Evening Star Newspaper, March 7, 1927, Page 1

» WEATHER. (U. S. Weather Bureau Forecast.) Rain tonight and probably tomor- row; warmer tonight, colder tomorrow. Temperature—Highest, 55, at 2 p.m. yesterday; lowest, 42, at 6 a.m. today. Full report on page 6. —_—_ SClosing N.Y. Stocks No 301260. Entered as seco! and Bonds, Page 10 nd class matt shington, D. C. NEWCANTONALLY THREATENS CHANG * ARMYONYANGTSE British Destroyer Blocks Seizure of Steamer by Anhwei Governor. ANTI-FOR_EI—G_N RIOTING IS FEARED AT NINGPO Split Among Cantonese Leaders Seems Definite—Japanese Land More Men at Shanghai. By the Associated Press. SHANGHAI, China, March 7.—The Cantonese menace to Gen. Chang b WASHINGTO. ¢ Foenit ‘WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION D. C, ) Mother Dies Under Train With Child She Tried to Save 1.OS ANGELES, March - 7.—Mrs. Mary A. Long's sacrifice of her own life to save that of her 2-year- old daughter Jessie by throwing herself in front of a freight train, proved of no avail with the death of the child here yesterday. Mrs. Long leaped on the track when the child attempted to cross. As she hurled the baby to one side the mother was caught beneath the wheels. The pilot of the locomotive struck Jessie, fracturing her skull. MARINES AR TOBLOGKFCHTIV Nicaraguan Liberal Leader Told They Wil Fire if Mata- Tsung-Chang’s long lines of communi- cation have been doubled by develop- ments along the Yangtse, above Nan- Authoritative forelgn reports today InfMicated that Chen Tiao-Yunsg, Gov- ernor of Anhwel, has become actively o Chang. hnumu. k ng, Chen demanded that the British steamer Kutwo be given over for movement of his troops down river to Wuhu, which would place \ him closer to Chang's headquarters anking. “Urion lhse British refusal, Chen’s Anhwetes became threatening, but the British destroyer Wolsey stood by to prevent seizure of the vessel. Cantoness Reach Taiping. 1t is also strongly reported that the Cantonese, advancing in Eastern An- hwel below the Yangtse, have reached Taiping, 40 miles southwest of Nan- ing. i Four hundred and thirty Americans remain in Nanking. They have mnot left the city owing to the accessibility of foreign warcraft in the river should they require a place of refuge. Anking is in Anhwei Province, about 150 miles southwest of Nanking, which is in Kiangsu Province. Both cities are on the Yangtze Kiang River. Russians Reach Nanking. Fifteen hundred of Chang Tsung- Chang's White Russians, commanded by Gen. Nechaeff, have reached Nenking from Tsinanfu. The Shan- tungese (Chang’s troops) comman- deered three motor barges belonging to the Standard Ofl Co. at Nanking to move their forces across the river. Development of a -menacing. anti- foreign situation at Ningpo, south ‘of Shanghai, on the coast of Chekiang Province, commanded the attention of the British naval authorities here to- day, and the British flotilla leader H. M. S. Keppel was sent to that port. ‘Announcement by the Kllomlntan (Cantonese left wing) of plans for an anti-imperialist demonstration on a big scale tomorrow has heightened the * nervousness of the Americans and British remaining in Ningpo, and sev- eral Englishmen left for Shanghai Baturday. Move Women and Children. Previously nearly all the British and American women and children had been removed. On Saturday a minor hostile demonstration at the China Mission Society’s hospital caused two English nurses hurriedly to gather their few belongings and take refuge on a Shanghai steamer. The vessel sailed before finishing loading, when & large Kuomintang procession ap- proached the docks. = American consular officials and mis- sion leaders are comsidering the Ning- | * po question carefully, but have taken * mo action. The missionaries feel that further protection is unnecessary at present. The Americans known to be in Ningpo number four women and eight men. The anti-foreign movement there has developed gradually since the Can- tonese occupation began. Posters throughout the city denounce “im- porialism™ and “cultural penetration,” the latter being interpreted as espe- clally being aimed at the missionaries. Americans Termed Foes. Handbills have also been distributed alling on the populace to consider the Americans, British, Japanese and French as their enemies because of their dispatch of military and naval forces to Shanghal. Forelgners within the limits of Shanghai were gratified today over | the landing in the city of 500 Japa- | » mese bluejackets. Their sense of se- curity was strengthened by the ar- rival at the port of 500 more Japanese | The men were billeted in | cotton mills ready for marines, Japancse emergency. Japan now has nine warships at anchor in the Yangtze River near| Shanghai, with 3,000 men available | for shore duty if needed. When the British Coldstream Guards arrive, | galpa Is Attacked. By the Associated Press. MANAGUA, Nicaragua, March 7.— United States marines, 135 of them, today were on the way to Matagalpa to prevent fighting there between the Liberal and Conservative factions. Maj. H. G. Bartlett, in charge of the contingent, made known that a note would be sent to Gen. Moncada, chief Liberal military leader, inform- ing him that if the Liberals should attack Matagalpa they would be fired on, as the matines were being sent for the express purpose of preventing combats that might jeopardize the lives and interests of Americans in Matagalpa. The major gave his views to the Liberal mission, which met the ma- rines when the mission was return- ing from Muy-Muy after unsuccess- ful peace discussions with Gen. Mon- Deny Offer to Moncada. The mission, on its return to Ma- nagua, recalled that in the interview with Gen. Moncada Friday he de- clared the Liberals doubtless would continue fighting until the United States actually declared armed inter- vention or fired on Liberal forces. The general said he was unwiliing in any circumstances to fight the United States. The Liberal mission holds the opinion that if the United States were to declare actual inter- vention and temporarily take charge of Nicaraguan affairs, peace would follow immediately. Emphatic denial was made by the mission of reports that it had offered Gen. Moncada $200,000 in return.for an immediate cessation of hostilitles. ‘These reports, they believed, grew out of a statement by Moncada, in answer to the question, “What are the chances for 7" The reply was: “Although I have been offered $200,- 000 to buy me, I will not accept and am not for sale.” Say Other Offers Were Made. The Liberals say that such an offer was made on several previous occa- sions by agents of the Conservative President, Adolfo Diaz. After reverses in fighting in the Jinotega area the past few days, the Conservatives today were bringing up reinforcements in the hope of wiping out the Liberals. Almost all the con- servative troops now at Matagalpa are to be withdrawn on the arrival of the Marines, After conferences with President Diaz and leading Liberals, Gustavo Arguello Cervantes, a member of the peace mission, expects to proceed to Puerto Cabezas, headquarters of the iLberal government. There he will try to talk peace with the Liberal Presi- dent, Juan B. Sacasa. 1,200 Marine Due Today. CORINTO, Nicaragua, March 7 (®). —The United States transport Hender- son, with about 1,200 Marines aboard, 1s due here today. The British cruiser Colombo, which anchored off Corinto a week ago, to afford a refuge for British citizens if that became necessary, left Corinto Saturday. Just where the warship is going is not known-here. Consular Agent Recovering. MATAGALPA, Nicaragua, March 7 (®).—W. H. De Savigny, consular agent of the United States here, re- mains in bed as the result of the at- tack on him Thursday night by un- identified natives. His condition, how- ever, is not serious. Eberhardt Hopeful for Peace. | By the Associated Press. Minister Eberhardt, at Managua, re- ported today to the State Department he had been informed that while Gen. Moncada, Nicaraguan Liberal leader, would not commit himself, there ap- peared to be some hope of a peaceful settlement of the difficulties in Nica- ragua. Moncada took the position that the negotiations would have to be carried lon directly through Minister Eber- hardt, the report said. either today or tomorrow, the defense force will total approximately 15,000 ! men. A general strike is being fomented | by Nationalists in Shanghai. but there | tions it may be delayed for | allegedly because the | Cantonese leaders wish it to syn-{ chron with the arival of their army | on the outskirts of the city 1 Focus Attention on Soochow. | At the present time the Cantonese ! are focusing their attention on Soo- | chow, 50 miles west of Shanghai, for | with its capture they would be able | to sever the Shanghai-Nanking Rail- | the chief line of communication | the northerners. Realizing this, Gen. Chang Tsung-Chang has gone to the town to supervise personally prep- arations to prevent a further advance in the direction of the Cantonese goal. Hope that he will be successful is not unmingled with some fear, for latest accounts pictured Soochow in a It was reported had gone past Wukiang to a point five miles below Boochow. In order to allow free mov ments of northern forces, all civilian traffic on the rallway has been sus yended. Eugene Chen, the Cantonese foreign minister, has given Owen O'Malley, the British charge, a check for $40,000 *to cover damages sustained by British citizens in anti-British demonstrations. This s in accordance with the agree- ment signed at Hankow recently be- tween Chen and the charge. Trouble at Cotton Mills. The Japanese cotton mills, where Japanese naval forces are on guard, ‘was a trouble center yesterday. The wounding of a mill official, allegedly by a worker, and threats to kill the (Continued on Page 4, Column 4.) that ECUADOR PRESIDENT IMPRISONED BY REBELS By the Associated Press. . President Ayora of Ecuador was held in prison several hours by revolu- tionists last Friday, Minister Bading at Quito reported today to the State Department. The revolutionary movement was headed by Gen. De la Torre, but a split in ti:e military party prevented its success. When the message was sent De la Torre was himself in prison. No details were included in the dis- | patch, which was delayed in trans- | mission. OTING BY NEGROES IN PRIMARIES OF DEMOCRATS UPHELD Supreme Court in Unanimous Decision Overthrows Texas Law. 14TH AMENDMENT MAIN BASIS FOR OPINION Ruling Made in Case Brought by Man Who Says He Was Barred From Ballot. By the Associated Press. The constitutional guarantee giv- ing negroes the right to vote applies to primaries as well as general elec- tions in the opinion of the Supreme Court. Overthrowing a Texas statute, un- der which negroes are prohibited from voting in Democratic primaries, the court found today, in a unani- mous decision, that even though the primary is not mentioned in the Federal Constitution, Federal juris- diction is sufficient to bar the States from making primary laws out of harmony with the constitutional guarantee of equal rights for the races. Says 370,000 Barred. Thé decision was handed down in the case of L. A. Nixon, an El Paso negro, who sought unsuccessfully in the lower courts to recover damages against election judges who refused to permit him to vote at a Democratic pri- mary election. Moorfleld Storey of Boston, his counsel, told the Supreme Court that 370,000 negro voters in Texas had been excluded as ineligible to participate in Democratic primaries. Nixon, himself, represented that he had voted the Democratic ticket for years prior to passage of the law. “That private damage may caused by such political action and may be recovered for in a 'suit at law has been doubted and has been recognized by this court,” said the opinion. “If the de- fendant's conduct was a Wrong to the plaintiff the same reasons that allowed a recovery for denying the plaintiff a vote at a final election allow it for denying a vote at the rimary election that may determine e final result. The Important question is whether the statute can be sustained. “But although we state it as a question the answer does not seem to us open to a doubt.” “States may do a good deal of classifying, that it is difficult to be- lieve rational,” said the court, “but there are limits, and it is too clear for extended argument that color cannot be made the basis of a statu- tory classification affecting the right set up in this case.” Fourteenth Amendshent Cited. The court said it was not even necessary to take into account the fifteenth _amnfendment, which gives negroes the right to vote, because the injustice. of the Texas statute was sufficiently apparent when considered merely in the light of the fourteenth| amendment, which prohibited the States from making any law to abridge the rights of citizens on ac- count of race or color. “The statute of Texas * * * as- sumes to forbid negroes to take part in a primary election, the importance of which we have indicated, discrimi- nating against them by the distinction of color alone,” gaid the opinion. ‘““The objection that the subject mat- ter of the suit, if political, is little more than a play upon words.” Justice Holmes, who delivered the opinion, quoted from a_ formter case in which he said: “That amendment (the fourteenth) not only gave citizenship and the privileges of citizenship to persons of color, but it denied to any State the power to withhold from them the equal protection of the laws. * ¢ What is this but declaring that the! law In the States shall be the same for the black as for the white; that all persons, whether colored or white, shall stand equal before the laws of the States, and, in regard to the col- ored race, for whose protection the amendment was primarily designed, that no discrimination shall be made against them by law because of their color?” May Be Blow to Vare. The decision of the Supreme Court may prove a severe blow to those who are supporting the admission of Senator-elect Willlam S. Vare to the Senate. One of the principal argu- ments made by the Vare forces has been that the Senate has nothirg to do with the primary elections,: but that they are State affairs enfirely and not subject to Federal contrul, Thomas W, Cunningham of Jhila- delphia, treasurer of the State Repub- lican committee during the Vare cam- paign, has been cited for contempt by the Reed slush fund committec be- cause he declined to tell the com- mittee where he got $50,000 which he said was his personal contributicn to the Vare campaign. Mr. Cunningham and his attorney base their flat refusal to answer questions on the ground that the primary was a State matter and that the Senate committee had no jurisdiction. A similar argument has been v.ade by supporters of Senator-elect Fiank L. Smith of llinols, whose rigkt to be seated will be challenged on' the ground that there was excessive. ex- and_improper_contribution iued on Page 2, Column 8.) | | Likely as Result o | Bitterness among Democratic Sen- ators because Senator Blease of South Carolina joined with Senator Reed of Pennsylvania and Senator Moses of New Hampshire in their recent fili- huster against the Reed slush fund | committee resolution may result in a | movement to read Blease out of the | Democratic party, it was learned to- {day. | “When the Democratic caucus met Saturday, a resolution to exciude the South Carolinfan from party councils in the Senate had been prepared by Senator Caraway of Arkansas, it'was said. The resolution was not offered, and the whole matter 'o' over until next Fall. : lAttempt to Read Blease Out of Party . £G. O. P. Filibuster Ai Sentiment among the Democrats against Senator Blease has mounted high, it was said. The so-called lush fund issue is to be made a majé- Is- sue in the next national campaiga by the Democrats against their Republi- can opponents. The attitude of Senator Blease, who has opposed the Reed slush fund 'om- mittee, has been particularly distuste ful to his Democratic _colleagues. ¥ur- thermore, Senator Blease has ;an- nounced his_ intention of votin# to seat Senators-elect Smith and Vare of Illinois and Pennsylvania, respeciive- ly, and that he would vote with:the Republicans on matters of organiza- tion in the Senate unless thess Sena- tors were seated. i RIGHTS FOR WOMEN INVADE THE LEAGUE Chamberlain Protests at Opening Session Over In- equality on Committee. By the Associated Press. GENEVA, Switzerland, March 7.— ‘Women's rights blazed their way into the first meeting of the forty-fourth session of the League of Nations Council today when Sir Austen Cham- berlain, backed by Dr. Benes of Czech- oslovakia, protested t women had insufficient _reprt tion in ‘the Jeague's health committee. Alluding to Dr. Alice Hamilton of Harvard, the British foréign secre- tory pointed out that there was only one woman on the health committee and that she was there merely in an advisory capacity, with no right to vote. This, he said, constituted a grave failure to recognize the ability of women, who certainly were in a posi- tion to contribute greatly to the cause of international health. The council referred the complaint to the health committee, and it Is probable that favorable action will be taken on it. A ' Latin Americin Protests. Another protest came from Fran- cisco Jose Urrutia of Colombia, who criticized the decision not to include any health experts from Latin America among the list of those re- cently added with the understanding that they would have full rights as members. Senor Urrutia lauded Latin Ameri- ca's contribution to medical science and said it was a pity it was not rec- ognized. . This question was also re- ferred to the health committee, with the probability that the list ‘would be adjusted in a manner to satisfy Latin America. German Sets Precedents. A German statesman presided over the Council for the first time, when Dr. Gustay Stresemann, the foreign secretary, fook the chair. The occa- sion simultaneously was marked by a new insistenee by the Germans upon the use of the Teutonic tongue in the Geneva deliberations. It has been expected that Dr. Strese- mann would use either English or French, the two languages authorized by the League covenant. Instead he employed eGrman, and each sen- tence was immediately translated by his own interpreter. This procedure is permissible, but strengthened the impression that Berlin would seek to have German recognized as a quasi- official language of the League. No China Demands. Dashing into the palace late for the private session of the council, Chu Chao-Hsin, distributed a statement de- claring that China would not raise the Chinese question in the council. “Qur attitude,” the statement read, “is concillatory, and our demands are most legitimate, since we have noth- ing to ask for but non-interference with our soverelgnty and territorial integrity. “Some thought that China would suddenly raise in the Council the in- ternational situation in China, but I can assure you no such action will be taken.” Reserves Right to Answer. Chu said he was instructed by Act- ing Premier” Wellington Koo, in Pe- king, to notify Sir Eric Drummond, the League's secretary-general, that the Chinese (Peking) government re- served the right to answer the British statement submitted to the League on February 8. He did not know whether an au- thentic text of the British statement, which was sent by malil by way of Siberia, had yet reached Peking, and up to the present he had received no fresh instructions from Dr. Koo. Chu's statement was interpreted here to mean that Peking is still hold- ing a protest to the League up her sleeve as a card to play In case of emergency. PERIEE O PREPARES FOR SUICIDE. Farmer Contracts for Burial, Then Shoots Himself. MORGANTOWN, W. Va., March 7 (#).—After contracting with a local undertaker to bury him for $150 and requesting that the digger of his grave be given $25, Arthur Murray, 55, Dellslow famaner, shot and killed himself. County authorities Dbelieved grief over domestic troubles was responsi- ble for Murray's suicide. He recent- 1y ap) police headquarters and jhis wife had disap- $7,6.2, his entire savings. MONDAY, MARCH ‘7 1927. - THIR'TY-S1X o Star. PAGES. * GOOD LUCK == AR CH Service ST 1,422 Laws Passed By 69th Congress ‘A Record-Breaker just closed passed a check of the legislation enacted shows, This total for the Fifty- ninth Congress broke the record for public and private bills and for private resolutions.” There were 807 public_ laws passed by the Congress, 528 of which were in the first session and 284 in the second session. The public resolutions passed numbered 71, of which 46 were in the first session and in the second session. Of the 537 private laws passed, 324 were approved in the first ses- sion and 213 {n the second session. There were 7 private resolutions approved, three in the first session and four in the secand. ELORIDGE UPHELD ON REDUCED SPEED Right to Limit Traffic Under 22 Miles Sustained by Court of Appeals. 25 The District Court of Appeals, in a unanimous opinion rendered today by Justice Charles H. Robb, sustained the right of Director of Traffic M. O. Eldridge to reduce the speed of vehicu- lar traffic from the limit of 22 miles per hour. The court reversed a deci- sion of Judge John P. McMahon of Police Court, which held invalid sec- tion 5-K of Article IV of the traffic regulations limiting vehicular traffic on certain bridges to a speed of 15 miles an hour for passenger cars and 12 miles per hour for commercial vehicles. “It cannot be maintained,” says the court, “that the regulation is not rea- sonable. Fast driving on these bridges not only would endanger human life, but tend to damdge the bridges them- selves. This seems so obvious as to require no further demonstration.” Called Serious Problem. The court points out that the proper control of vehicular traffic in cities of the size of - Washington presents a serfous problem. ‘The tremendous toll of human life,” says Justice Robb, “resulting from complex traffic condi- tions is evidence of the necessity for more adequate regulation and protec- tion. Congress, in the enactment of the statute, clearly recognized this necessity and therein evinced a pur- pose to clothe the director of traffic with authority reasonably consistent with the end to be accomplished. “It is {insisted, however, that al- though the director was expressly au- thorized under section 6B to make reasonable regulations with respect to the speed of vehicles, the provision of section 9A prescribing a maximum rate of 22 miles an hour, except in outlying districts and on-arterial high- ways, 18 inconsistent with the ex- press grant contained in section 6B. “That Congress did not intend to authorize a speed of 22 miles an hour in all parts of the District conclusively appears from section 9B, which in effect prohibits reckless, unreasonable or dangerous driving within the max- imum speed limit. Except in outlying districts and on arterial highways the director may not authorize a rate of speed greater than 22 miles an hour. He is authorized, however, to make reasonable regulations to prevent reckless, unreasonable and dangerous driving within such maximum speed limit." Conflict of Statutes Denied. ‘The court declares that such regula- tion is not in conflict with the statute, but is in harmony with it and in ald of its provisions. Any other con- clusion, the court asserts, would do violence not only to the obvious in- tent of the traffic act, but to the ex- press provision in section 6B. The act, Justice Robb points out, should be considered as a whole, and if pos- sible given an interpretation that will harmonize and accord full force and effect to all of its provisions. ! DAVESTOSTART FOR CUBA TODAY Visit to Miami Will Precede Trip, Which Will Be Ex- tended to Panama. Vice President and Mrs. Dawes leav today for Havana on a vacation trip, which will also take them to Panama before returning home to Evanston, HIL Mrs. Harry B. Hoyt, sister of the vice president, will be visited at Jack- sonville, Fla., en route to Havana. Calls st White House, “The Vice President called at the Executive office to pay his respects to President Coolidge before leaving Washington, and incidentally, as he expressed it, to console with the Presi- dent over the loss of the companion- ship of Congress during the coming Summer. The President and Vice President, who see very little of each other dur- ing the congressional season, chatted for more than a half hour, and when the Vice President was leaving he said that nothing of any consequence was discussed. - Gen. Dewes will’go to Miami to spend Saturday, and Saturday eve- ning he will go by boat to Nassau, where he will spend Sunday on Treasure Island, owned by John T. McCitcheon, the Chicago_cartoonist, who will be host to.the Vice Presi- dent and Sepators Hawes of Missouri, Moses of New Hampshire, Tydings of Maryland and Curtis of-Kansas. Sails for Cuba March 14. Monday, March 14, the party will return to Miami, and from there the Dawes family will go to Key West, sailing - Immediately = for Havana, where he will arrive on March 15 at 3:30 p.m. for a stay until March 18, when he leaves for Panama by way of Kingston, Jamaica. He will arrive in Panama on March 24, to be the guest of his military associate, Maj. Gen. Charles H. Martin, commander of the Panama department of the Army. The Vice President will be the guest of honor at a reception given by Gov. Walker of the Canal Zone on March 25 and on March 30, will start on the return trip, which brings him to Havana on April 2, Key West on April 4, and to Jacksonville, where he will make a brief stop before returning to Chicago, on_April 8. ‘The Vice President explained thai the trip was purely one of pleasure and recreation and had no political qr business aspects whatever. NOTED AUTHORESS DIES. British Motor Accident Fatal to Mrs. Heron-Maxwell. LONDON, March 7 (®). — Mrs. Beatrice Heron - Maxwell, author, Journalist and dramatist, died today from injuries received when she was struck by a motor car in London. A daughter of the late E. B. East- wick, member of Parliament, her first husband was Lane Huddart of Wales, by whom she had two daughters. Her second husband was S. H. W. Heron- Maxwell, son of Sir John Heron- Maxwell, sixth baronet of Springkell. She wrote over 700 stories and serials for leading magazines, pub- lished a pumber of books and wrote several stage successes. Lack of Funds Likely The only evening paper in Washington with the Associated Press news service. Sunday’s Circul (®) Means Associated Press. Good-Will Plane Falls Into the Sea; Flyers Not Hurt MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay, March 7.~One of the American Army good-will planes fell into the sea shortly after taking off today for the North. There were no casual- ties. - Owing to engine trouble the plane failed to take off cleanly and ran into some rocks in the harbor. The damage was said to be slight and it is hoped that the flight can be renewed today or tomorrow. The other two planes returned to n;mlt the repairing of their sister ship. e PUBLIC UTILITIES BOARD SWORN IN Saturday's Circulation, 103,360 lation, 113,444 TWO CENTS. JURY 1S SELECTED TOTRY SINCLAIRON CONTEMPT CHARGE Court Adjourns Until Tomor- row Morning as Soon as Panel Is Complete. SWIFTNESS OF ACTION COMES AS SURPRISE Case Grows Out of Oil Magnate's Refusal to Answer Questions of Senate Committee. Childress Named Chairman and Brand Vice Chairman at First Meeting. The District’s new Public Utilities Commissioners were. inducted into of- fice today and organized “immediately for work. John W. Childress was elected chairman and Col. Harrison Brand, jr., vice chairman. 4 No questions of policy were dis- cussed at the organization meeting which followed the inaugural cere- monies. Aside from its election of its chairman and vice chairman, the commission adopted the motion to con- tinue the transaction of business under the same rules of the old com- mission and designated its regular meetings for Mondays at 2 p.m. and Thursdays at 10 a.m. ‘The organization meeting was at- tended by the full membership of the new commission, Engineer Commis- eioner J. Franklin Bell, Col. Brand and Mr. Childress. Ralph B. Fleharty, the people’s counsel, also was present. Oath Is Administered. ‘The oath of office was administered to members of the commission and Mr. Fleharty by Frank E. Cunning- ham, chief clerk of the District Supreme Court. The ceremonies were held in the boardroom of the District Building in the presence of friends and relatives of the new officials, the District Commissioners and employes of the commission. The Washington Railway & Electric Co. was the only public utility corporation represented. As chairman of the Board of Dis- trict Commissioners, Proctor L. Dougherty introduced members of the «commission and Mr. Y. 'he Flehart: T inaugural speeches of the Utility Com-|2& missioners and the People’s Counsel were brief. Both Mr. Childress and Mr. Fleharty expressed appreciation for the honor bestowed upon them by President Coolidge and promised to serve the District to the best of their The trial of Harry F. Sinclair, oil magnate of New York, charged with contempt of the Senate, which grew out of his refusal to answer certain questions propounded to him by the Senate public lands committee nearly three years ago, got off with a flying start before Justice Willlam Hitz in Criminal Division 2 today. Two hours after court opened a jury was completed. The selection of the 12 men took the Government by surprise and as all subpoenas for wit- nesses had been made returnable to- morrow, United States Attorney Pey- ton Gordon suggested an adjournment until 10 o'clock tomorrow morning, which was agreed upon by George P. Hoover and Martin W. Littleton, coun- sel for Sinclair, and approved by the court. dJurymen in Box. The jurors gelected are: C. C. Beil, 61, 642 C street northeast, motorman: Raymond J. Thom, 34, 415 Eighteenth street southeast, electriclan; Albert E. Vanderloo, 25, 1728 Twentieth street, real estate ‘salesman; James R. Cuff, 34, butcher, Center Market; Emory J. Irvin, 33, electrician, 720 Twelfth sireet; Joseph D. Snelling, 41, 39 Eighth street, cigar salesmai rles F. Green, 25, 2718 Hammond street northeast, clerk, Southern Rallway; John G. Schultz, 53, 519 Longfellow street, grocery manager; Isadore Turoff, 56, watch repairer, R. Harris & Co.; R. E. Kelley, 63, clerk, Wood- ;velnzims&'rfi:;‘mz:'fl Willlam B. Meade, h street, garage manager, and Archie A. Moore, 47, 211 E street northeast, insurance solicitor. The rapid selection of the jury was responsible in a measure- to the fact . that each side had only three chal- lenges to exercise as agaimst 10 for **he.olfense Charged. 1n this case offense case {8 misdemeano rors wete sxamined ang prospective jui of this number three were excused by the court and six by the Govern: ment and defense for cause. Excused by Court. ability. Col. Brand, whose appeint- ‘Those excused by the court were ment to the commission was made | John Biddle, who served on the grand simultaneously with the withdrawal { jury that reported the indictment in of the nomination of Benjamin F. Adams, read a hastily prepared speech of about 120 words. “It has given me great pleasure to be called upon to serve the District of Columbia as a member of this commission,” he said. “I have, of course, Mad no time to study the varied duties of this board, and that consequently will be my first pro- cedure. Co-operation Pledged. “I come to this office with no pre- conceived opinions and intend to work with the other members of the com- mission to the end that the Public Utilities act of 'March 4, 1913, as amended, will continue to be carried out in a manner guided by legal deci- sions and sound economic principles, to the end that full justice may be done In all matters to the peopie of this great community and the utilities serving the people.” Commissioner Bell, who presided at the exercises, read at the outset quo- tations from the act under which the retiring commission functioned and also from the act creating the new, commission, which sets forth its pow- ers and duties. He pointed out, too, that the qualifications of the new commissioners had been so carefully scrutinized that he thought the new members are eligible to ‘“enter the holy gate. Dougherty Promises to Help. Commissioner Dougherty pledged the co-operation of the Board of Com- missioners to the new Utilitles Com- mission and explained that the re- sponsibilities in connection with public utility affairs, which have rested on himself and Commissioner Tallaferro, were being shifted to “younger and stronger shoulders.” A brief reception followed the in- auguration of the new commissionrers. Daniel E. Garges, secretary to the Board of Commissioners, made the in- troductions. Immediately after the organization of the commission all of its employes took a new oath of office, as prescribed in the new publio utilities act. this case; J. B. Bolling of the firm of Galt & Bros., who owned oil stock and who had formed an n%nhn‘ of the case, and Richard W. Henderson, a real estate salesman, who likewise had made up his mind about the gullt or innocence of the defendant. » Maj. Gordon, who recelved the case to prosecute from the Senate, examin- ed the prospective jurors, Inquiring if they were acquainted with the defend- ant or any of his counsel; if they were familiar with the facts in the case; if, after reading newspaper accounts of the ofl cases, they had formed opinions, and if they owned stocks or securitles in ofl companies. Mr. Hoover conducted the examina- tion for the defense and questioned the prospective jurors as to their rela- tionship with the Government; their knowledge of the ofl cases, their ac- quaintanceship with Senators Walsh of Montana and Smoot of Utah and former Senator Adams of Colorado, . three of the principal Government witnesses; if the fact that the prosecu- tion of the case was ordered by the Senate would influence them and if they are acquainted with Maj. Gordon and Owen J. Roberts and Atlee Pomerene, special Government ofl counsel who are sitting in on the case. Challenged by U. S. Those jurors examined but chal- lenged by the Government and defense were: Edward Outlaw, colored, jani- tor; J. E. Park, Southern Railway em- ploye; John S. Thiemeyer, 1323 Galla- tin street, musician; Charles P. T ney, colored messenger for. the-X tional Savings and Trust John J. Fahey, bookkeeper for the Commer- cial National Bank, and Elroy Kauff- l"naAl:l {;oeerytclerk. ree of the defense challenges affected chair number 8, in :’l‘:’ch Park was first to take a seat after Mr. Bolling had been excused by the Court. He was followed by Thiemeyer and Tinney and Vanderloo. The last man examined was retained, as there were no more challenges and no grounds for his excuse by the court. Mr. Sinclair took an active interest l in the proceedings and conferred with i " Littleton and Hoover when the time Bulgarian Official Assassinated. |came lgr the mlsrenu to take advan- SOFIA, Bulgaria, March 7 UP).—| (365 5 fons minutes before the s M. Ikonomoff, head of the political|gion opened and took a seat next to department of police, was assassinat-|these attorneys. Mr. Roberts and Mr. ed today. An unidentified person)pomerene, who as special Government threw a bomb at the official as he|prosecutors, will be in charge of the was entering his home. The assassin| Fqll-Sinclair conspiracy case, which escaped. comes to trial next month, “sat in" with Maj. Gordon this morning. Brief Trial Forecast. The case should be concluded by to Delay Opening OfU.S. C;nada and Free State Legations The United States, “the richest na- tion in the world,” may find itself in the embarrassing position of being unable to open up immediately its new legations in Canada and the Irish Free State because of lack of funds, it was learned today. The State Department is wrestling with the problem, which is but an- other governmental trouble arising Claude Bailey, a driver of a Capi-' from failure of the $83,000,000 second tal Traction bus, was charged with driving over Klingle Bridge at a rate in excess of 156 miles an hour and not exceeding 22 miles. Swingle for the accused filed a motion deficlency appropriation bill in the closing hours of the Sixty-ninth Con- Attorney Edward | 8Tess. If possible, money will be found to to quash the information and Judge|proceed with opening at an early date McMahon sustained the motion and|of the Canadian and Irish Free State ruled that the director of traffic was|legations, but it was admitted at the not authorized ta reduce the speed|State Depa of motor vehicles. Corporation Counsel Stephens sued|isters to pt that so far it had and that the new min- da and the Irish Free not been fot out a writ_of error to the Court of | State migh§ haye to twiddle their Appeals. Bailey will now have to|thumbs uni stand trial on the charge, it is ex- pected. p July 1, when the 1928 for the State avallable. approp! n ment buond Even if William Phillips, the new Minister of Canada, and Frederick A. Sterling, the new Minister to the Irish Free State, were willing and able to waive their salaries until July 1 and assume their new duties im. mediately, the question of housing the legations and of clerk hire for them would still have to be met. The necessary funds for these purposes, as well as the payment of the salaries of the ministers to those countries during the remainder of the present fiscal year, were included in the de- ficlency bill. The State Department is still hope- ful, it was sald today, that something may be done in this matter. It is anxfous to send these diplomats to their posts, to which they have been appointed by the President and con- firmed by the Senate, as soon as pos- sible. But while it is hopeful, it is Friday, both Maj. Gordon and _de- fense counsel informed Justice Hitz hen the court inquired if counsel “had any designs on the court for. time.” The list of Government wit- nesses is very short and although the names of the persons to be the defense have not been 3 Hoover and Littleton informed the court that it was their opinion the case would end in a few days. Tomorrow morning Maj. Gordon will dellver the opening statement for the Government, after which several in- troductory witnesses will be placed on the stand. Mr. Sinclair is the first defendant to be tried in the District Supreme Court on a cht of contempt of the Senate since 1895, when Hiverton R. Chap-. man of New York was convicted of the charge and fined $100 and sen- tenced to one month in the District jail. Chapman was a member of a stock brokerage firm in New York. through which members of the Senate mn charged with having stock opera-- ns. ¢ The penalty on comviction in