Evening Star Newspaper, February 8, 1926, Page 2

@ * THE EVENING HTSU.S WORKERS AS “THEKILERS “Loafers and Buck-Pass-| ers,” Declares Davey in Let- | ter to Ohio Labor Body. R tative X L. Davey, Demoerat, of Ohlo today told the Ohlo | Federation of Lahor that, aside the mal's DAVEY workers, Mr. side into the » executive vernment, and de- t rid of 100,000 (ting drones.” tive =ald, how- interested in de MARTIN L who has ints a presen’ ind former ves., who severely s in vogue in Gov- Hits Short Hours. the working hours of of t crnment, Jte that “they report for morning and leave at th a half hour for lunch, al- of them take consider- represents a v surs per day. In addi- working hour ternoons _off ull other excuse 1o they ce 30 30 days sick leave or holi not countin the most ex- | < in Amer- present spirit of the Buck i sing s he favor und anization the Gove a con- d reason- ent would i infinitely better service than 1t i{s now giving." Calls Service *“Irony. Decluring that it was “irony” to opply to the busi- » in Congress since 1918, sald: “We should get rid 100,000 or more of the tax-eating ines. co-ordinate the various ac- cs of the Government, eliminate ss duplication of effort or al fart, nnd establish a yeason- sis of work and service, 1 certain! Interested in the petent, necessary | rnment employes, | far as any one p their cause. In rd already indi- v. There are and meritori- - who are really | ire decidedly In ! deserving minority | 1 fnjured by the vast | and inefficient ones. iany who would other- and valuable Govern: | ome the vie- it ti vicious stemn, the phi- | tch is to do as little as keep the job alive, | 4, competent work: | oy of the Gov. of the service e become dis-| cou into_this vicious | system and are swallowed up by it. | “Philosophy Destructive.” of nothing more hopeless sation of a willing workes | ¢ of the United States He is held down by of useles vd inefficient em. discouraged by the destructive | shilosophy in the Government service, | ind is without hope of reward for neritorious work.” One 1 ule public by Repre- sentativ v. coming from a for- mer d tal employe, without namin ‘nt, said he was d, vou do, look busy vhen of the b mes in." Spendin; own ~mploy er employes who “in- ormed me that I was doing too much work, and would I kindly slow down?” ADMIT 14 LAWYERS TO PRACTICE HERE D. C. Supreme Court Receives 1. E. Robinson, Ex-Chief Justice of West Virginia. fra E. Robinson, former chief fustice of the ne Court of W g 1 candida e for governor 1816 on the Republican ticket, w ar b tted to tice 1 D! ore the Su- Paul | ining on motion of John hairman of the e e Judge Robinson has been 1 law at Grafton since he re- red from the bench, and is now As- it Attorney General. uthorized to practice here J. Bowler, Missouri; 1 Crounse, Virginia in, Connecticut: Mark llinofs: William' Alfred Ciifford L. Johnson, dwin Joseph, Daniel Waldo Knowlton, Colorado: Temuel Oliver, Tennessee: TLouis Titus, California; Kathryn T. Bonner, Montans, and Robert O. Brownell, Pennsylvani FORM DOG THRIFT CLUB. LONDON, February $ (®).—Thrift clubs for dogs are being organized in Lonc The scheme has been inaugurated by the people’'s dis- pe for sick animals of the poor 10 avert the annual tragedy of the jethal chamber for dogs of persons who cannot afford a license. A weekly contribution of 114 pence from dog owners 1s made to the associa- tion, this totaling 6 shillings 6 pence for th the P. D. 8. A, adding the extra shilling necessary for the purchasc of & city license, A | SEEK RUN WILL SEND MESSAGE. Coolidge Promises Paper to Be Read at Lincoln Day Banquet. One of the features of the Lincoln day banquet to be held at the City Club next Friday will be the reading of & message from President Coolidge. The President promised Representa- tive Summers of Washington, who I8 & member of the committee arranging for this local observance of the birth- day of the great emancipator, when he called at the White House today, that he would prepare somethirs for ihls occaston, Similar messages from members of the President cabinet a.50 will be read. BLUFF OF NEGRO COSTS Hi LIE Policeman Shoots When Auto Thief Makes Show of Pulling Pistol. Making a move as if to draw a pis- tol when he was not armed cost An- thony Ford, colored, ears old, his life early yesterday. Policeman Ed- ward F. Tippett, pursuing Ford, and believing the latter was about to shoot, fired, a bullet hitting him in the head, killing him almost instantly. shooting cccurred in front of dence of Dr. M. §. Fealy, drug avenue north- ere Ford and an unidentifed companion, it is alleged, were stripping the druggist’s auto- wbile. A tire had been taken from a wheel and the pump Policeman Tippett appeared, and the two men thereupon started away. In- stead of responding to a call to halt, it is stated, the men jumped from thelr car and run in opposite direc: tions. Ford, it is charged, thrust his hand into his bip pocket as he turned and | faced the pursuing policeman. Then Tippett fired. Park Policeman Rob- ert Howell, on duty in Stanton Park, heard the report of the shot and went to Tippett's assistance. Ford was taken to Casualty Hospital, where he was pronounced dead A brother of Ford identlfied the body at the hospital. Te told the police that } | rested on a charge of taking property from an automoblle, they said. SUSPEGT AFTER AUTO GRASH Agents Hunt for Man Believed Drowned—Companion Is Caught—2 Cars Ruined. A lleged rum-runner is missing and may have been killed, another was cut, bruised and captured, and two $3,000 automobiles were demol- ished and burned after a collision on the southern Maryland pike near Bryantown, Md., shortly after mid- night last night when the liquor car, racing at great speed for & hill, side- swiped a car containing four prohi- bition agents going at approximately 35 miles an hour. Men were thrown helter-skelter, vards from the wreckage, by the force of the collision. The “dry” car rolled over four times and came to a stop on its slde at the roadside. The prohibition agents, including Chief Gerald Murphy of the local di- ! vision and three others, whose names were not made public, fortunately es- caped injury. After the wreck the gasoline feed lines of the “dry” car broke and the heat from the motor ignited the car. Its top was burned off. the hood and tonneau warped, and the inflammable cushions were destroyed. The liquor car also was burned badly. Two men were said to have been in the liquor car. Only one was cap- tured and Chief Murphy expressed fears today that the second lies at the bottom of a creek which runs along the foot of the hill where the accident oecurred Murphy detalled two prohibition agents to go to the scene at day- break, search adjoining woods for the man, and make certain that he was not drowned in the creek. Early last night prohibition agents got wind of the fact that a large ship- ment of liquor was to be run out of Charles County over the road toward Washington_at or about midnight. The agents laid plans for the capture of the liquor car, which embraced a “plant” at the foot of the steep hill a few miles from Bryvantown. Here the “dry" car took up its station. The agents had not been waiting long when the shrieking of a whistle behind them on the road heralded the approach of a speeding car. Ge.ting a start to catch the car on the hill. the prohibition machine had just climbed to 35 miles an hour when the liquor car, siren screaming, thundered by. As it went its right fenders joggled into the dry agents' car, which swerved, and the next instant both machines were crashing to the side of the road. Some of the men were thrown out; others took the four somersaults of the “dry” car without injury, through good fortune. One'of those catapulted from the liquor car was the man who is miss- ing. The other tried to make a got- away, but was captured and brought to the Marlboro jail, to be held pend- ing a preliminary hearing. He re- fused to give his proper name, ac- rding to Chief Murphy, but did siate that the machine had 20 cases of liquor when the crash took place. Some of the liquor, it was said, was found a hundred feet from the scene of the crash. Theft of Villa’s Head Brings Arrest of American in Mexico By the Associated Press. PARRAL, Mexico, February 8.— The headless body of Frdncisco “Pan- cho” Villa, notorfous bandit - rebel chieftain, whose cement sepulchre was torn open by ghouls Friday night, may be the silent accuser of Emil Halmdahl, American soldier of fortune, and a Mexican, Alberto Corral, sald to be of Los Angeles. Halmdahl, reputed to have been a guide for Gen. Pershing's fruitless expedition into Mexico in chase of Villa, and Corral are In jail here while authorities are trying to learn what was done with Villa's head, which the grave robbers cut off and took. No satisfactory explanation has been ascribed for the decapitation, although a note left with the body sald the head was to be sent to Columbus, New Mexico, scene of the bandit raid in 1916 that resuited in the American punitive expedition. Many here, however, head was filched from the car before | cother recently had been ar- | | | { i | | ! which a train is approaching, SAVES 3 CHLDREN 452 HONES BURN L. E. Hodges Escapes by! Second-Story Windew in Arlington County. ' Spectal Dispatch to The Star. CLARENDON, Va., Awakening carly yesterday to find his home atire and all lower floor passages blocked by flames, L. E. Hodges of Marconi avenue, Alcova Heights, saved himself and three children by way of a second-story window. The house and that of his next door neighbor, A. M. Abercrom- bie, were burned, at a loss estimated at $12,500. Fire engines had great in getting to the scene because poor road conditions. The engine of the Arilngton de- partment, located a short distance away, developed transmission trouble, which rendered it heipless, and waen | engines from Potomac, Cherrvdale, ¢ arendon, Jefferson disirict and Rall- ston arrived the homes w envel oped in flames and past saving. Lack of & convenient water supply proved another handicap to the fire | February 8. | i | difficulty of | fighters. A small pond about 3.000 feet awny enabled a re of hose of the various departments and final- ly resulted in a stream being played | on_the burning structur | The Abercrombie home ! cupled, and Mrs. Aber o ubia Hospitul, where a daughter was born to them the latter part of January. Mrs. Hodges was spending the night at the home sister In Washington. The 1t is sald, is partially co surunce. CROSSING FLAGMAN GIVES LIFE TRYING | TO SAVE BOY OF 9/ (Continued from First Page) els, sald Dunn was in the position | prescribed by the rules of the road when he made the heroic attempt to save the life of the Gregory vouth | and gave his own life in the effort “Our watchmen are cautioned to al wavs stand opposite the track on Mr. Sel by sald. “Apparently, Dunn, seeing the two trains were to meet at the | crossing. stood on the south side and warned the lad to remain on the north side. As the lad walked around the end of the local, Dunn ran out | and attempted to pull him out of the way.” Mr. Selby added that Dunn had been with the road for more than 35 vears and had been transferred from the crossing at Galthersburg. Md., to the Chestnut street crossing at ‘Takoma Park because It was lghter work, without much automo bile trafic. Dunn lived with his wife | in Gaithersburg. Three children by a former marriage live in Washing- ton. Selby added that the Capitol Limit ed, which makes few Stops in fts 700- mile journey between Washington and | Chicago, thunders through Takoma | Park at great speed and that the en | gincer probably did not see the two | | figures on the track until far too late. The tragedy happened so quickly and 8o without warning that nothing could have been done to prevent it, accord- ing to police. In the few feet remain- ing before he reached the crossing the engineer would not have been able tc | stop, in the opinion of those familiar | with the crossing, as the boy suddenly appeared on the track from behind the end of the west-bound localand the | aged watchman immediately darted | out on the track in the effort to draw him to the side. The bodies were re- moved to the morgue. The Gregory youth was unusually bright and apt at school and church. In the little home just across the District Line in Takoma Park, Md., while the mother lay un- stairs prostrated, neighbors told of the bright youngster whose life was snuffed out. They related how he had but a few days ago been promoted from the fourth grade to the fifth at the Tako- ma School, to which he walked from his home a half-mile away every day. They told of unusual aptitude in his studles and devotion to church, while the principal of the school, Miss K R. MacQueen, spoke in a hushed tone of the dangers of the crossing over which scores of school children pass every day. Lieut. Harmon told how he was driving north on Chestnut _street, when his son Bill, aged 10, stopped his car and pointed ou* the two bodies ly- ing near the track . “I thought for a moment one of my children and been killed,” Lieut. Harmon said, “‘then was horrifled to learn my little nephew had met death.” The railroad tracks at the point of the accident are elevated several feet, with an_Incline on both sides. The neighborhood is thickly settled to the District line, only a half mile north. Houses border the track on both sides, while the Takoma School is less thar | 500 yards from the crossing used by scores of children every day. Chestnut street is used as a through thoroughfare for automobile traffic through Takoma Park over the Co- lumbia Pike to Baitimore. Although snow was falling lightly at the time of the accldent, vislon was clear both ways. The conclusion reached by persons famillar with the crossing and by Knight and Kilmer, according 1o po. lice, is that the accident cccurred exactly as described; that the Greg- ory youth walked from behind the slow-moving local directly ‘onto the | track of the flylng Capitol Limited, and that Dunn, in a frantic attempt to avert an accident, deliberately risked and gave his life whils drag- ging the boy from the path of the express, While residents of the neighhor- hood could not recall any other accl- dent at the Chestnut street crossing, they remembered vividly ths triple tragedy at the Lamond crossing last sear, and volced freely thelr helief that ‘an underpass or overpass should be constructed at this point. i | surreptitious sale to some institution for scientific study. Little is known yet of the circum- stances resulting in the arrest of Halmdahl and Corral. They are sald to have maintained they were in this section on a hunting trip. Investigators have taken their lead from a reported inquiry recently by an American as to the exact location of Villa's grave, which was pointed out by the cemetery caretaker. Conditions about the grave offered small aid to solution of the mystecy, except that it must have taken a number of strong men to dislodge the weighty concrete covering slab. Liquor bottles and corks smelling of pungent chemicals found near the grave are unaccounted for. The body was left partly exposed to view. ap- parently having been moved only enough for the decapitators to do their work. Villa was buried here in 1923 fol- believe the|lowing his death at the hands of some from the tomb forlof his disgruntied henchmen, | replacing the old Chain Bric STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1926. All that is left of the homes of L. E. Hodges and A. M. Abercrombie, in the nearby suburb of Washington that were swept b y fire early yesterday morning. 'y The home of Mr. Hodges, which stood In the foreground, was | 1y leveled, while a chimney and charred wood are grim evidences of what happened to the Abercrombie home. omplete- NEW CHAIN BRIDGE HELD IMPERATIVE Replacing of Span Should Not Be Charged to D. C., How- ever, Says Col. Bell. Imperative need for a new bridge which id en t current a hearing tee of the wenkened condit fnadequate to m was emphasized at oday before a subcomm House Distriet committee. The injustice of expecting the tax navers of the District of Columbia to contribute toward the erection of a bridge was also emphasized : bill, introduced by Representa o need: tive Moore, Democrat, of Virginia, would require a roadw feet wide and footpath 6 fe It would provide for a new abutment on th Virginia end, the entire work to cost ipproximately $350, and the con 00, struction to be done under the Secre- ary of War. Mr. Moore sald that this legislation was drawn In accordance with the views of the District Commissioners. Engineer Commissioner Bell gave a ! detailed history of the Chain Bridge | since it was originally buflt, in 1797 The present bridge wus completed in 1874, he said, and turned over to the strict in 1886. Since that time the strict has paid only for painting reflooring and repair work and for the sulary of the watchman. Built By U. 8. The bridze was buflt from United States funds, but since 1856 has been maintained by the District of Colum- bie. It is the view of the Commis sioners, Col. Bell said, that the bridge is of natfonal rather than local char acter. It serves a large part of Vir zinfa and Maryland and is an ap proach to the Lee highway. One end {is in the District of Columbia and the sther in V D. E. bridges, told the subcommittee that many tubular members In bridge have never been painted and cannot be painted or examined. He stressed the fact that there i3 no way of know ing the state of these tubes, but that they certainly must be deteriorating. The bridge has been considerably weakened in recent years. Some of the steel has not been painted in 52 vears and is not in good shape. The load that can be carried across inla, the bridge has been restricted to 6! tons. The Virginia abutment has been damaged by quarrying, d has moved and must be examined at regu- lar intervals, Engineer McComb said The bridge is declared too narrow, and there is no provision for pedestrians, causing a constant hazard. Becitise of the restriction to 6-ton ruckloads, a considerable amount of (he traffic has been diverted to other bridees. Col. Bell explained that 28,000 pounds is the load limit in the District and that the average load is from 000 to 27,000. Opposes Charging U. S. Col. Beil explained to the committee that under the lump sum appropria- ton and the Borland proposition the Federal Government has not con- tributed more than 10 or 12 per cent toward the construction of roads and bridges in the District of Columbia. It is not fair for the people of the Dis- trict to take the burden of construct- ing this bridge, he sald. Mr. Moore said it was simply im- possible tor the State of Virginia to participate in this construction, be- cause of its other road-building pro- gram now in progress, which Is of great benefit to the District. Mr. McComb said that $5,000 would be required to investigate the con- dition of Chain Bridge. It cannot be strengthened to bear more than the present traffic without being com- pletely reconstructed, he sald. George W. Offutt, chalrman of the committee on bridges of the Wash- ington Board of Trade, told the sub- committee that a survey shows that the Chain Bridge is the worst of all the bridges in the District. |WOMAN REPORTS $6,000 STOLEN FROM HER HOME Mrs. Anna Horn Informs Police Money Was Taken From Side- board in Dining Room. Disappearance of a bag containing $6,000, part savings and part inherited, was reported to the police yesterday afternoon by Mrs. Annie Horn, 1229 C street southwest. The money was taken from the drawer of a slde- board in her dining room, she said, and thought it was taken yesterday. Mrs. Horn told Detectives H. K. ‘Wilson and B. C. Kuehling that the money was intended for the purchuse of a home. She had not put the money in bgnk, she said, because she thought it was safe. Mrs. Horn explained to the cetec- tives that a roomer in her home the past 28 years left yesterday morning after o disagreement. It was some time after the roomer took his de- parture, she stated; that she missed her money. : Will Deliver Lincoln Address. Rev. James Shera Montgomery, chaplain of the House, is to deliver the Lincoln day address in the siate- house at Providence, R. I. Italian Troops in Ceded Area. ROME, February 8 UP).—It is offi. clally announced that the Oasis of 45 Tialy b beeh occupied by an T to Italy, n occu - fan column, under Col l{omhotu. without incident. McComb, District engineer of | By the Associated Press, WILKES BARRE, February - Starvation, a3 a result of the anthra- cite strike, has claimed its first vic- tim. Destitution and want have been re- ported from all purts of the region tor ks, but the first case actual starvation was revealed yes- v when the death of Mrs. Mary Harrington, at Ashland, wife of a striking miner, was investigated. | Deputy Coroner Sener said he was | convinced that her death was due to starvation. Starvation Claims First Strike Victim; Mrs. Harrington's husband had left | the coal fleld to find employment else- where. What little food che had re- celved, Mr. Sener said, was obtained from & soup kitchen and this had been given to her children, one of whom was only 5 months old. The deputy coroner said the woman had been too proud to ask aid for herself. | _John L. Lew sident of the | United Mine Worl returned to the anthracite belt today. He estab- lished headquarters in this city and planned to make another tour of the | reglon during which he will dellver a series of addresses. TWO OPPOSE BAN ON DEATHPENALTY Special Assistant Attorney General and Representative Uphold Capital Punishment. | Arthur N. Sager, special Assistant Attorney Generul, and Representative | Newton of Missourd spoke in favor of capital punishment at the hearing be- fore a subcommittee of the House Dis- trict committee today on the McLeod bill abolishing the death peralty in the District of Columbfa. Representative Blanton, Democrat, of Texas, gained consent of the com- mittee to put into the record of the hearings newspaper clippin, and ex- tracts of speeches about Clarence J. Darrow, who was & much-heralded witness last week. Mr. Blanton had previously secured from the subcom- mittee a promise that sufficlent time would be allowed opponents of the bill | terred by capital punishment. s |learned this from extensive experi- ! ence, covering 82 years, and said that nally he had punishment. He now believes that the exigencies of modern times and the protection of soclety require that should avenge wrongs which individuals cannot do. Regard- | tng the complaint that tha rich escape | more frequently than poor men, Mr. Sager sald that the fault is not so ! much with the law as with society itself, which is frequently actuated | maudiin sentiment. He said he coes believe that the jury shoull be allow- ed the alternative of bringing in a verdict of life imprisonment cr capi- tal punishment. origi Today in Congress S| TE. Whether publicity of income tax returns shouid be retained in the new tax bill was being debated in the Senate today. ‘The {nterstate commerce commit-. tee held hearings on the rallroad labor bill. The Senate judiciary committee is meeting in executive session. The chall - Johnson senatorial contest was up for further consid- eration by the privileges and elec- tions subcommittee this afternoon. HOUSE. This is District day in the House, with five measures on the calendar for consideration: To authorize the payment of $68,400 past _due to retired members of the Metropolitan Police and Fire Departments; to furnish uniforms and official equipment to members of the Police and Fire Depart- ments; to erect two bathing beaches, one for white and orne for colored, at a cost of $345,000; to set up a mothers’ pension sy..) to be administered by a separate agency with an_initial appropria- tion of $100,000 from District reve- nues, and to eniarge the National Capital Parks Commission and in- trust to 1t city planning duties. Subcommittees of the House Dis. trict committee today continued hearings on the bill to abolish capi- tal punishment in the National Capital and opened hearings on the bill to replace the Chain Bridge with a new structure out of Fed- eral funds. The merchant marine commit- tee, In executive session, considers Davis _amendment to the White io bill. ubcommittees of appropriations committee conduct hearings in executive session on independent offices’ budget. Naval affairs committee conducts & hearing on the five-year aviation building program, with Admiral Moffett and his aides as principal ‘witnesses. Mihtary affairs committee, through a subcommittee, conducts hearings on military national parks. Forelgn affairs committee con- tinues hearing on acquisition of sites for United States foreign am- bassies. Rivers and harbors committee continues hesring on Cape Cod Canal and Houston, Tex., Channel. Subcommittee of post office co.n- mittee continues hearing on regu- lation of printing of stamped en- velopes. Irrigation and reclamation com- mittee continues hearing on Pecos River projects. Indian affairs committee con- tinues hearings on Crow reserva- tion and other department bills, to_present their side of the cas Mr. Sager sald emphatically that| the commission of crime had been de been opposed to cap- | SENATE RESUMES TAXPUBLICITY ROW Smoot to Ask Night Sessions to Assure Passage of Bill This Week. By the Associated Preas The Senate dug in to uance of its fight over tax reduction with leaders of both parties deter- | mined tg bring the revenue bill to a | final voie before the end of the week. Opponents of certain provisions of the measure were faced with the dec- laration of Chairman Smoot of the finance committee, in charge of the | bill. that he would demand night sions, immediately. Under that program the Senate would sit in continuous session from 11 a.m. until 10 pm. daily until the measure is passed. More than a week of debate on th bill has resulted in a decision on o one of the three maln controversial pro- visions—reduction of the surtax rates —and for the fourth conse | ston the Senate today sought to reach |a vote on the provision repealing the law allowing publication of th nounts of income tax payments. Norris Plan Is Fought. tor Norris, Republican, Ne- . who has led the fight against other controversial sections of the bill, | renewed his effort to amend it to {allow public inspection of all income | tax returns. Managers of the bill argued this not only would allow con- | | | | | any items found in the tax returns. The investigation of the In ernal Revenue Bu ed by a specia awaited further airing today. na tor Couzens, Republican, Michigan, chalrman of the committee, in present. ing the report signed by Se: ors King of Utah and Jones of New Mex- ico, Democrats, asked for public in- spection of returns. Senator Ernst, Republican, tucky, has presented a minority re- port, signed also by Senator Watson, Republican, Indiana, opposing the con: clusions reached by the majority and declaring against publicity. Following the publicity debate the Senate must act on the proposal of the finance committee to repeal the inheritance tax. Norris Opens Debate. Senator Norris opened debate to- day by arguing that State property tax returns were open to inspection, but Senator Stmmons, ranking Demo- crat on the finance committee, de- clared this was not comparable to of a taxpayer's business as shown in his income tax returns.” The Nebraska Senator also declared that publicity would prevent dishon- esty in the preparation of returns. This position was challenged by Sena. tor George, Democrat, Georgia, who contended that a “dishonest taxpayer would cheat the law by any possible means.” Senator Copeland, Democrat, New York, advanced the argument that the Treasury had “deliberately or- dered publication of re‘urns” in or- der to make the law permitting pub- lication unpoplar. Chairman Smoot disputed this. Senator Norris explained that his amendment would not restore the present law directing internal reve- nue collectors to make public the names of taxpayers and the amounts of their tax. Shorter Tonging Season Likely. Special Dispatch to The Star. ability of shortening the oyster tong- ing season in Maryland by one or two months will be considered at a meet- called last week by Gov. Ritchie. at Annapolis. | former Secretary of War John W. WEEXS' ATTORNEYS ARGUMENT BEGUN SEEK DISVISSAL BY U. 5. INWAN CASE Charges in Ship Settlement Suit “Scandalous and Frivolous,” They Say. Asserting that the charges made by Charles B. Brewer, formerly con nected with the Department of Jus- tice, in his suit recently filed against Weeks, are ‘scandalous and fci olous,” Attorneys Frank J. Homan and John W. Davidge, representing the former cabinet officer, filed a de- myrrer {n the Supreme Court of the District today by which they ask that the suit be thrown out of court. Brewer late last month filed in the District Supreme Court, in the name of himself and the United States, a sult against former Secretary Weeks for $1,102,000 alleged damages to the Government as the result of the set- tlement by Mr. Weeks, while Secre. taryv of War in President Harding's cabinet, of a claim presented by Carden & Herd, New York brokers, who In April, 1917, secured for the United States seven Austrian steam- ers, which had been interned in Amer- | fea n ports since the outbreak of the | World War in 1914. | Brewer's According to the Carden a tled by the pa alleging that the claim was fictitlous and fraudulent, he asserts that Mr.| Weeks is liable for double the amount | which he, as Secretary of War, au- allegation | thorized the payment of, in addi tion & forfeit o aking @ | “otal,” says Brew 2.009. one half thereof to be States and one- to the said Charles B. Bre: In the demurrer filed to: for Mr. Weeks contend that there is no law authorizing the suit and that the plaintiffs’ declaration fails to make any_charge of fraud or fraudulent conduct. It 1s also claimed Secretary Weeks had exclusive authority to de- ermine what constituted just settle- ments of clalms growing out of war paid to the United ¢ thereof 1o be paid contracts und that the District Su-| | preme Court 10 Jurisdiction to re- view his actions. Tha demurrer | laims that the plaintiff is seeking to | recover statutory penalties for what he ulleges to be the re of the ecretary of War to exerciss “ordi- SNOWFA | morning, v in contin- | heavy, according to the Weather Bu- | utive ses-| tinued publication of amounts of tax | this proposal, as fuel supply in the payments but permit publication of | District au, which was conduct- | retailers or for proposed proceedure. Senate commlttee, also | National Retall C Ken- | the Federal | | making public “the intimate details | in favor of a full audit b BALTIMORE, February $.—Advis-|jority of them now favor. ing of 115 members of the industry| Senator Curtis of Kansas, the Re- The | publican floor leader, who has been conference will be held February 17 confined to his home by an attack of quinsy, returned today to the Senate. to ascertain the facts ary prudence f the Carden uand Herd claim sel for Mr. Weeks say that thers s statute under which an on i penalize & Government official for fail- ure to exercise “ordinary prudence” in the di ge of offictal dutle: LL TO BE LIGHT. ‘Weather Bureau Sees No Blizzard in Sight for D. C. which began falling ] not be prolonged Snow, this or reau, which forecast r night and tomorrow, light snow or rair noon. The temperature tly cloudy to- with probabl ill remain about the same, with little change, probably | dropping to about 26 tonight, ft was 1id. No blizzards or cold waves are in immediate prospect. COAL PROBE DELAY i IS SEEN IF DEALERS BLOCK AUDIT PLANS| - (Con 1 from F methods do rot include all costs to Government and also omit many costs of retailers “This proposal would establish the | precedent of Government in competi tion with private business and would Volate recognized concept of appro priate Government functions. | Fuel Supply Adequate. | “There is no emergency to justify | of Columbia adequate. | Charges of profiteering are no warrant either for assumption of guilt of the ! Merchants' As- soclation respectfully urges an ade- | quate and orderly determination the facts and careful consideration of the procedure. If this proposal is| being seriously considered, we request full opportunity to be heard in op- position to this program to involve Government in direct competition with established and legit- imate busines Senator Copeland of New York, Democratic member of the District committee, said today that he thought the local coal merchants would be exceedingly foolish if they declined to permit an examination of their books and records by the auditors of the vernment. “If they take such a position,” said Senator Copeland, ‘they will lose whatever sympathy there may exist for them, and will cause the public to believe they have something to conceal.’ The New York Senator aid he was the Gov- ernment of the books and accounts of the coal merchants. Attorneys’ Opinion. According to attorneys, who have in- terested themselves in the present con- troversy, the next logical step for the dealers to take would be to decline formally to permit the controller gen. eral’s accountants to examine their books. If the Senate District commit- tee then sought to subpoena them, the dealers could obtain an injnction, re- straining the Senators until they had shown cause why the books should be aydited. Considerable court proceed- s would follow as a consequence. Several times, it is sald, congress- | lonal Investigating bodies have been | forbidden by the courts to seize the| private records of business firms with-. out first pointedly accusing them of violating a specific law. In the case of the coal men, it is held, no law vio- latlon has been charged, and the at- torneys belleve they can legally de- mand the complete audit that a ma- - ___ Senator Curtis Back at Desk. Judge Kathryn Sellers is opposed to excluding from Central High School youths who recently were caught *porrowing" automobiles for joyrides, and she s0 announced in Juvenile Court today when she continued the case of Horace W. Schultt, 1723 Cor- coran street, Central High freshman, until February 19. “I do not believe,” sald Judge Sell- ers, “that suspension from school Is proper punishment for a 1i-year-old boy and I recommend that he be al- lowed to remain in school.” Judge Sellers also postponed the Judge Opposes Barring From School Boys Joyriding in ‘Borrowed’ Cars cases today against Donald G. Berry, i1 years old. 217 C strest southeast, and Francis Stoker, 14, 310 C street southeast, arrested with Schultt in connection with the alleged joy rides. She warned all three of the boys that any further breach of discipline would result in their immediate commitment to the National Training School for Boys. Neither Berry nor Stoker attend Central, but four others from the Mount Pleasant institution recently were picked up in Savannah in an automobile reputedly “borrowed" from teacher. ' ! her sons to e ! Wilton J | Creecy of | e Defendant Was Obsessed With Greed, Prosecutor Says, Accusing Chinese. Vehement! Wan as a per attacking Ziang Sun B0n obsessed with greed for money, Assistant United States Attorney D. Horning, ir., in his opening argument Gov ernment before a jury Geors for the in » Divislon 2 today, ired fendant “is the man who fired the fatal shot that killed Ben Sen Wu' at the Chinese [ tional Mission here on the night January 29, 1919, Mr. Horning w eral speakers w jury on behalf and the defense over an allotted t of six hours and a I The ing argument for was begun exactly owing to the le given over for s it was indlcated receive the The final ung governn Lad submis adict the defenc noon period to argumen Chiness t duri ven s the Bank Officials Vestif Robert V. F to them on the r 1919, that he hs ed the vist officlals the che last week when it Sea Pey H. Yea the « don presented structions and read the i I weakest link The voi assistant torney dwelt for son not have re The deter pgan _brou: ward J. K ness in rebu bt 1y from s the Governme his testime could not s: that night would be of COLORED FIRE CAPTAIN EXONERATED OF THEFT, colored, o ¢. who was nnection with two b the Atlan Market, v < told b sought Kelly to declare tomato ketchup from Pacific store near Cent rol e Att sed by Assistant orney Ralph Give resentative from the store tol Mr. Given that Gibson had been de ing there for a considerable time and was making arrangements to pay the ketchup he had picked up wk arrested by a When told that the manage store would not prosecute, Mr had the collateral returned to the de- fendant and all charges against b name were dismissed. January Circulation Daily .. 99,981 . was as ful DAILY. pics. Dass 10 GRBRECEaoe Less adjustments . Total daily met circulation ......2, Total average net paid circulation. Daily average numter of copies for ‘service. ete. . ally average net Datly average net ¢ Copies. 103909 109.138 Lees adjustments Total Sunday ret circulation. . 537,892 Average net paid Sunday cirenla- Hon' = oi.s s % 106,960 Average her ice, ete. =& Average Sunday et circu FLEMIN euSihseribed and sworn to bifors' mic hie ruar 286, " (sealy ELMER ¥ YOUNT ¥