Evening Star Newspaper, March 16, 1927, Page 2

Foa g JURY EXONERATES GEORGE DE BRODES Insanity at Time Blgmed for Killing of Mother by Former Attorney. George V. de Brodes, 31 years old, former attorney in the Department of Justice, was exonerated this afternoon by a jury in Criminal Division 1 of responsibility for the killing of his mother, Mrs. Frances G. de Brodes, in June, 1923. The jurors declared him “not guilty by reason of insanity. De Brodes, on motion of Attorney Wilton J. Lambert, was discharged from custody by the court. The law- yer pointed out that last July, in a habeas corpus proceeding, a jury had declared De Brodes had recovered his sanity. The defendant has since been in custody awaiting this trial. Sister Faints at Verdict. The joyful mews of her brother's freedom after an incarceration of nearly four years proved too much for Mrs. Lillian Walker, who has watched throughout the trial and she fainted. She was led from the court- room and soon recovered. The defense claimed that De Brodes was struggling with his mother for the possesison of the pistol when he was seized with an attack of epilepsy and could not be held responsible for the discharge of the weapon. Mr. Lambert was assisted by At torneys Godfrey L. Munter, Arthur G. Lambert, Rudolph H. Yeatman and Austin F. Canfleld. Assistant United States Attorney James J. O'Leary conducted the prosecution. —— JURORS GET CASE OF SINCLAIR AFTER CHARGE OF JUDGE (Continued from First Page.) ernment’s own evidence the jury will find that the summons issued for Sin- clair i8 not a subpoena, but merely a telegram from the sergeant-at-arms to the New York marshal asking him to serve the notice which was quoted in the message. The marshal, Hoover explained, made a return on the tele- m, and “this is the evidence by which the Government undertakes to prove he was summoned.” Hoover. Cites Record. Hoover said there Is nothing in the evidence or record to show that Sin- lair appeared before the Senate oil committee on March 22, 1924, and there slso is no evidence that he was sworn. Furthermore, the attorney de- clared, there is no evidence that the committee directed Sinclair to answer the questions, a step which he main- taiped was necessary before contempt roceedings could be instituted. fioover then gave a summary of Sin- clair's statement before the commit- tee in which he offered to meet every- body in court on the matter nder in- quiry and then commented: “No one ean read the record without coming to the conclusion that it was a fishing expedition to bolster up the case of the Government in the courts. The tee was trying to drive the de- t to the point where he would ‘would incriminate him and that it would injure him in the cases in the courts. If he had said hat ‘they never could have forced ib& a word. H %:: ¢ the questions were hot questions at all and then sald, #“What kind of questions are th:av that will brand & man as a felon and send him to jail? “You are mot dependent upon the inate for your positions, you are not holders. You are not like the District Attorney, who depends on the Senate to remain in office—you are not like the other Government tounsel dependent on the Government Yor thelr positions. When you con- ider the evidence in this case, 1 sub- jmit that your verdict will be not n;"ollowln‘ Hoover, Littleton address- ed the jury and maintained that over and above the questions of whether Sinclair was summoned, sworn, ques- tioned and refused to answer remain- ed for the jury to decide the question of his being guilty of the act of a « i criminal. “This latter question,” he said, “is a huge and overwhelming, a damnable one to Sinclair and beyond all others. 1t is ‘Shall I, Will I, Dare I stamp him as a criminal” in this case. The lawyer referred to the resolution pending the oil inquiry to the courts a legal document, but declared it is ‘worse than legal, it is senatorial, lost in the mazes of senatorial involu- tions.” Littleton said his criticism of the Benate grew out of his resentment against its excess of authority. In referring to the technicalities raised by the defense, the lawyer asserted they were necessary to offset the technical position taken by the Gov- ernment. “Mr. Roberts will tell you,” he sald, “that the case ends when you decide that the defendant was summoned, worn and refused to answer, but it pannot be ended until you, with your hands on your hearts, declare him gullty. Littleton concluded that “I have supreme confidence that your verdict will be proper, triumphantly not guilty.” “Rule of Anarchy.” Roberts said that if the jury did as the defense had requested them, to admit the facts and acquit the de- fendant, the 12 men would be follow- ing “the rule of anarchy—the rule where every citizen becomes his own lawmaker.” € Sinclair boldly took his chances be- fore the Senate committee and now he is taking them again, the Govern- ment counsel continued. He referred to the question of am- biguity raised by the defense in dis- cussing the questions asked by the committee and said Sinclair did not refuse to answer them because of that, but reading from his own statement 1o the committee: ““I respectfully de- cline to answer any questions.” Roberts Raps Defense. Roberts added that he was not wor- rying about ambiguity there. Answer- ing Hoover's contention that Sinclair 'was not properly summoned, Roberts said the committee could summon a witness in any way it saw fit, as the statute does not say a subpoena must be issued. “When did they find out that he wasn't sworn?"” Roberts asked in con- tinuing his attack on Hoover's argu- ment. He then read from the record a statement by Littleton, who was Sinclair's attorney, that “he has been sworn,” and “he now is on the stand in every sense of the word.” The committee did not have to di- rect Sinclair to answer any questions, | DIAZ FLYERS JOIN NICARAGUA BATTLE Report Liberals Seen Fleeing From Tierra Azul After Con- servative Victory. By the Associated Press. MANAGUA, Nicaragua, March 16.— Aviators of the Conservative army re- turning to Managua from the battle front said today that in an aerial at- tack they aided the Conservative forces under Gen. Noguerra In carrying out successfully an operation against Ti- erra Azul, from which place Liberals were seen fleeing. The airmen were unable to give any details with regard to casualties. The Conservatives remained yester- day at Minaverde, to which place they retreated from Muy Muy the previous night after they were decisively de- feated and their ammunition became exhausted in an eight-hour fight with the Liberals. The Conservatives left 80 dead on the field. Scores of men wounded in the fight- ing are arriving at Matagalpa, where they are receiving surgical treatment. MEXICO CITY, March 16 (®).— Pedro J. Zepeda, the Liberal Nicara- guan government's minister, quoting from a message received from Liberal President Sacasa, says the Sacasa forces are still winning victories over the troops of Conservative President Diaz. The message said Gen. Moncado had defeated the Conservatives between Boaco and Teutepec and that Gen. Sandoval had won a victory over the Diaz troops at Tierra Azul. Both Liberal commanders, it was asserted, captured abundant war material. The message added that 200 Conservatives at Teutepec had revolted and now are supporting Sacasa, Declaring that President Diaz still was making peace offers. Dr. Sa- casa’s communication said that al- though he was willing to sacrifice him- self, “we will not accept any other arrangement than the resignation of Diaz.” Dies in Two-l;d-mlf-!‘oot Fall. MASON CITY, Iowa, March 16 (#).— Harold Lantz, 16, high school student, died last night after a fall of only 2% fet from parallel bars in the high school gymnasium. His neck was bro- ken in severdl places. BAND CONCERT. TOMORROW. By the United States Soldiers’ Home Band Orchestra, at Stanley Hall, 5:45 o'clock, John S. M. Zimmerman, leader; Emil A. Fenstad, second leader. to opposing counsel as a means of as- sisting them in preparing their argu- ments, as follows: “Now, gentlemen, I have come to my conclusion about this case. I am not going to leave for the jury to pass upon any aspects of the pertinency of any one of these questions. I think it is a question of law for the court to decide, and I'm going to decide it. I am only going to leave it to the jury to say whether as a matter of fact Mr. Sinclair was summoned, whether he appeared, whether the questions were put to him and whether he re- fused to answer. And for the purposes of my relations to the jury, it is suf- ficient if a paper writing was served upon him and he came in response to it and by Senator Smoot or some other Senator, an oath was adminis- tered as a matter of fact, the ques- tions were put and he declined to answer. “Now whether the officer who served the paper in New York or the Sena- Roberts explained, in answer to an- other contention by the defense. “You've been prayed to say, ‘Forget your oath and spit upon the whole thing,’ " Roberts concluded. “If you disregard everything ex- cept argoments of counsel how will that sit with your consciences?” Justice Hitz denied all of the Gov- ernment’s 11 prayers and 30 of the 34 submitted by the defense. He permit- ted only those of the defense which . had been conceded by Gordon to re- main, and then he said “I will fall into the error 'ul charging the jury in mfuogugfl ave hig yiews on the cpae tor that applied the oath to him here had at that moment legal authority to do it may be a question of controll- ing importance in this case, but it is not a question for this jury to decide. “Now that is my view of it and that is what I am going to tell them and I am going to take a verdict on that basis."” Gordon asked Justice Hitz if he would say anything with respect to the defense of Sinclair that he acted on advice of counsel, to which the urt replied: 1 do not understand that it makes any difference whether he acted under the advice of counsel or not.” e "’? er: Mrs. Anna Susan Edwards and her three children, Billy, aged 11; Jimmy, aged 6, and Tommy, aged 4. Below: John 0. Edwards, husband and father, who was killed by his wife. MOTHER OF THREE KILLS HER HUSBAND TO PROTECT SELF (Continued from First Page.) and kept in the house at the instance of the father, as a protective weapon. In her flight, Mrs. Edwards had snatched it up from the drawer of a table in which it was kept. Mrs. Edwards, exhibiting fortitude which amazed police, waited at her home for them to come for her, after the shooting. She told them the story as narrated above. Then she was taken to the fifth precinct and at 12:20 o'clock this morning, opposite her name was written in red ink the charge: “murder.” But there is a fur- ther notation on the books at the fifth precinct. It shows that at 1:20 a.m., Deputy Coroner Joseph D. Rogers, after viewing the body, or- dered her released to appear at the inquest in the District Morgue, which started at 11:30 o'clock today. The books at the fifth precinct, In fact, tell an eloquent story of the tragedy. In the ‘“complaint book,” timed at 9:30 ofclock, is this entry: “Mrs. Annle Susan Edwards, 1244 K street southeast, says her husband has been drinking and has threatened to kill her and the children. She re- quests that the officer covering the beat pay close attention around there tonight. Complaint made personally.” Policeman Joseph T. Kerby *pulled his box” on that beat about 10 o'clock last night. He was given the com- plaint. He and Policeman C. J. Stew- art did watch that block closely throughout their tour of duty, the pre- cinct reported. At 11:45 the shift be- gins to change. During this process, it is believed, Edwards gained entry to the house. The shooting took place between 11:45 and 11:50. The “incidental book” at the pre- cinct tells the rest of the story, recit- ing that during an altercation between Mrs. Edwards and her husband on the sidewalk in front of 1236 K street southeast “John Orator Edwards was shot through the head with a .38-cal- iber Iver-Johnson revolver, No. 59678, by Anna Susan Edwards, where he had pursued her with a hammer in his hand. He was pronounced dead by Dr. Anthony Sindoni of the Cas- ualty Hospital staff. * & " From Mrs. Edwards today was ob- tained an account of the incidents jeading up to the tragedy. She blames it all on “liquor.” Thirteen years ago in Washington the couple were married. Shortly thereafter they went to Cleveland, where Mr. Edwards was employed as @ railroad fireman and engineer. To them were born three children: Billy, aged 11; Jimmy, 6, and Tommy, 4 years old. “He always worked,” she said to- day, “and he was all right so long as he was not drinking. He always drank some, but we lived peacefully together until about two years ago. Then he started drinking excessively and the trouble started. I had left him in Cleveland once before, but he kept after me and we lived together again. Then it got bad again and I left him once more. I came to Wash- ington. But he gave up his job to come here so he could be near me and the children. We have been here six He was living with me. first came to the house last night about 6:30. He had a pipe then and he had been drinking. I was frightened. So as soon as he left I went to the station house and re- ported it.” Gun and Hammer Are Evidence. “He had never taken anything to hit me with before. He had struck me, but he never used anything but his hands. The picture presented by the mother and three children at the home this D.C. ALIBIDOUBTED IN BANK ROBBERY Detectives Locate Hotel, But Wrong Date Given by Florida Suspects. Claims of two men under arrest in Jacksonville, Fla., in connection with a $10,000 bank robbery there on Feb- ruary 10 that they were in Washing- ton at the time of the hold-up ap- peared to be disproved by an investi- gation conducted here today by head- quarters detectives, It was found, however, that two men apparently answering the de- scription of those under arrest regis- tered from Florida at the Raleigh Hotel on February 14, in company with two girls, and that the hotel management {8 holding the baggage of the men for non-payment of their bill. The facts uncovered here tallied with advices from Jacksonville, quot- ing the men, James Burke, 25, and Charles Young, 22, as deciaring they registered at the Raleigh under the names of Brown and Wilson in a room adjoining that of two girls, and that the hotel was holding their bag- gage. Employes Locked In. Both men, according to dispatches from Jacksonville, are charged with robbing the Springfleld Atlantic Bank, in that city, of $10,000 in a daring hold-up, during which three employes of the bank were locked in a vault. A search of two leather bags left at the Raleigh was ordered today by Acting Chief of Detectives Embrey. Headquarters Detective Joseph Wal- dron examined the grips and found only a quantity of apparel. Arrivals “From Florida”. The name of one girl given by the men as having occupied the room ad- joining theirs was found on the hotel register. The hotel management re- called today that this girl and another young woman arrived at the hotel February 14 “from Florida,” together with the two men believed by police to be those now under arrest in Jack- sonville. Detective Waldron was informed by the management that the men disap- peared February 18, without settling their hotel account, and that the girls then explained that they had come to ‘Washington with the intention of mar- rying their companions, only to “find out what they were.” b 5,000 CATTLE PERISH. Die on Colorado Granges in Bliz- zard Which Blocks Highways. €OLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., March 16 (#).—Five thousand head of cattle perished on granges near Karvat in last week’s blizzard, which blocked highways and isolated several eastern Colorado points, according to reports today from ranchers. Stockmen sald the storm was tk worst in five years and expressed fe: they would be unable to drive cattle to feed lots because of the huge drifts. Farmers generally welcomed the snow as an aid to crops. talk about the tragedy in detail. But he tells simply that he saw it, and in general what has already been told. Jimmy, aged 6, was all for playing. He is in the ‘“high first and can spell “cat,” “rat” and “ball,” as he demonstrated, but was balked at “calf.” Tommy, aged 4, speaks plainly. Within two minutes after he was up and dressed he walked around the house asking: “Who said dinner was ready?” Funeral arrangements have not been completed. The deceased has a father, two sisters and four brothers residing here. At the inquest police brought the pistol, which is a five-chamber weapon and which was found by Acting Sergt. W. N. Kellum of the fifth precinct to have three good cartridges and one | discharged one in it shortly after the shooting. One chamber was empty. The hammer found in the hand of morning was pathetic. Billy up and ahout early, He i3 npt proih tq the deceased also was another item todaga of evignce al the inquest at school, |- D. WEDNESDAY, BIG INCREASE SEEN ININCOME TAXES Returns as of March 14 Are $127,000,000 Ahead of Previous Fiscal Year. ‘With income tax returns for this fiscal year more than $127,000,000 ahead of last year, as of March 14, expectations today not only pointed toward an increase in the quarterly payments*due March 15 beyond the loriginal estimates, but brighter pros- pects for tax reduction at the forth- coming session of Congress. Treasury officlals were reticent as they have been for months about dis- cussing the exact prospects for tax reduction, especially in view of the withdrawal by the administration of a proposal to refund some taxes this calendar year. But the impression was general in government circles that the present revenue law s now proving itself a producer of income in such sub- stantial volume that the administra- tion now will probably proceed toward developing a definite program for tax reduction. The House ways and means committee will meet next November prior to the opening of Congress in December, to consider the matter of tax reduction, and of course will call upon Scretary of the Treasury Mellon for his opinion. $600,000,000 Figure Set. The payments on income tax due March 15, which have been dribbling in ever since the first of this calendar year, are now expected to exceed by a substantial figure the revised estimate of $600,000,000. The Treasury has been conservative as a rule in making its estimates of income from this source, and some observers ars looking for the returns, which will not be an- nounced officially for perhaps a week, to be far beyond $600,000,000. Treasury officlals are gratified gen- erally at the success which attended the huge transactions revolving around March 15, totaling bilifons of dollars. Secretary Mellon last night issued & formal statement announcing that more than $1,000,000,000 of the second Liberty loan 4% per cent bonds, or more than one-third of the total second 4%s outstanding, had been presented for conversion into five-year 8% per cent Treasury notes. The offer will be kept open until l!ll! close of business next Tuesday. Ex- change of the second Libertys for the new fssue at a lower rate will effect a very substantial saving in interest to the Government and the taxpayer, The Treasury expects to call all of the second Libertys November next. Large Increases Noted. Indications both in Washington and throughout the country this year pointed to both earlier and larger re- turns on income taxes due March 165. The amount of income taxes paid this month for the country at large was $50,945,857.61 up to March 14, as com- pared to only $29,971,412.16 for the same month last year; rvm‘lg the totn‘l up to March 14, in the present g:‘cfll ypeu, soared to $1,184,383,956.64 as compared to $956,933,337.62 during the corresponding period of the fiscal year 1926. Some tax reduction during the next session of Congress had been predicted with assurance, but the revenue law had been performing at such volume that President Coolidge proposed months ago that some kind of refund might be made to taxpayers beginning with the payment due yesterday. Secretary Mellon drafted a plan which was submitted to Congress, but the Treasury, which all along had been conservative on the matter, appeared gratified when it was finally decided after conferences between leaders on Capitol Hill and Treasury experts, that the proposal should die a natural death in committee. It was never reported out. The reason for holding back on tax reduction or refunds at that time was criticized by the Demo- crats as a political move on the part of the Republicans, who were charged with wishing to make capital out of a tax reduction just before an elec- tion in 1928. But Secretary Mellon and his ex- perts continued to insist that the real reason for holding off was that the new revenue law had not had time enough to prove itself as a producer of income for the Federal Govern- ment, and that more time should elapse before plans for a general tax reduction should be laid. HOLLYWOOD HOME OFFERED COOLIDGE Doug and Mary Among Many Asking Visit of President for Vacation. Offers of Summer homes in the ‘West continue to pour into the White House. The President today received three offers in person. Prominent among the latest offers of a Summer White House is the home of Douglas Fair- banks and Mary Pickford, known as Pickfair, located in the Beverly Hills near Hollywood, Calif. This offer was made by Representative Fairchild of California, who assured the President that he and Mrs. Coolidge would be very comfortable if they went to that spot for a vacation this Summer. Representative Lampert of Wiscon- sin extended an invitation to the President to use the Summer home of E. O. Farney at Winnebago, Wis., which is 4 miles south of Oshkosh and 70 miles from Milwaukee. Senator Nye of North Dakota, who is anxious for the President to come to that section for his vacation, today suggested the Minnesota lakes. In response to these invitations and the alluring descriptions given by those who presented the offers the President indicated that his mind is still open as to election. Queen Buys Beads To Save Gems From Teething Princess By the Associated Press. LONDON, March 16.—Princess Elizabeth, infant daughter of the Duke and Duchess of York, is teething and has shown a pen- chant for exercising her gums on the necklaces of her royal grand. mother, Queen Mary. Although fully sympathizing with Elizabeth's needs, the Queen still has regard for her pearls and today, while visiting the Home Arts and Industries Exhibition, she bought a string of brightly colored beads “for the baby.” - The Queen carefully designated the length of the string, remark- ing: ‘“These beads are for the baby to bite. She will insist on trying to bite my necklaces.” Elizabeth is being cared for by her grandmother while her par- ents are on their Qluu-uhn voy- - + MARCH 16, 1927. $2.000,000 INCREASE IN LOCAL FUNDS FORECASTS GOOD YEAR Generous Appropriation With General Distribution Seen as Assuring District Advancement Vote—TNhis is the first of a series ‘arrities’ on ‘e "lens” ot Tiemise provement resulting Jrom ihe last ap- propriation for the Bistriel—ohich vocs into efect July 1.0 A second article wiit appear tomorrow. In raising the total of District ap- propriations for the next flscal year by more than $2,000,000 above current funds, Congress distributed the ad ditional amount so generally amon; the important phases of municipal work that officlals are looking for. ward to the 12 months beginning July 1as an era of unusual progress in the improvement of the National Capital. While the appropriation bill 1s traversing the legislative journey through the budget bureau, through two committees of Congress, on the floor of the House and Senate and in the final stage of conference adjust- ment the detailed figures change so rapidly that it Is difficult for the citi- zen to estimate the results. During the past few days District officials have been taking stock of the new law as it finally passed in com- parison with the act for the current fiscal year, and here are the outstand- ing advantages they find in the act for the fiscal year from July, 1927, to June, 1928: It gives the National Park and Planning Commission $900,000 for purchase of new parks, an increase of $300,000, School Fund Boosted. It appropriates $2,794,250 for con- tinuing the school building program as .compared with $2,450,000 for 1927, an increase of approximately $345,000. The total given here for 1927 in- cludes $154,000 for the Park View School, originally appropriated in 1925 and reappropriated in the fiscal year 1927. If this is left out of 1927 as be- ing in reality a part of the 1925 pro- gram, the total for 1927 becomes $2,296,000, and on this basis the new act represents an increase of $498,250 for buildings and grounds. It provides $250,000 for a complete new bridge across Rock Creek at M street and $20.000 to reconstruct the bridge across Rock Creek at Military road, in addition to the usual items for bridge maintenance. It makes avallable $150,000 to build the first two bathing pools contem- plated in the plan for a chain of these Summer recreation centers scattered throughout the District. The first pool for the white population is to be placed on the grounds of new Mc- Kinley High School and the first col- ored pool will adjoin the colored Jjunior high school near the Rock Creek-Potomac Parkway. Parks Fund Increased. ‘The fund for care of public build ings and parks is increased by $100,- 840, primarily to make possible more rapid headway in the completion of Meridian Hill Park, lying north of W street between Fifteenth and Six- teenth streets. The present appropria- tion for general expenses of public parks is $334,660, while the new act carries $435,000, The hearings at the Capitol indicated the additional sum was to be used for continuing the con- struction of the retaining wall and grading Meridian Hill Park. This will ot complete the project, but is con- siderably more than has been spent on this park in recent years. For carrying on an extensive cam- paign of street improvement through- out the city the new act appropriates $3.302,600, which is approximately $43,000 more than was appropriated for all classes of paving work in the current fiscal year. The sewer department, which must try to keep pace with the growth of the city in extending its network of pipes and culverts, was given $1,700,- 390 for the new year, an increase of $253,390. £ The water department will enter the new fiscal year with a total appropria- tion of $1,970,510, as against $1,294,191 this year, an advance of §676,319. The division of trees and parkings, an important agency in maintaining the physical beauty of the Capital City, had its fund increased from $78,000 to $90,000. Senator Copeland of New York has launched a move- ment to have it further increased to $115,000 in the next Congress, believ- ing that shade trees constitute one of the adornments that distinguish the National Capital from the ordinary American city. Anacostia Favored. Congress also has made possible greater progress on the project for the reclamation of the Anacostia flats into a parkway across the eastern end of the District by increasing the allot- ment for this purpose from $170,000 to $217,600, an increase of $47,500. Another increase of a similar nature is the new item of $25,000 to repair and continue construction of the sea wall of Potomac River from the north boundary line of Potomac Park to the north boundary line of G street. Of the Anacostia flats appropriation, $125,000 is to be spent below Benning Bridge, with not to exceed $92,500 available immediately for the purchase Library and its branches Congress raised the appropriation from $271,300 to $300,420, an increase of $29,120. Included among these increases is an advance of $2,500 for temporary serv- ices and the adding of $5,000 to the fund for the purchase of books and periodicals. The funds of the police department were increased to the extent of $61,690, ot which $26,000 is for the purchase of two new boats for the harbor patrol. The act authorizes a speed boat to cost $6,000 and one heavy duty boat, $20,000. Zoo Given Increase. The allotments for Zoological Park in the new act are $31,000 above cur- rent appropriations. The increases in- clude provisions for completion of the new bird exhibition house. There are several factors that enter into the total increase in the new ap- propriation act over the current law outside the realm of physical improve- Mments. For the first time the funds for the operation of the offices of re- corder of deeds and register of wills, totaling $201,620, are carried in the appropriation’ act. These offices for- merly were operateéd on the fee sys- tem, but Congress passed a law requir- ing their funds to be estimated for in the same way as other departments. The item for care of insane persons also is increased by $200,000 in the new act. Salary Increases throughout the District service and new positions in the Public Utilities Commission ac- count together for about $70,000 of the increase in the new law. With all of these increases scattered through the 1928 act, the total would have been much greater but for the fact that the new water supply sys- tem from Great Falls is virtual lete and did not require any funds for the next fiscal year, whereas there was $1,500,000 for that project in the current law. This saving made pos- sible many of the increases for other phases of municipal development for the coming year. The new water sup- ply system cost more than $8,000,000 and has called for large outlays annu- ally for several years. Fire Department Cut. The fire department is one of the few important agencies that has less money for the coming fiscal year, due principally to the fact that in the cur- rent vear it had a special item of $92,625 for the bullding of a new en- gine house in the vicinity of Sixteenth street and Piney Branch road. For street cleaning and the collec- tion of city refuse the new bill carries $1.524,860, an increase of $82,300 over current appropriati The increase includes $25,000 to buy land in Prince Willlam County, Va., for the garbage dlu{y\(‘v;;l plant. le the total amount appropriated in the new act is $36,2 ..’(ss.ht‘n':ygrosn also wrote into the law authority to srend several old balances left over from the year 1925 aggregating $434,- 800. These sums are not included in the amount appropriated, but District officials say they should be added to determine the total sum that is to be spent. The District, therefore, will spend $36,717,185 under the new ap- propriation act. If you compare this US.UTMATIN TOMEXCODENID | State Department Says Dis- putes No More Critical Than Heretofore. By the Associated Press. Although the State Department has maintained its policy of absolute si- lence as to the recent mystery notes exchanged with Mexico, the state- ment was authorized at the depart ment today that the disputes with that country were in no more critical stage than had been indicated in pub lication of correspondence over the oil and land laws. that the United Vague reports States had served something ap- proaching an ultimatum on Mexico in the secret notes were officially denied The statement was made that the Washington Government hopes to ad- just its difficulties with Mexico by ne- Eotiation. Unofficial Reports Heard. The State Department is aware of the unofficial reports from Mexico City recently indicating that steps might be in contemplation by the Calles government to adjust diffic ties over American-owned property under new Mexican laws, but has re- ceived no official word from the Mex- ican government in that connection It was reiterated that Americans and American companies in Mexico were at liberty to negotiate with the Mexican government on their own ini tiative and that the State Department is not fully advised as to the progress of such megotiations, in which it has no part, Information Held Accurate. ‘While no further official statement was forthcoming as to conflicting American and Mexican government figures over the status of American oil companies in Mexico, it was made clear that the department has no rea figure with the total of $33,918,5671 carried in the act for the current fis- cal year it appears that the city’s out- lay for the next fiscal year will be as high as $2,798,614 above the current year. In order to make a fair comparison between the two fiscal years, how- ever, it must be remembered that $782,000 of the street paving funds for the current fiscal year were made available in a deficiency bill early in the calendar year 1926 for the purpose of expediting the paving program last Summer. If this money had not been transferred to a deficiency bill the ap- propriation total for the current fiscal year would have been $34,700,571. Comparing this total with the sum of $36,717.185 indicates that expendi- tures for the coming fiscal year will be $2,016,614 higher. Advances to Cease. Incidentally, the District govern- ment will be ready July 1 to begin operating on a pay-as-you-go basis— in other words, it will be prepared to meet its obligations as they arise each month. The past practice has been for the Federal Treasury to advance the funds for the first few months of each fiscal year until the real estate taxes and miscellaneous revenues were received and deposited in the Treasury. Five years ago Congress directed the Commissioners to begin accumulating a surplus sufficient to put the city on a cash-going basis after 1927. In_compliance with that mandate, the District has been setting aside $600,000 a year, which will amount to $3,000,000 on July 1. In addition to this surplus Congress last year agreed to make the $9,000,000 which the Fed- eral Government pays toward main- tenance of the National Capital avail- able on the first day of the fiscal year. ‘This makes $12,000,000 that will be on hand to start the next fiscal year. In addition to this, there will be about $5,000,000 of unexpended bal- ances of appropriations still in the Treasury on July 1, so that the Dis- trict will have in all close to $17,- 000,000 to meet its monthly require- ments until the first half of next year’s taxes become due in September. Auditor Donovan declared this will be ample to meet the District’s monthly obligations after July 1. ‘STOP-LIGHT ROBBER’ IS HELD IN $30,000 Pleads Guilty to Two Charges in Police Court—Two More Accu- sations to Be Made. James Steele, colored, styled by the police as “the traffic stoplight robber,” pleaded guilty in Police Court today before Judge Isaac R. Hitt to two charges of highway robbery. Upon the recommendation of Ralph Given, As- sistant United States attorney, the court held the prisoner for the action of the grand jury on bonds of $15,000 in each case. Steele admitted jumping on an auto- mobile driven by William R. White as he stopped for a red light signal, and by holding a small concealed iron pipe against his ribs in simulation of a pis- tol, robbing him of his watch and a small sum of mone; The defendant confessed in court today also to having similarly robbed Chester M. Wright, obtaining money and jewelry. Mr. Given informed the court that two more charges against Steele would be presented to the grand jury, involv-I ing the robbing of Thomas Shanley and David Cottrell. Detective Henry M. Jett and Jake ‘Wolfe, headquarters driver, made the arrest. ECUADOR EXILES REBELS. High Officers and Millionaire Ordered Deported. GUAYAQUIL, Ecuador, March 16 ).—Several prominent Ecuadoreans have been ordered deported. The de. portations are the outgrowth of the recent abortive political upheaval, which was quickly stopped by the government. Gen. Rafael Almeida Suarez, Cols. Benjamin Peralta and Carlos Flores Guerra, the millionaire Ignacio Fer- nandez Salvador, Dr. Jose Peralta and two mnewspaper men, Ricardo Jara- millo and Leonidas Garcia, have been placed on board a river boat to be transferred to_a steamer which will take them to Panama. Washington Workmen Are Too Slow, Says Foreman of land above the bridge. For the operation of the free Public ‘Washington workmen are, far too slow in their movements to suit Sam Knutson, the foreman in charge of the gang of menrnmv at work on the e House roof. e comes from Minnesota and weighs nearly 300 pounds, and he swung his huge arms in threatening manner today as he peevishly told about his disappointment at the prog- ress being made by the men under im. " P This big foreman while on the sub- Igc't of his ubles added that he has n bossing gangs for a long time X 1n three languages and on White House Job in five different tunes, but thus far he has been unable to get those under him to step fast enough to suit him. The contractor employing him has impressed upon him the fact that this White House repair job must be fin- ished in 120 days and Sam already is _getting worried. Unless Sam’s voice and langua are productive of more results aufilfi: to his ideas lits feared by some of the representatives of the company doing the work that there are going l‘:':;n sv;ime c‘““u"liu incident to this Vhite se work that will not be Catoud by wsundlie, son to doubt the substantial accuracy of the information it furnished to the Senate on the point. The data then given as to the high percentage of the total Mexican ofl production, controlled by American companies which have not accepted concessions, was sald to be an accu- rate summary of the official informa tion of the Washington Government. LENTEN SPEAKER URGES AID FOR PROPER LIFE Rev. Anson Phelps Stokes Preaches at Noon Services in Theater. “Living or Christianity as embodied in the life of Christ and as it should be embodied in us through proper liv- ing,” was the subject of the sermon, delivered by Rev. Anson Phelps Stokes_ canon of the Washington Cathedral, a. mid-day Lenten services in Keith" Theater today. Dr. Stokes urged that people not only try to live properly themseives but that they help others to live right. “‘Christ came to give us everlasting life,”” he said, adding: “Christ gives men spiritual life and vitality.” Dr. Stokes named more love as the remedy for most of the ills in the world. Prayer was delivered at today's services by Rev. Henry B. Wooding and Irving L. Koch presided. Dr. L. W. Glazebrook, chairman ot the committes in charge of the mid day Lenten services, expressed regret over the recent death of CGeorge M Mobray, past grand patron of the Order of the Eastern Star, who, he said, had been a regular attendant at the services for the past nine years Dr. Glazebrook read a communicatior from Kent Island, Md., telling of peo ple in the country store there enjoy ing the midday services which are broadcast over the radio. Rev. Howard A. Kelly of Baltimore will be the speaker tomorrow, while' Rev. Clarence H. Cochran will cone duct the services and Col. John H, Finney will preside. Dr. E. T. ne of American University will be the {speaker Friday. et e \CHILD, 4, SPIRITED AWAY BY AUTOIST Son of Separated Parents Picked Up at Virginia Home—Man in Car Resembles Father. Special Dispatch to The Sta CLARENDON, Va., March 16— Sheriff Howard B. Fields was this afternoon asked to try to locate Ray- mond M. Bennett, four years of age, who about 11 o'clock today was pick- ed up in Virginia Highlands and driven away in an automobilé by two men, one of whom answers to a description of the child's father. According to a report made to the sheriff, the parents of the child, Mr. and Mrs. Miles Bennett, were sep- arated by the courts and the mother was awarded custody of the child. The mother is said to have taken up residence in Washington, boarding out the child with Mrs. Mildred Kew, in front of whose home, 222 Murray avenue, Virginia Highlands, the child was playing when carried off. The father has been living In North Ca olina and it is belleved the party heading that way. Police authorities of Fredericksburg and Richmond have been asked by Sheriff Fields to keep an eye out for the child and its captors. B AR Ask Arbitration With Mexico. A petition for settlement of disputes between the United States and Mex- ico by arbitration was presented tc Secretary Kellogg today by a delega- tion representing the Council of Jew- ish Women, the Young Women's Christian Association, the League of Women Voters and the Foreign Pol- icy Association. e Changes in Stations. Maj. David B. Falk, jr., U. 8. In fantry, at the Army War College, this city, has been assigned to the 7th In- tantry, at Vancouver Barracks, and Maj. John C. Moore, Signal Corps, at Fort Leavenworth, Kans., has been ordered to the Army War College for duty as a student. NOON-DAY LENTEN SERVICES B. F. Keith’s Theater 12:30 to 1 0"Clock Speaker Tomorrow DR. HOWARD A. KELLY Service conducted by REV. C. H. CORTRAN Every One Invited—No Collection