Evening Star Newspaper, January 5, 1927, Page 1

WEATH (U. 8. Weather Fair tonight and tomorrow; slightly colder _tonigh about 34 degr Temperature vesterday: lowest, Full report on p iR, Bureau Forecast.) owest temperature ighest, 47, at 3 p.m. 40, at 8 a.m. today. page 4. #Closing N.Y. Stocks and Bonds, Page 10 Y C Entered as secol No. Washingtorr, nd class matter D C @h WASHINGTON, D. ¢ Foenit WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION C., WEDNESDAY, JANUARY DN 1927— THIRTY-EIGHT o Star. PAGES. L3 The only évening in Washington wit Associated Press news er the s Circalation, 103,217 TWO CENTS. + WILD CHINESE MOB OVERRUNS BRITISH COLONY INHANKOW. AMERICANS IN PERIL Frantic Appeals Sent for Aid as All Available Forces Are | Rushed From Shanghai. ! Immediate Crisis Feared. BARRICADES STORMED AS MARINES WITHDRAW‘!. U. S. Destroyer Is Ordered to: Wauhu, Reported Looted — Ger- man Slain—300 Americans in Danger Zone—Cantonese Unable to Preserve Order. By the Associated Prees, Anti-foreign agitation in China, torn by bitter civil war for many months, has flamed out in the inva- sion of the British colony at Han- kow by thousands of infuriated coolies, creating a situation “fraught | with the gravest dangers.” Frantic appeals were received to- day in London by the British gov- ernment from the colony calling for more land and naval forces. The British warships 'Vindictive, ! Carlisle and Wishart were ordered to Hankow from Hongkong, while an Exchange Telegraph dispatch said that all available naval forces in Shanghai were leaving at full speed for the threatened zone. Coolies Storm Concession. British marines, who held off a coolie invasion Monday without bloodshed, were withdrawn from the British colony yesterday, leaving the concession in charge of Cantonese troops, but official dispatches indicate the angry natives are out of control. The British withdrawal, ordered to prevent almost certain bloodshed, re- sulted in the destruction of barricades by the coolies, who swarmed into the concession, making the main street “unsafe for foreigners.” sAlmconfirmed reports say that all women and children in Hankow have been instructed to embark prepara- tory to leaving the port. A German citizen was stabbed and seriously wounded Monday by agita- tors within the British concession. British authorities belleve that if it should be necessary for the marines to land again an immediate crisis would result, necessitating the use of | force. ‘Wuhu Reported Looted. | { An official dispatch from Nanking #aid the city of Wuhu, Anhwei prov- ince, was looted, presumably by northern troops, and that the Ameri- can destroyer John D. Ford had been ordered to the scene. ‘Washington estimates that 300 or more Americans are living in Han- kow or its ‘suburbs, a considerable number making their homes in the British concession. Additional Amer- fcan war vessels were sent to Hankow & week or two ago. No disturbances have been reported at the American consulate or vielnity. ‘The British foreign office expressed the ovinion that the disturbances are due to effoits of Cantonese agitators to create a crisis embarrassing to Great Britain's newly declared policy of reconciliation. NATIVES OUT OF CONTROL. Barricades Down and British Section of Hankow Overrun. PEKING, January 5 (P).—Official dispatches from Hankow, where the British colony is being besieged by thousands of infuriated coolies as the | result of anti-foreign agitation, show the situation is growing increasingly serlous and idicate that the angry natives are out of control of the Chi- nese military forces which undertook to maintain order. Practically all barricades to the con- cession have been destroyed and a consular _dispatch says the British (Continued on Page 5, Column 1.) EXPLOSION IN REFINERY | SHAKES OKLAHOMA TOWN Fire Breaks Out in Tulsa Plants Following Blast—Property Dam- age Not Ascertained. By the Associated Press TULSA, Okla., January 5.—An ex- plosion, presumably in the Midconti- nent refinery in West Tulsa, shook several homes In that section of the city today. Fire immediately broke out in the is of smoke were visible . section of the city intermittent explosions were 1K believed that one of the stills had exploded. No one was injured. gccording to ation available Property damage had not been as certained. BREAKFAST I;ARLEY HELD. President Has Congress Group in Conference Today. Another breakfast conference was held at the White House this morning, at which regular Republican, Demo cratic and insurgent Senators and Rep- resentatives were present. Ash- Washington, onsin, Me- nd Frazier, North Dakota, nsurgent Republican, and Representa. tives Linthicum, Maryland, Democrat, and Perkins, New Jersey; Free, Cali- fornia; Fitzgerald, Ohio; Winter, Wyo publican, its | | nis little farm near Rochester, Minn., Ly the Associated Press. MANAGUA, Nicaragua, January 5.—A force of 160 sailors and ma- rines today disembarked from the U. 8. S. Galveston at Corinto and began entraining for Managua to guard the United States legation and to protect American lives and property. Secretary Kellogs is to be invited to appear before the Senate foreign re- lations committee far questioning re- | garding American military activities | aragua. action followed on the heels of nmouncement today by the State | Department that = force of Amer Marines had been ordered to Managua at once. The questioning of the Secretary was decided upon today by the com- mittee after half an hour's discussion of the Nicaraguan rituation. The at- tendance of Senators at th i was the largest in several year: this session the applicability of the Monroe Doctrine also was gone into. Announcement of the landing of ma- rines was followed also- by a state- ment by Chairman Borah of the Sen- ate foreign relations committee that the Monroe Doctrine has *no relation” either to the situation in Nicaragua or the trouble in Mexico. - “The propaganda being put out that the Monroe Doctrine has some applica- tion to the Nicaraguan and MeSican situations has no foundation in fact,” | Senator Borah said in his statement. | | AMERICAN MARINES ORDERED 'TO GUARD ENVOYS IN NICARAGUA Senate Foreign Relations Committee to Call Kellogg for Questioning on U. S. Military Activities in Republic. | “The Monroe doctrine has no relation to the questions involved.” » Buropean government, no non- «an government, is interfering Nicaragua or Mexico or professing do 0. “In to ragua the revolution is being carried on by those who claim that Sacasa is the constitutional President, and is purely an internal affair. “In Mexico it is a question of title to oil. The British oil interests or companies seem willing to comply with the Mexican laws. Under no conceivable theory can the Monroe doctrine have any application.” hree resolutions relating to the subject are before the committee, one being by Senator Wheeler, Democrat, Montana, proposing that American forces be withdrawn immediately. Before the committec met secretly Secretary Kellogg informed several member at he would be glad to ap: pear for a discussion of the whole sit- uation. It is expected that he will be heard later in the week. In announcing today that an Ameri- can marine guard had been ordered to Managua, the State Department disclosed that British and Italian dip- lomatic representatives there had re- quested outside protection for their nationals. The marines will be sent from Corinto by Rear Adimarl Latimer, in command of American forces in Nica- ragua. Decision to send them was reached vesterday, and observers took it as a definite answer to ru- ~(Continued on Page 5, Column 2.) PROBE POSTPONED AS RISBERG FAILS T0 ARRIVE IN TIME Mysterious Call Says Base Ball’s Accuser “Will Not Be There Until 1:30.” By the Associated Press. CHICAGO, January 5.—The hearing of the charges made by Charles A. “Swede” Risberg, accusing the White Sox and the Tygers of a crooked series in 1917, was postponed today until 1:30 p.m., due to the failure of Risberg to appear. A half an hour before the hearing was to have been opened, Commis- sioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis re- ceived a mysterious telephone call pur- porting to have come from Risberg. The voice at the other end of the line sald: “Risberg will not 1:30." Thereupon the receiver was banged. Commissigner Landis as well as 200 or more base ball players and re- porters were mystified by the call. Commissioner Landis waited 15 minutes after the appointed hour be- fore ordering the postponement. He could offer no explanation for Ris- berg’s failure to appear, as the former ‘White Sox shortstop had assured him he would be on hand promptly. Landis Ts Mystified. Risberg was supposed to have left be there until last night. “I don’t know anything about it. except what the voice said to me on the phone,” said Commissioner Landis. “The facts speak for themselves. Risberg is not here. The call evidently was a local call, one made in Chicago. I am at a loss to understand it, in view of what Risberg promised me.” While waiting for Risberg base ball stars of the past dnd present and the hundred or more newspaper men jammed the offices of the commis- sioner as tightly as peas in a can. There was barely enough room to move around. Buck Weaver, who with Chick Gandil and six others, in- cluding- Risberg, were banished from organized base ball for the part they played in the crooked world's series of 1919, shouldered his way through the crowd just a few seconds before Landis poked his head out of his office with the words of the mysterious tele- phone call. Weaver was there to do whatever | he could in aiding Risberg in substan- tiating his story. Gandil was believed on his way here to bare more alleged scandal. Faber Gives His Side. Urban (Red) Faber, Sox pitcher in 1917 and still one of the leading fling- ers of the club, today gave his first statement on the White Sox donation to Detroit. ~“We were playing the Athletics,” he | said, “at the same time Detroit was playing its Boston series in September, 1917. Somebody on the bench, noticing | from the scoreboard that Detroit was | beating Boston, said: ‘We ought to | make those fellows (Detroit) a present | for beating Boston.” The next day in | New York Chick Gandil came to me to collect this money for the present to Detroit and I gave him a check for my share of $45 and the shares of sev- eral other of the boys who did have any money along with them. 1 never heard anything about Detroit being | hired to lay down to the White Sox | until Risberg’s story the other day. I am confident that nothing was said of this pool for the Detroft team until the day the Tigers completed a three- | game series of victories over Boston. Risberg’s charges are the bunk.” Kidnaping Is Rumored. Risberg arrived in town at 7:30 a.m., and when he failed to appear the rumor quickly spread that he was kidnaped by a Chicago newspaper for the purpose of questioning him. Com- missioner Landis was unable to add |any light to the rumor, but he was reminded that Risberg was brought here last Saturday night, three days ahead of the time he was expected to come, by a Chicago newspaper, which paid all of the expenses. When Commissioner Landis asked | Risberg after a recital of his amazing story last Saturday night if he did not need some: expense money the representative of the paper told Lan- sning; Brigham, Vermont, and John- gon, Washington, Republicans. dis that he would continue to take care of Risberg's expenses. L] Kelly Abandons Plan for Federal Base Ball Rule By the Associated Press. Representative Kelly, Republi- can, Pennsylvania, has decided to drop his plan to ask Congress to establish Federal control of base ball. He said today that the problem involved so many technical angles that it seemed to him impossible to draft a bill which would reach the situation. He has discussed the question with the Federal Trade Commis- sion and found that body unable to see how base ball could be placed under its jurisdiction in view of the court’s decision that base ball' is not interstate com- merce. | NMAHON RULING HITS “NO PARKING” D. C. Without Authority Over Shipping Entrances Judge Declares. Shipping entrance ‘“no parking” signs may be disregarded by motor- ists in the future, in accordance with a decision handed down today by Judge John P. McMahon, who de- clares that the director of traffic and the Commissioners have no authority to grant such permits to the business houses of Washington. The judge scored such permits as “unreasonable and -unjustifiable” and as discrimination against the public for which the thoroughfares of the city are intended. He further added in his opinion that the city could be held responsible for any accidents resulting from the placing of the signs in question. “Only Congress,” he stated, “'has the authority to grant such permits which could exclude the public from places on the street that they have a right- ful ownership in.” Information Is Quashed. After rendering numerous opinions from legal references, the judge quash- ed the information against Annie M. Baylis, who parked her machine in front of William Ballantyle & Sons’, 1409 F street, between two signs marked “No Parking, Shipping En- trancs The judge stated to Frank Madigan, assistant corporation coun- sel, that he quashed the information instead of finding the defendant not guilty in order that the District au- thorities might be able to proceed to the Court of Appeals, should they de- sire. In quoting various authorities, Judge McMahon declared that the ex- clusive privilege was unreasonable and unjustifiable. In conclusion, he said: “I am constrained to conclude that there is nothing in the traffic act, ap- proved March .3, 1925, or in the amended traffic act, approved July 3, 1926, which would require or justify the director of traffic to grant an ex- Lclusive right in the streets to the merchant whose place of husiness was located at 1409 F street northwest. “The grant of such a power by the director was not a proper exercise of his power, but was in excess of it. Equally in excess of it, and not con- templated or justified by the traffic acts, is an exercise of the power which in fact, although perhaps not in form, results in the grant of an exclusive right to the merchant and the exclusion of the public from the street in front of 1409 F street, or in an unfair discrimination, which would Director Denied Power. “I must hold, therefore, that the director of traffic has no power to grant the permit in question, and that the permit confers no right upon the party who obtained it; and that the defendant is guilty of no vidlation of {law in failing to comply with the in- structions displayed upon sald signs and in occupying with her automobile a portion of the space reserved by | the merchant for his exclusive use in front of his place of business, and the information will be quashed and it is so ordered.” The decision of Judge McMahon to- day will affect nearly 400 shipping entrances of business house loth up and down town. The decision making the signs flle- (Continued on Page 2, Column 6) ¢ |government and the Mexican practically result in the same thing. | VAVEOF ANDITRY EEPS TRODPSOF 1EXCD ON e Incipient Revolts in Various Places Put Down, Says Government Report. | CHURCH LEADERS DENY CATHOLICS TAKE PART | | One Attack on Town Said to Have i Been Directed by Young Men | of That Faith. | - | By the Associated Press | MEXICQ CITY, January Fed- feral troops in at least a half dozen different parts of Mexico are chasing groups of revolutionists or bandits. The activities of these bands have greatly increased in the last few days, although they are apparently without central leadership or co-ordination. ‘War department reports say rebel or bandit groups, ranging in size from 30 to 200 men, are fleeing before the federal troops, who are under or- { ders to continue their pursuit until they exterminate or capture their quarry. Although advices received pate indicate that Catholics, as have not been involved in the disor- reported from various parts of ico, special dispatches from Sal- v that 50 Catholics, headed by { members of the Young Men's Catholic Association, carried out Monday's at- tack on Parras de la Fuente, in the | { State of Coahuila. Two Men Are Killed. | The aispatches say that the re- { volters, shouting “Long live Christ the King!" arrested municipal and fed- eral authorities in the town, captured | three local congressmen and Killed | Rafael Delgado and Jose Viera, thel former a labor leader. Later they selzed horses frons meighboring ranches and burned several rallway bridges. Congressman Perez, who was | pursued by the band, escaped by stop- ping a passenger train from Saltillo. ‘Workers in Saltillo, the dispatches | state, volunteered to assist the fed-| eral troops In pursuit of the insur-| rectionists, being anxlous to avenge | el 's death. D"J"f:idromumn- commandant at Saltillo announced that the revolters would be punished when captured, but that otherwise the State of Coahuila was QUL (bel band, which on Monday at- tempted a revoit in the town of Milpa Alta, about 15 miles from Mexico, City, reported _surrounded by troops in the Ajusco Mountains. The | rebels are said to be commanded by | two former officers of the notorious rebel chief, Zapata. This band, news | paper dispatches say, forced priests | to make revolutionary speeches to the | people of their villages. With 800! troops closing in on them, their ex-| termination or capture is expected soon. Rebel Leaders Executed. | A rising at Concepcion Del Oro, State of Zacatecas, was put down by the federal forces, and several of the leaders were executed. Other bandit activities include the tearing up of railroad tracks in at- tempts to wreck trains at two points. one above San Louis Potosi, and the other between Torreon and Saltillo; | automobile and train hold-ups near Mexico City, and the murder, also near | the capital, of one member of a party of Mexican hunters. | News of the unsuccessful rebel | lattack at Legp, in the State of Guan- ajuato, has been confirmed in an officlal dispatch which says the mu- | nicipal police aided the federal troops in routing the insurrectionists who attacked the barracks. The War Department has no re- ports of any executions there; hence it is belleved the 11 rebel leaders said in newspaper dispatches to have been executed may have been shot by the municipal authorities, thereby relieving the military commander of the duty of reporting that fact. The Catholic episcopate has denied that any Catholics, as such, were involved in the affair. Three Rival Legislatures. Three rival state legislatures have established themselves in the State of Puebla, giving rise to fears of clashes between the political groups | there. Advices saying Gen.Arnulfo Gomez, federal chief of military operations in the State of Vera Cruz, had re- volted were discounted by late dis- | patches from Vera Cruz City giving the assurance that all is normal there. Reports that Zacatecas, capital of the State of Zacatecas, had been captured by rebel bands were discounted by information that the | only rebels operating in that state were commanded by Capt. Silva, a former follower of De La Huerta, who took Conception Del Oro on Monday. Capt. Silva at present is being pursued by Gen. Gonzalez, command- ing government forces. PRESIDENT 0. KS BILL FOR BOTANIC GARDEN Signs Measure Authorizing $822,- 000 Expended for Purchase of Ground and Other Purposes. President Coolldge today signed the bill authorizing an appropriation of $822,000 to acquire two squares bound- ed by First and Second streets and Maryland avenue and Canal street southwest and for the erection of bufldings and conservatories for the United States Botanic Garden upon this property. The principal object of this legisla- tion is to remove the Botanic Gar- den from its present location between Pennsylvania avenue and Maryland avenue and to turn this land into the Mall. The removal of the garden also will_include the removal of the famous Bartholdi fountain, in the present garden, to the new site. 'Radio Programs—Page 22 ™~ ALBANY, IT HAS EVER, KNown 16 N ——— *\“s —_— GOV SMITH PLEADS FORBEER AND WINE Urges New York Legislature to Send Memorial to Con- gress at Once. By the Associated Press . Y., January 5.—Gov. Smith, in his annual message to the Legislature today, urged that Con- gress be memorialized to take immedi- late action to the end that “harmless beverages which our people have en- joyed for more than a century may be restored to them.” While advocating modification of the Volstead act, the governor said that | until such modification is effective the Federal liquor laws are as much laws of this State as any Stzte statute and must be enforced. “I again warn sherifds and peace of- ficers generally,” he said, “that it is their sworn duty to enforce these laws. Failure to perform this duty I will donsider as serious an offense as a failure to enforce the State statutes, and when laid before me, supported by proper and competent testimony, 1 will exercise without fear or favor the power of removal wherever it is vested in me.” Predicts Tax Reduction Aside from the liquor question the ‘governor, who announced in his in augural address last Saturday that he was “receptive’” concerning the presi- dential nomination of the Democratic party, predicted tax reduction and re- newed former recommendations for legislation which a Republican Legis- lature has hitherto denied. “At the recent election,” Gov. Smith sald concerning the prohibition ques- tion, “there was submitted to a referendum of the people the question of whether or not they desired a modification of the Federal statute giving force and effect to the eight- eenth amendment of our Federdl Con- stitution, By 1,164,586 majority, the people of the State of New York voted for modification of the statute. “I believe that the duty now rests upon the Legislature to pass suitable resolutions conveying in a formal manner the result of that vote to the Congress of the United States and memorializing it on behalf of the State of New York to enact at the earliest passible moment a sane, sens- ible, reasonable definition of what constitutes an intoxicant under the eighteenth amendment, so that harm- less beverages which our people have enjoyed for more than a century may be restored to them.” Waterway Parley Asked. The governor said an analysis of the requests of the various State depart- ments for appropriations indicated that the burden of the taxpayers would be lightened “‘very much along the lines adopted at the iast session of the Legislature,” when a substantial cut in the personal income tax pay- ments was made. The governor recommended that a conference of State and Federal of- ficials be called to make arrangements for the construction of an all-Amer- jcan canal from Lake Ontario to the Hudson River. He urged abolition of motion picture censorship and a 48 hour Jaw for women and minors in in- dustry. 600D WILL AIR FLIGHT HALTED BY ACCIDENT Flagship After Hop Off Makes Ferced Landing at Guatemala City—Nobody Hurt. By the Associated Press. GUATEMALA CITY, January b5.—The good will Pan- American flight was temporarily halted again today when the New York, flagship of the American Army argosy, made a forced landing on the Aurora Flying Field soon after the aviators had hopped off for San Sal- vador. Maj. Herbert A. Dargue, flight commander, and His relief pilot, Lieut. Ennis C. Whitehead, were unhurt, ex- cept for slight injuries on their hands, but the plane was damaged. The four other planes returned im- mediately to the flying fleld. It is expected that a week or two wil Ibe required for necessary repairs to the New York. e Greece to Seek Loan. ATHENS, Greece, January § (#).— The Greek government is preparing a request to the League of Nations for assistance in obtaining a_supplemen- tary refugee loan in March, when the government hopes to present a bal- anced budget and reduced military timates. The League assisted Greece Guatemala, in obtaining a refugee loan in 1924, __lextend Pleads for Beer GOV. ALFRED E. SMITH. MARKET SITE BILL IS GIVEN APPROVAL House District Committee Also 0. K.’s Park Police Pay Equalization Measure. Favorable report on two measures was ordered today by the House Dis- trict committee. One of these is the Commissioners’ bill which would authorize acquisi tion of a new site for the Farmers' Market, with a‘cost limit of $600,000, to be paid in the same way as all other expenditures for the District govern- ment. This measure also authorizes the Commissioners to close such adja- cent streets as, in their judgment, the public interests require. Chairman Zihlman explained that prompt action is desirable, as the Farmers' Market must vacate its pres- ent site, so that work may start be- fore next March on the new Internal Revenue Building. He discussed the entire municipal market center prob- lem and pointed out that when the present site of Center Market is taken in the Federal building program it is extremely doubtful whether the gov- ernment will build another Center Market and this business would pass into the hands of private capital. Police Bill Approved. Representative Houston stressed the importance of providing the con- venient site for the farm produce market and it was on his motion, sec- onded by Representative Bowles, Re- publican, of Massachusetts, that the bill was ordered reported. Representative Rathbone, Revub- lican, of Illinois, chairman of the sub- committee on police and fire, made a favorablo report on the Zihiman bill introfiuced at the request of Lieut. Col. U. S. Grant, 3rd, to equalize the pay of the park police with that of the metropolitan police. This means $75 per man for 54 men. Representative Gilbert, Democrat, of Kentucky raised the question whether their duties and dangers are the same or comparable. During the discussion it was brought out that while the park police are paid from District appropriations they are not under the administration of any Dis- trict officer, but come under an offi- cer of the Engineer Corps of the (Continued on Page 6, Column 2.) ATRITES DEES Names of Two Civilian Mem- bers May Be Announced Next Week. BY J. RUSSELL YOUNG. President Coolidge was today rep- resented as nearing the conclusion in the matter of selecting the two civilian commissioners to serve on the newly created Public Utilities Commission. The President is known to have been giving serious thought to’ this matter in the past few days and has succeeded in elfminating a number of candidates from a list of names to which he is now giving his attention. By this process of elimination the President is understood to be consider- ing less than five or six persors for the commission. This was learned following confer- ences which the President had yester- day with Attorney General Sargent, who has been assisting him to the ex. tent of interviewing aspifants and others who have been recommended for the commission, and today with Samuel J. Prescott, chairman of the Republican State committee, who also has been assisting the, President in looking over the field of availables. Three Years’ Residence Required. cribed his difficulty in making selec- tions to the requirements of the law regarding the three-year legal resi- dence in this city on the part of those t0_be appointed. Those who have conferred with the President regarding these ap- pointments have expressed them- selves of the opinion that he will be able to announce his selection within the next week or so. One of those | who is in the President’s conference | indicated that the President has virtually decided upon one of the commissioners, but is undetermined regarding the other. He also is un- decided “regarding the appointment of the people’s counsel, who, accord- | ing to the amended utilities law, will | represent the interest of the public of the District at all hearings and in all transactions and who is to re- celve an annual salary $7,500, the same as is to be received by the two civilian commissioners. Among those whose names are be- fore the President for the commis. | are John W. Childress, for many years a real estate broker, but who is now engaged in the manufacturing business: Louis Addison Dent, an at- torney who is now associated with the Department of Justice; Alonzo Tweedale, for many years auditor of the District and at one time treas- urer of the Emergency Fleet Cor- poration; Jesse C. Suter, former president’ of the Federation of Citizens' Associations; Ringgold Hart assistant corporation counsel; Harry Gilligen, an attorney, member of the Board of Education; Eugene H. Abadie, consulting engineer: Stanley W. Lynch, attorney; L. B. Perkins, attorney; R. F. Cogswell, A. M. Fisher, and W, Clayton of the Federation of | Citizens’ Association, attorney. Qualifications Are Restricted. Mr. Clayton, who is chair the public utliities committes of the Federation of Citizens’ Associations, and two or three others who have been proposed for the commission, l Suggestes 'or “Bpemogle'; ;nunnel. appointment lesides the part of the law - quiring that appointees t4 the come mission and as people’s coundel be bona. fide residents of the District for three vears, the President is known to have been somewhat restricted in considering availables by _another question of the law which pre the President from nppoln!{’n:m;)::; one who has had any direct or in- direct relationship with the public utilities in the District. * Bell Indicates Army Routine Will Sever His Connection With Washington in June Appreciative of the action of the Federation of Citizens’ Associations and several neighborhood civic or- ganizations in incorsing him for an- other term, Engineer Commissioner J. Franklin Bell indicated today that under the Army reorganization act he will be forced to leave Washington for service with troops at the expira- tion of his present detail, June 25. ‘Whether the De; under the Al ‘which requ serve one yea his -agt: e new Commissioner Bell is uncertain. any rate, Col. Bell said, it llu.!"llevt: been his policy to pick his post, leav- ing his details entirely to the chief of engineers. like my work here in Washing- ton,” sald Commissioner Bell. “It is Interesting, but I tire of it at times. Even if arrangements could be made to continue my detail here, I believe I would consider the matter for a while and then flip a coln to determine my choice. Moreover, I think the Army detail system of ing a officer here every four years is a PRESIDENT NEARS The President is known to have as- | PRESIDENT STANDS FIRM IN OPPOSITION 10 BUILDING THREE NEW CRUISERS NOW Letter to House Naval Sub- committee Chairman De- nies Reports of Change of Front on His Message. RAISES NO OBJECTIONS TO AUTHORIZATION PLAN Admiral Bloch’s Testimony That 20 0ld Ships Would Not Have Chance Against One of Modern Construction Stirs Representa- tives at Hearing. By the Assoclated Press. In the face of the gathering storm in Congress over enlargement of the American Navy, President Coolidge today reaffirmed his opposition to the construction of new cruisers at the present time. In a letter to Chairman French of the House subcommittee consid- ering naval appropriations the Presi- dent declared that the budget's naval recommendations, omitting funds for the new ships, “represents my best judgment,” and added that he felt it his duty to stand by that recommendation. Mr. Coolidge added, however, that he saw no objection to a congres- sional “authorization” for more war- | ships of the cruiser type, provided there was no call on the Treasury to carry the authorization into effect. ‘When the letter reached the Capitol, the House naval committee was hear- ing testimony regarding the condition of the Navy, including a statement by Rear Admiral C. C. Bloch, the ord- nance chief, that the Nation's present naval force includes about 20 old cruisers that “wouldn’t have a chance against a modern ship.” Consider Revising Budget. On the basis of this and other state- ments, some of the House Republican leaders were giving serious considera- tion to a proposal .to override the budget recommendations and author- lize construction of at least three | eruisers. | President Coolidge's letter appar- | ently was prompted by widely cir- culated reports that he had receded from his previous position. The text of the communication follows: “My dear Mr. French: “This is to assure you that when I send a budget to the Congress it rep- resents my best judgment and that I feel it my duty to defend it and support it, which I do at all times, unless T send up a supplemental esti- mate. This is sent to you because of certain reports, which have come to me relative to further appropriations for the building of cruisers. The fact that T have expressed to certain members of the House naval com- mittee my willingness to approve an authorization for more cruisers, if the Congress wished to provide for them in accordance with the recommenda- tions in my general messages has ap- parently resulted in the confused conclusion that I had changed my attitude on my budget message in relation to building more than five cruisers, which we are now building { during the present year.” Included in List of Ships. The old cruiser referred to by Admiral Bloch in his testimony had been included, the admiral said, in a list of ships given the House yester day by Mr. French, as representing this country’s sea strength. Some of the crusiers dated from the battle of Manila, Admiral Bloch declared, and “one modern ship could lick the whole bunch of them.” He then added that cruisers now being built or appropriated for by foreign countries would easlly out- speed and outshoot the 22 American cruisers now in service. The admiral’s statement created something of a sensation in the naval committee. Chairman Butler declared he was “almost knocked over” when he learned that the list of ships given the House by Representative French included ‘“these dear old derelicts— somt of them ships I knew 35 years ago.” French explained that his list of vessels of other nations also included many old ships. The committee decided to report favorably a bill for reconditioning and modernization of the battleships Oklahoma and Nevada. Authorized Last Session. The three cruisers now in dispute were “authorized” last session, but the naval appropriation bill as it now stands contains no money for bullding them. Representative Tilson, the Re- publican floor leader, talked the situ- ation over yi with President Coolidge, and some of his colleagues indicated a bellef afterward that the White House would consent to an ap- propriation for the three previously authorized ships, provided a_pendini proposal to “authorize’’ 10 others was pared down to merely authorizing This proposal carries no ap- priation. After listening to Admiral Bloch's testimony, _however, Representative Vinson of Georgia, ranking Democrat on the naval committee, and R sentative Britten, Republican, i nois, both safd they would demand tho fuil 10 be authorized in addition to last year's three. Mr. Tilson said he still was con sidering whether to propose amending the naval appropriation bill to provide money for the three cruisers. Britten Doubts Arms Cut. Representative Britten today car- ried his fight to the House floor, where the naval appropriation bill is under debate. He described the gen- eral preliminary arms conference as illy,” a “joke™ and “bosh,” declared no further arms limitation agreement can be reached ‘“because the United .Bch:;l Navy has nothing more to m%fl_-;. 4Continued on Page 5, seven. »