Evening Star Newspaper, July 11, 1926, Page 35

ARMY, AVIATORS ON TOES _ | UNDER NEW CORPS PLAN Building Program and Reforms Not All Desired, But Enough to Assure Enthusiastic Work. ¥ ' BY FREDERICK R. NEELY. HAT determine? and headstrodg child of the War Department —the Army Air Service—who, by its demands for recognition as a prime factor in the Na- tlon’s scheme of defense, stirred the country during the greater part of 1925 and brought forth several im- portant investigations, has been paci- fied, for the next five years at least, by ‘the Army aircraft building pro- gram bill, which President Coolidge signed in'the closing hours of Con- gress, Although denied complete au- tonomy, either in the form of a united air force or a separate branch, the Air Corps, as it is now known, has been bolstered up in such a man- ner as to make each officer and en- listed man “proud of the cloth he wears any of the specifications under the general charges against the prevailing “system” of defense have not been cleared up as viewed through tthe airmen’s eyes, but the benefits that have come to them under the five-year building bill liquidate and minimize these objections to almost negligible quantities. And included in these objections is the promotion grievance. This vital phase of the controvers been disposed of, Congress, failing to reach an agreement, having passed the matter back to the War Depart- ment for investigation and report at the December session. Optimism pre- vails among the fyers for an ‘“even break” from the department, and their hopes are centered around the adoption of a plan that was conceived by a general staff officer. Expect Decided Progress. Battle-scarred veteran airmen of the aircraft controversy in Washing- ton feel that from this date on the efficiency curve of the corps will show as sharp a climb as any of its newest planes carrmake. Wonders cannot be expected momentarily, they argue, because the provisions of the legisla- tion dealing with new aircraft and new personnel cannot be carried out physically for many months. But the foundation will be’ laid for an excel- + lent peace-time record, it is claimed by the pilots. Where it was felt before the Mitch- ell crusade that there was nothing to live or work for in the Air Serv- ice, the opinion now prevails that merit and extraordinary performance of duty will bring rewards. Many in- ducements, inspiring diligence in mili- tary aviation, are held out in the bill, not the least of them being the foct that the major general chief of “the Air Corps and the brigadier gen- eral stant chiet may be appointed from any of the flyers who have had 15 of commissioned service. Sixty-one colonels and majors, now in the corps, are eligible for the appoint- ment to either office. Therefore the successors to Maj. Gen. Mason M. iatrick and Brig. Gen: James E. Fechet will be qualified pilots. 3 Other provisions that have affected the morale of the personnel favor- ably include an increase in the num- ber of officers; the designation of in- sed rank with pay and allow- ances to officers performing duties ordinarily assigned to men of higher grade; an Air Secretary of War, an ir office” of the general staff, to which all aviation problems will be referred and considered by qualified pilots; the award of a distinguished flying’ cross for extraordinary per- formance of duty in flight in time of peace; a complement of 1,800 serv- iceable airplanes, with 400 constantly on drder, and strict requirements placed on officers of other branches seeking admission to the Alr Corps. Enlisted Men Recognized. The enlisted men also are recog- nized in the bill. Twenty per cent of the entire personnel in time of peace may be enlisted pilots. A soldier's medal is authorized for award to the man who has performed extraordi- nary service and he is also eligible to receive the distinguished flying cross. In the event he wins either of these an increase in his pay of $2 per month is granted. In order to prevent the mechanics from leaving the service for better opportunities in civil life, an “air mechanic’s rating” is provided, giving the recipient higher pay and privileges. To ob- tain this designation the mechanic must possess special qualifications, however. Just how the personnel will be in- creased’ from approximately 980 offi- cers at present to 1,650 regular aviators, 550 reserve pilots and 15,000 enlisted men, including 500 flying cadets, has not been determined. That is left to the department and the change can be made either by transfer from other branches of the service or by increasing the size ‘°‘l the Army. i If the transfer method is sdog:ofl; junior officers, who in the past have been subjected to command by higher ranking ‘officers with an elementary knowledge of flying, will not suffer as much. Rigid entrance require- ments are placed about all those from the other branches. who wish to be in the Air Corps. Before they take their place in that branch they must have 200 hours in the air as pllots, 5 of which must be “solo,” or alone, With such a gantlet to run, the air- men feel that they will not berowded out by applicants of highe: rank. Furthermore, 90 per cent of the corps must be qualified pilots and the remaining 10 per cent must have an aviation specialty, such as radio, pho- tography and aerial gunmery. May Enter From Bottom. If the size of the Army is increased the flow into the Air Corps will come from the bottom, and although no one on the list would be materfally advanced, neither would any one be retarded, Many jurior’ officers throughout the corps nmow are in command of units that, under the law, should be in charge of higher ranking men. Where these increased grades can- not be obtained for such duty, the junior officer will be given that rank with pay and allowances for the dura- tion. of -his tour. This provision ap- plies for two grades in advance or to the rank of colonel. Thus a first lieutenant in command of a squadron will hoid the rank of captain or ma- jor with pay and allowances of that grade. The provision also applies to staff duty and should affect several officers on' duty here. Other provisions call for the grant of flight pay to officers who, although detailed to non-flying duties, such as the War College, continue to keep in flying condition; the grant of flight pay to persons not airmen but as- signed to flying activities, the num- ber of such assignments also being increased from 60 to 120 persons, and greater latitude to the Air Corps in purchasing aircraft, General Staf’s Plan. ‘The general staff officers plan to settle the promotion question, which the airmen are backing to a man, calls for the creation of a temporary promotion list for the aviators. As a large number in the corps received their commissions more than three months after their fellow officers in other branches, they therefore did not take their place on the promotion list at the same time. Although an Ailr Corps officer and an Infantry of- ficer entered the service at the same time, the latter, by virtue of his shorter training period, was commis- sioned and placed on the list first. The three months or more difference has greatly affected the standing of the airmen. ‘The plan would be to give the Air Corps officer “A,” for example, the same relative standing on the tempo- rary promotion list that Infantry of- ficer “B” enjoys on the permanent list. Whenever “B” is promoted by seniority “A” also would move forward on the temporary list. At the same time “A” would be on the permanent list in his original posi- tion, far below “B."” 'hén the time for retirement arrives “A” would be pensioned as of his rank on the per- ‘manent list. The airmen feel they are indebted to Representative James, Republican, Michigan, acting chairman of the House military affairs committee, for the legislation, which bore the stamp of approval of Secretary of War Davis. Public Interest Wanes. Although public interest in the con- troversy, which began with the Lampert aircraft investigation com- mittee, increased intensity with the President’s Air rd deliberations and climaxed with the Mitchell court- martial, died soon after this last big step, the airmen by no means took the same attitude. The House mili- tary affairs committee sought to straighten out the tangle, and at one time a measure was evolved that brought such a storm of disapproval from the airmen that it was advised to grant nothing at all instead of the then proposal. - Then My. James, the airmen - say, brought about a com- promise, and when the bill went to the Senate 34 amendments were add- ed. The bill at one time threatened to die in conference, but the Senate stand on the amendments, to which the House had objected, and the measure was pushed through. “‘Something has resulted from ou efforts after all,” say the airmen. Mosul Treaty Represents Victory For the British Through Diplomacy (Continued from First Page.) such as an Italian invasion of Asia Alinor might involye. 3 1t is hard to see how there can fail to be Italian 'resentment over the new Near Eastern adjustment, which ¥ Jeaves Italy still out in the cold so far as any territorial advantages are con- cerned. If the British guarantee of Turkish integrity takes definite form, Italian anger is sure to be explosive, for it is a_matter of common knowl- edge that Fascisti Italy looks to Asia Minor as the field for future Italian expansion. On the other hand, if Turkey joins the League of Nations, the league itself would be bound to act in some fashion in dase of Italian ‘aggression and it, might be bound in honor to act even were Turkey to re- «nain outside, but to appeal to the league. Britain and France remain the champlons of the stadus quo in the Mediterranean because both are sat- isfled with things as they are and hold the territories which they . de- sire. While they remain closely united, as they now are, Italian aspir- atfons can hardly be realized at the exp PBritain at Gibraltar, Cyprus as much as France at Ajac- cio, Bizerta and Algiers. But with the Turkish settlement, the Mediter- ranean question becomes European in. One should add, perhaps, that it is likely henceforth to prove the most important question facing Europe for at least a generation. Veiwed from the wider standpoint, .the Anglo-Turkish settlement is a very great gain for general pacifica- tion. It is perhaps the first coherent step in the actual consolidation of peace in the Near East. It not only abolishes an acute cause for anxiety, tentfon of all the state departments of the world. Yet today the British have what they wanted and without paying the price in war. Have Grave Responsibilities. They have, to be sure, assumed grave responsibilities, both in extend- ifg the period of their mandatory duties in the Irak and in giving Turkey a guarantee, but both were in reality essential steps. Turkey could not stand without a British guaran- tee and the Irak is a mere creation of British statesmanship to coverthe jroad to India. And if, as is likely, {the British resume their traditional | position as the guarantor of Turkey, they will be doing no more than guarding against the immediate or eventual advance of Russia, which cannot fail to menace them. The World War over, Germa beaten and no longer a danger, France bound to British policy by | every sort of circumstance, Russia | becomes™ once more the real danger ) for Britain, the more so because the ySoviet government, recognizing the futility of operations in Europe, is more and more turning its attention to Asia’ and seeking to undermine European influence there. Actually Russia and Britain have been fight- ing for the control of Turkey and it would seem that Britain has won. Thus orice more Britain seems setting lof the circumstances of but in removing this danger it con- | fully tributes enormously to improving the veneral situation.” One jmust, pay a tribute to the supreme skill with which British diplomacy has slowly but surely retrieved a situa- tion eompromised by the folly and ig- norance of Liloyd George and terribly complicated by Anglo-French quar- rels. It is_not four years'since the YVictorious Turks came to Mudania, it g hardly three since all Europe layed so poor a part at Lausanme, it 18 less than a year since the perils of & war oyez Mosul attracted the at too, | Russia conferees finally receded from their | tion ' BY HERBERT §. HOUSTON. OUNG Hungarian scholars' wilt be the living messengers of good will who .will keep for- ver green thé memory of Jere- miah Smith of Boston. In the future they are to come, two by two, from the Danube to the colleges of this country for an education; then they are to re- turn to Hungary as torchbearers of Amerjcan democracy. And all of this is to result froia the presentation of $100,000, which the Hungarian Par- lament unanimously voted to Jere- miah Smith. He gave the money back to Hungary and now Hungary is arranging to send her brightest youth, during all' the years to come, to the United States, in the hope that they may get something of the Puritan character and willingness to serve which has been interpreted to Hun- gary by Jeremiah Smith. Not in years has a more dramatic story of unselfish service got into print than this story of the modest Boston lawyer. It ‘was only two years ago that he accepted the ap- pointment of the League of Natlons as commissioner general for the fin- ancial reconstruction of Hungary. The general belief was that at least two years would be required to bal-|- ance the budget of Hungary. Jere- miah Smith balanced- the budget in six months. He had a loan of the League of Nations to Hungary of fifty million dollars to administer, to- ward stabilizing the Hungarian crown and balancing the budget. He spent less than one-fifth of this loan; and now Hungarian finances are again to be under Hungarian control, on a JEREMIAH SMITH, Whose rejected $100,000 fee from Hungary will sound basis, and he returns to his native land. The acclaim with which he was recelved by the deputies -of help educate Hungarian youth. Budapest might almost have been heard in far-off New England. The acclaim was given with the unani- mous vote of $100,000 to Mr. Smith as some recognition of his invaluable service. But he would have none of it. He modestly sald that he was entirely compensated in knowing that he had been able to do the job. Reading these things in the cahle news_ brought vividly to the memiory of the writer another scene of which Jeremiah Smith was the center: It was a few months ago in New York, when he explained to a hundred mem- bers of the Council on Foreign Rela- tions the way‘in which his plans for Hungary were working out. The clarity, the simplicity, and the power with which these plans were inter- preted, all immersed in a surging tide of humor, brought the hundred men present to their feet with a cheer. But that was only a slight murmur to the mighty roar that was to mark the end of his labors in Hungary. Assuredly this story of Jeremiah Smith is a most refreshing cffange from the reports that so often come across the ocean about growing il will against this country. It makes the sort of record that will go into the world's book of remembrance, along with John Hay's insistance on declining the Boxer. Indemnity from China, with the work of Herbert Hoover in Belgium, with the construc- tive activities of the Near East Re- lief, of which the late Cleveland H. Dodge was a mainspring, and with the enlightened good will that marked our service for Cuba. And this all came alopg In time to help Uncle Sam get a merry. twinkle of satisfaction in his eyes on his 160th birthday. The Story the Week Has Told BY HENRY W. BUNN. HE following a brief sum- mary of the most important news of the world for the seven days ended July 10: The British Empire—~The gov- ernment bill making permissive (should the miners consent thereto) for the next five years an 8-hour working day in the coal mines has been passed by the Lords and has become an act through the royal assent. The Labor members of the Commons made a rather disgusting rumpus in the House of Lords, when they betook . themselves thither for the anclent ceremony of listening to the royal assent. Returning to the House of Commens, Labor and Con- servative members pummeled other. This acted as a saféty for all hands finally took their seats in jolly good humor. Perhaps Mr. Dawes and Mr. Longworth will take the hint. It is expectlod t?,a.tth:uhln a few s practically al é‘:lvtonl,rnillu :’i"' hlv: closed down be- of lack of coal. ea:n great tower has been erected in honor of Lord Kitchener on Ma e:: head, west coast :{ '.h:hl: est of ti s, near where ?v{:‘hmt{ne great soldier on' board, sank on June 5, 1916. * % X % ¢ 4 nce.—The report of the com ml':;m 'of experts was published on July 4. Its chief recommendations are as follows: 1. The Berenger a similar i ";‘l,e debt of France to Great cting t! lsspr:uln to be consummated. ratifications (not pos- . After these .nfxe :ertore) considerable foreign credits and long-term foreign loans be_obtained. rd- 3. The franc to be stabilized acco! ing to a definite program; oonaw& tion of the process to be signall 4 the franc’s valuation at a new gol 5 14 four 4. New indirect taxes, to yie billion francs, and a general revision f the taxation system. % 5. The income tax to be reduced, expectation being expressed of in- 'g::ucp:‘; yleld through such red.uc- T eac] valve, agreement to be agreement Te- %, Voluntary consolidation of the floating debt and institution of an autonomous machinery for its amort- ization; certain resources, such as the Dawes annuities and the wb.o&: monopoly, to assigned to amortization fund. 7. Drastic retrenchment and economy in state expenditure. ~8. An end to inflation. 9. m for capital. 10. A cautious use of the gold re- serve of t::hsmumla an France in the rt for jon. i ‘fllol‘ Adoption of an economic. policy framed to offset the industrial and commercial difficulties inevitably in- cident to stabilization. Production to be increased and the eight-hour law to be cautiously relaxed over the S . ‘aill faced the On _Tuesday Caillaux Chamber and made his anxiously awaited statement. He repeated in essence the recommendations of the experts’ commission, them the recommendations of the govern- ment. He.went into some detail as to the character of the proposed revision of the taxation system (a matter dear to his heart); he an- nounced (not included in the com- mission’s neommmmlontn-) the essity of an emerg ;:1.:1\ l:f’ 15,000,000,000 francs, in particular, to make possible continu- ande of the work of restoring the devastated region; and—transcending all else in importance—he demanded 2 financial dictatorship. He did not, as he had been to do, sub- mit bills embodying his recommen- but_ announced that they o e, e o . a bill propos gl power of financial de- - enger from and thus perorated: “It able that the world she the spectacle of a precise 'y the proposals Berenger agree Lancashire | nost, rwie by ‘oday a go by internal | years the i who have f a people on New York exchange). “You must choose now, at once,” concluded the finance minister. “The markets are following every move of this debate ith an anxiety which is quickly re- ected in exchange. In a very little time it will be too late for any plan of safety, and those “who hesitate, lost in doubt, and abstain from taking a decision now to follow us or to try some other plan, will see too soon as the fruit of their absten- tion the vertical fall of the franc, from which there can be no re- covery.” Early yesterday (Saturday) morning the Chamber gave the government a vote of confidence, 259 to 247, but the significance of the vote is not clear. It would seem to signify only that Chamber is willing, but with- out cordlalty, to consider precise I islative from the govern- ment based on its declarations. The government'’s strategy as to the ment is very®obscure. | jy It seems probable that it proposes ponement of the vote thereon the while it attempts to obtain modifica- tion of that jnstrument by way of elimination of Article 7 and addition of a “transfer” and u ‘safeguarding” clause, or tries to gainm the sanie ends way of “interpretative correspond- ence” (the latter the more probable). T parade of war-mutilated (unless called off at the last moment) parade off, and the absurdity of using force against those human fragments was obvious. The infinitely pathetic column was to proceed in silence up the Champs Elysees, past the grave of the Unknown Soldier and on to the statue of Gear:o‘vb';ah.lngmn. Spain. 8§ h government appears hs:nm‘mpleuly “liquidated.” patches widely differ as to its impor- tance. but this writer concludes that it did not represent any con e of disaffection, and that the manifesto d’solicitude for the liberty of the sub- ject was not genuine. It would ap- pear that the leaders of the move- ment are placemen displaced, lament- ing the lost opportunities of graft and other nefariousness and not too nice to enlist the support of 8- | and apparently smelling remnant of bolshevists and anarchists. who of old made life hide- ous at Barcelona and elsewhere. The pmu.a.u which is near par, reacted but faintly. It li outrageous how little authen- tic information we get of the present fascinating phase of Spain. It is far more important than outside of Spain Soad, pnrfilyl::“ly W:Iod = bf:.“ V'Ve would lcul lcome n- formation concerning. Primo de RI- vera's agrarian and educational pro- grams. Primo de Rivera is displaying to- ward the participants in the conspir- acy his customary clemency and hu- morous common sense; they are to be punished by heavy fines only. He announces that most of the Spanish troops now in Morocco soon will be re- patriated, with the result a reduction of the expenses of the Moroccan com- mittment to a minimum. The “Patriotic Union, vera's new political party, has been holding a national convention. A gov- ernment representative intimated to the convention that the government hoped for the convening of a “na- tional parliament” this Autumn. Not, one infers from the fragments of his discourse reported in dispatches, the old Cortes, but a body definitely sub- ordinate to the government, which should submit legislative measures and advice, to be adopted or not, as thé government might choose, and how to be cfln!lllumdt‘!“i‘to‘:‘ !T;“t;:? litical parties are ou e pi Ry Pl it is Primo de Rivera’s intention that they shall re- main so. Does that worthy contem- plate for his patriotic union a role closely resembling that of the Italian Fascists party? We await develop- ments with great curiosity. * ok * * al.—Gen. Da_Costa, dicta- tor of Portugal, warmly gives the lie to rumors that he contemplates re- storing the monarchy in Portugal. His function is purgative, and, when puri- fication is complete, it will be restora- tive, His government is “military, not militaristic.”” He is “not copying any dictatorial model, whether Spanish or Ttalian.”” The little affair in Portugal is sul genetis, distinetively Portu- o PR —The pure and fragrant air it Tealy has boen vitiated by RUSSIA SHOWS BIG RECOVERY UNDER MODIFIED COMMUNISM Relaxation in Direction of Capitalism Revives Industry and Trade There—Reach 71 Per | BY SAVEL ZIMAND, | “Author sud Traveler. ‘Whatever opinion one ma; about the tactics used by t sheviks, and whatever one may think of lt&'fi-opfil‘ll;d In:!l:lItrY, thsl fact n‘ mains that under the present regim already made a have bol- Soviet Russia has startling recovery. Nu‘:l.‘v nine gr- have elapsed since the bolsheviks assumed power and transformed Russia into the greatest social and economic laboratory in the For all yvernment_ado Soviet go! Y, .m'fi influence every part Russia's national economy. R the | tionalization of e fs e Cent of Pre-War Volume. years of the “NEP” state control was still v:r‘y r:dd. ‘With 1923 the dena- management, but not of ownership or of control, of industry took on“nuut t‘:‘t the new concessions oreigners :.n;mhnu of industrial enterprises Budget Is Balanced. s since the Soviet rulers have BT L 2 £ production and jucti steady improvement of industry. the struggle between theories party and actual forced toward ‘business dnihe Antuma of 10t} int af cent of !bl"llll utput. beginning of 1921 it became | more the stench created through the ex- posure by Secretary General Turati of the Fascists party of irregularities in the management of the Agricul- tural Bank of Parma; sald irregulari- ties involving & number of prominent Fascists of the “savage” wing of the party, including the redoubtable Far- inacci, formerly secretary general. One is told that Farinaccl proposed to use the bank as his war-chest in his struggle with Federzoni, minister of the interior, for ascendency in the . Farinacci was very fll-advised to challenge Federzoni; his savage- ness is rather ludicrously pitted against the cool efficlency of Feder- zoni. One hears that the Fascist gov- ernment has decided to suspend in- definitely all provincial, communal and municipal elections. There must be no deflection of energy from the eco- nomic effort. It is satisfactory to learn that the extension of the working day by one hour s not to be indiscriminately applied. . An impartial expert body will de- cide for each whether the extension shall apply to it. The grand object of Mussolini’s recent decree (summarized in- last week’s issue) was to reduce the cost of living. Prices in the domestic market are forbiddingly high and by the same token the purchasing power of wages is degperately low. The dé- cree proposes, of course, at the same time, rellef of the manufacturer, whose output far outruns demand. Again, Mussolini counts on lowering of prices to reduce or prevent further extension of the fiduclary circulation. ‘Whether he has gone about the right way to achieve his objects remains to be seen. ER United States of America.—On Wednesday the President established himself for the Summer at luxurious ‘White Pine Camp on the edge of Lake Osgood in the Adirondacks, about three miles from Paul Smiths. The so-called camp is on a private estate of 40 or so acres of beautiful forest and lake, and the President may en- Joy the measure of privacy he desires. ‘The Executive offices are in a cottage at Paul Smiths. On July 5 Monticello, the home of Jefferson, having been pur- chased, from Jefferson Levy for $500,000 raised by national subscrip- tion, was dedicated to the Nation wit] £ ry - ment for uu:}cql year 1926 shows a budget surplus of $377,767,816 and a reduction in the gross public debt of $872,977,672. The gross public debt is now $19,643,216,815. ** x % ‘The German Reichstag has ad- Journed for the Summer after failing to reach a. com| over the prop- erty claims of the ex-rulers. ~One hears, however, and with'satisfaction, that Willlam of Doorn, at last sub- mitting to the writing on the wall, has reduced his claims by 83 per cent, or to about 15,000,000 marks, and it seems likely that there will be a quiet settlement with him on that basisand with the ex-rulers of @Gotha and Mecklenburg-Sterlitz on ~ like basis (adjustments have been reached in other cases). Little news from Poland. Pilsudski is still in disease, about him. ———— Old-Age Pension Advocates Find Idea Gaining Strength OIL INDUSTRY UNDER FIRE " AGAIN IN GAS PRICE RISE Federal Trade Commission Initiates Full ¢ Investigation at Behest of President and Senate. \ 7 BY WALTER B. McCALLUM. LREADY the subject of one of the most exhaustive investi- gatlons ever made by a Gov- ernment board, the petroleum industry, and particularly the refining and marketing branches of this great business, will come again this Summer and' Autumn under the searching. eyes of still another Fed- eral agency than the Federal Ofl Con- servation Board, whose report is due for issuance within a few weeks. Acting at the instance of the Sen- ate, backed by a request from the President of the United States, the Federal Trade Commission has swung into line all its comprehensive in- vestigatory powers in the initial phases of another inquiry—the third In four years—into the reasons for the “material advances” during the past Winter and Spring in the price of crude ofl, gasoline, kerosene and other petroleum products, seeking to find out whether.such increases were arbitrarily made and unwarranted. Its fleld force is being lined up now in readiness to carry out the results of a preliminary office survey as an outline for the newest inquiry into marketing of petroleum and its products. Oil in Class With Coal. Oil has become very much like coal in the public mind. Stripping the industry of its trade secrets and delving deeply into the whys and wherefores of such and such a price advance is becoming one of the most popular of sports. Coal has had many investigations, while oil is just in the swaddling-cloth stages—the infant class—in so far as Government in- vestigations are concerned. Yet the present inquiry is the second in four years by tae Federal Trade Commis- sion and is the third undertaken into the marketing and price of petrpleum and its products by a Government agency. The Department of Justice also conducted a price investigation three years ago and submitted to Congress a report virtually white- washing the industry of charges of conspiracy to fix prices. The investigation now under way, result of which the commission is di- rected to report when Congress opens in December next, will be an ex- haustive affair and comes as a re- sult of a Senate resolution introduced by Senator Trammell of Florida. Al- most coincidentally with the passage of the Trammell resolution came a request from the White House cover- ing practically the same ground as the Senate order. The presidential request came within a few days after Gov. Harry Flood Byrd of Virginia had written President Coolidge in- quiring whether somé Federal action could not be taken to ascertain a rea- son for the sudden advance in gaso- line and kerosene prices in the Old Dominion State. Scope of Resolution. The Trammell resolution directed the commission to investigate and re- port on, first, “the very material ad- vances recently made in the price of crude ofl, gasoline, kerosene and other petroleum products, and whether or not such price increases were arbi- trarily made and unwarranted. “Second. Whether or not there has been ‘any understanding or agree- ment between various oil companies or manipulations thereby to raise or depress prices, or any conditions of ownership or control of oil properties or of refining and marketing facilities in the industry which prevent effec- tive competition. “Third. The pmfl? of the principal companies engaged In the producing, refining and marketing of crude oil, gasoline, kerosene and other petro- leum products during the years 1922, 1923, 1924 and 1925, and also such other matters as may have bearing upon the subject covered by the pro- visions of the resolution.” The Federal Ofl Conservation Board report is understood to be practically completely written, awaiting only a meeting of the full board for indorse- ment prior to turning the report over to the President. This report does not 50 specifically into prices nor any lity of price-fixing combina- tions, except in so far as they affect the major matters of production and distribution covered in the report. The Federal Trade Commission has ample background on which to start its newest inquiry into the petroleum industry, for in June, 1924, a little more than two years ago, it submitted to President Coolidge a report on gasoline prices covering the early part of that r, which was never fully ‘completed. This repot revealed that even though the famous $29,000,- 000" Standard Ofl decision of Judge Landis dissolving the nation-wide Standard. Offl Co. into smaller com- panies was handed down not much more than a decade ago, the Standard Ol Co. still is recognized as the leader in price movements and virtually con- trols the price of gasoline in the ter- ritory which it serves—which means the entire United States. Important devélopments of the in- quiry which was halted whon a re- quest for $45,000 additional was made to the budget bureau to complete it, included letters and telegrams passing between the agents and representa- tives of the following companies: The Pure Oil Company, Sinclair Refining Company, Mutual Oil Com- pany, Cities Service Oil Company, Producers and Refiners’ Corporation, Continental Oil Company, Empire Re- finers, Inc.; National Petroleum Mar- keters’ Association and several other local and State jobbers and dealers’ associations, together ‘with memo+ randa and letters describing confe.é ences on prices and price situation: Ofl Company of Indiana and represen tatives of varlous independent com- panies and marketers’ associations. Standprd Is Leader. All the date uncovered show that in the territory in which the Standard o * Indiana operates, the independent Company as the leader in price mow, ments and that they try to keep then:- selves informed as to Standard price changes in order to remain in line with them. It was also revealed that informal conferences with local repre- sentatives of the Standard of Indiana attempted to maintain uniform prices and that they generally recognized the futility of trying to sell at prices other than those maintained by the Standard company. Just as in the inquiry which has al- ready begun, that of two years ago was precipitated by widespread charges of “illegal monopoly” in the petroleum industry and unwarranted boosting of prices which took many from motorists and others. But the commission was not alone thwarted in prosecuting its inquiry of two years ago by budget bureau re- fusal to “O.K.” a larger expenditure. Eight independents refused agents of the commission access to their files for the purpose of examining and copying any documentary evidence, which might have revealed more proof of collusion to fix prices. Those companies which refused to work with the Commission in this matter were the Texas Company, White Eagle Ofl and Refining Company, Derby Oil and Refining Compan: Sterling Ofl and Refining Company, Indiahoma Refining Company, Ne. braska Independent Oil Men's Asso- ciation and Winters Ofl Company. These companies, however, all gave the commission information as to statistical and financial data, to=ether tion, prices and profits. Sensational Price War. The 1924 inquiry came immediately after the sensational price war of that year when Gov. McMaster of South Dakota organized State agencies to fight what he believed unwarranted price boosts on the part of the big companies and sold and distributed gasoline through the State highway commission. No such situation now exists or nas existed since that time. @usoline is retailed generally = through territory served by the Standard Ofl Company of New Jersey, which operates in Washington and surrounding states, at 24 cents a gallon, against a Mid- winter pricé in 192526 of 20 cents a gallon. These prices include a 2-cent tax. And refiners agree that the pro- cesses necessary to manufacture so- called Summer gasoline are not so in- volved or expensive as those used in the manufacture of Winter run gaso- line which must be especially adapted to quick starting of cold engines. England Shares Pride of America in Celebrating Fourth, Says J. L. Garvin (Continued from First Page) ternal free trade and no wars could easily double and treble in one gen- eration the present average level of prosperity. That is certain. Otherwise Europeans must remain economic_helots by comparison with America because of their plethora of antiquated passions or prejudices and thelr want of dominating brains. They make the bed they le on. Biggest Idea in Europe. Practically, the movement for a United States of Europe is the biggest idea of the twentieth century. If it succeds in spite of a thousand ob- stacles, it will be the biggest thing of the century. g It is certain that upon this basis a solid community of Anglo-American interests can be founded. 'The British Empire covers a quarter of the earth. ‘With its tropical territories it is capa- ble of becoming even more than now the world’s richest storehouse of raw materials. . This island by itself has neither the money nor the men wherewith to achieve anything like a full develop- They can preserve the peace. The; can lead and insure such af ndvxncey of the world’s general prosperity and wealth as will make debts insignificant. Left to herself, America, some time in this coming generation, will wipe the debts off the slate. Big Developments Seen. Bclence and invention will trans- form once more the whole scene of civilization. Air traffic and broad- casting telephony and perhaps tele- vision—who knows?—will make fa- miliar intercourse-in the same tongue part of the Waily life of both peoples. The glorious heritage of the common language, inspired by :the love of freedom and law, must-become by the necessity of new developments a more intimate bond. Franklin, Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln and many another— thelr namss were derived straight these {slands. When at the end of the third half-century this Fourth of July is celebrated by mnearly 120,000,000 of Americans, it is our day of pride and hope as well as theirs. If we have vital things to from the United States, this small g between local agents of the Standars * marketers recognize the Standard Oi through exchange of information and | the independent marketing companies . millions of dollars in the aggregate - with information regarding produc- *