Evening Star Newspaper, February 27, 1927, Page 1

WEATHER. (D. S. Weather Bureau Fair and elightly cold morrow increasing cloudi by rain in the afternoon ‘Temperature—Highest, Lowest, 34, at 4 a.m. Full report on Page 6. No. 1,145—No. 30,252. Forecast.) er tocay: to- ness followed or night. 45, at 2 p.m. Entered as second class matter post office, Washington, D. C. he WITH DAILY EVENING EDITION e TWOU. 3. AVIATORS KILLED AS PLANES FALL IN ARGENTINA Capt. Woolsey and Lieut. Benton Are Victims of Collision in Midair. SURVIVORS TO CONTINUE PAN-AMERICAN FLIGHT New York Is Wrecked, Detroit Burned—Parachutes Save Lives of Two. By the Associated Pres BUENOS AIR; February 26.—| Death came today to two membr.rs of the United States Army Flight Squadron just at the end of the first half of their good-will visit to the Americas. Capt. Clinton F. Woolsey of Michi- gan, pilot of the Detroit and the squadron’s maintenance officer, and Lieut. John W. Benton of California, the relief pilot and youngest of }he aviators, were killed when the New York, the flagship of the squadron. and the Detroit collided and crashed to earth. Maj. Herbert A. Dargue, l"lh'(hl commander and pilot of the New York, and Lieut. Ennis C. ‘Whitehead, his relief pilot, jumped from their ma- chine and were landed by their para- chutes safely. Wings Become Entangled. Flying in close-formation over the Palomar Fleld, a few miles from Buenos Alres, the Detroit slipped down | ALONG NORTH Proposed Group of 5 BY WILL P. KE A model municipal group of possibly five new buildings, located on the North side of Pennsylvania avenue be tween Third and Seventh streets, may be the result of the plan now virtually agreed upon not to locate additions to the District Building within the ave- nue Triangle. This new feature of the Capital bullding program is being studied by | Federal and District officlals. It pro- vides for close co-operation between | the local community and the Federal Government in cleaning up the un- sightly condition on hoth sides of Pennsylvania avenue and making it in physical appearance, as it is his- torically, the most important main street in the world. The District Commissioners have virtually agreed upon such a program of construction, which was discussed in a preliminary way with the Pub- lic Buildings Commission yesterday. This led to announcement by Sen. ator Smoot that the commission voted to recommyend that the District of- ficials suggest such a municipal group, outside of the triangle south of Pennsylvania avenue which is to be acquired for the new Federal Gov- ernment buildings. Fits in With Other Plan. Ever since it was decided to buy the triangle south of the Avenue some fear has been expressed as to | conditions along the north side of the Avenue, and as to ability to force a proper development by private capital. A group of municipal bulldings to care for the rapidly expanding needs of the District ay be the answer. The new municipal group would fit in beautifully with the plans for developing the lower end of Pennsyl- vania avenue east of Seventh street. WASHINGTON, D. C, SUNDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY 27, 1927.—108 PAGES. * NEW CITY BUILDINGS MAY RISE SIDE OF AVENUE Municipal Structures Between Third and Seventh Streets Would Conform With U. S. Project. It was orfginally contemplated that a great parkway frontage should be provided from the District Court- House in Judiciary Square to meet slation had been : B street and ex- tending across Pennsylvania avenue and along the north side of the Capitol Grounds. Then, in connection with the acqui- sition of the land between the Capi- tol and the Union Station, a new broad avenue from Unlon Station to meet Pennsylvania avenue at Third street is planned. It is between this new avenue and Seventh street that the new municipal group may be located. The District government is already desperately in need of more space for its growing activities. The cre- ation of the new Public Utilities Commission, with no proper space available for offices, emphasizes this fact. Then, too, with the work soon to start on the Federal building pro- gram, some seven or eight District institutions now housed in this area will be thrown out of a home. These include: Traffic Bureau Affected. The Traffic Bureau on_Pennsyl- vania avenue between Fourteenth and Fifteenth streets, the House of Detention at Fifteenth street and Ohio avenue; the District of Colum- bia employment agency, which ad- Joins the Traffic Bureau; a fire en- gine house at Fourteenth street and Ohio avenue and another engine company at Twelfth and D _streets, the municlpal garage on D street near Thirteenth street. the munici- pal lodging house on Twelfth street between C and D streets, and the first precinct police station, which adjoins the lodging house. The District officials d planned even before the present District Build- ing was erected that it would eventu- (Continued on Page 4, Column 8.) upon the New York, when the signal was given to break formation for landing purposes. The wings of the two planes became entangled and they went into a-spin together, the Detroit taking fire. The other two planes, the St. Louis and San Francisco, pro- ceeded to the landing place. i Maj. Dargue and Lieut. ‘Whiteh succeeded in leaping from their plane, but, according to Capt. Eaker of the San Francisco, Lieut. Benton was thrown - free and was killed by the fall. ‘An early version had it that Benton was burned to death when the Detroit came down in flames. Maj. Dargue announced later that the flight would be continued by the two un mul;l‘l‘l’na;.. "i:; :;;l,l lgne, the San Antonio, re:nnd Mu%flflm ‘today. The bodies Of™ two airmen were taken to an hospital and later brought to Bu Alres. Had Just Beey Welcomed. The accident happened only a short time after the aviators had landed in the harbor and had been greeted by the mayor of Buenos Alres in the e of the city suthorities. After reception they took a short rest, fefueled ana m.l:; {-ur‘t:d n{?\‘nm. fiel or the . by nmlmq ‘were to start on leg to the north, their on being Asuncion, P‘G‘vL lyl‘l C: Eaker of the San Fran- cisco, who was in a position of ad- vantage in the air, witnessed the col- lision of the Detroit and New York. “We had just flown in close forma. tion,” he sald. “The four planes formed a diamond over the landing feld at Paloma, Maj. Dargue, piloting the New York at the head of the squadron, led to the others the breaking up of the formation for the rpose of landing. ’““O‘D!. Woolsey, in the Detroit, in No. 3 position, and the New York, No. 2, turned out simultaneously, Woolsey to the left, Dargue to the right. The New York continued as did the St. Louls, slightly higher and to the rear. “The Detroit turned upward and eway - from the New York several ‘hundred feet, then turned back to the right, and went into a slight dive. May Not Have Seen New York. “At that instant Woolsey was above the New York, and probably did not see it. The Detroit started a gentle gliding turn slightly toward the Newl York’s left wing; the ships telescoped and began a spin as one plane. “Very soon one parachute opened at an altitude of a thousand feet. A second ‘chute’ opened at about 6500 feet, only two jumped in the para- chutes. Another body fell free just before the pianes struck the ground. “The collision occurred at_about (Continued on Page 2, Column 8.) Bl R PROTESTS CAUSE MEXICO TO ABANDON IMPORT TAX Business Interests Had Predicted General Ad Valorem Duties Could Not Be Endured. { By the Associated Pross. | MEXICO CITY, February 26.—As a | result of protests from business inter- ests, the Mexican government an- nounced today the indefinite postpone- | ment of the new 5 per cent ad valorem | import duties which Rad been ordered | effective March 4. The duties had | been ordered imposed upon virtually evervthing imported to Mexics Some business mer declal that the new duties would boost prices be yond the ability of the people to en- dure, would deaden the already stag- nant trade and would increase the cost of living, which at present is almost impossibly high for many. Meanwhlle, however, numerous other fncreases In customs duties continue effective, and the general policy of the Mexican government for tariff revision upward remains unchanged COTTON CLOTHES URGED. North Carolina Women to Try to Help Market. FAYETTEVILLE, N. C.. February 26 (P).—Believing American women van put “King Cotton” back on his hrone, the North Carolina Federation of Women's Clubs is planning a “wear Cotton” movement, Which will be jaunched at the State convention at Wilson in October. The second day of the convention will be known as “Cotton day,” and felegates will be asked to wear cot- ton clothes. Prizes will be awarded U. 5. GIVES BRITAIN NICARAGUA PLEDGE Protection for Its Subjects Assured—Borah Beaten on Inguisitorial Tour. FOREIGNERS AWAIT FATE OF SHANGHAI Armies Lining Up to Battle for Richest Prize in Chi- nese Civil War. By the Associated Press. Reiterated assurances that Ameri- can forces in Nicaragua “will con- tinue to extend protection to British subjects in that country” were con- veyed to the British ambassador yes- terday by Acting-Secretary Crew of the State Department in reply to the notification that the British cruiser Colombo had been ordered to Corinto. “I note that his majesty's govern- ment feels that the presence_of a war vessel may have a moral effect and will be a base of refuge for British subjects,” the American note sald. “I have further noted that it is not intended to land forces and that the commanding officer will be instructed accordingly.” Had Previous Assurance. Assurances that protection would be accorded British nationals was #lven the embassy when the first British communication on the subject was received, but the note did not reach Ambassador Howard until after he had been advised and had in turn informed the State Department that the cruiser had been sent to Corinto by order of the London government. Decision of Great Britain to send the cruiser Colombo to Corinto had a reaction yesterday in Congress. Rep- resentative Britton of Illinois, rank- ing Republican on the naval committee, introduced a resolution which would request President Coolidge to send sufficient Marines to Nicaragua to safeguard the lives of American and foreign subjects “so it will not be necessary” for forelgn nations to send warships into Nicaraguan waters. He sald he was in complete accord with the administration's Nicaraguan policy to the extent that European " (Continued on Page 5, Column 5.) ARMAMENT EXPENSE ISSUE UP IN GENEVA Experts Prepare Standard Form Report for Nations to Show Costs at Parley. By the Associated Press. PARIS, February 26.—Financial as well as physical limitation of arma- ments is occupying the attention of the League of Nations commission whose experts now are assembled here. The experts today completed a stand- on which each country will show | armament costs. This was prepared |in expectation that the projected ulti- ard form of armament expense report | By the Associated Press. SHANGHAI, February 26.—Thou- sands of foreign residents of this city awaited today the result of the align- ments of forces by contending war lords for its possession—the richest prize dangling before the militarists of China. Thousands of soldlers from Shan- tung Province continued to pour in from the north to swell the army of its governor, Gen. Chang Tsung- Chang, who has displaced Marshal Sun Chuan-Fang in military control of this province of Kiangsu. Sun, not long ago dictator of five provinces and 113,000,000 people, has fallen into obscurity, and Chang rides the uncer- taln Chinese wave of power. Chang to Move South. Chang Tsung-Chang, lesser war lord of the Northern alliance, headed by the famous Manchurian dictator, Chang Tso-Lin, concentrated his troops near Shanghal today prepara- tory to moving south along the rail- road to Sungkiang to do battle with the victorious advancing army of Can- tonese. Small clashes took place when Chang's troops halted deserting sol- diers of Sun Chaun-Fang, fleeing to- ward Shankhal to avoid facing the Cantonese, who drove them from Hangchow eight days ago. Sun’s Army Dwindles. Sun's beaten army, once 40,000 strong, depleted by capture and its morale weakened by a threatening army and Cantonese propaganda within its ranks, had disintegrated to- day until little more than 10,000 re- mained to block the advance of the Cantonese. These were tearing up the railroad near Sungkaing, 28 miles south of Shanghai, to retard the Can- tonese. To this point, the Shantung troops under Chang Ttsung-Chang are ex- pected to move for the battle with the Cantonese to determine which shall possess Shanghal. Alienation Suit Dropped. NEW YORK, February 26 (#).— The $50,000 alienation suit brought by Mrs. Thelma Helms Foster, a daughter of Hermann Helms, chess expert, against Mrs. Nona McAdoo Foster, a sister of Willlam G. Me- Adoo, former Secretary of the Treas- ury and son-in-law of President ‘Wilson, was dismissed today by Su- preme Court Justice Bijur for lack of v;osecu!lom The sult began in May, 1922, Pl;y Producer A;reTmi. NEW_ YORK, February 26 (#).— Jacob Kromberg, the third of the producers of the police raided play, “The Virgin Man,” was arrested to- | mate disarmament convention will 'limit both money and materials. day charged with the production of indecent plays. By the Assoclated Pross. ROME, February 26.—Padlocking of all of italy's Greenwich Villages is the first item on the program of the new Italian academy, the names of whose | members soon will be announced. Be- ‘fnre the death knell tolls for the Bo- | hemian haunts, however, the acade- { micians will try to convert their artist | Dopulations into 100 per cent citizens, willing to co-operate with the govern- ment in enriching the mnational cul- | tural life. In the belief that this and other tasks awaiting the new academy re- quire youthful vigor, the government wearers of the most beautiful then will be urged to use thelr influence in promoting the use ) pf cotton clothes. intends to break with the tradition of venerableness set by France's im- mortals. The Itallan academiclans, say the Fascist leaders, will be com- paratively young mrfl. instead of I:calian Academy to Outlaw Bohemian Artist Colonies to Aid Ifl_a_t_ional C}xlture guarding the cuitural treasures of the past, will be expected to guide the present and prepare for the future. In addition to outlawing Bohemian- ism, one of the academy’s first tasks will be curbing all forms of private patronage of art and culture which is characterized as anachronistic in the Fascist state. Every foreign influence in art and culture will be combatted to the last ditch, the principal ones being the American movies, German architecture and French modern literary modes. On the constructive side the academy will publish a magazine, give prizes, purify the Italian language and main- tain a nation-wide organization to en- courage all forms of artistic and intel- lectual expression which is judged to conform with true Italian tradition and beauty, GANS N GOOLDGE STRENTH SEEN I VETO OFFARN BL Possible Opposition in Middle West Insufficient to Jeop- ardize Renomination. STILL APPEARS AS MOST AVAILABLE CANDIDATE Immediate Reaction Is That Presi- dent Has Gained More Than He Has Lost by Action. BY GOULD LINCOLN. sident Coolidge has hit the MeNary-Haugen farm relief bill and | those organizations supporting it a solar plexus blow. Nor does it appear his opponents in the farm States will be able to counter strongly. Since everything in this country sooner or later resolves itselt into a matter of politics, the political effect of the veto of the farm bill will be, and even now is being, scanned care- fully. The immediate reaction is that the President is far stronger politically than if he had signed the bill. If he has lost strength in some States of the Middle and Northwest, he has not lost enough to jeopardize either his renomination or his re-election, if he finally decides to become a candidate. Lowden Boom An Example. Here and there a shout for Lowden for President in 1928 has been raised; in Iowa, for example, where Gov. Hammill has declared that In the next Republican national convention a strong effort would be made to name a candidate friendly to the West. But former Gov. Frank O. Lowden of Tilinois is not going to ride into the nomination or the White House either on the strength of his support of the McNary-Haugen bill. Nor is any one else, unless, indeed, conditions in this country should within the next twelve months become financially bad, with business as well as agricul- tural depression. For some time it has been clear that the States of the Northwest and some of the Middle West canno tof them- selves pick the next candidate of the Republican party for President on a McNary-Haugen farm relief platform. They would be snowed under in the national convention by an avalanche of votes from the East and the South, with some from the West thrown in for good measure. It ble that some of the State @elegations to the next Republican national convention wil be anti-Cool- . This may be true of the Iowa delegation. The State legislature has by a large vote condemned the Presi- dent’s velo of the farm bill. It may be true of the Dakotas and of Ne- braska, though there is some doubt. Tlinois Seems for Coolidge. Although Gov. Lowden and Vice President Dawes are both ‘‘favorite sons” of Illinois, it is doubtful that the Illinois delegation would support either of them If President Coolidge should be a candidate for nomination. Wisconsin has for years been antago- nistic to the regular wing of the Re- publican party. There is every rea- son to believe it will send a delegation opposed to the President. But in Kan- sas and Missouri, in Indlana and Ohio, the Coolidge sentiment is strong, and, veto or no veto, the prospects are for Coolidge delegates. ‘The President's veto message is di- rected particularly to the farmers themselves. It was written for farm consumption, not city. It will be widely read by the farmers. He has argued that the McNary-Haugen bill is hurtful to the farmer, and if the farmers view thé matter In the same light, he will gain strength actually, rather than lose it. It is too early to say just what the effect of the Presi- dent’s arguments will be. Everywhere the President has been hailed as courageous because of his veto of the farm bill. It was well un- derstood that the only real point of attack against the administration lay in dissatisfled agriculture. He will be respected for his stand even in locali- tles where he is criticised for it. Democrats Hope for Reaction. The Democrats are hoping that the veto of the farm bill react in their favor. They see in it the possibility of a serious rift between the Repub- licans of the East and the Repub- licans of the West. But that the Republicans of the West and Middle West will turn to a Democratic nominee for President is not yet on the cards. Nor will they, unless there are serious troubles in this country, causing distress. What Democrat prominently men- tioned for the nomination next year could hope to win in the Western States? Gov. Al Smith of the “Side- walks of New York’ makes no great appeal to the parties. His wetness and his church afiliations both make him unavailable in those sections. Gov. Ritchie of Maryland and Gov. Donahey of Ohio are not known in the West. Senator James A. Reed of Missouri probably would have greater strength in the West than any other Democrat now prominently put for- ward, unless it were William Gibbs McAdoo, and MoAdoo Is an impossi- bility because of the opposition to him in the East. But while Senator Reed is popular in Kansas, for example, it ! is difficult to visualize that “‘Sahara’ | of the States supporting a liberal if he is not an out-and-out wet. Further- | more, Senator Reed, like President | ! Coolldge, opposed the MeNary-Haugen | | farm relief bill. Coolidge Still Stands First. President Coolidge, despite his veto of the farm bill, today still appears the most available candidate for the Republican nomination in 1928. This is admitted privately even by men in Congress who rallied most strongly to the support of the farm bill. They do not see how he can be denfed the nomination if he wants it, and they belleve he can be reelected. To many of the politiclans and leaders the fact that he can be re-elected is the essence of his availability. Tt is @ far ery from Washington to | the corn belt. The Farm Bureau Federation and other organizations which have supported the McNary- Haugen bill will doubtless prove the centers around which opposition to President Coolidge and support of | some other candidate for President will_rally in the next few months, inued o , thi - - e 0 CYRANO de ERGERAC & PROMIBITION ACT INAUGURATION CEREMONIES “From Press to Home Within the Hour” The Star is delivered every evening and Sunday morning to Washington homes at 60 cents pe and service wi (#) Means Associated Pr r month. Telephone Main 5000 1l start immediately. Sunday Star, FIVE CENTS. i GRioiRon OPERA (o INWHAT PRICE GLORY* OR OVER THE Top Wiry KELLOGG %, : 199, AN i 2 , A FEATURES OF THE WINTER DINNER OF THE GRIDIRON CLUB. DAM AND OFFICERS' BILLS MUST WAIT Senate Refuses Cloture for Measures—Building and Dry Acts Pending. By the Associated Press Death blows for this session to both Boulder Canyon Dam and emergency officers’ retirement bills were dealt yesterday by the Senate in refusing to restrict debate on either. Besides the two talk-limiting petf- tions which it rejected, the Senate has two others pending, one on the admin- istration's prohibition reorganization measure and the other on the public buildings bill. One and perhaps both will be voted on tomorrow. By refusing to end the spectacular filibusters on the Colorado River and officers’ bill, the Senate left itself in the parliamentary tangle which has existed for a week, and in which some Senators threaten to keep it enmeshed until adjournment at noon Friday. Out of the legislative chaos yester- day the Boulder Canyon measure emerged as the Senate's unfinished business, but it would be automati- cally replaced, for the time being at least, if cloture were placed on either the prohibition or the public buildings bill. Johnson Appeal Fails. Although he made an eleventh-hour personal appeal to President Coolidge at the White House for his Boulder Canyon bill, Senator Johnson, Repub- lican, California, failed to obtain even a majority for his cloture petition, the vote being 32 to 59, or 29 less than the two-thirds majority necessary to in- voke the rule limiting Senators to one hour each on the measure. Efforts of Senator Tyson, Dem- ocrat, Tennessee, to get the Senate to stop the flow of talk on the officers’ bill failed by a margin of seven votes, the roll call showing 51 Senators fav- oring cloture and 36 opposing it. Senator Johnson failed to draw support for his cloture move from some of those who have been most active in assisting him in_ his fight, ~(Continued on Page 5, Column 4.) 20 DIE IN MEXICAN BATTLE Federal Troops and Rebels Have Combat in Guanajuato. MEXICO CITY, February 26 (#).— T'he War Department today announced that two federal officers, one soldier and 17 rebels were killed in a battle between federal troops and rebels in the mountains in the state of Guana- Juato. o Press dispatches report that 150 rebels attacked and looted the' town of San Francisco Del Rincon in the state of Guanajuato, killing one and wounding several of the townspeople. The rebels escaped with a consider- able booty and were pursued by fed eral troops, summoned from nearby garrisons. Insanity Bill Favored. DENVER, February 26 (#).—The Colorado House of Representatives to- day passed a bill prohibiting the in- sanity defense in criminal prosecu- tions. Under the measure, which now goes to the Senate, the defendant would have an insanity hearing, and if declared sane, would have to use some other defense at this trial. Soviet Replies to Britain. MOSCOW, February 26 (P.— Soviet Russia’s reply to Great Brit- ain's note threatening to break off relations unless anti-British propa- ganda by the Soviet was discon- tinued was delivered to_the_ British charge d'affaires, Sir R. M. is afternoon. m, | who TODAY’S STAR. PART ONE—44 PAGES. General News—Local, National Foreign. Schools and Colleges—Page 22. The Starry Skies in March—Page 23. Army and Navy News—Page 23. Clubwomen of the Nation—Page 25. W. C. T. U. Notes—Page 25. At the Community Centers—Page 26. Serial, “The Murder of Roger Ack- rovd"—Page 30. Veterans of the Great War—Page 30. Spanish War Veterans—Page 30. A. R. Activities—Page 31. ! Around the City—Page 34. Girl Scout News—Page 34. News of the Clubs—Page 35. Radio News and Programs—Pages 38 and 39. Financial News—Pages 40. 41 and 42, PART TWO—16 PAGES. Editorials and Editorial Features. Washington and Other Society. Notes of Art and Artists—Page 4. Reviews of New Books—Page 4. Tales of Well Known Folk—Page 12. Y. W. C. A. Notes—Page 12. Parent-Teacher Activities—Page 14. Boy Scout News—Page 14. and PART THREE—12 PAGES. Amusements—Theaters and the Photo- play. Music—Page 5. Motors and Motoring—Pages 6, and 8. District National Guard—Page 9. Fraternal News—P: 10. District of Columbia Naval Reserve— Page 11. PART FOUR—4 PAGES. Pink Sports Section. PART FIVE—8 PAGES. Magazine Section—Fiction and Fea- tures. The Rambler—Page 3. 7 PART SIX—10 PAGES. Classifiéd Advertising. Civilian Army News—Page 9. GRAPHIC SECTION—10 PAGES. ‘World Events in Pictures. COLOR SECTION—4 PAGES. Mutt and Jeff; Reg’lar Fellers; Mr. and Mrs.; High Lights of History. COOPER LETTERS STOLEN IN ALBANY Judge Whose Activities Are Under U. S. Scrutiny Unable to Explain Motive. By the Associated Pre ALBANY, N. Y. February 26— Letters from the private files of Judge Frank Cooper, whose judicial activi- tles are under scrutiny in Washington, were stolen today. The file, which was ransacked, con- tained correspondence between the Jjudge and United States District At- torney Oliver D. Burden of Syracuse. Judge Cooper declined to talk about the incident, and Dean Taylor, his secretary, would venture no opinion as to the motive for the burglary. The ransacked file, Taylor sald, was the only one in Judge Cooper's office which contained letters that might have a bearing on the Washington hearings. . Taylor could not say how many let- ters were in the file, but he estimated the number at between 50 and 100. How many were taken was not known tonight, and no report of the number he police. A patrolman no GRIIRON DINER SFULL OF SATRE President and Notable List of Guests Attend “Pan- American Congress.” A “Pan-American Congress”’ on problems of the land, sea and air, to- gether with satiric dealing with the Coolidge foreign pol- icy, notably the situation south of the border, were highlights of the Grid- iron Club's first dinner of the 1927 season, held last night at the New ‘Willard Hotel in the presence of an audience comprising the President of the United States, Vincent Massey, the first Minister of Canada to the United States, and many distinguish- ed men of this and other countries. The list of guests included Vice President Dawes, the entire member- ship of President Coolidge’'s cabinet and the leaders of bhoth houses of Congress, and, in addition to the men high in public life, there were pres- ent men famous in the arts sciences, the newspaper world, in- dustry, commerce and the profes- sions—a typical list of those who come from far and near. to attend the dinners of this famous organization of newspaper correspondents, now entering the forty-third year of its existence. Diplomats Are Present. The diplomatic corps of Washing- ton was represented by Baron Ago | Maltzan, German Ambassador; Senor | Don Orestes Ferrara, Cuban Ambas- | sador; Senor Don Miguel Cruchag: Tocornal, Chillan Ambassador; Mr. Sao-Ke Alfred Chinese Minister, and Mr. Maseey, Canadian Minister. Gen. Pershing and Maj. Gen. Le- jeune, commandant of the Marine Corps, among those in the militaray contingent; John D. Rockefeller, jr.: E: H. Simmons, president of the New York Stock Exchange, and Col. John H. Carroll of the Hill rallroads were included in the business group, while Kenesaw Mountain Landis appeared as the representative of professional sports. Gen. Hnoch H. Crowder, United States Ambassador to Cuba, was present. McNary and Haugen Present. Conspicuous in the guest list were Senator McNary and Representative Haugen, co-authors of one of the best advertised pieces of literature of modern times. John W. Davis, Democratic presidential candidate in 1924, was another prominent guest, and Gov. Ritchie of Maryland, who may be an aspirant for presidential honors in 1928, was also in the list. The speakers were President Cool- idge and Minister Massey. Under the rule of the club that ‘“reporters are never present,” their addresses are not published. International American naval policy, ! politic: Sets Chewing Gum Record. LITTLE ROCK, Arl February 26 (®).—Ralph Martin, 16-year-old newspaper office boy, consumed 60 sticks of chewing gum in 60 minutes today; reiterated his A B C's through a mammoth wad of stenographer’s de- light, and entered his formal claim to the world’s championship In his line. Best previous advices placed the record at 54 piece: Martin was able to move his jaws slightly again to- night. . Gorge Broken, Flood Ends in Rush. WATERLOO, Nebr., February 26 ®).—An ice gorge in the Elkhorn etches and songs | LIGHT FIRM EFFORT - - 0 RIGHT SHORTAGE SEEN INVOUCHERS Eldridge Assistant, at Scan- dal Hearing, Tells of Signals Sent Free. “NO CHARGE” INVOICES SHOWN INVESTIGATORS Sensation Produced at Probe When Seiler Reveals Memoranda to Ousted Engineer. Further revelations concerning the District's dealing with the Crousa Hinds Co. of Syracuse, N. Y., in the purchase of traffic signal equipment were unfolded yesterday before the Gibson subcommittee of the Houss District committes as it continued to delve deeper into the irregularities which already have resulted in the suspension of Traffic Engineer I. C. Moller, and involved a trio of other of flcials of the District governmewt. The outstanding development, yaws haps, of a day of continued diséiow ures, some of them so amusing that smiles replaced frowns on the usuafly stern faced committeemen, came late in the afternoon as Alfred G. Seiler, who holds the title of administrative assistant to Traffic Director M. O. Eld- ridge, approached the close of his testi- mony. Seiler, the final witness, sat before the committee and in a character- istically quiet manner, produced a surprise from an innocent looking cardboard folder In the form of a batch of documents sent to Col. Mol ler by the Crouse Hinds Co. “No Charge” Lights Sent. Among them were a number of “‘no charge” invoices and credit memo- randa, which made the Syracuse firm appear to be a virtual “Santa Claus™ to the District to the extent of an apparent “glft” of 23 expensive sig- nal lights, in addition to a credit to its account amounting to $289.50. These documents, Seiler calmly ex- plained, had been reposing in a bas- ket on Col. Moller’s desk in his office for the last two weeks unsigned. They represented, according to the investigators, the efforts of the Crouse Hinds Co. to get the traffic engineer out of the “hole” he admitted he had fallen into upon dis- covering that he had been guilty of irregular practice in the purchase of the electrical equipment. Representative Gibson of Vermont, chairman of the committes, read every item In the vouchers and credit memoranda, and then turned to Director Eldridge, who was seated nearby. “What do you think of that, Mr. Traffic Director?” he asked. “It looks to me,” Eldridge replied, “like the company short-changed u: and is now making good.” Sent “to Meet Shortage.” The “no charge" vouchers stipuia- ted that the equipment shipped on the dates mentioned, January 18, 19 22, of this year, were to meet the shortage on the apparatus called for in the contract of May 17, 1926. The investigation veered at its out. set yesterday from the Trafic Di- rector’s office to the electrical depart- ment, and then suddenly turned gsain to the traffic department, where it will center again tomorrow morn- ing at 10:30 o'clock, when the com- mittee resumes its examination of Seiler. A representative of the Po- tomac Electric Power Co., which figured prominently in the proceed- ings yesterday, also probably will be called. As a matter of fact, Chairman Gib- son intimated that he may send for Col. Moller to return to the witness stand in order to amplify certain of the latest disclosures. ‘The committee spent most of the day linking a chain of circumstances about Warren B. Hadley, District electrical engineer, in an endeavor to show that {rregularities were prac- ticed in his department as well as the { traffic office. Three Hours on Stand. When Mr. Hadley left the stand after more than three hours of se- vere examination, the committee had drawn from him statements indicat- ing that he had not followed the spe- cific_Instructions of the Commission- ers directing the electrical engineer to supervise the work-of the Potomac Electric - Power Co. in instaling the traffic signals and to certify to the bills for the same. Only one other witness was exam- ined by the committee—E. E. Naylor, assistant to District Auditor Daniel J. Donoven. He was on the stand only a short time. The substance of his’ testimony was more in the nature of a corroboration of a statement by his superior to the effect that Mol- ler had been warned not to “fudge’ his accounts by purchasing items in excess of those called for in the con- tracts. Naylor did, however, tell the com- mittee in this connection that he, too, attempted to check an irregularity in the purchase of the traffic signals. One Requisition Returned. Some time ago, he said, District Pur- chasing Agent M. C. Hargrove for- warded a requisition of Col. Moller’s to the auditor’s office calling for 247 additional lights on an original con tract for 48, with a memorandum at- tached questioning the legality of such an unusual procedure. Naylor ex- plained that he returned the requisi- tion to Hargrove, pointing out that its approval would be in violation of the law. Even before Seiler amazed the com- mittee with the submission of the “no charge” vouchers and credit memo- randa, he caused & wmild sensatien by telling of his unsuccessful efforts ta have Col. Moller sign a voucher fram the Crouse Hinds Co. for the payment of $8,848, which came Into the traffic office some time in November, 1926. Twice, Seiler said, he asked Moller to sij the voucher, the last time about 10 days ago. On the first oc- casion, the witness. declared, Moller id he wanted to check up on the equipment before signing the voucher. The secon time, he said. Moller promised “to take care” of the docu- ment in a few days. Seiler added that he then called Director Eldridge’s at- River “broke” today and flood waters which inundated the village began re- ceding with a rush. The river level d:::ped nearly five feet in a few min- ul tention to the traffic engineer's delay in action on the voucher. Seller was asked if he know that (Continued on Page 6, Column 3.)