Evening Star Newspaper, December 10, 1925, Page 2

) L 13 WARRINER SCORES INCHOT PROPOSAL Anthracite Leader Declares Coal Peace Plan is Impracticable. for early coal industry rriner, chairman of the Ltors’ conference, in an address here today before the American Mining Congress, described “chimerical “impracticable’ Pinchot propo for cessation of the i1 war in the anthracite fields, “From a pract Warriner dec Pennsylvania mw i o pot of inbow, pusition wot out hope the W opet Tiolding no pea in Samuel D. anthracite hard as and re 18 industri Gov. ent 1 standpoint,” Mr red, “the Governor. of ht just as well have zold at the end of to expect that his 4 promote the inter- the industry and its workers the sumne time satisty the rea- nz public Speakinz Davis the o before, told the congress malady from which t W1 industry suffers mer He exy that creation of a “fact ssion” within the in sgests the most acces solving the problems wbility of operation in the Soft coal fields. platform Secretary of that e bitumi today sed -om s Labor the tirn belief that a and ¢ means ect ploy the Touches Upon Strike. referred only ud in the anthracite w words he strongly Federal administra with fa upon = t vernment inter. vention and arbitration at this time. fon has never with the American work he said, and voluntary in more bricfly to the f field, but intimated th; ry dauvis t the 0 estions Compulsor found favor was unsparing condemnat of government declaring early in his specter of GGovernment regulation and control, priunities afforded governmental operati the anthracite s interfered with ecor Warriner, too in his interference. “The ervention 1 the ssible or ownersh have often nic settlement “While some people living along the Atlantic seaboard who have been ac customed to burn anthracite look upon being invested with cer- s terest. inasmuch as these People frecly ise other fuels, and are doing so in increasing numbe; seems clear that anthracite co no n an essential commodity. “The (ttempted State inter- tion in Pern vivania ignores these 11 factors as well as all legal mposed by Federal commer restric ion irning abruptly from the at- tempted State intervention to the pos- sibility of interference by congre sional_action, Warriner declared that “unless 1 ve proved that anthracite essential and can t 2 monopoly is W nt that the t accorded it should differ from that accorded other mining and M. cont “inevitably pr price may be trol of methc tribution I as products of industry Mr. Warriner thought slidge should be vernment facts.” He Rgencies o to " he added, sumes that whatever can be obtained. Con- s of operation and, dis- ust conform to such regu- wposed upon other President supported in his imission to compile 1id there should also be mediation and lation promote voluntary arbitration. “As President Coolidge said in his message t gress.” Mr. Warriner concluded ‘hose who seek the pro- tection of civilization should be read t0 the methods of civilizatior commonsense of the American should compel of disputes ind industriz B by the rules her than by a re- wartare.” U.S. HYDR(.]-ELVECTRIC ENERGY SURVEYED sort to \riny engineers are investigating the hydro-e the a pro act in ctric energy resources of with nd harbors United States in accordance <ion of the rivers approved March 3, 1925, Surveys which in Columbia and o Marvland. Vieginia. West Vir I Pennxylvania, are be- > by Maj. J O'Connor, the nd and the reported to Congress of present ses district District of the Potomac cludes Fig lagal engineer, hers, YRS s the close the riy five streams in the general the Potomac have been nd several were found ca hy development nstruction of 54 dams and That list does not include Falls project, the advan- ich have been fully de- previous reports the wa fgspecte pable of reser the Gre tages of seribed Whe reports w vailubie method oirs n he evs are completed indicating the power plants ributing the ind towns. il contain esti the proposed de for Biten of nearby « velopment in eact 5,000 GALLONS OF WHISKY TAKEN HERE IN NOVEMBER 356 Dry Raids by District Police, According Arrests Made in to Report. wallons of whisky of h we zed tment and or- rests made for violation of the Vol- stead law during Novembe cording fo a report submitted to Commissioner Frederick A today by Maj Bdwin B superintendent of police. Tn i the police seized 36 gallons of cognac, 20 gallons of wine high-powered beer were seized. The report showed that there were 1,141 arrests for intoxication during the month, 4 for driving while drunk and 14 for drinking in public places, making o total 1159 violations of the Shepherd law, as compared with 941 last year. Five thousand and 4,000 by the Police Dey witisky and mash lons of alcohol, allons of gin, and 86 hottles of Five stills also 1 ion to the 1 Resolution for Recognizing Soviet. Senator Borah ldaho, chairman of the foreign. relations committee, to- day introduced a resolution which, if adopted, would declare the Senate favorable to the recognition of the oviet government of Russia by the Tnited States. Senator Borah asked that the resolution be tabled, indicat- ing that he will call it up at an early date, The adminisgration has been op to the recognition Soviet government, eful adjudi- | of | | i \ble expectations of the consum- Mthat I suc | | | is { number | | ! { | | | | | of the | believed that he would go straight if ‘Ihe thought some one trusted him; he siek | GOV. FERGUSON THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1925. DEFENDS PARDON RECORD ON GROUNDS OF MERCY {Poor, Sick and Needy Recipients of Her Humanily, She Says, Answering Critics—Flays Ministers of Gospel Mixi _(In the fourth artivie of the series, giring her side of (he battie againat im peachment.” the woman Governor of Teras defends Ner pardon record. She deciares that she is thankful for the opportunity of extending miercy. and roundly attacks the clergymen who hare criticized her.) BY MIRIAM A. FERG Governor of Texas ARTICLE 1v. The Opposition to My Pardon Record. | AUSTIN, Tex., December 10.—They would impeach me In Texas because I | hive been merciful. | They go around howling that I am emptying the prisons L challenge them, 1 have chal- lenged them before, to show an In stance in which a pardon has not been granted because 1 wish to show mercy. | And they answer me with one shou “Numbenr: 1 shoul DN, perhaps expluin at the first ceeded a governor whose purdon policy had been very stringent. In four vea in the governor's oftice Mr. Neffissued 199 pardons. He abol ished the pardon board. It was thus that I inherited a large of convict whose records wére clear, who had been in prison for vears, who were old, friendles: Should Recognize Effort. It is my belief that a prison is not for the purpose of exacting a pound of flesh or demanding an eve for an eye. When 4 man has made an hon est effort to reform. I think the State should recognize such an effort, should encourage such men. should make some reward. We have a bunch of people down here in Texas who have been as maud lin over convicts only politicians can get. They have raved over con ditions in the penitentiary—and condi- tions are bad enough, it is true. But these men rave over the conditions— for column after column in the news- papers. Their ravings go for nothing more than talk and for the expendi ture of State funds for investigations that et nowhere. They whoop and wail over the poor tubercular pris- oners. Then when ] came along and par doned some of these tuberculars that they mizht go home to die with their OWn people, T was faced with a bitter, vituperative opposition I have found scores of conviets in the prison, forgotten by the world, old and weary, victims of long terms for small sins—and T have given the: © 1o o out in the wo honest living once more. i Case Individual. cha me with “‘whgle: pardons,” and my answer is that each man in the prison is an individual case. They charge me with wis to build up votes for future paigns. And I answer With the courts of “justice” in the State of Texas, where the blindfolded Koddess often manages to slip off the handkerchief long enough to cast one eve on the defendant’s pocketbook, it has been my observation that the rich man’s case hangs on and on until the courts forget him—but the poor devil, after the lawyers get through with him, is so stony broke that the T of three meals looks like a mil- lionaire’s bank roll—and poor men have no political influence, particu- larly poor men who are also ex-con yicts! My worst _enemies charged that T have eve penny from a pardoned convict, and for political influence, I doubt if there are five men, either among those pardoned or those vet in prison. who could influence five votes for any man o= woman running for office in Tex: The accused men who have influence gei their cases continued o they never get to pri One of the most remarkable sources of opposition to my pardon record has come from the preachers of Texas. Political Mii Men who ma hey =3 cam have never r gotten one ivur on Sunday. on Mond: have forgotten wbout the and have gone right back political game. A lot of this opposition may be laid to the door of my Ku Klux enemies. It is a well known fact that hun dreds of the preachers of this State were leading members of the hooded ovder during its heyday in Texas. Not only were they active members. hut they allowed hooded and disguised men to walk into their churches dur ing services, and they publicly cepted donations from the in eniptre. Some of these men have led hue and_cry against dons. They have forgotten that mercy “falls on the just and the un just.” They know better. I am sure, but their actions only show the ex tent to which men will go when con- trolled by prejudice rather than by reason and justice. Up in Dallas last Summer, groes were convicted of a horrible re. They were sentenced to be clectrocuted in 30 da nd the exe cution day fell on a Sund T extended the day of execution five <. s0 that the State would not be cailed on to turn the Sabbath Day into a butcher's day What happened? This is what happened: My office was deluged with telegrams, telephone calls and letters, demanding that T re- voke that extension and allow those negroes to be electrocuted on Sunday! I was condemned, threatened and ac cused! And a large number of those nessages came from ordained min. isters of the gospel! Think pf that; a man who has taken as his life work the preaching of mercy and love, who claims that he walks the paths the Saviour trod, who represents the Man who pardoned a thief on the cross. would see the day dedicated 1o God turned into shumbles and would criticize me be cause I vefused to join in such prac. tice! v morning sermons into the sible in the granting par two ne- Served Long Time. statute on the Texas the indeterminate s provides that men be sentenced from to 10 3 . 10 to 25 years, and so on. It provides that when such a convict | has served the minimum time of his | sentence with a clear record, he is| eligible to executive clemency. Dozens of the men I have pardoned since 1 took office are men who have served almost the maximum of their time, with clear records. They were promised by the law under which they | were sentenced that they might look | for another chance, and T have given | it to them. Yet my enemies publish | their condemnation of “me beciuse I am upholding that law! | T have no maudlin sentiment about conviets. 1 know there are men in the penitentiary who have murdered cruel- | 1r. who have stolen cruelly. who have | lived cruelly, who have sinned cruelly | azainst soclety. Yet who am I tol judge that some of those men will not live: right when they are given another | chance? There are u few men who have abused their pardons, of course. Yet I point to the man who was known as the “worst man in the Te&as peni- tentiary.” I pardoned him because I There s a books known enterce law. Th | b ng in Politics. had no advocate, and T was heartily condemned for my belief. And he has repaid me with a fine record, a good Job, steady work, an honest endeavor to justity my belief in him. My opponents have counted and published all my acts of executive clemency as full Here is the truth: been Governor of Texas, up to De- cember 5, I have granted 188 fur- loughs, §7 paroles, 131 restorations of citizenship, 18 revocations of pardons and furloughs, 22 forfeitures and re. mission of bonds, 22 remissions of jail sentences, 7 communtations of death sentences to life imprisonment, 2 re- prives, 460 conditional pardons and just exactly 209 full pardons. political enemies make capital of my 1,126 “pardons,” which happens to be the sum of all those proclamations. As long as I am governor, as long 1s 1 know that some father will be more profit to the State of Texas out feeding his little children than stay- ing in prison long as some sick mother asks me for a visit from her son, as long as some ¥ife asks me for a furlough for her bedoved though err- ing husband, so long will I thank God that 1 am unafraid of the vultures who camp on my fence, and so long will that 4 woman, sits in the governor's chair to extend mercy Since 1 have corral (Copsright, 1925.) (Tomorrow tniue her ple her Gov. Ferguson will con the vindication of recrod in office.) EXTENSIVE STREET REPAIRING PLANNED D. C. Officials Hopeful Congress Will Act Favorably on Items in Budget. An extensive street will be undertaken Congress favorably on items in the District budget. it was indicated today by Maj. Daniel J. Donovan, Dis trict auditor A supplemental appropriation labeled “urgent” has been sent to Con sress which includes an item of $520.000 for paving, resurfacing and grading, $500.000 of which will come out of the gasoline tax fund. An additio $150.000 would come out of the Distri appropriation for the next fise but made available us soon sed. Another item paving s included in the budget as well as an item for $20.000 for pav ing streets abutting property owners would be required to pay one-half the cost under the Bor- land amendment District officials are hopeful that a major portion of the funds will ailable early in the Spring, so to delay the street improv ment program repair program in the Spring if s the bill POSTAL RESOLUTION | PASSED BY SENATE Authorizes Continuation of Tempo- rary Rates Until Opening of Next Session. By the Associated Pre The Senate today adopted tion introduced by Chairman of the post oftice authorizing continuation of the pres. ent temporary postal rates until the opening of the next session of Con gress, or until the committee now vestigating the rates completes port HARRISON ASSAILS resolu Moses Senate DAWES' SENATE RULE | REFORM CAMPAIGN from (Continued st Page.) vention. If they had known, it woul not have been necessary for them first to run to Senator Borah of Idak then to Gov widen of Tlinois and then to keep the wires hot to Washington appesling to Secret Hoover and (hen K to Lowden ur til they found that no one else would” take the nomination and they offered it to the present p the Senate.’ Again the Scnate larly the Democrats enator Harrison defended the pres ent rules of the Senate. declaring that they guarded the interests of people and provided for full and free consideration of the important mat ters which came betore the Senate. He referred to the fact that in the early days of the Senate there had been a cloture’ rule and that it had been abandoned after being in effect 17 years. Warns Against Mistake. & Senator Harrison warned the Vice President against mistaking the laughter of the American people for applause, and the cheers of the people for their sentiment. The Mississippi Senator said that he would close with a parable. ‘“There was once a horse, or perhaps a mule, whose owner had trouble with it,” said Senator Harrison. “The owner tied a bell about the neck of the mule. The mule and ran away to the city and when he was in the city the people laughed at im, and the mule mistook their laughter for applause. Senator Harrison said that the Vice President apparently had kept formula for a reform of the rules a secret. I wonder when ed Lo our gr: presiding officer?” rison. “Perhaps it was on that fa- mous March 4. 1925. The President of the United States was here, who him- self had so long enforced the Senate rules. It was then that the Vice President snatched the bridegroom’s robes and plastered his name on the first pages of the newspapers with attack on the Senate rules. When Senator Harrison concluded, discussion of the Nenate rules was abandoned, Senator Heflin of Alabama discussing the estimating of the cot ton crop by the Government. laughed, partieu- the idea first oc ous and well poised pid Senator Har- Continues Embassy at Vatican. PARIS, December 10 (P).—The French Chamber of Deputies today voted, 280 to 108. to maint#in the credits for the upkeep of the French embassy at the Vatican. In a recent New Zealand election Miss Melville Lynn was elected as the first woman member of Parlia- ment. Yet my | polttical | 1 thank God | wife, and a mother | it | vear, | of £130.000 | roperty of which | be- | committee | in- | its re- | ding officer of | the | heard the bell | his | DISARMING HOPE DEVOLVESONU. 3. American Aid Essential, Says Brazilian, Proposing Entente With League of Nations. By the Associated Press: NI Switzerland, December 10.—An entente cordiale between the | League of Nations and the United jStates for reduction of armaments was advocated by Afranlo Mello | Franco, Brazilian member of the League council in as tatement to the Associated Press toda Under the proposed entente the league would collaborate in a sec- ond naval conference at Washington and the United States would co-op- erate in the general land disarmaemnt ! conference now being planned by the ‘;lenxup. ! No ess Without U. 1t was fundamentally necessary sald, that America take purt In the disarmament plan, “whose success— which the whole world awaits as a se quence to the treaty of Versailles and | the treaties of Locarno —never can | be attained without the participation f the United States.” He did not know whether the Wash ington Government would accep’ the invitation to sit in the proposed pre- disarmament commission, {but said everybody earnestly hoped it would, because they believed Amer- }ica’s moral support indispensable. ‘I think the problem of land and air armements should be examined in _Europe,” Senbor Mello neo |said, “because since the treaty of | Versuilles we have recognized the ! usefulness of the League of Nations’ special commissions which *have made it profound study of military matter The world musi profit by this mass of information. “On the other hand. naval ques- tions can best be handied by supple menting the first Washington con ference by a second conference there. Both conferences, one in Europe and the other in the United £o0 hand in hand, in cordial co tion.” But i otherwise, he added. if disarmament problem is to be solved, ithere must be collaboration between { Washington unc League of Na- { tions H Says There Is Precedent. | | the | He cited the opium conference precedent for the holding of two dis armament conferences, the first of fthe cpium meetings ha been ' composed of = concerne the j production consumption the drug, and the second, which included | the United States, being devoted to | striking a general blow at the oplum j evil. | With disarmament, he {the conterence should the states primarily naval problems while !'should be universal and, declaring jwar a er should boldly attack the | keneral problem of disarmament. In | particular. hieving n said, one of be held by interested in the second »duction of the super «rmaments in Europe with the assist- ance of the United States. { “The international economic, fcial and political situation makes American collaboration essential it i the world’s dream is to come true,” i he concluded. |PATRICK SUSTAINS | PART OF MITCHELL'S CHARGES AS WITNESS (Continued from First Page.) cne of the cardinal principles of Col-{ o ijent | telic Mitchell A technical {ous types of a discussion on the vari lanes was brought in by Mr. Reid and developed the fact that wartime DH's were used be cause there was nothing better at the the way of observation planes wred a short time ommended to hte War Depart ment that no more DH's be taken out of storage for remodeling because of their unsafe condition > Fixes Air Force Size totals about 3t planes, he said, and until last October the varlous units that had been assembled operation under He distinguished and Air Service, las a striking i | for train administration. between afr for defining the former force to act independ- ently and the latter as service with zround troops in observing, photo graphing and regulating artillery fire Gen. Patrick declared there never was a question in his mind that the ! Navy had proposed that the annual airplane races be “fixed” as Col. | Mitchell charged. Despite the fact the word ‘‘races’ was used in corre spondence from the Navy, Gen. Pat- rick said he replied with the under- | standing that the word should have i been “racers.” He detailed the story of the annual airplane competitions, and declared emphatically that it was in the in- terest of economy the Navy had sug- gested all raciug planes owned hy the two services be divided equally for 1924, In his direct examina'tion vesterday Gen. Patrick declared a million miles had been flown over the airways dur- ing the last three vears almost entire- ly by DH's without a fatality. Mr. Reid sought to clarify this statement, iand Gen. Patrick himself sald today it was “misleading” if it intended to convey the idea that that figure rep- | resented the total service mileage. He explained many accidents and fatali- ties have occurred in DH's on cross- country flying, some of which have been on the airw: but were not cheduled flving. This was brought out in connection with the statement that cross-country work produces more fatalities than training. Gen. Patrick added the fatalities this year were 47, as against 38 last year. Says Weather News Inadequate. Another point Gen. Patrick scored for the defense was his declaration that “‘meteorological facilities for fly- ing were far from satisfactory,” and “ he had tried to correct them but had not succeeded entirely. He also de- clured the radio service between air service fields was not satisfactory. The witness declared there was “de- cided]. a shortage in bombardment and pursuit plane equipment,” which, however, he attributed to lack of funds. The bombers are not fully | equipped for war today, as Col. Mitch- ell charged, but Gen. Patrick sald this was because it was not customary in time of peace to do this. He added he alone was responsible for instailing the necessary equipment in time of | war. Gen, Patrick also admitted the state- ment by Col. Mitchell that there has Leen no heavy bomb practice with 1,100 or 2,000 pound bombs during the { past two vears, but this was due to the expense involved and “my decision that practice in dropping bembs could |be obtained with bombs of lesser | weight. The equivalent of 1.100 or {2,000 pound bombs aléo can bg car- ried.” 1 "“Abked by Mr. Reld what plans he had for production of airplanes in case of war, Gen. Patrick replied he has just completed a survey of the in- dustry; had ascertained its'capacity it should concentrate upon | finan- make up this organization never | | the | excitement as prevailed yesterday. B MAY REAPPORTION HOUSE MEMBERS Move to Conform Represen- tation to 1920 Census Fa- vored by President. Administration support will be given to the effort in Congress to put through the long-deferred reappor- tionment of members throughout the States in conformity with the 1920 census, it was indicated today. Representative McLeod of Michi- gan, ranking Republican on the House census compnittee, which will have original jurisdiction if the matter is taken up, sald after a conference at the White House that President Cool- idge considered such action advisable. Mr. Coolldge was represented as being of the opinion that the House should tuke steps immediately to carry out a reapportionment, as pro- vided for under the Constitution, but mude clear it was a duty imposed solely upon the House itself, and that he had no authority in the matter. Not to Change Total. As ranking member of the com- mittee, Mr. McLeod said he intended to Sponsor a move to carry out a reapportionment without _changing the present House membership of 435. Under the 1920 census this would re- quire nine States to surrender seat each, and another State, Mis- souri, two seats. The nine States would be Indiana, lowa, Kansas, Ken- tucky. Mississippl, Nebraska, Penn- sylvania, Vermont and Louisiana. Such a reapportionment, he esti- ed, would increase the representa- tlon from California by three, from Michigan, Ohio and Texas two each and from Massachusetts and New Jersey one each. Stresses Need of Change. Mr. McLeod stressed, among the reasons for an immediate reapportion- ment, the importance the House mem- bership distribution played in deter mining the vote of each State in the presidential electoral college. He also announced that he intend- to introduce a bill to reduce the se membership to 350, after & cer- tain lapse of time, probably a dozen years In the last Congress several posals designed to reapportion House seats were advanced, but no action #as taken. It is expected that pro many of these again will be presented | to the present House. ASKS BLOND BANDIT FOR FEDERAL TRIAL By the Associated Press ROCHI N. Y. December 10 To settle the contest of cities over the custody ot Elmore Reynolds, John Jordan, self-styled “blond ban- dit,” Assistant United States Attorney Cuff yesterday suggested that he be turned over to Federal authorities. One of Reynolds' score or more burglaries in the past month, police claim, was in a branch post office in Buffalo. A conviction would mean sentence of 25 vears in Federal prison, Mr. Cuff explained. Reynolds is being held at police headquarters charged with the shoot- ing of a taxicab driver. Reynolds confessed breaking from the Wichita. Kans., Jail and to hold- ups in Kansas, Ohio, Missouri and the District of Columbia - 2 HEADS PHILATELIC BODY. | W. A. Johuson Elected President of Society at Meeting. will A. Johnson was elected of the Washington Phila- riety A meeting of the so ciety at 1333 G street last night. Other ofticers elected were James . Duhamel. first vice pres. ident: Willlam N. Sahm. second vice president: Philip S. Warren. treas urer: Albert II. Gorham, secretary Norris Sanbourn. exchange manager; Col. William M. McKelvey, chairman ition committee; M. G. Skinner, . and J. D. K. Smoot. auction manager. Walter Plant, W. N. Sahm wnd Col. W. M. McKelvey were elect- . o ied to the governing board. The air force of the United States | = ind had allocated certain planes to certain factories. T have a set program of plans which will put irplanes into production that are bet er than any other in the world.” Not since the early days of the court, when defense witnesses hurled grave charges in support of the ac- cused statements of “criminal negli- gence,” has an afterncon session of rourt been conducted amid such I charges of u prose types of was featured by cutfon witness, pt, Howard th. Los Angeles, Calif., Air Serv. ice Reserves, that Col. Mitchell, while chief of Air Service of the First American Army in France, ordered day bombardment squadrons on mis ions in severe weather, resulting in s of life and planes; a grilling cross-examination of the witness by Mr. Reid on whether he was “afraid” of anti-aircraft fire, which in his di- rect examination he had declared to be “ome of the higgest menaces we had™; the objection by Brig. Gen. E. L. King to Mr. Reid’s “insinuation that the witness is a coward” and anti-Mitchell outbursts amows ~the spectators. apt. Rath had testified on direct examination that Col. Mitchell ordered five planes on a mission just before dark, and although they returned over the field, they were untrained for niht landings, and one officer was killed in a crash. He declared pro- tests had been made to Col. Mitchell against sending the day bombardment zroup, of which he was a member, out on missions when the British, ¥rench and Germans stayed on the ground, but to no avail. Contrary to the statements of every World War pllot who had appeared for the de- fense, Capt. Rath maintained anti- aireraft fire was very effective. Gen. King Objects. On eross-examination Mr. Refd took the stand the witness was “afraid” of anti-adreraft fire and cited his own statements how certain known fortified towns had been avoided. When the witness shouted back, “I am not afraid,” Gen. King interrupted the proceedings, addressing President Howze: “Mr. President, T object to insinuations that this witness is a cow- ard. A man may do things even if he has physical fear. ~Any soldier who savs he is not afraid is mistaken. I oblect to this witness being ques- tioned this way. Col. Winship thought the witness could take care of himself, and President Howze up- held Gen. King by telling the wit- ness he “must not be confused; take your time, and don't let your impulses carry you away. “The witness' declaration he was not “afrald” of anti-afrcraft fire and Gen. King's defense of him drew outbursts of applause among the spectators, which caused President Howze to de- mand “order in the court.” This was the first demonstration against | the accused from the audience since the trial began. After two hours of cross-examina- tion Mr. Reid forced the witness to admit he thought he should “not be sent out on a mission in time of war :ing on account of bad weather.' one | the | allas | 1 | | i i | 1 | | i | i i | | PROPOSES PENALTY' BUYING AUNT EMMA GIFT NIGHTIE STIRS REVOLT AMONG HUSBANDS Moratorium Sought on Strong Language and Assault and Battery When Wives Object to Christmas Present Selection of Their Spouses. Swept forward on a rising tide of husbandly indignation, there has de- veloped a movement looking toward the formation of an “‘Assoclation for the Protection of Well Meaning Hus- bands Drafted by Their Wives to Se- lect Christmas Gifts for Relatives.” This organization, from what can be learned of it at present, would have a number of objects, to wit: 1. Outright abolition of the prac- tice of making husbands beasts of hurgen during the Christmas gift rush. 2. Pending complete abolition, an act of Congress making it mandatory on wives to accept whatever a well meaning husband brings home in compliance with a gift errand. 3. Sanctioning of the use of strong and insulting language by well mean- ing husbands called upon to buy nightgowns for Aunt Emma, alphabet blocks for little Oscar, next door, or “most anything—you know what I mean—for other in-laws or friends. You know what we mean. Would Justify Assault. 4. Legal justification of assault and battery on wives who, by direot state- ment or innuendo, express disapproval of the judgment of a well meaning husband. 5. Provision that in rare cases of agreement on the part of the well meaning husband that his purchase was, well, ill-advised, sald purchase shall be returned to the store by the original cause of the difficulty—his wife. 6. Suitable punishment of wives who venture even to suggest that the gift be taken back and exchanged by the well meaning husband, the pen- alty, at the discretion of the latter, to include exchange of all of hus band's Christmas neckties, suffocation of the wife in fumes of cigars she | purchased for him to smoke at the office, or both. The by-laws of the new body are designed to give the widest latitude to members of the order in any emer- gency that may arise in connecton with Christmas buying. Drastic cases, it is realized, may require drastic ac- tlon. For example, it is pointed out, & husband who Is reproached for send- ing home a radio table with Queen Anne legs Instead of colonial, like those of the davenport table, has a perfect right to rend his purchase limb from limb before the eyes of his spouse, etc., etc. Domestic Unrest Rampant. Although great secrecy has shroud- ment, it was learned from reliable ‘sources today that the revolution is rolling forward with firresistible mo- mentum. Domestic unrest is rampant. The disturbance i widespread, but as vet appears to have mo distinct nebula. Efforts to nail some indi vidual organizer for the purposes of an interview have proved frultless. There are plenty of Well-Meaning husbands who are willing to tell all about their troubles, providing their names are not published, but none willing to step out and publicly an- nounce he is a candidate for president. “Kindly remember,” one ardent ad- vocate of the cause explained today, “that the protective provisions of the assoclation are mot vet in force. In other words, we are still in urgent need of protection. It would be highly indiscreet for me to make a statement of the sort you wish without some sort of advance protection. I think you understand the situation, don’t you?” Hence it seems that unless some husband is willing to sacrifice himself for his fellow-sufferers, the movement for the Protection of Well-Meaning Husbands is likely to remain only a movement.’ Lod the Well-Meaning Husband move- OBJECTIONS RAISED 10 TAX MEASURE 1 House Members Approve Bill as Whole, But Express In- dividual Criticisms. | | | The novelty of having in its hands a 000,000 tax reduction bill had worn off somewhat today, and the House proceeded more perfunctorily to pass away the allotted time for de- bate on the measure Republicans and Demoerats contin ued generally to indorse the measure as a whole, but various expressions of individual disapproval over certain of ite phases were put into the record tepublicans and Democrats again gave their indorsement to the non- partisan measure, while pressing in- dividual differences over certzin pro visions of the bill. Representative Watson of Pennsyl- | vania, a Republican member of the ways and means committee, supported the bill. but deplored fatlire to pro- vide for repeal of the inheritance tax A revision of the inheritance rates will be provided if the bill enacted “An inheritance tax,” he sald. “in many instances hasx proven confise: tory, for it amounts to a capital lev when the income of an estate is not sufficient to pay the tax. Taking prin of an estate by taxation is to be | condemned. and no nation can long survive with such a principle.” $3 INIGNORING COURT Walsh Would Empower Prop- erty Seizures When Wit- sses Refuse Evidence. By the ated Press Senator Walsh, Democrat, of Mon tana, prosecutor of the Teapot Dome committee, today proposed a law which would smooth the pathway of Government »unsel in future litiga tion like that growing out of the oil scandal. He introduced a hill to empower Federal courts to proceed against the property in this country of persons going abroad and refusing to testify there when reguested to do so for the American courts. In presenting the measure the Sena tor pointed out that when the Federal court at Cheyenne sought to inquire into the affairs of the Continental Trading Co. in connection with the Teapot Dome lease certain Americans then in France refused to testify. The bill would permit Amarican courts to hold such persons in_con- tempt and impose a fine up to $100,- 000, to be collected by seizure of the proverty of the witnesses in the United States. Assox D. E Affairs Discussed. Representative Frank H. Funk of Tllinois, chairman of the subcommittee on appropriations of the House Dis- trict committee, conferred today with Engineer Commissioner Bell. The Representative wanted to get dc- quainted with the Engineer Commis- stoner. Woman Is Named To Veterans’ Body, Her Goai in House Mrs. Mary T. Norton, the new Democratic member from New Jersey and the first woman ever to sit on the Democratic side of the House, has already achieved her first objective in Congress. By a readjustment of committee assign- menis vesterday she has been placed on the new committee set up in the last Congress on World War veterans' legislation. Repre- sentative Tidings of Maryland re- signed from that committee and Mrs. Norton was given the cancy. Mrs. Norton now has the distine- tion of getting the best committee assignments ever given to a new member of the House, as she also has been placed on the District of Columbia and ldbor committees. FOUR ARE ACCUSED IN OIL LEASE PLOT Former Oklahoma Officials Are Among Those Accused | . by Grand Jury. OKLAHOM . December 10 Indictments charging conspiracy to steal ofl well supplies and conspiracy to obtain control over oil lea tion were returned here late ves v by a District Court grand jury, against E. H. Hughes, chairman of the Oklahoma Corporation Commis sior. former members of the commis. sion’s conservation department, and one vil operatc Those indicted with Hughes are W. (". “Rube’ Geers, for- mer chief of the conservation de rartment. who resigned under fire several weeks ago; J. I2. Amis and J J. Gouy. conservation agents who ses by were discharged recently, and Boone D. Hite, named as president of the Bronx Oil Company, an organization, ulleged to have been formed to cover the illegal actions of the indictment me One indictment charged conspiracy to grand larceny in the sum of §11.072, another in the sum of $6,000 and the extortion charge alleges the lease ob- ained under duress was valued at $20,000. Warrants were issued at once, but it was said no arrests would be made until today. The indictment, charging extortion, declared t the defendants “frandu- lently and feloniously obtained from the owners assignments of oil and gas leases,” naming specifically one lease in Kay County, which was the prop- erty of the Hopper Oil Co. of Hutch- inson,” Kans. The 311072 worth of equipment, which it is alleged was stolen, avas on a lease in Coal County, belonging to J. A. Bearman. while the other al. leged theft of tools occurred on a lease In Kay County, the property of Shade D. Lewis. The indictments set out the duties of the conservation department, ex-|Property in the District. plaining the rules for the operation of oil and gas wells and stating that vio. lations of the rules constitute separate offense each day continued and the maximum penalty for which is $500. It is alleged that the defendants threatened operators with punishment under the rtules of the commission and converted thie, properties to their own use under agfeements to protect the men who were charged with vio lations, Fireproof Whiskers for Santa Claus - Urged as Precaution by Fire Chief If Santa Claus is planning to take part in any of the numerous Christ- mas celebrations in Washington this year, Fire Chief George Watson notified him today that he should dis- pense with the use of cotton whiskers. Chief Watson, of course, is well aware that the children Would not recognize the hoary-bearded old gent without his whiskers, and urged him to fireproof them while visiting the Capital. A number of other Christmas “don'ts” were issued by the fire chief in order to preclude extra. work for his men during the holiday season. They follow: “The practice of placing lighted can- dles in windows should never be in- dulged in, it is likely to cause fire by the ignition of draperies, etc. “Make sure that Christmas trees are securely set so that they will not topple over, and keep them away from any open flame or sparks. “Avold toys requiring alcohol, kero- sene or gasoling for their operation, as they are often defectively wired and have insecure, dangerous connec- tions. “Do not decorate your Christmas tree with paper, cotton or any other inflammable materfal. Use metallic tinsel and other non-inflammable deco- rations only and set the tree securely, 8o that the children in reaching for things cannot tip it over. “Do not use cotton to represent snow. If you must have snow, use powdered mica or asbestos fiber. “Do not permit the use of candles on Christmas trees. Electrical illu- mination is safer. “Do not leave matches within reach of children at holiday time. If they can get matches they will experiment with them. They imitate their elders. “Do not allow Christmas trees to re- main inside buildings after the holi- days. The tree itself ignites readily when needles become dry. A large number of fires usually occur in Jan- uary from this cause.” Chief Watson summarized his Christ- and also motion picture machines us- imflammable fllm. Low-priced electrical playthings should be a mas ‘‘don’t” list with this philosophi- cal advice: “A house of merrjment is better than a house of mourning.” a actual not be halted tions approved by the Budget Bureau. Dr. Frank W. Ballou, superintendent Budget Bureau, Dr. Ballou said. stead, individual items were slashed. building projects been expended SCHOOL BUILDING SLASH PROTESTED Civic Leaders Say Appeal Should Be Made to Re- instate Item. Voicing keen dissatisfaction over the slashing of $1500,000 from the hool bullding program for the nex: fiscal year by the Bureau of the Budget in its report to Congress yes terday, civic leaders today declared n appeal should be made to Congress to have those items reinstated so that the five-year school building pro gram, authorized by Congress session, might not be jeopardized While the coming year’s program of construction” probably would under the appropria- last "hools, explained today, the entire ar program, approval of which was won after great effort, would be Jeopardized Would Extend Program. If the full schedule of appropris tions under the five-year program is not granted for the coming fiscal it must mean either that the ear program s to be extended longer period of time or that 5 is to be usked for a much figure than $4.000,000 for co struction in 1928, Dr. Ballou explalned. Only a few items of school construc. tion actually were eliminated by the In appropriations asked for Thus were authorized. but a total of §1.500,000, which under the five-year program was to have during the coming ar, would be put over on later year s. This puts the five-year pro. gram in jeopardy, according to school officials. Mass Meeting Called. What is hoped by officials will be a city-wide movement to have Congress reinstate the slashed school building items will have its impetus Monday evening at a mass meeting at the Franklin School, when representatives of all the city’s citizens’ associations the Board of Trade, Chamber of C'om merce, the City Club, Parent-Teacher the { Association, Public School As | | | | | i { | | | | { | i { | 1 I | I [ of the eity | rantea and other civic bodies will be p: Dr. Ballou and other school offictals and members of the Board of Educa- tion are to cxplain just what effect the recommended school budget would have on the schools. Je uter, president zens’ Advisory Council; Baker, Mrs. Giles Scott Rafter, pres: dent of the District Congress of Parent-Teacher Associations G. Yaden, president chool Association: T others today deplored the cutting of the e: nates. “The Budget Bure: court of last resort for the Di said Mr Bake can appeal to Congress for relief. “The five-vear program, if out, would no more than en schools to catch up with the The cuts were The bill was mo been cut t is be serve to of had_already If $1.500,000 it, it will but next vear's o slashed handicap the Others Decry Siash. Others who decried cutting the timates under the five-vear | included Dr. George Havenner ber of the Citizens’ Advisory Councl Capt. Julius 1. Peyser, former 1 ber of the Board of Edueatior Gen. Amos A. Fries and Harry Stull, Advisors Council meniber Dr. Ballou emphasized todav tha e matter of the estimates now rests with the public. School officialx have done all they can except appear be fore congressional committees in ~up port of the amounts approved by the Budget Bureau. They are prohibited by law in asking for additional amounts. though, if asked, they ma) tell just what the needs are. FIRE HAZARD HERE CALLED ALARMING Underwriters to Survey Con- ditions With View of Chang- ing Insurance Rate. n Ma Washington on in re fire protec: of the of the to of the situat gard to fire hazard and tion facilities here “becaus genuir rm on the part large fire insurance companies in re. gard to the conditions in the National Capital,” it is stated in authoritative u When officials of the national board learned of the situation in Washing ton with respect to the lack of water pressure they immediately decided it was “urgently” necessary to gather all the data lable here in order to see whether not the basic insur ance rate, set i4 years ago, should be changed. it was explained At present companies about $356,207.452 in carrying liabilities This does not include the value of the Govern- ment buildings and the priceless doc uments and records stored in them. David M. Lea, chairman of the Wash ington Board of Trade's committee on insurance nd fire protection, whi has undertaken to call the attenti of Congress to the need for a high pressure svstem here, states that “the Government can actually be put out of business if a large fire urr here under present conditions The premiums paid by the residents of the District to the insurance con panies for $356,207,452 worth of pro- ion amounted 'to $2.234.029 las vear and the Board of Trade's com mittee fears an appreclable increas: in the cost. The cost of the high water pressure system under the present plan would add only $300.000 annually, for three years to the local budget, it is said. Representatives of the Nationa! Board of Fire Underwriters have ul ready visited the Water Department of the District Government and gathered data and are expected tc return any day to begin their exum ination. Mr. Lea and members of his com mittee will visit the Capitol soon t discuss the question with Congre: men. Representative Frederick N Zihlman, chairman of the House Dis trict committee, has already heartily approved a high pressure system for the District. g Give $1,000,000 to Y. W. C. A. CHICAGO, December 10 (#).—A gift of $1,000,000 by Cyrus H. McCormick and his sons, ( s, j»., and Gordon, to the Young Woman's Christlan As sociation, in memory of Mr. McCor- mick’'s wife, was announced today. The money Will be used to construct in Chicago a residence hall for women and girls.