Evening Star Newspaper, February 15, 1927, Page 1

WEA S. Weathe Partly cloudy tonight; minimum 32 degrees; tomorr by rain. Temperat noon today: terday. Full repo lowest, 37, at 2 p.m. THER. Bureau Forecast.) and slightly colder temperature about row cloudy, followed ure—Highest, 52, at s- rt on page 4. ®(Closing N.Y. Stocks and Bonds, Page 14 0.2 0. g R0, R intered as second class matter shington, D. C. @h . WASHINGTON, WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION D. '"UESDAY, ) FEBRUARY 15, - FRANCE TO SOFTEN BLOWATU. 5. NAVY CONFERENCE PLAN Briand Reply, Due Tomor- row, Will Try to Avoid Ap- pearance of Rebuff. DOOR TO BE LEFT OPEN FOR NEW SUGGESTIONS Tokio, Consenting to Discuss Re- duction, Indicates Actual Cut « Ts Improbable. 1o Associated Press PARIS, to the posals of Pre ident Coolid ed by Foreign Minister by unanimo approved a cabinet | meetin; 1t will be ‘)x'\\:n'(lfd‘ to Washington immediately and willy be made public tomorrow merning. \st in these dispatches, the as indicated after the cab: fnet meeting, will point out that the League of Nations is already consid- ing the disarmament question in i telation to all nations, as distinguished from the group of nations n\v‘!!(tl)ned, by Mr. Coolidge. France, it will has no desire to take the question out of the League’s hands. Briand Easing Rejection. In drafting the reply, M. Briand took great pains to make it appear as little as possible like a flat rejection, vt the me time making it clear that France & positively for the mo- tent to the League preparatory com mission’s scheme, which links naval and disarmament. It is unde ood the mote I door open for the Washington G 3 ment to make suggestions concerning the continued efforts of the prepara- tory commission, which is working under League auspices with the collab- oration of American delegates. TOKIO SEES CUT UNLIKELY. B 15 —France’s re disarmament pro- | s draft- | nd, was ebruary naval Reply, However, Will Not Contain Reservations to Acceptance. TOKIO, February 15 (#).—Premier Wakatsuki, replying to interpellations | today in the House of Peers, said that | the government's decision to partici- pate in the proposed Coolidge arms limitation conference does not war- rant postponement of the naval cor- stroction bill, bscause-it is impossible o foretell the result of the confer: ence. $ The cabinei discussed drafting a memo.andum replying to President Coolidge’s proposal, but it was under- stood that nothing in the way of an | answer was definitely decided upon ex- cept acquiescence, and that a further discussion of the wording of the repl:\' would be necessary. Hope was ex- pressed that the memorandum could be forwarded this week, or early next week. Vo Reservations in Reply. While it was generally asserted that | the reply will contain no reservatio because of the insistence of the cab et it also is no secret that the na Saff desired a clause in the reply getting forth Japan’s attitude 0? the ® ster of the Navy Takarabe, | however, was understood to have | voted with the cabinet, thus risking | his staff, but at the same | present akatani, interpellating Shidehara in the suggested that the of Peers, ot world armament | Jest solution to the x :‘;T\l.aunn was to induce America to Join the League of Nations instead of proposing a disarmament conference. | Pie also suggested that Japan ex-| change views with the United States | and Great Britain regarding the build ng of naval facilities at Pearl Har-| bor, Hawaii and Singapore, Straits| Settlemen Avoids League Di Minister Shidehara did not reply as to Pear] Harbor and Singapore, but said he hoped Ameri cussion. He explained, however, ice into the League was a nited world. that entrs complicated question for the Ul Btates, with little hope of her joining at present. He declared Japan “ha no intention of attempting to indu America to change her attitude to- ward the 1 16 : Minister Takarabe. interpellated in the Upper Ho reiterated that the navy was at its minimum, and there: fore there is mo room for further re- duction. He regarded the Coolidge tension of the Wash 21 He did not changed con- the 0 of auxiliary 3. or even H—4, be cause some of tb countries involved needed more auxikaries than others for defense pUFposes. ditions ships 5. Navy for i)f fense, To Win Territory Is Fascist Appeal to defend her d it, says n jointly on President Cool- val disarmament proposal and the opening of the Tripoli fair tod: “We colonie our superdens not to spre scist 5, but 1a to defend our W seek new outlets for ¥ of population and our desire to work,” the per gdds. “We are merely following the example of those nations which now are acting as our men- nes navy gland to v con- permitted E n empire. A in’s heritage for the We are demon- s the English and ury civilization conquer quered ricans ond our border “Why should we renounce our futupe? It is in the hands of God, and the proverbs s “GGod helps those who help themselves.’ would join the ! ue for the assuring the peace of | & news to Grow if Paris Limitatio BY G. GOULD LINCOLN. Refusal by France to participate in a five-power naval limitation agree- | ment as proposed by Prestdent Cool- {1dge, forecast in dispatches from Parls, will give impetus to the de- {mand for building more cruisers and | submarines Ly the United States.| This was the view taken at the Capi- tol today, both by men who have supported the bigger navy idea and by those who have opposed it at this session of Congress. Suggestion has been made that in the event France and Italy are un- willing to enter into a five-power naval limitation conference at this time, a conference be held by the representatives of the United States, | Great Britain and Japan, in an ef- [fort to extend the 3 ratio adopted by those countries for capi- tal ships at the Washington confer- ence so that it shall cover auxiliary naval craft. 7 At the White House today no state- | | that attitude of the United States Govern- ment if France, or any other power FRENCH REFUSAL TO CONFER WILL BRING DEMAND FOR SHIPS| |Leaders in Congress Expect Big Navy Idea ment was forthcoming regarding the | Stays Out of n Parley. ,to which President Coolidge addressed | his recent memorandum, should de- | | cline to confer. No statement will be made until the official replies of the | nations have been received. Nothing | was said regarding the possibility of a | three-power negotiation. It was made quite clear, however, : olidge believes the to obtain naval through such a confer- | ence of the five powers signatory to| the Washington treaty as he has now proposed. Furthermore, it was said that the President, in proposing his plan for a five-power naval limitation treaty, has not undertaken to set up a new conference or to ignore the League of Nations. The dispatches | from Irance have stressed the idea that the French government will hold it cannot go outside the League con- ference. The conference proposed by the President, it was said, is not a new or | separate conference. It is simply a| suggestion that when the powers re- turn to Geneva next month to the prey arms conference the rep- resentatives of the five powers which signed the Washington naval treaty |be_empowered to negotiate a_treaty | | " (Continued on Page 2, Column 7.) | | GEN. WU NOW AIDS NORTHERN DRIVE ON CANTON IS REPORT Britain Anxiously Awaits News of Negotiations With Chen, Reported Broken. By the Associated Press. February 15.—Chinese press reports received here today in- dicated that Gen. Wu Pel-Fu, central military leader, who has been stand- ing between the opposing Cantonese and Peking forces in Honan province has joined the northern forces. The reports quoted some of Wu's lieutenants as saying their chief, whose position up to now has been a mystery to both the north and south, had allied himself with Feng- tien troops now moving southward for an attack upon the Cantonese stronghold 1n Hankow. Start Move Southward. The Manchurian troops were said to have been moving toward the south in the vicinity of Chengchow, important railroad center in Honan province, which is Gen. Wu's domain, while the Shantungese forces were advancing along the Lunghai Rail- way toward Kaifeng, provincial cap- ital. All the troops of Gen. Wu, which formerly were stationed north of the Yellow River, have been withdrawn | to the south and west. Subordinates of Wu, who said he had cast his lot with the northerners pointed out that the Manchurians would not have ad- [vanced on such a scale into Honan province without assurance that they would not be opposed by the provincial ruler. Troops Being Rallied. Gen. Chang Hsueh-Llang, son of Marshal Chang Tso-lin, northern gen- eralissimo, was preparing to leave for Honan province tonight to direct the reorganization and re-enrollment of certain of Wu's military units into the northern army. It also was reported that Gen. Chang Tsung-Chang, Shantung ally of the Mancnurians, was rapidly con- centrating his forces in the region of Anking,, Annwei province, east of Hankow, making a strong threat on the Cantonese forces at Kiankiang. BRITAIN NOT TOLD OF BREAK. News of Negotiations With Anxiously Awaited. LONDON, February 15 P.—With ino official dispatches from China in ! the last 30 hours, the British govern- ment today was anxiously awaiting of the fate of the critical jations at Hankow. negot| There was a tense moment in the| se of Commons this afternoon | when Philip Snowden, Labor, asked Foreign Secretary Sir Austen Cham- berlain whether the negotiations be- | tween the Cantonese foreign minister, vene Chen, and British Charge d'Affaires Owen O'Malley had broken down as stated in the press. “Up to the present moment, 1 have received mo information,” answered | the foreign secretary gravely. Chen Denies Any Break. | HANKOW, February 15 (P.— | ugene Chen, Nationalist foreign min- | ister. declared positively today that therc had been no rupture in negotia- |tions with British Charge d'Affaires | Owen O'Malley over the British con- | cession here and at Kiukiang. \en indicated that the Nation: sovernment considered that modifi | Ho: st { tions on the part of the British in their | ed forces at plans to concentrate armed_ Column 8.) (Continued on Page AVIATORS DROP IN GULF. ! Boat Sent Out to Try to Rescue Army Flyers. GALVESTON, Tex., February 15 | ‘airplane fell into the | Gulf of Mexico shortly before 11 o'elock today, at a point about two miles off the beach. Two aviators left the plane in parachutes and were seen in the Gulf. A Red Cross life saving boat was immediately sent out to effect a res- cue. A collapsing wing is said to ;mm caused the plane to fall. | Seek to Avert General Strike. MEXICO CITY, February 15 (#).— Seeking to avert the general strike set for Thursday by the Confederation of Transport Workers on the national railway lines, the department of in- dustry, commerce and labor has called a conference for discugsion of the men’s grievance. - Portugal Revolt Was Held in Check By Foot Ball Spirit By the Associated Press. LONDON, February That the enthusiastic adoption of foot ball in Portugal had a mitigeting influence on the conduct of last week’s revo- lution, was the statement made by Dr. Da Silva, former governor of Madeira, who has just arrived in London from Lisbon, where he was obliged to remain in a hotel for four days because of the fighting. “It was our worst revolution since 1907,” he told a Daily Mail inter- viewer, “but really 1t was quite a gentlemanly affai He explained by sayving that the rebellious soldiers did their utmost to avoid shooting innocent person: and_attributed this sporting spiri to the effect of foot ball, a game in which Portuguese had_become en- thusiastically interested in the last decade. R FARM BLFAGES TEST N HOUSE Motion to Substitute Sehate Measure to Give Index of Sentiment. By the Associated Press. A definite test of strength today faces the McNary-Haugen farm relief bill in the House on its trek toward final congressional approval. Its supporters, by a motion to sub- stitute the Senate bill for the com- panion measure, which has been under | consideration by the House, plan not only to give an index of the legisla- tion's position, but to hasten its prng-l ress so President Coolidge will receive it by the end of the week. ! Chairman Haugen of the House agriculture committee, coauthor of the measure, is to offer the motion of substitution which was approved yes- | terday by the House rules committee. A vote, probably by roll call, is e; pected to follow after the stipulated period of two hours' debate on the proposal. Strategic Move. Considered a parliamentary stra- tegic move by the farm leaders, the motion is planned to block filibuster ing by the bill's opponents in thelr ef- fort to send it back to the Senatc for conference. Its adoption, the meas- ure’s supporters believe, should place the bill in a position for a final vote | by Thursday night or Friday. Although the measure’s advocates are confident of its passage, an analy sis of administrative provisions b ‘BRUTALITY’ TO CONVICTS| PROBED BY LEGISLATURE Inmates of Michigan State Cement Plant Said to Have Been “Strung Up” by Wrists. By the Associated Press, DETROIT, February 15 of brutal treatment of convict ers in the State's cement pla Chelsea were laid before the legis- | lature last night. The report, signed by two assis- | tant attorneys general, charged L. L.| Griffiths, jr., assisstant superinten- ! dent of the plant, with having placed {men in the “bull pen” for slight of- fenses; with having had them “strung up” by their wrists, handcuffed above ! their shoulders, one for eight hours | daily for 25 days; and with having | ordered the administration of a drug | {to lessen resistance certain con- { victs. ! | Three convicts were quoted in the | { report as saying that the punish- | ments were for such things as re- | fusing to work in dangerous place: ! | of | Investigation intended to deter | mine whether the plant was profit- |able to the State, began some time | ago. Nineteen Others Hurt When Mo- hammedans Attack Hindus. BOMBAY, India, February 15 (#).— {Communal rioting at Indore Monday, {as reported by the Times of India, {caused the death of b6 persons and injurles to 19 others. A crowd of 2,000 Mohammedans, the paper says, attacked a party of Hindu women re turning from a religious ceremony, | the catastrophic effects of the quake. | refusing | permits { which the 5 DIE IN RELIGIOUS ROW. | 600 DEAD OR HURT INSEVERE QUAKES ROCKING BALKANS 19 Shocks in 20 Minutes Marked by Lightning in Cloudless Sky. ALL HOUSES IN 2 TOWNS FALL, BURYING INMATES Other Buildings Plunged Into River While Earth, Opening in Long Crack, Swallows Many. By the Associated Press. VIENNA, February 15.—A dispatch from Belgrade to the Graetz Tages- post s: that the casualties of the ! earthquake, which rocked Bosnia Berzegovina and Dalmatia are esti- mated at 600 persons. These figures for the dead and injured could not be confirmed. The dispatch says that earth tremors were renewed last night. The Hotel De La Ville at Ragusa was reported to have collapsed, killing several guests while at Popovopolie, a row of houses fell into the Trebisnica River, drowning and crushing the in- habitants. AID RUSHED. | Stories of Great Terror Trickle in Over Crippled Wires. BELGRADE, Jugoslavia, February 15 (P).—Doctors with medical sup- plies are being rushed into the earth- quake zones oi Herzegovina, Dalmatia and Bosnia as fast as modern air-| planes can take them. No authentic figures of the loss of life and number of injured are ex- pected for days, because of the break- ing of wires and the utter confusion in_ the widespread area affected by yvesterday’s convulsions. It is feared, however, that the death lst will| mount into the hundreds. I Reports trickling into Belgrade over crippled lines continue to emphasize | Thousands Homeless. | Troops are working desperateiy to| restore rallway communications to allow the passage of trains bearing reiief supplies. Thousands are home- less and will soon be in urgent need of food. The quake was ushered in by a period of spectacular lightning in a cloudless sky, whieh was -followed by 19 shocks in 20 minutes. The widespread nature of the quake and the serious damage it caused were indicated today by reports com- ing in from various sections of the Balkans. Fear End of World. In Metkovitch, Dalmatia, the post office, railroad station and telegraph office collapsed, but the number of dead was not known. A tobacco fac- tory in Ljubinje was destroyed, sev eral persons killed and many injured. All_the dwellings in Popovopolie and Perkovitch collapsed, burying in- mates. Shocks lasting nine seconds occurring in Mostar caused the population to flee to the streets| where the peasants kneeled down | crying that the end of the world had come. Many houses collapsed in the city, and thousands are homeless. Inj Planta four were killed and many in- jured, while at Anselfeld the earth parted and swallowed several houses with their inhabitants. l POLAND ABANDONS PARLEY IN BERLIN Warsaw Delegates Hold German Note Broke Off Negotiations on Trade Treaty. By the Associated Press BERLIN, February 15.—Poland con- siders the negetiations for a commer- clal treaty with Germany to have been broken off by the German note of last Saturday and the Polish dele- gation will leave Berlin today or to- morrow. A note to this effect was presented today to Dr. Lewald, head of the Ger- man delegation, by M. Pradzynski, the chief Polish delegate. The German note, to which today’s communication was a reply, charged that the Polish authorities, especially in Upper Silesia, had for months been ystematically driving German citi- ens from their economic positions by to prolong their residence and consequently expelling them. “The German government,” it said, is of the opinlon that the trade treaty negotiations now going on will be unable to continue with any pros- pect of success until an agreement on the German settlement question has been reached.” Poland’s reply points out that, while the Polish delegation agreed to extend the same rights of entry and settle- ment in Poland to Germans indus- trially and commercially engaged there as to other citizens of most-fa- Vored nations, the agreement asked for by Germany would be enforced be- fore conclusion of the trade treaty of agreement was to be a! component part. PLAN ARCTIC TRIP. Rasmussen and Others Propose to Study Archeology. COPENHAGEN, Denmark, Febru- ary 16 (P.—Knud Rasmussen, noted Danish explorer, is preparing for a new Arctic expedition, he told the Associated Press today. American and Canadian expeditions also are being organized and the three will co-operate in archeological work. The chief aim of the expeditions will be to throw light on the emigra- tion of the first men into the Arctic tegion, Investigating the origin of the 2skimos and their relation to other primitive people, such as the South Sea islanders. charging that they permitted music in front of a Mohammedan mosque. The riot was stopped by police and cavalry, 1927—FIFTY-FOUR ¢ Foening Star. AGES. “From Press t With; The Star’s carrie! o Home in the Hour” r system covers every city block and the regular edi- tion is delivered to Washington homes as fast as the papers are printed. * (#) Means Associated Pr Yesterday’s Circulation, 105,449 I'WVO CENTS. TEX RICKARD| \ SN | | | | \ \ | ';;/.--. . \§ i i | over the WITHBLOOM INROW OVER REFORM BILL Secretary of Lord’s Day Alli- ance and Glen Echo Mana- ger Join in Melee. LATTER KNOCKED DOWN IN COMMITTEE ROOM Free-for-All Follows Alleged Heckling of Rev. H. M. Lawson by Texas Member. A “free-forall” marked the hearing on the Lankford Sunday closing bill before the judiciary subcommittes of the House District committec today The following Incidents were out standing: Representative Thomas L. Blanton Democrat, of Texas, and Representa Democrat, of New York, had a pers encounter, dur ing which the latter was forced back able by Mr. Blanton. Harry L. Bowlby, secretary of the Italian Aviator Arrives at Bol- ma, Portuguese Guinea, on Four-Continent Voyage. Next Leg of Flight Is Expect- ed to Be Most Important of All. By the Associated Press. ROME, February 15.—Comdr. D2 | Pinedo, Italian ace, arrived at Bolma, Portuguese Guinea, at 5:15 o'clock this morning from Villa Cisneros, Rio de Oro, on his flight from Sardinia to South and North America. He plans to start tonight on the transatlantic hop to the coust of Brazil, a distance of 1,715 miles. This hop, the most important in their flight over four continents, Comdr. De Pinedo hopes to achieve in 18 hours. One to Stay Behind. He will be accompanied by Capt. Delprete and Mechaniclan Zacchini, while Sergt. Deglinnocenti will be left at _Bolma. All passenger and naval vessels in the South Atlantic have been asked by wireless to keep-a sharp lookout for the plane and report immediately it is sighted. If conditions do not permit of the hop-off tonight 1t will be made tomorrow morning. last Western Africa, at 11 o’'clock night for Bolama. “omdr. Pinedo left Villa Cisneros, | PINEDO PREPARES TO START 18-HOUR BRAZIL HOP TONIGHT COMDR. DE PINEDO. An official communique says the plane bearing Comdr. De Pinedo and |his companions arrived at Villa Clsneros at 4:30 o'clock vesterday aft- ernoon, having covered 3.190 kilome- ters (1,980 miles) since their start, in about 32 hours. The flyers immediately replenished their gasoline and oil supply and, there being a_full moon, hopped off for Bolma, Portuguese Guinea. DAUGHERTY TRIAL RECALLS MERTON German Metal Magnate De- scribes His Dealings With John T. King. By the Associated Prese. NEW YORK, February 15.—Rich ard Merton, German metal magnate, was recalled to the stand in the Daugh erty-Miller conspiracy case to tell more in detail how he obtained release of $7,000,000 impounded property. The Government charges that the Merton claim was approved in the of- fices of Harry M. Daugnerty, then At- torney general, and Thomas W. Mil- ler, alien property: custodian, because of “hypodermic injections of graft. Merton told how he had first hired John Foster Dulles, an international lawyer, to handle the claim, and then discharged him on the advice of the late John T. King, national Republi- can committeeman from Connecticut. Repeats King’s Advice. He said King told him that he did not need a lawyer, and that Dulles was not the proper person to retain if he did. After discharging Dulles, Merton paid King $441,000 for getting the claim approved, and the Government charges that part of this money found its way Into the possession of Daugh- erty and Miller, through the agency of the late Jess W. Smith, a friend of Daugherty's. After Merton had testified briefly action was suspended, while chief of opposing counsel conferred in whis- pers, finally going to the bench and talking inaudibly to the judge. Mer- ton continued in the witness chair, calmly observing the conference. At the conclusion of the conference Merton was excused, but told he might be needed again. Miller Stenographer Called. Edward J. Sheridan, stenographer in the allen property custodian’s office when Miller was in charge, then took the stand. He dentified letters writ- ten_concerning the Merton claim. Expense vouchers of Jess W. Smith were next offered for identification by the prosecutor, showing railroad jour- neys Smith took with Daugherty when the German claim was pending. While defense counsel was study- ing these papers United States Attor- ney Buckner turned to evidence against Miller, “just to fill in time. Various dockets and flles were Radio NP:ograms——l"age 38 marked for identification, the nature of the documents not being explained .to _the jury. at the time. 800 BLUEJAGKETS GET SAILING ORDER Will Be Held at Guantanamo for Possible Shift to Nic- araguan Service. By the Associated Press. Coincident with a conference in Nicaragua today between Rear Ad- miral Latimer, the American com- mander, and Juan Sacasa. Nicaraguan Liberal leader, the v Department ordered the transport ienderson to sail tomorrow from Philadelphia en route to Guantanamo, with 800 blue- jackets for the scouting fleet. Further disposition of the transport will depend upon developments in Nicaragua, but it was evident the Gov- ernment was prepared to take neces- steps to protect American inter- imer-Sacasa discussion, which was initiated in an effort to find a peaceful solution of the caraguan strife. The Henderson will take on the blue- jackets at Newport, R. I. 3 recruits who have undergone tr there. Although the Navy insisted the move was a routine one, it was inti- mated that with the N: n situ- ation changing dail. ¥ was ready to meet emergencies. No movement of Marines was indi- cated at the department, but 400 ad- ditional men have been ordered with- drawn from the mail guard and would be readily available at Quantico if needed. CRUCIAL BATTL DUE. Americans Advised to Barricade Selves | in Homes. By the Associated P MANAGUA, Nicaragua, PFebruary 15.—Awaiting reinforcements, Liberal and Conservative armies were en- camped today near Matagalpa intent on battle for possession of the city, second in importance only to the cap- ital, Managua. Gen. Moncada, leader of the Liberal forces, is anxlous to sain Matagalpa and then fight his way to Managua, stronghold of the Conservative Presi- dent, Adolfo Diaz. As the Conserva- tives desire to prevent this at any cost, fighting more severe than any yet seen in the warfare between the two factions is expected. Belleving the Liberals outnumbered them, the Conservative garrison at Matagalpa evacuated the city yester- day to encamp to the west and await the arrival of additional forces from Managua. As 800} left, Libery | the Conservatives had adherents in Matagalpa | ing: | Columbia. | ment of the District Commissioners by | Utilities Commission at SeHODLS SURVEY OF T0BE WIDESPREAD Phipps Says 74 Additional Teachérs Can Be Voted in December if Needed. | With the District appropriation bill ! ready to be taken up in the Senate | as soon as there is a lull in the| pending bu s, Senator Phipps of Colorado sai that if the survey of the school tem to be made by the Bureau of Efficiency upholds the need for the 74 additional teachers asked for by the school officials, Con- gress can provide for them in a deficiency bill next December, without unduly handicappisg the system. He pointed out that the schools close for the Summer before the appropriation bill now under con- sideration becomes law and that Con- gress will be back in session with the findings of the Efficiency Bureau available shortly after the next school term starts. Thus, while the District bill as reported to the Senate yvester- day makes no provision for enlarging the teaching force, Senator Phipps | indicated today that the proposal | could be carried out during the com- | ing fiscal year if the efficiency experts | agree with the school authorities. Reveals Scope of Inquiry. | Senator Phipps also revealed today | the scope of the inquiry he has asked | Herbert D. Brown of the Efficienc: | ing questions: 1 Classroom congestion: the number | of teachers required for the number | | of pupils in average daily attendance: | the degree of efficiency in the methods instruction in use: administrative : furnishing of books and | ‘whether buildings are being | properly maintained and whether buildings are properly light- | ed, by natural methods in daytime and | artificially at night, and whether the | Janitor force is adequate. | ™1 short,” said Senator Phipps, “‘we | | want to know whether the system as |a whole is properly supervised, and the Efficiency Bureau will have until the next session of Congress opens to | ascertain these facts for us. Will Investigate Zonin Ve want to know if some build- | are overcrowded while others are | not filled, and, in connection with this | problem, we want to find out if the | zones from which each building is | upposed to draw its pupils are laid | out to the best advantage. H “We want to ascertain whether | there is proper administrative super- | vision of the teaching force. As to the | physical condition of buildings, w want to find out if present appropria tions told from time to time ¢ for this purpose are not sufficlent.” Senator Phipps said that while the subcommittee, of which he is chair- man, was touring the city last week preparatory to acting on the appro- priation bill, it visited several school buildings and found evidences of un- tidiness. He said he did not notice any structural conditions that needed re in those particular buildings, but at the walls appeared to need clean ing | i | | i | One Omission Cited. | A study of the text of the bill as; reported vesterday brought out the fact today that transferring the | power of appointing the corporation | counsel from the District Commis- | sioners to the President the commit-| tee did not write in this amendment | any requirement that the appointee must be a resident of the District of | | The law providing for the appoint- the President stipulates that they must | have been bona fide District residents for three years next preceding appoint- ment, and in creating a new Public the last ses- sion of Congress provisions were en- acted requiring that the new utilities commissioners and the people’s coun- sel also must be District residents. Adoption of the corporation counsel amendment in the pending appropria tion bill would, it was thought toda be a departure from the custom of confining municipel appointments to District residents. Bill's Total Further Increased. The total of the bill as it now stands awaiting oction in the Senate has been further increased to the extent of $137,000, which Senator Phipps will ask the Senate to insert on the floor for the improvement of Meridian Hill Park on Sixteenth street. The bill as.reportzd from committee yesterday carried $36,856,125, which was an in- crease of $640,430. As reported from committee, the bill appropriated $23,000 for continuing monstration, in which rifles 's were much in evid a d revoly work on the embellishment of Merid- ian Hill Parl The amendment to be " (Contiglld on Page 2, Column §.) " (Continued on Page 2, Column 1) Bureau to make, including the follow- | 5P repaired; | @ P Lord’s Day Alliance and an advocate legislation, took a rack at the official stenozrapher, who vas the smallest man about the biz committee table, behind which the row started. and knocked off his glasses and his stenotype machine, ked Dow L. manager of Glen Echo, came up on the run to retal- fate at Mr. Blanton and was knocked on the floor, where, it is claimed hy onlookers, both Mr. Bowlby and Mr. Blanton kicked at him. A number of men in the audience gathered about the combatants, en- deavoring to restrain them, and while the melee was in progress a woman in the audience stgod with hand up- raised, crying for Divine intercession to end the trouble. She later gave her name as Miss H Pitts, 18 Towa Circle, a member of the McKendree Methodist Church. “You notice that the fighting ceased soon as I called upon God for ald.” aid Miss Pitts. While she was call- ing on Heaven there were demands from the other side of the room, di rected at the combatants, to *‘sock ‘em in the jaw!" Rev. H. M. Lawson, pastor of the Maryland Avenue Baptist Church, was speaking in opposition to the bill when the disturbance started. Members of the subcommittee, which was presided over by Representative Clarence J. McLeod, Republican, of Michigan, had | been interrogating the witness and pr venting him from making his state- ment. - The principal offenders in this _ regard were Representative Blanton and Representative Frank R. Reid, Republican, of Ilinols. Bloom Offers Protest. Representative Bloom, who had been aking no part in the hearing, but was sitting at one side as an auditor, arose in protest, declaring that as a member of Congress he wanted to protest against such proceedings. He and Blanton then began an ment, Mr. Blanton stating that shows the opposition to the legislation from the New York moving picture industry.” Mr. Bloom replied that he was speaking only in the interest of or- rly procedure and during the quick change between himself and Mr. nton, Mr. Bloom said “The gentie- man from Tesas states what is not true.” Mr. Blanton rushed for Mr. Bloom and they became locked in each oth er's arms, with Mr. Blanton’s forearm cross Mr. Bloom's throat. Mr. Blan ton bent Mr. Bloom backward over the committee table, <o that the ubper part of his body was Iyving on the ble. Mr. n shouted! “Give me a chance to get my glasses off.” Mr Blanton was pulled away by C. Melvin Sharpe of the Washington Railway and Electric Co. and others who jumped to the rescue Throughout the hubbub, chairs were overturned, several other incipient fights were checked and there were zeneral cries of “Coward!” The official stenographer lost his glasses and his notes When Mr. Bloom made his protest against the way that the Baptist min ister was being heckled without mak ing any reference to the merits of either side of the qu ion under con- sideration he was vigorou auded by the large gathering in the caucus room Kicking by Blanton Charged. ex Manager Schloss of Glen Echo Park was among several who endeavored to rike Mr. Blanton in protest against, is physical attack on Mr. Bl Blanton retaliated by erde to strike Mr. Schloss. In the s gle Mr. Schloss was thrown bacl ard, falling on the floor, where a number of close onlookers declared he s kicked at by both Mr. Bowlby and Blanton ‘he . melee while it lasted M was short lived, the supplications but of | Miss Pitts rang out above the hub- bub. At the opening of the hearing Mr Blanton made a long statement in favor of the Sunday observance bill saying that while he did not believe religion and morality could be legis- lated into people, yet he believed that !law should require reasonable observ ance of the Sabbath. He said that the Lankford bill is too drastic and chided the subcommittee for wasting . its time on the hearings, advising that it should meet in executive session to (Continued on Page 2, Column 5.) 60,000 Deaths Toll In Last Few Years Of Fever in Africa’ By the Associated Press. LONDON, February 15.-—At least 60,000 deaths have been caused, says a Cairo dispatch to the Daily Express, by a virulent epidemic of relaxing fever which has been creeping across the continent of Africa from west to east the last few years. The disease, which is carried by vermin, appeared at Wadal in 1921 and spread qver an area of 3,000 miles in Western and Central Afri ‘The dispatch says it is now extend- ing into Kordofan and Central Su- dan. Quarantine stations have been established and other mgasures ken to curb the fever, but with tle success. » )