Evening Star Newspaper, March 26, 1926, Page 2

THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C., FRIDAY, MARCH 26, 1926. 2#_#____—__——_—__—___—.————_—_——————-_————_;———_—_—"—_——— REVERSE ENGLISH MARKS STORY OF BIG ROUND-UP OF BASIN FISH WHITTEMORE ASK . WIFE'S FREEDOM Dffers to Tell Startling Crime Tale if Barton Will Clear “Tiger Girl.” By the Associated Press. NEW YORK, March 26.—Promising lo tell a story that would startle New York, Richard Reese Whittemore of Baltimore, leader of & gang implicated In at least four murders and in rob- beries totaling $1,000,000, today sought treedom for his wife, “The Tiger Girl,” Indicted for a_hold-up of her own. Wenkened by two confessions, the six men under arrest in one of the most highly organized bands ever cap- tured, have begun to talk, Whitte- more nitherto defiant, being the latest to “crack.” ~If they will release my wife, turn her out on the street, I'll startle New York with what I can tell,” he says. “I'll give up the works and astonish the clty.” Request Will Be Studied. District Attorney Banton sald he would give consideration to the re- quest provided Whittemore would give definite information on half a dozen recent robberies, in which $830,000 in cash and jewelry was stolen. The “‘perfect ci ystem outlined by Anthony Paladino, one of the gang, In a confession Wednesday named the jewelers through whom the gems were sold. Police today were making intensive search for these men, several of whom have been regarded as respectable merchants. “My whole energy is be- Ing spent on: the apprehension of the people who made it profitable to com- mit these crimes,” Mr. Banton said. The confession, held up by police 86 hours because it outlines a tem almost failure-proof, revealed that the gang operated with the pre- cision of a business corporation. Th 22-page document gave intimate de- talls of a series of mysterious rob- beries and described the minute pre- cautions taken in each case. Rehearsed for Crimes 1t revealed that the band worked as a unit, each man assigned to his part and rehearsed in advance when- ever possible. Members of the gang usually mixed with pa: -by at the scene of a robbery tched with loaded pistols for possible int fer- ence and then joined the actual rob- bers later. Baltimore seeks Whittemore for the murder of a prison guard and Ruffalo wants him for the murder of two bank guards in a $93,000 hold- up, Where he will be tried is yet to be determined. Another gang of robbers, which, like the Whittemore mob, spent lavishly in night clubs, also was in custody today. Six vouths and three girls were held for a series of rob- beries in small shops. Against five of the vouths are homicide charges. ‘The vouths, all dressed in the height of fashion, and the girls, one of them a bride of three months, made their headquarters in a cabar in the negro section of Harlem. All are in their teens. The police describe them as “the cake eaters.” WILLIAM L. PFEIFFER, 81, G. A. R. VETERAN, DIES Known Also as Oldest Living Mem- ber of Annapolis Lodge of Masons. William L. Pfeiffer, 81 years old, Union Army veteran and Mason, died at his residence, in the Portner Apart- ments, last night. He had lived in is city since 1894. Mr. Pfeiffer had been in failing health since a stroke of paralysis about two years ago. Mr. Pfeiffer was born in_Kansas, but iived the greater part of his life in Annapolis before coming to Wash- ington. He was the oldest living member of the Annapolis Lodge of Masons, it is said. During the Civil War Mr. Pfeiffer served as a_corporal with the 9th Rhode Island Infantry. He was a member of the Kit Carson Post, Grand Army of the Republic, here. He ig survived by his widow, JMrs. Juiia L. Pfeiffer; a son, Harry L. Pfeiffer of Boston; three daughte Mrs. Julia M. Friend and Miss Maizie Pfeiffer of this city and Mrs. Roy T. Morris, wife of Maj. Morris of the Medical Corps, U. S. A., who is sta- tloned in_the Philippines, and two brothers, John Pfeiffer of Long Island and David Pfeiffer of this city. Funeral services will be conducted at Hines' undertaking establishment tomorrow afternoon at 2 o'clock. Rev. J. J. Dimon, rector of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, will officiate. In- terment will be in Arlington Ceme- tery. THOMAS HUMPHREY DIES. Thomas Humphrey, 81 years old, in the plumbing business in this city ‘more than 65 years and long a promi- nent member of Hamline M. E. “Church, now located at Sixteenth and * Allison streets, died yesterday at his residence, 507 Rhode Island avenue. i Death was due to heart disease. Born in England in 1844, he came ‘to this country with his father when 7 vears old, and had lived in this city {since boyhood. He leaves his widow, Mrs. Rosanna M. Humphrey; three sons, J. Walter ! Humphrey, Thomas Humphrey, jr., and John . Humphrey, and a daugh- {ter, Mrs. Ida Miller, all o: this city 1so about 10 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. The first-named son is prominent in Masonic circles ‘here. Funeral services will be conducted iat Hamline M. E. Church tomorrow at {2 o'clock. Rev. Dr. J. T. Herson, pas- ! tor, will officiate. Interment will be in Glenwood Cemetery. 'HUSBAND ACCUSED IN $2,300,000 SUIT (Cratinugd from First Page.) states, in tae joint names of herself and husband, where the securities and jewels were deposited. He has the keys to these boxes, she says, and she supposed the securiteis were there. Last May, Mrs. Peter declares, she asked her husband to send keys to {the boxes so she mixht have access fto them. This request he refused, she says, and last June she revoked all powers-of-attorney granted to him. Her counsel made fruitless attempts to se- cure the keys from Mr. Peter, she said. Mrs. Peter charges that her hus- ‘band, without her authority, has taken the notes, stocks, bonds and jewels, all worth $2,300,000, from the safe deposit boxes. She asks that the court require her husband to explain where the se. curities are, and that he be enjoined from disposing of them. France Grateful to League. GENEVA, March 26 (®).—The League of Nations was informed by France today of her gratification of the internationdl convention for suj pression of tegffic in 'women and-chil- ez, Capt. Deeters and Salty Crew Drag Huge Seine . Through Breakers and You Should Read . * o~ About Their Catch. The big 'fish round-up in the Tidal Basin took place yesterday as per schedule. Large crowds of eager spectators were on the sidelines to cheer the valiant efforts of the doughty fisher- men recruited by the Bureau of Fish- eries for the task. From early morning, when the veteran crews, boats and 1,500-pound seine arrived by truck from below Featherstone Farms, some 35 miles irom Washington, until late after- noon, when the climax of the first big haul, itself, was reached, interested groups of Washington anglers, sight- seers, golf players and motorists were on hand to witness the unusual event, staged as a preliminary to stocking the Busin with game fish. There was a visible stir as the boats and seine arrived, and the bronzed men of the sea began systematically their preparations for stalking the wild inhabitants of Potomac Park's waters. Volunteers Aid Start. Helping hands of volunteers joined in the work of unloading the para- phernalia for the expedition, and, under the able supervision of Skipper E. D. Deeters, than whom there is no more experienced siene-dragger on the lower Potomac, the boats soon were bobbing on the breakers of the Basin and rarin’ to go. Cap’n Deete brought with him from down in Virginia, hard by the i salty a crew of sea-going per- landlubbers in these parts have seen for many a day. With skilled hands they spread the massive net into the lapping waters near the bathing beach in an initlal soaking- down process. Unable to transport overland the heavy craft with which Cap'n Deeters usually does his seining, the fisher- men at first were slightly at sea as to where to find a vessel of sufficient size to haul the heavy seine. The skipper scanned the horizon of the Basin in vain for an abandoned tug- boat, lighter or barge, but nothing met his gaze except seaweed and drift- wood. Finally the captain gave vent to an “Aha,” however. He saw some thing. It was the old float once used by carefree bathers of the Basin in the days when bathing was legally sanctioned in Washington. Woofing Gobs Warp Raft. At the signal voiced” by Cap'n Deeters his men sprang into action. ‘With seamanlike precision they ran down the shore and boarded the un- wieldy craft. It was necessary to warp the raft from the west side of the basin to the east. The skipper glanced up’ d at a fleeting cloud, a look of concern on his features. A sharp wind from the nor'west was be- ginning to whip the angry waters into a sea of foam. “Avast,” cried Cap'n Deeters, with renewed determination to risk the weather, come what may. “Aye, aye, sir,” chorused the brave crew. The float began to avast slowly but surely in the direction desired. There being no sail or rudder, progress was pushed by means of long poles, and in the course of an hour or so the craft grounded prettily near where the seine lay waiting. By this time the crowds along the bank had grown to considerable pro- portions. As the boatmen, in two row boats, went through a number of tedlous preliminary duties, such as sounding for depth, salvaging stakes and ridding the basin of menaces to mavigation generally, the enthusiasm of the spectators mounted by leaps and bounds. Start at 3 Bells P.M. : Finally the actual operations began. The skipper looked at the sun and noted it was about 3 bells p.m. “All aboard,” warned Capt. Deeters, and almost as one man the crew loaded the huge net on to the tossing float. Tow ropes were strung from the row- boats, equipped with outboard motors, to the raft, and, with the aid of strong poles and amid the hurrahs of the crowd, the expedition shoved off. Despite the sputtering of the mo- tors and the grunts of the sailors 1ding the poles, the heavy seine as almost more than the crew could so half of it was pulled back on the raft. Around and around the seine was dragged, while those ashore wagered on the size of the catch or called attention to escaping fish, flash- ing frantically in the waters near the raft, it seemed. . As the fleet began its return jour- ney to the shore, heading toward the beach, the crowds assembled at the waterline, feverishly awaiting the re- sult, Glen C. Leach, chief of the Di- vision of Fish Culture of the Bureau of Fisherles, and his four assistants moved forward to take charge of the carp, catfish, crapple, bass, sunfish, rockfish or what not and to classify them in accordance with carefully prearranged plans. As the float reached the shore the skipper and his men clambered over the side and began to haul the net out of the water. The atmosphere was tense. Chiet Leach and most of those on the shore held their breath. Those in the rear could not see the expression on the faces of the eager officials and seamen "as Mr. Leach triumphantly took charge of the catch. Nor could the single fish which Mr. Leach held limply in his trembling hands. It was quite dead. HOLDS RETIREMENT BILL NOT DOOMED Steward Denies Alleged Ex- cessive Cost Precludes Pas- sage This Session. Luther C. Steward, president of the National Federation of Federal Em- ployes, issued a statement today deny- ing that the pense to the Federal Government precludes any retirement leg slation at the present session of Congress. Mr. Steward said that the current report i8 ‘“of rather mysterious origin conveying the startling in- formation that there is to be no re- tirement legislation at this time owing to the fact that it will involve an ex- penditure on the part of the Federal Government during the first year of operation of from $115,000,000 to $125, 000,000 Blames Bureau of Efficiency. “In view of the fact that Herbert D. Brown and other actuaries, after continued prodding, are on the eve of submitting a report with estimate of cost,” said Mr. Stewart, “the rumor as to the alleged excessive ex- penditure bears the familiar earmarks of the Bureau of Efficiency’s past at- tempts to sabotage retirement. Un- der no conceivable manipulation of the figures in any proposed retire- ment Dill which is receiving consid- eration by committees of Congress can it be shown that the Federal Government will be called upon to expend any such sum as is alleged,” Mr. Stewart emphasized. “The budget estimate for the cost of retirement annuity for the fiscal vear beginning July 1, 1926, 1is $7,840,000, based on the present law, with an average annuity of $544.64,” Mr. Stewart pointed out. “Increasing the maximum annuity to $1,200 under the terms of proposed legislation involves an increased ex- penditure of 32.4 per cent, according to statements from the retirement division of the Pension Office. ‘This would increase the expenditure as es- timated for the next fiscal year to the amount of $2,540.000, making a_total of $10,380,000. This' sum, it should be clearly pointed out, is to be borne approximately half by the, employes and half by the Federal Government, although the Federal Government wili not be called upon for a number of vears to actually appropriate for its share, meanwhile borrowing its share from the fund made up by the contributions of the employes. “Taking the lowest figure mentioned in the current statement, $115,000,000, as the alleged cost to the Government during the first vear of operation, to involve such an expenditure it would be necessary to retire 75 per cent of all Federal employes who come under the provision of the retirement law. This s too absurd to require a mo- ment's consideration by intelligent people. Partners in the Enterprise. “While it is conceded Federal em- ployes are not bearing the full cost of Fetirement, they are bearing a very substantial share of it, and it is con- templated to increase the proportion of their contribution 40 per cent. Part- GREENTRDLSERS, BURELARES LUE About $2,000 Taken at Five ners in the enterprise, they are en- titled to an even break. “In providing for compulsory retire- ment under the inadequate annuities of the existing law, Congress is under obligation to fix the rate of annuities above starvation point. If, on the Places—Thief Escapes Woman’s Clutches. | A wave of burglary, during which | four apartments were entered yester- day, now has started the police on,the hunt for a pair of green trousers, worn by the “yimmy" artist who eb caped after Mrs.. Rebecca €. Marshall, occupant of an apartment at 1835 Phelps place, had grabbed him by the | coat. i Returning. to her apartment yeh. | terday afternoon after the burglar had taken $375 worth of her jewelry and was preparing to leave, Mrs. Marshall, instead of becoming par- alyzed from fright, followed him as he quietly strolled from the buflding. Grabbing him by the coat tails, Mrs. Marshall screamed. but no one came and the man escaped. Police believe the same green- trousered individual may have been the burglar who shortly afterward robbed the apartment of Mrs. Mary T. Dodge, 3625 Sixteenth street, of jewelry valued at $1,000, a revolver, a box of blank cartridges and between $50 and $60 in cash. Jewelry valued at $230 also was stolen yesterday from the apartment of Mrs, Charles H. Money, at 1706 T street, after the door had been jimmied in her absence. A “jimmy” worker stole jewelry valued at $195, and an $18 camera from William H. Callahan in a T street apartment house. A duplicate key worker took a diamond ring valued at $40, and $24.50 in_cash from the apartment of Frank D. Aul, 1884 Co- lumbia road early last night. Only one instance of banditry was reported last night. Clayton Bowman, 2418 Snow court, was robbed of $169 by a colored youth, at the point of a pistol, and Thomas Folks, accom- panying Bowman, was relieved of 53 cents. Mrs. Evelyn C. Bates, 1223 Vermont avenue, had a purse containing $5 snatched from her hand in front of her home last night at 7:15 o'clock by a colored youth who fled. Flood Waters Recede. DETROIT, March 26 (#).—Flood waters of the several streams in the Michigan Thumb and in the Saginaw and Flint River valleys were reported receding today in the wake of a cold snap. Unless there should be an un- expectedly heavy rainfall, danger of further damage is considered passed. Wales Kept in by Earache. LONDON, March 26 (®).—An acute earache today prevented the Prince of Wales from seeing the grand na- tional steeplechase, a leading turf fixture, royalties to Liverpool. The. prince suffered much throughout the night and it was deemed unwige for him'to travel. iy nership, it is the intention to- ‘welch,” it would be fairer if all retirement legislation were repealed. “The National Fedération of ‘Federal Employes, as usual, demands facts, and the friends of Federal employes which drew a number of| will not be frightened by canards ini- tiated by those who desire to defeat any legislation in the real interests of Government’s end of retirement part-Government workers.” e sedas ol pind 205 McCarl Disallows $625 Printing Bill By U. S. Interparliamentary Controller General McCarl, in a de- cision made public today, has disal- lowed the claim of Judd & Detweiler, printers of this city, for $626.45 for printing used by the American group of the Interparliamentary Union here last Fall. : The Controller General said the work appeared to “have been pro- cured by the direetor of the confer- ence without advertising and with- EN Group out authority from the joint commit- | tee on piinting.” ; Although a special ' ast of Con- gress - appropriated $50,000 for -ex- penses of the American group to the Interparliamentary Union, the de- cision points out that either this printing should have been done at the Government Printing ©ffice, con- tracts should have been allowed aftér advertising or special orders obtained {rom the joint commitice on. printiog. COURT GONGESTIO RELIEF 15 SOUGHT Maj. Hesse Tackles Problem in Anticipation of Increased Traffic Arrests. Since the Washington police have set out to hang up a new record for arrests during the current calendar year, Maj. Edwin B. Hesse, super- intendent of police, decided today to|$d lend his efforts to relleve the inevi- table congestion in Police Court. Conditions at the court are bad enough now, according to the police chief, and if onefifth of the total population of the Capital is destined to be arrested before 1927, he wants the court to be prepared to handle the cases with the minimum of time and inconvenience to the violators. With the assistance of Inspector Willilam Shelby, Maj. Hesse is study- ing the situation brought about by the ever-increasing number of arrests in the hope of working out some plan to relieve the court and at the same time keep the Trafflo Court busy, as the law says it should be, from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. The court now enjoys recess from 4 to 7 p.m., and this shouldn’t be, the police chief points out, when congestion borders on the intolerable during the morning hours. By some system of staggering cases which the police take into court, Maj. Hesse 13 confident that the congestion can be alleviated and the Traffic Court kept busy at all times. For instance, he thinks it would be possible to as- sign certain periods to the various precincts for taking trafic violators to court, instead of having those charged with'infractions of the traffic regulations in all precincts meet at the court simultaneously at 9 o'clock in the morning. Prisoners who have spent the night in cells, in Maj. Hesse's opinion, should have the first opportunity to greet the judge in the morning: Then the traffic and other cases could be heard. . The present system of calling the collateral list precisely at 9 o'clock is another procedure which courts the disfavor of the police chief. The jam of humanity and the incessant chatter in the corridors of the courthouse at this hour, he said, makes it almost impossible for many persons to hear the stentorian voice of the bailiff when ;1[@ cries the names on the collateral it's possible to do it."” said Maj. Hesse, “I am going to work out some plan to stop the congestion at Police Court. The situation Is bad and it's bound to grow worse unless some- thing is done.” DR. EDMONDS CANDIDATE. Special atch to The Star. ROCKVILLE, Md., March 26.—Dr. George L. Edmonds of Rockville, who represented this county at the last two sessions of the House of Dele- gates, today announced his can- didacy for return as one of the four House of Delegates nominations to be made at the Democratic pri- mary election early in September. As chairman of the county dele- gations at the 1922 and 1924 ses- sions, Dr. Edmonds sponsored and pushed legislation said by his friends to have proved of great value. He has been a member of the County Board of Education five vears. Today in Congress Senate. ‘The Senate is in executive ses- sion today to dispose of the nomi- nation of Thomas F. Woodlock for membership on the Interstate Com- merce Commission, which has been pending for months. Opposition to Federal regulati of interstate motor bus and dray- age business was volced by wit- nesses before the Senate interstate commerce committee. Needs of the public school sys- tem were considered today by the Senate subcommittee holding hear- ings on the District appropriation . The Senate District committee is in session this afternoon with local coal dealers to discuss fig- ures the committee is seeking as to fuel prices here during the past year, The agriculture committee held a hearing on plant quarantine legislation. A judiciary subcommittee re- sumed hearings on several nomina- tions for public office in Alaska. The military affairs committes held a regular executive meeting to consider current matters. House. The House today is considering the omnibus pension bill, following which it will take up the legislative appropriation bill. Rules committee reported out special rule to send independent offices appropriation bill to con- ference, this action having been prevented yesterday by objections of Representative McDuffie. House today, on motion of Chair- man Zihlman of the House District committee, approved a resolution recalling the bill for a beit line rail- road bridge across the Potomac River between Montgomery Coun- ty, Md., and Fairfax County, Va., which had previously been passed and sent to the Senate. Naval affairs committee con- tinued hearings on hospitalization. Interstate commerce eommittee, in executive session. considers lighthouses. Military affairs com- mittee holds regular meeting in executive session. Committee on agriculture con- tinues hearing on relief measures. Elections committee No. 1 con- tinues hearing on bills relating to election laws. Committee on labor holds hear- ings on convict labor. Tmmigration committee holds hearing on deportation problems. Banking and currency commit- tee continues hearing on stabiliza- tion of price system in Federal re- serve. Subcommittee of House District committee continues hearings on bill to legalize women’s police bu- reau and to give it largely in- creased personnel. Judiciary subcommittee of House District committee conducts hear- ing on bill to prevent fraud and promote sanitation in the use of milk bottles and other containers. Subcommittee on parks and play- grounds of House District commit- tee favorably reports bill for estab- lishment of a model civic settle- ment on the Fort Reno tract. District owned land for privately owned land at Thirteenth and Up- shur streets, to true up boundary lines. Indian affairs committee, through subcommittee, continues hearing on a number of private bills. Merchant marine committee, .in executive session, considers ship- ping board bills. Committee on public lands holds hearing on legislation revising the boundaries of Yellowstone Park. - Patents committee holds hearing on trade mark bill. . Judiciary committee considers bankruptey legislation in executive session, BOARD OF TRADE AGAIN: HITS BELT LINE RAILWAY PROJECT| OF WORLD RELIGIONS Present Bridge Able to Handle Twice Present Traf-|pustor, at Lenten Service, Says fic—Recent Added Freight Facilities Cited. Sees Blow to City. Further unalterable opposition to the proposed Washington and Lough- borough belt line system was ex- pressed today by the Washington Board of Trade in a letter to Albert W. Walker, president of the Allan E. Walker Co., which is the organization backing this scheme, which is regard- a8 & menace to suburban resi- dential values and interfering with Greater Washington development plans. The letter was sent to Mr. Walker denying his assertions in the public press that the board has stated that freight facilities in the District are paralyzed at certain seasons of the year. The board also announced that Edward F. Colladay, former president of the organization, will appear be- fore the subcommittee of the Senate committee on commerce at the hear- ings on the proposed railroad bridge across the Potomac in the vicinity of Chain Bridge. Mr. Colladay will op- pose the projected bridge and belt line as spokesman, for the board, and the board’s public utllities and trans- portation committee, which made an exhaustive survey of the necessity of the proposed belt line and unani- mously recommended against it. Letter to Mr. Walker. ‘The letter to Mr. Walker from the board reads as follows: “The Board of Trade notices with great interest the statement attrib. uted to you in the Washington Post this morning in regard to the freight situation in the District of Columbia. “The board notices that vou quota the 1924 report of this organization as follows: ‘Those conversant with transportation problems know that this traffic is increasing at an enor- mous rate—so fast, in fact, as to paralyze freight and passenger facil- ities at certain seasons of the year.' The Board of Trade certainly printed no such statement in this report. “‘Our committee on transportation did delve into the freight situation in the District, and, as a perusal of our 1924 report will show, suggested that less than carioad deliveries be extended over a greater perfod to avoid congestion between 12:30 and 3 p.m. In suggesting this the board certainly had no intention of advocat- ing any proposed belt line or addi- tional railroad terminals, warehouses, etc., In the northwest section of the city, and its action at that time sug: gesing the change In the delivery of less than one carload of freight traffic is not at all inconsistent with its de- sire to estop. If possible, any attempt to run belt lines and terminals around the sectlon of the Natlonal Capital contemplated by your proposal. “Since 19231924, however, our com- mittee on transportation has found that a considerable enlargement of | freight and terminal facilities in the District has taken place and that while it is perfectly true, as stated by you in the press this morning, that 150 trains a day pass over the South- ern Railway bridge, the facilitles are now such as would allow 300 trains to pass over this bridge within a 24-hour period without bringing about any congestion. “We find that some of the larger rajlroads entering into Washington have funds for the purpose of en- larging the present terminal facilities used by them fn the District of Co- lumbia whenever such enlargement is necessary. This can be done, we feel, without running a honeycomb of r: roads all over the Natlonal Capital As to the tunnel you mentigned, our committee investigated this feature very thoroughly and found that on &n average of one car a_month was un- able to get through the present tun- nel, but was brought through the Dis- trict on tracks opposite the tunnel, entalling practically no delay. Th cars are usually large Western cars especially built for furniture, and ver. rarely come into the District. Better to Widen Tunnel. “There is a general move on at the present time among the railroads to standardize the size of cars, and we feel that an average of one or two cars a month Aarriving that are not able to go through the tunnel would certainly be no excuse for a belt line running around the Natlonal Capital It would seem to be very much easter, very much less expenaive and very much more suitable to the wishes of the people of the District to have the tunnel enlarged than to bripg to the National Capital such a circuitous route of railroads and terminals as you_propose. ¢ “Thin board, after handling the pro- posed belt line scheme through a spe- clal investigating committee, through its committee on transportation, through its executive committee. through its board of directors, and at a full meeting of the membership of this organtzation, which comprises 2,700 of the outstanding business and professional men, including shipper: railroad men and merchants, feels that the hest interests of the citizens of the District of Columbia and the preservation of the scheme of the beautification of the National Capital will not be served by the construction of a belt line railroad.’ The letter is signed by Richard L. Conner, assistant secreta CITIZENS 0PPOSE BELT LINE PLAN “Detrimental and Injurious to City,” Conduit Road Body Says in Resolution. ‘The proposed belt line railroad, ap- proval of which is being sought by the Washington and Loughborough Belt Line and Terminal Co. over the protests of many civic bodies of Washington and the affected Mary- land and Virginia communities, as well as by the Washington Chamber of Commerce and the Board of Trade, was denounced as ‘“detrimental and injurious to the city” in a resolution adopted last night by the Conduit Road Citizens' Association at its meeting in St. David's Parish Hall, | at_Chain Bridge and Conduit roads. Deciding upon definite action in op- posing the proposed railroad vards, which would extend in a girdle about the Capital from Alexandria to near Mount Rainier, the assocltion ap- pointed a committee, composed of Robert E. Adams, president of the association, and Willlam F. Dement, to attend the hearing on the bill at 10 a.m. tomorrow before a Senate committee. Members of the association attacked particularly the construction of a railroad bridge across the Potomac River above the Chain Bridge, which is a part of the proposed plan. The association considered a_ reso- lution indorsing the proposed change of jurisdiction of the Conduit road from the War Department to the Dis- trict Commissioners, in connection with the plan to convert the road from the reservoir to the District line into a boulevard, but deferred action on the motion in order that all me- bers might have an opportunity to study the plan. Many speakers urged approval of the plan and praised Maj. Carey H. Brown of the National Capi- tal Park Commission and Engineer Commissioner Bell for their part in the plan. The project must first have the approval of Congress, according to a ruling by Corporation Counsel Francis H. Stephens. An {llustrated lecture on “Garden- ing for Profit and Pleasure” was given by W. R. Beattie, garden specialist of the horticultural work of the Depart- ment of Agriculture. A membership drive was inaugurat- ed and feams appointed to bring in new and delinquent members. About 150 attended the meeting last night, DUPLICITY CHARGED IN TORRES’ DEATH AT MEXICANS’ HANDS (Continued from First Page.) BELT LINE BRIDGE BILL IS RECALLED BY HOUSE ACTION (Continued from First Page) present demands, and when these out- grow the present facllities, then an addition to the bridge may be made in the same place and the present railroads using it will see that this is done. New Bridge in Few Hours. On the other hand, it was said that there i little fear on the part, of the military engineers that the destruc- tion of the present bridge wbuld seri- ously impede the movement of traf- fic. Those familiar with military con- struction in the field point out that with the destruction of this bridge by an enemy, within a few short hours a bridge made of scows, such as are used at the Washington Navy Yard could be quickly thrown across the river to take care of immediate traf- fic, and the military engineers would immediately set to work to building a trestle bridge and this would not take more than four days at the out- side. It is a low level crossing, easy of access, and it is such sites, it was pointed out, that the military engi- neers seek for such purposes in time of necessity during a perfod of con- flict. % Proposed Site Unsatisfactory. On the other hand, a bridge at the point suggested by the belt line rail- road would be subject to the same attack by an enemy, which would not overlook any line of communication in the territory fin which it was operating, and therefore such & bridge would be subject to the same attack as the present railroad bridge. With the destruction of such a bridge, if it were decided . to replace it at all as a mill tary necessity, it was pointed out that it would be a more difficult proposition. Here the river runs be- tween two high banks. Trestles would have to be higher, and timbers of this length would be hard to get. It would not be practical to build an approach sending trains down into the valley of the river and then up again, as the grade would be too difficult for a train to negotiate, or otherwise the length of the ap- proaches to make a gradual grade would make it a long and tedious task. It was pointed out, in this connec- tion also, that belt line tracks would not be sufficient to handle the traffic then, as much as the main line tracks near the low level. In the rebuilding of a bridge at a low level such as prevalls at the present railroad bridge. it would not be difficult to obtain piling which would be used without additional heavy bracing that would be required to construct & high bridge. u.s. “GOOEOFF!CES" ACCEPTED IN ARICA BY PERU AND CHILE (Continued from First Page.) and that after he had made further representations to the department, Torres was ordered deported. He de- clared Torres was a bandit and had been blowing up trains in Mexico. Senator Reed put into the record a letter Secretary Kellogg had written the Department of Labor cautioning the department to give every ‘‘pos- sible consideration” to Mexican de- portees wishing to go to some other country, pointing out that Torres was shot after being deported from the United States. GRAND NATIONAL CI-_IASE TAKEN BY JACK HORNER AINTREE, Lancanshire, England, March 26 (#).—Jack Horner, by Cyl- lins out of Melton's Guide, owned by C. Schwartz, won the Grand National Steeplechase here today. . Qld Tay Bridge, owned by Mrs. W. ‘H. Dixon, was second, and Bright's Boy, owned by the American, Stephen Sanford, third. Thirty horses ran. ‘Poland ‘Ctits Army Term. WARSAW, Poland, March 26 (#).— Reduction of the military service term from two years to one is provided for in & measure which the finance min- ister will present to Parliament as a means of, reducing the budget and re- Uteving the financial situation. | siter, Secretary to offer such assistance as he could toward an agreement be- tween the two countries regarding the sovereignty of the two provinces. ‘When an agreement had been reached it would be subject to formal ratification at Lima and Santiago. It would be natural for the media- tion negotiations to proceed in Wash- ington rather than somewhere in South America. Definite Plan Indicated. There is as yet nothing definite to indicate whether Washington put for- ward, in offering its good offices, a formula for settlement of the dispute. Recent conferences between Secretary Kellogg, former Secretary Hughes and Gen. Pershing, however, would indicate that some scheme. to settle :}ne long quarrel was under considera-- ion. Gen. Pershing served for several months in South America as head of the plebiscite commission, and " is understood to have returned to the United States in grave doubt wheth- er a fair plebiscite could be held. His successor at Arica. Maj. Gen. Li declared only yesterday th, although preparations for the eles tion were proceeding, the pre- requisites for a satis tory decision at the polls had not been fulfilled. All foreigners visiting Greece are to be taxed $10, for which they will receive tiokets enti them to ad- misslon to. historical places,” SCORES COMPARISON Close Study Shows Christian- ity Far Advanced. The prevalent discussion of com- parative religlon was severely criti- cized today by Rev. H. P. Almon Ab- bott, rector of Grace and St. Peter's Church in Baltimore, at the noonday Lenten services at Keith's Theater. It is absurd and ridieulous. he said, to compare Christianity with Bud- dhism, Mohammedism, or any other such form of religion. “An examination or close study of these other religions will disclose that their tendency is to drag down public morals, while the teachings of Christ elevate them to such a plane that it is only through the centuries that man- kind can hope to obtain a complete understanding of it,” Rev. Mr. Abbott said. “The church's work has al- ways been primarily with the children, and we should see to it that it contin- | ues to be so.” he speaker conciuded by remindi his audierce that the success of the Christian religion is based upon’ fts efforts with children 2,000 years ago, Rev. Walter F. Smith ‘of the Park- view Christian Church pronounced ¢hs benediction, and Henry Blair presided. Next week will be Holy week, and services will be held each day thrghich Thursday. The speaker for alt four days will be Bishop James K. bree- man. “The man who shuts himself wp in a little world of his own apd thinks only of his own personal gain is missing the greatest thinge in life and will be but poorly received n tha Kingdom of Heav Rev. Charles Wood, pastor of the Church of the Covelnant, asserted at the services yesterday. Such a man, the speaker continued, may perhaps acquire more worldly possessions than his neighbor, who devotes his energy to assisting others, but he will surely lose in the end. Dr. Wood said that when TLuther Burbank questioned the existence of God but admitted a conscienca he acknowledged God in spita of himself. There age many people in the world, he said. who 1hink along the same lines as Mr. Burbank, but if they will only 8top for a moment and think they will realize that the Christ whe saved the soul of the thief on the cross did so because of a last-minuts acknowledgment of God through the thief's conscience. D. J. KAUFMAN ne 1005 Pa. Ave. 1724 Pa. Ave HOME OF THE Step Out “2-PANTS" SUIT --"‘Boys" Spring’s Here — Sap’s rising Time to “Sprout” new Foliage. # We're ready with “Talk o _the' Town” Values & Vogues. Raddio ot Tefiapting To pcoats Smart Spring shades. Silk trimmed; $25 values. $19.75 —_— BLUES—BLUES—BLUES SERGES. DIAGONALS, HERRING- BONES, DIAMOND WEAVES *30 - %35 - *40 Every Suit With $23.75 2 Pairs of Pants SPRINGTIME “9.Pants’ Suits $30 and $35 values Spring Hats Are "Snappy™ Mallorys, Stetsons, Robin Hoods $3.50_ %5 _3G _57 .58 Plain or Fancy Bands— Snap or Curl Brims Golfers’ Special 500 Pairs $2.50 Silk- and-Wool Golf Hose An advertising test—these - will -not ‘be on display, you must ask for them. Money's Worth 835 3 for $5 $1. or Money Back D. J. KAUFMAN Ih c. 1005 Pa. Ave. -