Evening Star Newspaper, March 1, 1926, Page 1

WEATHER. (U, S. Weather Bureau Forecast.) - Cloudy. possibly light slightly colder. minh um about 34 degrees: tomorr colder. Temperatures—H noon today; lowest, 40. at Full report on page 2. -ain tonight; temperature w and est. 55, At a.m. today. No. ‘29,889, i emee. IMPARTAL INQURY INTO PROHIBITON ON BROADEST LINES ASKED BY ANDREHS Enforcement Chief Urges Ap- | pointment of Unbiased| Commission to Go Into AII: Aspects of Dry Issue. ‘ PLANS LAID FOR PROBE BY SENATE AND HOUSE| ol l Deploring Present Public Di:cus-i sion of Question, Treasury 0[.‘1-‘I cial Seeks Study by Experts to| Last Year if Necessary—Be-| lieves Law Would Be Aided. With Congress on the verze of eansidering a sweeping inquiry inte fiquor conditions in the United States, Lincoln C. Andrews. Assistant Secretary of the Treasury, who com- | mands all - the Government's arms charged with enforcement of prohi- hition. today came out with the recommendation that an impartial commission of outstanding Ameri- cans should he appointed hy Presi- dent Coolidge 1o look into the entire «nciological and economic aspects of prohibition “Take it out of field.” said Gen. Andrews ot of the political ficld. Meantime, the House committee on alcoholic liquor traffic. of which Rep- resentative Hudson. Republican, of Michigan is chairman. met in ex- ecutive session today to map out a course of action and decide what it would do concerning a probe. The Senate judiciary committee has set March 8 for a hearing. at which will be heard Senat Fdwards and Edge of New Jersev and Bruce of Mary- tand on their proposals for modifica- tion or repeal of Volstead act and investigation of prohibition con- ditions in the country. The Senate commitiee. ft was said today, will nol open an extensive probe of conditions on March 8. hut will hear these three Senators and then zo into executive session to de n what course later to pursue Andrews to Be Called. The first witness o b tore the Hous- aleoholic hquor 1r: committee will be Gen. Andrews, T resentative Hudson announesd toduy. | Chairman Hudson. when informed | of the recommendation made by Gen Andrews the appointment of eommission 1o Investigate liquor traf fic tn this country, said that investi- gation by the House committee was in a measure to he preliminary. and that the commiitee also mizht recom mend that such a commission be ap pointed by the President The chairma id 1 mittee would nr had anthos A commiite f1e inuuir the controversial “Take the invited he his com il the Ilm pointment elerk e heginni A providing for a clerk s now hefore the commit 1ee on nis, of the Ilouse, Mr. Hudson said that he hopes for action on the resolution within a short time 784 the e he resolution Deplores Present Az ators. Gen. Andrews for who marshal prohibi April he ohservations on the now agitating the public the United =t nomically prohibition funds for heen field r mavally He had detcrmining these ques he said Deploring agliation sald was Kept up by tha con Alsen of “he mes Do hibitlan, Gen. Andrews e hoped that such a commissi fie Dosed Informally tods i Authorized with suflicient maonex smploy trained e “veal sclentific prohlems. The present prohibition, ¢ nat conducive quier law was charged this controver: hy apparentiy tormed men aven in the place over continuing on of. 10 ecount o machinery the answer the which he ni puh lie n of he n male reluted publie dizo n. Andre 1o gnod fon over wits he effective enforcement with which He pointd that was haing carried on intelllzent and wellin hoth « that Senate dehate had taken tha merits of prohibition the puhli ument which. he said, was conducive 1o that peace and vhich the public deserves on no security Other Natlons Regardless of taken by hil. Gen " and hy Ask Data, What action may he the two committees an the Andrews hopes that mmission may eventua he intfmated that if requested 2 congressional committee, he wonld formallv make sich a proposal The commission of inquiry. he | thought. shonld he composed of “men | af such qualfty. ability, jntegrity and | fndgment™ that the public wonld have ahsolute confidence in their findings. Furthermore, (ien. Andrews pointed Aut. this Govarnment is now confront =d with a series of inquiries from nations abroad who, he sald, keenly interested in what 1 aider a tremendous socioiogical exper ment.” Both officiale af foreign gov- arnments and promineni citizens of torelgn countries have looked to | Washington to get a fair reply to their questions ' “They want te know means.” sald Gen. Andrews. “Now, who 18 going to answer them? And If he does answer them, is his an- swer going 1o be good?" <uch v result, ft_an | Sees Ald to Law. The commission proposed. Gen. An | cessful tesu | not teo curious—ahout the id ntered ax second class matter Washinzton, D € NEW ARCTICLANDS RPOL NDREWS. MEN OF 5 NATIONS Seven Expeditions’ Plans Give Exploration Flavor of International Race. By the Assoctated Press NEW YORK. March 1 that sent Hendrik Hudson through polai seas in 1607 in search of a northwest passaze to the Spice Islands of the BEast ay still gurs the hlond of modern explorers. ‘who seek to solve the mystery of Northern seas At least seven expeditions hope this Summer to reach the North Pole or find new lands relics hidden away in the fields: of unknown ice. Four other purely scientific expedi tions will penetrate far into the North It has become almost an interna tional race. By land, sea and alr, ex peditions representing intere: n America, France, Norway. Italy and Russia will penetrate the regions that lured countless explorers before them A trade route 1o the East is sought a landing place for airplanes near the North Pole, or a vast hidden conti nent. RBut ihe ancient square-rigged <hip of romance has heen replaced by science. Airplanes. dirigibles, flying hoats and motor sledges now play i vital part The u battli o o Byrd to Sail Soon. The expedition jed by Lieut. Comdr Richard F. Byrd, plans to sail from New York late this month in iis ef e an alr route 10 the Polc <t Saturday the dirigibic Norges, with Norwegian and Italian memhera of the expedition headed hy Roald Amundsen aboard, made a suc- flight at Rome. Of the three American expeditions, the first that will take the air under | present plans is that headed hy Capt H. Wilkine, Australian ex- now on its v north. This ition is backed hy the American the Detroit Avia George plarer xped ieographical Soctety, tion Society and the North can Newspaper Alliance. The chief purpose of the expedi tion is to seek an unknown land he lieved to He north of Alaska and Si- berta. If land is discovered a base Will he established and a flight across the North Pole to Spitzhergen will be attempted other American expedition, headei hy Lieu T.eigh Wade, American round the-world fiver, alsn seeks this mvstery land, but fn addition a Yound-rip flzht to the Pole. The axpedition is supported hy alumni of \merican universities. its personnel d equipment being all-American. e planes are heing built for flights which are planned for mid-July. Lieut Wade helieves that Russia is planning a secret Aight to the unexplored territory in_hope of (Continued on Page 4, Column 4.) TY COBB IN HOSPITAL FOR OPERATION ON EYES Will Be Ready for Spring Training After Minor Trouble is Remedied, He Says. Br the Associated Press BALTIMORE. Md. March 1.-Ty Colh, manager of the Detroit Tigers, in Raltimore today to have his eyss treated hefore joining his lub at Augusta, Ga.. for Spring train fng. Me sald he probably would un- dergn an operation at the Wilmer eye “linic. Johns Hopkins Hospital, this afternoon and he ready to enter train inz in a week or 10 days The Georgin Peach is believed to be uffering from what medically s termed ptervginm a tiny growth o the inner side of the eyeball caused by dust and other irrftating particles. lie appeared In excellent health and eafd he was nol woiried about his eves. The trauble, wh as not heen veunced, he helieves to have heen caused hy the eonstant strain of watching pitched balls and the ac cumulation of dust from base ball diamonds and hunting fields. The con dition hecame somewhat aggravated This Winter while he was on a hunt rrived {Ing trip. ) ESOUGHT BY seeks to make | Soviet | WASHINGTON, FEAR MADE FRANGE SIGN AT LOCARNO, BRIAND REVEALS ‘xSays Secret Negotiation of Russian-German Pact Was Weapon. |LEAGUE COUNCIL ISSUE :Baltlwin to Deny Cabinet Crisis. | MNew Opposition to Berlin | Stand Arises. By the Assomated Press PARIS. March 1.—If had signed the Lecarno security pact arbitration treaties. she would | one day have found herself isolated in the face of an alli | Russia and Germany. Premier Rriand | told the Chamber of Deputies this morning. during the debate on the Lo carno ratification bill. - Locarno was imposed hy events.” | the premier declared. He emphasized that France's security was in no wise diminished by the Locarno accords and added: “France has given proof of her peaceful spirit. France nas suffered overmuch from columnies on her al lezed military intentions. She has paid dearly for them. When a coun [ try 1= shielded from all suspicion, just ince not | ana Mysterious Parley Revealed. Referepces (o mysterious negotia thinns before the Locarno conference with England and Russia anparently the prime movers, featured the de bate. | Premier Briand early in the session | almost Tat the cat out of the bag when. |in replving to Deputy Marin, the for | mer minister, he declared- “1f we had not had Locarno you know well what would have happened.” Deputy Marin defied the premier 1o tell the Chamber what he meant. M. Briand replied: “You know what was being prepared—what nego {iations were under way." ‘T know, M. Marin returned and 1 think England was wrong to take that attitude. 1 know what was in the vay of preparation with Moseow, and | am sure England will realize. but too late. that she did wrong in acting the vay she did.” Chose Best Co hefending the zovernment's policy at Locarno, to premier said: “We had to choose between milita operations and tranquillity of the conniry bheside a powder barrel want It to explode.” Two of the deputies exchanzed Dar. winian amenitier when M. Marin. well one doesn't off to a discussion of the “danger” from Germany Deputy Uhry interrupted the speak- er. whereupon Deputy Franklin-Boui! |lon ejaculated: “Silence, vou descend ant of a monkey! We all have the same origin." was LAl Uhry’s quick retort. “hut if 1 de Ameri- |scend from the monkey vou are going | hael: to that state.” The Chamber broke into | relieving the nervous tensity laughter, of the CHAMBERLAIN IS INT. | Attitude League Question Still ! Puzzles Britain. 1LLONDON, March 1 (#).—The Brit- ish public still is astir over what is o he the attitude of Sir Austen Chamberlain, the Rritish foreign sec- retary, with regard to increasing the | membership of the council of the League of Nations after Germany fs clected a member of the league. The on a1 Britain Is acufe he- | | cause of the fact that Germany fs on- 1 B 1o any further new members the league council aside from herself. - Austen is continuing to main- tain silence with regard to hix pur- | poses when the league council meets | | | at Geneva, and also as to how far he | may have committed himself to the French view on the admission of Po- land. Spain and Brazil to permanent seats on the council. The opinion prevalls that if any understanding has been reached for the enlargement | of the councll, Germany should have heen apprised of the fact Crisis to Be Denied. Prior 1o next Friday. when the council meets, it {5 understond that Premier Baldwin will endeavor to re- lieve the fenslon hy a statement which will allay rumors that a eabi- net crisis exists. but it is considered doubtful if he will definitely indicate the British policy. Another British cabinet meeting will be held, proba- hly Wednesday. hefore final instruc- tions are glven to the Britisi® delega- tion to Geneva. There were no developmenis over night tending to verify Sir Austen’s rumored readiness to resign the for- eign secretaryship if his views cannot be harmonized with those of his col- leagues. The Daily Mail says he has been in- vited fo address a meeting of the League of Nations parliamentary com mittee before any announcement made in the House of Commons, hut it is not stated whether he has ac- epted. | By the Awsociated Pross. 1.-Students of are curious—hut ntity of who has been CHICAGO. March the Hobo College afMuent an stranger ‘Hobo College Samaritan Hides Name After Laying Third Spread for Crowd nary and explained that as it was Sunday he would take everybody pres. ent to lunch. He had 300 guests when he reached a restaurant. The man, according to Dr. Ben Reitman, one of the college sponsors, refused Arews explained, could give an intel- ' dropping in tegularly every day for|lo tell who he w ligent answer. Although he did not | know how long It weuld take such a | commission to come to any conclu- sinns. Gen. Andrews said he estimat- o4 roughly that it might require a year. “I think such a commission, as a matter of fact, would be advantage- eons for law enforcement,” said Gen. 4 Andre explaining that It would bhe ‘ontinued on Page 6, Column 3.) a week and inviting them to lunches. On Mondav he Invited six men to eat with him. They ate and the stranger pald. On Tuesday he in- vited 20. Came Friday and the col- lege attendance had increased to 50 and a1l were fed. Still undismaved, the stranger steppe dinto the college at the close of a lecture vesterdav by Dr. Arthur Holt of the Chicagn Thenlagical Seml- | Hobo College |or West Madison street, the habitat | of great numbers of Chicago's tran. sients. Organized a couple of years ago, with Dr. Reitman, champion of the cause of the unfortunate, as one of the guiding spirits, the college offers daily lectures on social and economic subjects, and also main- taine a reading and recreation room for Its “students.” e Ty STILL CAUSES FURORE| When one smokes one's pipe | is | in the early reaches | D. C, MONDAY, MA | ¢ between Soviel | eni WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION RCH 1, 1926—THIRTY-EIGET PAGES. 'WAR SP Y, NOW A BUDDHIST MONK, ELEVEN INDICTED 'RACING HANGMAN TO SEE HIS SON| | Lincoln, Former Member of Parliament Who Gave |or unjust, it ought to profit thereby.” Cowmane Data on Ammunitions, Due in Eng- land Tonight. Boy Sentenced to Die Tomorrow. BY ) By Cable to The Star and Chica | LONDON. March I.—Trebitsch Lin | colr former member of the British parijament and International spy. will | arrive In England at 16 o'clock to- | night after a race from a Buddahist morastery in Cevion to have a last word with his soldier son. Bombardier John Lincoln, whose execution | the murder of Ingram Richards Brew ers. a traveler, has heen fixed for Tuesday morning in Shepton Mallet Jail Trehitsch Lincoln was once promi- nent in Rritish politics and was ex fled from England after proved espion. age in which he transmitted informa tion 1o the Germans concerning am- munition. He has wandered over the w the Far East adr. eventually b Buddhist monk. He borrowed money 1o return fo see his son hefore his execution but ran short of funds at Marseilles LEY FARSON. o Daily News | | 1d 1o | | | pay the 10 pounds sterling needed pro- for | me a | The British Consul there azreed to | vided Lincoln’s mother money in London Lincoln now son's unhappy wife. When we meet all there is heiween us will he settled.” he wrote. I pray you will forgive me before I die. If 1 had heen « hetier father this might | not_have happened. Lincoln still hopes (he execution will be prevenied, bui tha mother’s apneal | has been truitless and the authorities | sav that jusiice will take s course. Trebitsch Lincoln fimed Buddhist. end-avors tn console | the agonized morher in these words | “We who know evervihine helieved nothing. We ar. never upset, for we |can see through all things and know | what life nd what death i< and | What is hevond The public here is | fateful *race. eagerly | with the father's desire | will be mer Scotland denoried immadiatelv aft view with his son is end.d (Consrizht. 1976, he Chicaza Darls News 0.1 deposited 1he end, in a letter 1o his watching the but Lincoln 4 men and his inter- PAPERS T0 REPORT leaving the topic of Russia, hranched | - TRIAL DESPITE BAN | Writers Threatened With Jail If They Use Testimony of Murder Hearing. Br the Associated Press. | BAY ST. LOUIS, Miss.. March 1 | Although Cireult Judge Walter White ilnnmxm'?d that a cell in the Hancock County Jail awaited any newspaper | reporter who makes public any tes timony. or purported testimony. in | the trial this week of Jesse | charged with murder, several news | paper representatives were preparing | today to “cover” the hearing The Judge Saturday divected an or | der prohibiting publication of detailx of the trial, making it -clear tha: contempt proceedings would follow any infraction of the order, with a jail sentence as the penalty. He announced that some newspa per men might get a “scoop” 11 the trial. hut If they did ““the ronrt wou'd get one, too.” He added that pub lcation of “information or misin formatlon” ecencerning the case “would defeat the ends of justice.” | The newspaper men, however. said today they intended to write the news as they would have done had ! not the judge’s order been issued. The judge sald news of the trial could he published after the court | had censored it. One editor revealed | that the vital portione of &« story written for his weekly paper had been eliminated when submitted for court approval. The ruling was causinz stir here, some citizens favoring and others disapproving it Favre is charged with the murder of W. Minges and J. H. McLemore, Federal entomologists, whose bullet riddled bodies were found recenily near -Picayune, Miss. The tlral will probably get under way Tuesday. | anite a | it 'WATSON-PARKER BILL 1S PASSED BY HOUSE | Measure to Abolish Railroad Labor | 'Board Now Goes to Senate | for Consideration. the Amcociated Press new methods of settling railroad labor | disputes, was passed today by the | House. | The measure, which now goes to the Senate, would provide for aboli- | tion of the Ratlroad Labor Board. ! Final action was taken after the | 1louse had defeated, 232 to 16, a mo tion hy Repregentative RBlanton. Democrat, Texas, to send ghe bill back to the commerce committee with instructions to provide for en- larging the powers of an emergency board, which the measure provides as a last resort in setflement of dis- putes. Radio l’rograri —Page 25. o { <y Favre, | he Watson-Parker bill. to se up| MARYLANDERSLOSE FIGHT ON GAS RATE Relief From High Cost Lies With Congress. Appellate Court Rules. | | ot | | . Galloway arence 1), H. Kdson Blachly. resi Md.. today cheaper Charles Rozers and ( dents of Takoma Pavk losi their fight to zet a rate across the Distriet line. The Dis trict Court of Appeals in an opinion by Justice Van del affirmed the action of the District Supreme Court in refusi request of the petitioners to declare null and void & wholes: le gas rate fixed by the Public Utilities Commission st which the Washington Light Co. should sell gas to the Maryland Gas Corporation. The Marvland company charges its consumers 23 cents per thousand fret | more than the orevailing rate to con sumers in Washington the court was told Justice Van Orsdel holds that the Public Utilities Commission lacks power to fix the price which gas shall be delivered by the Marvland company and the Maryviand Commis. fon i also without power. the court save, “Neither of the comissions, nor anv authority within the District or the State of Maryland.” savs Justice Va1 Orsdel, “ca since such regulation would amount merce. (the District line) lies alone with Con gress and Congress thus ‘ar has failed te act. The moment, however, that the gas is delivered to the Maryland company. the interstate movement ands. The conduct of the Maryland {company in the distribution of the gas 1o ite consumers is wholly interstate and is sul 1 to the control State. 1t is bevond the juri | of the conrts of the District of € bia." .‘OSAGE.INDH\N MURDER CHARGES HELD INVALID | Court Ends Government's Effort to Reveal Killing Elot in Oklahoma | by Quashing Indictments. iction Tum- | By the Assoclated Pros | OKLAHOMACITY, March 1. Ramsey, charged with the murder of Henry Roan, an Osage Indian. was held invalid here today by | States Distrlet Judge Cotteral. The {action brings to an end the Federal Government’s effort to prosecute charges of murder in connection with its nquiry into an alleged conspiracy against the lives and wealth of Osage Indians in Oklahoma. Judge Cotteral ovdered Hale and nouncement of the plans of Oklahoma State authorities to take up the mur- der prosecution. Attorney General George F. Short has indicated the State would renew its activities if the Fed- eral Government was found without Jurisdiction. hlames himself for his | who now is a con- | sympathizing | | | charzed n regulate this matter, | to placing a hurden on interstate com- | Tts tegulation at that point | of the' The in- | | dictment against W. K. Hale and John United | Ramsey held in jail pending the an-| ilhm 1o prepare a measure to be re-!|has not as vet been disclosed, it was | cial order of husiness in the House . Five Years' Difference Seen. | oo 'U. S. Grand Jury Names| Frank Dane as Promoter of Prize Fights January 12. fizhtinz and fistic encoun which admission is charged came | under the ban of the Federal grand jury today when indictments weve re- ted against a promoter and participants in a series of bout: »1 the Arcade January 12 last, under the TP of the ational (apital wrting Club. Frank Dane. alias | Frank Cessarelli. is named as the pro moter, and tne alleged contestants | sve John Cody, alia k Cody, of | ot Myer, Va.: Philip Raymond of e. Md juster Dundee of | Baltimore, Md.. Raymond Albee. alias | Pep Alhee. Washington: Andrew W Altman of ew York, Sylvan Bass of Baltimove. George Leslie of Camp| rd, Md.: Lovis Havwood, alias Havwood, of Baltimore, William GIll. alias Johnny Gill. of York.| and Joseph Bashara, alias Joe Bashura. of Philadelphia. Pa There are five indictments. Dane heing namad in each. and two of the fishiers with him in each case. The indictments are in two counts, one of which claims a violation of the anti- fistic encounter section 876 of the District code by engaging in a prize- fisht, at which admission was | The other relates to the putting on of a fistic hout at which the participants were hired and paid. The indictments zrow out of a rald hy the police a* the Areade January SAILOR DENIED $25 FOR GIVING BLOOD McCarl Rules Ealisted Man Can- not Be Paid for Part in Opera- tion on Officer. An enlisted man in the Navy, [gave of his of a phial, wha own blood for the henefit superior officer at Naval Hos- ague Island. Pa., cannot he pald $25. under the law. In making this decision upon the unusual question submitted o him by the Secrefary of the Navy, Controller General McCarl said: “\Whether the enlisted men could he required under the terms of en- | listment to render sich service with- it their consent is a matter not here invelved.” ‘The sailor wha hlood transfusion <mingler, and his blood was given 10 fieut. Comdr. Thomas M. Cochran. June 3. 1975, the record shows. ‘“Transmitted with vour submis- <ione.” said the controller general to | the Secretary of the Navy, ™is a let {ter from the commanding officer of the hospital in which it is stated that | the enlizsted man ‘was not a velun- | teer for this service. as it was im | practicabie fo get volunteers.” So far as the patfent himself was | concerned. the decision sald. “the ax pense of hlood transfusion might properly he regarded the same as an expense for drugs or any other item | Incident to hospital treatment, and It is stated in the communications ac | companying vour submission that the { customary fee paid in hospitals gen *erally to ‘donors’ of blood for trans. | fusion ix from $25 to £50 for 400 cubic | centimeters of blood. “But ft-Is apparent from the nature of the transfusion operation and the after effect thereof upon the donor. | as well as from the statements here- | inbefore quoted. that the operation involves the rendering of a personal yervice hy the donor rather than the sale of a commodity submitted to a was Charles A. n Star. * Davis May Run For Governorship In Pennsylvania By the Assoclated Pres Secretary Davis of the Lahor Department. has under considera tion the question of entering the race for the governorship of Penn- sylvania. Returning today from a trip to Wilkes-Barre, he sald he had been asked by a delegation there to be come a candidate, but he declined to give an indication of his course. Several men influential in Pennsyl vania, he said, had urged him to make the move. FLORIDGE OUTLINE NEEDS OF TRAFFI |House Subcommittee Pre- pares Bill Giving Director Wider Authority. After M. O. Eldridge, director of traffic, had testified for more than two and a half hours before the sub- committee on streets, highways and traffic of the louse District commit tee today the hearing was adjourned until 7:30 p.m., when an effort will be made to draft into a comprehensive bl all recommendations that the cope with The situation in the Nation al Capital. The committee showed its determina the full committee on ported to Wednesday and to he made the spe on the next District day. a from Monday. which will give Trafic rector Eldridge all the authority and co-operation necesary to adequately meet the requirements for effective trafe today showed a reluc traffic director questions and to force replies which they felt might embar- rass him regarding the co-operation he is receiving from the Police De- partment and from the District (‘om- missioners. Representative llammer. Democrat, of North Carolina started to ask questions along this line. to which the trafie director was allow ed Iv without a record being taken. Mr. Eldridge sald that news- paper reports of friction hetween the trafiic director and the Poilce Dapart ment were “greatly exaggerated.” He made it clear that the traMc work was under th ministration of the major and superintendent of the Met rapolitan Police Fore: 374 Permits Revoked. Mr. Eldridge gave the subcommittes a great deal of statistical information regarding traffie In the last nine months have heen revoked restored, mostly to people who had violated the law some time ago, There were 185 permits suspended for driving while under the influence of liquor, 54 for reckless driving. and 9 for leavinz the scene of a collision without making known the driver’s identity. Traffic Director ‘Eldridge cited a number of particular cases in which he i= powerless to suspend or revoke licenses, although in certain of these cases there were eight seri- ous charges against a driver was arrested several fimes charged with drivinz while under the influ ence of liquor, and on each occasion compelled to deposit from $300 to $500. In reply to a question fr man Stalker, Mr. Eldridge estimated that he wonld immediatelv caneel about 200 drivers’ permlits if allowed to do mo under the law, the holders now facing serious charges in the courts, 4 permits of which 73 were Fatality Rate Declines. In the first six months of 1924 there was a total of 4.385 trafic accidents, of which 43 resulted in death and 14 were of a serious nature: in the last | six months of 1924 there were 4% | deaths and 24 serious accidents out of a total of 4.471 accidents, making a zrand total for the vear of 41 death: and 3% serfous accidents. In during the first six months, were 4813 traffic accidents, r in 38 deaths. 23 other cases serious: in the last six months of 1925 there were 15 deaths and 70 other serions cases out of a tatal of 2,103 trafic accidents, making a grand total for the year of 83 deaths and 93 serious cas Showing the increase in automehile registration, Mr. Eldridge zave the figures for 1923 as 74.811; 1924, 91,83 and 1975, 1165 The increase population was shown in the follow- ing fizures: 1923, 465.000; 1924, 470 000; 1325, 472, Mr. Eldridge pointed out that deaths per 100,000 automobiles in | was 121.64; 1924, 99.9; 1925, 71.15. Cor- regponding figures for deaths per 100, 000 population were shown in the: figures: 1973, 19.5: 1924, 19.2, and 1925, 17.6. heing Would Lower Penalties. | The trafic director had heen re quested to appear before the commit tee and make recommendations which he believed would strengthen the traf. fle act. Conspicuous among them. he suggested that by reducing the penaliy for driving while drunk. disorderiy driving and leaving after collision helow the minimum at which a jury trial can be demanded. it would ex pedite the disposal of fhese cases in the Traffic Court and prevent de- mands for a jury trial. In speed cases, he pointed nut that the law sets a penalty of from $5 to $25, which he feels is too low and does not zive sufficient latitude. #e pro posed that this fine should be in (Continued on Page 4, Column 3.) | | The month of March made triumphant entry into the District of [ Colimbia today disguised as a lamb. In the eourse of his tour about the eity broad intimations were thrown out hy the consort that hefore the month was out he would throw off | the back door like a lion. The Weather Bureau officially rec. ognized March'> advent as a lamb and was elated over the lamblike weather he bronghi. However. the hureau cautioned Washington not to submit to the hypnotic balmy atmos- phere and prepare for Summer, de claring that the famens March winds At 'Weather Prophets Talk About Lions As March Wanders In Like a Lamb might tear loose in a short while and | blow away all hopes that Spring has | eome. The additional allusion to the famous Taft Inauguration and casual reference to the fact that snow can !lall up into April also were dropped ;lor what they are worth. | The wrost is vet o come if the |in like a lamb it will go out lion" {8 to be upheld. etereologically speaking, there is a slight possibility of rain tonight. The steady west wind of the past few days was scheduled to shift its course slightly to the southwest and return to its old route hy tomorrow. bring- ing with it ndduiur. cold. like a A (®) Means Associated Press. Di-| regulation in the District | At the same time the suhcommittee | nce to ask the | who | m Chair- | , | lower the | Circulation, 101,505 Circulation, 110,787 TWO CENTS. PEPC) OWES 1§ FVEEARREFUND, S CARLRULIG |Must Repay on Seven-Year | | Basis, as in Case of Other Patrons, He Decides. | R §OVERRULES COMPANY AND UTILITIES BODY Fund Involved May Reach $100.- 000—Denies Special Rate i i I Given Government. | = Controller General dered collection by the Federal Gov- ernment from t Electric Power Co. of refunds for an additional five vears, declaring the company un | derpaid the Government in caleulating | refunas from its impounded fund. | Ina drastic decision rendered to the | Department of Agriculture and made public today. which will be a prece {dent for every Government depart ment and establishment in Washing ton, the controller genera! laid down the principle that the Government should receive refunds on the same McCarl has or Patomac | traffic bureau feels are necessary to;basis as the general public for seven vears instead of two, since it paid {for electricity under the same rates. ! Although the exact amount involved today by | estimated Government {clals that ft mav reach $100.000 offi The nublic received refunds during | the periad from July, 1917, to De cember. 1924, it Is shown. whereas the company had calculated the Gov. ernment’s refund and was beginning to pay on a basis of only from July 1. 1922, to December, 1924, a differ ence of five vears. Mr. MeCarl in his decision not only overruled the action of the Potomac Electric Power Co., but of the Public Utllities Commission as well. declar. ing the question at issue was for de. ciston only by the office of controller general of the United States. Contention of the company and the | commission that the Government had | received “rates lower than the com mercial for the perfod,” the McCarl decision said, was not borne out by investigation of the contracts and schedules themsely { At the refund bureau of the elec {tric power company it was said that |no official notice had as vet been |merved from any of the Government |departments or establishments con- cerning the controller’s deciston. Sum Will Be Large. Several of the refund checks for tha | departments and establishments have heen sent out. it was said, based on {the period heginning Julv 1, 1022 |Not all of the Governmerit refund ichecks have as yet been mailed, it |was =aid. There was no estimate |available at the company es to how {great a sum would be represented in ithe five vears' additional refunds | ordered patd by the company, but |one company official estimated that it {would constitute a large sum | The Government. taking all of its | departments. establishments and | bureaus in the eity together. it was | said. is the largest purchaser of ! electricity. At the Department of Agriculture [#t was said that the decision of the controller general had been received, but that as vet no action had been |taken toward making collection {from the company. The next step, it _was predicted by a department \offctal, would he to call upon the company for the five years' additional | refund. Tn his decision, the controller gen- al said “the Potomac Flectric Power Co. and the Public Utilities Commis- { slon contend that so far as the Gov. lernment is concerned the refund i period hegins on July 1, 142 by rea- son of the fact that the United State: |obtained by contract special rates than the commercial for the | prior period i “It is te observed.” continued | the decision. “that the right of the Tnited States to a refund. the amount | thereof, and the period to which it | was applicable are matters for the de. termination of this office. and is not | understood that the authority of the | Public Utilities Commission of the Dis- trict of Columbia extends thereto, but I that its authority is limited to the des termination of rates and not thed | rights of claimants to refunds in this I particular matter | | Contracts Compared. : “The contracts between the Govern-§ | ment and the Potomac Electric Power | Co.. beginning with the fiscal year | 1918, have heen examined and com- pared with the commercial rates.” After a lengthy discussion in detail of the hookkeeping and rates of the power company. fogether with cita tions of the law back of the Public Utilities Commission, the controfler general said. “the company's rate schedules, effective August 1. 1918, were undoubtediy published in com- plance with orders issued under the authority of the foregoing law. and said schedules of rates are evidenced | as having heen charged during the en- ! tire period ending December 31, 1924 Comparing these rates with the rates contracted for with the Govern- ment vering the period to July 1. 1922, inclusive, discloses that the rates given the Government were merely the commercial rates published, car- | ried into the contracts under numeri- | cal instead of alphabetical desizna- tions, as in the company’s schedules | identification of the two schedul | being established by the similarity of | rates as hereinafter compared, thus: “Schedules Nos. 1 and D. 2 and F' 3 and G. 4 and E, 5 and rider No' ', 6§ and rider No. 6, 7 and H and riders 4A and 5B and riders Nos. 3 and 9 of the contracts are the same as the | lettered schedules of the company, re- | spectively. he me. “Thus it is seen that the Govern- ment obtained nothing different or more under fts contracts than did or could any private user under the same schedule.” “The collections hould be made | his sheep's clothing and siorm oui of | moss.covered saying "If March comes | from the company accordingly, and in | submitting the matter to this office for audit, as required by decision of this office, * * & after collection is made there should be a showing with respect to all payments covering cur- rent furnished after July 31. 1917. on which claim for refund was not made that the rate paid was not in excess . (Contin Y ‘1.‘