Evening Star Newspaper, March 24, 1926, Page 2

LAND VALUATION - PLAN S OPPOSED Richards Says 25 Per Cent! Above Assessment Is Unfair to Property Owners. The suggestion of the Citizens’ Ad-‘ visory Council that the purchase price of sites for use by the Pistrict of Columbia be not cent above the S ed d basically unsound by As: ards at the District Build- yuncil's repe in exc i sessor Ric! ing today of dectared hards, | there - i valuation prov- | ¢ could he at its m s explained i3] s | ess these prop- thelr purchase figure. ! Overhead Left Out. dned that it was the prac- department to take into deration the cost of reproducing se, together with the cost of ind not to include “the over- of overbead charges” in THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, D. ADVISORY COUNCIL FIGHTS HIGH COST OF PUBLIC_ 1131 Per Cent Above Tax Mark Paid for Schools. Four Changes Urged for Gauging of Truer Values. Aroused by excessive prices paid for school sites und other Property ac- quired for mui al _purposes, iho zens' Advisory Couneil last night dopted four recammendations desis wd 48 4 basis for purchasing lands more nearly w true value. The tindings of a special committee which made an exhaustive investigu tion into properties acquired for mu- nicipal purposes showed that park sites were bought at an averuge of T3 per cent in excess of assessed valui- tion and that school sites cost the District «n average of 131 per cen: more than tax valuations, in one case even reaching 1,091 per cent more. The committee’s four recom- mendations, which were adopted uranimously, follow: In the condemnation of land, wherever possible. public-splrited per- sons who can qualify as experts in 1l estate be secured from the lo- cality in question to testi{y as to their fair value of the ppoperty in question. values and assessed values be in part at least overcome by providing for annual instead of blennlal assess- connection with th ment and purchase of these properties. He ex- piained that 1 charges, suc us developmuet, -term financing, futerest on loans, etc., could very ensily bring the sule price of a $6,000 1 house up to $9,000, and that to assess these properties at a figure to include these overhead charges would not be fair. “They are (hout the ass an's proper et & large part of and condemnations always complaining ment on the poor Richards,. < purchases the poor the owner of a paid the assessed more than such how would he when he | ssive Prices. Tt was expiained by those in the District Building interested in pur- chasing the sites that there had been no enorm above the assessed value. It was also explained that many problems had to be faced | in the condemnation of property of jocal citizens, and that in one case, here & man's property was con- emned, he wae not only forced to move out of his house and to give up his store, where he had been doing business for some time, but he was also estopped by the zoning regula- tions from re-establishing his busi- ness anywhere near the location where he had already established his trade, A mere 25 per cent award ubove the assessed value, it was ex-| plained, would be confiscatory in this case. Assessor Richards declared that the wecepted principle of assessment and condemnation in all parts of the coun- try 13 in favor of the owner. In order 10 be falr in assessment, he explained, the property owner must be favored so that no hardship will be worked, «nd In condemnation proceedings, where a man is forced to give up his property, to leave his home and per- fiaps give up the idea of profitable de- velopnient, or move Intv a more ex- pensive house, the property owner must also be favored. The ussessor sald that any attempt 10 limit the purchase price of prop- ertles for use by the District to 25 per cent above assessed valu> would be a very had proposition. It would lave no room, he explancd, to con- sider the condition of the real estate et, and he illustrated his re- marks by pointing out properties thut had jumped from $17 to 5 square foot by reason of economlc demand. — HOUSE COMMITTEE> REFUSES TO TAKE UP UNDERHILL BILL 1ed_from First Page.) { (Conti answered: “Neither have I any opposi- tion in mv district, even when some oue is running against me.” When Representative Houston, Re- ware, gought to have the Underhill and Fitzgerald bills read, he commented that the Fitz- gerald bill, “if not nounsensical and fllega!, is decidedly inconsistent.” After 2 spirited tilt between Repre- centative McLeod, Republican, of Michigan, und Represeniative Reld of Iilinois, & letter whith Mr. McLeod had recelved from J. Harry Cunning- bam, president of the Washington Board of Trade, was ullowed to be In- =orted into the record. Printing of Statements Allowed. Permission was given to Represen- tative Keller, principal sponsor for the Fitzgerald bill, to print also his reply ; 10 the Board of Trade letter, and then the committee agreed to allow all other members of the committee who desired to print statements. Mr. Bianton asked for a roll call on this in order to show that Mr. Reid was the only member in opposition. With a wave of his hand, Mr. Reld veplied: “Let the record show that I the only one voting in opposition, with my compliments In the Board of Trade letter Mr.| Cunningham stated that “the business 1en of the District, through their representative organizations, have re- {fewed the proposed legislation prior o indorsing the Underhill bil: At no time in the course of thiir delibera- rions have they been guided by in- murance experts, but they nave reach- ed conclusions from information and experfence of employ Ftates and from published reporfs of various accident boards and industrial commissions. Built on Local Needs. “Jrurthermore, the Underhill bill has teen built specifically to meet the needs of our enterprises in the Dis- trict. The Fitzgerald bill is to be ubsolutely imposed upon us without uny regard to our local conditions. We believe that vou favor the prin- ciple of home rule and accordingly bope vou will ald us in having the Underhill bill enacted into law. Not pnly 18 it & good workmen'’s compen- sation bill. but it fills our needs.” Mr. Blanton warned the committee that if thev brought the Fitzgerald bill onto the floor of «he House, the Underhill bill would be substituted for it by the House. He also stated that while he will enavuvor to expedite nction in the committee on the Fitz- jgerald bill, he will do his utmost to itiefeat it in the Hous Memorial Dedication Date Set. TREDERICKSBURG, Va., March 24 {P).—Dedication of the memorial of tho City of Fredericksburg to its World War veterans will take place on May 30, National Memorial day, it has been announced. Appropriate ex- ercises will be held under the auspices of the American Leglon and the me- morlal committre. Col. Rice W. Means, United States Senator from Colorado, sake the princlpal address. Klingle Valley ... Glover Park connection . per | 3 i Motors, s, as recommended {n the first tive report of the council. It was estimated by the committee that t would cost about $20,000 addi- tional, but the increase in land values, mostly unimproved, would add about $100,000 annually to the revenue of the District. Manner of Appropriating. 3. That the manner of appro- priating for the purchase of sites for municipal purposes adopted by the House committee on appropriations in the pending bill for the District of Coiumbia appropriations, 1. e., enumer- ation of sKes as respects general loca- tien and a lump sum to cover all sites, be adopted as a fixed policy. That, if » limitation is to be inserted, as to the excess of the purchase price above assessed value, it should not become effective until after a new assessment shall have been made, and regular annual assessments have been put into effect. “If these recommendations are put into effect,” said the committee’s re- port, “it is belleved that there will be a more nearly full and true value ascertained as a basis for acquiring lands by purchase or condemnatlon, the public will have a better knowl- edge of the value of unimproved land in the District, and an increased revenue secured without increasing the tax rate, or a small reduction in the tax rate secured.” That the lag between sales and | BUILDING SITES The committee which made the in- vestigation was composed of 1, Swanton, chairman; Willlam 8. Tor- bert and George C. Havenner. It wil! be continued, by action of the council to investigate further, with specfal at- tention to prices pald in private sales comparable with recent public pur- chases and the manner In which the names of condemnation jurors are drawn. “As land Is assessed only every two s, said its report, “it may hap- in purchasing of school sites, for mple, that the assessment may have been made at least two years be- values In certain parts of the District, the assessed value will not reflect the | true value at the time of purchase. | “Another matter affecting the value of lands has been the custom in previ- s years to insert in the appropria- tion bill the approximate location of » site desired with an estimate or at which it is thought that the land can be purchased. This tends to put thesowners of vacant land in the vicinity on notice that the District 18 prepared to pay o given price for a certain site in that locality, with re- ting foreing up of prices. The Na- nal Capital Purk Commission is not embarrassed by such publicity, the ap- propriation being made by lump sum without regard to locality. ‘When condemnation is resorted to certain court tormalities have to be resorted to, and while it is claimed that the results are more satisfactory in the case of the Park Commission, in the case of school sites it has re- in a stll greater purchase The manner of conducting the condemnation proceedings may be fair and comply with court regula- tions, but it is belleved that it is open to the criticism that the same per- sons are constantly employed as estate experts in all parte of the Dis. trict, and it is believed that greater efforts should be made to secure ex- perts wi acquainted with the lands in the specific locality. Small Home Owner Hit. “While it {5 believed that small homes and business properties are on the whole equitably assessed, taking the city as a whole, the facts devel- oped would appear to indicate that unimproved property, especlally where surrounded by improved property, is | manner, and as a result the small home owner is paying larger taxes because. of the under assessment of unimproved property.’ The bill providing for the replace- ment of the M Street Bridge over Rock Creek was approved by the council, on the recommendation of George Beason. The council also in- dorsed the House bill penalizing for- ture tellers and others for obtaining money by fradulent means. A revised report approving the con- struction of a dormitory wing addi- tion to the District jail, submitted by Mr. Torbert, was adopted. The report emphasized that present congestion at the jail is due to the large number of Federal prisoners held there await- ing trial. Tables of Site Purchases. Tables giving & summary of th committee's report. The table showin Name of tract. McKinley Manuai High .... McKinley Manual High . Garnet-Patterson John F. Cook . Raymond School, Francis Junior High Dunbar athletic fleld Janney School .. Stuart Junion Higl Manor Park -. Decatur Street School - McKinley High Bell School - Adams 8chool . O Street Vocational Georgetown Junior High Rhode Island and South Brightwood School -.. Total and average .-. oyt Assessed value, e transactions were inserted into the & school transactions follows: Cost. $101,675 100,243 93,575 % increase. . $54.061 38 Dakota avenues 24,435 .$629,511 $1,201,078 The table of purchases by the National Capital Park Commission follows: Assess . 85 Location. rment tract - Near Norment tract . Near Norment tract . Near Norment tract . Between Norment and Wisconsin. Fort Stevens Anacostia playgrounds -- Fort Dupont addition - Whittier playground Fort Bayard ... Klingle Valley (5) Chevy Chase Circle Piney Branch (2) Klingle Valley ... Grand total Cost. ed value. sq. ft. $0. o increase. 5,500 34 189 208 4% $0.105 STOCK PRICES FALL IN SELLING ORGY Market Swept Down 3 to 19 Points Under Hammers of Bears. By the Associated Press. NEW YORK, March 24—An ava- lanche of selling orders swept down on the stock market today, carrying more than a score of issues off 3 to 19 polnts to new low records for the year. The Government’s investiga- tion of recent oil mergers, reports of a slackening activity in basic indus- tries and of widespread cancellation of automobile orders and the omis- sion of the Pittsburgh Coal prefered dividend contributed to the bearish sentiment Sharp breaks in some of the high- priced industrial issues suggested urgent llquidation of pyramided ac- counts which had been bullt up in the recent advance. Amerfcan Can (old stock) broke 19 points to 256, as against the year's high of 3441, and Du Pont crumbled 11 points to around 200. Extreme declines of 4 to 9 points emrbraced Sears-Roebuck, Woolworth, General Electric, Mack Trucks, National Tea, International Harvester, Hudson Motors, General Pressed Steel Car and At- lantic Coast Line. Colncldent with the heavy calling of bank loans call money renewed at 4% per cent, the highest rate since March 2, and was subsequently ad- vanced to 5 per cent. Fallure of the Republic Iron and Steel Co. to resume common dividends, as had been expected in some quar- ters, ard predictions that the present high rate of steel operations ‘would not be maintained in April led to re- newed selling pressure against the ateel shares, with United States Steel dropping 2 points to 121, within a point of the year's low. —_— FINERY FEEDS FLAMES. CHICAGO, March 24 (®).—Easter finery fed flames that swept through a six-story building in the heart of the State street shopping district to- day. The blaze was confined to the bullding occupied by Bezark's wom- en’s wear store, but smoke and water caused loss in a similar store ad- joining. Damage was estimated at $175,0 |Traces of Search For Pirates’ Gold Found Near Gulf By the Assoclated Press. PASCAGOULA, Miss., March 24. --Excavations found in the tangled wilderness near an ancient home site here bave led purchasers of the lands to belleve that fortune hunters have benn digging for private gold. Laborers discovered the hole in the earth while clearing under- growth for fields. Some of the excavations are recent. None of the natlves recall having seen the excavations made and ft is believed they were dug at night. ‘The majority of the excavations were centered about an old oak tree, strangely marked, which is saild to be the key to a hidden treasure. It is said to be a historical fact that many old-time pirates cruised along the gulf coast from Texas to the tip of the Florida Peninsula. Fabulous tales, invented about great chests of treasure buried in the sands and left to molder when the pirates died in foundered ships, are believed to be responsible for the excavations. 'LIVERPOOL LOSES TO LONDON AS POR at Capital Henceforth to Lure American Tourists. By the Associated Press. LONDON, March 24.—The Dally Express says it understands that the Cunard line is to abandon Liverpool as the home port for five liners, in favor of London. The vessels con- cerned are the Alaunia, Carmania, Caronfa, Lancastria and Tuscania. The change will be made in April. No passenger bound westward will be embarked at London, where only freight will be taken aboard, but the vessels will call at Southampton and Havre for passengers. Returning ! from the United States, the liners will call at Plymouth and Havre and then proceed to Tilbury. American visitors to England thus will be able to land near London. Accordfng to the Daily Express, this facility will help ‘to lure Americans to England who otherwise might go to_ France. The change, says the newspaper, in- dicates the increasing importance of London as a trade center and the fact that trade is moving south. 4 fore, and due to tue rapid rise in land | o not assessed in the same letahln'l‘“’“"'d the machinery . Rockefeller, jr., | Five Transatlantic Liners to Dock | CHAMBERLAIN WINS APPROVAL OF HOUSE Commons Votes Equivalent of Confidence in Foreign Minister’s League Move. By the Assoclated Prese. LONDON, March 24—Sir Austen ‘hamberlain, foreign secretary, has ‘ascended the scaffold” in the House of Commons to do penance for his alleged shortcom- ings at Geneva, which culminated in the breakdown of the League of Nations' sesslons at which Ger- many was to have be:n elected to _membership. But there was no hanging, in- stead, notwith- standing the taunts cf the op- position leaders, Sir Aurten last night wis given what was equiv- Sir Auster Chamberlaln &lent t¢ a vote . of confidence of 325 to 136, a majority of 189, Reichstag Also Acts. (The action of the House of Com- mons in London was the second sim- ilar one of yesterday, for the Reich- stag in Berin adopted by a show of hands a motion approving the German government's course at Geneva. Likewise the Reichstag voted down an opposition resolution of non-con- fidence in the government and a mo- tlon demanding the withdrawal of Germany's application for entry into the League of Nations.) David Lloyd-George and Ramsay MacDonald, former Labor premler, led the attack on Sir Austen. Jiloyd-George's criticism that the Locarno pact signatories were responsible for the breakdown at Geneva, and that this breakdown had of peace to such an extent that mahy of Sir Austen’s best friends despaired of its effect. Mr. MacDonald criticized Sir Aus- ten’s work at Geneva as “the most lamentable failure that British di- plomacy has faced for many years.” Publicity Is Blamed. The forelgn secretary attributed the faflure at Geneva largely to ad- vance publicity and consequent crys- talization of national aspirations of countries seeking seats In the coun- cfl, which made it impossible to ar- rive at any compromise arrangement for the election of Germany. Lloyd-George was blamed by Sir Austen for Inflaming public opinion. Sir Austen said the Locarno agree- ment still was safe, and that Great Britain's foreign aftairs had been handled In & manner that made her prestige greater than ever before. Premfer Baldwin sald there had been a temporary setback to the league, but no mortal blow to its progress. He and the government had confidence in the foreign secre- tary, who had done his best under the circumstances. The prime minister disabused the minds of gny person who might have had the fdea that Sir Austen would be relieved of his portfolio. He said that Sir Austen woud continue and bring to fruition the work he began at Locarno. e, SERVIéE TO HUMANITY URGED AT LENT SERVICE A. H. Phelps Declares Doing for Others Is Only Real Form of Success in Life. Urging the doctrine of service to humanity, Andrew H. Phelps of the United States Chamber of Commerce, in an address at the noonday Lenten services at Keith's Theater today, as- sured those present that such service is the only real form of success iIn life. Mr. Phelps spoke of the value in unseen things, referring to Christ. “If we will only do something each day that will henefit the world,” he faid, “when we have finished our lives here we will have accomplished something that is really worthwhile.” Mr. Phelpg concluded by reminding his audience that Christ set the ex- ample of service and all that we have to do is to follow His leadersh.p. Irwin B. Linten presided at the services today and Rev. Harvey B. Smith pronounced the benediction. Rev. Charles Wood, Church of the Covenant, will speak tomorrow. Those in charge of the services are particularly unxious to have a good attendance Friday, when the Rev. Almon Abbott of Baltimore will ‘speak. —_— MEDAL FOR ROCKEFELLER. John D., Jr., Awarded Plus Ultra by Spanish Government. MADRID, March 24 (P).—John D. will be among the first recipients of the Plus Ultra gold medal, created by the Spanish gov- ernment to commemorate the flight of Comdr. Ramon Franco from Spain to Argentina. In addition to present- ing it to Comdr. Franco and his crew the medal is to be conferred on all citizens of the world who distinguish themselves {n some great feat or en- terprise. The award to Mr. Rockefeller is for humanitarian services to man- kind, in the donation of funds for a cancer institute and for having made possible scientific war on disease. The medal will bear on the obverse a reproduct.on of the caravels of Co- lumbus sailing for America, while the reverse will show an allegorical fig- ure of Spain supported by the Span- ish lion and a’figure of the Americas symbolizing fertility. ; NOONDAY LENTEN SERVICES JESE B.F.KEITH’S THEATER 12:30 to 1 O'Clock SPEAKER TOMORROW Rev. Charles Wood Conducted by Rev. James H. Taylor Every One Invited—-No Collection C., WEDNESDAY, Cast Tire Knocks Driver Out After Unusual Rebound By the Associated Press. FRESNO, Calif., March 24,—A new one appeared on the emer- gency hospital records today. Here it 1s: George Krablan of Fresno was driving along the highway between Berenda and Chowchilla late Monday night when his car threw a tire. The tire bounded onto the rail- road track directly into the path of an oncoming Southern Parific traln, striking the engine. The tire was thrown directly back into Krabian’s machine, striking him full In the chest. Krablan was u;lvutted for contusions of the right chest. ALL WHITTEMORE GANGSTERS HELD $1,600,000 Jewel Loot Be- lieved to Be Held by 6 Men and Woman in New York. By the Asgociated Press. NEW YORK, March 24.—All the members of what is regarded as thé|! most desperate criminal gang caught in years were in custody today. | The loot of the band of six men and | a woman, known as “The Tiger Girl,” is estimated at $1,000,000, obtained mostly by sensational jewel robberies. In addition, at least two murders are lald to them. Members of the gang were dressed fashionably and had ex- pensive automobiles. They frequented night clubs and ex- slusive cabarets of the class frequently padlocked, and in them planned some of thelr biggest coups. The first mem- bers of the band to be arrested, were caught while leaving a club. The roundup of the so-called Whit- temore gang, however, has not con nected them with any of the sensa- tlonal recent robberies of three night clubs and restaurants near Broadway Implicated in 2 Robberies. The last man, Willlam J. Unkel- back, sought for participating in two dtamond robberies amounting to $150.- 000, laid to the band, was arrested last night in a furnished room. The police say Unkelback told them that Simon Gilden, once a member of the gang, was killed last December for balking at orders. His body was found propped- against a tombstone in Trinity Church yard. Joseph Ross. belleved to be another member of the gang, was murdered in Elizabeth, N. J. Whittemore,” the detectives quote Unkelback as saying, “has a way of doing away with subordinates who balk at orders.” Reuben Morris, Unkelback's com- panton in his room, was arrested on suspicion of alding in the recent rob- bery of Reuben's restaurant, on Broad- way, where $5,500 was stolen. Three other men suspected of par- ticipation in the hold-up of Reuben's were arrested yesterday during a dar- ing robbery at the Owl Restaurant nearby., They were captured after police had been called by several hat check girls who slipped out an un- guarded exit while the orchestra was playing on the robber's orders. Mrs. Isaac George Waterman of Philadel- phia concealed a pearl necklace valued at $60,000 in her stocking and the robbers obtained only a small amount from her. All of Whittemore's band admit previous convictions for robbery and say their motive was to get easy money for gambling, drug and lux- urious living. Although a veritable arsenal was found when the varlous members of the gang were arrested, District At. torney Banton sald that not a shot had becn fired by them in any of their robberies in New York. ‘Wanted on Murder Charge. Richard Reese Whittemore, the leader, is wanted in_Baltlmore on charge of murdering Robert Holtman, 60-year-old prison guard, during Li escape two weeks after beginning a 0-year prison sentence iy Detectives sald that Whittemore re- garded himself as a su b above the law. He come: spectable Baltimore famil early as his Sunday school days turn- ed to petty thieving. New York, Bal- timore, Buffalo and Cleveland have been the scenes of his activities. “The Tiger Girl,” who says she was married to Whittemore nine years ago, described by police as a typical unman’s moll,” whose function was to carry the gang's weapons 8o they might evade arrest for carrying concealed weapons. She is charged with one holdup at. the pistol point in New York. acob and Leon Kraemer, half brothers, the only members of the gang over 30, the police say, were dcported from England, Belgium and Russia in 1915 and introduced the “can-opener” method of robbing safes to this country. BUSINESS MENACED BY PRESENT TARIFF ACT, PROBERS HEAR (Continued from First -Page.) dutles have been lowered or increased under the flexible provisions of the act. )ir. Page sald there had been only one reduction of rates, a reduction in the duties on imported live quall. “How it possible to ascertain the difference in the cost of producing live Bob While quail in this country and abroad,” demanded Senator Rob- inson, “and yet,” he continued, “this has been the only case in four years where the duties have been lowered under this provision of the law."” Mr. Page sald in connection with the increase in the duties on wheat there had been some reduction in the duties on mill feed, which he said however, he did not regard as im- portant. Members of the committee ques- tioned Mr. Page as to the propriety of members of the Tariff Comm.ssion sitting in cases where they might be held to be personally and pecuniarily interested, and as to whether previous employment should debar a man from serving as a_member of the commis- sion, or prevent his sitting in any particular case. “What circumstances and facts, in your opinion, would disquality a mem- ber of the commission from sitting in a particular case,” demanded Senator Robinson. The witness replied that the same rules would hold as iri the case of a judge in court, br with service as a juryman. The safest way, Mr. Page #ald, would be to have the commis- sion itself fix rules dealing with this matter. “Take the sugar case,” said Senator Robinson, “‘three members of the com- mission held that one of the commis- sioners should be disqualified to sit in that case, and three others, includ- ing the commissioner himself, held he was qualified.” Mr. Page sald there was no rule at MARCH 24, 1926 COOLIDGE AVOIDIN LEAGUE ARGUMENT Refusal to “Explain” Stand at Geneva Held Sop to Irreconcilables. BY DAVID LAWRENCE. There is far more than appears on the surface in the announcement from the White House that President Coolidge sees no reason for sending a special envoy to Geneva to inter- pret the reservations attached by the United States Senate to the pro- tocol proposing American adherence to the World Court. Mr. Coolidge has noted the way fuces made by the “irreconcilal group about the possibility of giving formal recognition to the League of Nations as the parent of the World Court and has decided to make con- cessions to the aforesald “irreconcil- ables.” " Would Avold “Petition.” When the reservations were at. tached it was specifically indicated that acceptance must be arranged by the exchange of diplomatic notes with the various nations now signa- forfes to the protocol. Secretary Kelogg set about getting the accept- ane sy addressing forty-efght na- ‘The move of Austen Chamber- ritish foreign minister, in ask- an American envoy come to September meeting of the League ations to ‘“‘explain” the reserva- tions was regarded here as meaning that the United States would confer formally with the League of Nations and in a sense petition the league for permission to enter the court. This procedure now has been vetoed by the President, who realizes that most of the argument made about the separation of the World Court from the laague would be revived if the United States sent an envoy to dis cuss the matter at Geneva. Mr. Coolidge is careful not to say the United States is retreating from hgr desire to enter the World Court. Nor {s he intimating as yet that if the reservations are not accepted by the other Nations the United States will stay out of the court. But for all practical purposes that {s the exact gituation. The United States Senate, after protracted debate, has specified certain reservations. Some of these will be awkward for other nations to accept, but they contain the price of American adherence. In other words, l‘f the other powers want the United tates in the court, the conditions under which America will enter are @et forth in the reservations. Chamberlain’s Meaning Unknown. ‘What the British foreign minister intended by his suggestion that an American envoy interpret the reser- vations Is not yet known even to President Coclidge, who 1s willing to listen to any argument that may be made for the procedure. No American envoy can make an official Interpre- tation. He might answer questions unofticially and informally, but ft fs not supposed this would satisfy the other government: B Meanwhile it 13 confldently expected that between now and September the British government, taking the ini- tiative, will address a diplomatic note to the United States that certain points be cleared up. The Department of State is in a position to answer questions, but not to interpret ambiguities. Some of the questions that undoubtedly will be asked relate to those reservations which tle the hands of the American Government, but which do not at the same time restrict the freedom of action of other governments. The answers given by the American Gov- ernment may or may not be explicit or satisfactory. in which event the British and other governments will do their own interpreting of the Amer- fcan reservations and state whut their understanding is to be. Should these understandings or new set of reservations conflict with the American Government's view, it ma: mean holding up American entry, bu: the chances are the rcservations at tached by other powers will be con fined to a simple statement that nothing in the American rescrvation: is to be considered as infringing on the freedom of action of other power: in thelr dealings either with the ‘World Court or the League of Na- tions. But at best the process wil! be long drawn out and it will be a long time before the Unilted States officially takes its place in the Worid Court. (Copyright. 1926.) PLANS MARKET RESEARCH. Southern Pine Association Author- izes Trade Extension Fund. NEW ORLEANS, March 24 (®.— Creation of a special fund for use in trade extension and market research work was authorized here vesterday during the convention of the South- ern Pine Association. The money will be devoted to resisting efforts of manufacturers of wood substitute ma- terials and competitive lumber to oust Houthern pine from its present markets. This decision was reached by the adoption of ‘a resolution introduced by John L. Kaul of Birmingham, Ala., providing that subscribers to the or- ganization shall contribute 2 cents per 1,000 feet on lumber produced and shipped by them in addition to thelr other assessments. the time governing the matter. If the commissioner felt he was qualified to eit, he saw no way to prevent him. Mr. Page added that he personally would l'ave refrained from passing on his own qualifications, however. Senator Reed brought out that in the sugar case the commissioners who had voted against Commissioner Glas- sle’s taking part were Commissioners Culbertson, Costigan and Lewis, and that those who voted him qualified were Commissioners Marvin, Burgess and Glassie. The Pennsylvania Senator later ask- ed Mr. Page if he thought a commis- sioner who had an annual contract, which he intimated was contrary to law, with some outside business was qualified to pass upon the right of Mr. Glassie to serve in the sugar case. Senator Reed, however, did not reveal the name of any such commis- sioner. = | ment Ice Skates Made Of Cattle Bones In 400 B.C. Found By the Associated Press. PRAGUE, Czechoslovakia, March 24.—The oldest ice skates in the world, so archeologists assert, have been discovered in a museum here. They date back to the fifth century B.C. The skates are fashioned from the bones bf cattle, the bone being flattened off on one side along its length and perforated at each end to admit leather ankle thongs. The natural curve at elther end of the bone toward the joints served to keep the foot In place and formed :3! upward bend of the running ge. PLAZA PURGHASE FAVORED INHOUSE Report Also Made on Prohibi tion of Permanent Camp in Potomac Park. | Favorable report was made today by the House committee on public butld- ings and grounds on the bill which has already passed the Senate, providing for acquisition of land in Union Sta- tion Plaza from the Baltimore and Ohlo Rallroad, for enlargement of the Capltol grounds as a park, and on the joint resolution fathered by Chairman ! Zihlman of the House District commit- tea prohibiting crection of a perma- nent buiflding at the tourlst camp in East Potomac Park. Both measures were reported with- out any alterations. There was no the Capitol Plaza property, although several amendments were offered to fix the price at which this property | should be acquired. All such efforts | to change the bill, however, were voted down. Figures recelved from officlals of the Baltimore and Ohio Rallroad pur- suant to an agreement reached at the for sale made by the ra.lroad com- pany would figure up a cost of $3,- 130,000 for the propert: to be acquired | under this bill, part of which is now occupied by the vernment Hotels. Considerable opposition was shown in the committee to the Zihlman joint resolution regarding the tourist camp. | Several members of the committee expressed a strong determination that the camp should remain in its present location for years to come. No change, however, was made in the | wording of the resolution. \ It was evident that considerable de bate and a close fight will be made when this measure {s called up for |action in the House, which precludes any chance of early consideration under unanimous consent. | g |EX-JUSTICE OFFICAL CHARGED AS AGENT FOR BOOTLEGGER (Continued from First Page.) o jail,”” Mr. La Guardia continued, it is almost time that Congress takes notice and makes some eflort to ascer- | tain how general the conditions may be and to what degree the depart- mental conscience has been calioused. ‘4 SuunuL these lacis In Lhe nope that the riouse, having a majority of over :00 votes opposed to any modification of the exisung prohibi- uon iaw, will take the necessary ac- uon to prevent booucgging by em- ployes ot the prohibiion aepartment and hi-jack.ng by employes of the wepaiiment o1 Justice. ' “shoruy after the conviction of Remus,” Mr. ‘the United States Government, cnrough the pronibition department, rencebury irom 1,5 atanapelis, Ind., and removed there- cases of whisky to In- Ind., and stored =said wanapolis. Tne wnisky was seized and my information is tnat it was or- aered destroyed. An appeal was taken against tne seizure, and naturally the whisky was heid pending appeal in tne United States Circuit Court of Ap- peals for the seventh circuit. 350 Cases Disappear. “In the meantime, 350 cases of this liquor haa mysteriously disappeared. ® * * As far as I could asceriain no report was ever made in the matter and it is even whispered that of the remaining cases many of them do not cunain their original con- tents. 1 called attention to this fact in a letter to the Secretary of the Treasury on March 16, 1926, but to date have received no reply from «he department. have heard,' though, that since my letter to the Secretary the United States officials are extremely anxious to have tnis case disposed of and the original order to destroy the lquor or dump it into the sewer carried out. I believe that bLefore the liquor is destroyed inventory should be taken and the officials re- sponsible for its custody should Le held to account. “Whisky does not walk off by it- gelf, There is a likelihood that these 350 cases of liquor, ile in the custody of the prohiblon enforce- department, found {ts way through unlawful channels to the bootleg markets of the country. “It seems to me now that the courn- try is alive to the subject of prohibi- tion and that the advocates of the law are urging strict enforcement, a good place to start that enforce- ment is in the prohibition department and in the Department of Justice."” — Body Cut in Two by Train. Special Dispatch to The Star. GRANTSVILLE, Md., March 24.— Jerry Meyers, 65 years old, of Garrett was killed by a coal train on the Baltl- more and Ohio Rallroad yesterday hen caught by the wheels as the ‘rain started while he was crossing _he tracks beneath it. His wife and ve children were burned to death 16 years ago. Reports of Desecration’ Lead Davis To Order Guard for Unknown’s Tomb One of his comrades in the flesh hereafter will stand guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Ar- lington National Cemetery to see that this memorial to America's war dend is not de secrated by thoughtless sightseers. At the personal suggestion of Pres- jdent Coolidge, Secretary of War Da- vis has directed that a military sen- tinel, fully equipped, be posted at the Tomb during the hours when the cem- etery is open to the public, to insure :?:d. spot agalnst van of any The military guard will be supplied by the garrison at Fort Myer and will supplment the regular civilian detall of two men who patrol the en- tire Memorial Amphitheater, at the entrance to which the Tomb is lo- cated. There has been marked protest, from time to time, of depredations al- leged to have bcen committed at the Tomb by visitors. It was recently reported to the War Department by officers of the Quar- termaster Corps. however, tha: there mever has been any authenticated aots of des hearing last week show that the offer | La Guardia charged, | se1zed the Squibb dustillery at Law- | wiusky in the Federal building in In- i CAPITAL ORATOR FIFTH ON PROGRAM Drawings Made to Determine Order of Speakers in National Contest. ‘The champion of the metropolitan area of Washington will be the fifth speaker {n the national finals in the National Oratorical Contest, to be held in the Washington Auditorium on June 4. Drawings to determine the or lder of speakers were made today b Frank B. Noyes, chairman of the American Publishers’ committee for the contest, with the following result: First speaker, winner of nationa semi-finals at Philadelphia. Becond speaker, winner of nation: semi-finals at Los Angeles. Third speaker, winner of natlonal semi-finals at Chicago. Fourth speaker, winner of natfonal semi-finals at Loulsville. Fifth speaker, champion of Wash ngton and vielnity. Sixth speaker, w.nner of nationa semi-finals £t Kansas Ci Seventh speaker, winner of nationa semi-finals at New York Ci Publishers’ Committee. The American publishe; tee follows: Frank B. Noyes, ington Star, alrman; Adolph New York Times; Walter A Chlcago Dally News; Willlan McLean, jr.. Philadeiphia Bulletin Frederick I.”Thompson, Birminghan Age-Herald; R. 1. Stout, Kansas City Star, and Harry Chandler, Los Ar geles Timee. The representative of the territor; of the Washington Star, which iv cludes the District of Columbia Prince Ceorges, Montgomery a | difference of opinion in the committee | Charles countles in Maryland, anc | regarding the proposition to acquire | Loudoun, Arlington, Fairfax an {Prince Willlam counties in Virginis { will clear straight through to the nu | tional finale, National semi-final meet lings, to determine the six other par- ticipants in the national finals, will be held on May 14 in New York Citr, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Louisvil Kansas City and Chicago. Order in Previous Events. ‘The representative of Washinztor in the 5 National finals spoke fi and finished fifth. In the the 1924 cct test the Washington representat spoke fourth and tinished second. T: winners of firss second and th places in the 13924 finals spoke fi fourth and second, respectively. T) winners of the first, second and third places in 1925 spoke third, fourth and seventh, respectivel F. Dumont Smith of Hutchinso: Kans., chairman of the Amerlcar citizenship committee of the Amer! can Bar Association, who has been co-operating with the newspa sponsors of the National Oratorica! Contest, announces a serles of b radio addresses on the Government of { the United States by prominent juris beginning April 19, the anniv } of the Battle of Lexington. The b: asting centers for this series w: New York, Chicago, Kansas Clty, Angeles and Loui! 1 i e | Los Today in Congress Senate. Final debate on the Gooding long and short haul bill took place on the floor today, with a vote on the measure scheduled for o'clock. A judiclary subcommittee held an executive session on the nom: nation of Maj. Peyton Gordon for reappointment as District Attorne; for the District of Columbia. The Phipps subcommittea con tinued hearings on the District ap- propriation bill, making special in quiry today into the House pro posal to incremse water rates 2o per cent. Investigation of the Tariff Com- mission continued before the spe clal Senate committee. Regulations of interstate motor bus and motor freight lines con tinued to be heard before the It terstate Commerce committee. Military affalrs committe is in executive session on a bill relating to retirement of officers who served in organizations other than the Regular Army. The joint committee on the leas ‘lixl?l of b::lw‘elshoa!s continued its lally session for the consid b/ eration Foreign relations committee held an executive session. House. The House today dispensed with calendar Wednesday and proceeded to consideration of the legislative appropriation bill. The House District committee refuses bv a vote of 9 to 7 to suh- stitute Underhill workmen's com pensation bill for Fitzgerald Gov ernment monopoly industrial in- surance bill and proceeds to con sideration of the Fitzgerald bill for amendment. House committee on public build- ings and grounds favorably report ed measure passed by the Senate for acquisition of land remaining in private ownership between the Capitol and Union Station for en- largement of Capitol grounds. Public buildings and grounds committee favorably reported a Joint resolution fathered by Chalr- man Zihlman of the House District committee to prevent erection of permanent building in East Po- tomac Park for tourist camp. Representative Willlam C. Ham mer, Democrat, North Carolina, in troduced in the House a resolution for a sweeping Investigation of District government. Naval affairs committee continues hearing on hospitalization. Interstate commerce committee in executive session considers rall- road bill Military affairs committes holds regular meeting in executive ses- ston Committee on agrjculture con tinues hearing on agricultural re- lief measures. Committee on mines and mining considers a number of bills. Judiciary committee 1n executjve session _continues consideration of Judge English's .mpeachment case. Immigration committee holds executive meeting. Banking and currency commit. tee holds hearing on stabilization of price system in Federal banks. Elections committee No. 2 con- tinues hearing on Balley-Walters case. e AUTO TAG SALE GROWS. Coombs Expects Sale of 122,000 Before End of Year. ‘Wade 1. Coombs, superintendent of licenses of the District, predicted today that he would dispose of at least 10,000 more automobile identi- fication tags this year than he did in 1925. Approximately 112,000 tags were sold last year, he said, and thus far this year his office has disposed of about 90,000,