonibr remart oreaospatches | A Plake said Mr. Sheflield’s condl- of a revolution and the | tion following the operation was satis- factory and that if there are no unex- The dispatches pected developments the Ambassador ernment has been formed under Gen.|should be in condition within two Pangolos and has occupied all civil |Weeks to resume his post at Mexico and military institutions. City. He declined to discuss the na fleet has joined the movement. { of life, property and business incident | DEATH OF “LOVE POTION” MAY BE CALLED ‘MURDER’ Prosecution to Seek First-Degree Indictment in Strange Case. Autopsy Discloses Drug. Br the Associated Press. HACKENSACK, —Prosecutor Hart J., June today announced that an analysis of the contents of the stomach of Mrs. Ethel Wheeler of Harrington Park, who died in Kuoglewood Hospital Monday night, after having spent most of the day with Maurice During, revealed that death had been caused by “love po- tions.,” which he charged were given her by During. The prosecutor said that he would ask the July grand jury for an indict- ment for first-degree murder. ing is in the Bergen County : Mr. Hart announced yesterday that During had confessed administering the potion while in a Coyotesville roadhouse, and that the druggist from whom Durin, id the powder wa: secured had tted selling it. USE IS COMMON. Love Philter Parties Are Reported by Paper. NEW YORK, June 25 (#).—The murder of a woman in New Jersey by means of a drug sometimes used as an aphrodisiac had sequels affect- ing the night life of Broadway. The New York American in a sum- mary of the conclusions of investiga- tors says. “Love philter cocktails are served in several of the marter uptown speakeasies. (Bacardi rum is given as one ingredient.) “lwove philter parti have been common wmong the searchers for the elusive new thrill. “Neurologists are treating increasing numbers due to excessive use of the aphrodisis AERIAL LINER KILLS FOUR. Dutch Plane, With Three Pas- sengers, Plunges in France. PARIS, June 25 UP).—The pilot of a Dutch airplane, Klunder, and three passengers, were killed when the plane fell near the Kranco-Belgian border. The passengers were one Dutch- man, one German and one Swede. The airplane was flying from Rot- terdam to Paris. "' Radio Programs—Page 34 Dur- | ture of the operation. CATHdLICS PROTESTING MEXICAN TROOPS’ ACTION Tell Calles Four Were Killed and Many Hurt by Soldiers in | Manifestation. By the Associated Press. | MEXICO CITY, June 25.—A pro- test sent to President Calles by the National Catholic Federation of Labor declares four persons were killed and | several wounded at Guadalajara when Jalisco state troops attempted to dis- perse a manifestation protesting against the arrest of 600 members of the federation. The protest alleges that the arrest- ed workers refused allegiance to a re- | cently created syndicate at a factory | in Guadalajara, after which they were | denied admittance to the shop. Seem } ingly the workers attempted to force | an entrance and were arrested by the | troops protecting the buildings. | DESiERT U. S. SHIP. | Many Sailors Left U. S. S. Tulsa 1 in Mexico, Advices Say. | MEXICO CITY, June 25 P).— Special dispatches from Tampico re- | port that there were jumerous de- { sertions” from the U. S. S. Tulsa when | she touched Tampico en route to the | Panama_Canal. g | Both the captain and the American | consul requested the Mexican authori- | ties to arrest the deserters, the dis- i patch said. the gunboat Tulsa Reports from desertions have not mentioned any jon the coast between Amoy and Can- | VOLUNTEERS CALLED OUT TO PREVENT DISORDERS Chinese Troops Break Up Radical Meeting Before Trouble Can Develop. By the Associated Press. SHANGHAI, June The police | have obtained information of a wide- | spread student plot to hire motor cars and dash around the international set tiement here throwing bombs and| shooting. The police therefore order ed that no cars be let for hire except to well known customers Volunteers and special have been mobilized in the forelgn | settlement and posted at strategic points. Chinese are being searched | for arms and other precautlons are being taken. The shipping sltuation is growing worse. British and Japanese liners are avolding Shanghal. Dragon day, observed by Chinese in less troublesome times to mark the season of sprouting seeds, today was commemorated with armed force: patroling the sweltering streets of Shanghai, which took on a holiday | aspect despite the expected flare-up ot strike sympathizers. Break Up Meeting. The Manchurian troops of Gen. | Chang Tso-lin, who recently extended his armed forces to Shanghai, invaded a recreation ground on Chinese terri- tory and broke up a meeting of stu- dents and radicals. The dragon boat festival, at which an outbreak was expected, passed | without a flare-up from the Chinese agitators. All volunteer foreign de- | fense units were mustered, ready to put ‘down any disturbance, but their | services were not needed. At sundown tonight it was expected | that the gzeneral strike, which has| paralyzed Shanghai business for the past month, would be terminated to- morrow. The strike will continue to to British and Japanese mills, rer. The status of the shipping | strike, which has tied up many ships in the harbor, remained unchanged to- night. The American Association of China today cabled to the State Department urging co-operation of the United States with other powers {n adopting a strong attitude of insistence toward constables China in the observance of treaty regulations. Blame China'For Riot. The message said that the Chinese government should be charged with responsibility for the loss of lives and property. Defense forces were night. The resolution urges that China be held strictly responsible for all losses unrelaxed to- to the present situation in China. | It says an absolute observance of | China’s existing treaties is essential until those treaties are modified | “through the orderly processes pro- vided by the Washington conference.” | The resolution recommends that representations be made to the Chi- nese government to suppress the pres- ent state of lawlessness directed agalnst foreigners in China, which in our opinion is due primarily to exist- ing unsettled political conditions ag- gravated by Soviet propaganda.” | Copies of the resolution were sent to the State Department at Wash- ington and to the American-Asfatic | Association of New York. Situation Still Serious. Telegrams from various storm cen- ters in the anti-foreign movement | depict the situation as follows: At Wuhu, near Nanking, the food | boycott of forelgn warships continues, | but the Chinese authorities are| maintaining order. The American destroyer McCor- mick has arrived at Ningpo, in| Chekiang Province, south of Shanghal, and order has been restored there. Chinese soldiers are guarding the forelgn_quarter. The Chinese authorities at Swatow, | w | ton, have given assurances that foreigners will be protected, but these are not considered convincing because of the absence of control over the agitators. At Amoy the Chinese and foreign | authorities are co-operating and the situation is described as satisfactory. At Hoihow, on the Island of Hainan, southwest of Canton, the situation continues disturbed and there is much uneasiness. No change is reported from other centers but a generally tense atmos- phere prevails. BRITISH DENY BLAME. Responsibility for Slaying of 100 Chinese Placed Upon Students. HONGKONG, June 25 (P).—The Chinese civil governor of Canton to- day received a reply to his protest to the British consul general, in which the latter places all responsibility for the deaths of Chinese yesterday while they were parading opposite Shameen, the foreign settlement, upon the Chi nese authorities. In_his note the Chinese governor from the ship at Tampico. |Mountain Topples, By the Associated Press. CHEYENNE, Wyo., June 2 Western Wyoming today has a new and rapidly growing mountain lake, according to a report received here, which sald that a great mountain of rocks, forming one side of a canyon on the Gros Ventre River, in the heart of the Teton National Forest, toppled from its base and across the stream. A section of the national forest was smashed to kindling, many buildings were lost and several herds of cattle were swept away, according to the mes- sage. The phenomenon was reported in ,’ a message received here from J. R. Jones, manager of the gelephone Forming Great Lake of Untold Depth (Continued on Page b, Column 2.) Damming River, exchange at Jackson, Wyo. Jack- son s about 16 miles from the scene. Mr. Jones reported that the fallen mountain had formed a huge dam across the river and that it will impound a body of water probably hundreds of feet deep. In five min- utes, according to a report received by Mr. Jones from a horseman, the water rbse 200 feet in the canyon. It was estimated that the stream will swell into a lake seven miles long and a mile wide before the water yeaches a point where it will spill over the obstruction. Several tourist parties were held up be- cause of the occurrence, -but none is in danzer. the report added. | named to succeed John J. RUSSIA 1925, CODLOGE TOVIST GRAVE OFHS S Plans Trip to Plymouth Next Month on Anniversary of Calvin’s Death. BY J. RUSSELL YOUN: Staff Correspondent of The Star. SUMMER WHITE HOUSE, SWAMPSCOTT, Mass., June ~It is considered likely that President and Mra. Coolidge will motor to the {old Coolidge homestead in Plymouth, Vt, early next month for a brief visit. The authority for this infor- mation explained that Mr. and Mrs. Coolidge want to visit that little hill- side cemetery oA July 7, the anni- versary of the death of Calvin, jr. the youngest son. Also, the Presi- dent {s anxious to see his father, Col. John Coolldge, whose health is re- {ported to be rapidly failing. Just what day they will leave Swampscott has not been decided, it is said, ‘but it will follow closely the President’s visit to Cambridge, July 3, when he will make a speech inci- dent to the celebration of the 150th anniversary of George Washington assuming command of the Continen- tal Army. Makes First Appointment. The first official business transacted by the President since arriving yes- terday was the appointment today of Harry Bassett of Indianapolis, Ind., to be a member of the United States Employes’ Compensation Commission. Mr. Bassett is a Democrat and is Keegan, also a Democrat and from Indiana, whose term on the commission ex- pired more than a month ago. The two other members of this commis- sion are Republicans. The salary is $5.000 a year. Mr. Bassett had the indorsement of both Senator Watson, Republican, and Senator Ralston, Democrat, and other leaders of both parties of Indiana. President Adjusting Self. President Coolidge is now going | through the process of trying to ad- just himself to life at White Court, the Summer White House. From all accounts and appearances he is not having an easy task. It is difficult !for a man of the temperament and chacteristic habits of Calvin Coolidge readily to take to a life of ease and a sudden change in his mode of liv- ing. Native of New England as he is, if he didn’t do a little quick-stepping and shivering last night and this morning, there is something wrong. Lifelong residents declared that the tempera- ture is below normal for this time of year. At 9 o'clock this morning the ther- mometer here registered 55, and a heavy rain started to fall. It con- tinued well on up to noon. Has Little to Do. President Coolidge really is at a loss how to spend this time. Of course, he is going to give a certain amount of attention to the running of the Government, but this is not going to keep him busy. He has some international matters to ponder over, and some domestic problems, but none of these is looked upon as being of any great moment. ‘While discussing his vacation today some of his friends said it is un fortunate for him that he doesn’t care for games and is such a poor hand at lolling around. The weather, how- ever, is good for reading, and that hé is doing. After about his fourth or fifth stroll about White Court this morning, the President turned to Frank W. Stearns, his neighbor, and in a half- serious way asked what he was going to do to amuse himself. Just what Mr. Stearns, the President’s old-reli- able and most intimate friend, replied, was not heard. At any rate, the President kept on walking, but at 0:!0 the rain drove him to his library. The layout and landscape treat- ment of the White Court grounds are ideal in more ways than one. A very happy contrast in scenery is afforded. On the ocean side there are no trees and only an occasional bit of shrub- bery. An entirely different aspect greets you when you leave White Court by the land entrance. The grounds on that side of the house are thickly wooded. Thus President Coolidge can look from his east window or walk to that side of the house and get all filled up with ocean scenery, and when ‘he gets tired of the marine effect, he can retrace his steps and go out on the other side and there is nothing suggestive of ‘water. Late yesterday noon the President and Mrs. Coolidge motored for half an hour or so, his drive taking him " (Continued on Bige 3, Column 2) k- v, Ship’s Passengers Cook Own Meals As Chinese Desert By the Associated Press. MANILA, June —Passen- gers. arriving on the President Adams today were compelled to cook their own food and wait on table between Hongkong and Ma- nila, because of desertion of Chi- nese stewards, cooks and waiters from the ship at Hongkong. When the stewards deserted, the President Adams cast off for Ma- nila immediately, without landing cargo. Thix was done to prevent the entire Chinese crew from de- serting. MACMILLAN READY. T0 START FOR ETAH Sails Tomorrow—Takes on Navy Radio Sets Insisted on by Wilbur. By the Amsociated Press. SYDNEY, N. S., June 25.—With a disagreement over wireless equipment settled with the Navy Department, Comdr. Donald B. MacMillan of the American Arctic expedition is push- ing preparations to sail northward to- morrow. The steamers Bowdoin and Peary are being fueled. The Navy's long wave wireless equipment i3 belng transferred to the Peary from the U. S. Destroyer Put. nam, which arrived here last night after a rush trip from Wiscasset, Me., on orders of Secretary Wilbur. The next stop is Battle Harbor, Labrador, where native Eskimo clothing and boots will be taken aboard for the navigators of the three naval planes. The expedition base will be at Etah, Greenland, whence the vast area be. tween the North Pole and Alaska will be explored by air for an undiscovered continent. Secretary Wilbur vesterday issued an ultimatum that if the long wave spark wireless equipment was not carried the Navy's personnel and planes were to disembark here. He said he considered this equipment on the Peary essential for the safety of the naval men and that Comdr. Mac- Millan had agreed to carry this equip- ment. Left by Mistake. The Navy radio was left behind at Boston and again at Wiscasset and only short wave equipment taken. Comdr. MacMillan said he was most anxious to comply with the Secre- tary’s requirements and expressed ap- preciation for Mr. Wilbur’s deep in- terest in the success of the expedition and the safety of the Navy flyers. Others aboard said the Navy's radio was left behind through a misunder- standing. The short wave radio apparatus on the ships, Comdr. MacMillan added, was doing excellently. Staff men of the National Geographic Society, it is said, have cleared reports daily by radio to the society’s hesdquarters in Washington. Amateur stations as far away as Alabama and Texas have been communicated with. The Navy Department has ordered (Continued on Page 4, Column 6.) $116,000 PAID FOR SEAT ON N. Y. STOCK E)SC’HANGE Highest Price on Record Given S. F. Streit for Membership of 25 Years. By the Associated Pres NEW YORK, June 25.—The high- est price ever paid for a seat on the New York Stock Exchange was estah- lished today when S. F. Streit, presi- dent of the Stock Clearing Corpora- tion, disposed of his membership for $116,000. The previous record for Stock Exchange seats was made in the boom market of 1920, when two memberships were transferred for $115,000 each. In disposing of his seat Mr. Streit severs a connection of more than a quarter of a century with the Stock Exchange, which he has served in many important capacities. He will continue, however, as head of the clearing corporation, which he was in- strumental in organizing in 1920, after making a study of the clearing sys- tems of the” London Stock Exchange and the bourses of Paris, Berlin and Vienna. Mr. Streit also will continue as a apecial partner of the Stock Exchange firm of H. T. Carey & Co. PROFESSUR USTED I DRINKING CASE Member of U. of Virginia Faculty Suspended for Year by Board. By the Associated Press CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va., June 25.—Dr. Albert Lefevre, professor of philosophy at the University of Vir- ginia, was suspended from the faculty for one year by the board of visitors of the university, by a 7-to2 vote, taken at 3:30 o'clock this morning after seven and a half hours of de- liberation. The resignations of Dr. Lefevre, Dr. Willlam 8. A. Pott, assistant pro- fessor of philosophv, and Dr. Charles P. Howze of the hospital staff, ten- dered to the board when the trio was arrested following an automobile acci- dent near Montpeller on May 17, ‘were not accepted by the board. The board held thag the three doc- tors were acquitted by a jury at Han- over Courthouse of all charges grow- ing out of the accident, “save in the case of Prof. Lefevre on the one item of unintentional transportation of a small amount of liquor in a pocket flask.” TUse of Liquor Charged. “Too free use of alcoholic liquors’ by Dr. Lefevre, was held by the board to be responsible for his suspension, at the longest continuous session of the visitors since President Edwin A. Alderman became head of the uni- versity 21 years ago. The board met behind closed doors at 8 o'clock last night in special ses- sion to consider the case, and after four hours' discussion called Dr. Le- fevre before it for questioning. He was the only person heard, and after three hours’ more discussion the fol- lowing resolution was adopted: “The rector and visitors decline to accept the resignation of Profs. Albert Lefevre and W. S. A. Pott and Dr. Charles P. Howze, voluntarily ten- dered by them in view of certain charges preferred against them by the grand jury of Hanover County, on the grounds that they were acquitted of all charges, save in the case of Prof. Lefevre, on the one item of unintentionally transporting a_small amount of liquor in a pocket flask. -Suspension Is Ordered. “The rector and visitors, however, are convinced that Dr. Lefevre has for some time permitted himself a too free use of alcoholic liquors, and hereby authorize and direct the presi- dent to suspend him for one year from July 1, 1925, “The rector and visitors highly re- spect the character, ability and the teaching power of Prof. Lefevre. His influence upon the student life in the big essentlals of conduct of the uni- versity, save in the too free use of alcoholic liquors, has been good and permanent, and no moral turpitude at- taches to his name. “It is the decision of the rector and visitors that a reorganization of his habits as regards any use of alcoholic liquors is fundamental to his function- ing as a teacher of youth, and such a reorganization of his habits must be an assured and permanent fact before he is offered further service upon the teaching staff of the University of Vir- ginia. The three professors offered their resignations “to save the university any possible embarrassment,” follow- ing an automobile accident which re- sulted in their arrest and indictment. Charged with operating a car under the influence of liquor, appearing on a public highway in. an intoxicated condition and with transporting liquor, the three were placed on trial at Han- over Court House. Dr. Lefevre was fined $50 on a charge of transporting, when the evidence tended to show that he had in his possession on the night of the accident a pocket flask ‘contain- ing & small amount of whisky. The others were cleared. DAWES TO BE GUEST. Visits Tarkington Home—Will Confer Later With Young. KENNEBUNK BEACH, Me., June 25 (#P).—Vice President Charles G. Dawes, who came here yesterday for a visit with Kenneth L. Roberts, au- ther and magazine writer, will be the guest at dinner tonight of Booth Tark- ington, the novelist, and Mrs. Tark- ington at Seaward, their Summer resi- dence at Kennebunkport. Mr. Dawes will leave for Boston to- morrow for & conference with Owen D. Youpg of New York, his former associate reparation commis- | convention of the Housewives Lazy And Need Exercise, Doctor Declares By the Associated Prees. NEW YORK, June 25.—The modern housewife is not getting sufficlent exercise, Dr. Guy E. Manning of San Francisco, editor of the Pacific Coast Journal of Homeopathy, declared today in an address to the eighty-first annual American Insti- tute of Homeopathy. | “The labor-saving devices which have come on the market to make said Dr. Manning. “E anxlous to spare his wife unneces- | sary labor, but for her own good | she should take some exercise.” NANES COMITTEE ON WATER SYSTEN Bell Instructs Body to Make Arrangements to Put in ! High-Pressure Plan. ery m: Appointment of a special committes of Federal and municipal officials to | | draw up plans for installation in Wash- ington of a’ high-pressure water | tem, long advorcated by en announced today by Engineer I J, Franknn The committee is composed of rvep-| resentatives of the Fire Department, | the District Commissioners, the De-| partment of Commerce and the! Budget Bureau. | etary of Commerce Hoove W ‘om- i 1one , in with a request of the . has designated Frank secretary of the de- building code committee, | as a member of the water pressure committee. The other members are Fire Chief George S. Watson, Daniel | E. Garges, secretary of the Board of District Commissioners, and George B. Kennedy, representing the Budget | Bureau. This committee, Col. Bell | investigate high-pressure in other large cities with a view to deter- | mining the best and most economical system to recommend for the N 4 | Capital. | Will Ask $2,000. ! It was indicated the Commissioners | would ask Congress at the next ses- | slon for an appropriation of at least | $2.000 for the purpose of preparing plans for such a system. Secretary Hoover i tensely interested in th | the standpoint, officially, of Federal | property protection, and he has mani- | fested his willingness to extend the ! facilities of his department toward ob- | | taining a solution of the problem. Fire Chief Watson probably will be | | made chairman of the committee, and | Mr. Garges secretary. The committee | as vet has not assembled to map out | will | said to be in-| matter from | ins TALY WL SETTLE DEBTTOL. S, SHYS ENVOY: ASKSTIE Funding Negotiations Get Underway at Three-Hour Conference. LENIENT TERMS VITAL, DECLARES DE MARTINO Capacity of Nation to Meet Obli- gation Must Be Considered, He Warns—Meet Again Tuesday. BY the Associated Press. Negotiations for the funding of the Italian debt were set in motion tod 1 three-hour conference be- official Italian delegation members of the American Commission. The next confers next Tuesda: adjoLrnment w y at tween an and four Debt er today's Secre- | tary Mellon said he could not reveal whether the discussions were regard- cd as indicative of progress. Ambassador de Martino, head of the Italian delegation, told the American commissioners that Italy acknowl- cdged the debt and desired a settle- ment permitting payment over a period of years. The Italian ability to pay, he said, should form the basis for the negotia- ions. He did not outline the precise terms Italy will seek. Settlement Held Brighter. Secretary Kellogg opened the con- | ference with an address to the Italian dele; ates. Ve do not minimize the difficulty of payment of your external debt.” the Secretary said, “but we know that the only way to settle the ques- tion, which unsettled might be a continual disturbance to your finan- cial structure, and a source of fric- tion in our cordial relations with you, is to fund the debt now, taking into consideration Italy’s capacity to p: You will have, T am sure, the sympa- thetic consideration of the debt com- ssi nd of the American people.” €. the Italian Ambassador it Premier Mussolini had instructed him to remind the Amer- icans that Italy would honor its in- ternational oblizations “The premier,” he said, “has taken { into due account the advice repeatedly conveved to me by members of the American Government. ‘The sooner the better,’ said Secretary Kellogg to me, and ‘the sooner the better, re. peated to me the Secretary of the Treasury. Prime Minister Mussolini _has wished to take into consid- eratfon the sentiment of the American public opinion, which is anxious to huve the debt questions settled. Estimate Limits to Pay. “But the Italian government wishes a program of procedure, but it is|to reach a settlement which it mas i known the members expect to Visit | conscientiously be sure to fulfill, We | several of the large eastern cities dur- ! have therefore carefully estimated the ing their researches. {limits of our capacity to pay. It is 3 obvious that a settlement practically Cost Less Than Elsewhere. impossible to. fulfill o one. which It is the opinion of Col. Bell that |might cause disaster to the debtor is Washington will be able to install a |not desirable for either of us. high-pressure water system that will | “The basic principle of the capacity safeguard adequately the millions of | t0 pay is admitted—I am sure—by the dollars’ worth of public and private | Practical mentality of the Ametican buildings in the downtown section and | People and is also accepted, as I have yét will not involve a cost comparable Deen given to understand, by the to that necessary in other cities. -American Government. where streets are narrower and strue- | “We recognize, I repeat, our debt tures taller. | toward the United States, but we ask Fire Chief Watson is one of the ar- | that due account be taken of the real dent proponents of the pressure sys. | conditions, economical and financial, | tem: He believes t Washington's | i0, Which Italy finds itselt.” system should embody the best and | The Italian obligation is approxi- most efficient features of the various |Mately $2.138.000,000, and the Itallan pressure systems which are at pres- |EOVernment desires that its payment ent in operation throughout the coun- | be spread over a period of years. The try. To insure this he claims it is | necessary to make a survey of a large number of these systems | Mr. Cartwright is especially quali- fied for service on the committee through his work with the building | code committee of the Department of Commerce. He has specialized on such | matters as the committee will con- | sider for a number of years, taking an active part in the fire-protection phases of the building code work of the department. The Commissioners do not expect to | ask for appropriations for a press- {ure system here until the survey of the committee is completed, probably many months hence. SHOOTS LABOE LEADER | AND THEN KILLS HERSELF | Slain Man Was Long Prominent in Political Circles in Oklahoma. By the Associated Prees MUSKOGEE, Okla., June 25.—R. R. Stevens, prominent in labor union circles and known throughout Okla- homa as a political leader, was shot and killed early today by Mrs. Marie Ellis, who then committed suicide. The bodies were found lying across a bed in an apartment. Acquaintances told police Stevens and Mrs. Ellis recently had been married” but that the ceremony was | performed before their divorces from other mates had become final. Mrs. G. W. Stevens, sisterdnlaw of the slain man, said that he and the woman had quarreled over another woman. Stevens had been active in politics for 15 years. BARON COPPEE DIES. Belgian Had Been Convicted of Aiding Germany. PARIS, June 25 (). —The Brussels correspondent of the Petit Parisien re- ports the death of Baron Evence Cop- pee, wealthy Belgian manufacturer, who was prosecuted by the govern: ment for commerce with the enemy. Baron Coppee was convicted at Brussels last January of having sup- plied coal and other goods to the enemy during the German occupation. A fine of 20,000,000 francs was levied against him. In a previous trial, on a charge of treason, he received an’ acquittal. i Baku 0il Workers Strike. MOSCOW, June 25 (#).—Rosta, the officlal Soviet news agency, says the workers in _the privately operated oil fields of Baku, Azerabaljan, have gone on stril length of time to be ailowed, there- fore, constitutes one of the important phases of the question with which this and future conferences has to deal. It already was known that Italy was pressing for a delay in the be- ginning of actual remittances. Nelther the Treasury nor the embassy would indicate, however, the duration of the proposed moratorium, but it waa said in some quarters to be 10 years. Conference Is Secret. Secrecy is to surround all of the conferences on the Italian debt. The Treasury and embassy already have reached an agreement that comment shali be withheld by all of the par- ticipants in the discussions, and such information as is given out will be in a formal statement approved by both Mr. Mellon and the ambassador as the heads of the two commissions. The Itallan delegation includes the Ambassador and_Signor Alberti, a director of the Credito Italiano, one of Italy’s great banks; August Rosso, | counselor of the embassy, serving as the delegation’s secretary, and Romolo Angelone, the commercial attache, who will be the interpreter. ITALIANS TAXED TO LIMIT. ‘Want Debt Funded, But Cannot Now Begin Payments. BY FREDERIC WILLIAM WILE. Early in the debt funding negotia- tions, which Italy has now begun with the United States, it will be revealed that the Italian financial spirit is will- ing, but the flesh is weak. In other words, as Mussolini’s financing minis- ter, Signor de Stefani, has already formally declared the Italian budget “cannot support any further burden.” Italy has not a gold lira which she can spare. There is no gold whatever in circulation in the country. The Itallans are confronted by a heavily adverse balance of trade in their for- eign commerce. In the last fiscal year Italy bought from the United States more than twice as much as she sold us. In 1923 her total foreign exports were about $500,000,000, as against $775,000,000 in imports. Tax Payers Overburdened. On one point the Mussolini govern- ment has directed the Italian Ambas- sador at Washington, Signor de Mar- tino and Signor Alberti, the two nego- tiators, to speak plainly. That is, that Italy is not able to place another single farthing of tax burden on the already oppressed shoulders of her people. These, it is contended, can hardly carry their present load. -No government, this writer is assured in an authoritative quarter, would last 24 hours in Rome that attempted to fund the American debt of $2,138,643,- $52 to any extent whatever, either for interest or principal payments, by im- posing additional taxes on Italian citi- zens. Italian officlals do not conceal their vexation over a situation that finds _* " America clamoring for gontlnuea on Page 2, Column &) A