Evening Star Newspaper, January 29, 1927, Page 1

WEATHER. (U. S. Weather Cloudy tonight a y rain tomorrow Temperature—Highest, 38, at 11 a.m. : lowest, 33, at 11:30 p.m. yvester- | y. Full report or Bureau Forecast.) nd tomorrow; prob- much colder Mon- 1 page 8. | N Closing N. ¥. Stocks and Bonds, Page 14 Entered as eco No. post office, 30,223, nd cls Washingto b ¢ WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION SHINGTON D. C., SATURDAY, JANUARY ening Sfar. “From Press The Star’s carrier every city block and the regular edi- tion is delivered to Washington homes as fast as the papers are printed. to Home Within the Hour” ystem covers 29, 1927 ~THIR TY-SIX PAGES. (#) Means Associated Pres: Yesterday's Circulation, 105,477 5. WO CEN T'S. U.S. MOVES SHPS | NEARER CHINA FOR ANY EVENTUALTES [Three Cruisers o Proceed to ' {* Honolulu, Navy Depart- [ ment Announces. I‘SELLOGG IS HOPEFUL OF PEACE NEGOTIATIONS But Has No Direct Word of Fac- tions Uniting—British Offer Liberal Terms. United States naval forces prepared today to meve closer to the theater of Chinese civil war, in preparedness for any eventualities. Secretary of the Navy Wilbur to- v said that three cruisers had been : otdered to proceed to Honolulu, which will put them about 11 days closer to the Chinese war zone. These ships are the flagship Rich- mond, which is leaving Guantanamo; the Marblehead, which has been or- dered from Nicaragua, where she will be relieved by the cruiser Milwaukee, and the Cincinnati, which has just errived at Balboa, Canal Zone. Rear Admiral J. R. Y. Blakely, who was under orders to command this cruiser squadron, has been instructed ‘go proceéed at once to Honolulu and ume command there. Have No Marines Aboard. The ships have no Marines aboard, nor were their complements increased before being ordered to Hawaii. It was said at the Navy Department that there was a desire io avoid mak- ing it appear that any threat was ended by the movement of the ships this time, particularly in view of the. fact that diplomatic negotiations now are under way. At the same time it is the desire of the Navy to be prepared for any eventualities, and to have its forces as close at hand as possible without actually appearing in the war zone. Secretary Kellogg considers pros- pects for new treaty conferences with quelified Chinese representatives “‘rea- sonably hopeful,” although he has not yet received any direct indications that the two major political factions in China are approaching an agreement %o appoint a joint delegation for that purpose. Information Not Disclosed. It was not disclosed at the State formation the hopes of an adjustment between the two factions. The progress of the elvil war now waging in China, it was said, might have much to do with determining the question. The Secretary declied to comment on the statement issued last night by 21-. Alfred Sze, the - Chinese minis- r in Washington, asking immediate steps to abrogate existing ‘unequal treaties, Dr. Sze, it was said, still is the accredited Chinese minister of the Peking government. If he has any authority to speak for the Cantonese regime the State Department is not aware of it. Mr. Kellogg also refused to say any- thing about the Porter resolution. Coincident with a reaffirmation by President Coolidge yesterday of Secre- Aary Kellogg's offer to negotiate, in concert or singly, new equalization treaties with China, Great Britain no- tified both the Peking and Cantonese Nationalist governments that she was ready to grant 2 majority of the rights for which the Chinese have been con- tending. Note to Both Factions. Although the British plan was not{ made public at the time it was pre- sented to Marshal Chang Tso-lin and the Poking northern government and to Eugene Chen, foreign minister of #he Cantonese regime at Hankow, it is understood in Peking that it pro- posed virtual abandonment of the British concessions at Hankow and Tientsin, setting up in their place international settlements, in whose administration the Chinese would be given large representation. The territories, it is said, would be eimilar in some respects to the old German concessions in China, sithough safeguards would be pro- vided for their efficient administration through foreign representation in the municipal councils. The concession problem of the Brit- ish is one with which the United States is not confronted, since this country has no such grants in China. Many Americans reside in the Chinese {nternatipnal settlements, however, and President Coolidge intends to keep American naval forces in Far Eastern waters for their protection. Yie does not belleve the 4,000 Amer- jeans in Shanghai should be asked to abandon their property and busi-{ ness until all danger was passed. suggestion that the Americans evacu- ate the city has been made by Chair- man Borah of the forelgn relations committee. BRITISH SEEKING PEACE. Generous Terms Offered All Factions in China. BHANGHAIL, January “wP) ' Enough was learned from authorita- tive sources toda Britigh proposals surrendering her extraterritorial privileges in China constitute the most significant devel opment 50 far in the struggle of the ¥ar Eastern republic to regain full control of her territories 'Although the meetings at Peking between the British Minister, Miles Lampson, and Foreign Minister Wel- lington Koo of the northern govern- ment, and the conference at Hankow between British Charge d'Affaires O'Malley and Eugene Chen, Cantonese foreign minister, still are shrouded in secrecy. England has made alike to the north ern and southern Chinese governments & proposal virtually offernig full tarift autonomy and complete sovereignty over all British concessions. Scope of Proposal. British_proposal is understood tain only minor conditions de- to Insure efficient administra- tion ©f the areas which would ~be . L about $5,680,000, arrived Thursday on the Iiner France. There has been much to indicate that the | it has become known that|( 40,000 Cattle Die, 3 Rivers Dry Up In African Drought By the Associated Press. LONDON, Januar nd cattle have died, three rivers have dried up, and the natives are swarming to the towns, fearing starvation, says a dispatch from Johannesburg, South Africa, to the Daily Mail. The drought is the worst in the memory of residents of the Piet- ersburg distr Lions, because of the scar food, are constantly raiding cattle kraals. FRENCH SHIP GOLD FOR LOAN INTEREST Export of Metal Believed in Anticipation of Paying on Adyances to Cities. 29, Forty By the Associated Press. PARIS, January 29.—The repeated shipments of bar gold from France to New York are in continuation of the operations connected with the purchase of dollars and pounds ster- ling by the Bank of France, it is said in the best informed circles. The bank considers it purely a private matter, and the reasons for it are unknown. It is surmised in some quarters that French banks and American banks with French branches are shipping the metal with a view to forthcom- ing payments of interest on loans made in the United States to French cities, departments and industries. French gold valued at approximate- ly $13,650,000 has arrived in New York in the last month. The third and largest of. the shipments, valued at speculation in financial circles as to the cause for the transfer of the gold. A Paris dispatch Monday sald the gold was being forwarded by private bankers who received it from the Bank of France in exchange for the gold coins which it is purchasing under parliamentary authorization for use in exchange operations. IX KILLED, 16 HURT IN3 AUTO MISHAPS Bus Hits Truck—Ash Truck Skids to Sidewalk—Train Strikes Auto. BECK CHALLENGES POWER OF SENATE - INBARRING SWITH [lllinoisan Has Day in Court at Elections Committee Hearing. CONSTITUTIONNAI LAW | IS BASIS OF CONTEST | s Reed Is Invited to Sit In and Take Hand in Investigation Into Seating. NCOLN. Smith of Tllinois, whose right to a seat in the Senate has been challenged, had his day in court today. Before the Senate privileges and elec- tions commitiee, his counsel, James M. Beck, former Solicitor General of the United States, argued that Col. Smith had been guilty of no wrong doing. He contended that the only charges against Col. Smith were based on innuendo. He pointed out that Col. Smith had been overwhelmingly elected by"the people of his State and then appolnted by the governor to fill the McKinley vacancy. Challenges Senate Act. Turning to_the constitutional side of the case, Mr. Beck insisted that the Senate had no right to deny Col. Smith, the choice of a sovereign S the right to take the oath of offic Senator, provided he met the qualif tions specified for Senator.in the Con- stitution. “If you had submitted to the Con- stitutional Convention a proposition that Senators should be chosen by the Legislatures of the States, by and with the advice and e Senate, would there ever have been a Constitution?” Mr. Beck demanded. Mr. Beck ventured the prediction that if today an amendment to the Constitution was proposed providing that the election of Senators should be by and with the advice of the Sen- ate, even though the preamble of the proposal was fllled with denunciation of corruptions in elections, no State would accept the amendment. Caraway Asks Question. “If an amendment were offered that no man should be permitted to buy a seat in the Senate, would it receive any votes?” asked Senator Caraway, Democrat of Arkansas. “That’s begging the questign, Sen- tor,” was the reply of Mr. Beck. The contribution of $125,000 by Samuel Insull, public utilities magna.e 1o the primary campaigh fund of Col. Smith, which has been the base of the charges of unfitness against Smith, does_not_disqualify Col. Smith from inued on Page 2, Column 6. By the Associated Pre NEW HAVEN, Conn., January 28.— Two persons were killed and eleven others hurt, two seriously, early today when a Boston-to-New York bus col- lided with a truck on the Boston Post road in West Haven. One body was partly identified as that of Joseph Cunniffe, 55, of East Boston, Mass. There were between 20 and 25 pas- sengers in the bus. Two Sisters Killed. PATERSON, N. J., January 29 (#).—Two young women, sisters, were killed today and another sister and a man were injured when a city ash truck skidded and ran on the side- walk. The dead are Amelia Chiralleo, 18, and Frances Chiralleo, 23. Both sus- tained fractured skulls. The young women were on their way to work with thelr sister Mary when the truck struck them and crushed them against a house. A man asleep in the building was thrown trom his bed by the impact. Train Kills Two. SCRANTON, Pa., January 29 (®). Two miners, on their way to work, were killed and three injured, two se- riously, when a Delaware and Hudson passenger train struck an automobile on a grade crossing in North Scran- ton today. COLD WAVE ON WAY. " Cooler Weather Not to Reach Here Before Monday, However. Another spell of cold weather is heading toward Washington, but it isn't expected to reach here much before Monday. Forecaster Mitchell says high-pressure area,” with panying low temperatures, is mov- ing southward from the Mackenzie basin and the prospects are that it will bring “much colder” weather here late tomorrow night or Monday. Meanwhile, the moderate tempera- ture will continue, with rain sched- uled to drench the landscape most that a accom- 16 BATTLING MINE FRE HURT INBLAST Explosion Rocks West Vir- ginia Shaft, Where Flames Periled 245 Yesterday. By the Associated Press. MORGANTOWN, W. Va., January 29.—Sixteen men were burned, some seriously, by an explosion early today in the nnellsville by-products mine which was swept by fire yester V. At least 25 men were in the at the time of the blast, but all reported by company officials to made their way to safety. General’ Manager Burned. Among thoge most seriously burned was Stephen Arkwright, general manager for the James A. Paisley in- terests of Cleveland, owners of the by-products mine, which is situated in the Scott’s Run district. Several local doctors and ambu- la’rr)‘(;‘es were sent to the scene. e men were working in the straight heading when the »xm::?;: occurred. They were fighting a fire at the mine which yesterday cost the life of one man and endangered 245 others. mine were have Mine Called Gaseous. The mine is one of the largest work- ings in this county, and is considered by Mine Department officials as gaseous. Fear of an explosion in the event of any accumulation of gas had been menacing the fire-fighting work all day, it was sald. Influenza Alarms felgium BRUSSELS, January 29 (#).—The influenza epidemic in Belgium 1s as- suming a more serious agpect. the death rate from the disease now veing 20 per cent over the normal for this time of year. Many cases are follow- ed by quick complications, death oc- of tomorrow. curring within 48 hours. ,Adopts It at With the arrival at the White House yesterday of a Lincoln auto- mobile for the President speculation has arisen as t& the probability of | this being the forerunner of the | banishment of the fleet of Pierce | Arrow cars which have been used by the White House. It has not been learned yet whether other Lin- coln cars are to be installed in the White House garage in place of the cars now being used. The arrival of the new car was not only a surprise to those about the White House garage, but it has been associated with some little mystery |1t cannot be learned definitely whetker | this new car, which is of the latest |limousine model. w personal pres |ent to the President from ¥ Ford lor whether it fe to be rented as are the five Plerce-Arrows in the White turned back to Chinese control and (Continued on Pag 7} dHouse employ. The fact nav. the car President Gets Lincoln Limousine: Qflce as Offlcml Car has the presidential shield painted on the side of either door is taken to indt. cate that it is not the private property of the President. It is thought that the car is to be given a trial, and if found suitable, other cars of this ma will be subsituted for the remainder of the Plerce-Arrows in the White House garage. Immediately upon notification that the automobile had arrived President | Coolidge gave orders for it to be put into active service at once. The President's own automobile tag, No. 100, was removed from the limousine | the President had been using and at- tached to the new arrival. It is un- derstood that the President and Mrs. Coolidge will take their first rvide in the new car when they go to Conti | nental Hall tonight, where the Presi- dent is to address the business or- ganizations of the Government. The President’s old car was turned over to Secretary Sanders for his use, nsent of the | | dren “COOLIDGE, THE OPPR SOR,” BY A DISTINGUISHED SE h i ATORIAL PAI} HAYOR LIV ADES INRUM CONFESSN Police Guarded Shipments to Chicago, Executive of Suburb Admits. By the Aseociated Press. CHICAGO, January 29.-—A confes- sion by the mayor of Summit, a sub- urb, involving himself and numerous others in the shipment of illegal beer from a Pennsylvania brewery to Chi-| cago gangsters, today supplied addi- tional evidence in the Government's exposure of the operations. Mayor Elias H. Wilson not only de- tailed the participation of himself and his chiet of police, but told Federal operatives that after the liquor ship- ments were unloaded from frelght cars at Summit they were trucked to Chi- cago under police protection. Split $2 a Barrel. For every barrel of beer trahserred at the suburb the Saltis gang of Chi- cago paid down $2, he said, and the sum was divided hetween himself and other Summit officials. Special Intelligence Agent Converse declared that the Government has “an open-and-shut case” against Joe Saltis, reputed leader of a South Side beer gang, who is alleged to have con- tracted with Robert F. Adams of Scranton, Pa., for illicit output of a brewery near there. Arrested in Cleveland. Adams was arrested in Cleveland a few days ago and was alleged to have admitted that beer shipments were sent to Waverly, N. Y. re- routed there for Summit, and thence delivered into Chicago. The Government is investigating the handling of the beer by railroads operating here and in New York, and already has started action for the re- moval here of a Waverly rallroad employe. ENEMIES MURDER KIN OF PRESIDENT Brother or Brother-in-Law Smetona of Lithuania Killed With Wife and Children. of By the Associated Press. KOVNO, Lithuania, January 29.— The Eastern Press Service today re- ported that President Smetona's broth- er, with his wife and two children, had been murdered, by unidentified per- sons on thelr country estate near Kel- dany as an act of political vengeance against the President. Only the charred bodies of the victims were found in the villa, which had been set afire. Antanas Smetona was elected Presi- dent of Lithuania by the Diet on De- cember 19, succeeding Dr. Kazimir Grinius, who formally resigned the office after he and his ministers had been overthrown by & military coup detat. Charges that his government was too friendly with Soviet Russia were one of the chief causes for the downfall of Dr. Grinfus. LONDON, January 29 (P).—The Lithuanian legation here said today that President Smetona had no brother, but that the President’s wife {had & brother named Chodakauskaes, who lived with his wife and two chil- at Kiedany, 40 miles from Kovno. Legation officials said they had not received any reports of the deaths at Keidany mentioned by the East- ern Press Service at Kovno. 41 CAMELS ARRIVE. NEW YORK, January 29 (#).—Forty- one globe-trotting Bactrian camels, shivering and silent, have arrived in New York, completing a 14,000-mile trip from their native Tibet, which took them more than a year to make. As they came up the harbor on the frelghter Homestead and looked over the ice-filled water, their hairy cover- ing seemed inadequate for the wintry chill of New York. The animals began their journey from Tibet in 1925 and traveled on foot to Shanghal, whence they were taken by ship to Port Said. From there they came to New York. It is expected the animals will be assigned to circus troupes or menageries, B i 9 | Cold Feet Blamed For Some Errors Of Parliamentarians By the Associated Press. LONDON, January 29. — “Hot heads and cold feet” may account for some of the mistakes of the House of Commons. Prof. Leonard Hill, in an address on “Heating and Ventilation” at Gresham College, described the system of heating and ventilation in the House of Commons as all wrong. In newer buildings, such as the Liverpool Cathedral, he sald, errors of the past have been cor- rected. The floor of the cathedral is kept at a temperature of about. 70, which assures the worshipers of warm feet while open windows keep the air fresh. HARLOTTE HALL BARRACKS BURNED $65,000 Damage Done by Blaze at Military School. D. C. Boy Slightly Hurt. Staff Correspondent of The Star. CHARLOTTE HALL, Md., Janu- ary 29.—After 'standing unharmed through the era of coal ofl lamps, the main barracks of Charlotte Hall School, 86 years old, caught fire last night from a short circuit in the elec- tric power plant and was destroyed within a few hours. The damage, estimated by Maj. James B. Bentley, principal of the school, will approxi- mate $65,000. The loss s virtually covered by insurance. While cadets were making merry at their Midwinter dance in the gym- nasium about 9:30 o'clock last night, one of the visitors attending the dance discovered the fire and sounded an alarm. The boys rushed from the gymnasium and, while the girls in evening dresses looked on, & bucket . brigade was formed under the direction of Maj. Bentley and a futile effort was made to put out the fire. The flames originated in the old barracks, which were erected in 1841, and then destroyed two WIngs of the building built about twenty years ago. Reallzing that the fire was beyond control the volunteer fire fighters temporarily held it back by closing doors and windows leading to the wings, and were thus enabled to res- cue personal property, bedding and the school records. Two Are Injured. Two boys received slight injuries as they salvaged property. Lacey Zapf, 16 years old, 3417 Quebec street, Wash- ington, twisted his ankle, and Guy F. Stonestreet, 18 years old, of New York, cut his leg when he fell through the glass door of a bookcase he was carrying to safety. School activities were suspended to- day and the 70 students were sent to their homes. Maj. Bentley said he be- lfeved that classes will begin in about 10 days, and that a meeting of the board of trustees will be held within the next few days to decide upon a future building policy. Most of the boys of the school live in Maryland and the District of Columbla, and the ~(Continued on Page 2, Column 1) RESIGNATION OF PANI IS REPORTED AGAIN El Universal Declares Mexican Treasury Secretary, Often Ru- mored Out, Has Given Up Post. By the Associated Press. MEXICO CITY, January 29.—El Universal says it is able to announce categorically the resignation of Al- berto J. Pani. as secretary of the treas- ury. Several times since Secretary Pani concluded the agreement for resump- tion of payments on Mexico's forelgn debts, in 1925, there have been reports of his resignation. One rumor a few weeks ago said he was to be appoint- ed head of the Mexican legation at Paris, but subsequently the Mexico City newspapers printed stories that his_resignation had been withdrawn ;:l;lhho therefore would not go to Rndio programs—Page 36 PEOPLE'S COUNSEL CHOIGE DIFFIGULT Telephone and Token Users Eliminated Under Law, President Suggests. In the opinion of President Coolidge there are very few people in the Dis- trict of Columbia who would not be disqualificd for appointment as peo- ple’s counsel of the Public Utilities Commission if the law governing this appointment is to be given a literal interpretation. ¥ The President pointed out yesterday that Congress has gone to such lengths, making it impossible for any one to hold this office who has any connection with or interest in a public utility; that there is some question as to whether a person who has ever entered into a contract for the use of A telephone may not be disqualified tinder the law. ‘While not saying he was going to gssume that the entering into a tele- phene contract would disqualify any one, the President, after a close study of the wording of the law, is satisfied that such a literal construction’ could serve as the basis for an argument. If the law is interpreted literally, it might be taken that the telephone con- tract was sufficlent cause to prevent an da.pfpolnlment to this place, he con- tends. Tokens Might Be Barrier. In fact, the President is not certain but what the purchase of tickets or tokens on the street railways, which, he presumes, would be a contract be- tween the person purchasing them and the street railway corporation to furnish him with transportation, would “not disqualify. He 1s quite sure, though, that it would on a close interpretation or literal inter- pretation of the statute. In mentioning these possibilities the President was represented as explain- ing that he wanted to show to what length Congress went, and to let the public know how he has been embar- rassed and handicapped because of the manner in which Congress has tied his hands. In making appointments under the law, he has found it espe- cially difficult because of the restric- tions under the law to obtain the serv- {ces of persons who undoubtedly would be willing to serve, who are of experi- ence and ability, and who, outside of this statute, are recognized as persons of high standards. This legislation has so limited his choice that he is finding it hard to get a man of experi- ence and outstanding ability, because he may within a certain specified time have owned some securities in a cor- poration or may have had some con- tract or other direct or indirect con- nection with some public utilit: Residence Clause Cited. That part of the law requiring the person to be appointed to this place to have been a bona fide resident of the District of Columbia continuously for a period of at least flve years also has added to his troubles, and has limited the field to select from, according to the President. However, it is that part of the law prohibiting a person from serving in this position who “shall have during a period of flve years preceding his appointment di- rectly or indirectly been interested in any local public utility, or in any stock, bond, mortgage, security or contract of any such public utility,” that has become so irksome and ob- Jectionable to the Executive. This opinion of the law in question was given by the President following o denial on his part that there has been any secrecy surrounding the se- lection of men to public office in this city since he has been President. It Pittsburgh Ballot Box Seizures Loom As Difficult Task fndividual needed, possession ballot boxes for Hundreds orders will believe, to Allegheny County shipment to Washington spection by the Senate committ investigating the Vare-Wilson elec tion in Pennsylvania. Seizure of the ballots was ordered yesterday by the committee. Whereas the Philadelphia boxes wera stored under one roof and easily accessible, the boxes here are scattered throughout the city and county in possession of alder men and justices of the peace After court orders have been served on each of these it will be necessary to send trucks to the four corners of the county to col- lect the boxes. PRESIDENT NAMES CAYTON AS JUDGE Younger Member of D. C. Bar Appointed to Municipal Court Bench. be of obt BY J. RUSSELL YOUNG. Nathan Cayton, one of the younger members of the District bar, has been selected by President Coolidge for ap- pointment as judge of the Municipal Court of the District to fill the vacancy caused by the recent death of Judge Charles V. Meehan. Mr. Cayton's selection was made by the President after a careful study of a large fleld of aspirants for the place, and his nomination is expected to be sent to the Senate by the President some time this afiernoon. Because of being his evident intention to answer criticism to the effect that his appoint- ts have been marked by secrecy, Continued on Page 4, Column 7.) the favorable comment the President has received from members of the local judiciary and individual citizens, he is represented as feeling very cer- tain that Mr. Cayton's appointment will be a popular one. Youngest To Be Named. Mr. Cayton will be the youngest man ever to have been appointed to the Municipal Court. He is in his twenty- eighth year, having been born in 1899. The question of his age is said to have been given some little thought by the President before making the cholce, but the President was advised that this young lawyer is thoroughly trained and experienced. HoLg COMMITTEE URGES $3173.3% FOR DISTRICT, BUT - TAX RATE STANOS |Report Says $1.50 Would | Raise Current Expendi- | tures, But Building Projects Must Be Provided For. CERTAIN ;ROPERTIES FACE ACTUAL INCREASE Change in Assessment of Three Classes to Bring Raise—Budget Estimates Cut $109,623, But Total Is $1,214,795 More Than Last Year's Appropriation. The District appropriation bill was reported to the House today, carry- |ing a total appropriation of $36,173,- 366. This amount is $109623 less than the budget estimates, but is an increase of $1,214795 over last year's appropriations. Under the new assessments, a tax rate of $1.50 would be sufficient to raise the District's share of the ap- propriations recommended today. But because of important building projects already authorized by law, and for which appropriations have been made and are to be carried in other bills, there can be no change from the existing tax rate of $1.80, according to the report of Chairman Funk of the subcommittee of the appropriations committee of the House. This means that District residents - will continue to pay the present tax rate, but it will be based upon the new assessments, which will increase the assessed value of property in the District from $951,° %,000—:5 at present—to $1,150,000,- No Blanket Increase, This increase In assessment will not Mr. Cayton was born in this city and | mean a blanket increase all over the ‘had lived here throughout his life. He |city, hitting the individual property is single and resides with his parents |owner and compelling him to really at 2048 Macomb street. an honorary scholarship to the Na- tional University of Law. He Bra uated from that Institution in 1918, recelving degrees of LL. B. and LL. M. He attended | pay g hi the public schools and graduated from pay o higher tax bill. The assessment Central High School in 1916, receiving is broadly divided among three classes, who share the increase about equally: (1) New buildings, (2) increases on newly deévelopéd property, and (3) in- | creases on certaln ciasses of business He did not immediately enter upon the { property, it was explained today by practice of law following his admission | Assessor Richards. to the bar, but became engaged for The bill is based on a continuance nearly a year on some special work in|of the $9,000,000 lump-sum payment connection with surplus sales of the | g, the Federal Treasury. ‘War Department. In 1919 Mr. ton became It calls for $23,803,556 to be paid from Dis- trict revenues derived from taxes on clated with Aléxander Wolf, attorney, | rea] estate, tangible and intangible and soon afterward became the latter’s He is a member of the | bar: District Court of Appeals, the Supreme | watar law partner. €ourt of the District and the Court personal property, public _utilities, etc.; $1591,210 payable from revenues; $1,478,600 payable from the gasoline tax fund, which is of Claims. He has entire and exclu-|an increase of $38.6 ,600, and $300,000 sive charge of all Municipal Court|payable from surplus revenue funds cases for his firm and because of his famillarity with this court, and his knowledge of the law dealing with the kind of cases coming befors it, he is understood to have appealed to the President and the Attorney General for school, playground and park pur- poses. Teachers’ Funds Omitted. 1n addition to the fact that per- (Continued on Page 2, Column 8.) SLAYER GETS 25 YEARS AFTER PLEADING GUILTY Rum Runner Who Killed Man During Attempt to Hold Up Lunchroom Sentenced. Ira R. Gray, colored, 36 years old, vesterday was sentenced to the peni- tentiary for 25 years by Justice Hoehl- ing in Criminal Division 1 after he had pleaded guilty to murder in the sec- ond degree. Gray shot and mortally wounded Albert Gattas November 27 when Gattas resisted an attempted hold-up at a lunchroom near Four-and-a-half street and Pennsylvania avenue. Gattas died a day later. Gray, who admitted, police say, to being a Baltimore rum runner, was charged with murder in the first de- gree, but was permitted to plead guilty to the lesser offense, carrying a sentence ranging from Imprison- ment for 20 vears to life. Assistant United States Attorney E. Russell Kelly prosecuted the case. ANNUAL FUNDS OF FOUR DEPARTMENTS PROVIDED Carrying 8 total of $83.459,000, the annual appropriation bill for the State, Justice, Commerce and Labor Depart. ments was passed by the House yes. terday and sent to the Senate. Of the amount the State Depart- ment is allotted $11,877,000; Justice, $26,345,000; Commerce, $36,19%,000, and Labor, $9,643,000. The' measure includes $4,015,000 to foster commercial aviation and $1,. 063,000 for helium development. = “The Adventure of the Blanched Soldier” ’ One of Three New | Sherlock Holmes Stories Appears in the Magazine of Tomorrow’s Star The story is complete—a thrilling tale from the pen _of A. Conan Doyle, creator of fiction’s famous detective. he Tomw’: Star 3 manent substantive law is ignored in the continuance of the lump-sum policy, the District bill reported today contains no appropriation for new #chool teachers. The limitation of 25 per cent above assessed valuation on the price to be paid for school, playground and park sites is retained in the bill, despite the emphatic protest fronr District officials that their hands are tied and they are unable to purchase under this limitation the sites that are needed especially for school buildings. The committee, however, exempts from this limitation $154,000 of current funds for acquisition of school sites. The present bill also discards the existing system of purchasing District supplies, and compels the District to purchase from the Federal supply committee schedules, thus putting the District in this respect on the same hasis as other departments and agencies of the Federal Government. The bill stops the printing of the over-due real estate tax book, and re- quires the information to be prepared in such shape that interested parties may visit the tax collector’s office and see the copy that would otherwise go to the printer. The bill provides for the manufac- ture of auto license tags at the Occoquan penal institution and pro- vides money for a small foundry to | produce certain cast iron products, such as sewer tops, window bars and grates. Student Clause Intact. The provision admitting Maryland and District school children to the District schools was not disturbed. One additional child hygiens station was provided for, with an increase of $12,000 in the appropriation. During the hearings the Funk sub- committee showed itself much exer- cised over the congestion of cases in the Police Court, and demand was made as to why these cases are not brought to trial. The court was forced to present to the subcommittes a list of all the delayed cases. An important omission from the bill is the removal of the usual item, $15,000, for repair and heating at Columbia Hospital. This puts that in- stitution in the same situation as the other hospitals. The bill carries the new items rec- ommended by the Budget Bureau of $250,000 for the M street bridge. In explaining the continuation of ! the lump-sum fiscal policy, Repre: sentative Frank Funk of Illinols stated in his report that ‘“the bill contemplates a lump-sum contribution of $9,000,000 by the Federal Governe ment in conformity with the practice initlated in the District of Columbia appropriation bill for the fiscal yeas 1925, plus approximately $950,000, representing the Government's share of certain miscellaneous revenus, which it forfeits as a part of the lump-sum arrangement. In the figure of $23,803,666 to come from District revenues is included approximately $2,760,000 of revenue to be derived sources. Elim!