Evening Star Newspaper, March 8, 1926, Page 1

WEATHER. (T Partly minimum grees: tomorrov- fair. Highest. est. 31, at 7:40 a.m. Full report on page 9. clour * temp rature about Temneratu - . at 4 p.m. vesterday; low- S. Weather Bureau Forecast.) and colder tonight; 18 de- Closing N. Y. Stocks and Bonds, Page 20 No. 29,896, Foif omee, FATE OF LOCARN AND LEAGUE HANGS ON COUNCIL FIGAT Nations Are Nervous While| Awaiting Momentous Ses- sion to Allot Seats. IMPENDINYE Ch!SIS TESTS PEACE HOPES OF EUROPE Germany Insistent on Right to En- ter League Alone, But May Relax Slightl: AR ANSEL MOWRER. v Daily News The future of which is Eu Radis to The Star and Ch VA, March & the League of Nations, rope’s conscience, and the spirit of | placed under the management of the | with a galle which is Europe's hest hope are serfously threatened. discussions Sunday alled L France, Lacarno. for peace. After vigorous between the five power: at Britain, Ger- many, Belgium and Italy—it must be | sald that there is the possibility of a major European crisis, which would not only he fatal to the league. hut would seem to prove the impossibility of European countries workinz to- gether The “dress rehearsal” for what should be the greatest historical event since the s1gnin of the treaty of Ver milles resulted in postponement of the performance. The statesmen after three or four hours of extremelv frark exposure of their several view- points, separated without bein abl ta agree just what, if anv, “pla they will stage later. Until Aristide Friand returns from Paris as chief, or at least as a member of the new eabinet, the august representatives of 54 other nations must kick their heels idily or satisfy their dramatic thirst with conjecture and their ambitions with routine, Is Insistent. talk several The Ger- Germany After Sunday’s frank viewpoints are more clear mans insist that until they and they nlone are elected to the League Assem- bly and to permanent membership in the council no other council candidacy or plan of enlargement of the council can even he considered. and if this claim is not fulfilled thev threaten to return immediately to Berlin, They dn not oppose the entrance of Poland tn the council, but they insist that it must follow their own entrance The British viewpoint is double, first, that the Germans must bhe per. suaded 1o enter the Ieague, and second, that the Spamiarde should be given a permanent seat in the council. apparently in exchange for services rendered to Great Britain in the Mos. lem dispute. The French viewpoint I¢ that the Germans must he persuaded to allow the Poles ta ohtain a council ment as soon as possible. If this requires the admission of Spain or Brazl to the council. the more the merrier Sweden a Stumbling Block. ‘The Swedish premier, Under, has a viewpoint all his own and this might prove 1o he a stumbling block to agreements made hy the major power without him. Under. who possesses 3 characteristic Scandinavian firmness, represents the Socialist party of Sweden. When he returned to Sweden after the Mosul dicision he almost re- ceived a vote of censure from his party. Today he stands with a per- emptory mandate to veto the admis- sion to the council of any country ex ecept Germany. It is possihle that Tnder might persist in maintaining this viewpoint, even if the Germans finally were willing to compromise. Meanwhile the seats of the mightv ave shaking. Skrzynski. elegant and debonnaire Tole, chatting zracefully in the Hotel Be sometimes has a sinking heart. for here in Geneva Is a short. square hearded little man, leader «of the Christian Nationalist party in Poland, who that unless Skrzvnski return saw with ticket to a perm: council seat in his pocket his politi- cal head must fall Austen Chamberlain. British for- eign min r. ton. spoke with some. what of an overemphasis to British eorrespondents about the necessity of not leaving Gieneva until Germany in the league. Also another unhappy man Mello Franco, a suave Brazilian his own country also has served a kind of ultimatum to get Brazil's temporary in the council made permanent, or t out. Under, too, might feel unhappy if he were not sn ahsolutely determined to ohey the wishes of his hackers in Sweden. v Germany Summing every or Must Enter Alone. up. it can be said that which require, must and tradi- the definitely Aignity tions hatchet buried The problems Poland Spain. The correspondent that Poland is sur but bhetween the her power and that be thereby ind to zet something, immediate perma nent place in the council desired by | (i Poland and her bucker, France. and | finueq canvassing in behalf of their the vague nent pl Germans to give, A she an un promise of in September. perhaps, would be willing there ig an abyss 3 arrived inday, namely, nfirmed rumor of a letter to c Drummond from the King ain personally, containing vefled ultimatum that Spain must have a permanent seat in the council or Spain will withdraw from the league. The fact is the Spaniards fear that unless they use their pres ent temporary position in the couneil to clinch a permanent seat, they will never again have an_ opportunity fo recure prestige by official world rec- ognition as a “'great power." Of the other candidates for the councll—Persia, Brazil and China— little is heard. It is amusing to note that the league officially ignores all of those except China, which has made a written request. It is won- dered just which of the warring Chinese chieftains had the ides (Copyright. 1926, by Chicago Daily- . U. S-German Trade $634,595,756. American trade with Germany last year amounted to_ $634. 6. an in- crease of $54,919.370 over the previous Vear. These figures, made public to- day by the Commerce Department, showed a gain in exports to Germany of $29.976,282 and an increase in im- ports from that country of $24,93,088. non-perma- which the no | not necessarily a permanent one, | a| absolute | on whom | | the hopes | went into session while the assembly ) sreed that Germany | oo profoundly has the situation pro- must enter the council alone in the | [ 0q by the scramble for places on WAr | pe vatican has int believes | aj Entered as second class matter Washinzton, . C he WASHINGTON, D. C, 'MRS. HENDERSON OFFERS SITE | FOR NATIONAL ART GALLERY Proposed Gift to U. S. of Tract Occupying Full on Meridian Hill Contingent Upon As a site for a national art gallery building long planned by but for which no provision has been made except the tentative setting aside of a plot at B and Seventh streets, Mrs. John B. Henderson. 2200 leenth street. today offered the United States Government a valuable tract of land, containing between four and five acres, on Meridian Hill, facing Sixteenth street. Ars. Henderson made her offer in a letter to Chairman Elliott of the House committee on public buildings | and erounds. in which she regretted “that our Congress of 50 vears ago hid not started this work." The site of- fered by Mrs. Henderson is bounded I by Sixteenth street, Seventeenth sireet, Euclid street and Kglorama { road. The gift is made on condition tha if accepted, a start would be made at once for a proposed national art building by appropriating a small sum for competitive plans for this building. Mre. Henderson also stipulates that if her zift is accepted the proposed institution would be Congress, Smithsonian Al Institution. Henderson in her “hairman Elliott states that “the very splendid collection of pictures land certain other art objects which have been already donated to the American National Art Gallery of | America, are now temporarily housed letter to Prompt Action by Congress. in the National Museum, where they are not welcome.” Mrs Henderson also emphasizes that the space these valuable art work occupy was not planned for them and is needed for other uses of the museum: that other valuable art gifts are now placed in storage in the basement of the museun building and that other gifts { of the kind of almost priceless value | eannot now be accepted for want of further spuce to place them. Mrs. Henderson suggests another use for the proposed new building of rooms be so arranged that the Gov ernment may them for zovernmental purposes, for natfonal and international confer- ences and receptions.” She points out that at present our Government has no such place for meetings of the kind without encroaching on the Pan | American Building. which Is financed | by the comhined countries of South America, or the private headquarters | of the Daughters of the American | Revolution. Mrs. Henderson express- the belief that such accommoda ns as she recommends, v of fine arts, | especially attractive. | Predicting that in the future a na tional art gallery will he erected, cov- ering a space of 20 acres, M derson states her helief that for the present the site which she proposes to donate on Meridian Hill will be suf- ficlently large. would he EUROPE IS ANXIOUS AS LEAGUE MEETS Momentous Session Opened Amid Flood of Conflict- ing Rumors. sociated Press VA, Switzerland. March §.— The spe: session of the League of | Nations assembly was opened at 3:10 | wk this afternoon, with Viscount Ishii in the chair. The galleries were | crowded. The hum of conversation in the cor- ridors became so deafening after the opening of the council session that Viscount Ishii sent out a messenger heseeching silence, declaring the noise | prevented the delegates from hearing one another as they sat around the table. A mass of rumors touching on the occupied the crowd. which was composed of diplomats, delegates to the league assembly, newspaper man and members of the zeneral public. These rumors ranged from predictions that the situation was hopeless and the league doomed, to rosy forecasts t the whole matter would soon be clarified. | Chamberlain Confers. One certainty is that the exchange of views among the leaders is con- tinuing nnceasingly, though there is| not much hope of achieving concord | hefore the return from Paris of M. | Briand. The British foreign secretary. Sir Austen Chamberlain, had a long con- sultation with Foreign Minister Va- dervelde of Belgium before proceeding to the league palace, while M. Unden of Sweden, who is looming as the pos sible intermediary hetween the ex- treme positions of France and Ge: many, was buttonholed by manv statesmen, for Sweden must be won around before any place on the Coun- cil can be given to others except Ger- many. “We are opposed to any additional increase in the council,” said the Swe- dish delegate to the correspondent. “hecause it would mean the loss of the rightful influence of the smaller powers and the formation of a power- ful subgroup within the council which would attempt'to dominate all league activities. Tshii Viscount sion. the first leagie, was cance to the world, The great nation of Germany asks to be admitted to the league, he continued. 1 venture to see in this a sign that the covenants which unite the members of the league, as long as they are applied, however imperfectly, in the spirit’ of inter- national equity which underlies them, will appeal with growing force to ind consciences of the na- tions of the world. The credentials Delivers Address. Ishii said the special ses- in the history of the of the highest signifi- people of the whole committee then suspended for an hour, Reliable information indicates that ouncil affected world conditions ervened unofficial- the candidacy of Poland, as Cath- the Iy in support of Spain, Brazil and olic countrie: Both the Spanish and Brazilian representatives maintained today {heir demands for permanent coun- seats. while Polish agents con- country. Kellogg Off for Rest Cure. eretary Kellogg left Washington for a week's visit to Pinehurst, . The respite from official duties was advised by physicians after an attack of the grip. He will return in time to discuss with Ambassador Alanson Houghton nd Minister ‘Elulh (zlbl‘l‘nl:l lél;!;:sf?'l; rticipation by the Unites A :‘:’, ffl!"‘t"hrnmlng League of Natlons preparatory Aarmaments conference. The first conferences between Secre- toda DICTATOR-COUNCIL Paul Boncour Favors Rule of Socialists as Doumergue Seeks Leader. By the Associated Press PARIS. March §.- mergue lost litlle time in heginning his conversations with the politic leaders regarding the cabinet crisis. Within &n hour after his return from Lyons, where he i nual fair, he was closeted with Justin de Selves, former premier, now presi- dent of the Senate. Premier Briand arrived from (ien eva an hour after the President’s re- turn to the capital. and also confer- red with the President during the forenoon, as did former Premier Her- riot. president of the Chamber of Deputies Leaving the Elysee Palace after be ing closeted with M. Doumergue for 20 minutes, M. Briand would make no declaration. saying , they had merely discussed the political situ- ation and his visit to Geneva, During the early afternoon the im pression gained ground in political circles that M. Briand would again ~President Dou most of his present collaborators, with Joseph Caillaux or Raoul Peret hold ing the finance portfolio. FAVORS SO LIST RULE. Committee Dictatorship Would Please Paul-Boncour. & dictatorship for France in the form of a committee of public safety based on the parliamentary system. but pleasing if events forced it, M. Paul- Boncour is quoted as declaring in an interview with a Swiss newspaper. Such a dictatorship would be le: risky and more logical than a dicta- torship by a single man, the French statesman added. Nevertheless. he was convinced that a less drastic rem- edy could be found In the constitution itself, for history proved that France always rose o meet any crisis. M. Paul-Boncour compared the par- liamentry commission to the com missions of the French revolution and the conventions of that “‘magnificent period in French histo which 1 admire more and more, but that bille elaborated by the special- ists in the commissions were stroyed by an incompetent Parlia- the country. When questioned concerning the reds in France he admitted that im- portant centers of communism existed there, He did not think, how- ever, that communism was dangerous to France at the present moment. MARSHALL GOES ON TRIAL FOR SLAYING OF WOMAN Refused Permission to Change Plea From Not Guilty and to “Stand Mute.” By the Associated Press PHILADELPHIA, March 8.—David L. Marshall, who confessed to killing Miss Anna May Dietrich last January and to dismembering her body in on trial today. Before proceeding with the selection of the jury, Abraham Wrnick, counsel for Marshall, asked Judge Harry S. McDevitt to permit the prisoner to withdraw his plea of not gullty, ente last week, and to ‘stand mute” to the indictments. Counsel explained to the court that Marshall had pleaded not guilfy “through some oversight." S Judge McDevitt refused to agree to the change “at this time.” Marshall, a chiropractor by profes- slon, sat calmly ae “the preliminary tary Kellogg and the homecoming diplomats will be about March 15. By the Associated Pres: S BILLINGS, Mont., M arch 8.—When the Billings Municipal Band started its weekly practice on the top floor of the city hall vesterday a prisoner in the cellhouse in the basement became violently insane and had to be placed in a padded cell. A The man, who was arrested for » B proceedings were disposed of. His wife was pot-present. Sre T e SRS e B Prisoner Becomes Violently Insane When Band Plays “How Dry I Am” vagrancy Saturday, apparently was normal, the jailer said, until the music began to float down into the jall. He then began to jump up and down and yell at the top of his voice. Later he began to sing and pray. The band was playing “How Dry I Am" when the prisoner became un- balanced, the jailer declared. Fine Arts, “that a certain number of | have exclusive use of | -ombined | Hen- | URGED FOR FRANCE augurated the an- attempt to form a cabinet, retaining INEVA, March 8 (£).—A Socialist | “showing its fist.”” would not be dis-| said | de- | ment which had lost the confidence of | order to hide the crime, was placed | WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION MONDAY, ZIHLMAN TO OFFER BILL REMEDYING JAIL'CONDITIONS Move Started to Provide New Wing as Relief From Crowded Cells. {COMMITTEE WILL MAKE PERSONAL INSPECTION Possible That Needed Appropria- | tions May Be Inserted in D. C. Measure on Floor. | Spurred action by the descrip- [tion of overcrowded, insanitar ditions in the District jail in vester | day’s Star, a definite effort was stai- ed in the House today to remedy | any evil found to exist. Chairman Zihlman of the House District committee promised that | whatever legislation is desirable will |be undertaken by the House Dis- trict committee. The probability is that a bill providing for erection of a new wing, or separate dormitory, | designed especially to care for the | transtent and minor-offense cases, | will introduced In the House either today tomorrow and taken up for consideration hy the District committee at its meeting on \Wednes he day. A personal inspection of the jail is planned hy Representative Reid | Republican. of IHlinois: Chairman Zihlman, Representative McLeod, Re publican, of Michigan Represenfa tive alker, Republican. of New | York and other members the | House District committee. Blanton Agrees With “Pete.” | | | Representative Blanton, Democrat of Texas, is already familiar with the conditions in the jail, as he has heen a frequent visitor there. He said to | day that he helieves “TPete Martin' | was exactly right in his expose of conditions, and that he will support an effort for additional 4 moda tione at the jail. just as he sup- porting the bill in the House today for a new buflding for the recorder of deeds The subcommittee of the House ap- propriations committee which s | framing the District bill for the next fiscal year completed | the work of marking up the bill todax for presentation to the House on Wednesday. Tt is. therefore, ton late {0 have a provision written into the I bll1, based on a hearing. for adequate | accommodations at the jail | Expect Action in House. There is stronz probability, however, that when the District appropriation bill is under consideration in_the | fouse an amendment will he offered providing for the erection of a new Wing at the jail, based on an estimate of cost which is now heing made by Go nment officials. Admissions that a deplorable situ- atin exists at the ail and at Police Court in carinz for prisoners, coupled with the explanation that lack of money is at the root of it all, came today from the officials under whose Jurisdiction come the Police Court and fail. More significant than all the rest is | the set of official figures showing ap- | propriations and the number of pr oners cared for during the last six | fiscal vears at the District Jail, These show: That $39.188 was ap- propriated for the jail for the fiscal 1921, and that | | vear ending June 30, | 2.804 prisoners were ! jail during that vear That $33.180 was appropriated for the Jjail for the fiscal vear ending | Tune 30. 1926, and that approximately 112,000 prisoners will be handled at the jail during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1926 Shows Source of Troubles. The money expended. therefore, in 1921 to care for slightly less than | 4,000 prisoners is $6.000 more than | for three times that number this year. ! Officials today tions: Where there are no funds, how can | there he clean mattresses at the jall when those on hand are in constant use? When ther enlargements and_impro can the Police Court, already over- crowded to discomfort, expect to handle 125 persons on Monday morn- ings charged with being drunk and disorderly, except by crowding them | like cattle in a small cell room? When there are no funds for paint. { how can the fall walls be prevented | from deteriorating? “There was no denial or even ques- | tioning of any material part of the account of conditions at either the jail or at Police Court on the part of officlals. It was regarded as an at- tempt to expose conditions which should be brought to the view of the | public. Doing Best Under Conditions. asked these ques- are no funds for needed ments, how | under the circumstances. At Police Court, for instance. it is pointed out that this local court fs The only Federal Police Coirt in-the with the District of Columbia Supreme Court in Volstead law cases | reond offenses and upward and ex- Clusive jurisdiction . all first offenses of tmé prohibition laws, Misdememtno and police regula- t cases, as well as prelimi hary hearings fof all accusations of felonies. Judges are working night {and day to clear the dockets, and | the quarters are so limited that on the third floor one has to elbow one's | way through a corridor on a busy day. In the face of all this, in the opinion of members of the court, there are only two logical solutions: Get more space for the transaction of the court business. Have police magistrates appointed throughout the city to officiate, as is done in other citles, in police pre- cinets, disposing of minor cases, such as drunk, disorderly and petit larce- nies, which cause the terrific jam at | Police Court. There is no. hesitancy on the part of the judges of the Police Court in admitting that conditions there are de- plorable. Judge Macdonald today escorted a Star reporter to the second-floor cell- room, where “Pete Martin™ last Mon- (Continued on Page i, Column &) 1 | dietion But there was emphasis placed on | the explanation at both places that | officials are laboring as best they may | United States: it has concurremt jurls. | traffic | MARCH 8, pening Star. 1926—THIRTY-TWO PAGES. » The o service. P Means Associated Press. DECISIONDELAYED - ONDRY HEARINGS |Senators, After Two-Hour Discussion, Fail to Act on Proposal. | By the Associated Press. After a discussion lasting {hours, the Senate judiciary commit {tee adjorned today without deciding | whether public hearings should be {held on pending hills to modify the prohibition law Questions directed by a majority of the committiee indicated that they lopposed hearings, and at one point Senator Edge, Republican, New {Jersey. who has pending a modifi {cation proposal, declared that it ap. peared opponents of open meetings were afraid the wets might make out a good case. Senator Caraway, Democrat, Ark ansas, declared public hearings might | give the impression of a weakening by Congress on the prohibition ques- tion. and Senator Borah. Republican, Idaho, insisted the Volstead act could not be amended without violat | ing the Constitution. The whole thing. he added. narrowed down to a proposition of amending the Constitu- | tion. Says Bootleggers Aid Drys. two senator kdwards, Democrat, New Jersey, and Bruce. Democrat, Mary- jand, hoth of whom having introduced measures to modify the present law, | also ings. The New | Jersey Senator a stir in the committee when he charged that hoot | leggers were contributing to the Anti- ! Saloon League. Asked for proof. he repiled: | I don't need any. It | evident.” | To enforce prohibition in the port | of New Jersey, he said, would require one enforcement officer 1o each 3 persons, hut he insisted New Jersey was law ablding Se Fdge said he had thousands (Continued on Page 2. Column 7. SENATE CONSIDERS | SHOALS PROPOSALS | self ‘Vote Expected Today, But Severe Fight on Amendments Looked For. Debate on Muscle Shoals s the Senate today. with indications that it will continue up fo 3: o'clock, when the voting will begin. Passage of the resolution creating a joint congressional committee to | negotiate bids for the property vir- tually is assured, but a real fight will be seen on amendments. Two amend- ments, one hy Senator Lanroot, Re- | publican, Wisconsin, extending the time for the committee to report fram | April 1 to April 15, and another b Senator Caraway, Demogrdt, Ar kansas, requiring the eqhitable dis | tribution of power,. promise -a close | vote. - & Supporters of the _rBsolution are | bending their effaets toward having | the resolution mdopted as written in the .House, t6 save it from being sent ter“confefence. e ' MICHIGAN GIVEN RIGHT " T0 SUE TO KEEP WATER | Grdited Permission to File Su- | preme Court Suit Against Illinois and Chicago. Michigan was granted permission today to file a Supreme Court suit against Illinois and the sanitary dis- trict of Chicago to restrain the fur- | ther diversion of water from Lake Michigan. Michigan announced it would in- sist that neither Congress nor any Federal or State agency had author- ity to divert waters from the Great Lakes Basin into any other watershed. The power of Congress was ex- pressly restricted, it asserted, to the control of the waters of the -Great Lakes as a navigable waterway, and was only that of regulation to that ! end, and was not intended to Include the power to destroy such navigation. The court announced it would take up the case October 4. | | Radio Programs—Page Zg | employment | usual custom of their several profes TWO SITES FOR FOUNTAIN| Grant or Sherman Circle May Get Bartholdi Work. Bartholdi fountaln may he in Grant or Sherman | se passes the pending its removal from the The placed efther Circle if Con, hill to author Botanic € The measure providing for its re location was introduced in the Sen ate last week by Senator Pepper of Pennsylvania in order to make way for the completion of the Meade Memorial. The bill does not specify where the fountain should be placed, but it has heen learned that officials | of the Commission of Fine Arts have in mind either of these two circles. APPROVES HIRING OF BRIDGE EXPERTS Committee Urges Plan to Vitiate McCarl Ruling on Arlington Span. In reporting to the Senate today the independent offices appropriation bill, the Senate appropriations committee recommended an amendment which would the Arlington Memorial Bridge Commission a free hand in the ) necessary consulting | experts in connecting with the build- | ing of the Arlington Memorial Bridge The amendment is designed to clear up a difficulty which developed recent- Iy when Controller General MeCarl rendered a decision to the effect that if the bridge commission found it necessary to employ consulting ex perts nutside the Government service, they would have to he paid at the | rezular Government rate give Gives Commission Leeway. The amendment proposed by the Senate appropriations committee pr vides that the act of February. 1925, shall be construed as authorizing the xpenditure hy the Arlington Me morial Bridge Commission or such por tions as said commission shall deter mine of this or any other appropria tion, for the employment. at such com- pensation and allowances and on such s as sald commission shall decide of expert consultants on firms thereof. including the facilities, service. travel and other expenses of their respective organizations. so far as employed upon this project. in srdasce with the | sions. without regard to the restric tion zoverning the employment of reg- ular “employes of the United States. The Senate committee increased the amount voted by the House for the Smithsonlan Tnatitution hy $13.000,0f | which $12.500 is for a steel galiery | over the west end of the majn hall of the building for the divisieh of pians. | The remaining $500 isfo e ieed for international excharges, - ~ As reported 16 tHe Senate che hill recommends ‘a_totaT of $51 LR76.64, an ingréase of “more than $5.000,000 | over the Humse bill. Pracsically all of the increase made bhy.#he Senate committee was for V.hfi‘ United States Shipping Board to en- | able the Emergency Fleet €orporation | 10 operate ships which have been or may be taken back from purchasers. Exceeds Estimate by $60,561. The bill as reported exceeds the es- timates by $6 1. The Senate com- mittee also increased the allotment for salaries and expenses of the Board of Tax Appeals. There is an item of $2,500,000 for continuing work on the Arlington Bridge. which is about to start. This bill also carries the regular an nual allotment for various independ- ent establishments of the Federal Gov- ernment in Washington. pdefinite to go on. th POLICE COMB CITY FOR BANDIT GANG Think Men Who Bound Serv- ants and Robbed Three Women Scattered. mem- last of Working on the theory that hers of the bandit gang who night broke into the home <. Norman Wlilliams, 1227 Six- ‘eenth street, bound seven malds to chairs and then coolly robbed Mrs Willlams, her daughter and a friend, Miss Helen Drake, of jewelry worth 3. have scattered. police today threw out a network of detectives and patrolmen in the hope of catching them. n meantime, Davis, years old. of New Yor who roomed here at 1119 Tenth street, is in a cell al the third precinct sta- tion, following extensive questioning at police headquarters. He was eap- tured last night in the Martinigue Hotel, two doors south of the Wil ltams home, after a running fight. The only clue police have is that two nther members of the gang, whose numher has heen estimated at from three to six. are called “Bill" and Jim." while the leader of the bandits was called “Frank.” A house on Tenth street near L is being watched, although headquarters authorities be lieve the other members of the gans have not returned and probably will not_return to this house. Underworld “hangouts” known to be frequented by suspicious charac ters are under surveillance and all roads leading into and out of Wash. ington are heing watched. while Washington officials are in touch with New York and Baltimore police. Are Potential Murderers. The members of the gang, accord ing to the furnished by liams home, with the zang which held up a Bal- tiore firm last week and made off with a pay roll of $19,000. The New York authorities have heen questioned as to the record of Davis. The prisoner professes absolute Ignorance as to the other members of the gang and main tains that but three men took patt in the robbery. Attaches of liams household insist there were six bandits, but police of the third -pr cinct believe there were only. three. The police hold the theory that~the the occupants of the Wil appear band is made up of a group of New | York gangsters, potentia) murderers who would shoot te Kill if cornered. They say the<iold-up and robbery had been carefully pldnned, and declare it to he“the boldest attempt on record ginfe 19)37 when the famous Adams robbery “occurred. Although detectives have nothing planned today (Continued on Page 4, Column 2)) 16 PNEUMONIA DEATHS. Eighteen New Cases Bring Total for the Year to 1,001. A recurrence of the pneumonia wave appeared today when the District Health Department received reports of 16 deaths and 18 new cases over the week end. The number of cases since January | now total 1,001 and the number of deaths, 365 The Health Department also receiv ed a report of the first smallpox case for the vear. The victim, Health Officer William €. Fowler said. is Ida McCollogh, 54, a_nurse, who has been quarantined in the Smallpox Hospital with what he describes as a mild case. The nurse, according to Dr. Fowler, lived in a rooming house, and other occupants of the place have heen vac- cinated. {Coolidge Favors Armed ( . Of Unknown When Told of Disrespect| >uard at Tomb President Coolidge looks with faver upon the proposal to put a uniformed guard at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Ceme- tery and when the detail of this plan is ‘worked out he will approve it offi- clally and put it into effect. This was the impression he gave a committee representing the American Legion which called at the White | House today asking the Executive to | support a resolution introduced in Congress by Representative Furlow of Minnesota, which provides for the placing of a chain barrier ahout the tomb and the placing of a uniformed guard about this shrine. SVhen the President heard the pro. posals of this legislation and also the protests. from the American Legion and other patrfotie organizations he | was represented by his callers as having told them that legislation of that nature was not necessary and that if the legion wanted this done he would see that it was done. The delegation was headed by John | Thomas Tavlor, legislative repre- sentative of the legion, and was ac- companied by Representative Furlow. | While presenting the matter to the | Executive the President’'s attention was called to the fact that hecause of the absence of a guard from the tomh | of the Unknown Soldier there are fre. quent occasions when the proper amount of reverence ix not shuwn He was told that it is not uncommon for visitors to sit upon this shrine and sometimes eat their lunches on it and throw paper and debris care- lessly about. in Washington witl Associated Press Joseph Peter | incomplete deseriptions | to correspond | the Wil | nly evening paper the news Saturday’s Circulation, 101,509 Sunday’s Circulation, 110,695 TWO CENTS. NEW DEEDS OFFICE AND END OF FEE SYSTEM APPROVED House Votes Erection of Building to Replace Obso- lete Quarters. MADDEN BILL PLACES BAN ON USE OF FUNDS Requires Recorders to Go to Bud- get Bureau to Obtain Sanc- tion of Expenses. | The House acted promptly on this | District day in passing without de. bate the bill introduced by Chairman Madden of the House appropriations committee, for abolishing the fee.syvs. tem in the office of recorder of deeds and the registrar of wills which are the last two administrative offices conducted under the fee-system. An amendment adopted in the House District committee authorizing the erection of a new huilding to ac comodate the office of the recorder of deeds, was also favorably acted upon without debate. Chairman Zihlman explained that | the amendment gives authority for the erection of a suitable records building, as soon as the appropriations committee provides for a sufficient | tund. “The great need for a build- ing of this character has repeatedl: | been brought to the attention of Con E said Mr. Zihlman ot only are the present quarters | congested to an extent that is unbe lfevable, but the office is seriously handicapedd in the conduct of public business by lack of space. and the | records of the office are exposed to destruction by fire or by theft. Pro vision should be made for the funds necessary to erect a building of this character.” Stresses Need of Change. Chairman Madden of the House ap propriations committee explained that his bill aholishing the fee system ls in the interest of sound legislative and | administrative practice. As the of fices are now run under the law, the | recorder and registrar have the right | to use the fees to pay the expenses of the office, and at the end of the fiscal | year, i there ie any residue, it is | covered Into the Treasury to the credit of the District, hut very little is ever turned in, he said The fees are fixed by statute and were prescribed many years ago.’ Mr. Madden emphasized. This legis lation will compel the recorder of deeds and registrar of wills to go be fore the Budget Bureau with esti- mates of the probable cost of con | ducting their offices and will then | be heard before the appropriations committees of Cangress to justify the appropriations for which they asked This places them on an annual ap propriation basis, comparable with all | other Government agencies. | District Day Delayed. District day in the House was de. laved a few minutes by the transac- tion of other business. Representative McSwain of South Carolina asked time to deliver an oration on the | ighty-fifth anniversary of Associate Justice Oliver Wnedell Holmes. Rep. resentative Garner, Texas. ranking minority member of the wavs and means committee, and House Leader | Tilson, next engaged in a tilt. Mr Gar- | ner secured time in which he asked Mr. Tilson regarding the newspaper re. ports of the House leader’s conferenc the President and directions the Chief Executive regarding the President's desives that appro priations should be -éut. Favorable |action was thep taKen on a concur | rent resolution “providing for partici pation by C6ngress in the celebration of the oné hundred and fiftieth anni versar{ of the Declaration of Inde pende at Willlamsburz, on May 15 | The House next acted favorably on the-conference report on the disposal lof surplus War Department lands. providing that funds derived from | the sale should be used for construc tion at permanent Army camps. Rep. | resentative Howard., Democrat, Ne | braska, asked for a minute and a half in which he appealed to his colleagues to help him in zetting action on a bill which would provide for distribution of the C‘ongressional Record to schools | throughout the country. Represent |ative Rankin, Democrat, Mississippi | asked unanimous consent to print in | the record a memorial on the Legisla | ture of Mississippi in regard to rec |lamation and irrigation contending | that the outh should have equal consideration with other sections of the country in such legislation vor Widening First Streef. In committee of the whole 4 favorable report to the House was ordered today on the bill recommended by the District Commissioners for widening First street between G and Myrtle streets northeast. When the House comes out of committee on the whole on the program of District legislation, the bill will doubtless be approved. At present First street, running northward from the Unfon State Plaza hetween the city post office and the tracks of the Washington Terminal Co. is 60 feet wide from the Plaza to G street, but only 40 feet wide from G street to Myrtle street North of Myrtle street, however, the (Continued on Page 2. Column 6. MAJ. HODGES ASSIGNED T0 POST AT WEST POINT Is Named Commandant of Cadets o Succeed Maj. Quekemeyer Who Died Recently. Maj. Campbell B. Hodges had been selected commandant of cadets at West Point. in place of Maj. John G Quekemever, who died at the academs recently just after / assuming his | dutics. Maj. Hodgeé, until recently | was attache a1 Madrid During the World War, Maj. Hod. ges served as acting chief of staff of the 31st (Dixie) division as colonel of the 22nd Infantry and on the gen. | eral staff. e has just returned from a_tour of duty as military attache at the embassy in Madrid and will take over his duties at West Point April 1. He graduated from the academy in the class of 1303 and was borm in Bossier, Parish, Louisiana. | with from |