Evening Star Newspaper, July 23, 1925, Page 1

WEATHER. Weather Bureau Forecast.) tomorrow; much change in temperature. Temperaturss — Highest, pm. vesterday; lowest, 61, at § am. (U. 8. Fair tonight and today Full report on page 7. Closing N. Y. Stocks and Bonds, Page 28 not 87, at 1 Entered as second class matter post_office, Washington, D. G, STEPHENS TOBALK EVOLUTION CLASH HERE IF POSSIBLE Sees Many Flaws in Brief to Enjoin Payment of Edu- cators’ Salaries. DENIES SCHOOLS TEACH DISRESPECT FOR BIBLE Corporation Counsel Does Think Court Will Refuse Mo- tion to Dismiss. probability of a sensational ash between s ligious fundamentalists in Washing. ton, starting next v, is ver tlim, Corporation Counsel Francis H. Stephens said today The brief in the suit filed yesterday in the District Supreme Court by Toren H. Wittner, a Treasury clerk, seeking to enjoin the payment of sal- aries to Supt. of Schools Frank W. Ballou and W. P. Ha in the local high schools, on ground that they have permitted to be taught in the public schools matter inculcating disrespect for the holy Bible, in violation of a clause in the 1926 ‘appropriation act, is technical flaws that Mr. confident the case can be stopped at & preliminary hearing, he claims. Tuesd Sees Many Exceptions. Mr. Stephens carefully la ber of grounc axceptions. went on which he can make The chief of these are Jegal technicalities regarding the means of filing the suit. He will also enter a number of objections to the actual language of the brief itself, in which definite cases are stated. The corporation counsel prefers to block the suit in its initial stages, despite the fact that he recognizes there is opportunity for a new ac tion, flawlessly drawn up and en- tered, so long as the clause in que tion remains in the appropriation acf Mr. Stephens said today that he pr fers to leave the matter to Congress | clause | in the expectation that the either will be removed from the next appropriation act or inserted only after full consideration and Meanwhile he hopes nobody will choose bring up again technical auestion: might make n acrimonious trial. Mr. Stephens believes personally, hé said, that none of the material al- leged in the brief to be taught in the public schools here constitutes disrespect for the Bible, although e erything hinges on the word “disr spect,” the interpretation=of N would devolve upon a judge or jury. First Point Scored. The first point raised in the brief 18 that the teaching of the evolution- ary theory, to the effect that life evolved originally from a single pro- toplasmic cell, denied the story of the creation of life as recounted in Genesis and consequently is. “disre- spectful.” This would hardly hold in law, Mr. Stephens said, unless in teaching evolution the instructor call- ed attention to the discrepancies be- tween the scientific doctrine and Genesis and attempted to argue with the pupils that the two were incom- patible. The case is especially weak, he holds, if the evolutionary doctrine js not taught as positive fact but merely as a theory on the origin of life. It is an historical fact that such a theory has been propounded. It is merely ‘a matter of biological history to inform pupils that such a doctrine exists, he holds, and the pupils are left free to make up their own minds. In another paragraph the brief de- clares that by teaching the law of gravity in phy: cl. have denied the possibility of the phys- ical ascent of Elijah into Heaven and sary a long and of the physical resurrection of all men | on judgment da The would not hold in court, M believes. While the taught, the teachers cally state that be of this law some of the incidents related in Scripture are impossible or that it might not be natural power to set aside a natural law at his pleasure. ven an air- plane, Mr. Stephens holds, can overcome the law of gravity and ascend beyond the imit of vision” mentioned in the brief, and this with- out divine interference at all. Plans Not Completed. Mr. Stephens believes that further examination of the brief will reveal similar discrepancies which would en- able the court to pass on the action without actual scientific or religious testimony as to the truth or falsity of the matter taught. “I have not had tfme to complete my plans,” Mr. Stephens sald, “but 1 certainly shall make as many ob- jections as possible. But it seems apparent to me that the court must grant my motion to dismiss on the technical errors in bringing the suit alone without going into the question of what might constitute ‘disrespect for the Bible.' “If the case went further it seems exceedingly improbable to me that the matter taught in the District schools could be interpreted as ‘dis- respect, particularly within the meaning of the’ a A common- sense interpretation of the word would be In order, not a strained interpretation such as would be given it by an extremist: It would devolve into a case of determining what Congress meant by the word, and it does not seem likely that it ‘was meant to prevent the teaching of sclence in the public schools, as this suit would seem to indicate. ““There is something more at stake here than a fantastic issue. It in- volves a_question of the salaries of public officfals and this nece a very straightforward inter tion, not a strained one. A mar’s pay cannot be denied him on a very strained technicality. Issue Is Regretted. “The exact intention of the man who introduced the clause into the appropriation act is not so essential as the plain meaning of the word ‘dis- respect,’ as it would be understood by the average individual. “T regret exceedingly that such an (ssue has been brought up at this time. The clause has been in the act for two ye and has caused no trouble. Why should it, be brought up at this time when in a few months " (Continued on Page 2, Column 2} conclusion tephens w of gravity is do not specifi- Not scientists and re- | full of ephens 1s over the brief night and noted a num- debate which, if properly presented, | es instructors | possible for a super- | probably | BY ROBERT T. SMALL. DAYTON, Tenn., July 23.—Not only. is there to be a real anti-evolution biil introduced in the next session of Con- gress at Washington, but it wil) be al- most identic ~ with the Tehnessee statute. It wul provide that all Fed- eral ald and financial support be with- held from any school or institution which permits the’ teaching of any theory of evolution %hich denies “the story of the divine ¢reation of man, as taught in the Bible, or which contends that man has escended from a lower order of anfmals If such a’law should pass, it would affect all 4he public school systems of the District of Columbia, Hs Aloska, Porto Rico and the Philip pines, to say nothing of the Miiitary Academy at West Point and the Naval Academy at Annapolis ilso would withhold support from the Smithso- nd the tional Mu seum at ion, both of which have been engaged in research work along evolutionary lines. Walter White, superintendent of in- struction in this district of Tennessee, who was the official prosecutor of young Scopes, already has drawn up the bill for introduction in Congress, and told the writer today that he has | arranged for its formal presentation, although it has been published that one or two of Tennessee's Congress- men have declined to stand sponsor for the proposed measure. Mr. White expects that other anti- evolution measures willpour into the NARYLANDERS AR ON BELT ALROAD PLAN FOR SUBLRBS See Hindrance to Regional Development of Greater Washington. BY WILLIAM J. WHEATLEY. | Foreseeing a destruction of the | regional development of a beautiful metropolitan area in Maryland ad- | jacent to Washington, with the con- {sequent marring of a residential area | by the strides of commerce through of this territory are being. today to make a formidal 'k |against the Washington and Lough- borough Belt Line and Terminal Co. {The fight will be waged before the Maryland Public Service Commission |at Baltimore, by the citizens of this |territory, led by Maj. E. Brooke Lee, Secretary of State ¢t Marylnad, and a large landholder. | The rallroad’s petition asks the |Maryland commission to grant per- | mission to the company to exercise lits franchises, rights and privileges igranted to it under its certificates |of incorporation and the laws of the | State of Maryland. Could Seize Land at Will. With the granting of such a peti- | tion, it was pointed out, the company | would have authority to condemn |lands not only for’its rallroad line but for distances back from its im- | mediate right of way for the purpore { of bullding terminal facilities. There { would be nothing to prevent it from causing the erection of great terminals | and warehouses, and the lack of a | zoning law in this territory, coupled with . the at _right of eminent domain, it was added, would greatly aid in turning this section into a com- mercial development. | Already Maj. Lee has filed a letter | with the commission pointing out that | this is not a commerclal area, but en- tirely devoted to extensive residential development. A strong and united fight will be | waged against the granting of the petition, according to Maj. Lee, who | pointed out that the company had | obtained a charter from the Tax Com- | mission of Maryland, and the effect of i the granting of its petition would be to give it the right of eminent domain, a power enjoyed by the Government, and a power which few private cor- porations have. This section has been built up as a {large residential area by people who have erected fine homes because of the environment and secure in the be- {lief that it would always be residen- | tial, according to Maj. Lee. Should the charter be granted by the Public Utility Commission, it would have the { authority to go through this rapidly | developing residential territory, locate its line wherever it wanted it, and if the owners would not sell, then con- demn and take the land at a price fixed by a condemnation jury. Would Destroy Home Values. The mere laying of a railroad line it- self is not serious, it was added, butitis the consequences of such a line. There would be nothing, it is argued, to pre- vent the rallroad company cutting through a fine estate, or laying its of some of the fine homes being erect- ed in this territory, now the center of a most phenomenal growth and de- velopment. It is distinctly ‘a resi- dential gection now, but those who have examined the petition point out that the power which would be given the raliroad would practically amount to its destruction as such, and what " (Continued on Page 4, Column 1) Coolidge May By the Assoclated Prees. SWAMPSCOTT, Mass., July 23. —Definite information has been re- ceived here that the White House, which is undergoing extensive re- pairs, will not be ready for occu- pancy by President and Mrs. Cool- idge before September 1. As a re- sult, it is expected they will pro- long their stay In New until then, | Labor da - ‘While the President has not-com- pitted himselt. a3 £0 $he Brobeble ch 'Blow to Research Here Is Seen In Federal Evolution Statute Smithsonian and National Museums and | Schools Would Be Hit H__ard by Bill of Tennessean. the laying of a railroad line, citizens l line close up to the front doors even!t0 Chevy Chase Circle. Extend His Vacation;-’: White House Not Ready Before Sept. 1 WASHINGTON, D. C, Hauwse and Senate before the session is a week old next December, but he belleves by that time the appellate courts of this State will have upheld the Tennessee statute, and that it will be taken as a model for the pro- posed Federal legislation. Mr. White said he had not consulted Willlam Jen- nings Bryan as to his support, but that he expects it. Mr. Bryan purposes to devote a great deal of attention to at- tacking the ‘‘evolution conspiracy” prior to the time that he leads his pil- srimage to the Holy Lands next Feb- ruary, to spend Easter on the Mount of Olives. Among the antievolutionists here the move at Washington to stop sup- port of the District of Columbia schools under the existing statute, which ‘ment to any person who srespect for the Bible.” is regarded as a symptom rather than a | forceful step against the “evolu 3 is sweepir country. The clause in the District of Columbia_statute is not regarded as comprehensive enough to reach the theory of evolution. The anti-evolutionists place great store by the phrase in the Tennessee law which forbids teaching that “man descended from a lower order of ani- mals.” There are many things in the many theories of evolution which the anti’s admit they cannot put a finger on, but they can say that the children of the country shall not be made to believe that “man descended from a (Continued on Page 5, Column 1) | Mt. Shasta Flood Of Mud andAshes Pours Into Rivers By the Associated Pre REDDING, Cali July 23.—A flow of ashes and mud, originating approximately 8,000 feet up the side of Mount Shasta, is causing the waters of the Sacramento and the McCloud Rivers to run muddy in this region. Mud Creek, at Mec- Cloud, which was filled by a glacial flow from the mountain last year, is again a torrent of thick liquid CLAN LODED DIE USED ON RIVER TRIP “Potato Peeler” Defrauded| “Guests, Say “Boosters,” Sued for Assault. George White, flofist, and John S. Blick, ice dealer, who, with Henry G. Hanford, were recently sued for $25,000 damages for alleged assault by John 8. Simmons of 1819 Kenyon street northwest, as the result of an encounter on the recent boosters’ trip of the Merchants and Manufacturers’ Association, today filed pleas in the District Supreme Court denying any assault on Simmons, but admitting that they acted as a committee to recover property of members of the assoclation and of their guests which they said Simmons had improperly taken. No force, violence or threats were used, the respondents declare, and no property was taken except that to which the members and guests were rightfully entitled. Mr. Hanford was not served with summons in the suit until a few days ago, and the time for filing his plea has not expired. Attorneys Joseph A. Rafferty and Michael M. Doyle appear for Mr. White, while Attorneys Alvin (Continued on Page 2, Column 4.) POLE REMOVAL PLAN IS BEING CONSIDERED Connecticut Avenue Problem Be-! fore Commissioners—Gas Ex- tension Also Up. Decisions may be reached this aft- ernoon by the Public Utilities Commis- sion on the removal of trolley poles from the center to the sides of Con- necticut avenue and on the question of whether gas mains should be ex- tended along the Conduft road to serve the residents of Potomac Heights. Both matters have been pending for some time. The commission members will not decide until they meet this afternoon how far out Connecticut avenue the removal of the poles should be or- dered. One point to be settled is whether the trollay poles should be moved from the center to the curb only as far out as Kiingle Bridge, or all the way It is probable that the decision also will call for the placing of wires of the Potomac Electric Power Co. un- der ground on Connecticut avenue as far as Kiingle Bridge. The residents of the Conduit road section appeared before the commis- sion about two weeks ago and made a strong plea for the extension of gas service to their homes by the George- town Gas Light Co. 5 date of his return to the Capital, he is known to be nxious to escape the heat, whiclf he probably would encounter if+he terminated his va- cation in-August. Before leaving New Epgland he plans to make an- other trip to Plymouth, Vt., to visit his-aged father, Col. John C. Cool- Jjdge, who has recovered from his recent illness and operation. The President also expects to property. make 2 number of trips to nearby points, as he has done on several occasions since his arrival here a ~month agoy WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION CHINESE BRIGANDS SLAY AMERICAN; CAPTURE ANOTHER Morgan Palmer of New York | Dies While Defending Ranch Lands. U. S. TO DEMAND PROMPT RELEASE OF DOCTOR Comment Here Withheld Until a Full Investigation Is Made of Killing. Br the Associated Press. PEKING, July 23.—Morgan Palmer, an American, has been killed by bandits at his ranch, on the Sungari River, near Harbin. Dr. Howard, an eye speclalist, attached to the Rqcke- feller Hospital, was captured at the same time. Consular advices from Kalgan state that Palmer was killed on July 20 while defending his property against bandits. Mr. Palmer and his mother, Dr. Howard and his son James, and an American trader named Baldwin of Kalgan, Chihli Province, together with his wife and child, were visiting Palmer's ranch, which is in the Man- vhurian Province of Kirin, when the attack was made. R Still in Captivity. The consular advices say that Dr. Howard last night was still in cap-| tivity; the others are “safe for the | present,” but their whereabouts is not | known. The American consul at| Mukden, Samuel Sobokin, has gone to | see the military government of Kirin in an effort to effect the release of Dr. Howard. The Rockefeller Hospital has been advised that Dr. Howard's son, James, is safe on a customs launch at Fu-| chochen. Mr. Palmer was connected with the salt administration in Peking, but re- tired some time ago to conduct an ex- peri aental farm. OFFICIALS DISTRESSED. Incident Comes Just as U. S. Was Trying to Help China. Officials here were manifestly dis- tressed over the killing of one Ameri- can and the capture of another yes- terday by Chinese bandits, but there | was no indication that the develop- ment would interrupt negotiations now in progress for a friendly effort by the powers to help China out of her do- mestic troubles. Formal comment on the raid on the mer raneh was withheld pending | full official investigation. Meantime, however, American authorities in | China are expected to take prompt measures to secure release of Dr. How- | ard, the American held captive, and the punishment of those responsible | for his abduction and for the death of | Morgan Palmer. Heretofore Americans in China have been noticeably immune from the at- tacks directed against the nationals of other countries, and the first impulse here was to regard yesterday's inci- dent as a detached display of banditry and not an indication of any wide- spread move against Americans. The killing of Mr. Palmer and the capture of Dr. Howard are looked upon as the more regrettable because they occurred just at the time when the American Government was demon strating again its traditional friend- ship for China by remission of the re- maining payments due under the Boxer indemnity agreement. It is the earnest hope of Washington that the Chinese authorities will take prompt | and effective steps, not only to clear up the incident of yesterday, but to prevent a recurrence. PALMER A NEW YORKER. Was Engineer and Worked With | American Red Cross. NEW YORK, July 23 (#).—Morgan Palmer, Kkilled by bandits in Man.| churia, formerly lived in Plattsburg, N. Y. He was an engineer and, after many vears with the Chinese rail- ways, joined the American Red Cross for service in Stberia and China. As | a field agent during the great Chinese “(Continued on Page 3, Column 4.) RAIL HEADS INCUR IRE OF CHICAGO DRY AGENT plal b Private Police Prevent Search for Carload of Beer in Yards, En- forcement Chief Complains. By the-Associated Press. CHICAGO, July 23—Railroad trunk line presidents would be sum- moned to the United States district attorney’s office here to explain their attitude on_prohibition enforcement by Charles W. Vursell, chief enforce- ment agent in’the State prohibition director's office. His plan to sum- mon the rail heads resulted from an altercation -his men had last night| with New York Central Railroad de- | tectives. The railway police intercepted the agents when they went to the rail- road vards in an effort to find a car- load of beer reported to have been shipped from New York. Vursell said his men were shown a letter purporting. to have been. written by | the president of the New York Cen- tral lines instructing the railroad po- lice to prevent prohibition agents! from making seizures on railroad POLES KILL RED OFFICER. Border Patrol Shoots Man Who Tries to Corrupt Them. WARSAW, Poland, July 23 (#). Another fatal shooting on the Russo- Polish horder was reported today. A Bolshevik officer tried to persuade a Polish patrol to adopt Bolshevism and, taking the silence of the Poles as agreement, he crossed the line, when THURSDAY, JULY 23, | Abd-el-Krim Expected the Poles killed him. Growing anxious about the officer, the Bol-! shevist unit passed over the frontler | and a fight developed. The Poles, ! being less numerous, withdrew, while ! the Russians returned to their own side of the frontier with the body of the officer, News Note—President Coolidge Caught in Rough Thunderstorm Gale off Massachusetts Coast. FRENCH PURSUING RETREATING RIFFS to Mass Forces to Attack on Two Wings. By whe Associated Press. F! French Morocco, July 23— The Riffian tribesmen now are in full retreat from Ouergh River northward, closely pressed by a French detach- ment with artillery along the right bank of the stream. This, together with other indications gathered by the French intelligence services, shows that the leader of the rebellious tribesmen, Abd-el-Krim, has given up the idea of attacking on the center and is reverting to the plan of attacking on the wings, for which he is massing his regular troops in the regions of Ouezzan and Taza. Ouezzan is located about 60 miles northwest of Fez, headquarters of the French in Morocco, and objective of Abd-el-Krim; Taza is about the same istance to the east. French Add to Forces. Reinforcements for the French army are reaching the zone in in- creasing numbers, and the French command says it is in a position to deal adequately with any offensive which may be started by the tribes- men. At any rate, the French are mak- ing plans for their own offensive if Abd-el- Krim does not come to terms within a reasonable time. Local actions continue to be fought at different points along the far-flung battle line, French headquarters re- porting that these invariably turn to the advantage of the Fgench. The vigorous tactics of the French army are beginning to impress those tribes which have been wavering between the Sultan of Morocco and Abd-el- Krim, notably in the Ouezzan region. Nevertheless, the agents of Abd-el- Krim are continuing to work upon the tribes behind the line, which, being out of sight of the actual fight- ing, are more easily won over. REBEL SOUGHT PEACE. Abd-el-Krim Tells of Overtures to Lyautey. CAIRO, Egypt, July 23 UP.—In an open letter addressed to the French Parliament and published in the Egyptian newspaper Al Siassah here, Abd-el-Krim, the Riffian rebel lead- er in Morocco, declares he has made every effort within his power to reach an understanding with Marshal Lyautey, French governor general of Morocco. Abd-el-Krim sald that in 1923 he told M. Painleve, the present French premlier, he desired friendly relations with France and that he has constantly attempted such relations. The Riffian leader, whose followers are now fighting the Frerch and Spanish in Morocco, explains that he “has no press,” in which to present his side of the case and therefore sends his letter to a Cairo news- paper. 2 He declares the Riffians have only made just demands, but that Marshal Lyautey has always refused to con- sider them and that the marshal has done everything possible to impair Abd-el-Krim's honor and dignity. Sought Boundary ' Parley. Abd-el-Krim _states he sought a boundary conference . with Marshal Lyautey two years ago, but the mis- sion failed and simultaneously French troops advanced toward Beni Zeroual. 'We did not interfere,” the Riffian leader says, “‘until we saw the French coming into our own country. Then we felt the time for friendly negotia- tions had passed. “For two years Marshal Lyautey has encouraged the Moroccan tribes to oppose my people. Yet we never opened fire until the French artillery had bombarded and their airplanes had bombed our tribes * * * it is a disgrace that two great powers like France and Spain should combine against one small nation which is only defending its rights.” The letter denies that any Euro- peans or bolshevists are participating in Abd-el-Krim's campaign._ Lecointe Offers Services. PARIS, July 23 (P).—Sadl Lecointe, French speed piiot, who for sevéral years held numerous world records, has volunteered for service in Mo- rocco against Abd-el-Krim's Riffian tribesmen. Other famous French civillan pilots also are said to be ready to join up if Lecointe’s offer is accepted by the ministry of war and the duration of enlistment limited to the actual period of fighting operations. 1925—FORTY-TWO PAGES. |Radio Programs—Page 27.| ¢ Foening Star. FoR ROUGH Pt CONGRESSIONAL L KA A o& ; STRIKE, ~— CRUISINGTY Autoists’ Pet Alibi, “Card Blew Away,” Foiled by Stickers It will take a high wind in future to blow away the little cards police- men place in automobiles that are parked overtime. The next shipment of these no- tice cards will have a coating of mucilage on the back of them and theofficers will paste them on the inside of the windshields, where it s expected the cards will safely await the return of the driver. Heretofore the police have been attempting to fasten the notices to the levers on the steering wheels. Acting Superintendent of Police Evans sald today that so many motorists complain that the cards blow away before they receive them that he has decided to try sticking them to the windshields. FRENCH DEBT BODY GOING T0 ENGLAND Funding Negotiations Will Start at Once—New Plan " Studied for U. S. BY CONSTANTINE BROWN. By Cable ta The Star and Chicago Daily News. PARIS, July 23—The French cab- inet has decided to send forthwith a commission of officials of the treasury to England to start execution of the war debt funding question. It is likely that Finance Minister Caillaux and Forelgn Minister Briand will go to London early in August for the pur- Dose of connecting the question of war debts and the security pact on the same lines as were decided last year between Ramsay MacDonald and Ed- ouard Herriot. Plans for funding the American war debt ate less definite. For the time being the French cabinet believes it better to approach the American Gov- ernment unofficially. It is proposed to send to Washington a commission of Frenchmen in business and politics to start negotiations with the Treasury and State Departments. New Plan Studied. French treasury experts are begin- ning to realize that the suggestion of a Jlong-term moratorium cannot be well received in the United States and are working out new a plan which they belleve may be found more ac- ceptable. The general lines of this plan are, according to a reliable source, as follows: France does not pay at present any interest on her political debt, but pays some $25000,000 interest in amortization for the commercial debt contracted during and since the war. This amount decreases yearly in pro- portion with the reduction of the debt. It is calculated that the commercial debt will be wiped out in 10 years, and France proposes to transfer to the account of the political debt the previously mentioned interest, which will gradually increase wiht economic rehabilitation of France. Two years hence transferrable amounts " from the commercial debt will decrease by some $5,000,000 and France intends to pay this difference as the initlal payment for political debts, thus not requesting too long a. moratorium before starting payments. (Copyright. 1925, by Chicago Daily News Co.) Bee Sting Kills Man. AMERICUS, Ga., July 23 (#)—The sting of a_bee caused the death here yesterday of Walten Knox, 32, of Preston, Ga. Policewomari . Loses For “Breaking Up Party Too Soon” For the second time in two ‘weeks, Gladdis Black, policewoman, falled to secure the conviction of “mashers” when Judge Macdonald in Police Court today dismissed charges of disorderly conduct against Frank Bromley and Thomas_Blackman. Miss Black told the court she was walking down Seventh street behind two women yvesterday when a car drove up alongside and its two male occupants began a con- versation with the women. One of the women went to the car while Miss Black said she asked the other one if they knew the meén. When she was told the men were strangers, Miss Black announced to the car occupants that they werg ¥* The Star’s every city bl as fast as th “From Press to Home Within the Hour” carrier system covers ock and the regular edi- tion is delivered to Washington homes e papers are printed. Yesterday’s Circulation, 93,927 Means Associated Press. TWO CENTS. ADMIRALTY STAND FOR CRUISERS WINS Cabinet “Economy Group” Is Routed and Sea Lords Wil Not Resign. | Br the Associated Press. LONDON, July 23.—Prime Minister | Stanley Baldwin announced in the| House of Commons today that the | British government’s naval construc tion program included two cruisers to be lald down in October, two next | February and three yearly thereafter, making four cruisers to be construct- ed this financial year and three next. | The British government also has| decided upon the annual construc-| tion of nine destrovers and six sub- marines, together with certain auxil lary vessels, beginning with the finan- cial year 1926-27, this program to be continued during the normal life of the present Parliament, Baldwin an- nounced. Some of the new cruisers will con. form to the existing 10,000-ton type, and the remainder will be smaller and | less expensive, of a type approximat- | ing 8,000 tons, to be designed by the admiralty. Saving Is Planned. The additional expenses this year which Prime Minister Baldwin esti- mated at £527,170 sterling (about $2,- 600,600) above the present navy esti-| mates, would be met by the admiralty | Dy savings under other departments | and by funds which are likely to ac- | crue by not spending money appro-| priated. Concerning the cost of the program in future years, the prime minister explained that the admiralty would | make every effort by effecting sub- stantial reductions in maintenance and other charges on the navy esti- mates in order to diminish the cost of | the new construction. H A new committee of three persons | not connected with the government would be appointed as soon as possi- ble to examine the costs of l’r‘lmi tenance in all branches of the British fighting services, he said. It the morning newspapers are cor- rectly informed, the threatened resig- | nations of the sea lords of the ad-| miralty have been averted by the sur- ¥ander of the “economy group™ of the abinet, headed by Winston Churchill, hancellor of the exchequer, to W. Q.| Bridgman, first lord of the admiralty, | nd the sea- lords. i Admiralty’s Stand. | Mr. Churchill, as guardian of the | ireasury, had insisted that the coun-* try could not afford to lay down more than two new cruisers this year and three next year. The adniiralty, after | modifying its original deraands, took a. stand on the bullding of four cruisers this year and three next, and, accord- ing to the newspapers, has won its battle. It is stated that the admiralty, hav- ing won this point, is willing to cut naval expenditures in other directions | and essay the closing of the Chatham- Pembroke and perhaps the Gibraltar dock yards to offset the cost of the cruisers. Difficulties arise, however, over the question of employing thousands of | workmen engaged at the dock yards, | for whom occupation would have to | be found. How this is to be met is | not stated, but it is ‘assumed that the premier will make an announcement on the subject today. Stack Slayer’s Appeal Refused. CAIRO, Egypt, July 23 (®).—The court has refused the appeal of the eight men who in June were sen- tenced to death for the assassination last November of Sir Lee Stack, sirdar, | or British commander-in-chief of the Egyptian army. ‘Mashing’ Case under arrest, but they paid little attention and started to drive away. Miss Biack said she climbed into the car and told them she had a revol- ver, threatening to damage their automobile. The men drove out New Jersey avenue where, they told her, she said, that if she would forget about the matter, they would take her back. Agreeing to the arrangement, she testified, she was driven back into town and hailed a policeman who arrested Bromley and Blackman. Then the policewoman could not find the two witnesses to produce in court, so the judge was forced to dismiss the case on the ground that the policewoman ‘“broke up the party too soon.” { company {every other company | stopwatches of the same make |timers were Battalion Chief Thomas ENGINE 23 LOWERS EIGHT-SECOND TINE | INFIRE SPEED TEST ‘Wins Star Cup and Sets New National Mark as Fast- est Company. 40 ORGANIZATIONS BEAT RECORD OF BALTIMORE Victors Break Triple Tie of Three ‘Washington Companies, Made Yesterday. t two and one-fifth secon the big gong in their pleted the strokes to called them 13, Engine Company ted on G street near Twenty-second, had raced clear across the sill of its door and was thunder. down the thoroughfare to the v scene of action By so doing it won the honor of being declared the® fastest engine company in Washington, obtained clear title to The Evening Star cup for a year, knocked three seconds off the best time made by Baltimore's banner company, and earned the title of the fastest fire-fighting outfit in the United States until another compan working under official test, betters its record Breaks Triple Tie. From the second the gong began to sound the box until the company was on its way—clear of the house and flying at top speed down G street— ctly seven and onefifth seconds psed. (It takes five seconds to ring the gong.) That broke the tie be- tween engine companies 6, 22 and 9, which had established new records of eight seconds each yesterday and the day before in the official test of the entire Washington fire department to | determine the supremacy of its fast- est compan: Incidentally, the victory of Engine 23 added new argument to the truth of the proverb that “the last shall be the first.” - Twenty-three was the last to be ited of the 40 or more in Washington, and it seemed al- most certain to the judges that-it would be necessary to have the three companies tied with recomds of § seconds run the tie off Saturda The most modern engines in Washington Pad failed to beat it Tested as Others. The same conditions under which in Washington had been tested were followed by No. 23. The extreme rear of the appara- tus was placed 39 feet from the door. Drivers and men stood well back of this. At the first stroke of the gong all ran to their stations, the motor was started running but the engine could not turn a wheel until the box number had been completed and the captain shouted “Box 13, Go™ Two timers stood at the door with The O'Connor and a reporter for The Star. W. W. Dean, fire prevention engi- neer of the War Department, stood beside the apparatus to make sure it did not start off ahead of the com- pleted alarm. Private Biondi, aid to Chief O'Connor, sounded the alarm. The watches were stopped as the ex treme rear edge of the engine passed over the farthest sill of the ho: which meant that the engine was ac- tually on its way at full speed. Have Fine Records. apt. B. W. Weaver commanded the record-breaking company, and Private Paul B. Ballinger drove the engine. Both have enviable records in the de- partment. Capt. Weaver, whose home is at 230 Eleventh street northeast, joinedl the fire department in 1800. He Wwas decorated for heroism the night of the Knickerbocker disaster and only recently was commended by the Dis- trict Commissioners for his efficient work at the Kann's warehouse fire. Pvt. Ballinger became a fireman in 1918. He, too, was decorated for her- oism on the night of the Knicker- bocker disaster and is known as one of the best drivers in Washington. As every judge agreed this morning, he did not make a mistake in getting his engine under way. Many other drivers “stampeded” in the excite: ment of the test, but Ballinger had his engine turning over fast and his gear enmeshed before the gong had finished its last stroke. At the word “Go” he was off like a bullet and never let up until he was part of the way down the block. Engine Cranked by Hand. The winning apparatus was crank- ed by hand. One of the surprises of the whole test has been the apparent | superfority of hand-cranked engines {over those with self-starters. In | nearly every instance the hand-crank {ed apparatus made the best time, de- ! spite the fact that it is much older. The difference was noticed, however, in the inability of the self-starters to get their engines going before four or five turns. Only one was necessary with the hand-cranked machines. Another outstanding achlevement of the test was the record of the fire- boat Firefighter yesterday. Al though it was realized the boat could not possibly win the cup, the speed with which it got under wiy was amazing. From the second the gong began to tap of “13" until the stern of the stocky little craft had slip. ped past the end of its dock only 21 seconds elapsed. Lieut. G. W. Wells was in command, Pllot G. E. Kline handled the wheel and Engineer T. W. Reed threw in the throttle that set the propeller going. It required five times as many motions to get the Firefighter under way as it did to start the engine companies’ motors. Results of Tests. The remaining tests of late yester- day and today, which completed the test of the entire department with En- gine 23, resulted as follows: Engine 27, Benning, Lieut. F. H. Samuels commanding, Pvt. F. E. Warner driv- ing, time 9 seconds; Engine 19, Ran- dall Highlands, Capt. C. C. Wolz com- manding, Pvt. I. H. Willlamson driv- ing, time 11 seconds; Engine 25, Con- gress Helghts, Capt. M. Coughlin com- manding, Pvt. J. L. McGarvey driv- ing, time 12 seconds; Engine 15, An: costia, Sergt. C. H. Bray commanding, Pvt. D. J. Jamieson driving, time 9§ seconds; Engine 18, Ninth and K streets southeast, Sergt. C. E. Thrift commanding, Pvt. W. H. Boswell, driving, time 11 seconds; Truck (Continuedhon Page 2, Column 39