Evening Star Newspaper, May 31, 1927, Page 2

2 = | ABATIOR 0PPOSED - BYFINE ARTS BODY - Alexandria Would “Defile” || Itself With Slaughter House, Commission Writes. Vigorously protesting against the erection of an abattoir in Alexandria, V. as proposed by the N. Auth Provision Co. of W hington, the | ‘Commission of Fine Arts today de-| clared that an abattoir within or near the city is a menace, “and for the | sake of the people who make the city | their home, should not be permitted there.” Alexandria would “defile” itself if it | permitted a slaughter house to he erected within the city Jimits, the| commission said in letter today to J. H. Taylor of 61. North Washington street, Alexandria, who had protested | in a letter to the fine arts body | against the proposed construction, “Your letter of May 28, protesting against the erection of an abattoir in Alexandria, was brought to the atten- tion of the Commission of Fine Arts at their meet & the com: mission’s letter said. Says It Would Defile City. “The commission cannot see how | Alexandria_is asking contributions | from the Masons all over the country for a national shrine and expects to have a Mount Vernon boulevard and then should defile itself with a slaugh ter house,” the letter added. The sita chosen by the Auth Com- pany for the abattoir, according to Mr.” Taylor, is on. the old Portner estate, within the city limits of Alex andria. Property owners living near | the Portner estate drew up a petition of protest against the proposed con- struction, he said, and laid it before the fine arts body, along with other t | daia, | ‘The Auth Co. had previously sought permission to construct the abattoir in Arlington County, a short distance | southwest of the west end of the Highway Bridge, near the Columbia pike. A permit for the construction was granted by the Arlington Coun- 1y board of supervisors, but was aban- doned because of th. complaint of property holders and Zsesidents of Ar. lington County near ifie proposed site. The company then decided to shift its slaughtegshouse to Alexandria, where it also et opposition from property holders. Opposed Within 20 Miles. Alexandria is well within the metro- politan area of Washington, as out- lined by the National Capital Park and Planning Commission and the Fine Arts body, officials of the latter commission said today, and no pack- ing company should be permitted to erect a slaughter house in the area within a circle 20 miles from the cen- ter of Washington. Pointing to the difficulties Chicago and Kansas City have experienced be- cause of the erection of slaughter houses in podulated sections of the two cities, co:fimission officials empha- sized that Washington should see to it that such a situation is not dupli- cated in or near the Capital. CHAIN OF CHARGES HITS COLORED MAN Louis Johnson, Held for At- tacking Mrs. Dinges, In- volved in Other Crimes. A chain of charges involving as- saults upon women, housebreaking and robberies was being forged by po- lice today to link Louik Johnson, North Carolina colored youth, to ecriminal prosecution, following his arrest early yesterday morning and subsequent al- leged confession which police declare has cleared up four puzzling cases and may lead to the solution of others. Johnson, according to police, is alleged to have admitted using a sagh- weight of about six pounds during an assault upon Mrs. Hattie Dinges, at 235 South Capitol streer, last Tues- day in the basement of her home. Detectives Varney and Brodie, follow- ing his reputed confession, stated that they recovered a sashweight in tall grass at the rear of the South Capitol street home, where Johnson is alleged to have admitted secret- ing it. It was wrapped in bloodstain- ed paper. Confessions Alleged. In addition to this case, police de- clare, there filve been admissions hy the prisoner that he perpetrated as- saults with milk bottles on two young mothers on Benning road early terday morning and upon Mrs. Mary Bertram, 68 years old, of 643 Flor- ence street northeast, several days ago. Johnson was identified by Mrs. Mil- dred Hawkins, 25 years old, as the man who stole into her bedroom while she was sleeping shortly after mid- night Sunday, with her baby in hed with her, and who struck her in the face with a milk hottle when she screamed. Mrs. Charles Deck, 35 years old, of 1635 Benning road north- east, the other victim of the assault with a milk bottle early Monday morn- ing, was unable positively to iden- tify him. Mre. Bertram today was 0 be given an opportunity to look at Johnson. Traces Own Steps in Crime. Johnson, according to detectives, has traced in detail the steps in each of these cases, giving them such infor- mation of the location of the homes and various objects in them. This morning. he volunteered further in formation, according to detectives, which is now being run down. Four charges of housebreaking and essauit have been placed against Johnson, while robbery is charged against his name in the Hawkins case, ;\'_h;(:‘e he is alleged to have taken MEDICAL EXAMINATION OF CARROLL KEPT SECRET Justice Department Declines to Dis- Close Report in Case of Con- victed Theatrical Producer. By the Associated Press. So far as the Department of Justice is concerned the report of the physi- clang who examined Earl Carroll, con- victed New York theatrical producer last week at a Greenville, S. C., hos pital, is to remain a carefully guarded secret for the present at leust. It was said tod the department Acting Attorney General Mitchell had ruled “that findings of the physicians would not be made public until definite action had been taken in the | case of the promoter of the celebrated “bathtub” party, wh ricken while en route from New York to the Atlanta penitentiary to serve a year and a day for perjur: Final action probably will await the return to Washington next week of EARL KILPATRICK. RADID RELIEF NET AIDS FLOOD FOLK Last Struggle With Water Awaited—Earl Kilpatrick Killed in Crash. By the Associated Press. NEW ORLEANS, May 31.—A radio web spread out to aid in meeting an eleventh-hour emergency, citizens of the lower valley today prepared for their last bitter struggle with the Mis- sissippi as the greatest flood of its history surged southward over the final lap of its devasting course, finally to lose itself in the Gulf of Mexico. Under the direction of Lieut. C. N. Iry, in charge of the Coast Guard relief fleet at Morgan City, several vessels equipped with radio have been dispatcheed to criuse through the bayous of the Atchafalaya Basin as far up as Donaldsonville, which is at the head of the Bovou la Fourche, on the Mississippi. These boats will re- port any emergency to the mother ship at Morgan City by radio and boats will be rushed to the scene from the nearcst base. Refugees Being Moved. Tefuzees were being moved today from the lowlands around Morgan City as the flood waters climbed high- er. Morgan City is about 100 miles west of New Orleans, at the mouth of the Atchafalaya. In the city itself the last dry land was fast disappear- ing. Several hundred more residents left either for the refugee camp, or New Orleans, but a great portion of the population has refused to move. Banks and some stores are carrying on business as usual on platforms built well above the present level of the waters. One poolroom remained open to furnish recreation for the residents who remain. Several hundred persons. were re- moved from Avoca Island. near Mor- gan City, vesterday when the water started flowing over a 20-mile levee which protects 1t. Other refugees from Brunswick Bay section passed through Morgan City on the way to the refugee contentration point at Thibodeaux. Physicians from Mor- gan City were visiting the many fami- lies who planned to stay out the flood on. houseboats above and below the city, to “accinate them. Planting Being Started. While the flood continued its slow rise in the “Sugar Bowl” section, residents began to take heart from the fact that the waters from the McCrea Crevasse were not spreading as rapidly or as far as was at first expected. Many planters who at first thought their plantations were going to be totally ruined began making plans to salvage what they could this year in order to keep going until next Spring. In the Northern parishes of the section dry land was beginning to appear and planting was being started almost before the waters ran off. Relief headquarters at New Orleans were covered with a pall of gloom today over the death of Earl Kil- patrick, assistant disaster relief di- rector, killed vesterday in a plane crash near Donaldsonville. Mr. Kil- patrick, who, had charge of the work in Arkansas and Missouri, with head- quarters in Memphis, was on his way to New Orleans for a conference with Relief Director Harry M. Baker of the Red Cross when the plane in which he was a passenger crashed. The funeral will be held late Friday at Portland, Oreg. The situation of the lower river vas practically unchanged, with the iver recording a slow drop at all points. HOOVER LAUDS KILPATRICK. Secretary Shocked to Learn of Sudden Death. Secretary Hoover, Vice Chairman Fieser of the Red Cross and others who had been closely associated with Earl Kilpatrick in flood rellef work at Memphis were shocked on learning today of the tragic death of the Red Cross official. “It is a great blow to me,” Mr. Hoover said this morning. “lfe was head of our reconstruction division and one of our most ahle worker “In his death the Red Cross 2 lost one of its strongest men,” Mr. “jeser announced, “It is difficult to ealize that the man with whom I planned many details of flood relief work only a few days ago should be the victim of a plane ¢ h. In in- tellect, courage and ability he stood on an equal plane with the best. In these brief weeks durlng the Missis- sippi flood he had won the respec admiration and atfection of many hu dreds of State and local leaders in Red Cross lfef work and in the business world.” Kilpatrick, by his indefatizable de- v ster relief head- quarters in Memphis, had earged the reputation of being one of the most efficient members of the great velief organization. It was under his per- sonal direction that the rescue of thousands of refugees was effected in Arkansas and Missouri, and he had sharge of all subsequent relief meas- ures instituted in those States, under Relief Director Baker. Kilpatrick came to the Red Cross during the war as manager of the | Northwestern division at Seattle. | When this division was discontinued he returned to the University of Oregon as director of its extension service, with headquarters in Port- Jand. He obtained leave of absence from this work in 1921 to join the Red Cross as assistant director of relief for the Pueblo flood. He was director of relief for the Astoria, Ore., fire disaster and was assistant director harge of activities during the Mid- western tornado in 1925, Was 45 Years Old. After the tornado task was com- pleted he resigned from the university to become permanently asociated with the Red Cross, and went to Florida during the hurricane disaster as as- ttorney General Sargent, who g8 in Luglow, ‘Vt., where Mrs. Sarses is (T, sistant director of ali relief work. He had been a prominent figure in G UNITY MOVE URGED BY PRESBYTERIANS {United Church to Continue Relations With Southern Body for Year. Determination to continue relations with the Southern Presbyterian | Church looking toward an ultimate union with that body was expressed by the Gener: Assembl of the United Presbyterian Church which to- day adopted the report of the spec commiitee which has been invest ing the proposed union. The resolu- tion adopted continued the life of the committee for another year with in- structions to meet fraternal delegates of the Southern Presbyterian Church and continue study of the proposed union, The report, which was read by Rev. Robert W. Kerr of St. Louis, chair- man of the special committee, indi- cated no difference in doctrinal be- liefs of the two churches and that no serious bar stood in the way of con- solidation. “Conditlons never have been so advantageous,” the report said. Gratitude to President. Gratitude to President Coolidge for his efforts to bring about a three- power naval conference and the con- tinued support of the United Presby- terian Church are contained in a set of resolutions adopted today by the General Assembly. The appreciation was expressed In a_supplemental report of the com- mittee on reform and reads as follows: “l. That we express our apprecia- tion of the successful efforts of Presi- dent Coolidge to bring ahout the three- power conference looking to the limi- tation of competitive naval building program, “2. That President Coolldge be as. sured of the support of our people in his policy of seeking to secure honor- able and peaceable settlement of inter- national problems without recourse to the use of force.” Plans for Education. Report of the committee on educa- tion, read this morning by Dr. J. A. Thompson, president of Tarkio Col- lege, Tarkio, Mo., contains a decision to begin church work in undenomi- national schools and colleges. The report of the nominating com- mittee, which will suggest names for vacancies on all church boards and on all important reorgan ion com- mittees, will be made public late day. Election Is Ordered. The election of a superintendent of missions for New Y city called for in memorials submitted by New York and Boston presbyteries and op- posed by Dr. C. F. Cleland and James Parker of the Philadelphia_headquar- ters of the Eastern synod. was or- dered this morning in an overture to be sent to the New York presbytery. The election is ordered to take place next Fall at the first meeting of the New York presbytery. An increase in the minimum salary of Preshyterian ministers recommend- ed in a supplemental report of the board of home missions was adopted this morning by the assembly. The recommendation also called for $100 for each additional child. Prohibition Law Indorsed. The General Assembly vesterday afternoon adopted a resolution re- affirming its stand in favor of the eighteenth amendment and made known its intention to meet at the ballot box “all the orzanized forces that propose to bring back and legalize the sale and manufacture of intoxi- cating liquor and to retire them to private life.” This action was taken by the assem- bly following an address by Wayne B. Wheeler, general counsel of the Anti-Saloon League of America, who denounced opponents of the eight- eenth amendment and summoned the church to defend the cause of prohibi- tion. Mrs. J. D. Sands, chairman of the women's missions board committee, reported progress along all the lines of activity in which the women of the church are interested and announced the recent formation of a society of temperance and reform by the wom- en’s board, which is devoted especially to awakening the woman vote, and directing it to promote the causes of “sobriety and law enforcement, with a particular intention of supporting the eighteeenth amendment.” Mrs. H. G. Campbell of the foreign missions board committee announced that 150 missionaries were supported last year by the church, and that the total number of presbyteries sup- ported abroad are 68, which have a total enrollment of 54,073 members. o WASHINGTONIAN DIES IN AUTO ACCIDENT Chester M. Wallace Is Killed When Cars Crash 12 Miles From Fredericksburg. 1 Dispatch to The Star. FREDERICKSBURG, Va., May 31, —Chester M. Wallace, 22 years old, of 2400 I street, Washington, died in Mary Washington Hospital at 3 o'clock this morning of injuries re- ceived four hours earlier, when a ma- chine in which he was riding with George Schombert, 2521 H street, ‘Washington, was sideswiped and knocked into a ditch on the highway 12 miles north of here. The two were riding north in a small roadster and were struck by a larger car which was traveling south, The roadster overturned in a ditch, and both occupants were.found un- conscious a _short time later by John H. Taft of Washington, who brought them to the hospital here. The car which collided with the roadster did not stop, and no trace of it has been found. ‘Wallace's chest was crushed and one lung pierced. Schombert was se- verely bruised, but was able to leave the hospital and retu to Washing- ton this afternoon, Wallace, who w S been working as a r the past several years. He was a native of MWashington and attended the Toner- Grant School. He is survived by his mother, Mrs, Cora Wallace, and two brothers, Albert 1), Wallace, circulation manager of the News, and Donald K. Wallace, U. 8. Vice Consul Cipriani Die: GLASGOW, Scotland, May 31 (#). —Edward B. Cipriani, senior Ameri- can vice consul here, died Sunday following a heart attack. He was a native of Trinidad and a natural- ized American. 3,900 Tins of Opium Seized. MANILA, May 31 (P).—Customs {oMcers today found 3,900 tins of |opium whenthey hecame 'suspicious of four large baskets marked ‘‘sweet potatoes.” The opium had been con- izned to local Chinese from Amoy the Mississippi flood emergency | its outset, having supervision of much of the t overflow Kilpatrick was 45 vears old. Me leaves a widow and three ohildren in Webster Grove a suljurb of St. Louls. = STAR. WASHINGTON, D. €, TUESDAY, NAY 31, ELDRIDGE SCORED IN FINAL EFFICIENCY BUREAU REPORT _(Continued from First Page.) of dishonest motives or transactions on the part of the company. “In our opinion,” said Mr. Brown, “that company should he absolved from any eriticism in its dealings with the District of Columbia, It is true the company submitted for payment a voucher under the first contra describing in part mate shipped_although correct in value. However, the company origin- ally submitted A voucher which did enumerate the material actually fur- nished, but that voucher was re- turned by Col. Moller with instruc- tions to submit a revised bill for the specific items set forth in the con tracts instead of for the items actually shipped. The company was further in- formed by Col. Moller at that time that he had taken with the auditor for the Dist Columbia, who told him that th the proper way to submit voucher.” Recommendations Submitted. Certain recommendations 0 are contained In the report to prevent sim- ilar jrregulavities as those uncovered by the Ilureau's investigation to pro- tect the Mnterests of the District and to provide for immortant feaures which the Bureau believes should be included in the next specifications for traffic signal equipment. Among the outstanding are the following: 1. That provision be included for bids to enable the District to adopt the centralized control for flashing fire signals. 2. That provisions for bids on equip ment by means of which the “areen- amber overlap” may be used if the Commissioners desire to adopt it. The “green-amber overlap” is a recent development in traffic control adopted by certain cities and is regarded as very effective in eliminating accidents by preventing automobiles from start- ing too soon when signals are chang- ing from red to green. 3. .That specifications for flashing heacons be not included, and that they be advertised for separately, if de- sired. 4. That formal orders be issued to the heads of the various departments of the District government calling to their attention the law which requires that manufacturers be given an equal opportunity to compete for Govern- ment business. Orders to Contractors. 5. That contractors be required to make delivery of supplies exactly as set forth by the formal order of the purchasing officer; that neither sub- stitutions of other articles or e: changes in qualities, weights, urea or numbers, be permitted in ad- vance of delivery; that departures of any description from the provisions of the specifictaions, orders or exe- cuted contracts, must receive the ap- proval of the District Commissioner and that such orders state that any violation thereof by any officer or emi- ploye be considered sufficient cause for removal or other disciplinary action. ferring to its charge that Mr. Eldridge failed to protect the interests of the District, the report said: “Not only did Mr. Eldridge permit a single prospective bidder to draft the specifications for traffic signals, but he neglected to protect the in- terests of the District of Columbia by making certain that the specifications were not so worded as to unduly re- strict competition by eliminating manufacturers and dealers who could not comply with many of the re- quirements which were not vital. He thus failed signally to assume respon- sibilities clearly devolving upon the head of an office. “The fact that many days were spent in drafting the specifications shows plainly that the Crouse-Hinds Co. had not merely submitted for the information their standard specifica- tions, but were drawing the specifica- tions required by the District of Co- lumbia. Faulty Policy Is Charged. “Many of the transactions subject to criticism in connection with the pur- chase of traffic signals sprang from the week policy permitted and sanc- tioned in the preparations of the spec- ifications. “The first specifications for traffie signals were issued June 2, 1925, and bids -were opened June 15, 1925. June . . Mr. Eldridge telegraphed the Crouse-Hinds Co., ‘Will be in Syracuse to see you Tuesday morning.’ Corre- spondence referred to in the hearings shows that during the visit of Mr. Ildridge at the factory of the Crouse- Hinds Co. he left with that company 2 sketch of the Washington ornamental street lighting pole and suggested that they write to Col. Moller for a draw- ing of the pole with dimensions of it. “Mr. BEldridge admitted leaving the sketch and that he must have known a change was contemplated from that called for by the specifications, bids on which had not yet been opened, Serious Aspect Is Cited. “The most serious aspect of this in- cident is that the traffic director vis ited the factory of the company which drafted the specifications at the very time they were preparing their bid and gave them special information on contemplated changes in the specifications, “The impropriety of his visit and the furnishing of special information at such a time is very apparent.” As to Mr. Eldridge’s knowledge of the removal of the official papers by Col. Moller from the files of the Traftic Department, the report said: “On November 21, 1926, Col. Moller removed from the flles of the office certain _ correspondence with the Crouse Hinds Co., taking it to his home. At the hearing March 7, 1927, this subject was discussed with Mr. Eldridge. “Positive” at First. “At first he was very positive that he was not aware of the withdrawal of these papers. However, after some questioning, Mr. Eldridge stated that he did not recall whether he knew of it or not, and he would not state that he had not learned of the matter from another source or had not dis- cussed it at Col. Moller’s home, where he admitted he visited about that time. Col. Moller said it was extremely pos: sible that he discussed the removal of the papers with Mr. Eldridge. He further stated that a friend of Mr. Eldridge’s not in the District service, although quite familiar with the busi: ness of the director’s office, was ac- quainted with all the facts relating to the removal of the papers. Mr. Eld- ridge admitted that he discussed freely the affairs of his office with his friend. t of t was e About that time Col. Moller offered | to resign and it is believed the same reason which caused him to offer his vesignation prompted him to remov the papers. Col. Moller informed Mr. Eldridge of the reason he tendered his resignation. We are of the opin- jon that Mr. Eldridge was aware of the fact that.the papers had been withdrawn by Col. Moller and must have acquiesed in this irregularity. Moller Given Full Power. “Mr. Eldridge stated that he had authorized Col. Moller to transact all business in connection with traffic sis- nals. He failed to provide any meth- ods by which he could keep in touch with these subjects. Incoming and outgoing correspondence on this vital subject involving the expenditure of several hundred thousand dollars was never reviewed by Mr. Eldridge, ac- cording to his own admissions. “Early in December, 1926, Col. Moller disclosed to Maj. Danfel J. Don- an, the auditor, that substitutions had been made on the official orders. Auditor Donovan immediately sent for Mr. Eldridge and Col. Moller, called the attention of Mr. Eldridge to the matter and discussed it with both of them. Mr. Eldridge was then directed by Maj. Donovan to have a check made to see whel . up the matter |4 *Evening Sta ial officially ordered had been re- ceived. “Mr. Eldridge instructed A. G. Seiler, his administrative asistant, to count’ the number of signals received. installed and on hand and compar: them with the number ordered. M Seiler was not directed by Mr. Eldridge to check any of the control apparatus o other accessories. 1f he had checked the controls and accessories, he would have discovered a shortage in many of the orders: shortages suffi cient to offset the 39 signals which his report shows as received over the number ordered. Eldridge a Participant. Mr. Eldridge participated in the ubstitutions in the first contract and uthorized substitutions in the second vet he did not advise his ive assistant of any change rized or made by him from the orders so that the material could be properly checked. Further- more, when the report of the admini: trative assistant indicated an ge of 39 signals, Mr. Eldr ised the auditor that everything ap- peared to be all right, although he v 8 cognizant that subsf heen made and that the excess signals had been received as a result thereof. It Mr. Eldridge was not aware of any substitutions, how can he reconcile his action in advising the auditor that everything was all right, with Seiler’s report showing that there were 39 sig- nals, valued at $2,203.50 received over tho formal orders? “The approval in February, 1926, by Mr. Eldridge of the voucher of the Crouse-Hinds Co. for $9,048, cov- ering in part traffic signals and other material which he knew had not been received, showed utter disregard of his responsibilities. ‘Mr. Eldridge’s failure to institute inquiries at the time he signed the letter of July 16, 1926, to the Crouse- Hinds Co. requesting substitutions under the second contract, indicates another instance of the disregard of his responsibilities.” Summary of Charges. Summarizing these charges the re- port added: “We believe that the evi- dence shows that Mr. Eldridge was aware that the Crouse-Hines Co. wrote the first and second sets of specifica- tions for traffic lights; that he knew the type of signal ordered; that he directed Col. Moller to negotiate for material not under contract and that he knew it was through substitution that such material was obtained. The provisions of the law regarding com- petition were not complied with, the interests of the District of Columbia were not protected, and he showed a woeful lack of appreciation or a disre- gard for the responsibilities devolving upon him. His laxity is further re- flected in the delinquencies in the gen- eral administration of his office.” The report charged Col. Moller with deliberately misleading the biddel and calling attention to the Crous Hinds Co. to a “joker” in the speci fications, and summarized the investi- | gation into the specifications with the following statement: Company Given the Advantage. “The Crouse-Hinds Co., having writ- ten the specifications, were in a very advantageous position. as they had ad- vance information regarding all the essential details and conditions. This also enabled them to profit by the limited time allowed for submit- ting bids and samples. When the first specifications called for “two or more™ | signals both Mr. Eldridge and Col. Moller knew that from 75 to 100 sig- nals, or equipment for some 20 to 2 intersections, would be ordered. When the second specifications called for only 48 they believed that at least 900 signals would be purchased. The Crouse-Hinds Co. was informed of the facts in both Instances. “The action of C'ol. Moller in writing the Crouse-Hinds Co. oy April 20, 1926, stating that ‘the best’ he could do on the second specifications was to place the minimum quantity at 48 signals, and then in the letter of April 24, 1926, calling the special attention of the company to the clause under which he belleved the District could buy an unlimited number, was repre- hensible and subject to severe con- demnation, because he not only de- | liberately favored that company, but | also because the subterfuge employed was designed to mislead other com- petitors.” STUDENT IS HELD FOR GRAND JURY Death- of Joseph Gallagher Is Probed by Coro- ner’s Body. Ettore E. Porcelli, student at Georgetown University Dental School, was held today for the action of the grand jury by a coroner’s jury investi- gating the death, May 11, of his room- mate and chum, Joseph Gallagher of 1716 I street, who died as a result of Injuries sustained when an automobile operated by Porcelll and a street car of the Capital Traction Co. crashed at Seventh street and Rhode Island ave- nue. Testimony before the coroner’s jury showed that the force of the collision knocked the street car from its tracks and pulled up the plow, extinguish- ing all lights in the car. Shortly there- after the automobile burst into flames. Porcelll was hurt, Gallagher was fa- tally injured. sustaining a skull frac- ture, and a third occupant of the au- tomoblile also was injured badly. Testimony Is Conflicting. The inquest was'postponed May 13 until today because of the injuries to Porcelli. George Madison Rawlette, 1203 Sixth street southwest, the motorman of the street car, testified that as he was about to pass southwardly over the intersection at Rhode Island ave- nue on Seventh street, he noticed an automobile a block away, which leaped and struck his street car be- fore it had traveled half its own length. Bond Being Arranged. Testimony as to the vehicle that truck the other was conflicting, John ". Holbrool sistant cashier of The n eyewitness, stating that it was his impression that the automobile struck the street ecar, while other witnesses expressed the opinion that the street car struck the automobile. Bond was being arranged this aft- ernoon for Porcelll by his attorney, Austin Canfield, who went into con- ference with Assistant District At- torney Albert Stein, as to the amount, immediately after the inquest. —_— Political Jobs on Roads. To relieve distress among govern- {ment employes that have been dis- | charged, Chile may put them to work jon the roads. Many of those that were lot out when conditions forced the reduction of government expenses found work with other unemployed in the harvest fields, but officials are considering a good-roads program in order to provide jobs when crops have heen gathered. —_— The number of pgrsons who die from snake bites in't| country each year is estimated at dround 100, | to open fire. 1927. MURDER INUES T0BE TONORRON Slues Fail in Ross Slaying. Probe Is Ordered Postponed. With all clues failing in the hunt for the murderer of William R 69- vear-old watchman for a road-widening concern, who was killed with « hatchet in a small tool shack at Wis- consin avenue and Grafton strect Somerset, Md.. late Saturday. the cor- oner's inquest called originally for this afternoon was postponed until tomor row afternoon. This was done in the faint hope that new developments in the meantime might throw more light on the crime. Clues Are Lacking. After working all day terday on the case, Montgomery County police admitted that they had made no prog- ress toward solution and called local detectives into consultation. Arrange- ments to have Baltimore detectives assigned the case were being com- pleted today. The murderer set fire to the shack after the killing of Ross, who lived at 715 Fifth street, in an evident effort to cover up the crime. Ross' pay en- velope., his pocketbook and a gold watch being missing, the police have adopted the theory that robbery was the motive for the crime. May Be Formal. The murder was discovered when the Bethesda Fire Department. was called out to extinguish the blaze in the tool shack shortly before Saturday midnight. Firemen located the body as they entered during their attempts to put out the blaze. Unless there are new developments, authorities in Montgomery County re- vealed today, the inquest tomorrow, Peace John A. Jones, as acting cor- oner, will be practically formal. {1 HURT N BATTLE OF POLICE AND MOB Infuriated Citizens, Storming Jail Six Hours, Quieted by Soldiers. By the Associated Press. TAMPA, Fla.,, May 31.—A six-hour battle between police officers and in- furiated civilians, that counted 11 per- sons wounded, ended this morning when a company of 100 National Guardsmen took up a position behind machine guns and tear-gas bombs in the Hillshorough jail here. Throughout the night a mob of 2,000 persons had stormed the jail in an attempt to get to B. F. Levins, con- fessed murderer. Despite assurances of Sheriff Hiers that the prisoner had been removed to another jail, the mob persisted in its attempt to break into the jail and was not deterred even when the sheriff ordered his deputies Nine men and two wom- en are known to have been wounded. Reports that others also had been shot had not been confirmed this morning. Defy Streams of Ammonia. Streams of ammonia, played by a chemical squad of the local fire de- partment. were resorted to by the of- ficers, but the mob refused to dis- perse. Some took up a’position in a negro church across the street from the jail, and from that point of van- tage returned the fire of the deputies. Others secured heavy timbers to use as battering rams against the walls of the building. In one attack, 50 men succeeded in breaking_an opening in one of the Hls. Two of the attackers fell through the hole and were immediate- 1 ested and placed in cells. With daylight came the guardsmen. Piling out of motor trucks and auto- mobiles, they marched in formation to the jail. There was a temporary luil before the battle broke out again. Sharpshooters, for a time, resumed their firing on the jail. Soldiers Quiet Mob. But the appearance of the soldiers and announcement that two move com- panies were on the way to the scene from Lakeland and Bartow, under or- ders from Gov. John W. Martin, ap- parently served to cool the anger of the mob. Reluctant to disperse, even then, they became quiet, and. although many continued to mill about the jail, no further immediate disorders were anticipated. Levins was arrested last Friday and is alleged to have confessed he killed Herman Merrill, his wife and three children by crushing their heads with a heavy railroad tool. A fourth child also was badly injured. It was re- ported Levins said he killed the Mer- rills thinking they were another fam- ily against whom he held a grudge. U. S. IS PREPARING TO REMOVE PEKING LEGATION TO COAST (Continued from First Page.) point on the railway from Peking to the coast. Brig. Gen. Smedley D. Butler, com- manding the United States Marines in China, recently made a trip to Peking to inspect the American forces, while the American Minister, John Van ... MacMurray, went to SHanghai to con- fer with the authorities there regard- ing the general situation. The drive of the Northerners through Honan Province to the south in the direction of Hankow was started by Marshal Chang Tso-Lin, Manchurian war lord and principal figure in the Ankuochun or Northern alliance. Chang declared the constituted a communist China, and announced his del tion of *“‘exterminating them.” object of his drive through Honan, which now has failed, was to capture Hankow, seat of one section of the Nationalists. + Greyhound Races Popular. Because of the interest in grey- hound races which were introduced near Panama City recently, the street car company built in record time a special line to the track to handle the crowds. More than 200 dogs are entered in the events, which will be continued during the season. At times large stakes are wagered and interest runs high. Heat Cuts Work in Manila. Because of the excessive heat, work in Manilla is being suspended for at least part of the day. Government employes are at their tasks only from 7:30 o'clock in the morning until 1 o'clock in the &fternoon, except for one afternoon & week, taking turns for the long hoursgin order to keep the offices open for bus under the charge of Justice of the | REDUCED CORPORATION | U. 8. Commerce Chamber Will Ask | Congress at Next Session for 10 Per Cent Rate. By the Associated Press. | Reduction of the corporation income tax by the next Congress will be de- manded by the business interests rep- resented in the Chamber of Commerce of the United States, says a state- ment by the chamber. The move was decided upon at a meeting here of the special comm tee on taxation of the chamber. A re- | duction of the levy to 10 per cent | from the 131, per cent rate, will con- stitute the main item on the business program for tax revision, ghe state- ment said. | FFelix M. McWhirter of Indianapolis. speaking for the committee, said that the present time “the corporations are the most universally taxed ob- in During_the |rectly to the Federal Government | more than one billion dollars, 31 per cent of the total taxes, including customs, collected by the vernment. CITIZENS HOPE TOBUY RAIL LINE $100,000 Expected to Be Subscribed Before Option on W. & Va. Expires. Prospects of the people of Fairfax and Arlington Counties being able to take over the control of the Falls Church-Fairfax division of the Wash- ington & Virginia Railway before the expiration of the option tomorrow midnight seemed reasonably sure to- day. Despite the fact that the full amount of the $100,000 necessary to swing the | deal has not yet been raised, the op- tion holders, M. E. Church and Thom- as R. Keith, feel fairly confident the goal will be reached in time to save the railroad for the necple of these two counties. Suspension of operations on the Falls Church-Fairfax division, which appears likely if the deal fails through at the last moment, would be a calamity to these suburban districts, the committee explained, and the situ- ation is appreciated by the residents, - Keith Fairly . Confident. Mr. Keith declared today, after a talk over long-distance telephone with R. Hinchman of Philadelphia, who recently purchased the road at aue- tion, that the goal was so near in sight he was fairly confident that the option could be taken up tomorrow. There will be no letup in the campaign. however, and rather than take any chance of the line slipping through its hands the committee intends to re- double its efforts to rain the full amount. The road brought $150,000 at the auetion and the Circuit Court at Alex- andria_tomorrow must pass upon the sale. It was regarded as reasonably certain that the sale uld be ap- proved. Mr. Hinchman is willing to part with the road for the, amount he paid for it and indicated at the time that unless this purchase price was met tomorrow there was strong possibility of the line being abandoned. Of the $100,000 sought from the citizens of Fairfax and Arlington Counties to swing the deal, $30,000 is required to meet the cash payment on the purchase price of $150,000 and $50,000 for the acquisition of new equipment. ¥ach county is expected to meet its $50,000 quota in bonds. Deficit Very Small, He Says. 1t was not possible to ascertain how short the bond subscription is of the full amount required, but Mr. Keith indicated that it was & very small deficit for each county. . In event the $100,000 sought is no raised by tomorrow the holders of the option are hopeful that it will be tended to give time needed to raise sufficient funds. This is a matter, however, that is not conclusive, so the need of further campaigning is urgent. As an investment for the two counties, the committee feels that pur- chase of the Falls Church-Fairfax i division is necessary for the future development of the communities serv- ed by the line. There are 35 miles of ailroad, the value of which is es- timated at about $1.000.000. Once the road has heen put in con- trol of the citizens of the two coun- tries. steps will be taken to reduce the overhead expenses and operate it on profitable basis, a matter which the committee feels confident can be done successully. Com— Y $200,000,000 BOND ISSUE ANNOUNCED BY MELLON Treasury's Quarterly Financing Program Includes Exchange for Second Libertys Also. An offering of 20-year bonds at 3% per cent, dated June 15 next. in the amount of about $200,000,000, was announced last night by Secretary of the Treasury Mellon, to carry the Government over the quarterly period. In addition to the cash offering, which prices the bonds at 1001, and accrued interest, the Treasury also will make exchanges of the new bonds for the second Liberty loan, which has been called for redemption next November 15, “The present exchange offering,” said Mr. Mellon's announcement, ‘gives holders of second Liberty bonds an opportunity to seture a long-term Government bond in place of those they now hold. The exchange offer- ing will in all probability be kept open until June 15, but the Secre- tary of the Treasury reserves the right to close the exchange offering, as well as the cash offering, at any time without notice.” . Elevator for Mount Blanec. Mount Blane, Europe’s tallest moun- ain, will soon be “climbed” by ele. The cableway, with a car sim- ilar to_a hotel elevator and carrying from 50 to 70 people, will soon be in operation from Chamonix to the summit of Alguille du Midi. The ascent may then be made in gwo hours and without guides. Construc- tion of the elevator cableway was started 17 vears ago, but was inter- rupted by the war. . BAND CONCERT. McMillan Park, First and Bryant streets, tonight at 7:30 o'clock, by section of the United States Marine Band, Arthur S. Witcomb, second leader, conducting. ‘The Soldier's Good Nocturne, “Monastery Bell: Lefebure-Wely Descriptive fantasia, Life .Herbert Russian sog. . Lake {b) “Yankee Wse".. Holden and Frankl The- Star Spangled Bannw." - INCOME TAX DEMANDED | THREE BALLOONS DROP OUT OF RACE {Two Navy and One Army Bags Down—Honeywell Sighted Over Canada. 31.—With three vy balloons down ning entries in the national elimination race, starting from here ate veste apparently were con tinuing this afternoon in a fan-shaped course, spreading over northern New and southern Ontario. he three bags that have landed are the United States Army No. 4, from Norton F . Ohio, which touched g tinsburg. N. Y, at ‘10:20 > 4 ard time: the United States N v . 3. fro Lakehurst, which dropped am., at Mortville, N and _the United States Navy 1. which landed at 11:17 a.m., at Pope Mills, | BRoth the United States Army No. 4 | and the United States Navy No. 1 had | covered approximately 400 miles when forced out. The Navy bag. No. 3, had put_about 325 miles behind it when it landed. Capt. Honeywell Over Canada. Capt. Harry E. Honeywell, dean of American balloon racers, apparently | was contesting shortly before noon to- | day with the pilots of two other un- identified bags for the leadership if the annual air classi | _Capt. Honeywell's St. Louis Rotary | Club” entry passed over Portsmouth | penitentiary, at Kingston, Ont., just | before noon. Kingston is approximate- ly 340 miles from here. Occupants of the low-flying balloon called to the suards at the penitentiary to learn their location and the huge bag rose and drove swiftly away to the east. Previously reports from Syracuse, N.Y., about 325 miles from here, had said ‘that two balloons, both unidenti- fied, had been sighted near there. Other _reports from north _central New York and northeastern Pennsyl- vania indicated the field of entries was moving along the prophesied course to the northeast. Capt. Honeywell was the first pilot reported out of the United States. Lost During Night. Throughout a night of starless dark- ne: 15 pilots and their aides who weighed off _here late yesterday, vied with each other thousands of fat, up in the air, seeking uncharted warfd passages which would lead thein to victory in the national balloon elimi- nation race. Like Capt. Charles A. Lindbergh, whose progress and whereabouts were in doubt while winging his way across the broad Atlantic, so was the prog- ress and whereabouts of the 15 racing bags an unknown quantity early to- day, because the bags were believed to be hovering over Lake Erie and out of sight of land. 1t has been a long, long time, if ever, since a national balloon race was held where not a single huge bag was sighted and its position reported during the first night in the air, but that is the present case. Lazily drifting in a north-northeast course, the bags were lost from sight here an hour after the last of the 15 had weighed off. If they held that course they would drift over Lake Erie during the night. Get Away Without Mishap. All the bags got away without the slightest mishap yesterday. An elec- trical storm, which oceurred about two hours before starting time, at first was thought to be of sufficient intensity to postpone the flights, but the weather cleared an hour later and weighing off began on time. Immediately after the take-off of Army No. 1 balloon, the bag m= menced to descend on part of the crowd of 40,000 spectators and only alertness of the crew, who were fores ed to empty some of their sand bags, caused the balloon to soar upward ely again. for the first time in ballooning history, the baskets were outfitted with warning lights—four elect. lanterns, one in each corner, which were burned throughout the night. They were provided to avoid colll- sions with air mail plane: GERMAN EDITORS RAP COOLIDGE TALK America’s Good Faith in Dis- armament Questioned in Berlin. faith toward disarmament is question- ed by those Berlin morning newspa- pers commenting on President Cool- idge’'s Memorial day speech. All the papers publish copious extracts from the speech, but only three take edl- torial notice of it. The Taegliche Rundschau declares the President’s remark that American arms are employed only in the inter- ests of liberty “is but too patently re- futed by the treaty of Versailles and postwar European developments.” Iis observations about armaments, it adds, “show plainly how little in earnest are the guardians of liberty and justice about the limitation of armaments solemnly proclaimed at Versailles.” High sounding words about disar- mament,” the paper continues, “may be reduced in essence to the formula: ‘\\"xxsh my fur, but don't make me wots The Boersen Zeitung sa. “Out of the smoke screen of hypocrisy and sanctimoniousness ere emerges quite clearly visible the mailed fist of the egotistical realpolitik (policy of realities) with which the United States are paving their way brutally and un- idealistically in the world. “In Coolidge’s case, too, the layer of beautiful phrases is becoming con- stantly thinner and more transpar- ent.” The Tageblatt says: “Mr. Coolidge again has succeeded in balancing ar. guments so cleverly that practically each faction got what it wanted. From the German standpoint, the re- mark is especially interesting that the United States has always conducted war for just cause, in defense of the principles of liberty.” PRESIDENT PLANS LINDBERGH HONORS FOR WHOLE NATION (Continued from First Page.) in the Air Reserve Corps of the Army. It is known that the P. ni desires that Capt. Lindbergh be moved up, probably to a colonelcy, in the Reserve Corps. The~ first meeting of the cabimet members will be held in Secretary Davis' office at 4 o'clock this after- 2oon.