Evening Star Newspaper, May 17, 1927, Page 1

WEATHER. (T. 8. Weather Bureau Forecast.) Fair and somewhat warmer tonight; tomorrow Increasing cloudiness and warmer, probably followed by showers. Temperature—Highest, 60, at noon The only evening paper in Washington with the Associated Press news [ » ] yesterday; lowest, Full report on page 9. Closing N. Y. Stock 50, at 5 a.m. today. s and Bonds, Page 14 et No. 30,331 NEW LEVEE BREAK DESTROYS TOWN st office, Wa: OF MELVILLE, LA, Waters Huge Crevasse Wipe Out Entire Village. INHABITANTS BELIEVED SAFE ON EMBANKMENTS Two Relief Trains Standing By to Remove Refugees From Inun- dated Community. Pouring Through‘] tered as second class matter shington, D. C. ch WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION ¢ Eoening Star. WASHINGTON, Accuses Backer l I | LLOYD BERTAUD, Br the Associated Press. BATON ROUGE, La., May 17.—Re- ports that the main levee at Melville, La., on the west bank of the Atchafa-| Jaya River, broke today and that the residents were forced to flee were re- ceived here today. e information came from a telephone operator at Melville, who stated that virtually @verything in the town was destroyed. | Melville lies about 130 miles north- | west of New Orleans, and is on the opposite site of the river from the Crescent City, and is 45 miles north- west of Baton Rouge. The levee was from 15 to 18 feet high, and John M. Parker, State flood director, was advised that two hours after the break, which came about 6 £.m., the crevasse had widened to 800 foet. Confidence was expressed here That no lives had been lost, as most of the 1.028 inhabitants of Melville had sought refuge on the levees. Relief Trains Standing By. Two relief trains of the Pacific Railroad were reported ing by to remove the flood victim! The scene that follpwed the break was described to the Associated Press today by Mrs. Julia MacNeill, wife of & Melville druggist. She was the first refugee to escape from the town. Every one was aroused by shots fired by the levee guards and rushed from their homes in night clothes, Mrs. eill_said. immediately scrambled up on the levees, where they waited for the rescue hoats. They have absolutely nothing; most of them did not have time to get any clothes,” Mrs. Mac- Neill continued. Houses Tossed About. “The waters rushed through the break with a roar and swept away nearby houses from their foundations, lifting them up and tossing away the boards and heavy timbers like feathers. Intermingled with the roar of the waters could be heard the screams of the women and children. “They sat on the levees ‘on the river bank, crying and shivering. It was dreadful.” Z ity Although in a state of nervous ten- sion from her experiences, Mrs. Mac- Neill went to former Gov. Parker, beg- ging him to send boats at once to res- cue_the people. he shots may not have aroused every one—I don't know,” she added. “T am afraid that people whose homes were near the crevasse may have lost | their lives." 20 DIE IN LOUISIANA FLOOD. NEW ORLEANS, May 17 (®).— Loss of life, which rescue workers at first hoped might be averted during the flood in Louisiana, hovered like a grim spectre over the Big Bend and Bayou des Glaises section today. Relief workers in various parts of the inundated area reported a tot' of ap- proximately 20 already dead. At Plaucheville, in the path of the Bavou des Glaises flood, about 150 miles northwest of New Orleans, three women and six children were reported drowned when their home was overturned bv flood waters. As the reports of the first deaths arrived, there also came a warning from Leonard G. Coop, Red Cross executive at Opelousas, who said that be had grave fears for the safety of many residents east of Opelousas. May Use Military Force. Mr. Coop indicated that he helieved it might become necessary to tak many of the people from the urea b military force. Below Opelousas. be- tween the Atchafalaya River and Ar- naudville, the low country is only 10 miles wide, and it is there, where the current will he the swiftest, that the danger zone is believed to lie. Towns above Opelousas were Te- ported under water at depths varying from 6 to 15 feet. Opelousas, on_high Jand, was expected to be made head- Quarters for 5,000 refugess. At Woodside, 10 miles south of the junction of the Atchafalaya and Old on the east bank of the i a break which threater terday was reporteda to havi averted temporarily, at least. George %, Schoenberger, State engineer, said he thought the levee there would hold. 150 Refugees at Convent. At Plaucheville, bearing the brunt of the flood, 150 persons were being cared for at a_convent on high land. A hundred of those were living in the homes of priests. Citizens and a trainload of relief workers in boats were combing the territory around Cottonport. Fifty f refugee c and were rooned persons out east of th t boats were built at the mp = unched today to ma- of the territory tion w Orleans re terth in 24 hour: ALEXANDRI A Texas & Pacific tween Morrow and washed out n rescue trains from andria to M will have to Eaton Rouge. FARMERS GUARD LEVE CRESCENT, La., May 17 (®).—An “army” of farmers armed with shot- guns marched out to battle here last night. A short time later mos the army trooped back home. “enemy” could not be found The call to arms followed a rumor among farmers that the Central Railroad, in an effort 1o protect some of its property, plan- ned to cut embankments on Honey Creek because of flood conditions. The report was denied vehemently by railroad officials, but a group of the farmers maintained watch early mor hours. They were sat- isfied, they said, that tl road in- tended no haria to otecting levees, but they wer about the waters of t which Jast h'a levee & the Missouri and bac.<=4 up again mey Creek, La.. May 17 (#).— Palmetto was ht, preventing from Alex ¥ Puer scene from reach the of The Opelousas yesterday | Railroad bridge be- | into | PRESIDENT VETOES PLEA TO SUMNON | PECIAL SESSION White House Acts After En-| couraging Hoover Repert Is Received. Based on an encouraging received today from Se Commerce Hoover on done for the relief of Mi: ippi | flood sufferers, it was annrounced | later at the White House that Presi-| dent Coolidge does not think it neces- | sary to call an extra session of Con- zress in response to repeated demands from various quarters. Secretary Hoover submitted to the President by wire a comprehensive plan for relief work by the Red Cross in co-ordination with State and coun- ty commissions. This work would] involve emergency relief and recon- struction of the devastated areas as well as a restocking of farms and re- financing agricultural and business | districts. Against Extra Session. It is reasonably safe to say, Mr.| Hoover stated, that the funds at hand will enable the Red Cross to do its work on an efficient basis. President Coolidge s said to feel that the public generally has respond- ed so well to the relief 1 that there is no occasion for an extra session | of Congress, especially in view of the excellent work that has been done thus far in relieving the distress of | flood _sufferers. report | retary of | work being | FRENCH PLAN TO SEEK | MORE TOURIST TRADE| | Propaganda Bureau Proposes Es: | tablishing New York Office to Aid Travelers. A “House to encourage travel is being | planned for New York, and eventually | other large cities of countries that send tourists here to spend money. America is placed first on the list be- | cause the French say more than 250.- 000 persons come here from the United States every vear and that each one spends an average of $1.000. While the “House of France” in New York has not yet been authoriz- ed by Parliament, the government propaganda bureau believes it will soon be sanctioned. As planned, the building would house the French con- sulate, commercial and tourist agencies, steamship and railroad | offices, hotel agents. travel bureaus and the government's tourist infor- mation_service. The idea is to meet German efforts along lines in America. It is hoped to sxecute all formalities for tourists so they will not be annoyed by the many | | complicated travel requirements. DEFERS TAX CUT PLANS. | 1t is too early to map out any defi- |nite program for the tax reduction | expected at the next session of Con- gress, in the opinion of President Coolidge. He prefers that the method of re- duction be worked out after the sur- | plus for the fiscal year ending June 130, is definitely known. | The President also believes the re- | duction must depend to some extent on business conditions existing and | in prospect when Congress gets to-| gether next December. Girl 8 Years Old Expects to Enter High School at ¢ By the Associated Press. ILDEN, Nebr., May 17.—Vergie Tee James, S-year-old pupil of a country school mear here, expects | to enter high school when s | Vergie recently passed the State | examination given for and | eighth grade pupils with ar | grade of 86 per cent. Her | teacher expects her to complete the nine subjects required for the eighth grade next year and be ready for high school at 3 years of age. PARI France | | | | | | clause the contract was i m; a, UESDAY, MAY 17, 1927 —FIFTY PAGES. i FIGHT MAY QUST BELLANCA'S PLANE FRON PARIS RACE Bertaud's Lawyer Says Le-| vine Sought to Let Byrd Hop Off First. FLYER MAY GO TO COURT TO ENFORCE ORAL PACT Weather Holds Three Ships to Long Island—Start Expected to Be Made Thursday. Dy the Associated Pross. NEW YORK, May break between Lloyd tor of the Bellanc lumbia, and Charles A. Levine, chief backer of its transatlantic flight proj- threatened today to eliminate the 1e from the triple dash to Paris. Bertaud's lawyer, Clarence W. Nutt, issued a statement charging Levine with deliberately delaying the take- off of the Columbia in order to allow Comdr. Richard E. Byrd's Fokker monoplane America and Capt. Charles . Lindbergh’s Ryan monoplane Spirit of St. Louis to get away first. This, he asserted, would provide an excuse for cancellation of the Bellanca's flight. May Wait Until Thursday. Meanwhile continued unfavorable weather sed further postponements of the contemplated flizhts. Indica- 17— An open Bertaud. navi- monoplane Co- | tions were that none of the contenders would attempt a hop-off before Thurs- day Byrd will have completed his load tests and be ready for the Paris jump. Dissension among the ranks of the Bellanca entry has been brewing for several days. The original contract between Bertaud and Clarence Cham- berlin, the pilot, and the Columbia Aircraft Corporation, owner of the plane, provided that the prize money, estimated at $100,000, be divided equally between the flyers and the company, and that the airmen agree to remain in the employ of the com- pany one vear aiter the Paris flight should it prove successful. Friends of the flyers voiced objec- tions to the proposed division of the and the aviators them- selves insisted some financial arrange- ment be made for their wives. Ber- taud also objected to the one-year contract clause, as he is on leave from the Air Mail Service. Chamberlin is regularly employed by the Columbia company New Agreement Made. As a result of a conference Sunday an agreement was reached under which -the flyers were to recetve the full prize money, thelr wives' were to be given financial protection and the one-year contract was to be waived. This agreement was placed in writ- ing, but Nutt charged a paragraph had been inserted reserving to Levine the right to withdraw from the flight | project or to remove one or both of | the fiyers, with compensation of four | wecks' expenses. As a result of this| not_signed. | itt announced he was prepared to start suit to compel carrying out of | the terms of the alleged oral agree-| ment. Another point of dispute was over the radio equipment the plane should carry. After the disastrous Nunges- ser flight a powerful radio set wa | installed on the Columbia. Bellanca Backs Levine. Levine, however, declared the weight of the radio generation im- paired the efficiency of the plane, and over the protests of Bertaud it W removed. A smaller emergency was installed. G. M. Bellanca, signer of the plane, supported Levine in the controver Bertaud was displeased by the con- templated change of course from the steamship lane to the great circle route to be followed by Lindbergh and Byrd. Chamberlin, however, agreed with Bellanca on the advisability of such a change. Stiff, raw winds kept the three anes in their Long Island hangars Byrd's pilot has been an- as Bert Aco: Acosta re- cently made the world’s endurance flight record of more than 51 hours in the Bellanca plane with Chamber- lin. BYRD'S PLANE GIVEN TES Big Fokker Declared Satisfactory in Weight Experiments. ROOSEVELT FIELD, L May 17 (#).—The big th Fokker monoplane, America was given weightlifting test today that w ng Island, -motored | deemed by the flyers as “most satis- The America flew off with Noville and pounds of factory. Bert Acosta and Lieuts monoplane rose from the ound after a run of a quarter of a mile and made a short flight. Lieut. Noville said the America “acted fine.” Later the America will have a test with loads of 13,00 and 14,500 pounds. The monoplane, which will be flown by Comdr. Richard E. Byrd, will at- tempt the crosing of the Atlantic with a load of 14,207 pounds. he second flight of the 2 made with a load of 13,280 pounds. The huge craft took to the air easily after a run of approximately 1.200 feet. Ameri e propriety of Forme ) Federal Clerk's Having $100.000 Tomb Put Up to Court | Justice Stafford of the District Su- | preme Court will be called on tomor- | row to decide whether the provision {of a will leaving the residue of an | estate for the erection of a vault or | monument over the grave of the testa- | trix is a valid bequest and whether | the American Security & Trust Co. | the executor, is justified in so expend- |ing a balance of more than $100,000 | remaining after the payments of the | specific bequests ¢ will of Miss Mary N. Spenc Miss Spencer was 70 years old when she died in 1919, and was a familiar figures on the streets of Washington | through her custom of ridin, | from her employment at the the Treasur: | Department on a bicycle almost to the | time of her death. After a number to and | | of small bequests her will directs that the residue be used in the erection of | the monument, and the executor, in | view of the amount involved, has |asked the court to construe the will lin a suit filed about three years ago, | but which is just ready for hearing | by the court. Heirs of the deceased residing in | E 1d and Ireland have filed opposi- tion to the use of so much money in a monument and seek to have the court hold that distribution of some would be made among them. stated, made only year as a Government clerk, but through wi | considerable estate. | pearing for the trust company, while the heirs are represented by Attor- Ineve Newmyer, King and Jacobson, and by that time it was thought | set | de- | investments left a | Attorneys Teelle & Ogilby ace ap- | !PLOT TO SEIZE PHILIPPINES | By the Associated Pr MANILA, M 17.—A report ceived here today by the Philippine constabulary said a reign of fear and a tie-up of business had resulted in the two provinces affected by the recent uprising of followers of Flor Intrench- erado, insane native and self-proclaim- ed “Emperor of the Philippines.” The report further declared that In- trencherado’s followers had plotted to seize the entire Philippine Archipel- ago eventually. Many haciendas in Iloilo and Occi- dental Negros Provinces were said to have been without laborers and a. seri- ous stoppage of business followed. Rumors that certain of the ring lead- ers who esc/ed arrest might attempt to prevent the removal of Intrencher- ado to Manila for confinement in an asylum were said by the con- ulary report to have caused ter- ror, with the result that many natives | remained in doors. ! e Tslands. Planned to Se Confessions from many of those un- der arrest have revealed that it fi was designed to seize the provine government of Tloilo. There wi somewhat less definite arrangements made for taking over the whole of Panay and Negros Islands, two of the | FOLLOWED BY REIGN OF FEAR Business Tie-Up in Two Provinces Results} From Uprising of Native Adherents of Self-Proclaimed “Emperor.™ more sizeahle ar the Philip- re- | pines. Many of the prisoners admitted plotting to kill municipal officials and take possession of their towns for In- trencherado. Policemen were to have been disarmed and prominent citizens captured and their wealth distributed among the Intrencherado followers. In the event that these plans had been successful, it was planned to proclaim Intrencherado Emperor of the Philippines and to extend his realm later to embrace the whole of the Malay Archipelago. Organization to carry this out had been formed in a dozen towns. Leader Still at Large. Policarpio Montarde, one of trencherado’s leading lieutenants the actual leader of the recent upiis ing, still is at large detach- ment of co yulars has been sent to nd him. Although the Supreme Court com- mitment order for taking Intrench- erado to the insane asylum had not 1 at Tloilo, where the “Emperor" a dispatch to the Manila Tribune says the Court of In- stance in Tloilo has ordered him sur- rendered to the authorities for con- finement here. In STIMSON RETURNS FROM NICARAGUA President’s Representative Leaves Corinto Aboard Cruiser Trenton. Henry L. Stimson, sentative of President Coolidge in Nicaragua, has sailed away from Co- rinto on board the cruiser Trenton for Hampton Roads, Va., the Navy De- partment was advised today. Occupation of Rivas, south of Mana- gua, by the purpose of disarming all govern- ment troops in that vicinity today w reported by Admiral Latimer, Ameri can naval commander in Nicar: waters. Liberals Leave Capital. He added that Liberal evacuated the vicinity of the X raguan capital vesterday and those living on the Atiantic coast would be sent to their homes today. Pvt. Willlam I. Simon, jr., one of the.two Marines slightly wounded ves- terday when a band of Liberals at- tacked an American detachment in Nicaragua, was ldentified by the Navy Department today as coming from ‘onn., where his father 42 REPORTED SLAIN. Envoy to Mexico Says 17 Marines and 25 Liberals Were Killed. MEXICO CITY, May 17 (#).—Pedro Zepeda, representative here of the Liberal Nicaraguan government, last night he had received speciz patches from Guatemala reporti 17 United States marines and erals were killed in a clash when the marines attempted to disarm a Liberal group at La Paz, between Leon and Managua. into the mountains and were not pur- sued by the marines. SACASA ASSAILS STIMSON. Says American Tried to Ram Diaz Presidency Down People’s Throats. PUERTO CABEZA! In a statement yesters casa, head of the Liberal government, sserted that Henry L. Stimson, per- onal representative of President Cool- idge in stead of investi- gating the real sil tion appears to have been sent to aragua for the purpose of ramming down the s of the Nicaraguan people the presidency of Adolfo Diaz. He reiterated his stand that the Liberals would not participate in the Diaz government, and expressed fear that the disarming of Liberal troops by the United States Marines would result in_bloodshed. Dr. sa as- _'wdv!harv'n:‘ll bloodshed would (Continued on Page 7, Column 4) \PRESIDENT IS ABLE | TO RETURN TO DESK ‘Rest Overcomes Cold—Will Ad- | dress Medical Association | as Scheduled. Greatly vefreshed by a good night's rest, President Coolidge returned to his desk at the White House today in time for ! 10 o'clock When the President slight bronchial cold e Dr. James . Coupal, the White House physician, advised him to remain in bed during the afternoon so as to get a_complete rest. He will make his address tonight before the American Medical Association unless some un- foreseen development occurs. It was | said the President’s pulse was normal developed a rly yesterday, night. “Ball of Fire,” Possible Meteor, Roars to Earth By the Associated P KANSAS CITY, May 17.—A sputtering “ball of fire” roared out of the clouds and exploded near the General Hospital in South Kansas City shortly before mid- night last night. The blast oc- urred so close to the ground that patch of grass was burned. trace of a meteor was found cept_several small holes in a yard, the largest about 2 inches in diam’ e ‘The detonation was heard for several blocks and caused numer- ous telephone calls to police and fire departments, Radio Progromes Padgn 42 £ 4 personal repre- | detachment of Marines for | ‘The Liberals, Zepeda adds, withdrew | and that he had no temperature last | | would add dignit | I said | the Cabinet meeting atthe | i | { i | i | Public Buildings | discussed the various troops | I no difficulty | within the triangle for | ment of Justice, if this setback on the | those in ch | some ARGHITECTS T0 AID INTRIANGLE PLAN Nationally Prominent Experts Coming Monday to Advise Building Commission. A group of nationally known archi- tects will come to Washington Mon- day to give the Public Buildings Com- mission and the Treasury Department the benefit of their knwledge in work- ing out the best possible layout for the new Government building pro- gram in the triangle south of Pennsyl- vania avenue. This was announced today by Sena- tor Smoot of Utah, chairman of the Commision, follow- in the Senate Office the commission proposals that have been made recently to modify the earlier decision as to the location of the various departmental struc- tures that are to go in the triangle. Although the commission postponed action on these suggestions until next week, Chairman Smoot said there was no doubt in the mind of members of the commission as to the wisdom of selecting a new site within the tri- angle for the Department of Justice uilding, in order that the site pre- viously selected, on Penns; ania ave- nue between Fourteenth and Fif- teenth street and extending back be- yond street, may be left open for the creation of a wide plaza that to the western end and ing a meeting Building, at which of the Pennsylvania avenue vis at the same time simplify what now a congested traffic point. Avenue Would Be Widened. This suggestion contemplates widen- ing Pennsylvania avenue on the south side between Fourteenth and Fif- teenth streets to create the proposed plaza, instead of placing one of the new buildings on the block between Pennsylvania avenue and E street. Sen in selecting a new the Depart- of the avenue between and Fifteenth streets is upon. This would leave the stretch of Government owned land between Fourteenth Fifteenth streets and South to B street free for development of an adequate building for the Department of Com South s Fourteenth finally decided merce which is to be one of the largest | in the entire program. Discuss Linked Buildings. The other proposals, which was talked over this morning, but de- ferred until next week, was that put forward by the Fine Arts Commis- sion to link the new structures to- gether along the South side of the avenue by archways between the up per stories with a central court on the interior of the triar omewhat milar to the Louvre treatment in France. Senator Smoot said the group of architects. who are to consult with rge of the building pro- gram next Monday. would go over these various suggestions and he in- dicated that they might recommend different scheme of treatment, either entirely new or embodying the best features of plans already under consideration. Among the architects who will join in this exchange of ideas on the best development of the triangle will be John Russell Pope of New York, who designed the Scottish Rite Temple here, Milton B. Medary, a member of ational Park and Planning Com- mission, also will take part in the consultation. New D. C. Buildings Planned. The vroposed development of a municipal group of buildings for Dis- trict of Columbia activities in the area between Pennsylvania avenue Judiciary Square, Third and Sixth s not taken up today. The city of Washington has man, muni- pal agencies that will have to va ite buildings in the trian; vay for the Commissione: re working on scheme for a centralized group of District structures to improve the north side of the Avenue on both sides of John Marshall place. Assistant Secretary of the Treas- ury Dewey represented the Treasury Department at the meeting of the Public Buildings Commission, and the Fine Arts Commission was represent- ed by its chairman, Charles Moore, WILL HIT COUNTERFEITING IENEVA, Switzerland, May 17 (P). he United States is to participate in the League of Nations campaign to_check counterfeiting. W. H. Moran, chief of the Secret Service division of the Treasury De- partment, is to come here as official American delegate to the commission which was created at the suggestion of Foreign Minister Briand of France following the exposure of the great fianc counterfeiting case in Hungary. s ] sy Tome a is | tor Smoot said there would be | site | and | e to make | ‘ederal baildings and the | STUDY PARKING BAN ASALTERNATIVETO - WIDENING STREETS | Commissioners to Consider| Step as Result of Protests Against Felling Trees. | RESTRICTION SUGGESTED | FOR RUSH HOURS ONLY | North and South Thoroughfares in Business Area Would Be Affected by Move. Prohibtion of all parking on north | ind south streets through the business | | avea during the rush hours appeared | to the District Commissioners today | 1s a potential alternative to the widen- |ing of c n thoroughfares and the | accompanying destruction of beauti- | | ful shade trees. | Since the temporary suspension of {the street-widening program yester- day, which was ordered as a result of a storm of public protests against the felling of the trees, the Commissioners 1ave given serious consideration to the question of whether to continue with | the sireet-widening projects or aban | don them in favor of some other plan which would provide the additional traffic facilities through the congested strict. Would Widen Traffic Lanes. The primary object of the majority of all of the strect widening projects ready completed and those planned »r this year, it was pointed out, is to increase traffic accommodations on the north and south streets which bear the burden of the traffic during rush By prohibiting parking on arteries, it was said, it would sible to provide space almost equivalent to that which would be | cleared by the widening of the street. | The Commissioners, however, are in'a dilemma as to how to proceed. The street widenings were directed by Congress in the appropriation act, they arsued, and whether such orders are mandatory is a_question which is puzzling to them. The prosecution or abolition of the 1927 widening pro- gram, it was indicated, hinges on the | solution of this important question. Study Contract Cancellation. Moreover, thc Commissioners are| considering the probable effect of a sation of the street widening proj- ¢ with relation to the contracts which it has with the firms which have heen authorized to do the work. A breach of these contracts, it was ex- plained, might involve the District in litigation and_result possibly in the loss of the money appropriated for the work. The street widening program, it was sald, will be held in abeyance for some time, possibly until Congress convenes, and then the matter would be placed before it for reconsideration. Engi- neer Commissioner Bell, who has di- rect supervision over the street widen- ing activities, is of the opinion that hasty prosecution of the street widen- ing program is mnot necessary and that a _delay will cause no great in- | convenience. PLANE REPORTED - SEENBY RUM SHIP Men on Schooner Say Large Craft Flew Off Cape Sable May 9. | | ociated Press. | | LYNN. Mass., May 17.—The Lynn | Ttem today prints a story of a large | ane having been seen off Cape Sable, | ia, éarly in the morning of by men on a rum-| running schooner who landed here last night. Neither the names of the men nor of the schooner are used, in conformance with the request of the | source, but the story says the men | | are positive in their statements. The schooner, according to the story. | had been lying about 40 miles south of Cape Sable for nearly three weeks | while making arrangements for its| Plane Going Southwest. At 7 o'clock in the morning May 9 | the lookout heard the noise of a motor. | He called several others of the ves- sel and they were soon able to dis-| tinguish a large plane flying at an al- titude of about 3,000 feet. It was headed southwest from Cape Sable, and, checking it by their own home- ward course, it was pointed straight for Boston Light. Then a heavy fog bank shut down and sight of the plane was lost. The men on the schooner did not know that a transatlantic flight had been attempted, the story sald, and on landing here last night inquired if { from his position. |1t | L. (Continued on Page 2, Column 8) service. Yesterday’s Circulation, 103,167 (#) Means Associated Pre: TWO CENTS. Maj. Harold Geiger Killed as Plane Falls and Burns MAJ. HAROLD GEIGER. By the Associated Press MIDDLETOWN, Pa., May 17— Maj. Harold Geiger was killed to- day when his plane was wrecked and burned as he was taking off for his return trip to the Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Md, at the United tates air intermediate depot here. EV.J.N. PIERCE SUED FORS50,000 First Congregational Pastor Charged With Libel by Ship- ping Board Engineer. Rev. Jason Noble Plerce, pastor of the First Congregational Church, where President and Mrs. Coolidge attend, has been named as defendant in a suit to recover $350,000 damages, filed late yesterday afternoon in the District Supreme Court by Howard T. Cole, an engineer of the United States Shipping Board Emergency Fleet Corporation, for alleged libel. Cole charges that the pastor wrote to officials of the Shipping Board, April 2 and May 10, communications reflecting on <his character in an al- leged effort to have him dismissed The engineer de- nies the charges and claims that he always has been a -abiding, up- right and moral man” and that the sole purpose of the defendant is to hring the plaintiff “into s and disgrace, to humillate, mortify and -embarrass him, te drive him from the city of Washington and to cause him to lose his position.” Paper Sent to Members. The memorandum attached to the declaration of the plaintiff is_dated April 2 and signed by Rev. Dr. Pierce. is addressed to Brig. Gen. A. C. Dalton, president of the Emergency Fleet Corporation, and the charge is made that copies of this paper were delivered.to Rear Admiral W, S. Ben- son and to W. S. Hill, members of the hoard. The second communica- tion is dated May 10 and makes cer- tain corrections of statements in the preceding memorandum. Cole is represented by Attorneys Rufus W. Pearson and Edwin M. Mar- Dr.” Pierce has retained Attor- ¥rank J. Hogan to defend the Mr. Hogan, it is understood, has advised his client that his actions are justified by his position as pastor of the young woman whose plight caused the ‘writing of the communication. Charges Are Investigated. At the today immediate superiors of Mr. Cole stated that, although they had knowl- | edge of the charges against him, they had_no_evidence showing him_guilty (Continued on F INDIANAPOLIS MAYOR NAMED IN CHARGES City Controller Also Accused of Conspiracy to Falsify Cam- paign Statements. By the Associated Press. INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. May 17.— Five affidavits against Mayor John Duvall and two against William C. Buser, city controller, Duvall’s brother-in-law, charging conspiracy to commit a felony, were filed in Ma- rion Criminal Court today by William H. Remy, prosecuting attorney. The principal charges were contain- ed in a joint affidavit. It alleged that Duvall and Buser had falsified sworn statements as to contributions to the Duvall campaign In 1924. Bond of each defendant was fixed at §5,000 on this joint charge. The four others against Duvall and the one other against Buser alleged similar offenses, specifying overt acts alleged to have been committed by them, Let the user of cosmetics beware. Some of the patent preparations on the market not only are barefaced frauds, but are dangerous, according to an educational exhibit arranged by the American Medical Society in the dermatology section at the Washing- ington Auditorium. There is one nostrum advertised to beautify the complexion, whiten the skin and remove blackheads, tan and freckles. Analysis shows that it is only epsom salts in another form. One pound of epsom salts costs 15 cents in any drug store. One pound of toilet preparation costs $2.72. There is another preparation adver- tised as a sure cure for dandruff and selling at aproximately $48 a gallon. It consists of kerosene, quinine, alco- hol, water#and a perfume, It can be made for $0 cents a gallon, and, ac- cording to the exhibit, has no effect on dandruff atsoever. A faciaf mixtuore is shawn. sdver. Many “Marvelous™ Beauty Preparations Exposed to Public in Medical Exhibit tised as made from aa oriental recipe, which consists of an ounce of calo mel to a pint of water. It is described in the exhibit as worthless and likely to pigment the skin permanently. A freckle remover is described as dan- gerous because it contains the poison ammoniated mercury. A hair dye is shown to contain con- siderable amounts of a silver salt, which turns dark in the presence of organic matter when exposed to light. It may permanently injure the' hafr, it is declared. Another contains silver salt, lead acetate and sulphur, and is branded as dangerous. An alleged product of milkweed is shown to con- tain ammoniated mercury. Various hair.removers are shown to contain sulphide mixtures, which may remove hair from the skin, but are said to be likely to take the skin with | | imergency Fleet Corporation | the LAWTO REGULATE MEDICAL PRAGTICE INDISTRICT URGED | Association Asked to Back Act Requiring Doctors to Pass Examinations. LOCAL DISASTER RELIEF AGENCIES ADVOCATED Reinvestigation of Value of Heroin as Drug Requested—In- dustrial Medicine Debated. The influence of the Amer | fcal Association is expected to be thrown behind efforts to secure a gen- | eral practice medical act for the Dis- | trict of Columbf A resolution to this effect was intro- | duced today in the house of delegates | of the association by Dr. Phillip S. v of Washington and was referred to the board of trustees for action aft- er examination. The uniform medical practice act, modeled after similar laws in New York and Wisconsin,would force all practitioners of healings arts in the District of Columbia to pass an examination in the fundamentals of medical science. The bill was framed and is supported by the Medical So- 7 of the District of Columbia. This tion, which had been introduced Senator Copeland of New York, was left over by the last Congress. Heroin Inquiry Asked. A resolution requesting a reinvesti- gation of the value of heroin as a drug, and restrictive legislation place® upon the distribution of heroin, will be referred to the council on phar- macy and dentistry, to be referred back to the House of Delegates after study. The resolution, which was ap- proved by the House of Delegates, included the statement: “The American Medical Association condemns as unwise and futile any attempt to evaluate a therapeutic agent by lezislative flat, referendum or popular vote. Such evaluation can be made only by investigation and decision of experts having knowledge of the particular subject.” A resolution urging local medical associations to establish disaster lief agencies, the need of which has been shown strikingly by the present Mississippi flood, was adopted. Industrial Medicine Debated. Discussion of the spread of indus- trial medicine aroused considerable debate. Dr. Seale Harris of Birming- ham, Ala., asked that each local so- ciety make a study of the effects of industrial medicine in their home States. s Dr. C. 8. Nelson of Illinois stated that the attitude of the association was to consider industrial medical practice as unfair where there was underbidding, not of a reasonable de- &ree of free choice on the part of the patient and where fees are too low to give good service, but he insisted that local associations should attend to the situation in their own States. Whisky Discussion Postponed. Discussion of a resolution to hold a Nation-wide referendum on the medi cal value of whisky prescription was postponed until tomorrow morning. A resolution favoring deductions from income tax returns of surgical, hospital, medical and funeral ex- penses was referred to the board of trustees. Dr. Albert Dulsen of Fort Wayne, Ind.. made a hard fight for action by the House of Delegates against allo ing individual physicians to publish | arti under their own names in the d: p holding that this | might constitute advert but it | was held that the judicial counsel of association has sufficient ma- chinery to handle the situation. An appropriation of $5,000 for five |vears was approved to continue a study of the training and economic ican Me ge 2, Column 7) |situation of graduate nurses. Cosmetics Control Urged. A resolution introduced by Dr. Orin 8. Wightman of New York at the re- quest of the New York State Medical Society, urging a Federal law for the control of cosmetics, was approved by the house of delegates and referred to the board of trustees for action after considerable debate and laughter, which aroused the ire of the New York delegates. “The time has come for definite action on this important matter,” Dr. Wightman said. “Innocent patlents are being injured without any means of defens “I hate to see this matter laughed out,” said Dr. D. E. nllivan of Con- cord, N. H. “It is serious. We had the same thing up before our own medical association, but the druggists and cosmetic mant irers managed to have the meeting packed so that it was ridiculed. Even death may re. sult from some of the poisonous prictary cosmetics that are being sold.” The New York Society this matter here to be lau aid Dr. Daniel S. Doughert ork. “It was given due considera- tion. The New York City Department of Health has analyzed many of these cosmetic preparations and has found in- them dangerous ingredients, like lead and coal tar. We don't want this matter buried by the board of trustees.” Efforts to have the matter referred an't bring zhed at,” | to a committee on skin diseases failed. Fight Over State Rights. A fight on State rights legislation broke out over a proposed amendment to the constitution which would give the house of delegates, upon recom- mendation of the judicial council, the power to expel a member of the Amer- ican Medical Association. At present membership in the national associa- tion is secured by membership in a county or State society, and only the local societies have the power of ex- pulsion. It was brought out that State and county societies often do not take suffi- cient interest in local quacks and will permit a man to retain his member- ship who has engaged in questionable practices. Thus he is able to advers tise that he is a member of the Amer- ican Medical Association and get .v«}héltever prestige comes from that so- ciety. “The American Medical Association must have control over its own mem- bership,” said Dr. M. L. Harris of Chicago, chairman of the judiclal council. “We have a case right now it. Even those beauty preparations|where the name of the association is which are called innocuous should | being dragged in the dirt by a doctor be looked upon with suspicion, unless | who is advertising a fake cancer cure indorsed by a physicvian, according|and there is nothing we can do about to the exhibit, becau; Iy to ha greately ovel / 4 hey are like- jeed, (Continned on Page 4, Column 1.)