Evening Star Newspaper, December 18, 1925, Page 1

e — WEATHER. S. Weather Bureau Forecast.) Fair tonight and tomorrow temper slowly Temperatures today: lowest Pull repor ture tonight abou sing temperature tomorrow. Highest, 0 a.m. today. lowest t 25 degrees; . at noon Closing N. Y. Stocks and Bonds, Page 30 . No.- 29816, Bntered £ Entered as second class maiter Washington, Do MITCHELL REDUCED - AND PAY CUT OFF FOR FIVE YEARS BY DECISION OF COURT Could Be Made to Take Cor- poral’s Orders—Gets No Pay—Resignation Possi- bility Still Moot Question. JUST BEGUN TO FIGHT, REID STATEMENT SAYS Verdict Reached in Short Time, After Defense Refuses to Go on With Case—Coolidge Must 0. K. La Guardia Asks Less Authority For Army Courts By the Associated Press. The first congresslonal echo of the court-martial conviction of Col. William Mitchell of the Air Serv- ice took the form today of a bill by Representative La Guardia, New York to greatly curtail the au- thority to court-martial in pro- nouncing sentence on those con- victed of violation of the ninety- sixth article of war. Under the measure 30 days' sus- fon from the Army would be thé maximum penalty for viola- tion of that article, under which Col. Mitchell was convicted. The | present statute leaves the punish- | ment the discretion of the court.”” In the case of Col. Mitchell the penalty was five years' sus- pension. COUNCIL SUBMITS FISCAL RELATIONS Into Effect by Army. The Army general court-martial, finding Col. William Mitchell Ity of the charges and specifica- ns for which he has been on trial since October 28 last night meted L4 out punishment of s to place the atr crusader in virtual . peonage and bondage ior the next five years, if followed to the letter. The sentence—suspension from rank, command and fduty, with for- seiture of pay and allowances for _was pronounced by Army authorities today as the most un- I i arn of military ourts-martial, just as the case itself was unique. Dishonorable discharge from the service he prosecution been e ted. permitted out among the people as one of them and preach his doctrine with- out fear of hindrance or delay ve year the Is dismissal had This would Record Brings “Lenienc: Instead, the jury of generals detes mined that the accused officer v not entitled to the maximum penalt ~—dismiss: use g ord during the he has been ldier of the Tnited States. The court explained = decision w “lenient” because of i and therefore toned down the punishment. In the end the officer i Fiven the opportunity of being honor- ably retired from the rolls of the eervice. S The effect of the punishment as recommended by the court was mot entirely clear today. This much, how- ever, was pronounced certain by offi- vers experienced in military law: TFor the next five vears Col. Mitchell is a ‘colonel” in name only; he has power of rank, no privileges, no thority and must submit himself to milita orders and procedure and as- +wignments for which he receives no compensation either in salary or al- lowances. He must walk in the rear of a lieutenant; a corporal could give him orders, and he must perform any task assigned him by anybody with authority. He may or may not be able 1o wi a, but if he does it is ningless to the Army. He will be assizned to some corps area to a type of duty which will be de- termined later. May Not Be Allowed to Quit. The logical method of escape fro; the full force of the sentence is a moot question. An officer of the Army is never denied the right to and resign in times of peace, unless un-} der punishment, and with this provi- Kion apparent, any pleas to be severed from the military could be denied with authority. ~ Furthermore, al- though convicted and under sentence for violating the ninety-sixth article of w which was “conduct 1 to good order and disciplin insubordination and con- duct to bring discredit upon the War and Navy Departments, the aviator constantly s open to further trial &nd punishment in the event such ae- tions as provoked this trial are re- peated. “It amounts to nothing short of peonage,” declared one officer today whose knowledge of military disci- pline and punishment is regarded as authoritative. The unanswerable question in con- nection with the court-martial ve fct and sentence concerns the proba- bility of Col. Mitchell's retirement TUnder the law he is eligible for re- tirement in about two and one-half years, which will complete 30 years’ gervica. It is doubtful If the judges took this into consideration when passing sentence, and. therefore, the helief has arisen in many quarters that the duration of the punishment may be shortened to terminate at the rvetirement limit. While speculation was high on the effect of the Representative Frank R. Jllinots, chief counsel for Col. Mitchell, jssued a statement today, charging the rfal was the latest step taken by th general staff “in thelr efforts to ‘get’ Mitchell” and that he will “continu 1o fight” for the defense of country. Mr. Reid also declared that the Jetter which Secretary of War Weeks Wwrote to the President on the non- yeappointment of Gen. Mitchell as as- gistant chief of the Air Service was “desired by the general staff and i tnisleading from beginning to end.’ Says Officials Were Misled. “The President and Secretary of War,” continued Mr. Reid, “have been misled and deceived by the general £taff both as to Col. Mitchell's tes- timony before the congressional com- tees and the number of airplanes avallable for use in case of war. That atments were absolutely correct as been substantiated many times gince by witnesses testifying cancern- ing the Air Service.” Years ago, Mr. Reéid said, Col. Mitchell was warned that if he did Dot cease his efforts in behalf of an adequate air force “he would be forced out of the servic he country has learned from this trial that it needs an adequate air jorce for its defens ontinued Mr. Reid, “and that for vears the general staff has been spending the public’s rting every effort to (Continued on Page running sentence, Reid, o Column 2. had been asked by | have the fighting airmau to go | no | au- | the | Provides Commission of Five to Work Out Business- ‘ like Plan. h severity as | | An outline of a proposed bill to | provide a permanent plan for the | equitable apportionment of fiscal obli- | sations between the Federal and Did- trict governments is contained in the | initial report of the Citizens' Advisory { Council, submitted to the Commis- i sioners today by Jesse C. Suter, chalr- man. The report covers in detail the conclusfons and recommendations of | the councl regarding each of the 22 | legislative propositions submitted to it by the Commissioners for consid- eration and advice. | The fiscal relations bill suggested the council would provide for a mission of five members and is | listed at the head of the report as the most important of the items ap- | proved. ! The Commissioners in their annual | report to Congress recommended that ja joint committee of the Senate and House be created to settle this ques- Council Plan Different. The council’s commission would be |composed of one member appointed by the President of the Senate from the membership of that body, one by the Speaker of the House from the membership of that body, two by the President of the United States and the fifth member chosen by the four Con- en, an employe of the United ites or District, or a resident or {property holder of the District, pos- {sessed of such special professional training as to be of assistance in the | work of the commission. | " The bill, the council’s report pointed | out, “provides for the creation of a sion to work out a | definite, businessitke plan.” “This | method, we believe,” the report added, | “will be far more effective than any { heretofore suggested. In outlining | such proposed legislation the council { has a most vivid recollection of the in- | effectual work of the joint select com- | mittee of 1915, which produced a re- or Column 6) | temporary comm (Continued on Page 'FENNING APPROVAL BY SENATE IS SEEN | Subcommittee Ready to Report on| Nomination—Speed Indi- ! cates 0. K. Given. The subcommittee of the Senate Dis- ! trict committee named to consider the | noomination of Commissioner Fred- erick A. Fenning practically has com- | pleted consideration of the appoint- | ment. | The subcommittee will not make { known its recommendations until it |is reported to the full District com- | mittee, but it was learned today that | the subcommittee has reached a deci- | ston and is ready to report as soon as the District committee meets. The fact that the subcommittee has completed its consideration of the question so soon was regarded as an indication that the nomination will be favorably recommended to the com- I mittee. | MEXICAN SENATE FAVORS | FAMOUS “ARTICLE 27” | By the Associated Prees. | MEXICO CITY, December 18.—The ! Senate last night approved in prin- ciple the bill to enact article of the constitution, which regulates foreign |ownership of lands, water and min- lerals. The vote was 39 to 0. | “Afterward the Senate commenced | discussion of the bill section by sec- fon. The Chamber of Deputies last night |approved the agreement reached by | Secretary of the Treasury Pani with “lh(‘ international bankers for u settle- ment of Mexico’s external debt. The | vote was 138 to 1. The agreement now | goes to the Senate for action. @h WASHINGTON, LIBERTY OF AGTION IN COURT GERTAIN, LENROOT DECLARES Wisconsin Senator Opens Debate in Senate—Borah Assails Proposal. BOTH SIDES MAPPING Walsh Also to Speak in Defense of Tribunal as an Agency for Peace. BY G. GOULD LINCOLN. The World Court controver: tinued again today In the Senate. Sen for the administration forces, was the first speaker. lle was followed by Senator Borah of Idaho, chairman of the forelgn relations committee, in op. position to the World Court, and Senator Walsn of Montana, Demo- cratic member of the foreign rela- tions committee, in favor of the court proposal, will speak later. Both ' sides to the controversy are laying the groundwork for defense and offense. Later will come the in- troduction of consideration of amend- Senator Lenroot asserted the inde- pendence of the World Court and de- nied that it was a creature of the adhesion to opponents of American the court Sees Peace Maneuver. Senator Lenroot declared that ad- hesion by the United States to the court would be a step in the ‘direction of peace. Part of League, Says Borah. Senator Lenroot was followed by Senator Borah of Idaho, chaitman of the foreign relations cotnmittee and leader of the opposition to the World Court. Senator Borah immediately set out | to prove that the World Court is in fact the judiclal department of the | League of Nations and a component part of the league. He quoted from friends of the World Court to show that the court had been created as a Judicial department of the league. The opponents of American adher- | ence to the World Court are relying | particularly on convincing the -Amer- | ican people that the court is a creu- | ture of the leagué and that by join- | ing the court the United States would | become involved in the leazue. Senators followed with close atten- tion_the argument of the Idaho Sen- ator. the first offensive against the World Court since the debale began in the Senate. “A short step,” said Senator Len- root, “but it is in the right direction.” “The court is open to us now to the | same extent that It will be it we join | it, so we gain no direct materfal ad- vantage by so doing. There is one indirect advantage in our having the right to participate in the election of judges of the court which we do not now have, and so participating, it will help to insure the continued high character and abllity of the men selected as judges. ‘“We should adhere to the court be- cause we wlill thereby give the in dorsement and encouragement of the most powerful natfon of the world to an instrument for peace. Without the (Continued on Page 4, Column 2, HANMOND NAMED ENVOY T0 SPAIN New Jersey Man Nominated| | for Post Given Up by | Alexander P. Moore. President Coolidge today appointed | Ogden H. Hammond of New Jersey to | be Ambassador to Spain to succeed ; Alexander P. Moore of Pennsylvania, who resigned. Mr. Hammond's nom- | ination was sent to the Senate today. Mr. Hammond, who is a real estate operator in New Jersey, and who lives | at Barnardsville, was recommended to the President by Senator Edge of that State. He is 55 rs of age and is a graduate of Yale University. He made his initial venture into the political field in 1914, when he became a candi- date for the New Jersey Legislature. s a delegate to the Republican national convention now a member of the Republican State committee of New Jersey and a member of the Board of Charities and Corrections of that State. ‘Among the other nominations sent mirals: Arthur L. Willard, Henry H. Hough, H. H. Christie, Noble E. Ir- win, Thomas J. Senn. Richard H. Leigh, George W. Laws, George C. Day and Luke McNamee. 182,000,000 Shower of Gold in Capital | On Christmas Is Indicated at Banks| | A veritable downpour of gold, worth | close to $2,000,000, will be showered on Washington in Christmas gifts next week, if withdrawal of gold colns from the Treasury here and from the Fed- eral Reserve Bank in Richmond. con- tinues at its present rate until next Thursday_cloding time. Demands of Washington banks for the new $2.50 gold pleces being coined by the Government have exceeded the supply so much that officials of the Federal Reserve Bark have notified the local financial organizations that | they will be apportioned only about one-sixth of their requests. One bank that asked for 2,000 received only 300. Orders for gold pieces already in in- dicute that about $1,720,000 will be distributed here next Friday. It is said that a last-minute rush probably will push the total up to around $2,- 000,000. The cashier’s department of the Treasury had distributed $175,000 up to noon today, and it was predict- ed that an additional $25,000 in gold coins would be withdrawn every aay until Christmas. New York's golden shower, how- ever, will be nearer a deluge, by com- parison with Washiagton's, according to information recelved here. It is sald that different firms and indi uals will give away $16,000,000 in g&d on Christmas day. Every banking house in the metropolitan district is ' reported to have stocked heavily 1 meet unpreccdented demand: League of Nationg, as charged by the | | By the | chief of general | Birgfeld in 1916, and fs| to the Senate by the President today | were the following to be rear ad-| WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION D O, ator Lenroot of Wisconsin, who bas| charge of the World Court proposal | WORLD COURT ¢ Foening Star. FRIDAY. DECEMBER 18, 1925—SIXTY-TWO PAGES. “From Press to Home Within the Hour” The Star’s carrier system covers every city block and the regular edi- tion is delivered to Washington homes as fast as the papers are printed. Yesterday's Circulation, 101,593 P Means Associated Press. TWO CENTS. ¥ TRAFFIC. ot Y AGENTS' LAVISH - PARTIES ARE BARED | Evidence Gained at Mayflow- | er Against Chef and Aide Cost $963.86. Associated Press How a prohibition agent lived at the Mayflower Hotel here for a month, en- tertaining women at dinner dances | and buying “Old Smuggler” whisky { strengthen his role as * | before hotel employes while «btaining | evidence against real sport” iwo of them, was told today in published testimony given a House appropriations subcom mittee. The two employes, Jules R. Venice former chef. and Rinardo Blazi, his assistant. were acquitted vesterday in Criminal Court The case recently was called to the attention of Assistant Secretary An drews of the Treasury, prohibition field miarshal. by Representative Gal- livan, Democrat, Massachusetts, who complained that two agents on the case had spent nearly $1,000 in getting | evidence. Never Heard of Case. Appearing before the House subcom- mittee during executive hearings on the Treasury appropriation bill, Mr. Andrews said he had “never heard of the case befc adding that “It as. tonishes me. Mr. Gallivan asked the Assistant Secretary if he knew that one of the agents had registered under the nime of “one of the most eminent members of Congress.”” and to Mr. Andrews’ | question if he knew that to be a fact replied he “was shown the regist, i tion.” ““All such conduct as that is abso. lutely taboo in our organization,” Gen. Andrews added. James E. Jones, director of prohibi- tion, then informed the subcommit- tee that that agent, Edward feld, g0 far away from W ton now that I do not believe you will hear from him any more in enforce ment work here.” Yellowley Letter. The committee record also contained a letter signed by Yellowley, as on agents, directing Birgfeld to stop at the hotel and make the investigation. It also requested him to hold expenses to a minimum, but to keep “in mind, of course, the fact that certain expendi- tures must be made in order to make a proper appearance and gain the con- fidence of people who can give you information.” An expense account submitted by and Cola M. Early, assist- ant, amounted to $963.86. Birgfeld's report showed that he lived in luxury while conducting the fnquiry, the account making frequent reference to his patronizing the hotel pper dance in company with women prohil {in order to have employes “keep me in mind as a real sport.” Report on Party. He reported on June 2 that he met Venice and ‘‘chatted with him and made arrangements for a party to be held on June 17, at which liquor was Ito be furnished and served,” and on the next day that “during the day ! had drunk with Venice, ‘Old Smug- gler' whisky.” The report for June 17, the night of the par sald in part: “Saw Venice, and he gave me re- ceipted bill for $229 cover expenses of party of 13, including the item of $61.75 for ‘refreshments,’ but which in reality was whisky, viz, five bottles of ‘Old Smuggler’ Scotch whisky, and two rounds of cocktalls. §BANDI:I'S-ISOLATE TOWN, ! THEN LOOT BANK SAFE Make Captives of Marshal, Tele- phone and Telegraph Operators and Cut Wire Connections. By the Associated Press. DOWS. Towa, December 18.—Mak- ing captives of the town marshal, the | telephone operator and the railroad operator and severing all wire com- munication with other towns, half a dozen bank robbers invaded the vil- lage early today, wrecked the safe of the bank and escaped with cash and_bonds amounting to $8,000 or £10.000. The telephone manager, aroused by the explosions and finding all tele- phone wires cut, drove into the coun- try and tapped a long-distance line to enlist the aid of outside officers. A shotgun left in the bank is the only clue the officers had, aside from the descriptions of the men given t tciw sheca peiconers, who wery released before the band left the town. i DEFY ULSTER RULE. | Bonus Payment. BELFAST, ). —At the h Constabulary Firm for Ireland, December adquarters of the strik- ing “A special’ constabulary it v declared today that the men would “stand pat until burned out,” regard less of the Ulster cabinet’s ultimatum | that all who have not returned to duty by 10 o'clock Saturday morning will be dismissed without pay or pen- | sion benefits. A ‘“stay put” sent to all platoons b The men are demanding a_bonus compensation for their dishandme under the new Irish agreemen FIRST MONEY BILL ASKS S 52,000 $103,962,0600 Increase | Called For in Post Office and Treasury Measure. message has been dispatch riders The first big appropriation bill of the year—that for the Treasury and | Post Office Departments—was report- ed to the House today, calling for in- creaded expenditures of $103,962,000 over the total allowed these estab- lishments in last vear's allotments The amount, $867.852,000, is $4,606,000 below the budget estimate. A large part of the increase is for the postal service to meet increased salaries and to handle a greater amount of mail. The Coast Guard is to get $24,213,- 000, an increase of $3,615,000, the added funds being proposed to permit an increase of 1,580 enlisted men for the force engaged in battling rum smugglers. $9,306,000 for Dry Worlk. The direct appropriation proposed for prohibition enforcement is $9,- 306,000, or a decrease of $364,315 un- der the last fiscal vear. Of this sum, the amount allotted for the procu ment of evidence is increased from $50,000 to $250,000, of which $50,000 is made available immediately. The bill allots to the Post Office Department $738,236,000, an_increase over the current appropriation of $101,866,000, which is a decrease of $3,441,000 below budget estimates. The proposed increase in postal ex- penditures, the committee report said, is due almost entirely to clerk hire, city delivery service, railway mail service and the increased volume of mail to be handled. The bill would allot $2,070,000 for new rural delivery routes and the extenslon pf present routes. A total of $2,650,000, or an increase of $50,000, would be given to the Air Mall Service, the additional funds belng made necessary by the Increased frequency of the night service be- tween New York and Chicago. To Get Power Boats. The measure also would authorize the Secrétary of the Treasury to ex- change surplus Liberty motors now owned by his department for power boats for the Coast Guard, customs and_prohibition services. “The Government has an advanta- geous offer from a hoat manufacturer for such an exchange,” the commit- tee said. Commenting briefly on the reorgan- ization effected in the prohibition service, the committee said it believed the present organization would lend itself to a closer co-operation between the administrator and the Federal dis- trict _attorney, “a_factor vitally (Continued on Page 5, Column 1.) TWO BULGARS EXECUTED. Greek Action Likely to Prolong Hard Feelings. SOFIA, Bulgaria, December 18 (). —The prospects of improved relations between Greece and Bulgaria are con- sidered to have been lessened by the execution of two Bulgarians near Monastir. The men were condemned by a Greek court-martial on charges of participa- ting in the activities of the comitadji (bands of irregulars). The news of the executions reached the Bulgarian gov- ernment through diplomatic channels. The government is withholding the news from the Bulgarian newspapers; fearing that it will arouse fresh agita- tion against Greece. { amendment DEC. 2 HOLIDAY VOTED BY SENATE House D. C. Committee Also Favorably Reports on Measure for 1925. The lutic Senate toda: sed the reso- n to make Saturday, December a legal holiday in the District of Columbia for this year only, with an which would enable em- ployes of the > for that day.’ A favorable report on the measure was, at the same time, reported to the House by Representa tive Zihlman of Maryland. 3 Before the resolution was acted’ on in the Senate there was a brief but rather serious debate on the subject o holidays and leaves of absence in the vernment service in Washington. In bringing up the resolution Sen- ator Capper, chairman of the District committee, explained that arrange- ments already have been made to cl the executive departments of the Gov- ernment on the day after Christmas, and the principal object of the resolu- tion is to provide for the pay of per diem emploves for that day, so that they would be treated the same as an- nual employes. Smoot Flays Holiday. Senator Smoot of Utah, who is chair- man of the finance committee, did not object to passage of the resolution for this year, but took occasion to com ment that there is a tendency toward “going mad” on the subject of holi- days. He pointed out that Govern ment employes get 30 davs’ annual leave, 30 d leave, and are also endeavoring to get the half-day holi day on Saturday throughout the year Senator Norris of Nebraska ex- pressed the belief that the Govern ment ought not to apply-a_different rule of payment to one set of em- ployes from another. He also raised the question as to the authority under which Government departments are to have a holiday on the Saturday fol- lowing hristmas. Senator Smoot called attention to the fact that Government employes in the temporary buildings were re leased from duty on extremely hot days in June, July amd August, and indicated he thought that should have been done. He also expressed the be llef that the sooner the Government gets out of those temporary buildings the better. Might Move Capital. Senator Norris interjected statement that the Capital move to another climate. Senator Fletcher of Florida, followed with the suggestion that it move to his_State in the Winter, to which (Continued on Page 2, Column 5.) the might CHRISTMAS GOLD- BOOMS. $16,000,000 in Coins Withdrawn for Gifts in New York. NEW YORK. December 18 (#).— Christmas gifts of gold pieces by em- ployers and individuals has caused a withdrawal of gold coins from the vaults of the Federal Reserve Bank by New York banks estimated yester- day at $16,000,000. The total is about $2,000,000 larger than that of last year. Haynes’ Restoration To Congressional Directory Ordered D. C. GOST OF LIVING PROBE ORDERED BY HOUSE COMMITTEE :Special Board. Named to In- vestigate Reasons for High Prices Here. Prohibition Commissioner Roy A. Haynes is to get his name in the Congressional Directory after all. No secret was made today of the fact that orders have been given to include his name and title in its accustomed niche under the Hst of Internal Revenue Bureau officials and also in the alphabetical inde: in the back of the book when next month’s edition goes to press. Who ordered the replacement of Mr. Haynes' name appeared toda to be as much a mystery as the identity of the official who it out. One officiul, however. mitted that both actions were taken by the same part A firmly drawp penmark through the name of Mr. Haynes and his title on the proof for the current directory, which s consid- ered an authoritative, “Who's Who in Officialdom,” under the initials of the chief clerk of the Internal Revenue Bureau, gives evidence that the original dropping of public recognition to Mr. Haynes was nc through overs the Treasur Department or sness in the trict comn Government Printing Office i ting today authorized a sul 10 AID ARMS CUT jward step toward cle: u { of the legislation t nc Invitations Also Sent to Ger- many and Soviet— Ameri- can Help Held Vital. LAWS PL;\NNED T0 GIVE CITY HEADS MORE POWER Favorable Action Taken on Resolu- tion Making December 26 Legal Holiday. at has mbered {the committee in the past and irkec | the members of the House geners | when called ] measures. upon to pass many trivia A subcommittee consisting Zihlman and Repres: ative Frank R. Reid of Illinois, iibson of Vermont, Thomas L. {ton of Texas and Ralph N. Kentucky w d to | similar subcor rom the | Dis th a { porting slation {give the District Comm view to re that would ners broud to pass t | izing the removal of by GENEVA, December 18.—Whether | teries, etc., withou one or several disarmament confer-|(Congress for spec ences will emerge from the forthcom- ing preparatory study open to question, lLeague of officials declared today when e league published the texts of the com- | Biotot committen were appointed munication sent to the United! Tha special ippalited. States. Germany and Russia. The|thorized to inv S texts are identical except for the titles. | living here by a v Indications are that differences of | This investigating opinion exist over the advisability of appointed on motion holding a separate conferénce or al | tive Henry R. R: armaments. England is believed here j of Illinols, who v to be anxious to please Washington | The other m on this question. The recent statement g Associated Press by Afranio .\(el!n““. he expects Franco, Brazillan member of thelptr B0 € league council, has attracted great in- | 8N 0 terest as proving that the problem has " BHER vet to be definitely ironed out by the! . o iembers of the preparatory commis-| @ 8 s pandeny consideratio ion. Senhor Mello Franco advocated | Chalfnan Zihlman emphasized tha n entente cordlale between the league | 0 effort must be made to work ou and the United States and the holding | the fiscal r onship between the of two conferences, the first a general | National Government and the District S e raent ‘meeting in Burope | of Columbia on a basis that will be with the co-operation of the United fair to District taxpayers and satis States and the second a naval confer- | factory to Congress. He pointed out ence at Washingtotn with league col- ! that & permanent fiscal policy should Iaboration. {be set up before effective work « e ibe done in passing upon the broac Oppose Dissociation. | proposals for development of the N On the other hand, Joseph Paul Bon. | tional Capital can be planned ir's recent interview pictured | List of Subcommittees. I'turce as opposed to dissociation of | The list of sub the elements in the armament Ques- | ments confirmed by tion, while Japan and Italy also have | a5 follow. gone on record as backing the idea of | Judiclary — Beers, P L single conference. | Reid, Houston, Delaware; League officials emphasize that all | Gilbert the states are looking forward to| = Public utilities—Zihlman American participation in the prepara- | pert, Wisconsin; Gasqu tory commission, perhaps along the |lina. and Whitehead, V. linés of negotiations for the control of | Bathing pools traffic in arms if Washington feels it | parks »son, cannot participate unreservediv. | Bowma The officials contend that participa- | Litt tior. involves no commitment by the < United States: on the contrary, that | hill, Bowles, Keller, Ha has everything to gain and | Carolina, and Little thing to lose. Her presence, they | Public health, welfare would give a moral drive to the | laws—Keller. Stalke effort for disarmament and, further- | Houston, Mrs. Norton, more, is she abstained her absenceand Gilber might be used as an excuse by others | Fiscal affairs of foy inaction The officiai that study of the question would be ! long and slow, because it was impos- | I vle to find quick formulas for land | Gd rmament, as was the e in con- ! sidering naval armaments. Moreover, urope was more convinced than ! that armaments are only ms of disease whose real name 1l fear of fnsecurity. |t iderable interest is attached to | Pert, Blanton 4 statement credited to the Soviet rep- 3 ‘ sentative in Italy by an Italian So- | IEcioofiof Necesslfen ™ cialist newspaper. Disct thie | The resoiutioniofiencd by Mr. Rat league invitation to Russia, he was |hone Pointed out th sk laand quoted as saying that the Soviet never | necessaries of lfe seemed to be ex refused to collaborate in matters af. | jecoingly high in the District of Co H e el {lumbia, thereby constitutis 3 'n,\]nmil\;n ind onerous burden on REPLY TO BE DELAYED. ) called special attention to recent j tivities of certain foreizn governments |in maintaining the price of certain iproducts of their respective countries at an_unnecessarily high fizure and in limiting and regulating the supply of the same to the people of the United States and the inhabitants of the Dis trict of Columbia. Running true to form, the District committee witnessed today sh between a couple of lies from cem ing to come t By the Associated Press. Nations to come before the comm of he | consin; Blanton €n to the| North Carall committee during of standing com mmittee appc the committee :. Reid, La ' C nce and banking nd ew New charity York Jersey. say, the District— Blanton treets, highways and parks Stalker, Bowles, Hammer que. Police and firemen—Rathbone, Reid Lampert, Sullivan and Ham lective franch Lampert, Hammer igating th District—Rathbone. 1d Hammer. Awaits Full Report Before An- swering Invitation. By the Associated Pres: | The Washington Government has re- | ceived from the League of Nations Council an invitation to participate | officially in preliminary plans at Ge-|C neva for a disarmament conference | Underh! aid he believed he and with it a notice that solution of | Would have to throw the first monke the problem will depend upon the con- | Wrench inth the peace and good will sideration “in its entirety and with |atmosphere of the committee. He de the co-operation of all natlon {clared that from ears’ experience amplifying document, m: in public life he d never seen any from Bern by Minister Gibson, giving | good accomplished by these investi detalls of the workings of the yre |gating committees, which, he said, U. The Federal Reserve reported an ample supply of all_gold pieces ex- cept those of the $2.50 denomination, the supply of which is limited. It was saild seekers of $2.50 gold pieces are paying 25 and 50 cents premium on each coin in order to procure them. paratory commission, is due to arrive | prove exceedingly expensive, I here next week, and it is expected | where, and resuit in nothinz that formulating of a reply by Presi-|are too many matters of vital interest dent Coolidge and Secretary Kellogg |to the District to be considered, he will await its receipt. sald, without the committee dissipat _The invitation disclosed that every vitation disclosed t ing its attention on fruitless investi ntinued on Page 5, Column 3. | &ation. He said that the last Con Radio Concerts, Heard on Phone Line, Long Puzzling Experts, Admitted Hoax By tho Associated Press. & COATESVILLE, Pa., December 18. —Radio concerts picked up from dis- tant stations over an ordinary tele- phone line at Brandamore, near here, which "for two years had mystified telephone and radio experts, have endéd, and the mystery has been cleared up by the admission of Karl Davidson, a Reading Railroad tele- graph operator, that the strange re- ception was_a hoax. Although he declined to go into de- tails as to his methods, Davidson in- timated that he had connected a. con- cealed radio receiving set with the telephone lines by means of a device of his own invention. He lost his job as a result of the hoax. It was not gncommon for other em- ployes to Iift the telephone re- ceiver to report a train and pick up a radio program being broadcast from Radio Programs—Page 53. Atlanta, San Francisco and other dis- tant Amcyican stations. On some oc- '} % gress the District col ittee had suc | ceeded in passing more constructive |legislation for the National Capital |than had been achieved in many ye: use it confined itself to practi ures rather than wandering into the realm of fancy. He said that by pursuing such fruitless investigations, the District committee would discredit itself avith the membership of the House. He also claimed that the ac tion of foreign governments in re {stricting shipments of its products and Dboosting prices was not within the pre rogative of the District committee, and that the whole country is tired of in vestigations. Insists on Good Faith. Mr. Rathbone vigorously replied that he thought such language came with poor grace from the Massachusetts member, that his resolution was o fered in good faith, that the investi- gation would cos nothing, that it was in support of recommendations of Secretary Hoover, that there was no thought of tinkering with the tariff, that he found the District suffering from a reign of high prices, and that he belleved much good could be ac- complished by his subcommittee. Mr. Reid, who has been counsel for " (Continued on Page 2, Column 1) casions foreign stations, including Ger- many, were heard. The mystery drew radio experts to Brandamore from many parts of the country, and the hoax was so cleverly executed that some of these authori- ties belleved a means of transforming | radio waves into sound units without | the aid of a regular receiving set was about to be discovered. Then railroad officials became suspicious of David- son. His movements were watched closely, but nothing was revealed. Finally it was decided to suspend him, and this brought the mystery to a climax - | Reading officials said today their investigation was far from complete and that others may have been in- volved in the hoax. Upon one occa- sion the company took a group of radio and telephone experts to Branda- more on a special train to investigate, the “strange phenomena.” They re- mained for several days, finally leav- Ing with the mystery unsolved.